《Supreme Casanova: Ultimate Harem System》


 Chapter 1: Food Poisoning.

    <h4>Chapter 1: Food Poisoning.</h4>


    Hugo Fernandez wasn''t having a good day.


    He had barely set foot on campus, but the events leading up to this moment were already a disastrous preview of what was toe.


    It all started with a dodgy burrito.


    In hindsight, the meat had looked suspicious, and the sauce had tasted like it had some sort of personal vendetta against his insides.


    Yet, Hugo had bravely¡ªor foolishly¡ªdevoured it, he ate the whole thing, too eager to start his first day of college with a full stomach.


    Now, sitting in the packed auditorium for orientation, Hugo felt the consequences of his reckless breakfast decision.


    But what made matters worse was that he was seated directly beside the most beautiful girl in the room!


    He didn''t know her name, but the word ''goddess'' seemed to be a fitting description for her.


    She was radiant, her presence a beacon of everything Hugo was trying to impress.


    His heart raced¡ªnot from romance, but from the bubbling chaos within.


    Something was threatening to erupt in his body, and if it did, he wouldn''t be able to bear the consequences!


    "Wee, new students, to your journey of higher learning," the dean''s voice boomed across the vast hall, the echo making Hugo feel like he was being lectured by a god.


    "Today marks the beginning of your future!"


    Hugo didn''t feel like his future was starting. He felt like his digestive system was staging a violent coup.


    His stomach twisted, gurgled, and then twisted some more. He discreetly clenched his fists, praying that this wasn''t happening.


    Not now. Not on his first day.


    He tried to focus on the speech. The dean was talking about "opportunities" and "growth," but all Hugo could hear was the growing symphony of doom from his own stomach.


    Sweat gathered at his temples, and he shifted ufortably in his seat.


    That''s when the pressure hit his nose.


    He felt a sneezeing, and it wasing fast. His nose tingled, his eyes watered, and the sneeze built up like a force of nature inside him.


    He raised his hand to stifle it, but fate had other ns. Just as the dean paused for dramatic effect and the auditorium couldn''t be anymore quiet, Hugo''s body betrayed him.


    HAAA-CHOOO!


    It wasn''t a sneeze; it was an event.


    It echoed across the silent auditorium like a thunderp, rattling the windows and possibly the souls of everyone within earshot.


    But it wasn''t just the sound that horrified Hugo. Oh no, life was never that kind to him. The sneeze, in its ferocity, had triggered a chain reaction¡ªa loud, unmistakable fart followed right on its heels.


    Frasfd!


    The deadly duet of sneeze and tulence bounced off the walls of the hall like they had been shot out of a cannon.


    Everyone froze.


    The entire auditorium froze!


    Pretty little goddess sitting by the side turned to Hugo, her eyes wide with shock. Some students began to snicker, others whispered, and one poor girl in the front row even gasped.


    Hugo''s mortification reached new heights as he saw the astonishment¡ªand amusement¡ªon his goddess'' face. He might as well have been the main event of a disastrous circus act.


    It was so embarrassing!


    The dean, mid-speech, stared in Hugo''s direction as if he had just witnessed a crime. Rows of students turned in their seats to see the source of the cmity.


    Hugo sat there, motionless, his hand still hovering in front of his face, utterly betrayed by his own body.


    He felt the eyes of what seemed like hundreds of students boring into him. He might as well have been on stage, with a spotlight illuminating hisplete and utter humiliation.


    He tried to sink deeper into his chair, praying the fabric would somehow swallow him whole.


    He was experiencing a social death on his very first day of college!


    The dean cleared his throat awkwardly. "As I was saying..." he continued, but the damage was done. The giggles were spreading through the crowd, like wildfire through dry brush.


    Hugo''s face turned beet red as he slumped lower in his seat.


    His internal monologue was spiraling into full panic mode.


    ''Okay, this is fine. Just act like it didn''t happen. Maybe they''ll forget. Maybe they''ll think it was someone else.''


    But he knew better. He could feel the judgement from every direction.


    People were already making mental notes: Ah yes, that guy who fart-sneezed during orientation.


    His stomach rumbled again, threatening further embarrassment, and Hugo knew he had to make an escape before something worse happened!


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    He scanned the room for the nearest exit and, without thinking, shot up from his seat.


    Big mistake.


    The sudden movement caused another gurgle, and with a mortifying squelch, Hugo realised he was on the verge of an even bigger disaster.


    Pow! Pow! Pow!


    Hugo''s anus began to spit rounds like a machine gun. With every step, a fart was released, and no amount of ''squeezing'' could keep them in!


    He half-jogged, half-waddled down the aisle, trying to move as discreetly as possible¡ªimpossible when over a hundred incredulous pairs of eyes were already glued to him.


    The murmurs grew louder as he reached the back of the auditorium, and someone even whispered, "Is that guy okay?"


    He wasn''t.


    He absolutely wasn''t.


    Bursting through the double doors, Hugo practically sprinted for the nearest restroom, which, of course, was on the other side of the building.


    He dodged a group of students, narrowly avoiding a collision with a guy carrying a stack of books, and prayed that he could make it to the bathroom before his insides made their grand exit.


    When he finally neared, he practically leapt toward the nearest restroom, praying it was unupied.


    The restroom door swung open with a squeak as Hugo stumbled inside. The ce was mercifully empty.


    The next few minutes were nothing short of a personal apocalypse, but at least he was alone.


    No witnesses. No judgmental stares. Just Hugo, his digestive system, and the unforgiving reality of food poisoning!


    When it was over, he sat there, exhausted and humiliated.


    ''First day of college and I''ve already hit rock bottom.''


    He would forever be "that guy" to his peers. His social death wasplete, and it had only been a few hours since he arrived.


    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Hugo emerged from the restroom, a mix of relief and humiliation still lingering. He wasn''t sure if he would ever be able to show his face in that auditorium¡ªor anywhere on campus¡ªagain.


    He was just about to disappear into the anonymity of the student body, when something strange happened.


    A soft ding echoed in his mind.


    He froze.


    A mysterious girl''s voice, clear and smug, echoed in his head.


    [Ding! Fate has aligned, and your woeful destiny with women has reached the heavens! You have been granted the Ultimate Harem System!!!]


    Hugo blinked, confused and still slightly nauseous.


    ''Wait... what?''

 Chapter 2: Crazy System!

    <h4>Chapter 2: Crazy System!</h4>


    [Ding! Fate has aligned, and your woeful destiny with women has reached the heavens! You have been granted the Ultimate Harem System!!!]


    Hugo blinked, still a bit nauseous.


    ''Wait... what?''


    He nced around cautiously, searching for hidden speakers.


    No luck.


    "Wait... did I just hear that right? ''Ultimate Harem System''? Is this some kind of twisted joke?" Hugo muttered to himself.


    He had just embarrassed his entire 7 generations in the auditorium some minutes ago, now he was already being pranked for social media?


    [Ding! System Online: No joke, Hugo. Although, with the way your life''s going, you could use augh.]


    He groaned. "Oh, brilliant. First day at uni is already a disaster, and now I''m hearing voices. Great start, Hugo. Really nailing this ''college experience."


    [I''m not just a voice, you miserable noodle. I''m the system that''s going to save your sorry existence.]


    Hugo''s eyes widened, and his jaw dropped. Had he just unlocked his very own cheat system?


    So the key to unlocking his system had been social eradication all along?


    Being a die-hard otaku, he was all too familiar with these things. He had devoured countless system novels, where the protagonist gets some overpowered ability.


    His favorite ones were the ones were the protagonist gets a *cough* system...


    His mind raced.


    Was this it? Was this the moment he transcended from awkward loser to harem king?


    Was it time for him to ascend to the heavens in a single leap and start attracting women left and right?


    Could this system be real?


    [Oh, I''m real, Hugo. Given the fact you just detonated in front of that cute girl, I''d say you need divine intervention more than a system.]


    Hugo''s face flushed red. "You saw that, huh?"


    [Everyone saw that, Hugo. No, they heard it. Half the campus heard it. It was like performance art... but with extra bodily functions.]


    Frustrated, Hugo kicked a nearby juice box, only to have orange liquid ssh all over his SpongeBob socks.


    Brilliant!


    "I didn''t exactly n for my grand entrance to include sneezing, farting, and dying of embarrassment. This can''t possibly get worse."


    [Oh, trust me, it can. Which is why you need me.]


    Hugo''s brow furrowed.


    "Need you? What for, ''seducing women''? Right. That''s definitely going to happen. I couldn''t even get Emily to look at me before I... well, you know."


    [Before you set off your personal fireworks disy? Yeah, we all saw it. But don''t worry¡ªyou''re notpletely hopeless. Just mostly.]


    Sarcasm dripped from Hugo''s voice. "Oh, great. Really motivational. You''re a regr Tony Robbins, aren''t you?"


    [Hey, I''m just being honest. If I were here to boost your ego, I''d be lying through my code. But don''t worry¡ªI''ll get you sorted.]


    Hugo squinted. "Sorted? How, exactly? You haven''t really exined what you do, other than mock me continuously."


    [Oh, that''s the easy part. I make you irresistible to women.]


    Hugo was shocked.


    "Irresistible? Me? Have you seen me?"


    [Oh, I''ve seen you. Skinny, awkward, and allergic to talking to women without turning the colour of ketchup. But that''s where Ie in. To fix all...this.]


    As Hugo conversed with the mysterious voice, a group of passing sophomores stared at him, clearly wondering if this guy was in need of professional help.


    Why was he talking to himself, and why was he standing right next to a mental health awareness poster?


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Oblivious to their concern, Hugo continued, gesturing animatedly to the air as he talked. "Sounds like a full-time job. What''s the catch?"


    [Oh, there''s always a catch. It''sing right up...]


    A brief silence ensued.


    Then the voice returned, more sinister than before:


    [Ding! Initialising Death Mission... Seduce a 7+ woman within one month, or die!]


    Hugo froze, eyes bulging. "Wait, what? Seduce a 7+ woman or die?! What kind of medieval nonsense is this? I can''t even seduce my reflection!"


    [Yep. Simple. Clear. No pressure. Either you get ponied, or... well, no more Hugo.]


    Hugo''s heart pounded. "WHAT?!" His voice cracked. What did it mean by no more Hugo?


    Why did the system suddenly feel more like a death sentence?


    "That''s not a catch! That''s an execution!"


    This was an execution system!


    [Call it what you want. I call it motivation.]


    ''Yeah, right. Nothing gets a guy in the mood for romance like an impending death sentence.''


    Hugo took a deep breath, attempting to stay calm. Maybe there was a loophole. "In the worst case, I could borrow some cash and hire a pros-."


    [No pay pigging.]


    His stomach dropped. This system wasn''t ying around.


    It was out for his blood!


    Hugo clutched his head, breathing heavily. "This can''t be real... I''m going to die, aren''t I?"


    [Well, look on the bright side¡ªyou didn''t have much going on before I showed up. Face it, Hugo, your life''s been circling the drain. This is your chance to change that.]


    "Or die trying." Hugo added.


    [Hey, ss half full. Either way, you won''t be known as ''that guy who farted during orientation''. Assuming you survive, that is.]


    Hugo groaned. "This is going to be the longest month of my life, isn''t it?"


    He really hoped it wouldn''t be thest.


    [Only if you seed, Romeo. Tick-tock, time''s wasting.]


    Checking his watch, Hugo realised it was nearly lunchtime. Despite the toilet apocalypse that had just unfolded, his stomach growled in defiance.


    He couldn''t believe it. He was actually hungry!


    He sighed and started walking towards the cafeteria.


    As he went, a question popped into his mind. "You said you''d make me irresistible to women. What exactly can you do? Don''t I get a wee package or something?"


    After all, in every decent system novel, there''s always a wee package. How else could the protagonist, who''s usually hopeless, get a head start?


    This was a known rule of webnovels!


    As he was walking, Hugo abruptly stopped, squinting at the campus map. Which way was north?


    He stood there for a few awkward minutes, pping the pamphlet like a brokenpass, before realising he''d been walking in the wrong direction.


    Then, the system chimed once more¡ªthis time, with actual good news.


    [Ding! Bestowing Wee Package!]


    Hugo licked his lips with a scary expression on his face.


    He had just experienced a social death and had thought it couldn''t get any worse.


    Now, he had an impending real death on the way!


    It was time for the system to prove why it was called the Ultimate Harem System and give him good cheats.


    Life or death hung in a delicate bnce...


    Hugo didn''t want to die!

 Chapter 3: Aura Of Zen!

    <h4>Chapter 3: Aura Of Zen!</h4>


    Hugo, still haunted by the earlier food poisoning fiasco, entered the bustling cafeteria with a grim determination.


    He kept staring at the hologram screen that was disying his wee package with a shocked expression.


    ''This is really real...''


    The hologram screen before his eyes was proof that the system truly existed.


    It still felt like a dream to him. Systems existed? And he now had one?


    As he stepped through the door, the sheer chaos of lunchtime hit him: students chatting loudly, trays ttering, and the delicious smell of cafeteria food wafting through the air.


    He took a deep breath and nced at the hologram screen of the system.


    [Ding! Bestowing Wee Package!


    Host has received ''Aura of Zen''!


    Host has received ''Aura Radiation'' skill!


    Host has received One bottle of ''te Unlock pills''!


    Host has received 50 UHS Credits!


    Store feature is now avable!]


    Hugo was clueless about all the items in the wee package except for the store feature. But he at least knew one thing: In any system novel, the best cheats always came first!


    Readers were too impatient, it was best to put the best for first!


    No matter how trash it sounded, it was guaranteed to be something good.


    So he made up his mind on the spot to test out the Aura of Zen.


    And he was going to do it now!


    He was about to test whether this system was real or not!


    ''Aura of zen... activate!''


    With a thought, Hugo activated his Aura of Zen, determined to make this meal less disastrous.


    Whoosh!


    The moment the aura was activated, it was like time came to a crawl.


    The world grew quiet and his thoughts became clear, his thoughts flowed with such rity he could almost see them.


    His emotion grew stable and solid. He was at peace with himself and the world. He was unfazed!


    Feeling the effects of the aura of zen, there was only one way for Hugo to describe it;


    Ice in my veins, baby!


    He drifted through the crowd with the grace of a drifting feather. The chaotic hustle seemed to flow around him in a perfectly orchestrated dance.


    The aura surrounded him like a calming bubble, his pace unhurried and his expression rxed.


    It was invisible and formless, yet everyone he passed by couldn''t help but look at him twice.


    The amount of calm he was exuding was astonishing!


    He was like a monk that had just descended from the mountains!


    Just as he approached the serving area, he noticed a stunningdy, probably a senior¡ªbeautiful, poised, and carrying a tray piled high with an impressive selection of food.


    She looked like she''d walked straight off a magazine cover, bncing her tray with an elegance that seemed almost defiant of the surrounding chaos.


    For the briefest of moments, as they passed by each other, they exchanged eye contact.


    Everything seemed to slow down as if he were moving in a dream. In a dramatic turn of events, the senior''s heel caught on the edge of a stray backpack, and she stumbled, her tray tipping precariously.


    Hugo''s zen-like reflexes kicked in.


    With the agility of a cat and the precision of a circus performer, he lunged forward, catching the tray with one hand and grabbing the senior''s waist with the other, steadying her before the food could hit the ground.


    The cafeteria went silent, the room''s attention now focused on the scene unfolding.


    They all had one thought; why did this scene feel so familiar?


    Their spidey senses were tingling...


    Hugo''s face flushed a faint pink as he held her steady. He could smell her wonderful scent and feel her soft body.


    For a virgin like himself, he could only say...


    It felt wonderful!


    The tray was perfectly bnced, and the senior''s eyes met his with a mixture of shock and gratitude.


    Hugo, striving for a blend of charm and casualness, couldn''t help but blurt out, "Looks like I''ve got a lot on my te... and you''re not a side dish!"


    The moment froze, the senior''s eyes widened in surprise, then squinted slightly as she tried to process the strangepliment.


    The joke, delivered in a deadpan tone, hung awkwardly in the air.


    Hugo, despite his best efforts to be smooth, had unintentionally made the situation feel more bizarre than charming.


    He realized at that moment, the aura of zen might have made him exceptionally calm, but it did nothing to help his terriblemunication skills!


    "Er, sorry," Hugo said, his cheeks turning an even deeper shade of crimson. "I just... you know, had to bnce everything out."


    Although he was embarrassed, under the influence of the aura of zen, his words still came out sounding nonchnt.


    It was his tomato coloured cheeks that betrayed his embarrassment.


    The senior, trying to regain herposure,ughed lightly and said in a splendid British ent, "Thanks for saving me. I''m Jessica."


    They slowly disentangled. Hugo watched her create distance with bitterness in his heart.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The warmness of her body in close contact with his had felt amazing!


    The cafeteria also became busy as usual once more. It was like a mysterious entity had pressed the y button...


    Now that they were both standing straight, Hugo realized one deadly fact.


    She was taller than him!


    Her legs were so long his head barely reached her shoulders. And she wasn''t even wearing heels!


    "Hugo," he managed, still maintaining his calm. "Nice to meet you."


    He returned her tray coolly and tried to strike conversation.


    "Move! Dragon!"


    Suddenly, a vociferous bark disrupted Hugo''s flow and caused him to jolt. Then he realized he had been standing on the line without moving and the people behind were getting impatient.


    Why was this bloke calling him dragon?


    Unfazed, he sauntered out of the line and moved towards his target.


    Hugo was determined to get this senior''s number! He was a man with a death mission and was as desperate as they got.


    Nothing could make him lose this heaven sent opportunity!


    Just as he opened his mouth, disaster struck once again.


    [Ding! Aura Duration expended. Entering cool down in 5... 4... 3... 2...]


    Hugo''s eyes widened and a sense of panic overcame him!


    Shit! He couldn''t afford to lose his aura of zen now!


    [1!]


    Hugo watched helplessly as the aura of zen left his body. The ice in his veins melted and the emotional calm was lifted.


    F*ck! F*ck! F*ck! F*ck!


    Like a helpless duckling, he watched Jessica stare at him with a curious look and felt his heart leap in his chest.


    What was he going to say? What should he do? How should he get her number?


    He really didn''t want to lose this target!


    "I''ll be seeing you around, right?"


    Jessica ended up making the decision for him and ending the conversation. She had felt him to be a bit cool previously, but why was he suddenly acting like a nervous virgin all of a sudden?!


    Her time was tight and she couldn''t wait any longer, so she said those parting words and left.


    Hugo watched her leave and felt like his heart had stopped.


    There was only one thought in his mind...


    ''How do I raise the aura duration!''


    -----


    [If you like this story till now, please add it to your library!]

 Chapter 4: Freshman Party.

    <h4>Chapter 4: Freshman Party.</h4>


    [A/N: ''¡Ö'' will be used to indicate music.]


    ¡ÖYo, I''m the king of the friend zone, sittin'' on my throne,


    Spendin'' all my cash just to hear her moan¡ª


    "Thanks, you''re so sweet!" as she walks away,


    I''m stuck holdin'' bags on her shopping day.


    I send good morning texts at 6 a.m. sharp,


    She replies, "Hey bro," like a cold, dead harp.


    I''m simpin'' so hard, it''s my full-time job,


    She calls me her "bestie," and it''s straight-up sob.


    I bought her a ring, she said, "Oh, it''s cute!"


    Then she gave it to Chad¡ªman, I''m just a mute.


    Her Netflix password? Yeah, I''m payin'' the bill,


    But she''s watchin'' with him, while I sit and chill... alone.


    I''m a simp, I''m a champ at losin'' my pride,


    Always here, by her side, while my dignity''s fried.


    I''m a simp, I''m a wimp, but I just can''t quit,


    Lettin'' her walk all over me, like I''m her favourite pit.¡Ö


    "Isn''t that him?"


    "Who?"


    "Him! The Ass Dragon?"


    "Ass what?!"


    "Ass Dragon!"


    "Dude, what are you talking about?"


    "The Ass Dragon! Remember the guy who fart-sneezed during orientation?"


    "Wait, you mean the dude who couldn''t control his anus and publicly embarrassed himself?"


    "Yes! That''s him!"


    "Pffft! Who named him the Ass Dragon?!"


    "You haven''t checked the school forums, bro, it''s all there!"


    "But how can he still show his face here? How thick is his skin?"


    "Why don''t you ask him, bro? How would I know that?"


    Hugo sat alone in a dark corner of the room, gulping squash like it was the only thing keeping him from bursting into tears.


    His face was gloomier than a necromancer''s Facebook page, and his ears were tinged pink from the relentless whispers around him.


    He had been recognized multiple times and had to endure the stifledughs and snide remarks that followed.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Despite changing his clothes, he couldn''t escape his ignoble past.


    His bangs were too distinctive, too problematic! They made him stand out like a sore thumb!


    He took another swig of squash...


    On his way here, he had learned more about the system and its uses. As expected, it was just like in the webnovels, only a tad ruder...


    ''System Interface,'' he called in his mind. Immediately, a pink, hologram screen appeared in his vision.


    [Stats] [Aura] [Skills] [Missions] [Shop] [Inventory]


    With a grimace, he entered the [Stats] tab with his thoughts. He had already seen his stats on his way here, but it still amazed him every time.


    No, it disgusted him!


    [Stats]


    Looks: 2


    [With a face like that, it''s no wonder your reflection tries to escape the mirror every morning.]


    Charisma: 0


    [Your charisma is so low, even your own shadow refuses to follow you.]


    Communication: 1


    [Communication skills? Barely. But hey, at least your attempts at small talk make great cringeption material.]


    Alpha: 0


    [With an alpha score of zero, you''re not even the alpha of your own dreams. Maybe try knitting?]


    Status: 2


    [A status score of 2 means even your imaginary friends don''t take you seriously.]


    Not only were the numbers dreadful, with zeros in some stats, but the system''sments were downright cruel! Hugo had never felt so pathetic in his life.


    He closed the tab and dismissed the interface. The only thing worth noting in the [Aura] tab was his single ''Aura of Zen'' and its pitiful one-minute duration.


    The only skill he had, [Aura Radiation], couldn''t even be used because it wasn''tpatible with his current aura.


    He had one mission, the death mission, and couldn''t ess the shop because he didn''t have enough credits.


    There wasn''t much he could do with the system for now.


    The obnoxious song ying from the DJ''s booth red in the background. Hugo wondered what lunatic had written that song.


    I''m a simp? For real?


    As he nced around, the ring music, the smell of cheap beer, and the sight of students dancing like they were trying to summon rain made him question why he was even there.


    But then he remembered his death mission. His face hardened with determination once again.


    He knew why he was here...


    He was here to get a nut off!


    He scanned the room for any potential targets and soon found several.


    He downed the rest of his drink and stood up. His face was stoic, his demeanour serious. He was a man on a mission, after all.


    With the ridiculous music ring in the background, Hugo waddled over to his first target and struck. He was going in hot!


    ¡ÖTook her to dinner, yeah, five-star ce,


    She said, "You''re like a brother," as I stuffed my face.¡Ö


    ''Let''s start with something light...''


    Flipping through his imaginary book of pickup lines, Hugo made his choice and bared his teeth in what he hoped was a charming smile.


    "Hey, I have to ask, how did you get to be so fine?"


    His target, a cute blonde with a small nose, gave him a once-over and scowled. Her reply scorched Hugo like dragon fire.


    "I must have been given your share."


    ¡ÖI''m in the DMs, sendin'' hearts and flowers,


    While she''s out with him, for hours and hours.¡Ö


    Hugo was undeterred. He smoothed his bangs and approached another target. This time, she was ck, thick, and sexy. His heart pounded as he tapped her shoulder.


    She looked over...


    He opened his mouth...


    "Where have you been all my life?"


    Hearing his words, she actually smiled.


    Hugo''s mouth went dry. She smiled!


    Anticipation rose, hope surged. She casually sipped her drink and said:


    "Hiding from you. Looks like I failed."


    ¡ÙI carry her books, I write her essays,


    But she''d rather hang with that dude who DJs.¡Ö


    "Is this seat empty?"


    "Yes, and this one will be too if you sit down."


    ¡ÖShe calls me "adorable," pats me on the head,


    Meanwhile, she''s out gettin'' cosy instead.¡Ö


    "Your ce or mine?"


    "Both. You''ll go to your ce, and I''ll go to mine."


    ¡ÖI bought her a car, she said, "Oh, you''re too kind!"


    Then she drove off with him, and left me behind.¡Ö


    "I know how to please a woman."


    "Then please leave me alone."


    ¡ÖI even washed his car, thought it was hers,


    Now I''m just sittin'' here, man, what a curse!¡Ö


    "I want to give myself to you!"


    "Sorry, I don''t ept cheap gifts."


    ¡ÖShe said she needed space, so I gave her the stars,


    But now she''s with Chad, driving my car!¡Ö


    "I can tell that you want me!"


    "Yes, I want you to leave."


    ¡ÖI iron her clothes, I clean her t,


    And all I get is a, "Thanks for that!"¡Ö


    Hugo finally gave up. He waddled to a corner of the room looking like a sick duck.


    Tonight was an absolute failure. His thick skin couldn''t take any more burns, so he decided to head to the kitchen to refill his cup.


    He was just going to take it easy and rx.


    But then he spotted her¡ªa girl who looked as out of ce as he felt, cornered by some drunk guy who clearly didn''t understand the concept of personal space.


    The guy was leaning in, his breath probably a mix of beer and bad decisions.


    Hugo, in a rare surge of courage¡ªor stupidity¡ªdecided he couldn''t just stand by.


    This was his moment. He''d save the girl, look like a hero, and maybe even score some points that would result in a fulfilling nut off!


    It''s time to save the damsel in distress!


    [Check out my new book: Creating A Subus Army In A Fantasy World!]

 Chapter 5: Saving The Damsel In Distress!

    <h4>Chapter 5: Saving The Damsel In Distress!</h4>


    Hugo puffed out his chest, trying to channel every action hero he''d ever seen. He swaggered over, tapped the bloke on the shoulder, and said, "Oi, mate. She doesn''t want any of your slobbering tonight. How about you back off?"


    The drink-sodden chap turned around, his eyes narrowing as they settled on Hugo. A slow, predatory grin crept across his face.


    "Oh, look who it is! The Ass Dragon! You''re the guy who blew up the auditorium with his farts, aren''t you?"


    Hugo''s face drained of colour, and his mouth went dry. His bravado crumbled like a sandcastle in a tsunami.


    Even this drunken idiot recognised him?


    Was he really that socially ruined?


    He hurriedly tried to salvage what was left of his reputation. "What? No! That wasn''t me! Must''ve been some other guy... who looks nothing like me! I mean, lots of people have... the same... face?"


    The guy wasn''t buying it. "Mate, I could smell your... hehe... ''performance'' from a mile away. Face it, you''re the dude who crop-dusted the whole freshman ss!"


    Hugo''s ears turned as pink as a mingo. He sneaked a nce at the damsel and found her staring at him with amusement.


    He had to salvage this!


    "Listen, mate, let''s not dwell on the past, yeah? Let''s focus on the present. And right now, you''re being a creep."


    "Oh, I''m the creep, am I? Says the bloke who can''t even hold his own breath, let alone a girl''s attention."


    Hugo''s eyes narrowed. This guy was asking for it.


    He was messing with an otaku! A demon that thrives in the chaos of Discord servers!


    He had been forged in the fires of hundreds of online roast battles. This guy was courting death!


    "At least I know how to treat ady with respect, not like some caveman who got lost on his way to the 21st century."


    The guy leaned in, his face twisted with anger. "You''re asking for a knuckle sandwich, mate."


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    As if sensing the impending catastrophe, the DJ switched the track with a devilish smirk.


    ¡ÖYo, I''m five foot three, but my attitude''s tall,


    Spottin'' a giant, mate, I''m feelin'' the call.


    He''s six foot eight, built like a tank,


    But I''m rollin'' up on him like I''m top of the rank.


    He''s flexin'' his muscles, got biceps for days,


    I''m flexin'' my mouth, with a thousand clich¨¦s.


    "Hey big man, you scared of a breeze?"


    He looks down at me like, "Boy, please."¡Ö


    The song seemed to boost Hugo''s confidence. His eyes grew bloodshot, and his nostrils red.


    He waddled closer to the drunken bloke fearlessly. To the onlookers, Hugo''s 5''5 self seemed like a wind-up toypared to the guy''s 6''5 frame!


    There was no doubt in their minds¡ªthis shorty was going to need an ambnce!


    "Oh yeah? Well, I''m gluten-free, so take your sandwich and shove it! And while you''re at it, stop forcing girls to wear strap-ons!!"


    There was a moment of stunned silence as the drink guy tried to process Hugo''s roast. Hugo could almost see the gears turning in his head, like an oldputer trying to reboot after a crash. But then the guy''s face turned red with rage.


    "That''s it, you little¡ª!"


    Before he could finish, the bloke lunged at Hugo. His towering frame blocked Hugo''s vision as he threw a punch.


    Instantly, the DJ cranked up the music''s tempo. He was watching the brawl with a sadistic grin.


    ¡ÖI''m a short king, takin'' on Goliath,


    Got a mouth so big, it''s practically a riot.


    I''m a weakling, but I''m yin'' it sly,


    Messin'' with a bloke who could swat me like a fly.


    He''s got fists like hams, I''ve got fists like snacks,


    But I''m still out here, spittin'' these facts.


    "You think you''re tough? Mate, I''ve seen tougher,


    Like the time I opened a pickle jar cover!"¡Ö


    Hugo ducked under the wild swing, feeling more like a chicken than a fighter. The strong blow swept his bangs away, exposing Hugo''s face.


    Hugo panicked even more. That was his protection! His bangs was the shield that guarded what was left of his dignity!


    "Hey, watch the hair! I just got it the way I like it!" Hugo yelped, dodging another punch by what felt like sheer luck.


    ¡ÖHeughed so hard, I thought I had him beat,


    But then he cracked his knuckles¡ªoh, sweet defeat.


    I tried to shadowbox, throw a punch in the air,


    But he just stood there, like, "You fightin'' a chair?"¡Ö


    Hugo suddenly tripped and couldn''t dodge in time. The drunken bloke didn''t miss the opportunity and grabbed him, lifting him up like he weighed nothing!


    ¡ÖHe picked me up, like I''m a featherweight champ,


    I''m ilin'' around like I''m stuck in a mp.¡Ö


    In the chaos that followed, arms iled, drinks spilled, and people scattered like bowling pins.


    ¡ÖHe''s got me in a headlock, I''m seein'' stars,


    But I''m still talkin'' smack, like I''m chillin'' in bars.¡Ö


    The fight¡ªor rather, Hugo''s attempt to survive¡ªended when the drink guy tripped over a discarded cup and went down like a sack of potatoes, taking out a table of snacks with him.


    Hugo stood there, panting, his shirt rumpled, his face a mix of fear and unexpected triumph.


    The girl looked at him, half-smiling. "You... you really are something."


    Hugo wiped a trickle of sweat from his brow, trying to y it cool despite his thumping heart.


    "Yeah, well... just another day in the life of your average... totally-not-an-ass-dragon... hero."


    Just as Hugo was about to bask in his moment of victory, the drunken dude suddenly stood up!


    Hugo''s heart leapt in his chest. Why wouldn''t this side character follow the script and just stay down?


    Was he trying to steal the spotlight from the protagonist?!


    Boom!


    The entire party flinched as they watched the big blokend a solid right hook on the shorty''s jaw.


    They watched as Hugo''s eyes rolled back, his body going limp as he crashed to the floor with a sorrowful thud.


    They were right; he was definitely going to need an ambnce!


    ¡ÖSo that''s my tale, of David and, well...


    A Goliath who''s more like a living dumbbell.


    But hey, I survived, so let''s give it a cheer,


    I may be tiny, but my trash talk''s severe!¡Ö

 Chapter 6: A Master At Work.

    <h4>Chapter 6: A Master At Work.</h4>


    Hugo woke up in a hospital bed, his entire body aching as if he''d just been trampled by a herd of stampeding elephants. His head throbbed, and he squinted at the sterile white ceiling above him.


    "Ugh, where am I?" he muttered, trying to sit up, only to be met with a sharp pain in his ribs and jaw. "Oh, right... the party. The fight. The right hook."


    As if on cue, the Ultimate Harem System''s voice echoed in his head, far too chipper for Hugo''s liking.


    [Ding! 27 days left until eradication!]


    He sighed. This wasn''t the sort of message one wanted to wake up to. This system was far too sadistic!


    Thinking of the death mission, Hugo''s mind couldn''t help but drift back to his epic fail at the freshman party.


    Not only had he failed to sessfully approach a single girl, but his luck had been so terrible that the girls he did approach were particrly creative.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Their replies had roasted him so thoroughly he''d suffered third-degree burns!


    ''Do I really look that bad?''


    Without a doubt, Hugo knew his looks were the reason for his failure. He was a short, skinny, sickly-looking boy with trillions of e, a squeaky voice, and no charisma.


    Which girl would want a guy like that?


    Still lying on his bed, Hugo opened the system interface and navigated to the inventory tab. In his inventory, there was a single item.


    ''te Unlock Pills''


    Hugo had originally read the description of this item but found it too unrealistic.


    [te Unlock Pills.


    Opens your growth tes temporarily for a week and restarts vertical growth.]


    Hugo still couldn''t believe it. This could make him grow taller? He had peaked at fourteen, and his growth tes had fused.


    Could this really change that?


    Realising he had nothing to lose, Hugo materialised the pill with a thought and examined it.


    It was pink and shaped like a... well, a rather suggestive object.


    A dildo?


    Hugo was momentarily dazed, but remembering the miraculous benefits this pill promised, he mustered the courage to take it.


    He was 5''5. Any added inch was desperately needed!


    Without a second thought, Hugo swallowed the pill, hoping it didn''t taste how it looked.


    He barely had time to wonder if this was a good idea when a strange warmth spread through his body. It started in his chest, radiating outwards until every inch of him tingled with a euphoric sensation.


    "Oh... oh wow..." Hugo gasped, his head falling back against the pillow as the sensation intensified. "This feels... this feels..."


    [Ding! System Online: Blissful? Euphoric? Like you''re having the best dream of your life?]


    "YES!" Hugo moaned, his body arching on the bed as waves of pleasure washed over him. "This is... this is... oh my God!"


    His hands clenched the sheets, his legs kicked out wildly, and before he knew it, he was contorting into the weirdest positions imaginable, like some sort of possessed yoga master.


    "Fuck! Ohh yesss!"


    Hugo was halfway through a particrly bizarre pose¡ªsomething between a split and a swan dive¡ªwhen the door to his hospital room creaked open.


    He didn''t notice at first, too caught up in the heavenly bliss flooding his senses.


    But then he heard a small gasp. A very feminine, very concerned gasp.


    Hugo froze mid-contortion and slowly turned his head to see a sexy nurse standing in the doorway, her eyes wide with a mix of confusion and horror.


    She looked like she''d just walked in on a scene from a very strange and inappropriate art film.


    "Oohhh!... I can exin," Hugo moaned, his voice emerging in a breathy, high-pitched tone that sounded nothing like him. "This isn''t what it looks like... I''m just... stretching?"


    The nurse blinked, taking in the sight of Hugo. His face was red and sweaty, and his hands were under the nket doing God knows what.


    Her expression shifted from concern to sheer disgust. Patients these days...


    "Uh-huh," she said tly, turning on her heel. "I''ll... I''ll just leave you to it."


    "No, wait! It''s not what you think!" Hugo called after her, but she was already gone, the door swinging shut behind her.


    Hugo copsed back onto the bed, his face burning with embarrassment.


    "Oohh!... hmmmm!"


    The euphoric sensation was still there, but now it was mixed with a hefty dose of humiliation.


    [Well, that could have gone better,] the system chimed in. [On the bright side, I think you just invented a new sex position.]


    Before Hugo could respond, the door burst open again, and in walked Sanchez, his rich, ridiculously handsome cousin.


    He was a Grammy-level music producer at the age of twenty-three, the perfect example of the sessful millionaire men he''d read about in novels.


    Sanchez was the kind of guy who could make a potato sack look like haute couture, and his mere presence made Hugo feel even smaller¡ªirrespective of any te unlock pills.


    "Hugo, my man! What the hell happened to you?" Sanchez boomed, his voice filled with mock concern.


    He nced around the room, taking in the scene, before his eyesnded on the door the nurse had just exited. "Ah, I see you''ve already met Nurse McSexy. She''s a tough nut to crack, but watch and learn, dear cousin."


    Hugo, still sprawled on the bed in a daze, watched in disbelief as Sanchez sauntered over to the door and stuck his head out.


    "Hey there, beautiful! Sorry about my cousin. He''s just... well, you know how it is with these medications. They can make you a bit loopy. But you, on the other hand, look like you''ve got everything perfectly under control."


    Hugo''s jaw dropped as he watched Sanchezy on the charm thicker than peanut butter on toast. His voice, his gaze, his choice of words...


    The nurse, who moments ago had looked like she''d rather jump out of a window than return to the room, suddenly glided over, giggling and blushing.


    "Oh, it''s no problem at all," she said, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. "Just doing my job."


    Sanchez leaned in closer, shing her a smile that could have melted steel. "Well, if you ever need someone to help you unwind after a long shift, you''ve got my number. And if you don''t, well, here it is."


    He handed her a card, and she took it with a smile that was way too bright for someone who''d just witnessed Hugo''s... disy.


    The nurse tucked the card into her pocket and winked. "I''ll think about it."


    Sanchez winked back. "You do that."


    She left the room, and Hugo just stared, dumbfounded. Sanchez turned back to him, grinning like a cat who''d just caught the canary.


    "And that, dear cousin, is how it''s done."


    Hugo finally found his voice. "How... how did you do that? I mean, I was just... and then she... and you..."


    Hugo felt like his cousin must have a secret system of his own! That disy didn''t feel natural!


    There was no way getting a girl''s number could be that easy!


    Sanchez chuckled, pulling up a chair and sitting down next to Hugo''s bed. "It''s all about confidence, my man. Confidence and timing. Two things you seem to be a little short on."


    Hugo, still feeling thest waves of euphoric sensation fading, looked at his cousin with newfound awe.


    "Sanchez, you''ve got to teach me. I mean, really teach me. I can''t keep... whatever this is up on my own."


    Sanchez raised an eyebrow. "You want to learn from me? You sure you''re ready for that kind of training?"


    Hugo nodded desperately. "Yes! Please! I''ll do anything! Just... make me less... me!"


    Sanchez grinned, leaning back in his chair. "Alright, Hugo. I''ll take you under my wing. But be warned¡ªthis isn''t going to be easy. You''re going to have to work for it."


    Hugo sat up a little straighter, ignoring the dull ache in his joints. "I''m ready, Sanchez. Whatever it takes."


    Hugo took a deep breath, already feeling the pressure. But for the first time in a long while, he felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, with Sanchez''s help, he could turn things around.


    Or at the very least, stop making aplete fool of himself every time a girl was involved.

 Chapter 7: Miraculous Stat Point.

    <h4>Chapter 7: Miraculous Stat Point.</h4>


    Sanchez leaned back in his chair, regarding Hugo with a mix of amusement and seriousness that could only mean one thing¡ªhe was about to perform what he called "The Mentorship Ritual."


    This wasn''t just some casual pep talk; no, Sanchez took mentorship like it was a sacred duty, as if he were about to train the next James Bond.


    He was about to pass on his sacred knowledge, so he had to find a worthy disciple!


    He folded his arms, narrowing his eyes at Hugo as if sizing up a prized racehorse that had somehow gotten lost and ended up at a petting zoo.


    "Alright, Hugo," Sanchez began, his voice low and intense. "Before we even start, I need to know everything about you. I''m talking habits, quirks, vices¡ªanything that could derail your rizz journey. And no sugar-coating it. I need the raw, unfiltered truth."


    Hugo blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in tone.


    "Uh, well... I mean, I''m pretty average, I guess? I read a lot of webnovels, eat a lot of junk food... I once ate an entire pizza in one sitting. Oh, and I''m not exactly great with eye contact. Or any contact. And then there''s the, uh, sweating problem¡ª"


    Sanchez held up a hand, silencing him with a single raised eyebrow. "Alright, let''s start there. First question: How many hours a day do you spend reading webnovels?"


    Hugo hesitated, knowing that the truth would probably earn him a lecture. "Uh... maybe... six? Sometimes more on weekends?"


    He couldn''t be med. Reading novels was so much more enjoyable than socializing! It was his only escape from reality!


    Sanchez scribbled something down on an imaginary notepad. "Six hours a day, you say? Interesting. That''s six hours a day you could be out in the real world, you know, interacting with actual human females. Next question: How often do you eat vegetables?"


    Hugo scratched his head. He felt like Sanchez''s questions were a little weird. What does eating vegetables have to do with getting chicks?


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Still, he answered with as much seriousness as he could currently muster.


    "Vegetables? Uh, do French fries count?"


    "No, Hugo. Fries do not count as vegetables. Not in this world, or any other."


    "Then... almost never? Unless someone forces me."


    Sanchez shook his head, looking as if he were speaking to a lost cause. "We''ll work on that. Next up, how many times have you watched Love Actually? Be honest."


    Hugo''s face flushed. "W-What does that have to do with anything?"


    "Everything, Hugo. Everything."


    "Uh... four times?"


    "Four times too many." Sanchez sighed deeply, as if the weight of Hugo''s hopelessness were a burden he''d have to carry alone. "Last question, and this one''s crucial: When was thest time you washed your sheets?"


    Hugo looked away, his face turning a shade of pink that suggested he hadn''t seen the bottom of his bed in months. "I... I''m not sure. Maybe a few weeks ago?"


    In his defence, he had just moved into his new dorm!


    Sanchez pinched the bridge of his nose, as if trying to ward off a migraine. "Alright, Hugo. We''ve got a lot of work to do. But don''t worry, we''ll start small. Baby steps. First, clear your schedule for this Saturday. We''ll begin your training at precisely 10:00 a.m. sharp. Be there, or remain forever the guy who got knocked out at a freshman party."


    Hugo nodded eagerly, feeling a strange mix of excitement and terror. "I''ll be there. I promise. But... what about the hospital bills? I mean, I got beat up pretty bad..."


    Sanchez waved a hand dismissively. "Already taken care of. Consider it an investment in your future, one where you hopefully won''t get your arse kicked so easily. But I have to say, Hugo, I didn''t think it was possible to lose a fight that badly without at least some effort. Bravo."


    Hugo cringed, feeling his pride¡ªwhat little there was¡ªshrivel up and die. Sanchez wasn''t even there! "Thanks... I think."


    With a final smirk, Sanchez got up to leave, pausing at the door to give Hugo onest look. "Oh, and Hugo? Try not to get into any more fights before next Saturday. I can''t keep bailing you out."


    As Sanchez swaggered out of the room, Hugo was left alone with his thoughts. He gingerly got out of bed, his body still aching, and made his way to the small mirror hanging on the wall.


    He stared at his reflection, his mind whirling with a barrage of thoughts andparisons.


    Sanchez was the embodiment of confidence and charm, like some kind of gically engineered heartthrob. Meanwhile, Hugo looked like he''d been assembled from leftover parts at a Build-A-Bear workshop.


    "Maybe I just need a little... boost," Hugo muttered, remembering the wee package he''d received earlier from the system.


    He''d been too distracted by the crazy events that followed to consider the other options, but now, the idea of adding a stat point to his looks seemed like the perfect solution.


    What would happen if he used it? Would it make him more handsome?


    Hugo didn''t want to believe something like that was real. But staring at the pink, hologram screen of the system, he felt it could be possible.


    "System, I add my stat point to my looks," Hugo dered, puffing up his chest as if he were making a life-changing decision.


    [Ding! Allocating free stat point to looks.]


    The moment he saw this message, he pped his cheeks and stared at his reflection intently.


