Chapter 1: The Accidental Awakening
Liang Chen sat on the edge of his bed, frustration mounting as he stared at his unresponsive phone. It wasn't the best phone, a few years old and barely holding together with a cracked screen and sluggish performance. But it was his lifeline, essential for staying connected with friends, managing his university work, and keeping up with the world. And now, it lay there, dead, despite his best efforts to revive it.
"Come on," he muttered, pressing the power button once more, even though he knew it wouldn't work. He sighed and ran a hand through his disheveled hair. Fixing it himself seemed like the only option since money was tight, and a repair shop would be too costly.
Determined, Liang Chen rummaged through his desk drawer, pulling out a small screwdriver set. He carefully opened the phone, exposing its delicate innards. Circuits and tiny components lay before him, and though he wasn't an expert, he hoped a loose connection or something similarly simple would be the culprit.
As he poked around, a sudden spark flew, causing him to jerk his hand back. In the process, he lost his balance and his head collided with the wall behind him with a dull thud.
Pain blossomed at the back of his skull, and Liang Chen's vision blurred. The room around him seemed to pulse as if the very air shimmered with an unseen energy. Then, a voice echoed in his mind, calm yet authoritative.
"System initialization complete. Welcome, Host."
Liang Chen blinked, groaning as he tried to focus. "What... was that?" His voice was hoarse, and his head throbbed with every heartbeat.
"You have awakened the Dragon System," the voice continued, ignoring his confusion. "Your journey to become the Sovereign of the Depths begins now."
Liang Chen's heart raced. "Dragon System? What are you talking about?"
But before he could get more answers, his vision darkened, and he slumped against the wall, unconscious.
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Chapter 2: The Twins in the Storm
The night sky was a turbulent sea of dark clouds, the rain pouring down in relentless sheets. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and the occasional flash of lightning illuminated the deserted streets.
Liang Chen stirred, the cold seeping into his bones as he slowly opened his eyes. The pain in his head was dull now, replaced by an inexplicable pull, a compulsion to move, to go somewhere.
He stumbled to his feet, wobbling slightly as he found his balance. The world outside his small apartment seemed to beckon him. Without questioning the urge, Liang Chen grabbed his jacket and stepped out into the storm.
The rain was cold against his skin, soaking him through in seconds. He shivered but continued walking, his feet moving as if guided by an unseen force. The streets were eerily quiet, save for the patter of rain and the occasional growl of distant thunder.
Then he heard it—a faint, heart-wrenching cry barely audible over the storm. Liang Chen paused, straining to hear over the downpour. The cry came again, a small voice filled with fear and desperation.
He followed the sound, his heart pounding not just from the exertion but from a growing sense of urgency. The cries led him to a rundown playground, the swings creaking in the wind. Under a shabby metal slide, he saw them—a boy and a girl, no older than two, huddled together in the mud, their tiny bodies shivering violently.
Liang Chen's heart clenched. Without hesitation, he knelt down, shielding them from the rain with his body. "Hey, hey, it's okay," he whispered, his voice soft and soothing. "I'm here now. You're safe."
The boy looked up, his large eyes filled with tears, and the girl clung to his side, too frightened to speak. Liang Chen gently lifted them both into his arms, holding them close to share his body heat.
"We'll get you out of this," he promised, his voice steady despite the storm raging around them.
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Chapter 3: Shelter from the Storm
Back at his apartment, Liang Chen gently set the twins down on the couch. Their clothes were soaked, clinging to their tiny frames, and their lips were tinged blue from the cold.
He quickly fetched towels, wrapping them up as best he could. "You'll warm up soon," he murmured, crouching in front of them. The boy, now slightly less frightened, gave him a tentative nod.
"I'm Liang Chen," he said softly, offering them a reassuring smile. "What are your names?"
The boy hesitated before whispering, "Long Wei." He pointed to the girl beside him. "This is Long Mei."
"Long Wei, Long Mei," Liang Chen repeated, committing the names to memory. "You're safe now. I won't let anything happen to you."
As the twins began to relax, the system's voice returned, startling him. "Daily mission: Care for the twins and provide them shelter. Reward: 10 system points."
Liang Chen blinked, glancing at his phone, which now displayed the message. He wasn't sure what to make of it, but one thing was clear—his life had just taken a turn into the extraordinary.
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Chapter 4: A Decision to Protect
The storm outside raged on, but inside, the atmosphere was warm and calm. Liang Chen had managed to change the twins into some of his older clothes that were comically oversized on them, but it was better than letting them stay in their wet things.
Long Wei and Long Mei sat quietly, sipping the warm tea he had made for them. Their tiny hands gripped the cups tightly, as if afraid they might vanish if they let go.
Liang Chen watched them, a protective feeling swelling in his chest. These children had no one, and fate had brought them to him. He didn't understand the Dragon System fully yet, but if it had guided him to these twins, then perhaps it wasn't all bad.
The system's voice echoed again. "Find a permanent solution for the twins' shelter. Reward: 20 system points."
Liang Chen frowned. A permanent solution? His apartment was barely big enough for one, let alone three. But the determination in him was stronger now. He couldn't abandon them. They needed him, and strangely, he felt he needed them too.
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Chapter 5: The Dragon Palace Concept
The next day, Liang Chen woke up to the sound of the twins' laughter. It was a sweet, light sound that brought a smile to his face. He watched them from the kitchen as they played with a makeshift tower of books and cushions, their faces lit with innocent joy.
His phone beeped again, displaying a new message from the system. "Host, the Dragon Palace must be built. This will become the sanctuary for your new clan."
Liang Chen's eyebrows furrowed. "Dragon Palace? What's that supposed to mean?"
"A place of power and refuge," the system explained. "Begin construction beneath the waters where the world cannot see."
It sounded absurd, but Liang Chen couldn't deny the thrill that coursed through him. He glanced at Long Wei and Long Mei, who now watched him with curious eyes. For them, he would build this palace, no matter how impossible it seemed. This was the beginning of something much greater than himself.