The rain in the city felt like cold needles, but it wasn't as cold as the look in my boss's eyes when he fired me.
"You're too average, Gemini," he had said. "In this world, being average is a sin."
I sighed, staring at my reflection in a puddle. Black hair, tired eyes, a face that blended into every crowd. I was the definition of a background character.
But as I crossed the street, the world suddenly turned blinding white.
SCREECH!
The "Truck-kun" of destiny didn't even honk. One moment I was thinking about my cheap ramen dinner; the next, my bones were turning into dust.
As the darkness swallowed me, a mechanical, feminine voice rang inside my skull—sharp, cold, and beautiful.
[Ding! Host's soul detected.][Condition Met: Die while being 'The Most Average Human in History'.][System Initializing... Linking to the Akashic Records...][Universal Law Broken: Welcome, User Gemini.]
I opened my eyes, but I wasn't in a hospital.
I was standing in a void of swirling gold and purple nebulas. Floating in front of me was a translucent blue screen that made my heart race.
[Choose your Starting Gift:]
The Hero's Path (Rank S): Standard growth, high luck.
The Demon King's Will (Rank SS): Fast growth, high conflict.
The System Glitch (Rank SSS+): ???
"Is this even a choice?" I muttered, my voice echoing in the void. "I'm done being average. Give me the Glitch."
[Selection Confirmed.][Integrating SSS+ Rank Unique Skill: 'Universal Plunder & Multiplier'.]
[Effect 1: Any skill seen or experienced is instantly copied and mastered.][Effect 2: All gains (XP, Stats, Gold) are multiplied by 1,000x.][Effect 3: 'Existence of the Harem King' (Passive) — Charisma stat locked at 'Irresistible'.]
Suddenly, the void cracked.
[Tutorial World: 'The Apocalypse Dungeon' loading...][Mission: Survive the first 10 minutes.][Reward: True Physical Manifestation.]
White light engulfed me again.
When my vision cleared, I was standing in a ruined stone hallway. The air smelled of sulfur and blood. Ahead of me, a pack of Shadow Wolves—beasts the size of motorcycles with glowing red eyes—snarled, ready to pounce.
In my old life, I would have screamed.
In this life?
I felt a predatory smile creeping onto my face.
"My turn to be the main character," I whispered.
One wolf leaped, its claws glowing with dark energy.
[Ding! Host has observed Skill: 'Shadow Slash'.][SSS+ Glitch Activated: Skill copied and evolved to 'Void Severing Blade' (Rank EX).][1,000x Multiplier Applied: Mana capacity expanded to 'God-Level Reserve'.]
I didn't even have a sword.
I just flicked my wrist.
A crescent of pure abyssal energy tore through the air, vaporizing the wolf and the entire stone wall behind it.
[You have slain 'Shadow Wolf' (Lv. 5).][Exp Multiplier (1,000x) Applied!][Level Up! Level Up! Level Up!...]
[Current Level: 45.]
I looked at my hands.
They were glowing.
I wasn't just a player; I was the one who broke the game.
"Gemini."
A soft, trembling voice came from the shadows behind a pillar.
I turned.
There, huddled in rags but still breathtakingly beautiful, was a girl with long silver hair and pointed ears. Her emerald eyes were wide with a mix of terror and awe.
"Are you... the God the prophecy spoke of?" she whispered.
I looked at her, then at the notification popping up in my vision.
[New Target Identified: Elara (High Elf Princess).][Affection Meter: 60% (Awe/Interest).]
I reached out a hand, my SSS+ aura flaring.
"God? No. I'm just the guy who's going to own this place."