The Weight of Protagonists
The second announcement echoed in the skies like thunder.
The cold, mechanical voice resounded in everyone's minds.
[Congratulations, Unknown, for being the first being on Earth to kill a creature from the Divine Domain.]
[Reward: Bronze Treasure Chest.]
[Permanent Attributes: +10 Support.]
[Title Granted: The First Kill.]
Danilo clenched his fists, jaw tightening.
Two announcements in less than five minutes?
— This has to be a joke… — he muttered, envy corroding his chest. — This kind of thing only happens in novels… and always with the protagonist.
— Protagonist…? — his mother repeated, confused.
He took a deep breath, his gaze darkening.
— The protagonist… chosen by the gods or by the world.
His sisters stared at him, not immediately understanding. If this were still the old world, they would laugh and call it nonsense. But now? After being ripped away from their ordinary lives and thrown into a strange world, every word carried weight.
Danilo raised his hand, as if writing in the air, and spoke with disdain:
— There are three aspects that almost always follow a protagonist. Reincarnated… Reborn… or System.
The five swallowed hard. The silence of the crowd around them made his words even heavier.
— Reincarnated — he began, spitting the word like venom. — A powerless trash who takes over the body of another trash just as weak. But somehow, the merging of souls awakens something… a talent, an ability, or some damned system.
Maria's eyes widened.
— Reborn — he continued, voice dripping with contempt. — A failure who already lived in another timeline… and in it, was nothing but a pathetic vomit. But, by some whim, he returns from the future. Usually because of some incredible treasure, or the will of the world itself. And of course, he comes back with an even greater talent than he originally had.
Their mother covered her mouth with her hand.
— System… — Danilo almost spat the word. — The worst of all cheats. It's when the world, or the gods themselves, give the chosen one an invisible guide. Missions, rewards, powers falling right into their lap. Without it? Without that divine push? They'd be nothing. Dust. Garbage. — He paused, then added with dark irony: — And in some cases… they say the system devours its owner in the end.
Maria, worried, almost whispered:
— Then… you mean there's a chance this unknown person is one of them…?
Silence weighed heavy.
— Yes… — Danilo replied coldly. — And it's a good chance.
Augusta shrank back, her fingers trembling.
— Then… then doesn't that mean they're… invincible?
Danilo drew a deep breath, eyes burning.
— They should be. That's how the world wants it. — He spat the last words with disgust. — These protagonists are the world's insurance, the embodiment of the gods' will. But in truth… they're nothing but failures, cheaters. Ordinary people like us kill ourselves with training, blood and sweat, while they… get shortcuts. Divine gifts. Epic stories to entertain some invisible spectator.
He closed his eyes, murmuring as if spitting bile:
— In the end… they're just puppets. And we, mere extras, are forced to live off the scraps of their stage.
Danilo let out a frustrated sigh.
— Ah, damn it, why didn't I get a system? What the hell… — he muttered, full of envy.
Before he could continue complaining, a sharp slap landed on the back of his neck.
— Watch your tongue — his mother warned, staring him in the eyes.
— Oh, sorry… didn't mean to — he replied awkwardly, while his sisters burst into laughter and the mood lightened.
Fátima, however, didn't miss the chance to tease:
— You read all that trash all this time and the world didn't compensate you for wasting your life? Not even a decent talent?
— She's right — Maria chimed in with an ironic smile. — If it were me, I would've killed myself already. So much time wasted on something, and someone else is the one who got rewarded.
— Honestly, I think you lived in vain — Augusta added, making the laughter even louder.
Even their mother, though she said nothing, couldn't resist smiling discreetly at the scene.
Danilo, however, raised his gaze with disdain:
— Lived in vain? Do you think Mother's Chaotic Heart talent just fell from a tree? Or do you think God appreciated your integrity and decided to reward you?
Viviana, eyebrows raised, retorted:
— Oh, so you're saying Mom's talent is connected to you?
— Of course! Why else would she have a talent that affects all her children? — Danilo replied with conviction.
— Because she's chosen, obviously. — Viviane shot back without hesitation. — Even Mom got an incredible talent without ever wasting her time on the garbage you read. Meanwhile, you, buried in virgin stories all day, ended up with nothing. — she finished with mocking giggles.
Feeling cornered, Danilo resorted to the oldest tactic of any older brother: he stretched out his hand and smacked all four sisters on the back of the neck at once.
— Moooom! — they protested in unison, indignant, running to complain.
Their mother, however, only laughed at the scene, shaking her head with tenderness.
And so, the argument ended with everyone laughing, despite the teasing.