《Legacy of Chaos [English]》


 Prologue

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    Milkey whiteness seemed to stretch on forever, and the silence was so thick it was almost physically oppressive. There was no visible horizon or any shapes at all. Just¡­ nothingness. I couldn¡¯t feel the weight of my own body. The air¡ªif it could even be called air¡ªcarried no scent whatsoever. For a moment, I wondered if this was what death looked like: no time, no stimuli, and not a shred of hope.


    And yet, I had memories. Seemingly simple, mundane ones: the gray buildings of my previous life, the flicker of fluorescent lights in the office, and quiet evenings in my own apartment. Maybe it was all an illusion, or perhaps some kind of final flicker in a dying brain. I wondered if I really was dead. After all, I¡¯d ended up here, in this all-consuming white void; something must have happened.


    I was certain of one thing: in that previous life, I had a last name, a birth date, and some unpleasant emotional baggage. I grew up in an orphanage, without parents. Later, when I became an adult, I was trapped in a routine, just another anonymous employee in a giant corporation. Day-to-day life never really captivated me. But now it all felt as distant as stories from centuries past.


    After some time¡ªI couldn¡¯t tell if it was a second or an hour¡ªI felt a strange tingling in my chest. There was no accompanying sound or movement of air, but my intuition told me to look around, as much as one could in the midst of nothingness. I instinctively focused on some undefined point and suddenly realized I wasn¡¯t alone here.


    That thought shook me more than the fact that I was floating in a white void. I wanted to call out loud, ¡°Hello? Is anyone there?¡± but not the slightest sound escaped my lips. I couldn¡¯t feel my tongue or my lungs. And yet I was certain something¡ªor someone¡ªwas watching me.


    Then I heard a mechanical tone, completely devoid of emotion, like a computer or an AI. It echoed inside my head, as though bypassing my ears and speaking directly to my consciousness.


    ¡°You have been chosen. You will be given the chance for a new life.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t respond, though a thousand questions swirled in my mind. ¡°Chosen¡±¡ªI rolled the word around in my thoughts as though it were the strangest concept imaginable. Who had chosen me, and for what? What kind of ¡°new life¡± was this? I felt an inner shiver, a kind of tension you feel when encountering the unknown.


    But the silence didn¡¯t let up. The dissolving milky whiteness allowed me to see that the space around me was becoming slightly translucent, as if revealing something deeper within. At that same moment, the voice spoke again:


    ¡°Everyone who enters the realm of the Overlords has a choice. You can make a sacrifice in exchange for a talent tailored to what you¡¯re willing to give up, or offer nothing and rely on a random gift.¡±


    It felt as if someone had yanked me from a safe dream and thrown me onto a dangerous arena. A sacrifice? What did ¡°sacrifice¡± even mean? My mind frantically scanned the past few days, searching for anything that could explain my situation. Nothing came to me. Had I died, and was this a form of reincarnation? Or had I fallen victim to some experiment?


    Regardless of the explanation, I had the irrational sense that whatever was happening wasn¡¯t a dream. This was a painfully real reality, even though it felt absurdly unreal. At the same time, I sensed that doing nothing might mean the end. I knew I had to respond, but how? I wanted to ask for clarification, but again, I couldn¡¯t speak.


    The space around me rippled. The white void started to shift, like someone was tugging on a curtain made of liquid light. From that swirl, symbols emerged, reminiscent of ancient runes, shimmering on a translucent surface a few steps away. I was certain I couldn¡¯t actually take any steps, as there was no ground to feel¡ªbut still, the word ¡°approach¡± formed in my mind.


    Instinct took over, and I moved closer, though my legs seemed to exist more in my imagination than in any physical sense. The symbols pulsed as if they were alive, thousands of them overlapping each other. Amid them, a message appeared¡ªsomething I shouldn¡¯t have been able to read, but I understood it instantly:


    Write what you will give up to fulfill the system¡¯s requirement. Or choose not to sacrifice anything and accept a randomly assigned talent.


    An echo resounded in the depths of my mind: ¡°sacrifice.¡± It was meant to be something that was part of me and could also be taken away. A chill ran through me as I realized I was faced with a choice that could shape everything that lay ahead. My instincts protested. Why should I give up anything when I never asked for a new life? For a moment, the thought of simply picking the ¡°second option¡±¡ªnot giving up anything and hoping for a random talent¡ªflitted through my mind. Sure, I might get something valuable, but I could also end up with something utterly useless. A random lottery sounded risky, perhaps even more so than a defined sacrifice. I was torn, sensing that both paths were uncertain, yet one demanded a very specific price from me.


    The silence was relentless. The system¡ªor so I had to call this will that spoke inside my head¡ªwas not negotiating. I was trapped, with no choice but to move forward. I tried to rationalize it: Maybe this is a test? Maybe if I refuse the sacrifice, I¡¯ll be given another chance somehow? But a deeper thought reverberated within: ¡°Everything has its price. If I want powerful abilities in this new world¡ªand if I want to survive¡ªI must pay for them.¡±


    A memory of the orphanage surged up, full force. I saw the faces of people I had never truly called family. The solitude that weighed on me every single day. Was it ironic that the thing that hurt most was what I¡¯d never experienced¡ªthe absence of normal parents, the lack of warmth I only knew from movies or watching others? The thought of giving up those memories brought both a sense of relief and a pang of guilt at the same time.


    Were the memories of parents I¡¯d never truly known so precious that keeping them would save my soul? Or perhaps it was precisely because they were so abstract that I could afford to give them up?


    The milky sheet of light flickered, and it felt like the runes around me were waiting for my decision. For a brief moment, I considered sacrificing something minor. But what? Whoever I was, I couldn¡¯t recall any treasured relationships apart from the hazy notion of my parents. Besides, the system had hinted that the greater the sacrifice, the greater the power. Maybe I was being paranoid, but I felt that without a solid talent, I had no business in a world that called itself the realm of the ¡°Overlords.¡±


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    Among the swirling symbols¡ªall shimmering invitingly¡ªI saw no clear hints from the system. So I began rationally analyzing what ¡°sacrifice¡± actually meant. The system didn¡¯t seem tailored to me personally; rather, it operated on universal rules: you give up a part of yourself, and you gain a specific talent.


    I thought about what I could truly give up. My memories of parents I¡¯d never met¡ªwas that really such a high price? From the system¡¯s perspective, it seemed valuable because parents are supposed to be important. Yet for me, the loss wouldn¡¯t be all that painful, given that all I felt was emptiness and regret over something I never experienced.


    I also considered other aspects: my gender, which supposedly defines a person, but in my former life hadn¡¯t given me anything particularly special. Would losing that identity really be a big issue in a new world, especially if it supposedly included various forms of magic and technology?


    Eventually, I found myself wondering whether, instead of stacking up smaller sacrifices, I should offer something truly significant to push my talent to a higher tier. The system, although impersonal and silent, displayed a vague message: after two sacrifices, I could expect an ¡°epic¡± talent. But what if I found something even more valuable that would boost my power to its highest level?


    I considered various possibilities¡ªgiving up years of my life, part of my health, or even my sense of hearing. Each option, however, felt in some way destructive and threatening to my future existence. Ultimately, I thought about my sight. Without eyes, a person is condemned to darkness, but since this world was said to be filled with magic, there seemed a decent chance I could find spells or techniques that would let me ¡°see¡± differently¡ªthings like aura vision, echo-based perception, or spatial sight. That sounded exotic, yet not impossible in a place where the system itself chose Overlords.


    It was an extreme approach. I knew I might regret it one day, but at the same time, the lure of an even more powerful talent was strong. Magic was my only hope of compensating for it, and I had no intention of being just an average Overlord¡ªespecially if there was a path to true power. Almost no one would risk losing their sight; I was fairly sure I might be the only Overlord crazy enough to do so. Maybe that would give me some unique advantage in the eyes of the system.


    Who knew¡ªmaybe not being able to see wouldn¡¯t be such a big obstacle in a world that was already turned upside down.


    By that point, even the white void seemed to be observing my inner conflict. At last, I chose: my sight. It was the next, third sacrifice I decided on, believing that the magic and technology of the Overlord world would help me soon enough. I swallowed hard, bracing for the price I¡¯d have to pay.


    It all sounded like a massive gamble, but I sensed the system wanted something truly significant from me. If I wanted to tip the scales in my favor, I had to pick sacrifices that were huge from the system¡¯s standpoint but not as painful for me, given my circumstances. The memories of parents I never truly knew; the gender I had never viewed as fundamental to my identity; and my sight¡ªprecious, sure, but in the Overlord world I was betting on finding an alternative. I swallowed and readied myself for the final choice.


    I took a deep breath, despite there being no air in this space. A sense of risk soaked into my very bones, but I was ready. If I wanted to seize this chance fully, I had to go all in.


    I clenched my imagined fists and focused on my sight, the last part of my sacrifice. The thought pounded in my head that the loss of my eyes could be the ultimate price¡ªbut also the start of something bigger. The magical world the system spoke of had to have ways to compensate for such losses.


    ¡°Take my sight,¡± I whispered in my mind, feeling tension mount within every part of me.


    The runes blazed with brilliant light, nearly blinding me one last time. I felt something deep and internal being torn away. In a single moment, the milky void gave way to darkness, and I knew the stage of sacrifice had ended.


    Just when I thought I might lose my mind, the system¡¯s voice spoke once more: ¡°Sacrifice accepted. Talent granted: Legendary ¨C Eye of Chaos.¡±


    Eye of Chaos. The name sounded both intriguing and unsettling. It held something raw, something untamed¡ªperfectly capturing the chaos unleashed in my life after I had given everything up. What possibilities would it offer? Would it be my chance to survive in an unknown world? Questions multiplied in my mind, but the system remained indifferent, like a cold machine enforcing merciless laws. It had no intention of providing answers or explanations.


    I wanted to protest, to ask what would happen next. But instead I felt a sudden yank, as though I were falling into a bottomless pit, unable to see the ground. The white expanse abruptly transformed into darkness, suffocating me yet simultaneously giving me a sense of an immense power swirling all around. Was this the essence of the Overlord world?


    For a fleeting instant, I saw a vision in my mind: vast, barren lands, rocky wastelands, and a soaring tower that dominated the landscape.


    It felt as though someone had tossed me into the very heart of a harsh, unforgiving world. A fleeting thought crossed my mind: ¡°Am I going to have to live there?¡± Before I could dwell on it further, the vision vanished.


    I felt suspended, in a strange place between my past and a new beginning. I¡¯d lost what had defined me in my previous life¡ªmy memories, my identity, my sight¡ªyet I had gained something else. In my chest, I felt the pulsing spark of energy, the result of my sacrifice.


    Once again, a voice echoed in my head, this time quiet, like a distant echo: ¡°Transfer in progress. Prepare for rebirth in a new dimension.¡±


    Rebirth. I gave a bitter smile, unsure whether the body I no longer felt could even manage a smile. It signaled a beginning, but also the end of my old self. I thought about my former life, short and devoid of significance. Perhaps this really was a chance for something different¡ªbolder, more fascinating?


    There was a roaring sound, like thunder or an earthquake. I started to fall. It seemed as though the darkness around me was swirling, and I was hurtling downward, even though there was no reference point. One thought pounded in my head: ¡°Let it end. Let it be quick.¡± Suddenly, everything froze, and the darkness acquired a density unlike anything I¡¯d ever experienced. I felt as though I were underwater, except it wasn¡¯t water. Nor was it empty space. It was something that connected me to the new world I was supposedly about to enter.


    Somewhere in the distance, I heard clipped whispers in my mind. I couldn¡¯t understand them. Maybe they were echoes of other Overlords going through a similar experience? Or perhaps the system was reaching out to each one of us individually, calling us to this new world with the same absurd demand for sacrifice?


    I knew one thing: I had lost what defined my identity in my old life, but I had gained a chance¡ªnothing more. I had no idea if that would be enough to avoid perishing in a world ruled by Overlords, each brimming with ways to seize dominance. My memories were fading, like an old photograph. I no longer had a gender, I didn¡¯t remember my parents, and as for my sight¡­ I felt fear at the thought of stumbling around blind in a new reality. But I assumed the system would handle that differently than it would for an ordinary human. Perhaps I would perceive the world in an entirely new way.


    Adrenaline flooded my mind, though speaking of ¡°blood¡± and ¡°body¡± was pointless here. Everything was happening in fractions of a second, yet I also felt as if it had been going on forever. Would anyone greet me in this new world? Would my very first act upon ¡°birth¡± be a fight for survival?


    There was no time for further speculation. I heard a sharp crack, like shattering crystal. A wave of heat washed over me, and in an instant I realized the transition was at hand. With one final flash of awareness, I saw the darkness split open, revealing a gray, desert-like landscape studded with towering rock formations. It might have lasted a second at most, but I still managed to register a few details: ragged clouds, scarce vegetation, and a strange, tall tower in the distance that loomed over the horizon.


    Right after that, my mind fell silent. I only had time to wonder, ¡°Is this the new world?¡± I didn¡¯t get the chance to hear an answer. The only solid thing was that spark of power I felt within me¡ªthough I had no idea how to use it. It was called the Eye of Chaos, a talent that seemed to fit perfectly with the aftermath of my choices. It carried with it a glimmer of hope and a mountain of unknowns.


    What would happen next? Would these barren lands become my grave, or my adopted home, where I might build a kingdom, summon subordinates, wage battles against monsters and other Overlords? Somewhere in that vast expanse, would I encounter enemies more powerful than anything I could have imagined in my previous life?


    The system remained silent, neutral, and aloof in its omnipotence. Meanwhile, as the darkness of consciousness closed in, I felt a trembling in my heart¡ªor perhaps my soul¡ªa mix of fear, excitement, and regret for what I had given up. I promised myself that, although I couldn¡¯t recall exactly what I¡¯d lost, I would try to make the most of this opportunity. It was a chance to cut ties with a past that had been empty anyway. Maybe fate would be ironic enough that I¡¯d find in the Overlord world what I had lacked before.


    These questions swirled in my head, and the answers lay somewhere in that sun-scorched realm I was now hurtling toward. Nothing would be simple or predictable. There was no turning back. My sacrifice was a done deal¡ªand from now on, it would define my new path.


    I heard nothing else. The world spun, and darkness descended once more, this time welcoming me like the gentle embrace of night, in which I would awaken as someone entirely new. Sacrifice¡­ that was the price I had paid for this chance. Whether it was worth it, I would only discover in the moment I opened my eyes in the stark reality of the Overlord lands. But that is another story, one that begins under the glare of a merciless sun and the roars of monsters lurking in the barren wastes.


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 Chapter 1: It’s like a game

    Pain. Sharp, searing pain, as though red-hot metal needles were piercing every corner of my mind. I couldn¡¯t comprehend what was happening. A scream tore out of my throat, shattering the silence. I was rolling on the cold, rocky ground, clutching my head in desperation, as if that could somehow silence the chaos raging inside me. I was surrounded by emptiness, yet my mind was caught in a violent storm.


    Instinctively, I tried to close my eyes¡ªan old reflex that made no sense given that, after all, I did have eyes. But the chaos didn¡¯t vanish. On the contrary, it seemed that every time I tried to ignore what I was ¡°seeing,¡± the pain only intensified. A relentless flow of data flooded in, information I had no way of processing: pulsing energies, intricate patterns, ever-shifting shapes and outlines. It was as though the world around me was made up of puzzle pieces that simply didn¡¯t fit together.


    There came a point when I literally wanted to tear my eyes out, despite knowing it wouldn¡¯t help. My hands moved instinctively to my face, clawing at the skin around my eyes, as if desperation could undo what I had done. A scream¡ªhalf wild, half human¡ªfilled the silence of the barren land.


    At last, I grew weak. Thrashing around and fighting against something I couldn¡¯t understand had drained me entirely. I lay on the ground, breathing shallowly and rapidly, as the chaos slowly began to subside. It wasn¡¯t that it had grown any less intense, but rather that I realized I couldn¡¯t fight it.


    Adaptation. That was the only word that cut through the tumult. I had to adapt, because there was no alternative. What initially felt like a curse might be my only salvation. I focused on my breathing, forcing my body and mind to calm down. One inhale, one exhale¡ªslowly, as though each breath restored a fraction of control.


    When the chaos quieted somewhat, I began to pick out patterns in what I was ¡°seeing.¡± Something that at first was just a storm of incomprehensible information started to take shape. I saw outlines of stones beneath me, as though they were glimmering in my mind, surrounded by pulsing energy. Every movement of the air, every faint rustle seemed to leave a trace behind, a trace I could read.


    ¡°This is happening in my head, but¡­ maybe I can control it?¡± I thought, though I still had trouble grasping the full extent of this new ability.


    After a few attempts at moving around and examining my surroundings, I noticed something in my chaotic vision that looked like a large mass of energy. At first, it was just a more distinct pattern among the pulsing lines, but when I got closer, I realized it was a barrier. The space around me throbbed with energy, and the boundary appeared to separate this area from the rest of the world. I reached out my hand, and the vibrating warmth I felt seemed to pierce my senses. In that barrier, I saw all sorts of energies: lines woven into unknown patterns, swirling streams of light, and darkness mingling with brightness. I had no idea what any of it meant, as though it were a language I didn¡¯t yet understand.


    The barrier was smooth but not cold. It felt somehow organic, and yet unnaturally regular. Observing its pulsing energy and the way it seemed to seal off my little patch of land from everything else, I began to suspect it served as a kind of protective field. I had no idea how long it would last, but my gut told me it wouldn¡¯t be forever.


    Bit by bit, I was learning to see the world through the prism of my new talent, although every step in that direction demanded intense focus. My head still pounded with pain, overloaded by the flood of incoming information. Every piece of energy, every ripple in the air vied for my attention, making even the simplest action feel like a monumental struggle.


    I wondered what to do next. The barrier afforded me some protection, but I knew its time was limited. I looked around, trying to get a better sense of my surroundings. In my vision, the rocky hills appeared as clusters of cold, indifferent energy, devoid of movement or life. The ground beneath my feet seemed to swallow every impulse that might indicate something living, as though it repelled life instead of nurturing it. That sight convinced me further that this territory of mine was peculiarly barren, a place that seemed to reject life itself.


    The memory of the system came back to me, yanking me out of my thoughts. I focused, recalling how it operated at the moment of my sacrifice. ¡°System?¡± I thought, attempting to conjure it in my mind. To my surprise, a three-dimensional image materialized before my inner eye. It was simple, almost austere, with a handful of options laid out in a neat row:


    Status. Talent. Territory. Skills. Titles.


    Each option seemed to respond to my thoughts, as if awaiting a command.


    I focused on Status, and a panel of details immediately appeared:If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    <ul>


    <li>Name: Unknown</li>


    <li>Level: 1</li>


    <li>Talent: Legendary ¨C Eye of Chaos</li>


    </ul>


    Stats:


    <ul>


    <li>Strength: 5</li>


    <li>Agility: 6</li>


    <li>Endurance: 4</li>


    <li>Intelligence: 8</li>


    <li>Magic Energy: 10</li>


    <li>HP: 100/100</li>


    <li>Mana: 50/50</li>


    </ul>


    Next, I shifted my focus to Talent, and a brief description appeared before me:


    Eye of Chaos: Grants the ability to perceive and analyze the energies and structures of the surrounding world in a uniquely versatile way. Opens the path to discoveries inaccessible to others.


    I looked at those words, trying to take them in. ¡°Adaptation¡±¡ªthat word came back again, like a mantra destined to follow me from now on. I¡¯d thought that this legendary talent would be a blessing, but so far it was my greatest curse. I knew I had a long way to go before I could fully grasp its potential, and the idea that I had to remain constantly focused so as not to lose control of my energy-based vision¡ªand be hurled back into chaos¡ªterrified me.


    I switched my attention to Territory, where the system displayed available options for starting buildings. I started analyzing each one, trying to understand what possibilities they might offer.


    Summoning Tower


    Description: The center of every territory, enabling the summoning of units.


    Function: Allows you to summon one basic unit.


    Reading that description, I realized the Summoning Tower would be the heart of my territory. That¡¯s where the entire power structure would begin. The ability to summon my first unit, even if it was a basic one, offered a glimmer of hope for strengthening my position.


    Basic Shelter


    Description: A simple, primitive structure providing protection and rest.


    Function: A place of rest for the Overlord.


    Bonus: +50% health regeneration during rest.


    Though primitive, the shelter was just as important. Health regeneration could be critical, especially if I sustained any injuries. I knew that a safe place to rest could determine life or death.


    Resource Depot


    Description: A building for storing acquired resources.


    Function: Allows storage of up to 100 units of resources.


    Bonus: Slows food spoilage by 50%.


    The Resource Depot looked simple, but its significance wasn¡¯t lost on me. Storing resources is the backbone of any kingdom, and the spoilage delay could be invaluable over the long term.


    Field


    Description: A small piece of land suitable for basic farming.


    Function: Speeds up plant growth by 15%.


    The Field offered a place to begin basic production. Accelerated plant growth gave me hope that, even in this barren land, I could find a way to secure essential supplies.


    Energy Source


    Description: The magical core of the territory, serving as the heart of the kingdom.


    Function: Enables modifying and constructing buildings within the territory.


    Judging by the description, the Energy Source would be crucial to the development of my territory. It was more than just a strategic point¡ªI had a feeling everything I built would be powered by its energy. I hoped its potential would let me transform these wastelands into something resembling a real kingdom.


    Next, I focused on a new system tab labeled Skills. A list appeared before my eyes, divided into two sections: passive and active.


    Passive Skills


    Chaotic Spatial Perception


    Description: A passive way of perceiving the surroundings by analyzing energy and structures. Enables dynamic spatial vision, independent of normal sight.


    Cost: None (the skill is always active).


    Active Skills


    Basic Energy Analysis


    Description: Activates the analysis of a selected object or energy in the surroundings, providing detailed information.


    Cost: 5 Mana to activate.


    Basic Energy Manipulation


    Description: Allows interaction with ambient energy.


    Cost: 10 Mana per use.


    Looking at the list, I noticed that the passive skills were always active, while the active ones required my conscious choice and an expenditure of energy. The word ¡°Cost¡± conjured up memories of the fatigue I¡¯d felt from using my talent. I selected Basic Energy Analysis, directing my focus toward a nearby stone. A new window popped up in my mind, displaying detailed information about the object. It was divided into several sections:


    Object Name: Basalt Stone


    Energy Type: Neutral


    Status: Stable


    Properties:


    <ul>


    <li>Hardness: High</li>


    <li>Magical Conductivity: Low</li>


    <li>Potential Uses: Building material, energy barrier (with the right manipulation)</li>


    </ul>


    The window was clear, and I could examine each element in even greater detail if I concentrated on it. Yet even now, I could see how many details could be revealed about even the most unremarkable object. The Mana cost was minimal, but I felt a slight weariness.


    After reviewing the ¡°Skills¡± section, I turned my attention to the final tab in the system¡ªTitles. To my surprise, there was already one listed:


    Title: ¡°Boundless Sacrifice¡±


    Description: Bestowed upon those who have made extraordinary sacrifices to enter the realm of the Overlords.


    Bonus: +50% Mana regeneration.


    I studied the description, feeling the memories of my sacrifice return¡ªbut without the bitterness this time. The bonus was a small acknowledgment by the system of the steep price I¡¯d paid.


    ¡°Boundless Sacrifice...¡± I repeated in my mind, savoring each word. The title felt like both a burden and proof of just how much I had already given to end up here.


    Stats, talent, territory, skills, and titles¡­


    It¡¯s like a game.

 Chapter 2: The Foundations of a Kingdom

    I stood by the protective barrier that separated my territory from the unknown world. The space around me felt dead, yet pulsed with an unfamiliar energy. In my chaotic energy-vision, the barrier shimmered faintly, a threshold between safety and danger.


    The system had laid out my options, but I still felt lost in this barren land that was supposed to be my home. I had to decide where to begin construction and how best to use the resources at hand. One question kept nagging at me¡ªdid the system require specific materials like wood or iron to build structures? Unable to shake the thought, I decided to ask.


