The cherry blossoms were in full bloom, marking the start of the eleventh grade at Kyoto Prefectural High School. While other students laughed and discussed their summer breaks, Lucen Bai stood alone in the hallway, staring blankly at a crumpled letter in his hand.
It was a final notice from the bank. His family's small business had collapsed, leaving them buried under a mountain of debt. His parents had always worked themselves to the bone to provide for him, but now, even his tuition was in jeopardy. The prestigious school halls, once a symbol of his bright future, now felt like a prison. He felt a suffocating pressure in his chest—a feeling of total helplessness. What could a mere student do against a debt of millions?
Just as Lucen leaned against the lockers, his vision blurred. A sharp, crystalline sound—like a glass shattering—echoed in his mind.
[Ding! Detecting a host with a compatible 'Despair Frequency'...]
[Scanning Soul... Match Confirmed.]
[The 'Infinite Balance System' is now initializing...]
A sleek, obsidian-black interface materialized in the air, visible only to him.
[Binding Successful. Welcome, Lucen Bai.]
[Current Balance: ∞ (Infinite)]
[System Note: Your journey toward immortality has begun. Remember, every cent spent is a step toward divinity—but wealth always demands a price.]
Lucen stared at the floating screen, his heart hammering against his ribs. The digits next to his balance didn't show a number; they showed the symbol for infinity. Before he could even process the shock, a new notification flared in a deep, urgent crimson.
[Urgent Mission: The First Transaction]
[Objective: Spend 100,000,000 Yen within 24 hours.]
[Current Progress: 0 / 100,000,000]
[Failure Penalty: Immediate System Unbinding and Permanent Memory Wipe.]
[Reward: 10 Unassigned Stat Points.]
A hundred million yen... in a single day? To anyone else, it was an impossible fortune, but to Lucen, it was a lifeline. He didn't hesitate. Ignoring the confused glances of his classmates, he raced out of the school gates, his fingers flying across his phone screen as he logged into his family's debt portal.
With a single tap, he authorized a transfer that would have taken his father thirty years of back-breaking labor to complete.
[Processing Payment...]
[Transaction Confirmed: 85,000,000 Yen transferred to Tokyo National Bank.]
[Remaining Mission Balance: 15,000,000 Yen.]
[Time Remaining: 23 Hours, 42 Minutes.]
As the "Mission In-Progress" bar filled up, Lucen looked at the Reward section. 10 Stat Points. He knew what that meant. In this world, money was power, but with the System, money was literally strength, speed, and intelligence.
He still had fifteen million yen to burn before the timer hit zero. If he wanted those points to upgrade his body, he had to find a way to spend the rest—and fast.
Lucen sat on a park bench, his breath hitching as he looked at the countdown. He had 15,000,000 Yen remaining and zero interest in luxury goods or physical items. He pulled out his phone and launched Free Fire. If he was going to burn a fortune, he would do it in the world where he felt most at home.
He didn't look at the prices. He didn't check the bundles. Lucen tapped the "Top-Up" button repeatedly, authorized by the System's infinite backing.
Click. [+5,600 Diamonds]
Click. [+5,600 Diamonds]
The notifications became a continuous chime. Soon, the standard top-up methods were too slow. He bypassed the limits, buying millions of diamonds at once. His in-game mail was flooded with receipts, and his diamond count spiraled into the tens of millions—a number no player in the history of the game had ever held at once.
The global server stuttered for a moment as the "Top-Up Leaderboard" updated. The name 'Lucen_Bai' skyrocketed to the #1 spot, surpassing professional players and billionaire streamers in a matter of seconds.
As the final yen was converted into digital currency, the System screen flashed a triumphant gold.
[Ding! 100,000,000 Yen spent successfully!]
[Mission Status: Complete.]
[Calculating Rewards...]
[Reward Distributed: 10 Unassigned Stat Points have been added to your Soul Interface.]
Lucen leaned back, his heart finally slowing down. His family's debt was gone, and his Free Fire account was now the most valuable digital asset on the planet. But more importantly, he felt a strange, humming power vibrating deep within his bones—the 10 stat points were waiting.
Lucen focused his mind on the glowing interface, the air around him humming with static.
[Assigning 5 Points to Strength...]
[Assigning 5 Points to Agility...]
The transformation was violent and swift. His muscle fibers tightened, becoming as dense as steel cable, while his vision slowed down, allowing him to track the descent of a falling leaf as if it were moving through water. With 5 points in each, he had surpassed the physical limits of a world-class athlete overnight.
When Lucen walked toward school the next morning, the world felt different. Every digital screen in the city—from the giant displays in Shibuya to the small phones in the hands of commuters—was dominated by one story.