    He was determined to look less like a poorly drawn caricature and more like someone who could at least pass as a background character in a rom.


    The moment the system activated, Hugo felt a sharp, searing pain in his face, as if someone were trying to sculpt his features with a chainsaw.


    He clutched his head, grimacing as the agony intensified, radiating through his skull and down his neck.


    "Why... does it hurt... so much?!" Hugo gasped, tears streaming down his face as he writhed in pain. It was like a terrible beauty treatment that had been designed by the Marquis de Sade.


    For the next three hours, Hugo experienced an excruciating transformation.


    His face twisted and contorted as the system reshaped his features, each tweak sending a fresh wave of agony through his nerves. It felt like his bones were being rearranged, his skin stretched and pulled in all directions.


    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the pain subsided, leaving Hugo panting and drenched in sweat.


    He staggered over to the mirror, half-expecting to see a horror movie monster staring back at him.


    But when he looked, Hugo blinked in surprise.


    He actually looked... better.


    His jawline was sharper, his skin a bit clearer, and his nose had lost that unfortunate crookedness. He was still recognisably Hugo, but a slightly upgraded version¡ªa Hugo 2.0, if you will.


    Hugo grinned at his reflection, wincing slightly as the movement pulled at his newly sculpted cheeks. "Well, I''ll be damned... It actually worked."


    As he admired his new appearance, a thought crossed his mind: If this was just one stat point, what could he achieve with more? Hugo''s grin widened, and for the first time in ages, he felt a glimmer of hope.


    "Maybe I really do have a chance," he whispered to himself, the memory of Sanchez''s mocking words still fresh in his mind.

 Chapter 8: Deadly Daily Missions.

    <h4>Chapter 8: Deadly Daily Missions.</h4>


    Hugo sat in his hospital bed, staring at therge water jug the system had materialised beside him.


    After he had recovered from the pain of adding a stat point, the system had initialised his daily missions.


    [Drink a gallon of water in one go.]


    A gallon of water didn''t seem like much¡ªuntil he actually had to drink it all in one go. His stomach gurgled nervously at the thought.


    He felt like he was about to scale Mount Everest, and his mouth was base camp.


    "Alright, Hugo, you''ve got this," he muttered, "How hard could it be? It''s just water. People drink this stuff all the time. Heck, I''ve seen bodybuilders chug this like it''s nothing!"


    He took a deep breath and began to drink, the cold water rushing down his throat in what he hoped was a heroic disy of manliness.


    He imagined himself as one of those cool action heroes who could down a pint in a single gulp and then smash the ss on the counter.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Only instead of a pint, it was a gallon, and instead of smashing a ss, he was starting to feel like he was about to smash his dder.


    After the first few gulps, he felt a sense of pride¡ªhe was doing it! But by the halfway mark, Hugo started to feel queasy.


    The more he drank, the more his stomach rebelled. He was bloating up like a water balloon, and it felt like any moment now, he was going to burst.


    By the time he reached thest quarter of the jug, Hugo was visibly wobbling. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he forced himself to down the final drops.


    The moment he set the empty jug down, a wave of nausea hit him like a freight train.


    He belched loudly, the sound echoing through the hospital ward like a foghorn.


    His eyes widened in horror as he felt something bubbling up from deep within, a pressure building that was as unstoppable as a volcanic eruption.


    "No, no, no..." Hugo whispered, desperately clenching his lips together, but it was toote.


    What started as a burp quickly escted into a full-blown geyser.


    Water shot out of his mouth in a powerful stream, spraying across the room like a misfiring firehose. The bed, the floor, and even the ceiling didn''t escape the aquatic onught.


    Hugo''s cheeks puffed out as he tried to regain control, but his efforts were futile. The pressure in his gut was relentless, and he was just along for the ride.


    The sound echoed through the ward, drawing the attention of the nearby nurses.


    One of the nurses rushed into the room just in time to get a face full of what she assumed was vomit, causing her to shriek and slip on the rapidly forming puddle.


    In a desperate attempt to save what little dignity he had left, Hugo mped his hands over his mouth, but the geyser of water found another exit.


    It shot out of his nose with enough force to make him momentarily wonder if he''d broken something important.


    He looked like a malfunctioning garden sprinkler, swivelling his head in panic as he tried to avoid spraying more innocent bystanders.


    But the chaos didn''t end there. The water pooled on the floor, creating a slippery hazard that sent another nurse skidding across the room like a contestant on an ill-fated game show.


    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the torrent subsided, leaving Hugo gasping for air and soaked to the bone.


    The room was a disaster zone. Nurses were trying to regain theirposure, the other patients were eitherughing or looking on in horror, and Hugo was left sitting in the centre of it all, looking like a drowned rat.


    He wiped his mouth and groaned, feeling the full weight of his embarrassment settle in.


    "Well... mission aplished," he muttered weakly, before the nurse who had been drenched shot him a re so fierce that he wondered if she might turn the jug on him.


    Hugo gave a weak, sheepish grin. "Hydration is... key?"


    The nurse shook her head, sighing as she hurriedly left the room before she pped another patient...


    Barely a few minutes after that tsunami incident, the system''s dreadful voice resounded again.


    [Sunbath your testicles for 30 minutes.]


    Hugo stared at the system prompt, his face flushing bright red. "Sunbath... my testicles? For thirty minutes? In a hospital?!"


    Hugo had faced many challenges in his short, yet surprisingly eventful life, but none quite like this.


    As he read the mission, he couldn''t help but wonder if the system was just making things up at this point. Who evenes up with this stuff?


    He paced around his hospital room, trying to figure out how he was going to pull this off.


    The blinds were drawn, and the midday sun was streaming in, casting a golden light on the sterile white sheets of his bed.


    The problem was the only window in his room had a perfect view of the hospital garden below, with a prime view of the bustling staff and visitors.


    There was no way he could just... well... drop trou and bask in the glow like some perverted sunflower.


    "Alright," Hugo muttered to himself, "I just need to find a way to do this... discreetly."


    He peeked out the window, calcting his chances of pulling this off without getting arrested¡ªor worse, put on some sort of watchlist.


    He saw that the garden was indeed full of people¡ªnurses on break, patients getting some fresh air, and even a group of children ying tag. Hugo groaned. "Great. An audience."


    But there was no turning back. With a deep breath, he waddled over to the window and yanked the blinds open wider, creating a perfect sunlit stage for his bizarre endeavour.


    He fumbled with the hospital gown, which was already an exercise in humiliation, and gingerly positioned himself on the windowsill, half inside the room and half outside, legs awkwardly syed like a drunken gymnast attempting a split.


    The fresh air felt nice on his butt, but the situation was anything but.


    He adjusted his position, trying to keep the majority of his body hidden behind the curtain while ensuring that his most sensitive areas got the prescribed dose of UV rays.


    "This is ridiculous," he muttered, pulling up the gown just enough to expose his family jewels to the sunlight. "I''m going to get arrested... or worse."


    The sensation was surprisingly... not terrible. But the fear of being caught turned his mind into a maelstrom of paranoia.


    Every rustle of leaves, every distantugh made him flinch, convinced that someone was about to catch him in the act.


    Minutes passed, each one dragging on like a year. Just as Hugo was starting to think he might actually get away with it, disaster struck.


    A nurse, oblivious to Hugo''s delicate situation, knocked on the door and immediately began to enter.


    Hugo''s eyes snapped open, and in a blind panic, he tried to pull the blinds closed while simultaneously yanking his gown down.


    But instead of a smooth, graceful movement, Hugo''s coordination failed him spectacrly. The blinds tangled in his hand, the gown got caught on the windowsill, and before he knew it, he was tumbling backward out the window.


    By some miracle, Hugo managed to catch himself on the edge of the sill, his legs dangling out into the courtyard.


    Unfortunately, this left his gown hiked up around his waist, fully exposing his sunbathing mission to the world below.


    From his precarious position, Hugo had a perfect view of the courtyard, and the courtyard had a perfect view of him.


    There was a moment of stunned silence as everyone¡ªnurses, patients, kids¡ªturned to stare at the strange man hanging halfway out of the hospital window, his bare behind glowing like a neon sign.


    A horrified gasp went up from the crowd. An elderly woman clutched her pearls, a nurse dropped her coffee, and a child pointed and shouted, "Mummy, why''s that man got his bum in the window?"


    Hugo''s face flushed a deep crimson as he struggled to pull himself back into the room, but his sweat-slicked hands were slipping, and his gown was not cooperating.


    "No, no, no!" he whimpered, trying desperately to maintain what little dignity he had left.


    Mustering all the strength he could, he managed to pull himself back through the window.


    But just as he was about to slip back into his room, the blinds came crashing down, wrapping around his legs and sending him plummeting backward into the room.


    Hended in a heap on the floor, tangled in the blinds, his gownpletely askew.


    The door burst open, and the nurse¡ªalong with a couple of concerned orderlies¡ªrushed in.


    "What in the world...?" the nurse began, but her voice trailed off as she took in the scene: Hugo, sprawled on the floor like a human pretzel, the blinds twisted around his legs, and the hospital gown barely covering the essentials.


    "I... uh... I was just..." Hugo stammered, trying toe up with a usible exnation. But what could he say? "I was trying to catch some rays"?


    The nurse''s expression was a mixture of confusion, concern, and something that looked suspiciously like pity.


    "Are you... okay?" she asked, though she seemed more concerned with keeping a straight face than anything else.


    "Never better," Hugo groaned, attempting to disentangle himself from the blinds with what little dignity he could muster. "Just... working on my tan."


    The nurse raised an eyebrow but wisely chose not to ask any more questions.


    She turned to the orderlies and motioned for them to help Hugo back into bed, which they did with a level of professionalism that Hugo was grateful for, even as he tried to pull his gown back into ce.


    As they left, Hugo sank back onto the bed, pulling the covers over his head in shame. The system chimed in cheerfully in his ear,


    [Congrattions, Hugo! Mission aplished. 30 minutes of sunlight exposure achieved!]


    Hugo wanted to cry but didn''t have any tears. This system would be the death of him!

 Chapter 9: Pink Thong?

    <h4>Chapter 9: Pink Thong?</h4>


    It was a cool evening, and the college dorm was as busy as usual. Students came and went and the atmosphere was filled with male shouts andughter.


    A short figure, wrapped in thick clothes almost to the point of being as wide as he was short silently waddled down the corridors.


    This figure had his face partially covered, and he was wearing so manyyers of clothes he resembled an onion.


    This was of course, Hugo.


    Hugo limped down the college dorm hallway, his oversized shades doing little to hide his misery.


    The echoes of his footsteps mingled with the distant chatter of students. He could feel the stares burning into his back, whispers trailing behind him like a bad smell.


    "Isn''t that the Ass Dragon?" someone muttered.


    Hugo cringed, pulling his hoodie tighter around himself. He''d never felt more like a condemned man walking to the gallows.


    Every step he took was apanied by a wince, not just from the physical pain but from the mortifying memory of what had happened in the auditorium.


    The memory of how the whole auditorium stared at him as he made a mess of himself made him want to find a hole to bury himself in.


    His social death had almost made him traumatized of public ces!


    His oversized shades hid the dark circles under his eyes, and his hoodie was pulled so low it was a miracle he could see where he was going. If anyone asked, he''d say he was channelling his inner undercover agent.


    In reality, Hugo was praying no one would recognise him.


    It was one thing to be known as the short, awkward guy with e; it was another to be forever branded as the "Ass Dragon" who had fumigated the entire freshman ss with a single... performance.


    His unfortunate digestive distress had be the stuff of legends.


    Reaching his dorm room, Hugo fumbled with the key, all the while nervously ncing down the hallway.


    Paranoia had him convinced that at any moment, a group of students would pop out and start pointing andughing.


    He fervently hoped that his dorm room would not be exposed, or his days of peace in college would end before it even started.


    Finally, the door creaked open, and Hugo slipped inside like a fugitive on the run.


    The first thing that hit him was the faint scent of fresh paint mixed with the musty odour of unpacked cardboard.


    Theyout was standard enough: a small living room, two bedrooms, a single toilet, and a bathroom.


    The living room was sparsely furnished with a shabby sofa that looked like it had seen better days and a coffee table that had definitely seen better days.


    On one side of the room were two doors, one leading to his room and the other to his future roommate''s.


    Hugo sighed, relieved to be alone, but that relief was short-lived.


    His eyes fell on a stack of unpacked boxes in the middle of the living room. He instantly recognized his own¡ªshoddily taped andbelled with his barely legible scrawl.


    But what caught his attention was a box he hadn''t seen before. It was pink, with neatly printed letters on the side: "FRAGILE."


    He squinted at the box. "Did the administration make a mistake?" he muttered to himself, cautiously approaching it.


    He nced at thebel, half expecting it to be full of toiletries or maybe some random decorative items.


    Instead, sitting right on top of the neatly folded clothes inside was a pink thong.


    Hugo''s brain short-circuited. He stared at the delicate piece of clothing as if it were a live grenade.


    It even had tiny doughnut designs!


    "Did... did they put me in a girl''s dorm by mistake?!" His voice came out in a squeak as he frantically looked around, half-expecting a girl to walk in and start screaming about a pervert in her room.


    His panic was interrupted by the sound of the door opening behind him. Hugo froze, his heart plummeting to his stomach.


    He spun around, his mind racing with exnations that all ended with him being thrown out of the dorm¡ªand possibly college.


    But it wasn''t a girl that walked in.


    In walked a tall, muscr figure with the kind of swagger that onlyes from knowing you''re the hottest thing on campus.


    His sharp jawline, athletic build, and dope hair made him look strikingly simr to Jude Bellingham, the football star.


    For a moment, they just stared at each other, both equally shocked.


    Collins was the golden boy back in high school¡ªthe guy who could do no wrong and was loved by all, and the same guy who had been Hugo''s friend before Hugo turned into a reclusive shut-in.


    "Hugo?" Collins asked, breaking the silence.


    "Collins?" Hugo finally croaked, his voice catching in his throat. This couldn''t be happening. Collins, of all people, was his roommate?


    "Hugo?" Collins looked equally stunned. "Mate, is that really you?"


    Hugo shifted awkwardly, pulling his hoodie further over his head as if it could somehow make him disappear. "Y-Yeah, it''s me. Long time no see, huh?"


    "Bloody hell, you''ve changed," Collins said, his voice tinged with both surprise and something that sounded suspiciously like concern. "You look... well, you look like you''ve been through the wringer,"


    His expression softened. "What happened? I mean, thest time I saw you, you were..."


    Hugo winced, cutting him off before he could go down that rabbit hole. "It''s... it''s a long story. But hey, look at you! Still the golden boy, huh?"


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Collins shrugged, a modest grin spreading across his face. "I do what I can. But enough about me, what''s with the shades? And, uh, why are you limping?"


    Hugo''s face flushed, and he quickly deflected. "Oh, you know, just trying to keep a low profile." Then, as if his mouth had a mind of its own and as if his hands had a mind of their own, he picked up the pink thing and blurted out,


    "By the way, do you... do you know anything about this?" He pointed at the pink thong.


    Collins followed his gaze, his eyes widening for a split second. Then there was silence...

 Chapter 10: Semi-Date With The Twins.

    <h4>Chapter 10: Semi-Date With The Twins.</h4>


    Hugo and Collins stood awkwardly in the middle of the dorm room, the pink thong still hanging in the air like an unwee ghost.


    Collins'' eyes widened in panic, and he snatched the thong from Hugo''s grasp, stuffing it back into the box with the urgency of someone trying to hide a crime.


    His speed had been so fast, Hugo doubted he had a speedster system or something.


    "Okay, okay! Let''s just pretend that never happened," Collins stammered, forcing augh that sounded more like a wheeze.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The atmosphere was thick with embarrassment, and Hugo could almost see the blush creeping up Collins'' neck.


    Hugo kept a calm expression on his face but was inwardlyughing. He felt quite pleased. So the almighty Collins could also get flustered?


    And all it took was a pink thong?


    A pink thong with surprisingly good texture and that smelled like peaches?


    Hugo jolted when he realized he had held the cursed material in his hands. His face grew grim and his brows knitted.


    He gritted his teeth and asked, "I really don''t want to know, but due to some safety concerns, I have to ask. How did you get this thong?"


    Collins chuckled, wiping imaginary sweat from his forehead. "Look, it''s for role-y! You know, like... For fun!" He nced nervously at the box, clearly wishing the ground would swallow him whole.


    The moment Hugo heard Collins'' words, multiple traumatizing images filled his mind.


    He shook his head to clear the effects of the terrible soul attack, but his brain kept churning out the disaster scenes including Collins and a pink thong non stop.


    There was one particr question he wanted to ask but at the same time didn''t want to ask as well. He struggled internally for some seconds before his curiosity won out in the end.


    "Role-y? Who wears the thongs in this scenario?" Hugo asked, genuinely puzzled.


    Before Collins could respond, his phone buzzed, and he fished it out of his pocket. "Yo, babe! You''re nearby? Awesome! Bringing your bestie? Great!"


    Hearing this, Hugo waddled over to his room at top speed. He had clearly heard that some girls wereing over, he needed to hurry and hide away!


    Just as he was about to enter his room, Collins suddenly blocked his way.


    "Where do you think you''re going?"


    "To my room, aren''t you having visitors?" He was trying to look as calm as possible and not make it obvious that he had something to hide.


    Something about an ass dragon...


    "Actually," Collins said, his eyes glinting with mischief, "I have a n."


    Hugo leaned away, a sinking feeling in his stomach. "Wait, what''s the n?"


    "We each take one girl. That way, they won''t disturb each other. Easy peasy!"


    Hugo frowned. His brows rose up. Did thisd think he wasn''t in the know?


    Who didn''t know that all gorgeous girls had ugly, short, pudgy besties?


    "Easy peasy? I don''t think that''s how this works! What if your girl has a short, fat bestie?" Hugo blurted out, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios.


    Collins rolled his eyes. "Not these girls! They''re both beautiful! Trust me!"


    Hugo felt a mix of hope and dread ignite within him. "Really? Okay, I''m in!" He hurriedly brought up his system interface and checked the duration of his aura.


    Upon seeing that it had refreshed and he still had his full one minute of time left, he became more excited. "Time to impress!"


    They both rushed to tidy up their appearances, smoothing their hair and adjusting their clothes like they were about to face an angry mob of fashion critics.


    Momentster, there was a soft knock on the door. Collins threw open the door like a game show host unveiling a prize. "Showtime!"


    The door swung open, revealing two stunning girls who looked like they had just walked off a magazine cover. But as they stepped inside, Hugo and Collins exchanged bewildered nces. They were identical twins!


    Almost like clones!


    Collins blinked, his mouth moving soundlessly. "Uh, so... which one do we go for?"


    Hugo wanted to face palm. What sort of boyfriend was this? He couldn''t even identity his own babe!


    Hugo and Collins stared at each other and suddenly frowned. There was a sudden tense silence between them. They each knew what the other was thinking...


    At once, both Hugo and Collins barked, "Left!"


    The two girls jolted and stared at the boys strangely. Why did it suddenly seem like they were fighting?


    Collins tried to y it cool. Seeing as he and Hugo had both picked the same girl, he gently tousled his hair and shed a dazzling smile at the girl on the left, who happened to be the sexiest.


    "Hey there, I''m Collins. So d you could make it!"


    Hugo tried to match his charisma and calm, even if he felt like he was about to be squashed by a giant boulder of awkwardness. "I''m, uh, Hugo. Nice to meet you!"


    "Collins? It''s me, Tilly. That''s my twin, Lily."


    The girl on the right stepped forward with a slight frown. It was obvious she was Collins'' true girlfriend and the girl on the left was her bestie.


    Seeing this, Collins smiled wryly and swiftly changed targets. He walked over and grabbed her hand, leading her to the sofa. "Of course I know it''s you, how wouldn''t I identify my baby. I was only being polite to your sister."


    Bloody liar!


    Hugo shook his head in amazement and moved closer to his target.


    Soups hot, ready tounch! It was time to attack!


    Just as they all settled onto the sofa, one of the twins¡ªwhich happened to be Hugo''s target¡ªburst outughing while checking her phone.


    "Is that another meme about the Ass Dragon?" Tilly asked, barely able to contain her amusement.


    Hugo''s face drained of colour. He shot Collins a panicked look, his heart racing as memories of the auditorium incident flooded back.


    He knew this dreadful feeling...


    His past was catching up with him!

 Chapter 11: I Can Explain!

    <h4>Chapter 11: I Can Exin!</h4>


    Hugo''s heart raced as the twinsughed, their giggles echoing in his ears like a catchy pop song he couldn''t escape.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    He was already beginning to panic inside. Why won''t this matter just die!


    It had been just one fart! Okay, maybe like a dozen, but still!


    A dreadful thought suddenly entered his mind and his pupils constricted. As the panic rose in his chest, he asked. "Are there any pictures of this ass dragon?"


    He had to know if he would be visiting a cliff tonight...


    The twins kept onughing for another minute before finally stopping.


    The other twin, Lily, shrugged yfully. "Sorry, but it''s just so funny! No pictures, though. Just a description!"


    Hugo''s palms began to sweat. Although he was a bit relieved that there were no pictures, he had to know how detailed this description was.


    "Description? What kind of description?" Hugo eximed, his voice pitching higher than a cat in a bath.


    He felt the ground shift beneath him, panic rising in his throat like bad sushi. He tried to maintain a brave face, but inside, he was sweating bullets.


    "Well, let''s see..." Lily grinned, tapping her phone speedily. "They say the Ass Dragon is a short guy..."


    She suddenly stopped and stared at Hugo with a weird look. She gave him a once over before continuing.


    "Kind of scrawny..."


    Hugo''s face had already turned purple, but he desperately maintained his straight face. He had to act like he had no clue what was going on or he would be toast!


    "With a squeaky voice that sounds like a cartoon mouse that got kicked in the nuts and a face that''s... um, not exactly model material?"


    Hugo''s eyes widened, his voice hitting notes only dogs could hear.. "Wait, what? That sounds just like me! You can''t be serious!"


    "Seriously!" Lily continued, herughter growing. "And they say he''s always dressed like he''s just rolled out of bed. Oh, and the hair! He''s got this bangs that make him look like a faulty Japanese doll!"


    Hugo felt his eye twitch. Do I really look like that? He tried tough it off, despite the fact that his cheeks were burning hotter than a campfire.


    He couldn''t afford to hear anymore descriptions or he would really be forced to visit a cliff...


    "Okay, I think we should talk about something else! How about the weather? Or, I don''t know, thetest trends in¡ª"


    Hugo had to steer the conversation away from this disastrous topic before things got nasty.


    He leaned in a bit closer as his brain worked overtime to find something interesting to say.


    He had to get this beauty!


    He was going to make her his!


    _____


    13 Seconds Later...


    "Wait, no! I didn''t mean it like that!" Hugo panicked, his brain racing faster than a cheetah on caffeine. "I was just trying to¡ª"


    Before Hugo could dig any deeper into his hole of doom, Lily stood up abruptly. "You know what? Forget it. I don''t need to sit here and listen to some wannabe with a superiorityplex insult my humour. I''m out."


    She stormed toward the door, leaving Hugo gaping after her. Her twin, who had been flirtatiously chatting with Collins, saw her sister''s furious exit and followed suit, throwing an apologetic nce over her shoulder.


    Hugo sat there, frozen.


    He had one job: don''t screw this up. But, as usual, he had managed to trip over his own words like a toddler running with untied shoces.


    ''Don''t look back... Don''t look back...''


    The silence in the room was deafening. When he finally couldn''t take it anymore, he slowly turned to face Collins.


    The look on Collins'' face was beyond anger¡ªit was the kind of simmering rage that you see in old war movies, right before someone pulls out a methrower and torches an entire vige.


    His eyes bulged out like a cartoon character who''d just witnessed his favourite ice cream drop on the pavement.


    His nostrils red with every sharp breath, his fists clenched so tight you could almost hear his knuckles pop, and his eyebrows were knitted together in a way that made him look like an angry owl.


    A very, very, angry owl.


    Hugo swallowed hard. This was bad. He felt the temperature in the room drop about ten degrees.


    He could feel Collins'' killing Intent lock on him, and he knew his physique or spiritual cultivation wouldn''t stand a chance against this protagonist.


    Before Collins could explode, Hugo held up his hands, panic creeping into his voice. "I-I can exin..."


    Collins took a deep, slow breath, clearly fighting the urge to leap across the room and throttle Hugo.


    "Please... do," he said through gritted teeth, the words dripping with the kind of forced calm that usually precedes someone flipping a table.


    Hugo started to talk but no words came out, so he tried again.


    "Okay, so, like... you know when you''re trying to impress someone, but it''s like... you trip over your own foot, but instead of a foot, it''s a massive, invisible pile of dragon crap?"


    Collins didn''t blink. His face stayed frozen in a state of pure rage, his jaw twitching like he was mentally preparing for battle. "Dragon crap?"


    Hugo nodded vigorously.


    "Yes! Dragon crap! Like, metaphorical, of course. Not real dragon crap, ''cause that''d be, y''know, gross. But I just¡ª" He gestured wildly, his hands iling like a broken windmill.


    "I thought if I made herugh, it''d break the ice. But then... things just spiralled! I didn''t mean to offend her! And then I said the thing about dragons with big... butts, and she just lost it!"


    Collins'' eyes narrowed. "You insulted the ass dragon meme?"


    "I didn''t know it was that important to her!" Hugo squeaked. "I mean, who gets that defensive over a dragon''s... behind? I just¡ª" He froze, realizing he was still digging himself deeper. "Okay, look, maybe I messed up! Forgive me!"


    There was a brief moment of silence before Collins finally sighed. He closed his eyes, partly to calm his rage and mostly to avoid seeing Hugo''s terrible remake of a namaste pose.


    His voice was low and soft. "You made a big mistake. You vited a rule amongst us yers. You revealed your true colours!"


    Hugo squinted. He didn''t get what Collins was saying. Wasn''t he supposed to be original? Wasn''t that the advice all those pages gave?


    As if reading his thoughts, Collins sneered. He looked at Hugo like he was so sure he was going to die a virgin...


    "I see... You''re courting death. You dared to follow the teachings of the evil sect. My good friend, you are hopeless!"

 Chapter 12: Meeting Sanchez.

    <h4>Chapter 12: Meeting Sanchez.</h4>


    Hugo woke up the next morning, feeling the familiar sensation of drool pooling on his pillow.


    His eyes blinked open to the sight of a bright, cheery system notification hovering in his field of vision:


    [Ding! 27 Days Left Until Eradication!]


    He groaned, pping his face in a futile attempt to wake up fully. "Oh,e on..."


    His mind raced with the kind of chaotic thoughts only someone facing total eradication could have.


    ''Twenty-seven days? That''s less time than it takes me to binge an entire anime series! I could be dead before they even release the next season of Demon yer!''


    He tried to shake it off, but every time he thought about it, the countdown loomedrger.


    His crazy thoughts also spiralled to even worse regions...


    ''Twenty-seven days... maybe less if I get hit by a bus or choke on a chicken nugget or something. What if I die eating fast food? That''s so tragic!''


    After spending another few minutes trying to calm his anxiety, he felt his mind clear to some extent.


    He dragged himself out of bed, still grumbling about the unfairness of life¡ªorck thereof¡ªand remembered his meeting with Sanchez, his ridiculously rich cousin,ter that day.


    ''Okay, focus. I''ll learn from Sanchez. Maybe, just maybe, he can turn this hot mess around.''


    Hugo was definitely eager and excited about today''s meeting with his cousin. He had personally experienced his cousin''s skills and felt that he was a god of game.


    Or at least an elder in the Supreme Sect of Rizz...


    To be mentored by such a person gave him a lot of hope, so he got ready as fast as he could.


    Hugo threw on some clothes, threw back an energy drink, and hustled out the door.


    _____


    Hugo stepped out of his Uber, mouth agape as he took in the sight of Sanchez''s mansion.


    The mansion wasn''t just a mansion; it looked like the kind of ce that belonged on a Cribs episode featuring celebs who had more money than sense.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The driveway was lined with manicured palm trees, and in the middle of it all was a massive, shimmering pool that looked like it could host an Olympic event.


    It was bigger than the entire dorm Hugo lived in!


    Then his eyesnded on the lime-green Lamborghini truck parked out front. The thing was so shy it looked like it had driven straight out of a cartoon¡ªlike someone had turned a giant highlighter into a car.


    It looked so cool, he didn''t want to take his eyes away.


    Hugo was practically vibrating with envy. Why did Sanchez need a green Lambo truck? Who needs to go that fast to the grocery store?


    As Hugo approached the entrance, Sanchez sauntered out to meet him, looking like a million bucks¡ªliterally.


    He was wearing a designer bathrobe, even though he was just chilling at home, and his sunsses were so expensive they could probably pay off Hugo''s student loans.


    "Hugo! My man!" Sanchez''s voice boomed as if they were in the middle of a boxing ring.


    Hugo, feeling a little underdressed in his hoodie and jeans, gave an awkward smile. "Hey, Sanchez... nice ce."


    "Nice?" Sanchez scoffed. "Nah, it''s legendary. But you''re right, it is nice. Come on in. You''ve gotta meet the team."


    Hugo followed Sanchez inside, where an entire squad of ridiculously attractive people greeted him.


    There was a guy in a fitted zer who looked like he belonged on the cover of GQ, a woman who could be a Victoria''s Secret model, and a few others that looked equally too-good-for-this-world.


    "And, oh, Lisa''s around somewhere," Sanchez added with a smirk. "She''s, uh... special."


    Hugo was so overwhelmed by the grandeur of it all, he barely noticed Sanchez''s sly tone.


    The house was pure luxury: marble floors, chandeliers that looked like they belonged in Versailles, and enough high-end furniture to make IKEA weep.


    In the corner, there was a huge trophy cab, filled with gold records, awards, and what looked suspiciously like a Grammy.


    Hold on, a Grammy?


    Hugo didn''t have time to verify the credibility of the award before he got dragged away once more.


    Sanchez led him through the grand halls of his mansion, dropping little hints along the way that Hugo couldn''t quite piece together.


    "So, Hugo," Sanchez said with a smirk, "I heard you''ve been, uh... soaking up the suntely?"


    Hugo froze for a second, blinking. "Uh... what do you mean?"


    "Oh, nothing," Sanchez said nonchntly, guiding Hugo through the hall.


    "Just... you know... heard you got caught sunbathing naked, attempting suicide by drowning, and making quite the mess. Quite the bold move, my friend."


    Hugo felt his face heat up. "W-What?! Who told you that?"


    Sanchez let out a low chuckle, his eyes hidden behind his reflective sunsses. "Let''s just say I have a source¡ªspecifically, a sexy nurse who saw your bathing session. She described it as unique."


    Hugo''s stomach flipped. "Oh God... the nurse told you, didn''t she?"


    Sanchez burst outughing, pping Hugo on the back so hard he almost knocked the air out of him.


    "Bro, she said you looked like you were auditioning for Cirque du Soleil. She said she''s seen some weird hospital stuff, but you? You''re in a whole other league."


    Hugo groaned, burying his face in his hands. "I''m going to die of embarrassment before anything else kills me."


    Sanchez chuckled again, clearly enjoying every second of Hugo''s misery. "Man, forget about it. Own it! You''re practically an avant-garde performance artist at this point."


    "It was that hateful system! It wasn''t me! I wasn''t... voluntarily sunbathing!" Hugo protested weakly in his mind, but he couldn''t bring himself to say them out loud lest Sanchez thought he was both crazy and an exhibitionist.


    Sanchezughed again, throwing an arm around Hugo''s shoulder. "It''s cool, man. Honestly, I could use some of that... whatever it was. Mighte in handy for other things."


    Hugo shot him a horrified look. He knew Sanchez was talking about the te unlock pills that had made him feel euphoria.


    What he didn''t know or want to know was what other things Sanchez wanted it for.


    "I don''t think that''s how it works..."


    "Rx," Sanchez said, waving it off. "Anyway, enough about your exotic sunbathing skills. I''ve got something to show you."


    With that, Sanchez led Hugo down a long hallway and towards a spiral staircase that descended into what Hugo could only describe as a billionaire''s basement.


    When they reached the bottom, Hugo''s jaw dropped.


    The basement was massive, more like a futuristic bunker than a basement. There was a private bar, a home theatre with reclining seats, arcade machines, and rows upon rows of high-tech gadgets that Hugo couldn''t even begin to identify.


    "You live down here?" Hugo asked, still in awe.


    "Nah, I just hang out here when I''m feeling bored." Sanchez winked, clearly relishing in Hugo''s amazement. "But enough about that. You''re gonna love this."


    He pushed open a door at the far end of the basement, revealing an even more secretive room. It was filled with even more cutting-edge tech, glowing neon lights, and what looked like a virtual reality setup.


    "I''ve got a surprise for you, Hugo," Sanchez said, his grin widening. "Something that''s going to change the game for you."


    Hugo gulped, suddenly feeling very, very nervous. "Should I be scared?"


    Sanchezughed. "Maybe. But trust me, this is going to be epic."

 Chapter 13: Increase In Social Status!

    <h4>Chapter 13: Increase In Social Status!</h4>


    Sanchez stood in front of a sleek, futuristic-looking powerbike, grinning like a kid showing off his favourite toy.


    Hugo stared at the bike with amazement. Excitement was swelling dangerously within him and he felt like he was floating.


    Was it what he thought it was?


    Was Sanchez really giving him this bike?!


    Taking deep breaths, Hugo studied the bike carefully.


    The bike was all sharp edges and gleaming chrome, with neon-blue lights that pulsed along its body like it had a heartbeat of its own.


    It looked like something out of a sci-fi movie¡ªlike a bike Batman would ride if he ever had an eco-friendly phase.


    "Behold!" Sanchez gestured dramatically, like he was unveiling the eighth wonder of the world. "The Voltaris X9000! Electric, silent, and fast as hell."


    Hugo''s eyes widened as he took in the machine. "Dude, this thing looks like it could outrun a cheetah on steroids!"


    Not only was it extremely aesthetic and aerodynamic, it''s tyres were surprisingly huge, making it look even more futuristic and intimidating.


    Sanchez smirked. "Oh, it can. Here, let me hit you with the specs: 0 to 100 in under 2 seconds. Top speed of 300 miles per hour. Fully electric, charges in 10 minutes,sts for 500 miles. And it has a built-in sound system that sts tunes while you ride."


    Hugo''s jaw dropped. "A sound system?! So I can literally speed away from my problems while listening to Eye of the Tiger? This is the greatest thing ever!"


    Hugo''s mind began churning cool scenes of him on this bike with a sexy damsel behind, clutching his waist tightly.


    The softness of her body pressed against his, the exotic scent she exuded, and most especially, her hands that were dangerously close to his belt...


    He hurriedly pulled his mind out of the gutter.


    "Exactly," Sanchez said, crossing his arms smugly. "I used to ride it before I made it big. Now it''s just sitting here, collecting dust. But you... I think you need it more than me."


    Hugo''s heart was pounding. He could already picture himself zipping through the streets, looking like the coolest guy in the world.


    This was amazing!


    No more awkward bus rides or struggling to keep up with everyone else. No more standing at crosswalks waiting for the light to turn green like some kind of pedestrian peasant.


    He was about to be a legend!


    He turned to Sanchez, eyes gleaming with excitement. "I... I don''t even know what to say. This is amazing! You''re amazing! I''m gonna be unstoppable on this thing!"


    As if on cue, a sudden Ding! echoed in Hugo''s mind.


    [System Notification: Status increase +1!]


    Hugo blinked. "Wait, did I just... level up from excitement?"


    He felt like he had just found a cheat. Was it really possible to level up from being excited?!


    It only took him a moment to realise that it was actually because of the bike. Since he now had a bike, of course his social status should increase!


    Afterall, bikes were the cheatcode to looking cooler. Any expendable would tell you that.


    As he was still examining his new bike, his stomach let out an embarrassingly loud growl, breaking the moment.


    Sanchez raised an eyebrow, smirking. "You sound like a lion with indigestion. Let''s hit the dining room before you pass out from hunger."


    _____


    The dining table was massive, like something you''d expect to see at a royal banquet. It was covered in every type of food imaginable¡ªgrilled meats, piles of pasta, gourmet sds, desserts that looked too fancy to eat and even a loaf of bread that looked suspiciously like ass...


    Hugo felt like he had stepped into a dream where he was the king of food.


    "Wow! Is this a buffet or the result of a food explosion?" He gasped, eyes darting from te to te.


    "Wee to my world," Sanchez grinned, already loading his te. "Dig in before I change my mind and call for takeout instead."


    His stomach roared again, and without a second thought, he dove in, stuffing his face with the kind of enthusiasm that could only be matched by a starving man at an all-you-can-eat buffet.


    He was halfway through a mountain of spaghetti when he noticed her.


    Standing by the wall, watching them with a bored expression, was the sexiest maid Hugo had ever seen.


    Her uniform was just the right blend of cute and daring, and Hugo felt his heart do a little flip.


    She had that kind of effortless beauty that made his brain go fuzzy.


    He nearly choked on his pasta. "Dude... who is that?"


    Sanchez didn''t even look up. "Oh, that''s Maria. But don''t even think about it."


    "Why not? She''s a total knockout!" Hugo eximed, trying to maintain hisposure.


    Which healthy male hadn''t fantasized about some cute, extremely obedient maid at least 40 times in their life?!


    Hugo had done it too many times to count!


    "Trust me, man. She''s a lesbian. Tried it, failed miserably. She''llugh in your face faster than you can say ''awkward.''"


    Hugo''s enthusiasm deted like a sad balloon. "Oh... great. So, no hope there."


    "Wee to my life," Sanchez said for the second time, snickering as he stuffed a piece of steak into his mouth. "Now, focus on the food, buddy."


    Hugo''s face fell. "Oh."


    Deted but still hungry, he went back to his te, stuffing his face with renewed focus.


    He wasn''t going to let a little rejection ruin his day¡ªespecially when there was enough food to feed a small army.


    Just as Hugo was reaching for some dessert, Sanchez wiped his mouth with a napkin and stood up. "Alright, enough eating. We''ve got work to do."


    Hugo looked up, confused. "Work?"


    Sanchez grinned, his eyes gleaming. "Yeah, remember? We''re going out. I''m going to teach you the art of being me."


    Hugo''s heart skipped a beat. This was it. The moment he''d been waiting for. He shoved thest bite of cake into his mouth and jumped up, excitement bubbling in his chest.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "I''m ready," he mumbled through a mouthful of frosting.


    "Just remember to breathe and try not to trip over your own feet." Sanchez chuckled. "I''d hate for you to make headlines as the guy who face-nted at a bar."


    "I''ll be fine! I''ve got this!" Hugo insisted, puffing out his chest. But internally, he was a whirlwind of nerves and excitement.


    This was his chance to reinvent himself!


    Sanchez chuckled, tossing his napkin onto the table. "Good. Let''s go make you legendary."

 Chapter 14: The Art Of Approaching Women.

    <h4>Chapter 14: The Art Of Approaching Women.</h4>


    The Lambo truck purred like a contented beast as it idled on the street, its neon green paint job gleaming in the afternoon light.


    Hugo sat in the passenger seat, fidgeting with excitement and nerves. He leaned his head on thefortable headrest and sighed in contentment.


    This car was a dream!


    It felt like he was being piggybacked by angels. Heck, it probably even felt better!


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The interior of the truck was sleek, with more buttons than an airne cockpit, and every inch screamed wealth and luxury.


    Of course, it was all quality red leather and roof lights. The seats were set at a slightly warm heat that made Hugo''s back tingle.


    And there was also the amazing sound system!


    Hugo nced over at Sanchez, who was dressed casually in a in white t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers that looked like they had seen better days.


    Despite the simple outfit, Sanchez radiated confidence, looking like he had just stepped off a runway.


    Was this the effect of the so called charm? Charisma? Or was he just so damn good looking?


    "I swear, man," Hugo said, tapping his fingers on the dashboard, "One day, I''m gonna get my own dope car like this. Roll up to campus, and people are gonna be like, ''Who''s that dude?'' And I''ll just lean out the window, sunsses on, and¡ªboom!¡ªinstant respect."


    Sanchez chuckled. "Yeah, respect or they''ll think you stole it. But first things first, Hugo. You''re here to learn the fine art of approaching women. Not crashing and burning."


    Hugo adjusted his seatbelt, smoothed his bangs, and cleared his RAM, looking determined. "I''m ready. Teach me, O Wise One."


    Sanchez leaned back, casually draping his arm over the steering wheel like a seasoned yboy. "Alright, rookie, listen up. First rule of approaching a woman: don''t be weird."


    Hugo frowned. "I''m not weird."


    "You''re weird, Hugo. You make weird look normal." Sanchez smirked. "The reason why most dudes fail to get a chick''s number is because they came off as weird, and to women, weird automatically means simp, so she simply ignores them."


    Hugo nodded like a chicken pecking rice. He wanted to absorb every single bit of knowledge from Sanchez like SpongeBob.


    "As long as you don''te off as weird, a woman would definitely give you the 2 lines grace."


    Hugo''s brows furrowed. "What''s the 2 lines grace?"


    "It''s simply the chance for you to say 2 sentences. This would determine if you would be getting her number or not. This 2 lines grace is extremely important, you need to break the ice, demonstrate intent, and leave an impression all within 2 or 3 sentences."


    ''Break ice, killing Intent and unforgettable jokes...'' Hugo penned it down in his imaginary notebook with seriousness.


    "Second rule: Confidence. This is the solution to the problem of the first rule. As long as you appear confident, she wouldn''t see you as weird, so you need to uninstall your insecurities before you approach her. Women can smell insecurity from a mile away, and trust me, you reek of it."


    Hugo pouted. "I do not reek."


    Sanchez waved his hand dismissively. He didn''t want to waste his breath. "Third rule: Be direct but not creepy. Apliment''s fine, but don''t sound like you''re auditioning for a creepy romance novel. Saying she''s beautiful no longer works, instead use more specificpliments and make them seem sporadic. This would make them feel more genuine. That way, you''ve managed to break the ice and also show Intent."


    "Got it. No creepy."


    "And fourth..." Sanchez grinned wickedly. "Don''t pull a Hugo."


    Hugo blinked. "What''s a Hugo?"


    Sanchez looked at him deadpan. "You."


    "Har har. Very funny."


    "Look, just watch how it''s done," Sanchez said, unbuckling his seatbelt and stepping out of the car. "Time for a demo."


    Hugo watched in awe as Sanchez casually strolled down the street, picking a target: a beautiful girl walking with a friend.


    Hugo''s eyes widened¡ªthis girl was definitely at least an 8. Yet, Sanchez approached her as if he were asking for the time.


    He said something,ughed, and the girl giggled, yfully touching his arm. Even her friend looked charmed.


    Hugo''s jaw dropped. "He''s not even wearing anything fancy! Is this some sort of ck magic?"


    Hugo felt this was too unnatural. Was his cousin using some evil talismans?


    After getting her number, Sanchez waved to the girls and walked back to the truck, grinning as he climbed inside. "That, my dear Hugo, is how it''s done. Simple, smooth, and no weirdness."


    Hugo blinked at him. "What did you even say?"


    Sanchez shrugged. "I just asked them for directions, then slipped in apliment about her smile. Easy."


    Hugo nodded, furiously taking mental notes. "Directions... smile... be cool... Got it. I can do this."


    Sanchez pped him on the back. "Alright, bro. Your turn. Go get ''em."


    Hugo swallowed, adrenaline kicking in as he unbuckled his seatbelt and stepped out. He scanned the street and spotted a girl standing by herself, scrolling through her phone.


    Okay, Hugo, he thought. Be confident. Don''t be weird. Compliment her smile. What''s the worst that could happen?