    ¡°System,¡± I thought, focusing on the interface in my mind, ¡°does building require resources like wood, stone, or other materials?¡±


    There was a brief silence, as though the system was processing my request. Then a response appeared in my head:


    The starter buildings do not require additional resources to construct. All necessary materials are generated automatically when the Energy Source is activated. Further expansion of the kingdom may require resources.


    Relief mingled with a new question: What resources could I even find in this harsh world? That was the next mystery I needed to solve. Rocky hills and barren earth stretched out in every direction, and the only sign of potential was a few glowing points the system highlighted as possible building sites. Yet off in the distance, I saw something extraordinary¡ªa slender, dark tower that didn¡¯t appear on the system map. It stood out against the monotonous landscape.


    It didn¡¯t look anything like a Summoning Tower, which the system had mentioned. This structure seemed alien, almost unnatural. Its contours were irregular, as if the tower itself was fighting against the passage of time, yet it emanated a faint, barely perceptible pulse. I had no clue what it could be, but instinct told me I should focus on my own kingdom for now. Exploring my territory and investigating that tower could wait.


    I opened the system map and concentrated on selecting a location for the Energy Source. I considered several potential spots¡ªplaces near the boundary for easier territorial defense, or areas with more protective terrain that might provide natural shielding from threats. But each idea had drawbacks. Putting such a crucial structure near the edge left it vulnerable to attacks after the barrier vanished, while more hidden areas could limit future expansion.


    The center of my territory seemed the most logical choice. It was a position that gave equal access to every part of the territory, and it offered a natural balance in managing energy. The system indicated that all buildings would, in some way, draw power from the Source, so placing it centrally would distribute that energy more efficiently.


    ¡°A central point¡­ this will be the heart of my kingdom,¡± I thought, selecting the location on the map. The chosen spot glowed softly in the map¡¯s schematic. I closed the mental interface and looked toward where that new hub should be. Off in the distance, I could see subtle new strands of energy emanating from that location. I decided to head over and see my Energy Source with my own eyes¡ªeven though ¡°seeing¡± in my case seemed like something of a joke now. I couldn¡¯t help a wry smile at the thought. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll need a new word for ¡®seeing,¡¯ since my eyes have their own plans,¡± I muttered to myself, setting off toward the central point of my territory.


    The journey to the Energy Source was strangely exhausting. Each step required more concentration than I¡¯d expected. My chaotic energy-vision still took getting used to, and every pulsating strand of information felt like it was driving needles into my mind. It was like trying to navigate in total darkness for the first time, except instead of blindness, there was a constant sensory overload.


    I paused for a moment, raising my hands in front of me as though they might help me keep balance amid the overwhelming sensations. I could see lines of energy emanating from where the Source lay. Each one had its own pattern¡ªone pulsed steadily, like breathing, while another flickered erratically, as if it couldn¡¯t find its place in the system.


    At last, I arrived. In front of me stood the Energy Source: a crystalline pillar emerging from the ground, shining with a soft light that pulsed in a steady rhythm. Delicate lines of energy floated around it, spreading out in all directions, as though the pillar were trying to connect with every part of my territory. I watched the energy radiating from the crystal pillar, searching for patterns or logic in it all. The chaos I perceived was overwhelming, yet fascinating. Was this the force that would power my kingdom? I didn¡¯t yet understand how to control it, but I knew it was essential to figure it out.


    The system immediately registered my presence at the Energy Source. A new window appeared in my mind:


    Energy Source


    Description: The heart of your territory. Allows you to manage buildings and energy flow within your kingdom.


    Function: Activates basic buildings and enables territory expansion.


    Do you want to activate the Energy Source?


    I confirmed without hesitation. In that moment, the entire landscape seemed to shift. The energy grew stronger, and I felt as though the very ground beneath me was humming with power.


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    When the initial wave of excitement subsided, I looked at the system and went over my next steps. The Energy Source was now active, but that was just the beginning. The system made it clear that the next essential step was to build a Summoning Tower¡ªa structure that would let me summon units. I confirmed without hesitation, activating the Energy Source. Suddenly, the air around me seemed to quake, and a surge of energy saturated the world. The crystal pillar shone more brightly, and the lines of energy radiating from it began to pulse as though they had come alive. Everything around me took on a new dimension¡ªevery detail of the territory appeared sharper, as if the Source were breathing life into the barren land. I could feel the energy flowing through me, linking me to this place.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    When the first wave of excitement ebbed away, I looked back to the system and analyzed the next steps. The Energy Source was already active, so I turned my attention to the next building.


    The building I decided on next was the Summoning Tower. According to the system, its function was key¡ªit allowed me to summon units that could support me. I chose a spot right beside the Energy Source, hoping that being close to this magical structure would amplify its effects.


    Focusing on constructing the Summoning Tower triggered a process similar to before. The ground at the chosen point began to shift, and soon a structure rose up that looked like an enclosed portal. Instead of the massive tower I had expected, I saw a ring of carved black stones. It looked austere, but there was a palpable energy coming off it.


    I gazed at it in slight surprise. ¡°That¡¯s not what I imagined¡­¡± I thought, furrowing my brow. I had envisioned a traditional tower, yet the system had created something more akin to a portal. Maybe that made sense: if its purpose was to summon units, it stood to reason they had to arrive from somewhere. Still, I didn¡¯t understand how it worked.


    I stepped closer, trying to grasp its function more clearly. A subtle energy radiated from within, apparently affecting the surrounding land. ¡°You may summon one basic unit,¡± the system announced.


    I narrowed my eyes, though it was a pointless gesture. ¡°How exactly does the summoning process work?¡± I asked in my thoughts, focusing on the system¡¯s interface.


    Summoning a unit is achieved by manipulating the Energy Source and the Summoning Tower. The process consumes a certain amount of mana, and its outcome can vary based on the Overlord¡¯s specific traits. Basic units are tailored to the Overlord¡¯s level and talents.


    I grimaced. ¡°So the units aren¡¯t entirely random? There¡¯s some sort of selection criteria?¡±


    Correct. The basic summoning adjusts to the Overlord¡¯s potential. Advanced summonings may require additional resources or special conditions.


    I ran my hand over the portal¡¯s pulsing stones, sensing a subtle vibration of power.


    ¡°Are the units I summon humans?¡± I asked, trying to understand the nature of this mechanic.


    That depends on the Overlord¡¯s characteristics. Summoned units are adapted to the unique traits and talents of each Overlord.


    I furrowed my brow. ¡°What does that mean in my case? Does that imply my units could be monsters or entities beyond my imagination?¡±


    Due to your talent and affinity with chaos, your Summoning Tower does not have set parameters for unit types. Summoned entities can come from various dimensions and forms¡ªthey might be humanoid, bestial, or defy all known categories. They will be chaotic by nature¡ªunpredictable, unique, and difficult to categorize.


    I drew a deep breath. I wasn¡¯t sure whether that was good news or bad. A lack of limitations could mean tremendous power but also potential danger. Would my units be stronger but harder to control? ¡°So, there are higher levels of summoning¡­ but that means, for now, I¡¯m restricted to what the system deems appropriate.¡±


    Setting those thoughts aside, I moved on to the next stage of construction: the Basic Shelter. Rest was crucial, especially now that my mind was constantly wrestling with the chaos of the Eye of Chaos.


    However, as I prepared to build the Basic Shelter, I wondered if I could integrate it directly with the Energy Source. ¡°System,¡± I thought, focusing on the interface, ¡°is it possible to link the Basic Shelter to the Energy Source itself?¡±


    Yes, it is possible to integrate the Basic Shelter with the Energy Source. In that case, the structure will provide both protective functions and serve as a central hub for the territory, offering enhanced mana and health regeneration.


    ¡°Makes sense,¡± I muttered to myself. ¡°This way, I can better protect the Energy Source.¡± When I focused on building the shelter, the process proved more time-consuming than before. The system informed me that buildings tied to regeneration required greater precision in their energy flow. I felt a bit of fatigue, and with each step of construction, it was as if the various energies pressed in on my mind. My talent seemed to detect every energy detail, every subtle current, making my head throb with pain and my concentration waver.


    After a few minutes, I found myself facing a simple structure¡ªa small hut made of wood and stone. The system explained that health regeneration there would be significantly faster, potentially a lifesaver in a crisis.


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    I stepped inside to examine the interior. It was modest yet functional. Thanks to my energy vision, I could see subtle lines of power converging in the center of the room¡ªsomething like a hearth. At the same time, I noticed there was no energetic imprint of a bed or sleeping area. ¡°Simple, but effective,¡± I thought, realizing that for the time being I¡¯d have to settle for sleeping on hard, packed earth.


    Next on the list was the Resource Depot. At first, it seemed less critical, but I knew it would be indispensable down the line. I decided to build it close to the Summoning Tower, hoping to minimize the distance my future units would need to travel when bringing in resources.


    The process of building the depot was simpler than constructing the shelter. It took the form of a basic wooden structure, but according to the system, its ability to slow the spoilage of food could significantly affect my chances of survival.


    I began to ponder which resources might be the most important at this early stage¡ªfood, wood, stone? Each had its significance, but I had no idea which would prove crucial in this new world. ¡°Will food be easy to come by, or will I need to cultivate it? Will wood and stone be indispensable for more advanced constructions?¡± Questions swirled in my mind. The system offered no answers, forcing me to rely solely on my intuition and logic. I knew that any wrong assumption could cost me precious time. ¡°Maybe that¡¯s part of this whole ¡®game,¡¯¡± I thought. ¡°No clear instructions, so I¡¯m forced to learn by trial and error.¡±


    The last structure was the Field, which I placed on a flat, sunlit patch of land that seemed ideal. It was far enough from the Energy Source to allow space for future expansion, yet close enough for easy access.


    I focused on the chosen spot, and the system responded almost immediately. The ground altered its texture, taking on a faint green glow. I watched with uncertainty¡ªfarming was never something I¡¯d done before, yet I sensed it would be necessary. The field looked unassuming, but in my energy vision, it sparkled with a thousand tiny motes.


    ¡°Accelerated growth¡­ Maybe that¡¯ll be enough to keep me alive at first,¡± I muttered to myself. The idea of having to grow crops in such a harsh world felt both daunting and strangely fascinating. Questions began forming in my mind: Where would I get seeds? Would the plants here be similar to those from my old life? Or did this world operate under entirely different rules? If so, what did that mean for my survival? I felt the weight of these questions, but the answers were out of reach.


    Yet before I could delve deeper into those mysteries, something else drew my attention. I looked toward the horizon, where a mysterious tower stood out

 Chapter 3: The First Summon

    The tower still loomed on the horizon, its contours irregular, as though warped by reality itself. Despite the pulsing energy emanating from within, I knew I¡¯d have to postpone exploring it. I had a more pressing problem: hunger. It began as a faint pang in my stomach, quickly growing into a persistent sense of emptiness. I could feel my body slowly demanding energy, and each movement became increasingly taxing. I needed to address this before the weakness started to slow me down even more.


    I leaned against the wall of my shelter for a moment, letting my mind collect itself. My chaotic vision still wouldn¡¯t let me perceive reality the way I was used to. Despite my perception and the Eye of Chaos, I couldn¡¯t detect any sign of food nearby. The landscape was harsh, and the lines of energy I saw didn¡¯t indicate anything edible.


    I had to act. I looked at the Summoning Tower, which pulsed with a soft, muted light. Its energy was different from the rest of the territory¡ªless chaotic, more focused. The system allowed me to summon my first unit, and I realized I could use that to my advantage.


    ¡°System, summon a basic unit.¡±


    The air around the Summoning Tower thickened, and the pulsating stones glowed with a faint violet light. I sensed the flow of energy through the structure, converging at a central point. A moment later, the air trembled, and in the portal appeared a creature resembling a massive, distorted dog. Its body was unnaturally long, covered in ragged, matte fur, through which coarse, cracked skin showed in places. Despite its canine form, there was something unsettling about it¡ªits claws dug into the ground with each step, and thick drool dripped from its maw. Its eyes gleamed with a pale, flickering light, like dying embers in the darkness. When it raised its head, a low, vibrating growl escaped its throat¡ªa mix of a snarl and a rasping breath¡ªas though it was just waiting for an order to leap into action.


    Name: Hungry Hound


    Type: Basic Unit ¨C Chaotic


    Loyalty: 100%


    Description: A creature of insatiable hunger, capable of tracking food and resources. Low intelligence, highly effective in close combat.


    I sighed at the sight of its name. My first summon... It should have been a moment of excitement, maybe even pride, but all I felt was unease. The creature in front of me bore no resemblance to the heroic warriors or mystical beings found in ancient legends. It was hideous¡ªlike a scrawny, flea-ridden dog that had survived far more battles than it should have. Its dull, ragged fur hung in patches, revealing skin riddled with scars and dried blood. It looked like it only knew hunger and the struggle to survive. Was this the effect of my talent? Had the chaos inside me summoned something that reflected its very nature? If it truly could track down food, then perhaps it would be useful.


    ¡°You have one task. Find food.¡±


    The Hungry Hound shuddered at my words, as though it needed a moment to process the command. Then it suddenly took off¡ªits lean, tense body moving low to the ground, as if following an invisible trail. Rather than running straight, it zigzagged in uneven circles, abruptly changing direction as though chasing something I couldn¡¯t perceive. There was something unsettling about it¡ªit didn¡¯t move like an ordinary predator, more like a creature straddling the line between two worlds, drawing cues from forces I didn¡¯t understand.


    I followed, doing my best not to lose sight of it. The trek lasted less time than I expected. The Hound halted suddenly, sinking its claws into the dry, barren earth. It stood still for a moment, then started sniffing, its nostrils quivering with each sharp inhale. Quiet, guttural growls came from its maw as though it had cornered some unseen prey. Then it began to dig¡ªforcefully, with a vigor that seemed disproportionate to its scrawny frame. Dirt flew aside as its claws ripped into the ground with an almost desperate fervor. A moment later, it pulled up a bulbous root¡ªapparently the ancient remains of some long-forgotten plant life.


    ¡°Juniper Root¡±


    Status: Edible. Low nutritional value.


    I picked up the root and pressed it in my hands. It was hard, covered in a rough skin, and I could smell damp earth and decaying leaves beneath its surface. Hesitantly, I broke off a small piece and put it in my mouth.


    The taste was repulsive. A bitter, stale flavor spread across my tongue at once, its texture like weathered cardboard soaked in mud. Even so, I forced myself to chew, feeling the dry fibers scrape the roof of my mouth. Swallowing required effort¡ªlike trying to gulp down something my throat wanted to reject. Each bite seemed to suck what little moisture remained in my mouth, and the faint hint of sweetness only made the whole experience more unpleasant.


    I gritted my teeth, making myself keep eating. Bit by bit, the root was consumed, and a slight sense of fullness began to grow in my body. It wasn¡¯t real satisfaction¡ªmore a brief reprieve from the gnawing emptiness in my stomach. But it would have to do for now.


    ¡°Find more of these and bring them back to the shelter. That¡¯s your new assignment,¡± I said firmly. The Hound lifted its head, its eyes gleaming in the dim light. For a moment, it seemed to ponder my words, but then it slipped away soundlessly in search of more.


    My hunger was temporarily under control. Now I had to deal with something else¡ªthirst. Every minute, the dryness in my mouth grew more acute.


    I knew my body couldn¡¯t last long without water. I closed my eyes and focused on my talent.


    The world around me changed when I allowed myself to fully open my perception. Lines of energy undulated and wove themselves into intricate patterns, and I began searching for something specific¡ªa flow that was calm, harmonious, akin to a gently pulsing stream. However, with each passing moment, I felt a growing sense of overload. Information came in waves, too much all at once, like my senses were trying to process multiple realities simultaneously. My head throbbed with a dull ache, and the images before my eyes began to blur and flicker erratically. I clenched my teeth, struggling not to be overwhelmed by this state.


    That¡¯s when I saw it. Far to the northwest, beneath the earth¡¯s surface, there was a slow but steady flow of magic¡ªbarely perceptible, but constant. Water.


    I opened my eyes and looked in the direction the energy had indicated. ¡°There.¡± I pointed with my hand, feeling a growing pain in my temples. The informational overload was getting to me, but I had to concentrate. Taking a deep breath, I headed toward where those pulsing lines of energy led. My steps felt heavy, each movement requiring more effort than it should. I sensed the world spinning around me, but I couldn¡¯t stop now. Water was the priority.


    The journey was difficult. Every step was a reminder of my weakness, and I began to feel my mind buckling under the strain. Yet when I reached a small depression in the land, the ground changed color¡ªit grew more damp, and soon I saw a thin layer of water gathered at the surface.


    ¡°Water found: clean, potable.¡±


    I knelt down and drank. A cool sensation spread through my body, delivering the relief I so desperately needed.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    Only after my basic needs were met could I turn my attention to the next problem. The water was here, but how would I transport it? I had no containers, no waterskins. For a while, I simply gazed at the water¡¯s surface, trying to think of a solution.


    Could I use energy to manipulate it? Maybe dig a small reservoir closer to the shelter? Or perhaps I should look for materials that could help me store water?


    I needed to focus on solving the issues that were still plaguing me. The water was here, but how to carry it? I had no vessels, no waterskins. Maybe I could find something nearby that could serve as a makeshift container?


    I started with Basic Energy Analysis, directing my attention to the nearby stones, looking for one that could be turned into a natural basin. A familiar analysis window opened in my mind, listing the details:


    Object: Slate Stone


    Energy Type: Neutral


    Status: Stable


    Properties:


    <ul>


    <li>Fragility: Medium</li>


    <li>Water Resistance: Low</li>


    <li>Possible Uses: Building material, limited durability in humid conditions</li>


    </ul>


    I dismissed that and shifted my focus to another. More results appeared in my mind, but most materials weren¡¯t suitable for storing water. Eventually, I found something promising:


    Object: Basalt Boulder


    Energy Type: Neutral


    Status: Durable


    Properties:


    <ul>


    <li>Hardness: High</li>


    <li>Water Resistance: High</li>


    <li>Possible Uses: Construction, energy barrier (with the right manipulation)</li>


    </ul>


    That was it.


    I placed my hand on the boulder¡¯s surface and closed my eyes, concentrating on the energy flowing through the rock. Basic Energy Manipulation¡ªI activated the ability, feeling the familiar pulse of mana fill my hands.


    I sensed the stone¡¯s structure¡ªhard, dense, resilient. I needed to give it a new shape without compromising its integrity. I focused on the individual layers of material, trying to reshape them gradually. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, the particles began to expand and shift¡ªas though they were responding to my will.


    The process required precision. I couldn¡¯t allow the boulder to crack or become too brittle. Bit by bit, I hollowed out its core, forming a simple but sturdy bowl. My skin started to tingle, and a familiar weariness crept into my mind.


    ¡°Manipulation is tougher than I expected.¡±


    I gritted my teeth and focused on smoothing the edges, reinforcing the structure so the water wouldn¡¯t leak. Each shifted piece of energy carried a slight resistance, as though the stone itself resisted what I was doing.


    After a while, I opened my eyes and looked upon the newly shaped vessel. Although far from perfect, it would serve its purpose¡ªthe smoothed, hardened walls of the boulder had been hollowed out carefully enough to hold water. I ran my hand gently along the inside, making sure the energy had left it stable and intact.


    I wiped the sweat from my brow. Manipulating energy at this level was far more draining than I¡¯d anticipated. I felt my mana depleting and a growing fatigue, but the satisfaction of my achievement helped me ignore it. Now I needed to fill the basin and carry it back to my shelter.


    Even though this was only a temporary solution, it would suffice for now to keep me alive. The water in this makeshift container wouldn¡¯t last long, but at least it would keep me from dying of thirst for half a day. Not ideal, but better than nothing.


    It was a temporary fix, but an effective one. At last, I could transport water back to my shelter. Before picking up the vessel, however, I decided to check my status.


    Status:


    <ul>


    <li>Name: Unknown</li>


    <li>Level: 1</li>


    <li>Talent: Legendary ¨C Eye of Chaos</li>


    <li>Exp: 15/100</li>


    </ul>


    Stats:


    <ul>


    <li>Strength: 5</li>


    <li>Agility: 6</li>


    <li>Endurance: 4</li>


    <li>Intelligence: 8</li>


    <li>Magic Energy: 10</li>


    <li>HP: 100/100</li>


    <li>Mana: 20/50</li>


    </ul>


    I noted the significant drop in mana. Though it wasn¡¯t yet at a critical level, I couldn¡¯t afford any further experiments without resting. At least I had water. It should be enough to keep my body in decent shape for the time being.


    I glanced at a new section in my status¡ªExp 15/100. I hadn¡¯t noticed it before. Did that mean the system was tracking my progress? Which, in turn, implied I¡¯d already earned experience points. But how? From analyzing rocks and manipulating energy? Did that mean that every time I used my abilities, I gained experience? If so, I could leverage that to my advantage.


    I rubbed my face, mulling over the possibilities. If I could gain experience that way, it was useful, but if I wanted to level up faster, I¡¯d need a more efficient method. Could I earn more EXP by heavily using my abilities? Maybe repeatedly analyzing objects or practicing my energy manipulation would speed up my growth?


    I also wondered whether combat might be a source of experience. If using my abilities provided me with experience, what would happen if I used them in a fight? The Hungry Hound was a combat unit¡ªperhaps I could use it for training, to test my skills in near-battle conditions?


    I decided that from now on, I would use my abilities as often as possible. Not just to earn experience, but also to better understand and control them. Each analysis and each energy manipulation could bring me closer to mastering my talent.


    Still, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if killing monsters would yield experience too. If using skills earned me points, maybe eliminating creatures was even more effective. What¡¯s more, I was curious¡ªwhat if I killed my own summoned unit? Would the Hungry Hound, as my creation, also grant me experience? And if so, did the system differentiate between hostile beings and those I summoned myself?


    Finally, what about other Overlords? If I possessed my own abilities and a path to leveling up, then killing someone like me might yield a tremendous amount of experience. I didn¡¯t have an answer yet, but one thing was certain¡ªthe more tests I ran, the better I¡¯d understand this world¡¯s rules.


    For now, though, I had more pressing concerns: returning to my shelter and conserving energy.


    Night was falling, and the air was gradually cooling, pushing out the day¡¯s heat. On my way back, I noticed something that caught my eye immediately¡ªroots scattered around the entrance to my shelter. The Hungry Hound must have brought more, following my instructions. Some were still partially covered in dirt, as if they had been tossed aside right after being dug up.


    I carefully gathered the roots and piled them in one spot. Water and food¡ªthough insufficient for the long term, they would at least keep me going for the moment. I decided to store them all in the Resource Depot.


    It gave me some peace of mind that I wouldn¡¯t lose my supplies in the chaos of the coming days. My resources were still meager, but every bit of water and food mattered.


    At least the problem of water and basic nutrition was temporarily solved, though I knew it was only a stopgap measure. I¡¯d need better methods for securing a steady supply of both.


    Once inside the shelter, a wave of exhaustion hit me. I leaned against the cold, stone wall and slowly slid down to the floor, letting fatigue take over. The ground was hard and unpleasantly chilly, but it didn¡¯t matter¡ªsleep was more important than comfort.


    It had been a day full of challenges: summoning my first unit, obtaining water and food, and using my abilities more consciously. My body and mind were spent. Still, somewhere deep down, I felt a measure of satisfaction. I wasn¡¯t dead. I¡¯d made progress. I was one step closer to surviving in this unfamiliar world.


    Staring at the ceiling of the shelter, I pondered my next moves. I had to find a more stable source of nourishment. I needed to learn more about my talent¡¯s capabilities, its limits, and hidden aspects I might have overlooked.


    However, one thing was certain¡ªif I wanted to survive, I needed to start leveling up. That was the cornerstone of my growth. Every experience point could mean a greater chance of staying alive, a boost to my stats.