"FINANCIAL ANOMALY: 1.5 CRORE RUPEES SPENT IN MINUTES!"
The news anchors were breathless. "An unidentified user, 'Lucen_Bai,' has shattered every record in digital history. In a single hour, this 'Ghost Whale' funneled 100 million Yen—roughly 1.5 Crore—into a gaming account. Banks are scrambling to trace the source, and the internet has dubbed him the 'Invisible Tycoon.'"
At school, the atmosphere was chaotic. Students were screaming in the cafeteria, showing off the screenshots of the global leaderboard.
"1.5 Crore!" one student yelled, banging his desk. "Who spends that kind of money on skins and diamonds?! He could have bought a fleet of luxury cars, but he spent it on Free Fire just because he could!"
Lucen walked past them, his movements silent and effortless thanks to his new Agility stats. He sat at his desk, his expression a mask of calm. Just yesterday, these people looked at him with pity because of his family's debt. Today, they were unknowingly worshipping the very person they used to ignore.
The cherry blossoms were in full bloom, marking the start of the eleventh grade at Kyoto Prefectural High School. While other students laughed and discussed their summer breaks, Lucen Bai stood alone in the hallway, staring blankly at a crumpled letter in his hand.
It was a final notice from the bank. His family's small business had collapsed, leaving them buried under a mountain of debt. His parents had always worked themselves to the bone to provide for him, but now, even his tuition was in jeopardy. The prestigious school halls, once a symbol of his bright future, now felt like a prison. He felt a suffocating pressure in his chest—a feeling of total helplessness. What could a mere student do against a debt of millions?
The System Awakening:
Just as Lucen leaned against the lockers, his vision blurred. A sharp, crystalline sound—like a glass shattering—echoed in his mind.
[Ding! Detecting a host with a compatible 'Despair Frequency'...]
[Scanning Soul... Match Confirmed.]
[The 'Infinite Balance System' is now initializing...]
A sleek, obsidian-black interface materialized in the air, visible only to him.
[Binding Successful. Welcome, Lucen Bai.]
[Current Balance: ∞ (Infinite)]
[System Note: Your journey toward immortality has begun. Remember, every cent spent is a step toward divinity—but wealth always demands a price.]
The Notification:
Lucen stared at the floating screen, his heart hammering against his ribs. The digits next to his balance didn't show a number; they showed the symbol for infinity. Before he could even process the shock, a new notification flared in a deep, urgent crimson.
[Urgent Mission: The First Transaction]
[Objective: Spend 100,000,000 Yen within 24 hours.]
[Current Progress: 0 / 100,000,000]
[Failure Penalty: Immediate System Unbinding and Permanent Memory Wipe.]
[Reward: 10 Unassigned Stat Points.]
The Action:
A hundred million yen... in a single day? To anyone else, it was an impossible fortune, but to Lucen, it was a lifeline. He didn't hesitate. Ignoring the confused glances of his classmates, he raced out of the school gates, his fingers flying across his phone screen as he logged into his family's debt portal.
With a single tap, he authorized a transfer that would have taken his father thirty years of back-breaking labor to complete.
[Processing Payment...]
[Transaction Confirmed: 85,000,000 Yen transferred to Tokyo National Bank.]
[Remaining Mission Balance: 15,000,000 Yen.]
[Time Remaining: 23 Hours, 42 Minutes.]
The Realization:
At school, Lucen was treated like a ghost. To the wealthy students, his poverty was contagious, and to the others, he was simply invisible. As he walked toward his locker, the whispers followed him—mocking his frayed uniform and his quiet demeanor.
"Lucen! You're late again!"
A clear, cheerful voice broke through the cold atmosphere. Mina Sato, his childhood friend, hurried toward him with a bright smile that didn't care about the social hierarchy of the school. She was the only person who still called his name, the only one who didn't look at him with pity or disgust. Despite her own family's modest means, she often tried to share her lunch with him, pretending she "wasn't that hungry" just so he wouldn't go the day with an empty stomach.
I heard the news about the debt being cleared," she whispered, her eyes shining with genuine relief as they reached their desks. "I don't know how it happened, Lucen, but I'm so happy for you. You don't have to look so worried anymore."
Lucen looked at her, his 5 points in Agility making him notice the small details he had missed before—the way she defended him when teachers were harsh, and the way she stayed his friend when everyone else walked away.
He reached into his bag and pulled out a sleek, high-end smartphone—the latest model that cost more than most students' tuition. He slid it across the desk toward her.
"Mina, take this," he said, his voice calm and steady.
Her eyes widened in shock. "Lucen, I can't! This is... where did you even get this? You should sell it and help your parents!"
Lucen leaned back, a newfound confidence radiating from him. "My parents are taken care of. From now on, things are going to be different. For me—and for you."