    He strutted over, trying to mimic Sanchez''s cool, rxed gait. His legs, however, felt like they were made of Jell-O, and his hands had started sweating uncontrobly.


    He waddled across the street and stopped in front of the girl, cleared his throat, and blurted out, "Hi! Do you know how much a pr bear weighs?"


    The girl looked up, clearly confused. "What?"


    "Enough to break the ice! Haha..." Hugo''sugh came out as more of a desperate wheeze. The only thing was that she wasn''t smiling.


    The girl blinked at him, unimpressed. "Uh... okay."


    Abort mission! Hugo''s brain screamed, but his mouth kept moving. Time for thepliments! "You have... um... nice teeth!"


    The girl''s face twisted into a look of confusion mixed with slight horror. "Thanks?"


    Sensing the imminent copse of the conversation, Hugo tried to salvage it. "I mean... your smile! It''s great! Not in a creepy way! I''m not a dentist or anything!"


    She stepped back, eyes narrowing. "Right... I gotta go."


    Hugo watched her walk away, his soul shriveling inside him. Defeated, he slunk back to the Lambo and slid into the passenger seat.


    Sanchez was trying not tough but failing miserably. "Nice teeth, huh? Really setting the bar high there."


    Hugo buried his face in his hands. He didn''t know how Sanchez had managed to hear his conversation. "It was going so well in my head! I don''t know what happened!"


    "Dude, you asked about a pr bear. Why would you do that?"


    "I panicked, okay!?"


    Sanchez shook his head, still chuckling. "Well, at least you didn''t make it worse by mentioning her elbows or something."


    Hugo slumped in his seat, staring out the window. "I''m hopeless."


    Just then, a loud Ding! echoed in his mind. He froze as the system notification appeared in front of his eyes.


    [System Challenge: Open 50 women in one day!]


    Hugo''s mouth dropped. ''Fifty women? In ONE DAY? Are you kidding me?''


    Sanchez nced over, raising an eyebrow. "What''s that look for? You look like someone just told you to run a marathon."


    Hugo''s mind raced. Fifty women? He could barely manage one! And that one had almost run for the hills!


    Sanchez, oblivious to the system notification, smirked. "Hey, you''ll get there. Just need a little more practice. And maybe, you know, avoid using any more wildlife-based pick-up lines."


    Hugo groaned. "I''m doomed."

 Chapter 15: The Madness Of Approaching Women.

    <h4>Chapter 15: The Madness Of Approaching Women.</h4>


    A greenmbo truck was parked beside a park, attracting many envious stares like a ma.


    Inside thismbo truck, an handsome specimen sat beside a sorry shrimp.


    The handsome specimen was busy with something on his phone, yet he still managed toe out looking like he was posing for a photoshoot.


    The sorry shrimp on the other hand, looked even sorrier and shrimper than ever.


    Hugo decided that here was the ce to finally make a bold move.


    Parks were filled with people looking to rx and unwind, afterall.


    He spotted a girl jogging on the track, her ponytail swinging in rhythm with her strides. Seeing her dazzling long legs and gorgeous figure, Hugo was moved. He decided to start with her.


    Trying to psych himself up, he muttered, "Alright, Hugo. You''ve got this. Just a simple, encouragingment. How hard could it be?"


    He stepped out of the car and jogged up beside her, already out of breath after two steps, and managed to wheeze out, "Keep going! You''re almost there! Unless you''re just trying to outrun your problems."


    The girl slowed down, casting him a puzzled look as if she wasn''t sure whether tough or call for help. "What did you just say?"


    Realising his mistake, Hugo quickly backpedaled¡ªfiguratively, because literally, he was already gasping for air. "I-I mean, uh, running''s great, right? Keeps the heart healthy and, um, your problems far behind...?"


    She raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying I look like someone with a lot of problems?"


    "N-No! No, of course not!" Hugo stammered, his face flushing as red as his briefs.


    "You just, uh, seem really focused, like you''re running from something... or to something... or maybe for something? Or just... running?"


    The girl stoppedpletely now, hands on her hips, staring at him like he was some kind of strange new species.


    "You know, I was just running to exercise, but now you''ve got me wondering if I should be running away from this conversation."


    Hugo, realising he''d run himself straight into a verbal ditch, decided it was time to abort mission. "Uh, yeah, well, I''ll just... let you get back to it. You''re doing great, by the way! Really... problem-free!"


    As he stumbled away, she called after him, "Maybe you should try running more yourself. From awkwardness!"


    Hugo groaned, but when he saw that the challenge tab had increased by one count, he gritted his teeth and grew resolute.


    Although the system had not stated the punishment for failure, Hugo didn''t dare to fail this challenge.


    What if it was something as sinister as the eradication of one of his testicles?


    Or unshavable pubic hair?


    Hugo hurriedly scanned for another target. He nced at Sanchez in thembo truck and found him to be reeling withughter.


    Hugo scowled. Did he think this was funny?! Something was on the line here!


    Something unknown but guaranteed to be deadly!


    As he was stillmenting inwardly, he spotted a girl walking an adorable fluffy dog. ''Dogs are always a good conversation starter'', he thought. This''ll be easy.


    He waddled over, putting on his best ''friendly guy'' face. "That''s a cute dog! Bet it''s as stubborn as its owner, though, right?"


    Sanchez had said topliment her sporadically. This should be sporadic enough, right?


    The girl froze, her hand tightening on the leash. "Excuse me?"


    Hugo blinked, realising he''d somehow stepped in it¡ªfiguratively, thankfully, though he was starting to wonder if he was about to be dragged into something literal.


    "I mean, not stubborn in a bad way! Like, in a good way! You know, strong-willed? Independent?"


    The girl red at him, her eyes narrowing as if she was debating whether to let the dog off the leash to attack. "So, you''re saying my dog and I are difficult to deal with?"


    ''Damn you!''


    How do these girls think?! Why must they always misinterpret his words?!


    "No, no, not at all!" Hugo stammered, "Just that, you know, stubbornness can be a sign of... character! Like, you both know what you want, and you''re not afraid to go after it! Which is admirable!"


    The dog barked, perhaps sensing its owner''s irritation, and the girl took a step closer, her voice dropping to a warning tone. "I don''t think we need your admiration. Or your insults."


    Hugo held up his hands defensively. The growl of the dog was even deeper than his new bike''s!


    He hurriedly tried to protect his ankles...


    "No insults! Just, uh,pliments! You and your dog seem like a great team! Like, a dynamic duo! Batman and Robin, but, uh, with fur and¡ª"


    Before he could dig himself any deeper, the girl yanked on the leash and started walking away, the dog following obediently.


    "Next time, try not topare a woman to a dog," she called over her shoulder, leaving Hugo standing there, feeling like he''d just been chewed up and spit out.


    After staring at nothing in particr for some minutes, Hugo finally snapped out of his daze. He gazed around listlessly and sat on a bench.


    His life seemed really bleak at the moment...


    "Chill out bro, that''s the ''I want to find a cliff'' look."


    Unknowingly, Sanchez had arrived by his side and gave him a pat on the shoulder.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Is it always this difficult?" Hugo''s voice came out almost like a whisper.


    "It is, and until you reach a certain level, it still would be. But to reach that level where you can say anything and it would work, you need to be tempered."


    "Are you at that level?"


    Hearing this, Sanchez pulled a wide grin and leaned back, unting his cultivation level to the newest member of the sect.


    "Of course... I''m at the legendary pickup line stage. This means I can safely use pickup lines without it backfiring. This is your goal."


    Hugo clenched his fist and a look of determination appeared in his face.


    This was his goal. It was do or die!


    He had to do this!


    _____


    5 minutester...


    The girl tilted her head, clearly unimpressed. "So, you lift books to get stronger? Is that your workout routine?"


    "Well, I¡ªno, I mean, yes, sort of?" Hugo fumbled, realising he was only digging himself deeper. "But I mostly read them! For the knowledge! And, uh, sometimes to impress girls... not that I''m trying to impress you! Unless it''s working, in which case... I am?"


    She stood up, gathering her things, her patience clearly worn thin. "You know what? I think I''ll take my weird ideas and leave you to your... bicep curls. Good luck with that."


    _____


    6 minutester...


    The girl crossed her arms, staring at him like he was a particrly annoying pop-up ad. "So you''re saying I have a coffee addiction and unresolved life issues?"


    Hugo''s mind raced as he tried to backpedal. "No! No, not at all! I just¡ªwell, maybe you just... really enjoy coffee? Which is totally fine! Because coffee''s great! I love coffee! We love coffee together! I mean, it''s not weird to say that, right?"


    She sighed, turning back to her phone. "Yeah, I''m going to just pretend this conversation didn''t happen."


    _____


    7 minutester...


    "I was just trying to be funny!" he protested, but she wasn''t having it.


    "Funny? More like cringeworthy! Do you even realize how insulting that is? Next time, maybe try saying something nice instead of making me sound like a reject from a bad kids'' show!"


    Hugo''s face went pale, and he fumbled for words. "I¡ªuh, I didn''t mean it like that! I thought you''d think it was cute!"


    "Cute? Right. Because beingpared to a cartoon cat is every girl''s dream. Thanks for that!" She stood up, eyes zing. "Enjoy your day, ''Mole-Cat.''"


    As she stormed off, Hugo sat there, mouth agape, his mind racing. He watched her go, utterly mortified. "Wait! I can exin!" he shouted after her, but she didn''t look back.


    Hugo sighed and wiped his sweaty forehead. His eyes were watery and bloodshot, making him appear like a desperate virgin...


    Hugo realized at that moment that there was one thing Sanchez had said wrong during his lesson...


    ''What art of approaching women, this is madness!''

 Chapter 16: Level Up!

    <h4>Chapter 16: Level Up!</h4>


    Hugo sat in the Lambo, his face split into a wide grin as he checked the system notification.


    [Challenge Complete: Open 50 Women! Distributing reward:


    Host has received 20 UHS Credits.


    Host has received One Alpha stat point.


    Host has Unlocked Achievement!


    Host has leveled up!]


    He couldn''t believe it; he''d actually done it! Sure, he''d stumbled and mumbled his way through most of them, but a win was a win!


    He had approached more women today than he had done in his whole lifebined!


    This was growth! His first level up!


    Sanchez, who was scrolling through his phone, looked over with a raised eyebrow. "Why are you smiling like a fool in my car? Did you just discover that you''re actually funny?"


    "No, no! Ipleted the challenge!" Hugo beamed, practically bouncing in his seat.


    Sanchez chuckled. "Challenge? What challenge?"


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Hugo, realising his slip up, hurriedly waved his hands. "Its nothing, just a way I found to motivate myself."


    ''With this stat, I''m going to test out my new abilities. It''s time for some serious improvement!''


    He imagined himself walking up to the next woman he saw, exuding pure confidence like a well-groomed lion.


    He thought back to his earlier attempts and how they had hriously backfired.


    Like that time he told a girl she had ''bat-like grace'' after tripping over his own feet, or the time heplimented a woman''s ''elegant earlobes''¡ªwhatever that meant.


    He cringed just thinking about it.


    "Right," Sanchez said, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Just remember, the main goal is to get rid of your nervousness and work on your confidence through constant practice."


    Hugo nodded earnestly. "Got it! I''m ready for this!"


    Just then, Hugo spotted a couple of girls walking by and took a deep breath.


    He opened the door, and as he stepped out, he tried to channel his newfound confidence. His inner alpha. He would check the rewards of the level upter, but now...


    He was ready to see the power of one stat!


    "Alright, Hugo, just be cool," he whispered to himself.


    He approached a girl leaning against amppost, trying to remember the advice Sanchez had given him. "Hey! You, uh, look like you really know how to light up a room!"


    She blinked, utterly bewildered. "What?"


    "Uh, I mean... light post!" He winced, mentally pping himself. "I meant you look great! Like, um, a well-lit bulb!"


    She shook her head,ughing lightly as she walked away, leaving Hugo standing there, dazed.


    This was going spectacrly!


    He had already known that the alpha stat wouldn''t help his terriblemunication skills. All he had wanted to see was if there would be a difference in her reaction.


    And there was!


    She had merely walked away. She hadn''t even roasted him. She evenughed!


    ''Oh boy...''


    Hugo turned to try again, feeling more confident than ever. He spotted another girl with a cute beanie leaning on a coffee shop.


    Moving in!


    He approached her, attempting a casual lean against the wall¡ªonly to lose his bnce and thump against the side of the building. "Hey, I''m Hugo! What''s your... what''s your name?"


    "Are you okay?" she asked, clearly concerned but also trying not tough.


    "Totally!" he chuckled nervously, feeling his face heat up. "So, um, do you like... um... nts? Because you really ''leaf'' me speechless."


    She just stared at him for a moment before bursting outughing and walking away again.


    Hugo finally realized what the alpha stat changed in him. It improved his confidence!


    He had noticed that although he said trash just now, he had still said it with a straight face. Unlike before where he looked like he was constipated.


    "Great job, Hugo! You really knocked that one out of the park," Sanchez called from the Lambo, barely containing his amusement.


    Hugo sighed, walking over and leaning against the car. "This is harder than it looks! I''m never going to get this right!"


    Suddenly, a police car pulled up beside them, lights shing.


    Hugo''s heart raced. His eyes widened and he began to sweat. "Oh no, I''m being arrested for being terrible at flirting! What am I gonna do?"


    "Calm down, genius," Sanchez said, rolling down the window. "It''s probably not about your pick-up lines."


    The officer approached, looking stern. "What''s going on here?"


    Hugo panicked, imagining being dragged off to jail for his ''offensive'' attempts at romance. "We were just, uh, checking the air quality... for flowers! You know, environmental awareness!"


    The officer raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it.


    Sanchez couldn''t help butugh, then he said said some things Hugo couldn''t hear to the officer and her anger literally dissipated like wind.


    "Right. You boys need to keep it down. I don''t want to see you harassing anymore youngdies, got it?"


    She gave Hugo a stare that contained a mix of pity and amusement, although she hid it almost immediately.


    Hugo began to wonder what Sanchez had told her.


    Still, he nodded vigorously, feeling a rush of relief as the officer turned to leave. "See? No problem," Sanchez said, grinning at Hugo''s panicked expression.


    As soon as the officer was gone, Hugo let out a breath he didn''t know he''d been holding. From two ces...


    "That was terrifying!"


    "Just another day in the life of a wannabe alpha," Sanchez said, chuckling. Suddenly, Hugo''s system came online, a cheerful notification popping up.


    [Ding! System Online: Well done, Hugo! You survived your public embarrassment, and Sanchez showed up to save you. But let''s be honest, you were still an epic fail.]


    Hugo groaned. "Seriously? Can''t a guy get a break?"


    Sanchezughed, pping him on the back. "At least you''re trying, my dude. But maybe let''s call it a day before you make things worse."


    Hugo sighed, feeling defeated but oddly amused. "Fine, let''s head home. I need to regroup and plot my revenge on the dating world."


    As he climbed back into the Lambo, Hugo couldn''t help but smile. "One day, I''ll get this right. Just you wait!"


    "Yeah, and when that dayes, I''ll be right here, taking notes," Sanchez joked, revving the engine as they sped off down the street.

 Chapter 17: The Bet.

    <h4>Chapter 17: The Bet.</h4>


    Hugo sat on the plush leather couch in Sanchez''s mansion, absently scrolling through his system status.


    The moment he had gotten back, he had hurriedly checked the rewards of the level up from earlier.


    To be honest, he was a bit disappointed...


    [Ding! Host has leveled up!


    Host has received 50 UHS Credits!


    Host has received 50 UHS Points!


    Allocating Random Stat point... Ding! Stat point has been added to Charisma!]


    Apart from the stat point added to his charisma, the other rewards didn''t excite him as much. He would have loved for it to be another aura, or aura skill. That was what could help him currently.


    After speaking with the system for a bit, he had discovered that he would only receive an aura and aura skill when he had a major level up.


    And the next major level was still level 5!


    Although the UHS credits were also used to purchase auras, he didn''t have enough credits yet.


    The UHS points, on the other hand, were used to unlock gift boxes which contained enchanted items. Obviously, Hugo couldn''t do that here.


    He shook his head bitterly and checked his stats.


    [Stats]


    Looks: 3


    [With a face like that, it''s no wonder your reflection tries to escape the mirror every morning.]


    Charisma: 1


    [Your charisma is so low, even your own shadow refuses to follow you.]


    Communication: 1


    [Communication skills? Barely. But hey, at least your attempts at small talk make great cringeption material.]


    Alpha: 1


    [With an alpha score of one, you''re still not the alpha of your own dreams. Maybe try knitting?]


    Status: 2.5


    [A status score of 2.5 means your imaginary friends can barely remember you as the guy who fart-sneezed during orientation...]


    He was just about to close the tab when his eyes caught something.


    His heart leapt in his chest.


    "What the hell?!" Hugo shrieked, frantically tapping on the screen as if hitting it harder would magically restore his points.


    [Status: 2.5] the system red back, nonchnt as always.


    "System! Why the hell have my points dropped?" Hugo demanded.


    [Because you can''t ride the bike, dumbass.]


    Hugo''s eyes bulged. ''Are you serious? I can''t get full points because I can''t ride a bike? I''m practically a pro at driving cars!''


    "How hard can it be to ride a glorified tricycle?" he muttered.


    Sanchez, perched on the arm of the couch, chuckled. "Well, for you, it could be a life-threatening adventure. Remember when you tried to rollerde?"


    "Hey, that was a one-time thing! I thought I was going to glide like a swan, not facent into a bush!" Hugo retorted, crossing his arms indignantly.


    Sanchez shook his head,ughing. "Alright, alright. I''ll teach you. You know I was a beast on the track before I made it big. I''ll get you sorted."


    "Great! I can totally do this!" Hugo eximed, his confidence bubbling back up. "Just let me show off my skills¡ª"


    Just as Hugo was about to begin his own drivers pitch, Sanchez''s phone rang.


    After a brief, tense conversation, Sanchez sighed and hung up. "Damn it, I gotta leave for an urgent meeting. Sorry, bro, I can''t teach you right now."


    Hugo''s heart sank, but Sanchez wasn''t finished, he sent a message to someone on his phone. "Don''t worry, though. I''ll send Lisa to teach you."


    Hugo''s eyebrows shot up. "Lisa? Isn''t she... like... the finest girl on your team?"


    Hugo had not been at Sanchez''s house for long, but he had been hearing things. He knew most of the other dudes that worked for his cousin were simping for this Lisa like crazy.


    Sanchez smirked knowingly. "Yup, and before you get any funny ideas, no one has ever managed to woo her. She''s like the queen of cold shoulders."


    Hugo''spetitive spirit kicked in. Didn''t he have a system designed to solve that? "What if I could... you know... change that?"


    Sanchezughed out loud. "Bro, if you can get Lisa to sleep with you, I''ll give you fifty thousand dors. But trust me, you have a better chance of taming a lion with a stick of celery."


    Challenge epted. "Deal."


    Sanchez chuckled, shaking his head, his internal thoughts practically written on his face. This guy''s out of his mind. Fifty grand? Yeah, right.


    Even he had failed to woo that girl! She was a block of ice!


    Just then, the door creaked open behind Hugo, and a soft, sultry voice spoke. "You need me?"


    Hugo froze. He hadn''t even turned around yet, but the sound of her voice was enough to make his knees buckle.


    Slowly, he swiveled, only to be met with the sight of Lisa standing there ¡ª a goddess of curves, confidence, and drop-dead beauty.


    Hugo''s jaw dropped so dramatically he feared it might hit the floor. His mind was nk, utterly wiped clean.


    The world slowed down as he took in her perfectly styled brown hair, her wless skin, and those grey eyes that seemed to see right through his very soul.


    It was like a movie moment ¡ª except in Hugo''s head, the soundtrack was him internally screaming;


    ''Atina!''


    The system chimed in, interrupting his reverie.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    [SYSTEM EVALUATION: Lisa ¡ª 8/10. Impressive physical attributes. Extremely low probability of sessful wooing.]


    "An eight?!" Hugo whispered in disbelief. He almost felt insulted for Lisa. Surely she was a ten! A twelve! The system clearly didn''t appreciate true beauty.


    Lisa raised an eyebrow, catching Hugo mid-whisper. "What was that?"


    Hugo''s brain scrambled. "Oh! Uh... nothing! Just... um... admiring your... uh... shoes?"


    Lisa nced down at her sneakers. "Right. You ready to learn how to ride that bike, or are you nning to keep drooling?"


    Sanchez snorted in the background, thoroughly entertained. He could barely contain hisughter. ''Well, there''s your ''you can''t woo her'' dilemma right there!'' he thought.


    Hugo snapped out of it, straightening up. "Oh, yeah! Totally ready. I''m a natural with cars, so this''ll be easy for me. You just have to... you know, guide me through it. Maybe... hold onto me for bnce?"


    Lisa rolled her eyes. "Let''s see if you can even stay upright on the bike first."


    Sanchez, meanwhile, had onest chuckle before walking out, thinking to himself, ''This is gonna be hrious.''

 Chapter 18: Bike Lessons With An 8.

    <h4>Chapter 18: Bike Lessons With An 8.</h4>


    Hugo had never felt so lucky ¡ª or so nervous ¡ª in his entire life.


    There he was, standing next to the sleek electric powerbike, trying to maintain his cool. But it was impossible to stayposed when his instructor was an absolutely stunning Latina, Lisa, with curves that defied gravity.


    She had that effortless, confident vibe that made his brain short-circuit whenever she looked at him.


    "Alright, Hugo," Lisa said, her sultry voice somehow bothmanding and flirty. "Let''s start with you getting on the bike."


    Hugo swallowed hard as Isabe approached him, her hips swaying in a way that made him almost have a nosebleed.


    The motorbike gleamed in the sunlight, but all Hugo could focus on was Lisa''s figure, which seemed to radiate its own kind of heat.


    "Y-Yeah, sure, no problem!" Hugo stammered, trying to act cool but failing miserably as he fumbled with the helmet Sanchez had insisted he wear.


    After a few awkward moments of adjusting straps and nearly strangling himself, he finally managed to secure it on his head.


    Hugo gulped, trying to look suave as he swung his leg over the bike.


    Unfortunately, his foot caught on the seat, and he nearly toppled over before catching himself at thest second.


    ''Damn my short legs!''


    "Smooth," Lisa teased with a grin, her ent making even the mockery sound musical.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Uh, yeah. Totally meant to do that," Hugo mumbled, blushing furiously.


    His hands were sweating, but that was nothingpared to the internal chaos happening in his brain.


    He was supposed to be learning how to ride the bike, but all he could think about was the fact that Lisa was standing close enough for him to smell her perfume ¡ª something citrusy and intoxicating.


    He was so nervous at the moment he didn''t know what to do with himself.


    It wasn''t that he was that much of a simp around women, it was just that she could imbue every if her actions with a shocking amount of sexual intent that was too much for a virgin like him.


    What''s more, it waspletely effortless! She was like a subus!


    Lisa handed him the keys, her fingers brushing against his, sending a jolt through him that had nothing to do with electricity. "You''ve got the basics, right? Just throttle, brake, and bnce. It''s simple."


    He nodded like a bobblehead doll, trying to keep his eyes on the bike and not on the dangerously close neckline of Lisa''s top.


    He twisted the key, and the bike hummed to life beneath him, vibrating slightly as the motor kicked in.


    "Okay, now hold the handlebars. Firm grip," Lisa said, stepping up behind him, her hands resting lightly on his shoulders as she adjusted his posture.


    Hugo felt a jolt of electricity that had nothing to do with the bike. Her touch sent his mind into overdrive. Firm grip? How could he focus on that when all he could think about was... well, her?


    "Are you listening, Hugo?" Lisa asked, leaning in a little closer. He could feel her breath on his neck, and his brain was rapidly turning into mush.


    "Uh-huh, handlebars... grip... grip something," Hugo muttered absentmindedly, his eyes zing over.


    "Okay, now ease on the throttle. Slowly," she instructed, her hands guiding his.


    Hugo twisted the throttle, but with his heart racing and his head filled with visions of slow-motion beach runs with Lisa, he identally gunned it.


    The bike lurched forward with a loud vrrroooom, nearly throwing him off. He squeaked in panic, yanking the throttle back harder.


    The bike shot forward like a rocket, at least it felt like that to Hugo.


    "Whoa! Easy there!" Lisa shouted, running alongside him.


    Hugo''s focus was torn between the bike beneath him and the goddess running beside him. "S-Sorry! I think it''s¡ª"


    "Too much throttle!" Lisa shouted, her voice strained as she tried to keep pace with the speeding bike.


    "R-right!" Hugo managed to croak, his face a bright shade of red. He managed to gradually brake the bike, and a sigh of relief left his lips.


    Lisa stood back a little, biting her lip with amusement. "You good? Try again."


    Hugo adjusted himself on the bike, determined to get it right this time.


    He rolled the throttle more gently and the bike began to move, but his eyes kept darting to the reflection of Lisa in the bike''s mirrors.


    It was like his brain couldn''t decide whether to focus on the bike or... everything else.


    "Okay, now pick up some speed and get ready to brake when I say stop," Lisa instructed, jogging alongside him, her ponytail bouncing.


    Ponytail... bouncing... Hugo''s thoughts drifted off once again.


    He was trying toe up with a usible reason for Lisa to hold him steady again. Maybe a sudden brake malfunction? A loose wheel?


    "Hugo! Brake!" Lisa shouted, snapping him out of his reverie.


    "Wait, what?!" Hugo panicked, yanking both brakes too hard. The bike screeched to a halt, and he was flung forward over the handlebars in a graceless heap. He hit the ground with a thud, sprawled out like a starfish.


    Lisa burst intoughter, her voice echoing around the lot. "Oh my God, Hugo, are you okay?" She walked over, offering a hand to help him up.


    Hugo scrambled to his feet, brushing himself off, trying to salvage what little was left of his dignity. "Y-yeah, yeah, I''m fine. Just, uh... practicing my dismount."


    Lisa chuckled, clearly not buying it. "Your dismount needs as much work as your concentration."


    Hugo grinned sheepishly, desperate to recover. He had a sh of inspiration and activated the aura of zen to pull it off properly.


    "I just wanted to make sure you were paying attention to me, you know?"


    "Trust me, I''ve been paying attention," Lisa replied, her voiceced with humor.


    Hugo blinked. Was that flirting? Did she just flirt with me? His heart did a backflip as he tried to think of something clever to say.


    "So... uh... how about I try it again, and you stand right here, you know, in case I need more... hands-on help," Hugo suggested with a sly smile, patting the seat behind him.


    His words were calm and cool, and Lisa gave him a curious look. Why did he suddenly feel different?


    She raised an eyebrow, appearing amused. "Are you trying to make excuses to touch me, Hugo?"


    "No! No, not at all! I just, uh... safety first, right?" Hugo stammered, suddenly feeling very hot under the cor.


    Lisa shook her head,ughing. "I think you''ve got more than enough safety going on there."


    They went through a few more rounds of Hugo losing concentration every time Lisa adjusted his posture or leaned in too close.


    At one point, he even forgot what the throttle was called and referred to it as the "twisty thing."


    "Okay, let''s take a break," Lisa finally said, wiping tears from her eyes afterughing at another one of Hugo''s failed attempts. "I think you need to cool off."


    Hugo sat down on the curb, feeling both exhrated and defeated. He hadn''t learned much about riding a bike, but at least he got to spend time with Lisa ¡ª and plenty of idental contact.


    Lisa pulled a water bottle from her bag, handing it to him. "You''ll get the hang of it. Eventually."


    Hugo took the bottle and nodded, still trying to think of more ways to get her to touch him again. "Yeah, yeah. I just need, uh, more practice. With your help, of course."


    Lisa rolled her eyes yfully, shaking her head. "You''re hopeless, Hugo."


    He smiled, leaning back and imagining all the ways this "training session" could go on... forever, if he was lucky.

 Chapter 19: Growth.

    <h4>Chapter 19: Growth.</h4>


    Hugo stepped out of the bathroom in a cloud of steam, feeling like a man reborn¡ªexcept instead of majestic, he looked more like a soggy, confused towel monster.


    The towel was barely hanging on to his waist, clinging to him for dear life as he tiptoed across the room to avoid slipping on the floor.


    The mirror, fogged up and blurry, offered him nothing but a vague outline of his half-naked glory.


    He struck what he imagined to be a heroic pose. "Not bad," he muttered to himself, striking a pose that screamed, ''I definitely know what I''m doing.''


    His skin tingled from the hot water, and for once in his life, he felt... refreshed?


    Was it the new routine? The system? His impending execution?


    Afterall, studies have shown that most patients often feel much more alive after being diagnosed with a terminal illness.


    Or maybe it was just the fact he hadn''t embarrassed himself in thest 24 hours. That had to be a record.


    It had been a week since he got the system, and while he still hadn''t fully adjusted, things were... happening.


    First, he still hadn''t attended sses.


    After the whole "ass dragon" incident, Hugo had mastered the art of avoiding human contact on campus.


    He''d be like a ninja ¡ª except instead of dodging deadly weapons, he was dodging eye contact. The mere thought of walking into a ssroom and being recognized as "that guy" sent shivers down his spine.


    He was now fully versed in every back alley, janitor closet, and bush around the university, all to avoid his peers.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The downside? His knowledge of ss material: zero. The upside? Stealth skills had unintentionally leveled up. He had also caught the eyes of the assassin sect patriarch...


    At this rate, he was going to evolve into a hermit!


    Second, he had been seriously training with Sanchez.


    Every day he went to Sanchez''s mansion for "training," which was mostly Sanchez demonstrating his ungodly people skills while Hugo scribbled notes in a journal like aboratory intern.


    Sanchez had given him so many tips in thosest few days that had been enough to fill 3 journals!


    The amount of Rizz knowledge his cousin knew was shocking. Hugo was still in the process of trying to memorize everything!


    "Be confident, Hugo. You have to radiate coolness," Sanchez would say, and he would nod and immediately try to replicate it... by tripping over his own feet.


    Still, hismunication stat had increased by 2 points. Progress!


    Now, instead of tripping over his words and feet, he only tripped over the feet part. He could now talk to humans...


    Kinda.


    Another important thing was his daily bike lessons with Lisa.


    Oh sweet sweet Lisa.


    Although Hugo could nowfortably ride the electric power bike, why on earth would he let her know that?


    As long as she thought he was struggling, the lessons would continue, and there would be more of those sweet, sweet moments of contact.


    "Oops, sorry, can you just, uh, hold me steady?" And every time she rolled her eyes butplied, it was like a mini victory.


    Little did she know, Hugo was practically ready to join the X Games. But the lessons had to go on... for educational purposes, of course.


    The most shocking thing though, was his height growth of 2 inches!


    Hugo had been ecstatic when he noticed he''d grown taller. He''d looked in the mirror and done a double take.


    "Is that me?" Turns out the te unlock pills actually worked! He''d walked around with a new swagger ¡ª that extra two inches really did wonders for his confidence.


    Now, whenever he bumped into something, it wasn''t just his clumsiness; it was his new height adjustment, or so he kept telling himself.


    He was basically a giant now, in his own mind at least.


    "I might as well be an NBA prospect at this point," he mused with a smirk, knowing full well no one was around to hear his delusions of grandeur.


    He sincerely hoped the system would give out more te unlock pills, afterall, he was still considered short at 5''7.


    As for the daily missions? Easy.


    Afterpleting a string of daily missions (which included tasks like "Make a womanugh" and "Compliment Lisa without sounding creepy" ¡ª not as easy as it sounds), Hugo had racked up enough credits to buy a new aura.


    With the credits he''d racked up, he could finally buy a new aura that would (hopefully) make him look a little less like an awkward string bean and more like a confident, slightly less awkward string bean.


    He was hoping for something cool, like "Aura of Awesomeness," but the options so far seemed more in the range of "Aura of Not Embarrassing Yourself (Too Much)."


    Still, after searching for a long time, he had managed to find another godly aura that would definitely improve his interactions with women.


    In fact, this particr aura could be said to be broken!


    He could be said to be quite lucky to get it, after all, the auras avable in the shop tab refreshed every 24hrs.


    Just then, a voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "Yo, Hugo, you done dressing yet?" It was Collins, peeking in from the other room.


    His amazing cologne wafted into the room like a divine immortal''s fart. He was definitely dressed to kill...


    Hugo''s heart raced. He suddenly remembered why he''d taken the extra-long shower and why his anxiety was bubbling again.


    The twins!


    They were meeting the twins again tonight!


    Sanchez had somehow managed to set up another double date with the twins. It wasn''t really a date per say, it was just a simple meeting after their game.


    But to Hugo, this simple meeting could be the difference between life and death!


    Hugo scrambled to pull on his clothes, muttering to himself, "I just have to not mess this up...again. This time, it''ll go perfectly."


    He had the system, some newly unlocked height, and a bike-riding ability he wasn''t quite ready to show off just yet. He also had 3 journals worth of Rizz knowledge.


    Yeah. What could possibly go wrong?

 Chapter 20: The High Barber.

    <h4>Chapter 20: The High Barber.</h4>


    Hugo had no idea what he was getting himself into when Collins, his yboy roommate, decided it was time to "fix that disaster on your forehead."


    His bangs had be somewhat of a safety nket over the years, covering his eyes and, conveniently, his social life.


    Anytime he smoothed his bangs, he had felt safe and protected. Like he was hiding behind a curtain.


    But Collins, ever thedies'' man, insisted that no self-respecting woman would ever take him seriously with "that mop" hanging over his face.


    So, despite his better judgment, Hugo found himself being dragged to the most questionable barbershop he''d ever seen.


    And boy, did it look questionable!


    The neon sign outside flickered ominously, spelling out "Cutting Edge" in bright green letters, though a few were missing, leaving it to read "Cuttin Edg."


    Hugo gulped.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Don''t worry, man," Collins assured him, shing one of his trademark grins. "This ce is legit. Well, mostly. But trust me, you''ll look like a whole new guy when we''re done here."


    "Define ''mostly,''" Hugo muttered under his breath as they walked in. How could a shop be ''mostly'' legit?


    The inside of the shop looked just as sketchy as the outside, with mismatched furniture and a haze of smoke hanging in the air.


    Posters of outdated hairstyles lined the walls, and the faint sound of heavy metal music thudded from a hidden speaker.


    Behind the counter stood the barber¡ªan old man with a wild grey beard and bloodshot eyes, who looked like he''d been riding a rollercoaster that never stopped.


    He greeted them with a nod, though his head swayed a little too much, like a bobblehead doll that had taken one too many hits.


    "This here''s Old Rick," Collins said, pping Hugo on the back. "Best barber in town. He''s been cutting hair since before you were born."


    "Yeah, and maybe before he was born too," Hugo whispered as he nervously eyed the tools scattered across the counter.


    Half of them looked like they belonged in a medieval torture chamber rather than a barbershop.


    It made him feel extremely unsafe...


    Old Rick shuffled over, his bloodshot eyes squinting as he tried to focus on Hugo.


    "So, what are we doin'' today, kid? A little trim? Someyers? Or maybe a mohawk? Mohawks arein'' back, y''know."


    Hugo swallowed hard, ncing at Collins for reassurance. Collins just grinned and gave him a thumbs-up.


    Since Hugo really didn''t know much about haircuts, he simply chose the easiest option. At least, he knew not to attempt the mohawk.


    "Uh, just... just the bangs, I guess?" Hugo stammered, trying to keep his voice steady.


    Old Rick blinked slowly, as if processing the request through a fog.


    "Bangs, right... bangs..." He fumbled around for a pair of scissors, knocking over a bottle of mystery liquid in the process. Hugo winced as the smell of cheap alcohol filled the air.


    Rick finally found the scissors, but his hands were shaking so badly that Hugo started to regret ever stepping foot in the shop.


    "Y-You sure you''re up for this?" Hugo asked hesitantly, watching as Rick positioned the scissors over his bangs.


    "Rx, kid," Old Rick slurred, snipping at the air a few times before diving in. "I''ve been doin'' this for decades. Got a few tricks up my sleeve, you''ll see."


    Hugo closed his eyes and tried to rx as the scissors started to cut. But then, there was a sudden, sharp tug, and Hugo''s eyes flew open in rm.


    "Whoops," Rick muttered, sounding more amused than apologetic. He had taken a huge chunk out of Hugo''s bangs, leaving a jagged line that looked like it had been chewed by a rabid animal.


    "What the hell?!" Hugo yelped, staring at his reflection in horror.


    His bangs were gone¡ªno, worse than gone.


    They were mangled beyond recognition, leaving him with a weird, uneven fringe that made him look like he''d lost a bet!


    "Rick, what are you doin'', man?" Collins jumped in, waving his hands in the air. "You''re supposed to be fixing him, not turning him into a science experiment!"


    A science experiment?!


    Old Rick blinked slowly, his eyes struggling to focus. "Rx, rx... just a little... adjustment..."


    He reached for the clippers next, his movements slow and unsteady, like he was trying to catch butterflies with his bare hands.


    "No, no, no¡ªwait!" Hugo tried to protest, but it was toote. The clippers buzzed to life and Rick started shaving away what little was left of his bangs.


    He was going at it like he was shearing a sheep, and before Hugo knew it, half his head was almost bald while the other half still had tufts of hair sticking out at odd angles.


    "Are you kidding me?!" Hugo shouted, staring at the mirror in disbelief. "I look like a potato with a wig!"


    Collins tried to stifle augh but failed miserably. "Dude... you look like an extra from a bad sci-fi movie."


    Hugo was fuming, his face turning red as he red at the barber. "This is ridiculous! You''ve ruined my hair! I''m going to leave the worst review this shop has ever seen. People will nevere back here, not even for a refund!"


    At the mention of a bad review, something seemed to click in Old Rick''s foggy mind. His eyes cleared for a moment, and he looked at Hugo with sudden seriousness.


    "Wait, wait, kid. Don''t do that. I can fix this¡ªI swear. Just... give me one more chance."


    Hugo crossed his arms, ring. Did he even have a choice at this point? Did he dare to walk out looking like this?


    "You''ve got five minutes."


    Old Rick nodded vigorously, his hands suddenly steady as he grabbed the clippers again.


    This time, his movements were precise, almost surgical as he evened out Hugo''s hair, transforming the chaotic mess into a neat buzz cut.


    It was as if the threat of a bad review had sobered him up instantly.


    "There," Rick said, stepping back with a look of satisfaction. "How''s that?"

 Chapter 21: Inner Commentary.

    <h4>Chapter 21: Inner Commentary.</h4>


    Hugo slowly turned to the mirror, cautiously optimistic. To his surprise, the buzz cut actually looked... good. Really good.


    The sharp lines and even length made him look almost like a different person. He touched his head, feeling the smoothness of the cut.


    "I gotta admit, I look pretty damn good," Hugo muttered, still a bit stunned.


    He looked a lot more masculine with this cut, he was even feeling like an action movie star!


    Like Jason Statham but, like... shorter and less... y''know, Jason.


    Collins whistled. "Damn, Hugo. You actually look like someone who might get a second date now."


    Old Rick grinned, his eyes still slightly zed but proud of his handiwork. "Told ya I had a few tricks up my sleeve."


    Hugo sighed, feeling a mix of relief and lingering anger. "Next time, though, maybey off the... whatever it is you were on."


    Rick nodded sagely. "Good call, kid. Good call."


    After he had been properly cleaned up by old Rick, Hugo unceremoniously stood up to leave.


    "Uh... yeah, about that," Hugo started, spinning around to face the barber. "This wasn''t what we agreed on, man. I asked for a trim, not a full-on buzz cut. I can''t pay for this¡ªthis is false advertising!" He crossed his arms, hoping the sheer power of his new look would back up his words.


    The barber''s smile faded, reced by azy but undeniably sinister smirk.


    "Oh, you don''t wanna pay, huh?" His eyes gleamed as he picked up a pair of scissors from his workstation, flipping them around in his fingers like some sort of blunted ninja weapon.


    "You see these bad boys? They ain''t just for haircuts. You ever wonder what happens when someone tries to skip out on a bill?"


    Hugo gulped, his mind racing as the barber casually reached for an electric razor.


    "I''ve got a lot of tools, bro. Tools that can do... damage." The way the barber said damage made Hugo''s blood run cold. He could practically feel the threat hanging in the air like the smell of burnt hair.


    Hugo swallowed hard, suddenly very aware of the fact that his only defense was the thin gown draped over his body. "W-What do you mean?"


    The barber stepped closer, the smell of weed strong now, like a hazy fog surrounding him.


    "Ever had your nose hairs trimmed so perfectly that you can smell things three miles away? ''Cause I can do that. Or... I can take away that privilege forever."


    Hugo''s face drained of color. "My nose hairs?"


    The barber smirked, lowering the scissors ominously. "Oh, I can do worse. You think this buzz cut was extreme? I can take your eyebrows.


    Imagine that¡ªwalking around, eyebrow-less, people thinking you''re in a constant state of surprise. I''ve got tweezers, bro. Precision tweezers."


    Hugo''s eyes widened in pure terror. He could already picture himself walking around campus, his perfectly symmetrical eyebrows now just a memory, reced by two barren patches of skin.


    "N-No! My eyebrows are sacred, man!"


    The barber leaned in closer, his voice a whisper. "You know what else I can do? Half a mustache. That''s right. Just one side. Imagine that, bro. You''d be lopsided for life."


    Hugo started sweating. "Half a mustache? Are you insane? That''s... that''s social suicide!"


    The barber spun the scissors one more time and then clicked them shut with a menacing snip. "You don''t wanna find out, bro."


    That was the final straw. Hugo''s survival instincts kicked in, and he frantically grabbed his wallet, fumbling to pull out a wad of cash.


    "Okay, okay! I''ll pay! Just keep the tweezers and scissors away from my face, man!"


    The barber gave a satisfied nod, pocketing the cash and grinning.


    "That''s what I thought. Now, don''t go skipping out on your next appointment, bro. I''ve got a full set of tools, and trust me, you don''t wanna know what they can do."


    Hugo and Collins, still trembling from the thought of living with half a mustache, bolted from the chair and dashed towards the door. But just as they were about to escape, the barber called out after him.


    "Hey, bro!"


    Hugo froze, his hand halfway to the door handle. He turned around slowly, his heart pounding in his chest. "Y-Yeah?"


    The barber grinnedzily. "Next time, I''ll give you the eyebrow fade. It''s gonna be sick."


    Hugo swallowed a scream and bolted out of the shop, his hand instinctively shielding his eyebrows as if they were under immediate threat.


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    As he stumbled into the sunlight, he caught his reflection in a nearby shop window, he had to admit... he did look pretty damn good.


    [Ding! Looks +1!]


    Just not good enough to risk his brows over it again.


    _____


    As Hugo and Collins walked into the gymnasium, it felt like the air had thickened with something... something magical.


    The sounds of the crowd cheering were nothing more than background noise as Hugo''s eyes locked onto the volleyball teams warming up.


    Girls. In tight, figure-hugging uniforms. Leaping, stretching, flexing muscles that were almost blinding in their athletic glory.


    Hugo blinked slowly, as if time itself had decided to slow down just for this moment. His brain short-circuited instantly.


    Their athletic, toned bodies moved like graceful, powerful machines¡ªmachines of beauty, Hugo corrected himself, mentally wiping away a little drool already pooling at the corner of his mouth.


    Collins elbowed him, grinning. "Told you this was the ce to be."


    Hugo nodded, already lost in his thoughts. "Oh yeah... this is... an educational experience." His voice sounded far-off, but his mind? His mind was absolutely lewd.


    The match started, and that''s when Hugo''s brain decided to turn the filter offpletely. His innermentary began to spiral out of control.


    ''That serve... That''s not just a ball¡ªit''s a weapon of mass seduction. Forget dodging it, I''d let it hit me in the face if it means she''de over and ask if I''m okay. Heck, I''d y dead just to get mouth-to-mouth. Is that desperate? Yes. Do I care? Absolutely not.''


