Resurrection System: Become the Strongest

Chapter 02

"No!"

Richard jolked awake. His breath came in ragged gasps, as if he had just been forced to inhale filthy air that suffocated his lungs. An agonizing pain instantly surged through all his joints, as though his bones were about to shatter at any moment.

"Damn it, why is this body so weak?" Richard cursed once he managed to regain his composure and observe his new surroundings.

His eyes scanned every corner of the space. The room was vast and grand, adorned with luxurious interiors beyond anything he had ever imagined before.

"This place is indeed luxurious, far beyond the dreams I've had all my life. But what good is all this luxury if I'm destined to die in the very first chapter of that damned novel?" Richard grumbled. The dream of luxury he used to only picture inside a cramped, storage-unit-sized apartment was now right before his eyes, yet threatened to slip away in an instant.

"System, where are you? At least explain something to me right now," Richard spoke softly. He was certain the system wouldn't leave him stranded in this foreign world without an explanation.

Ding!

[Is there anything Host would like to ask? System merely reminds Host that there is no way back. If Host dies a gruesome death here, it will be the end of a life that cannot be repeated. Therefore, exercise caution.]

"Don't waste words," Richard let out a heavy sigh. "I know my goal here is revenge, but at least you have to help me. I need a special cheat. Otherwise, I'll die a ridiculous death very soon. Now tell me clearly, what do I have besides this weak, half-dead body?"

Richard knew the rules of the game all too well. Once bound to a system, he was supposed to receive perks that could be leveraged to exact revenge and become the strongest.

[System cannot disclose it right now. Every piece of fortune Host receives will only be unlocked through special quests.]

That explanation made Richard's blood boil. How on earth was he supposed to survive without a single clue?

Just as Richard was about to protest, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed toward his room.

Brak!

The bedroom door burst open violently without a knock. A male servant stepped inside with a face full of contempt, casting a lazy glare in Richard's direction.

"Finally awake, are we, trashy Young Master?" the servant mocked with a half-hearted bow.

Gazing at the man who appeared to be around his age, Richard knitted his brows. He recognized that face and voice. The man was David, the personal servant who had secretly been abusing and harassing the body's original owner, Richard Alexander Drag.

"I wonder how long you intend to act like this, Master? How long will you keep pretending to be weak and making Master and Mistress sad?" David continued in a sarcastic tone.

"What do you mean?" Richard asked coldly.

"You don't need to pretend anymore, Master. I know you're only faking illness because you're lazy. You're just embarrassed because you lack any elemental affinity in your body, aren't you? Do you know that the elders are currently discussing getting rid of a massive waste of space like you? You don't deserve to bear the title of a son from the great Drag family at all."

Richard's breath hitched. At that exact moment, memories belonging to the original owner flooded violently into his head, triggering a surge of agonizing pain.

In those memories, Richard Alexander Drag was actually a child who had been eagerly anticipated. However, he was born prematurely. His father, a powerful and influential archmage in the kingdom, was unable to cure his physical weakness.

That fragility made Richard an easy target for those who envied his father. Driven by deep insecurity and a desire not to sadden his mother further, Richard chose to remain silent, swallowing all the humiliation and abuse dealt by his family and the servants alike.

Merging those memories with the plot of the novel he had read, Richard realized that the original owner ultimately died from being slowly poisoned by his family's enemies. He died in silence, never calling for help due to his extreme inferiority complex.

This body was truly foolish, Richard thought. He possessed power and family backing, yet allowed himself to be trampled unto death—unlike his past self, who had no one.

"Why are you staying silent, my Master?" David stepped closer, holding a piece of hard, stale bread. "Hurry up and eat this bread. I can't have the Master thinking I'm failing to feed his disgraceful son."

David shoved the bread forward roughly, attempting to force it into Richard's mouth. Richard instantly locked eyes with David, casting a sharp, freezing glare.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Have you forgotten who you are in this household?" David barked in annoyance. His right hand raised into the air, preparing to deliver a slap across Richard's face just as he usually did.

Right before David's palm could graze his skin, a golden panel flashed in the corner of Richard's eye.

Ding!

[Emergency Quest Detected!]

[Quest Title: Revenge of the Dragon]

[Description: Avenge the original owner of this body and crush the servant who has tormented him for years.]

[Rewards: Body Detoxification 10%, Stat Points +5, Mana Core Level 1]

[Does Host wish to activate the temporary passive skill 'Dragon's Awe'?]

Activate it, fast! Richard commanded in his heart without hesitation.

An invisible golden pressure suddenly erupted powerfully from Richard's body. The air inside the room instantly grew heavy and suffocating. Before David's hand could land, Richard's cold fingers had already clamped around the servant's wrist with an iron grip.

"Do you want to die?" Richard asked in a low, icy voice.

The aura radiated by Richard struck David's chest so hard it felt utterly suffocating, as if a massive weight were crushing his heart. Instinctively, the servant tried to pull his hand back, but Richard's grip locked his movement completely.

"M-Master... what are you doing to me?" he stammered, swallowing hard with a dry throat. A terrifying dread he had never felt before suddenly surged from his young master's grip.

"Have you forgotten who you are?"

Richard yanked David's arm, sending the servant stumbling back, nearly falling to the floor.

Feeling his body slightly lighter, Richard slowly rose from the bed. He stepped forward with a piercing gaze, staring down David, who was now deathly pale and in utter disbelief at what was happening.

"David, do you know what my mistake was?" Richard asked, a cold smirk playing on his lips.

"I-I'm sorry, Master..." David's knees trembled violently, his legs turning as weak as jelly.

"I don't need your apology. I only want to ask: who gave you the idea that you could act so insolent in my presence? Have you forgotten who I am?" Richard stepped closer and closer. Every single step he took felt like a mortal threat to David. "Since when did you think you could torment me as you pleased? And since when did my family allow a dog to bark insolently in front of its master?"