The rain poured relentlessly over the streets of Japan, drenching everything in its path. Kang Woo stood in an unfamiliar location, the cold raindrops splashing against his face, but he paid them no mind. His dark, brooding gaze was fixed on something far more troubling—the glowing blue status window hovering before him.
He had left Kobeni safely tucked away in a nearby hotel. Her tearful thanks and relieved smile had been a fleeting distraction. Now, as the storm soaked his clothes and the city's muted lights reflected off the wet pavement, Kang Woo found himself standing alone with a decision that would shape his path in this world.
The status window flickered, displaying a grim message.
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System Quest: "The Choices That Will Go Down in History"
Objective: You now stand at a crucial crossroads. Your actions will define not only your power but the very fate of this world. You must decide the fate of a key figure in this realm: Denji, the Chainsaw Devil.
Choice 1: Kill Denji
Description: The Chainsaw Devil, known as Denji, holds an unpredictable and uncontrollable power, capable of destroying even the most powerful devils with little effort. By killing Denji, you will eliminate one of the most chaotic and dangerous threats to your dominance in this world. His power, tied to his heart and Pochita, would cease to exist, ensuring that no one could rise to challenge your supremacy. The world would fear your name, and the devils who lurk in the shadows would bow to your unchallenged might.
Reward:
Commandment of Faith: Anyone that shows a lack of faith will have their eyes set ablaze.
Commandment of Pacifism: Anyone that kills in the wielder's presence will have their time stolen from them.
Commandment of Truth: Anyone who tells a lie in your presence will be petrified instantly.
Commandment of Reticence: Anyone that expresses hidden emotions will have their voice taken away.
Choice 2: Spare Denji
Description: Sparing Denji in this cruel world is not an act of mercy, but of strategy. Denji represents the chaotic, raw energy of the Chainsaw Devil, a force that even the strongest devils fear. By sparing him, you ensure that he becomes your pawn, a weapon to unleash upon greater threats when necessary. However, the cruelty of this world ensures that mercy does not go unrewarded. His power, fueled by a desire for human connection and his bond with Pochita, may be manipulated to serve your own goals, giving you an ally in times of great need.
Reward:
Sunshine Grace: The Grace of the Sun itself. Your power increases exponentially with the rising of the sun, reaching divine strength at noon.
Time Limit: 36 Hours
Warning: Choose carefully, as one choice will doom the other. The power will be lost if not claimed in time. If Denji dies or becomes Chainsawman by other means (e.g., Yakuza involvement or unknown circumstances), you will lose your power along with it.
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Kang Woo's eyes scanned the message, growing more furious with each line. His chest tightened with an unholy rage that threatened to boil over. The reward was supposed to be his. The Commandments and Grace—they were his own creation, concepts that had manifested from his own demonic mind and essence.
"Fucking Hell ...?" His voice was low, filled with venom. "I thought of those powers. I created them."
The rain evaporated before it even touched his skin, the sheer intensity of his demonic energy causing the air around him to sizzle. The ground beneath him cracked and trembled, the wet pavement fracturing under the weight of his growing fury.
And then—BOOM. A sudden burst of energy erupted from him, sending a shockwave through the area. The force of his anger cratered the ground beneath him, sending debris flying in every direction. Buildings shook in the distance, the ground quaking as if the earth itself feared his wrath.
" The Fuck They Hide the warning until now?" he roared, his voice echoing through the deserted streets. "These choices... these Commandments... Sunshine Grace... they were mine! I created them!" His eyes glowed with a burning, demonic light, his fists clenched so tightly that blood dripped from his palms.
Kang Woo took a deep breath, calming the torrent of anger that had nearly consumed him. He remembered the Commandment of Love he once wielded, and with that, he suppressed the storm of emotions threatening to tear everything apart. His fists slowly unclenched, the blood stopping its flow as his demonic aura settled.
"Keep it together," he muttered to himself, his voice low and controlled. His mind, though still simmering with rage, now focused on the task at hand.
He activated his Authority of Beholder, pouring his infinite demonic energy into the ability, amplifying it to its fullest extent. The dark, invisible force swept across the city like a colossal wave, scanning everything in its path. Above him, the clouds twisted and churned, and for a moment, it was as if an enormous black eye had opened in the sky, its gaze piercing through buildings, streets, and people, searching for one thing: his target.