    His gaze flickered to another yer, her toned legs moving with deadly precision as she leaped into the air for a spike.


    Hugo''s jaw dropped a little further. He could practically hear the imaginary slow-motion music y in his head as if it were a movie scene.


    ''Good lord, that jump... She''s basically flying. An angel, in human form. I bet she can dunk a basketball too. If she dunked on me, I''d thank her. Like, ''Please, more, crush my soul with your athleticism.'' And those legs? They''re like... engineered perfection. If legs were designed by gods, these would be the prototype. I need to sit down.''


    He was already sitting down. That fact barely registered.


    Meanwhile, Collins was also in the same state of nearatose wonder. His eyes followed the ball but his brain had fully disconnected from the idea of volleyball being a sport.


    Another yer dove dramatically across the court to save the ball, her body glistening with a light sheen of sweat.


    Hugo''s mind went to a ce so ridiculous it should have been illegal.


    ''That dive... that form... It''s like she''s part dolphin, part goddess, with a side of majestic deer. That''s it. That dive though. Imagine her doing that in slow-motion, just diving into... never mind, too inappropriate. But still. Olympic-level excellence here. They should give medals for how hot these athletes are.''


    Collins leaned over, eyes still glued to the game, his voice low and reverent. "Bro, these girls aren''t just athletes. They''re... living art. Look at that form."


    Hugo nodded, not really hearing him but totally agreeing anyway. "Yeah... art... I''m learning so much about volleyball... and life..."


    The match was now fully underway, and Hugo''s mentalmentary ramped up.


    Every serve, every jump, every stretch sent his mind into a flurry of increasingly absurd thoughts.


    The girls on both teams were giving their all, diving, spiking, and serving with incredible skill.


    But Hugo and Collins weren''t appreciating the athleticism. No, they were too busy making faces like they were front-row at a fashion show, eyes bulging out like cartoon characters.


    At one point, Collins actually sighed. "Man, I''m never leaving this gym. I might just live here now."


    Hugo nodded, barely paying attention to him as he muttered under his breath, "Yeah... yeah, me too... I''ll sleep under the bleachers if I have to."


    By now, the drool was real. They probably looked like two hungry dogs staring at a steak buffet.


    A yer ran toward the, getting ready to spike the ball again, her form perfect, her muscles coiled with power. Hugo''s brain short-circuited.


    ''Is it possible... to be in love with an entire volleyball team? Because I think I am... This is love, right? This is how it feels? My heart''s racing, my palms are sweaty, and I think I''ve forgotten how to blink.''


    As the game ended with a final, thunderous spike, Hugo sighed, slumping back in his seat. "I think I''m emotionally exhausted from this."


    Collins, equally dazed, nodded in agreement. "That was... a spiritual experience. We have been blessed today."


    They both felt extremely fulfilled, despite not knowing which team even won.


    The girls waved at the crowd and started walking off the court. Hugo almost fainted as two of them, particrly stunning brtes, shot a nce their way and waved. "They... they saw us."


    Collins clutched his chest. "Bro, I''m not gonna survive. Call an ambnce."


    They sat there for a moment, both of thempletely worn out from their own internal fantasies.


    [Ding! System Online: Congrats, you have sessfully humiliated yourself and your dignity is now irrecoverable.]


    But then again, it was totally worth it.


    Now, it was time to get into action!

 Chapter 22: Titty Studs!

    <h4>Chapter 22: Titty Studs!</h4>


    Hugo sat nervously in the stall of the gymnasium''s bathroom, staring at his system screen as his finger hovered over the [Spin] button.


    He was about to spend 50 precious system points on a gift box. This was going to be busy first spin on this system, and he hoped he got some good stuffs.


    "C''mon, give me something good," he muttered, his voice low and full of desperation. His eyes were half closed and his forehead was covered in sweat.


    "Please, I''ve worked so hard. I''ve dealt with Collins'' nonsense, survived Lisa''s bike lessons, and even put up with Sanchez''s roasting... I deserve this."


    The moment he tapped on the [Spin] tab, the huge wheel began to move slowly.


    [Ding! System activated: 50 points will be deducted for gift box. Probability of receiving rare item: extremely low.]


    Hugo sighed, feeling a little attacked by the system''sck of faith. But he wasn''t giving up. Since the system was acting up today, he was going to sweet talk it into giving him something good!


    "Okay, okay, listen," he whispered, coaxing the system like a used car salesman. "You want to make me look good, right? I mean, I''m out here trying to bag Lily tonight, and if you just give me something... I dunno... spicy... something that''ll help me really rise to the asion, we can make magic happen."


    There were three sections in the huge wheel. One section was grey, and it upied the most space on the wheel.


    There was a blue section as well, that upied about 70% of the remaining space, while the gold section upied the rest.


    Based on logic, the gold section definitely had the best items. Hugo prayed the needlended on this section.


    The wheel continued to spin.


    When he saw that the wheel was spinning too fast and would soon go beyond the gold section, he began to plead.


    "No! No! Slow down! You''re going too fast! I''m almost there!"


    He could almost feel his rare item in his grasp. This wheel had to stop spinning!


    Outside the stall, a random guy washing his hands paused, hearing snippets of Hugo''s strange pleading.


    "Yes! Oh yes! Just like that! A little more!" Hugo continued,pletely unaware of how lewd he sounded.


    The guy outside blinked, his eyes wide, and muttered to himself, "What the hell is going on in there? These guys are¡ª" He shook his head in disbelief and rushed out of the bathroom, clearly traumatized.


    [Ding! Supreme Titty Studs acquired!]


    Hugo nearly jumped out of his seat. "Supreme what now?" He checked the screen, and sure enough, there they were¡ªtwo tiny, gleaming studs shaped like miniature breasts.


    They looked so identical to the real thing Hugo had the urge to give them a little squeeze...


    "What the...?" He tilted his head, staring at the ridiculousness of it all. Then he read the item description:


    Supreme Titty Studs (Rare): Increase looks and charisma by 1 point each (to a max of 7). Beware, may cause excessive staring.


    Hugo blinked once, then twice. He burst intoughter. He couldn''t believe it. Was his luck that good?


    Getting a Rare item on the first try?!


    Without hesitation, he put them on, looking into the grimy mirror above the sink. Thankfully they were maic so he was able to put them on instantly.


    As soon as they clicked into ce, something incredible happened. His reflection shimmered slightly, like a filter had been applied to his entire face.


    His features sharpened, his jawline looked more defined, his hair practically glistened.


    He leaned closer, his eyes gleaming. "Holy crap... I look good!"


    He checked his stats quickly:


    [Stats]


    Looks: 4(+1)


    [With a face like that, your reflection no longer tries to escape the mirror. It merely closes it''s eyes...]


    Charisma: 1(+1)


    [You are good enough for mannequins... as long as you don''t move...]


    Communication: 2


    [You can barely express yourself to your smartphone ai.]


    Alpha: 2


    [With an alpha score of 2, you''re the second cousin of that random guy who passed by the alpha in your dreams...]


    Status: 3


    [A duck with a cool bike.]


    Despite the hefty dose of Insults the system once again hurled at Hugo, he didn''t even care. He was too busy grinning like a lunatic, flexing in the mirror for absolutely no reason.


    "Tonight''s the night, baby. Lily''s gonna fall for this. I''ve got the height, I''ve got the studs, and I''ve got another door aura. Game on."


    Hugo took onest look at himself, whispering mantras of determination under his breath.


    "I''m gonna charm her pants off. She won''t know what hit her. Smooth like butter, alpha vibes, exuding masculinity and confidence. Let''s go!"


    With newfound confidence (and ridiculous titty studs), he swaggered out of the bathroom.


    The second he stepped out, he spotted Collins standing near the gymnasium entrance with the twins. Lily and Tily, identical but still so distinct to him.


    Lily''s beauty nearly knocked him out like a punch to the gut.


    He activated his new aura at once.


    After activating the ''Aura of Alpha'', his entire body radiated an intense masculine energy.


    He strode towards them with the grace of someone who hadpletely forgotten the time he''d once crop-dusted a whole auditorium.


    As he approached, he noticed Lily''s jaw practically drop.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    She hadn''t seen him since theirst semi date, and now he''d not only grown two inches, but his hair was cut in a sharp buzz that made him look way more mature.


    The added glow from the studs? A game-changer.


    "Whoa," Lisa murmured, taking in his height, his haircut, and the strange but alluring sparkle from his ears. "What happened to you?"


    "I know, right?" Hugo said, winking at her. "New me."


    Collins stepped in just then, giving Hugo a sly grin. "Alright, bro, looks like it''s showtime. You sure you can handle Lily?"


    Hugo smirked. "Oh, I''ve got my ways. You just watch."


    Collins raised an eyebrow. "Good luck, you''ll need it."


    Then, lowering his voice in a secretive whisper, Collins added, "Just so you know, Tily''s on board with me tonight. She''s been giving me those vibes all evening. You take Lily and¡ªwell¡ªyou know how it is."


    Hugo winked back, but inside, he was already preparing his game n. Tonight is the night. The aura, the stats, the studs... let''s get it.


    Lily looked up as Hugo reached them, and for a brief moment, he almost lost his cool. She was even more gorgeous up close¡ªher soft, wless skin practically glowing in the dim gym light.


    "Hey, Lily," Hugo said, trying to keep his voice deep and confident. "I was thinking... we could go for a little ride on my bike tonight. Just you and me."


    He had activated his Aura of Alpha again for good measure, letting it wash over him, bolstering his confidence.


    Lily looked at him for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly, but then she smiled. "Alright, Hugo," she said with a slight smirk. "Let''s see what you''ve got."


    Hugo''s heart practically jumped out of his chest in victory. It''s happening. It''s really happening!


    With a grin, he turned back to Collins, giving him a subtle thumbs-up.


    Collins, still hanging back, gave him a look that was equal parts impressed and shocked. It was as if he''d just witnessed the impossible.


    As Hugo and Lily began to walk towards his bike, Collins'' Uber pulled up.


    Before hopping in with Tily, he whispered to Hugo, "I don''t know how you did it, man, but... respect. Just don''t blow it."


    Hugo smirked. Blow it? Nah. Tonight, I''m going all the way.

 Chapter 23: Watch out!

    <h4>Chapter 23: Watch out!</h4>


    Hugo was in heaven. Well, more specifically, he was on a bike ride with Lily clinging to his back, but in his mind, this was pure bliss.


    No, this was heaven! He was right beside the angels at this particr blessed moment!


    Despite the fact that he was riding a bike, Hugo''s brain was actually on autopilot, sting a strange medley of random song lyrics that didn''t make any sense.


    In fact, it was absolute nonsense.


    ''Take me to your tacond, where the moon is made of cheese...,


    Squeeze me baby, like a ketchup bottle...''


    Hugo chuckled to himself, he was thoroughly enjoying the bike ride. The crisp night air brushed past his face as he smoothly maneuvered down the streets.


    But then he felt it¡ªthe undeniable sensation of Lily''s chest squishing against his back as she hugged his waist tighter.


    Hugo''s mind shirt circuited. ''Holy moly! Such softness!''


    It wasn''t just a hug¡ªit was a boob hug. His eyes went wide, and for a second, he almost forgot how to breathe.


    His mind went nk for a couple more seconds, before filling back up with pure, blissful chaos.


    ''Holy... Is really this heaven?'', he thought, barely able to keep the goofy grin off his face. Even his thoughts had typos at this moment. Clearly he was feeling ecstatic.


    This was the most intimate he had ever been with a woman that wasn''t his family his whole life!


    At least, not in his dreams!


    But then, an evil idea slithered its way into his mind. Imaginary horns sprouted atop his head and his skin turned reddish. Scales grew over his skin and a long tail swished behind him.


    He was transforming... evolving into demon mode...


    Vroom!


    With a devilish grin, Hugo twisted the throttle, causing the bike to lurch forward with a sudden burst of speed. Lily, surprised, hugged him even tighter.


    s, this only made matters worse.


    ''Oh my God, she''s hugging me tighter! More!'' he mentally cackled, feeling like some sort of mad scientist who had just discovered the form for eternal happiness.


    Without thinking twice, he did it again¡ªanother sharp burst of eleration. This time he went crazy with it. The bike almost teleported forward.


    Lily squealed and clung to him like her life depended on it, and Hugo couldn''t help butugh inwardly.


    Each time he sped up, she held him closer. This was a cycle he was more than willing to continue.


    His mind was flooded with thoughts like, ''If this is wrong, I don''t ever want to be right.'' and wait till I tell Sanchez all about this...''


    But then, reality snapped back. "WATCH OUT!" Lily screamed in his ear.


    Hugo''s heart skipped a beat. He snapped his attention forward just in time to see a car pulling out from a side street, right in their path.


    Time seemed to slow down, and for a brief, horrifying moment, Hugo saw his entire life sh before his eyes¡ªthough mostly it was just random images of boobs, tacos, and lonely sessions spent in the toilet.


    ''I''m dead! I''m dead!''


    Before the panic could fully consume him though, something magical happened.


    It was the system that came to save the day!


    His Aura of Zen activated automatically, washing over him like a soothing wave of calm.


    The aura washed over him like a tranquil wave, and everything seemed to move in slow motion. His mind grew calm and the panic disappeared like it had never existed.


    In the face of such imminent danger and possible death, Hugo''s thought was...


    ''£¤¡ê€£¤¡é^*#''


    Actually, he wasn''t thinking of anything at that moment. He simply reacted, like a programmed bot.


    He swerved the bike gracefully around the car, his mind clear as a monk''s meditation.


    After the swift maneuver, the aura automatically deactivated once again. And he could finally form cohesive thoughts once again.


    For a moment, he was stunned. ''Did I... did I just pull that off?'' His inner monologue switched from panic to straight-up disbelief. ''I am... a god!''


    ''I''m a genius! I''m a goddamn hero!''


    Lily, still glued to his back, was breathing heavily, clearly shaken by the near death experience.


    Hugo, trying to y it cool, remembered Sanchez''s advice: Defuse awkward situations with irrelevant information.


    "Wow, Lily," he called over his shoulder, "you''re hugging me so tight, I''m starting to think you might be trying to perform the Heimlich maneuver or something. Except I''m not choking." Heughed awkwardly, hoping she wouldn''t notice how much his voice was shaking.


    She didn''t respond.


    Abort! Abort! Hugo felt he had messed up once again. His red horns and scales receded and his transformation ended.


    ''I''ve messed up¡ª''


    Suddenly, Lily began tough. Hugo''s brows furrowed as he panicked a little.


    ''Has she lost her mind due to fear?!...''


    He was tempted to search for the location of the nearest mental health hospital, but stopped when she muttered under her breath that sounded like; "That was so cool..."


    He finally rxed, although it was hard to do so when his heart was grossing 300 beats per minute.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    He had almost died, after all! It wasn''t really cool at all!


    Still reeling from the adrenaline rush, he finally slowed the bike down.


    His hands were mmy, and his mind was racing. But before he could process what had just happened, the bike gave a sudden jolt and slowed even more¡ªthen stoppedpletely.


    Hugo''s stomach sank. He twisted the throttle. Nothing. He pressed buttons on the dashboard. Still nothing.


    Then, like the universe itself wasughing at him, the disy on the bike''s screen blinked with a single, soul-crushing message: Battery empty.


    "Fuck me," Hugo muttered under his breath, feeling his entire world crumble around him. Now? Seriously?


    Lily leaned slightly to the side. "Is everything okay?"


    "Uh, yeah! Totally!" Hugo babbled, trying to keep his voice calm. "Just, uh, recalibrating the engine. You know, high-tech stuff. These electric bikes, am I right?" He forced augh, but inside, he was screaming.


    What am I supposed to do now?!

 Chapter 24: The Perfect Place For A Disaster.

    <h4>Chapter 24: The Perfect ce For A Disaster.</h4>


    Hugo''s electric bike wheezed like an asthmatic pigeon before dyingpletely, right in the middle of the road. The screen flickered onest time as if to say "good luck, buddy," then went ck.


    His heart sank.


    "No. No. NO!" he groaned, fiddling with the throttle as if it had a secret reset button.


    Spoiler: it didn''t.


    He coasted it to the side of the road, mentally calcting how much he could sell the useless hunk of metal for scrap.


    He nced nervously at Lily, hoping she hadn''t noticed the catastrophe. His mind scrambled for excuses.


    ''Do I tell her the bike just... uh... needs to rest? Maybe say I wanted to park here for... the view? Yeah, totally romantic, just a view of traffic and potholes...''


    How was he supposed to tell Lily that their grand "romantic" ride was over?


    As he fumbled for words, trying to piece together a half-baked exnation, Lily gasped, her eyes lighting up. "Oh my God, Hugo! How did you know this is my favorite restaurant?!"


    Hugo blinked, following her gaze. A neon sign glowed above the entrance of a fancy, modern restaurant called "Shrouded Delights."


    Favorite restaurant? He hadn''t even noticed it. He was too busy trying to perform CPR on his bike.


    His heart skipped, then sped up as Sanchez''s voice echoed in his head: Anything she likes? Make it your favorite too. Twist it. Own it.


    A split second of panic washed over him before he pped on a wide grin, activating his "aura of alpha" like a switch being flicked.


    He straightened up, broadened his shoulders, and let his face morph into the confident smirk Sanchez always told him to use¡ªone that said, "I''m the captain of this sinking ship, and we''re all going to enjoy the ride."


    "Of course, I knew," Hugo said, his voiceced with authority. "I''ve beening here forever. But I didn''t think you''d catch on to my favorite ce this quick. You''re trying to be like me, aren''t you?"


    Lily''s eyes sparkled, utterly believing him. "No way! You''re such a foodie! You''ve got great taste, Hugo!"


    Foodie? Taste?


    Hugo could barely afford instant noodles, let alone whatever cuisine they served in a ce that probably charged you for the air.


    This girl needed to remember that he was still a student! He was barely even one!


    But he leaned into it, remembering Sanchez''s other piece of advice: The key to a girl''s heart is food.


    "Well, since we''re already here..." he began, trying to sound casual while internally spiraling into a full-on budgeting crisis.


    ''What could I even buy here with ten bucks? Do they charge for napkins?'' He was praying the ce had some sort of discount menu for broke idiots.


    "Let''s get something to eat." His smile was almost like a grimace at this point. He could already see the huge red minus in his bank ount...


    They stepped inside, and Hugo''s stomach dropped the second he took in the sleek d¨¦cor.


    Dim lighting, expensive-looking minimalist furniture, and servers who seemed like they could sense the financial status of a customer from a mile away.


    He could already hear his wallet sobbing. Abort mission. Abort!


    The hostess, dressed in all ck like a secret agent, approached with a smile that was far too weing for Hugo''sfort. "Wee to Shrouded Delights. Tonight, you''ll be dining in a private room¡ª"


    ''Private room?! Is this a VIP situation? Oh God, does that cost extra?''


    "¡ªand all of our guests enjoy their meals... while blindfolded."


    "Blindfolded?" Hugo repeated, feeling like he''d just walked into a twisted game show. "As in... we can''t see anything?"


    The hostess smiled serenely. "Exactly! It heightens your other senses. The experience is one of a kind."


    One of a kind? Hugo couldn''t even see the prices! How was he supposed to know what kind of disaster he was ordering?


    He nced at Lily, who was practically bouncing on her feet. "This is so cool! You''ve gotta admit, Hugo, this ce is amazing!"


    "Amazing," he echoed weakly, sweat gathering under his cor.


    They were escorted into a room shrouded in heavy curtains, the only lighting from a tiny candle on the table. The hostess handed them both silk blindfolds.


    Lily was already tying hers with the excitement of someone about to embark on an adventure.


    Hugo, on the other hand, was tying his blindfold with the enthusiasm of someone about to walk into a dark alley full of financial doom.


    Okay, stay calm. Think.


    Maybe there''s some budget option hidden in the menu. Hugo fumbled with the menu, his fingers tracing the raised lettering.


    He couldn''t see a damn thing and could only guess what he was ordering based on vague descriptions like "delightful morsel" or "luxurious fusion."


    Luxurious? That''s a dangerous word.


    He squinted through the blindfold as if that would somehow help him decipher the cryptic names.


    ''Please, just be a sd. Just let this ''heavenly bite'' be a sd.''


    "What are you getting?" Lily asked, the excitement in her voice giving him a jolt of panic.


    "Uh... something... light?" Hugo replied, trying to sound breezy while internally chanting please don''t be expensive, please don''t be expensive like a mantra.


    "Good choice! I think I''ll go for the ''decadent surprise''!"


    Decadent? Hugo''s brain went into overdrive, calcting how much a word like that would set him back. ''There goes my entire bank ount!''


    They ced their orders, and the server vanished, leaving them in the quiet darkness of the private room.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    As the minutes ticked by, Hugo could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on him.


    His aura of alpha had long flickered out, reced by sheer terror. ''This was supposed to be a no-dor date. How did I end up blindfolded in a luxury restaurant with no idea what I''m paying for?!''


    Still, when images of Lily''s superb figure shed into his mind, especially that particr one where her ass jiggled intensely after a serve, he grew optimistic once again.


    ''Eat well, hehe, I intend to get my money''s worth!''

 Chapter 25: Feeding Disaster!

    <h4>Chapter 25: Feeding Disaster!</h4>


    The first course arrived, and Hugo, determined to keep his cool, reached for what he thought was his spoon. Instead, he grabbed Lily''s hand.


    "Uh, Hugo... that''s my hand," Lily said, stifling augh.


    "Oh! Sorry, just making sure you''re still there," Hugo joked, trying to save face as he fumbled for his actual spoon.


    Finally, he found it and managed to scoop up some soup. Feeling proud of himself, he confidently brought the spoon to his mouth¡ªor at least, he thought he did.


    Instead, he poured the entire spoonful of hot soup down the front of his dope jacket.


    His only dope jacket!


    "Ah! Hot, hot, hot!" Hugo yelped, frantically wiping at the mess, which only made it worse. The blindfold wasn''t doing him any favours, and the more he wiped, the more the soup seemed to spread across his jacket.


    Lily, trying to hold back herughter, asked, "Are you okay? Do you need help?"


    "No, no, I''ve got this!" Hugo insisted, though the situation was quickly spiralling out of control.


    He decided to try his luck with the next dish. He felt around before picking up a te that contained what felt like soggy tissues...


    ''This must be sd'', he thought, after taking a whiff of one of the tissues.


    He figured there was no way he could mess this one up. All he had to do was spear some lettuce and maybe a crouton¡ªsimple enough, right?


    Unfortunately, things were never that simple for Hugo.


    As he carefully navigated his fork toward the sd, he identally knocked over the small dish of dressing, sending it cascading across the table. The oily vinaigrette quickly pooled around the base of the candle, causing the me to flicker ominously.


    "Uh, did something just spill?" Lily asked, her tone a mix of concern and amusement.


    "Nothing to worry about!" Hugo lied, desperately trying to mop up the mess with his napkin. But in his blind panic, he somehow managed to dip the corner of the napkin into the me, setting it alight.


    "Holy¡ª!" Hugo yelped, quickly tossing the ming napkin onto his te, where it sizzled for a moment before fizzling out.


    The smell of singed fabric filled the air, mingling with the scent of vinaigrette.


    "What was that noise?" Lily asked, now genuinely concerned. She had beenfortably eating the food like she had a third eye or something.


    It appeared being blindfolded had no effect on her.


    "Just, uh, adding a bit of ir to the evening," Hugo replied weakly, praying she couldn''t smell the burnt napkin.


    He hadn''t eaten a single bite of food! He wanted to cry!


    After realizing that eating sd would be too difficult for his current dexterity stats, he decided to go for the easiest option: a basket of what seemed like warm rolls¡ªa surefire win.


    But when Hugo reached for one, he misjudged the distance and knocked the entire basket over. The rolls tumbled across the table and onto the floor, bouncing off his shoes and rolling out of reach.


    "Oops! My bad," Hugo muttered, reaching down to retrieve the runaway rolls. He tried to feel around him like a blind monk, but in doing so, he forgot to mind his drink, which he had ced precariously close to the edge of the table.


    The ss tipped over, sending a wave of iced tea cascading into hisp.


    Hugo gasped as the cold liquid soaked through his trousers, causing him to jump up from his chair in shock. In his haste, he knocked the chair over, which ttered loudly to the floor.


    Lily, still blindfolded and nowpletely bewildered by themotion, asked, "Hugo, what''s going on? Are you okay?"


    "Yeah, just a minor ice bath," Hugo said through gritted teeth, shivering slightly as he tried to steady himself.


    He was soaked cold... ''HE'' was soaked cold!


    Lily decided to take matters into her own hands. "How about we feed each other? That might be easier."


    Hugo, grateful for the suggestion, agreed. "Good idea, Lily!"


    He was joyous. ''This is a good sign! She''s definitely in love with me!''


    He reached across the table with a forkful of something¡ªhe wasn''t quite sure what¡ªand aimed for where he thought Lily''s mouth was. Unfortunately, he missed by a mile and ended up sticking the fork into her hair instead.


    "Oops, I think I got your hair..." Hugo winced as Lily burst intoughter.


    "Well, I hope it''s something tasty!" she teased, pulling the food out of her hair.


    Now it was Lily''s turn to feed Hugo. She carefully scooped up some dessert and reached across the table. Hugo, eager to taste it, leaned in too quickly. The dessert collided with his nose, smearing whipped cream all over his face.


    "Did I get it in your mouth?" Lily asked, trying not tough too hard.


    "Not exactly," Hugo mumbled, wiping cream off his nose, now looking like a blindfolded clown.


    The rest of the meal was a series of simr disasters¡ªspilled drinks, food everywhere but their mouths, and more than a few near-misses with their utensils.


    By the time they finished, the table looked like a war zone, and Hugo''s dope jacket was ruined beyond repair.


    Finally, the waiter came to remove their blindfolds.


    Hugo blinked as the light returned, revealing the carnage that was their dinner table. He looked down at his jacket, now a tie-dye of various sauces, and then over at Lily, who was smiling gleefully, her hair still slightly sticky from the earlier pasta incident.


    "I, uh, guess I''m not the smoothest guy around," Hugo admitted, scratching his head and grinning sheepishly.


    Lilyughed, "No, but this was definitely the most fun date I''ve ever had!"


    ck ck ck!


    Suddenly, Hugo felt his hair stand on end. His body shivered and he felt the urge to run overtake him.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    He could feel it with his soul...


    ''Financial Murder!''


    His head whipped to the side to see a waiter walking towards him with a smile on her face. Her small hands were clutching the evil weapon that she would no doubt be using to take the life of Hugo''s meagre wealth.


    Hugo gulped. He stared at Lily beside him and felt the urge to run.


    ''It would be fine if I disappeared right? Lily should be able to pay right? Where''s the toilet?!''


    s, the waiter had been too fast. Before Hugo could carry out a second prison break right at Shrouded Delights, the waiter had arrived by using a forbidden movement technique.


    "Your bill, sir."


    Hugo''s face turned ck. He could already see a frightening number of zeros on the small piece of paper from a distance.


    He didn''t want to touch that cursed material!


    He screamed internally, "Somebody help me!"

 Chapter 26: Sanchez’s Miracle Advices.

    <h4>Chapter 26: Sanchez''s Miracle Advices.</h4>


    Hugo slumped in his seat, staring at the bill in front of him as if it had personally insulted him. The numbers blurred together, but one thing was painfully clear: His wallet had just suffered a fatal blow.


    ''$94.50?'' His hands trembled slightly. ''For food? Food is supposed to sustain life, not ruin it!''


    A dark fog of hopelessness clouded his mind. In this moment, Hugo wasn''t just a man. No, he was the pathetic protagonist of a tragic financial y¡ª"The Death of Ten Pounds and Dreams."


    He condemned Sanchez in his head with the fury of a man who had just realised he''d been scammed by someone with an unlimited credit card.


    ''Ask her to eat,'' he said. ''Girls love food,'' he said. Of course he''d say that¡ªhe''s swimming in money. He had no business listening to a man who thinks imported cheese is a snack.


    He was feeling like a clown who''d been conned into throwing himself down a financial abyss.


    Hugo''s bitter grin twitched as he yanked his wallet out and pped hisst notes on the table with the elegance of someone handing over ransom money.


    ''Take it, you gluttonous gods of gourmet. May this sacrifice appease you.'' His wallet whimpered as it slid shut, empty and cold as the void where his savings used to be.


    ''Goodbye, sweet paper soldiers. You fought well.''


    The waiter smiled graciously. Hugo smiled back with the dead eyes of a man epting his fate. ''Yes, keep the change. It''s not like I''ll need it in the afterlife.''


    He stood up, turned to Lily, with a new spark of madness born from financial ruin.


    Lily smiled sweetly at him, blissfully unaware of the emotional crisis unfolding in Hugo''s heart.


    ''This date better end with... something!''


    ---


    Outside the restaurant, the night air was unexpectedly pleasant. Stars glimmered above, the streets were quieter than usual, and the cool breeze brushed gently against them.


    Lily smiled as she looked at the sky. "It''s so pretty out tonight. Want to go for a walk?"


    ''Walk?'' Hugo''s inner voice hissed. ''My wallet just tlined, and now we''re... taking a post-mortem stroll?'' But with no polite way to refuse, he nodded.


    "Sure. Great. Why not."


    In silence, they strolled through the calm streets. The quiet was nice, but Hugo''s wallet echoed louder than bombs in his mind.


    Then he noticed Lily shivering slightly.


    She was only wearing a thin, cropped top,pletely unprepared for the cool breeze.


    With sudden inspiration, he stopped and pulled off his jacket with a flourish. "Here," he said. "Take my jacket."


    Lily gave him a grateful smile. "Aww, thanks, Hugo¡ª" She draped it over her shoulders... and instantly recoiled.


    The smell hit them both at the same time. It was the unmistakable, pungent aroma of garlic sauce, soy ze, and some unidentifiable sweet condiment.


    "Oh, God," Lily mumbled, sniffing the air cautiously.


    Hugo froze, staring at the mess. "How... did all of the sauces get on it?"


    Lily giggled awkwardly. "Thanks... but I think I''ll be fine without it."


    He snatched the jacket back, his eyes narrowing. "No, you''re right. It smells like I worked at a food truck for 20 years."


    He swore he even saw a noodle peeking out of the inner pocket. He brushed it off with a smile that said, "I''m not okay, but it''s fine."


    The silence stretched between them as they continued walking. Hugo wracked his brain for something to say.


    That''s when Sanchez''s voice echoed in his mind, like the devil whispering into his ear:


    "In moments offortable silence, build deeper connections. Ask her something emotional."


    Hugo took a deep breath, summoning the Aura of Zen. This was it¡ªthe time to dig deep and make her open up. He cleared his throat, channelling all the gravitas he could muster.


    "Lily..." he began dramatically. She turned to look at him, intrigued.


    "On the court, what keeps you going when you feel like giving up?"


    Lily stopped mid-step, her expression softening as she looked at him. The question had clearly caught her off guard.


    She looked up at the sky for a moment before answering. "Sometimes, it''s my teammates. They depend on me, and I can''t let them down. But other times... it''s me. I know what it feels like to quit on yourself, and it''s the worst feeling ever. So even when everything sucks, I just tell myself: ''One more point. Just get through one more point.'' And somehow, that''s enough."


    Hugo blinked, slightly taken aback by the genuine emotion in her voice.


    "Wow. That''s... heavy."


    For a second, the air between them shifted. It felt deeper, more intimate, like they''d peeled back ayer of each other''s souls.


    As Lily looked at him, her eyes full of raw emotion, Hugo knew what he had to do next. Sanchez''s final piece of wisdom echoed loud and clear:


    "When she''s emotional, make eye contact to build the sexual tension. Hold it. No matter what¡ªdon''t look away."


    Hugo squared his shoulders, activated his Aura of Alpha, and locked eyes with Lily, his gaze steady and unwavering.


    The air between them shifted. The streetlights blurred, the night grew quieter, and the only thing Hugo could hear was the pounding of his own heart.


    Lily''s gaze lingered on his, her eyes flicking down to his lips¡ªthen back up. Slowly, without even realising it, they both leaned in.


    Hugo''s mind spiralled into a chaotic storm. ''Is this it? Is this ACTUALLY HAPPENING?! Am I about to have my first kiss?!''


    His breath hitched. ''What do I do with my hands? Do I tilt my head? Which way do I tilt¡ªleft or right?!''


    They were inches away now. Hugo could feel her warmth. His palms were sweaty, knees weak¡ª


    ''Wait. Is that... garlic sauce I smell?''


    Panic surged through his brain. ''Oh no, what if she smells it too?!'' He tried to subtly breathe through his nose to confirm.


    Big mistake¡ªthe garlic hit him full force. ''Oh God, I reek!''


    They leaned closer, the tension thicker than soy ze. Hugo''s brain was screaming:


    ''This is it! I''m gonna kiss her¡ªNO, WAIT, DO I CLOSE MY EYES?! WHAT IF I MESS UP?!''


    Their lips were a hair''s breadth away...


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    And then¡ª Hugo sneezed.

 Chapter 27: The First Kiss!

    <h4>Chapter 27: The First Kiss!</h4>


    Just as Hugo leaned in to kiss Lily, a sudden sneeze exploded from his face. He jerked back violently, catching the sneeze with the sleeve of his noodle and sauce infused jacket.


    F*ck F*ck F*ck F*ck!


    Lily, blinking in surprise, gave a littleugh. "Bless you?"


    Before Hugo could wallow in embarrassment, a sh of inspiration struck like lightning. He straightened up, smiled, and said with the most flirtatious smirk he could manage:


    "Sorry about that. Tryna blow you away both emotionally and physically... "


    Lily''s eyebrows shot up, then curved into a slow, amused smile. "Oh, smooth. Very smooth."


    Before Hugo could second guess himself or his wallet''s ghost could haunt him with regret, Lily leaned in¡ªand this time, so did he.


    Hugo''s brain screamed at him again. ''THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING! AGAIN!''


    Hugo leaned in closer, his heart now drumming a wild solo that could''ve rivalled any rock band''s drummer. His mind raced, a chaotic jumble of thoughts, each one more panicked than thest.


    ''How do I do this? What if I miss her lips and kiss her nose? What if I pass out fromck of oxygen because I''m too nervous to breathe? Where do my hands go? Should I¡ªoh no, what if my hands are weird? Do I angle left or right? Is she angling right? Wait, what if we angle the same way and¡ª''


    Their lips met in a soft, warm kiss that sent fireworks exploding in Hugo''s mind.


    Sparks shot through him, like plugging into an emotional socket. For a moment, everything was perfect.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Time seemed to slow down. The world around them faded away, leaving just the two of them in a bubble of softness and warmness.


    As their lips met, Hugo decided to be bold. He ced one hand on her waist, feeling the warmth of her body through her dress.


    Then, without thinking¡ªbecause thinking was clearly not Hugo''s strong suit¡ªhe ced his hand gently on her waist.


    Her warm skin sent a shiver up his spine. Emboldened, Hugo let his hand slide a little lower... and then lower... until it came to rest on her backside.


    Her very impressive, incredibly toned, miraculously bouncy backside.


    ''Oh my God, it feels like a cloud. A firm, bouncy athletic cloud.''


    It felt like squeezing a pillow stuffed with dreams.


    For a fleeting second, Hugo felt like a god¡ªa hero who had conquered both his fear and Lily''s glorious bum.


    He could feel the power surge through him, like he''d just unlocked the ultimate achievement in a video game.


    His fingers tingled, his body hummed with electricity, and for a moment, he was on top of the world.


    And then reality hit.


    Hugo''s mind, now in full panic mode, screamed at him. He realized he was actually kissing, and he knew nothing about kissing!


    ''What if you mess this up? What if she pulls away? What if you identally burp in her mouth? Oh god, what do I do with my tongue? Where does it go? How much pressure is too much pressure?''


    Hugo was aplete newbie who had never kissed any woman before. He had zero knowledge about what to do and how to not mess it up.


    ''I should have asked Sanchez for some kissing lessons no matter how weird it would have been!''


    In his state ofplete and utter terror, Hugo did the unthinkable.


    As their lips brushed, he somehow managed to overthink the entire process and, in a moment of sheer panic, instead of softly pressing his lips against hers, he identally bit down.


    Lily''s eyes widened in shock, and Hugo instantly knew he had made a catastrophic error.


    "Ouch!" Lily yelped, pulling back, her hand flying to her lip.


    Hugo''s face turned a shade of red that even a tomato would envy. ''Oh my god, I''m so sorry! I didn''t mean to¡ªI was just¡ªI mean¡ª''


    He knew that the words that woulde out of his mouth would end up sounding like that which would ruin his alpha image, so instead of saying gibberish he just kept on staring at her with his eyes wide like a constipated ox.


    Huummm!


    Aura of Zen activated on its own once again, and Hugo could finally hear his heart beats again. It wasn''t that his heart stopped beating, rather it had been beating so fast he couldn''t hear it!


    "My bad¡ªsome things are just too tempting not to bite."


    Lily blinked, more in surprise than in pain, and then¡ªbecause the universe sometimes has a sense of humour¡ªshe startedughing. Not just a polite giggle, but a full-blownugh that echoed through the park.


    Hugo stared at her in bewilderment. ''It worked?! What was going on? How was he knowing the right thing to say?!''


    He felt like even the gods wanted him to get Lily tonight. All hands were on deck! Hugo hurriedly thanked them and begged for more support in his mind.


    ''Dear immortals, I shan''t let you down. Each thrust shall be dedicated to your greatness...''


    After the kiss, Hugo and Lily continued their stroll, walking side by side through the quiet night street.


    They felt a little closer, and Hugo had even managed to hold her hand!


    ''A few more steps, an invite back to my ce, and I''m officially back in the game.'' He could practically taste the victory. It was just within reach.


    He cleared his throat. ''Alright, Hugo. Stay cool.''


    "So..." He tried to keep his voice casual. "Wannae back to my ce?"


    Lily turned to him with a yful smile. "Sure."


    ''SHE SAID YES!'' His brain erupted into chaos, like a stadium crowd going wild. ''I knew it! This is the Hugo Renaissance, baby!''


    For a moment, he drifted into pure fantasy¡ªno more lonely nights, no more smug gazes from Collins, and definitely no more pity looks from Sanchez. He was a man reborn.


    And then, the universe, being the cruel jokester it was, struck.


    Lily''s phone buzzed in her hand. She nced down¡ªand just like that, her expression shifted.


    "Oh no," she muttered, her yful smile reced by concern. "It''s my brother. There''s an emergency."


    Hugo''s heart dropped faster than a lead balloon. ''No. No, no, no, no. This isn''t happening.''


    Not again!

 Chapter 28: Little Menace!

    <h4>Chapter 28: Little Menace!</h4>


    "I''m so sorry, Hugo. I have to go." Lily gged down a taxi, her voice full of genuine regret.


    ''What emergency could possibly justify ruining this night?!'' Hugo thought furiously, watching the cab pull over to the curb.


    "I''ll text youter, okay?" Lily said, stepping into the taxi.


    The door shut with a dull thunk, and just like that, she was gone.


    Hugo stood frozen on the pavement, processing what had just happened. This couldn''t be


    For a moment, all Hugo could feel was an overwhelming surge of betrayal. Not by Lily¡ªbut by her brother.


    Then, the anger began to boil. "This little menace..." Hugo seethed, grinding his teeth. "Can''t believe I got cock-blocked by a twelve-year-old!"


    He clenched his fists as if preparing to send the universe an angry email. "I bet this kid didn''t even trip over something serious¡ªprobably just stubbed his toe and summoned Big Sis like it''s DEFCON 1!"


    The rage simmered deep in his chest. He could already picture the smug, satisfied look on this little brother''s face as Lilyforted him. "That brat just ruined the greatest night of my life!"


    Hugo wanted to cry but didn''t have any tears. He thought about the $94.50 he had sacrificed, all so he could nut off andplete the mission. And this happens when he was about to fulfill his dreams?!


    Couldn''t the gremlin wait three more hours?!


    Just as Hugo was preparing to internally draft ten pages of insults for this unseen little sibling, his phone buzzed in his pocket. A text message.


    ''Lily?'' His heart flickered with a sliver of hope. Maybe she felt bad. Maybe she changed her mind?!


    He pulled out his phone and checked the message. His heart stopped.


    It wasn''t Lily.


    Instead, it was from thest person Hugo ever wanted to hear from.


    "Thought you could hide, streaker boy?"


    ''Streaker boy...''


    A cold chill crawled up his spine. He read the message again, hoping it was some cruel mistake. The only ones who knew this name...


    Hugo''s breath hitched. His fingers trembled over the screen. "How did they find me?"


    Then came the second message¡ªthe one that made his blood run cold.


    "We know where you are. :) See you soon."


    The smiley face at the end felt like a knife twisted in his gut.


    They knew. They finally caught up to him.


    Hugo''s mind raced, panic threatening to take hold. "How? I ran. I covered my tracks."


    He clenched his phone, fighting the urge to smash it against the pavement. The night just went from bad to bloody catastrophic.


    Standing in the dim glow of the streetlights, Hugo whispered through gritted teeth, "Of all nights... why tonight?"


    The air around him felt heavier now, thick with the kind of tension that told him this wasn''t a coincidence. They had been waiting for the perfect moment to strike¡ªand this was it.


    He stuffed his phone back into his pocket and took a shaky breath. The street felt too quiet now, every shadow too long, every noise too sharp. They were close. He could feel it.


    And as if to hammer the final nail into his coffin, a car slowly cruised past him, the driver''s gaze lingering just a second too long.


    Hugo swallowed hard. "Right. This is fine. Everything''s fine."


    He kept saying that to himself, but he knew it wasn''t. Things were getting worse! Hugo decided he had to get home quick!


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    As he walked towards his bike, he thought to himself, ''Honestly, what''s next? I step in dog sh¡ª''


    His footnded with a squelch. Hugo froze.


    "...Of course."


    _____


    Hugo stormed through the dorm entrance, practically vibrating with frustration. His night had gone from hero to zero in record time, thanks to some faceless little brother who apparently had the power to summon sisters at will.


    As the door creaked open, he was greeted by the slow, sorrowful sound of a saxophone wailing through the living room speakers.


    Jazz.


    Hugo paused. "What the hell...?" He squinted at the couch. ''Who the hell ys jazz at a time like this?''


    There, slumped like a man who had seen his dreams incinerated, was Collins. He was shirtless, wearing nothing but a pair of boxers, staring into the void as if he''d just lost a lottery ticket worth millions.


    His normally golden-boy aura was shattered, reced by the vibe of a man who had just watched his dog get hit by a bus.


    The sight was too pathetic not to ask. "Mate, are you alright?" Hugo asked cautiously, stepping further into the room.


    Collins barely moved, his voice raspy. "Hugo... she was right there."


    Hugo blinked. "What?"


    "Tilly... she was..." Collins gulped, looking like he was about to break down. "She was about to give me a blowjob." His voice cracked on the word "blowjob," like it was too painful to even speak.


    Hugo''s eyes widened. "No..."


    "Yes," Collins whimpered, his hands trembling as they ran through his hair. "Then¡ªthen the phone buzzed. The little bastard. Her brother. Emergency text. She shot up like she''d heard a fire rm. Gone in two seconds t."


    Hugo winced. "Mate, that''s... that''s rough."


    "Rough? Hugo, I heard the zipper go back up." Collins'' voice was thick with the kind of sorrow that no amount of therapy could fix. "It echoed in my soul. I''ve never been so close to heaven, only to be yanked back to hell."


    Hugo flopped onto the couch beside him, the weight of the night hitting him all over again. "I feel you, mate. I was this close with Lily. We''d just had dinner, she said she''de back to mine... then the bloody brother texts her. ''Emergency.'' Boom. She''s off in a taxi. Night ruined."


