That day, everything changed. It was just an ordinary day for most people of the world and beyond when the one who called himself Dark Aristocrat appeared in the sky and conquered the entire universe. That day, many people were birthed, and many people perished. But the natality and mortality of the Earth was the least important thing that happened that day.
On that day, the energies of the Earth were restored, a second after the energies were restored to their original state, people with extraordinary abilities were born. This was the natality that was important, all others were useless.
On the same day, many important officials guiding the world's regulations died, this was the important death rate, all others like its counterpart were useless. The deaths of these officials also gave rise to the subordinates that the Dark Aristocrat had entrusted the Universe with.
If there's anything good about all these happening, it would be the abilities brought about by the Dark Aristocrat. Our "MC", Ray Kelly was one of those people who were bestowed with different types of abilities during the "Descent of the Dark Aristocrat".
He was reborn with what novels in the times Before called a "System". This so-called "System" was sort of a game system that showed things like stats and stuff, the ones in games were not specialized like that, but the one Ray had was different, that difference was what would lead him to an entirely dark path... Now, let's start from the beginning shall we?
. . .
Ray Kelly sat on the wooden floors in his apartment, clutching to his knees like no he'd been possessed. If a random otaku were here, he would say: "Hey man, you have red hair, you gotta be more fiery than this!"
But meanwhile, the reason he is on the floor was because of this:
"Initiating bonding, please wait for the bonding to begin... 3,2,1, 0. Bonding Initiated!"
A weird pessimist male voice rang out in his mind. Ray was utterly confused, but counting on all that happened in the last ten minutes, this was the least surprising thing. Whether he was going to die or not, he didn't care, he just wanted to go peacefully.
To his surprise, Ray was not dying, not even injured for that matter.
"System Bonding complete."
The pessimist male voice sounded again and Ray finally garnered enough courage to ask questions.
"What is this system thing?"
The male voice in his head gasped and sounded genuinely shocked.
"Why you? Don't tell me you've never read system novels?!"
"..."
"Goddammit. Just when I find a suitable host, it has to be some newbie who has no idea what an honourable system such as myself is!"
Ray took a deep breath and realised that this situation wasn't what the novels said would happen, he was guessing that this was how "Systems" really behaved, and this one forgot to activate Female Mechanical Voice Module or something like that.
"I know what a system novel is."
Ray bluntly said to the system or whatever in his mind.
"Excuse me?"
"I said I know what a system novel is, I have also read it."
The attitude of the system took a 360-degree turn. He immediately activated talk no jutsu.
"Wow, does that mean you've read [The Strongest System]?"
"Yes."
Ray answered bluntly once again. The system's imaginary eyes shone once again with a fun light.
"Does that mean that you've also read [Ultimate Scheming System]?"
"Yes."
"[My Vampire System]?"
"Yes."
"[The Mech Touch]?"
"Of course."
After a while, the system couldn't remember any more system novels and Ray ran out of yesses, so they had to compromise and try not to procrastinate too much.
"Cough, that aside I am your Magic System. And if ever made into a novel would be stylized as [My Magic System]."
Ray mostly got what the "Magic System" was talking about, he had also read his fair share of novels based in magic worlds, and this was not only web novels he was talking about. For example, Harry Potter and Lord of The Rings were some of such examples.
But for some reason, he found Harry Potter's magic unbelievably cheesy, and Lord of The Rings unbearably vague all around the stories. He wondered if this system would bring what seemed to be his ideal vision of magic.
'Hehe, Etativel!'
Ray practically drooled as he thought of the endless possibilities.
"Hey, Ray, are you even listening?"
"Eh, no what were you saying?"
If the system had a body right then, he would facepalm so bad.
"Kek, whatever. I was just saying that you have a Newbie Red Envelope waiting for you."
"Oh, give it. Status."
Ray already knew his way around systems and cooly pulled up the status; a holographic screen that just floated in front of him.
...
Name: Ray Kelly
Race: Human
Age: 21
Profession: Professional Web Novel Critic
Height: 5'11"
Stats
Level: 4
STR: 4 (Atk: 5)
AGI: 5 (Speed: 6)
END: 0.01
INT: 9 (Creativity: 15)
DEX: 0.01
VIT: 10 (Average for normal human)
MP: 20/20 (Impressive for normal human)
HP: 50/50
SP: 0
Skill Tree:
[Passive]
Trash Talking (Level ???)
[Active]
Internet Warrior Transformation (Level 10)
Trolling (Level 20)
Email Cloning Technique (Level 1)
Spam Release Technique (Level 1)
Remark: Useless internet warrior who has yet to step onto the path of true power.
...
Ray closed the status page and twitched his lips irritatedly, were his skills that godly?
'Heh, anyway.'
"Open Newbie Red Envelope."
When he said that, a bright red light enveloped the entire apartment and a bright red envelope packet appeared in front of Ray's stunned face.
"Tap to receive rewards."
The bold words floated in front of him weirdly. It took Ray a few seconds to register the words written in the air. And when he finally did, he still couldn't bring his finger to touch the envelope.
The envelope and the words written by the side floated there, just waiting for him to press it. He didn't know what Magic System was doing, but it probably had something to do with the envelope.
Judging from what the novels said, this newbie package was his chance out of the dumps. So Ray no longer hesitated and went straight for the envelope.