Reincarnated With The Degenerate System-Chapter 203: CH:

"What the hell is happening?" I grunted.

I have been climbing the stone stairs for nearly ten minutes.

By now, the top should have been within reach. Instead, I was still trapped halfway up which made no sense.

"Let’s try again."

I broke into a run.

Air rushed past my body. My speed here matched the real world. So, in theory, I should reached the top within ten seconds.

But the same thing happened.

No matter how fast I moved, I was stuck.

Realizing I was wasting time, I stopped and scanned the area for clues.

The cane’s ability sent invisible strikes in every direction. At least, that was how it looked to me when fighting Kyle.

But was that really the case?

If the cane could send shockwaves anywhere, then what was Kyle’s ability? He never used anything else in our fight. Every attack followed the same pattern.

Or was it?

A sudden spark lit my mind.

What if the shockwave was Kyle’s ability, and the cane’s true power was to relocate it?

That would explain why I’m stuck. The master of this place kept shifting my position in real time. Each step forward got rewritten the moment it happened.

The real problem was figuring out how to bypass it. Outrunning space manipulation was close to impossible with my current strength.

Even reaching the speed of light would change nothing. Teleportation controlled space itself. Light still moved inside that space, bound by its rules.

"Hey, System. Do you have any way to help me?"

[DING]

[System is currently analyzing the Celestial Weapon. Host, please wait until the process is complete.]

Good news. This ability was far too powerful. I needed to claim it no matter what.

I sat on the stairs and stared into the sea of clouds. There was nothing left to do but wait for the system to finish its work and bail me out again. That thought left a bitter taste.

Being overly reliant to it was like moving one step forward, and ten step backwards.

I had already created my own Qi techniques. Those weren’t gifts. They came from my own, failure, and stubborn effort to create original skills.

That was proof of growth. Proof that dependence no longer defined me.

Yet here I was, clueless of what to do.

Was I truly unable to solve this on my own? Or was this another excuse to avoid the hassle of actually using my brain?

’Damn it.’

I stood and faced the temple again.

If normal sight failed, then how about seeing through energy?

I closed my eyes and sat in a meditative stance, expanding my awareness. Qi flowed outward like sonar, probing the space ahead.

The distance remained too far.

So, I adjusted it.

Instead of letting the waves return on their own, I altered the flow and forced them to rebound before collapse. The process was messy and hard to control, but once it clicked, the effect was immediate.

My range doubled.

Through that expanded sense, I finally reached the temple doors.

I reached for the temple door, ready to break through and see what was inside.

But all I found was darkness.

I pushed forward regardless. The moment I reached deeper, two massive glowing orange eyes opened and locked on me.

The pressure hit at once, and my connection shattered. I snapped my eyes open as cold sweat soaked my forehead.

"What is that thing?"

Without warning, the clouds darkened, and the entire mountain trembled.

I kept my eyes on the temple. At first, everything looked normal.

Then I blinked.

A giant orange cat sprawled across the roof, its fat belly pointing straight up at the sky. How it got there—or when—was anyone’s guess.

(What an annoying human,) it said, voice lazy. I couldn’t tell if it was speaking as a man or a woman—the tone was strange, shifting almost like it carried both at once.

(So,) it continued, stretching the word like it had all the time in the world, (you can change faces? That’s... interesting. Are you some kind of trickster, human?)

Its eyes bored into me, curious but calm, like it had seen far too much to be impressed, yet enough to want to test me.

Seeing that the system wasn’t done with its work yet, I decided to humor it.

"Let’s just say I’m a very resourceful person. So, you’re the consciousness residing in the cane? I expected something more..."

(Something more, what?) Its eyes narrowed. My words got under its skin.

"Something more majestic. Like a dragon. Or at least a tiger."

(A dragon? A tiger?) It rolled its eyes. (You humans love to romanticize those oversized snakes or lizards with wings.)

