Chapter 1: The Unwanted Rebirth
The city of New Arcadia stretched across the horizon, its towering skyscrapers gleaming under the pale sun. A city full of secrets, power, and influence — where the elite played their games and the common folk lived their quiet lives. Yet for Adrian Blackwood, the son of the most powerful family in the world, the city was nothing but a gilded cage.
Adrian sat in his penthouse apartment, staring out the window at the sprawling metropolis below. The life of luxury, fame, and wealth had been his since birth, but it was all meaningless to him. He was a prisoner of expectations, a puppet controlled by his family's legacy.
His fingers brushed against the edge of the manga book lying on the coffee table. "The Hero of the Thousand Roses." It was the only escape he had from the suffocating world around him. He had read it countless times, fascinated by the story of Dante Crowe, the hero who worked for a secret organization, saving the world from unseen dangers. And, of course, the villain — Varek Malcus, a cruel, heartless figure who was destined to be defeated by the hero.
Adrian's mind wandered as he flipped through the pages. The more he read about Varek, the more he felt detached. Varek's life, full of manipulation, destruction, and ruthless power, seemed so far removed from his own. But that all changed when his eyes fell on the final chapter — the one where Dante defeats Varek, ending his reign of terror.
> "If I could only be like Dante... I'd do anything to be the hero for once."
He closed his eyes, trying to push away the thought. He was done with daydreams and fantasy. But fate had other plans.
---
[Scene: The Rebirth]
Adrian's thoughts were interrupted by a sudden sharp pain in his head. He gasped, clutching his forehead, as the world around him seemed to blur and twist. The sensation was overwhelming, like his mind was being stretched to its limits.
He tried to scream, but no sound came out. His vision faded to black.
---
[A New Reality]
When he opened his eyes again, Adrian found himself lying on a cold, marble floor. His body ached, and his head throbbed as though he had been struck by something heavy.
"What... is going on?" Adrian whispered.
He slowly rose to his feet and glanced around. The place was unfamiliar. It wasn't his penthouse. It wasn't even New Arcadia.
He stood in what appeared to be a lavish mansion — much larger than anything he had ever seen before. The decor was grand, with expensive furniture, chandeliers, and intricate tapestries that adorned the walls.
But something felt... wrong. Adrian's body felt different, stronger, more powerful. He looked at his hands and realized that they weren't his anymore. His skin was paler, and his clothes were not the casual wear he'd been used to. He was dressed in a suit, tailored perfectly to his frame.
He stumbled towards a nearby mirror and gasped.
"No… this isn't possible."
He was looking at Varek Malcus, the villain from the manga.
His reflection stared back at him with cold, calculating eyes. The same dark hair, the same sharp features, and the same aura of power that had once been confined to the pages of the story.
But this wasn't a story. This was real.
---
[System Activation]
> 🧠 "Welcome, Host. You are now Varek Malcus."
Adrian staggered back, clutching his head as the voice echoed in his mind.
> "The Villain System has been activated. You are now bound by its rules. Your survival depends on completing the assigned tasks."
> "Task 1: Establish dominance in your territory. Reward: Increased strength."
Adrian's head spun. He had no idea what was happening, but the weight of the situation settled on him. He wasn't just in some fictional world. He was now the villain. He had become Varek.
"No… this can't be real," he muttered. But the pain in his head, the foreign body, and the system's voice were all too real.
He tried to shake it off. Varek Malcus was a villain, a man who manipulated and controlled everyone around him to maintain his power. But Adrian wasn't like that. He didn't want to be like Varek. He had no interest in ruling or destroying.
> 🧠 "Warning: Avoid acting against the system's tasks. Failure will result in immediate consequences."
Adrian took a deep breath, trying to focus. "I need to figure out a way out of this."
---
[First Encounter with the Heroine]
Just as Adrian was beginning to process his situation, the door to the room opened, and a woman entered. She had long, golden hair and piercing blue eyes, wearing an elegant gown that shimmered with every step.
Her presence was commanding, but her expression was cold. She looked at Adrian with a mixture of curiosity and disdain.
"You must be Varek Malcus," she said in a cool voice, her eyes narrowing slightly. "I've heard much about you."
Adrian stood still, trying to assess the situation. He knew who she was — Elara Nightshade, one of the many heroines who had been a central figure in the manga's plot. She was destined to fall in love with the hero, Dante.
But instead of being intimidated, Adrian felt... strangely drawn to her. It was as if something about her presence was both familiar and foreign at the same time.
He had to remember — she was the heroine, and he was the villain.
"I am Varek Malcus," he replied, his voice steady but cold, trying to channel the character's domineering presence. "And you are?"
"Elara Nightshade," she said simply, her gaze unwavering. "And I'm not here to be your ally. I'm here to make sure you don't destroy everything in your path."
Adrian couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
"Is that a threat, or an invitation?"
Elara smirked.
"It's neither. Just a warning. Stay out of my way, Varek