[SYSTEM INITIALIZATION COMPLETE]
The words appeared in glowing text directly in his vision.
Lucian froze.
[WELCOME, LUCIAN VALEMONT]
[YOU HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR: THE VILLAIN'S PATH SYSTEM]
[OBJECTIVE: DEFY YOUR DESTINED ROLE. REWRITE THE STORY. CLAIM WHAT WAS MEANT FOR OTHERS.]
A translucent screen materialized in front of him, filled with information:
[STATUS WINDOW]
Name: Lucian Valemont
Age: 16
Title: The Bastard Prodigy (Fallen)
Mana Capacity: 12/100 (SEALED - 88% locked)
Physical Strength: D+
Magical Aptitude: C- (Currently suppressed to F)
Charm: B
Reputation: Trash Tier
[CURSE DETECTED: Talent Devourer's Mark]
Your magical talent has been stolen and sealed. Current host: Unknown.
Condition for breaking seal: Complete System Missions.
Lucian stared.
Of course there's a system. Because apparently, my second life comes with a tutorial UI. What's next, quest markers? A minimap? Oh wait— His eyes flicked to the translucent screen. —there literally is a minimap function. Wonderful.
His talent had been stolen?
It wasn't just bad luck or fading potential—someone had literally taken it from him?
Someone had looked at a ten-year-old kid and thought, "Yeah, let's ruin his entire life for shits and giggles."
And the worst part? The system wouldn't even tell him who.
Because of course it wouldn't. That would be too convenient. Too easy.
[FIRST MISSION UNLOCKED]
Mission: "The Villain's First Step"
In the original story, Lucian Valemont arrived at Astraviel Academy and immediately tried to assert dominance by challenging first-year prodigies to duels. He lost every single one and became a laughingstock.
Objective: Arrive at Astraviel Academy and DO NOT challenge anyone to a duel for the first week.
Reward: +10 Mana Capacity, Skill: "Predator's Gaze" (See basic stats of others)
Failure: Reputation penalty, increased difficulty for future missions.
Lucian read it twice.
The system wanted him to do the opposite of what the original Lucian did.
Defy the story. Rewrite his fate.
A slow smile spread across his face.
"So that's how it works."
If he avoided the villain's stupid decisions... if he stayed off the rails the story had laid out for him...
He could survive.
No—more than that.
He could win.
The three heroines flashed through his mind:
Seraphina Ashenblade - The fiery swordswoman. Arrogant, skilled, beautiful. She'd humiliated the original Lucian in duels repeatedly. In the story, she pitied him. Found him pathetic.
Beneath that domineering exterior, Seraphina craved someone who could actually defeat her. Not just in combat. In every way.
Elira Frostveil - The ice princess. Cold, brilliant, untouchable. The girl destined to kill him.
In the original story, she despised Lucian for his arrogance and harassment. She saw him as beneath her.
But Lucian also knew her secret: beneath the icy facade was a girl who'd never known genuine warmth. Who was desperately lonely. Who would melt for the first person who truly saw her.
Aria Lighthollow - The saint. Kind, gentle, healing magic prodigy. Engaged to the protagonist.
The original Lucian harassed her, trying to steal her from the hero. It made him even more hated.
But the novel's hidden route revealed the truth: Aria's saintly persona was a mask. Deep down, she had... darker interests. A side she never showed anyone.
Three heroines.
Three chances to rewrite everything.
Lucian looked at the system window, then out at the moonlit estate.
One week until the academy.
One week to prepare.
[ADDITIONAL FEATURES UNLOCKED]
[VILLAIN'S INSIGHT] - You can see "affection levels" and "hidden traits" of key characters.
[FATE POINTS] - Earn points by defying story events. Use them to unlock skills, items, or information.
[WARNING] - Straying too far from certain story beats may cause "Fate Correction" events. Proceed carefully.
"Fate Correction?" Lucian muttered. "So the story will try to force me back on track if I change too much?"
He'd have to be smart. Strategic.
Can't just flip the script overnight—the world itself might push back.
But if he was careful...
Lucian closed the system window and sat on his bed, mind racing with possibilities.
Tomorrow, he'd start preparing. Reading up on the academy. Training what little magic he could still use. Planning his approach.
And when he arrived at Astraviel Academy?
He wouldn't be the trash villain anymore.
He'd be something the story never accounted for.
A variable.
Lucian lay back, staring at the ceiling, a genuine smile on his face for the first time in three years.
"Let's see how this story ends when the villain refuses to play his part."