Three kilometers away, the Beholder found it. A solitary tree stood in a desolate, overgrown area, drenched in rain, with a crude memorial beneath it—a stick and some stones marking where Denji's father had taken his own life. Denji sat there, his messy hair plastered to his head from the rain, his eyes hollow with despair. He was alone, save for the creature hiding in the branches above—a dog-like being with a chainsaw for a head, watching over him cautiously. It hadn't yet bonded with Denji, hadn't even been named Pochita yet. It was waiting.
Nearby, a black car idled, its windows fogged from the inside. Kang Woo could feel the oppressive energy of the debt collector inside, the man who would soon enslave Denji, driving him into a life of endless labor and suffering.
Kang Woo's eyes narrowed as he took in the scene. "Denji… and Pochita," he muttered darkly. "Finally."
With a smirk, he crouched slightly, feeling the immense power building within him. His Wings of Darkness unfurled—a combination of his Authority of the Sky and Darkness Manipulation—and with one mighty flap, he shot into the sky like a comet of shadows.
The air around him screamed as it was ripped apart by his speed, splitting the clouds and scattering the rain in all directions. The storm, which had been pouring relentlessly only moments before, halted as if it feared his presence. The city below was eerily silent, as if every living thing held its breath in awe and terror.
Kang Woo flew faster than a bolt of lightning, a trail of darkness following in his wake. His destination was clear, and his intent even clearer: the world was about to feel the weight of his power, and Denji's fate would be sealed by his hand.
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Denji sat in silence under the makeshift memorial for his father—a simple cross made of sticks driven into the dirt. The rain continued to pour, soaking his already disheveled hair and worn-out clothes. His expression was hollow, as if the weight of the world was crushing him bit by bit. He stared blankly at the ground, lost in thought, mourning a man who had left him with nothing but pain and debt.
From behind him, the gruff voice of the debt collector shattered the brief stillness.
"That bastard," the collector spat, leaning out of the black car window, glaring at the pathetic memorial. "Hung himself before paying this month's installment. Brat, you need to cough up 700,000 yen by the end of the month. I don't care how you do it—just get it done, or else."
Denji didn't flinch. His heart was heavy with despair, and he didn't even know how to react anymore. The weight of the debt hung over him like a curse, and every month it seemed to grow heavier.
The driver of the car, a silent, grizzled man with a cigarette hanging from his lips, shifted in his seat and revved the engine. "Let's go," he muttered.
As the car began to pull away, a sudden, overwhelming force shook the area. The air itself seemed to scream as something impossibly fast hurtled through the sky toward them, casting a shadow over the car like an incoming meteor.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" the debt collector shouted, his eyes widening in terror as he looked up at the rapidly approaching dark comet.
The driver slammed the brakes, causing the car to skid and swerve on the rain-slicked road. Both men stared in wide-eyed horror at the comet as it careened toward them. Denji, still under the tree, lifted his head in confusion, his heart pounding as the sky seemed to split open before him.
The comet was about to strike, its dark energy radiating like a harbinger of destruction—when suddenly, it stopped. The violent force behind it dissipated, the swirling darkness retracting as if obeying an unseen command. The sky cleared, revealing the figure of a man floating just above the car, surrounded by fading shadows of dark energy.
Kang Woo hovered in the air, his Wings of Darkness unfurling as he slowly descended, landing gracefully on the wet ground. The oppressive aura that had surrounded him moments before had vanished, though the power he radiated was undeniable.
Denji stared at Kang Woo, eyes wide, unsure of what he was seeing. His heart raced, both terrified and curious.
The debt collector, trembling in fear, scrambled out of the car, his face pale. "Who… who the hell are you?!"
The driver, too shocked to speak, remained frozen, his hand still gripping the wheel.
Kang Woo's eyes swept over them with cold disinterest, and he didn't bother answering. He walked past them as if they were nothing more than insignificant insects, his gaze locked onto Denji, the boy whose fate he now held in his hands.
Denji swallowed hard, the intensity of Kang Woo's presence making it hard to breathe. "Who… who are you?" he asked quietly, his voice barely audible over the dying rain.
Kang Woo stood silently before Denji, his dark eyes narrowing as he activated his Authority of Beholder. He wanted answers—answers to how the system had twisted his original powers and forced him into this predicament. His infinite demonic energy surged once more, and this time, he didn't bother keeping it hidden. He allowed the full scope of his power to manifest, pouring it into the Beholder.
The sky itself seemed to crack, the dark clouds swirling in response to Kang Woo's immense energy. In an instant, a colossal, dark eye materialized above the city, stretching across the heavens like a tear in the fabric of reality. Its pupil glowed ominously, scanning the earth with an eerie, all-seeing gaze. The sheer size of the eye made it visible to everyone within a 100-kilometer radius, and those who saw it felt a deep, primal fear as if the very sky was collapsing.
