Two Wishes

"Let me get this straight... You destroyed the universe, and now you're just... handing out consolation prizes?"

Beatrice shrugged, her dress shimmering as she moved.

"Pretty much... Look, it's not like I wanted to blow everything up. It was a mistake, okay? But I'm making it right. And you, Dane Harper, are the first soul I will reincarnate... Lucky you!"

Dane frowned, or rather shrugged, as he said.

"Eh... Why me?"

Dane asked, to which Beatrice shrugged back and replied.

"Why not you?"

Beatrice countered, stepping closer. Her presence was overwhelming, like standing too close to a star. 

"You were the first soul I found after the... incident. And honestly, I like your vibe. You've got potential."

"Potential for what?"

Asked Dane, which was a valid question indeed.

Beatrice grinned, and there was something dangerous in her smile.

"For greatness, of course. Or, at the very least, for entertainment. Look, no hard feelings, but beings like me see things like you as… well, characters in a story. But don't take it personally; there are things out there in this world that see me the same way. Hell, I'm not even a full-fledged witch yet; I'm just a trainee. And let me tell you, training gets really boring up here in Kalpanas World. So, here's the deal: I'll grant you two wishes. First, a world of your choosing. Second, a fragment of my power in the form of an ability. So, what'll it be, human?"

At these words, Dane did not hesitate.

He didn't even have to think about it.

"HDXD."

He said immediately and confirmed once more.

"I want to go to the world of HDXD."

Beatrice raised an eyebrow, her expression a mix of surprise and amusement.

"The visual novel? Really? You do realize it's not all fun and games over there, right? That world is brutal. Like, really brutal."

"I know...

Dane said, a grin spreading across his face as well.

"But I also know how to win. I've played that game inside and out. I know every character, every plot twist, and every secret. If anyone can survive that world, it's me."

Beatrice chuckled at his response as she replied back.

"Confident, aren't we? Alright, fair enough. And your second wish?"

Dane thought for a moment. He needed something to give him an edge, something that would help him not just survive but thrive.

And then it hit him. 

"I want my power to be my DLC packs...

"Hmph, which one... you have all of them, even the ultimate ones."

However, what Dane said next was actually surprising.

"All of them...

Dane said, and Beatrice replied.

"Excuse me."

And Dane replied right back.

"Did I stutter? I said all of them!"

"Not just HDXD... I want my money's worth... Every DLC pack I've ever bought...not just in HDXD, but in every game I bothered to play. And since I only play harem or rom-com games, I've easily spent close to 18k on DLC and special packs across all kinds of games...

Dane made his wish clear as he continued with the details.

"So, I want a system that combines all of them into one, something that gives me the ultimate harem experience. Call me cheap if you want, but I worked my ass off for that 18k, and I'm not about to let it go to waste. Oh, and make sure it actually makes sense. Different game mechanics will probably clash, and I don't need the headache of an unorganized mess. I don't care how you set it up; just save me the trouble of dealing with a broken system."

Beatrice stared at Dane for a moment, her glowing eyes narrowing as if she were trying to decide whether he was a genius or completely insane. Then she burst out laughing, the sound echoing through the void like the call of a school bell.

"All of them? Every DLC pack? From every game you played?"

She said, wiping a mock tear from her eye.

"You're either the greediest human I've ever met or the most ambitious... Either way, I like it... sounds like fun."

She snapped her fingers, and a holographic screen appeared in the air between them. It wasn't like any system Dane had seen before. Instead of cold, mechanical text, the screen was alive with swirling colors and shifting symbols, like a living piece of art.

Or rather to mock the idea of a status board altogether.

"Alright, listen up."

Beatrice said, her tone shifting to something more serious, though her mischievous grin never left her face.

Honestly, Dane felt like he was going to get trolled.

"I'm not going to make this system some boring, run-of-the-mill interface with numbers and stats plastered everywhere. No, no, no, that is not really needed; rather, I am going to make this interesting."

She gestured to the screen, which began to display a series of different designs and patterns.

"First, this system isn't just going to throw missions at you like some mindless quest giver. Oh no, good sir. I am not a fan of cliches, although I do see the need for them at times."

Said Beatrice.

"Missions will be deeply tied to your choices and actions. Every decision you make will ripple through the world, shaping your relationships and the challenges you face. It's simple, really."

"For example, if you want to impress a dragon queen, the system will weave a mission that feels natural and meaningful. Maybe you'll need to slay a rival dragon threatening her kingdom or perhaps retrieve a legendary artifact that holds great significance to her. Want to win over a goddess? Be prepared to prove your worth by outsmarting her divine trials or solving riddles that test your wit and resolve."

