Chapter 3: Reality
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 3: Reality
My consciousness and power, suppressed for a thousand years, erupted. A black mist began to seep out from the cracks in the shattered sealing stone. At first, it was as thin as a thread, but it grew stronger and stronger.
"Wh-what is this?!"
The demon tried to pull out his sword, but it was too late. The black mist instantly enveloped his body. His life force began to be absorbed into me, as if I were drinking water.
But I didn't take his body. My gaze was already fixed elsewhere.
"In-insane..."
The human male speaking Korean, crumpled on the floor. His was the body I was after.
[Preparing to activate Predation ability]
#@$ERROR%$#
Objective: Attempting to absorb body
Success Rate: Incalculable
※Warning: Multiple unknown variables detected
※Caution: System overload occurring
The system glitched out again. This was clearly significant. That man had something special, something the system of this world couldn't even analyze.
'Even better... I'll take that body for myself.'
The black mist began to slowly approach the man.
I absorbed the man's body and soul. But it wasn't easy. It felt like two worlds with different laws were colliding. As they did, the man's memories naturally flowed into me.
[Predation in progress]
Target Assimilation: Unstable
Data Conflict: Critical
※Warning: Unpredictable reaction occurring
※Caution: Possibility of system collapse↑
Fragmented memories flowed into my consciousness like shards of a broken mirror.
This man was a being from the same place as me. But the world he knew was different from the one I was in. And like me, the man also possessed something.
[SYSTEM ERROR]
Critical error detected
Conflict of laws occurring
※Warning: Interdimensional interference occurring
※Danger: Immediate cessation of Predation recommended
But I couldn't stop. The absorption was already nearly complete.
"Kuaargh!"
With immense pain, the two systems began to clash.
[Forced System Integration Initiated]
'Akashic' System
'Kkitomi' Application
※Warning: Forcing procedure
※Caution: Unpredictable outcome
Inside my consciousness, the two systems began to devour, absorb, and twist each other, like two dragons trying to swallow one another whole.
At the same time, my surroundings grew strange. What started as a faint vibration grew increasingly intense.
Crack—
The sky began to crack like glass. The fissures spread like a spiderweb until the heavens finally shattered and fell apart. Beyond the sky, there was nothing but endless black-and-white static.
Crumble—
This time, the space around me crumbled away like dust. The cave walls, the floor—everything disintegrated into pixels and vanished into the void, like data being erased.
And a system message appeared.
For@#$@#%ced Star@#$#t
Even the message was corrupted. The world, or perhaps reality itself, might have been reconstructing.
In an instant, the scenery changed. In the blink of an eye, the cave was gone, replaced by a studio apartment that felt both familiar and unfamiliar.
Dust had settled on the computer desk, and empty cup ramen containers and snack bags were strewn across the floor. The bed was a tangle of blankets, and a mountain of laundry was piled in a corner. It was the typical sight of a room that hadn't been cleaned in a long time.
"I'm back...?"
The voice was unfamiliar. No, this room was unfamiliar too. This wasn't my room.
Then, a memory flashed through my mind. This was the room of the man I had just absorbed.
"System."
There was no response.
"System...?"
I called out again, but there was only silence. The system window, which would normally have appeared instantly, was nowhere to be seen.
I felt the need to slowly sift through the man's memories.
The man's memories flooded in. Kim Woo-jin... twenty years old, just graduated from high school.
Memories from his middle school days flashed by. Sitting alone in the corner of a classroom, being pushed in the hallway, moments filled with insults and ridicule... every memory was depressing and dark.
"Tsk, what unpleasant memories."
A sense of disgust washed over me. I felt like I should just erase memories like these.
I delved deeper, searching for more important memories. And I found it. The moment he obtained his ability.
On New Year's Day, a strange app suddenly appeared on his smartphone: ‘Kkitomi’.
This app granted the ability to enter the worlds of adult creations, like erotic novels and games. And 'Dungeon Conquest Chronicle' was the first world he chose. In this world, it was a game with a different name.
After awakening his ability, Kim Woo-jin entered Dungeon Conquest Chronicle to build up his strength for revenge, accepting a penalty for his first creation: sealing his return to reality. It was a condition that made it impossible to go back until he achieved his goal.
Now I understood. He chose a dangerous challenge for a greater reward, but his body and ability were now mine.
"Heh, my apologies. Still, I'll get that revenge for you."
As I was scanning through Kim Woo-jin's memories, an alarm went off in my pocket.
'A vibration?'
I took out the smartphone from Kim Woo-jin's clothes. It was an old model, its screen covered in fine cracks.
