Despair.

That was all Elion had known for the past six months.

He had been overjoyed when he was accepted to the magical academy on the flying city.

But all his hopes and dreams came crashing down on the very first day, when his talent was graded as the lowest trash in the whole academy.

Now that he knew a little more about the academy, it was a mystery how he was even accepted.

But, that was only the beginning of his hell.

The people he thought were his classmates tormented him, mostly the guys.

Their jealousy stemmed from how handsome he was compared to them.

And so, they made it their daily obsession to make his life a living hell.

The worst part? No one intervened.

His other classmates, the teachers, all of them turned a blind eye as he was tormented daily.

He was spat on, used as a punching bag, an object for magic target practice, and forced to do measly chores.

He was called trash and treated like trash.

At first, he had endured, but even he had a limit.

His eyes became hollow and devoid of life; he thought about just ending his suffering more than once.

Today, they had entered a dungeon for a training exercise with the rest of his class, and as usual, he was forced to be the porter for the guys in his class, carrying their equipment and bags.

William, the leader of the group who tormented him daily, made sure Elion did not miss his daily dose of torment.

He would remind him that he was trash.

He would scowl and spit at him, then give him chores to do, and they never got tired of it.

If anything, their dedication was quite commendable.

There was nothing Elion could do about it.

He was weak.

He was powerless.

Not talent.

The helplessness ate away at his psyche daily.

But today, William had gone too far.

He had 'accidentally' thrown Elion over the edge of a crossing bridge in the lower floors of the dungeon.

The rest of his classmates watched with horrified expressions as he screamed to his death, into the dark abyss.

After the initial shock and outburst from the teacher leading the expedition, it had all been brushed off as an accident, but the teacher was not too stressed.

He would probably be reprimanded for letting a student die, but nothing would be done about it in the end.

It was the trash of the academy who had died; they could say he died because he was weak and get away with it.

Now, Elion lay on the ground somewhere, in a dark place, pain wrecking his body.

He had probably broken every single bone in his body, and he was certainly dying, slowly, painfully.

He lay there in agony, his body broken and shattered, tears and blood streaming down his face.

The pain was unbearable, each breath a struggle. He wanted to die, to escape this hellish existence.

"Please... someone, kill me," he whispered hoarsely, his voice barely audible. "End my suffering..."

Ironically, even as he begged for death, a small part of him still clung to life, desperate to survive against all odds.

But the torment had gone on for too long, wearing him down until he was nothing more than a hollow shell.

Just as he felt himself slipping away, a strange female voice echoed in his mind:

[The Goddess of Lust smiles upon you. She takes pity on your suffering and has chosen you as her champion.]

[Congratulations, Elion Nova, you have received The Harem System!]

[Do you accept [Yes] [No] ]

For a moment, Elion thought he must be hallucinating, a final delusion before death claimed him. But the words remained, pulsing insistently in his consciousness.

Some distant part of him wondered what a 'harem system' could possibly be. The rest of him just wanted the pain to end.

What is the worst that could possibly happen now?

With the last vestiges of his fading strength, he focused on the floating prompt, willing his broken fingers to tap out a response.

It took every ounce of willpower he had left, but finally...

[Yes!]

[Beginning Soul Binding process.]

[1%]

[16%]

[59%]

[99%]

[100%]

[Soul Binding complete!]

[The Harem System has been bound to the host's soul!]

[The Goddess sends her blessing!]

A wave of green soothing light washed over Elion as all the pain left his body instantly; his body was healed to peak condition.

In fact, he had never felt better in his whole life; he was overflowing with vitality.

He got back up to his feet.

"Wow, I feel so much better already. Thank you, goddess!" He flexed his arms and legs before turning to look at the interface hovering in front of him.

It was the only source of light in this dark place, wherever he was.

[Opening Harem System starter pack...]

[The host can select any five ranked skills and one divine object of his choice.]

The window flashed before him again, and a long list appeared before him.

[Skills]

[Mind Control - Manipulate and feed people thoughts they would have never imagined themselves having; the effectiveness of the ability is heavily reliant on the target's strength and mental state. If the target is weaker than the user, the effect will be immediate; the reverse is also true.]

[Irresistible Charm - Your very presence begs attention. Those who look at you will be naturally drawn to you.]

[Sinful Touch - when activated, arouses the person the user has touched, making them beg for release and for more of your touch.]

[Golden seed - A single drop of your seed is enough to impregnate even the most barren of women. Women also find your seed delectable and irresistible.]

[Harem Seal - binds the target to the host, given that they agree to the pact. Once the seal has been placed, it serves multiple functions. If the woman lies with another man, they will die. The user shall be aware of the woman's location at all times. The host can share abilities with the woman. And the host obtains any skills, abilities, and the talent of the woman.]

[Incubus's Physique - Change the size of your cock, and any part of your body at will. Your body is also blessed with godly stamina and flexibility.]

[Spectral perception - Grants the user the ability to see through physical barriers like walls and clothes.]

[Lust Meter - A gauge that indicates arousal on a scale of one to a hundred]

[Love Meter - A gauge that shows the target's affection for the host on a scale of one to a hundred]

"Hmmmm....Wow!" 

...

"Hmmmm...Wow! A debauched system through and through, huh?" 

