The first thing Jerry heard that morning wasn't birds chirping or a gentle alarm tone.
It was shouting.
[Wake-Up Alert: You snooze, you lose... charm points.] "RISE, YOU SAUCY BAG OF BONES! TIME TO GET THICC!"
Jerry groaned into his pillow like it had personally betrayed him. "Why are you yelling like my future ex-wife?"
His blurry eyes cracked open just enough to see the System's glowing panel floating above his bed, pulsing aggressively.
Zen's voice echoed in his head. "He's learning."
Alric wasn't as generous. "He's still an idiot."
Ragnar's voice rumbled low and grim. "The iron awaits."
Still groggy, Jerry stumbled into the bathroom like a man making peace with death. As he flicked the light on, the mirror lit up with a glowing message.
[Daily Affirmation Required – Or Else]"Say it loud: I'm the baddest snack in the vending machine of fate."
He stared. "What in the Wattpad hell...?"
The panel blinked again, more insistent.
System: "Say it. Louder."✅ +0.5 Confidence✅ +1 Delusion
Jerry sighed, rubbed his face, and muttered, "I'm the baddest snack in the vending machine of fate."
Nothing.
"Fine," he grumbled, louder this time. "I'm the baddest snack in the vending machine of fate!"
The mirror sparkled. Jerry felt like he'd just sold a piece of his soul to a cringe god.
The walk to the campus gym felt like a death march. Jerry wasn't expecting much—maybe some dusty benches, a broken treadmill or two, and a few people getting their semester head-start.
Instead?
It was chaos. Beautiful, shredded chaos.
A couple of jacked guys—who honestly looked like they might be part-wolf—were casually curling actual tires like it was no big deal. On the treadmills nearby, two girls with cat-ear headbands were sprinting in sync, backwards, all while livestreaming and blowing kisses to their phones. And in the corner, a minotaur-looking dude—yes, horns and all—was holding a plank so perfect and so still, Jerry was pretty sure physics itself was offended.
Jerry stopped at the entrance, suddenly aware of every inch of his very much not impressive gym shorts.
Zen whistled low. "Welcome to the jungle."
Ragnar sounded practically reverent. "The strong gather here."
Then—pop.
A bubblegum bubble burst nearby, catching his attention.
She stepped into view like some kind of anime character intro. Sasha — tall, toned, pink ponytail swaying behind her, sports bra that read Sore Now, Sexy Later, fangs just peeking out when she smirked. She looked like she could deadlift Jerry and his self-esteem.
"You look like you've never lifted anything heavier than emotional trauma," she said, voice smooth and teasing.
Jerry gave a weak laugh. "You're... not wrong."
Sasha tossed him a towel. "You're new. I'll go easy on you."
Then, a protein bar landed in his hand. Heart-shaped.
[System Update: New Contact Added]Sasha – Potential Harem MemberCompatibility: 69%Nice.
Zen gasped. "New waifu unlocked."
Ragnar: "She is powerful. Respect her."
Jerry tried to keep cool. He failed.
"Thanks. I'm Jerry," he managed, voice cracking slightly. "First time. Obviously."
"Obviously," Sasha said, smiling. "C'mon, Jerry. Let's see if your arms fall off."
The workout that followed was brutal.
Pushups. Squats. Rows. Something involving kettlebells that felt like medieval torture. Sasha guided him through each movement with just enough sass to keep his pride alive, but not enough to let him forget how weak he was.
She even handed him water. Encouraged him. Corrected his form. At one point, she muttered something about not neglecting glutes, and Jerry nearly face-planted into the mat.
Then came the deadlift.
Sasha crossed her arms, watching. "Okay, hero. Let's see what you've got."
Jerry stepped up to the barbell, hands slightly shaking, trying to remember everything she told him. Breathe. Tighten core. Lift with legs.
He pulled.
RIIIP.
Everything froze.
The sound echoed like divine punishment. Jerry's shorts had split clean down the middle, exposing far more than any gym membership had signed up for. The entire gym—catgirls, minotaur, Sasha, and Jerry's own reflection—witnessed the full moon in broad daylight.
[System Event Triggered: Wardrobe Malfunction]-2 Charm (for 6 Hours)+Infinite Memes (probably already trending)
Zen's voice cracked. "Abort. ABORT."
Alric: "Well, that's your villain origin story."
Ragnar, of course: "Glory demands sacrifice."
Jerry stood paralyzed, torn between sprinting out the door or never moving again.
Then Sasha walked over, calm as anything, and draped a towel over his exposed backside.
"Next time," she whispered with a wink, "wear stretchable. Or don't. I won't complain."
Jerry made a sound that was part whimper, part laugh. He wasn't sure what part of his body hurt more—his muscles or his ego.
That night, back in bed, Jerry groaned as he rolled onto his side. His entire body ached. Muscles he didn't even know he had were now staging a rebellion.
Then his phone buzzed.
Vess 🔥💋:"Couldn't sleep… kept thinking about that smirk of yours. Annoying. Kinda cute, though.If you dream of me tonight—don't wake up too soon 😉"
Jerry blinked at the screen, heart thudding.
Zen: "She's flirting with fire, and you're the candle."
Alric: "This one plays chess while you're still reading the rules."
Ragnar: "Dream well, warrior. Tomorrow, you train harder—or burn brighter."
Then came the final blow.
[New Quest Unlocked: Charm the Demon Queen 💋]Risk Level: Simp Mode ActivatedReward: ❓❓❓Failure: System will leak your gym videos.
Jerry stared. "That's blackmail."
Accept? ✅ Yes ❌ No 🕓 Cry Later
He slammed his thumb on YES.
[Quest Accepted – Good luck, dumbass.]
As the system's glow faded, Jerry let out a breath and collapsed into bed, his muscles sore and his brain still reeling.
For once, though, the ache felt good.
He wasn't just surviving anymore—he was stepping into something. Becoming someone.
Then, just as his eyes began to flutter shut, a soft chime echoed in the dark.
A holographic panel blinked into existence above him, faintly glowing.
[New Quest Unlocked]Objective:Charm the Demon Queen
Status: Barely Initiated.
Jerry groaned into his pillow with a tired grin. "Cool, cool... no pressure."
Next time:🔥 Flirty tension, awkward encounters, and the Demon Queen's very unexpected reaction to Jerry's glow-up.
He's got a long way to go—and she's definitely not playing fair.