    Collins turned his head slowly, his eyes locking with Hugo''s.


    There was a moment of shared understanding. And then, like a man grasping for hope in the desert, Collins whispered, "Wait... Lily and Tilly are twins. They share the same brother..."


    Both men stared at each other in dawning horror.


    "The same brother," Hugo repeated, voice hollow. "The same little devil."


    Collins'' face twisted in despair. "He didn''t just block one of us... he blocked both of us. He''s a monster."


    "A menace to society." Hugo''s jaw clenched. "I thought he was just out to get me. But this... this is a coordinated attack. That little goblin''s ying 4D chess with our love lives."


    Collins threw his hands in the air, nearly sobbing. "Why does he do this, Hugo? Why?! What joy does he get from ruining two men''s nights? What kind of sick pleasure does that little cretin thrive on?"


    "I don''t know, mate," Hugo said, shaking his head. "But the precision of this operation... it''s terrifying."


    Both of them sank deeper into the couch, the saxophone music underscoring their mutual defeat.


    "I was there, Hugo," Collins said again, eyes misting over. "I could smell the perfume. I could feel the warmth. I was on the edge, mate. The edge. And he pulled me back."


    Hugo sighed, his own defeat fresh and raw. "We should''ve seen thising. Little brothers are born to ruin lives. They train for it from birth. It''s their calling."


    Collins sniffed, wiping away a stray tear. "You think they''re born like that? With an instinct to destroy?"


    Hugo nodded solemnly. "It''s gic. Theye out of the womb scheming. It''s like... their first words are ''I will sabotage you.''"


    Collins groaned, looking down at his nearly naked form. "And now look at me. I''m sitting here, in my boxers, ying jazz. JAZZ, Hugo. I don''t even like jazz! But it''s the only thing that matches my soul right now!"


    Hugo patted him on the shoulder. "Mate, we''re in this together. One day, when we''re rich and famous, no little brother will ever be able to ruin our nights again."


    "You really think so?" Collins sniffed.


    "I know so. We''ll get back at him. You''ll trip him. I''ll step on his phone. We''ll call it revenge."


    Collins nodded, fire flickering in his eyes. "Yeah. Yeah, we will."


    Both men sat there in shared, mournful silence for a few moments longer, bonding over their mutual hatred of the one boy who had managed to ruin both their nights in spectacr fashion.


    After a few more minutes of shared misery, Hugo stood, pping Collins on the back. "Alright, mate. Gonna hit the room. It''s time to check the rewards."


    Collins raised an eyebrow. "Rewards? What rewards?"


    Hugo smirked. "Tonight wasn''t a total loss. I''ll be getting something out of it."


    Collins'' face twisted in confusion, but before he could ask, Hugo had already disappeared into his room, the door closing with a decisive click.


    As Hugo sat on his bed, he took a deep breath, his mind still lingering on the events of the night. "Maybe I didn''t get the girl... but let''s see what the system''s got for me."


    He opened the system screen, grinning like a man who''d just found treasure in a sea of disappointment. "At least someone''s giving me a reward tonight."

 Chapter 29: Achievements! Level Up!

    <h4>Chapter 29: Achievements! Level Up!</h4>


    Hugo mmed the door behind him, leaning his back against it like he was keeping the apocalypse at bay. "It''s okay. I''m safe. I''m back in my room. No one knows I''m here..."


    Except someone did know.


    The gang. His gang.


    Or rather, the nightmare gang he used to roll with before life took a sharp nosedive into the absurd. His heart did a somersault in his chest.


    Those lunatics had finally sniffed him out, and he wasn''t ready. Not even close. He clutched his head as if that would stop the flood of memories.


    Hugo had made some crazy choices over thest few years. One of which was joking thus gang.


    He had been so talented at driving that they had reached out to him themselves, promising wealth and luxury.


    He had also foolishly epted, thinking it would make him more ''badass'' and ''''alpha''...


    But he quickly realised his heart wasn''t made for that kind of life.


    So... he ran away with some of their money...


    And the worst part of it all was Don Juan.


    Hugo shivered just thinking about that pint-sized terror.


    "How is it that someone so short can be that scary?" He whispered to no one in particr.


    The image of Don Juan''s glowering mask, set atop his diminutive 5-foot frame shed in his mind.


    The man could make Santa us second-guess himself. He wasn''t a gangster. He was a pocket-sized apocalypse in Adidas tracksuits.


    He was like a chihuahua with the attitude of a Rottweiler¡ªand Hugo knew better than to underestimate a man whose signature threat was, "Kneecaps are optional."


    He shook his head. "Alright, Hugo. Breathe. *In with the calm, out with the fear*."


    Panic wasn''t going to solve anything. He had something better. He had... the SYSTEM.


    With a mentalmand, he summoned the glowing interface, and the familiar blue screen materialised before him.


    It feltforting, like an old friend. An old friend that asionally insulted him, but still, better than Don Juan.


    _____


    [Ding! Achievements Unlocked!]


    [- First Kiss Achievement: +20 EXP -


    You didn''t think this would ever happen, did you? ...Neither did she.]


    [- Bite a Girl Achievement: +20 EXP -


    That''s not what they meant by ''leave a mark.'' Shame.]


    [- First Sexual Act with Opposite Sex Achievement: +20 EXP -


    Technically counts, even if it was more awkward than sensual.]


    _____


    Hugo''s jaw dropped. "Bite a girl?!" he gasped. He rubbed his eyes, convinced the screen was ying a prank on him.


    Nope. Still there.


    "It was one time! She asked me to try something different!" he muttered defensively. "Blimey, system¡ªno need to make it sound so criminal!"


    The achievements kept pinging, adding to his growing pool of experience points, but the cheekyments? They stung worse than his memories.


    Then came the real reward.


    _____


    [Level Up!]


    _____


    "Yeah baby! OUCH!!"


    Hugo was halfway through a victory dance when he identally mmed his kneecaps on his desk.


    It hurt so much he ended the dance that instant bad crashed to the floor. This oddly made him fear don Juan more, or rather... the tenacity if his victims...


    _____


    [Ding! Allocating random stat point... Stat point allocated tomunication!]


    [Ding! Distributing Rewards!]


    [Rewards:


    - Host has received 50 UHS Credits!


    - Host has received 50 UHS Points!


    - Host has received 1 Muscle Unlock Pill!]


    _____


    Hugo snorted at the munication'' stat upgrade.


    "Right, ''cause I''ll just talk my way out of getting kneecapped by Don Juan."


    Still, he figured he might as well put the new stat to the test. Practice made perfect, right? He leaned back against the door, closing his eyes.


    "Alright, imaginary girl," he whispered, "let''s see if this upgrade actually works."


    In his mind, a gorgeous woman appeared. She looked confident and sultry, with a look that said, impress me.


    "So," Hugo began, clearing his throat. "How... how much does a pr bear weigh?"


    Imaginary Girl folded her arms. "Enough to break the ice? Seriously?"


    "Okay, bad start. Uh... you like sandwiches?"


    "What kind of sandwiches?" she asked, eyebrow raised.


    "Uh... the good ones?"


    Imaginary Girl sighed and evaporated into non-existence, taking Hugo''s dignity with her.


    "Yeah. Thatmunication stat''s really doing wonders," Hugo muttered, pping his forehead. No guy would be able to rizz when their kneecaps were in potential danger.


    But hey, at least he''d tried.


    Still, he couldn''t deny the thrill of receiving actual rewards. He turned his attention back to the system screen, pulling up his inventory to check the rewards.


    A grin spread across his face as the numbers updated.


    _____


    UHS Credits: 100


    UHS Points: 100


    _____


    "I''m loaded!" he whispered excitedly, like he''d just won the lottery. "A hundred points and a hundred credits? I could buy an entire gxy with that... if this were a mobile game."


    Then his gaze fell on the new item: Muscle Unlock Pills.


    He tapped on the description.


    _____


    [Muscle Unlock Pills: Increases muscle performance, growth, and recovery for seven days.]


    _____


    Hugo''s eyes sparkled. "Muscle pills?!" he whispered, barely containing his joy. If the te unlock pills made him taller... then the muscle unlock pills...


    "These''ll make me look like Dwayne ''The Rock'' Johnson by the end of the week!"


    He flexed an arm, disappointed by how scrawny it looked. "Finally! No more noodle arms!"


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    He did a quick calction in his head. "But wait... I''ve still got the te Unlock Pills active. Better wait for those to run out. Can''t waste the gains, after all."


    Feeling more optimistic about his chances of survival (and eventual muscr glory), Hugo scrolled through the system''s interface until he reached the [Gift Box Tab.]


    The gift box tab appeared after he had rued up to 50 points. It gave him the chance to win enchanted items ranging from trash tier to rare tier!


    And each spin cost 50 UHS Points!


    His eyes widened at the shing wheel, which looked just like the ones in casinos


    The screen pulsed with glitter and neon lights, practically screaming, ''Buy me! You won''t regret it... probably.''


    Hugo rubbed his hands together, grinning like a kid in a sweet shop. "Time to roll the dice!" He hovered his finger over the first option. "Let''s make it rain, baby."

 Chapter 30: Trash Luck!

    <h4>Chapter 30: Trash Luck!</h4>


    Hugo sat cross-legged on his dorm room floor, surrounded by a mess of textbooks, crumpled snack wrappers, and the growing weight of all his bad life choices.


    The fluorescent lights buzzed above him, like they, too, were mocking his existence.


    But tonight? Tonight wasn''t about deadlines or existential dread. No, tonight was about something far more important¡ªthe gift box wheel.


    He was going to use all his points to spin the gift box wheel!


    His palms were sweaty just thinking about it. He finally had enough points to spin the legendary gift box wheel, which promised to bestow glorious rewards.


    Maybe, just maybe, this was his ticket out of mediocrity. This spin could change everything.


    It could give him rare items, a godlike ability¡ªor, better yet, a date with one of the system''s virtual waifus. The possibilities were endless!


    Actually, Hugo was just fooling himself. The gift box only gave enchanted items, but still!


    Still!


    This was his chance. His moment.


    This could be his salvation!


    Hugo cracked his knuckles and took a deep breath, determined to maximise his chances of sess.


    But this wasn''t just any spin. This required preparation, meditation, and the power of... Buddha chants?


    He leapt to his feet, eyes wide with a blend of hysteria and genius. "Alright, Hugo. Time to channel the wisdom of the ages!" he dered to the room, his voice sounding crazed.


    Of course, no one was there to witness his madness, but that didn''t matter to Hugo.


    What followed could only be described as... bizarre.


    He began with a series of particrly unsettling, improvised yoga poses that looked more like a bad interpretive dance than anything remotely meditative.


    First, he twisted his arms into something he called: "The Twisted Pretzel," while contorting his arms like someone trying to scratch their own back and failing spectacrly.


    Next, he transitioned into "The Broken mingo," where he wobbled dangerously on one leg, almost face-nting into his desk.


    He steadied himself. "Om... Shanti... Spinny-spinny... give me somethin'' worth more than a penny!" he chanted, eyes squeezed shut, his hands forming a prayer position over his head.


    He shifted into "The Distressed Crab," where he hunched over, arms iling behind him like useless ws, before finally copsing onto his knees, breathing heavily. "Ommm... Buddha... Rama... Ding-dong... Let this wheel make my game strong!"


    Finally, after ensuring his connection with all the multiple budhhas were strong, Hugo huffed on the floor, sweat glistening on his brow.


    After a few moments of silent reflection (and utter exhaustion), he opened his system interface again and the colourful wheel appeared before him.


    He hovered over the "Spin" button, offering one final prayer to whatever deity or mystical force might be listening. "O holy random number generator, bless me with something that doesn''t suck."


    He clicked on spin.


    The wheel whirred to life, bright colours swirling on screen like the ultimate slot machine of fate.


    Hugo''s heart raced as it began to slow, every click sounding like a drumbeat in his chest. The pointer ticked... ticked... ticked...


    And stopped.


    [Ding! Congrattions! You''ve won... A Rubber Chicken!]


    Hugo''s face fell faster than a lead balloon. "A... rubber chicken? Are you kidding me? What am I supposed to do with a rubber chicken?!"


    The system responded in a deadpan, monotonic voice.


    [Ding! System Online: The possibilities are endless.]


    Hugo pped his forehead. "Endless? Endless ways to humiliate myself, maybe. This isn''t a prank, system! My future depends on this!"


    50 hard earned points were gone just like that!


    But he wasn''t about to give up so easily. "Okay, that was just a warm-up. The next spin''s gotta be the one. I can feel it in my bones."


    Hugo still had 50 more points. He could spin the wheel one more time. This time, he definitely had to get something good!


    He sprang back into action, trying to centre himself again. "Alright, more chanting, more focus. Come on, Hugo. You''ve got this."


    Jumping back into his ritual mode, Hugo attempted another set of ludicrous poses, this time inventing "The Dying Octopus"¡ªa flurry of iling limbs as he spun around his room like a dizzied toddler.


    "Buddha bless my spin, or I''ll bin this whole damn system!" he yelled, flopping dramatically onto his bed.


    Once more, he clicked the spin button, eyes glued to the screen as the wheel of fortune spun its merciless path. Time seemed to slow down.


    The lights in the room flickered for added suspense (or maybe just because his dorm was in dire need of maintenance).


    The pointer ticked again... slower... slower...


    [Ding! Congrattions! You''ve won... A Slightly Used Tissue!]


    Hugo blinked. Twice. His brain, for a moment, stopped working. "A... slightly used tissue?!" His eye twitched. "Why... why would I need... a tissue? A used tissue? In what world is this a prize?"


    The system, oblivious to his growing distress, cheerily replied: [It''s not just any tissue, Hugo. It''s slightly used. Adds character!]


    "Adds character?! What kind of sadistic program are you running here?!"


    With a frustrated growl, Hugo screamed into his pillow, grabbing it and mming it against his desk in a fit of rage. Then the walls. Then the floor. Then his face.


    "Why, system, why?" he howled into the void, voice muffled by the now somewhat mangled pillow. "What did I ever do to deserve this? A rubber chicken and a used tissue?! This is my reward for chanting like a deranged monk?"


    The system, ever calm, replied: [Better luck next time, Hugo. There''s always another spin.]


    Hugoy there, staring at the ceiling, contemting every decision that had led him to this moment. "Another spin? Yeah, sure, if I haven''t lost my mind by then! First the chicken, now this tissue... What''s next, a broken kazoo?"


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    With a heavy sigh, he muttered to himself. "You know what? Forget it. I don''t need this... I need therapy."


    As the system''s cheery notification chimed in once more, Hugo rolled onto his side, resigned to his fate.

 Chapter 31: Going To Class.

    <h4>Chapter 31: Going To ss.</h4>


    [A|N: Warning! R18 Chapter! May Skip to the next one!]


    _____


    Hugo''s fingers trembled as they brushed against the soft curves of her breasts, his heart racing faster than a runaway train.


    Hugo could barely believe it. His hand was resting on her breast¡ªyes, her breast. It was soft, warm, and about ten times more than he ever imagined.


    He moved his other hand to her perfect butt, squeezing it gently. ''So soft and bouncy!''


    The girl¡ªno, this goddess in human form¡ªwas ridiculously gorgeous. Long flowing hair, full lips, and her eyes... the kind of eyes that could make a man feel like a king and a fool all at once.


    "This... this is happening!" His mind was racing, barely containing the internal fireworks. "I''m actually touching¡ª"


    Suddenly, the girl, whose beauty seemed otherworldly, gave him a devilish grin and pushed him back onto the couch.


    Hugo let out a surprised yelp, his heart pounding as if it was about to burst out of his chest. His body offered zero resistance and was as light as a feather. Her simple touch could send him flying.


    Hugo found himself sitting on the couch, wide-eyed, his heart doing somersaults as she slowly peeled off her top.


    His gaze was locked onto her massive, perfect breasts, which bounced free like they had their own gravitational pull.


    Her huge breasts were right in front of him. He could see every detail. The creamy skin, the tantalizing are and the extremely suckable nipples.


    Hugo was practically drooling.


    ''Bloody hell,'' he thought, biting his lip to stop himself from grinning like an idiot. ''This is happening. This is ACTUALLY happening.''


    His mind raced with excitement, a jumbled mess of thoughts: ''Should I say something cool? What''s the move here? Hands? No, wait, keep calm. Yeah, just stay cool, Hugo.''


    The girl straddled hisp, cing her thick and juicy thighs over him. Her massive breastsnded on his chest and and her nipples brushed against his skin.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    He could feel how hard they were. ''She is horny as hell...''


    Hugo was certain his heart had skipped at least three beats. Her wonderful smell was so exotic he was already getting bricked!


    She leaned in, kissing him softly at first, then deeper, more passionately. Her soft tender lips fondled his and her delicate tongue intertwined with his.


    His hands found their way into hers as she guided them back to her chest. Hugo was in heaven. This was it¡ªhis greatest triumph!


    He gave them a good squeeze and moved on to the nipples. When he tugged them, she purred directly into his ears. Hugo almost came then and there.


    "Is this... is this a dream? No way, this is too real! I can even feel the couch!"


    ''This is heaven,'' he thought. ''I have ascended to a higher ne of existence.''


    Hugo''s heart was hammering in his chest as he tried to deepen the kiss, ready to move things to the next level. This was it! He was finally going to¡ª


    But just as he was about to make the leap from ''softcore'' to ''legendary,'' something horrifying happened.


    Her beautiful face morphed, twisting into something grotesque. It melted and darkened drastically until it became something that looked nothing like a face.


    Suddenly, she was wearing a creepy ck Joker mask, and her voice dropped several octaves into a mocking drawl that sounded eerily like Don Juan''s.


    "Enjoying yourself, Hugo?"


    ''What the f*ck!'' Hugo wanted to cry. Not only had imhis intense make out session ended halfway, he now found himself being straddled by the one man he didn''t ever want to see again!


    Before he could even scream, he pulled out a massive arrow¡ªwhere did that evene from?!¡ªand with a theatrical twirl, shot it straight into his chest. His heart exploded in terror.


    "NOOOOOOO!"


    Hugo shot up in bed, gasping for air, clutching his chest like his life depended on it. Sweat poured down his face, and his wild eyes darted around the room.


    It was just a dream.


    "A dream... a bloody dream...!" He was covered in cold sweat, heart still racing. The disappointment was unreal. "Why?! Why does this keep happening?!"


    His mind was a swirling mess of frustration and confusion. "She was right there! Why do I get shot with an arrow every time things are about to get good?!"


    Out of all the good dreams he had had, this one had felt he realest. It had been so good Hugo didn''t want to wake up. Yet it had to end like this?!


    For real?!


    Groaning, he threw the sheets off and rolled out of bed. "I can''t keep doing this. I''m bing... delusional. I should just go to ss today. No more hiding."


    With the resolve of a man who had lost far too many dream make-out sessions to weirdness, Hugo dragged himself into the shower.


    He sshed cold water on his face, trying to shake off the remnants of the nightmare.


    After freshening up, he stared at himself in the mirror. His usual self wasn''t going to cut it¡ªnot after the dream he''d just had. He needed to be incognito. He decided to go all-out on the disguises.


    After trying on four different disguises which included an all ck cloak he had worn for Halloween, a fake moustache and a hat that made him look like a discount Sherlock Holmes, he finally settled on something "subtle".


    He wore dark sunsses, a hoodie, and a scarf wrapped around his face like a ninja.


    "Perfect. No one will suspect a thing."


    He snuck out of his t like a spy on a mission and made his way to ss.


    Every step was cautious, as if the joker maskdy from his dream might jump out and finish him off for real this time.


    Finally, after what felt like an eternity of dodging imaginary threats, he reached the ssroom door.


    Heart pounding, he took a deep breath and pushed it open, praying for an uneventful day.


    Little did he know, nothing about Hugo''s life was ever uneventful.

 Chapter 32: Rude Loli?

    <h4>Chapter 32: Rude Loli?</h4>


    Hugo entered the ssroom with a sense of dread swirling in his chest. It was his first time stepping foot in here after days of skipping.


    After the unfortunate incident that murdered his social life, he had dreaded ever having toe to ss, but in order not to have an academic death as well, Hugo had to be brave.


    He didn''t have a choice actually. He had heard on some ss groups that some lecturers were probably going to start giving tests this week.


    This was the only reason why he was even anywhere near a hundred metre radius of the ssroom.


    The ssroom was a mix of modern and traditional, with rows of sleek, white desks, high-tech projectors, and a digital whiteboard on the far wall.


    The wooden floor creaked slightly, and therge windows on one side let in the morning light, casting a warm glow over everything.


    What wasn''t typical, though, was Hugo''s situation. He was about to face a room full of people who might just ruin him if they found out who he really was.


    As he stepped inside, he couldn''t help but feel a bit self-conscious. This was his first day back after the wild events of orientation, and he was bracing himself for the inevitable stares of recognition and awkwardness.


    But to his surprise, no one batted an eye.


    ''Wait... nobody recognises me?'' Hugo nced around, expecting at least a few double-takes. But no, everyone was going about their business, chatting with friends or scrolling through their phones.


    They walked past him without so much as a second nce.


    Then it hit him. ''Oh... oh, that''s it! The glow up!'' he thought, nodding to himself. ''I look so good now, even I wouldn''t recognize me!''


    He ran a hand through his now neatly styled hair, mentally high-fiving himself. The time he had spent improving himself the past few days wasn''t wasted after all.


    No wonder no one recognized the old, introverted Hugo.


    But now came the hard part: finding a seat. He looked around and saw two avable options.


    One seat was next to Emily¡ªthe same gorgeous girl he sat beside during the Orientation.


    The other was next to a small, cute-looking girl who was absolutely drowning in her oversized sweats and hoodie. Her hoodie was sorge that her tiny Mickey Mouse beanie barely poked out from the top.


    Hugo hesitated, weighing his options. Although he had always had a thing for the ridiculously gorgeous Emily, it was not a good option.


    Emily might recognize him, and that would be disastrous. But the cute little girl? She seemed harmless.


    He turned toward the loli with resolve. ''Safe option,'' he thought, heading towards her. As he approached, he got a better look at her.


    She was small, probably five feet tall, and the oversized hoodie made her look even tinier. Her face was delicate and cute, withrge eyes that peeked out from under her beanie.


    Hugo''s mind immediately began wandering into novel territory. ''She''s like one of those lolis in eastern webnovels... The ones that are extremely gullible and eat up every word the MC says... Should I pat her head? Maybe call her junior sister? No, too creepy, too soon¡ª''


    Suddenly, the loli nced up at him, her expression t. "Why are you staring at me like a creep?" she asked bluntly, her voice dripping with disdain.


    The entire ss went quiet, and Hugo could feel every pair of eyes in the room turn toward him. His heart skipped a beat.


    ''Oh no, not again,'' he panicked, thinking back to his earlier social disasters. Desperate not to ruin this moment, Hugo activated his Aura of Alpha.


    Instantly, the air around him shifted. His posture straightened, his gaze hardened, and the entire room seemed to hold its breath.


    "You have everyday in your life to be a jerk. Why not take today off?"


    The Loli blinked, and the ssroom went dead silent, everyone staring in awe.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Without another word, Hugo plopped down beside her. The Loli narrowed her eyes, clearly not happy, but for now, she''d been subdued.


    The room buzzed back to life as people returned to their own conversations. Crisis averted¡ªbarely.


    The Loli frowned, clearly frustrated by the sudden power shift. She reached into her oversized bag, pulling it onto herp.


    As she unzipped it, Hugo caught a glimpse of something inside. Something dark and long and scaly.


    His eyes widened in sheer terror.


    ''Is that a python?'' His thoughts went into overdrive. ''Am I sitting next to a maniac who carries snakes around in her bag? What if it escapes? What if it bites me? What if I die right here, in the middle of ss? Is this how it all ends? Should I elope right now before it''s toote?!''


    Hugo was already plotting his escape, mentally nning how fast he could sprint out the door.


    But then he noticed something off. The Loli had lifted the bag with the python inside like it was a bag of marshmallows.


    Wait. Was it fake?


    His survival instincts kicked in, but instead of running, he decided to stay. He steeled himself, trying to convince his brain that the snake was just a prop, nothing to worry about.


    The girl, annoyed that her silent intimidation wasn''t working, gave Hugo an angry nudge with her elbow.


    It was surprisingly strong for someone her size, but she clearly relished the reaction.


    Hugo, however, was still in shock. Not from the nudge, but because his System had just pinged in his mind.


    [Beep!]


    [Evaluation: Target is a 9!]


    Hugo blinked. "A... what? A 9?" He nced back at the loli, who was now smirking, clearly satisfied that her nudge had made some impact.


    Meanwhile, Hugo was internally screaming. "A 9?! A loli is a 9?! What is my life right now?"


    His eyes nearly popped out of his head. A 9?! This cute, but rude, Loli with a (possibly fake) python was a 9 on his system''s beauty scale?


    ''Why is my life like this?!''

 Chapter 33: Sexy milf teacher!

    <h4>Chapter 33: Sexy milf teacher!</h4>


    Hugo sat there, dumbfounded, staring at the system notification in front of him like his eyes were ying pranks on him:


    [Evaluation: Target is a 9!]


    His brain froze.


    He blinked, stared at the message again, and then slowly turned to look at the Loli sitting beside him.


    "Wait, what?" he muttered under his breath, squinting at her. She was wrapped up in a giant, baggy hoodie, the hood pulled over her head with a Mickey Mouse beanie perched on top.


    She looked like she was also hiding a secret and didn''t want anyone to notice. Hugo contemted if he had heard any rumors about an Ass Phoenix...


    After concluding that he was still the only one in the Ass lineage, he studied her even more closely.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Her face was barely visible beneath all theyers, and she had this sour expression like she''d rather be anywhere else than in this ssroom.


    She was cute, sure, but a nine? That couldn''t be right.


    Hugo blinked hard, his brain going into overdrive. ''A nine? This... this has to be a glitch, right?''


    Based on how harsh the system had judged otherdies, especially Lisa, Hugo couldn''t wrap his mind around how this girl could be a nine.


    Nine was literally goddess level! The kind that have lived for 10,000 years and are still virgins somehow because the protagonist would be the one to deflower them.


    It doesn''t matter even if he is 10,000 years younger...


    He gave her another once-over, squinting like he was trying to solve a math problem. ''She''s a six at best! I mean... her eyes are kinda big... but maybe the system''s bugging out. Or... oh no...''


    His imagination immediately went wild. ''Is she secretly some immortal beauty from a higher realm, hiding her true form in this tiny Loli body?!'' Hugo gulped, his eyes widening as he entertained the insane possibility.


    ''Oh God, what if she''s here to test us mortals? Should I bow? Or maybe pretend I didn''t see through her disguise?''


    Before he could spiral further into his madness, the ssroom door creaked open. A hush fell over the room. All heads turned.


    And in walked her.


    The most stunning woman Hugo had ever seen. She was an absolute goddess of a MILF.


    She was tall, with the kind of figure that belonged on a magazine cover. She had huge breasts and an even fatter butt with a narrow waistline.


    In short, she had curves that had every male student in the room sit up straighter. Or a part of them at least...


    She wore a tight-fitting dress that somehow managed to be professional but left just enough to the imagination to make hearts race.


    Her chestnut hair flowed like a waterfall down her back, swaying as she moved to the front of the room while her pool like blue eyes enchanted the men with her gaze.


    Hugo, along with half the ss, visibly tensed.


    ''Whoa... whoa...'' His brain short-circuited as he tried¡ªand failed¡ªto stop himself from ogling her. ''Is this... am I dreaming?'' His thoughts raced.


    ''She''s like... like the finest wine, aged to perfection!'' He imagined himself sniffing the air around her, like some kind of wine connoisseur. Hmm... subtle notes of... absolute perfection.


    "Good day ss!"


    As Hugo heard her voice, he felt his brows rx and his lips curl into a contented smile.


    ''That voice... No, that''s not a voice, more like chimes from heaven. Imagine her moaning my name, I woulde in record time of 0.2 seconds!''


    The Loli next to him red up at him with disgust, her eyes narrowing into slits. ''All men are the same,'' she thought, rolling her eyes.


    She hurriedly scooted farther away from him. She didn''t want to be anywhere near this depraved lunatic.


    Hugo didn''t notice. He was in too deep, his mind swimming in a sea of inappropriate thoughts as the teacher glided toward the front of the room.


    If the world could see what was going on in his mind, Hugo would be a dropout five minutester.


    As she bent over to pick up a marker from the floor, a collective groan echoed across the ssroom, including from Hugo himself.


    All the men had pink faces and constricted pupils. They were struggling to withstand the soul attack that was her big ass.


    Even some girls secretly licked their lips. The sight was too tantalizing.


    ''My God!'' Hugo''s inner voice screamed. ''Is this... a reward for surviving high school? What is this heavenly sight?''


    The Loli shot him another nasty re, practically baring her teeth in frustration. ''This idiot... he''s hopeless.''


    The teacher finally straightened up and turned to the board, her back to the ss. She started writing something, but Hugo''s brain wasn''tputing anymore. He was lost in his own lewd, delusional world.


    It wasn''t until she finished writing the words "TEST" in bold letters that reality pped him across the face.


    "Test?" he muttered, suddenly feeling the sharp, icy sting of fear. ''Oh no, no, no... I wasn''t ready for this...''


    What did she mean by a test? And she decided to just spring it up unannounced?


    Where was this? Harvard?


    Pfffffttttt.


    And then it happened. His body betrayed him.


    A fear fart.


    It slipped out silently, like a ninja in the night, but Hugo panicked anyway. His eyes darted around the room, praying no one would notice.


    After seeing that no one had triangted the sound to his anus, he finally rxed a little.


    ''Thank God it was silent...''


    But just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, the system''s voice chimed in sounding like a demonic imp from the gates of hell:


    [Ding! System challenge issued. Objective: Score an A on this test. Reward: One stat point.]


    Hugo''s eyes widened, his heart sinking into his stomach. ''Score an A?!'' He looked up at the board, where the teacher was now drawing up equations like they were ancient hieroglyphs.


    His brain tlined.


    ''I''m screwed...''

 Chapter 34: I Know Your Little Secret!

    <h4>Chapter 34: I Know Your Little Secret!</h4>


    The ssroom was dead silent. Not a single cough, not a rustling of paper, just the frantic scratching of pens as students scribbled furiously toplete the test.


    Everyone was in their own world, heads down, faces tense, pushing to answer as many questions as they could in the remaining time.


    Everyone, that is¡ªexcept Hugo.


    Hugo sat there, staring down at his test paper. It was nk. Completely, miserably nk. And it felt like his brain was even emptier.


    He blinked at it, feeling a bead of sweat trickling down his temple.


    His brain spun as he racked his memory, trying to remember anything that could help, but nothing came up. His mind was a vast, deste wastnd.


    It was like every bit of knowledge had simply evaporated.


    Crazy thoughts flooded his mind. ''I''m gonna get an F on my first test! Just like that? No second chances? What''s the system gonna say about that?'' He almost let out a small whimper when he thought of the system challenge. ''Wait, does the system even ept failure as an option?''


    He could already imagine it: the system probably wouldn''t just let him off the hook. Maybe it''d zap him or drop his "alpha aura" down to zero. Who knows what kind of punishment awaited him?


    Desperate, he nced around, eyesnding on the loli seated beside him. Her face was intense and focused as she scribbled like her life depended on it.


    She was scribbling with such speed that her pen was practically smoking.


    Her eyes were narrowed, focused like a hawk while her wrist moved at lightning speed. Hugo couldn''t believe it. ''How is she writing so fast? Does she have three brains?''


    Desperate times called for desperate measures. He leaned in and tapped her elbow. Just a tiny tap, enough to get her attention without alerting the teacher. But she didn''t even nce his way.


    She just kept writing, her eyes never leaving her paper. He tapped her elbow again, a bit harder this time, but all she did was shift her arm slightly to block his view, scooting her chair a little further away from him.


    Not one to be deterred, Hugo scooted along with her, inching closer in his chair as quietly as he could.


    They continued this silent, ridiculous dance, each moving millimeter by millimeter across the floor, all while trying not to attract the teacher''s attention.


    After what felt like an eternity, the teacher cleared her throat, and Hugo froze mid-scoot, sweat forming on his brow as he stared down at his still-empty page.


    ''Only 15 minutes left.'' His desperation levels were through the roof. He needed to do something drastic!


    Then, in a moment of pure inspiration, he leaned over to the loli and whispered, "I know your little secret."


    She jolted, her pen stopping mid-sentence. Her face turned pale as she looked over at him, eyes wide with shock. "Y-you... you know?" she whispered, her voice quivering. "H-how did you know?"


    Hugo barely stopped himself from grinning.


    ''Bingo!'' He was actually bluffing, just repeating some random line he''d once read in a novel. But her reaction¡ªshe was falling for it! Unbelievable!


    Hugo put on his best mysterious expression, whispering dramatically, "Oh, I know everything." He paused, smirking. "You really thought no one would find out, didn''t you?"


    She swallowed, her hands trembling as she looked back at her paper. Hugo could practically see her sweating.


    He could almost see the wheels turning in her head, trying to figure out what he knew and how he''d found out. But she was scared, he could tell.


    "I... I... But... I..." she stammered, her face filled with dread.


    Hugo gave azy shrug. "I could keep it to myself..." He let his voice trail off meaningfully, giving her a little smirk. "Or I could let everyone in on it."


    Her face turned a shade whiter. "You wouldn''t... not here... not in front of everyone..."


    Her face turned even paler. "You wouldn''t... not here... not in front of everyone..."


    "Oh, I''d hate to," Hugo said, pretending to think about it, ncing around the room like he was considering standing up and making an announcement. "But I might... unless, of course, I find some incentive to keep it to myself."


    She looked down at her paper, her shoulders drooping in defeat. With a shaky hand, she tilted her sheet ever so slightly towards him, revealing her answers.


    ''Victory!'' Hugo celebrated internally. ''Alright boys, let''s dig in!''


    He eagerly copied down her answers as quickly as he could, making sure to keep a low profile.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Every time she shot him a worried nce, he''d just give her that smug, "I-know-all" look, which seemed to freak her out even more.


    When the bell finally rang, signaling the end of the test, Hugo couldn''t help but feel victorious.


    He strolled out of the ssroom, grinning ear-to-ear, his test paper now full of answers. ''Not bad for my first test!''


    As he walked down the hall, he kept reying the scene in his head, struggling not tough out loud. She totally fell for it. Just a few mysterious words, and she handed everything over. ssic Loli.


    He chuckled to himself. ''That was almost too easy. I didn''t even have to try!''


    Hugo realized not all tropes were lies. Some people were just that gullible. Lolis were especially at the forefront. They were the pacesetters of the gullibles.


    But just then, he heard hurried footsteps behind him. He turned to see the loli, her face flushed and a bit flustered as she chased after him.


    "Please," she whispered, catching up to him and looking around nervously. "Please don''t tell anyone about... about my... you know, my secret."


    Hugo looked at her, maintaining his serious face, and just gave a slow, thoughtful nod. "I suppose I could keep it to myself."


    She sighed in relief, but a flicker of suspicion crossed her face. "How... How did you know?"


    Hugo just smirked, tapping the side of his head. He put on his most mysterious expression. "I have my ways," he said mysteriously, as if he had ess to some hidden source of knowledge.


    She looked at him in awe, half-terrified, half-impressed, which only made him feel even more smug.


    Satisfied, he gave her a friendly wave and walked off, feeling the thrill of victory bubbling inside him. He couldn''t help but chuckle to himself.


    ''Not my fault, little loli. This system is turning me into a viin!''

 Chapter 35: Going To The Gym.

    <h4>Chapter 35: Going To The Gym.</h4>


    Hugo stumbled out of hisst ss like he''d been through a battlefield. He was barely holding onto his bag as if it weighed a hundred pounds.


    His hair looked like it had gone through a blender, his shirt was half-tucked, and his eyes had that haunted ze of someone who had survived far too many pop quizzes.


    It seemed to scream; Please, no more!


    His brain felt fried. He couldn''t remember thest time he''d had a single clear thought.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Today had been the busiest day of his life. Whoever said college was no different from high school needed to be smashed in the nuts with a stiletto.


    His notebook was a mess of half-scribbled notes, random doodles, and coffee stains.


    After hours of non-stop lectures, his head was filled with a blur of forms, diagrams, and that one professor''s endless drone about ancient history.


    ss after ss, assignment after assignment¡ªit was as if the professors were on a mission to break his spirit!


    But he''d managed to get everything. He had scanned all the missed notes, copied all the missed assignments, even took pictures of the diagrams he hadn''t understood.


    But at what cost? His brain was mush.


    Dragging himself toward the dorm, Hugo perked up a bit. The only thing keeping him upright was the glorious thought of his precious "Muscle Unlock Pills."


    Today was the D-Day.


    ''Alright, it''s time to hit the gym and stop looking like a pencil with limbs. I''m going to be shredded!'' He thought.


    Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a tiny pill bottlebeled "Muscle Unlock Pills." He grinned. One step closer to bing a shredded beast!


    If this pill worked just as miraculously as the te unlock pills had worked, he couldn''t wait to see himself in the next week!


    On his way, he entertained himself with a few wild ideas. ''What if there are even better pills out there?'' he thought, already grinning.


    He''d be a frigging Greek god!


    ''Brain Unlock Pills? I''d ace every test! Courage Unlock Pills? I''d finally talk to girls without stammering! Or maybe...'' He smirked to himself.


    ''The All-Around Handsome Guy Pill...'' His mind started drifting into a fantasy of being the talk of campus, but he snapped out of it just as he reached his dorm room.


    ''Focus, Hugo. Buff Hugo first, then thedies.''


    He swung open the door to his dorm and froze, gaping in disbelief.


    Collins, his ever-dramatic, ever-absurd roommate, was in the middle of what could only be described as "acrobatic insanity."


    He was on the floor with a tall, ridiculously fit yoga instructor with long, golden hair and curves that could make a statue blush.


    She was in one of those tight, sporty outfits that left little to the imagination. But it wasn''t the instructor that had Hugo''s jaw practically on the floor; it was the position they were in...


    They were locked in an intimate yoga position that looked half exercise, half Cirque du Soleil, and 100% more up close and personal than anything Hugo had seen outside of romance novels.


    Collins was basically wrapped around her in what looked like a very... intimate pretzel.


    Collins spotted Hugo in the doorway and, without missing a beat, gave him a cocky wink. "Hey, Hugo! Just doing a bit of... ''deep stretching.'' Gotta stay limber, you know?"


    Before Hugo could even react, Collins shifted slightly, revealing a sh of bright, hot-pink fabric where no pink fabric should ever be.


    Hugo''s eyes widened as he realized¡ªCollins was wearing THE pink thong.


    ''Nope. Nope, nope, nope.'' Hugo felt his soul leave his body for a second. He backed up, closing the door in slow horror, and leaned against the hallway wall.


    ''Did I really just see that?'' He shook his head, trying to scrub the image from his mind. ''It''s like a bad dream. Just... focus on getting those gains, Hugo. Gains, not trauma.''


    Once he felt like he''d mentally recovered (or at least pushed the image deep, deep down), Hugo took a deep breath and cracked the door open just a bit to check if the coast was clear.


    He heard Collinsughing and the instructor giggling, so he peeked around the corner, hoping they hadn''t escted into something worse.


    Collins shifted again, and¡ªyep, there it was, the pink thong. Hugo''s sanity crumbled a little more.


    ''Pull it together!'' He cleared his throat, mumbled an apology, and charged into his room with all the grace of someone fleeing a haunted house.


    Once inside, he hurriedly grabbed a change of clothes and went to his bathroom to get dressed. He stood in front of the mirror, determined.


    Today was the start of his transformation. Scrawny Hugo would soon be history. He popped open the bottle of Muscle Unlock Pills, holding one like it was some holy relic. Goodbye, skinny kid. Hello, Muscle Hugo.


    ''I''ll take it once I get to the gym,'' he decided.


    Just as he was about to leave for the gym, though, inspiration hit him like lightning. His eyes widened.


    ''Wait a second¡ªI know how to pull this off!'' He bolted back into the dorm, grinning from ear to ear, eager to test his idea¡ª


    But the sight that greeted him was even worse than before.


    Collins and the yoga instructor had somehow tangled themselves into an even more impossible pose, practically face-to-face, noses almost touching,ughing like they were in their own little world.


    And yes, as Collins shifted again, that horrible sh of hot-pink fabric made a reappearance.


    Hugo''s whole brain seemed to scream, Abort mission! He spun around, hand over his eyes, and muttered, "Nope. Not going in there. Not today."


    He turned on his heel and marched down the hall, clutching the bottle of Muscle Unlock Pills inside his pocket.


    His influencer ns had been officially derailed, but at least he was stillmitted to getting buff. After all, he thought, sighing, ''It''s not my fault if I end up with a roommate scar for life.''

 Chapter 36: Devilish Muscle Unlock Pills.

    <h4>Chapter 36: Devilish Muscle Unlock Pills.</h4>


    [Special Shoutout to our fan of the Month: Pedro_Sousa!!]


    Hugo shuffled into the college gym''s toilet, dragging his feet like a condemned man. The instant the door swung shut behind him, a smell mmed into his face with the force of a heavyweight punch. It was so awful it could knock out a skunk.


    His first instinct was to gag, but he managed to mp a hand over his mouth.


    His eyes watered from the stench¡ªsomething foul brewing inside one of the cubicles. The smell wasn''t just bad. It was as if something had crawled in there, binged on expired protein powder and gym socks, and then died a slow, agonising death.


    "What in the world...?" Hugo whispered, inching forward like he was approaching their of a sewer goblin.


    Before he could retreat, the door of the cursed cubicle creaked open. Out stepped a bald guy, built like a tank but with the expression of a man leaving a spa day.


    His cheeks were flushed, his eyes misty with what could only be described as satisfaction.


    Hugo froze, blinking in disbelief. That wasn''t the look of a man who just barely survived the aftermath of Taco Tuesday.


    No.


    This was... something else.


    ''Please tell me this guy didn''t...'' Hugo''s thoughts trailed off in horror. The stink. The timing. The satisfied expression. His brain connected the dots, and none of them were good.


    "That''s a smell you only make after... some serious self-love." Hugo muttered to himself, half gagging and half chuckling in disbelief. He wanted tough, but thebination of disgust and shock made it hard to focus.


    He shook his head violently as if the mental image would just disappear. Why was his life like this? He should''ve known better than to expect a normal day.


    Hugo reached into his pocket and pulled out the System''stest gift: the muscle unlock pill. With a flick of his thumb, he opened the small container. What he saw next almost made him throw it across the room.


    The pill inside wasn''t just questionably shaped¡ªit was... horrific. Bent at an odd angle, it looked either like a broken cock or a dysfunctional adult toy


    "You''ve got to be kidding me," Hugo muttered, holding the pill between two fingers as if it were evidence in some twisted court case. "Why does the System keep doing this to me?"


    He stared at it for another moment, debating his options. The System was sadistic. It loved making him suffer. Why else would it make every pill look like something out of a bad joke?


    With a sigh, he popped it into his mouth and swallowed fast, hoping it wouldn''t taste as weird as it looked. No way was he letting anyone catch him holding that thing.


    He stood still, waiting for the familiar rush of euphoria like thest time he used an unlock pill back in the hospital. But... nothing happened.


    His eyes narrowed. "Hello? System? Where''s the life-changing sensation?"


    Nothing. Not even a tingle. It felt like he had just swallowed a rubber toy for no reason.


    ''Great,'' Hugo thought sarcastically. ''I''ve just eaten a chew toy. Maybe next time, they''ll send me a squeaky one.''


    He exhaled, catching another unfortunate whiff of the lingering stench from the cubicle. ''Gross.'' He needed to get out of this ce before it became part of him.


    "Alright," Hugo muttered to himself. "Time to be a gym god!"