Elion is initially surprised by the list of abilities the system was showing him, but it made sense, since it was the Goddess of Lust who had given it to him.

Despite how lewd it sounds, it made him feel excited.

This was his way to get stronger, all the better if he could conquer arrogant beauties while doing it.

He nods in satisfaction, "Finally, something in my life is going right for me." He takes some time to think about what to pick.

'For skills, the first choice is easy. Harem seal and mind control.' He thought.

As long as he manipulates and fucks strong women and makes them his, he can have their power and abilities for himself.

That leaves him with three more choices.

Spectral perception was definitely tempting for him.

The ability to undress any woman before his eyes was a dream for any perverted young man, and was he a pervert? Of course!

But he was also far from being shortsighted.

He decides to go with Irresistible Charm since it would go well with his first two.

He doesn't feel the need to impregnate anyone, nor did he plan to for now.

But it would be nice to make his women become addicted to the taste of his semen, but he writes of golden seed.

'Incubus's physique? Now that sounds good, I'll take that as well.'

The stamina boost would help him more with the physically demanding classes back at the academy, and who wouldn't want to have godly stamina in bed?

'And a dick size I can adjust at will!?' He would be able to explore depths his women would have never thought possible!

'This one is a must-have!'

'One more.'

For the fifth skill, he decided to go for the sinful touch, which would make it easy to send women into heat with a simple touch, making it easier for them to accept his advances.

Elion smiled, proud of his selection. "This is a kit made to conquer!" satisfied, he finally looks at the object list.

'This will be difficult,' he thinks inwardly as soon as he sees the long list.

There were even more objects available to him than abilities!

[Objects]

[Love potion - Give it to anyone, and they will fall deeply in love with you.]

[The Velvet Grimoire – A forbidden book containing rituals, incantations, and emotional enchantments tied to the goddess's domain.]

[The Sighing Locket – Opens to release a soft moan that triggers longing in anyone who hears it. Can be used once per day to weaken emotional defenses.]

[The Tongue of Honey – A golden tongue-shaped charm that grants irresistible speech for one hour.]

[The Velvet Familiar – A feline-like creature that exudes pheromones and emotional influence, often used to scout or soften targets before seduction.]

[The Ink of Yearning – A vial of infinite divine ink that, when used to write a name, causes the named person to have lewd dreams of the writer.]

[The Mirror of the Unfaithful – Shows the viewer not their own reflection, but the face of the one they secretly desire most. Prolonged use leads to obsession.]

[The Mask of Eternal Yearning – Grants immortality to the bearer—but only if they remain unloved. The moment they are truly loved, the mask shatters.]

[The Desire Engine – A living relic that feeds on the emotional energy of entire cities. The bearer becomes a god of longing, but loses the ability to feel anything themselves.]

[The Heartstrings Harp - an enchanted instrument that can play songs that evoke powerful emotions in those who hear it. The user can use this to manipulate others' feelings, making them more susceptible to seduction or influencing their actions.]

[The Siren's Kiss - a mystical artifact that grants the power of a siren's song. The user can use this to lure others towards them with an irresistible melody, causing them to lose all sense of reason and give in to their desires.]

"What the fuck!?" Elion muttered in the dark. Some of these objects had ridiculous effects. Especially, the mask of eternal yearning. "Immortality!?" 

Under normal circumstances, he might have picked this one.

But it would defeat the whole purpose of his system and the rest of his kit.

There was no way he was going to be unloved with the kinds of skills he would be using on multiple women.

If anything, when he's done with the women in his academy, he was sure they would all be obsessed with him.

The love potion was also quite tempting. It would work on anyone.

But he was confident that he would be able to achieve the same result with his abilities, given enough time.

"And there's no way I am picking one of those overpowered objects that have side effects, I don't want to die young." 

After thinking about it for a bit, he decided to go for the ink of yearning.

Perfect to plant interest in him in other women who would otherwise not give him the time of day.

If all he needed to do was write their name down to make them dream of having sex with him, this ink was truly a godsend for him.

In fact, he already had a name in mind.

"That bitch Mira, who always joined in on bullying me with William! She will be my first target." 

An evil smile made its way onto his face. He already knew he was really going to enjoy this new power of his; he was going to abuse it to the fullest.

All those women in the academy who acted all high and mighty, they shall fall before my mighty rod!

Doing anything other than that would be a waste of these gifts he had received.

As soon as he made his selection, the chosen object appeared by his side, and the skills were added to his consciousness.

A small bottle of rather ordinary-looking ink.

He inspected it in his hand. "This ink is supposed to be infinite? It's rather small. But then, maybe it doesn't need to be big."

A soft ding signaled the completion of the process, and Elion could already feel the power surging within him. 

"What the!?" He felt his skin grow warmer, and he could swear he felt his limbs stretch a bit, which they did.

...

"What the!?"

He felt his skin grow warmer, and he could swear he felt his limbs stretch a bit, which they did.

His lean muscles became a bit more defined, and he felt the fabric of his uniform grow a little bit tighter around him.

His body grew even more imposing, and added a few inches to his very short height, and naturally, he felt his member growing larger in his pants, a sense of masculinity and virility emanating from him. 

He felt it all happening slowly until the warm, fuzzy feeling vanished completely. He could more or less guess what had happened just now.