    But what about my abilities? Besides the system-driven increase in power, could I also develop tighter control over energy simply by using it more often? Perhaps that was the key to true mastery¡ªnot just relying on the system¡¯s mechanics, but actively refining my skills through practice and experimentation. If that were possible, I had to seize the opportunity. Each use of energy, every analysis and manipulation, might gradually improve my precision and effectiveness.


    I also wondered about the mysterious tower. What exactly was it? Its presence gnawed at me¡ªit pulsed with an energy I couldn¡¯t yet understand. I had a feeling it concealed more than just ancient ruins¡ªit was something greater, something that could be the key to understanding my place in this world.


    Exhaustion slowly got the better of me. I closed my eyes, allowing myself a moment¡¯s rest. Tomorrow would bring a new day, and with it, no doubt, new challenges. But today¡­ today I had survived. And that, at least, was something.

 Chapter 4: I Shouldn’t Have Done This…

    I opened my eyes. For a moment, I just lay there, listening to the silence of the shelter. Humidity hung in the air, and somewhere in the distance, I could hear the heavy, measured breaths of the Hungry Ogar. My body felt different. Too light. Too fluid in movement. I clenched my fingers, feeling the unfamiliar slenderness of my hands. I knew what I had done. But it was only now that it truly sank in.


    Slowly, I sat up. Strands of hair fell across my face, longer and softer than I remembered. I ran my hand over my skin¡ªit was smoother, more delicate. It wasn''t just a structural change. My body was different on every level. I breathed differently. My muscles contracted differently when I moved. I felt a sense of alienation, but there was no fear¡ªonly the awareness that I would never return to who I was.


    I sighed and looked at my own hands. They were slimmer, fingers longer, more dexterous. I slowly clenched them, examining each movement. The skin was smoother, almost foreign to the touch, but not weak. I lowered my hands and ran them over my shoulders, down my torso, across my hips. The body was different.


    Not just the shape, but the way it moved, the way it breathed. I tensed my muscles, relaxed them, rolled my shoulders. Everything seemed more flexible, more fluid. There was no discomfort, only an unmistakable sense of alienness.


    I couldn''t see it, but I could feel it. I knew that if I looked at my reflection, I would see someone entirely different. Someone I had never been, but who I had now become.


    At least I was lucky that my body wasn''t drastically different in terms of structure. My movements still felt natural; I didn''t feel any significant burden. My chest was small, meaning it wouldn''t overly affect the way I moved. That gave me some relief¡ªI wouldn''t have to relearn how to navigate my body in the most basic aspects. At least, that''s what I thought.


    However, my long hair could become a problem. In a fight, it might obscure my field of vision, get tangled, or even become an easy target to grab. Should I cut it short? It would be practical, but right now, I had more important things on my mind. I would deal with it later, when real difficulties arose. For now, I would leave it as it was. Perhaps, over time, I would learn to style it appropriately or find a way to keep it from interfering in combat.


    Was this a better body? Worse? I didn''t know. It didn''t matter. It was the price I paid for my power, and power was all I needed now.


    Time to analyze yesterday. I closed my eyes, recalling the events of the past several hours. The first summoning of the Hungry Ogar, searching for food and water, initial experiments with energy manipulation. All of it was a step forward, but still not enough to call it true progress.


    ¡°Status.¡±


    Name: Unknown


    Level: 1


    Talent: Legendary ¨C Eye of Chaos


    Experience: 15/100 (To next level: 85 EXP)


    Stats:


    <ul>


    <li>Strength: 5</li>


    <li>Agility: 6</li>


    <li>Endurance: 4</li>


    <li>Intelligence: 8</li>


    <li>Magic Energy: 10</li>


    <li>HP: 100/100</li>


    <li>Mana: 50/50</li>


    </ul>


    The displayed panel immediately caught my attention. My mana had fully regenerated. I furrowed my brows. That meant one thing¡ªit had fully regenerated during my sleep. I analyzed this discovery for a moment until something obvious dawned on me.


    ¡°I''m an idiot¡­¡± I muttered to myself, resting a hand on my face. ¡°I could have used all my mana before sleep, and it would have still fully recovered.¡±


    I was wasting potential.


    Mana was simply regenerating on its own. It didn¡¯t matter when I used it¡ªand that was the key takeaway. It meant I could use it at any moment, and sooner or later, it would return to full.


    Now that I had this knowledge, I needed to develop a plan. Since mana regenerated on its own, I should start maximizing its use every day. If I used it all before sleep, I would recover it without loss. This meant that each day I could safely test my abilities, train my control over energy, and gradually increase the efficiency of my skills.


    ¡°At the end of each day, before going to sleep, I will use all my mana.¡±


    I stood up and left the shelter, immediately stopping in my tracks. At my feet lay dozens of scattered roots. They weren¡¯t arranged in any particular way¡ªjust a pile of uprooted plants, chaotically spread across the ground. Next to them, curled into a ball, slept the Hungry Ogar. Its chest rose and fell calmly with each breath, and a lazy stream of saliva dripped from its mouth.


    There was no hiding the fact that it had followed my command. Maybe even too literally.


    I watched the scene for a moment, then sighed and approached closer. I gathered the roots and moved them to the Resource Depot. After placing them in the system''s storage, I looked at its capacity¡ªout of the available 100 units, only 99.9 remained. I furrowed my brows. That was strange. Dozens of roots, and I only used a tenth of a unit?


    ¡°So one unit is about a kilogram...¡± I mumbled under my breath, recording the information in my memory. It might prove useful in the future.


    I shifted my gaze to the Summoning Tower. It was time to move on to the next step.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    ¡°System, summon a unit.¡±


    The air around the Summoning Tower thickened, and the pulsating stones flickered with a faint purple light. I felt the flow of energy through the structure, converging at a central point.


    The process was exactly the same as before. I saw the same signs, felt the same pulsating energy. There was no difference. This confirmed that the summoning worked on the same principles, regardless of the day.


    And then appeared¡­ the Hungry Ogar.


    I furrowed my brows. Was this a system error?


    The creature looked exactly the same as before. Scruffy fur, the same cold, gleaming eyes. It stared at me, waiting for a command. For a moment, I tried to find another explanation, but there was no mistake. It was the mechanics.


    Does this mean I can only summon this unit? My talent and affinity are tied to chaos¡ªthe system clearly stated that I didn¡¯t have set parameters for unit types. This should mean I could summon a variety of creatures. So why does only this Ogar appear? Is there some hidden rule I haven''t discovered yet?


    I clenched my teeth. What if I try again?


    ¡°System, summon a new unit.¡±


    Summoning Limit: 1 per day.


    I felt a slight irritation, but it was quickly replaced by cool analysis. So that¡¯s how it worked. Once a unit was summoned, it remained available, but the system didn¡¯t allow me to increase the number of creatures in a single day. This surprised me¡ªchaos shouldn¡¯t have such limitations. Since my talent allowed flexibility in summoning, why did the system restrict me to one unit per day? If I wanted more units, I would need to find a way to upgrade the Summoning Tower or discover if there were any hidden mechanisms I didn¡¯t yet understand.


    I glanced at the Ogar. The creature didn¡¯t look surprised. It was the same as before¡ªready to follow orders, unnaturally calm, almost passive. At that moment, the first summoned Ogar moved, slowly lifting its heavy head. It sensed the new arrival. It stood up cautiously and approached the freshly summoned counterpart.


    It began to sniff the other Ogar, moving its nose in short, quick motions. The second Ogar showed no reaction, as if the presence of its identical copy was completely natural to it. After a moment, the first Ogar sat down, as if accepting the situation, and its tail lightly tapped the ground. It evidently concluded that the new arrival posed no threat.


    I sighed and shook my head. This meant that, at least for a while, I would rely solely on it. It wasn¡¯t bad, but it imposed limitations.


    I looked at both Ogars, now sitting before me, staring at me with their gleaming eyes. If I couldn¡¯t increase the number of summons, at least I should make effective use of what I had.


    ¡°Go and bring more food to the shelter. Search for anything edible.¡± I gave them the command.


    Both Ogars sprang to their feet immediately. The first, already familiar with the task, immediately headed toward the forest, while the second stood still for a moment, as if processing the command, before following its counterpart. Now I could focus on the next steps.


    I took a deep breath. Now I had a clearer picture of the situation. At least for now.


    Since mana regenerated on its own, why should I limit its use only to the end of the day? If I used it now, in the morning, it would partially renew before nightfall. This meant I could increase the efficiency of my training and experience gaining.


    ¡°So I can train twice a day¡­ Morning and evening. Use all available mana, let it regenerate, and use it again before sleep. This should significantly accelerate my development.¡±


    I headed toward the place where I had found water the previous day. If I was to start using my energy more efficiently, it was worth ensuring that I had enough resources. When I reached the stream, I immediately noticed the familiar, dark stones. Basalt Boulders.


    They were identical to the ones I had used to create my first water-carrying bowls. I picked up one of them, analyzing its structure. At that moment, a system window appeared in my mind:


    Object: Basalt Boulder


    Energy Type: Neutral


    Status: Durable


    Properties:


    <ul>


    <li>Hardness: High</li>


    <li>Water Resistance: High


    Possible Uses: Construction, energy barrier (with the right manipulation)</li>


    </ul>


    Before I proceeded with my actions, I decided to check how much mana I had left after the analysis.


    ¡°Status.¡±


    Name: Unknown


    Level: 1


    Talent: Legendary ¨C Eye of Chaos


    Experience: 15/100 (To next level: 85 EXP)


    Stats:


    <ul>


    <li>Strength: 5</li>


    <li>Agility: 6</li>


    <li>Endurance: 4</li>


    <li>Intelligence: 8</li>


    <li>Magic Energy: 10</li>


    <li>HP: 100/100</li>


    <li>Mana: 45/50</li>


    </ul>


    I looked at my status and furrowed my brows. Mana had only decreased after using the analysis skill, but I hadn¡¯t noticed any depletion from summoning the Hungry Ogar. That was strange. The description of the Summoning Tower clearly stated that actions consumed mana.


    ¡°Could the mana cost be hidden, or is it using a different form of energy?¡± I wondered. This meant that either I didn¡¯t yet understand all the system¡¯s mechanics, or the summons were functioning based on principles I couldn¡¯t perceive. I needed to investigate this more thoroughly in the future.


    Since I had more mana to utilize, I could immediately create several new containers¡ªthis would increase my storage capacity and ensure better control over the water.


    I focused the energy in my hands and selected four suitable fragments of rock. I used Basic Energy Manipulation, concentrating on shaping them. The energy flowed through my fingers, resonating with the stone. Slowly and carefully, I formed them into sturdy bowls capable of holding larger quantities of water.


    When I finished, I felt exhausted. My mana had dropped by 40 points, leaving me with only its remnants. I felt a slight heaviness in my body, as if the effort had weighed on my concentration.


    However, I noticed something else¡ªeach subsequent container formation was slightly easier. My movements became more fluid, the energy flowed more freely, and the final product seemed increasingly better. This only confirmed my earlier theory¡ªskills need to be practiced to gain full control over them and to use them more efficiently.


    ¡°The more I use this, the better I¡¯ll be able to harness my abilities¡­¡± I thought, looking at the four completed containers.


    I checked my status again¡ªonly 5 mana points remained. Not much, but suddenly a question arose in my mind. What would happen if I tried to use a skill, even though I didn¡¯t have enough mana for it?


    It was an opportunity to find out.


    I focused once more on one of the stones and attempted to activate Basic Energy Manipulation to form a fifth container. The energy began to flow, but almost immediately I felt a sudden, sharp pain in my head. It was as if something had ripped away a part of my consciousness. My body suddenly weakened, and dark spots danced before my eyes. I felt myself losing balance, and the world around me began to blur.


    The last thought that flashed through my mind before darkness engulfed everything was: I shouldn''t have done this¡­

 Chapter 5: Level Up!

    Darkness was slowly receding. It wasn¡¯t a sudden return to consciousness, but rather a gradual emergence from the deep abyss. I felt a throbbing pain in my head, dull and spreading in waves. My body felt heavy, as if each limb weighed twice as much as usual. Breathing required effort, and my mouth was dry. It was more than just ordinary fatigue¡ªit was the result of complete mana exhaustion.


    I blinked a few times, trying to focus my vision. Or rather... to focus my energy vision. The Eye of Chaos flickered unstably, as if it were seeing more than it should. The lines of energy, which were usually clear, now seemed to blur and shift chaotically. I needed a few minutes for everything to return to normal.


    ¡°So these are the consequences of total mana exhaustion...¡± I thought, slowly rising to a sitting position. The headache was subsiding, but the weakness remained.


    I shouldn¡¯t let myself reach such a state. Now I knew that, in addition to the natural regeneration of mana, my body also suffered physical consequences. I had to avoid such overloads in the future.


    ¡°Status.¡±


    Name: Unknown


    Level: 1


    Talent: Legendary ¨C Eye of Chaos


    Experience: 60/100 (To next level: 40 EXP)


    Stats:


    <ul>


    <li>Strength: 5</li>


    <li>Agility: 6</li>


    <li>Endurance: 4</li>


    <li>Intelligence: 8</li>


    <li>Magic Energy: 10</li>


    <li>HP: 100/100</li>


    <li>Mana: 50/50</li>


    </ul>


    I squinted my eyes. EXP had increased. Recently I had 15, now I had 60. I took a moment to analyze what could have caused this. After a while, the answer became clear.


    Basic Energy Manipulation granted 10 EXP per use.


    Basic Energy Analysis granted 5 EXP per use.


    ¡°So it¡¯s like this...¡±


    Leveling up wasn¡¯t solely dependent on killing monsters, as one might expect in a standard system. As I suspected, using skills also granted experience. You could grow stronger through practice, which meant that if I wanted to level up faster, I should use my skills to their fullest every day.


    There was no point in wasting potential. Since I could gain levels easily, why not take advantage of it? With only 40 EXP left to reach the next level, it meant that four uses of my skills would be enough to achieve level two.


    Before going to sleep, I would perform a few additional energy manipulations to fill the missing experience points.


    There was no point in wasting potential.


    I couldn¡¯t just wait idly until evening. After a short rest, I decided to use the time for something practical.


    I was already at the stream where I had previously used my skill to create bowls. After exhausting my mana and losing consciousness, I woke up around noon. I now had four bowls, each filled with water. I needed to transport them to my shelter.


    Carefully, I lifted each one individually and carried them to a safe place, trying not to spill a drop. The process was painstaking but necessary¡ªI now had a solid water supply to help me survive the coming days. Although it wasn¡¯t a long-term solution, it should suffice for now.


    After forming the new containers, I began organizing my supplies. In the Resource Depot, I arranged the roots I had gathered earlier, making sure my stock wouldn¡¯t go to waste. My Ogars had already returned, leaving behind a pile of scattered plants once again. However, this time, besides the bulbous roots I was familiar with, I noticed a few other types of food.


    The system immediately displayed a notification:


    ¡°New resources detected.¡±Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    Object: Bitter Berries


    Condition: Edible (Low nutritional value)


    Effect: Restores a minimal amount of energy but causes slight dehydration.


    Object: Hard Mushroom


    Condition: Edible (Medium nutritional value)


    Effect: Slow digestion, increases stamina regeneration, but may cause stomach discomfort.


    Object: Dried Bark


    Condition: Potentially edible (Very low nutritional value)


    Effect: Can be processed into a strengthening broth, but in its raw form, it¡¯s almost worthless.


    I examined the newly acquired supplies with greater interest. This meant that my Ogars could find not only basic food but also other useful resources. I needed to analyze more carefully which ones were worth consuming and which ones I should save for later.


    I carefully sorted them in the Resource Depot, placing the berries in one area, the mushrooms in another, and the dried bark separately to prevent it from coming into contact with the other food supplies. This way, I could better manage my stock and plan their usage.


    After completing this task, I decided to return to the water source once more. This time, not to collect water, but to gather additional stones. I found four solid pieces of Basalt Boulder that were suitable for further processing using my skill. With the stones in hand, I headed back to the shelter, where a faint darkness had already settled.


    I sat down on the ground and arranged the four collected stones before me. I focused the energy in my hands and began the manipulation. The first stone succumbed to my will relatively easily, the second even quicker. With the third, I felt a slight fatigue, but it was nothing I couldn¡¯t handle. With the fourth, I sensed some resistance in the energy flow, but I still managed to complete the process.


    As I finished the fourth use of my skill, the system immediately displayed a message: ¡°Level Up! You have reached Level 2.¡±


    For a moment, I stared at the system screen before reflexively opening my status to check what had changed.


    Name: Unknown


    Level: 2


    Talent: Legendary ¨C Eye of Chaos


    Experience: 0/200 (To next level: 200 EXP)


    Stats:


    <ul>


    <li>Strength: 6 (+1)</li>


    <li>Agility: 8 (+2)</li>


    <li>Endurance: 6 (+1)</li>


    <li>Intelligence: 11 (+3)</li>


    <li>Magic Energy: 14 (+4)</li>


    <li>HP: 110/110</li>


    <li>Mana: 15/55


    Unassigned Stat Points: 5</li>


    </ul>


    I looked at the new values and analyzed the changes. The increase in stats was noticeable¡ªI felt a slight improvement in my body, as if moving and thinking became a bit easier. My intelligence and magic energy saw the most significant rises, meaning I could use my skills more effectively.


    ¡°So that¡¯s how it works... If I regularly level up, my capabilities will increase rapidly. The question is, how should I best allocate these points to maximize my chances of survival?¡±


    In the end, I decided to leave it for later. My body was starting to feel tired after the long day, and after complete mana exhaustion, regeneration required rest. I lay down in the shelter on the hard ground, trying to find the most comfortable position possible. It wasn¡¯t easy, but fatigue quickly took over.


    When I woke up at dawn, I immediately felt the difference. My body was no longer so heavy, and my mana had fully regenerated. I wiped my face with my hand, brushing aside the long hair that had been slightly obstructing my movements.


    I approached the Summoning Tower, feeling the familiar pulsation of energy. This time, I expected to see a familiar silhouette, but I still felt a surge of excitement. I extended my hand and activated the summoning.


    A purple light flashed on the surface of the tower, and the familiar trembling of the air signaled the arrival of another unit. Another Hungry Ogar emerged from the portal, identical to the previous one. There was no randomness to it¡ªthe system had summoned the same creature again.


    The other two Ogars, who had already been on my territory earlier, lifted their heads and watched the new companion in silence for a moment. One of them approached and began sniffing it, then emitted a soft growl, as if approving its presence.


    I didn¡¯t waste any time. I looked at all three and gave a simple command: ¡°Go and find food. Bring everything back to the shelter.¡±


    Without hesitation, all three creatures set off in different directions, disappearing among the rocks. I watched their silhouettes quickly blend into the landscape, then glanced toward the looming tower in the distance. In the past few days, I had avoided it, focusing on survival, but now, with a moment to think, I knew I couldn¡¯t postpone it any longer.


    The mysterious tower had been drawing me in from the very beginning. As soon as I looked in its direction, I felt strange fluctuations of energy¡ªchaotic, yet somehow familiar. My Eye of Chaos reacted as if it were sensing something I didn¡¯t understand.


    I clenched my fists and moved forward. It was time to discover what lay inside.

 Chapter 6: Tower of Chaos

    Silence.


    I stood before the tower, gazing at its ragged, surreal structure. It was massive yet unstable, as if its existence relied on constantly shifting rules. The energy flows I perceived through the Eye of Chaos had no logical pattern. The lines led nowhere, disintegrated, and reassembled, forming shapes that made no sense.


    ¡°Object Identified: ???¡±


    ¡°Analysis¡­ Error. Incomplete Data.¡±


    ¡°Name: Tower of Chaos¡±


    My Eye of Chaos trembled, and the hidden energy lines stretched out before me. I tried to trace them, but they were a tangle of unknown patterns, changing every second. The system spat out the name, but nothing else. No additional information. No descriptions.


    I reached out my hand and touched the door. In that very moment, I felt a sudden wave of energy pierce through my body. The air around me swirled, reality cracked for a split second.


    Before I could pull back, I was sucked inside.


    There were no walls. No floor. Yet I stood. The darkness had no source, but it wasn¡¯t absolute. I felt surrounded by something that existed beyond my perception. Every movement seemed both natural and improper to me.


    Something twitched. It shook in my mind.


    ¡°Talent Holder of Chaos Identified. Synchronization Initiating¡­¡±


    Pause. Distorted sound.


    This wasn¡¯t a normal message.


    ¡°¡­ initiating unknown process¡­ Initialization¡­ Unknown Value¡­ True Summoning Activated.¡±


    Unknown value?


    A wave of information exploded in my mind.


    ¡°Object: Tower of Chaos.¡±


    ¡°Access Restricted. Only for Talent Holders of Chaos.¡±


    ¡°Status: Unknown.¡±


    ¡°Functions: ???¡±


    Pain spread across my skull, as if someone was forcibly injecting knowledge I previously didn¡¯t possess. In an instant, everything became clear to me. I understood what this tower was.


    It wasn¡¯t an ordinary ruin. It was a tool whose operation was linked to chaos. The system clearly defined one thing ¨C only a talent holder of chaos could enter here, and only they had the right to use its functions.


    The reason was simple. I knew it. The structure of this tower didn¡¯t conform to system rules. Anyone without an element of chaos within them would be rejected; their existence simply wouldn¡¯t synchronize with this place.


    Ordinary rulers had their temples, their summoning mechanisms based on understandable rules. But here? There was no pattern, no ready-made units, no parameters.


    The tower didn¡¯t summon. It created from chaos.


    Something began to take fragments of my existence and weave them into the structure of the tower. I felt my own energy resonating with something greater, something I couldn¡¯t fully comprehend. There was no window of choice. No parameters. Everything happened on its own.


    ¡°Initiating process¡­ Lack of standard data¡­ Random supplementation¡­¡±


    Chaotic energies flared throughout the room, moving without any pattern. Power lines intertwined, disintegrated, and reconnected into entirely different forms, as if the place itself couldn¡¯t decide what should be created. All energy streams gradually converged into one spot, swirling around an invisible point that began to take shape.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    I watched this phenomenon, feeling my consciousness immerse in the energy. Movements of light, discordant and irregular, began to absorb my attention in a way I didn¡¯t understand. It wasn¡¯t ordinary watching ¨C I felt my mind synchronizing with the process, as if becoming part of the act of creation.


    I felt as though a completely new path of understanding energy was opening before me. As if I had glimpsed something that had previously remained beyond my perception ¨C a hidden pattern in chaos, meaning in the tangled weave of forces. I knew this was my chance. If I let it pass, I might never have the opportunity to understand this phenomenon on such a deep level again.


    Without hesitation, I activated my Eye of Chaos and used Basic Energy Analysis to understand and memorize as accurately as possible what was happening before me. My thoughts merged with the energy, examining each flow, analyzing the way it changed, split, and reconnected. It wasn¡¯t mere observation. It was an immersion into the very foundation of chaos.


    At that moment, my head exploded with pain. It was as if someone had poured raw, unprocessed knowledge into it, which hadn¡¯t yet found its place. Chaos. An endless amount of information bombarded my mind, each piece conflicting with the other, each trying to impose its own order.


    I felt like I was about to burst.


    Blood began to seep from my eyes, but I didn¡¯t stop. Despite the throbbing pain and the darkness that started to cloud my consciousness, I continued to use the Eye of Chaos and Basic Energy Analysis. I delved deeper into the energy structure, trying to understand its nature, to discern its foundation.


    And then the light flashed even brighter.


    My knees buckled beneath me, and I collapsed heavily to the ground, shaken and exhausted. Blood dripped onto a surface I couldn¡¯t even identify. I was breathing heavily, trying to gather my thoughts, but my body and mind were drained.


    Pulsating light spread around me.


    When the light faded, I reached a trembling hand to my face, wiping my eyes filled with blood. I was breathing heavily, and my vision gradually regained its sharpness.


    The system suddenly spoke.


    ¡°True Creation Complete. Unit Status: Unstable. Anomaly detected in ability structure.¡±


    And then I saw it.


