Ray was currently standing in the center of a huge magic circle.
Outside the circle he could see his mother and a few court mages and imperial guards.
Isis was wearing a white dress with slight tinges of gold, white gloves on her hands while her lustrous black hair fell on her back. She showed no skin other than her face and looked extremely elegant, true to her title.
Her bubbly excited personality was no more. She was wearing a calm elegant smile as she looked at Ray.
To the public she appeared as the most elegant queen, extremely polite and helping towards everyone.
Beside her stood Ambrosia, the only Archduchess of the empire and his mother's younger sister. She only had the title in name and didn't even live in her own land as she was the royal palace's official appraiser. So she would just live in the palace most of the time.
Ambrosia also had black hair but her proportions were more moderate. Even if she had smaller assets compared to Isis, her face looked no worse. Above all, she had a cold demeanor, giving her a different type of charm altogether. She was wearing her blue robe that only showed her arms from the elbow down and her face from the neck up.
Behind the two outrageous beauties stood Robert and Jenna, the two people with the one- time system reset skill.
Following them were the imperial guards and court mages standing in a complete circle separating them from the nobles and other important people who had gathered and were now sitting in seats previously provided, to watch the awakening up close.
The building they were now in was called the 'Events Hall'. Connected directly to the palace, this was reserved for speeches and assemblies given by the Emperor.
In certain cases this was also selected to host an important event. With a stage in the middle and seats present all around, the arrangement was extremely comfortable.
Currently the magic circle was set up on the stage and Ray stood at its centre, waiting for the mages to stop their chanting.
While most nobles considered this ceremony as a chance to gain fame, Ray just felt this was unnecessary fanfare.
Finally the incessant chanting of the mages all around him stopped and the magic circle below him started shining extremely brightly.
'The brighter it glows, the stronger the system…'
Thinking so, Isis couldn't contain her happiness. Who didn't want their child to obtain success?
While everyone was murmuring in awe or surprise at the magic circle that kept getting brighter and brighter, there was no sign of happiness in Ray's face.
Let alone a smile, he was trying to contain his frown as his eyebrows kept twitching.
'It's the same shit again…'
As the light kept getting brighter and brighter, it was now shining with light so bright no one could keep their eyes open.
Finally when it stopped, a black translucent window appeared in front of Ray which only he could see.
'Ah fuck it. It's time to begin acting.'
Right then, he concentrated his thoughts on the black screen and it transformed into a shining golden screen.
***********************
A long time ago…
Ray was standing on the magic circle with a bright and excited smile on his face.
As the circle kept getting brighter, he couldn't contain his excitement. He knew he would obtain a strong system.
Finally a black screen appeared in front of him and he finally saw the name of his system with slight confusion in his eyes.
'Seven Sins System (Divine)'
Seeing the Divine rank beside the name immediately made Ray stop breathing as his heart rate soared.
This was a mythological rank which was only heard of in legends.
But as soon as he read the name of the system, he knew this was not a 'good' system.
Even if the quests would not be very 'orthodox' Ray decided to give it a try and if it really went against his morals he would then request Robert or Jenna to change his system.
Just as he was thinking of how to persuade the people about keeping his system, Ambrosia used the appraisal spell on him.
The moment the spell hit him, Ambrosia coughed up blood, her eyes became bloodshot and suddenly gasping for breath, she collapsed.
She had died.
Even as her dead body hit the ground, blood seeped out of her ears and open mouth, forming a puddle underneath her.
Everyone in the hall was suddenly thrown into a panic.
One of the strongest mages of the empire had died just like that, and that too just for using an appraisal spell.
Everyone knew at that moment that the system the prince obtained must have been an extremely evil one.
"ROBERT! USE YOUR SKILL!"
Isis screamed as she ran towards Ambrosia.
"Y-Yes your m-majesty…"
Robert started shaking as he activated his skill without a second of delay.
Magic and skills were different. Magic was activated through the mana in the atmosphere and therefore could have certain backlashes if the mana went out of control. Skills on the other hand were innate power of the systems, and didn't have any backlashes.
Even then… the moment Robert used his skill on Ray; he suddenly fell on his knees and grabbed his head.
PLOP
With a loud sound, like a bubble bursting, Robert's head exploded, blood and brain scattered all around.