Elion tried to fight the urge to check his bits, to no avail, "Ahhh fuck it!"

He grabbed the rim of his pants, stretching them out wide along with his boxers. And even in the dim light provided by the system's interface, the changes were more than visible.

There, his formerly four-inch pecker greeted him, its flaccid length visibly much longer, and its girth wider.

"Wow!" He smiled in satisfaction. "It really got bigger!" It looked to be 8 inches long, at least double his original length

He remembered the description for the Incubus's physic, and then his curiosity got the better of him.

He willed his shaft to get longer, and it visibly grew another inch, now 9 inches in length. "Noice!" Elion laughed out loud like a boy who had found a nice new toy.

He slapped the waistband of his pants back into place and looked back at the system interface.

[Congratulations, you have levelled up!]

[Congratulations, you have levelled up!]

[Congratulations, you have levelled up!]

[Congratulations, you have levelled up!]

[Congratulations, you have levelled up!]

[Congratulations, you have levelled up!]

Hisssss!

Elion drew in a sharp intake of breath. Had he just advanced six levels just now?

He had been in the academy for six months, and he had barely made it to level eight after all this time; his peers were so far ahead that he had no hope of catching up to them, ever.

The only way to check one's level was to use a glyph in one of the academy's facilities.

It was a rare artefact only available in guilds and academies, and unless you had one, or had a perception skill, it was impossible to discern your own level, let alone other people.

The academy periodically checked its students' progress and registered it in the database.

So, unless Elion found a reasonable explanation for his sudden improvement, he would be under a bit of scrutiny.

[Ding]

[Status]

[Name: Elion Nova]

[Age: 18]

[Race: Human/ Incubus]

[Class: Water Mage - Apprentice → Novice]

[Talent: Bronze Grade]

[Level: 8 → 14 (0/140 XP)]

[Physical: 9 → 38]

[Mental: 24 → 70]

[Mana: 16 → 54]

[Skills]: [Water bullet: Lvl 2] [Water blade Lvl 1] [Tidal Wave Lvl 2] [Sinful Touch - divine] [Mind Control - divine] [Harem Seal - divine] [Irresistible Charm - divine] 

[Storage]: [The Ink of yearning]

[System Points: 0]

"Incubus's Physique is not on the list of my skills; it's actually a racial trait! I'm half Incubus now. nice." 

He guessed that the change in his race was also responsible for the abnormal change in his stats and level. Normally, going up a few levels would not explain such a substantial rise in stats.

You would maybe gain 2 or 3 stat points for each level up, but Elion had more or less caught up with the lower end of his class, and all because of his new physique that made him a half-incubus.

Elion was only an apprentice-class water mage, the lowest class category for mages, and the reason he was even allowed into the academy was that there had been a shortage of water mages in the selection.

But even among low-class mages, Elion's mana pool was the lowest there was. All he could cast were two basic spells before he passed out from mana deficiency.

It was no wonder he was looked down upon as trash in the academy, especially one as prestigious as this.

The biggest academy in the world, where young mages from different races were accepted. Only the most talented were allowed in.

So his admission obviously caused a lot of displeasure among the students and staff.

Now that his mana pool had more than tripled, he would not be a trash mage anymore. And he had actually advanced from being an apprentice mage to a novice mage, since he jumped past the level 10 threshold.

Now, he would be at least an average mage in comparison with his extremely talented peers.

Once Elion got that out of the way, he still had one more problem: "Now, how do I get out of here?" He wondered.

[Teleporting host out of the dungeon.]

A bright light engulfed Elion before he could register the system's words.

He shielded his eyes with his hands, and when he opened them again, he was standing outside, a few metres away from the entrance of the dungeon. 

He noticed that it was already dark out; the only source of light was the full moon up above.

Their class had come to the dungeon early in the morning.

He was instantly spotted by the two guards stationed near the entrance. Surprised expressions appeared on their faces, "Halt!"

"Identify yourself!" One of them dashed after him, probably assuming he was one of those illegal dungeon raiders.

Elion raised his hands to show that he meant no harm, "My name is Elion Nova. I came here with my class in the morning for a training exercise. I got separated from the rest of my class, so they must have assumed I died." 

The two guards looked at his dishevelled uniform and noticed that it was indeed the magical academy uniform. 

But then, they hadn't been told anything about being on the lookout for a missing student. They eyed him suspiciously, exchanging weird looks.

Elion was half convinced that they were conversing in some way he didn't know about.

One of them approached Elion after a few seconds, deciding to take matters into his own hands.

"Come with me, I will take you to the academy. Wayne, you should be fine alone for an hour or so, right?" He turned to look at his companion, who shifted his weight to his left foot before speaking again.

"Alright, just don't take too long. It would be better if you left him at the city gates."

"Let's go, kid." The guard turned around, walking first into the dark forest.

Elion frowned as he followed. As far as he was concerned, he was not a kid.

I'm an adult goddamnit!

Sure, he looked shorter and leaner than most men; he was barely 5'7", at 18 years old, and his facial features were soft and handsome, while his cheeks still held a bit of fat.

Yeah, his features made him look more like a kid than a young man. 

But that was before the minimal changes to his body.