    In the place where chaotic energies had previously gathered, a dark, undefined form was now pulsating. The contours distorted and trembled, as if reality hadn¡¯t yet decided what to become. Then, suddenly, they took shape.


    A tall silhouette emerged from the swirling energy.


    He was a man. Tall, well-built, his posture emanated strength and confidence. His energy bore subtle traces of chaos energy, pulsating as if in response to the surroundings. His black, slightly tousled hair and intense gaze gave him a rugged yet unnervingly calm expression.


    He didn¡¯t hold a weapon.


    And yet, there was no confusion in his eyes. He didn¡¯t look like he was missing anything. On the contrary ¨C his hand twitched slightly, and fragments of chaotic energy began to gather around it.


    I held my breath as particles of light and shadow started to form something larger. The energy swirled, twitched, and after a moment, materialized in his hand as a long blade.


    It was massive, black, emanating a pulsating aura. It didn¡¯t look like a weapon forged by human hands ¨C more like something born from pure chaos.


    The man looked at the blade with slight surprise.


    ¡°Like this time?¡± ¨C he muttered under his breath, as if unsure of what to expect.


    Before I could speak, the blade changed. In an instant, it was covered with icy coatings, only to flare up red like liquid metal a split second later. The man squinted his eyes and gave a slight smile.


    ¡°Well, as usual.¡±


    I watched this cautiously.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± ¨C I finally asked.


    The man looked up at me, tilting his head slightly.


    ¡°Good question.¡± ¨C he replied with a hint of amusement in his voice. ¡°I am what you created.¡±


    I glanced at his blade again.


    The dark blade trembled once more and, after a second, completely disintegrated, vanishing without a trace.


    The warrior sighed and relaxed his shoulders.


    ¡°Well¡­ time for another attempt?¡± ¨C he said, extending his hand, in which the energy began to gather again.


    I felt the tension rising. I had created something¡­ conscious. It wasn¡¯t a mindless entity subservient to the system, nor was it a thoughtless creation made to follow commands.


    ¡°You¡¯re¡­ real?¡± ¨C I posed the question before I could think twice.


    The warrior looked at me as if I were an idiot.


    ¡°What else should I be?¡±


    The hero squinted his eyes.


    ¡°The system says nothing about you. It provided no information, no statistics. It¡¯s¡­ different from anything I¡¯ve seen so far.¡±


    The man raised an eyebrow, then spread his arms.


    ¡°You have me. I don¡¯t know what I am. I don¡¯t know how it works. But one thing is certain.¡±


    He looked at his empty hand, then summoned the blade again, which this time had a jagged, almost organic structure. The weapon pulsated, as if it were breathing. The warrior gave a slight smile.


    ¡°It won¡¯t be boring.¡±

 Chapter 7: Chaos Knows No Master

    Darkness vibrated around me, although the light of chaotic energy was slowly fading.


    The warrior was still there. He did not dissolve into energy, did not vanish, did not blur like an ordinary unit summoned by the system.


    He truly existed.


    I was looking at him ¨C at the warrior who had arisen in the whirlwind of chaotic energy. He did not wait for orders.


    There was no summoning notification, no system label, no statistics.


    He was looking at his hands, slowly clenching them, as if checking whether his body even belonged to him. His posture was steady, full of confidence, but not stiff. He was not a machine, he was not an obedient unit.


    He was aware.


    And then he looked at me.


    He squinted, examining me, as if I was the one who had broken the patterns.


    "You¡­" he began, but stopped. His gaze became more intense.


    "I wasn''t expecting this kind of chaos."


    I didn''t know what to answer. My mind was still trying to understand what had actually happened.


    "What¡­ are you?" I finally asked.


    He raised an eyebrow.


    "Good line. I was waiting for you to say that."


    His hand twitched, and energy immediately began to gather around it.


    It didn''t have a single form. For a moment, it resembled a spear, then a waving dagger, and then it disintegrated, leaving only the echo of pulsating air.


    "Usually, when I appear, I am certain."


    He looked at his hand.


    "I know who I am. I know what to do."


    He paused for a moment, and then looked at me differently.


    "But this time¡­ it''s different."


    He took a step forward. Not aggressively. Not as an attack. Just¡­ approached.


    "Is this your doing?"


    I swallowed.


    I didn''t have a good answer.


    "I think¡­ yes."


    His smile widened.


    "I think?"


    He stopped right in front of me. He was taller than me, broader in the shoulders, and his presence was almost overwhelming.


    I didn''t feel pure hostility in him, but something else ¨C a test.


    Then he asked something that threw me off track.


    "Are you my mistress?"


    I blinked.


    His tone was neither mocking nor hostile. It was curious.


    And that was what made me feel a pang of unease.


    "I summoned you, but¡­ but I don''t think that¡­"


    His hand moved swiftly, almost too fast for me to perceive. For a split second, it seemed to me that the air around us rippled, as if space itself was unsure of where it should be. His movement was fluid, precise, as if not subject to any bodily constraints. A blade appeared in his hand in an instant, summoned effortlessly, as if it had always been there, waiting for the right moment. I felt the tension thickening around us.


    The blade landed at my throat.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "Good answer."


    I froze.


    His gaze changed.


    "Creation does not mean ownership."


    His voice was calm, but I could clearly hear the sharp edge of that silence.


    "What does chaos mean to you?"


    I didn''t have time to answer before I felt something change. His words were not just a challenge¡ªthey were a catalyst. Images appeared in my mind, fragments of memories from the moment of summoning. The chaotic energy I had seen then was returning to me in a wave of enlightenment.


    Chaos¡­ is not random.


    It never was. It was not just a random entanglement of energy¡ªthere was a pattern, though irregular, predictable in its own logic. I just had to look differently.


    And then it hit me. Chaos had no master. Chaos was the master.


    It did not obey anyone, did not take a form imposed by others. It existed in constant change, in endless evolution. It was the force that guided everything, but was not itself directed.


    The world around me stopped for a moment. Space disintegrated into pulsating lines, into wild but orderly fractals of energy. As if I understood for the first time.


    My left eye ignited with purple light.


    The warrior moved violently, clearly surprised. He retracted his sword a few centimeters and squinted.


    "What¡­? How is this possible?" his tone sounded uncertain for the first time, almost shaken. His eyes widened in disbelief, as if he was seeing something that should never have happened before.


    "This¡­ this shouldn''t happen," he whispered, as if he didn''t believe his own words. "Chaos never obeys rules, and yet¡­ you¡­"


    He looked at my eye, now pulsing with purple light, as if trying to find an answer to a question he could not yet ask.


    I felt the tension rising, as if the universe itself held its breath, watching what was happening. I knew. I knew that something was changing right now, that I had crossed a boundary that even he did not understand.


    The warrior took a step back, looking at me, but not as an enemy. Not as prey. As something he should never have seen.


    I had no answer. My mind was still swirling, but one thing I knew for sure. I was beginning to comprehend Chaos.


    I looked at the warrior. In his eyes, I still saw disbelief, but now there was something else¡ªraw, penetrating curiosity. He wanted to hear the answer. He wanted to understand what had just happened.


    "Chaos is the master," I said slowly, and my own words echoed in my head, seeming to resonate with the very essence of the universe.


    The warrior squinted, measuring me with his gaze. He did not answer immediately. He waited, as if testing the weight of my words.


    "Chaos does not rule. Chaos leads. It cannot be tamed, it cannot be bound. It is eternal motion, change, the primal force that knows no boundaries."


    With each word I spoke, I felt my understanding deepen. The purple light in my eye pulsed rhythmically, as if reacting to the very truth I was uttering.


    [SYSTEM] Achieved first level of understanding the Law of Chaos.


    Progress: 1%


    [SYSTEM] Awarded new title: ''The One Who Touched Chaos''.


    Effects: +20 to intelligence


    Magic attacks now contain a fragment of chaos, increasing damage by 40%.


    But before I could focus on the system notification, the warrior''s loud shout interrupted me.


    "Hah! That''s how it works!" he muttered to himself, looking at his sword with admiration. "All this time, I was trying to control it, and now, as if my very body has finally understood..." He clenched his fingers around the hilt, allowing energy to flow through the blade.


    His movements became smoother, almost instinctive, as if his body had suddenly regained memories it did not previously possess.


    "Now I understand," he said to himself, lightly chuckling under his breath. "It''s not a matter of control. Chaos was never something to be tamed. It''s a matter of... accepting it."


    "HA! AT LAST!" he roared with euphoria, swinging his sword, which seemed to tremble under the influence of his emotions. "Finally, I managed to master it!"


    He was running around the area, making quick, precise movements with his blade, and each swing was accompanied by pulsating bursts of chaotic energy. Pure excitement was visible in his eyes, as if he had found the missing piece of a puzzle he had been searching for a long time.


    "Now I understand! Chaos is not unpredictable! It is everything at once!" he laughed, stopping and looking at me triumphantly.


    Suddenly, he halted, still breathing heavily from his excitement, and looked me straight in the eyes.


    "Thank you," he said abruptly, his voice, though full of joy, now more serious. "Thanks to you, I was finally able to master it."


    I blinked, unsure of how to react.


    "But¡­ did you just¡­ not appear only a moment ago?" I asked, trying to grasp the meaning of his words.


    The warrior laughed again, but this time there was something more to it. Something that suggested his existence was far more complicated than I could have imagined.


    The warrior was still smiling, though there was something in his eyes that hadn''t been there before¡ªa sense of awareness. Not just excitement, but something deeper, as if he had understood something that had previously eluded his perception.


    "I appeared¡­ a moment ago?" he repeated my words, as if he was trying to contemplate them himself. He tilted his head, and his smile faded.


    "That''s a funny question, because¡­ I don''t know myself."


    He clenched his hand on the hilt of his sword, as if trying to feel its existence, its weight, its purpose.


    "I have no memories¡­ but I have knowledge. I don''t know who I was, but I know what I am." He looked at me sharply, as if it was crucial for him. "And that intrigues me."


    I felt a chill run down my spine. His words didn''t sound like mere philosophizing.


    "So¡­ that means you existed before?" I asked cautiously.


    The warrior was silent for a moment, as if trying to find the right answer. Finally, he shrugged.


    "Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe I was someone else. I don''t care."


    He summoned his blade once more. This time it was more stable, though it still pulsated with unpredictable bursts of chaotic energy.


    "But one thing I know for sure," he looked into my eyes, and his voice became more serious. "You created me. My existence is somehow connected to you."


    I swallowed hard.


    I didn''t know whether to feel relief or even greater unease.


    The warrior twisted the blade in his hand, and his smile reappeared, this time more predatory.


    "So, how about it, up for a quick spar?"

 Chapter 8: You have to admit, I won, right?

    ¡°So, how about a quick sparring?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so¡­¡±


    A shiver ran through me¡ªa sharp, sudden impulse that pierced my back. My body reacted on its own. I didn¡¯t think¡ªI simply dove to the side. I fell hard onto the ground, and dust swirled around me. The air had just been sliced by a blade¡ªright next to where my neck had been mere moments before.


    I froze.


    Had I not moved, my head would have rolled along the floor.


    My heart pounded in my chest, and my breath came in ragged gasps. I looked at the warrior, still trying to comprehend what had just happened. He merely tilted his head, smiling in amusement.


    ¡°You almost killed me!¡± I shouted, anger surging in my chest like a growing fire.


    ¡°Almost.¡± He smiled even wider and moved again.


    I couldn¡¯t understand. Why did I have to fight? I had never raised a weapon before, never been a warrior. And now I was forced to risk my life against someone who treated it like a game.


    I had no choice.


    I had to act. I had to find a way not to die.


    ¡°Eye of Chaos.¡±


    A hot pulsation surged in my skull. My left eye ignited with a purple light. This time, the pain was not as intense¡ªmore like a familiar echo, a subtle melody of understanding that I was only beginning to grasp. Reality shifted around me. Energy flowed, swirling in incredible patterns.


    ¡°Basic energy analysis.¡±


    Suddenly, I saw more. The warrior wasn¡¯t attacking randomly¡ªhis movements had meaning, even if they appeared chaotic. Energy gathered in his arm just before a blow; the tension in his legs betrayed his intention to leap. From which direction would the next attack come? I had to read it.


    I wasn¡¯t seeing the future, but I was catching hints¡ªclues. I focused, analyzing.


    Movement. I bent down; the blade whistled over my head. Next move¡ªthe dodge to the side. I was fighting not only against him, but also my own limitations. My body wasn¡¯t keeping up perfectly, yet I was slowly beginning to adapt to his rhythm.


    I couldn¡¯t be a passive target. If I only dodged, eventually I¡¯d make a mistake¡ªI thought, feeling the mounting pressure.


    ¡°Basic energy manipulation.¡±


    I reached for chaos. I allowed it to seep into my body. If he could use it, so could I. The energy tensed my muscles, and my movements became more fluid. Something had changed. My body began to mirror his actions. Every movement of his became clearer; every impulse signaled an attack. I didn¡¯t overthink it¡ªI simply responded, flowing with the rhythm of the energy inside me, as if my body had stopped fighting and started to accept it.


    The warrior paused for a moment, recognition glinting in his eyes.


    ¡°Oh ho¡­¡± he murmured. ¡°That¡­ is interesting.¡±


    He smiled even wider.


    ¡°Now that you¡¯re starting to keep up¡­ it¡¯s time to raise the stakes.¡±


    Without warning, he lunged into attack again. Faster. Stronger. Ruthless.


    Yet I still managed to keep pace.


    I analyzed every movement, every ripple of tension in his body. Seeing how energy coiled in his legs, I knew he intended a quick sidestep¡ªso I immediately adjusted my position. When his arm tensed in an irregular but repetitive pattern, I realized he was about to execute a horizontal slash. I leapt back just as the blade sliced through the air in front of my chest. I danced between his blows, drawing ever deeper into the rhythm of the chaotic energy within me.


    And then I felt it¡ªa jolt.


    Pain exploded suddenly, like an inner scream tearing me apart. Before I could react, the world around me blurred. A yank at my hair threw me off balance, and in the next second, I felt a brutal force drive me into the hard ground.


    Before I could catch my breath, out of the corner of my eye I saw the blade pressed against my throat.


    The warrior was smiling with satisfaction, looking down at me condescendingly.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ¡°Not bad¡ªI didn¡¯t expect you to keep up.¡± He tilted his head, as if regarding me with newfound curiosity. ¡°But you have to admit, I won, right?¡±


    I lay there, struggling to breathe, my chest heaving spasmodically, pain pulsing through my body. I didn¡¯t feel anger. I didn¡¯t feel fear. I felt¡­ frustration.


    I felt frustration.


    Why couldn¡¯t I win?


    Why, despite all my effort, was it still never enough?


    His mocking smile. Something inside me snapped.


    I stopped thinking.


    Chaos continued to flow within me.


    I felt his grip on my hair¡ªbrutal, relentless. Thoughts flashed through my mind like lightning. If energy could flow through my body¡­ why shouldn¡¯t I direct it to where the warrior held me? I focused, allowing the inner energy to flow into my hair, and then released it outward. In an instant, I felt that familiar pulsation¡ªas if sparks were spreading all over my body until they finally exploded at the point of contact.


    Something happened.


    The warrior trembled, as if something had struck him. His eyes widened in astonishment, and his hand recoiled, as if it had touched something it should never have touched.


    Something was wrong. The warrior furrowed his brows, glancing at his hand. What was that? He had never felt anything like it before. It wasn¡¯t an ordinary pain, nor was it the effect of an attack.


    He frowned further, clenching his teeth. The chaos energy penetrated his hand, attempting to shatter his own flow of power.


    This wasn¡¯t an ordinary attack.


    It was something more.


    It was like a sudden disruption of balance, as if his own energy had suddenly spiraled out of control. Chaos invaded his body, entwining his inner flow and yanking it in unpredictable directions. He felt his strength¡ªonce perfectly ordered¡ªbeginning to shatter, breaking into incomprehensible fragments. It wasn¡¯t just pain¡ªit was something worse. A loss of control. Destabilization. It was a sensation as if his very energy was rebelling against him, dancing to rules he had never learned to understand.


    The warrior stepped back, shaking his hand as if trying to rid himself of an invisible pain. His eyes narrowed, and a shadow of consternation crossed his face. What was that?


    He had never felt anything like it before. It wasn¡¯t an ordinary attack, nor the result of a physical blow. He felt as if something had violently burst into his body, as if chaos had torn through the barrier between him and his own energy. And then he saw it¡ªhis inner flow began to buckle, like a raging river whose banks had suddenly shattered into pieces. The energy no longer followed his will; instead, it twisted, strained, and pounded against its own boundaries, as if it no longer recognized itself.


    His heart pounded harder. If this had happened while he was using an advanced technique¡­ if it had occurred during a fight¡­ his inner energy would have spiraled out of control, and he would have shattered into pieces.


    He gritted his teeth and concentrated his own power. He had to act immediately. He directed his energy to the point where chaos was invading his structure, and with one precise impulse, he expelled it outward. The air around him trembled, and the chaos energy that had wrapped around him just moments before was thrown out, dissipating into space.


    ¡°Well, well¡­¡± the warrior breathed deeply, as if trying to calm a sudden unease. His smile vanished, replaced by something else¡ªsomething closer to caution. ¡°That was... different.¡±


    He stood before me with a relaxed posture, but I noticed a change in his gaze. At first, he had treated the fight like a game, light and without much interest. Now his eyes were sharper, more cautious¡ªas if he had to reassess what he initially thought of me.


    ¡°Not bad at all.¡± His voice finally broke the silence. ¡°At first, it was boring, predictable... But in the end? You showed some claws.¡±


    I breathed heavily, my chest rising and falling in an uneven rhythm. My body ached from the exertion, but that wasn¡¯t what held my attention. What had happened at the end of the fight left a strange mark within me. Thoughts swirled in my head, trying to make sense of what I felt when I fell.


    Why, when I lost, did I feel something so raw?


    It wasn¡¯t just ordinary disappointment. It was frustration. A burning, unfamiliar intensity of emotion that erupted inside me in an instant. And then¡­ I lost control of myself. My body reacted on its own; the chaos energy responded before I even had time to think about what I was doing.


    I looked at the warrior, and he stared at me as if analyzing me in the same way I had been analyzing myself. In his eyes flickered a hint of understanding, and then¡­ a warning.


    ¡°If you had used that energy at the wrong moment¡­¡± he said slowly. ¡°If you had channeled it into me when my own energy was in motion, I wouldn¡¯t be standing here before you now. I would have exploded into a million pieces.¡±


    I shivered slightly. Not because I wanted to hurt him¡ªI didn¡¯t¡ªbut because I wasn¡¯t even aware of how close it had come to happening.


    ¡°That means you have no idea what you¡¯re playing with.¡± The warrior tilted his head, as if weighing his next words. ¡°Chaos isn¡¯t a force you can control. It either submits¡­ or it consumes. And if you continue to ignore what¡¯s happening inside you¡­ you¡¯ll soon find out which path you¡¯re on.¡±


    I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to calm my own thoughts. I felt remnants of chaos energy within me; its echoes resonated, as if still trying to find an outlet. In my hair, in my hands¡­ it was still there. It didn¡¯t want to leave.


    ¡°During the fight, I did the same as you¡­¡± I finally said, looking at the warrior. ¡°I channeled chaos energy into my body to boost my physical abilities.¡±


    The warrior suddenly stopped and looked at me as if I were a complete lunatic. For a moment, he seemed unsure whether he should laugh or run. ¡°You... you did WHAT?!¡± he finally sputtered. ¡°You¡¯re insane! I only channeled pure energy into my body. You, on the other hand¡­ you infused your body with energy containing a spark of chaos.¡±


    I froze. A thought flashed through my mind¡ªperhaps I had indeed done something irreversible. My own body was evidence of it¡ªit still pulsed with a strange, unstable force. What did that mean? What had I truly done?


    The warrior narrowed his eyes, as if suddenly coming to a realization. He looked at me once more, this time not only with shock but with clear contemplation.


    "Wait... if you really did channel chaos energy into your body..." he paused, as if gathering his thoughts. "Then how on earth are you still standing here? You should have disintegrated into a million pieces from the very moment you touched chaos!"


    For a moment, silence reigned. I could see his thoughts at work, analyzing the situation. Then he furrowed his brows and straightened up, looking at me with an entirely new expression.


    "That can only mean one thing..." he said slowly, weighing every word. "You have a connection with chaos. It''s the only reason any of this even makes sense."

 Chapter 9: Not only Lords possess a status.

    I was sitting, immersed in silence that was broken only by the subtle pulsing of chaos energy. The light filtering through the high windows danced on the walls, reflecting off swirling motes of energy in the air. Each one seemed like a living creature¡ªunpredictable, wild, yet strangely fascinating.


    I felt the pain¡ªa physical reminder of the last battle. But it wasn¡¯t the bruises and scratches that kept me tense. What had happened during that clash wouldn¡¯t let me rest.


    The ability to control chaos energy granted me an unparalleled power. I could feel it strengthening every muscle, accelerating every nerve impulse. I was faster, stronger, more¡­ instinctual. Yet with that power came consequences. My emotions had spiraled out of control. Frustration and anger erupted within me with a force I¡¯d never known. I couldn¡¯t hold them back¡ªjust as I couldn¡¯t contain chaos itself.


    I realized that the excess chaos energy within me led to its immediate conversion into raw power. It burned out faster than I could tame it. It was like fire¡ªmighty, yet hard to control. This was a force I could harness, but it came at a price. In the end, losing control of my emotions during battle could lead to tragic consequences.


    I sighed deeply, replaying every moment of the fight in my mind. Why had I lost? The answer came sooner than I expected. My long hair¡ªbecause of it, the warrior had caught me during a dodge, yanking me and throwing me to the ground. That was the moment I lost both my advantage and control over the situation.


    But it wasn¡¯t just my hair. I lacked experience. In battle, I relied solely on evasion, as if I could dodge every blow instead of facing them head-on. It wasn¡¯t a fight¡ªit was an escape. I had no plan, no strategy. I felt as though I had stepped onto the battlefield empty-handed, relying only on luck and reflexes. That realization was bitter, yet necessary.


    I turned my gaze toward the warrior, who stood silently in the corner of the hall with his arms crossed over his chest. He was gently twirling the hilt of his sword with his fingers, and the blade began to change shape. In one moment it was long and slender, and in the next, massive and broad¡ªas if he were testing every possible form.


    I looked at him with curiosity. During our battle, he had used only one form of his sword. Simple, effective, but now I saw that he was capable of so much more. So why had he limited himself to a single style then? Did he think I wasn¡¯t worth witnessing the full extent of his abilities? Or perhaps¡­ was it part of his method to test me?


    "I could borrow your sword for a moment?" I asked calmly, even though my heart was beating faster.


    The warrior looked at me coolly and shook his head. "No. That is my sword. Only I may touch it."


    I raised an eyebrow slightly, but instead of insisting, I changed my plans. "In that case¡­ will you help me? I need you to cut my hair."


    For a moment, the warrior regarded me as if contemplating my request, then nodded and stepped closer. His footsteps echoed against the cold, stone walls, and a heavy silence fell over the room. He raised his sword with a precision that rendered his movements almost ritualistic.


    I felt a cold shiver as the blade approached my skin. The sword paused for a fraction of a second just at my neck, as if the warrior were giving me one last chance to change my mind. Then, without a word, he cut my long hair with a single, fluid motion.


    The sound of the cut was sharp and distinct, as if the metal was slicing not only through my hair but through reality itself. The strands fell to the ground in slow motion, swirling gently in the air before settling on the cold floor. Each individual lock landed with a quiet rustle.


    With one problem off my mind, it was time to address what truly troubled me: the chaos energy. How could I tame it? How could I make it obey my command rather than slip out of control?


    I closed my eyes and focused on the chaos energy, trying once more to channel it into my body. I felt it begin to circulate in my veins, pulsing rhythmically like an extra heartbeat. In an instant, this energy would transform into pure power, fortifying my muscles and sharpening my reactions. My body became stronger, faster, more resilient.


