1 I
Many have dreams... some want to be rich, some want to be mad smart, some want to be famous, some want big booty bitches, some want love, some want to see the world, some want to be strong physically and mentally. Some want to be badass as fuck. Honestly, who wouldn't want these things?
I, for one, wanted all of them (except fame) but never had the will to achieve those aspirations. It was much more comforting to do things I was used to… it was more comforting to escape reality in that shining monitor instead of changing for the better.
Speaking of change... there's still a pile of assignments yours truly hasn't done. Do I care? A little, sure. Will I start them over binge-watching the entirety of the Last Kingdom, playing some good ol' Assassin's Creed, going to the park to play some Basketball alone or writing another 5 chapter fanfic (that I'll never finish) again? Probably not. If there was one thing I was great at, it was procrastinating.
I'll do it at 10PM, I'll do it tomorrow, I'll do it next week...
Yeah, it kinda goes like that. Gotta say... technology got me messed me up. Seems like my entire life is based around receiving dopamine rather than actually living. Instead of getting some real 'maidens' or even speaking to any girl in general, mans would rather jerk off to pixels. I knew it was wrong and pathetic yet I did it either way.
Where did I stop caring? When did I let myself go? Even though I'm an adult, I don't truly feel like one... I still act like a damn child.
After my existential crisis, I washed away the bad thoughts by escaping into another world once again. And yet… once I began to type, it all became a blur.
~
'What… the fuck!?'
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Name: Rokas / Jiufang Ke
Alias: The Lazy One, Talentless Ke'er, The Flood Snake of Jiufang, Trash, Cripple (may as well be)
Race: Demon
Identity: Youngest Son of the Patriarch
Age: 16
Profound Strength: Earth Profound Realm X (10)
(Grades: F (Mortal) - D (Monarch) - C ('God') - B (True God) - A (Creation God) - EX (Ancestral God. Grades are standalone, amplified by profound strength. So someone in the Elementary Profound Realm with B speed would not be fast at all compared to those in the higher realms. Also, '+' represents the ability to temporarily increase said parameter by a sizeable degree.)
Comprehension: F
Strength: F
Endurance: F
Agility: F
Profound Energy Quantity: F
Profound Energy Control: F
Luck: A
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Secret Ability: LOCKED (Get gud unworthy bozo)
Ways of Growth: 'Only through diligence may the heavenly procrastinator grow'.
Meditation/Comprehension Goal I: Dedicate an hour towards cultivation.
Reward: ?
Dual-Cultivation Goal I: Hold a proper conversation with a girl you find attractive
Reward: ?
-Cultivation resources only serve to strengthen foundations and provide additional battle strength.
Bloodline: Nine-Headed Flood Dragon
Description: The original form of the Jiufang Family is that of the Nine-Headed Flood Dragon and so, its family members have the ability to transform into said form. If given the proper seeds, who knows what this power may hold in the future?
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After seeing his status screen, Rokas frowned.
'Hold on… Earth Profound? Mans has to be dreaming. Why the hell would I be dreaming of ATG, though…'
'Besides, my dream of ATG would be piping Qianye Ying'er and not whatever violation this is.'
Rokas slapped himself in an attempt to wake from the so-called 'dream'... but to no avail. He frowned, observing his exceedingly clear surroundings. 'Jiufang Ke', the second and youngest son of Jiufang Kui had been taking yet another snooze in his courtyard. It was a bright, sunny day… who could blame him? Everyone, apparently.
'Man really got plucked into the ATG universe. No truck-kun, no tractor-kun, no train-kun… nothing.'
It took a solid minute for Rokas to take in the fact that he'd never see his family again. Not his dad, mom, uncle, sister… nor all those online friends he had made. He couldn't watch any anime, TV shows or… err, 'actresses'. No games, no reading (at least the book franchises he knew), no basketball… his old life had essentially been ripped away from him. It was a rather depressing prospect to be so suddenly thrust into an entirely different world, to be sure.
But, the more he lingered on the thought, the more hopeless it seemed to be sulking about. He was now Jiufang Ke, whether he wanted to be or not.
'Fucking hell, aren't the Twelve Guardian Families just under the Four Great Sacred Grounds in terms of strength? The peak of the Earth Profound Realm is a whole violation when the young masters in similar circumstances are TWO great realms above me. How… is this Jiufang Ke THAT bad?'