It seemed the change in his height was not as substantial as he had initially thought. 

And he had to take a look in the mirror to see if there were any visible changes to his facial features.

...

Elion followed quietly behind him.

There was a walking pathway that led all the way through the forest and back to the city, so they didn't have to struggle with the underbrush.

The geographical location of Grimholt city was quite unconventional. It was a gigantic floating Island.

Yes, they were up in the air right now. Grimholt was known as the academy city, built primarily as a hub to support the Magical Academy.

The island was located in a neutral location, since all races gathered here for trade and so on.

Elion noticed how his escort's eyes occasionally looked back at him curiously, but he paid it no mind.

It was not long before the man finally decided to speak whatever was on his mind.

"You can call me Draven. You must get all the girls back at the academy with those looks, young man."

Elion's eyes widened in surprise; that was when he realised that his assumption must have been true.

His racial change had increased the size of his dick and made him gain a few inches in height.

What had happened to his face?

"Uhm, not really." He answered, but chose not to say anymore.

Perhaps sensing that Elion did not want to dwell on the topic, Draven decided to ask him something else.

"So, how did you get separated from the rest of your group?"

Elion took a moment to answer, recalling how William had shoved him over the edge with an 'oops' kind of look on his face. 

That son of a bitch! I swear, I'm going to kill him one day!

A glint of rage flashed in his eyes when he thought about how he had nearly died for no reason at all! But despite his rage, he knew there was nothing he could do about William, for now.

Never mind him being weaker than William; even if he did somehow manage to kill him, William was a noble.

His whole family would come after him and have him skinned alive if he so much as touched a hair on his head.

If William's brother wouldn't kill him, his father would, if not his father, then his mother, if not his mother, then his grandparents, and even then, he knew William must have an extended family.

It was like putting himself in an endless cycle of danger; it wasn't worth it.

For now, he had to bide his time, build a harem with his system, and get stronger using his new abilities.

But he promised himself one thing: one day, he would make William regret ever attempting to end his life.

Just when Draven thought that Elion would not answer, he spoke calmly. "I fell over the edge of a cliff onto the lower floors, so the teacher must have assumed I died."

Draven's eyes widened in surprise, "How did you manage to survive if you fell down to the lower floors. Even I am not confident in making it out alive if I fall down there."

Elion considered his response for a moment, coming up with the perfect answer, "I was lucky enough to find a teleportation circle, and when I activated it, I found myself outside the dungeon entrance."

Draven nodded, "Makes sense."

It was rare to find teleportation circles in a dungeon, but not so rare that it was impossible.

All dungeons had checkpoint areas, and some of these areas had teleportation circles that led out of the dungeon, to save adventurers lots of valuable time instead of trekking back all the way up.

They made it back to the edge of the city in no time with no incident.

The city itself was large and sprawling, but not much was visible from outside the outer wall.

The winding pathway they walked on led to the eastern gates, where plenty of guards were stationed at the gates and on outposts on top of the wall. 

"Draven!" One of the guards at the gate called out to him before they arrived.

A beastkin of the cat tribe.

His ears and tail peep out from his armour, though Elion paid the man no mind past that. 

Other races were a common sight here, unlike the town he had come from before being accepted to the academy.

Staring for too long would be considered disrespectful.

Elion had learned his lesson after staring at an elf girl's ears for too long one time in the academy. 

The guy who was with her had beaten him bloody, and he had to walk around with bruises for weeks.

"What are you doing here so late, Draven?" The catkin approached them at the gates.

"Found this one near the dungeon gates. Says he is a student from the magical academy."

The catking eyed Elion with mild interest, "I did overhear a few of the students say one of them fell to the lower floors in the dungeon. Must be your friend there."

Draven nodded, "I should get back to my post now. You guys can handle the rest."

Draven turned around, nodding to Elion before he started walking back the way they had come.

The catkin nodded for Elion to follow. "Come on, I'll take you to the academy. You can rest easy now, kid."

Elion sighed inwardly. Another one calling me kid.

He didn't bother correcting and simply trailed behind as they passed through the eastern gates.

Grimholt City at night was breathtaking.

Lanterns powered by mana crystals floated above cobblestone streets, illuminating the bustling roads with a soft blue glow.

Even at night, the streets were bustling with activity.

Soon enough, they reached the inner wall that separated the academy from the city.

The wall shimmered faintly with layers of protective runes. A pair of knights in better-looking armour than the ones at the outer wall stood at the gate.

The catkin presented his badge, gesturing to Elion. "Found him near the dungeon perimeter. Says he's a student who got separated during a training session."

One of the guards nodded curtly. "We were informed of a missing student after a head count, but a search team was never dispatched. They said you were dead, kid."

Of course they did. His teeth clenched.

Wouldn't it have been quite convenient if he had died back there?

Elion forced a weary smile as he corrected. "Almost died."

The guards eyed him suspiciously, taking note of his disheveled uniform, how it tightened on his body, and, better yet, his complete lack of injuries.

For better or worse, it was quite odd to see a student in a tattered uniform and still have no visible wounds.

But they didn't think much of it. Considering the status of some of the students who went here, he must have used some kind of expensive treasure or potion to heal himself back to health.

After a round of identification checks and mana verification, his uniform's embedded sigil helped confirm his academy status, and they finally allowed him inside.

