Another day passed since my last conversation with the author, while my life continued as it was: eating and sleeping.

I wasn’t ready yet to do anything, even though I knew that staying here forever wasn’t an option.

Well, who am I kidding?

Honestly, I just wanted to take a break.

After all, that’s what I planned to do once the game ended.

But... here I am now, inside it. What the hell.

So yeah... let’s take things slowly. Life here isn’t that bad.

I have everything... without doing anything.

"Can he really return me to my world?"

That might be possible... these glasses are clear proof. He must have given them to me to give me hope of returning.

I moved my gaze carefully to my hand. Since I got them, they haven’t left me for a moment.

Strangely, the servants act as if they don’t see them at all, and that’s why I didn’t want to risk losing them... I might not find them again inside this room.

Every time I tried to wear them... I would stop at the last moment.

I didn’t know the reason. But this time... I made up my mind. I wore them without hesitation.

I blinked a little... and suddenly a white screen appeared in front of me, and below it a keyboard.

"Damn... are you kidding me? Is this my cheat tool? It doesn’t look impressive at all..."

I moved my fingers over the white keyboard, and pressed the power button without thinking.

I don’t know why I did that... maybe I expected nothing to happen.

But after a few moments... the screen turned black.

My eyes widened immediately.

I recognized what was in front of me right away. This... is the game development interface.

Everything related to the world was here: the plot, the characters, their designs, and even the paths the story could take.

Or at least... that’s what I guessed at first glance.

I was about to dive deeper... but the interface suddenly changed.

This time, the design was irritating, dominated by yellow and black.

And at the top... two words were written: "The Final Designer".

I muttered the name under my breath, then clicked on it immediately.

And what else was I supposed to do? There was nothing else on the screen.

Anyway... a new window appeared in front of me, with a strange design.

The Final Designer.

I knew you wouldn’t disappoint me, Nolan. Well, forget that.

You are now in front of the first—and best—cheat tool of its kind: The Final Designer.

Do you know how much time I spent designing it? When you realize that... you will thank me.

In front of you is the best system you may ever see in your life, thanks to the features it will provide you.

You will never fail—I mean, even if you wanted to fail, you wouldn’t be able to... unless you’re an idiot. Right? Hahaha!

"What is this... a joke?"

Is he... actually laughing?

And which idiot encouraged him to use this style?

This speech is painfully cliché... as if he’s trying hard to sound grand, but failing in every sentence.

This must be the worst system that could be given to a transmigrator.

I sighed, then started scrolling down to explore this "flawed system"... or at least, that’s what I thought after that annoying introduction.

Story — Designer.

Here you can, Nolan, view your stats, skills, traits, and talents.

Is that all? Of course not. Did you think I would give you something ordinary? Who do you think you’re dealing with? Here you can... design any ability, skill, or trait you want.

Isn’t that the best gift ever? Heh... maybe I’m exaggerating a little.

Unfortunately... there’s a small problem. Every feature you add requires a cost: Bypass Points.

Points exceeded.

You can obtain them by completing main and side quests (the quests will appear according to your needs... I can’t say more than that). You can also obtain them by influencing major events.

Honestly, I’m starting to feel jealous of you.

If you don’t achieve anything after all these helpful means... that’s sad.

Current Points exceeded: 0

"This person... talks a lot. But... I have to admit... this is a dangerous feature."

Design any skill... any talent... as I want.

I stared at the screen without moving.

"And yet... I don’t think I even want to get up from my place."

I sighed.

I continued scrolling down, as boredom began to creep into me.

Spending the past days doing nothing wasn’t easy... and yet, I couldn’t deny my curiosity about what this system might hide.

Shared Chat.

Did you think I would leave you to suffer alone in this desolate world? I will always be with you. Whenever you need someone to talk to... I will be here. But... this will cost you some Bypass Points. It might be a lot or a little, depending on the duration of the agreement.

I smiled sarcastically.

"What a miserable partner... I didn’t know you couldn’t stop talking. Whoever has to talk to you will truly suffer. And certainly... it won’t be me."

Fantasy.

Here you can borrow power from your future self... No need to remind you that this will cost Bypass Points.

I narrowed my eyes. "A power... not bad."

Seeing myself in the future... and knowing whether I’m alive or not...

"...very tempting."

Honestly... it surprised me.

At first, I thought it was just a boastful system, but... this is no joke.

