'I did it again'
When everything was over, he let himself sit on the ground. His joints burned, and his body was covered in scratches. The state he was in was so chaotic that a single notification flashed on the screen in front of Vio, distracting him from the others.
[Health]
Overall Health: 56%
Malfunctions: Various wounds of varying depths detected.
Knees: Damage state: 87%
Right ribs: Damage state: 89%
Shoulders: Damage state: 68%
What followed was a stream of text that made Vio's head spin. It felt like the system was giving him a painfully detailed report—far more precise than the pain coursing through his body at the moment.
But what would truly enrage him was the final line.
It is recommended to enable 'Micro Repair' or 'Instant Repair.'
Cost of 'Micro Repair': 53 EP | Estimated completion time: 1 hour.
Cost of 'Instant Repair': 83 Plastic, 31 Metal, 9 Steel.
'Are you kidding me, system? What happens if I don't pick either option?'
[HP will not regenerate automatically.]
[Note: The system strongly advises against ignoring the hero's body condition.]
'It's not like I have a choice. I don't have the resources or energy, anyway.'
Dismissing the matter, he scanned surroundings and found blood covering him entirely, with the corpse of his enemy lying nearby.
"It's fine... it's fine," Vio muttered, sighing and patting his chest. "He's the one who made me do this."
Vio—the calm and composed one. That's how everyone saw him. A man untouched by grudges or hatred, no matter what words were thrown his way or what actions were taken against him.
To Vio, nothing mattered more than money.
A faint smile would tug at Vio's lips whenever he heard that description of himself. How could it not? That carefully crafted image was his own creation—a lie he'd sown for the sake of his silent, ruthless revenge. His vengeance came like a shadow, unnoticed until it struck. And once it was done, he vanished, leaving no trace behind.
He loathed psychopaths, despised them with every fiber of his being. The moment his eyes locked with Zaves's, he knew—he could see the monster lurking within. Still, Vio stayed calm, rational. He had to, especially when retreat was an option. But that composure cracked as anger simmered beneath the surface. Zaves's attempt to pin the blood of the villagers on him stoked the flames.
To make matters worse, the Mountain Kings would inevitably discover he was alive. Killing Zaves wasn't just logical; it was necessary—and Vio resolved to do it in the most brutal way imaginable.
This was what Vio knew—or what his mind allowed to.
Ask him why protected Shama, though, and his expression would freeze, his words stumbling over an answer he couldn't find.
Instead, he'd deflect. Zaves was a psychopath, he'd say, and nothing wounds a psychopath more than being denied what they desire.
And what Zaves desired was Shama. So, Vio protected her.
But why protect her sister too? Why save the villagers?
One part of him whispered, Because of the mission.
Another sneered, Just to spite the psychopath.
Yet deep in his heart, there was a seed that had been planted long ago by his father and nurtured, day by day, by Sarah. But life, with all its cruelty, had never allowed it to bloom.
Once Vio felt emotions had settled and thoughts were in order, he was ready for what was coming.
'System, don't raise my blood pressure. Show me the messages one at a time.'
Obeying his command, the words began appearing.
[Mission 'Kill or Be Killed' completed successfully.]
[Grade: E.]
[All rewards will be multiplied by 2.]
[Rewards obtained: 2000XP, 26 Plastic, 68 Metal, 10 Steel, 10 points.]
'Are you joking? Okay, I know I blew a big chance to kill him the first time, but an E? Isn't that a bit harsh?'
His thoughts drifted to how the system probably evaluated the fight based on the first punch he threw at Zaves. He couldn't deny it was the biggest opportunity he'd had. If he'd been more focused on catching him off guard, it would've ended there.
[Mission 'Kill or Be Killed' depends on eliminating the enemy in the fastest and most logical way. The grade reflects only how successfully the hero achieved this.]
'Are you a recording tape? Speaking of which, stop recording.'
[Recording stopped.]
'And yeah, I know what a grade means, but an E? Come on now.'
[If the hero wanted a higher grade, he should have focused on defeating his enemy instead of saving others.]
'Ah, that's the problem, man... Wait, there was a mission that required saving them!'
[That's one mission, and that's another.]
Vio's eyes widened, and his heart raced.
'A-Are you telling me I could get missions with conflicting objectives?'
[The probability of this happening is high, yes.]
'W-What if I get two conflicting missions, and both punish me by stopping my heart—d-doesn't that just mean I die?'
[Correct.]
'What am I supposed to do in that situation?'
[Nothing.]
'You bastard, didn't you say you were a system designed to serve me? What kind of service is that?'
[The system will ensure you are remembered.]
'Remember your mother, you son of a—'
Vio inhaled sharply and exhaled in frustration, trying to calm himself.
The system understood logic, data, and probabilities. It said probability, not certain. Besides, considering the old man placed Vio in this world, there had to be a purpose. It would be absurd for something like that to happen.
With these thoughts, Vio reassured himself that it wouldn't.
He reviewed the mission of killing demons that had never been closely examined before.
[Assessing the demon's strength... complete.]
Suddenly, the text before him changed, revealing XP he would receive.
[Mission 'Death to the Demons']
Type: Urgent
Requirements: Encounter a demon.
Restrictions: None
Description:
A hero's eternal mission has always been, and will always be, to slay the Demon King. But no race ends with a single step—it requires many.
Objective:
Take the first step. The hero must kill the demon.
Rewards for Mission Completion:
20,000XP.
13 Plastic
34 Metal
5 Steel
5 Points
Side Note:
Demons feed on hatred, suffering, and the misery of others. They must be destroyed in the most brutal way possible. The hero will receive a secondary evaluation—the more the demon suffers, the higher the secondary rating. Ensure the demon knows pain.