...

After another round of identification checks and mana verification, his uniform's embedded sigil helped confirm his academy status, and they finally allowed him inside.

The main courtyard of the academy was eerily quiet this late at night. Towering spires of multiple buildings pierced the sky.

Elion walked quietly, though his mind was already elsewhere.

The faculty chamber doors opened to him with a soft hum.

Three instructors sat behind a curved desk, each wearing the silver mantle of the academy's staff.

One of them, a tall elven woman with hair like frost, regarded him coldly.

"What were you doing outside the academy after curfew, young man?" She asked.

He couldn't help but be drawn towards the elf lady, her full red lips curled into a disapproving smile as she spoke to him.

Her eyes seemed to bore into his very soul, and her smooth voice sent shivers down his spine.

Her body was a sight to behold, even while seated, a figure that all men craved for.

Her breasts were well endowed, very big, round, and full, the kind that made a man's heart skip a beat.

Her hips swelled out from her waist, creating a tantalizing curve that begged to be touched.

Her long, white hair cascaded down her back, framing her face with its silky, luscious tangles.

"I just returned from the dungeon. I got separated from my class earlier today."

Despite her cold demeanor, there was a certain allure to her that was hard to ignore.

A deep red color accentuated the fullness of her lips, making them look inviting, almost edible.

The way they curled up as she spoke was enough to make his pulse race.

"Oh? You must be Elion Nova," she began, her tone sharp but not unkind. "You were reported dead during your class's dungeon exploration. Care to explain what happened?"

Elion hesitated. Should I tell them William pushed me?

The memory flashed in his mind, William's smug face, that false look of surprise as Elion fell.

His fists clenched, his knuckles whitening.

But reason quickly overrode anger. They wouldn't believe me. William's father is a Duke… and I'm just the peasant who barely qualified to be here.

Even worse, he suspected they might "silence" him quietly if he accused a noble heir of attempted murder without solid proof.

The academy had its reputation to maintain. And people like William's father were some of the academy's sponsors.

"I fell," he said finally, lowering his eyes, lest he let his tongue slip. "The terrain gave way under my feet, and I fell into the lower floors and got separated from the group."

The elf's expression softened slightly in understanding, and one of the other instructors, a broad-shouldered dwarf, grunted.

"You're lucky to be alive, lad. Next time, pay attention to your footing. We'll file your survival report so that you don't face any more issues. Now, move along, you must be tired. If you are hungry, go to the kitchens; you might find something to eat if you're lucky."

He proceeded as instructed, and of course, a few more verification procedures followed, mana testing, injury check, and a brief lecture about "student accountability."

When it was all done, they finally let him go.

As he stepped out of the faculty wing, exhaustion finally settled in.

He had walked a long way, but it was still better than his condition after the trip to the dungeon.

His stamina had improved somewhat, but it had only become that of an average human mage.

But the fatigue clawing at him was more mental than it was physical.

Back to the dorm, he sighed.

At this time of day, they should be having a personal Physical training session, but there were no classes for him today; the dungeon exploration had been the main highlight for his class.

The other classes were probably still at it, and his classmates were probably already bragging to each other about their performance or doing personal training like the other classes, for those who were truly serious.

He doubted anyone would be worried about his untimely 'death'.

He didn't care.

He just wanted to lie down and think.

He walked through the quiet dormitory corridor, faint voices echoed from nearby rooms, drifting into his ears, students laughing, mana crackling in the dorm training rooms.

He did run into a few students coming from the training facilities, or maybe visiting their boyfriends and girlfriends for some nighttime activities.

The academy placed no restrictions on romantic relationships between students.

Most of them here were young adults, so they had needs, needs that had to be taken care of, so students were pretty much open about their nighttime activities.

The only thing the academy drew the line at was pregnancy. This led to immediate expulsion if found out.

Of course, the stronger guys got all the girls. The benefits of being at the top of the food chain.

A class had somewhere between forty and fifty students, and it was sufficient to say that at least half of the students in each class were in some form of a relationship.

More so, women of low birth. They clung to the rich and noble young masters like their lives depended on it. People like William were practically drowning in women, because these ladies knew that if they somehow managed to become his concubine or even a wife, their whole future was set!

Elion reached his door, turned the handle, and stepped into the small, dim room that smelled faintly of ink. 

He dropped onto his queen-size bed, staring up at the ceiling.

"System," he whispered.

The air shimmered faintly.

[Yes, Host.]

A tired smile crept across his face. "How do I get stronger, fast?"

[Host needs to build a big harem and farm points. Points can be obtained primarily through intimate contact with women.]

[The number of points gained for each action depends on the strength of the woman in relation to the host and the severity and extent of the action.]

[Host can use points for multiple things.]

[1. Converting System points to experience points to advance levels.]

[2. Advancing the host's class]

[3. Increasing the value of a selected stat]

[4. Raising the host's talent]

[5. Buying skills, or items from the system store, to aid the host in getting stronger.]

"Wait? System store? What is the system store?"

[Host needs to be level 20 to access the system store.]

"Oh, that's unfortunate. It seems I need to find a target to farm points sooner rather than later." His life was riding on him obtaining these system points, and he had to do it soon.