    Yet that power burned out just as quickly¡ªbefore it could manifest externally. It was like trying to catch the wind with my hands. Without proper ¡°storage¡± of the energy, I couldn¡¯t effectively use it beyond the confines of the tower.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Then it struck me¡ªhere in the tower, chaos energy was concentrated and nearly omnipresent. It was because of this that I could manipulate power with such ease. But what would happen when I left these walls? What if the outside world didn¡¯t provide the same abundance of energy? Would I be left defenseless? I had to find a way to carry that strength with me.


    Then I remembered the moment from the fight. It was my hair. Just as chaos energy within my body immediately converted into pure power, it had also escaped through my hair in its raw, chaotic form. That uncontrolled flow of energy had enabled me to deliver the final attack.


    "And what if¡­" I thought, a smile tugging at my lips. Instead of allowing chaos energy to automatically convert into pure energy inside my body¡ªbeing constantly expended¡ªI could begin to store it. Right there, in my hair, in its raw, chaotic form.


    I concentrated the chaos energy and directed it into my hair. I could feel the energy accumulating there, remaining in its raw, chaotic form. It had become like a living battery, storing chaos energy¡ªit didn¡¯t flow out immediately but waited for my command. It was like taming a wild beast¡ªI knew I could use it and transform it into pure energy within my body whenever I desired.


    I began to wonder if I would be able to harness this energy externally as well, just as I had during battle. How could I release chaos in its raw form again, without converting it into internal power?


    Only after I finished the experiment did I notice something strange. My hair began to regrow¡ªif only a little¡ªbut it was different. It pulsed with a gentle rhythm of chaos energy, ready for my command. I furrowed my brows as I surveyed the space around me; the tower was still brimming with concentrated chaos energy.


    I started to wonder¡ªI wanted to absorb it all. But then what? Would my hair turn into a gigantic carpet sprawling across the floor? The thought was both amusing and unsettling.


    Yet, I soon observed something even stranger. As I absorbed more chaos energy, my hair grew only to the length it had been before the warrior cut it. Then the growth halted, even as I continued to feel the energy surging into my strands. Instead of lengthening further, the energy began to compress¡ªboosting its ¡°charge¡± without increasing its volume. My hair grew heavier with power, yet its length remained unchanged. This discovery was astonishing¡ªI could absorb all the chaos energy from the tower without worrying that I¡¯d end up with hair trailing behind me like a carpet.


    Fascinated by this newfound property, I ceased paying attention to my surroundings. Completely absorbed in the process, I began to endlessly draw chaos energy from the tower, feeling each impulse fill my hair with ever greater charge.


    I lost myself in that trance, unable to stop¡ªuntil, suddenly, the warrior¡¯s piercing shout ripped me from my reverie.


    "Stop!" his voice echoed off the walls, and I abruptly opened my eyes, confused. I was breathing heavily, as if I had just emerged from the depths.


    I looked at the warrior, who regarded me with a mixture of surprise and concern. His face was tense, and there was something in his eyes that was hard to ignore.


    "I see you''re having a great time," he said sarcastically, gesturing toward my hair. "But if you keep pulling like that, you''ll drain all the energy from this tower. The tower itself will become useless."


    Startled, I glanced around. The chaos energy that had once filled the space had nearly vanished. The air felt heavier¡ªas though the pulsing heartbeat of the tower had suddenly weakened. Only then did I realize how close I had come to completely depleting its reserves.


    The warrior sighed, still watching me tensely. "This tower will probably replenish its chaos energy on its own," he said, softening his tone slightly. "But it''s best not to take any risks. Leave some of that energy so it doesn¡¯t have to regenerate from scratch. For now, we probably won¡¯t be able to use it."


    His words struck me like a blow. I looked around the tower once more, noticing just how little chaos energy remained in the air. Seeing how much I had absorbed, it dawned on me that I might have been able to use the tower one more time before I brought it to this state. I had ruined it.


    But instead of crying over spilled milk, another thought began to fascinate me. Was this tower really just a tool for summoning? Did it harbor other secrets as well?


    I regarded the warrior thoughtfully. Did he¡­ have a system? Since he was a unit summoned by the tower, one might assume he shouldn¡¯t have access to a status display. But did only rulers really possess systems? Or perhaps every being in this world had access to something similar?


    "Hey, warrior," I began, frowning. "Do you have a system? Can you open your status?"


    The warrior looked at me, puzzled, as if he didn¡¯t understand the question. "System? Status? I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about."


    I sighed with mild irritation. "Just say ''status''. Out loud."


    He shrugged, as if to imply that it was a silly request, but he complied. "Status."


    Suddenly, a strange, luminous window appeared before him, hovering in mid-air. His arms stiffened and his grip on the hilt of his sword tightened, as if he were preparing for an attack. For several long seconds, he stood motionless, staring at the pulsating symbols and lines of text that illuminated the space before him.


    Then something inside him snapped. Instead of panicking, he relaxed his hold and reached toward the interface. His fingers trembled for a moment, but when he touched one of the icons, his face lit up with pure fascination. He began to swipe through the panels, scrolling through lists of statistics and examining every detail, as if he¡¯d discovered a new toy. Every so often, he raised an eyebrow, visibly surprised by the information that appeared before him.


    I watched him with growing disbelief. It seemed that not only Lords possessed a status.

 Chapter 10: Ashira

    Inside the Tower of Chaos, I watched Darius with keen interest as he toyed with his status¡ªscrolling through and analyzing the new information. The sight sparked a reflection on my own progress, and I decided to check what had changed in my status after the recent events.


    "Status," I said softly.


    Name: Unknown


    Level: 2


    Talent: Legendary ¨C Eye of Chaos


    Experience: 15/200


    Stats:


    Strength: 6


    Agility: 8


    Endurance: 6


    Intelligence: 31


    Chaos Energy: 1000


    HP: 110/110


    Mana: 105/155


    Unassigned Stat Points: 5


    Skills:


    Basic Energy Manipulation


    Basic Energy Analysis


    "Chaos Storage" (allows the storage of chaos energy within one''s hair)


    Before my eyes, the familiar, radiant system window appeared. For a moment, I stared at the flickering symbols, analyzing the changes in my statistics. My intelligence had soared to an extraordinary level¡ªexplaining why my ability to manipulate chaos energy had become so precise. "Magical energy" had completely vanished, replaced by "chaos energy"¡ªan impressive 1000 units pulsing inside me like an untamed force.


    I couldn¡¯t help but wonder what had brought about these changes. Was it the effect of my last battle, or perhaps the result of manipulating chaos on a level I had yet to understand? Then I recalled a notification from the system.


    [SYSTEM] Reached the first level of understanding of the Law of Chaos.


    Progress: 1%


    I realized that the surge in my intelligence was directly linked to these developments. I also began analyzing the rise in my mana and concluded that it had most likely increased as a result of my enhanced intellect. I calculated that each point of intelligence might add 5 mana units¡ªand that would explain why my mana had risen so significantly.


    I then examined the new skill that had appeared in my panel¡ª"Chaos Storage."


    [SYSTEM] Skill: Chaos Storage


    Description: Allows for the storage of chaos energy within the structure of one''s hair. The energy can be released at the user''s will.


    I focused on its description and felt my hair respond to my command, gathering chaos energy within itself. It was both fascinating and unsettling. My hair had become shinier and silkier, as if chaos had imbued it with its own, hypnotic life¡ªa side effect I had not anticipated.


    I analyzed how my recent battle with Darius had affected me. I noticed that during the encounter, I had expended 50 mana¡ªeven though I had used my abilities only once. This indicated that the skills didn¡¯t rely on a one-time activation for repeated use. Instead, over time, mana began to be drawn automatically to power the abilities, even if I didn¡¯t reactivate them. Moreover, this wasn¡¯t counted as an extra use of the skill, which was confirmed by the experience gained¡ªmy EXP had increased by only 15 points, as if I had indeed used the ability just once.


    With this fresh new knowledge, I looked at my name in the status and decided it was time to take the next step¡ªto embrace this new reality.


    With a slight smile, I entered my new name: "Ashira." There was something in it that reflected my new identity and connection to chaos. "Ash"¡ªthe ash from which I was reborn, like a phoenix rising from its own ruins. This world had destroyed me, yet it had also reshaped me anew. In that moment, I felt that I had truly accepted myself¡ªmy body, my transformation, and the power bestowed upon me. No longer was it merely a temporary adjustment to new circumstances; it was a conscious embrace of my new identity as a woman.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    [SYSTEM] Name has been updated.


    I closed the status window. Now, fully aware of who I had become, I approached the warrior¡ªwho was still engrossed in his system, scrolling through additional lines of text with evident fascination.


    "What''s your name?" I asked.


    The warrior lifted the corner of his mouth in a slight smile.


    "Darius. You can call me that."


    Before I could answer, he added with a mischievous glint in his eye,


    "And you? What''s your name?"


    I hesitated for a moment, then nodded.


    "Ashira," I replied with a confident smile.


    Darius studied me intently, and I decided to break the silence.


    "What are your plans for the future?" I asked, curious about his answer.


    He raised an eyebrow and grinned cheekily.


    "The system told me that I can become stronger by leveling up. So the plan is simple¡ªto hit the highest level possible."


    His straightforward answer made it impossible not to smile.


    "Perhaps you''d like to join me in my territory?" I suggested.


    Darius pondered for a moment, then looked at me with a slight smile.


    "Interesting. And will I be able to level up there?"


    I chuckled softly.


    "Of course. In my territory you''ll find plenty of challenges to level up. You won''t get bored."


    Darius nodded, though a shadow of contemplation crossed his face as he gazed into the distance, as if weighing all possibilities.


    "Maybe it¡¯s actually a good idea," he said slowly. "Throwing ourselves alone into an unknown world might be foolish. At least for now, it''s better to stick together. So... I''ll join you."


    I was delighted by Darius''s decision, feeling hope for collaboration growing within me.


    "That''s good," I said with a smile. "It''s time to leave this place and return to the shelter."


    Darius nodded, and together we headed toward the exit of the tower. However, we quickly realized that we had no idea how to leave this place.


    <h5>[SYSTEM] Do you want to leave the Tower of Chaos? Yes/No</h5>


    I looked at Darius, and he nodded.


    "Yes," I replied.


    Before we had a chance to think further, we were transported right in front of the Tower of Chaos. For a fraction of a second, I felt as though my body had been torn apart, only to reassemble moments later. The sensation was both alien and fascinating. The air was cooler, and dusk slowly enveloped the surroundings. The shadows of tall trees stretched across the ground, creating a somber yet peaceful atmosphere. Every breath tasted different now, as if the outside world obeyed different rules than the interior of the tower.


    As we made our way back to the shelter, Darius scanned the surrounding forest with interest, his gaze tracking every strange form of vegetation and the subtle vibrations of energy still lingering in the air.


    "This place... is nothing like I expected," he muttered, frowning.


    When we approached the base, his eyes widened in astonishment as he saw a Hungry Chaos Ogar carrying a root in its mouth¡ªas if it were the most natural thing in the world.


    "Is that dog... bringing you roots?" he asked in disbelief.


    "It''s not a dog, it''s an ogar. And yes, it''s bringing me food," I replied with a slight smile, amused by his remark.


    Upon reaching the base, I noticed that there were dozens of roots brought by the Hungry Ogar, scattered around the entrance. I set about collecting them and arranging them in the resource depot, creating order in our makeshift base. Meanwhile, a curious Darius began exploring the surroundings, examining every nook and cranny and scrutinizing the structure of the shelter.


    We sat down together to discuss potential threats and the possibilities for further exploration. Darius looked around the shelter, frowning.


    "This isn¡¯t quite how I imagined my home," he muttered with a hint of impatience.


    I chuckled softly, nodding.


    "I agree, it looks a bit sparse. But we can always change that."


    After a while, Darius furrowed his brow and pointed at the shimmering line encircling the base.


    "What is that energy shield around the territory?" he asked, intrigued.


    I looked at him, then at the barrier surrounding us.


    "It''s a shield that separates me from the outside world. It probably protects against whatever lurks beyond. But I''m not sure if that''s its only function."


    "Maybe we should venture beyond its boundaries and see what the outside world looks like?" he proposed in a determined tone, a spark of resolve in his eyes.


    For a moment, we fell silent, both gazing at the shimmering line of the shield that separated us from the rest of the world. My mind swirled with thoughts. Was I ready for what might await us there?


    "We don''t know what awaits us there," I said slowly, weighing each word. "But I suppose we won''t find out if we stay here."


    I looked at Darius. His confidence was almost tangible, and it spurred me on. In the end, I nodded.


    "Alright. Let''s see what awaits us on the other side."

 Chapter 11: Who are you?

    The morning spilled its warm light across the interior of the shelter. I opened my eyes, feeling relaxed after yesterday¡¯s events. A light scent of earth and wood lingered in the air, and the silence felt almost unnatural. I stretched lazily and looked over at Darius, who was already on his feet, checking his status.


    "You look ready for another day," I remarked with a smile.


    "I''m always ready," he replied with a playful glint in his eye. "And you? What are your plans for today?"


    Without answering, I walked over to the Summoning Tower and activated its mechanism. Moments later, another ogar appeared¡ªthis time a bit smaller, with darker fur and glowing red eyes. Its movements were more agile, and its gaze was filled with intelligence.


    I glanced at my hands, surprised. "Again... the summoning didn¡¯t require my mana," I muttered under my breath. "That¡¯s a bit odd."


    Darius looked at me with curiosity, though he offered no comment, clearly lost in his own thoughts.


    "It looks like our little pack is growing," Darius observed with a smile.


    I ordered the four ogars to search for food, and they immediately vanished into the forest, slipping away into the thicket like shadows.


    After they left, we prepared a simple breakfast from the gathered roots and other resources. Darius grimaced with every bite.


    "It tastes worse than it looks," he muttered, wrinkling his nose.


    I chuckled, setting aside the flat stone I¡¯d been using as a plate. "At least we¡¯re not starving. Besides, you can always cook next time."


    "Maybe I¡¯ll stick to fighting instead," he replied with a teasing smile.


    After the meal, we decided to step beyond the barrier. As we approached the edge of our territory, I felt a slight tension. Crossing the boundary was almost palpable¡ªas if we were passing through an invisible wall that separated us from the rest of the world.


    I had expected the world to be filled with monsters, ready to pounce on us from every corner. However, once we crossed the barrier, a silence enveloped me that nearly rang in my ears. The land beyond was eerily calm. The trees stood motionless, as if frozen in time, and their shadows formed fanciful, almost ghostly shapes on the ground. There were no signs of life¡ªno traces of monsters, no trampled earth, nor any creatures rustling in the bushes. Even the crickets chirped as if reluctantly, their sound alien in this dead space. The air was utterly still, and every step seemed to echo off the emptiness surrounding us. Instead of relief, I felt astonishment, as if something essential was missing¡ªsomething that should have been obvious, yet had vanished without a trace.


    During our extended exploration, we traversed quiet, empty paths, surrounded only by motionless trees and the faint light filtering through their canopies.


    "I expected more action," Darius muttered, glancing around. "Silence is more unsettling than monsters."


    "I thought it would be different too," I replied, scanning the forest. "But this place... is too calm."


    As we moved further, the feeling of emptiness grew more tangible with every step. At one point, the forest opened up to reveal a vast space dominated by a massive, pulsating gate. Its surface shimmered subtly, as if breathing in rhythm with an invisible energy.


    As we approached to a proper distance, I felt my heart quicken and a tension fill the air. The gate was enormous, constructed of a strangely lustrous metal that seemed to change colors in the light. Its surface pulsed rhythmically¡ªas if it were breathing in sync with an unseen force. The carvings adorning the gate¡¯s frame depicted monstrous silhouettes that appeared to shift when viewed from an angle.


    "This doesn¡¯t look good," Darius muttered. Suddenly, his eyes flashed, and sparks of energy danced in the air. He raised his hand and activated his ability. In an instant, an ethereal sword materialized in his grasp, gleaming with a pale, blue light as if forged from pure energy.


    "But why is everything around us so... empty?" he added, studying the gate carefully, ready for any eventuality.


    I squinted and activated my analysis ability, focusing on the gate. In the blink of an eye, subtle streams of energy began to manifest before my eyes, emanating from the structure and gently spreading into the surrounding world. The energy pulsed, as if the gate were not completely sealed but gradually permeating into reality.


    "I see the energy flowing from it," I said slowly, not taking my eyes off the gate. "Perhaps that explains why everything outside is so calm. Something is happening here, but I still don¡¯t understand exactly what."


    A cold shiver ran down my spine. As I analyzed the subtle streams of energy emerging from the gate, I began piecing together the clues. Since the energy was seeping into the outside world and yet we saw no monsters, it could mean they were trapped inside. "Maybe the monsters are inside these gates... and the energy we see is their attempt to break free."Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    As we moved a little closer, a system notification appeared:


    [SYSTEM] Gate detected: Low Class (recommended level: 1-10). Status: Low activity.


    That must be something important," Darius muttered, furrowing his brows. "But why are there no monsters outside?"


    I examined the system notification, analyzing the details. "Low class... recommended level from 1 to 10," I read aloud. "And status: low activity. Could it be that these gates keep the monsters inside until they¡¯re able to break free?"


    Darius nodded, squinting. "That would explain the absence of monsters outside. Your theory that they¡¯re trapped within the gates makes sense. Perhaps the energy you saw is their attempt to escape. It looks like we¡¯re safe... at least for now."


    We fell silent for a moment, processing the information. Eventually, I nodded in agreement. "That¡¯s possible. If this gate is in low activity, then there are probably more out there, and each might have a different activity level and recommended difficulty."


    Darius regarded me thoughtfully. "If we''re right and there are more of these gates, we need to find out how many there are and where they''re located."


    I nodded. "You¡¯re right. But it will be faster if we split up. Each of us can check a different section of the terrain around the barrier."


    "Sounds reasonable," Darius agreed as he double-checked his gear. "Let''s meet back at the shelter this evening and compare our findings."


    I nodded, and without another word, we went our separate ways, ready for whatever we might discover. The terrain around our barrier was surprisingly diverse. On one side stretched dense forests with tall trees whose branches intertwined overhead like a natural canopy. In the shafts of sunlight that barely penetrated the leaves, I could see spider webs gently trembling in the breeze. On the other side, the land sloped down into valleys, where streams cut through the landscape and rocks jutted from the earth like the teeth of ancient beasts.


    During my search, I activated my analysis ability, focusing on the subtle streams of energy drifting in the air. This allowed me to more easily locate hidden gates that were invisible to the naked eye.


    The first gate I found was concealed among the roots of a mighty tree. Its metallic surface had a copper hue and was covered in tiny, almost invisible runes that pulsed with a faint blue light. The streams of energy were barely perceptible, and the system notification indicated very low activity with a recommended level of 1¨C5.


    The next gate I discovered was suspended above a cliff; its edges pulsated with a more intense light, as if the energy within it was dormant and waiting to burst forth. Its surface was dark gray, nearly black, with red veins running through its structure. The system notification suggested medium activity and a recommended level of 10¨C20.


    Each gate seemed different, and the energy emanating from them suggested that not all would remain dormant for long.


    It was already getting dark, and the last rays of sunlight vanished behind the horizon, leaving the area shrouded in gray. I looked at the sky, then at the landscape around me, and realized that I had searched only about one third of the area around the barrier.


    "That means we need at least another two days to find all the gates in the vicinity," I murmured.


    With that thought in mind, I made my way back to the shelter.


    When I arrived, I noticed that Darius had not yet returned. I looked around the empty interior, the silence seeming even more oppressive in his absence. For a moment, I wondered if everything was alright with him, but I tried not to panic¡ªI knew he could take care of himself.


    * * *


    Darius POV


    The sun was slowly moving across the sky, casting long shadows over the terrain I was surveying. My thoughts drifted toward Ashira, but I quickly refocused on the task at hand. As I roamed through the various areas, I kept count of the gates I encountered¡ªeach one differing in appearance and energy intensity.


    After a while, I paused to quickly check my status.


    [SYSTEM]


    Name: Darius


    Level: 1


    Talent: Epic ¨C Warrior''s Instinct


    Experience: 30/100


    Stats:


    Strength: 15


    Agility: 25


    Endurance: 13


    Intelligence: 8


    Mana: 40/40


    HP: 150/150


    Unassigned Stat Points: 0


    Skills:


    Chaos Weapon Summon (Basic) ¨C Summons a weapon made of energy that never takes the same form twice. Duration: 5 minutes.


    Combat Reflexes (Passive) ¨C Increases reaction speed in combat.


    I studied the data on the display, slowly beginning to understand how this system worked. Every time I used an ability, I gained experience. Additionally, I realized that each stat affected my combat capabilities: strength increased my physical damage, agility allowed for quicker dodges and attacks, and endurance provided resistance to blows. Even my relatively low intelligence played a role in managing my mana and grasping the more intricate aspects of battle. The system was clear¡ªthe more I fought and used my skills, the faster I grew stronger.


    I then looked at the section detailing my talent.


    [SYSTEM] Talent: Epic ¨C Warrior''s Instinct


    Description: Enhances natural combat abilities, boosting reflexes and intuition during battle. In encounters with stronger opponents, all stats increase by 50%. Additionally, the user quickly assimilates new combat techniques, adapting in real time to the opponent''s style.


    But this wasn¡¯t the time to tinker with the system. I had to focus on finding more gates before it was too late.


    With that thought, I pressed on, concentrating on uncovering additional gates. So far, I had discovered 16 gates: 6 with a recommended level of 1¨C5, 5 in the 1¨C10 range, and 4 for levels 10¨C20. Among all of these, two showed medium activity, and one of the level 1¨C5 gates exhibited high activity, emanating an unsettlingly intense aura.


    As I navigated a rocky rise, I suddenly felt a surge of energy. I froze for a moment, but as soon as I sensed a burst of power heading in my direction, I dove to the side, narrowly evading the attack. The energy sliced through the air with a whistling sound, striking a tree that exploded into a cloud of splinters.


    Before I could get back on my feet, I heard a voice coming from afar, dripping with mockery:


    "Chooo, you actually managed to avoid that."


    I squinted, searching for the source of the voice. I raised my hand and activated my ability, focusing on summoning my weapon. In the blink of an eye, a sword materialized in my hand, gleaming with a pale light as if forged from pure energy. I gripped its hilt tightly, ready for the next clash.


    I glanced in the direction from which the attack had come and slowly made out the silhouette of a man. He was clad in leather armor that subtly reflected the light of the setting sun, accentuating his lean yet upright figure. In one hand he held a slender staff adorned with delicate, shimmering runes that pulsed with a warm glow. A silver dragon-shaped earring caught the light at his ear, and his eyes glinted wickedly, as if amused by my reaction. Every step he took was confident, his movements light and controlled¡ªas if he belonged here.


    "Who are you?" I demanded in a firm voice, never taking my eyes off him.

 Chapter 12: And Who Here Is a Rat?

    He didn''t answer. Instead, he hurled an energy sphere straight at me.


    "Damn it!"


    I dove to the side, feeling a hot blast of energy whoosh past my ear. The ground beneath my feet trembled as the sphere exploded, scattering small stones and dust. Before the smoke had even settled, a system notification flashed before my eyes.


    [SYSTEM]


    You are fighting an opponent of a higher level.


    Talent "Warrior''s Instinct" activated.


    Statistics increased by 50%.


    I felt it immediately. My body became as light as down, and my muscles tensed, ready to explode. My heart began to race¡ªnot out of fear, but out of excitement.


    "Alright, let''s see what you''re made of."


    I began analyzing his movements. A mage, without a doubt. The heft of his attacks relied on magic, which meant one thing: he lacked speed and physical strength. That was my advantage. A smile spread across my face. He has no idea how fast I am now.


    I clenched my hand around the summoned sword, feeling its weight in my grasp. But that wasn¡¯t it. The advantage lay in speed. The weapon dissolved in mid-air, replaced by a dagger¡ªa lighter, more slender blade designed for lightning-fast strikes.


