Location: Lotus Sun Sect – Hidden Archive, Subterranean Depths
Time: Night
Mood: "This feels illegal"
---
"I can't believe we're doing this," Yue Lan muttered, torch in hand.
"I can," Yura chirped. "This feels like one of those forbidden dungeon side-quests I always wanted!"
"I didn't think you played games," I said.
"Oh no, just real life. My family's cursed. Everything's a side-quest."
---
We descended deep into the belly of the Lotus Sun Sect, past rusted doors, sealed scrolls, and a sign that read:
"No Entry. Absolutely Not. If You're Reading This, It's Too Late."
"I feel very welcome," I said.
The path ended in a gate of silver light, etched with thousands of glowing runes.
> [System Override Attempting…]
Accessing Hidden Archive…
Protocol Match: Host Signature "Arin (Annoying Level: MAX)"
Gate Opened.
---
Inside was a chamber of floating stone platforms, scrolls that whispered, and a pedestal glowing with faint blue light. Atop it lay a single book:
"SYSTEM: Design, Control, Corruption."
I stepped forward.
The book opened on its own.
---
Page 1: "If you're reading this, congratulations. Your system is lying to you."
"…Wow. Strong opener."
Page 2: "Most 'trash systems' are not faulty. They're sabotaged. Your system's corruption ratio exceeds 68%."
> [System Error:]
"That's slander!"
"Fake data!"
"I only stole like… half your gifts!"
Page 3: "In the event of sabotage, the host may awaken the Original Code."
I looked up.
"What's the Original Code?"
Yue Lan and Yura leaned closer.
Suddenly, the room went dark.
---
A voice echoed through the vault.
"You have trespassed where only broken minds dare go."
A shadowy figure appeared — not flesh, not ghost. It flickered like a glitching hologram.
"Name yourself, Host."
"…Arin."
"You carry a corrupted system. Do you wish to repair it?"
I hesitated.
"Wait. Will that remove all the comedy settings?"
"…No."
"Then yes."
---
> [Original Code Trial Initiated]
Host must pass the Three Fragments of Origin
Fragment 1: Truth
Fragment 2: Choice
Fragment 3: Sacrifice
Warning: Completion will unlock "Free Will Protocol."
---
The pedestal cracked open.
Inside was a glowing orb. It pulsed, then entered my chest.
I screamed.
Then fainted.
Very gracefully.
---
When I woke, Yue Lan was holding my hand.
Yura had drawn something on my face in ink.
"What happened?" I groaned.
"You were unconscious for six minutes," Yue Lan said softly. "Then your system screamed in binary. Then it cried."
"My system cried?"
"It was very dramatic," Yura said. "Ten out of ten."
---
> [System Update:]
Original Code Fragment 1 Acquired
Effect: You may now see traces of hidden system code in real objects
Side Effect: You may occasionally hear the systems arguing
---
"I can hear… someone humming," I said.
"That's not humming," Yue Lan said. "That's your system nervously whimpering."
---
But then… a wall at the far end cracked.
A stone slid aside, revealing a long-forgotten relic.
A sword.
Or rather, a System Blade — half-code, half-steel, pulsing with sentience.
It whispered:
"Let me cut fate with you."
And suddenly, everything froze.
---
> [Choice Detected:]
Will you claim the blade bound to the Original Code?
Yes / No
I didn't hesitate.
I said yes.
And the room erupted in light.