Surviving The Game Villainess

As Zephyr followed Seraphina out of his room, the mechanical voice of the system suddenly echoed in his mind once more.

[Ding! Mission Completion Bonus Granted]

[Due to the target's exceptionally high affection (95%), the Host has received an additional reward.]

[Primary Reward: Awakening Rank Upgraded to EX-Class (All Elemental Affinity).]

[Bonus Reward: Unique Skill – Skill Creation.]

Zephyr's steps faltered, and his mind nearly short-circuited.

"EX-Class? All Elemental Affinity? Skill Creation?!"

His breath hitched as realization struck him.

This wasn't just an ordinary power-up. This was something that should be impossible.

In Hero Quest, awakening ranks only went from F to SSS-rank. EX-Class didn't even exist!

Not only that, but All Elemental Affinity was another absurd reward. Normally, an individual's elemental affinity was determined at birth, and most people could only wield one or two elements at best. Even the protagonist of the game, who was considered a once-in-a-lifetime genius, only had three elemental affinities.

Yet now, Zephyr had all of them.

"This… this is completely broken!"

And then there was Skill Creation.

[Unique Skill: Skill Creation]

[Grants the Host the ability to create new skills from scratch.]

[The effectiveness of created skills depends on the Host's imagination, mana reserves, and comprehension.]

[Created skills can evolve overtime.]

Zephyr's entire body shuddered in excitement.

"This isn't just strong. This is limitless power."

He could literally invent any ability he wanted! If he thought of a powerful sword technique, he could create it. If he wanted a unique spell that no one else in the world had, he could make it a reality. And even better—the system mentioned that skills could evolve, meaning his creations wouldn't stay static but could grow stronger with time.

It was the ultimate cheat ability.

"All of this… just because Seraphina has high affection for me?"

Zephyr exhaled slowly, forcing himself to stay calm. This meant one thing—the Harem Overlord System wasn't just about romance. If he could build strong bonds with powerful heroines, the system would reward him with broken-level abilities.

And considering Seraphina was the strongest character in the game, it made sense that the system would give him something of equal value.

"If this is just my first reward, then what will I get if I reach 100% affection with her?"

Zephyr shook his head, suppressing his thoughts.

First, he needed to awaken properly.

Seraphina glanced back at him, noticing his brief pause. "Zephyr? What's wrong?"

He quickly smiled, acting as if nothing had happened. "Nothing, just feeling a little nervous."

She chuckled. "Don't be. No matter what happens, you'll be fine."

Zephyr's eyes gleamed.

"Oh, I know I will."

Zephyr followed Seraphina down the grand hallways of the Aurion family estate. The excitement of the awakening ceremony filled the air, and as they stepped outside, he saw a large number of people gathered in the courtyard.

Nobles, family members, and powerful awakeners stood in attendance, all here to witness the new generation awaken their powers. Among them was Valen Aurion, his older brother, standing with his arms crossed and a cold expression on his face.

At the center of the courtyard stood a massive crystal orb, floating on a stone pedestal. This was the Awakening Stone, an artifact that would reveal a person's rank and elemental affinity.

Zephyr took a deep breath, stepping forward as whispers filled the crowd.

"He's the youngest son of the Aurion family, right?"

"I heard his brother Valen awakened as an S-rank. Will he be the same?"

"Or maybe he'll be weak. It would be shameful if he's below A-rank."

Zephyr ignored their murmurs and placed his hand on the Awakening Stone.

A surge of energy flowed through his body as the stone connected with his soul.

At that moment, Zephyr felt his true power stir inside him.

EX-Class… All Elemental Affinity… the power to surpass even the protagonist.

But he couldn't reveal everything.

"If I show my full power now, I'll be treated as a monster… or worse, a threat."

In the game's storyline, anyone with too much power became a pawn for the empire or was eliminated by those in power. He had to be smart about this.

Using Skill Creation, Zephyr manipulated the flow of energy, suppressing his true abilities.

He carefully lowered his rank to S-class—still impressive but not something unheard of.

He also limited his elemental affinity to Lightning, making it seem like that was his only element. Lightning was a powerful and rare affinity, but it wouldn't attract as much suspicion as all elements.

The Awakening Stone glowed brightly, and then—

[Awakening Complete!]

Rank: S-Class

Elemental Affinity: Lightning

The courtyard erupted into a mix of cheers and gasps.

"S-rank! Incredible!"

"Another genius in the Aurion family!"

"Just like his older brother Valen!"

Zephyr saw his father nod in approval, while Valen gave a small, uninterested glance before looking away.

With his awakening complete, Zephyr felt his mana core fully form within his body. The core was the source of all magical power, a crystalline structure deep within his soul that determined his ability to cultivate, store, and refine mana.

In Aethelgard, cultivation was paramount. The strength of one's mana core determines their potential for growth. The higher the rank, the faster one could cultivate and refine mana.

F-Rank to D-Rank: Slow cultivation, barely able to sense or control mana. C-Rank to B-Rank: Moderate growth, capable of using mid-tier magic and techniques. A-Rank to S-Rank: Rapid cultivation, mana flows freely, enhancing both body and spells. SS-Rank and Above: Transcendent beings, their mana continuously refining itself. EX-Class (Zephyr's True Rank): Limitless growth, unbound by the laws of the world.

Zephyr could already feel the difference—his mana didn't just settle inside him; it pulsed with power, flowing like an unstoppable tide.

And with Skill Creation, he wasn't bound by conventional cultivation methods. He could forge his own path to power.

As Zephyr turned back to face the crowd, his gaze landed on Seraphina Nightshade. Unlike the other spectators, who were cheering, she stood there—watching him intently. Her black eyes sparkled with an unreadable emotion. The intensity of her gaze sent a slight shiver down his spine. 'That's not a normal look.' Zephyr thought. 'Does she suspect something?'

He recalled the system's notification from earlier: [Seraphina Nightshade – Affection Level: 95%]. If the system truly influenced emotions, then Seraphina's attachment to him might already be far beyond mere friendship. And considering her role in the game—a world-ending entity driven by obsession—he needed to be cautious.

Before he could speak, she stepped closer and, in a low voice, said, "You did well, Zephyr." Her tone was soft, but there was something else lurking beneath it. Something possessive. Zephyr forced a smile. "Thanks, Seraphina." She simply nodded, her gaze unwavering. 'I need to keep a close watch on her. If this world has changed… then so has she.'