2. A Week in the Shadows

(One Week Before Aayan Acquired the Dam'n Fucking God System)

In the prestigious Skyfall Academy, where geniuses soared like dragons and prodigies shone like stars, Aayan was nothing more than a shadow—a speck of dust swept aside by the winds of talent and power. While others soared to the heavens with blazing techniques and refined qi, Aayan struggled to stand upright, battling not just his lack of talent but the crushing weight of humiliation.

Skyfall Academy wasn't just any sect. Nestled within the towering peaks of the Zephyr Continent, it was one of the most respected cultivation academies in the entire world.

Disciples here were either born from powerful clans or chosen for their overwhelming talent. The academy grounds stretched beyond mountains, with vast training arenas, majestic pagodas, spiritual ponds, and the sacred Soulroot Tree, rumored to predate the academy itself.

For Aayan, though, Skyfall wasn't a sacred place—it was a prison.

Day 1: The Morning of HumiliationAayan awoke in his cramped dorm, a room no bigger than a closet tucked in the outer disciple quarters. Cracked walls, a dusty floor, and a single rickety wooden bed were all he owned. His window overlooked nothing but stone walls—a fitting view for someone trapped in mediocrity.

After washing up with cold water from a chipped basin, he headed toward the main training grounds. There, disciples gathered like flocks of majestic cranes, each radiating confidence. Sparks of qi danced in the air as cultivators displayed techniques that could split rocks and shatter bones.

Aayan quietly practiced in the corner, trying to perfect his basic Qi Gathering Stance, though his trembling legs barely held the posture. It wasn't long before the mockery began.

"Look at him, still trying? Like a dog chasing its own tail!"

"Aayan the Talentless—Skyfall's greatest joke."

"Maybe he thinks if he stands there long

enough, the heavens will pity him!"

Their laughter stung more than any physical blow, but Aayan stayed silent, his gaze fixed on the ground.

Day 2: The Meeting That Changed EverythingThis was the day that sealed Aayan's fate.

The academy's monthly Cultivation Assessment was held in the central plaza, a vast courtyard surrounded by towering statues of ancient cultivators. Disciples gathered to test their progress by channeling their qi into the Spirit Crystal, an orb that glowed based on the user's innate talent and cultivation level. The brighter the glow, the greater the talent.

But this assessment was different.

Nandini, the academy's most revered core disciple, attended the event. Known as the "Sect's Goddess", she was a breathtaking beauty with flowing black hair, sharp violet eyes like amethysts, and an aura of cold elegance. Clad in white robes embroidered with silver lotuses, she was untouchable—a figure of admiration and silent obsession for many.

When Nandini appeared, the crowd parted like waves, disciples bowing in reverence. Even the most arrogant inner disciples lowered their heads in respect.

But not Aayan.

As he stood at the edge of the crowd, beaten down by weeks of frustration, hunger, and loneliness, his tired eyes drifted toward her—and he stared.

Not out of lust or awe, but simple, raw curiosity.

A look of someone who had nothing to lose.

His gaze lingered a moment too long.

And that's when trouble found him.

Day 3: The BeatingAfter the assessment, Aayan tried to slip away quietly. But fate had other plans.

Rehan, one of the academy's elite inner disciples, and a known sycophant of Nandini, cornered Aayan near the training grounds. Rehan was everything Aayan wasn't—tall, muscular, gifted with natural talent, and surrounded by a pack of lackeys who laughed at his every joke. His robes bore the silver emblem of an inner disciple, and his arrogant smirk never left his face.

"Oi, worm. Did you think I wouldn't notice you disrespecting Senior Sister Nandini with those filthy eyes?" Rehan sneered, cracking his knuckles.

Aayan blinked, confused. "I didn't disrespect anyone. I was just—"

CRACK!

A sudden punch exploded against Aayan's face, sending him sprawling into the dirt. Blood trickled from his nose. Before he could recover, Rehan's boot slammed into his ribs, driving the air from his lungs.

"You dared to look at her like that?!" Rehan growled, his face twisted with rage.

Aayan tried to stand, but Rehan's lackeys joined in. Kicks rained down like a storm. Blows to his stomach, his back, his legs. Pain blurred his vision, but he clenched his teeth, refusing to cry out.

"Know your place, trash!"

"You're not even worthy to breathe the same air as Senior Sister Nandini!"

Their laughter echoed in his ears, mingling with the throbbing pain.

When they finally left him, Aayan lay crumpled on the cold ground, his body bruised, his pride shattered.

Day 4: Broken SpiritAayan didn't attend training the next day. His body couldn't handle it. Every movement was agony. His ribs ached with each breath, and dark bruises marred his skin.

He sat alone by the academy's outer wall, staring at the horizon.

"Why am I even here?"

"Why do I keep trying?"

There were no answers. Just the wind, cold and indifferent, much like the people around him.

Day 5: Starving and ForgottenHis injuries meant he couldn't do odd jobs to earn coins. Hunger gnawed at him like a beast.

Days passed with nothing but stale bread and water. While others enjoyed spirit-enhanced meals, Aayan felt weaker with every passing hour.

No one offered help. No one cared.

He was a ghost in a place full of life.

Day 6: The Last Straw

Rehan wasn't done.

Seeing Aayan limping near the training grounds, he called out, loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Hey, trash! Still alive? Maybe I should've kicked harder!"

The crowd laughed. Aayan didn't respond. He simply kept walking.

But Rehan wasn't satisfied. He grabbed Aayan by the collar, pulling him back. "Look at me when I'm talking to you!"

Aayan's patience snapped. For the first time, he shoved Rehan's hand away. A small, defiant act—but it was enough.

Rehan's face darkened with fury. "You dare…?"

The beating that followed was worse than the first.

Day 7: The Day of Rebirth

Bleeding, broken, and battered, Aayan dragged himself to the outskirts of the academy, collapsing beneath the ancient Soulroot Tree.

The night was eerily silent. The moon hung high, its cold light illuminating his bruised face.

"If there's anyone out there… anything… just give me a chance."

"I don't want to be weak anymore."

His vision blurred. Darkness crept in.

But then—

A voice echoed in his mind. Cold. Mechanical. Powerful.

[System Binding in Progress…]

[Dam'n Fucking God System Activated.]

Aayan's life was about to change.

The beaten dog was about to become the most dangerous predator in the world.