Amidst the cold stares of the elite students, Mina Sato was the only warmth Lucen had ever known. She was the girl who had shared her umbrella with him during the rainy days of middle school and the only one who never laughed at his family's struggles.
As they sat together in the quiet corner of the school library, Lucen looked at her. With his increased Agility and Strength, he noticed the tiny details—the way she tucked a stray hair behind her ear and the tired look in her eyes from working a part-time job to help her own family. He felt a surge of protectiveness. He didn't just want to be rich; he wanted her to be the happiest girl in the world.
As his feelings stirred, the obsidian screen shimmered into existence, glowing with a soft, romantic rose-gold hue.
[Ding! Specialized Mission Triggered: The Sovereign's Muse.]
[Objective: Win the heart of Mina Sato and elevate her life.]
[Current Goal: Increase Affection Level to 50% through 'Meaningful Expenditure'.]
[Task: Spend 15 Crore INR on gifts, experiences, and security for her.]
[Time Limit: 72 Hours (Love cannot be rushed).]
[Reward: 30 Stat Points and the Passive Skill: 'Charm of the Absolute'.]
Lucen didn't want to scare her by dumping 15 Crore all at once. He had to be smooth. He pulled out a small, elegantly wrapped box—not a phone, but a piece of jewelry that looked like a simple star-shaped necklace. In reality, it was a custom-ordered piece from a world-renowned designer he had commissioned just minutes ago.
"Mina," he said softly, his voice more confident than she had ever heard it. "You've always been by my side when I had nothing. Now that things are changing... I want you to be the first person to share it with me."
As he fastened the necklace around her neck, a notification popped up:
[Affection Level: 15% -> 22%]
[1,000,000 Yen Spent. Remaining: 999,000,000 Yen.]
The peace of the library was shattered as Kenji Ryu, the son of a wealthy real estate tycoon and the school's most notorious bully, walked in with his group of followers. He slammed a hand on Lucen and Mina's table, his eyes lingering mockingly on the star-shaped necklace Lucen had just given her.
"Is this what we're doing now, Mina? Hanging out with the 'Debt King'?" Kenji laughed, pulling out a jewelry box of his own. Inside was a diamond ring that glowed under the library lights. "Throw that trash away. This costs more than Lucen's entire life. Come with me to the rooftop party tonight, and I'll forget you ever associated with this loser."
Mina's face flushed with anger, her hand instinctively clutching the necklace Lucen gave her. "It's not trash, Kenji. And I'm not going anywhere with you."
Kenji's smile turned into a sneer. He reached out to grab Mina's wrist, but before he could even blink, his hand was caught in a grip like a vice. Lucen hadn't even stood up, yet his hand was wrapped around Kenji's wrist.
[System Note: 5 Points in Strength and Agility active.]
"You're making her uncomfortable," Lucen said, his voice dropping to a dangerous, icy level.
Kenji struggled to pull away, his face turning red. "Let go of me! Do you have any idea who my father is? One phone call and I'll have your family back on the streets!"
Lucen released him with a flick of his wrist that sent Kenji stumbling back into a bookshelf. Lucen then pulled out his phone and tapped the screen a few times.
"Your father owns the 'Ryu Grand Hotel' downtown, right?" Lucen asked calmly.
"Yeah! And he's—" Kenji started, but his phone suddenly began to vibrate. It was a call from his father. Kenji answered, his smug expression quickly turning into one of pure terror.
"What do you mean we lost the hotel?!" Kenji screamed into the phone. "Someone bought the entire debt and the building in cash? Who?!"
Lucen stood up, towering over the trembling Kenji. The System screen flashed in Lucen's eyes.
[Transaction Confirmed: 10 Crore INR (1.3 Billion Yen) spent on 'Ryu Grand Hotel' Acquisition.]
[Affection Level with Mina: 22% -> 35%]
[Mission Progress: 11 Crore / 15 Crore.]
Lucen leaned in close to Kenji's ear. "I just bought your father's pride. If you ever speak to Mina again, I'll buy the house you sleep in and turn it into a parking lot. Now, get out."
Lucen ignored the luxury watches and the expensive cars. He spent the remaining 4 Crore on the everyday things that would make Mina's daily life effortless and beautiful.
He didn't just buy gowns; he bought dozens of high-quality school uniforms, soft cashmere sweaters, and daily dresses. He made sure she had a pair of shoes for every occasion—from comfortable sneakers for walking to school to elegant heels for the future.
He bought her a lifetime supply of the world's best skincare, perfumes, and hair products. He wanted her to never have to "save" her good soap for a special occasion again.
He replaced her old, frayed school bag with a handcrafted leather one that looked simple to a stranger but cost as much as a small car.