    ---


    The moment Hugo stepped out of the toilet, the gym''s atmosphere hit him like a tidal wave.


    The air was filled with the heavy thump of bass, pumping so loud it felt like the speakers were personally pping him in the face, yelling, "Work harder, you wimp!"


    "Now this is more like it!" Hugo shouted, his spirits lifted by the buzz of activity around him.


    He dumped his bag near the lockers and grabbed his headphones, switching from the generic workout ylist ring overhead to his own carefully curated jams.


    Nothing like a little personal motivation.


    Feeling the excitement bubble in his chest, he pulled out his phone and opened his gym app.


    ''Time for squats.''


    He made his way to the squat rack, loading the barbell with just the right amount of weight to make it look impressive without destroying himself.


    This was the moment. Today, he''d unlock his inner Greek god.


    He squared his shoulders, nted his feet, and took a deep breath. "Let''s do this."


    As he lowered himself into the first squat, *


    a strange sensation bloomed in his muscles.


    Warmth spread through his legs like a cosy nket, wrapping every fibre of his muscles in bliss.


    "Oh... whoa." His voice escaped in a strange half-moan before he could stop it.


    ''What the hell was that?''


    He straightened, blinking in disbelief. That felt... good. Too good.


    With cautious curiosity, Hugo went for a second squat. This time, the sensation hit even harder, spreading from his thighs to his calves and glutes like a wave of tingling happiness.


    "Ohhh yes!" The words slipped out involuntarily, sounding far too much like someone having way too much fun.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    He froze mid-rep, eyes darting around the gym. Had anyone heard that?


    He couldn''t handle another embarrassing situation¡ªnot after the orientation disaster. But thankfully, the gym''s thunderous music kept his sounds drowned out.


    Feeling a surge of confidence, Hugo went deeper into his reps, each one filling him with euphoric energy. It was like his muscles were singing with joy, begging him to keep going.


    Soon, he was in the zone, squatting like a pro,pletely lost in the rhythm of the exercise.


    "Ahhh, yes! YES!" he cried out, forgetting entirely where he was. Each rep was a symphony of bliss, his body and mind in perfect harmony.


    And then...


    The music cut out.


    The sudden silence was deafening, like the air had been sucked out of the room. Hugo, still lost in his workout-induced high, didn''t notice.


    "Ahhh! Yes! More! Just a little more!" he moaned, unaware that the entire gym had turned to stare at him in stunned silence.


    Every head was turned his way, eyes wide with disbelief. Gym-goers exchanged nces, some amused, others horrified, all of them wondering if they''d identally wandered into the wrong kind of gym.


    One guy dropped his dumbbells with a loud ng, muttering, "Dude, what the hell?"


    Another whispered to his friend, "Is he... enjoying squats that much?"


    Hugo had once again managed to find himself at the centre of an awkward disaster.


    _____


    [Yay! We finally got a contract! So grateful to all my dear readers that have been on this journey with me! Mass releaseing soon!!!]


    P.S: I had a fever today, so it took me a long time to write this Chapter. Give me your feedback!

 Chapter 37: I Swear, I’m Straight!

    <h4>Chapter 37: I Swear, I''m Straight!</h4>


    The gym was unusually quiet. Too quiet.


    The only sound that filled the room was Hugo''s moans, echoing off the walls like the world''s most awkward symphony.


    And the worst part? Hugo had no idea what was happening around him.


    Hugo dipped into another squat, trembling with exertion, his eyes squeezed shut as waves of pleasure radiated through his quivering thighs.


    Each dip sent waves of strange pleasure rolling through his muscles, making him feel lighter and warmer than he ever thought a workout could.


    He gritted his teeth, determined toplete one more set. ''Focus, Hugo, it''s just a workout... not... not whatever it feels like right now¡ªoh god...''


    Another push. Another jolt of weird, tingling pleasure. "Ahhh... oooh..." he moaned softly, eyes squeezed shut, oblivious to how loud he was being.


    The sensation was so overwhelming that his whole body rxed... a little too much.


    And then...


    PFFFFT!


    A loud, unapologetic fart burst out.


    Hugo froze, his legs halfway through a rep. His eyes stayed shut, as if by sheer will he could pretend it didn''t happen.


    ''Oh no.'' His brain screamed at him to pretend it didn''t happen. ''Maybe it wasn''t that loud. Maybe nobody noticed...''


    He ced his hope on the fact that the gym music was loud enough to cover any funny sound and if they smelt it, he hoped they thought it came from the air vents.


    Trying to regain someposure, Hugo dipped into another squat again, only for another wave of euphoric pleasure to hit him like a freight train.


    His back arched slightly, his thighs trembling uncontrobly.


    "Ahhh! Yes!" he moaned, the sound bursting out before he could stop it.


    And this time, it was louder. Much louder.


    Hugo''s eyes remained mped shut. ''Oh god, please tell me no one heard that. Please...''


    Unfortunately, the gym had fallen into a deathly silence. Everyone had paused mid-workout, their attentionser-focused on the strange man moaning by the squats rack like it was his honeymoon suite.


    The gym became disturbingly still. No one lifted weights. No one grunted with exertion. They were all... just listening.


    Then came the moment that sealed his fate.


    A concerned man¡ªtall, broad-shouldered, with a perfect five o''clock shadow and gym gloves¡ªwalked over and ced a hand on Hugo''s chest.


    "Hey, mate," the man asked, his voice low and smooth andced with genuine concern. "you okay?"


    The moment the guy''s hand touched his chest, Hugo''s brain short-circuited. A tidal wave of euphoria exploded from his chest, sending pleasure shooting through every nerve in his body.


    His back arched again, his muscles tensed, and before he could stop himself¡ª


    "OOOHHHH! AHHH!"


    The moan that came out of Hugo''s mouth was loud enough to make the weights rattle.


    His legs mped together on reflex, and he shuddered uncontrobly, his entire body twitching with uncontainable bliss.


    For a brief, horrifying second, Hugo was utterly lost in the sensation. His toes curled. His head tilted back.


    And then¡ªjust as quickly as it came¡ªthe euphoria vanished, leaving him gasping for air and blinking rapidly in confusion. He hadn''t even known when he had dropped he weights.


    His eyes shot open... and the first thing he saw was the concerned man still standing over him, staring.


    "...What?" Hugo whispered, panic blooming in his chest.


    And then he realised: the gym was still dead silent. Everyone had definitely heard him.


    ''F*ck f*ck f*ck f*ck f*ck! They heard. They definitely heard everything!''


    The man standing over him gave him a slow, knowing grin. Then, with a yful wink, he said, "Didn''t know you were that sensitive to a man''s touch."


    Hugo''s brain went nk. For a second, all he could do was sit there, stunned. Then, it clicked.


    ''Oh god, no. No, no, no, no!''


    "That''s not¡ª! I mean¡ª! It''s not what you think!" Hugo stammered, his face flushing a deep crimson.


    He frantically waved his hands in front of him, as if he could swat away the misunderstanding like a fly.


    "Oh?" The man raised an amused eyebrow. "So, you didn''t just moan like that when I touched your chest?"


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Hugo''s jaw worked up and down, words failing himpletely.


    The other gym-goers were now openly watching, some covering their mouths to hide their grins, others not even bothering to hold back theirughter.


    "No! It''s not like that!" Hugo blurted, panic rising in his throat. "It''s... muscle cramps!"


    The man snorted. "Muscle cramps? Mate, you sounded like you were on a date with those weights."


    "I swear, it''s just... cramps!" Hugo insisted, his voice cracking slightly as the embarrassment piled on.


    "Look, I''m not¡ª" He paused, trying to find the right words without giving away his system-powered secret.


    The man smirked, crossing his arms. "Not what? Enjoying yourself? ''Cause it sure sounded like you were."


    "No! I mean¡ªYES! I mean¡ªwait, no! That''s not what I¡ª!" Hugo mped his mouth shut, realising he was digging himself deeper into the hole.


    His brain screamed for an escape n, but nothing wasing.


    The man leaned in closer, clearly having way too much fun with Hugo''s misery. "Rx, mate. No judgment here. Just saying, if you''re that sensitive to a man''s touch..." He gave a cheeky grin. "You might want to explore that."


    Hugo''s eyes nearly popped out of his head. "I''m not gay!"


    The man raised his eyebrows in mock surprise. "Could''ve fooled me."


    "I swear, I''m straight!" Hugo shouted, throwing his hands in the air.


    The gym burst intoughter. People doubled over, pping their thighs, some wiping tears from their eyes.


    A guy on the bench press gasped between giggles, "Bro really said ''I''m straight!'' like he''s in a courtroom."


    Hugo groaned and buried his face in his hands, wishing the floor would open up and swallow him whole. ''Why does this keep happening to me? This devilish Muscle Unlock Pills!''


    The man patted him on the shoulder onest time, giving him a sympathetic smile. "Hey, no worries, mate. You do you."


    And with that, he strutted away, leaving Hugo drowning in a sea of second-hand embarrassment.


    ''This is it,'' Hugo thought miserably. ''Another social death. I need a new gym.''

 Chapter 38: Endless Abyss.

    <h4>Chapter 38: Endless Abyss.</h4>


    Hugo shuffled down the dorm hallway, his steps slow. His face was twisted in the kind of regret only a second social death could bring. He reyed the memory over and over¡ªthe stares, the whispers, the smirks at the gym.


    Anytime he thought of how weird and disgusting he must have looked to the onlookers, his cheeks created new shades of the colour red.


    He almost didn''t want to believe it.


    "Two social deaths in a week..." he muttered, voice thick with self-pity. "Might as well throw a funeral for my reputation."


    He had experienced traumatizing embarrassment not once but twice in the short span of less than two weeks.


    ''Dear crazy author... why do you hate me so much. Why do you derive pleasure from writing these terrible scenes...''


    Hugo prayed to the mysterious being above. His life was almost like a joke at this point.


    The worst part of it all was that he knew this disturbing practice was going to continue. He had only taken the pill for one day out of the seven days it''s effects wouldst for.


    This meant that no matter what, as long as he exerted his muscles, he would feel that deadly rush of euphoric once again!


    It didn''t even have to be a workout. Just a simple action like running might make him go crazy with pleasure.


    There was no stopping it!


    "God, they''re probably still talking about it." He shuddered, picturing his mortified expression etched into gym-goers'' memories forever.


    Thud.


    The moment Hugo stepped into the dorm, he knew something was up. He could feel it in his bones.


    p. p. p. p!


    An unmistakable, rhythmic sound of pping filled the hallway from Collins'' room.


    Hugo''s eyebrows shot up so much they almost disappeared into his hair. ''Wait, is that what I think it is?''


    His head hurriedly snapped to the left, where some adult yoga had been taking ce some hours ago. A quick nce confirmed the yoga mats in the hallway were empty.


    The yoga mats were actually empty! Hugo didn''t need to be a genius to know what had happened.


    ''No. Freaking. Way.'' The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. Collins had actually managed to "seal the deal" with her! Such a gorgeous woman with mind blowing proportions had been bagged by a freshman!


    Hugo paused, awe washing over him. ''This guy''s Rizz must be on a whole new level!''


    ''If Rizz was a skill tree, Collins is maxed out and running DLCs,'' Hugo thought, sighing. Compared to him, Hugo''s skills with girls were like trying to master algebra without knowing how to count.


    "Here I am, fumbling with my Casanova System, while he''s in here and still bagging goddesses."


    It felt so unfair!


    Sighing, he moved across the living room and slumped into his room, ready to drown his sorrows with whatever snacks were left in his stash.


    He wasn''t in the mood to eat today and only wanted to snack on some light food. But his stomach had other ns, unleashing a deep, angry growl that shook him out of his thoughts.


    "What the...?" he mumbled. For a second, he had thought a lion had been let loose on campus.


    ''Since when did I get this hungry?'' A pang of hunger twisted through him, sharp and insistent, like his stomach was staging a protest.


    He hadn''t been this hungry in ages.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    He pulled out his phone and opened his food delivery app, his eyes darting straight to the pizza section. ''A little midnight snack won''t hurt,'' he thought, adding a couple of pizzas to his cart.


    But as he waited for his delivery, his hunger only grew more intense. "Okay, who turned my stomach into a ck hole?"


    Suddenly, it hit him. It was the Muscle Unlock Pills!


    Apparently, they didn''t just work his muscles but drained his entire nutrient supply like a high-maintenance pet. The hunger pangs were ferocious, like his stomach was wing at him from the inside out.


    Although this actually made sense as it was impossible to grow without sufficient nutrients, that doesn''t mean it felt good!


    It didn''t feel nice one bit!


    Finally, the pizzas arrived, and he attacked them like a starving beast. Cheese, sauce, crust¡ªhe demolished it all, barely taking time to breathe. He didn''t even have time for water. All he could think about was biting the next slice...


    But within five minutes of finishing, the hunger wed back even harder, as if the pizzas had only tickled it awake.


    It felt like a dragon had been woken from it''s 1000 years slumber!


    "Oh,e on!" he whined. "Is this some kind of curse?" Desperately, he ordered ten more pizzas with a wince.


    He could practically feel his bank ount weeping as he hit ''Order,'' but he couldn''t help himself. The hunger was all-consuming, like he hadn''t eaten in days.


    The pizzas came, and he devoured them again, barely pausing between bites. He thought maybe, just maybe, that would finally satisfy the hunger.


    But fifteen minutester, there he was, back on the app, hitting "Order" with trembling fingers.


    It was like some unholy cycle. Every time he finished eating, the hunger would roar back with a vengeance, and he''d find himself hitting "Add to Cart" like he was possessed.


    One hourter, hey sprawled across his bed, utterly defeated. Pizza boxes were strewn everywhere, forming a fortress of his shame. He stared at his phone screen, his bank ount bnce blinking back at him in red numbers...


    ''Over a hundred bucks... in one night... just for pizza.''


    Hugo groaned, reaching a hand to the sky like he was delivering a dramatic eulogy. ''Farewell, dear bank bnce. You lived a good life. Tragically short, but valiant nheless.''


    Exhaustion swept over him, his eyelids drooping as he began to drift off. Hisst thought before sleep imed him was a desperate plea.


    ''Please, stomach... give me a break. If I survive the week without eating my entire savings... it''ll be a miracle!''

 Chapter 39: A Size Problem.

    <h4>Chapter 39: A Size Problem.</h4>


    Collins was pounding on Hugo''s door, his voice carrying through the thin dorm walls. There was a tinge of excitement and loads of impatience in them. "Come on, Hugo! We don''t have all night!"


    Inside, Hugo was a man facing a full-blown crisis.


    He stood in front of his wardrobe, frowning at every single piece of clothing that, just a week ago, had fit perfectly. Now, everything was either too tight or dangerously close to bursting.


    Nothing fit. Not his old t-shirts, not his jeans, and definitely not his favourite hoodie. Heck, not even thatce coat his grandma had given himst Christmas!


    Thanks to the Muscle Unlock Pills, he''d grown two whole sizes, and while he was proud of the progress, this was downright inconvenient.


    "Perfect. Just perfect," he muttered, holding up a T-shirt that didn''t even cover his torso anymore.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Sure, he looked great¡ªlike, really great. The pills had done wonders for his physique. But now? He couldn''t find a single thing that wouldn''t make him look like he''d squeezed into a kid''s wardrobe.


    The past week had been a non-stop circus of moaning during workouts and nearly bankrupting himself to keep up with his appetite.


    Hugo had changed gym 3 times, and he had left them all with his cheeks burning a bright red.


    The thickness of his face had grown significantly in those seven days. All thanks to his disturbing workouts.


    ''At least the "intense hunger" phase is over.'' He''d survived, somehow.


    His mind? Not quite.


    Collins pounded on the door again. "Hugo,e on! We''re going to miss prime time at the club!"


    "I''ming!" Hugo called out, frantically trying to find something, anything that fit. ''How am I supposed to getid if I''m dressed like the Michelin Man?''


    This was no ordinary night out, after all. He only had two weeks left to finish his " death mission" or¡ªwell, he didn''t even want to think about it. The thought of what would happen if he hadn''t managed to getid by then always makes his back chill.


    If there was even the slightest chance he''d meet the legendary girl of his dreams tonight, then he had to go all out.


    He had to getid!


    He nced at his phone and scrolled through his texts with Lily. They''d been chatting all week, and he was sure things were going well¡ªexcept every time he''d asked her out, her schedule was busier than a doctor''s during flu season.


    ''At this rate, I''d have better luck scoring a date with a cryptid.'' He groaned. He needed progress now. Real, actual progress that would save his neck.


    But first, clothes. He gave his reflection a smirk, admiring the new muscles. Sure, he wasn''t Greek god level¡ªyet¡ªbut he had the kind of arms that actually bulged.


    If he just found the right shirt, he''d be golden.


    The problem? He didn''t have the right shirt. Hisst resort? Even worse. It was Collins.


    Although he knew this wouldn''t end well, he hated to admit it, but he had no other option.


    ''Okay, desperate times call for desperate measures.'' With a sigh, he pushed open the door and called out, "Collins? I, uh... I might need a favour."


    _____


    Five minutester, Hugo found himself staring into the mirror, and his reflection was... a lot to take in.


    The only clothes Collins had that actually fit him were a truly atrociousbination: a snot-green T-shirt with the words "I Never Shave" printed boldly across the front, and bright pink polka-dot trousers that screamed "party gone wrong."


    The trousers were particrly disturbing. It looked like a fever dream, and the hot pink colour was loud enough to be seen from space.


    Hugo gaped at himself, mouth open, horror flooding his face. "Oh, this is...this is tragic."


    He imagined himself walking into the club like this, watching people slowly back away. "Heydies, guess who doesn''t believe in personal grooming and raided a circus tent for pants?"


    A fresh wave of doubt washed over him. "I cannot be seen in public like this," he thought, groaning. This outfit could cause a traffic ident just from the shock alone.


    He was simplypounding his problems if he was seen out like this!


    But he was desperate. His life was literally on the line. He could either risk social death yet again, or he could miss out on the opportunity toplete his mission.


    He took a deep breath, trying to ignore how the words "I Never Shave" mocked him from the mirror.


    "Dude, hurry up!" Collins shouted from the hallway, his voice dripping with impatience. "It''s now or never!"


    "Yeah, yeah, I''ming!" Hugo took onest, miserable look in the mirror. "Well, if I''m going down, I''m going down in a ze of booger-green and pink polka-dots."


    He opened the door, and Collins took one look at him, eyebrows shooting up. "Wow. That''s... bold."


    Hugo red. "Bold? I look like a walking billboard for personal neglect and a clown convention. This shirt could repel mosquitos from a mile away!"


    Collins tried and failed to suppress augh. "Hey, who knows? Maybe that''s what the ''legendary girls'' go for. You''ll definitely get noticed."


    Hugo slumped, dragging his feet to the door. "Honestly, man, I don''t think I want to go anymore. I can''t be seen in public looking like this."


    Collins pped him on the back. "Trust me, tonight''s going to be epic. If anything, you''ll stand out¡ªand that''s half the battle, right?"


    As they walked down the dorm block, Hugo''s mind buzzed with doubts. ''Maybe I should just stay in tonight. Hide from the world. Put this outfit on a bonfire.''


    But as Collins pushed open the exit door, Hugo took a deep breath, squaring his shoulders. If he was going to do this, he was going to own it.


    Tonight, he was going to step out and give it everything he had¡ªeven if "everything" included a questionable slogan and pants that looked like they''d been made for a party clown.

 Chapter 40: Collins’ Connections.

    <h4>Chapter 40: Collins'' Connections.</h4>


    Outside ''Dirty Radiance Club'', the night was alive with shing neon lights,ughter, and music spilling out onto the street.


    The line to get in was absurdly long, snaking all the way down the block and filled with people dressed in their clubbing best. There were tight dresses, stylish jackets, expensive shoes.


    Hugo, however, looked like he''d wandered off from a circus act. Although he was attracting attention. It was the wrong kind of attention.


    Wearing a faded green T-shirt emzoned with "I Never Shave" in bold letters and hideous pink polka dotted trousers, he looked like he''d lost a bet.


    Every few seconds, someone in line turned to stare at him, whispering behind their hands or barely suppressing a snicker.


    Even the bouncers at the door seemed to nce over with barely concealedughter.


    The stares felt like daggers. Hugo clenched his jaw, ncing sideways at Collins, who seemedpletely unbothered.


    Hugo shot a re at him. "I swear, this is thest time I evene close to your cursed wardrobe."


    Collins just waved it off with a grin. "Rx, buddy. It''s a club, not a fashion show. Besides," he leaned in, whispering, "with my connections, we''ll be inside in no time. Trust me."


    Hugo arched an eyebrow. "Oh, really? Because it looks like the only thing we''re collecting is embarrassment. And quite frankly, I''ve already had my fill."


    Collins brushed it off, stepping forward to try his first attempt at getting them in. They were both under the legal drinking age of 21 and neither had any fake IDs.


    Hugo didn''t know how Collins was going to pull this off.


    He watched eagerly as Collins strutted up to the bouncer, a mountain of a man with arms crossed like he was guarding a treasure. "Hey, my man!" Collins started with that overly familiar charm.


    Hugo followed behind quickly. Judging from how friendly Collins had greeted the bouncer, they had to know each other, right?


    Did he really have such connections?


    "Look, we forgot our IDs, bute on¡ªyou know me, right? You can see we''re definitely old enough, right?"


    The bouncer''s gaze drifted from Collins to Hugo, pausing when he took in the polka dots and booger green T-shirt. His mouth twitched, augh just barely suppressed. "Him too?" he asked, pointing at Hugo.


    "Yup, him too!" Collins said with unwavering confidence. Hugo wanted to run away right then and there.


    This was so embarrassing!


    The bouncer let out a snort. "He looks like he just escaped from a circus. Go home, kids."


    As they walked back, Hugo threw his friend a look of utter disbelief. "''Definitely old enough,'' huh? Because my shirt obviously screams ''mature adult.'' Genius n, Collins. Absolute masterpiece."


    This was the n? For real?


    Collins smirked, unphased. "Alright, alright. That was a warm up. You''ll see, buddy¡ªI got this."


    Collins dug into his wallet, pulling out a single, crisp $20 bill.


    He strutted back up to the bouncer like he was offering gold. "Alright, big man," he said, pressing the bill into the bouncer''s hand with a wink, "maybe this will help you see things my way."


    The bouncer nced at the twenty, unimpressed, and handed it back with a sigh. "This isn''t a lemonade stand, kid. Next."


    As Collins slunk back, Hugo was already shaking his head. They had been out now for hours. The queue had already thinned out and most of the babes were inside.


    He was itching to get some action! "20? Really?" He asked.


    "Hey, not everyone''s got cash to throw around," Collins grumbled. "Besides, this isn''t over yet."


    Collins squared his shoulders, giving Hugo a quick wink. "This time''s foolproof. Trust me."


    He returned to the bouncer, this time with a smooth, casual air. "Hey, listen, man. I''m actually here to support family. My cousin''s the DJ tonight... DJ Thunderstorm? Yeah, I''m his cousin. So, y''know, gotta be inside to support him."


    The bouncer arched an eyebrow, looking about as convinced as a teacher hearing a homework excuse. "DJ Thunderstorm? Seriously?"


    Collins nodded confidently. "That''s right. Family support, you know? It''s important."


    The bouncer snorted. "First, there''s no DJ Thunderstorm on the list, it''s a Thunderstrum. Second, even if there was, I wouldn''t let in his so-called ''cousins'' without ID. Move along, Thunderstorm."


    Returning defeated, Collins forced augh. "So... maybe that one wasn''t my best idea. I might have misread the advert."


    Hugo rubbed his temples, exasperated. "''Thunderstorm,'' Collins? Are we just throwing out random words now? What''s next¡ª''Sir Cheeseburger of McFries''?"


    _____


    Finally, after all the cringe worthy attempts and more eye rolls than Hugo thought possible, Collins somehow managed to pull enough strings and drop enough names that the bouncer reluctantly waved them in.


    It turned out he actually did know that bouncer, the greedy pig just wanted to squeeze out more from them.


    Stepping inside was like entering a different world. The club pulsed with life, the bass thumping so hard Hugo could feel it in his bones.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Neon lights flickered and shed, painting the dance floor in surreal shades of blue and red. People were everywhereughing, dancing, leaning close to each other in dark corners.


    Above them, a DJ spun tracks from a raised booth, nodding in time with the beat.


    Hugo''s embarrassment over his ridiculous outfit started to fade. Even he had to admit, this ce was incredible.


    There was something about the ambience of the club that made him want to go wild. Even his thoughts were getting crazier...


    ''It is time for me to unleash the inner beast and sweep all these chicks off their feet! Nothing shall stop me from getting a nut off tonight!''


    As he tried to soak it all in, a strange feeling washed over him¡ªan odd tugging sensation, like something was calling out to him.


    And then, right there, a small window popped up in his vision:


    [Ding! System Notification: Congrattions! You''ve unlocked your first system event!]


    Hugo blinked, staring at the notification. "Wait... what?"

 Chapter 41: The Birth Of The World’s Greatest Flimsy Flipper!

    Hugo blinked at the words floating before his eyes. ¡¯System Event?¡¯ he thought, feeling both excitement and dread.


    The Ultimate Harem System had pulled some strange stunts before, but this was new territory.


    What was a system event going to be? Free a party with it¡¯s virtual waifus? Was his consciousness going to be transported somewhere to have a dinner with it¡¯s code?


    Slowly, he focused on the details, and the words materialised with a rity that sent his heart racing.


    [Ding! System Event: Flimsy Flippers!]


    The name alone cancelled out any of his thoughts for something fancy. What sort of event was called flimsy flippers! He hurriedly looked downwards to see the event details.


    [Objective: Gain EXP by touching¡­ any sexual area of a woman.]


    The words hung there, daring him to react. Hugo¡¯s jaw dropped so low they brushed against the club tiles. ¡¯Touch¡­ any what?¡¯ His face flushed, and he nced around, half-expecting someone else to be reading over his shoulder.


    He had never imagined a day when his own System would outright tell him to make a move like this.


    Was the System trying to turn him into some kind of shady yer? Not that he minded the whole "Casanova" thing in theory, but actually doing it? And at such a desperate level? That was another story.


    Did this godforsaken system not know he hadn¡¯t broken through to such a level yet?! He had only began the dao of o 2 weeks ago.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    This was above his paygrade!


    ¡¯What is it trying to turn me into¡ªa desperate Casanova?!¡¯ His thoughts spiraled as he considered all the possible oues of this¡­ quest.


    Getting pped? Kicked out of the bar? Banned from the club? Or worse¡ªgoing viral as ¡¯that creepy guy¡¯ in a nightclub video?


    A creepy guy in a booger green shirt and pink polka dots trousers?!


    That was death!


    Despite his confusion and reluctance, there was something¡­ tempting about the whole thing.


    [Event Rewards!]


    [Touch Ass- 5 UHS Points and UHS Credits.


    Touch Boobs- 10 UHS Points and UHS Credits.


    Touch Bare Ass- 50 UHS Points and UHS Credits.


    Touch Bare Boobs- 100 UHS Points and UHS Credits.


    Dance with a girl- 1 UHS Points and UHS Credits per second.


    Event Bonus- Any sexual act gives double the rewards!]


    His gaze flicked down to the reward and a strange glint shed in his eyes. This was a juicy pile of credits, enough to give him a serious boost in his level.


    Originally, Hugo would only receive credits and points from the system when he leveled up, unlocked an achievement orpleted his daily missions.


    This was a totally new way to cash out tens of credits!


    Forget touching the bare ass or boobs, he could literally make a killing with just a few casual touches on the butt!


    And if he could do a hundred...


    He nced around the club and saw dozens of girls dancing. There were so many targets around!


    ¡¯If I can pull this off, I¡¯ll be on a whole new level. I could get closer to being unstoppable!¡¯ If he was ever going to be a legendary casanova, this could be his ticket!


    Collins nudged him, snapping him back to reality. "Hey, you look like you just saw a ghost. You good?"


    Hugo shook his head, stering on a grin. "Yeah, yeah, just¡­ mentally preparing, you know?"


    ¡¯I¡¯ll just¡­ be subtle, right? Like a ninja?¡¯ He tried to hype himself up, the thrill and terror both tangling in his stomach. He decided to take the plunge.


    He was already down two weeks in his death mission. He needed to get those points and credits to buy more aura and increase his skill reserve!


    "I have to do this." With a determined sigh, he turned to the bar. A real Casanova could never afford to be intimidated, right?


    As he reached the bar, Hugo tried to psych himself up. "One beer for each of us," he told the bartender, hoping a quick drink might give him the courage he needed.


    He was about to do something crazy. He needed to get himself into the zone. The fearless demon zone...


    He lifted the ss, channeling every movie hero he¡¯d ever seen, and tipped it back to gulp it all down in one go. ¡¯One gulp, like a pro. This is how heroes get courage.¡¯


    Except, halfway through, the bitter taste hit him hard, and the bubbles burned up his nose. The carbonation hit the back of his throat, and he started choking, sputtering as he tried not to cough up the beer all over himself.


    The bartender gave him a funny look, and a couple of nearby club-goers snickered.


    Collins burst intoughter, pping Hugo¡¯s back. "Easy, champ! The night¡¯s just getting started. Don¡¯t drown yourself before you even get in the game."


    Hugo managed a shaky grin, feeling his face flush. "Just¡­ warming up, you know?"


    "Alright, champ. Here¡¯s to warming up!" Collins raised his own ss, grinning as they clinked sses.


    They weaved their way into the heart of the club, where the music throbbed and people danced under pulsing lights.


    Hugo could feel the System Event still hanging in the air, almost like a dare. The moment hade. It was time to make his move.


    ¡¯This is it, Hugo,¡¯ he thought. ¡¯Time to risk it all.¡¯


    Taking a deep breath, he strode forward, weaving his way through the dance floor with every ounce of confidence he could muster.


    The music thrummed through him, giving him a surreal sense of power. He could feel the beat syncing with his heart as he scanned the crowd, heart pounding as he tried to pick his "target."


    His eyes settled on a girlughing with her friends nearby, and he steeled himself, mentally reciting every bit of courage he could muster. ¡¯Just be cool. Be casual.¡¯


    He slowly inched closer, heart racing like it was about to explode.


    This was the birth of the world¡¯s greatest flimsy flipper!

 Chapter 42: A Menace In Polka Dots Trousers!

    [1/3 Of Day 1 Mass Release!]


    Hugo had never been so serious in his life. His brows had formed a straight line and his pupils were darting about in their sockets.


    His steps were fluid and ninja like as he approached his target. And oh boy, what a target!


    ¡¯Why the hell is she dancing like that?¡¯ Hugo had never seen anyone dancing so furiously or energetically in his life. It almost looked like she was fighting invincible demons or something.


    ¡¯Is she an exorcist in secret, trying toplete her mission as inconspicuously as possible?¡¯


    Hugo had to make sure to know he wasn¡¯t stepping into unknown territory. Afterall, mingling with people like that could get him tangled with their secret society for life.


    ¡¯Well, exorcists have butts so... She will have to do for now.¡¯


    As he neared her, he confirmed that she was so into the vibe that she won¡¯t mind a quick grab, so he lunged for her butt.


    Except, she was indeed an exorcist! And a high level one at that!


    The girl spun around so quickly his hand could only hang in that awkward position, some inches away from her waist.


    When the girl saw this, her eyes zed, and she yelled, "What the heck? What were you trying to do, you weirdo!"


    Hugo¡¯s face went pale but his cheeks flushed. He forced a smile that looked more like a grimace and said, "Er... you have dust on your clothes?"


    With a speed that shocked even himself, Hugo disappeared into the dense crowd in the club and prayed to the gods she wouldn¡¯t notice his fiery pink polka dots trousers among the sea of legs.


    His first target had been an exorcist in secret. Now he had to find another one. And one that didn¡¯t have eyes on her back!


    No matter what, he was undeterred. A menace in polka dots trousers had been unleashed!


    _____


    A group of girls wereughing and dancing, clearly having the best time of their lives. One of them, a long legged blonde in a sexy dress suddenly felt a soft hand tap her in the butt.


    The tap was so fast and so sneaky she had almost not felt it. By the time she turned around, all she saw was a fiery pink polka dots trousers disappearing into the crowd...


    ______


    A girl was at the bar, taking shots of tequ with a gleeful smile on her face. Suddenly, just as she raised her hand to drink another shot, she suddenly feels a hand grope her breast with the speed of lightning itself.


    She didn¡¯t even have the time to react in shock to the deed before it was gone. All she managed to catch at the corner of her eyes was a fiery pink polka dots trousers disappearing into the crowd...


    _____


    Two girls were going live at a corner in the club. One of them, a sexy brte with a big, plump butt was saying something about joining her onlyfrans to her viewers when thements section exploded with texts.


    At first, she was confused, wondering why the engagement had suddenly sped up like crazy, but then she read thements and realized she had been groped without even knowing!


    This time when she turned around, she didn¡¯t even see anything!


    _____


    Hugo, the cause of all this madness was busy sharpening his skills with utmost concentration. He was improving so fast it was beginning to feel too easy.


    "Don¡¯t me me,dies! It¡¯s the system that is truly despicable!"


    He was just about to move on the next target when he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder.


    Looking up, he found himself staring into the steely gaze of one of the bouncers, a guy who looked like he ate barbed wire for breakfast.


    "You¡¯re out, buddy," the bouncer growled, his grip tightening.


    Hugo¡¯s eyes widened. "Wait, wait! I swear, I¡¯m just¡­ trying toplete an achievement!" His desperate exnation only made the bouncer¡¯s brow furrow more, and with a swift, no-nonsense shove, Hugo found himself stumbling back.


    But Hugo wasn¡¯t about to give up his chance for all that glorious experience. Ducking behind a group of dancers, he zigzagged through the crowd, dodging under tables and squeezing between barstools like a man possessed.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Unfortunately for him, the bouncer had backup.


    Another bouncer appeared out of nowhere, blocking his path with arms like tree trunks, and before Hugo could even exin himself, they were hauling him toward the door like a sack of potatoes.


    Collins, watching this disaster unfold from the bar, groaned and tried to turn his back, hoping to distance himself from his increasingly embarrassing friend.


    Unfortunately, as Hugo was unceremoniously tossed out of the club doors, the bouncer who¡¯d been guarding the entrance recognized Collins from earlier.


    "Oh, you¡¯re with him, aren¡¯t you?" the bouncer said, giving Collins a knowing smirk. Before he could protest, Collins was grabbed by the cor and heaved right out onto the pavement next to Hugo,nding with an undignified thud.


    The two of them sat on the cold concrete, Hugo nursing a bruised ego, and Collins, seething with rage, looking like he might burst a blood vessel.


    "Uh¡­ so¡­" Hugo tried, offering a sheepish grin. "About that¡­ I¡­ I might have overdone it?"


    Collins red, a deadly, fiery re that could melt ss. "Overdone it? Hugo, you got us kicked out of the only decent club in this town! All because you couldn¡¯t stop¡­ groping everything that moved!"


    "Hey, hey! It wasn¡¯t my idea," Hugo said, gesturing wildly, as if the System itself might appear to take the me. "I really didn¡¯t want to do it! It¡¯s... it¡¯s for the points!"


    "Points?" Collins scoffed, looking ready to throttle him. "The only points you¡¯re getting is on how to be a public menace!"


    Hugo winced, trying to throw a reassuring arm around his friend. Collins, however, pped his hand away and stood up in a huff.


    "I¡¯m going home. Don¡¯t follow me."


    Before Hugo could say another word, Collins stormed off, leaving him alone on the curb. Hugo sighed, defeated, then threw a re up at the night sky as if the System was up there, watching him suffer.


    "This is all your fault, System! You¡¯re ruining my life!"


    _____


    [The reasons why the system issued these event would be revealed inter chapters.]

 Chapter 43: OP Aura Of Persuasion!

    [2/3 of Day 1 Mass release!]


    Hugo and Collins walked down the quiet dorm hallway, the silence between them thick and heavy. Hugo, desperate to ease the tension, cleared his throat and gave a small, nervousugh. "So¡­ uh¡­ that was a crazy night, huh?"


    Collins didn¡¯t respond, didn¡¯t even look his way. His jaw was clenched, eyes fixed forward as he picked up his pace, practically leaving Hugo in the dust.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Hugo hurried to keep up. ""I mean¡­ at least now we know the bouncers are thorough, right?" he joked, trying to lighten the mood.


    Still, nothing. Collins¡¯s silence was louder than any shouting could have been. With a defeated sigh, Hugo let him go on ahead and trudged back to his room alone.


    He knew he might have pissed off Collins today by quite a bit. Afterall, he had ruined his buddy¡¯s own chance of getting bagged tonight simply because he was being stupid.


    It was just that, there was really no choice for him at that moment. He need these credits!


    Once inside, he slumped against the door, staring at his feet. But then¡­ he remembered. ¡¯The System!¡¯ He quickly pulled it up, and his eyes went wide as he saw the rewards tally:


    [- Touch Ass 10 times = 50 UHS credits and points.]


    [- Touch Boobs 3 times = 30 UHS credits and points.]


    [- Touch Bare Ass 2 times = 100 UHS credits and points.]


    [- Touch Bare Boobs 0 times = 0 UHS credits and points.]


    [- Danced with a girl for 120 seconds = 120 UHS credits and points.]


    His jaw dropped. He stared at the total, his eyes gleaming.


    [Total: 300 UHS points and credits.]


    "Three hundred points?!" Hugo whispered, barely able to contain his excitement. He did a quick mental calction, envisioning all the items he could buy.


    "I¡¯m loaded! I could get a bunch of gift boxes¡­ maybe even a new aura!" He chuckled to himself, picturing all the perks he could unlock.


    Despite the night¡¯s embarrassment, the payoff was too sweet. Maybe getting tossed out was worth it. He was practically rolling in rewards!


    With renewed excitement, he opened up the System shop, his eyes darting through the list of auras.


    The first thing he wanted to get was a new aura. This was already long overdue. A


    Auras were so magical and useful that they had literally saved his ass with women multiple times. Having just two was far too little.


    After a bit of scrolling, he zeroed in on three intriguing options:


    They were; Aura of Lust, Aura of Persuasion and Aura of Trust.


    Hugo began to consider the best one to buy among the three. At a nce, the best option to help him with his current predicament war the Aura of Lust.


    It¡¯s name was self exnatory. It would make the girls around him more horny. Although this was good, it slipped one vital part.


    It didn¡¯t actually force them to want to do anything with him.


    It could make them horny, but if they seemed him unworthy, they would simply go to another man! That was counterproductive!


    But the Aura of Persuasion on the other hand was like the solution to that problem. This one caught his attention. It could make people more agreeable.


    Not only was this good for convincing girls to let down their guard with him, it could even also be used in getting out of other sticky situations!


    It was like a 2 in 1.


    The Aura of Trust on the other hand was just too mild. It helped build trust with targets over time. Hugo needed something stronger to get him out of his trouble.


    He weighed the options carefully before finally settling on Aura of Persuasion. "Perfect. Not too over the top but just enough to sway people if I need it. Plus, if I ever need to talk my way out of a jam, this¡¯lle in handy."


    [Ding! Host has purchased Aura Of Persuasion!]


    With a grin, he spent 250 credits, watching his points drop. He was left with 50, but it felt like a good tradeoff.


    With his purchaseplete, he couldn¡¯t resist the urge to test it out right away. And he knew exactly who to try it on.


    Stepping out of his room, he spotted Collins sitting in their living area, staring nkly at the floor with his arms crossed.


    He was still clearly pissed. Hugo wouldn¡¯t have wanted to talk to him in this mood on any other asion.


    But now he had a trump card!


    He took a deep breath, activating his new aura. He walked over, putting on his most sincere, regretful expression.


    He only had one minute!


    "Hey, Collins," he started softly. "Look, I¡­ I just wanted to say I¡¯m sorry about tonight. I know I got a little¡­ out of hand."


    Collins looked at him, his expression still stony but his eyes softening slightly. Hugo could feel the aura working, nudging Collins¡¯s attitude just a bit.


    "I mean it, man," Hugo continued, pouring on the honesty. "You¡¯re my friend, and I hate that I messed things up tonight. Friends forgive each other, right?"


    Collins¡¯s expression wavered. His jaw unclenched, and he let out a long sigh. "Yeah¡­ I guess you¡¯re right, Hugo. Friends do forgive each other."


    Hugo¡¯s heart skipped. ¡¯This aura is amazing!¡¯ He felt a rush of excitement but kept his face calm. "Thanks, man. I¡¯ll make it up to you, I swear."


    Collins nodded, a reluctant smile tugging at his lips. "Just¡­ don¡¯t make me regret it, okay?"


    "Promise," Hugo replied, managing to keep his grin from breaking out. Inside, he was doing mental cartwheels.


    Hugo had to bite back a triumphant grin. ¡¯This aura is too overpowered,¡¯ he thought, barely containing his excitement.


    Not only had he managed to turn things around with Collins, but he¡¯d done it without lifting a finger!


    Or losing a finger!


    As he headed back to his room, he couldn¡¯t contain his satisfaction. This new aura was going to be his ultimate tool. With a smirk, he thought, ¡¯There¡¯s no stopping me now.¡¯

 Chapter 44: Goddess Of Luck, Bless Me!

    [3/3 Of Day 1 Mass release!]Hugo shut the door to his room, rubbing his hands together as he opened up the System interface.


    Now that he had taken care of his issue with Collins, it was time to focus on the next big thing.


    And the next big thing, or the only big thing for that matter, was the System.


    And the gift box wheel!


    He was 300 points richer, thanks to all his "efforts" tonight, and that meant it was finally time to take his chances on the gift box wheel again.


    He could spin the wheel to get magical items with wonderful effects.


    The thought made him pause, though. Hisst spin had been nothing short of a nightmare.


    A rubber duck and a¡­ used tissue? He shuddered at the memory. Was his luck really that bad? But he shook off the doubt¡ªtonight was different. Surely.


    The system should have been appeared after it drained 100 of his cherished points like a thirsty cat.


    It better give him something good this time around.


    "Alright, no Buddha chants this time," he muttered. Last time, he¡¯d tried calling on Buddha, hoping it would give him some miracle luck, but that had probably just angered any divine forces around him.


    ¡¯Focus,¡¯ he told himself. ¡¯Tonight¡¯s different. It¡¯s gotta be.¡¯


    He pulled up the System interface and hurriedly navigated to the gift box section. When it loaded up, his eyes automatically glued to the wheel glowing on the screen.


    Bright, colorful sections shed before him, each one holding a potential prize hidden behind an icon of a pink hat.


    In the middle, a blinking message read, ¡¯Spin for 50 points.¡¯


    Hugo took a deep breath. "Alright, here goes nothing!" He tapped the screen, and the wheel began to spin with a loud whir.


    He watched with bated breath. His eyes tracked every blur as the wheel whizzed by. Although he could tell it to stop, he preferred allowing it to stop at his own time.


    He didn¡¯t trust his own luck one bit.


    Finally, it began to slow, each tick growing louder and slower, dragging out the suspense.


    And then¡­ it stopped.


    [Ding! Congrattions! You¡¯ve won... Trash grade broken tripod!]


    Hugo¡¯s face dropped. ¡¯A broken tripod?¡¯ His eyes went wide as his jaw practically hit the floor. "Fifty points¡­ for garbage?!" he shouted, staring at the screen in disbelief.


    A broken tripod with two of it¡¯s legs missing materialized before Hugo. The pitiful thing couldn¡¯t even stand on it¡¯s one remaining keg and crashed to the floor with a sorrowful thud.


    It waspletely useless. He couldn¡¯t even sell it!


    "Are you kidding me? What kind of scam wheel is this? And why the hell are you congratting me, you evil System!"


    He felt a sh of irritation and leaned back with a groan, rubbing his temples. He had been angered to the point he almost spat blood like the immortal cultivators he had read about in novels.