    I felt energy beginning to pulsate through my body. First in my feet, then in my calves, as if my veins were glowing red. I felt warmth spreading throughout me, like a coiled spring ready to be unleashed. The air around me seemed denser, and every sound from my surroundings became distinctly audible.


    Now.


    With force, I pushed off the ground. The terrain around me blurred into a smear as each precise step pounded into the earth, closing the gap between us in a fraction of a second. The air whistled in my ears, and adrenaline powered every move. I felt myself hurtling through space, leaving him no time to react.


    My dagger sliced through the air with deadly precision, aiming straight for his neck.


    "Let''s finish this."


    SMACK!


    I stopped. The blade of my dagger¡ªmeant to cut through his skin like butter¡ªstruck an invisible barrier with a roar that reverberated through my bones. I could feel the vibrations coursing up the hilt, seeping into my fingers.


    Startled, I leaped back at the last moment. Exactly where I had been standing, another energy sphere exploded, sending chunks of earth flying in every direction.


    That was close.


    I looked at him, panting heavily. He stood with his legs slightly apart, his leather armor covered in dust and debris from the explosion, and he still held the staff in his hand¡ªa staff that shimmered with a soft light. His eyes widened for a moment, as if he himself couldn¡¯t quite comprehend what had just happened. This was not the reaction of someone in control of their defensive spells.


    My gaze shifted to his face, and then I noticed it. A silver dragon-shaped earring caught the light by his ear, but now it shone a little dimmer¡ªas if it had lost part of its luster. That had to be that damned piece of jewelry.


    The realization that it wasn¡¯t his own abilities but an artifact that had protected him gave me the upper hand. I now knew he wasn¡¯t invincible. That shield was the result of something external, which meant he had his limits.


    But the fear in his eyes quickly vanished. His face hardened, and his eyes flared with a cold, almost deranged light. His lips pressed into a thin line, and the veins on his neck pulsed with a sudden surge of adrenaline. His left hand gripped the staff so tightly that his knuckles went white, while the tips of his fingers trembled with tension. His right hand¡ªpreviously calm¡ªrose with furious precision, ready to unleash another attack. The staff in his hand glimmered slightly, as if reacting to his anger.


    A low, angry murmur escaped his throat, which then transformed into a piercing roar.


    It was replaced by pure rage.


    "How dare you!" he roared, and his hands began to generate another set of energy spheres.


    Alright, change of plan.


    His anger was a clear sign that he was struggling to control his emotions¡ªa weakness I could exploit. All I had to do was keep his frustration burning and play for time until he exhausted himself.


    This was my chance. I just needed to buy time.


    Let¡¯s start with the surroundings.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    The forest around me was dense; every tree became a natural shield against the incoming energy spheres. The bark, thick and cracked, splintered into the air under the force of the explosions, leaving behind a suffocating smell of burnt wood and resin. Leaves fell around me like a green rain, rustling with every step I took.


    I ran along the uneven terrain, using every bump, every rock, every thicket as potential cover. The air whistled with the speed of the energy spheres, which exploded with a thunderous bang, scattering fragments around me. The ground trembled under my feet with every blast, but I maintained my distance, waiting for my opponent to make a mistake.


    Every breath I took was synchronized with my movements; every glance scanned the surroundings for the perfect spot to counterattack. The trees, while offering cover, could also turn into traps if I wasn¡¯t careful. I watched as chunks of trunks splintered under the force of magical explosions, and fine ash floated through the air.


    I had to force him to drain all his mana.


    "Is that all? Hiding like a rat?!" his voice echoed through the forest.


    I didn¡¯t reply. Patience was key. I only responded with a slight upturn of my lips¡ªa provocative smile meant to fuel his fury even more. I continued to evade his attacks with precision, as if it were a game in which he was utterly helpless.


    After a few minutes, I noticed sweat beading on his forehead, his breathing quickened, and his attacks grew less frequent. He was tiring.


    This was my moment.


    I paused for a moment, hiding behind one of the trees, and observed my opponent. I could see his fatigue, the sweat on his brow, and his labored breaths. It was now or never. I tightened my grip on the hilt of my dagger, feeling adrenaline surge through my veins and my heart pounding like a drum. For a brief moment, everything around me fell silent¡ªonly precision mattered.


    I tensed the muscles in my calves, and energy began to course through my body. I exploded forward like a bullet, closing the gap between us in the blink of an eye.


    When I was just inches away from him, I saw it¡ªa smirk on his face. Broad and self-assured, as if he¡¯d been waiting for this very moment.


    "I got you," he whispered.


    The ground beneath my feet suddenly transformed. It became slick and treacherous. I lost my balance.


    Not now!


    Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted an energy projectile speeding in my direction.


    Damn it! I realized I wouldn¡¯t have time to dodge. Instinctively, I recalled my dagger, which immediately dispersed into the air, and I concentrated all my energy into one thought. I had to create a new weapon.


    I felt a surge of power ripple through my body, gathering in my hands. I summoned a shield¡ªsolid and massive¡ªwhich materialized almost instantly before me. The projectile¡¯s impact was like a battering ram; the shield halted its momentum, but the force of the explosion sent me several meters backward.


    A dense cloud of dust and chunks of earth billowed into the air. Thrown several meters back, I landed hard on my back, coughing as grains of dirt and dust forced their way into my throat.


    He thought he had me.


    I took advantage of that. In the thick cloud of dust, I was invisible, and every sound of my footsteps was muffled by the drifting particles. I could feel the dust scraping my throat, but I had no time for coughing or hesitation. My mind was laser-focused, and my body was poised to attack.


    I concentrated energy in my hands, feeling it pulsate beneath my skin. I summoned a longer sword, which materialized from a seething mist of energy. Its blade glimmered for a moment in the dim light, reflecting the faint glow that broke through the dust.


    With muscles tensed like a spring ready to fire, I leaped from my hiding spot. The air tore apart beneath my momentum, and the ground trembled as my feet pushed off the uneven terrain.


    His eyes widened for a split second as he spotted my silhouette emerging from the dust¡ªbut it was already too late. I lunged at him with full speed and precision, aiming straight for his neck.


    My blade was set on his throat.


    CRACK!


    The shield appeared again¡ªthe same pulsating barrier of magic. It halted my attack just as it had before.


    Exactly as I had expected.


    I didn¡¯t give him a moment to react. Immediately after the blade was deflected, I executed two swift slashes aimed at different weak points in his defense. My strikes cut through the air at dizzying speed, well before he could even raise his staff in defense. I watched as the dragon-shaped earring on his ear suddenly shattered with a sharp crack, its fragments bouncing off the ground.


    ¡°This time, you won''t escape,¡± I snarled under my breath, clenching my fingers around the hilt of my sword. I directed the blade straight toward his throat, ready to end the duel.


    But before the blade could touch his skin, my opponent suddenly vanished, as if dissolving into the air. My sword sliced only through emptiness, leaving a faint trail where he had stood moments before.


    What the¡­?!


    I scanned my surroundings intently, every muscle in my body tensed to its limit. The area was silent¡ªtoo silent. The dust cloud still lingered in the air, yet there was no trace of his presence. My eyes combed through every shadow and every rustle of a leaf, but I saw nothing.


    ¡°And who¡¯s the rat here?¡± I muttered under my breath, clenching my teeth in frustration.


    I stood still, still gripping the hilt of my sword, as the echo of my recent steps faded into the distance. The dust slowly settled to the ground, but my mind whirled with the events that had just unfolded.


    How in the world did he vanish?


    I gritted my teeth, replaying every moment of the clash. I knew I had the advantage¡ªI was faster, stronger in direct combat. His magic was potent, but it lacked precision and endurance. His anger and chaotic attacks had drained most of his mana far too quickly, giving me the opportunity for a direct strike.


    The dragon-shaped earring¡­ It must have been the item that generated that damned shield. But how did he manage to teleport? Most likely it was some other item or ability.


    I sighed and canceled the ability, causing the sword in my hand to vanish into a dispersing cloud of energy. My body remained tense, but my mind began to settle. I had assumed that my uncontrolled emotions would make me an easy target, so I underestimated him once¡ªfalling straight into his trap. It nearly killed me¡ªif not for pure instinct and the quick switch from weapon to shield, I would have sustained serious injuries. Then I made the same mistake again, thinking I had him within reach, and allowed him to slip away. Twice I had made that error.


    How embarrassing. Next time, I must be better prepared¡ªkeeping an open mind to all the different magical scenarios that could unfold in battle. I cannot afford such mistakes again.


    ¡°Time to head back to the shelter, but next time we meet¡­ you won''t be able to escape,¡± I muttered under my breath, watching the sunset.

 Chapter 13: We need level up

    A crack of energy tore through the silence as the figure appeared on the dark soil of his territory. The teleportation ring¡ªa one-time rescue¡ªdisintegrated into dust before he could remove it from his finger. He stood for a moment, clenching his fists, gazing at the familiar surroundings that offered him no solace. His kingdom, at first glance, resembled Ashira¡¯s territory¡ªthe same buildings, similar structures¡ªbut everything here was more orderly, almost sterile. Towers and buildings emanated a cold, magical glow, and small golems roamed the grounds, their movements perfectly synchronized, creating an atmosphere of controlled order.


    But what set his territory apart was the monumental palace that towered over the entire area. He had secured it by upgrading his refuge to level three¡ªa feat that required not only vast resources but also sacrifices at the gates. After defeating his second boss, he acquired theblueprint for constructing a level three Refuge, which enabled him to create this impressive structure. The palace was built of dark stone that seemed to absorb light, its walls adorned with mystical symbols pulsating with a delicate bluish glow. The high towers of the palace soared above the other buildings, casting long, ominous shadows on the ground below. Every detail of the palace testified to his power and ambition, serving as an almost tangible proof of his dominance in this part of the world.


    The man strode through the main gate of his palace, feeling the anger building within him. The corridor walls, decorated with magical runes, reflected the pale glow of his power. Every step echoed, as if the entire castle were reacting to his mood. The massive doors to the throne room creaked open, and he stepped inside, ignoring the cold gust that pierced the room.


    He was furious. He had lost not only the ring but also his earring¡ªa protective shield that was meant to be his last line of defense. His plan to feign a loss of emotional control in order to provoke Darius into a hasty attack had spectacularly backfired. And worse still, this unknown warrior turned out to be much stronger than he had anticipated. He clenched his fists, feeling his nails dig into the skin of his hands until small droplets of blood appeared.


    Gritting his teeth, he recalled the moment before the fight when he had used his Rare talent¡ªEvaluation. At that time, he had seen that Darius was only level 1, with agility as his strongest stat. He had considered him an easy target, yet... how could it be that a warrior of such a low level managed to defeat him? That question tormented him, and every attempt at a logical explanation led nowhere. Was Darius hiding his true abilities? Or had the system deceived him by displaying false information?


    He entered a chamber where maps and schematics of the gates hung on the walls. The air was heavy with the scent of parchment and old ink, and the light from magical crystals danced off glossy surfaces. Now he had to concentrate on two other gates that were close to opening and could soon unleash monsters. The place where he had encountered Darius would remain untouched for the time being. He was not yet ready for a direct confrontation, but revenge was only a matter of time.


    Approaching one of the maps, he ran his fingers over the markings. "Two days... maybe three, until this gate opens," he muttered to himself. He knew he had to act quickly before the situation spiraled out of control. He then glanced at the symbols indicating the remaining gates. His gaze settled on one of the areas where he had recently encountered Darius. He marked that spot as the potential territory of another Lord, unaware that it actually belonged to Ashira.


    "His territory must be somewhere around here," he murmured quietly to himself, drawing a cross on the map. "I''m not ready for a confrontation with him yet. For now, I''ll avoid that area and focus on the gates." His voice was calm, yet a spark of anger and determination flickered in his eyes.


    * * *


    Ashira POV


    Evening light, filtering through the cracks in the refuge¡¯s walls, cast warm, orange reflections on the austere interior. The air inside was heavy, imbued with the scent of burning and dampness. Ashira looked up as the door creaked open softly and Darius stepped in. His figure appeared subdued, as if the shadow of the last battle still trailed him. His movements were stiff, betraying fatigue. Drops of sweat trickled down his tired face, mingling with faint streaks of dirt, and his clothes bore the marks of a recent clash¡ªtorn sleeves and dust clinging to every inch of fabric, a silent testament to the battle he had endured.


    Raising her eyebrows at the state in which Darius had returned, Ashira asked quietly, "What happened?" Her voice carried not only concern but also a hint of apprehension as she searched his eyes for answers before he could speak.


    Darius sighed and sank heavily to the floor. "I had an unexpected opponent," he replied, a slight grimace marring his features.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Ashira frowned in surprise. "So there really are monsters?" she said softly, disbelief evident in her eyes. "I haven''t encountered any during my journey."


    Shaking his head, Darius leaned heavily against the wall. "It wasn''t a monster," he said slowly. "It was a human. He attacked me by surprise."


    Ashira stared at him with wide eyes. "A human?"


    "Yes," Darius confirmed with a grimace. "And what¡¯s worse, he used some strange magical items. They were damn annoying during the fight."


    "The earring¡ªacting like a protective shield. And probably something else, but I didn¡¯t manage to figure it all out," he added, wiping his face with his hand. His eyes betrayed his frustration and fatigue.


    Squinting as she tried to process what she had just heard, Ashira murmured, "A human with magical items..." as if savoring the words. "That means not only have we begun exploring what lies beyond the barrier, but other Lords might be far more dangerous than I thought."


    She stood up and began pacing nervously around the shelter, trying to sort out her thoughts.


    "If he attacked you without warning, that means we can''t trust anyone. Every encounter with another human could end in a fight to the death. Maybe he even has some information about this world that we haven¡¯t discovered yet."


    She stopped and looked at Darius.


    "Maybe these magical items are just the tip of the iceberg. What if the other Lords have access to technologies or powers we have no idea about? Then we''re doomed."


    Her gaze sharpened, and her voice took on a firm tone.


    "We can¡¯t wait for someone to catch us off guard again. We have to act now. Tomorrow, we''ll start entering the gates. We need level up faster than the others and, above all, find out how to get items like the ones that that Lord had."


    Ashira smiled lightly, but her expression quickly turned serious."Rest now, Darius. We''ll need all our energy tomorrow."


    She turned toward the door.


    Darius furrowed his brow."And where are you off to?"


    "Just to the water reservoir," she replied, glancing over her shoulder. "I need a few stones."


    Darius raised an eyebrow, confused."Stones? What do you need stones for?"


    However, Ashira did not answer. She simply disappeared behind the door, leaving Darius with his unanswered question.


    When she stepped outside, the evening air struck her with a chill, and a gentle wind ruffled her hair. Her steps were quiet as she headed toward the water reservoir, whose surface shimmered in the moonlight.


    When she arrived, she knelt by the edge and began selecting smooth fragments from basalt boulders. They were the same solid, durable stones she had previously used to create containers¡ªtheir high hardness and water resistance made them the ideal material for energy manipulation.


    Holding one in her hand, she focused and began channeling her energy. Her fingers trembled slightly as she activated her ability, transforming the stone into a simple container. The process was exhausting yet satisfying. Each time she finished, she felt her mana draining away.


    She repeated this process fourteen times, using up almost all of her mana¡ªleaving her with just 10 out of 150 points. When the last container was formed, Ashira sank to her knees, feeling both exhaustion and satisfaction. Every use of her ability granted her experience, and her EXP counter increased by 140 points. Now she had 155 out of 200 experience points, bringing her ever closer to the next level.


    She carefully set the containers aside next to the reservoir, deciding to fill them with water another time.


    Slowly rising, feeling the weight of exhaustion in every step, she made her way back to the shelter. When she entered, she saw that Darius was already asleep¡ªhis breathing steady and his face peaceful. Ashira smiled slightly, then quietly lay down in her spot, allowing the fatigue to finally overtake her.


    Morning came swiftly, and the first rays of sunlight pierced through the cracks in the shelter¡¯s walls, bathing the austere interior in warm light. I opened my eyes, feeling a slight weariness from last night''s experiments, but also satisfaction at the progress I had made. I looked at Darius, who was still asleep, breathing steadily. Not wanting to wake him, I quietly got up and stepped outside to stretch my legs.


    I quietly left the shelter and headed toward the Summoning Tower, whose circle of black, sculpted stones glimmered subtly in the morning light.


    As I approached the circle, I felt a familiar tension in the air. I extended my hand and concentrated my mana, activating the summoning mechanism. The energies of the Source and the Tower merged, and the air filled with a violet glow. After a moment, the Hungry Ogar emerged from the portal.


    "Is that him again?" I murmured with a slight smile, looking at the beast. I already knew how the Summoning Tower worked, so I wasn''t completely surprised¡ªbut still, I was expecting something new. Shrugging my shoulders, I turned to the Ogar.


    "Go find food," I ordered, and the beast immediately dashed into the forest, disappearing among the trees.


    Satisfied with the summoning, I returned to the shelter, where Darius was just waking up, stretching lazily.


    "Did you sleep well?" he asked with a slight smile.


    "Kind of," I replied, sitting down beside him. "Today we have to start taking action."


    Darius nodded."Good idea. What do you plan?"


    "We need to decide which gate to go to," I said, looking at him. "I think we should go to the one we encountered first after passing through the barrier."


    Darius looked at me, contemplating."Maybe we should try a gate with a higher difficulty level? That would give us a faster level up and better rewards."


    I nodded."I agree, but this will be our first entry into a gate. It¡¯s better to first see calmly what it''s like inside rather than diving headfirst into the deep end. If it turns out we can handle it, then we¡¯ll consider tougher challenges."


    Darius raised an eyebrow, a hint of disappointment crossing his face. He drew a deep breath, as if trying to suppress his dismay, then sighed quietly."You''re right, it''s better to start slowly and see for ourselves what the gate is like from the inside."


    Determined, we set off toward the gate.

 Chapter 14: This isn’t exactly how I imagined my first time in the Gate

    The morning sun barely pierced the thick clouds as we stood before the first gate beyond the barrier. My heart raced, and the very air around us felt heavier¡ªas if the place itself were trying to hold us back.


    The gate was enormous, constructed from a strangely gleaming metal that seemed to change colors in the light. Its surface pulsed rhythmically¡ªas if it were breathing in sync with an unseen force. The sculptures adorning its frame depicted monstrous silhouettes that shifted when viewed from different angles.


    As we approached, the system displayed a notification:


    [SYSTEM] Gate Detected: Low Class (recommended level: 1¨C10). Status: Low activity.


    [Would you like to form a party? Party confirmation enables proportional EXP distribution based on team members'' contributions.]


    I glanced at Darius, and he nodded. Without a word, we accepted the invitation. The system reacted immediately:


    [Party created. EXP will be distributed based on participation in combat.]


    I took a deep breath.


    "Ready?"


    Darius smiled slightly.


    "Always."


    Without further hesitation, we stepped forward. The gate¡¯s surface began to pulse even more intensely, and the metallic silhouettes of the monsters seemed to come to life before our eyes. The moment we crossed the threshold, I felt an invisible force pulling me inside, and the surrounding light vanished in an instant, plunging us into complete darkness. A biting chill seeped into my body, as if we had plunged into an icy ocean. I sensed the air growing denser, and my heart pounded in response to the sudden surge of energy. When I finally opened my eyes, we found ourselves in an entirely different world.


    Moist, narrow underground corridors stretched out before us like ancient catacombs. The stone walls were cloaked in moss, and long drips of moisture hung from the ceilings. Dim light emanated from magical crystals embedded in the walls, casting eerie shadows that danced with every movement.


    Raising my hand, I signaled Darius to be silent. We were certain we were not alone¡ªafter all, this was a gate, a place that by its very nature concealed dangers. Darius nodded and silently raised his hand. In the blink of an eye, a dagger appeared in his grasp, summoned by his skill.


    I, too, refused to remain idle. Focusing on the chaotic energy, my right eye flared with violet light. I activated the Eye of Chaos to perceive the invisible currents of energy swirling around us. Every step we took was cautious, our vigilance unyielding for even a moment.


    We slowly advanced along the narrow corridor, each step echoing off the damp walls while the scent of mildew and moisture filled the air. The dark tunnels seemed endless, with every twist harboring potential danger. The light from the magical crystals cast ominous shadows that danced at the slightest movement, intensifying our sense of unease.


    At one point, Darius halted and pointed to the wall. Scratches, as if made by the claws of something large and agile, marred the stone. Nearby lay remnants of food¡ªbones that looked as if they¡¯d been freshly gnawed. From a distance, strange sounds reached our ears¡ªscraping noises mixed with quiet squeaks.


    Before we could ready ourselves, creatures the size of large rats burst from the darkness, their red, glowing eyes and mutated, unnaturally elongated limbs marking them as foes. For a moment, we were uncertain of what we were facing until the system immediately displayed a notification:


    [SYSTEM] Detected: Mutant Rat (Level 3).


    I reacted instantly, channeling the chaotic energy. I recalled Darius¡¯s tale of battling a mysterious enemy who wielded bizarre magical items. That memory spurred me to adopt a new approach. Concentrating on my Basic Energy Manipulation skill, I formed a sphere of energy that hovered in the air for a brief moment before hurtling toward the charging rats.


    The first sphere struck a rat head-on, tearing it to pieces. Without pausing to savor the effect, I created another sphere and launched it at two approaching monsters. The explosion of energy burst forth in the darkness, and the rats collapsed lifelessly. Each sphere cost me 10 mana, yet its effectiveness was astounding. As wave after wave of rats surged forward, I continued conjuring spheres, obliterating them one after the other with growing confidence.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    At the same time, Darius moved with remarkable ease. His motions were swift and precise, and the summoned dagger gleamed in the dim corridor light. Vanishing into the shadows, he appeared beside another group of rats, attacking with cold efficiency. His blade plunged straight into the heads of the monsters, dispatching them with a single, accurate strike.


    Effortlessly, he dodged claws and fangs, spinning on his own axis to immediately target the next rat. In one fluid motion, he felled two charging rats before executing a quick turn and slicing the throat of a third. Every move was calculated, as if he anticipated each of the enemy¡¯s next steps¡ªthe entire scene resembling a deadly dance over which Darius reigned supreme.


    After the last rat fell, Darius snorted with laughter, flicking the remnants of blood from his blade.


    "That''s all? I thought the gates would be a bigger challenge. These monsters are a joke."


    I looked at him with a slight smile.


    The system immediately displayed a notification:


    [SYSTEM] Battle complete. Earned: 100 EXP (Ashira: 45 EXP, Darius: 55 EXP).


    [SYSTEM] Level Up! Ashira reached level 3. Darius reached level 2.


    [STATUS]


    Name: Ashira


    Level: 2


    Talent: Legendary ¨C Eye of Chaos


    Experience: 0/400


    Stats:


    ? Strength: 7 (+1)


    ? Agility: 10 (+2)


    ? Endurance: 7 (+1)


    ? Intelligence: 34 (+3)


    Chaos Energy: 1000


    HP: 120/120


    Mana: 100/170


    Unassigned Stat Points: 10


    I looked at my stats and made a quick decision.


    "I need to boost my endurance," I said aloud. Allocating all 10 unassigned points to Endurance seemed like the most logical step to survive these perilous corridors. Having only 120 HP in such conditions could prove deadly, and every extra point in Endurance increased my HP by 10¡ªgranting me a significant advantage.


    [SYSTEM] Endurance increased by 10 points. HP increased by 100.


    I glanced at my mana bar and frowned. "Even though that battle was relatively easy, I''ve already used up 70 mana," I muttered to myself. "At this rate, one or two more fights and I''ll be completely out of mana. That''s a serious problem."


    Darius looked at me with a serious expression, noticing my furrowed brow.


    "Something wrong?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.


    I sighed, watching the mana bar. "Surprisingly, this battle consumed more energy than I expected."


    "How much?" he inquired, raising his eyebrows.


    "Seventy mana," I replied, shaking my head. "One or two more fights and I''ll be completely out of energy."


    Darius pondered for a moment, then nodded.