He even ordered a new, high-end ergonomic desk, a top-tier laptop for her studies, and the softest bedding imaginable to be delivered to her room.
As the final transaction for a set of simple but diamond-encrusted hairpins went through, the System's voice boomed.
[Transaction Confirmed: 15 Crore INR total spent on 'The Sovereign's Muse'.]
[Mission Status: 100% COMPLETE.]
[Rewarding Host: 30 Stat Points.]
[Skill Unlocked: 'Abyssal Pressure'.]
Lucen stood in the middle of the mall, surrounded by shopping bags that were all for her. As he allocated the 30 Points (10 Strength, 10 Agility, 10 Intelligence), his presence shifted. He became taller, his shoulders broader, and his eyes sharper.
[Affection Level: 49.9% — On the Verge.]
Mina looked at the mountain of bags, then up at Lucen. She looked like a different person in her new, perfectly fitted coat, but her eyes were still the same ones that had stayed loyal to him.
"Lucen... why are you doing all of this just for me?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Lucen took a step closer. With his 15 Agility, his movement was so smooth it was almost hypnotic. He reached out and gently fastened one of the new hairpins into her hair.
"Because when I had nothing, you were the only thing I had," he said. "Now that I have everything, you're the only one I want to give it to."
The Monday morning sun hit the school gates of Kyoto Prefectural High. Usually, Lucen arrived early to avoid the crowds, but today, he arrived exactly when the hallways were the most crowded.
A sleek, matte-black SUV pulled up to the curb. When the door opened, the usual chatter of the students died down into a suffocating silence. First, Lucen stepped out. He wasn't wearing anything flashy—just his standard school uniform—but the way it fit his 15-Stat Strength physique made him look like a model on a runway. His presence, boosted by the dormant Abyssal Pressure, made people instinctively part ways for him.
Then, he turned and reached a hand back into the car. Mina stepped out, and a collective gasp echoed through the courtyard.
She was wearing the same school uniform as everyone else, but the quality was undeniable. The fabric shimmered with a subtle, expensive luster, and her new leather bag bore a logo that most students only saw in magazines. She looked radiant, her confidence bolstered by the fact that Lucen was standing firmly by her side.
Chloe Hina, the wealthiest girl in the 11th grade and the leader of the school's social elite, stepped forward, her face twisted in a mixture of jealousy and confusion.
"Wait a minute," Chloe laughed shrilly, pointing at Mina's new shoes. "Is that a Le Valse original? Those are limited edition. There's no way a charity case like you could afford those. They must be high-quality fakes from the street market, right?"
The crowd began to titter. Chloe felt empowered. She walked closer, intending to grab Mina's shoulder. "Did you think wearing a fake logo would make us treat you like an equal, Mina? You're still just—"
Chloe's hand froze mid-air. Lucen didn't even touch her, but he shifted his gaze toward her.
[Skill Activated: Abyssal Pressure - 1% Output]
The air around Chloe seemed to turn into lead. Her heart skipped a beat, and a cold sweat broke out on her forehead. She felt a primal urge to run, as if she were standing in front of a predator.
Lucen pulled out his phone and tapped a button. Seconds later, Chloe's phone chimed. It was a public notification from the boutique's official social media page, tagging its newest VIP client.
"We are honored to serve Miss Mina Sato. Total acquisition: The entire Autumn/Winter collection. Verified Authenticity: 100%."
"It's not a fake, Chloe," Lucen said, his voice quiet but carrying to every ear in the courtyard. "But your attitude? That's definitely cheap. From now on, if you want to speak to Mina, you'll have to ask for my permission first."
[Affection Level: 49.9% -> 55%]
[Ding! Goal Reached! Relationship Status Updated: "Close Partners".]
[Hidden Reward Unlocked: 'The Sovereign's Protection' (Passive Aura).]
Lucen sat on the rooftop with Mina, away from the prying eyes and whispers of the school. He was calmly eating the gourmet lunch his new private chef had prepared, enjoying the quiet moment of Mina's laughter. She was showing him the thousands of friend requests she had received since the morning, but Lucen's focus was elsewhere.
As Lucen stood in the center of the school's high-tech computer lab, the air began to hum with a low-frequency vibration. The purple interface expanded, covering the walls with cascading lines of golden code.
[Ding! Third Mission Initiated: The Digital Monopoly.]
[Requirement: Spend 1,000 Crore INR within the Virtual Realm.]
[Hidden Condition Met: The Host has embraced the true nature of the 'Infinite Balance'.]
[Initial Skill 'Abyssal Pressure' is being integrated into the Origin Skill...]
[Title Skill Unlocked: "THE COST OF IMMORTALITY: MY INFINITE BALANCE SYSTEM"]