    Everytime, he spinner this wheel and it gave him a trash grade item, it was building up a sort of trauma in his mind.


    Now, he didn¡¯t even dare nce at casinos. He was too scared to even try!


    Maybe, just maybe, he needed a different approach.


    He scratched his chin thoughtfully, considering the possibility of some sort of luck charm or prayer. Desperate times called for desperate measures.


    He decided to be direct and straightforward. He was going to pray to the source of all this. He was going to bribe the goddess of luck herself!


    "Uh¡­ blessed goddess of luck, keeper of fortune and, uh, good vibes¡­ could you just pleasee down and help me out here?" he said, sping his hands together. "Like, grant me your favor, or whatever. I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll buy you flowers if you want! Just please, make it something good this time!"


    Although his prayer wasn¡¯t the best, what mattered was that it was genuine. At least, this was what Hugo told himself.


    With a renewed sense of hope, he pressed the spin button again. The wheel began its wild spinning dance.


    For seconds it kept spinning, it became faster and longer than before, spinning for what felt like an eternity.


    Hugo¡¯s patience started to run out. "Oh,e on already! Don¡¯t keep me waiting like this!" he yelled at the screen. What sort of suspense was this? His palms were already getting cold!


    Finally, the wheel slowed, ticking bit by bit until it stopped on¡ª


    [Ding! Congrattions! You¡¯ve won... Magical grade Delight Candles!]


    For a moment, he could only stare, unblinking, at the words on his screen.


    ¡¯Magical grade?¡¯ A grin slowly crept onto his face, and then he burst into a cheer, throwing his fists into the air. "Yes! Finally, something good! Thank you, goddess of luck! I owe you!"


    He couldn¡¯t believe it. His prayer actually worked!


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The items the System gave out ranged from trash grade tomon, umon, magical thenstly, rare grade.


    This item was almost the best the system had to offer!


    Eagerly, he tapped the item description, reading every word as if it held the secrets of the universe:


    [Delight Candles (Magical Grade): Three magical candles that increase the arousal of any female who inhales their scent over time.]


    His eyes nearly popped out of his head. He read it again to make sure he wasn¡¯t imagining things.


    When it finally sank in, a mischievous grin stretched across his face. "No way¡­ no way! This is genius!" he practically squealed with excitement.


    His mind raced with wild scenarios. What if he invited a girl over, casually lit one of these candles, and then used his new Aura of Persuasion?


    Between the candle and his charm, he¡¯d practically be unstoppable. This item was like a superpower!


    Feeling like he was on top of the world, Hugo looked back at the gift box wheel with newfound confidence.


    ¡¯Time to go for round three.¡¯ He took a deep breath, sped his hands together again, and threw in another dramatic prayer. "Alright, goddess of luck, if you¡¯re still listening, hit me with something amazing!" he chanted, pressing the button for one more spin, already imagining what incredible item could be next.

 Chapter 45: The Ultimate Thong System.

    [1/3 Of Day 2 of Mass release!]


    Hugo sat cross-legged on his bed, practically bouncing with excitement.


    The Delight Candles felt like the best prize ever, and with 200 points left, he still had four spins to go!


    He rubbed his hands together and grinned at the screen, imagining all the great things he could win next.


    This was the rise of his legend! He was about to go from a mediocre Outer Yard disciple to the patriarch¡¯s disciple in a single bound!


    Heck, he was going to outshine all his senior brothers and sisters!


    "Alright," he whispered to himself, "here we go. Time for some real luck!"


    He pressed the spin button, took a deep breath, and sped his hands together. "Oh, mighty Goddess of Luck, divinedy of fortune, goddess of unimaginable grace and¡ªuh¡ªshiny things, hear my prayer! I know I haven¡¯t been the best at¡­ well, a lot of things, but please, bless me with something amazing¡ª"


    His prayer abruptly cut off as the wheel stopped. His smile faltered, his stomach sinking as he read the words:


    [Ding! Congrattions! You¡¯ve won... Trash Grade Mysterious Blue Thong!]


    With a sh, a shimmering blue thong materialized mid air and floated onto Hugo¡¯s palm


    The material was smooth and silky like clouds against the surface of his skin.


    Hugo stared at it, his face twisting in horror. He reached out to touch it with his other hand, but recoiled immediately, like it was something toxic.


    After a moment, he threw it away, making sure he threw it as far from his body as possible, and grimaced.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "System¡­ is¡­ is it¡­ used?" he stammered, the dread clear in his voice.


    The System responded in its usual monotone, "Yes."


    "UGH!" Hugo yelped, dropping the thong as if it had just burned him. He furiously scrubbed his hands on his trousers, shuddering as though he¡¯d just picked up a cursed relic.


    "Alright, alright," he muttered, "that¡¯s just a fluke. Just bad luck, nothing else!" He pressed the spin button again, now praying even more fervently.


    "Please, please, dear Goddess of Luck, have mercy on me! I¡¯ll do anything¡­ just no more underwear!"


    The moment he pressed spin, the surface of the wheel shed brightly for a split second before it began to spin normally.


    It¡¯s clicking noise was the only sound in the room as seconds passed.


    The wheel spun for a long time, much longer than thest one. Hugo¡¯s eyes went wide with hope¡ªit had spun this long only when he¡¯d gotten the Delight Candles. Maybe he was about to hit the jackpot again!


    He leaned forward, hands shaking with anticipation, as the wheel finally began to slow. His heart pounded in his chest, and he held his breath, waiting for the big reveal.


    ¡¯Give this daddy a rare grade item! Gimme it! Gimme it!¡¯


    [Ding! Congrattions! You¡¯ve won... Trash grade Mysterious Yellow Thong!]


    The scream that escaped him was muffled only by his facenting into his pillow. He kicked his legs and pounded the bed in frustration, practically vibrating with the sheer audacity of his rotten luck


    Two spins wasted on trash! And worse, trash in the form of someone¡¯s second-hand underpants!


    Hugo wanted to cry but no tears came out. He wanted to faint but his consciousness remained bitterly clear.


    He felt he was receiving bad karma due to all thedies he had groped at the club!


    He was still fuming when his door creaked open, and he looked up to see Collins standing there, eyebrow raised in concern.


    "Hugo, mate¡­ everything alright?" Collins asked, his eyes drifting to the blue thong still lying on the floor.


    F*ck F*ck F*ck F*ck F*ck F*ck!


    In a panic, Hugo pped his hand over the yellow thong he¡¯d just received and tried to hide it under his pillow.


    But it was toote. Collins had already seen the blue one and was trying not tough as he smirked.


    "Well, well," Collins said, giving him a once-over, "I didn¡¯t know you were¡­ a man of taste. That is a wonderful collection."


    He gave Hugo a respectful nod,plete with a thumbs-up, before backing out of the room, clearly struggling to keep a straight face.


    Hugo just stared after him, eyes twitching in frustration. There was nothing he could do at this point.


    There was no remedy to his reputation. His only wish was for Collins to keep it private and not go around telling his friends and chics like it was their friendship badge.


    He was down to hisst two spins, and at this point, he didn¡¯t even care. He stabbed the spin button again, refusing to pray to anyone. If the Goddess of Luck wanted to abandon him, so be it.


    The wheel barely spun before it stopped, and he sighed, already bracing himself for disappointment.


    When the object materialized, it was once again another thong. It was brown and hadce edges.


    Hugo was about to toss it aside like the others, until his eyes caught the word notification on his system interface. Particrly, a certain word: Rare.


    [Ding! Congrattions! You¡¯ve won... Rare grade AlphaThong!]


    He froze, his eyes sparkling with new hope as he grabbed the item and hugged it to his chest.


    "Yes! Yes! Thank you, you beautiful, beautiful thong!" he cheered, hugging it with all his might, as if it were a winning lottery ticket.


    He didn¡¯t even care that it could be used. He was just too happy. His first rare grade item after so many terrible spins!


    He quickly opened up the description, desperate to see what made it so special.


    [Alpha Thong: Thong for true men, adds 1 point to Alpha Stat.]


    Hugo¡¯s grin stretched from ear to ear. An Alpha Stat! Finally, a win! He held up the thong like a trophy, pride radiating off him as he whispered,


    "This system¡­ this amazing, ultimate thong system!"


    Just then, a notification dinged, interrupting his celebration. He nced at the screen, his eyes going wide as he read the words¡ªwhatever the System had in store for him next, he could only hope it wasn¡¯t another underwear surprise.

 Chapter 46: Puzzle Of Secrets!

    [1/3 of Day 2 Mass release!]


    Hugo was still on cloud nine after winning his "Alpha Thong" when suddenly, a notification from the System popped up on his screen.


    [Ding! Congrattions! Host has unlocked one free slot in the Advanced Gift Box Wheel due to spinning the wheel 5 times in a row!]


    His eyes widened, and a huge grin spread across his face. An Advanced Gift Box Wheel? This could be epic!


    This was a sign from the gods that they were watching!


    Hugo had already confirmed with the system before that the advanced gift box wheel had items above Rare grade! Those were definitely going to be even crazier and more awesome!


    His gaze zed over with greed and his mind raced. ¡¯If I¡¯m lucky, I could get something incredible!¡¯


    Normally, his gift box wheel was only a basic one. His level was not high enough to Grant him ess to the advanced one which contained the high level items.


    But with this opportunity...


    His heart pounded wildly at the thought of all the amazing possibilities¡ªhe could be on the verge of getting a legendary item without even having the required level!


    But then, after the initial thrill, the excitement turned serious. His face grew stoney and his mind calmed. "Okay, I need all the luck I can muster for this."


    Without wasting another second, Hugo picked up a jacket, grabbed his wallet and dashed out of his dorm room, not even bothering to tell Collins where he was going.


    Five minutester, he burst back in, clutching a bundle of dusty, half melted candles like they were keys to a bank vault.


    These were Holy Luck candles he¡¯d picked up from an antique shop down the road.


    They cost him a precious $10 and looked like they had been through a war, but if they could bring him luck, they were worth every cent.


    Afterall, no amount of money could buy the items in the gift box wheel or cause the evil System to give him another chance at spinning the advanced gift box wheel.


    He needed to get it right this once!


    Hugo quickly set the candles around his room, lighting them one by one. With a serious expression, he sped his hands together in a makeshift prayer.


    He had prayed so much since he got the system than he had done in thest five years!


    "Alright, Buddha, Goddess of Luck, Zeus, Hermes¡ªanyone out there! I need your help! Just a little luck would be great. If you want to throw in a legendary item, I won¡¯tin!..."


    After what felt like the longest, most intense prayer ever, he finally focused on the Advanced Gift Box Wheel.


    The wheel itself was almost asrge as a door, and the number of items on it were in the hundreds. It looked extremely intimidating.


    Hugo didn¡¯t even want to calcte the actual chance of spinning something great on it if there were so many options. He simply left it to fate... and Lady luck.


    With trembling hands, he pressed the Spin button, his heart pounding with anticipation.


    Slowly¡­ slowly¡­ the wheel ticked, each little notch cranking up the suspense. Hugo¡¯s breath was trapped in his throat, his fingers practically digging into his palms. "Come on¡­e on¡­ Give me something good!"


    Time seemed to stretch as the wheel slowed down, inching closer to a stop.


    It finally slowed¡­ then slowed some more¡­


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    And then itnded with a triumphant Ding!


    [Ding! Congrattions! You¡¯ve won... Epic Grade Puzzle of Secrets!]


    For a second, Hugo froze, not fully registering it. His face was nk as a sheet of paper and his mind was more so.


    Then, it hit him, and he erupted into a loud, joyous cheer, bouncing around his room like a kid who just won a prize at the carnival.


    "Yes! An Epic item! This is amazing!"


    He couldn¡¯t believe it. He had actually gotten an epic grade item on the first spin of the advanced wheel?!


    How did he get so lucky?!


    ¡¯The candles... it must be the candles!¡¯


    He was so d he had bought the Holy luck candles from that antique store. That decision was literally the best he¡¯s made in months!


    Once he calmed down a bit, he eagerly checked the item¡¯s description:


    [Puzzle of Secrets: This magical puzzle gives you a clue to a person¡¯s greatest secret. To use it, write the target¡¯s name on the back of the puzzle, then rearrange the pieces. The final image reveals a clue to their deepest secret.]


    After reading it¡¯s description, Hugo¡¯s mind raced with excitement. ¡¯A clue to anyone¡¯s biggest secret?¡¯ This was gold! He could learn all sorts of things that would help him ¡¯charm¡¯ any girl he wanted.


    His imagination ran wild, and a mischievous grin spread across his face as he thought of the perfect first target. He knew who he wanted to try it on first.


    "Lisa!" he said to himself, already plotting how he¡¯d use the puzzle.


    He flipped the puzzle over and carefully wrote her name on the back. He didn¡¯t use any pen, just his index finger, but it worked all the same.


    The puzzle shed with magical energy, and he eagerly began rearranging the pieces, each one a step closer to uncovering her secrets.


    Just then, his phone buzzed, breaking his focus. He nced at it and saw a message from Sanchez.


    [Richie Sanchez: Hey Hugo,e over tomorrow toplete the Casanova ritual. Also, I¡¯m throwing a pool party next Friday. You¡¯re invited!]


    Hugo¡¯s eyes lit up at the news. ¡¯The Casanova ritual?¡¯ What would that entail?


    He imagined all sorts of possibilities¡ªnew skills, powers, tips on how to impress thedies. And a pool party?


    His mind raced at the thought of how he could use his new Aura of Persuasion to help him score big with the girls.


    He nearly forgot about the puzzle in hisp, grinning to himself. With the excitement of theing week ahead, he couldn¡¯t wait to see what wild adventures awaited him.

 Chapter 47: Sh*t Tests.

    [2/3 of Day 2 Mass Release!]


    Hugo stood nervously outside Sanchez¡¯s dope house, his heart racing. He was excited about the Casanova ritual but had no idea what was in store for him.


    Taking a deep breath, he pushed the door open and stepped inside. The moment he walked through the door, though, that excitement quickly turned to shock.


    The sight that greeted him was enough to make him choke on his own saliva.


    There was Sanchez, loungingfortably in avish Versace bathrobe that was loosely tied around his waist, revealing a lc sports bra and a matching thong beneath.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "What in the world are you wearing?" Hugo blurted out, his eyes wide in disbelief. He felt both horrified and amused at the sight of his cousin.


    Why would a grown ass man with a well defined body like his cousin¡¯s ever wear such a thing?!


    It was hrious in the most disgusting way possible!


    Sanchez shrugged as if he were wearing the most normal outfit in the world. "I need to know how it feels to dress like women to truly understand them," he said with a straight face, as if he were dropping the wisdom of the ages.


    Hugo¡¯s mind raced with wild thoughts. ¡¯Understanding women? The key to understanding women was by wearing a thong and a matching sports bra?¡¯ He couldn¡¯t help but imagine Sanchez attempting to rte to women while prancing around in his current getup.


    He shook his head vigorously, trying to rid himself of the mental image.


    Why were the only two men he was close with lunatics?


    Sanchez, oblivious to Hugo¡¯s difort, handed him an oversized set of matching bathrobe, sports bra, and thong. "Here, you need to wear this too. It¡¯s part of the experience!"


    "Absolutely not!" Hugo protested vehemently, but Sanchez was determined. He couldn¡¯t be the only one dressed like a psycho!


    In a sh, Hugo found himself being wrestled into the ridiculous outfit. The bathrobe engulfed him whole, while the sports bra felt like it was made for someone with a very different body type.


    It clung to all the wrong ces, making it feel almost like a torture device.


    ¡¯Ten minutes in,¡¯ he thought, ¡¯and I¡¯m already regretting this decision.¡¯


    Finally, they settled into Sanchez¡¯s sauna, which was decked out like a luxury retreat. The warm, steamy air wrapped around them, and the walls were lined with fragrant cedar wood.


    Soft ambient lights cast a soothing glow, and a few potted nts added a touch of nature. It was the perfect setting for rxation, except for Hugo¡¯s oundish outfit.


    Sanchez leaned back against the wooden bench, adopting a serious tone. "Listen up, Hugo. These next two days are crucial for your Casanova journey. Every top Casanova, or guy with real rizz, knows three key things."


    He raised three fingers. "They are the secret to getting girls easily: Shit Tests, Making Her Fold, and the Art of Flow."


    Hugo, still grappling with the ridiculousness of his attire, nodded earnestly. "Okay, I¡¯m ready. Let¡¯s do this!"


    Sanchez¡¯s expression grew serious as he began to exin. "First, we need to tackle Shit Tests. These are ways a girl tests you to see if you¡¯re worthy of her time and attention. They want to find out if you¡¯re a simp¡ªa guy who¡¯s too eager to please¡ªor an alpha male who knows his worth."


    Hugo listened closely, eager to absorb the knowledge. Sanchez started listing out the various types of shit tests:


    "The first shit test is the mostmon. It¡¯s called the Instagram Shit test. Ever asked a girl for her number and she offered you her Instagram instead? That was a shit test. It¡¯s a test on a guy¡¯s ego and confidence. To pass the test, you simply need to refuse her offer in a strong, masculine way. But you can only refuse twice¡ª"


    "Twice? Why twice?"


    "Shut it. No questions. Refuse her offer only two times because you don¡¯t want to show that you are too strong headed. Although this would relinquish the power from your hand in that moment, to get it back, simply say; "Fine, but I¡¯m choosing the location for our first date." This shows that you¡¯re in control."


    Hugo¡¯s brows furrowed as he rapidly absorbed all the knowledge. He was getting more and more hooked.


    "The second one" Sanchez continued, "is the Numbers shit test. Never give a girl your number. I repeat, never give a girl your number!¡ª"


    "Why shouldn¡¯t¡ª"


    "Shut it, I¡¯m just about to tell you!"


    "If you give a girl your number, 90% of the time, she would never text you again. This is because, she has so many other men who have her attention. This is simply losing the race before even starting.


    If she asks for your number, turn it around and ask for hers instead. Say something like, ¡¯I don¡¯t reply to messages from strangers.¡¯ This tactic works because it creates a yful challenge, and girls love a guy who can hold his ground."


    Sanchez wet his lips and took a sip of his... apple juice.


    "This next one is a real game changer. Passing this test would make or break your chances with her. It¡¯s called The Stubborn Banshee Shit Test. If a girl is being stubborn and shutting you down, that¡¯s her way of testing your masculinity. She wants to know whether you can handle her tantrums and keep the rtionship in order.


    You need to respond confidently, saying something like, ¡¯Don¡¯t talk to me like that, or I¡¯ll have to spank your sexy little ass.¡¯ Make it yful but firm to show you¡¯re not intimidated. Believe me, that line works like magic."


    Hugo¡¯s eyes bulged. Could he really say something like that? Did he have such confidence?


    Judging by the flush on his face, he wasn¡¯t quite there yet.


    Sanchez continued with a flourish. "Nownwe shall move on to the more advanced ones. These shit tests are the deadliest. They are extremely subtle, and if you are not paying careful attention, you would miss it. These are where the pros shine."

 Chapter 48: Sh*t Tests Pt. 2

    "If you passed all the previous shit tests sessfully, you are no doubt a man worth her attention, so a girl would indeed give you this." Sanchez¡¯s brows furrowed for a minute, as if he was reliving a terrible nightmare.


    He took a deep, shaky breath and finally spoke once again. There were even tremors in his voice!


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "She would indeed give you her attention, but it might notst a minute. Here¡¯s the next shit test. It is called the Attention shit test."


    Hugo continued taking down imaginary notes with a serious expression on his face. Every once in a while, his left hand would reach behind him and pull out his wedgie.


    The intrusion was almost distracting, but he had to put his mind on what mattered at the moment.


    After doing this, he would continue to devour Sanchez¡¯s knowledge with the zeal of a fanatic. Afterall, this was knowledge that could save his life!


    Sanchez continued. "The attention shit test is very deadly. It is so deadly because it is very subtle. If you are not careful, you may make a mistake and misjudge, which means you think she is testing you when she is in fact not testing you. This... would be disastrous."


    After taking a short break, Sanchez spoke again. "If you are in a conversation with a girl and she brings out her phone and begins to scroll through it while still having the conversation with you, it is most likely a shit test.


    She wants to know whether you are dominant enough to correct her if she does something wrong."


    "How do I pass th¡ª"


    "The next word thates out of your mouth will make me take a picture of you."


    "..."


    "I thought as much. Good decision. Anyways, when girls give you the attention test, the simple solution is to man up and call her out for it. You need to demand her full attention and do it confidently.


    You can say ,"Don¡¯t do that, I¡¯m talking to you, we gotta keep the eye contact..." Or you can even say, "I need you to give me your full attention mami. I¡¯m giving you mine." Believe me, this works wonders¡ªso long as you get the delivery."


    "What¡¯s the delivery?"


    "You figure it out yourself."


    Hugo wanted to scream. What sort of mentor was this? Figure it out himself?


    Shouldn¡¯t he be exining everything to him in detail?


    "Wow..."


    "Yes. Wow. The next shit test is the Friend shit test. This one is very deadly. Girls are so subtle with this one that you might not even realize it until it is toote. If a girl uses the word ¡¯friend¡¯ to address you during a conversation, you better make sure you correct her immediately.


    She might sneakily say it like this as a response to your question. "I¡¯m doing good, my friend." Don¡¯t think she is being polite. No, she is testing you or already friend zoning you. Either of the two, you need to make your intentions known quickly by correcting her.


    If you don¡¯t, you basically have 2 more chances until you actually get friend zoned. All you need to say is this "Nah don¡¯t call me that, I ain¡¯t your friend. I¡¯m not one of those niggas."


    This would automatically show your intent and allow the girl to process your standpoint. Believe me, you must not fail this shit test. If you do, well, bye."


    "Bye, bye?" Hugo asked, his face frozen into a mixture of fear and determination. Sanchez was opening his eyes to the intricacies of the casanova world.


    He was gaining enlightenment every second and the realisations made him realize how clueless he was before!


    "Yes, bye bye. The permanent kind that banishes you into the evesting void of the friend zone... Now for thest one I shall be teaching you today. The hoe¡¯s shit test."


    "Hoes?"


    "Yes. Hoes. This shit test usually onlyes when a girl is feeling you already. She would probably say something like "I know you got other hoes h h h..." To pass this test, you simply need to do one thing; agree with her smartly.


    You need to let her know that you have so many other options out there. Don¡¯t be scared that this would turn her off, no, it would actually make her desire you more. Ladies lovepetition whether they admit it or not.


    Every woman wants to the most wanted dude around. You simply need to tell her that you have other hoes but she is the only one on your mind or that she is the only girl you are actually feeling. This would boost her ego and do wonders. Remember, confidence is key!"


    Sanchez paused for a moment, his expression mischievous. "If you get good at these, you¡¯ll move on to the more advanced tests, like the Horny Resistance Shit Test or the Rude Dunce Shit Test."


    Poooooooof!


    Just then, Sanchez released a slow, exaggerated fart, his face morphing into aical expression as he posed dramatically. "Let¡¯s continue!"


    Hugo couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter, the absurdity of the moment breaking the tension. "Is this really how I¡¯m supposed to learn about women?" he chuckled, shaking his head at the ridiculousness of the situation.


    Sanchez nodded earnestly, all seriousness returning. "Absolutely! Navigating these situations is crucial for your sess. Now, let¡¯s move on to how to make her fold."


    Hugo was ready for the next lesson, still trying to erase the image of Sanchez in a thong from his mind.


    But with eachugh and awkward moment, he felt himself getting one step closer to mastering the art of being a true Casanova.


    [Extremely sorry for the short chapter. Currently down with the flu. Updates would resume steadily tommorow! Also, how is the lesson. Feel free to share your opinions in thements!]


    Power stone Goal!


    50 PS - 1 Bonus chapter


    100 PS - 2 Bonus chapter


    200 PS (Quite an achievement as of now) - 3 Bonus chapters.

 Chapter 49: Making Her Fold.

    The sauna felt like a scorching inferno. Hugo shifted ufortably on the wooden bench, ncing down with a grimace at the thin, overly clingy thong Sanchez had somehow ¡¯convinced¡¯ him to wear.


    The heat was already unbearable, and now he was practically glued to the bench by sweat. Every movement he made was a fresh wave of difort, and his face was flushed with embarrassment as much as from the heat.


    Across from him, Sanchez sat as if he were in thep of luxury, despite the subtle glint of difort in his eyes.


    He was sweating too, of course, but he¡¯d clearly perfected the art of hiding his suffering under a mask of stoic calm.


    Then, Sanchez reached over and tapped a button on the sauna¡¯s inte. His voice, deep and theatrical, crackled through the speakers: "Bring me some chocte syrup and¡­ my taser."


    Hugo blinked. "Wait, what? Why would you need chocte syrup and a taser?"


    Sanchez gave him a serious look, as if he¡¯d just asked a deeply naive question. "Focus, Hugo. You¡¯re about to learn the ancient and sacred art of making a woman fold."


    "Fold?" Hugo asked, shifting again in the dreaded thong. "Like¡­ origami?"


    "No, not literally fold!" Sanchez sighed, rubbing his temples. "Making a girl ¡¯fold¡¯ is when you make her heart skip, spark a little nervousness, or light up that spark of tension. It¡¯s like causing her to get butterflies when she¡¯s around you."


    Sanchez straightened up, his expression like a wise sage sharing the ultimate secrets. "It¡¯s about leaving her feeling excited and charmed, leaving her wanting more."


    Hugo nodded, trying to absorb the words while fighting the urge to w off the thong. "Alright¡­ so, how do you make a girl¡­ fold?"


    "It¡¯s split into two parts: physical and non-physical," Sanchez exined, adjusting his posture. He spoke with the gravitas of a grandmaster, as though he were passing down ancient wisdom. "Let¡¯s start with the beginner-level physical aspects."


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    At that moment, the sauna door opened, and Sanchez¡¯s maid entered with a tray holding¡­ chocte syrup and a taser.


    She ced them on the bench and left without a word, looking entirely unfazed.


    "First things first," Sanchez continued, holding up the taser with an all-too-eager glint in his eyes. "We¡¯re going to start with intense eye contact. Nothing says confidence like looking directly into someone¡¯s eyes. But intense eye contact can be¡­ intimidating. It takes a special kind of bravery. That¡¯s why we¡¯re going to train your resolve."


    Hugo gulped. "Why do I feel like that involves the taser?"


    Sanchez grinned. "I¡¯m d you asked. To maintain unwavering eye contact, you need to build up your resistance to flinching¡ªhence, the taser."


    "Nope," Hugo said quickly, leaning back as far as he could, hands raised in protest. "No, I¡¯m good with flinching, actually. Been practicing it all my life."


    "Nonsense!" Sanchez¡¯s grin widened, thrusting the taser towards him. "Hold still."


    What followed was two hours of pure, chaotic, and mildly terrifying ¡¯training.¡¯


    Hugo tried to evade, duck, and even hide behind the sauna¡¯s benches, but Sanchez was relentless, wielding the taser with the glee of a kid ying tag.


    By the end of it, Hugo was a sweaty mess, his muscles twitching from all the taser jolts, and somehow¡­ he felt a tiny bit more confident.


    Sanchez pped him on the shoulder. "That confidence you found today? Never lose it."


    "Trust me," Hugo muttered, rubbing his aching arm. "I don¡¯t think I could forget this even if I tried."


    "Now," Sanchez continued, undeterred, "let¡¯s talk about the next aspect: that sexy voice. Lower it, slow it down a bit. When you talk to a girl, let each word simmer.


    A deep, calm voice makes her feel like you¡¯re someone who¡¯s sure of himself, who doesn¡¯t need to rush. It¡¯s practically hypnotic. If you can nail the voice, anything you say would basically be a sure hit.


    Remember that it¡¯s not always what you say that matters, but how you say it."


    Hugo nodded, half-listening and half-praying Sanchez wouldn¡¯t pull out the taser again. But Sanchez was on a roll.


    "And then there¡¯s the non-physical side. These are moves that don¡¯t require touching her¡ªjust a bit of smooth talking. First off: abrupt, genuinepliments. But here¡¯s the trick,"


    Sanchez leaned in as if sharing the secret to life itself, "don¡¯tpliment her looks. Not right away. Compliment herugh, her sense of humour, or the way she smiles. Something unexpected.


    It¡¯s a move straight to her heart, and trust me, it works. It¡¯s different. Makes her feel seen. Makes you stand out from other dudes."


    Hugo raised an eyebrow. "So, don¡¯t just go, ¡¯Hey, nice face,¡¯ or something?"


    "Exactly," Sanchez said, as if Hugo had just cracked a master code. "Now, next is what I call direct affirmations. This is when you¡¯re so confident, you don¡¯t even give her a chance to question your interest.


    Look her in the eyes and say, ¡¯You¡¯re mine now,¡¯ or ¡¯I want you.¡¯ It¡¯s like nting a g¡ªvery powerful. You aren¡¯t asking for permission; you¡¯re telling her you¡¯re interested. There¡¯s power in certainty."


    "Isn¡¯t that, uh, a bit intense?"


    "That¡¯s the point, Hugo. It¡¯s about confidence. A bold move shows her you know what you want."


    Hugo made a mental note, nodding slowly as Sanchez went on.


    Sanchez leaned back, clearly enjoying his own advice as he added, "And finally, the sudden sweetness. This is like the ace up your sleeve. One moment, you¡¯re cool and confident, maybe even a little aloof.


    And then, suddenly, you¡¯re warm and caring, offering genuine concern. This unexpected kindness catches her off-guard, and bam¡ªshe folds before she even realises it."


    Hugo tried to take it all in, imagining himself pulling off these moves without tripping over his words.


    "So let¡¯s recap," Sanchez said, counting on his fingers. "Intense eye contact, a calm voice, genuinepliments that aren¡¯t about looks, bold affirmations, and sudden sweetness. Each one, my friend, is a move to make her fold."


    Hugo grinned, despite the hours of pain and embarrassment. "Got it. So¡­ what¡¯s next?"


    Sanchez leaned in, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Next, my boy, is the most advanced skill of all. Esction."


    _____


    Power stone Goal!


    50 PS - 1 Bonus chapter


    100 PS - 2 Bonus chapter


    200 PS (Quite an achievement as of now) - 3 Bonus chapters.


    5 Golden Tickets - 3 Bonus Chapters.

 Chapter 50: Escalation!

    In the sauna¡¯s heavy heat, Sanchez leaned back, casually sipping from a bottle of chocte syrup.


    He didn¡¯t just drink it; he practically worshipped it, savoring every drip like it was the world¡¯s finest nectar. Hugo, sitting nearby, watched in growing difort.


    The sight¡ªand the sounds¡ªof Sanchez¡¯s chocte indulgence made Hugo¡¯s own throat feel dry, and he couldn¡¯t stop thinking about how amazing that syrup must taste.


    Finally, Hugo couldn¡¯t take it anymore. "Uh... Sanchez, think I could get my own syrup bottle? You know, for, uh, focus?"


    Sanchez raised an eyebrow, as if Hugo had just asked for a rare treasure. "Focus? This syrup, my dear boy, is a precision tool. You start gulping it down, and poof¡ªyour concentration¡¯s gone."


    He took another overly loud sip, letting the chocty goodness linger.


    Hugo raised an eyebrow, "Is that scientifically proven, or are you just hogging the syrup?"


    How did chocte syrup have anything to do with focus all of a sudden?


    With a sigh that suggested ultimate generosity, Sanchez poured a tiny trickle of syrup into a ss for Hugo. It was barely enough to coat the bottom!


    Hugo nced at it, barely surpressing s bemused hiss. ¡¯I¡¯m not a f*cking toddler!¡¯


    "Alright, enough talk of syrup! Today, cuz, we dive into the most powerful art of all¡ªesction." Sanchez¡¯s eyes lit up with an intensity usually reserved for grand wizards exining ancient magic.


    Hugo leaned forward, intrigued. "Esction?"


    "Exactly," Sanchez nodded, grinning. "Think of it as the secret pathway to building attraction¡ªtaking your connection with a woman from friendly banter to something much more electric. Something that may lead to you all over each other with your clothes far from your bodies. Esction, Hugo, is how you create sexual tension so strong that she can¡¯t help but feel drawn to you. It¡¯s the very essence of creating... well, sparks."


    "To start, the absolute foundation of esction is... eye contact," Sanchez said dramatically, his eyes widening as if he¡¯d just unlocked the secrets of the universe. "But not just any eye contact. We¡¯re talking strategic eye contact. There¡¯s a method, Hugo, and it¡¯s called the triangle method."


    "The Triangle Method?" Hugo echoed, scratching his head.


    Sanchez leaned forward, deadly serious. "Yes, my friend. Here¡¯s how it goes: you start by looking into her left eye. Hold that gaze. Then, shift to her right eye. Hold. And finally¡ªthis is where the magic happens¡ªdrop your gaze to her lips. Left eye, right eye, lips. Repeat." He demonstrated in the air as if performing some kind of mystical ritual.


    Hugo squinted, trying to picture it. "And that¡­ that actually works?"


    Sanchezughed, a rich, knowingugh. "Oh, Hugo, it works wonders. When you follow that pattern, it sends her a silent signal, a hint of interest that doesn¡¯t need words. Looking at her lips? It¡¯s like suggesting the idea of a kiss, but subtly. You¡¯re creating a rhythm, a subtle dance that¡¯s bold without going too far. She¡¯ll feel it, trust me."


    Hugo nodded slowly, impressed. "Alright, got it. But how do you know when you¡¯re doing it right? Like... how do you know she¡¯s into it?"


    Sanchez continued with a gleam in his eye. "Now, you can¡¯t just rely on that alone. There are signs she¡¯ll give you if it¡¯s working¡ªclues that she¡¯s feeling the tension too. Watch for them, because when you see them, that¡¯s your green light to take things further."


    "Like what?" Hugo asked, eager to absorb all the wisdom.


    "First," Sanchez said, "if she tilts her head a little, exposing her neck. That¡¯s a subconscious gesture of trust, of letting her guard down. It¡¯s practically an invitation." He tilted his own head as an example, looking vaguely ridiculous but entirely serious.


    "Second," he went on, "if she starts looking at your lips. Just a nce, even a quick one¡ªshe¡¯s imagining things, even if she doesn¡¯t fully realise it."


    Hugo¡¯s eyes widened. This was starting to sound like insider info he¡¯d only dreamed of.


    "Third," Sanchez said, ticking off another point, "if she starts unknowingly leaning closer to you, then if she holds eye contact longer than usual. Those are both huge green lights."


    Hugo listened with rapt attention, filing each sign away for future reference.


    "And there are more subtle clues," Sanchez added. "If she starts ying with her hair, that¡¯s a good sign. Or if she mirrors your movements¡ªlike, if you cross your arms or shift, and she does the same without noticing."


    Hugo nodded like a student taking notes from a master. Every piece of advice felt like gold.


    Sanchez finally leaned back, folding his arms with satisfaction. "Alright, that¡¯s the art of esction in a nutshell. But before I officially pass this knowledge on, there¡¯s one final thing."


    Sanchez ced a hand on his heart, standing solemnly, as if performing an ancient ceremony. "Repeat after me, Hugo. I pledge to be... an Honourable Casanova."


    Hugo blinked, holding backughter but ying along. "I pledge to be... an Honourable Casanova."


    "To wield my charms with respect," Sanchez continued with a dramatic ir.


    "To wield my charms with respect," Hugo repeated, biting his lip to keep from chuckling.


    "To build romances so pure, they could melt the heart of any woman," Sanchez finished, practically misty-eyed with pride.


    Hugo¡¯s voice wobbled as he repeated, "To build romances so pure, they could melt the heart of any woman."


    Sanchez pped him on the shoulder, his face beaming. "With that, Hugo, you are one step closer to mastery."


    Sanchez smiled, pleased. "Now, any questions?"


    "Uh¡­ actually, can I go to the toilet?" Hugo asked, scratching the back of his head.


    For the briefest second, Sanchez¡¯s expression darkened. But he cleared his throat, schooling his expression. "Sure, go ahead."


    The second Hugo left, he let out a silent cheer. He checked his system notifications, and there it was:


    [+1 Stat Point to Communication] and, even better, he had unknowingly passed a hidden mission:


    [Ding! Mission Complete!: Be a True Casanova. Reward: 1 bottle of Man Unlock Pills.]


    Hugo grinned, curious. "Man Unlock Pills? What in the world...?"


    ______


    Power stone Goal!


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    50 PS - 1 Bonus chapter


    10 PS - 2 Bonus chapter


    200 PS (Quite an achievement as of now) - 3 Bonus chapters.


    5 Golden Tickets - 1 Bonus Chapter.

 Chapter 51: Pool Party!

    Hugo¡¯s shaky hand held the bottle and examined it. His mind was racing as he tried to figure out what this new type of unlock pills were for.


    He had all sorts of guesses about what "Man Unlock Pills" could mean but wasn¡¯t sure if his guesses were right. Afterall, Man Unlock could mean many things.


    ¡¯Enhanced manliness? More chest hair? A deeper voice? Waking up as Kong?¡¯ Hugo didn¡¯t leave any thought out. He couldn¡¯t put it above the system. After all, it was a System special; anything was possible.


    So as he held the bottle in his hand, curiosity got the best of him. He brought up the System interface and navigated it to the pill description then started reading.


    And then he froze.


    After all his wild guesses about what these "Man Unlock Pills" could do, nothing prepared him for what he read next.


    [Man Unlock Pills: Re-initiates male organ growth for one week.]


    He blinked, then reread it, almost not daring to believe.


    "Wait¡­ does that mean...?"


    Growth... in that area. His heart raced like he¡¯d just won the lottery.


    A flood of joy swept over him. It meant exactly what he thought it did! It restarted the growth of his joystick!


    This was simply joystick ergement!


    Hugo¡¯s eyes went wide as saucers, and a mischievous, triumphant grin spread across his face. This grin was so disturbingly wide it spread from one earlobe to the other.


    Hugo couldn¡¯t say how much he had wanted something like this pill.


    His mind shed to all the times he¡¯d looked at himself in the mirror with a touch of doubt and despair, wondering if he was ¡¯adequate¡¯ enough. Now, here he was, about to grow. And not just a little! An entire week of growth was on the line.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The growth could range from a few centimeters to major inches!


    This was the golden ticket. One week of natural growth for his most "critical" asset would literally change Hugo¡¯s life!


    He would go from 5-inch Hugo to Knee pper Hugo!


    Without a second thought, he ripped the cap off, looking at the pill. As usual, it was shaped like... let¡¯s just say, a very familiar object. But did he care? Nope. He¡¯d down this thing in a heartbeat!


    He didn¡¯t care if it looked like a bent dildo!


    He popped that pill into his mouth with the glee of a kid eating candy and swallowed it without hesitation.


    He was already counting the days until his big "debut." But then¡ª


    A sudden, euphoric sensation bloomed from hisher regions, sending a shockwave up his spine. His eyes rolled back, his knees wobbled, and his hands gripped the edge of the sink.


    He was hit with an overwhelming feeling that made his legs go weak. It was too intense, too fast.


    It was like 3 subi were pleasuring him with all their techniques!


    "Ah¡ªAhnn... AHHHHHH!" Hugo¡¯s voice rose, unable to keep the noises at bay as wave after wave crashed through him.


    His breathing grew heavy and his cheeks flushed as the euphoric sensation intensified, leaving him clinging to the sink just to stay upright.


    Outside, Sanchez raised an eyebrow as he heard the weird soundsing from the bathroom. He knocked on the door, smirking.


    "Hugo? You alright in there? You¡¯ve been in that toilet for ages. Or did you find a different kind of magazine under the sink?" Sanchez chuckled, shaking his head. "Kid¡¯s got no self-control."


    _____


    Hugo stumbled into the dorm, his legs weak and his head still spinning from the effects. Collins was stretched out on the couch, casually watching something on hisptop, not even ncing up.


    Hugo was too out of it to notice at first, but after a few seconds, he squinted. The unmistakable sounds of moaning drifted from Collins¡¯sptop speakers.


    "Collins¡­" Hugo muttered, words slurring, "Are you seriously watching hentai in the middle of the day?"


    Collins, unbothered, didn¡¯t even look up. "Where the hell have you been man? You look like you¡¯ve been hit by a truck. Or¡­ did you finally get luckyst night?"


    Hugo tried to answer, but all that came out was a guttural groan. The effects of the pill were still making his legs shake.


    "I-I, uh¡­ Just don¡¯t ask, alright?" he managed, wobbling toward his room, "It was... intense."


    Collins gave him a half-grin. "Sure, but hey, don¡¯t worry. A little excitement now and then is good for you."


    _____


    Hugo and Collins stood in the guest room, eyeing themselves in the mirror as music thumped from outside, drifting in with the unmistakable smell of grilled food. Tonight was the night ¨C the pool party.


    The pool party had attracted a ton of people, and Hugo¡¯s heart pounded with excitement... and nerves.


    It had been three whole weeks since Hugo got his system, and his clock was ticking down. One week to go. No more stalling.


    He turned to Collins, eyeing the ridiculously small mingo-printed boxers he was wearing. ""Collins, mate, are you nning to hypnotize them with that neon mess Or just blind them with yourck of shame?"


    Collins smirked, striking a fake superhero pose. "And you look like a human pineapple with that floral disaster you¡¯re wearing. What¡¯s your n? To attract bees?"


    Hugo snorted,ughing off the roasting. His nerves were on fire. "Laugh it up, but tonight is critical, okay? I can¡¯t afford to mess this opportunity up. I¡¯m making sure I get some action. Tonight, it has to happen. I¡¯m desperate, man."


    Collins pped a hand on his shoulder, trying to be serious but failing. "Don¡¯t worry, Hugo. Tonight is the night. We¡¯re getting you out of this dry spell if it¡¯s thest thing we do."


    Hugo looked back in the mirror, adjusting his ridiculous outfit. Sure, the pineapple theme was atrocious, but desperate times called for desperate measures.


    Tonight wasn¡¯t about looking cool; it was about sealing the deal. He was a man on a mission.


    _____


    Power stone Goal!


    50 PS - 1 Bonus chapter


    100 PS - 2 Bonus chapter


    200 PS (Quite an achievement as of now) - 3 Bonus chapters.


    5 Golden Tickets - 3 Bonus Chapters!

 Chapter 52: It’s Time To Leave Virgin City!

    Hugo and Collins exchanged a fist bump so powerful it could¡¯ve sent shockwaves through the room. It wasn¡¯t just a bump¡ªit was a deration.


    The kind of bump that felt like it belonged in an action movie, apanied by a nod so intense it could¡¯ve started a revolution.


    Hugo couldn¡¯t help but grin. He looked at Collins and whispered, full of excitement. "Let¡¯s make tonight legendary."


    Collins grinned, pping him on the back. "Legendary? You mean legendary awkward, right?"


    Hugo shot him a re, but it only made Collinsugh louder, punching him on the shoulder as they walked down the hallway.


    Hugo could tell this was going to be a night to remember... or regret.


    They made their way down the hallway, stepping into the wild scene ahead.


    As they entered the main area, a Rao song began ring through the mansion speakers. The lyrics caught Hugo¡¯s attention. He thought, ¡¯Why does it feel like this song was created just for me?¡¯


    ¡ÖI spent all my cash on a girl who looked so fine, bought her drinks, got her dancing, thought she¡¯d be mine!


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Took her to the floor, thought she¡¯d shake it all night, but she didn¡¯t wiggle that butt, what a sad sight!¡Ö


    Hugo couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at how ridiculous it sounded, but he had to admit, the energy was contagious.


    They passed by groups of people dressed in bikinis, swim trunks, and barely-there outfits, someughing and others already dancing through the corridors.


    The whole ce was alive with neon lights, glow sticks, and the smell of cocktails that probably cost more than Hugo¡¯s rent.


