The World's Strongest Faker

Monday morning. The Adventurers Guild Building in the Central Business District is starkly silent in contrast to the bustle of weekdays.  Outside are full of adventurers donning their chain-mails, chest plate, wielding swords, and the like. It seems as though they are waiting for something.  Near the entrance, by the door, there is a bulletin board where everyone was staring blankly at. Ernest, who was curious about what’s going on, slipped and squeezed through the people. Finally, he was able to see what they were looking at. [Dungeon raid: F-Tier and D-Tier dungeon. Recommended Adventurer’s rank: D to C Class. Number of people: more than seven.] “Dungeon raid!” Ernest's eyes glistened as he read those words. Dungeon raids are one of the most profitable dungeons compared to solo dungeons. One dungeon raid is equivalent to five solo dungeons. “This is it!” Ernest said joyously as his opportunity came. “If I were to team up with adventurers here, maybe I can pay my sister's school fees. I’ll just need to team up…” At that moment, Ernest's joyous face turned pale all of a sudden. As he saw every adventurer grouping each other and entering the establishments, no one approached or offered him. Of course, no one would approach him. It was common sense to him. No, to everyone in the business of adventuring. But still, he needs to try, if he doesn’t then her sister will be forcibly kicked out of school for not paying on the due date. He mustered his courage, even if he were to fall in shame again, he has to try.  “Uhm...is your group lacking? I can join if you want.”  “Huh? Who would like to team up with you? You useless piece of s**t! You’ll just drag us down. Go find someone else.”  Ernest approached another group party. “What makes you think that you can join us? You're weakling, you’ll just get carried and I hate those types of people. Why don’t you just give up on being an adventurer?”  “That’s right brother! Why don’t you just accept the fact that you’re a piece of s**t? Even rats would have more value than you. You being born is a mistake! Your father should’ve swept you in the blanket!”  The group that was making fun of him burst into mocking laughter. Anyone who had heard their conversation joined up and laughed alongside.  As expected, this is what he’ll get from asking for such an offer. Ernest Teucher, being the lowest-ranked in the adventurers guild this is the treatment you’ll get. Respect is based on rankings, even if you’re in the same class, you’ll get treated based on what rank you are in a certain category.  The weak prey on the weak. That’s just how the cycle works in this world. It's basic human nature. And it’s also one of the aspects Ernest hated the most.  He could’ve punched this guy if he wanted to for being a jerk, but he knew that he could only do it in thought, not in reality. After all, he is the weakest of all. If only if...he has some talents besides adventuring, he would take it. But there is none. He’s only good at fighting, he didn’t even have basic education.  He doesn’t want her sister, who’s only his remaining family to end up like him.   Tears began to form in the corners of his eyes, those who were laughing at him stopped as they witnessed an interesting development… “Oi oi! Look at this guy! He is literally crying.” “What a wimp! He sure is the lowest of the lowest!”  “Maybe he realized how worthless he really is in this world. Ernest was it? You’re such a pain in the ass. Your very existence annoys me. Not everyone around is annoyed by your existence. Why don’t you just die?” At those words, Ernest felt the time around him stopped.  “Why do I have to live this kind of life? Why am I being treated worse than trash? Am I really that of a joke? They are just a bunch of jerks who are in the same category as mine but their rankings are high...why do they treat me as if they are in C or B class?”  He clenched his fist at those thoughts, “Even if this is the reality, should this continue just like this? It’s so cruel to the likes of me…I f*****g hate reality! f**k the weak prey to the strong...If not only from that orb…”  The orb, a device used to measure the strength and capability of one person. One of the requirements to become an adventurer. An orb that decides on how you get treated in society. Ernest was only one point above the threshold, one might say he was lucky but to him, it was a torment. He won’t be forced into adventuring if he just followed her mother’s dying request. After her death, he became the breadwinner of the family, earning money from logging, cleaning streets, porter, anything where he could earn. But they are not enough so he was forced into adventuring. ‘I’m sorry, Sophia. For being a brother to you...Sorry for being weak and worthless. If only I was gifted like the others…”  He wiped his tears off his face with the back of his hand. Reminded by reality and struck in realization. But still...he needs to do something.  “Done crying? Go home and go back to your mama! Oops, I forgot, you don’t have a mother!”  The crowds laughed at him again. Until… “Hey, boss! We’re one guy short!”  The laughing stopped as the man who is called boss glanced at one of his subordinates.  “What do you mean we’re one guy short? I thought we only needed eight members?”  “Well, the requirements changed without notice...so.”  The boss gritted his teeth in irritation, “They only have one job...So do we have a guy that could fit in?”  “Unfortunately, there is none. Most of them already have a group.”  “WHAT?” The boss looked around his surroundings, the streets which were once full of congregated adventures were turned into ghost towns. Then his eyes met with Ernest. The boss snickered, “Well well. Looks like you’re in luck!”  “What do you mean?”  “You want to go on a raid right? But no one accepts you because you’re weak. But today you got lucky because we’re short one guy. Mind filling up the seat?”  The man called the boss who was talking s**t out of him and was now offering him a spot in his group. Ernest knew that he was a jerk but he needed money to pay his sister's tuition fees. Ernest clicked his tongue, having no choice but to accept the offer of a man who just belittled him earlier. Ernest steeled himself. “Okay, I’m in.”  “Okay good! So here's what you're going to do. First, you stay out of our way, secondly, don’t drag us down, and third, just watch from the side. In short, you do nothing. Is that understood?”  Such a favorable condition, even if he didn’t do anything in the raid, he would be paid handsomely. There’s no other reason to deny it.  “Okay.” … Thirty minutes later, Ernest abided on the conditions the boss had set for him. Eight of them are busy killing and fending monsters, hearing the monsters scream in pain, the swords clanging and swishing. He doesn’t expect he would get money from this by doing nothing.  “Haaah!!”  With a descending blow, the last monster has fallen. With that, they continue walking in the eerie dark hallway. Only the torch is the source of light.  A few minutes later, they arrived in front of a big door that seemed to lead to another hall. Ernest does the work of opening the giant door. As the hinges creaked dreadfully, a throne hall appeared before their eyes.  As they stepped inside the empty dome hall. The boss muttered a word. “This is odd, we’re supposed to defeat a goblin king but he’s not here.”  “What should we do boss?”  “We continue, he might show up any second.”  “Okay.” But that second...turned into an instant as Ernest's body warned him about an incoming danger. This intuition is the only thing that kept him alive in times of adventuring. If this was giving off right now, then it's a problem. Suddenly, a sound cutting through the air echoed in the hall, blood splattered everywhere, dying everyone around the boss in red. It happened in an instant! Shocked, surprised, fear erupted among them. It was the boss, who got his body chopped and head sliced by something they didn’t perceive.  They reflexively drew their swords and looked around the hall to find the enemy. “The boss is dead!” “SHOW YOURSELVES!”  “s**t, what do we do?!”  “Maintain position and then —”  Blood scattered again, this time four were killed in an instant. They still can’t identify the enemy but the shock and fear they are having turned into panic. They forgot their goal. Inside everyone's head is to escape from this wicked place. But Ernest stood in the center, afraid to do anything or move an inch. He knew to himself that if he moves, he’ll be the next one who will fall to the ground in half. Those who were running towards the exit eventually got their heads sliced.  Only three remain, the two who were about ten meters away from the recently killed four stopped their movement. Their eyes trembled in despair. One even soiled in their pants, creating a small puddle. The stench of aroma probably angered the one who hides in darkness and eventually killed the two. Their body created a thud sound as they fell to the ground. Ernest remains. Eyes trembling, faces sweating, hands shaking, legs shivering. He couldn’t maintain his sword which was also shaking from his grasp.  ‘They were instantly killed! Shit...Am I going to die here along with them? No...if I die here, who would take care of my sister? I don’t want to...but…’ Ernest slowly turned his head, shaking from fear. He knew the risk of even moving his head but if he were to get out alive, he needs to see his enemy first. A wind blows.  Ernest intuition blared.  He doesn’t know what it is but he followed his intuition. He instinctively swung his swords upward, the blade sparked as it collided with something. The force of collision created a shockwave that sent him flying into the ground.  His sword that ultimately saved his neck from getting cut off, shattered like glass as it fell lifelessly to the ground, littering it.  ‘s**t, fighting an enemy who instantly deleted all of my team members...As expected, I should’ve not raised my swords...No if I did then I would die in that...What are you thinking Ernest? You’re going to die either way…you just halted it for a moment.” “Oh? You’ve blocked it? Impressive, I didn’t know someone who is as weak as you could’ve sensed it.” Ernest, who was lying on the ground, raised his head and saw a dark figure shrouded in a black mist. His appearance is similar to a knight but everything was dark...his armor seems to be dyed black. And that overwhelming force of his voice sent chills to his spine. ‘I can’t move my body...his voice is so overwhelmingly powerful.’ “Unfortunately! Those who had entered my throne hall without permission shall be exterminated.”  ‘Wait? Aren’t we supposed to defeat a goblin king here? Why is this one showing up…”  As the dark figure ambled towards him, he pondered with the time he had left. This occurrence, this phenomenon.  “A double dungeon?!”  Double dungeon, an unwanted visitor from a high-ranking dungeon, an occurrence that was unlikely to occur in a lower dungeon. ‘What the hell? I thought this was going to be easy…’ “Now die!”  Raising the dark sword above his head, it descended. Suddenly, everything went blank.  Suddenly, a voice sounded in his ears. [Host has been found...syncing memories...successful. Needed host approval...initiating host persuasion.] [Looks like you’re in a pinch here. Your survival rate is at zero percent. Want to make it 100% and return home with your sister?]  ‘Who are you?’  [I’m a system that will make you the strongest person in this world. But I need your approval to activate your new powers.] ‘System?’  [There’s no time to ponder! you’re alive for now because your brain is working 300 times its speed, thanks to one of my features, you need to make a decision!]  ‘Okay, activate.’ [System startup Initiating! Execution...100% Processing enemy skill…Confirmed. [Shadow Walk] acquired! Initiating countermeasures.] As the sword descended with a heavy blow, Ernest's figure disappeared from the shadows.  The black knight’s eyes widened. He witnessed a skill similar to his. Then behind him, he felt a presence.  It was Ernest, the man who was supposed to be lying there, waiting to be killed, standing before him. “You irritate me!”  The dark knight charged forward. This time he won’t miss it. With his dark sword aimed at his throat, Ernest stood, unwavering.  “Hijack.” With those words, Ernest's body glowed. [Skill Activation: Cathartic Sword Dance of Darkness plus Hell’s Blade.]  Ernest’s figure disappeared in front of the knight. Then at that moment, the knight’s head, limbs, arms, fell to the ground as Ernest chopped them off at light speed.  The knight's eyes were determined to know the sudden change of the weak’s stance. He was definitely sure he destroyed his swords, so what cut him? — What...sword magic? How does he have that? I didn’t sense mana from him, is he concealing his strength? The knight questioned as his vision started to blur. Then it died. [Enemy has been eliminated.]  Ernest's consciousness returned.  “Huh? What just happened?”  Migraine.  Sudden dizziness struck his head. His body tottered like a drunk man. Seconds later, he falls down to the ground. Unconscious.