    "In that case, you''d better conserve your mana. I''m sure stronger enemies will appear in the dungeon. I can handle these little rats." "It seems your energy orbs make an impression, but they must cost a lot of effort."


    I sighed and shook my head. "You''re right. I didn''t expect to use so much mana in one fight."


    Darius then leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.


    "Maybe you should save your mana for later. I''m sure stronger enemies will appear in the dungeon. I can handle these little rats."


    I considered this for a moment before nodding. "That seems like the best solution¡ªbetter to save energy for something truly dangerous."


    But then I frowned. "But if I don''t actively participate in the fight, how will I gain experience?"


    Darius scratched his chin as he pondered. "You''re right... that could be a problem."


    Then, suddenly, he grinned slyly.


    "What if... you act as bait? You¡¯ll attract the rats¡¯ attention, and I¡¯ll take care of eliminating them. That way, you''ll still be involved in the battle, and the system will credit you for your contribution."


    I looked at him with slight skepticism. "As live bait? I don''t really like that idea."


    Darius shrugged. "Don''t say it won''t be exciting."


    * * *


    Shortly afterward, I was sprinting down a narrow corridor, fleeing from dozens of mutant rats that were charging right behind me. My heart pounded in my chest like a hammer, and every step echoed off the damp walls.


    "What did I get myself into?!" I shouted, barely catching my breath. "DARIUS! AS SOON AS WE GET OUT OF HERE, I''LL MAKE YOU TAKE MY PLACE!"


    Darius stood a few meters away, leaning against the wall with an amused smile as he watched the whole scene unfold¡ªmotionless and unperturbed.


    "DARIUS! IF YOU DON''T GET YOUR ASS MOVING HERE, THEN INSTEAD OF KILLING THESE RATS, I''LL USE MY MANA ON YOU!" I bellowed, running with wide eyes as more rats closed in behind me.


    Watching my frantic escape, Darius smiled under his breath. "That should be enough for the system to register that Ashira is actively participating in the fight by diverting the monsters'' attention," he thought amusedly, before refocusing on eliminating the next foes.


    His blade shimmered in the dim corridor light as he dispatched the approaching monsters with cold precision. One by one, the rats fell lifeless onto the damp stone, their squeaks gradually fading away in the tunnels.


    When the last rat collapsed, I leaned against a wall, gasping heavily. "What did I get myself into..." I panted, sinking to the ground with my heart still pounding like crazy.


    The system immediately displayed a notification:


    [SYSTEM] Battle complete. Earned: 150 EXP (Ashira: 50 EXP, Darius: 100 EXP).


    Darius looked at me with a slight smile, wiping blood from his blade. "Didn''t I say it would be fun?" he chuckled softly, then added, "These rats are really weak if someone with as little dexterity as you managed to run from them."


    He chuckled under his breath. "So, how about a short break before we go after more rats?"


    I glanced at him from beneath narrowed eyes, still gasping heavily. "This isn''t exactly how I imagined my first time in the Gate," I muttered, trying to catch my breath.

 Chapter 15: Elite Mutant Rat!

    Level 4.


    I looked at my status with slight disbelief. Just a few hours ago we had stepped through that gateway, and now I could feel every muscle in my body trembling from exhaustion after running countless kilometers as living bait. Next to me, Darius glanced at his own status, which showed level 5and he looked as though the whole expedition were nothing more than a leisurely stroll in the park¡ªaccompanied by that irritating smirk that never left his face. The number of rats we had managed to kill in this cursed gateway far exceeded my wildest expectations. Killing those monsters had proven to be a much faster way to level up than relying on our own skills.


    Although, if being living bait can be called ¡°killing¡± monsters, then I suppose I¡¯ll have to redefine what the word really means.


    I looked at my stats:


    Name: Ashira


    Level: 4


    Talent: Legendary ¨C Eye of Chaos


    Experience: 170/1200


    Stats:


    Strength: 9


    Agility: 17


    Stamina: 24


    Intelligence: 42


    Chaos Energy: 1000


    HP: 290/290


    Mana: 190/215


    Unassigned Stat Points: 0


    I had wanted to invest all my points in Intelligence to have as much mana as possible, but I quickly realized that I also needed more Stamina to increase my HP and Agility to keep up with and dodge the attacks of those damned monsters. In the end, I allocated my points: 5 to Stamina, 2 to Intelligence, and 3 to Agility. Darius focused on Agility, Strength, and Stamina, which made him almost an indestructible killing machine in close combat.


    I glanced at my mana bar and, with relief, noticed that nearly all of it had already regenerated.


    "You know," said Darius, wiping the blade of his dagger against his pant leg, "after so many hours of fighting, taking down these rats has become boring."


    I snorted under my breath, stretching slightly. "If boring means running for miles with an army of mutants on your tail, then I have no idea what could possibly be exciting for you."


    Darius chuckled softly. "Well, at least you''re not complaining about a lack of exercise."


    I was about to reply to his comment when, before I could say anything, I felt a sudden, forceful tug from behind. I lost my balance and crashed to the ground, landing painfully on my back. I heard a loud metallic clang as metal struck something hard. Looking up, I saw Darius¡ªwith his muscles tensed¡ªusing his shield to block the enormous, curved claws of a gigantic rat. The creature had matte, grayish-brown fur, marked with scars and bulges, and its red eyes glowed in the darkness.


    The force of the attack was so immense that Darius''s feet slid slightly along the ground, yet he managed to hold his position. A furious cry tore from his throat as he pushed the monster away with all his might, forcing it to retreat deeper into the corridor.


    I quickly got back on my feet and, without wasting any time, concentrated my mana to launch a sphere of energy directly at the gigantic rat. However, to my surprise, the creature dodged to the side with a grace I hadn¡¯t expected from such a massive beast. Its body arched into an unnatural curve, and its claws scraped against the stone floor as it resumed its original stance. Then its wild roar echoed throughout the corridor, penetrating me to the very bone. At that very moment, I felt a strange surge of energy in the air. I watched in alarm as dozens of smaller rats began pouring out of the tunnel, their movements much faster than usual. They were more aggressive¡ªas if the roar of their leader had emboldened them.


    Before I could respond, I saw Darius vanish from my sight, racing at breakneck speed toward the gigantic rat. His shield disappeared, and in its place a dagger materialized in his hand, gleaming in the dim corridor light. With fluid grace, he dodged the smaller rats without slowing for even a moment, ready to confront the larger foe.


    I glanced at the approaching wave of mutants and sighed heavily. There was no time to think. I focused my mana into my hands, feeling the familiar warmth of energy pulse just beneath my skin. I extended my arms and fired a series of energy orbs at the oncoming rats. Their high-pitched shrieks filled the corridor as the first of them began to fall.


    But for every fallen shadow, three more took its place, and their numbers seemed endless. Still, I couldn¡¯t afford a moment of doubt. I began to slowly retreat down the corridor, continuously launching more energy orbs to maintain my distance. I had to keep the upper hand and avoid being surrounded before the monsters could close in from every side.


    Suddenly, I came up with another idea. Instead of wasting mana on individual orbs, I decided to harness chaos energy. I activated my skills: Basic Energy Analysis, Basic Energy Manipulation, and my talent, Eye of Chaos. I quickly began scanning the surroundings for suitable stones¡ªones that could be easily overloaded with energy and explode on contact.


    After a moment, I found several stones that were perfect for my plan.


    Object Name: Pyroxynite Stone


    Energy Type: Neutral with a Hint of Fire


    Status: Unstable


    Properties:


    Hardness: Medium


    Magical Conductivity: High


    Potential Applications: Energy Conductor, Explosive Material When OverloadedThis novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    Their natural magical conductivity made it easy for me to overload them with chaos energy, which guaranteed a spectacular explosion. I scanned the area for a more spacious tunnel that could accommodate both me and the entire horde of rats. I needed to find a place where they would all converge in one spot ¨C then I could throw several charged stones simultaneously, creating one massive explosion.


    After a quick run through the winding corridors, I finally spotted a larger, open space that was perfect for my plan. I grasped the stones in my hands and focused on my hair, attempting to channel the amassed chaos energy into my palms. I felt that familiar tingling as the energy began to flow through my body. Directing it into the stones, I used my energy manipulation to inject chaos into their cores.


    With my teeth clenched and my breath quickening, I hurled the stones with all my might toward the approaching horde of monsters. They streaked through the air with a hissing sound, leaving behind subtle trails of chaos energy that shimmered with a violet glow in the dark corridor.


    Barely seconds after the first stone struck the ground, an explosion shattered the silence of the underground. A deafening boom reverberated off the stone walls, and the burst of light briefly illuminated the entire chamber, casting bizarre shadows on the mangled bodies of the rats. The shockwave followed immediately after the flash, sweeping everything in its path.


    The explosion was far more powerful than I had expected. The overwhelming noise filled the corridor, and the shockwave rolled through the space with destructive force. The rats were torn to shreds ¨C and they weren¡¯t the only ones to suffer. The stone walls trembled, and the ceiling above me began to collapse.


    Before I could react, the shockwave hurled me backward with enormous force. I flew several meters back, tumbling helplessly in the air before landing hard on my back. Pain shot through my body as the impact against the cold, stone floor squeezed the breath from my lungs. I lay there for a moment, trying to catch my breath, while dust and fragments of stone slowly settled around me.


    Seeing the ceiling beginning to cave in, I forced my body into action. I focused on the chaos energy in my hair and redirected it inward, channeling it into my muscles to fortify my body. The tingling that surged through my arms and legs bolstered my strength. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, I pushed myself up and sprinted forward, determined to escape the tunnel as quickly as possible.


    Stone fragments began falling with a terrifying crash, shattering on the floor right behind me. Every step felt agonizingly slow, every breath unbearably heavy. The ceiling split with resounding cracks as dust and rubble filled the air, reducing visibility nearly to zero. My heart pounded wildly as I dashed beneath collapsing blocks of stone, feeling the dust settle on my skin.


    At the very last second, as another set of massive slabs began to fall, I lunged forward and rolled to the side just before an entire section of the corridor crashed down behind me with a deafening roar. I lay on the cold stone for a moment, gasping heavily.


    "You idiot... absolute idiot," I muttered to myself, struggling for breath. "Who throws dynamite into a tunnel and expects the ceiling not to collapse?"


    Gathering my strength, I slowly got to my feet and glanced back at the ruined corridor. "Great, I almost turned into mush," I grumbled, brushing dust off my clothes. I sighed deeply and straightened up. "Time to go back and see how Darius is handling that giant rat."


    * * *


    I returned to the spot where Darius was still battling the giant rat. As soon as I appeared at the edge of the arena, I could see that the fight was in full swing. Darius and the creature were clearly exhausted, yet neither showed any sign of giving up.


    I also noticed a dozen or so corpses of ordinary rats scattered across the floor. I sighed inwardly, realizing that not all the monsters had chased me into the tunnel.


    Darius nimbly dodged the rat¡¯s attacks, executing lightning-fast evasions and counterattacks. Although the creature¡¯s body was riddled with wounds, none were deep enough to hinder its movements seriously. The beast continued moving with astonishing speed and strength, as if it were oblivious to the pain.


    I observed the battle carefully, analyzing the situation. It became clear that I was too slow to keep up with the rat¡¯s rapid movements. If I attempted to join the fight, I would only be a burden to Darius. So I decided to remain on the sidelines, avoiding unnecessary danger.


    But then I suddenly remembered a conversation with Darius¡ªthe one where I managed to destabilize his energy during our first encounter. That thought lit up my mind. If I could destabilize the energy in Darius¡¯s body, perhaps I could try the same with the giant rat.


    I activated the Eye of Chaos along with my Energy Analysis ability. My gaze pierced through the air, focusing on the rat. I saw energy coursing through its body, searching for weak points I could exploit. I concentrated on the wounds it already had, knowing they would be the perfect target for my attack.


    I reached for the energy gathered in my hair, slowly channeling it into my hands. I focused on compressing a large amount of chaos energy into a small, precise stream that took the form of a thin, violet needle. Despite its diminutive size, the needle pulsed with enormous, chaotic potential.


    I waited for the right moment, watching Darius as he deftly dodged the rat¡¯s attacks. I knew I had to be sure that my strike would hit its mark. Finally, during one of his offensives, Darius managed to push the creature several meters back. As the rat was airborne, I knew it wouldn¡¯t have any chance to evade my attack. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, I raised my hand and, with all my strength, fired the needle straight at the monster.


    The needle embedded itself in one of the creature¡¯s wounds, penetrating directly into its interior. In a fraction of a second, the monster roared in pain as its body began to tremble. Spasms wracked its muscles, and dark violet energy started to seep from the wound, spreading across its body like lightning, destabilizing its movements and forcing it to retreat.


    Seeing what was happening to both the monster and me, Darius quickly connected the dots. His expression changed dramatically. Without any hesitation, he sheathed his dagger, rushed over to me, and summoned a gigantic shield to cover us both.


    A second later, the monster exploded into tiny fragments. The blast was deafening, and the shockwave shook the entire corridor. Chunks of flesh and bone slammed against the shield, scattering in every direction. The air was filled with the biting scent of blood as dust and debris settled like a dense fog.


    [SYSTEM]


    Congratulations! You have defeated the Elite Mutant Rat!

 Chapter 16: Next time, I get the shield

    A dense fog slowly descended, leaving behind only the metallic scent of blood wafting through the air. The remains of the Elite Mutant Rat still simmered on the cold corridor floor, their stench mingling with the dungeon¡¯s dampness.


    I glanced at Darius, and he returned my look. We were both still shaken by the intensity of our last encounter. Although our bodies were exhausted, adrenaline left us no room for rest.


    "My thought this would be easier," he muttered, wiping the blade of his dagger against his pant leg. "Even with my talent that gives me +50% to my stats, I still didn¡¯t have enough strength to easily slice through that rat¡¯s skin." He paused for a moment, looking at me with a slight smile. "And next time, before you get the brilliant idea of dismembering monsters, at least give me a heads-up so I can prepare."


    I rolled my eyes, but a smile lingered on my lips. "Maybe next time you try destabilizing your opponent¡¯s energy¡ªlet''s see how you fare without blowing everything up within several meters." After a moment, I added with a light sigh, "By the way... thanks for the cover. Without your shield, I''d be covered in blood and the innards of that rat right now."Darius chuckled softly, shaking his head. "No problem. Just try not to blow us up along with the monster next time."


    [SYSTEM]


    Battle concluded. Gained: 1200 EXP (Ashira: 650 EXP, Darius: 550 EXP).


    He furrowed his brows as he glanced at the system notification. "How is it that you got more EXP than I did?" he asked, tilting his head toward me. "I was on the front line, blocking that filth¡¯s attacks!"


    I burst into laughter, leaning against the wall. "Maybe the system appreciated my finesse and control over chaotic energy¡ªnot just your dagger-swinging," I replied with a wink.


    He sighed dramatically. "Next time, I''ll destabilize the energy and you can play shield. Let''s see who racks up more points then."


    I shrugged, glancing at my stats with satisfaction. "Probably the system just summed up the EXP from all those rats I obliterated in the tunnels," I quipped with amusement. "But honestly, I¡¯m not cut out for fighting so many at once. My mana reserves are too low for that. I¡¯d rather focus on stronger opponents."


    Darius raised an eyebrow. "With your agility?" he laughed softly. "You won¡¯t be able to keep up with stronger opponents long enough to track them properly, not to mention dodging their attacks."


    He fell silent for a moment, as if analyzing our previous battle. "Although... maybe there''s a way to work this out. At the start of the fight, I''ll try to inflict as many shallow wounds as possible on these elite rats. If I manage to land enough, you could harness your chaotic energy and pierce into their bodies like you did last time."


    I nodded, seeing the sense in his plan.


    "After quickly dispatching the elite, we''ll handle the rest of these little rats," he added with a confident smile. "Although, there will be a multitude of them on the battlefield, so it might turn out to be troublesome. We have to act fast before they overwhelm us."


    I liked that plan much more than running around as a living lure. After all, I could focus on what I did best instead of fleeing from a horde of mutants.


    We moved on, straining to catch every whisper in the darkness. Along the way, we encountered ordinary rats, but this time Darius wasted no time¡ªdispatching them with one swift move before they could close in.


    It wasn¡¯t long before another elite rat blocked our path. Its red eyes gleamed in the dim light, and its massive body moved with an astonishing grace. At that moment, a swarm of smaller rats burst forth from the side corridors, beginning to surround us from every angle.


    The elite rat let out a terrifying, piercing roar, activating its ability. Its body began to emanate a dark, pulsating energy, and the smaller rats suddenly gained incredible speed and aggression. We knew we had to act swiftly before the situation spiraled out of control.


    Darius lunged forward immediately, moving with the precision of an experienced warrior. His dagger gleamed in the dungeon¡¯s weak light as he deftly delivered a series of shallow yet accurate cuts along the monster''s sides and back. Every slash was meticulously planned, aimed at weakening the elite rat and setting it up for my attack.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    The monster roared furiously, its red eyes blazing with wild rage, and its powerful jaws nearly clamped down on Darius¡¯s shoulder. Nevertheless, he moved with astonishing grace, dodging the brutal attacks of the foe with precise ease¡ªas if he could predict every move the beast would make.


    Meanwhile, the smaller rats, roused by the elite''s roar, began closing in from all sides. Their claws scraped against the stone floor, and their eyes glowed with a sinister gleam. They weren¡¯t just targeting me¡ªtheir teeth and claws aimed at Darius as well, forcing him to constantly balance between attacking the elite rat and evading the strikes of the lesser foes.


    The way he handled the chaotic fight was nothing short of astonishing. Every movement was precise and fluid, as if he were anticipating not only the elite rat¡¯s actions but also the attacks of the entire frenzied horde. He dodged blows with an almost superhuman dexterity while striking exactly where it was needed. The atmosphere grew thick with tension, and the echo of breaths and monster groans reverberated off the walls, intensifying the feeling of being cornered. I knew we had only a moment before we were completely surrounded.


    Seeing my opportunity, I began to evade the smaller rats that tried to reach me¡ªtheir claws barely grazing my legs. Still, I focused on my task: I concentrated chaotic energy, allowing it to flow from my hair down to my hands. I could feel the power pulsing beneath my skin, ready to be unleashed.


    I reached for the energy gathered in my hair, slowly channeling it into my hands. I concentrated on compressing a large amount of chaotic energy into a small, precise stream, just like before¡ªa stream that took the form of a thin, purple needle pulsating with chaotic potential. I activated the Eye of Chaos along with my energy analysis ability, fixing my gaze on the wounds inflicted by Darius.


    I knew I had to wait for the perfect moment, though that wasn¡¯t easy while constantly on the move, dodging the smaller rats¡¯ attacks. Their claws nearly brushed against my legs, forcing me into sudden evasive maneuvers. Yet I kept my focus on the task, watching Darius¡¯s fight intently and waiting for the right moment to strike.


    When Darius executed a sudden dodge, forcing the elite rat to slam into the damp corridor wall, I saw my chance. I raised my hand, aiming precisely at one of the wounds on the monster¡¯s side. I could already feel the chaotic energy pulsating in my hand, ready to strike. However, a sudden movement from the side caught me completely off guard¡ªa smaller rat lunged at me unexpectedly.


    Instinctively, I leaped aside, barely avoiding its claws, but in that unplanned movement I lost my aim, and the energy needle shot off in a completely different direction. Instead of striking the elite rat, the needle embedded itself straight into the eye of one of the smaller rats. The creature exploded immediately, scattering chunks of flesh in every direction, and I felt frustration welling up inside me.


    I muttered a quiet curse under my breath, forced to refocus. Quickly, I repeated the entire process, compressing another dose of chaotic energy into a precise needle. For a moment, I couldn¡¯t find the right opportunity¡ª the smaller rats kept attacking, and the elite rat was not easily caught off guard.


    "Darius! Lift him into the air!" I shouted, straining to be heard over the clamor of battle.


    Darius reacted instantly. He summoned his shield, but at that very moment as he did so, the elite rat lunged at him with its jaws wide open, aiming straight for his head. Darius executed a lightning-quick sidestep, and the beast¡¯s massive fangs snapped shut just next to his ear. Without hesitation, he dove under the creature¡¯s body, using its momentum to his advantage. He positioned himself right beneath its belly¡ªthe optimal spot for a counterattack.


    Then, tensing every muscle, he slammed his shield with all his might into the creature¡¯s soft underbelly. The powerful blow lifted the rat into the air, sending it soaring upward with such force that the beast collided with the corridor ceiling.


    That was the moment I had been waiting for. I fired the energy needle without hesitation, taking advantage of the open wounds on the monster¡¯s body. The needle plunged deep into one of its injuries, destabilizing its energy from the inside.


    The rat roared in pain, its body beginning to convulse violently, and then it swelled rapidly, as if it were about to burst. And burst it did¡ªthe beast exploded with a deafening crash, scattering innards and chunks of flesh in every direction.


    Darius managed to raise his shield just in time, protecting himself from the wave of debris. I, unfortunately, was not so lucky¡ªblood and the remains of the elite rat splattered all over me from head to toe. I could feel the sticky liquid trickling down my face and shoulders, and the smell of meat and blood filled the air.


    I looked over at Darius, who, behind his shield, appeared almost impeccably clean. Meanwhile, I stood there, covered in the gore and entrails of the elite rat, struggling to recover from the explosion. Seeing my condition, Darius quickly moved toward the remaining rats.


    When the last rat finally fell lifeless, Darius turned to me with a slight smile, his shield still gleaming with pristine cleanliness.


    "Well, great," I muttered irritably, glancing at his spotless appearance. "Next time, I get the shield."


    [SYSTEM ]


    Congratulations! You have defeated the Elite Mutant Rat.


    Gained: 1000 EXP (Ashira: 650 EXP, Darius: 350 EXP).

 Chapter 17: Boss of the Gate

    After a moment of silence, the familiar sound of a system notification resounded.


    [SYSTEM] Level Up! You have reached Level 5!


    [STATUS]


    Name: Ashira


    Level: 5


    Talent: Legendary ¨C Eye of Chaos


    Experience: 290 / 2400


    [Stats]


    Strength: 10


    Agility: 19


    Stamina: 25


    Intelligence: 45


    Chaos Energy: 960


    HP: 300 / 300


    Mana: 190 / 230


    Unassigned Stat Points: 5


    I looked at the notification with a slight smile. I wanted to immediately allocate my stat points, but I currently had a different problem to solve. I was completely splattered with the blood of the elite rat, and the sticky liquid was slowly drying on my skin and clothes. The smell of decay and metal filled my nostrils, and with every breath, a growing discomfort overwhelmed me. My stomach began to rebel, and nausea hit me with an unexpected force.


    "Shit," I muttered, struggling to hold back the urge to vomit.


    Darius glanced over and approached with a raised eyebrow, noticing my state. "Are you okay?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.


    "Not really," I replied, grimacing. "I feel like puking."


    Without waiting for his response, I grabbed the edge of his garment and wiped my face, trying to remove the dried blood from my cheeks and forehead.


    "Hey!" he called out in mock indignation, but he didn¡¯t move away. "That¡¯s the only outfit I have!"


    "Come on, you''re already mostly covered in blood anyway," I shot back dryly, feeling a bit better as the blood began to fade from my skin. "I promise, as soon as we get out of here, I¡¯ll wash it for you."


    Darius sighed theatrically, but seeing my relief, he smiled slightly. "Ready?" he asked, adjusting the dagger at his belt.


    "Yeah, let¡¯s go," I answered, though the nausea still tugged at me. Our footsteps once again echoed down the corridors.


    Time passed quickly. After a dozen minutes of marching, interspersed with occasional skirmishes against smaller rats, we encountered another elite rat. This time, the battle went much more smoothly than before¡ªwith every encounter, our coordination and tactics became more finely tuned to our foes.


    We managed to defeat another ten elite rats, and every subsequent fight felt increasingly straightforward. Through those hours of combat, our skills and experience grew with each passing moment. Hundreds of ordinary rats fell before our blades. We were no longer merely fighting¡ªwe were dominating. We knew exactly how to move, when to attack, and how to combine our abilities to shorten the duration of each battle. Our movements had become almost instinctive, and the chaotic energy flowed through me with far greater ease.