For one, Elion was already dreading class tomorrow.

He was under no delusion that William would stop bullying him just because of what had happened in the dungeon.

The guy was willing to go as far as killing him, and for what?

Elion had never done anything to provoke the guy. 'Wait, actually, maybe I have?' A memory from last week flashed into his mind.

...

A memory from last week flashed into his mind when Isolde, one of the few elves in his class, had talked to him.

Elion had casually cracked a joke afterwards, which she had found quite funny, so she laughed her breath out.

It just so happened that William had watched the whole interaction.

Elion had felt his gaze boring into his back, but he thought nothing of it at the time; but it seems William had not forgotten.

"That bastard!" Elion hissed.

It was no secret that William was a self-entitled bastard who thought all women belonged to him.

And since he was talented and even had better-than-average looks, they let him get away with it.

Seeing Elion and Isolde, one of the few girls who treated him like air, conversing so naturally must have pissed him off.

So, he decided to remove Elion from the picture.

"Just you wait..." 

"Anything else I should know about the system?"

[.....]

[No.]

After that, he slowly dozed off to sleep, not even bothering to take a shower despite how sweaty and grimy he was. 

Early the next morning, the academy's automated lights flickered awake just as Elion's own eyes did.

He groaned, rolling over to bury his face in his pillow. 

He glanced at the clock - 7:00 AM. Class didn't start until 9:00, which meant he had plenty of time to deal with the nagging aches and figure out how to approach today.

Avoiding William wasn't going to be enough.

He needed to subtly shift the power dynamic, plant a seed of doubt in the guy's mind, or at least make him question whether messing with Elion was worth the risk.

Dragging himself out of bed, he headed to the small washroom attached to the dorm room.

The shower was lukewarm, but it was still blissfully better than sleeping with a death wish. 

As he finished rinsing off, he thought about how he was going to start setting targets; the best place to start was with the girls in his class.

But for now, he needed to focus on class itself.

It was mandatory to attend all classes, and skipping any without a reason would be a surefire way to get expelled.

Once or twice was fine, but any more than that would lead to a disaster.

After drying off and getting dressed, he took a deep breath and headed out to the cafeteria.

The scent of freshly brewed coffee greeted him as he walked in.

Breakfast was already out, and students were already busy with their meals.

He grabbed a tray and found a table in the corner, far enough away from the loudmouths and popular mages.

The academy was no different from any other school; there were always cliques, and he hadn't exactly endeared himself to many people since joining.

His eyes scanned the room, searching for a familiar face among the crowd.

Some of his classmates were around, which meant, if anyone spotted him, they were sure to be surprised. 

Not enough time had passed for them to be aware of his return.

And no one was close enough to be shaken by his supposed death, so it would be no surprise if they were going about their day as usual.

Once he was done eating, he decided to walk to class.

The walk was quiet. Elion's classroom was in one of the smaller theatres, with tiered seats rising around a central stage where lectures and demonstrations were often held.

When he stepped inside, the murmur of conversation immediately stopped.

Six students were already there, three guys and three girls.

Their laughter cut off mid-breath as their eyes landed on him.

Shock flickered across their faces, like they'd just seen a ghost.

"Hey, look, Elion's alive!" Rachel blurted, her voice rising in disbelief. Her curly auburn hair framed her face as she gawked at him.

"What the, how!? Didn't you fall into the lower floors?" Another guy added.

One of the guys shot up straighter, frowning. "You've got to be kidding me," he muttered, glaring at Elion as though expecting him to dissolve into mist.

Elion didn't respond.

He simply walked past them, his footsteps echoing softly.

He climbed up to the back row and sat down, dropping his bag beside him. His gaze slid briefly over the group, but he didn't offer a word.

They looked like they wanted to swarm him with questions, but hesitation held them back.

He was still Elion, the class outcast, the one nobody wanted to be seen getting too friendly with.

At least, most of them.

One girl let her curiosity get the better of her, Aria. She bounced up from her seat and made her way toward him.

Aria was short, lively, with a sharp bob cut that swung with every step.

She looked more like a doll than a student because of how short, petite, and cute she was. She leaned over slightly, a playful grin curving her lips.

"I see you made it out of the dungeon alive?" she said, her tone light but edged with genuine curiosity. "Care to share the deets? Everyone thought you were dead."

Elion opened his eyes to meet hers.

At this angle, he could see the faint dip of her neckline and a big portion of her upper breasts.

Whether intentional or not, it felt almost teasing.

If I didn't know better, he thought, I'd say she's trying to seduce me.

"Yeah," he said flatly. "I'm alive. There's no big story. I got lucky, found a teleportation circle, and got out."

She tilted her head. "Seriously? Just like that?"

"Just like that."

"Hmm." Her smile didn't fade. She leaned in just a bit closer, enough that he caught the sight of her pink bra, more of her creamy chest, and even a faint outline of her areola.

The scent of her perfume assaulted his nostrils, sweet, floral, and distracting.

"Really?"

"Yeah." Elion's thoughts, however, were elsewhere, even as they conversed.

'Okay, fuck it, you will be my first target.'

He decided there and then, 'one way or another, I'm going to make this vixen mine!'

She was just way too provocative and relaxed around him. Maybe she was like this with everyone, but that didn't matter.

