The darkness enveloped me like a suffocating blanket, pressing down on my chest and stealing my breath. I had been here before—lost in a twisted labyrinth of my own subconscious, where nightmares reigned supreme. Each night, I succumbed to this terror, but tonight felt different. The usual horrors morphed into something far worse.

I stumbled through the shadowy corridor, the walls pulsating with an eerie rhythm, as if they were alive. A distant echo of laughter rang through the halls, but it was a cruel, mocking sound. I recognized it all too well—it was the laughter of my childhood friends, now twisted into sinister cackles.

"Hey! Who's there?" I called out, my voice trembling. "Is this another one of your stupid pranks?"

Silence followed, thick and suffocating. Just as I turned to flee, a figure materialized before me—a grotesque version of my old friend Sarah, her eyes hollow and mouth stretched into a ghastly grin.

"Did you miss us?" she hissed, her voice dripping with malice.

"Not really, Sarah! You were the worst at hide-and-seek!" I shot back, my heart racing. "This isn't funny!"

"Funny? Oh, we're just getting started!" She lunged at me, her fingers transforming into claws, and I bolted, racing through the corridor.

The walls warped, twisting into faces of people I knew, their expressions frozen in terror. Each step I took echoed with whispers of my failures, taunting me. I pushed on, desperate to escape the cacophony of despair surrounding me.

"Get away from me!" I screamed, slamming into a door at the end of the hallway. It creaked open, revealing a dimly lit room filled with mirrors. My reflection stared back at me, but it was not my own—it morphed into grotesque forms, each one representing my insecurities and regrets.

"Look at you," a voice echoed from behind me, silky yet cruel. "A pathetic little worm, afraid of the world outside. You'll never escape this place."

"Shut up!" I shouted, clenching my fists. "I'm not scared of you!"

"Prove it," the voice taunted. "You're trapped here. Forever."

Panic surged through me, and I lunged for the nearest mirror. As my fingers brushed the glass, the world around me shattered, plunging me into an abyss of darkness.

~The next day~

When I finally awoke, I gasped for breath, heart racing.

I started crying out like a kid from a kindergarten.

'horrifying as hell , do you really think I am gonna live like this god'

'you are crossing lines'

About a few minutes later , i looked up to my room.

My room was bathed in soft morning light, but something felt off. As I rubbed my eyes with a tissue to clean of my tears, a sultry voice invaded my thoughts.

[Welcome to the Seduce System, host,]

it purred, almost teasingly.

[You've been asleep for quite a while.]

"Who are you?" I croaked, still disoriented. "Is this another nightmare?"

[Not a nightmare, darling. I'm your guide, and together we will embark on quite the journey. Your first quest awaits!]

If it had a face, it would surely do a smirk

"What? A quest? You mean like video games?" I blinked, incredulity flooding my senses. "What am I, some kind of character in a anime?"

[Precisely!]

The voice chimed, playful yet sultry.

[Your task is to seduce your stepmother. Complete it to upgrade your powers. Fail, and... well, let's not think about that.]

"Wait wait , it's not some kind of action roleplay but a freaking harem, NTR roleplay" I flushed in red and succofed in shock.

It took him few second to realise, that what was the quest again.

"Hold on now! My stepmother? That's... that's crossing a line!" I stammered, my face flushing. "Why would I even want to do that?"

[Because, dear host, every successful seduction will unlock your potential. Think of it as leveling up your abilities. You'll need them for what lies ahead.]

I flopped back onto my bed, running a hand through my hair. "This is absurd. I can't just—"

[Do you want to remain a pathetic worm?]

the voice interrupted, a hint of challenge in its tone.

[Or do you want power?]

It changed it time for motivation to taunting a real quick, as if it realised that he will not accept it.

[You were always a pervert, peeking through your girls swimming class and more or else]

The system screen shaked , seeming felt like a chuckling.

He blushed

"Ugh, fine!" I groaned, surrendering to the madness. "What's the first step? Am I supposed to send her flowers or something?"

[Start with conversation,]

the voice instructed, sounding almost giddy.

