Morning had just begun.
The sun wasn't fully out yet…
but the village was already awake.
Smoke rose slowly from the huts…
and along with it—
A new kind of fear was spreading.
Because something had changed.
Arjun had changed.
---
Raghu hadn't slept the entire night.
He went from house to house…
watching people…
studying them…
And finally—
he made a list.
A list of the broken ones.
The weak.
The afraid.
The ones who had already given up.
The ones… who could be controlled.
---
He returned and stopped at the door.
"Master… the list is ready."
The door slowly opened.
Arjun stepped outside.
His presence was different now.
Every step carried confidence…
And his eyes—
They carried control.
---
"How many?" Arjun asked calmly.
"Five… Master."
A faint smile appeared on Arjun's face.
"Perfect."
---
Soon…
Five people stood before him.
An old man.
A sick woman.
Two weak boys.
And one man who couldn't even hide his fear.
All of them had the same expression—
Fear.
---
Arjun walked slowly in front of them.
Like a king inspecting his subjects.
"Do you want to live?"
Silence.
No one answered.
Just lowered heads.
---
"…or do you want to keep living like dogs?"
One of the boys broke down.
"We… we have no choice…"
Arjun stepped closer.
Looked straight into his eyes.
"Choice can be created…"
"…if you give up your will."
---
The air turned heavy.
"I can give you power."
"I can give you protection."
"I can even give you food."
His voice turned cold.
"…but in return…"
"You will belong to me."
---
Five seconds passed.
Ten seconds.
Then—
One by one…
They all knelt.
"We accept…"
---
Suddenly—
The system activated.
[5 Targets Submitting…]
[Converting to Slaves…]
An invisible force surrounded them.
Their eyes slowly turned blank.
Fear…
Turned into loyalty.
---
[Success]
[Total Slaves: 6]
[Reward Unlocked]
---
Without hesitation—
Arjun accepted it.
Energy exploded inside his body.
This time…
More intense.
More violent.
---
The air around him trembled.
The ground cracked slightly.
[Breaking into Gu Step 1 — Medium Stage]
His body became stronger.
His presence darker.
Now…
He didn't just look powerful—
He looked dangerous.
---
He raised his hand slightly.
The air vibrated.
All slaves instantly bowed.
"Master…"
Arjun smiled.
"…now this feels right."
---
But—
He wasn't alone.
Outside the village…
Behind a tree—
Someone was watching.
"…Medium Stage in one day?"
"This is impossible…"
The man formed a strange symbol in the air.
"…I need to report this."
---
Inside—
Arjun suddenly stopped.
His eyes shifted.
"…someone is watching."
"Orders, Master?" Raghu asked instantly.
Arjun thought for a moment.
Then smiled.
Cold.
"…not yet."
---
"Now… we expand."
"After this village…"
"…the next one."
---
[Next Mission: Expand Territory]
[Objective: Capture Nearby Village]
[Reward: Gu Step 2 Access]
Arjun looked at the sky.
"…the real game begins now."
---
That night—
Everything changed.
Even with full control…
Arjun couldn't feel peace.
"…this system isn't simple…"
He closed his eyes.
"System… tell me the truth."
---
Silence.
Then—
[Hidden Menu Unlock]
[Condition Met: Curiosity + Authority]
The screen changed.
Darker.
More dangerous.
---
[System Type: Unknown Entity-Bound]
[Status: Partially Sealed]
"…sealed?"
---
[Original Purpose: Not Growth… but Control]
"…control?"
---
Images flashed in his mind—
Blood.
Millions kneeling.
A shadow figure standing above all.
---
[Previous Host: Deceased]
[Reason: Rebellion / Overload]
"…so I'm not the first…"
"…and he died."
---
[Warning: Every Slave = Soul Binding]
[Effect: Humanity Degradation]
Empathy ↓
Emotion ↓
Ruthlessness ↑
---
"…so this system is changing me…"
[Correction: Evolving you beyond human limits]
---
Two choices stood before him—
Reject it…
Or accept it.
---
For a moment—
He remembered his mother.
His past.
His weakness.
---
Then—
Raghu breaking his arm without hesitation.
Absolute obedience.
---
Arjun opened his eyes.
Cold.
"…if becoming a monster is what it takes to survive…"
"…then I'll become the greatest monster."
---
[Seal Break Option Unlocked — 1%]
"…so the real power lies deeper…"
---
Suddenly—
BOOM!!
A massive explosion shook the village.
"MASTER!!"
---
Arjun stepped outside.
And there—
The same man stood.
Tall.
Powerful.
Aura overwhelming.
---
"…so you are the one…"
"…the system bearer."
Arjun narrowed his eyes.
"…you know about it."
The man smiled darkly.
"…because I've seen it before."
"…10 years ago…"
"…I killed the previous host."
---
Silence.
Deadly.
---
Arjun stepped forward.
Aura rising.
"…perfect."
---
[New Mission: Survive the Hunter]
[Reward: Seal Break + Huge Points]
---
Arjun clenched his fist.
Energy surged.
"…today…"
"…we find out…"
"…who is the hunter…"
"…and who is the prey."
To be continued 🔥