Denji's heart skipped a beat as he stared upward at the giant eye that seemed to watch everything. His breath hitched, fear overwhelming his senses. He had never seen anything like this—an overwhelming display of power so great it felt like the world itself might end. Sweat mingled with the rain on his skin, his hands shaking uncontrollably. "What… what is that?" he whispered, his voice trembling as he looked back at Kang Woo.
The debt collector, his face drained of all color, fell to his knees. His legs shook so violently that he could barely stand. His body was frozen in terror as his eyes darted between the massive eye in the sky and Kang Woo. "W-What the hell is this?! Is… is it the end of the world?!" he shouted, his voice cracking under the weight of his fear.
The driver, still gripping the wheel, was equally paralyzed. His cigarette had fallen from his mouth, forgotten, as he stared upward in disbelief. "I… I've never seen anything like this," he mumbled, his voice barely audible.
Kang Woo ignored their panicked reactions, his focus solely on Denji. The colossal eye above pulsed with power as it scanned the boy, its gaze dissecting every part of him. Kang Woo's own status window flickered in his mind, and for the first time, he could see Denji's fragmented status—the intertwining connection between the human boy and Pochita, the Chainsaw Devil. The pieces were slowly coming together.
Kang Woo's expression darkened as the Beholder's vision showed him the intricate system surrounding Denji's fate—the invisible chains that tied him to Pochita and the potential he had as the Chainsaw Devil. There was a loophole, hidden deep within the code of the system. A way for Kang Woo to twist the fate that had been laid out, to cheat the game and claim the powers that were rightfully his. But it would require patience and manipulation.
He clenched his fists, letting the eye above the city continue its silent vigil, casting a shadow that blanketed everything. The people across Japan who witnessed it would remember this moment for the rest of their lives—when the sky itself seemed to open and something otherworldly gazed upon them.
Denji, shaking with fear and awe, could barely keep his eyes on Kang Woo. "Why are you here? What do you want from me?"
Denji's shaky voice was drowned out as Kang Woo suddenly barked an order, his voice booming like a thunderclap.
"How much for the brat's total debt?" Kang Woo shouted at the debt collector, his eyes blazing with demonic energy. The sound reverberated through the air, silencing any remaining noise from the rain or the terrified men standing nearby.
The debt collector, now trembling on his knees, took a deep breath, trying to gather the remnants of his confidence. The fear in his eyes was undeniable, but greed quickly overtook it. Maybe this being was Denji's guardian angel—a protector ready to save him. With an unsteady voice, the collector finally spoke, raising his voice to sound stronger than he felt.
"T-The amount… 38 million yen! With interest!"
Kang Woo didn't wait for the man to finish. His hand shot to his side, and with a powerful throw of his hand , he hurled a heavy, black briefcase through the air. It flew faster than any human could react and crashed against the windshield of the black car, shattering the glass and sending shards flying everywhere. The impact sent the debt collector and his driver recoiling, their faces pale with shock.
The collector turned back to Kang Woo, his hands shaking as he clutched the broken briefcase now lying on the wet pavement in front of him. He stared at it for a moment, unsure if he should open it, terrified of what might come next.
"Count the FUCKING paper," Kang Woo commanded, his voice dripping with cold authority. "I'll wait. And the rain will continue to stop as I command."
The debt collector swallowed hard, then slowly opened the briefcase, afraid of disobeying. Inside, stacked neatly, were bundles of yen—far more than he had ever seen in his life. His eyes widened, his trembling fingers flipping through the money quickly.
Kang Woo's cold eyes never left the debt collector as the man continued to shake, utterly overwhelmed by the situation. The collector stumbled over his words, his voice cracking, "Ten... ten million yen…" The disbelief was clear on his face, unable to comprehend how someone would casually throw that much money at him.
Kang Woo, unfazed, crossed his arms and stared down at the cowering man. "Good," he said, his voice still carrying that unyielding authority. "The rest will catch up next year. Now, get the fuck out of my sight."
The debt collector's entire body tensed at the command. He quickly bowed, his face pale and sweaty. "P-Pleasure doing business with you!" he stammered, then scrambled back toward the car, practically tripping over himself in his haste to escape. He turned to the driver, still wide-eyed and frozen in fear. "Drive the fucking car!" he screamed, desperation clear in his voice.
