Adrian's heart was hammering in his chest as the hulking guard lunged toward the queen. Time slowed, the air thick with tension and the faint metallic scent of sweat and fear. Then—bright neon letters flashed in front of his eyes:
___
[QUICK TIME EVENT: SAVE THE QUEEN]
Reward: 6 hours life span, slight relationship boost (+0.05%)
Current Queen Relationship: -5%
___
Adrian didn't hesitate. Survival instincts screamed louder than reason. He vaulted forward, knees bent, muscles coiled like springs. The guard's momentum carried him straight toward the trembling queen, but Adrian's boot shot out in a deadly arc.
A sharp, sickening crack echoed through the chamber as his foot connected with the guard's groin. The man howled, staggering, his hands clutching desperately at the source of agony. Adrian could see the life drain from the guard's eyes, a mixture of shock and pure pain, and then the System chimed with satisfaction.
____
[Temporary Title Earned: BALL CRUSHER]
Effect: Weak-willed enemies experience terror in your presence.
____
The guard dropped to his knees, staggering back like a wounded beast. Others outside the room, hearing the cry of pain, froze, their confidence faltering. Their morale crumbled in a heartbeat—weak mental fortitude couldn't withstand the reputation of the Ball Crusher.
Adrian pivoted swiftly, pressing himself between the queen and the guard. The velvet sheets were damp beneath him, but he ignored it, focusing solely on her safety. She looked up at him, eyes wide and fearful, and he forced a reassuring smile, though his own adrenaline made his hands shake.
"Stay behind me!" he hissed, voice low but commanding, as another guard tried to push past the broken door frame. Adrian's movements were precise and brutal. He grabbed a nearby candlestick, swinging it with deadly accuracy to knock the man backward, the metal clanging against the floor. The system rewarded his quick actions with a faint pulse of life energy—the extra hours a tiny lifeline, the boost in relationship almost imperceptible, but present.
The queen's gaze followed every move, her fear slowly mingling with awe at his daring. Adrian's hand reached out, grasping hers tightly. She didn't pull away, even as her body trembled, the faint pulse of panic still radiating off her in waves.
He gritted his teeth. Every second counted. Another guard surged forward, but Adrian was faster—kicking, striking, weaving, and using the environment to his advantage. Each impact, each precise blow reinforced his new title, and the guards faltered further, hesitant to press into the deadly rhythm Adrian had created.
The System pinged softly: [Quick Time Event Progress: 50%]
Time was slipping, but Adrian didn't slow down. Survival wasn't just for him anymore. The queen's life—and her trust—were now tethered to his frantic, brutal efficiency.
As the last guard cowered in the corner, Adrian pressed a hand to the queen's shoulder, keeping her grounded. She looked at him, voice trembling, "Y-you… you saved me?"
Adrian smirked, though sweat dripped down his face. "Yeah… for now. But don't get too comfortable."
The room was chaotic, the air thick with dust, sweat, and the scent of fear. But Adrian knew one thing for certain: the System had chosen him, and he would play this twisted game with every ounce of cunning, strength, and ruthless precision he had.
____
[Quick Time Event Completed]
Reward Claimed: +6 hours life span, relationship +0.05%
____
He exhaled sharply, glancing at the queen. Their eyes met, tension and uncertainty mingling. This wasn't over. Far from it. But for now, he had survived—and earned the right to live another few hours.
The chamber had become a battlefield, and Adrian was its unyielding, merciless general.
Adrian crouched on the floor, chest heaving, the adrenaline still pulsing like fire through his veins. The queen's eyes were wild now, filled with a mixture of fear, fury, and despair. She scrambled upright on the bed, clinging to the silk sheets, trembling.
"How… how did you even get inside my bed chamber?!" she shouted, voice cracking. "And why… why did you defile me?!" Her hands shook as she pointed at him, her golden hair wildly falling around her face.
Adrian's throat tightened. He didn't have an answer. How could he? The entire situation was insane—he'd been dropped into this twisted System world, forced into survival, and now… now he was sitting in the middle of the royal bedchamber, covered in her juices.
"If… if things go like this," he stammered, trying to find some semblance of control, "we'll… we'll both die."
"Die?!" she shrieked, tears spilling down her cheeks. "You ruined my life! You defiled my body! What unforgivable sin did I ever commit to deserve this?!"
Her words were like a whip, striking him in the chest over and over. Every shout, every curse, every desperate sob pushed him further into helplessness. He reached out, trying to comfort her, his hands trembling.
"Listen, I—I didn't—" he began, but she shook him off violently, her whole body quivering. "Don't! Don't touch me! How dare you touch me after everything you've done!"
He froze, stunned. The weight of her rage and grief slammed into him like a physical force. His own heart was hammering, guilt gnawing at him, but he didn't dare speak further.
Then, the neon letters of the System blinked sharply in his vision:
____
[NOTICE: Queen Favorability Decreasing]
Current Queen Relationship: -5%
____
Adrian's stomach dropped. The slight favorability boost he had earned—0.05%—was gone, erased by her anger and distrust. The System didn't care about morality, excuses, or the chaotic circumstances. It only measured results.
He swallowed hard, feeling the crushing weight of the new reality. The queen's hatred was more than emotional—it was tangible. Every syllable she spat at him chipped away at any chance of redemption in her eyes, and the System's cold notification reminded him that her opinion of him mattered—even if it was now worse than before.
Adrian took a deep, shaky breath, scanning the room for the next threat, the next move, the next way to survive this nightmare. The queen was sobbing, cursing, shaking with rage and fear, and he realized… her wrath was now just another obstacle in the System's twisted game.
He needed a plan. And fast.