When I turned on the screen, I saw that a new app had been installed, replacing the original Kkitomi app.
[App Installation Notification]
A new application has been installed
'Libido'
※System installation complete
※Administrator authority transfer confirmed
The old Kkitomi app was gone, replaced by one named Libido. The app's icon was the shape of a succubus's Yin Gate. The mystical symbol, a mix of red and black, was strangely alluring.
I tapped the Libido app.
[Launching the Libido App.]
On the screen, I saw a 3D character of a man I'd never seen before, not my own form.
"What the. Who is this?"
The character was short and fat. Ugly, even. The genitals between his legs were pathetic. I scowled and, with a sinking feeling, went to find a mirror.
I despaired at the reflection in the mirror.
"What... Who are you..."
Somehow, my line of sight had felt strangely low ever since I returned to reality. Now I knew why.
Looking through Kim Woo-jin's memories, I found that he had used a one-time character customization before entering Dungeon Conquest Chronicle.
Frowning, I looked at something else.
[Status Window]
Name: #Kim##jin? Jin@Yoon??
Level: 1
Stats
- Strength: 15
- Stamina: 10
- Agility: 8
- Virility: 2
"What? The text is corrupted again? And where's the Intelligence stat?"
I searched through Kim Woo-jin's memories and soon found the reason. He had swapped his Intelligence and Virility stats. Of the four basic stats (Strength, Stamina, Agility, Intelligence), he had given up Intelligence and chosen Virility.
'This crazy bastard...'
But there was a bigger problem. All my power had evaporated. I could tell just by looking at the stats. The power I had accumulated was gone, and I was back to a beginner's level.
I searched for all of Kim Woo-jin's memories regarding the app. And I realized one important fact.
Power gained in a creation doesn't apply to reality. There were, however, two exceptions: using points to raise stats, or registering a skill obtained in a creation using points.
"Wait. My traits!"
I hurriedly tapped the menu at the bottom of the screen.
[Owned Trait List]
-Predation (Inactive)
-Bloodline Awakening (Inactive)
-Pregnancy Control Ability
-Delicious Semen
-Strong Addictiveness
-Advanced Swordsmanship
'My power may be gone, but at least my traits are still here... and the Advanced Swordsmanship is a trait Kim Woo-jin acquired.'
The problem was the 'Inactive' status next to Predation and Bloodline Awakening.
"Why are my Predation and Bloodline Awakening traits inactive?"
My head started to ache.
"System."
I called the system, but there was no answer.
'Don't tell me it disappeared during the integration...?'
I noticed a mail-shaped icon in the top-left corner of the app. A red dot had been blinking on it for a while.
When I clicked it, a series of messages scrolled down.
[System Message]
System integration complete.
Level has been reset.
Dungeon Conquest Chronicle reward points 10199 distributed.
Predation trait deactivated (100,000 points required for activation).
Bloodline Awakening trait deactivated (100,000 points required for activation).
※The Predation and Bloodline Awakening traits have been locked by a curse.
Please pay 10,000 points for the full version of the Libido App.
"....."
My expression twisted.
"A curse? Don't tell me, right before his soul was absorbed?"
My opinion of Kim Woo-jin suddenly changed. I'd thought he lived a pitiful life, but I never imagined he'd screw me over like this on his way out.
'I'm furious, but my other traits are safe. And the Advanced Swordsmanship trait Kim Woo-jin obtained is still here.'
Taking some comfort in that, I paid the points for the full version of the Libido App.
[Launch Libido App]
10,000 points will be deducted to purchase the full version.
Do you wish to proceed?
[Yes] [No]
I hesitated for a moment, but then pressed [Yes]. I had 199 points left.
[Libido Full Service Activated]
※Administrator authority acquired
※Creation access authority acquired
'Now, what can I do?‘
The functions seemed similar to what Kim Woo-jin used in my memories. Then I found a feature that let me change my appearance.
There was no way I was going to live with this face.
I decided to try it immediately. Tapping the 3D character's appearance brought up the modification feature. I decided to see what I could change with my remaining 199 points.
I clicked on my character's chest on the screen.
[Appearance Change Guide]
-You can freely change your appearance by investing points.
I tried clicking the head.
-Points required: 100
'Dammit... I don't have nearly enough points.'
I tried clicking something else. I touched the genitals.
"Can I make it bigger?"
I touched the penis and dragged, and it grew longer.
[Size Adjustment Guide]
You can increase or decrease by 1 cm per point.
Current Length: 7cm
Current Girth: 3cm
※Changes are applied immediately.
At least the points required for the genitals were low.
I was lost in thought.
'I can't stand having a small penis.‘