The driver nodded mechanically, his hands trembling as he jammed the key into the ignition. The car roared to life, and without hesitation, the two sped off into the distance, tires screeching against the wet pavement as they fled.
Kang Woo watched Denji with a cold, calculating gaze, observing every move the boy made. As the debt collector and his driver disappeared into the distance, the tension in the air eased slightly, but the weight of Kang Woo's presence still lingered heavily.
Denji, still reeling from the overwhelming power that had just been displayed, looked up at Kang Woo with wide eyes. "What do you want, sir? I'm thankful for you saving me and paying off my debt but…" His voice trailed off as he struggled to find the right words.
Kang Woo raised a hand, silencing Denji with a simple gesture. His eyes shifted to the tree behind Denji. Understanding the unspoken command, Denji turned around to look at the small, dog-like creature hiding in the branches. The chainsaw-headed devil was watching them both cautiously, its small form quivering slightly in the cold.
Denji hesitated for a moment before stepping forward, reaching out his hand. Just like in canon, the creature—Pochita, though it hadn't yet been named—cautiously approached Denji and bit into his hand. The sharp yet gentle bite drew blood, and Denji winced for only a second before speaking, his voice steady and resolute despite everything he had been through.
"This is a deal," Denji said, looking into the devil's small, dark eyes. "I help you, and you help me. Together, we'll get out of this mess."
Kang Woo continued to observe the interaction with a cold, calculating gaze. He could see the bond forming between Denji and Pochita, the chainsaw-headed devil, and it was exactly what he had anticipated. However, before Denji could speak again, Kang Woo decided to intervene, his voice low and deliberate.
"That chainsaw dog… his name is Pochita," Kang Woo said calmly, his dark eyes never leaving Denji's.
Denji blinked in surprise, looking down at the devil in his arms. "Pochita?" he repeated, testing the name on his tongue. A smile broke across his face, and he hugged the creature tighter. "Aren't you happy, Pochita? You've got a name now."
Pochita, however, reacted differently than expected. As Denji embraced him, the small devil wriggled free from his grasp and jumped down to the ground. Denji gasped in surprise, watching as Pochita stood there, staring directly at Kang Woo. The little creature's focus wasn't on Denji anymore—it was on the massive dark eye in the sky, looming ominously over them.
Kang Woo's expression remained unreadable, but internally, he was intrigued. Pochita's attention on the Beholder wasn't something he had predicted so soon. The chainsaw devil had sensed the immense power radiating from Kang Woo, but more than that, it seemed to understand something deeper—something even Denji hadn't grasped yet.
Pochita barked, his small frame trembling ever so slightly. But it wasn't fear that drove him; it was the weight of recognition. Inside his small body, the Chainsaw Devil's thoughts raced, clouded by memories and instincts. Why is someone like him here? Pochita thought, staring intently at Kang Woo. A being from the 9th Hell... someone who outlasted even the Hell Devil itself... This world is doomed if he's serious.
Denji, still oblivious to the full extent of what was transpiring, glanced down at Pochita with concern. "Pochita, what's wrong? Why you acted like this ? ," he muttered.
The chainsaw-headed devil quickly returned to Denji's side, pressing up against his leg, as if trying to ease his master's tension. Pochita knew that Denji couldn't grasp the reality of what stood before them—the overwhelming force of nature that was Kang Woo. The devil understood the deeper truth: if Kang Woo decided to unleash his full power, the world as Denji knew it would crumble in an instant.
Kang Woo watched the exchange silently, his expression calm but sharp, reading the fear in Pochita's eyes. He could sense the devil's knowledge, understanding that Pochita wasn't just any low-tier devil. The Chainsaw Devil had memories, experience—an innate understanding of the balance of power in the universe. And Pochita knew all too well what Kang Woo was capable of.
The Authority of Beholder surged to its maximum output as the giant dark eye looming behind Kang Woo covered the sky, its gaze penetrating deep into Denji. The immense pressure of its power distorted the air, making even the chainsaw devil uneasy. Kang Woo's eyes flickered as Denji's status window materialized before him, the details laid bare by his Beholder's all-seeing eye:
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Name: Denji (Element of the Tortured Protagonist within the soul)
Level: 1
Abilities: None
Strength: 1
Dexterity: 1
Health: 1
Mana: 0
Intellect: 2
Wisdom: 2
Note: There is something inside his body akin to the essence of a protagonist of this world. Be warned: if you attempt to extract and implant it into yourself, you will suffer the same fate as Denji, the most tortured protagonist.