"The beauty of this system is that every mission will feel organic like it's part of the world itself, not just some lifeless checklist. But here's the real heart of it: a harem isn't just a collection of trophies or tools. By definition, it's a group of individuals, each with their own soul, mind, and heart."

Beatrice said.

"These women are living, breathing beings with their own dreams, fears, and desires. No matter how dark or chaotic the world may be, they are unique flowers, each requiring care and understanding."

"In HDXD, there's no one-size-fits-all strategy. What works for one might completely backfire with another. Building a harem isn't about manipulation or brute force; it's about connection, respect, and genuine effort... And that's what makes it so rewarding."

Dane nodded, already intrigued and also in agreement with her words

"True, I like me a good rom-com... mhm... mhm... however... yeah... that sounds cool and all, but what about leveling up now that I think about it? How is that going to work?"

Dane asked, and Beatrice replied.

As she said, explaining how the operations of his system are set up.

"Ahhhhhh... now we are getting to the good part.

"You see, leveling up will be tied directly to the HDXD universe's laws and mechanics. You'll gain experience through combat, exploration, and, of course, building your harem... and, to be honest, harem events, situations, and anything tied to women as a whole is kind of where your cheat scenarios and power truly shine."

Explain Beatrice.

"But here's the twist: the system will adapt to the race you choose during your rebirth. For example, if you pick a dragonkin, the system will be a law of the world. If you go for something like a demon or a celestial, the system will tailor itself to their unique traits. It's all about synergy, to be honest."

However, the wholesome moment soon went down, and her smile turned downright wicked.

"Now then on the hard part."

"And that will be how your DLC privileges work in the HDXD Universe... fufufuf...

Beatrice laughed, a sound that was light and carefree, but Dane couldn't share her amusement. Cold sweat dripped down his back as the serious baggage of his cheat ability began to settle in.

What had once seemed like an incredible advantage now felt like a double-edged sword, and the danger it posed was becoming more apparent than its benefits. His instincts were right; Beatrice's next words confirmed his fears, and they were far from what he had expected.

"Given that you want to fully utilize all the perks of your DLC...some of which come with pay-to-win features, bonuses, and add-ons; you're essentially becoming an anomaly."

Beatrice explained, her tone shifting to something more serious.

"What I'm trying to say is this: with a wish like this, one day, your dream world will become so insignificant to you that its very existence won't be able to hold you. If you reach the pinnacle of your power within the normal confines of the HDXD universe, the sheer magnitude of your growth will defy all logic. You'll outgrow the universal system itself, transcending its boundaries entirely. The bad news is, however, It's not a matter of if but when... eventually, you'll return here, not as you are now, but as something entirely new: a higher being, or a named warlock, something that exists beyond the comprehension of those bound by the rules of creation."

She leaned forward, her gaze piercing.

"You see, existence passively divides the state of existing things into two separate immense differences: the Related, things that are of the lesser worlds, which encompasses everything within the systems of creation such as realms, dimensions, and universes bound by their own laws."

"And the Unrelated, things that exist outside all systems, untethered by their rules. To beings like me who are the latter, the operations of these systems are nothing more than a fleeting fantasy, a mere dream, or even a game to observe or manipulate."

"But because of the nature of your wish, I can see where your path is eventually leading to. The trajectory of your growth is so absurd, so unprecedented, that it's something that can't be stopped if I grant it. You'll one day ascend beyond the lesser world, beyond the systems, and return to Kalpana's world not as a mere mortal but as a Warlock, a force that redefines what it means to exist."

Beatrice said, making her explanation very clear.

"Especially since I'm giving you a fragment of my power, an essence of myself. This means you'll inherently possess a Witch Gene that will need to be cultivated over time to allow you to return here on your own. Think of it like this: my power is the key, and your progress is the door. You'll need to cultivate that door to re-enter this space."

Dane's mind raced like crazy as he said to himself.

'Really, it's just some DLC though... although some of those DLC comes from some overpowered game worlds.'

But as he thought, it was because of the nature of the wish, is why things are as they are.

As Beatrice said.

"To make your second wish possible... I'll have to create an entirely new reality, basically a fan-fiction version of the HDXD universe where all the games you've played will fuse with it. This means there will be a lot of new elements you're unfamiliar with. However, since you already know the lore of HDXD and the other games, that knowledge should give you a significant advantage. Just keep in mind that your second wish has made the HDXD universe infinitely more challenging than it was before."