Everyone knew then that something was horribly wrong. Something terrifying had descended and couldn't be allowed to live.
Suddenly, multiple guards and court mages used all their attack spells Ray.
Even if it killed them, they had to take out a 'monster' that had descended.
Unlike how everyone thought the mages to suddenly die like the previous two, nothing happened.
When the smoke from the magic had passed, only a charred body remained.
It was Ray.
He had died.
Just as Ray felt life seeping out of him, he saw a message.
[Reincarnation Cycle has been activated.]
After what seemed like a few seconds, Ray opened his dazed eyes, and saw Isis looking down on him with a smile.
It was the day he was born.
***********************
Eighteen years later…
Ray once again stood in the magic circle, nervousness and fear rising in his heart as he tried to calm himself.
For the last few years he had tried to act as normal as possible, but finally couldn't and told everything to Isis and Ambrosia.
Ambrosia didn't believe him at first, but after using a truth spell on him was shocked to find that it was real.
After severe discussions it was decided that if the same thing appeared in front of Ray again, he would nod his head twice at Ambrosia during the ceremony, and she would pretend to cast the spell and just say he has an Emperor System.
Isis kept consoling him and said it would be alright, but he could see that more than anyone else, she was the most concerned.
And as the light around him shined brighter, the same black screen appeared before him again.
'Seven Sins System (Divine)'
He looked at Ambrosia and nodded twice.
And just like that, he survived the day, and then began long term planning with both Ambrosia and Isis, and at the same time he slowly explored his system.
His system was divine alright. Top-tier skills, magic, items and mysterious powers never seen before, but at the same time there were weird and sometimes evil and cruel quests.
To sustain his life he could only complete certain low intensity skills, obtaining a lot of skills and powers.
Once again, a few years had passed.
Everything was fine as he was the Emperor, his mother was enjoying regular life in the palace and his aunt Ambrosia would continue researching on his system.
Another few years passed, and now Ray faced a predicament.
Each of his skills had a few limitations and drawbacks, and since he did low intensity quests randomly, he obtained skills and powers with no synergy and huge limitations on the owner.
He had also discovered many hidden functions of his system, but it was already too late, as one day it all came crashing down.
Due to certain events and a few people scheming and betraying him, he died.
He couldn't even fight back as the attack on him conveniently arrived at the time when almost all his attack skills were on limitations or cool down.
Facing the people who betrayed him and learning how everything transpired, his heart turned cold and he gritted his teeth as multiple spears stabbed him to death.
Ray died once again, and once again he saw the same message.
[Reincarnation Cycle has been activated.]
Ray opened his eyes again and this time they shone with coldness and determination.
This time he planned to die.
He spent his childhood glued to books, studying everything about powers, systems, meeting people, gaining experiences, and this time again he told everything to his mother and aunt. Not about his second life, but only about his third life, and as expected, everything happened as he already knew.
***********************
One Hundred Years Later…
Ray Celestia had a lot of titles.
The Scholar, the Wise One, the Supreme Mage, the Immortal Emperor, but outshining them all was the title The Demonic Ruler.
Yes, this time Ray had completed every quest that came his way. Brutality, cruelty, he did everything he could to obtain every power he could get his hand on.
He spent a hundred years researching about everything, doing a lot of cruel things, but keeping a note in his heart, saying he would make everything alright the next time.
And finally the day arrived.
A lot of Gods and Goddesses from the higher realms came rushing down to take him down.
Ray had started threatening the authority of the gods.
But he didn't have regrets. After an intense fight which shocked the world, Ray finally died. But not before killing a few gods and goddesses.
Ray had learned everything he could, prioritizing knowledge and research above everything else.
He found out almost everything about his system.
In his path he lost a lot of people he cared about, and met a lot of people he would never forget, but even then he carried on.
He kept on planning.
He also learned that having a lot of skills was not that great but rather harmful.
After doing everything he could, creating multiple backup plans as failsafe, he was finally ready to die.
And die he did.
[Reincarnation Cycle has been activated.]
Ray opened his eyes to see Isis smiling down at him.
'Fuck this system. Just you wait.'
Thinking so he continued with his plan and eighteen years passed.