Chapter 97: SCAMMED BY SYSTEM
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen," Aaron’s voice rang out, calm yet commanding, his figure shifting once more into the familiar face of the old man they had once known. His presence carried weight, as though the air itself bent around his authority. "After much review, I have decided to grant you more strength. But..." His tone sharpened like a blade against steel, drawing every eye to him. "There is a catch.
From this moment onward, you and your families will no longer live in the mundane world you once called home. That life is behind you. Instead, you will reside permanently within this sanctuary. Blue Star will only be accessible to you for the tasks I assign... or for critical matters that must be handled. Nothing else."
The crowd remained silent for a heartbeat, then Derrick stepped forward, his expression firm, his resolve clear. "You have already given us purpose... and life. And truthfully, we no longer feel attachment to Blue Star. If anything, this sanctuary feels more like home than the world we left behind. So please, grant us the strength to stand stronger." His words rang with conviction.
Bailey followed with a simple nod, his group standing behind him in solemn agreement. "As he said. We accept your decision."
Aaron’s sharp gaze softened. "Very well then. I give you today to bring your family members into the sanctuary. Here, you will have free rein to build your residences however you see fit. Simply imagine what you desire, and it shall be constructed. You will also instinctively know the maximum land space you are permitted to occupy once you begin building." He waved his hand, dismissing them. "Go now."
As the groups dispersed, Aaron’s gaze fell on Blade. "You too. Bring the children from the orphanage. They will not be left behind. And if you wish, I can make them hybrids as well—so that they may survive in this cruel world."
Blade’s eyes glistened with gratitude. He bowed deeply, his voice trembling with emotion. "Thank you, my lord. I swear, I will never let you down."
One by one, the sanctuary emptied, leaving Aaron alone with Flameborn, his loyal dragon, and the still-transfiguring Ice Queen. Silence hung heavy in the grand hall.
Aaron knelt, rubbing the smooth scales atop Flameborn’s head with a rare tenderness. "Don’t worry, buddy. You’ll be next once I finish today’s system draw," he whispered with a grin.
Straightening, Aaron clapped his hands together in excitement, unable to hide his eagerness. "Alright, system. Show me what you’ve got." His palms rubbed against each other like a gambler about to reveal his winning hand.
Today was different. Today’s draw had been tampered with in advance. Rigged. He had sacrificed a whole month of draws for this very reward, but Aaron didn’t mind. Not at all. He needed what was coming. With Nathan already able to see through his secrets, it was only a matter of time before the other demigods did the same. He had to prepare for the long run.
[Congratulations! You have gained the system’s exclusive newbie pack.]
Aaron froze.
Blink. Blink.
His jaw dropped. "..."
The silence was deafening.
Then it hit him like a sledgehammer. "You... damn system!!!! You actually played me for a fool!!??" Aaron’s scream echoed through the sanctuary, his rage palpable. His veins throbbed on his forehead as he clenched his fists.
An exclusive newbie pack could only mean one thing: the system had withheld something from the very beginning. Something he should have gotten the first day.
[You just got scammed.]
Aaron staggered back as if struck. He could hear it—the laughter of the universe itself mocking him. "Urghhhh! Even the stars are laughing at me!"
Grinding his teeth, he forced a strained smile. "Well... at least I won’t have a one-month ban from system draws anymore, right? Technically, I’m just... receiving my newbie gift now. I’ll let it slide this once. After all, we’re... friends, right?" His voice cracked as he tried to suppress his fury.
[What nonsense are you spewing? If it wasn’t a scam, it wouldn’t be called a scam. Next time, try being nicer to the system.]
Aaron’s eye twitched violently. He wanted to strangle something—anything. "One day... I swear, I will kill you," he hissed through clenched teeth, even as he begrudgingly accepted the reward.
---
Newbie Pack Contents:
1. Upgrade card ×1
2. Random bloodline ×1
3. Random talent ×1
4. Random skill ×1
5. Random pet/mount ×1
6. Random information ×1
[Open the newbie pack?]
Aaron groaned, collapsing to the ground dramatically. "System, you don’t deserve happiness... not now, not ever."
But just as he was about to select Yes, his body froze. A long-forgotten memory surfaced. Cold sweat formed on his back. "Wait... don’t tell me... The second gift you promised me—the one I sacrificed two months’ worth of draws for—is part of this... isn’t it?"
[Exactly, host. And because I am such a benevolent and generous system, I even added four extra gifts. No need to thank me. I already know how kind I am.]
Aaron felt his world collapse. His body trembled, his vision blurred with rage. It was confirmed. He hadn’t just been scammed—he’d been robbed blind by his own system. Two whole months wasted for a prize that should’ve been his from the start. This wasn’t just theft. It was a crime against humanity.
"Sigh... Open my rewards," Aaron muttered in defeat, collapsing like a man who had aged ten years in a single moment.
---
[Congratulations! You have received the following rewards:]
1. Upgrade card – Can upgrade any ability of the host to the next level. This includes bloodline, talents, skills, items, race, etc.
2. Naga bloodline – Grants the user the power of the Naga race.
Poisonous blood: Utilize your blood for attack, rendering it toxic and corrosive to enemies.
Toxin resistance: Immunity to most low-level toxins and poisons.
3. SS-rank talent: Lightning King – Absolute control over lightning. All lightning spells and attacks gain massively increased lethality. The stronger the lightning you control, the stronger your destructive potential.
4. Lightning Domain – Create a domain of lightning extending 100 meters around you. All lightning attacks within this domain are amplified significantly in both power and lethality.
5. Thunder Roc (SS rank) –
A colossal Roc with wings like storm clouds, each feather shimmering with arcs of violet-gold lightning. Its eyes flash like twin thunderbolts, and every beat of its wings shatters the silence with thunderclaps.
Arrogant and untamed, it only submits to the strongest wills.
Once bonded, however, it becomes a loyal force of nature, embodying the wrath of the skies.
Abilities:
1. Lightning Soar – Travels faster than sound, leaving trails of lightning in its wake.
2. Storm Domain – Summons storms wherever it passes, empowering itself and disrupting enemies.
3. Heaven’s Judgment – Calls down a catastrophic thunderstrike capable of annihilating armies.
4. Thunder Bond – Rider gains enhanced reflexes and partial lightning resistance while mounted.
Weaknesses:
Constantly radiates electricity, making stealth impossible.
Requires massive spirit energy or mana to unleash its strongest techniques.
6. Information on host’s Primogenitor Bloodline – The Eclipse Clan (The Moon That Devours the Sun).
---
Aaron’s face lit up with childlike wonder, his earlier anger melting away like snow under the sun. "Well, well, well... System, your betrayal has been forgiven. This newbie pack isn’t so shabby after all." His lips curled into a wide grin, excitement bubbling in his chest.
For once, he felt unstoppable.