...

Maybe she was like this with everyone, but that didn't matter.

Elion immediately eased the restrictions on his charm ability, and the effect was immediate. Aria's eyes widened, as if a sudden realisation had dawned on her.

A deep blush crept its way up her face from her neck, and he could see that she was fighting to restrain the feeling of attraction overwhelming her senses.

Then she leaned in.

Closer, and closer.

For a split second, Elion thought she was actually going to kiss him.

His pulse quickened; he almost panicked. But at the very last moment, she caught herself and pulled away sharply.

Still, he didn't miss the flicker of regret that passed across her face before she turned her head.

Lucky for him, no one else had noticed.

From where the others sat, all they could see was Aria's back, her short hair slightly swaying as she turned away.

They hadn't seen what had just happened. Elion put the lid back on his charm skill as Aria took a step back, trying to compose herself.

What was that just now? she thought, heart pounding. Did he always look that good?

For some reason, Elion suddenly seemed exactly her type. And did I almost… kiss him? No, that's impossible!

Sure, Elion was handsome, in fact, probably the most handsome guy in the class, but he was also the trash of the class.

Strength mattered more than looks here, more than anything in this world.

As much as she appreciated a handsome face, she'd rather have a strong, average-looking man than a weak, beautiful one.

She shouldn't even be entertaining such thoughts for trash like him. She looked at his face again.

So why am I even thinking like this?

Her eyes drifted to his face again. Oh gods, he's so handsome. And those lips…

She shook her head quickly, forcing her thoughts away.

"Are you alright?" Elion asked, feigning concern, his tone just the right mix of polite and innocent.

Aria cleared her throat, startled, and turned to glance at her friends, panic flickering for a heartbeat before relief set in.

They hadn't seen anything, just a few confused looks from across the room.

I'm in the clear.

She met Elion's gaze one last time, her expression cooling into a careful smile. "I'm perfectly fine," she said, voice steady again, before turning on her heel.

As she walked away, Elion's eyes followed her.

He couldn't help noticing the way her hips swayed, the bounce of her decently sized, round ass beneath her short skirt, the faint outline of her panties beneath the fabric.

She's so hot… and cute!

He could already hear her whispering what he'd said, her voice bright and animated.

The others exchanged looks, clearly skeptical of the explanation they had been given by Aria.

Elion leaned back in his seat, letting their murmurs fade into background noise.

He'd expected this reaction, curiosity, whispers, disbelief. It didn't matter.

Let them talk. The more they underestimated him, the easier it would be to move in the shadows and overtake them.

Inwardly, his thoughts were churning over his interaction with Aria.

That effect was a bit too strong… he thought, brow furrowing. I only released a little bit of my charm, and she nearly kissed me on her own.

He swallowed. What if I'd unleashed it fully? Would she have just… pounced on me? Right here, in front of everyone?

A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.

This system might be a little too overpowered.

It seemed, conquering the class's beauties would be a landslide!

As the minutes trickled by, more classmates filtered in.

Each one stopped short when they noticed him, the same surprise flashing across their faces.

"Look! It's Elion!" The newcomers mostly acted surprised, but no one approached him.

Aria and her friends took no time sharing what they had learned from him. He didn't even need to explain anything to anyone himself.

Soon, the large theatre hall was packed, rows of desks stacked with students, all arranged in a broad semicircle around the stage.

Finally, homeroom arrived.

Then William walked in.

He strode through the entrance with his usual entourage of lackeys, their laughter echoing, until his gaze fell on Elion.

His grin froze.

For a split second, disbelief and panic flashed across his face.

Then, just as quickly, the grin returned, wider and sharper.

Elion almost felt the urge to applaud.

The sheer thickness of this bastard's skin was something to be admired.

This bastard doesn't even feel a hint of regret!

"Oh, look! Trash Elion made it out of the dungeon alive!" William announced, his voice brimming with mock cheer. "You're one lucky bastard, aren't you?"

He started up the aisle toward Elion, but then the mood shifted as the rest of his group began taking their seats.

Their homeroom teacher had entered.

A middle-aged man with a well-groomed beard and an easy smile walked up to the podium. His blue and silver robes shimmered faintly under the magical lights.

Professor George.

The same pretentious bastard who had led them into the dungeon.

Elion had learned the hard way not to trust that smile.

William clicked his tongue in irritation and dropped into his seat.

Of course, George noticed Elion almost immediately.

His warm smile widened. "Young Elion! I'm so glad to see you alive and well. You can't imagine our relief when word came that you'd been found and brought back safely. We were all devastated when you slipped and fell from that bridge. Truly, it warms my heart to have you with us again."

Elion simply nodded.

This bastard.

The shamelessness was unbelievable. He almost wanted to applaud again.

Once the pleasantries were over, homeroom began in earnest.

Attendance was taken, and the usual morning theory classes followed.

The hours blurred together as they sat through all three classes: Mana Theory, Wilderness Survival, and History.

Elion tried to focus, but his thoughts kept drifting.

He absorbed what he could while keeping one wary eye on William, who occasionally turned his head just to sneer at him.

By midday, the lectures were done.

"That's all for today," Professor George said, closing his book. "If you have any questions, you may visit my office."

And with that, he left, his robes fluttering behind him.

