Chapter 1: The Night Everything Changed
Arjun was twenty-one years old, but he felt much older. His days had blended into one another, like faded colors mixing on an old canvas. Morning, afternoon, night it all felt the same. He stayed in his small, rented room most of the time, surrounded by the faint smell of instant noodles and cheap deodorant, the walls stained with faint marks from years of careless tenants before him. A single desk lamp and the dim glow of his computer monitor were his only companions when the rest of the world seemed too far away.
He wasn't a bad student, but he had stopped caring about his studies a long time ago. College felt pointless. Dreams of a stable job, a family, and a future that once shined so bright in childhood had turned into heavy shadows. Every rejection, every failure, and every reminder that he wasn't good enough had pushed him deeper into the habit of escaping. His escapes came in the form of games, anime, and webnovels.
Tonight was no different. The sound of his ceiling fan filled the silence as Arjun scrolled through his favorite novel site. His fingers clicked almost automatically, eyes scanning titles that promised adventure, power, and romance. "Another cultivation novel… another system novel… another harem," he muttered, half amused, half bitter. He clicked on one story and leaned back, the chair creaking under his weight.
His reflection on the black monitor during loading made him pause. The face staring back at him was pale, with tired eyes that carried dark circles like bruises. His hair stuck out in messy strands, and his lips were dry and cracked. "What happened to you, man…" he whispered, but quickly looked away, ashamed of his own pity.
The page finally loaded, but instead of the usual wall of text, something strange appeared. The screen flickered once, then again, and lines of crimson text bled across the bright background:
[Congratulations, Host. You have been selected for the Eternal Harem System.]
Arjun blinked, frozen. "What the hell?" he said out loud, thinking it must be a virus or some pop-up ad. He tried to move his mouse, but the cursor didn't respond. His keyboard, too, was unresponsive. The words pulsed faintly, glowing brighter with each passing second.
[Initialization in progress… 30%… 60%… 90%…]
Arjun's throat went dry. His rational mind screamed it was a prank, some malicious software designed to scare people. But there was something unnatural about it, something alive in the way those words seemed to breathe on the screen.
"Okay… calm down. Just restart the PC," he muttered, reaching for the power button. But before his finger could touch it, the monitor exploded in blinding white light.
The room dissolved.
Arjun felt as though his body was floating in a sea of weightless darkness. He could hear nothing, yet there was a faint hum vibrating in his chest. His heart pounded, but strangely, he felt no panic only confusion, as if his emotions had been muted.
Then, the voice came. It was neither male nor female, deep yet soft, echoing directly inside his head.
[Welcome, Host. The Eternal Harem System has been bound to your soul.]
Arjun's eyes widened. "Soul…? What are you talking about? Who's there?"
The voice ignored his panic and continued calmly:
[The Host has been chosen among countless candidates. Your desires, your loneliness, and your suppressed dreams have been acknowledged. The System will grant you power, opportunities, and companions. In return, you must grow stronger, fulfill objectives, and build your destiny.]
Arjun's hands trembled, though he couldn't even see them in this void. "This is insane… I must be dreaming. I read too many webnovels and now my brain's messed up," he said, half laughing nervously.
But the voice didn't stop.
[Do not resist, Host. Integration is complete. From this day forth, you will live in a world where strength decides everything. A world of battles, kingdoms, and beauties.]
Before Arjun could respond, a torrent of information surged into his mind. He gasped, clutching his head as visions flashed rapidly. Grand palaces of white marble under golden suns. Vast sects filled with cultivators flying through the sky. Mighty demons roaring in forests of black fire. And amidst it all, countless women proud warriors, cold empresses, cheerful maidens, dangerous enchantresses each one radiating a beauty that felt beyond human imagination.
The visions burned into his brain until he thought he would collapse. Then, with a sudden rush of air, the darkness shattered.
Arjun's eyes snapped open.
He was no longer in his tiny room. He stood on a vast stone platform, surrounded by mountains that pierced the clouds. The air was crisp and filled with a faint, sweet fragrance of blooming flowers. The sky above was painted in shades of crimson and violet, as if the heavens themselves had been crafted by an artist.
Arjun staggered back, staring at his surroundings. "No way… this isn't real. This can't be real…"
But it felt real. The wind brushing against his skin was real. The hard stone beneath his feet was real. His own heartbeat hammering in his chest was painfully real.
[Tutorial begins now.]
The voice returned, calm and cold.
[Welcome, Host, to the World of Azure Sky. Here, your journey will begin. You are weak, powerless, and insignificant. But with the Eternal Harem System, you will rise.]
Arjun swallowed, his mouth dry. "Azure Sky…? Rise…? And what do you mean by harem system? This sounds ridiculous."
The voice ignored his question and displayed glowing text in the air before him:
[Main Quest Unlocked: Prove your worth.]
Survive for 24 hours in the Azure Sky World.
Reward: Basic System Functions.
Failure: Permanent Death.
Arjun's eyes widened. "Permanent death? Are you serious?!" He reached forward to touch the glowing panel, and to his shock, his fingers passed through it as though it was light itself.
The system remained silent, offering no comfort.
His heart raced as he looked around. The mountains stretched endlessly, and forests of towering trees loomed below the cliffs. Strange cries echoed in the distance, sharp and inhuman. Something was moving in the shadows far below.
"Okay, Arjun. Think. If this is real… if this is actually happening… then panic won't help." His voice shook, but saying it out loud gave him a sliver of courage. "Survive 24 hours. That's the mission. I just… need to live."
As he steadied his breath, another glowing screen appeared.
[System Bonus: Because you are the first Host in centuries, you receive one Starter Gift Pack.]
Arjun blinked. "Gift pack…? Like in games?"
[Do you wish to open it? Y/N]
His lips curled into a shaky smile. "Of course… yes. Open it."
The panel glowed brightly, and three items materialized before him in beams of light.
1. Beginner's Sword – A simple steel blade, sharp enough to cut wood and flesh.
2. Healing Elixir (x3) – Restores minor wounds and stamina.
3. Charm Boost Card (Temporary) – Increases personal charm by 50% for 24 hours.
Arjun stared, jaw dropping. "Charm… boost? Seriously?"
The voice answered coldly:
[The Harem System values charm as much as strength. Use it wisely.]
Arjun groaned, running a hand through his messy hair. "Great… so not only do I have to fight for my life, but I'm apparently supposed to… charm women too? What kind of insane world is this?"
Still, he picked up the sword. It felt surprisingly solid in his grip, the weight comforting. The elixirs shimmered in small crystal vials, and the charm card glowed faintly like a golden talisman.
Arjun let out a shaky laugh. "Okay… maybe I am the protagonist of some messed-up novel now."
But before he could relax, a chilling howl echoed from the forest below. The sound was sharp, guttural, and filled with hunger. Trees shook as something massive moved through them.
Arjun tightened his grip on the sword, his legs trembling. The system's panel appeared once more.
[Warning: Host's survival trial has begun. Prepare yourself.]
Arjun's face paled, but a fire sparked in his eyes. "Fine. If this is my new reality… then I'll survive. No matter what."
And so, the night everything changed truly began.