(And don’t get me started on tigers. They’re just an under‑evolved version. Cats are superior in every way.)

(What’s so great about them? Compared to me, they’re nothing.)

I could tell immediately that it carried a huge ego... and an even bigger insecurity.

But then again, it controlled space, so who cares about its appearance?

It was like when a pretty and young lady spotted a super fat, old guy with billions in the bank. She would probably whip out her phone and post, "Age doesn’t matter" with ten laughing emojis.

(Do you doubt my words, human?) it growled, raising a paw. Its claws slowly extended, gleaming under the sun light.

"Well, I wouldn’t know about that. I beat your last user without much trouble."

(Please.) It scoffed. (That guy was as worthless as they come. I only let him borrow my power because I was bored. In the right hands, I’m far more powerful.)

"In the right hands, huh? Then are you willing to work with me? You’ve seen what I can do. I can use your power better. With me handling things, there’s no limit to what we can pull off together."

It didn’t reply immediately. Instead, it tapped its chin, pondering my offer.

(Although you’re more useful than the last guy, I doubt even you can use my power properly. After all, I’m what you humans call Schrodinger’s cat. I exist and don’t exist at the same time, so my standards for a new master are quite high.)

"So, you’re not willing to cooperate with me?"

(Why should I?) It licked its paw, slow and smug. (You can do whatever you want with the cane, but if I don’t use my power, it’s useless. And it’s not like you can touch me even if you wanted to.)

What an annoying cat. It even twitched its whiskers, trying to taunt me.

Just as it thought itself to be untouchable, the entire place began to tremble.

At last, the system finished its preparation.

(You trickster,) it snarled. (You think I’ll let you tear apart my domain?)

It looked up. Space twisted, then snapped back into place, showing its control.

For a moment, my system and Schrodinger’s cat fought for control. The balance shifted after 10 minutes.

Space started to crack and tear apart.

Darkness began to eat away at the area, piece by piece. When it reached the cat, space collapsed around it, forcing a change.

A naked petite woman, barely five feet tall appeared on its place. Orange hair. Orange eyes. The whiskers and cat ears remained, giving her a fierce animal look.

In terms of cuteness, she completely won the genetic lottery. Just looking at her made me want to pat her head and mess up her hair body.

(What did you do to my powerful body?!) She raged, staring at her small hands in disbelief.

"It’s not that bad. Actually, it’s an improvement. You were a fat cat before, so you should be thanking me."

(DIE!) she snapped her fingers.

Nothing happened.

She tried again. And again.

Finally, she realized her own power was completely suppressed.

"Let’s talk. If you agree to acknowledge me as your master, I’ll let you rebuild your little domain. I’ll even give you a chance to gain a real body in the future."

The offer was made calmly. No pressure. No expectations.

I was honestly hoping for her to refuse. That would’ve given me time to deal with her properly just like the last one.

Stubborn types always took longer. But when they finally gave in, the result was more satisfying.

Plans had already started forming. Ways to corner her into choosing cooperation on her own terms.

(Okay. I agree.)

"Of course you’re going to say no, so how about—" I paused, thinking that I misheard her.

"Did you just say you agree? Aren’t you giving in a little too fast?"

She yawned and dropped to the floor, stretching out like she owned the place.

(What’s there to think about?) she said lazily. (You managed to suppress me completely, and I’m too tired to fight back.)

Her ears twitched as she started scratching her tummy. (Please take good care of me, Master.)

"You do know you have to kiss me to sign the—"

I didn’t get to finish.

She grabbed me and kissed me hard, no warning, no hesitation. Then she pulled away, turned around, and went back to sleep like nothing happened.

Before I could react, the world black out.

I was back in my bedroom. I stood there in silence, mind blank. A full minute passed before the thought finally caught up.

What the hell just happened?

The regret of not even being able to pet her ears or hug her kept replaying in my mind. It felt like I have been robbed of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do it with a legal L.

’Damn it! I failed at being a degenerate’