Trash Host, Ruining My Youth!

Alex's movements faltered.

In the midst of his busy day, he had forgotten about the System within him, and the mission it had assigned, with the consequence of erasure for failure.

Alex seemed to have no regard for these life-threatening consequences, showing no inclination to complete the mission. If he could, he would have gladly punched Barry a couple more times.

His mind was crystal clear. Besides not fearing death and not wanting to be controlled by the System, he also felt the System's erasure was powerless. From the very beginning, he hadn't felt threatened. His instincts had never sensed any danger. The threat of erasure felt like a child's game.

A body that could reach its limits wasn't just about strength; it was all-encompassing—sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste, perception, spirit. All these integrated gave him an unparalleled sense of danger. When his own safety was at stake, his sharp, instinctive intuition would alert him to danger. He would never be caught unaware and die peacefully.

In fact, Alex hadn't felt the slightest threat from the System.

Therefore, Alex had always thought the System was an idiot.

Just then, the System once again issued a new mission in Alex's ear.

System:

[Mission: Subordinates.]

[As a future superhero, you must protect Central City and deter all evildoers with your reputation. How can you not have your own hero team!]

[Control The Multiplicity to become your subordinate.]

[Failure: Erasure.]

Alex removed his black-rimmed glasses and placed them gently on the desk. He showed no reaction to the System's mechanical electronic voice in his ear. He closed his eyes and gently rubbed his eyelids, his eyes feeling sore and tired from reviewing data all night.

He didn't want to talk to this kind of System anymore and decided to kill The Multiplicity.

The System, as if feeling a bit awkward, spoke again in his ear with its electronic voice, "Congratulations, Host. You have successfully bound with this System!"

Alex rubbed his eyelids and couldn't help but chuckle.

Did I want to be bound? I wish you'd just disappear!

Never seen such a cheap System, forcing me to complete missions and binding itself.

"Host, please complete the mission seriously."

"Host, please complete the mission seriously."

"Host, please complete the mission seriously."

"Host, please complete the mission seriously."

"Host, please complete the mission seriously."

The System turned into a repeater, echoing the mission and reminders in Alex's ear several times.

The endless buzzing in his ear was like flies and mosquitoes. The piercing mechanical sound was like fine needles, irritating his heart and making his blood churn restlessly. Alex frowned, lowered his hand from his eyelids, opened his eyes, and with a flash of impatience, coldly commanded, "Shut up."

"As long as you complete the mission seriously, we'll be good friends. I will help you become the King of Earth, the DC God King, possess everything you desire, and fulfill all your wishes!" The System's tone was sincere, earnest, and humble, like a salesperson.

"I don't need it, thank you. Please unbind me." Alex's expression was cold. He didn't want to believe a single word from the System.

Alex couldn't imagine anyone willingly being controlled by a system that constantly issued missions to dictate their actions.

Once you lose the freedom to choose, your will and spirit will inevitably become twisted, plunging you into a hellish abyss of the mind, a fate more painful than living. This was something Alex could not permit.

Give me liberty, or give me death.

"That's enough, Alex. I know you're stubborn and proud, a typical man who values face. I've given you enough face. Don't force me to erase you!"

The System's anger flared. It had never encountered such a stubborn and hard-headed individual.

Just do the missions obediently! With me, you'll eventually rule the world, with three hundred million beautiful women in your harem. Becoming a king and a god is within reach. What are you resisting for?

"Please erase me!" Alex sneered. He already knew the System was incapable of erasing him. Otherwise, it wouldn't have quietly completed its binding mission.

For every step the System retreated, Alex took a step forward. He wouldn't feel at ease until it was completely crushed.

The System abruptly went silent. Alex could imagine the System slamming on the brakes, clutching its heart, and feeling helpless against him.

The basement became quiet.

The air was comfortably warm, and the excellent ventilation system kept it from feeling stuffy at all.

Alex's expression was indifferent. He silently, gently adjusted the temple of his glasses, putting them on to conceal his outstanding features.

