Chapter 1 of I refused system
Chapter 1: The Lightning That Changed Everything
The year was 2026.
A boy named Haruto walked side by side with his best friend Riku, both heading toward their first day at university. The morning sun was warm, the streets were alive with chatter, and their futures seemed certain.
But fate had other plans.
As they crossed the campus gate, the sky suddenly darkened. A thundercloud rumbled above, heavy and menacing.
"Eh? The forecast didn't say anything about rain," Riku muttered, tilting his head.
In the next instant—
⚡ CRASH!
A bolt of lightning shot down from the heavens, aiming straight at Riku.
"Riku!!" Haruto screamed, throwing himself forward without thinking. He pushed his friend aside, but before he could dodge—
⚡ The lightning struck him instead.
Blinding light swallowed Haruto. His body froze, pain surged through every nerve, and then—his vision shattered into fragments.
"Ha—Haruto!!" Riku's scream echoed as his best friend's body vanished, leaving nothing but scorched ground.
Riku collapsed to his knees, trembling in shock. He's gone…? No… he vanished?!
When Haruto opened his eyes again, the world had changed.
He was lying in the middle of a dense forest, its air filled with the sound of cicadas and rustling leaves.
"W-what the hell…? Where… am I?"
Before he could even process, a glowing blue screen appeared in front of him:
[Welcome, traveler. Do you wish to bind the System?]
[Yes / No]
Haruto blinked. "A… a system? Like in games?"
Before he could think properly—
ROAR!
From the bushes, a filthy green goblin jumped out, drool dripping from its mouth and a rusty dagger in its hand.
"G-Goblin?! No way, this can't be real!!"
Panicked, Haruto reached for the floating screen to select "Yes"—but in his frenzy, his finger accidentally pressed "No."
The screen flickered—
[System declined. You are now… on your own.]
"Wait, what?! No no no no no!!"
The goblin screeched and lunged. Haruto's legs moved on instinct—he scrambled backward, grabbing the only thing near him: a broken tree branch.
"D-don't come any closer!!"
The goblin swung its blade, forcing Haruto to retreat. His heart pounded, his hands trembled, and in desperation he did the only thing he could think of—
He ran and climbed up a nearby tree.
From the branches, he looked down, breathing hard, the goblin snarling below as it tried to claw its way up.
Haruto gulped.
"…I messed up. Big time."
Perched high in the tree, Haruto trembled as the goblin screeched below. He gripped the branch tightly, sweat dripping from his forehead.
Then, before his eyes, the glowing blue screen returned.
[Notification: You have refused the System.]
[Judgment: Those who reject the divine gift will be punished.]
Suddenly, the sky above cracked open—an enormous bolt of divine lightning formed, brighter than the sun itself. Haruto's eyes widened.
"N-no way… again?!"
The lightning roared down toward him—
But the moment it touched the forest's edge, a golden barrier flared up. Sparks exploded, the forest groaned, and the holy lightning was repelled.
Haruto stared in shock. "W-what… saved me?"
The system screen glitched violently, then shattered like glass into countless fragments.
[System permanently removed.]
Haruto blinked. "…It's… gone? For real?"
He exhaled, trembling with relief. "Guess I'm safe after all—"
But then—
A voice boomed inside his mind. Deep. Ancient. Resentful.
"Finally… someone who refused the leash of the Gods."
Haruto froze. "W-who's there?!"
The voice chuckled darkly.
"Listen well, child. That so-called 'System' was never a gift. It was a cage. The Gods created it not to bless mortals, but to chain them. To make them strong quickly—only to make sure their strength can never surpass the Gods. Those who accept it… become nothing more than loyal dogs."
Haruto's heart raced. "Then… I almost—"
"Yes. You almost became their puppet."
The voice grew heavier, filled with rage and sorrow.
"I am the Demon God, the one who defied the heavens. Stronger than all the Gods combined. But their holy power—a power that weakens all demons—was their dirty trick. First, they slaughtered my kind. Then, they turned their weapons on me. I fought… I killed… but in the end, I was defeated."
Haruto gritted his teeth, feeling the weight of the story.
"Before I fell, I sacrificed half my essence. With it, I forged Holy Resistance—a shield against the gods' cruel power. That fragment has slumbered, waiting for one who would reject their lies. That one… is you."
The voice thundered louder.
"Know this: in this world, the weakest monster is stronger than a hundred knights. And yet… you, Haruto, have inherited the power to resist the very heavens."
Haruto's eyes widened as a faint black flame flickered in his chest—warm, heavy, and terrifying.
"…So I… I'm not powerless after all."
Below, the goblin shrieked again, trying to climb the tree. But now, Haruto looked down with different eyes.
Haruto clung to the branch, his heart still pounding. The strange voice echoed in his mind, carrying both sorrow and strength.
"Child who rejected the Gods… from this moment, I grant you my legacy. The chains that bind mortals to heaven shall not touch you. Instead—you will inherit the Anti-God System, a system forged not by the Gods, but by me."
