Straight up
Hae-Won was catching his breath, still processing the power surge he'd just experienced in this strange new world, when a notification flashed across his vision, cutting through the silence.
*ALERT: You have entered the VillainVerse System!*
He blinked. The *VillainVerse System?* Before he could make sense of it, the notification expanded into a full-screen message that hovered in front of him, lines of text cascading down like a waterfall.
*Welcome, Hae-Won, to the VillainVerse! You are now a participant in the interdimensional league of villainous Masters across the multiverse.*
At that moment, Hae-Won felt something change, as if an invisible lens had focused on him. He couldn't see it, but he felt it — eyes, countless eyes, watching him from beyond this strange world. Then, comments began to flash on the edge of his vision, line after line of text that scrolled too quickly for him to keep up.
**[Viewer123]: This dude's totally clueless, LOL!**
**[ShadowKing92]: Who let this weakling into the VillainVerse?**
**[GachaAddict]: Is he really a Master? Look at him, he's still figuring out the basics.**
Hae-Won clenched his fists, feeling a swell of irritation as he scanned the comments. His every move was now a spectacle, a form of twisted entertainment for unseen viewers in different universes. His heart pounded. *Why am I… being watched?*
The notification continued, answering his question.
*The VillainVerse is a connected multiverse network broadcasting the journeys of Villain Masters to audiences throughout all realities. Your world is ranked #1,100,789 in power and influence, making it one of the lowest-rated universes. Perform well to increase your rank.*
Before he could fully process this, the system displayed a leaderboard:
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**VillainVerse Leaderboard:**
1. **Jin Mori** – "The Monkey King"
2. **Sung Jin-Woo** – "Shadow Monarch"
3. **Kim Dokja** – "The Reader's Savior"
*...1,100,789: Hae-Won – "Rookie Master"*
---
The sight of his universe ranked dead last made Hae-Won's blood boil. It was humiliating. He barely knew who the top-ranked Masters were, but their titles alone were enough to send a shiver down his spine. *The Monkey King, Shadow Monarch, and Reader's Savior...* These were legends in their universes, names that echoed across the multiverse. Compared to them, he was just a nameless rookie, an underdog lost in the cosmic scale of power.
Another notification appeared.
*VillainVerse Broadcast Activated: Livestream begins in 3… 2… 1…*
Hae-Won felt a sharp jolt in his chest, like an electric shock, and suddenly, he could hear it — a low hum, a strange, pulsing energy that seemed to reverberate from within him. He was now fully connected to the VillainVerse, his every thought and movement on display for millions, maybe even billions, of viewers.
As the broadcast began, he saw the number of live viewers ticking upward, soaring into the tens of thousands within seconds, then hundreds of thousands. Comments flooded the system screen, and despite his initial frustration, Hae-Won felt a flicker of excitement. His mind raced with thoughts of what this meant — fame, respect, and perhaps even power beyond his wildest dreams. If he could rise through the ranks, he could transcend the limitations of his weak universe and become a true force in the VillainVerse.
Just then, a new message appeared, accompanied by a bright flash.
*Special Event Activated: "Rookie Rumble." Due to your entry into the VillainVerse, you've been selected for a popular event where rookie Villains must face an overwhelming opponent to prove their worth. Complete the challenge to earn rewards and rise in popularity.*
"An overwhelming opponent?" he muttered. Before he could react, the ground trembled, and a shadow loomed over him. A towering creature, clad in jagged armor and wielding a massive spiked mace, materialized in front of him. Its glowing red eyes fixed on him, and a deep, rumbling voice echoed across the landscape.
"I am Graathok, the Knight of Ruin. Prepare yourself, mortal!"
The comments went wild.
**[RisingVillain]: Bet this kid's gonna be flattened in seconds!**
**[LunarKing]: Haha, Graathok is a C-tier villain, but he's still way too strong for this guy!**
**[FireLord]: 10 bucks says he won't last a minute.**
Hae-Won gritted his teeth, nerves and determination mingling in his gut. He could sense Graathok's immense power, leagues beyond the simple hero guards he had defeated earlier. But he couldn't afford to fail. Not in front of these viewers. Not if he wanted to rise above the lowest-ranked universe.
His system displayed new options.
*Available Skills: Shadow Manipulation, Nightmare Aura, Infernal Strike.*
He could see his own health bar and power gauge appear at the edge of his vision, along with a list of basic abilities. *Shadow Manipulation* allowed him to control darkness, bending it to his will. *Nightmare Aura* would instill fear in opponents. And *Infernal Strike* was a powerful attack that unleashed a fiery, explosive blow.
But his power levels were low; he needed to strategize, to fight smart rather than strong.
Graathok swung his mace, the sheer force of it causing a shockwave that shattered the ground around him. Hae-Won barely dodged, his heart pounding as the comments cheered or jeered at his close call.
