A Villain’s Life, My Way"

Ren leaned back in his chair, his sharp gaze fixed on the horizon beyond the window. His thoughts drifted, a mixture of determination and frustration clouding his expression. "This world is a brutal place," he muttered under his breath. "The strong devour the weak without hesitation."

He let out a heavy sigh as memories from the novel he had read flooded his mind. "In the story, it all seemed thrilling, but living it is another matter entirely," he mused. "Here, power isn't just a tool—it's a necessity for survival. Without it, you're just another nameless victim."

Ren's fingers tightened into fists as he recalled the countless deaths he had witnessed in the story. Each loss felt more personal now, the once distant narrative now his reality.

"I don't want to die here. Not without living life on my terms."

He took a deep breath, his resolve hardening.

"I need freedom. True freedom."

His mind raced, plotting his next moves. The story was about to begin, and the chains of the plot were tightening. He had no intention of being dragged along like a puppet.

"I need to become strong—strong enough to break free from this narrative," he thought.

As if responding to his determination, a mechanical sound interrupted his thoughts.

→ [System modification complete.]

Ren's lips curled into a faint smile. "Finally, some progress. Let's see what this system has in store for me now."

---

System Interface

Opening the system menu, Ren noticed several changes.

? System Menu ?

→ Status

→ Skills

→ Plot Progress

Curiosity piqued, he navigated to the "Status" tab.

---

? Status ?

→ Name: Ren Arclight

→ Age: 19

→ Title: Reincarnator

→ Rank: F-grade

→ Strength: F

→ Health: F

→ Stamina: F

→ Charm: B+

→ Intelligence: B-

→ Mana: G+

→ Luck: C

[TRAITS]:

Strategic Thinker

Hard Worker

Extra-Character

---

Ren studied the screen intently. His stats were abysmal, yet the new additions gave him a sliver of hope.

"Luck, huh?" he muttered, eyeing the new stat. "C-grade… not protagonist material, but it's better than nothing. At least I'm not doomed."

He tapped on the title "Reincarnator" to view its description.

---

[Reincarnator]: Allows the host to retrieve select skills and traits from a previous life.

---

A grin spread across his face. "This could be a game changer. My past life may have been ordinary, but I picked up plenty of skills along the way."

Ren's mind wandered to his time in the old world. Living alone had forced him to become self-sufficient, and he had mastered various practical skills that might now give him an edge in this world.

His focus shifted to the traits, and he read through their descriptions carefully.

---

[Strategic Thinker]: Enables logical, calm decision-making in high-stress situations.

[Hard Worker]: Enhances growth in stats and skills through consistent effort.

[Extra-Character]: Allows the host to navigate the world without being bound by the main plotline.

---

Ren leaned back with a satisfied smirk. The traits felt like extensions of himself—his ability to remain composed, his relentless work ethic, and now, the freedom to step outside the story's constraints.

"The 'Extra-Character' trait is the real MVP here," he thought. "I can avoid getting tangled in the mess the main characters create. Their drama is their own problem."

Feeling more optimistic, he navigated to the "Skills" tab.

---

? Skills ?

→ Combat Skills:

Swordsmanship: Beginner

Marksmanship: Beginner

→ Passive Skills:

Calm Mind

→ Life Skills:

Cooking: Intermediate

Programming: Intermediate

Language: Advanced

Calligraphy: Elementary

Singing: Elementary

Appraisal: Beginner

[Expand for full list...]

---

Ren's eyes widened as he reviewed the list. "Now this… this is something," he muttered.

His combat skills weren't impressive, but they were a start. "Swordsmanship and marksmanship must be from this life," he guessed.

The life skills, however, were the real jackpot. Many of them clearly came from his past life, their proficiency levels boosted by the system.

"Cooking, programming, languages… These might seem mundane, but they'll be invaluable here," he thought.

Ren couldn't help but chuckle. "Even in a world of magic and swords, people still need to eat, communicate, and entertain themselves. These skills will give me an edge."

His attention turned to the proficiency scale.

---

[Proficiency Levels]: Beginner → Elementary → Intermediate → Advanced → Proficient → Master → Grandmaster

---

"It's a steep climb, but I've always thrived on challenges," Ren mused. "Hard work pays off, and I've never been one to back down."

Closing the system interface, Ren leaned back, his mind already racing with strategies.

"This world thinks it can trap me in its narrative," he muttered. "But I'll rewrite the story. I'll carve out my own path."

The gears of the plot were turning, and Ren was ready to face whatever came his way. This time, he wasn't just a character in someone else's story—he was the author of his own fate.