“Then die. I’ll just find a new host.”
Ethan’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected the system to be so heartless.
“No… I don’t want to die. Isn’t there any way I can survive?”
[No. But the self–destruction program has been triggered. You have three days. You may take others with you, so you won’t be alone. Please prepare.]
For a few seconds, the room was deathly still.
Then came a low, rising laugh- sharp, broken, unhinged.
“Fine. If I’m going to die… they’ll all die with me.”
When I learned this, I immediately asked someone to keep eyes on Ethan wasn’t enough. I had to take control of the situation.
Before I could send out a warning, Ethan sent a message in the group chat.
–
but I knew it
[Everyone, I’ve caused a lot of trouble lately. To make it up to you all, I’m inviting everyone to a farmhouse dinner in three days. My treat.]
He even tagged me directly: @Julian, you must come.
I agreed to stabilize him–for now. Behind the scenes, I arranged for the police to arrive early, undercover. They cleared out the place and set a trap.
When Ethan got out of the car, he looked around and frowned.
“Isn’t this place supposed to be packed? Why’s it so empty today?”
The proprietress‘ face was pale, but she forced a smile. “Maybe everyone’s just busy.” Satisfied, he brushed it off and cheerfully led our classmates into the private dining room.
I leaned in close to him and whispered: “System.”
As expected, his face changed. I gestured for him to step outside with me.
Sophie had already been called over in advance.
“What is it you want to say?” Ethan asked coldly, eyes dark and soulless. He didn’t look at me like a person–more like prey.
I glanced at my watch, confirming the others were safe inside, then replied:
“Why do you want rne dead, Ethan? Didn’t you once mock me for being born into money?” His jaw tightened.
“Don’t try to guilt me. I just want what’s fair. Why do you get to live like that and not me? I’m not worse than you.”
I smiled slightly, then leaned closer.
“But you are worse. In every way. You can copy my clothes, my words, even my smile–but you’ll never be me. You’re nothing but a cheap imitation. A loser.”
11:35 Mon, 28 Jul i W.
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I pointed at Sophie. “Even she’s on my side now. No one wants to be with you. You were born to be abandoned.”
His chest rose and fell rapidly. Rage flooded his face, and suddenly, he smiled.
A slow, twisted, horrifying smile.
“Julian, I was going to take everyone down. But since you came to me personally… I’ll start with you.”
Sophie stepped forward, alarmed. “Ethan, what are you talking about?”
He didn’t answer her.
Instead, he raised his head and yelled, “Start the self–destruct program! Everyone dies with me!”
But the next instant–boom–the ground beneath him gave way.
I had shoved him into a pit dug in advance.
He fell, but not alone.
Sophie was too close. He grabbed her in panic, and she was pulled in with him.
I turned and ran.
A massive explosion erupted behind me, flames roaring high–but it was contained within the pit.
I collapsed on the ground, coughing, dirt in my lungs.
When my classmates dragged me to safety, applause burst out.
“Julian, you saved us!”
“Yeah! If not for you, we’d all be dead!”
“Ethan was insane…”
Their voices faded, drowned out by the thudding of my heartbeat.
The nightmare of having my luck stolen in a previous life–it was over.
No more shadows. No more imitators. No more fear.
After life returned to normal, Ethan’s story slowly faded from memory.
Sophie survived–but she was badly injured. She would spend the rest of her life in a hospital bed.
I went to visit her once.
She stared at the ceiling, murmuring to herself:
“I never betrayed him. I never told anyone about the system. I gave him money, helped him, believed in him… Why did he want me dead?”
I remembered how, that day, I had asked her for Ethan’s secret.
She had leaned in close and lied gently:
“Ethan is just vain. He likes copying you, that’s all.”
Chapter 10
11:35 Mon, 28 Jul xi ✔W
I remembered now, that day, i naa askea ner for Einans secret.
She had leaned in close and lied gently:
“Ethan is just vain. He likes copying you, that’s all.”
She protected his secret, even to the end.
That’s why the system never detected a breach.
1 F D F ? ? ū
But my staged phone call in the restaurant restroom…
That was enough to convince Ethan she’d betrayed him.
“You were just unlucky,” I told her, placing a bouquet at her bedside.
“We’ve broken up now. Enjoy your time missing him here.”
She begged me not to leave–but I closed the door behind me without a word. Outside, I took a deep breath.
Finally, I had reclaimed my life.
But just as I exhaled, a cold mechanical voice echoed in my ear.
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[Julian, your classmate Alexander King receives a monthly allowance of 140,000 dollars. He is richer than you. Would you like to become him?]
I didn’t hesitate.
“Get lost.”