The classroom immediately filled with chatter.

Afternoon sessions would be devoted to combat training, but there were still two hours of free time, lunch, and rest.

The perfect time for gossip and boasting.

...

Afternoon sessions would be devoted to combat training, but there were still two hours of free time, lunch, and rest.

The perfect time for gossip and boasting.

Elion spotted William talking animatedly with a group of girls, his usual followers hanging on his every word.

It was obvious that he was telling them some story about his exploits in the dungeon.

Elion snorted in disgust. It was probably all lies, but the girls seemed to be eating it up. Every fibre of his being wanted to stand and smash that smug smile off William's face.

This bastard had tried to kill him for no reason, pushed him off a bridge into the dark lower floors, and yet here he was, preening like a rooster.

Elion ground his teeth and forced himself to breathe slowly.

'Relax,' he told himself. 'His time will come.'

He looked at William with a cold and patient gaze. 'Your death won't be painless. I'll make it slow, agonizingly slow.'

William's laughter died mid-sentence. He stiffened as if a cold hand had passed over him, then turned, confused.

"Huh. I could have sworn I felt someone's killing intent just now," he muttered to himself, scanning the room. "Weird. I must have imagined it."

Elion had shifted his gaze elsewhere just as William had turned around.

He caught a glimpse of the beautiful Isolde, the clueless cause of his near demise, standing slightly apart from the rest, listening with a skeptical expression on her face.

Her long, pointed ears twitched faintly, a telltale sign of her elven heritage. Even among elves, she stood out.

Her silver-blonde hair cascaded down her back like liquid light, glinting under the soft illumination.

Her pale violet eyes, sharp and thoughtful, were fixed on William as if dissecting every word that fell from his lips.

Unlike the others, she didn't seem entirely convinced by his stories.

As Elion watched, another student, a catkin girl, Lyra, approached Isolde and whispered something in her ear.

Isolde brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, unaware of his gaze. For a fleeting moment, her eyes drifted across the room and locked onto his.

For a heartbeat, neither of them looked away. Then, to his surprise, she smiled at him.

A small, warm, reassuring smile, gentle in a way that almost disarmed him. It wasn't mocking, nor pitying.

It was… kind?

Elion blinked, caught off guard. No one in the class ever looked at him like that. Her smile lingered for a moment longer before her cheeks turned a faint shade of pink.

She quickly averted her gaze, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as if embarrassed by her own reaction.

Elion stared at her for a few seconds more, feeling something strange stir in his chest. He wasn't sure what to make of it.

Then, as if to shatter the fragile moment, William's voice cut through the air.

He seized the moment like the coward he was. "Hey, trash!" he called, loud enough for the room to turn.

His cronies snapped their heads to glare at Elion, faces twisting with the practiced disgust they wore like armor.

Elion's eyes flickered to William's table, where the boy was now staring at him with a violent expression

"I need a target for practice later," William called on, the cruelty curling into a grin. "Make sure you don't run off."

The gaggle of boys snickered as they swept out of the room, triumphant in their small theater of cruelty.

As always, the rest of the class pretended nothing was happening, and chatter resumed. Elion said nothing; silence was his habit.

And William took that silence for acceptance. 

Little did he know, this Elion had no intention of playing the obedient fool anymore.

I'm not the same helpless guy I was, William. By the time you realise that, it will be too late. 

Elion noticed Mira clinging to William's arm, as possessive as ever, pressing herself against him as usual.

It was no secret that that bitch had given herself completely to William; she even made a point to make sure that it was known.

Elion's eyes flashed with a hint of rage, I'm going to enjoy slowly breaking that bitch!

During the first few months at the academy, back when William still played at being the model student, and Mira wasn't yet draped around his arm, things had been different.

Back then, she'd been just another ambitious girl, beautiful, cunning, and determined to climb the academy's social ladder by any means necessary.

And she had set her sights squarely on William.

He was the golden boy of their class, talented, confident, and surrounded by the kind of reputation that drew attention wherever he went.

Mira wanted that.

She wanted the eyes, the whispers, the envy that came from standing beside someone like him.

But William, for all his arrogance, had standards; he didn't chase, he chose.

So, she had to make him notice her.

At first, she tried charm. Subtle glances, feigned laughter at his jokes, small compliments dropped like seeds waiting to sprout.

When that didn't work fast enough, she changed her approach, more aggressive, more daring.

And that was when she turned her attention to Elion. 

He was the perfect pawn.

The William's punching bag, the one everyone mocked.

By targeting him, she could curry favor with William without seeming desperate.

Every insult she threw, every "accidental" mishap she caused him in class or training, earned her a glance, a smirk, a word of approval from William.

It hadn't taken long before William took the bait. Hook, line, and sinker.

He found her "bold," "spirited," even "amusing." And soon enough, she'd gotten exactly what she wanted: his attention.

Now, months later, Mira had everything she thought she desired.

She was his unofficial girlfriend, though "bedwarmer" was a more accurate word.

William paraded her around like a trophy, a pretty thing to hold onto when he wanted to show off his dominance.

And Mira played her part perfectly.

She laughed at his jokes, flattered his ego, and let him drape his arm possessively over her shoulders while the rest of the girls glared in envy.

But behind that perfect smile was something else.