It is equipped with all the means of comfort that any transmigrator could dream of.

And yet... I did not feel any hope.

The reason is simple. This world... is doomed to perish.

In the end, no living being will remain.

Even the hero himself... is destined to die at the hands of the Lord of Darkness.

This was one of the features of the game Balance of Catastrophes.

An ending where darkness devours everything.

"Haaa... I need to know the level of Neron’s strength at this stage of the story."

I had to know how strong Neron was at this moment in the story.

So I had no choice but to summon my status.

In this world, every person possesses a personal screen that displays their level, progress, and stats.

A second passed... and nothing appeared in front of me.

Confusion took hold of me for a moment, before I slowly sighed, then immediately entered the Story Designer.

And the moment I did that, a window appeared in front of me.

Host Name: Neron Stetlas

Class: Swordsman

Efficiency: Great

Rank: Beginner (F)

Strength: F-

Agility: F-

Endurance: G

Speed: F

Mana: +G

Magic: G-

Combat Path: You will find your combat path where the red pond is, the swaying sky, and the drowning birds... and your black sword planted in the crimson soil. Haha... you didn’t expect that, did you? Well, you don’t have a combat path yet.

Skills: [Foggy Forms] — King Class.

You can change your form into any person you kill, after extracting their fog, and small parts of their memories transfer to you. Do not overuse it... you might lose yourself.

Affinity: [Lightning] [Earth]

Talents: [Telekinesis]

Inheritance: None

Note: You are weak... very weak. And you know well what will happen if you remain like this.

I couldn’t say anything.

These stats... were worse than I expected, even with an efficiency considered above average.

Efficiencies, as is known, are divided into eight levels:

Normal, Rising, King, Great, Legendary, Sacred, Winged, Divine.

"This is really exhausting..." I muttered while staring into the void.

"Why do I have to face all these problems? Wouldn’t it be better to just stay lying here... waiting for my death quietly, while enjoying a luxurious life?"

— Ding

A sudden notification appeared, and its sound was loud enough to almost make me jump from my place.

"Tch"

I frowned in annoyance before opening it.

[Side Quest]

Move your damn butt, please. You are bringing shame to my name. How long will you stay like this?

Tasks:

Explore the palace and get 100 Points exceeded

Wave the sword for five minutes: 30 Points exceeded

Talk to someone for five minutes: 15 Points exceeded

Bullying someone: 40 Points exceeded

I stared at these tasks in shock.

They were... absurd.

And yet, a faint sound came out from between my lips, before I laughed softly.

"Why is this man trying with all he has to make me move...? It’s funny. But, unfortunately... I am on vacation. And I don’t know when it will end."

"Hah..."

I took off the glasses and threw them aside, then lay down on the bed and slowly closed my eyes.

Days passed... one after another, while I remained like this. I did not leave my room even once.

But it seemed that this would not continue forever.

Suddenly—the door of the room burst open violently.

"Craaa—"

The sound echoed around, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps approaching me.

I slowly opened my eyes, to see a huge shadow standing over me.

I frowned slightly as I stared at that massive figure in front of me.

And suddenly—he grabbed the bed... and threw it toward the wall.

And I... was still on it.

My eyes widened in shock, but my body moved instinctively.

I jumped away from the bed at the last moment, before it slammed into the ground with tremendous force.

"Dkhhh-ssshh"

My body hit the ground violently, until it felt as if my bones had shattered.

The sound of impact roared behind me, and dust rose into the air.

"Cough— Cough—!"

I coughed violently as I tried to get up, but before I regained my balance... a giant hand grabbed me.

I was lifted into the air easily, as if I were nothing.

"I leave you for a month... and when I return I find you like this?"

His grip tightened slightly.

"I don’t even know how I will face my sister... after I promised her I would take care of you. Wear proper clothes... and follow me. The inheritance ceremony is near."

I recognized this man immediately.

How could I not recognize him?

He is one of the heroes of the Sixth War... nicknamed the War Demon.

The man who stood alone protecting the southern front, after the betrayal committed by the demon race.

The conqueror of armies... and one of the few who came close to reaching the Winged rank (SSS), if not for the shattering of his mana core.

Arshaf Kin Stalak.

’All I wanted... was to enjoy the life of the rich.... why did this madman appear now? What did I do in my life to deserve this?’

I wasn’t even given time to object. Arshaf grabbed me by my clothes, and dragged me out of the room as if I were a doll.