    The living area was packed, people moving around, others lounging on Sanchez¡¯s thousands of dors worth couchs or sipping from oversized sses. It felt like stepping into a scene from some chaotic reality show.


    Or a really dope one...


    As they moved through the party, Hugo couldn¡¯t help but notice something important...


    He hade to this pool party with a significant amount of hope that the System would host another event for the party.


    He had formted hundreds of methods he would use to carry out the flimsy flipper tasks and was ready to maximise his earnings.


    He had been so eager to farm anotherrge amount of credits and points this morning, so why hadn¡¯t anything been triggered?


    The system was as silent as an undead!!


    Or were there any hidden conditions before the system event could be triggered?! If so, what were those?!


    Before he could think about it more, they reached the pool area¡ªand the number of people took himpletely by surprise.


    Both Collins and Hugo werepletely floored by the sheer number of people.


    There was so much action it could¡¯ve been mistaken for an overstuffed human sardine can. It was like the entire city had decided to cram into this one ce.


    He looked around, trying to find Sanchez in the sea of people. Then, as if from another world, he spotted him. Sanchez was on the detached roof at the side of his pool, looking down like some kind of VIP.


    He was wearing a hot pink bathrobe over pink boxers, casually overseeing the madness below as if he were some entric billionaire or the king of a tropical ind, and he looked quite dashing and untouchable.


    "Holy hell, Sanchez! What are you doing up there?" Hugo shouted, trying to make his way to the roof, dodging bikini-d partygoers and a particrly enthusiastic guy wearing a shark fin hat.


    When he finally reached the top, he asked breathlessly, "Why the hell are you standing on the rooftop bro? What if you identally slip and fall? And why are you wearing pink coloured boxers? And you just had to pick one with a Barbie illustration?"


    Sanchez, as nonchnt as ever, shrugged. "Why not, man? It¡¯s a vibe."


    Just as Hugo was about to question him further, Sanchez strode forward and picked up a microphone, his presence demanding attention.


    He waved it dramatically to get the DJ to lower the music. The crowd went silent, all eyes turning to him.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, The reason we are having this incredible party tonight is because of my dear cousin Hugo here," he began, his voice booming through the speakers. Hugo immediately felt his stomach drop.


    "Today is his birthday, so we are here to celebrate with him. Let me tell you about this guy. Hugo here? He¡¯s not just any ordinary guy. He¡¯s the guy who made headlines saving an entirepany from a massive scandal some months back, and guess what? He did it with only a few calls."


    Hugo¡¯s heart skipped a beat. What was Sanchez doing? "And he¡¯s the one who turned down three major business deals just to focus on what really matters¡ªfamily and loyalty," Sanchez continued, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "I am using this opportunity to thank you for giving me the support I needed back when I had nobody to help me."


    Hugo¡¯s jaw nearly hit the floor. What was Sanchez saying?


    Hugo barely had time to process before Sanchez leaned into the microphone and said, "Let¡¯s give a huge round of apuse for my cousin Hugo!"


    The crowd erupted into cheers. Hugo stood there, speechless, as the cheers poured in.


    Sanchez lowered his microphone and turned to Hugo. There was a smirk on his face as he said, "Tired of being a virgin? Tonight is your night. You can thank meter."


    Hugo blinked. The realisation of the impact of Sanchez¡¯s words finally dawning on him. This was... it was such a great help!


    Sanchez was a W man and he was improving his cousins reputation. This would make things a lot more easier for Hugo tonight.


    But still, the way Sanchez was selling him as some kind of hero was way over the top. Hugo was so caught off guard that he didn¡¯t even notice the system notification that appeared in his mind.


    [Ding! Due to the influence of Sanchez¡¯s public hyping, your social status stat has temporarily increased by 5 points for the duration of the pool party!]


    Hugo froze. His brain went nk. "What?!" he thought. He stood there, trying to process the ridiculousness of it all,pletely overwhelmed.


    What kind of system was this? He was getting a status boost just from lying about his life?


    His first thought was... ¡¯It¡¯s time to leave virgin city!¡¯


    _____


    Power stone Goal!


    50 PS - 1 Bonus chapter


    100 PS - 2 Bonus chapter


    200 PS (Quite an achievement as of now) - 3 Bonus chapters.


    5 Golden Tickets - 3 Bonus Chapters!

 Chapter 53: Famous For Five Seconds!

    Hugo¡¯s jaw nearly dropped as the words on the System notification shed across his vision. He even rubbed his eyes and read it again just to be sure.


    When he gazed at the hologram screen once again, the message remained the same.


    [Ding! Due to the influence of Sanchez¡¯s public hyping, your social status stat has temporarily increased by 5 points for the duration of the pool party!]


    [Social Status Buff +5]


    Duration: Until the end of the pool party.


    He read it twice, then a third time. He could hardly believe it.


    This was unreal! Heck, he didn¡¯t even know that something like a temporary buff could be possible!


    And to the stat that was hardest to raise, even!


    Social status was a measure of fame, prestige, and all the things that made people idolise you, practically drool over you and treat you like a mini celebrity!


    It simply meant and determined your standing in the socialdder and your influence to other people around you.


    In other words, it showed how far you are on the celebrity scale.


    Since Hugo¡¯s social status stat was 3 before, the added temporary stats of 5 means he currently has a social status of 8!


    8!


    Probably even Ronaldo didn¡¯t have that much!


    Okay, maybe he was exaggerating. Ronaldo probably had like a social status of 50,000, but still...


    Still!


    Tonight, he¡¯d be treated just like those guys who made girls swoon with a nce!


    Tonight, he¡¯d have a piece of that magic that made everyone around you hang onto your every word, like how girls always lit up when a famous guy walked by, giggling at his jokes, eager to please.


    Hugo¡¯s heart thudded with excitement. He might actually be... cool tonight?


    He had seen it before: how people seemed to gravitate to anyone famous, acting as if everything they said was pure gold, eager to make them happy.


    And now, for tonight, that power was his. He¡¯d never been more thrilled.


    Unable to contain his excitement, he turned to Sanchez. "This... this is insane! I¡¯ve gotta thank you¡ª"


    But Sanchez just grinned, pping him on the shoulder. "No need for thanks, cuz. Just go out there and enjoy it."


    Collins looked on, wide-eyed. "Dude, you¡¯re gonna be the king of the party tonight!"


    As a fellow professional like Sanchez, he knew that Sanchez had basically set the stage for Hugo. All he had to do was not mess it up and he would be able to bang a dope chick this night!


    It was such a priceless gift!


    Hugo didn¡¯t need to be told twice. Unable to hold back, he made his way down to the pool area, which was packed with people lounging,ughing, and sshing around.


    The moment he arrived, heads turned, and people started greeting him, nodding, trying to catch his eye. Some were even pushing their way over to talk, like he was the guest of honour.


    ¡¯So this is what it¡¯s like to be famous?¡¯ Hugo thought, a mix of pride and disbelief in his chest.


    He felt like he was in top if the world. Like he had grown wings and had be a Celestial being!


    It was awesome!


    But before he could fully enjoy it, a deep voice rang out, "Hey, let¡¯s give the birthday boy a ssh!"


    Hugo barely had time to blink before a giant, muscr guy appeared out of nowhere, scooping him up like he weighed nothing.


    "Wait¡ªwhat?!" Hugo stammered, struggling. ¡¯They can¡¯t¡ª¡¯ His stomach dropped as he realized what was happening. ¡¯They¡¯re going to throw me in, and I don¡¯t know how to swim!¡¯


    "Wait¡ªhold on! I don¡¯t¡ª" Hugo stammered, eyes wide as the guy lifted him like a feather.


    ¡¯I don¡¯t know how to swim!¡¯ Hugo screamed internally, panic flooding him. ¡¯They¡¯re going to throw me in, and I¡¯m going to die! Famous for five seconds, and I¡¯m already about to die!¡¯


    He couldn¡¯t believe his bad luck was that overpowered. He had barely enjoyed being famous for five seconds!


    Heck, in a way, he hadn¡¯t even enjoyed it!


    Which demon had he offended for him to be so cursed?! Or was it a witch? Or a genie?!


    The crowd cheered,ughing, oblivious to his inner horror as the man swung him over the pool and¡ªssh!


    Hugo hit the water with a graceless flop. He thrashed wildly, inhaling a mouthful of chlorine and sputtering like a drowning cat.


    "Hel¡ª"


    The people around him keptughing, thinking he was just ying around, until Collins, wide eyed and rmed, yelled, "Uh¡­ guys? Hugo is actually drowning!"


    As soon as Collins shouted this, someone hurriedly tossed a pink mingo float Hugo¡¯s way, which he grabbed with a death grip, coughing and gasping as he clung to it like his life depended on it.


    ¡¯This is it,¡¯ he thought bitterly, ¡¯I¡¯m famous, and I almost drowned because of it!¡¯


    Trying to make a sneaky escape out of the pool, Hugo was almost to the edge when a stunning girl stepped right into his path.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    She was drop dead gorgeous, with eyes that glinted as she looked him over. She leaned in, her voice soft and yful.


    "Hey, Hugo," she purred, her voice almost a whisper. "What¡¯s the dirtiest thing you¡¯ve ever done in a pool?"


    Hugo¡¯s brain froze. "Uh , uh..." He felt his cheeks me, mind racing. She was practically pressing up against him, looking at him with a bold glint in her eye.


    He was about to stammer something ridiculous, but managed to catch himself. Taking a deep breath, he activated Aura of Zen and his nervous immediately calmed, steadying his nerves.


    His gaze crew nonchnt and his voice became cool.


    "Nothing... yet," he replied with a slight smirk, surprising even himself with how cool he sounded.


    Her eyes sparkled with mischief. Smiling, she took his hand and pulled him into a secluded, shadowy corner of the pool.


    "Well," she whispered, her voice dripping with promise, "how about we change that?"

 Chapter 54: Chicken Pecking Rice. (R18)

    Hugo floated in the pool, his mind practically exploding when he heard what the gorgeous girl beside him had just said.


    His brain short circuited with shock and joy, swirling with wild, happy thoughts.


    ¡¯Wait¡­ did she really just say that?¡¯ He felt like he¡¯d just won the lottery. ¡¯Is this real life? Am I actually the luckiest guy on the? Sanchez, you legend! Thank you!¡¯


    This was the first time in his whole life a beautiful girl was actually making a move on him! And it was all thanks to Sanchez¡¯s status buff!


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Barely holding in his excitement, he remembered Sanchez¡¯s advice and activated his Aura of alpha.


    [Activating Aura of Alpha...]


    Oomm!


    The confident surge rippled through him, transforming his usual awkward self into something¡­ well, someone he¡¯d want to be.


    His nervousness subsided and his body exuded a manliness that instantly elevated his charm and game.


    Channeling the smooth confidence Sanchez had drilled into him and drawing from his three journals worth of Rizz advice, he smiled, his voice dropping low and steady as he delivered his line, "You know¡­ I¡¯m just a man who knows how to appreciate beauty when he sees it."


    The girl giggled, and Hugo¡¯s heart flipped like a pancake on a hot griddle. Then she leaned closer, her hands wrapping gently around his neck.


    "So¡­ all those things Sanchez said about you¡­ they¡¯re true?"


    "Of course," Hugo replied, as cool as ice on the outside. He held her gaze confidently without wavering, even though on the inside, he was chanting Sanchez¡¯s name like a prayer.


    ¡¯Thank you, Sanchez! I owe you my life! I would do anything to express my gratitude! A whole shrine in my room dedicated to you, a lifetime supply of nachos, whatever you want!¡¯


    Then he remembered the esction technique Sanchez taught him: the "Triangle Method."


    Hugo nced at her right eye, then her left, then her lips, all while making smooth, steady conversation.


    He had practically mastered the divine art.of using his Auras in short, timely bursts Ed very time he was about to make an action.


    This way, he was able to prolong it¡¯s usage for more than it¡¯s pitiful one minute duration.


    As he gazed at her mouth, he saw her nce down at his lips too. ¡¯It¡¯s working!¡¯ he thought, his excitement bubbling up.


    Sanchez had told him that if a girl reciprocated the triangle method on him, it was the ultimate green light that she was ready for him to escte things!


    And escte he did!


    With onest confident smirk and another gaze at her lips, Hugo leaned in for a kiss. He was praying to all the gods he knew that she wouldn¡¯t suddenly lean back with an ¡¯eew!¡¯


    That would literally kill him!


    Fortunately, she leaned in as well, and then, finally¡­ their lips met.


    Her lips were soft¡ªunbelievably soft. Hugo had never felt anything like it. It was like he was kissing the clouds!


    The kiss sent a thrill through him that made his heart pound even louder. His pulse was out of control, his mind racing with excitement.


    He activated a quick burst of his Aura of zen, just enough to calm down so he could remember everything he¡¯d practiced that week about how to kiss properly. ¡¯Slow and steady, Hugo!¡¯


    First; the hands.


    Gently, he ced one hand on her neck, his fingers brushing her warm skin, and let his other hand slide down her back until it reached the soft curve of her behind.


    Soft was an understatement. It couldn¡¯t even cover it. Her ass was just perfect, full and shapely, practically overflowing in his hand.


    Her swimsuit left so little to the imagination, and he could feel his own body responding as he pressed his hand against her. It hadn¡¯t even been a minute and he was already getting bricked!


    ¡¯Alright, Hugo, keep it cool¡­ or¡­ kinda cool.¡¯


    The party around him faded into a murky darkness and his mind went nk. Their soft kiss was the only thing he could think of at the moment.


    Then she surprised him, sucking lightly on his tongue, turning their kiss into a full-on French one. His pulse spiked, his thoughts scattering in every direction.


    He deepened the kiss as well, practically melting against her, and before he could stop himself, a low moan escaped his lips as she pressed her chest against him, her soft breasts grazing his nipples.


    Suddenly, she pulled back, lowering her head to his chest.


    Just as he started to process the loss of contact and wanted to say something, he felt her mouth on his skin again. But this time¡­ she was sucking on his nipple.


    His mind practically fizzled. The feeling sent waves of electricity shooting down his spine, settling right below.


    "Oh¡­ oh man..." His body responded instantly, his excitement intensifying, and he could feel the blood rushing south as his reaction became all too apparent.


    He¡¯d never felt anything like it, and all he could think was, ¡¯Sanchez, thank you! I could cry!¡¯


    She continued to suck on his nipples, her tongue sending tiny jolts of pleasure through his body.


    He was in heaven, his thoughts a dizzy mess. Hugo felt himself getting harder, his excitement barely contained.


    Then, as if things couldn¡¯t get any better, her hand trailed lower and brushed his bulging cock.


    Her eyes widened as she looked up, surprised but clearly impressed. "Wow," she murmured, her hand brushing against him again. "You¡¯re¡­ so big."


    Hugo¡¯s pride swelled even more, especially knowing the effects of those Muscle Unlock Pills had worked wonders.


    ¡¯Thank you, Muscle Unlock Pills!¡¯ he thought. ¡¯I¡¯m not just some average guy anymore¡­ I¡¯m a certified cock owner!¡¯ he thought triumphantly, patting himself mentally on the back.


    She nced up at him, her eyes glinting with excitement. "Should we¡­ maybe go somewhere more private?"


    Hugo didn¡¯t need to be told twice. His head bobbed up and down so fast he was like a chicken pecking at rice..


    Power stone Goal!


    50 PS - 1 Bonus chapter


    100 PS - 2 Bonus chapter


    200 PS (Quite an achievement as of now) - 3 Bonus chapters.


    5 Golden Tickets - 3 Bonus Chapters.

 Chapter 55: The Villain!

    Hugo stepped out of the pool, dripping wet, but grinning like he¡¯d just won the lottery. His heart was practically doing backflips as he nced over at the beautiful girl beside him.


    Her skin glistened in the sunlight, and she shot him a yful smile that made Hugo feel like he¡¯d just unlocked a secret level in the game of life.


    "Alright," he muttered to himself, his heart racing with excitement. ¡¯Please, gods of destiny, of fate, and all things that govern romance, let this be my night. If I can score even half a win here... I¡¯ll be forever grateful. Please, don¡¯t let anything ruin this!¡¯


    He looked up to the sky like he was about to get a sign from above. Envisioning his prayer being carried by wind and whispered into the heavens.


    Just as Hugo was about to make his grand escape with his potential romantic conquest, a familiar, booming voice interrupted his thoughts.


    "Yo, bro!" It was the muscr guy¡ªthe one who had thrown Hugo into the pool earlier like he was some kind of rubber ducky. The guy marched over like he owned the ce, his muscles bulging and his grin way too confident.


    Hugo groaned inwardly. ¡¯Not this guy. Not now. Why can¡¯t he just let me live?!¡¯


    The dude pped him on the back, nearly sending Hugo crashing forward into the pool again. "You in for a game of pool volleyball with the guys?" he asked, shing a grin so wide it looked like he was trying to eat Hugo¡¯s face.


    Hugo took a deep breath and pasted on a calm smile, even though inside, he was cursing this guy¡¯s entire existence.


    "Nah, man, I¡¯ve got... ns," he said, trying to subtly point to the girl beside him, who was now giving him a look that suggested she was enjoying the drama.


    Hugo¡¯s confidence was rising again. I¡¯ve got this. I¡¯ve totally got this.


    But the guy wasn¡¯t backing down. He nted himself directly in front of Hugo like he was guarding the only exit to freedom. "Come on, bro! You can¡¯t ditch the bros like that. It¡¯s volleyball, man! You know, bro code."


    ¡¯Oh, great. The bro code. Seriously? Would bro code save my life?! This guy¡¯s like the viin in some cheesy webnovel trying to take over my protagonist moment!¡¯ Hugo thought wildly.


    He started thinking of his own dramatic inner monologue: ¡¯The viin hase to ruin my perfect night. I will not let him seed!¡¯


    "I really appreciate the offer, man," Hugo said, his voice smooth and calm. "But, uh, tonight¡¯s kind of a special... personal mission."


    The guy raised an eyebrow. "A personal mission?" He looked genuinely confused, which made Hugo internally fist pump. Yeah, just keep ying clueless.


    Hugo¡¯s voice dropped an octave, and he leaned in, his eyes wide and serious. "Yeah. It¡¯s a life-changing mission, man. You know, one of those moments that¡¯ll determine the fate of... well, my evening."


    He gave a dramatic pause for effect. "I¡¯m on a quest. A quest for... true happiness. And I really can¡¯t afford to get distracted. You know what I mean?" He shot a wink at the girl, who was now smirking at Hugo¡¯s ridiculousness but clearly intrigued.


    The muscr guy just blinked at him, still looking lost. "Bro, what are you even talking about?"


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Hugo took a deep breath, realizing he was getting way too into the drama. But hey, it was working. He quickly gathered himself.


    "Look, bro. I¡¯m on the verge of something... important. Something that could change my whole life. I¡¯ve got to seize the moment, you know? And if I fail, I¡¯ll never forgive myself. So... I gotta go now."


    The guy looked at him for a long moment, scratching his head like he was trying to figure out if Hugo was insane or just verymitted to this "quest for happiness."


    With a shrug, he finally gave in. "Alright, alright. Go do your... thing. But next time, we¡¯re ying volleyball."


    Hugo gave him a quick wave and stepped aside, trying not to look too relieved. ¡¯Victory! The viin has been defeated!¡¯


    With that, he grabbed the girl¡¯s hand and led her towards the mansion. They ascended the stairs, passing room after room. Each door they checked was upied, and Hugo¡¯s confidence slowly started to dete.


    ¡¯Come on, don¡¯t change your mind... Please don¡¯t change your mind.¡¯


    Finally, after what felt like an eternity of checking rooms, they found an empty one. Hugo could barely contain his excitement, and he shot a quick nce at the girl.


    "This is it," he said, trying to y it cool. "The moment. Let¡¯s make it happen."


    They entered the room, and the girl pushed him gently onto the bed. His heart was pounding like a drum, and he was trying not to trip over his own feet.


    She loosened the knot behind her bikini bra, and the flimsy material fell to the floor with a silent thud.


    Her massive breasts bounced miraculously in front of Hugo and he unknowingly gulped.


    They were so beautiful! They were not too big or too small, just the right amount of size. But those nipples looked especially delicious!


    She stood over him with a mischievous glint in her eye, and Hugo knew this was it¡ªthe moment he had been hoping for.


    The girl slowly walked towards him, her movements deliberate. She held eye contact the entire time, making Hugo¡¯s head spin. His heart was racing, and his palms were getting sweaty.


    Then, without warning, she knelt down in front of him. Hugo¡¯s breath hitched. ¡¯This was real. It was happening!¡¯


    And in that moment, as she slowly lowered his boxers, Hugo¡¯s mind wentpletely nk.


    All his thoughts swirled into a tornado of excitement and disbelief. This was a dreame true... except it felt way too real.


    "Wait," he thought, staring down at her. This is real. Is this really happening? His body froze, and he couldn¡¯t tell if he was still dreaming or if this was some unbelievable reality he¡¯d somehow lucked into.


    But before Hugo could gather his thoughts, the girl leaned forward and¡ª

 Chapter 56: Forbidden Hand Techniques! (R18)

    Hugo¡¯s breath hitched as her soft hands gripped the base of Hugo¡¯s cock.


    For a moment, he froze, unable to believe what was happening. His mind raced, alternating between ecstatic disbelief and sheer panic.


    ¡¯Is this real? Did I just unlock a hidden life achievement?¡¯


    The cool breeze from the air conditioner tickled his balls, adding an extrayer to the already overwhelming sensations coursing through him.


    Hugo clenched his fists at his sides, trying to steady himself. The girl, seemingly unaware of his internal chaos, tilted her head, her curious gaze fixed on him.


    "Rx," she murmured with a small, teasing smile.


    ¡¯Rx?¡¯ Hugo nearly choked. ¡¯How am I supposed to rx? This is uncharted territory! I¡¯m the shut-in champion of my generation, now I have a belle gripping my d*ck! How can I rx!¡¯


    His heart hammered in his chest as she leaned closer. Time seemed to stretch infinitely, every second dragging out as though the universe itself was mocking him.


    ¡¯Don¡¯t mess this up,¡¯ he begged silently. ¡¯Please, for once, let my luck hold steady.¡¯


    Luckily, this time around, his luck did hold steady, and something magical happened.


    Smooch!


    Her soft, round lips gently pecked the tip of Hugo¡¯s cap, and he felt a jolt run through his spine.


    That was the first time! That was the first time a girl¡¯s mouth would ever touch his junior brother!


    It felt nice, and his junior brother certainly felt loved, but he needed more desperately!


    The girl, her expression a mix of mischief and excitement, seemed to enjoy his awkward energy.


    She paused briefly, her lips parting as though she was about to say something. Instead, she gave a small, thoughtful hum before proceeding.


    Hugo closed his eyes, focusing on anything but the magnificent reality of the moment. He tried to think of calming thoughts: kittens, rainbows, Sanchez giving him a pep talk.


    Twa! Discover more stories at empire


    She spat on his cock with masterful ease, covering the whole of his rock hard erection in not time.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Her hands gripping the base of his cock gripped slightly tighter, and the veins around the shaft bulged even more, seemingly eager to release their jizz...


    ¡¯Hmmmm...¡¯ Hugo closed his eyes with a sigh. This girl¡ªwhatever her name was began to move her hands up and down around his cock.


    The lubrication from her spit made the movement without friction, and her soft, warm hands made the sensation even better.


    She was giving him a handjob!


    She started slowly at first, making sure her hand went right from the base to the very top before sliding back down, but she quickly began to speed up.


    It was at this moment Hugo¡¯s eyes went wide.


    ¡¯F*ck! Why does this feel so much better than when I do it myself!¡¯ he thought, his mind an absurd mix of pleasure and panic. ¡¯It feels so good that I wouldn¡¯t be able tost long!¡¯


    Twa!


    The girl applied more spit to his cock, and her strokes became even faster and more firm. It was like she was milking him out!


    "Hmmmmmm..." Hugo had no choice but to release that moan. This girl switched intensity so abruptly she caught him off guard. She was definitely a pro!


    But that was not all...


    "Look into my eyes..." Her delicate, sultry moan made Hugo¡¯s body jerk when he heard them. He hurriedly took deep breaths to prevent the orgasm reflex from taking over and preventing him from enjoying this blissful sensations for longer.


    But as the idiot that he was, he slowly lowered his head and stared into her eyes...


    It was at that moment...


    Right when Hugo had gotten lost in the endless beauty of her emerald green eyes, she suddenly sneak attacked him with a forbidden technique!


    No, actually it was two forbidden techniques!


    One of her hands swiftly went to his testicles, gathering them in her grip before giving them a gently tug that made his mind go nk.


    Her other hand, which was the dominant one suddenly sped up its strokes around his cock even more, and then it added a new twisting motion right when it reached the tip of Hugo¡¯s dick!


    "F*ck!"


    The amount of sensations that overloaded Hugo¡¯s brain at that exact moment made him reach the gates of heaven itself.


    It felt so good that his pupils dted. He was drowning in bliss!


    "Yess... It feels so good, doesn¡¯t it. I¡¯m making you feel good, huh? Let it all out... Come for me! Spray me with your dirty seed!"


    Her soft voice continued to murmur sweet nothings to him, and her gaze practically begged him to release his seed.


    Hugo¡¯s brows knitted together and his toes curled. ¡¯How can it feel so good?! I don¡¯t think I can hold it any longer!¡¯ he thought.


    His cock twitched and throbbed as he felt himself nearing release. The girl also sensed this, as her movements became faster, stronger, more frantic!


    It was like she was desperate for his jizz!


    With one final moan, Hugo tipped his head back and felt his d*ck explode with pleasure as white cum began to shoot out like crazy.


    The girl still didn¡¯t stop as Hugo orgasmed, instead, she stroked him faster, making sure to use the lubrication from his own seed to intensify the sensations!


    Hugo shuddered as the pleasure reached it¡¯s peak. His cock was still spewing out cum like an automatic sub machine rifle. He didn¡¯t even know he had this much cum in him!


    Finally, after a trip to heaven, Hugo finally calmed down and the girl released her grip around his d*ck.


    "So, how was it? Did it feel good?" She asked, wiping her face that had been stained with his seed using a napkin.


    ¡¯Good? It felt heavenly! It felt rapturous!¡¯ Hugo replied in his mind. He felt like the world had suddenly gotten brighter and more vibrant after that wonderful experience.


    Outwardly though, he kept his calm and gave her a yful smirk instead.


    "Guess it¡¯s my turn, isn¡¯t it?"


    _____


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 Chapter 57: Tough Decision.

    Hugo couldn¡¯t tear his eyes away from her. The way her delicate fingers moved, wiping away the evidence of their heated moment from the corner of her lips, was hypnotic.


    Her gaze lingered on him, a mix of amusement and allure that sent his heart into overdrive.


    Her beauty was like a me, and Hugo, a hapless moth, was more than willing to burn in it.


    He wanted to melt in it!


    With a confidence he rarely managed to muster without using his Auras, Hugo leaned forward, voice low and thick, trying his best to sound smooth. "It¡¯s my turn to make you feel good."


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Her eyes lit up with a mix of surprise and desire, and she rose to meet him, closing the gap between them.


    Their lips met again in a fiery kiss, and Hugo felt like his brain short-circuited.


    For a moment, he just stood there, overwhelmed by her warmth. Then, like a switch flipping in his mind, the Casanova in him kicked in¡ªor the desperate man with a death mission.


    At once, he knew it was time for action. It was time to lose his virginity!


    ¡¯System, here I go!¡¯


    Hugo¡¯s arms moved on their own, wrapping around her slim waist. His newly enhanced muscles responded instantly, and before he knew it, he had lifted her effortlessly.


    He turned towards the bed, determination in his eyes. ¡¯Alright, Hugo. Focus. Don¡¯t drop her. Don¡¯t throw her too hard. Aim for the centre. Wait, how high should I throw her? What¡¯s the bounce factor? What if the bed breaks? Does she even¡ªSTOP THINKING, JUST DO IT!¡¯


    With a deep grunt, he tossed her¡ªnot too forcefully, but with just enough strength to ensure shended gracefully in the centre of the bed.


    The girl let out a surprised gasp as she bounced slightly, her hair fanning out across the pillows.


    She looked up at him, her cheeks flushed and her eyes gleaming with anticipation.


    Hugo took a step forward, ready to dive into what he was convinced would be the greatest moment of his life. And then¡ª


    BANG!


    The door flew open so hard it rattled on its hinges, mming into the wall with a deafening crash. Hugo froze mid-step, his heart leaping into his throat.


    "HU¡ª" Collins, his best friend, stormed into the room but stopped dead in his tracks. His eyes darted between Hugo, naked and panting, and the girl sprawled on the bed, her lips still slightly swollen from their kiss.


    For a moment, the room descended into awkward silence. Hugo felt every molecule of awkwardness settle on him like a lead nket. ¡¯Oh, God. This is it. Just kill me now.¡¯


    "Collins, what the hell?" He hissed, his face flushing.


    But then Collins¡¯s expression wasn¡¯t one of embarrassment. No, it was sheer panic. His face was pale, his hands iling in every direction like an intable tube man.


    "HUGO! Sanchez fell off the roof!"


    Hugo blinked. "The roof?"


    "Yes, the roof! He¡¯s on the ground! On the ground!"


    "What happened?!" His face was growing pale with fear. His cousin was definitely not dead, right?!


    "He slipped on wet, champagne-soaked roof and dropped from the sky like a nuke. Luckily hended on a speaker, this managed to soften the fall a little bit. Although he definitely broke a few things..."


    Hugo groaned, rubbing his temples. "You¡¯ve got to be kidding me. Of course, he¡¯d find a way to fall off a roof right when I¡¯m about to finally fulfill my life¡¯s goal!"


    Collins continued, oblivious to Hugo¡¯s growing frustration. "He¡¯s lying on the ground now, probably dying or something!" Continue reading at empire


    "Is he actually dying?" Hugo asked, a flicker of fear and panic in his voice.


    "Well, no," Collins admitted reluctantly. "I mean, he¡¯s kinda okay. He just keeps yelling insults at everyone. Plus, there¡¯s some blood..."


    Hugo let out a long, exasperated sigh. "So, let me get this straight. He¡¯s not dying, but he¡¯s yelling. And instead of handling it, you decided to barge into my room¡ªuninvited, by the way¡ªto tell me this?"


    "Yes!" Collins threw his hands up as if it were the most logical decision in the world.


    Hugo¡¯s eye twitched as he fought the urge to throttle his best friend. Behind him, the girl cleared her throat.


    "Hugo," she said sweetly, though her tone dripped with irritation.


    He turned to her, and the look on her face made him want to crawl under the bed. Her arms were crossed, her expression unimpressed. "You¡¯re not actually leaving right now, are you?"


    Hugo froze, caught in a dilemma so intense it felt like the universe itself was testing him.


    On one hand, there was Sanchez¡ªhis unhinged mentor, who was apparently sprawled on the ground yelling obscenities.


    On the other, there was the girl of his dreams, right here on the bed, waiting for him.


    ¡¯What the hell am I supposed to do?¡¯


    For a long moment, he just stood there, his thoughts spiralling into chaos. ¡¯Why, Sanchez? Why do you do this to me? Why couldn¡¯t you just sit still for once? And why the hell would you go on a roof and then spray champagne?¡¯


    After what felt like an eternity, Hugo sighed in defeat. "Damn it, Sanchez," he muttered under his breath.


    Turning to the girl, he tried to muster an apologetic smile. "I¡¯ll be back in five minutes, okay? Just¡­ wait for me. Five minutes."


    Her face fell, disappointment written all over her features. She stared at him like he¡¯d just told her Santa wasn¡¯t real. "Five minutes?" she repeated, her voice t.


    "Five minutes," he promised again, holding up his hand like he was swearing an oath.


    "Fine," she muttered, lying back on the bed with an exaggerated sigh.


    As Hugo grabbed his shirt and stormed toward the door, he shot a re at Collins. "You owe me for this. Big time."


    Collins grinned nervously. "Hey, I¡¯m just the messenger!"


    Hugo muttered a string of curses under his breath as he stomped down the hall. ¡¯If Sanchez isn¡¯t actually injured, I¡¯m throwing him off the roof myself.¡¯


    _____


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 Chapter 58: Too Dramatic!

    Hugo and Collins made their way through the grand mansion, their noses assaulted by the unmistakably tang and heavy scent of booze and sweat that clung to the air.


    It was chaos in the mansion.


    Around them, men and women danced with wild abandon, their movements a mix of grace andplete chaos.


    One woman spun so fast her drink went flying, drenching an unsuspecting man who smiled back and belched ridiculously, while a group of guys attempted an impromptu conga line that ended with one of them crashing into a table.


    "This ce reeks of sweat, booze and jizz," Collins muttered, sidestepping a puddle of spilled alcohol with a grimace.


    Hugo sighed but kept walking, his focus on the private area ahead. He wanted to get this over with as fast as possible and return to the heavenly embrace of his wonderful mistress back at the room.


    Just as they neared the hallway, strange noises began to echo through the air. Feminine screams. Ridiculous sounding ones.


    "Uh... do you hear that?" Hugo asked, stopping dead in his tracks.


    Collins tilted his head. The sounds were unmistakably feminine, but oddly pitched, like someone was trying to impersonate a seagull mid battle or outscream a banshee.


    "Ahhh! Ooooooh! No, no, yeeeees!"


    Hugo¡¯s eyebrows shot up, and an internal dialogue began racing through his mind.


    ¡¯Why does that sound like... oh, no. It can¡¯t be... Could Sanchez actually be¡ª?¡¯ Hugo pped a hand to his forehead, shaking away the thought. ¡¯Nope. Not going there. I don¡¯t want to know.¡¯


    Based on the sounds that he was hearing, he didn¡¯t have the slightest bit of enthusiasm to enter the room. But in case his mind was too dirty for his own liking and it was actually something serious, he decided that he had to go in either way.


    He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts, but the awkwardness was unbearable. "Why does it sound so... not right?" he muttered to himself, reluctantly moving toward the door.


    Collins smirked. "Bet you five bucks it¡¯s Sanchez being dramatic again." Collins had only just met Sanchez today, but he already had a good grasp of Sanchez¡¯s personality.


    Even though he was a pretty chill dude most of the time, it was no doubt that Sanchez was dramatic! Too dramatic!


    Why else would he tell a grown ass man like Hugo to wear sports bra and a thong!


    It was ridiculous every time he thought about it!


    "I wouldn¡¯t take that bet even if you paid me," Hugo shot back.


    They reached the door, exchanged a wary nce, and pushed it open. Hugo froze at the sight before him.


    Inside, Sanchez sat propped up on avish bed, looking utterly ridiculous. One leg was wrapped in a thick bandage that was haphazardly scrawled with "GET WELL SOON."


    Bent over him was a nurse¡ªa very attractive one, in a tight outfit that left little to the imagination¡ªapplying some kind of gel to his hips.


    Hugo instantly identified her as the nurse who he had a terrible encounter with at the hospital after taking the te unlock pills.


    His brain short circuited. ¡¯What... am I looking at right now? This looks like a rejected scene from a bad rom. Is this real life?¡¯


    Sanchez¡¯s face lit up like a theatre spotlight the moment he saw Hugo, his dramatic instincts kicking in instantly.


    "Cousin! My dear cousin! I almost died!" he eximed, throwing his arms wide as though expecting a hug.


    Hugo groaned. "What are you talking about now?"


    Sanchez¡¯s eyes widened, as if Hugo had just asked why oxygen was necessary. "I FELL FROM THE ROOF! It was catastrophic! The harem gods themselves wept at my pain!"


    Collins snorted, struggling to keep a straight face.


    Hugo folded his arms. "You¡¯re telling me you, a grown man, climbed onto the roof of a mansion and fell. And now you¡¯re acting like it¡¯s the apocalypse?"


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    "The sunset was calling to me! It was divine!" Sanchez dered, clutching his chest like a tragic hero.


    "Divine?" Hugo¡¯s voice dripped with sarcasm. "The only thing divine here is your stupidity."


    "But cousin," Sanchez wailed, "I could have died! I saw my life sh before my eyes!"


    "And whose fault is that?" Hugo snapped, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I was busy dealing with important things, and here you are making a scene¡ª"


    "But I¡¯m your family!" Sanchez interrupted, tears practically glistening in his eyes. "You should care more!"


    "I care about my sanity, and you¡¯re ruining it!"


    Before Hugo couldunch into a full rant, Sanchez¡¯s face suddenly paled. He clutched his chest dramatically. "My heart... it¡¯s beating so fast...!"


    Hugo¡¯s stomach dropped. "Oh no, don¡¯t you dare¡ª"


    Sanchez let out a loud gasp and copsed backward onto the bed.


    "OH MY GOD, HE¡¯S DEAD!" Hugo shouted, panic taking over.


    "WHAT?!" Collins yelled, his eyes wide as saucers.


    The nurse frantically leaned over Sanchez, ready to check his pulse, when suddenly¡ª


    "AAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Sanchez bolted upright, screaming like a banshee.


    "WHAT THE HELL!" Hugo, Collins, and the nurse screamed in unison, nearly jumping out of their skins.


    Sanchez blinked at them innocently. "Why are you all yelling?"


    Hugo¡¯s eye twitched. "Why? WHY? You just faked your death, you lunatic!"


    Sanchez waved dismissively. "Oh, stop being so dramatic. I was testing you!"


    "Testing me?" Hugo¡¯s voice rose. "Testing me for what? Whether I¡¯d have a heart attack before you actually die?"


    Sanchez ignored him, suddenly grabbing Hugo¡¯s arm. "Don¡¯t leave me, cousin! I need you!"


    "I¡¯m leaving," Hugo said tly, already turning to the door.


    "Noooo!" Sanchez scrambled off the bed, only to copse halfway to the door with another dramatic groan.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Hugo sighed deeply, staring at the ceiling. "Why does this always happen to me?"


    Collins shook his head. "Because the universe has a sense of humour."


    _____


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 Chapter 59: Baldy the Beast!

    Hugo stormed through the mansion¡¯s endless hallways, muttering curses under his breath. "Sanchez! You absolute clown! Why did you even call me if you were fine? I should¡¯ve let you faint for real! I could¡¯ve been¡ª"


    He stopped himself, realising what he was about to say. "No, I should have been with her right now! Ugh!"


    His shoes cked against the polished marble floors as he continued his rant.


    "All that precious time wasted listening to his dramatic nonsense¡­ and for what? For him to faint, fake-die, and then spring back up like nothing happened?!"


    His mind drifted back to the gorgeous girl waiting in the room. "Please, oh gods above," he began to pray, his voice theatrical, "let her still be there. I promise I¡¯ll... uh, donate ten silver coins to charity or something."


    He scratched his head. "Okay, maybe five. But she has to still be there. And untouched!"


    He sped his hands together like he was in prayer. "And hey, if she¡¯s naked, I¡¯ll consider that a divine bonus!"


    Determined, he picked up his pace. But halfway through the journey, he screeched to a halt. His brow furrowed.


    "Wait¡­ isn¡¯t this the hallway with the ugly statue of the naked cherub holding a fish?" He nced around and cursed loudly. "Damn it! Wrong way! Why does this mansion need fifty identical hallways?"


    Frustrated, Hugo backtracked and started again, this time muttering directions to himself.


    "Okay, past the lion statue, left at the fountain, straight through the big doors with the gold handles¡ªwho designs ces like this?!"


    By the time he finally found the right hallway, a full twenty minutes had passed. Sweaty and flustered, he rushed to the door and paused, taking a deep breath.


    "Alright, gods," he whispered, his voice a mix of desperation and hope. "I¡¯m here. You¡¯ve got onest chance. Don¡¯t let me down. And please¡ªplease¡ªif she¡¯s still there, I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll promise to¡­ I don¡¯t know, donate some money or adopt a cat or something."


    With onest steadying breath, Hugo pushed the door open slightly and peeked inside. Relief washed over him like a tidal wave.


    There she was! She was bent over the bed, her eyes closed, her figure framed perfectly by the soft glow of the bedsidemp.


    ¡¯She waited for me! And she even stripped! Look at her¡ªarched perfectly, like she¡¯s modelling for an art ss!¡¯ His grin grew wider, his ego swelling.


    ¡¯Oh, she¡¯s definitely ready! I must¡¯ve made quite the impression for her to¡ª¡¯


    Pa! Pa! Pa! Pa! Pa!


    His internal monologue came to an abrupt halt as he opened the door wider. Standing directly behind her, mid-motion, was a bald, muscr guy. The very same bald-headed jerk who had tossed him into the pool earlier.


    The bald man nced over his shoulder at Hugo for a split second, smirked, and thenpletely ignored him, resuming his movements with gusto.


    Hugo stood frozen in the doorway, his face contorted in a mix of horror, disbelief, and betrayal. ¡¯What¡­ what am I even looking at? His thoughts spiralled into chaos. Is this real? Am I hallucinating?¡¯


    The bald man let out a triumphant grunt, and Hugo¡¯s soul practically left his body.


    ¡¯ARE YOU KIDDING ME?¡¯ he screamed internally. ¡¯Not only did she betray me, but she chose the viin who threw me into the pool! This is betrayal of Shakespearean proportions!¡¯


    The couple didn¡¯t even acknowledge him. Hugo felt the urge to yell, but what was the point? ¡¯I can¡¯t even fight this guy! He¡¯s built like a castle, and I¡¯m just¡­ well, me. Okay, not scrawny anymore, but still not gori-level!¡¯


    With a final defeated re, Hugo muttered, "You deserve each other, you backstabbing traitors!" He spun around and stormed out, mming the door for emphasis.


    As he walked away, his anger boiled over, and he beganposing a tragic poem aloud.


    "Oh, my luck, you treacherous foe,


    Why must you strike such a cruel blow?


    Your journey continues on empire


    Sanchez, the fraud, Collins, the flirt,


    And Baldy the Beast, who made me eat dirt.


    My life, a y, aedy of pain,


    Where viins thrive, and I¡¯m left in the rain."


    He sniffled dramatically. "I should publish this. It¡¯s pure art." He realized now why most famous arts were made when the artist were going through sh*t!


    As he wandered aimlessly, he passed another room with its door slightly ajar. Unable to resist his nosy instincts, he peeked inside¡ªand immediately regretted it.


    There, sprawled across a massive bed, was Collins, shirtless and surrounded by two beautiful women, both of whom were practically draped over him.


    The trio was deeply engrossed in a passionate make-out session.


    Hugo¡¯s eye twitched. "TWO?" he whispered incredulously. "He gets TWO, and I can¡¯t even get one?"


    For a brief moment, he considered barging in just to ruin Collins¡¯ fun, but he ultimately sighed and walked away. "Nah. Let him have his fun. Not like I couldpete with that anyway."


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Feeling utterly defeated, Hugo wandered onto the balcony, the cool night breeze washing over him.


    He let out a long, drawn-out sigh and muttered to himself, "Maybe I should just join a monastery. Monks don¡¯t have to deal with this kind of heartbreak, right? Live the rest of my short life in peace?"


    As he leaned on the railing, his eyes caught a figure standing at the far end of the balcony. The person was leaning casually against the railings, smoking a cigarette.


    The moonlight highlighted the curve of their back and the gentle sway of their hair in the breeze.


    Hugo squinted, his breath catching in his throat. ¡¯Who is that?¡¯


    He took a cautious step closer, mesmerised by the figure¡¯s elegance. As he neared, the person turned slightly, revealing their profile.


    "Lisa?" Hugo whispered, his eyes widening in disbelief.


    She exhaled a puff of smoke, her expression unreadable as she stared out into the night. The sight of her, bathed in moonlight and radiating an aura of quiet confidence, made Hugo¡¯s heart race.


    ¡¯Why does she always look so damn cool? And why am I sweating?¡¯


    ____


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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!