Suddenly, black light surged around Haruto's body. A crimson screen unlike the glowing blue "God system" appeared before him. The letters burned like fire:
[Anti-God System Activated.]
[Bearer: Haruto]
[Connection: Demon God's Will]
Haruto's eyes widened. "Anti… God System?!"
The voice laughed, deep and grim.
"Yes. This is power not to serve the Gods… but to defy them. And with it, I gift you my first five blessings."
The crimson screen flickered, and one by one, the skills revealed themselves in glowing letters.
1. [Chains of Imprisonment]
Black chains formed from demonic will. They bind enemies, suppressing both body and mana. Even divine beings can be shackled.
Haruto felt a heavy aura wrap around his arms for a second, like invisible chains rattling at his command.
2. [Holy Resistance]
Resistance against all holy and divine powers. The lightning of the Gods will never harm you again.
Haruto's body pulsed with warmth, as if a shield was now flowing in his blood.
3. [Ruler Authority]
A power that enforces dominion. Your will becomes law within your presence. The weak must kneel.
Haruto's heartbeat thundered. He almost felt the air around him bend slightly, as though the forest itself acknowledged him.
4. [Demon Aura]
Release overwhelming demonic energy that crushes enemies with fear. A force that reveals the truth of who stands before them.
For an instant, the goblin below screamed and stumbled back, shivering as if sensing the predator above it.
5. [Demon Presence]
Conceal yourself in the shadows or project yourself as an unstoppable terror. A presence that distorts the battlefield itself.
Haruto's own figure flickered, his body seemingly vanishing for a moment before reappearing.
The crimson screen faded, but the power within Haruto only grew stronger.
"Th-these skills… they're insane…" Haruto whispered, staring at his trembling hands.
The voice of the Demon God thundered once more:
"Now, child… prove yourself. Use my gifts, and survive this world of blades and magic. Defy the heavens… or be crushed beneath them."
Below, the goblin shrieked again, stabbing its rusty dagger into the tree as it climbed toward Haruto.
Haruto's eyes narrowed. This time, he didn't feel helpless.
The goblin screeched, climbing higher up the trunk with its jagged dagger raised. Haruto's pulse quickened, but this time he raised his right hand.
"Let's see what these chains can do…"
His arm trembled—and then, like shadows bursting free, five chains of pure darkness erupted from his hand. They rattled with a metallic echo that shook the air itself.
The goblin froze, sensing death. Too late.
Four chains snapped forward like snakes, wrapping around its arms and legs. The goblin shrieked, thrashing, but the chains only tightened, grinding its bones.
The fifth chain pulsed with killing intent. Haruto's eyes locked onto the goblin's chest.
"…Pierce."
The fifth chain shot forward, slicing through the goblin's body. It punched straight through its heart.
SHHHKK!
The goblin's body twitched violently before collapsing, lifeless, as the chains dissolved back into Haruto's arm.
Haruto gasped, staring at his trembling hand. "I… I actually killed it…"
The moment the goblin's corpse hit the ground, a faint blue light rose from its chest, crystallizing into a small glowing shard. It floated before Haruto's eyes until he caught it in his palm.
[Monster Crystal Acquired: Goblin Shard]
"A… crystal?" Haruto muttered.
Just then, the Demon God's voice returned, echoing across his mind.
"Well done, child. That was your first kill. Now, learn this truth: in this world, monsters and demons are not the same."
Haruto frowned, listening carefully.
"Demons… we are born from darkness itself. Our strength grows the longer we live. Even the weakest demon child can someday surpass knights simply through time. Monsters, however, are different. They do not age into power. Instead, they grow stronger only by killing—and when they fall, their strength crystallizes into these shards you now hold."
Haruto clenched the glowing Goblin Shard in his hand.
"By absorbing these crystals, monsters evolve. And because you are the bearer of the Anti-God System, you alone may choose: absorb them to grow like a monster, cultivate strength like a demon, or train your body like a human. Or… take the path no being has ever taken: all three at once."
Haruto's eyes widened. "Three… ways to grow?"
The crimson screen appeared before him again:
[Growth Paths Unlocked]
Human Path – Train body, skills, and mana like a human. Steady growth, unlimited potential. Demon Path – Grow stronger with age and through the Demon God's inheritance. Dark powers deepen endlessly. Monster Path – Absorb crystals of slain monsters to evolve rapidly. Risk of corruption increases. Hybrid Path – Walk all three paths at once. Unstable. Dangerous. But limitless.
Haruto stared at the screen, his chest burning with both fear and excitement.
"…Human. Demon. Monster. And even… all of them at once."
His lips curved into a shaky grin.
"So that's my choice, huh? My way to survive."
The Demon God's voice rumbled darkly:
"Yes, child. But remember… each choice comes with its own price. What will you become? A hero? A demon? Or something far more terrifying?"
Haruto looked down at the goblin's corpse, then at the shard in his hand.
"…Guess I'll find out soon enough."
End of chapter 1