I should have just gone to sleep.
Instead, I found myself staring at the glowing screen of my laptop, rereading my favorite novel for what must have been the hundredth time.
"The King of the Underworld" was a masterpiece—an epic crime drama following the rise of Alessandro "Sandro" Ricci, an underdog who clawed his way to the top of the mafia world. The novel had everything: betrayals, shootouts, power struggles between crime syndicates, and a protagonist who refused to bow to fate.
I had been following it religiously for years.
But no matter how much I loved the story, there was always one thing that pissed me off.
Vincent Valenciari.
The heir to the Valenciari Mafia Family—the most feared and influential mafia syndicate in the world. His name alone commanded respect. His presence could silence a room. He had the bloodline of a king.
And yet… in the novel, he was nothing more than a stepping stone.
Despite all his talent and resources, Vincent was just another obstacle for Sandro to overcome. His death was inevitable—a moment meant to teach the protagonist a lesson about the ruthless nature of the underworld.
It felt like such a waste.
I scrolled down to the comment section and started typing.
> "Man, Vincent had so much wasted potential. If his bloodline was stronger or he had some kind of advantage, he could've been just as great as Sandro. Too bad the author just threw him away."
Satisfied, I hit send.
Then, my screen flickered.
The lights in my room dimmed. My ears filled with a sharp, piercing ringing noise.
And then—
Everything went black.
"You really should've kept your mouth shut."
A deep, amused voice echoed all around me.
I couldn't see anything. Couldn't move. Couldn't feel my own body.
It was just my mind, floating in an endless abyss.
"W-Who's there?!" My voice trembled.
The voice chuckled. "You seem to love my story."
My breath hitched. My blood ran cold.
No. It couldn't be.
I swallowed hard. "The… the author?"
"Bingo." His voice dripped with amusement. "And since you seem to have so many opinions about my work, I thought… why not let you experience it firsthand?"
I felt my entire existence shake.
"Wait. Wait, hold on a damn second—"
"You think Vincent was wasted potential?"
I froze.
"Fine. Let's see what happens when he isn't."
Something shifted in the void.
A force—immense, suffocating, absolute—wrapped around me. It felt like my entire being was being rewritten at the molecular level.
I wanted to scream, but I had no mouth. No lungs.
[ELEVATING BLOODLINE…]
[GRANTING: SUPREME VALENCIARI BLOODLINE]
A flood of power surged through me, burning its way into my very soul.
Memories that weren't mine flashed before my eyes.
Legendary mafia weapons. Ancient kings of the underworld. A bloodline so pure that it had only existed once before.
It was overwhelming.
But the God Author wasn't done.
[GRANTING SYSTEM: VALENCIARI'S DOMINION]
A new presence settled in my mind. Cold. Mechanical.
[SYSTEM ACTIVATED.]
"Enjoy the ride, Vincent Valenciari."
And then—
I fell.
The first thing I felt was cold metal pressing against my forehead.
A deep, commanding voice followed. "Get up."
My vision was still blurry, but I could make out the faint glow of an expensive chandelier above me. The scent of expensive cologne and freshly polished wood filled my nose.
I wasn't in my apartment.
I blinked rapidly, my body still heavy. When I pushed myself up, my movements felt… different.
Stronger. Smoother. More controlled.
And then I saw it.
Across the lavish bedroom, an ornate mirror reflected my face.
A face that wasn't mine.
Piercing gray eyes. Slicked-back black hair. Sharp jawline.
Vincent Valenciari.
My stomach dropped.
This… this wasn't possible.
But before I could process it, the man holding the gun cocked it. "Don't make me repeat myself, Vincent."
I swallowed hard. I knew this scene.
This was the moment Vincent's life truly began—where he either proved himself worthy of the Valenciari name… or got left behind.
I exhaled slowly, forcing down my panic.
I wasn't just Vincent anymore.
I had the Supreme Valenciari Bloodline.
I had a system.
And I sure as hell wasn't going to die like some side character.
---
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
[WELCOME, VINCENT VALENCIARI.]
[SUPREME VALENCIARI BLOODLINE ACTIVATED.]
[NEW OBJECTIVE: SURVIVE.]