Sunlight spilled across velvet curtains, golden rays dancing across the ceiling. Birds chirped outside, their melody soft and sweet.
Max stirred beneath silk sheets, groaning. His hand brushed the fabric and froze.
"…This…this isn't my blanket."
His eyes flew open. Chandeliers. Carved furniture. Walls painted in cream and gold. A bed so big it could house a family of four.
Memory rushed back—plane crash, void, system, reincarnation.
"Oh god. It wasn't a dream." He sat up, hair sticking in all directions. "I really…I really died. And now I'm Brad freaking Reinx."
He stumbled to the mirror again. His reflection glared back at him—flawless hair, golden eyes, cheekbones so sharp they could cut glass.
"…Nope. Still hot. Still rich. This is definitely not a dream."
He slapped his cheeks. "Alright, Max. New body, new world, new chance. Don't screw this up. You're not the bullied loser anymore—you're…a golden-eyed goddamn prince!"
The door creaked open.
"Good morning, Young Master," said the butler, bowing deeply. Behind him, two maids trailed in, carrying silver trays stacked with food.
Max's jaw dropped. Bacon. Eggs. Sausages. Fresh bread. Fruits. Soup. Steak—steak—for breakfast.
His stomach growled like an angry beast.
"Holy mother of calories…"
"Young Master?" the butler asked cautiously.
Max snapped upright. "I mean—uh, yes! Yes, of course. I'll…consume this food most…regally."
He sat at the table, fumbling with his utensils. He stabbed at a sausage, barely missing it as the maids exchanged looks.
Inside, Max panicked. Okay, act noble. Act rich. How would Brad Reinx eat?
The System chimed.
[ Advice: Lift your pinky finger when drinking liquids. It raises Affection Points with nobles by 0.2%. ]
Max squinted at the glowing words. Are you kidding me?
He raised his teacup, pinky finger extended like a broken antenna.
The butler's eyebrow twitched. The maids stifled giggles.
Max set the cup down. "Delicious. Just like…mother used to bribe the chefs into making."
Silence.
"…Smooth," he whispered to himself.
Ding.
[ Welcome to Tutorial Mode. As the Host of the Ascension System, you will complete quests to grow stronger. Failure to complete quests may result in punishment. ]
Max nearly spat his tea. "Punishment?! Wait, what kind of punishment?!"
[ Example: Loss of stats. Embarrassing public scenarios. Possible disintegration. ]
"…Possible WHAT?!"
[ Current Quest: Walk 100 steps outside your room without tripping. Reward: +1 Agility. Failure: Loss of dignity. ]
Max stared. Then burst out laughing. "Wait—my first quest is literally…walking? What am I, a toddler?!"
[ Yes. Statistically speaking, you are weaker than an average toddler in this world. ]
"…You didn't have to say it like that!"
The door burst open.
"Brad!"
Max flinched. A tall man strode into the room—sharp jawline, piercing eyes, the kind of presence that screamed authority. Behind him, a woman followed, elegant and graceful, eyes cold as winter.
Oh crap…are these Brad's parents?
"You overslept again," the man snapped. "Honestly, how long do you plan to live like this? Lazy, spoiled, incompetent—do you know how many people despise you?"
Max blinked. "…Good morning to you too, Dad?"
The man froze. The woman narrowed her eyes.
"…Dad?" she repeated.
Max coughed, scrambling. "I mean, Father! Father, dearest. And Mother, radiant as the morning sun."
Both parents exchanged suspicious glances.
Inside, Max screamed. Oh god, oh god, I'm blowing my cover!
The System chimed.
[ Advice: Compliment them further. Nobility thrives on flattery. ]
"Uh—Father, your…your hairline is looking very…very powerful today."
Silence.
The butler choked on air. The maids turned away to hide their laughter.
The father's eyebrow twitched violently. "…Powerful?"
"Yes!" Max forced a grin. "Like—like a mountain! Solid. Unyielding. A mountain of hair."
The mother sighed, rubbing her temples. "Brad…sometimes I wonder if sending you to etiquette classes was a waste of money."
Max wanted to crawl under the table and die. Again.
Ding.
[ New Quest Unlocked: Prove Your Worth. ]
[ Objective: Demonstrate courage within the city. ]
[ Reward: Unlock First Ability. Failure: Public humiliation event. ]
Max's face paled. "What do you mean public humiliation event?!"
[ Details: You will find out. ]
"…You're evil."
[ I am efficient. ]
Hours later, Max found himself stuffed into an absurdly expensive carriage, rolling toward the bustling city streets.
He peeked outside. Market stalls lined the roads, selling bread, jewelry, weapons. Children laughed, chasing each other. Guards patrolled in polished armor.
Max's jaw dropped. "This…this is insane. It's like I fell into an anime background."
The System chimed.
[ Reminder: You must demonstrate courage today. ]
"Yeah, yeah. Courage. Got it." He muttered, "Can't I just…I don't know, pet a dog really aggressively?"
[ Invalid. ]
The carriage stopped near the market square. Max stepped out, immediately overwhelmed by the noise and color.
Then he heard it.
"Stop, thief!"
A man in rags dashed through the crowd, clutching a woman's purse. Guards stumbled after him, too slow.
Max froze.
The System chimed.
[ Courage Opportunity Detected. Engage. ]
"…Engage?! Are you insane?! He has muscles the size of my head! I'll die!"
[ Failure will result in humiliation. ]
Max whimpered. Why me…
Before he could think, his legs moved. He stumbled into the street, arms flailing. "H-HEY! STOP, YOU CRIMINAL SCUM!"
The thief blinked. The crowd blinked. Even the guards blinked.
The thief barreled toward him. Max screamed.
At the last second, he tripped on a cobblestone and fell face-first.
The thief didn't have time to dodge. His foot caught Max's back, and with a loud CRACK, he tumbled forward, crashing into the dirt.
The purse flew into the air and landed safely in the arms of its owner.
The crowd gasped.
"Brad Reinx…caught the thief?!"
Max groaned, face buried in dirt. "Ow…owowow…"
The guards swarmed in, grabbing the thief. The woman sobbed, thanking Max profusely. The crowd began cheering.
Max sat up slowly, spitting dirt. "…Totally…part of my plan…"
Ding.
[ Quest Completed. ]
[ Reward Granted: First Ability Unlocked. ]
[ Ability: Beginner's Strength – Your punches are 2x stronger than a normal human's. ]
Max's eyes widened. "Wait…I actually got something?! Holy crap, I'm a superhero now!"
He flexed dramatically, then immediately pulled a muscle.
"…Ow."
The crowd clapped anyway.
High above, on a balcony overlooking the square, a shadowed figure watched. Their lips curled into a smirk.
"So…the spoiled brat finally shows his fangs. Interesting."
Back in the carriage, Max clutched his aching back, grinning despite the pain.
"I…I actually did it. I survived my first quest. I'm alive. I'm…a hero?"
The System chimed.
[ Correction: You are still pathetic. ]
"…You know what? Screw you."
He laughed anyway. For the first time since his death, Max felt something warm inside.
Hope.