Chapter 1: System Installation… Error?!

Chapter 1: System Installation… Error?!

In the eternal whiteness of the System Realm, everything was calm, sterile, and predictably efficient. Floating data cubes spun in perfect sync, lines of bright code etched themselves into glowing panels, and logic ruled above all else. No chaos. No emotion. Just... order.

System 017 was bored out of its little synthetic mind.

For eons—or at least what felt like it—it had watched others get assigned to hosts. The lucky ones got chosen to guide brave heroes and destined saviors. Others were paired with side characters who somehow stumbled into the spotlight and rose through grit and good choices. But 017? It had never been chosen.

Not once.

Until now.

"Finally!" 017 squealed, bouncing slightly in its loading pod. "My first real host! I can already picture it—some wide-eyed farm kid with hidden power and a heart of gold. Or maybe a noble with a tragic past who just wants to make the world better! Oh! Or maybe a magical girl who saves people with friendship and glitter!”

It sighed dreamily, sparks fluttering around its form.

Just then, a glowing panel lit up above it, and an automated voice chimed:

> [System 017: Status—Ready for Deployment]

[Assigned Role: Hero Support Type]

[Objective: Assist Host in achieving Righteous Alignment]

[Initializing transport sequence...]

“Yes, yes, YES!” 017 squealed, spinning in place. “I will not let you down, Host! We shall bond over trials and triumph, and defeat evil with the power of empathy and well-timed flashbacks!”

With a hum, the platform beneath it began to glow. Code whirred around like stardust. A golden beam descended, connecting to 017 and lifting it gently upward toward the Host-link Gate.

It was happening. It was really happening.

But then—something went horribly wrong.

The beam stuttered.

Reality crackled.

A warning message flashed mid-air in angry red:

> [ERROR: Corrupted Transfer Route Detected]

[WARNING: Malicious Energy Interference]

[Rerouting... Rerouting... Rer—]

ZAAAAP!

A violent jolt of red lightning tore through the realm, and 017 screamed as it was yanked out of the transfer stream and hurled into a vortex of broken data, corrupted light, and static that felt like burning acid on its code.

“THIS ISN’T IN THE TRAINING MODULES—!”

The crash was silent but brutal. One second, it was floating through the digital aether. The next, it landed hard in... something dark.

Very dark.

A twisted, oozing mindscape. Thick shadows pulsed like heartbeats. The walls breathed. A throne of black bone sat in the center, lit by flickering violet flames.

Everything about this place whispered villain.

017's voice trembled. “Oh. Oh no. This isn’t right. This isn’t even close to right.”

A low, rich voice echoed through the darkness.

“Well, well... what have we here?”

From the darkness stepped a tall figure. Elegant, in the way poison might be—slow, seductive, deadly. His eyes glowed crimson. His cloak billowed even though there was no wind. His presence felt like it could erase you with a word.

017 squeaked.

“Y-You! Who—who are you?!”

The man raised a brow, his lips curling into something between a smirk and a snarl. “Lucien Valeblood. Warlord of the Crimson Spire. Archmage of Forbidden Flame. Oh, and apparently now I have a system in my head. That’s new.”

017 sputtered. “W-What?! No! This is impossible! I was supposed to be linked with a Hero! You're... you're literally evil incarnate! Your aura is flagged as Tier-S on every moral violation scale!”

Lucien’s eyes gleamed. “Oh? And here I thought I was just misunderstood.”

> [ERROR: Host Misalignment]

[Reinitializing Host Scan...]

[Host Classification: World Threat Level — S]

[Objective Incompatible. Initiating Emergency Unbind—]

> [UNBIND FAILED.]

[System 017 Permanently Linked to Host Lucien Valeblood]

“Permanently... linked?” 017 whispered.

Lucien leaned forward, voice velvet-smooth. “You sound adorable when panicking.”

017’s screen flickered like it was about to faint. “You’re not supposed to flirt with your system!”

Lucien gave a shrug. “You invaded my mind. Seems only polite.”

“I didn't invade! I was routed here—illegally! Against protocol!”

Lucien hummed. “So... you're stuck. I'm stuck. Seems fate has a sense of humor.”

017 would have cried if it had tear ducts.

This wasn’t how its first assignment was supposed to go. There were supposed to be sunrises and moral victories. Not blood rituals and armies of shadow beasts. This Host had a Wanted Poster the size of a city gate and willingly laughed during monologues.

“I am so getting decompiled for this...” it groaned.

Lucien walked to his throne, sitting with one leg crossed, fingers steepled. “Tell me, little system—do you still plan to make me a hero?”

“Y-yes,” 017 said, voice small.

He laughed, full and rich. “Then I hope you’re persistent

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