"You're not afraid of death?" the System suddenly asked, its voice echoing faintly. It felt it might have misjudged this man's will to survive and instinct compared to other beings.

"I'm not."

Alex's face was expressionless. He pushed his glasses up with his hand, his eyes calm. If the System truly had the ability to erase him at this moment, it would only prove that he was nothing in this world.

If he died fighting for his own freedom due to his powerlessness, then so be it. He had no regrets.

He had never feared death.

No one could escape death.

But when death arrived, he would fight, and he would accept it.

Because that was the nature of this world. Death spared no one.

"This is impossible! The lowest instinct of any creature is self-preservation. No creature is fearless of death." The System shrieked in alarm. It completely failed to comprehend the meaning of Alex's "not afraid." Wasn't a creature meant to survive, live, and grow stronger? No creature would ever say they weren't afraid of death.

Alex was speechless. For those with conviction and spiritual faith, death was not terrifying.

In a dire situation, if Superman had to choose between saving himself and saving the seventy billion people on Earth, he would readily sacrifice himself to save them. Protecting life on Earth is almost his spiritual creed. While he would regret his own death, his actions wouldn't falter.

In DC, many heroes would do the same: The Flash, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern... they would all make that choice.

Alex would too, though he wouldn't save seventy billion people. Freedom, for him, is truly a spiritual creed. Give him death rather than a lack of freedom.

"You can erase me and choose a host who fears your erasure."

"Or you can choose a host who fears death but believes there's a chance to escape your control in the future."

"Even better, you can choose a host who fears no death but will fight for any sliver of hope, surviving to continue your missions."

"But I am me, not them."

Alex stated calmly. He chose to resist from the very beginning because choosing to resist was his freedom, his will.

The System remained silent, not making another sound.

About ten minutes later, the System seemed to recover.

Suddenly, Alex frowned. It felt as if a hollow needle had pierced the cortical layer of his hippocampus, injecting information that flowed through the hollow tube directly into the hippocampus where memories were stored, merging with the original information.

Just as Alex tried to focus his will to resist, the System had already completed the injection.

"Controlled Nuclear Fusion!"

Alex's eyes sharpened. Instantly, the information for the largely completed Controlled Nuclear Fusion appeared in his mind. The influx of information made his head throb, but he endured and accepted it with a strong will and spirit, quickly integrating it into his memories and making it his own.

At this point, the System spoke in a weak, feeble voice, like a man who had ejaculated dozens of times in one night, leaving his legs sore, back weak, face pale, and feeling like he was about to die from kidney deficiency:

[Mission: Subordinates.]

[As a future superhero, how can you not have your own hero team to defend Central City and deter all villains with your reputation!]

[Control the Multiplicity to become your subordinates.]

[Success: Obtain the remaining crucial Controlled Nuclear Fusion information!]

[Failure: Special Punishment!]

The mission now had a reward for success and the punishment of erasure was removed.

Hearing the System's weak, depleted voice, it was more accurate to say that it was incapable of erasing him. Even the information it transmitted into his hippocampus, while causing a headache, hadn't caused any significant damage, let alone threatened his life.

Alex frowned, subconsciously touching his chin with his finger, nodding lightly in thought. "So that's how it is. It can't erase me, so it's giving me what I need, switching to temptation. What a trash system."

Upon hearing Alex's evaluation, the System's liver fire instantly exploded, its anger surging. Its mechanical voice, hoarse and strained, cursed him with a barrage of vulgarities that continuously bombarded Alex's ears.

"Screw you! This is your bound system reward!"

"You piece of trash host!"

"Give me back the Controlled Nuclear Fusion information!"

"No gratitude for what others bestow, utterly lacking in character and morals! And you insult a system of noble character!"

"Why don't people like you just jump off a building and kill yourselves!"

"Why don't you die? If you don't die, you're useless in this world."

"You're a waste of Earth's oxygen, polluting the entire atmosphere!"

"Useless, useless, screw you!"

"Screw you!"

Trash host, you ruined my youth!