The floor creaked faintly as I moved toward the window again, boots whispering against old wood. The faint chill of the morning air seeped through the gap in the shutters, brushing over my skin. It wasn't like the polluted, heavy air of the city I came from. This was sharp, clean, almost sweet — it made my lungs feel like they were being washed from the inside out.
I pushed the shutters wide, and the sight hit me all over again.
Rolling hills carpeted in green, their edges fading into a distant mountain range. The dirt road that cut through the village curved away toward the horizon, flanked by low fences and grazing animals. The thatched roofs of the houses were uneven but sturdy-looking, and beyond them, the forest stretched like an endless wall of deep green.
Above that forest, circling lazily, was the same winged shape I'd seen before. It wasn't my imagination. The sunlight caught on its scales — a flash of metallic bronze before the wings banked, sending it gliding out of sight behind the trees.
A dragon. A real one.
It should've been terrifying. It should've made me panic, scream, or hide. Instead, I felt that same strange rush from before — a surge of energy that made my hands twitch.
This wasn't Earth.
The thought didn't come with fear. It came with a hunger I didn't know I had until now. This world wasn't bound by the same rules. And from the sound of that voice in my head earlier, I had a way to make it mine.
My ears picked up movement on the street below — the rattle of cart wheels on packed dirt, the low murmur of voices, the bark of a dog. When I focused, I could almost separate the sounds into distinct threads: the squeak of a loose axle, the uneven step of a man walking with a limp, the flutter of fabric from someone hanging laundry in the wind.
This body wasn't just better-looking. It was sharper. Tuned.
I looked down at my hands again, flexing them slowly. Smooth skin, strong fingers. No scars, no blemishes. A faint sheen of health that I'd never had before.
The wooden table beside the bed caught my attention again. Aside from the folded clothes I'd already put on, there was a ceramic jug and a shallow basin. I poured water into the basin — clear, cool, and without the chemical tang I was used to. I splashed my face and watched droplets run down skin that didn't look like mine but felt entirely under my control.
The man in the mirror was still there, still handsome enough to belong on the cover of a magazine, still carrying that quiet presence. My presence now.
I was halfway to the door when the voice returned.
[System functions stable. Current state: Level 1. Desire Points: 0.]
I froze, my hand hovering over the latch. "…You again."
[Correct.]
"Alright," I said slowly. "You said something about… Desire Points?"
[This world operates on three pillars: strength, status, and possession. The Ultimate Desire System rewards you for the fulfillment of your personal desires — physical, social, and combative.]
My pulse quickened. "So… I get stronger by getting what I want?"
[Not by wanting. By claiming.]
The way she lingered on that last word sent a subtle warmth through me, low and insistent.
I leaned against the wall. "So, let me guess — this isn't limited to money or fighting, is it?"
[Correct. Physical conquest, particularly of those you are drawn to, yields the highest point gains. Social dominance and combat victories also contribute.]
I let out a low whistle. "You're telling me I can literally seduce my way to power?"
[Accurate. However, greater rewards are tied to greater difficulty and the depth of the bond established.]
"Bond?" I asked.
[Those who you fully claim — body and soul — will become loyal to you, unable to betray you.]
That stopped me cold. "Unable to betray me…" I said slowly. "As in… completely mine?"
[Completely.]
The word hummed in my head like a promise.
My thoughts were racing now, ideas spilling in faster than I could sort them. If this was real, I could start with anyone — charm them, claim them, build strength without ever having to swing a sword… at least, not right away. And in a world where even the sky had predators with wings, I'd need every advantage I could get.
Still, I wasn't about to jump in blind. "What's the catch?"
[System ability usage consumes stamina proportional to the strength and duration of the effect. Reckless overuse can result in severe fatigue, unconsciousness, or death.]
"Death? From… overdoing it?"
[Correct.]
I snorted. "So you're saying if I get too greedy, I burn out. Got it."
[Moderation will allow you to sustain growth. Stagnation will ensure your destruction.]
The bluntness in her tone was a reminder — this wasn't just a free ride.
I pushed the door open and stepped out into a short hallway. The floorboards were worn smooth, and the smell of baking bread drifted from somewhere below. My stomach gave a sharp, impatient growl — hunger reminding me that whatever else had changed, I still needed to eat.
At the far end of the hall, sunlight spilled in through an open window, catching dust motes in the air. I stepped toward it, taking in more of the village from this higher angle. There were people moving about now — women carrying baskets, men unloading sacks from a wagon, children chasing each other in the road.
It looked peaceful. Almost too peaceful.
"Alright," I murmured under my breath. "Let's see what this world's really like."
I'd need food. I'd need information. And if the system was telling the truth, I'd need to start building… connections.
But first, I needed to know exactly what I could do.
[You are currently without enhancements. In your present state, your physical and social advantages are purely natural.]
I smirked faintly. "Purely natural, huh? Could be worse."
[When ready, you may request your Starter Gifts.]
"Starter gifts?"
[Affirmative.]
That sounded like my next step. But something told me I'd want privacy for whatever was about to happen. No sense in triggering some flashy ability in the middle of a village street.
For now, I kept walking toward the stairs, the warm smell of bread and the quiet chatter of the morning pulling me onward.
This was only my first breath in a new world — but the hunger in my chest told me it wouldn't be a quiet life for long.