"Harder! Yes, just like that! Ah~!"
A breathy moan echoed through Kaiden's cheap earbuds. He lay on his unmade bed, watching pixelated bodies grind on his cracked phone screen. Suddenly, he no longer felt like watching, so he paused the video.
"If only I could earn money doing that..." he muttered, just as his stomach growled in protest. He sighed.
Too broke to care and too tired to think, Kaiden shuffled toward the kitchen barefoot, half-blind, and emotionally bankrupt. His heel hit a banana peel.
*CRACK!*
Skull met countertop.
Silence enveloped the room.
Kaiden Ashborn died doing what he did best: slipping through life.
[Ding!]
[Supreme Demonic Sovereign Protocol initiating…]
[Analyzing host… 0%… 10%… 50%… 99%…]
[Analysis complete! Calculating ideal personalized system.]
[Calculation complete.]
[Host has been granted: The Pornstar System.]
Kaiden jolted upright with a gasp, as soon as his broken bones were put back in place. "Huh?! I… just died, didn't I?"
Then he noticed the screen floating in front of him. 'Wait… Did I Awaken?!'
He tried touching it, but his fingers moved past it. It was transparent, only visible to his mind.
After a minute of internal panicking with a heart that was beating like a war drum, he collected his thoughts. 'No… this isn't Awakening. It's something else.'
Ten years ago, the world changed. Mana—an invisible energy—flooded the atmosphere. Dungeons tore open reality. Monsters appeared. And some humans awakened, gaining supernatural powers.
'Status,' he commanded inwardly, and the screen disappeared instantly. Kaiden summoned it back to study it more.
[Welcome to the Pornstar System, host.]
[Name: Kaiden Ashborn]
[Rank: 0 - Worm]
[Class: -]
[Level: -]
[Tutorial Mission: Stop Being Pathetic]
[In one month, build muscle, boost stamina, and qualify for adult‑film work.]
[Suggested target: "Untainted Holes" is going to be hiring debut talent next month.]
[Rewards for success:]
<1, Greater access to the system>
<2, Random Skill Card>
<3, Life-altering choice>
"The hell? Pornstar System?" Kaiden couldn't help but groan. "I mean, yeah, I did want to make money while raw-dogging hot chicks, but… If I were to get a system, couldn't it be something else?! Allow me to summon the elements forth from my fingertips and stuff like the cool awakened guys, damn it!"
Awakened had varying classes. Some were mages who could manipulate fire, wind, lightning etc. That's what Kaiden meant... He wanted to be a badass combatant.
'However, something is strange. I have no class, and I've never heard of an awakened having a tutorial mission. It's like my system works as a separate entity from the systematic interface that all people have access to.'
When mana first appeared, even the non-awakened, nicknamed "commoners," gained access to a personal systemic interface. For most, it was a gimmick, its functions locked behind awakening.
But for those who did awaken, it became everything: a marketplace for artifacts, potions, and weapons. A social hub with forums, DMs, and even a dedicated media platform.
As Kaiden processed all this, another message lit up:
[Initial Pathways Detected — Choose One:]
1. Body of the Crimson Idol→ Sculpted physique optimized for performance and stamina.
2. Rod of Virility→ Enhanced male genitalia size.
3. Wealth of Temptation→ $1M deposited. Usable only for career development.
4. Skill Draw → Gain one Random Skill Card
Kaiden's eyes instantly locked onto the cash. One million bucks could change everything. But deep down… he knew it wouldn't change him. Option 4 had "random" in it. That was a no-go. No telling if he'd get something dumb like "Enhanced Left Nipple."
It came down to Body vs. Rod.
However, he didn't need to think long.
Building muscle? That was grindable.
But option 2? That wasn't something you could achieve by hitting the gym.
Kaiden clenched his jaw.
"No half-measures..." he whispered to himself, steeling his resolve. "Give me the real deal."
[Rod of Virility has been selected.]
[Upgrade Initiating…]
Pain.
Unholy, cosmic pain.
As if his manhood was being reforged in the blacksmithing hell of a demon king.
"Ghh! ARGHH!!"
BANG! BANG! BANG!
"SHUT THE HELL UP, YOU FREAK!" someone screamed through the wall.
Kaiden couldn't answer. He was convulsing. Foam at his lips. Eyes rolling.
Then… stillness.
Kaiden was a college student majoring in economics, mostly because it was safe, and he had no better ideas. He hated every class but stuck with it because of the student loans.
Until now, that is.
[Welcome to your saga, Host.]
[You have taken your first step.]
[Ascend to greatness by evolving your system.]