Chapter 8: Choosing Destiny After Awakening the Overlord System
"I should choose my dungeon? System, what is a dungeon?" Zach asked, confusion clouding his face after calming down.
[As the system name implies Dungeon Overlord, a dungeon represents a force that every living being tries to exterminate. Monsters and valuable resources constantly spawn there, attracting adventurers, warriors, and even academy students seeking experience. The host's job is to be the ruler and guardian of his dungeon and upgrade it continuously. First, the host must choose a location to build it. A dungeon can take the form of a village, cave, and other settings. Dungeons are ranked from F, the weakest and most common, to SSS, which is considered a national treasure. The resources inside are immensely valuable but equally dangerous. If the monsters escape, they can flatten smaller kingdoms within minutes.]
Seeing this, Zach was stunned. He didn't even know what to say or do. He just stood there, staring blankly at the system before blurting out, "Fuck!"
Instantly with the few knowledge he got from his previous life movie and novels, he already knows everything about the dungeon and how it will operate.
After calming down and thinking it through, he asked another question. "And what is a fortress system?"
[Fortresses are tied to a different kind of system. Those with fortress systems build villages that grow into thriving communities. Sentient beings, humans, elves, beastmen, and others live inside. As the village prospers, it expands and make trade connections with other places unlocking more resources. The stronger its citizens grow, the more popular and happy the village becomes. These and other factors increase the strength of the fortress system's owner. Eventually, the village evolves into a town, then a city, and can grow into a kingdom or even an empire, reaching the SSS level.]
"This... This is my calling," Zach whispered with reverence after absorbing those information. "To most maybe this part is frown upon but who can say what will happen if I successfully seduce a woman of high standards and influence? Wouldn't I live a contented life and not worry about being attacked? This is the best part! For I know if I get a woman of influence she can put a ban, limiting others from disturbing my dungeon."
[Ding! Harem Overlord Path selected. Initiating base knowledge transfer.]
Zach's vision blurred as streams of knowledge flooded his mind. Names of techniques, methods of aura control, information, and mana pulses, all of it branding themselves into his very soul in a form of a complex rune.
He collapsed onto the straw bedding, frowning. Then instinctively crossed his legs and sat upright. A new prompt appeared before him.
[Skill Method: Heavenly Temptation Sutra - Stage 1: Basic Level]
[Training Style: Mental-Fantasy Focused Internal Resonance.]
In simpler terms, imagine meditating while thinking about the hottest women you've ever seen and manifesting that lust as unique mana energy.
Zach didn't need a second invitation.
He shut his eyes and let his breathing settle. Slowly, his thoughts drifted…
Cleavage. Thighs. Curves. Sultry eyes. That one hentai manga.
A gentle heat stirred within his core as he sank deeper into his thoughts.
In this world, cultivation was divided into seven ascending realms:
Basic Level
Mid Level
High Level
Master Level
Grandmaster Level
Supreme Master Level
Divine Master
Demi-God Level
Each level multiplied one's presence, aura, and spiritual influence. And Zach, the degenerate prince, had just dipped his toes into the Basic level not through intense battles, but through... vigorous waifu imagining which even in this world will be seen as an odd way of meditating.
The mana in the air responded to his thoughts. His body began absorbing ambient mana. It flowed like warm honey through his veins and enter his mana reserve poll in a slow pace.
As the hours passed, his face grew calmer. His skin became subtly radiant making his presence strangely magnetic. If others who didn't know his perverted character saw him at this moment they will think he is a Sage that has transcend the rules of mortality.
After what felt like days, Zach was awakened by a sound.
[Ding! Breakthrough achieved. Host has entered the Basic Level of Meditation. Harem Affinity increased. Passive Aura unlocked.]
Zach's eyes snapped open. He felt good. Not just good. Powerful. As if every strand of hair on his body had been blessed by the goddess of lewd luck and he could punch a man to dust which he knew were still far from his reach. If only he knew how to manipulate his spiritual sense he would have been able to noticed the change in his body as deep within his consciousness were faint shimmering energy which everyone knows as mana.