[Mission 'Death to the Demons' completed.]
[Grade: A.]
[All rewards will be multiplied by 6.]
[Rewards obtained: 120,000XP, 78 Plastic, 204 Metal, 30 Steel, 30 points.]
Vio couldn't help but be shocked by the system's sudden generosity. It had never given him an A grade before.
[The secondary evaluation will now be provided.]
'Oh, right, of course,' he muttered.
He had completely forgotten about the secondary evaluation, which was based on how much pain he had caused the demon. It was a reminder that what he'd done earlier was purely personal.
[Grade: B.]
[All rewards will be multiplied by 5.]
[Rewards obtained: 100,000XP, 65 Plastic, 170 Metal, 25 Steel, 25 points.]
A debuff had been placed on Zaves, making him feel even more pain. Adding to that was what Vio had done to him during the fight—and after. Even with all of that, the system didn't give him a perfect score.
'You need to get treatment, what more do you want me to do, should I have raped him?'
[That would have been a valid option.]
Vio glanced at Zaves's corpse, which, for some reason, was reduced to nothing but blackened bones.
'What just happened to him?'
[The hero is advised to stay focused.]
Ignoring the system, Vio examined the blackened bones. They looked like they'd been burned, leaving nothing but charred remains.
For a second, Vio pitied Zaves. In the next, he began searching his clothes, and all sympathy vanished.
He couldn't deny that this was one of his happiest moments—looting.
He found a key, three large bags filled with colorless stones, and a collection of pills and herbs he couldn't identify. Since he didn't know their use, converted them into system currency.
[10,000,000 coins obtained.]
His jaw dropped.
'Te-ten million? Are you serious? Were those things that valuable?'
For some reason, he felt he had rushed into converting them, but there was no use crying over spilled milk.
[Demon's Chest obtained.]
A smile spread across his face despite the lingering pain in his body. People were addicted to gacha games for a reason.
'Open.'
[Obtained: Demon's Soul, Demon's Bones, Purple Flame Scroll.]
'System, will I always get a chest when I kill a demon?'
[Correct.]
It's almost like the system had a personal grudge against demons.
When he held the items, the system didn't provide any information, which told him they weren't system items. The system, seemingly begrudgingly, gave him the names of the items—something it had never done before.
He realized he'd need the Eye to figure out what these were. Either way, he accepted the loot and stored everything in inventory. Free stuff was always the best.
With that done, he moved on to the next .
[Secret Mission Completed]
[First Demon Slain]
[Alam's Chest obtained.]
[You defeated someone stronger than you.]
[Alam's Chest obtained.]
'These chests are raining down all of a sudden. Open.'
Vio opened the first one and pulled out a card. Holding it revealed its details.
[Unknown Summoning Card]
A card that, when activated, requests someone to appear for a limited time.
Note: Their arrival depends on their willingness to respond.
Duration: 1 hour.
The card was marked with a question mark.
'This seems strange. Who's being summoned? And from where?'
He put it into inventory and ordered the second chest opened.
From it emerged a dagger shaped like the letter Z. It was truly majestic. The moment Vio held it, he felt as if it was fused to his grip. Again, the system didn't provide any information.
'Ugh, I need that Eye soon. This is unbearable.'
[1 XP obtained.]
[1 XP obtained.]
[1 XP obtained.]
[Calculation successful. Grade: F.]
[All rewards will be multiplied by 1.]
The cursed night continued, which meant the missions kept rewarding him—something that was starting to annoy.
'What's with these low grades? Are you discriminating against me?'
[If the hero steps out of the barrier, the evaluation will improve.]
Vio raised his head to look outside the barrier, where only fog could be seen. He swallowed hard, recalling the insane night he'd endured.
'Nope. I'm perfectly fine right here. Thanks.'
With that, he stopped complaining and ordered the system to gather everything had earned.
[Rewards obtained: 222,000XP, 169 Plastic, 442 Metal, 65 Steel, 65 points.]
[Level Up!]
A surge of energy revitalized him, though it didn't ease physical pain or mental fatigue.
'Show me my stats now.'
Name: Vio Kian
Age: 24 years (biological), 2 years (mechanical)
Level: 7 | XP: [102,398/800,000]
Rank: Proto-Cyborg
Titles: Skull Crusher
HP: 6,000/6,000 (100%)
EP: 34/100 (34%)
SP: 0/0 (Locked)
[Stats]
Strength: 36
Stamina: 31
Agility: 37
Intelligence: 31
Perception: 40
Endurance: 62
(Available points to distribute: 65)
Cores: Alpha
External Data: 40/100 MB
11,500,000 system coins
He couldn't help but feel proud as stats rose with every crazy fight he endured.
'Damn, this is addictive.'
As he considered his next step, felt a presence nearby. Turning, his eyes met those of a girl whose bright smile was almost too much for him to handle.
'Why is this girl always happy? Can't she see the bloody mess around her?'
He raised his hand, gesturing for her to stay back. The ground was littered with black bones and blood. Instead of retreating, the girl stepped closer.
'What's with the people in this world? I say stay back, and they move closer.'
Vio turned away avoiding her, but the girl followed him, walking right beside him.
'Oh, don't tell me she's fallen for me because I saved her. I really don't like people getting too close to me.'
As he tried to ignore her, hoping she'd get bored and leave, a sudden thought made him stop.
'Wait... is that why the demon was chasing her? Could she be the soul that's—'
While was thinking, he noticed something more important.
'The mission 'protect the village', where is my reward...'
A rumble echoed, interrupting his thoughts.
Grrrr, grrrrr.