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Kang Woo grinned darkly. The system didn't want him to simply kill Denji. No, it wanted him to take the dangerous element inside the boy's body—the very essence of what make him The Protagonist ( The Essence of Chainsaw Man Himself ). But there was a price. A hefty one, at that.
The note was clear: if Kang Woo chose to absorb Denji's essence, he would be subject to the same cruel fate—the same unrelenting suffering Denji was destined to endure. It was a tantalizing offer, but one that came with dire consequences.
How interesting... Kang Woo thought, dismissing the Authority of Beholder. The colossal eye in the sky slowly faded away, its oppressive gaze lifting from the world. For the first time in what felt like hours, the tension in the air began to ease.
Denji and Pochita both felt it. The immense pressure that had weighed them down moments ago was gone, and in its place, the sky cleared, revealing the noon sun shining brightly overhead. Strange, ethereal lights—like an aurora—danced across the sky, an unnatural yet beautiful display of Kang Woo's lingering power.
Denji, still shaken, let out a deep breath, staring at the sky in awe. "It's... clear?" he muttered, still in disbelief at what had just happened.
Pochita, too, seemed to relax slightly, though his cautious eyes never left Kang Woo. The Chainsaw Devil was still wary, still aware of the true danger that stood before them.
Kang Woo stood amidst the dying storm, his mind no longer clouded by rage but sharpened by cold calculation. He knew what needed to be done, and brute force alone wouldn't suffice. This task required precision—control.
He summoned two distinct powers from within him. The first was the Authority of Stillness, an ancient ability he had inherited from Belphegor, the Prince of Sloth. This power allowed Kang Woo to drastically slow time within his field of vision, turning everything around him into a slow crawl. Yet, as potent as it was, Stillness alone wouldn't be enough to achieve complete temporal stasis.
The second power was Demon King Magic: Ruler, one of Kang Woo's most powerful core abilities, originally wielded by the Demon King himself. Ruler was an eponymous ability that allowed Kang Woo to invert all attacks, curses, or negative effects directed at him, instantly converting them into healing or strength. This power turned his enemies' strength into his own, making him nearly invincible in combat. However, in this instance, he needed something more. The fusion of Ruler with the Authority of Stillness was dangerous, requiring a balance of cosmic forces that even Kang Woo found challenging.
"This... is the first time I've had to push it this far," Kang Woo muttered, his voice low and focused. "To both kill and save in the same breath." His plan was clear—he would kill Denji and then resurrect him, all without Denji ever knowing what had transpired.
His muscles tightened, and the energy around him grew heavy with pressure. Sweat trickled down his brow as he forced the two powers to merge, the strain on his body growing with every passing moment. The process was risky—combining a core magic like Ruler with an authority was no easy feat, even for someone of Kang Woo's stature.
Suddenly, the air around him crackled with energy as the fusion completed. He had done it.
A new form of time manipulation had emerged: Astaroth: Time Magic. Kang Woo's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he raised his hand, ready to cast the powerful spell.
With a swift motion, a vast dome spread across the area, extending 500 meters in every direction. Inside this dome, time itself came to a halt.
Chrono Stasis—the name of the spell echoed in Kang Woo's mind. Within this domain, time was completely frozen, locking everything and everyone inside into a single, eternal moment.
Denji, standing beneath the now-clearing sky, found himself caught in the spell. His expression—confusion mixed with awe—was frozen in place. His wide eyes and tense stance remained motionless, and beside him, Pochita, the small chainsaw-headed devil, was locked in time as well. The two were completely unaware of their surroundings, trapped in an unending instant.
Kang Woo smirked as he surveyed the frozen scene, admiring his success. The immense strain of merging the two powers still weighed on him, but the satisfaction of achieving something new and powerful was worth it.
"Perfect," he whispered to himself. He now had complete control over the situation. Denji and Pochita were immobilized, unable to perceive anything or resist the magic that bound them. Time was Kang Woo's to command, and in this moment, he was the master of everything within his domain.
Taking a deep breath, Kang Woo steadied himself after the taxing use of his powers. As he stood there, overseeing the suspended scene, he knew that with time at his disposal, he could take the next steps in his grander plan.
Kang Woo stood in the center of the frozen dome, his power undeniable and absolute. As the stillness held Denji and Pochita locked in an unending moment, Kang Woo unleashed another force—his Authority of Predation. But this time, instead of simply consuming Denji's soul and body, Kang Woo shaped the predation like a storm, absorbing only his life force and the dangerous essence hidden within the boy.
