CHAPTER 313: SYSTEM REJECTION

Zain walked back toward the temporary camp.

He was now True Royal Rank.

But it wasn’t enough.

He wanted more.

He needed to reach Supreme Rank.

His pace slowed as he approached the edge of camp.

He looked down at his hand and flexed it.

"I have enough now," he muttered to himself.

"I got a lot of hack points from the lower zones..."

"And I absorbed dozens of corpses from the Flame God Cult."

He nodded slowly.

"That should be enough."

He stopped walking and closed his eyes.

"System," he said calmly. "Hack my rank. Make it Supreme."

---

[Hack Initiation: Rank Upgrade – Supreme Rank]

[Current Rank: True Royal]

[Target Rank: Supreme]

[Requirements Not Met]

[Condition 1: Minimum of 1000 loyal followers – FAILED]

[Condition 2: Mind Alignment – Ego and Intent must be fully unified – FAILED]

[Result: Rank Hack Failed]

[Status: Zain remains at True Royal Rank – Supreme Rank locked until conditions are fulfilled]

---

Zain opened his eyes and frowned.

"Seriously? It failed?"

He crossed his arms and stared into the distance.

"Then just hack the requirements."

---

[Hack Initiation: Requirements Override]

[Target: Supreme Rank Unlock]

[Original Requirements:]

[1000 Loyal Followers]

[Full Mind Alignment (Ego, Will, and Desire)]

[Hack Process:]

[Simulated Follower Network Injected – 1000 virtual loyalty nodes linked to Heavenly Demon Sect]

[Status: Follower Requirement – Fulfilled via system override]

[Attempting Mind Alignment Override...]

[Result: Failed – Host mental structure unstable for forced fusion]

[Explanation: Ego, Will, and Desire not yet unified. Connected directly to the core of Hero Hack Host.]

[Force-hacking may cause system corruption, mental collapse, or trigger Berserk State.]

[Final Status: Supreme Rank – Locked]

[Progress: 1 of 2 Requirements Fulfilled]

[Note: Mind Alignment must occur naturally through internal growth or transformation.]

---

Zain stared at the system text.

His jaw tightened.

"So that’s it? One requirement cleared, the other locked behind some... mental wall?"

He clicked his tongue and looked up at the dark sky.

"Then what am I missing? What part of me isn’t aligned?"

---

[Analysis: Host mind not fully aligned.]

[Reason: Uneasiness detected – Core disruption traced to internal concealment.]

[Cause: Holding a secret identity – psychological tension interfering with ego-will fusion.]

[Recommendation: Reveal the truth. Only then can Ego, Will, and Desire move as one.]

---

Zain’s expression darkened.

He stood silently for a while, the breeze brushing his coat.

"...So it’s because I’m still hiding."

He let out a breath before closing his eyes again

He closed his eyes again.

"If I want to rise... to truly reach Supreme... I have to stop holding back."

A moment passed.

He opened his eyes, calm and certain.

"It seems I need to deal with this. Once and for all."

---

Inside the tent, Zain sat down on a stone bench.

The air was still.

Zelia stood near the side wall with her arms crossed.

Velra leaned against the tent pole with a half-smile on her face.

While Savra sat on a box, spinning a flame between her fingers out of boredom.

Zain looked at the three women quietly.

Zelia tilted her head. "Zain, what did you want to talk about?"

Zain slowly stood up and took a breath. "Big sis. Savra. Velra."

They all turned to him.

"Before we leave again... I need to tell you something. A secret."

Velra raised her eyebrows. "Oh? You’re not one to act shy. What’s so serious?"

Savra leaned forward. "What kind of secret?"

Zelia narrowed her eyes. "Zain. Just say it."

Zain looked down for a moment, then raised his head.

"I’m... not really Zain."

The room went quiet.

Velra blinked. "What?"

Savra looked confused. "Huh? What do you mean?"

Zelia frowned. "Zain. Explain it clearly."

Zain took a step forward. "What I mean is... I’m not completely him. Maybe I’m not him at all."

He clenched his fists.

"I don’t know how to say it the right way, but... I just woke up one day inside this body."

He looked up at them.

"I had my own memories, memories from another life."

"But also... his memories. Zain’s. They were already there, mixed in with mine."

Zelia’s eyes widened, but she stayed silent.

Zain went on. "I don’t know if I was reborn. Or if I took over his body somehow."

He frowned, his voice growing heavier.

"Maybe both of us were here... and my soul was just stronger."

He looked straight into Zelia’s eyes.

"But no matter how it happened... there’s one thing I’m sure of."

"I’m not the original Zain Zavathor, and I felt you deserved to know."

For a moment, silence filled the tent.

No one moved.

Zelia slowly closed her eyes and took a quiet breath.

Her body was calm, not shaking. She didn’t cry. She didn’t scream.

Thanks to Zain’s war simulations and all the harsh days she had lived through in this Supreme Zone, her mind had become stronger.

She didn’t break down.

After a few seconds, she opened her mouth.

"...I see."

Her voice was steady. Almost cold.

"That explains everything."

Zain blinked. "What do you mean?"

Zelia opened her eyes again and looked at him directly.

"That day. The day you killed our father."

Velra raised an eyebrow. "You mean the bastard who abused you both?"

Zelia nodded. "Yes. That day, something changed. Zain changed."

"Before, he was weak. Kind. He flinched at violence. But after that moment... he became colder. Stronger. Sharper."

Savra nodded slowly. "So the Zain we know... the one we followed, obeyed, and admired..."

Zain nodded. "That’s me. This version."

Velra smirked. "Well. I’ve only ever known you like this."

"The ruthless one. The dominant one. So to me, you’re still my master."

Savra leaned back, arms crossed. "Same here."

"I followed the one who took me down and made me kneel. I don’t care if you’re from another world."

Zelia stepped forward. "Zain. Real or not... You protected me."

"You gave me a reason to live again. So I’ll still call you my little brother."

Zain’s eyes softened for a moment.

"...Thank you."

Velra grinned. "But you could’ve told us earlier."

"I didn’t know how," Zain replied.

Savra smiled. "You know now. So let’s move forward. Together."

Zain nodded. "Yeah. No more secrets."

He looked at each of them again.

"We’re done hiding. The next time we move, the world will see who we really are."