C1 I’m Actually the Villain, Awakening the Innate Attribute

The Slaughter World was on the brink of activation, beckoning people between the ages of 15 and 50 from across the globe to brace themselves. A world rife with wilderness, colossal beasts, venomous insects, wild men, and walking corpses was about to be unleashed. In this realm where death and opportunity coexist, the question loomed: Are you ready? This chilling query reverberated in the ears of billions.

Confusion reigned as people gazed skyward, only to vanish before they could grasp what was happening. Zhao Dong was jolted awake by a chaotic dream. In it, he was the wealthy scion of a powerful family, ceaselessly pursuing the most beautiful girl in school. His persistence paid off when she agreed to dine with him to fund her mother's medical treatment. But as he was about to leave for the restaurant, a voice thundered in his mind: The Slaughter World is opening globally!

"What a bizarre dream," Zhao Dong mumbled, rubbing his temples. The previous night's birthday bash, swarming with girls vying for his attention, had left him with a pounding headache. Despite his polite refusals, their fervor was unrelenting, and he inadvertently overindulged. "Those girls were such a drag," he thought, shaking his head, only to freeze in confusion. "Wasn't I asleep at home? Why am I on a boat?"

He found himself adrift on a glistening lake, flanked by towering trees reminiscent of the Amazon's untouched forests. "I'm Zhao Dong, born into wealth and power. I was doggedly chasing the school belle when suddenly, the Slaughter World commenced."

The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. "Slaughter World? That's the plot of the novel I just read!" The story had depicted a world where everyone aged 15 to 50 was transported into a brutal, survivalist reality. Now, Zhao Dong understood he had crossed into that very book, and worse, he was cast as the antagonist.

The novel's hero, Zhou Fann, bore a name that screamed protagonist. Zhao Dong's own name, however, seemed like a throwaway, a mere stepping stone for the hero's journey. As the memories flooded back, he grasped the truth: His dream was not mere fantasy but the recollections of the original Zhao Dong.

In the novel, this Zhao Dong, pampered from birth, lacked the skills to thrive in the Slaughter World. He suffered at the hands of the hero and ultimately met a tragic end. The irony was not lost on Zhao Dong; his lifelong wish to be a rich second generation had come true, but now money was worthless.

"I must fend for myself!" With urgency, he dredged up the plot details. Zhou Fann, the protagonist, possessed a cheat code—his unmatched combat prowess as a Soldier King. "But I have an edge too; I know the story."

Suddenly, the scene before him warped, and a system notification popped up:

Survivor Zhao Dong has randomly entered the Slaughter World. Begin your quest for survival.

Survivor: Zhao Dong

Strength: 5

Speed: 3

Stamina: 4

Defense: 8

Spirit: 5

Level: L0 (0%)

Skills: 0

"Seriously? This weak, with only defense to show for it?" Zhao Dong wondered if his resilience was due to his metaphorically thick skin.

A prompt appeared: All Survivors have arrived. Commence the talent draw. Would you like to proceed?

Zhao Dong's mind raced. He recalled the novel's villain drawing the 'Attribute Display' talent. Clicking draw confirmed his memory; the talent materialized.

Ding! Congratulations, Survivor Zhao Dong, you have awakened the talent - Attribute Display.

The talent seemed underwhelming to Zhao Dong. It would reveal a wild beast's attributes, level, and health bar, but it was hardly useful in combat. He continued reading the system's guide, which mirrored his memories perfectly:

Welcome to Beginner Village No.168. All talents have been awakened. Survivors, survey your surroundings and begin your struggle for survival.

The guide detailed methods for increasing strength: slay vicious beasts, demonic creatures, and harness the energy from their corpses. The primary objective was clear—find food and a safe haven to endure the trials ahead. As time passed, the beasts would grow stronger, unknown monsters would emerge, and the system would issue new missions.

After digesting the information, Zhao Dong glanced at the chat channel. To his surprise, his avatar resembled his real-life self. "This won't do. Being this good-looking will only draw unwanted attention," he muttered.

Meanwhile, others were reeling from their predicament. "Can someone explain what's happening? I was asleep, and now I'm in the woods," one person typed. "I'm in the desert. It's scorching, and I can't find my husband," another lamented.

"Dad, Mom, it's Linlin. Where are you? I'm at the beach. It's snowing here, and it's freezing cold..."

"We're in the apocalypse now. We've all been thrust into this end-of-the-world game. God will watch over me. Believe in me, and you'll survive."

"I'm in the woods, and I'm freaking out. There's a tiger below me. What do I do?"

"Dealing with tigers? I've got some experience. You've got to be quick. Sneak up on it when it's not looking, and make your move. Slide tackle it the first chance you get. At least you'll go out with a bang."

"Damn, you're still in the mood to crack jokes at a time like this?"

Messages were streaming by rapidly.

He took a moment to survey his surroundings. He was at the edge of a vast swamp that stretched as far as the eye could see.

He found himself on a small fishing boat, the kind you'd find in a rainforest, maneuvered by a pair of oars on either side.

The boat was narrow, just one meter across, and roughly three meters in length, with a pointed bow.

Zhao Dong's brow furrowed as he took stock of the boat's contents.

There was both good news and bad news.

The good news: the boat was in one piece, no leaks to worry about.

The bad news: only one oar remained, and it was broken.

This meant he was at the mercy of the waves for movement.

But this was a lake; there were no waves to speak of.

He activated his innate ability: Attribute Display.

Broken Oar: Crafted from solid wood, a shame it's snapped. Still, it could make a decent weapon.

Small Fishing Boat: A wooden vessel, weathered by storms, yet resilient and reliable.

Damaged Fishing Net: The net was somewhat torn.

This reminded Zhao Dong of a crucial plot point.

He recalled that Zhou Fann, the protagonist, would soon achieve the first kill.

Following that, Zhou Fann would gain the 'Critical Hit' skill, along with a host of other rewards.

With this in mind, Zhao Dong swiftly grabbed the broken oar.

Its jagged end, bristling with splinters, could serve as a makeshift weapon.

"I have to beat Zhou Fann to the first kill," Zhao Dong declared, his tone resolute.

Zhou Fann was a man of action, sparing only the beautiful young women while eliminating any other men who crossed his path.

Zhao Dong had no illusions about befriending Zhou Fann; he was determined to snatch away any advantage Zhou Fann might gain.

Less than a minute had ticked by.

Zhao Dong remembered that Zhou Fann had made his first kill about ten minutes earlier.

"There's no time to waste. I have to make the first kill within the next nine minutes."