The morning sunlight filtered through the thin curtains, casting soft rays over the rumpled bed where Lana lay, her flushed skin still glistening with the sweat of the previous night's ordeal. She looked peaceful—broken, yet oddly content—her subconscious already reprogrammed, her loyalty shifted entirely to her new master.
Before sleeping at night Jimmy used his skill to Eat away her memory and replace it so she think herself as his master.
Jimmy sat up, stretching lazily. His body was humming with power, his mind sharper than ever. He opened the system panel, his silver eyes gleaming.
> \[Current Level: 2]
> \[Corruption Progress: Lana Rose – 83%]
> \[New Trait Gained: Submissive Guardian – Corrupted target will now fight to protect you without hesitation.]
> \[Skill Upgrade in Progress...]
"Not bad," he murmured, running a hand through his black hair. "A legendary class, a powerful corrupted tool... now let's see what this world really has to offer."
He stood and looked over at Lana, who stirred awake, eyes dazed with adoration.
"Master…" she whispered, crawling to the edge of the bed. "What are your commands for today?"
He smirked. "Get dressed. We're going to the Adventurer's Guild. It's time I officially enter the game."
---
The bustling guildhall was alive with chatter, the clinking of armor, and the smell of sweat and steel. Rows of adventurers stood before request boards, scribes processed forms, and behind the counter stood a beautiful guild receptionist with short platinum-blonde hair and a stern expression.
Jimmy's entrance didn't go unnoticed. As he walked in with Lana—now completely subservient, following behind him like a loyal hound—eyes turned. Whispers spread. No one missed the handsome youth and the stoic assassin behind him.
Jimmy walked confidently to the counter. "I'd like to register as an adventurer."
The receptionist glanced at him, unimpressed. "Identification card?"
He handed it over with a charming smile.
\[Passive Skill: Charm Activated]
She hesitated—her eyes widening ever so slightly before narrowing again. "You're… new. Sixteen? Tch. Hope you're not another noble brat trying to play hero. What's your class?"
"Hidden," Jimmy said smoothly. "But I think you'll be seeing my name quite often soon."
Her gaze lingered longer than she intended. Then she nodded. "Fine. You'll start as Rank F. Prove yourself, and you can rise. Missions are on the board. Pick one and bring back proof."
Jimmy turned and started scanning the quest list. He wasn't looking for easy prey—he was hunting for opportunity.
> \[New Quest Available: Investigate the Haunting at the Wailing Mire – Rank E]
> Reward: 4 Silver
> Details: Reports of vanishing villagers near the mire. Possible magical interference.
He grinned.
"Lana," he called over his shoulder. "We're heading to the Wailing Mire. Bring your blades."
"As you command, Master," she replied.
---
Later that afternoon, they reached the edge of the mire—foggy, silent, and heavy with ominous tension.
Jimmy activated \[Dreamwalker Vision], a new ability gained from his class that let him peer into the residual dreams of those who had recently died or vanished.
\[Scanning dream residue…]
\[Vision Fragment Accessed…]
Suddenly, his surroundings twisted. He saw a terrified villager being pulled into the fog by twisted, humanoid creatures with glowing blue eyes and cracked, mask-like faces. Their minds… weren't natural. It wasn't possession.
It was something far worse—*mental consumption*.
Jimmy's smile twisted. "So… there are other beings in this world that meddle with the mind."
\[System Alert: Unknown Entity Detected – Dreamborn Echo]
\[Threat Level: Moderate to High]
\[Absorption Potential: Possible upon defeat]
He turned to Lana. "Change of plans. We're going to harvest something special tonight."
---
They pressed deeper into the mire, and it wasn't long before the creatures appeared—slithering out of the fog, their forms shifting between dream and flesh. Jimmy activated \[Mind Wave], sending a surge of mental disruption toward the leading creature.
It shrieked, faltered, and Lana pounced, blades flashing. With Jimmy disrupting their coordination and Lana slaying with precision, the battle became a cruel dance of slaughter.
When the last creature fell, Jimmy stepped over the corpse and reached down.
\[Dream Eater Activated]
\[Absorbing Essence…]
\[New Passive Skill Gained: Mind Leech – Drain mana and stamina from enemies afflicted by mental attacks]
"Delicious," he whispered.
> \[Level Up! Current Level: 3]
He turned to Lana, who was panting from exertion, blood splattered across her assassin gear.
"You fought well, slave."
She knelt before him without hesitation. "Thank you, Master."
---
As night fell, Jimmy stood at the edge of the mire, eyes glowing faintly as the wind stirred his dark cloak. He wasn't just playing the game of this world anymore.
He was rewriting the rules.
"Let the world send its champions, its kings, its gods…" he murmured. "I'll show them what it means to dream... and to kneel."