Rokas sighed as he looked through Talentless Ke'er's memories. The more he looked, the more he saw that they shared quite a few traits. Jiufang Ke had been extremely lazy, shy, a supreme disappointment to his family (maybe an exaggeration in Rokas' case) and… he tried to please everyone. More often than not, they pretended to be someone they're not to make so-called friends. They acted nice to avoid any unnecessary drama, sometimes at the cost of being insulted and having to bear with it. At times, the line would be crossed too many times and they would have emotional outbursts from keeping it all in… although, in Jiufang Ke's case, everyone would laugh at him except for his uncle.
But, in his silence, Rokas was observant and rather intelligent. He knew that if he 'tried', he could accomplish great things… and that was the most depressing thing about his previous life.
'I have to try… I can't afford to be a loser in back-to-back lives. Besides, meditating for one hour? That's lightwork.'
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and meditated as Jiufang Ke used to. In his rather large courtyard, all he could hear was the high-pitched buzzing of nature. It was late summer and extremely warm… causing Rokas to sweat and have lacklustre focus at best. By the time two minutes passed, he was already getting disgruntled.
'How much time was that? It had to be like five minutes…'
He opened his eyes and observed his progress toward the meditation goal.
'Only twenty-three seconds? No fucking way. I know time wasn't passing THAT slowly.'
[System: Mr Rocky… if you were not aware, your way of meditation is pretty damn trash and inefficient. Nothing personal kid.]
'... You know what, fuck you.'
[System: Fuck you too :) ]
Rokas sighed, standing up to go indoors. Given Jiufang Ke's lack of talent, he had been punished by his father several times. This included him being stripped of his brilliant palace-like chambers for a far less lucrative house.
By the time he somehow reached twenty minutes, someone burst open his door. Alerted by the sound, Rokas' concentration broke as he opened his eyes to see who had broken in. Average height, dead black eyes and a grin… it was a face that Jiufang Ke had known too well. It was his cunt older brother.
The talented one. The "once in a millennium" genius with a special type of body (well, once in four thousand years, to be precise).
"Ke'er… you're meditating?" He chuckled as he looked down on Rokas. "It's a little bit late for that."
"... What do you want?" Annoyed, Rokas frowned.
"Still at the Earth Profound Realm… tsk, tsk, tsk, I can't believe trash like you can call himself my brother. You asked what I want? It's all rather simple. I want to motivate my younger brother."
'No one asked…? Fuck off??'
Before Rokas could even move an inch, Jiufang Yu had already kicked his head into the wall. With that kick alone, Rokas' soul had left his body as he remained in a daze. The big bro wasn't done quite yet, stepping forward to stomp on Rokas' chest and later… his face.
"Do you feel motivated yet?" He spoke with a sadistic grin. "If you want vengeance… then go ahead and surpass me! Hahaha… hahaha."
Stomp.
"Although… we both know that will never ever happen!!!"
Stomp.
Stomp.
Jiufang Yu was having the time of his life kicking the shit out of Rokas. Did he get rejected by his crush? Did a stronger genius kick his ass earlier? Rokas did not know… but he was feeling all the pain for whatever had triggered his so-called older brother.
"I'll tell father that I properly disciplined our dear Ke'er. Perhaps we will see some results in the coming days, eh? Oh… and why don't I motivate you a little further with this!"
STOMP.
"...AHHH!"
He stomped on his most sacred region… his dick! The scream that came from it was a pain that many men would perfectly understand.
"Don't even bother crying to anyone, Ke'er. No one in this world cares about weak garbage like you."
And so, he left with a satisfied expression. It was as if he truly believed he had done something good. Meanwhile, Rokas was practically stuck to the ground in pain. He groaned for what seemed several minutes, rolling around and caressing his crushed blade in hopes of easing the pain.
"Fuck… fuck… fuck… fuck…"
'What did I do to deserve this??? Too much sinning (fapping)?'
Rokas felt like crying… never, ever, had he been beaten this badly in his existence. He was the type to avoid fights, after all. He did get into small confrontations here or there where some pushing was involved… but absolutely nothing like this.
It was a personal eye-opener to the world he now lived in.
'Reincarnate into ATG… get Harem Protag EX skill… profit… they said.'
Rokas fell unconscious not long after, feeling awfully drained from his wounds.
~
The next day.
'Is the nightmare over?'
