Transmigrated as the Villain Between the Heroine and the Villainess Chapter 3: System

After saying those last words, the ghost of the real Azrael disappeared. The room beca quiet again.

Kenji was alone again. He now had a purpose. A mission.

When the last bit of light disappeared, a soft sound played. A clear screen showed up, glowing with a faint blue light

[Welco, Host.]

[To manifest your parting gift, please issue the verbal command: 'System'.]

He stared at the screen for a mont. It was just like the stories he used to read. A system. A tool for the protagonist.

'System,' he said, his voice a little shaky.

The welco ssage dissolved, replaced by a new interface. It was sleek, frad by ethereal, glowing lines. It was his status window.

[◈ STATUS MANIFEST ◈]

[Na: Azrael Ashveil]

[Title: The Unwanted Heir]

[Rank: [Beginner]]

[◈ CORE ATTRIBUTES ◈]

[STR (Strength): 8 / 100]

[AGI (Agility): 9 / 100]

[END (Endurance): 7 / 100]

[INT (Intelligence): 10 / 100]

[AET (Aether): 9 / 100]

[LCK (Luck): 5 / 100]

[CHA (Charisma): 8 / 100]

[◈ AFFINITY ◈]

[Primary Slot: [Empty] ] ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ NoveI★Fire

(Only one Primary Affinity can be held)]

[◈ UNIQUE SKILL ◈ LimitlessComprehension]

(Type: Passive / Growth)

[Effect: Instantly grasps the fundantal principles of any observed ability, object, or concept. Learning speed is amplified by 300%.]

[Special: Acquired knowledge and skills evolve uniquely under the host's direct will and interpretation.]

He looked at the stats, his small spark of hope dimming. 'Frail, Sluggish, Brittle… Cursed? Repulsive? It's even worse than I thought.'

'Affinity: Empty.' That was the scariest part. In this world, Aether was everything. Without an affinity, he was a magicless cripple in a world of sorcerers.

Finally, he looked at the skill. 'Limitless Comprehension.' The description was more detailed now. It wasn't just about abilities, but objects and concepts too.

If he used it correctly, this was a broken skill. Not as flashy as the hero's, but it was his only fighting chance.

The screen vanished. 'System,' he said again, and it reappeared.

'So it works on command.' He decided to test it further. 'System, can you talk?'

There was no reply.

'System, how do I increase my stats?'

Again, only silence. He was about to give up, feeling a familiar wave of frustration. With zero motivation left, he asked one last question. 'System, can I gain an affinity?'

This ti, after a short pause, a ssage appeared.

['Affinity can be acquired through the System Storefront or the GambleofFates]

'Storefront? Gamble of Fates?' he thought. 'And how do I use them?'

'While the system is active, focus your intent on the desired function.'

He closed his eyes and thought, 'System Storefront.'

The stats window was replaced by a new interface, designed like a high-end catalog.

[SYSTEM STOREFRONT // Points: 10 P]

[► Potions | Weapons | Artifacts | Skills | AFFINITIES]

He focused on the 'AFFINITIES' tab. The list that appeared made his heart sink.

[Tier 1] Water Affinity - 10,000 P

[Tier 1] Fire Affinity - 10,000 P

[Tier 2] Lightning Affinity - 20,000 P

[Tier 2] tal Affinity - 20,000 P

[Tier 3] Earth Affinity - 30,000 P

The list went on further and further. Each tier he looked at was more impossibly expensive than the last. He even glanced again at his balance: 10 P. He couldn't even buy one healing potion. He gave up the shop with a thought, 'Gamble of Fates.'

The interface changed again. A large ornate wheel filled his view, its segnts filled with grail prizes and empty dark slots.

[Gamble of Fates: The Lucky Spin]

Test your destiny against the currents of chance.

Cost per Spin: 10,000 P.

He was frozen in place. 'This can't be. No way I'm surviving with this.'

'System, how earn points?' he asked with desperation in his voice.

The system was simple in its response and very direct. completion of Quests would make the work.

Anyone else would leave confused, but he imdiately understood. This is because quests an reward, and rewards have difficulty.

His thoughts seem to summon a new window popping in urgent crimson no less.

[!! URGENT QUEST ISSUED !!]

[Objective: Forge a foundation of strength.]

Tasks:

-> Execute 500 standard sword swings.

-> Deliver 100 focused strikes against a hardened target.

-> Perform 200 physical conditioning push-ups.

[Ti Limit: 12 Hours]

[Reward: STR (Strength) Attribute 1]

He looked at the quest. 'This is not a beginner quest, you damn scamr!' he cursed inwardly. This all that work, all that pain, just for one single point in Strength. Complete scam.

But he knew he had to do it. Any missed opportunity, any mont of weakness, would lead him down exactly the sa path as the real Azrael.

Down to death.

He got dressed and went out to the training grounds that belonged to the mansion.

He found a practice sword, heavier than he imagined. Then he lifted it, swung it. Clumsy and weak.

Once again, it went on and on. Arms started burning. But all of a sudden, as if provoked, strange information started flooding his mind and pouring in.

The correct weight distribution, the optimal grip pressure, the perfect arc to conserve energy and maximize force. It was his skill, 'Limitless Comprehension'. He was learning the fundantals instantly.

His swings had started becoming s smoother, more precise and faster. He had completed 500 swings: drenched in sweat, but not without having mastered most of the basic form.

Next to them were the push-ups. Pure torture. His arms scread at him to quit, but he plowed through them counting up to 200.

Last of all was delivering 100 focused strikes. He found a thick and sturdy tree at the edge of the grounds. He took stance.

Once more, his skill had been activated, teaching him the biochanics of a perfect punch how to generate power from the ground up, rotating his hips and torso, channeling it into his fist.

He punched the tree. Pain shot up his arm. He punched again. The bark was rough and tore at his skin. He kept punching, unmindful of the pain but counting it by the number to 98... 99... 100.

Finished, he collapsed to his knees, out of breath. His hands were a wreck. Split open and bleeding freely were the knuckles.

A notification chid.

[Quest Complete!]

[Reward: STR 1.]

Now Strength was at 9.

He felt stronger, but his hands scread in pain.

"My lord!"

A gasp turned his head. Elvara was staring at him with wide eyes filled with shock at the sight of his bloody hands.

She imdiately raced to his side.

"What did you do to yourself?" she shouted and quickly turned towards an already waiting maid.

"Quickly! Get a healing potion! Right now!"

Then, kneeling down in front of him, she gently took his injured hand into hers. Surprisingly soft was her touch.