**[Speedster]: Heh, decent dodge. Might last a few more seconds.**
**[VoidDreamer]: I'm betting on him. There's something in his eyes.**
Determined, Hae-Won activated *Nightmare Aura,* letting a dark, oppressive energy radiate from his body. Graathok hesitated, his movements slowing as he was caught off guard by the sudden onslaught of fear.
Taking advantage of the opening, Hae-Won dashed forward, his body moving with surprising agility. He summoned the shadows around him, forming a dark blade in his hand. With all his might, he swung it at Graathok, his *Infernal Strike* igniting the blade in a burst of flame as it slashed across Graathok's armor, leaving a deep scar.
The viewers erupted.
**[DarkHawk]: Whoa! This rookie's got some moves!**
**[LegendaryLurker]: Not bad, but he's still green. Graathok will crush him.**
Graathok roared in fury, bringing his mace down in a desperate, enraged swing. Hae-Won dodged again, but this time he was slower, the mace grazing his arm and sending a surge of pain through him. His health bar dropped sharply, almost halfway gone with a single hit. The pain was all too real, and the weight of his own vulnerability struck him hard. He was still new to this; one wrong move, and he'd be wiped out in front of millions.
He staggered, but steadied himself. A notification blinked before him:
*Viewer Popularity Increasing: +50,000 fans gained.*
In that instant, something in him clicked. He was the underdog, yes, but every second he survived was a testament to his tenacity. He could almost hear the thrill of his newfound fans rooting for him — and that gave him strength.
Gritting his teeth, Hae-Won steadied his breath, summoning every ounce of power he could muster. He let the shadows coil around him, his *Nightmare Aura* amplifying until it formed a cloak of darkness that swirled in menacing arcs. He raised his hand, feeling the energy pulse through his veins, and prepared to launch his final strike.
With a burst of speed, he launched himself at Graathok, twisting in midair to avoid a desperate swing of the mace. His blade cut through the air, powered by the burning rage within him, and struck Graathok straight through the chest.
Graathok let out a final roar as he disintegrated into particles, vanishing from sight. Hae-Won dropped to his knees, panting, adrenaline flooding his system. The comments erupted once more, filling the screen with praise, shock, and a new sense of respect.
**[ThunderGod77]: Rookie's got potential!**
**[HorizonBreaker]: He actually won?! Might have to start following this guy…**
**[SungJinFan]: Not bad for someone ranked over a millionth place. I'm keeping an eye on him.**
The final notification appeared.
*Event Completed: Rookie Rumble Victory!*
*Reward Unlocked: Skill Upgrade - Infernal Strike (Level 2)*
*Popularity Increase: 1.5 million viewers.*
Hae-Won stared at the notifications, his chest heaving, heart pounding. He was still at the bottom, but for the first time, he felt a spark — a chance to rise.
**Character Status: Hae-Won**
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**Title:** Rookie Master
**Rank:** #1,100,789 (Lowest-ranked in the VillainVerse)
**Popularity:** 1.5 million viewers (growing after initial battle victory)
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**Attributes:**
- **Strength:** ★★★☆☆
- **Agility:** ★★★★☆
- **Endurance:** ★★☆☆☆
- **Intelligence:** ★★★☆☆
- **Dark Aura (Villain Power Level):** ★★★☆☆
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**Abilities:**
1. **Shadow Manipulation (Level 1):** Allows Hae-Won to control shadows, creating weapons or shields from darkness.
- **Upgrade Potential:** Can expand control over larger areas or form more complex constructs with higher levels.
2. **Nightmare Aura (Level 1):** Radiates a dark, fear-inducing energy that affects enemies within a limited range, slowing and disorienting them.
- **Upgrade Potential:** Wider range and stronger psychological effects, potentially able to immobilize weaker foes.
3. **Infernal Strike (Level 2):** A powerful, flaming strike that can cause significant damage. Now upgraded after the Rookie Rumble, it has higher attack power and a chance to leave a burning effect.
- **Upgrade Potential:** Increased area of effect, additional fire-based enhancements.
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**Inventory:**
- **Basic Dark Blade:** A weapon formed using Shadow Manipulation, effective in close combat but fragile and limited to simple shapes.
- **VillainVerse System Screen:** Displays comments from viewers, event notifications, skill progression, and stats.
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**Notable Achievements:**
- **Rookie Rumble Victory:** Defeated Graathok, a C-tier villain, gaining his first big victory broadcasted live across the VillainVerse.
- **Popularity Boost:** Initial fan base established, with viewers intrigued by his potential despite his low starting rank.
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**Future Goals:**
- **Increase Villain Rank:** Prove himself by completing challenges and increasing his popularity to climb the ranks of the VillainVerse.
- **Gain New Skills and Upgrades:** Continue earning rewards to unlock new abilities, upgrades, and potential relics of power.
- **Forge a Reputation:** Overcome his current ranking disadvantage and establish himself as a true villain in the VillainVerse, aiming to challenge the top Masters one day.
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**Current Mindset:** Determined but cautious, aware of his limitations but motivated by the thrill of popularity and the potential for growth.