[Charm her. Make her see you in a new light.]

"Right, because that's easy," I muttered, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. "What if she thinks I'm a creep?"

[That's the fun part! Be bold, be daring. Let her see the man you could become.]

The system voice boasted him , like a mother spoiling her son.

I stared at myself in the mirror, half-expecting my reflection to warp again. Instead, the familiar face of an ordinary teenager stared back at me—unremarkable, yet somehow filled with potential. "Okay, here goes nothing."

I walked down stairs , screeching sound filled my ears , it's like my sense have been upgraded.

I saw her,

I found my stepmother, Linda, in the kitchen, her back turned as she chopped vegetables. The sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating her auburn hair, making it glow like fire. It was strange how beauty could exist alongside familial ties.

"Hey, Linda!" I called, trying to sound casual. "What's cooking?"

She turned, a warm smile breaking across her face. "Just making dinner. Want to help?"

"Uh, sure! I can... chop onions?" I offered, stepping closer. My heart raced, the voice in my head cheering me on.

"Onions it is!" she laughed, handing me a knife. "Just be careful."

"Yeah, wouldn't want to lose a finger or anything," I replied, forcing a laugh. "That would make for a bad dinner story."

As I started chopping, the silence stretched between us, filled with the rhythmic sound of the knife hitting the cutting board. "So, um, how's your day been?" I ventured, trying to sound interested.

"Oh, you know, the usual. Work was hectic, but I managed to get through it," she replied, glancing at me. "What about you?"

"Just... figuring things out, I guess. You know how it is at my age," I said, forcing a smile. "Trying to be a responsible adult and all."

Linda chuckled, but there was a hint of sincerity in her eyes. "It's tough, isn't it? Just remember, it's okay to ask for help."

"Right, of course!" I nodded, feeling a swell of determination. "You've always been there for me. It means a lot."

The voice chimed in my mind. [Good! Compliment her. Make her feel special.]

"Uh, I mean, you're really amazing, you know? I admire how you handle everything," I stammered, my face warming.

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and I caught a glimpse of something more behind her smile. "Thank you, that's very sweet of you."

"Sweet? Just trying to be honest!" I replied, heart pounding. "You're like the glue holding this family together."

"Flattery will get you everywhere," she teased, her eyes sparkling. "Keep it up."

"Maybe I should start a career in sweet-talking?" I joked, feeling a thrill of confidence.

"Maybe you should!" she laughed, the atmosphere growing lighter.

As the conversation continued, I felt the weight of the nightmare lift, replaced by a sense of exhilarating possibility. The quest loomed over me, but I was ready.

'Okay, Linda, let's see where this goes,'I thought, adrenaline surging through my veins.

I left the kitchen, likely due to the inconvenience my preparations had caused.

I was tense, uncertain if I would fail, but soon enough, something appeared as I lay in bed.

[Time limit: 10 days]

A voice chuckled softly,

[I am Veronica, the system,]

[The screen you see will display your information,] it chimed.

For the first and last time, it spoke with a serious tone.

———————————=|Seduce|=———————————

Host Name:- Reina kneddy

Exo existence:- Veronica

Age:- 16

Gender:- Male

Sexual orientation:- Straight

Ability:- Seduction

Quest:- To seduce the step Mother

Rewards:- unlocking the full system

————————————————————————————

But the voice interrupted my thoughts,

a playful lilt in its tone.

[Remember, dear host, this is just the beginning. Are you ready to embrace your new life?]

"Bring it on," I replied, a smirk forming on my lips. "I've got a harem to build."

And as the sun set outside, I realized I was no longer just a lost boy in a nightmare. I was on the brink of something far more thrilling but —

I step downstairs, humming absentmindedly, until it hits me—today is my birthday.

I had completely forgotten, and if it weren't for the calendar marked with a red cross, I wouldn't have realized that today is January 17th.

I chuckle, a bitter smile tugging at my lips as I glance toward the dining table. My father sits there, showing no interest in the day.

"Fat bastard," I mutter under my breath