Rokas opened his eyes to see a rather elderly woman stroking her chin. He looked around, realising that he had been placed into his bed and taken care of. Although there was clear soreness, he wasn't as much of a wreck as before.
'This woman looks kind enough, like a grandma…'
"You are finally awake… I was beginning to believe that the Patriarch was down a son." The doctor jested, chuckling.
'... Looks can be deceiving.'
As he assessed Jiufang Ke's memories, he recalled that this woman was the Jiufang Family's main doctor. The doctor had a tendency to make jokes in bad taste but her skills were well prized. The more Jiufang Yu had shined, the more Jiufang Ke had been neglected… and so, he had become a growingly frequent customer for the doctor.
"Who was it that beat you down this time? A disciple, distant cousin… someone outside of the Jiufang residence? Though, you don't go outside that often and you were beaten in your own home. Was it your father who did it, I wonder? I suppose a lazy boy like you would need some severe disciplining."
"..."
Rokas was not in the mood to answer at all.
"Always the silent one. Well, in any case, I dedicated quite some time to fixing your pretty face. In regards to whatever wounds remain, they are minor and should be mostly healed after a few days of rest. Try to avoid getting your ass kicked again as it saves me the effort of healing you. Oh and… you have your uncle to thank for bringing me to you."
'Uncle…?'
And so, the doctor left Rokas alone.
'A young master… I'm the saddest excuse for one.'
He sighed, remaining in bed. This moment of silence led to him thinking about the long-term.
'The Hundred Reign Ceremony is… in five and a half years? That means that the current time is right around six months after Yun Che reincarnated. Currently, he should be trying to kill himself at that waterfall… damn it, no freebies for me.'
'I have to make use of this system and see what kind of rewards it provides. Now, ain't no pretty gyal talking to a trashcan like me… nor do I have the confidence to speak up to one. That only leaves meditation.'
Rokas closed his eyes, finding it easier to concentrate and keep himself still in his wounded state.
Low and behold;
A miracle happened!
Rokas was… productive and reached his first goal!
[System: Well done, my g. You just earned yourself: Sigma Male Grindset (D). Whether or not you choose to cultivate it is up to you. I've already given you the first stage to comprehend.]
'Sigma Male Grindset… are you fucking serious?'
[System: I'm an honest individual.]
'... Alright. What does this profound art provide, exactly?'
[System: The Sigma Male Grindset is a state of mind that promotes self-improvement and achieving your goals. It means being devoted to and perhaps even obsessed with reaching a certain personal goal, oftentimes at the detriment of other aspects of life.]
'... Right. What are those other aspects?'
[System: Depends on the person, truly. At its core… the 'sigma male grindset' is a way that builds determination and focus within someone. If you want to be strong, it is the one true path for you. Of course, if you are happy getting bullied by any background young master, you can stay the way that you are.]
'The Sigma Male Grindset…' Rokas raised an eyebrow, sighing. 'Fine, I'll comprehend it.'
[System: Good luck!]
[System (The World) Confidant Rank 0 –> 1]
'You… stole that from Persona?'
[System: Yessir. There are some benefits later on… so it would be in your best interest to be nice to me :C.]
'Pfft.'
…
Comprehending the Sigma Male Grindset's foundations was rather simple, so Rokas had discovered. He didn't know what to expect since ATG's 'comprehension' was barely explained if at all. People just got the gist over time or they didn't. And… that's just how it was. After comprehending the Sigma Male Grindset, meditation became a bit more simple for the young lad and he started setting records.
That very same day, his uncle came to visit.
"Yu'er went too far… but he won't suffer the consequences." Jiufang Pi sighed. "This is just how the world is, Ke'er. Even family can treat you like an outsider when you do not meet the status quo."
'Family… what family?''
Jiufang Pi looked at the silent yet frowning Rokas with a glance of concern. "Ke'er, your father has decided to enlist you into the army."
"The… what?" Rokas blurted out loud.
"Yes, you heard me right. The main purpose of our Twelve Guardian Families is to protect members of the royal family and the empire, as you know… but you cannot serve that purpose in the Demon Imperial City. The difference in strength is simply too large."
"And… what would I accomplish in the army?" Rokas asked, frowning. 'I'd be one in millions! Does he just want me gone!?'
"It is not a permanent arrangement, Ke'er. Only a year or two to turn you into a proper Jiufang. You see, your father wishes you to not only be more disciplined but also more of a leader. Who knows? You might even enjoy your time there."