The storm raged invisibly, consuming Denji's very essence, the chaotic and unpredictable power tied to the Chainsaw Devil. As it finished, Kang Woo raised his hand, a drop of his blood falling onto Denji's face. Then, with a whispered incantation, he activated Ingal—his resurrection spell.
Within three seconds of Denji's death, his body stirred once more. Life flowed back into the boy, his breathing returning, his heart beating again, and his chaotic essence restored. Denji lay still, unaware that he had just died and been revived in the blink of an eye. Kang Woo smirked as he watched the system window flash in his mind, signaling the completion of the quest.
.........…..........................
System Quest: "The Choices That Will Go Down in History" COMPLETED
Objective:
You now stand at a crucial crossroads. Your actions will define not only your power but the very fate of this world. You must decide the fate of a key figure in this realm: Denji, the Chainsaw Devil.
Choice 1: Kill Denji — COMPLETED
Description:
The Chainsaw Devil, known as Denji, holds an unpredictable and uncontrollable power, capable of destroying even the most powerful devils with little effort. By killing Denji, you will eliminate one of the most chaotic and dangerous threats to your dominance in this world. His power, tied to his heart and Pochita, would cease to exist, ensuring that no one could rise to challenge your supremacy. The world would fear your name, and the devils who lurk in the shadows would bow to your unchallenged might.
Reward:
Commandment of Faith: Anyone that shows a lack of faith will have their eyes set ablaze.
Commandment of Pacifism: Anyone that kills in the wielder's presence will have their time stolen from them.
Commandment of Truth: Anyone who tells a lie in your presence will be petrified instantly.
Commandment of Reticence: Anyone that expresses hidden emotions will have their voice taken away.
Choice 2: Spare Denji — COMPLETED
Description:
Sparing Denji in this cruel world is not an act of mercy, but of strategy. Denji represents the chaotic, raw energy of the Chainsaw Devil, a force that even the strongest devils fear. By sparing him, you ensure that he becomes your pawn, a weapon to unleash upon greater threats when necessary. However, the cruelty of this world ensures that mercy does not go unrewarded. His power, fueled by a desire for human connection and his bond with Pochita, may be manipulated to serve your own goals, giving you an ally in times of great need.
Reward:
Sunshine Grace: The Grace of the Sun itself. Your power increases exponentially with the rising of the sun, reaching divine strength at noon.
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As Kang Woo scanned the completed quest window, he noticed something unusual. The system's normal congratulatory message was disrupted, replaced by glitching text and warnings.
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NOTE:
Congratulations, you have solved the puzzle...
...ERROR...ERROR...
Your fate is tied to Denji's, and you will suffer the same---ERROR...fate...unable to predict Kang Woo's future...system unable to---...
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Kang Woo smirked as he saw the system malfunction, its algorithms failing to comprehend or predict his future. His Adaptability, always evolving, had partially rewritten the system's imposed fate. With a writing of his index finger , Kang Woo modified the note himself, bending the rules of the system to his own will.
...........
MODIFIED NOTE:
You will have the best fate in this cruel world, and your harem will not turn into mindless yanderes. Jealousy among them will be suppressed.
...........
Kang Woo chuckled at his own handiwork, pleased with the outcome. Kang Woo stood, watching the world around him slowly resume its normal pace, he felt the magic of Astaroth: Time Magic fading. Time was beginning to move again, albeit sluggishly at first. He let out a small sigh of annoyance. "Shit," he muttered to himself. "The magic isn't permanent yet, and my power's still sealed when it comes to creating permanent magic. What a pain in the ass."
Denji blinked, his senses coming back to him, still unaware that mere moments ago, his life had ended and been restored. Pochita barked softly, still clinging close to Denji's leg, its chainsaw-like head tilted in confusion. Neither had any idea what had just transpired, but they could sense something significant had happened.
Denji glanced over at Kang Woo, who was grinning like he'd just won a grand prize. His expression was relaxed, yet there was something unsettling about how pleased he looked.
"Uh... sir?" Denji asked hesitantly. "Are you okay? You're... smiling really big."
Kang Woo quickly shifted his expression, utilizing his well-honed acting skills. With a cheerful, carefree grin, he responded, "Oh, nothing to worry about. I'm just happy about what happened!" His voice was light, almost playful, as if everything was perfectly fine.
Denji scratched his head, feeling both confused and relieved. He had no idea what Kang Woo was referring to, but the tension in the air had lifted, "Uh, alright then..." Denji said, still unsure.