The acrid smell of smoke filled Zhan Wei's nostrils as he blinked his eyes open. Instead of the expected white ceiling of a hospital room, a canopy of emerald leaves swayed gently above him. He sat up abruptly, his head spinning.
"What the..." he muttered, taking in his surroundings. Gone was the busy intersection where he'd pushed a child out of the path of a speeding car. Instead, he found himself in a lush forest, the air thick with the scent of vegetation and a faint, sweet aroma he couldn't quite place.
A translucent blue screen suddenly materialized before his eyes, causing him to yelp and fall backward.
[System: Welcome, User. Villain System activated. Try not to faint—it's unbecoming of a villain.]
"V-Villain System?" Zhan Wei stuttered, his programmer's mind racing. "Like in those webnovels? This can't be real."
[System: Reality is often stranger than fiction. Especially in your case. Initiating basic scan.]
A warm sensation washed over Zhan Wei's body, and the screen updated:
[User: Zhan Wei
Age: 28
Current Realm: Tianyü Realm
Cultivation Level: None (Pitiful, really)
Villain Points: 0
Available Skills: 1
Current Novel: "Jade Emperor's Chosen"]
Zhan Wei's eyes widened in recognition. "Wait, 'Jade Emperor's Chosen'? I've read that novel! But that means..."
[System: Bingo! You're now Dong Kuishan, the primary antagonist. Congratulations on your promotion to soon-to-be-dead villain!]
"Soon-to-be-dead?!" Zhan Wei's voice cracked. "What do you mean?"
[System: In the original story, you're destined to be defeated and killed by the protagonist, Liu Jian, in about two years. Quite the career path you've chosen.]
Zhan Wei's mind reeled. He remembered Dong Kuishan's fate—a gruesome death at the story's climax. "There has to be some mistake. I'm not a villain! I'm just a programmer who reads too many novels!"
[System: Well, consider this your chance at a career change. Your mission, should you choose to accept it—and you will, unless you fancy being terminated—is to disrupt the protagonist's destined path and change the course of the story.]
"And if I refuse?" Zhan Wei asked, a note of desperation in his voice.
[System: Then the story proceeds as written, ending with your untimely and rather painful demise. Any other questions?]
Zhan Wei's mouth went dry. He stood up shakily, pacing the small clearing as he tried to process his situation. "This is insane. I can't be a villain. I've never even stolen a pen from work!"
[System: There's a first time for everything. Now, are you ready for your first quest?]
"Quest? I haven't even agreed to this!"
[System: Your continued existence is agreement enough. Now, pay attention:
First Quest: "The Verdant Deception" Objective: Infiltrate Greenleaf Village and steal the Emerald Codex from the protagonist, Liu Jian.
Reward: 500 Villain Points, 1 Random Skill
Failure: Temporary System Lockout, Decreased Cultivation Potential, and a lifetime supply of regret]
Zhan Wei's moral compass spun wildly. "Steal? From the protagonist? But that's... that's wrong!"
[System: What part of 'Villain System' is unclear to you? Now, here's your first skill to help you on your nefarious path: [Shadow Step].]
Suddenly, knowledge flooded Zhan Wei's mind. Without thinking, he stepped into the shadow of a nearby tree, only to emerge from another shadow several meters away.
"Whoa," he breathed, looking at his hands in wonder. Despite his moral quandary, a tiny thrill of excitement coursed through him.
[System: Impressive, isn't it? Now, Greenleaf Village lies to the east. I suggest you start walking. Oh, and do try to look villainous. First impressions matter.]
As the system's interface faded, Zhan Wei stood alone in the clearing, the weight of his new reality settling on his shoulders. He was no longer just Zhan Wei, the ordinary programmer. He was now Zhan Wei, the reluctant villain, set on a path to disrupt the fate of an entire world.
With a deep, shaky breath, he turned eastward. "Alright, Liu Jian," he muttered, trying to summon a confidence he didn't feel. "Let's see if we can rewrite this story. Preferably without me dying horribly."
As Zhan Wei took his first tentative steps towards Greenleaf Village, a rustle in the nearby bushes made him freeze. He tensed, ready to use his new skill, when out waddled the most adorable creature he'd ever seen—a mix between a rabbit and a turnip, with huge, watery eyes.
[System: Beware! You've encountered a Fearsome Beast of the Forest!]
"This?" Zhan Wei pointed incredulously at the creature. "This is a fearsome beast?"
[System: Its cuteness is a deadly weapon. Quick! Use your villainous wiles!]
Panicking, Zhan Wei blurted out the first thing that came to mind: "Um... your mother was a carrot!"
The creature's eyes welled up with tears. It turned and hopped away, sobbing quietly.
[System: ...Congratulations. You've unlocked the hidden skill: [Cruel Tongue]. Effective against vegetable-based lifeforms. Your villainy knows no bounds.]
"I feel terrible," Zhan Wei muttered, watching the creature disappear into the underbrush.
[System: Perfect! You're already becoming an excellent villain. Now, onward to Greenleaf Village! Your dastardly destiny awaits!]
As Zhan Wei resumed his journey, he couldn't shake the feeling that this quest was going to be far more complicated—and ridiculous—than he could have ever imagined. The forest seemed to whisper around him, as if laughing at the cosmic joke of which he was now the punchline.
Little did he know, his adventure was just beginning, and the twists ahead would challenge everything he thought he knew about being a villain, a hero, and himself.