The wind was on the balcony was sharp as a blade, biting through the clothes like fangs.
Below, the old courtyard slept in silence. Overgrown hedges, a training ground half-flooded, and the banners faded disgrace.
Lior stood still, letting it all wash over him—the weight of inheritance, the rot of neglect, and the promise of rebirth... through ruin.
A whisper brushed his ear, like a ghost:
[Shall I explain now, master Vardas?"]
He turned away from the balcony without another glance.
Through the hallways of the manor, Lior walked towards his father's old study. His boots echoeing against cold marble floors, dust rising with each step.
The door was half-rotted, the brass handle, one majestic gold now stained by time. He pushed it open.
The scent of smoke greeted him.
The place hadn't changed. Even the chair still bore the imprint of the last man to sit on it.
Lior stepped inside, let the door creak shut behind him, and took his place, not as a son in mourning, but as a man writing a new beginning.
He leaned back in the cracked leather chair once used by his father, one leg crossed over the other, dagger resting lazily on his knee. A wolf howled softly in the distance, a good omen, if one believed in such things.
And now, floating before him, the system finally began to speak.
[System of Failures - Orientation Mode: Activated.]
[Welcome again, Master Vardas.]
[This system is unlike traditional growth models. Please read carefully. Or don't. Failure will be the only end either way.]
Lior smirked. "Good good, tell me everything."
[Failure Points (FP)]
→ Earned by failing. Gloriously, publicly, or repeatedly.
-Losing battles? +FP.
-Breaking alliances? +FP.
-Being humiliated in court? Big+FP.
-Betraying expectations? +FP.
-Making objectively stupid decisions with confidence? Big+FP.
[Note: Intentional failures that appear sincere are more rewarding.]
"Performative idiocy. Noted," Lior said."And how many points for stabbing a noble during dinner?"
[It would depend, either by the rank of this novle, the likeness of this noble and the implications it would have. Bonus FP if the noble is well-liked.]
[System Features - Current Access Level: Version 1.0]
→ UNLOCKED:
Destructive Leadership: The art of commanding chaos. It increases your influence when making decisions that cause instability, chaos, or humiliation.
-->Passive Effect: Subordinates are more likely to follow irrational orders.
Lior chuckled.
"So I lead better... by burning the house down from the inside."
[Precisely.]
Failure Points Tracker: Automatically counts and stores earned FP.
Failure Shop (Limited): Trade FP for knowledge, relics, tools, and... well, rather questionable advice.
Trait Unlocks: Earn unique traits based on your actions.
[Trait Example: Sharp-Tongued Charm]→ Effect: Your insults cut deeper and burn longer. Stacks with public shame.→ Benefit: Increases likelihood of enemy emotional instability
Quests of Collapse: These are the missions that will worse your position to the ultimate goal.
Whispers & Secrets: Reveal hidden truths with rather a satiric tone.
"Beautiful" Lior whispered, delighted.
[Failure Shop - Now Available]
Balance: 3 FP
Available Items:
Estate Map: With different remarks and marks— 5 FP→ Includes secret rooms, smuggling tunnels, and forgotten catacombs. Sometimes your ancestors buried more than treasure.
Scandal Blueprint: Marriage Edition — 6 FP→ Fake a love affair with a rival house's heir. Instant rumor explosion.
Political Suicide (Mini-Pack) — 7 FP→ A curated collection of letters, lies, and forged documents guaranteed to cause suspicion and social ruin. Because your enemies are too slow.
Historical Echo — House Vardas, Year 231 — 8 FP→ Replay a memory long erased from public history.
Lior chuckled. "Useful and petty. I like it."
"Can I spend outside of the shop?"
[Yes.]
→ Future upgrades include:
Territory Upgrades→ Use FP to fund mysterious 'accidents' that enhance land, fortifications, or resource production. (Example: "Burn the vineyard. Discover ancient soil that triples harvests.")
[Not saying this could happen but who knows right?]
Tactical Debuffs (Reversed)→ Sabotage yourself in ways that cause your enemies to overreach… and fall into traps.
False Intelligence Generator→ Create documents or events that mislead spies and informants.
Historical Echoes (Advanced)→ Access the thoughts and memories of former Vardas, both famous and... conveniently forgotten.
???→ [Locked: You have not failed hard enough.]
Lior tapped the air where the words floated, dragging the menus around playing with them.
"This thing… you were made to ruin lives. Mine first, apparently."
[The system is not malicious, Master Vardas.]
[Failure is not destruction. It is the only true power.]
[In a world that rewards masks. You are here to rip them off.]
For a moment, silence again.
The candles flickered.
Lior's eyes darkened, reflecting the pale script before him.
"Good," he said softly. "If the world needs a villain, I might as well be the one that wins."
He stood, tucking his dagger into the sash at his side.
[Quest Reminder: "Ruin your house's public image within the first week."]→ Time remaining: 5 days, 9 hours, 41 minutes.→ Progress: 68%.
[Reminder: You're still far too respectable.]
[Suggestion: Appear at tonight's banquet rather happy. Smile often. Mention how disappointing your father was.]
[Bonus FP if you insult the late head of the family.]
Lior laughed under his breath. "You're truly cursed."
[And we are bound together.]
He took one final look at the swirling menus before swiping them closed with a flick of his hand.
Lior stood in silence within the study. The fireplace crackled behind him, casting long, erratic shadows across the room. He stared down at it.
Lior smirked and walked toward the desk. The thick chair creaked under him, but the moment he leaned back into it, something clicked into place.
He wasn't mourning anymore. He was planning.
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"Let's see how far we can fall before the world begs us to rise."