'So much for the young master lifestyle…'
Rokas really did feel like crying as he imagined his precious PS4 and gaming laptop fade into dust, replaced with army drills. Or whatever else the members of a cultivation world's army did…
…
On his third day, he was dragged into an audience with his father.
"Still in the Earth Profound Realm… absolute trash!" Jiufang Kui, Rokas' 'father', roared as he smashed a table. "With each breath that you take, you disgrace our prestigious family. Perhaps a few of the other Guardian Families would have pampered such trash… but I, Jiufang Kui, will not stand here and foster trash, even if it is my own son! Not anymore… I simply refuse!"
Rokas stood still, feeling a sense of deja-vu except the problem was cultivation-based rather than his grades. Whenever either of his parents would go on these rants, he'd just sit still and not speak a word… unless they said something especially egregious.
"Do you understand?"
"..." Rokas reluctantly nodded. "Yeah."
"Good, you might not be quite as hopeless as I thought. Elder Bing will take you away at sunrise tomorrow so be sure to collect all the valuables you might need. Now, go. I have more important matters to attend to than waste my breath on you."
"I'll help with that." Jiufang Yu smiled, stepping forward.
'Fuck off.'
Rokas turned around and swiftly walked out.
"What's the rush, little brother?" Jiufang Yu easily kept up the pace, skipping along, before simply teleporting in front of him. Rokas ended up bumping into him as a result, feeling a rush of anger boil up deep inside right after.
'If there was one cunt I'd want to kill…'
"I can hardly tell that your face was stomped only two days ago. Hmph… sadly, the Jiufang bloodline and all its benefits are wasted on trash like you."
"Trash this… trash that… do you all ever shut up?"
Irritated, Rokas finally spoke out. He just couldn't keep in his anger anymore.
"Are you mocking me?" Jiufang Yu's face contorted into something very ugly as he grabbed Rokas by the collar, raising him up against the wall. "Well, are you?"
"Take a guess… moron." Rokas did not look him in the eye.
"... Hahaha, you are growing awfully brave!"
BANG.
Jiufang Yu let go of his collar and gut checked him as he descended.
"Pfft…"
Rokas spat out blood, helplessly crumbling to the ground in pain while Jiufang Yu stood over him.
"Don't you ever speak up to me again, little brother. Before me, you are absolutely nothing but a speck of worthless dust. Even my servant girls are stronger than you! How pathetic is that, huh? The only reason why I even bother with you is because, by some miracle, we happen to share the same blood…"
'To think that I… once wanted an older brother.'
For a moment, he completely zoned out as Jiufang Yu kept spitting bullshit.
'What happens if I die?'
[System: You will not be having another shot at life.]
'Which cunt of a ROB finds this… amusing?'
[System: The one you created.]
'The one… I created?'
"Tsk… you're not even listening to me." Jiufang Yu shook his head, raising him by his hair and punching him in the gut again. "To think that my mother died giving birth to garbage like you."
He let go, walking away. "I sincerely hope… you never return."
'...'
Rokas remained still, not moving an inch for a whole minute. Eventually, he found the strength to get up only to see that several disciples had gathered.
"That beating was well-deserved… look at him, he's useless."
"The clown can't even fly, hahaha. What a mighty young master!"
"Maybe… he is weak. But he is still the Patriarch's son-"
"Don't even bother helping him. Both the Patriarch and Young Patriarch have lost all faith in him. If anything, helping the young master can get you on the wrong side of the Young Patriarch… which you shouldn't even think about doing."
"Well…"
Clutching at his chest, he blocked out the noise and walked away.
'One day, I will…'
He clenched his hands as tightly as he could until his nails even cut through the skin of his palm. Never before had he, a rather chill dude by all accounts, been violated this much… and by his new so-called 'older brother', no less. It hurt… it truly did.
'I will… return this… pain…'
[Sigma Male Grindset D —> B]
'I will… abuse every advantage… just to… fuck him up…'
…
[System: You want power, right?]
'Yes…'
[System: I will give you this opportunity… do not waste it. Aerion the Transcendent says it's repayment for all the plot armour you gave him. Oh and for Izanami's fine ass.]
'...'
Rokas' eyes widened as a luminous star-like aura surrounded him… and teleported the young man to another continent.
