(re-uploaded the Chapter)
Zar's eye twitched.
["Nah."]
That single word echoed in his mind like a divine decree, an undeniable truth that shattered his last hope of having an easy solution.
His fingers clenched into fists as he glared at the air around him. If the System had a physical form, he would've already grabbed it by the throat and shaken it violently.
"What do you an 'Nah'?! System, we had an agreent! You said you'd help create a realm for the competition!" Zar practically shouted, his patience hanging by a fragile thread.
The System, unfazed as always, responded with the most indifferent tone possible.
["Hmm. Did I?"]
A vein popped on Zar's forehead.
"YES! YOU DID! DON'T TRY TO GASLIGHT !"
A mont of silence. Then, the System let out an exaggerated sigh, as if it were the one dealing with an unreasonable idiot.
["Ah, Zar... You truly are a man of selective mory."]
Zar clenched his teeth. He could already feel where this was going.
[When,] the System continued, drawing out the word for emphasis, ["did I ever say that I would help you create a realm?"]
Zar's glare could have lted steel.
"You told that you would help !" he snapped.
But before he could even finish his sentence, the System interrupted him again, its tone suspiciously friendly.
["Well, why don't we make a bet?"]
Zar's anger faltered for a second.
"A bet?"
Sothing about the System's voice sent a warning bell ringing in his head. It wasn't just its usual smugness—there was sothing calculated about the way it spoke. Like a predator waiting for its prey to take the bait.
But still, curiosity outweighed his caution.
"What kind of bet?" he asked warily.
The System humd in amusent, as if pleased that he had asked.
["Nothing much. Just a simple test to check whether I actually promised to help you create a realm."]
Zar felt a chill run down his spine. His instincts scread at him not to take the bait, but before he could protest, the System continued.
["If you win, I'll help you create the realm you need, and—"] the System paused for dramatic effect, ["—you'll get the right to punch once whenever you want."]
Zar blinked.
That... sounded really good. Too good, in fact.
"And if you win?" he asked cautiously.
["Oh, nothing much,"] the System replied, still unbearably casual. ["You'll just have to complete three missions for , without getting any rewards."]
Zar frowned.
Three missions with no rewards? That was annoying, sure, but not that bad. And in exchange, he'd finally get to land a punch on this damned System?
His mind quickly weighed the pros and cons.
A free punch.
No rewards for three missions.
A free punch.
A FREE PUNCH.
That alone was almost worth the risk.
"Alright, I'm in," Zar declared, feeling rather confident.
But the mont he said those words, sothing strange happened.
The holographic interface in front of him flickered.
Then, ever so slowly, an ominous grin appeared on the screen.
A cold shiver ran down his spine.
That grin... That was the kind of smile a scamr gave when their victim had just walked into their trap.
Why do I feel like I just made a mistake?
Before he could reconsider, the screen in front of him suddenly lit up.
[Replaying Past Conversation...]
Zar frowned as the screen began to display a scene from earlier.
His own voice echoed through the room.
"Now then... System, any solutions?"
And then—
["Why don't you give so ideas?"]
Zar's eyelid twitched. He imdiately had a bad feeling about this.
The screen continued playing.
"This damn System..." his past self muttered.
And then ca the killing blow.
"Then I shall create a realm."
Silence.
Zar blinked, staring at the replayed scene in disbelief.
'Then I shall create a rea l m.'
The words echoed again, and this ti, the System helpfully slowed it down, making sure he heard every syllable clearly.
'T h e n I s h a l l c r e a t e a r e a l m.'
Zar felt his soul leave his body.
There was no way out of this.
He had walked into the trap, headfirst, without even realizing it.
The System, on the other hand, was practically radiating smugness. Its interface flickered, and an overly friendly yet mocking voice filled the space.
[Well, well, well..., my dear Zar. It seems like you, in your 'infinite' wisdom, have made a rather bold declaration.]
[You said you'd create a realm. Not . So tell , do you need a dictionary to understand your own words?"]
Zar wanted to slam his head into a wall.
"This damn System..." he muttered under his breath.
The System humd in amusent.
["Ah, don't feel bad, Zar. I actually got a bargain for you."]
Zar's instincts scread at him again. He narrowed his eyes.
"What bargain?"
The System's screen flickered, displaying that sa ominous grin from earlier.
["Since I'm feeling generous, I'll offer you a new deal. I'll add one more mission to the bet, making it four missions in total. In exchange, I'll personally help you create the realm you need—within eight hours."]
Zar clenched his fists.
His options were already limited. There was no way he could create a proper realm in ti by himself, and the competition was happening tomorrow. He had no choice.
With a deep sigh, he muttered, "Fine. I accept."
The System's interface pulsed with amusent.
["A pleasure doing business with you."]
Zar groaned.
He just knew he was going to regret this.
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