He stood up slowly, chest puffed, and strutted the tiny space in his cell like he owned the place.
"Now that I've stepped into the Basic level, I think I will continue meditating and growing stronger, maybe after ten years when I stepped out of here with my own power, the whole kingdom will shake, that is if I was left alive for that long," he muttered. Then paused. "Wait, how long was I in that horny trance?"
He looked around. A tray of stale bread and something that looked suspiciously like rat soup sat beside the bars.
"One day?" Zach muttered in disbelief. "All that, and it's only been a single day?"
"Oi, chill the hell out," a raspy, deep voice murmured. "You're disturbing my beauty sleep, young man."
Zach turned. In the dim glow, a gaunt older man sat cross-legged, beard trailing like vines, his aura calm but subtly imposing.
Zach raised a brow. "What sin brought you to this five-star dungeon, Old Master 'Kung Fu'?"
The man's expression turned somber despite not understanding the Kung Fu word, like a sage recalling tragic wars. "I yawned while the king was speaking during a meeting."
Zach blinked. "You what?"
The man nodded sagely. "A simple yawn with no sound. Just a lip tremble and yet, the guards deemed it an unforgivable insult in the presence of the king which lead me to here."
Zach gulped as he thought deeply of his own crime. "Then what about me... who slept with the king's concubine…"
Before he could finish that depressing thought, another voice barked from the left.
"HAH! That's nothing, princess. You know why I'm in here?"
Zach turned towards the voice and saw a bulkier, scars face man with broken tooth who smelled like sweat and horse pee combined.
"Do tell," Zach said cautiously.
The man puffed his chest in indignation. "I farted near the princess's horse."
Zach's face blanked.
"The damn horse freaked out, ran wild, wrecked a market. Next thing I know, I'm labeled a man with no respect for royalty."
Zach looked between the two prisoners as he thought deeply. "One yawned. The other farted. I… violated the king's personal woman. I'm so screwed."
While deep in thought, he didn't notice when the farting convict turned, his eyes trailing up and down Zach's frame as he licked his lips.
Making Zach's stomach flipped.
"You know... I didn't see you clearly before," the thug said, leaning into the bars as he wink. "But now I do and you're divine."
Zach took a step back. "Sir... I'm a dude."
"Even better," the man purred.
"!!!" Zach's soul left his body.
"I like boobs! Curves! I'm a waifu man, damn it! NOT... whatever you've got under there!"
The man smirked. "You should be honored to witness my royal weapon."
Zach gagged. "Keep that junk in your pants!"
The man reached through the bar as he shook it, making them creaked showing he was definitely no ordinary human.
Zach's jaw dropped seeing this as he instantly knew that man might be a mage. "Oh no..."
"I will eat you today," the man whispered darkly.
Zach backed into the corner. "WAIT! Let's talk first! Maybe bond over trauma, yeah?"
The man paused, intrigued.
---
30 minutes later...
Zach was massaging the thug's back with trembling fingers, questioning every life choice that led him here.
"Ahh… You're good with those hands," the man moaned making Zach wanted to break his own arms.
"But enough games," the man turned, voice low and sultry. "Are you ready to be devoured?"
Hearing his words, Zach didn't know how to respond but just then footsteps echoed.
A voice rang from the corridor. "Prisoner 093. Zachariah Valford. Time for your trial."
Zach thought he saw salvation.
He turned to the thug, smile twisted. "Actually, I have something for you."
"Oh? Finally giving in?"
CRACK!
Zach's fist drove straight into the man's nose.
THWACK!
He grabbed a stick he'd hidden and smacked it over the man's bald skull like a war drum making the man to collapsed.
"I will never give in to a man," Zach spat in disdain.
Then stood tall as the guards arrived, time for trial.
[Ding! Harem Overlord Passive Aura has charmed nearby males. Proceed with caution.]
Zach glared at the system window. "You absolute bastard."