The monster's roar split the sky like thunder.
A black serpent, its scales cracked with crimson light, coiled above the Academy towers.
Its eyes glowed with hunger — or perhaps rage.
The streets below filled with panic. Students screamed. Spells fired wildly into the air.
But amidst the chaos, one figure stood still.
Rei Asakura.
His long coat flapped in the wind as the corrupted beast descended, the heat of its breath washing over the city square.
> [Mission: Defeat the Corrupted Familiar.]
[Danger Level: B+]
[Warning: Emotional contamination detected.]
"Emotional contamination?" Rei muttered. "How convenient."
He jumped high, his movements sharp and precise, landing on a collapsing roof.
From below, Aria yelled, "What are you doing?! That thing will kill you!"
He glanced down at her, expression flat.
"Good. At least something's trying."
Then he raised his right hand.
Dark energy surged — the same aura from before, now spiraling faster, denser.
It wasn't mana. It wasn't divine. It was rejection made real.
The system flickered violently.
> [Skill: Harem Hatred – Level 2 Activated]
[Effect: Corrupts nearby emotional energy, converting it into destructive force.]
The serpent dove.
Rei slashed his black blade upward, meeting the monster's strike head-on.
For a moment, the world went silent—then exploded in a shockwave of black and red light.
The serpent howled, staggering back, its body trembling as cracks spread across its scales.
Aria covered her face, trying to withstand the blast of wind.
"What is that power…?"
Leon, still on the ground, stared in disbelief. "That's not hero magic… that's—"
Before he could finish, the system's voice interrupted again — but this time, not just in Rei's head.
> [Unauthorized Data Detected.]
[Emotion Field — collapsing.]
[Administrator override required.]
And far beyond the sky, in the silent digital void…
A figure of pure light sat before countless glowing screens.
Eyes made of data observed the battle with quiet fascination.
"Impossible," the voice said softly.
"He's corrupting the emotional matrix itself… he shouldn't be able to do that."
The shadow beside her spoke, its tone almost amused.
"He's rejecting what drives the world — love, desire, connection. That kind of will… can overwrite any system."
Back in the city, Rei landed heavily, the corrupted serpent thrashing weakly behind him.
Its last cry echoed, then faded into dust.
> [Mission Complete.]
[Reward: ??? Locked.]
[System Stability: -7%.]
Rei exhaled slowly, the blade dissolving from his hand.
He looked up at the fading clouds, his voice almost a whisper.
"So… every time I reject this world, it breaks a little more."
Aria approached cautiously.
"You saved everyone… even if you don't want to admit it."
He didn't reply.
Because deep inside, he already knew the truth — the system didn't want a hero.
It
wanted a slave to its illusion of love.
And Rei Asakura…
was the first to say no.