Seized by the System

It was winter in China. Above ground was plagued with a chilly breeze and a lack of street-dwellers.

As the crisis slowly approached, most people rather stayed at home, huddling together to stay warm instead of going outside and invite troubles.

Tourism was heavily impacted by this lack of interest. Most of the famous places such as well-known mountains and rivers had reduced tourists.

However, a thousand or so meters underground, the rats were thriving economically.

That provided a sharp contrast against the desolation that was observed above ground.

It was as if the Greater Rats were not worried about the lunar disaster at all.

They lived in the subterranean strata and protected by the strong and steady rock layers. Even if the above ground had all been flooded, the seawater would not make its way underground, stopping at the aquifer.

Furthermore, it was protected by layers of vitality formations. To them, the underground city was as solid as a stronghold.

Elder Ancestor Bai’s foresight to research the magmatic geothermal power station to power the Greater Rat City was a wise choice, as it allowed them to enjoy an unlimited amount of energy as well as soilless cultivation, detaching them from their reliance of soil above ground.

With advantages like this, they could, naturally, watch as the humans frantically try to save their own skin.

“Hahaha, as soon as the lunar disaster strikes, the sea will flood the earth, humans will be wiped out, and we will be able to return to the ground and become the dominant race above ground, just like the human bibles have said.”

In a fancy bar in the underground city, some middle-level Greater Rat Demon personnel were taking a break.

Their eyes were fixed on the human news on the TV screen.

“Sources revealed that the moon will disappear within six months. By that point, the sea will encroach the lands. A disaster is closing us by the seconds, but who will save us? Who is our real savior? Who can make the heavens put down the staff they are brandishing?”

Seeing the sorrowful shouts of the host, all of them snickered.

“These humans had become complacent! They seem to have forgotten that life is difficult and full of suffering. The heavens have now awoken, and they will soon understand that only us, the newborn species, have the willpower to grow. The strong will survive, while the weak will be discarded. They will lose the title as Earth’s dominant species and become a slave to us.”

Even though the Greater Rat Demons were relatively new, they were able to learn quickly from the humans and began to act as if they have earned everything.

Pretenses had been innate in earthly beings. According to the theory of sexual selection, males who do not know how to preen themselves would have a harder time to pass their genes down.

In that sense, peacocks are the most famous contenders in the animal kingdom, with an appearance that basically says, “Look at me and my cumbersome, but gorgeous tail feathers, yet I still live my life freely without any restrains. What are you waiting for, come hither and let us procreate…”

“I hear it will only be a few months before the seas will rise. Their coastal cities have already started their shift to the inner lands. It’s a shame that Elder Ancestor had already banned sapient rat demons from stealing from humans. Just think, how many boons can we steal from the humans in this process of relocation?” A sly-faced demon said regretfully.

It probably did not have much stealing experiences before gaining sapience and was likely a pet rat.

“Let it go. Elder Ancestor was right. A sage once said that only the crops that you grow are the crops that could sustain you. Stealing wouldn’t help a species thrive,” mused another rat demon like a philosopher.

A few pretty rat barmaids looked at it with admiration. ‘That’s an intelligent, cultured rat demon. They’re so different from those lowly rats who only knew to grovel in the ditch.’

“Hmph, humans will never think about this, but we’ve built an entire city with their technology, and will soon receive their cultural legacy. That’s such an exciting thought… Come, let’s drink, bottoms up. Human’s inventions are such marvelous things.”

The Greater Rat Demons all shared glances of smugness and pride.

‘In times when the fate is siding us, even pigs would be able to fly, let alone demons like us.’

…

Not far from the bar was the Demonic Alliance Headquarters.

In the Logistics Office, Bai Shixin was holding his head at his desk while thinking.

‘The plan is going forward…

‘We’ve finally arrived here.

‘Time-wise, it didn’t take long, it could be twenty years or as short as one year.

‘What exactly made me walk on this path of treacherous gekokujou ¹ ?

‘No matter if I succeeded, my image of a fair, just character would have crumbled.

‘If I failed, I would be called the Wang Mang ² of the Rats.

‘If I succeeded, I may be able to attain a name of Taizong ³ …’

Having thought of that, Bai Shixin indifferently opened a bottle of wine gifted to him. He heard that even among humans, that bottle of wine was a rare gift reserved for the highest honors.

He looked for a cup and filled it up. An aromatic scent, which he thought was quite pungent, wafted out of the cup.

He had never been the type to touch alcohol.

There were two reasons for that. Firstly, he was afraid it might numb his mind. Secondly, he did not want to accidentally spill his secrets.

However, on this day, he wanted to have a drink.

Humans are peculiar creatures. They could sacrifice long-term benefits for short-term enjoyment, and alcohol was one of the examples of that. The harm of alcoholism needs no further explanation.

He wanted to taste it. As he picked up the cup, he knew why he had that craving.

He did not want to forget his worries, but he did want to feel braver…

“Hm, looks like I’m just a normal person. So what if I am a sage, so what if I can see everything clearly? I can’t escape my fate. This must be what they called a design. All those choices that I made would still lead me onto this path in the end.”

He was deliberating before pouring the entire cup of alcohol into his mouth.

His face reddened as he endured a feeling of his throat burning to his heart, doing his best to keep his composure.

‘I will at least die for a righteous cause if I can’t succeed!

‘Old man, this grudge between us has to have a resolution!

‘You’ve made me suffer through shame and disgrace, used me to achieve your own agenda, and then leaving me in the cold. I will never forgive you!

‘If you become a god, I will be killed. You wouldn’t put up with leaving a dark spot in your past!’

He kept trying to justify his plans, as with any other traitors.

He would have to clear his own head first.

Some time had passed before the effects of that cup of alcohol had faded. Bai Shixin stood up as his eyes glinted coldly.

‘Murder with a borrowed knife!

‘It’s time to utilize my thirty-six stratagem again!’

He strolled out of the Logistics Office and wandered around until he arrived at a room labeled Logistics Executive Committee.

He knocked at the door.

No answer. His heart was pounding at this point.

Just as he prepared to knock at the door again, the door opened.

He felt guilty and lowered his head slightly. At that moment, he looked nothing like before when he was presenting a suggestion.

He might not have been as experienced then, but at least he was passionate, confident, and conscientious.

Now, his plan was perfect and would definitely achieve his goal.

However, his heart was far less steady.