My Borderline Supervillain-Slash-Hero System

Zane stepped cautiously into the mansion, every nerve alert.

In a world ravaged by corruption and chaos, hearing a calm voice speaking fluent English was both comforting… and deeply unsettling.

His only true ally here was the System—and so far, it hadn't raised any warnings.

That, for now, was enough.

He stepped across the threshold.

The interior was unlike anything he expected. The architecture didn't resemble any culture he knew—at once old and elegant, with faintly glowing lights embedded in the curved walls, casting a soft, amber hue throughout the room.

"Come this way, Star Traveler," the sweet voice called again.

Zane's eyes scanned every surface, every corner, as he moved deeper into the dwelling.

Then he saw her.

A woman sat on a long couch, sipping from a porcelain cup. She appeared to be in her mid-twenties, but Zane had learned not to judge by appearances in this world. Her skin was a flawless, pale white—almost luminous—and her raven hair fell in long waves down her back. Her gaze was calm, and her smile inviting.

She looked… human. Entirely human.

"Don't be shy," she said warmly, motioning to the seat across from her. "It's been so long since I've had a visitor."

Zane nodded and sat across from her, though he kept his body ready to spring at the slightest threat.

The woman took another sip from her cup and said, "I am Erlin of the Gandalf Forest. This land is my domain. I've been watching you since you stepped foot into my woods." Her voice was honey-sweet, yet carried subtle weight.

"I'm Zane Carter. Of… Earth."

At that, Erlin nearly stood up. "Earth?" she repeated, eyes widening in astonishment. "You're truly from that place?"

"You… know about Earth?" Zane asked, surprised.

"Who doesn't?" Erlin responded, her tone almost reverent. "Everyone in Zarconist Continent knows the old legends—stories passed down through generations. That we humans came from a world called Earth, hidden among the stars that light the night sky."

Zane blinked, unsure how to respond. He had so many questions, but Erlin was already leaning forward, her gaze intense.

"What brings you here, Zane Carter of Earth?"

He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "I'm on a mission. I can't reveal too much… for several reasons."

Erlin's smile shifted into a teasing smirk. "Ah. So you're one of those."

"One of what?"

"Travelers," she said simply. "A few years ago, I heard rumors. Outsiders… humans… coming and going across worlds. They come here to hunt, to search for relics, or for reasons of their own. They never stay. I suppose they, too, were from Earth."

"There are still people alive here?" Zane asked, blinking. "I thought this world was… empty."

"What? You thought I was the last soul alive?" she chuckled, shaking her head with amusement. "You've got quite the imagination. No, Zane. This world may be corrupted—but it isn't dead."

She poured something steaming into another cup and offered it to him.

"Have a drink. You must be tired."

Zane glanced at the cup, then politely raised a hand. "Thanks… but I'll have to decline."

Erlin's smile faltered slightly. A flicker of emotion passed through her eyes—something unreadable.

Damn, Zane thought. Maybe declining an offer like that is offensive here. But he wasn't taking chances. This world was unpredictable, and an unexpected act of kindness could just as easily be bait.

"I'll be direct with you," he said, voice firm but calm. "You spoke my language. Invited me in. That alone raises a lot of questions. I don't know who you are, or what this is about—but I'd like to know what happened here. Why is that city in ruins? And why are you living out here, alone, if others are still alive?"

Erlin didn't answer right away.

She sipped her drink, her eyes distant.

After a long pause, she said softly, "Your questions are fair. But in this world, Zane Carter, nothing is free."

She looked him directly in the eyes.

"How about this," she said smoothly, "for every answer I give, you return the favor. A question for a favor. An exchange."

Before Zane could even respond, she leaned forward and asked her first question.

"That place—Earth. Is it just like this world?"

Zane nodded slowly, gauging her tone. "More or less. The forests are growing thinner, and the population is exploding. But ever since the Awakening, everything changed. Everyone—and everything—has mana now. But here… it feels thicker. Like the air itself hums with energy." He paused. "Also, the beasts here… they feel strangely docile. Do you herd them?"

"No." Erlin tilted her head slightly. "I don't control them. I just own this forest. They follow the balance."

She took another slow sip of her drink, then set the cup down gently on the table. "As for your question earlier—what happened to the city…"

Her gaze darkened.

"Five hundred years ago," she began, "our civilization reached a peak. Technology, science, magic—we had it all. But in our arrogance, we birthed our own destruction. A virus spread, fast and silent. It broke the mind… drove people into madness. They turned violent. Savage."

Zane's voice came low. "By violent… you mean cannibalism?"

She nodded once.

A heavy silence settled between them.

Zane's brows furrowed. "What about the survivors?"

"Some people turned out… immune. Or at least, resistant. But the cost of that immunity was hunger." She lifted the cup again and smiled faintly. "We need blood. Not always. Not constantly. But it gives us vitality. Power. You don't feed on blood?"

Zane stiffened, glancing down at the untouched drink she had offered him earlier.

Blood...

I nearly drank blood.

"Yeah, we eat meat, vegetables, the usual," Zane muttered carefully. "Blood? Not a necessity. Not for us."

System, he whispered mentally, scan her. Tell me everything.

Ding!

[Scanning Complete]

[Subject: Erlin of Gandalf Forest]

[Species: Evolved Homo Sapien]

[Evolution Path: Bloodborne Mutation - Vampiric]

His eyes narrowed. Vampire. Damn it.

Good thing he trusted his instincts.

If he had accepted that drink... who knows what could've happened.

She must have noticed the shift in his face, because she chuckled softly. "What's with that look, Mr. Zane? Am I frightening you now?"

Ding!

[Erlin's Stats]

Strength: 550

Agility: 670

Intelligence: 610

Health: 750/750

Mana: 790/790

Zane's heart sank.

She was strong. Stronger than him in every way. If she wanted to, she could snap his neck before he could even blink. And yet… she didn't.

Was she trying to gain his trust? Or something more?

"Zane," she called again, waving her hand in front of him. "Hey! Don't zone out on me. You didn't answer my question."

"What question?"

She leaned forward on the couch, her eyes sparkling. "Can I come with you? To Earth. I promise I'll behave. Like a docile cat, even."

Zane blinked. "No. I… I can't."

"Why not?" she asked, voice rising in pitch. "You came here—to my world. Why can't I go to yours?"

Because you're a damn vampire, he wanted to say. Because you drink blood, and I'm not some hero. I'm just an orphan from a nowhere town, lucky enough to have a System.

But instead, he said, "It's… complicated."

"Life is always complicated," she whispered. "And never fair."

Suddenly, her expression changed.

"Fine," she said softly, but her voice had a strange weight. "Then I'll show you why I want to leave this place."

In a blink, she was gone from her couch and standing directly in front of him—so fast he couldn't even register the motion.

"Look into my eyes," she said.

Zane instinctively did.

What he saw was not hypnosis… not a trap.

But a story.

Images flooded his mind. Not visions—memories of her since her birth.