    I was beginning to feel increasingly confident in controlling the flow of chaotic energy, and my ability to use it precisely improved with every fight. I learned how to adjust the intensity of the power to suit the situation, efficiently blending attacks with evasive maneuvers. Maneuvering amidst clashes with multiple opponents¡ªwhich had once been a challenge¡ªnow felt almost natural.


    Finally, after countless skirmishes and hours of marching, we reached a set of strange, enormous doors. Their surface was covered in ancient runes that pulsed with a faint, purple light, and from the cracks between the stones, a dense fog with a slightly metallic scent seeped out. The sight of those doors was unsettling, as if the very walls of the corridor were warning us about what lay beyond.


    A powerful energy pulsed in the air, almost palpable. I could feel my body reacting to its presence, and the Eye of Chaos flared on its own, activating my analysis ability. The world around me dimmed, and streams of energy began to arrange themselves into intricate patterns, pulsing in rhythm with the beating heart of the power on the other side of the door.


    I saw distorted, wild streams of energy penetrating the runes on the door; each one throbbed with an eerie, green light. In the center of this network of energy, I made out the outline of a massive silhouette¡ªits contours blurred, yet clearly emanating an aura of destruction and primal fury. This wasn¡¯t a controlled power but a wild, brutal force.


    Darius looked at me with seriousness.


    "What did you see?" he asked, his voice calm yet laced with tension.


    I sighed, trying to gather my thoughts. "It¡¯s... something enormous. It radiates a wild, primal energy." I paused for a moment before adding more quietly, "It¡¯s probably the strongest creature in this gate."


    Darius nodded as he gazed at the door. "We can¡¯t go in there right now. We need to rest and regain our strength before we face it."


    We sat against the wall, away from the doors, yet still feeling the tremendous power beating from beyond them. The silence was heavy, broken only by our steady breathing.


    "What do you think is waiting for us in there?" I asked, breaking the silence.


    Darius pondered for a moment. "Probably another rat, though it might be a bit stronger than the usual ones or even the elites."


    I nodded. "We¡¯ll try to use the same tactic we did with the elite rats. You¡¯ll dish out as many superficial wounds as you can, and I¡¯ll concentrate my chaotic energy to strike at the right moment. If we can repeat that maneuver, we should be able to weaken it quickly."Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    Darius smiled slightly. "I like that plan. But..." he hesitated for a moment before adding more seriously, "those elite rats were fast. It was only after you reached level 7 that you were able to keep up with their attacks. And if the creature behind these doors is even faster...?"


    I furrowed my brows, considering his words.


    "You¡¯re right. Even the elite rats were fast enough¡ªand I could barely keep up with their attacks before I leveled up to 7. If this Rat King turns out to be even quicker, it¡¯s going to be a huge problem."


    I fell silent for a moment, but then suddenly remembered something important.


    "Wait..." I whispered, staring at my hands. "I can use chaotic energy to enhance my physical abilities, just like I did during our fight."


    Darius raised an eyebrow, a trace of amusement playing on his face.


    "About time you remembered," he muttered with a slight smile. "How long did we have to wait?"


    I looked at him in disbelief before snorting with irony.


    "Of course, because it¡¯s obviously better to wait until I remember on my own. It¡¯s a miracle I didn¡¯t die sooner," I shot back, rolling my eyes.


    He shrugged as if it were the simplest thing in the world.


    "I figured it was best if you figured it out for yourself. Besides, with me around, you don¡¯t have to worry about dying here."


    I rolled my eyes again, ignoring his confidence, and focused on something more important. I opened my status screen to analyze the changes after the recent battles.


    [SYSTEM]


    Name: Ashira


    Level: 7


    Talent: Legendary ¨C Eye of Chaos


    Experience: 1200 / 9200


    [Stats]


    Strength: 12


    Agility: 23


    Stamina: 27


    Intelligence: 51


    HP: 320 / 320


    Mana: 220 / 260


    Chaos Energy: 900


    Unassigned Stat Points: 15


    I gazed at my stats, pondering the best way to distribute the points I¡¯d earned. After a moment of thought, I made my decision.


    "Alright, I¡¯ll invest 7 points in Agility, 5 in Stamina, and 3 in Intelligence," I murmured to myself, confirming my choice.


    Agility should help me keep up with the swift attacks of the monsters, while extra stamina would boost my HP, giving me a greater margin for error if something went wrong. Intelligence would increase my mana pool, allowing me to sustain my intense attacks for longer.


    * * *


    After two, maybe three hours of rest¡ªonce our strength was fully restored¡ªwe stood before the massive doors. The air was thick with tension, and my heart pounded in my chest like a hammer. I knew that what awaited us on the other side would not be an ordinary fight.


    "Ready?" Darius asked, glancing at me with a slight upward curl at the corner of his mouth, though tension lurked in his eyes.


    "Always," I replied, not taking my eyes off the doors.


    The doors creaked open with a groan, revealing a passage leading into an enormous, cylindrical hall. The stench of decay and old blood struck us with full force, filling our lungs with a metallic reek. The echoes of our footsteps reverberated off the damp, stone walls, while the purple light of the runes danced across surfaces dusted with the remnants of long-forgotten battles.


    At the very center of the hall, a mound of skeletons rose up. Broken bones and skulls formed a macabre heap, atop which rested a massive rat¡ªlarger than any we had seen before.


    [SYSTEM]


    Boss of the Gate: Rat King ¨C Level 10


    His body shone with greasy, gray fur, lacerated by scars and deformities, as if every wound were a testament to brutal clashes. Red eyes blazed in the dim light, and green, toxic saliva dripped from his snout, hissing as it fell onto the bones beneath him. His claws, long and sharp as daggers, rhythmically scraped against the bones, producing a terrifying, metallic sound that drilled into my ears. A thick, muscular tail moved slowly with an unsettling grace, poised for a lightning-fast strike.


    The Rat King lifted his head and glared at us. His roar tore through the silence, echoing off the walls and filling the hall with a bone-chilling sound. A wave of raw, wild energy slammed into me. I knew this wouldn¡¯t be a stroll in the park.


    Darius summoned his sword, the blade materializing in his hand with a quiet, metallic ring. His eyes narrowed, fixed on the beast


    I activated my talent. My left eye burst into an intense, purple light, and the chaotic energy began pulsating through my hair. I focused it, allowing it to flow through my muscles, bones, and skin. A warming sensation spread from my fingertips to my shoulders, strengthening every fiber of my body.


    My body felt lighter, my movements smoother, and my senses sharpened to their limits. Every breath deepened, every heartbeat grew stronger.


    Darius struck first. In the blink of an eye, he vanished from my sight, his shadow swiftly gliding across the floor. His sword flashed in the dim light as he closed in on the beast with incredible speed.


    The Rat King reacted immediately. His tail sliced through the air with a terrifying hiss, aiming straight at Darius. However, Darius managed to evade at the last second, rolling across the ground. His sword cut into the creature¡¯s skin, leaving a shallow wound.


    The monster roared furiously. I seized that moment to concentrate the chaotic energy in my hands. It pulsed beneath my skin, ready to be unleashed. I moved to the side, searching for a favorable position.


    But the Rat King had no intention of making things easy for us. From his snout, a stream of venomous substance shot out, forcing me to lurch away abruptly. When the liquid hit the ground, it immediately began to corrode the stones, releasing a biting odor.


    "One hit like that, and I wouldn¡¯t be in this world anymore," I thought, feeling my heart race and a cold sweat break out along my neck as I realized how close I had come to death.


    Darius attacked again, trying to inflict further wounds, but the beast was faster than we expected. Its tail whipped through the air with unbelievable speed, targeting Darius¡¯s side. At the last second, however, Darius managed to block the attack with his sword. The impact was so powerful that even with the block, he was thrown several meters away, landing with a heavy thud.


    I activated Basic Energy Analysis. The world around me slowed, and the energy lines of the Rat King became more distinct. I focused on his weak points. I condensed the energy into a thin needle, just as I had done before, and threw it toward one of the wounds inflicted by Darius.


    The needle sped toward the beast, aiming at one of the wounds Darius had caused. However, the Rat King caught sight of the flash of energy at the very last moment. He roared in fury and jerked to the side, completely evading my attack. The needle struck empty space, shattering against the stone floor with a soft crack. The monster turned its blazing eyes upon me, and I felt an icy shiver run down my spine. Before I could react, the Rat King let out a terrifying roar that exploded in my head like a blast. In an instant, he vanished from the spot where he had stood, reappearing right in front of me. His tail gleamed in the air, launching an attack with a speed I hadn¡¯t expected.


    Instinctively, I raised my arms, trying to shield myself. Moments later, I felt a powerful blow that shook my entire body. The force of the impact tossed me around like a rag doll, and the world blurred into a smeared streak. Flickering shadows danced before my eyes, and then, with a deafening crash, my back slammed against a stone wall. Pain shot through me from my neck down to my lower spine, and the air was brutally forced out of my lungs. I felt the edges of my vision darken as a dull, booming sound resonated in my head.

 Chapter 18: Give me your sword!

    The world shook beneath my feet. Every nerve throbbed with pain, and my own breath reverberated in my skull like thunder. From the fog in my head emerged the booming voice of Darius,


    "Ashira! Move it!"


    Instinctively, I rolled to the side, barely avoiding another blow from the Rat King¡¯s tail. The beast¡¯s claws dug into the stone, crumbling it like sand. I shook off the remnants of disorientation, feeling the chaotic energy pulsating through my veins.


    The runes on the walls flickered, pulsing in rhythm with the ragged breaths of the Rat King. His massive body lifted slightly as he roared once more, unleashing a wave of dark energy. The air around us thickened, and the tension became almost tangible. The wounds Darius had inflicted on him earlier had already healed, leaving only scars on his thick skin.


    Lifting my gaze, I saw Darius, who was like a shadow¡ªhis sword slicing through the air with the precision of a predator, yet the Rat King responded almost instinctively, as if anticipating the attacks. He retreated in a flash, and his tail whipped through the air with dizzying speed. Darius raised his weapon at the last moment, blocking the strike, but the force of the blow forced him to take a step back. He gritted his teeth as he stared at the formidable foe. Ordinary cuts worked, but too slowly¡ªthe Rat King was still too powerful, and his regeneration prevented the infliction of mortal wounds. He had to find a way to end it.


    His thoughts raced with possibilities: should they focus on one deep wound? Or perhaps try to completely throw the monster off balance? One thing was clear¡ªthey couldn¡¯t let this fight drag on; with every passing second, their chances were diminishing.


    Then, a new idea sparked in Darius¡¯s mind.


    "Ashira! Pour your chaotic energy into my sword!" he shouted, never taking his eyes off the beast. He knew that my energy could destabilize the monster¡¯s power, giving us the upper hand.


    I hesitated, my thoughts clashing chaotically as I searched for a solution. How could I transfer the energy into his sword? I had never done it before. For a split second, disorientation washed over me, but I quickly cast aside my doubts.


    "Darius, give me your sword!" I called, reaching out my hand. I knew that only by holding the weapon could I better channel the energy.


    Without hesitation, Darius handed me the weapon, but before I could do anything further, the Rat King let out a deafening roar and lunged into attack.


    "I''ll handle him!" Darius shouted, immediately charging at the beast. His movements were swift and precise as he dodged blows and provoked the monster to focus on him.


    Instinctively, I stepped back, clutching the hilt, trying to find a way to transfer the energy. My heart pounded, and my mind raced at full capacity. I had never channeled chaotic energy in such a way before¡ªwhat if I did it wrong?


    I focused on the vibrations of energy within my body, imagining it flowing from my hands into the metal. I took a deep breath, calmed myself, and allowed the power to surge.


    A purple glow began to seep from my fingers, slowly enveloping the blade. At first, it was chaotic and unstable, but with each passing second, it took shape. The sword began to tremble, its surface pulsating with restless energy.


    I yearned to pour even more energy into the weapon, to squeeze every ounce of power from it, but then I noticed cracks twisting along the blade like fractures in ice just before breaking. My heart raced¡ªoverloading it was beginning to destabilize the sword. I had to stop immediately.


    I halted the flow of energy and took a deep breath, feeling sweat trickle down my temple. I looked at the sword¡ªit pulsed with an uneasy purple light, as if it might shatter at any moment. I couldn¡¯t add any more without risking its complete destruction.


    "Darius!" I shouted, lifting the weapon and thrusting it in his direction.


    He caught it on the fly, and the moment his hand closed around the hilt, the purple glow exploded around him like a wild storm. For a split second, his eyes widened under the surge of power, and tension rippled through his muscles.


    The sword pulsed with chaotic energy, and every strike left behind violet streaks in the air. Darius gripped the hilt tightly and immediately attacked.


    His first slash pierced deeper into the Rat King¡¯s body than the previous blows. The beast roared in agony, retreating as the chaotic energy began to destabilize the tissue at the wound.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    I concentrated, and my Eye of Chaos revealed something extraordinary¡ªthe energy I had transferred to the sword did not dissipate throughout the monster¡¯s body. It remained in the wounds, pulsating and disrupting the stability of its energy. In those places, the beast¡¯s power tore itself into chaotic shreds, impossible to reassemble, as if its very strength were betraying it.


    "It works!" Darius exclaimed, delivering another lightning-fast swing. Seizing the advantage, he began inflicting rapid, shallow cuts that prevented the monster from regaining control over its body. Every move left behind new, pulsating wounds, where the chaotic energy thwarted the stabilization of the beast¡¯s strength.


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    Seeing the effect, I was reminded once more of my earlier technique with the chaos needle. But this time¡­ what if I could do more? After all, it was my energy now inside the Rat King''s body. Since it was there, could I manipulate it?


    I clenched my fists and focused on the monster¡¯s wounds. I tried to sense the energy I had previously poured into Darius¡¯s sword. Its chaotic streaks were still there, swirling and destabilizing the beast¡¯s tissue. If I could concentrate enough, maybe I could control it.


    A wave of chaotic energy pulsed in the air like an invisible storm unfolding at the edge of my perception. I focused even harder, trying to synchronize with the chaos I had injected into the Rat King¡¯s body. I knew that if I could find a way to control it, the battle might end faster than we expected.


    At first, I felt only resistance¡ªthe energy behaved like a wild river, untamed and impossible to harness. The more I tried to grasp it, the faster it slipped from my hands. I gritted my teeth. I had to approach this differently.


    Taking a deep breath, I allowed myself to feel the energy instead of forcefully trying to control it. I focused on the beast¡¯s pulse, its internal rhythm, where both its own power and my chaotic force intertwined. Slowly, I began to sense the spot where I could induce a disruption.


    I gathered all my concentration and struck¡ªnot with brute force, but with a gentle impulse. In an instant, the Rat King jerked and froze momentarily. It was only a fractional pause, but it was enough to show me that I was on the right track.


    However, the beast was not about to stand still. As soon as its body regained freedom of movement, it let out a wild, shattering roar. The energy within it exploded, and the monster launched itself into a frenzied rampage across the arena, attacking everything in its path without regard for its own injuries. Its blows became more chaotic, yet simultaneously less precise. Every strike left cracks in the ground, and the air trembled with its unbridled fury.


    "Darius!" I shouted, jumping back at the last second to avoid one of its strikes. "Keep him occupied for a little longer and keep landing blows! The more wounds you inflict, the more chaotic energy I can harness inside him. Wait for the moment when the chaos starts tearing him apart from within¡ªthen you''ll have your chance for the final attack!"


    "I¡¯m counting on you!" Darius shouted, gripping the hilt of his sword more tightly. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, he charged forward, evading the beast¡¯s next wild swings. He moved quickly and precisely, delivering lightning-fast cuts that further destabilized the enemy. His blade glowed with a purple aura, and every attack left behind new, pulsating wounds.


    Meanwhile, I concentrated even harder, forcing my Eye of Chaos to work at the limits of its capability. The world around me blurred, and the pulsating lines of energy became sharper, as if responding to my determination. Using my analytical skill as well, I tried to understand the structure of the beast¡¯s energy¡ªto find its weak point and turn its own strength against it.


    Chaos energy in the Rat King''s body had reached a critical point. Every subsequent cut by Darius deepened the instability, and I could see it clearly through my Eye of Chaos¡ªthe beast¡¯s energy lines were beginning to disintegrate, their structure losing coherence. That was it. I had to take advantage of this.


    I clenched my hands, my thoughts focusing on one thing¡ªto shatter his internal energy. If I could properly direct the chaos, I could smash him from the inside.


    "Just a little more!" I shouted to Darius. "His energy can¡¯t hold on much longer, but I need a moment!"


    Darius didn¡¯t answer, yet his body immediately sprang into action. He evaded the beast¡¯s wild strikes; instead of launching a direct attack, he began baiting the monster, forcing it into even greater aggression.


    The Rat King roared in fury. His body trembled, and streaks of pure, violet chaotic energy began to emanate from his wounds. The monster didn¡¯t understand what was happening, but its instincts told it one thing¡ªit had to destroy the threat.


    This was the moment.


    I took a deep breath and focused all my attention on the wound that pulsed the strongest. The energy accumulated there began to swirl, and I condensed all the remaining chaotic power into one point. I directed it deep into the beast¡¯s body, violently disrupting the flow of its own energy. In an instant, the magical lines inside him began to shudder, and their harmony was brutally shattered. The entire body of the Rat King tensed, and he suddenly froze, as if something had wrested control from his limbs. His breathing grew shallow, and his eyes widened in terror as he felt his own power slipping out of control.


    "Darius, now!" I screamed.


    Darius didn¡¯t wait for further instruction. In one swift movement, he charged forward, seizing the moment of the beast¡¯s total destabilization. His sword blazed with a violet light, and with precise force, it cut through the air, severing the Rat King¡¯s head in one powerful strike.


    The hall fell into absolute silence. For several seconds, the only sound was the echo of the blade slicing through the air. Then, with a dull crash, the massive body of the beast collapsed to the ground with a resounding thud.


    [SYSTEM] Congratulations! You have defeated the Rat King.


    [SYSTEM] Processing rewards¡­

 Chapter 19: It was time to decide

    Silence.


    After Darius¡¯s last blow¡ªwhen his blade sliced through the air and severed the beast¡¯s head¡ªthe world around us froze. For a moment, it seemed as if reality itself held its breath. Then, with a dull crash, the massive body of the Rat King collapsed onto the stone floor.


    Silence fell.


    I stared at the colossal body of the Rat King, watching as streaks of violet energy began to fade, slowly seeping into his crumbling remains. The chaos that had raged within him just moments before was now gradually dying down, its power waning.


    I rested my hands on my knees, fighting off dizziness. My body was exhausted, but it was my mind that felt utterly drained. The Eye of Chaos trembled under the strain, and my vision remained blurred, as if I were peering through waves of hot air.


    "This¡­ was close," Darius managed, leaning on his sword, which at that very moment cracked in half with a resounding snap.


    For a moment, we stared at it in silence before Darius shifted his gaze to me.


    "So, this is what the weapon looks like after you enhanced it with your chaotic energy?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "I have to admit, it''s impressive. If I''d known it was going to fall apart, I¡¯d have just thrown it at the Rat King and saved myself the trouble."


    I snorted with laughter. "It''s not my fault your weapon can''t handle real power. Maybe you should work on something more durable?"


    "Or maybe next time, just NOT let you touch it," Darius grumbled, tossing the now-useless fragment of the hilt aside. "Seriously, I feel like every weapon you enhance ends up exactly like this," he added with a slight smile.


    Then, a familiar sound echoed through the air.


    [SYSTEM] Warning: The gate will close automatically in 2 hours.


    I lifted my head, squinting at the notification floating in the air.


    "Two hours..." I murmured softly, as if trying to gather my thoughts.


    And then another notification appeared before us.


    [SYSTEM] Congratulations! You have defeated the Rat King.


    [SYSTEM] Processing rewards¡­


    [SYSTEM] Awarded 20,000 EXP.


    Ashira: +11,000 EXP - Level Up!


    Darius: +9,000 EXP


    [SYSTEM] You have received the following rewards list:


    [Rare] Boss Energy Core


    [Rare] Rat Armor


    [Rare] Blood Ring


    [Rare] Rat Assassin''s Boots


    [Common] Gold Coins x5000


    [Rare] Curse Dispersion Amulet


    [Rare] Rat''s Magic Robe


    [Rare] Cursed Steel Blade


    [Rare] Beast Summoning Seal


    [Rare] Rat''s Shadow Gloves


    [SYSTEM] You may choose three rewards from the list.


    Darius stepped closer and glanced at the floating descriptions of the items before us.


    "So the system gives us a choice," he muttered, scanning the list. "I wonder if we can check out exactly what these items do."


    As if in response to his words, another notification appeared.


    [SYSTEM] You can review detailed information for each item.


    "System, display detailed information for each item," I commanded, studying the rewards list.


    [SYSTEM] Processing¡­


    Suddenly, holographic windows appeared before our eyes, each presenting detailed descriptions of the items¡ªincluding their properties, statistics, and special effects.


    The first item on the list was the Boss Energy Core.


    [Rare] Boss Energy CoreThe tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    <ul>


    <li>Description: A magical ring that allows the user to regenerate a portion of lost health with every successful strike. The greater the damage inflicted on the enemy, the greater the regeneration.</li>


    <li>Effects: Can be used as a material for upgrading buildings, to power structures with magical energy, or utilized in the creation of items.</li>


    </ul>


    "This looks¡­ interesting," I said, analyzing the data. "If I understand correctly, we can use it either for upgrading our buildings or as a source of energy. That could be really useful."


    "Or, if it falls into the right hands, it could be fashioned into a powerful weapon or armor. After all, it¡¯s the remnants of the boss¡¯s energy¡ªthis shouldn¡¯t be just anything," Darius added, scratching his chin.


    Ashira shifted her attention to the second item on the list¡ªthe Rat Armor.


    [Rare] Rat Armor


    <ul>


    <li>Stats: +10 to Stamina, +5 to Strength, +3% Physical Damage Reduction.</li>


    <li>Description: Armor made from incredibly durable, magically reinforced rat scales. Provides excellent physical protection.</li>


    </ul>


    "Sounds solid," she commented, running her hand along the floating description. "For someone on the front line, this might be a good choice."


    Ashira then focused on the next item on the list¡ªthe Blood Ring.


    [Rare] Blood Ring


    <ul>


    <li>Stats: +5 to Stamina, +5 to Intelligence, +5 Mana per damage dealt</li>


    <li>Description: A magical ring forged from the blood of a fallen beast ruler. It allows the user to partially recover mana for every point of damage dealt.</li>


    </ul>


    Darius whistled softly. "Now that¡¯s something interesting. The ability to regain mana during battle? The perfect item for someone who¡¯s tired of running from rats just to save mana."


    She rolled her eyes and sighed theatrically. "Well, since you handled the Gate so well, at least we can choose more items for me¡ªso I can finally catch up to Mr. Perfect."


    Darius then shifted his gaze to the next item on the list¡ªthe Rat Assassin''s Boots.


    [Rare] Rat Assassin''s Boots


    <ul>


    <li>Stats: +8 to Agility, +3 to Stamina</li>


    <li>Description: Lightweight, nearly silent boots made from reinforced leather of rat elites. They allow for quiet movement and boost the wearer¡¯s agility.</li>


    </ul>


    "That looks like something that would come in handy for you," Darius commented as he examined the description.


    "There¡¯s no denying it, but I¡¯m not sure this is our top priority right now," she replied, assessing the value of the boots.


    Without wasting any time, they moved on to the next item¡ªthe Curse Dispersion Amulet.


    [Rare] Curse Dispersion Amulet


    <ul>


    <li>Stats: +3 to Magic Resistance</li>


    <li>Description: An amulet crafted from rare minerals that absorb negative energy. It protects against the weakening effects of curses and spells, granting the user increased resistance to magic.</li>


    </ul>


    "Curses can be really annoying," joked Darius.


    "I wouldn¡¯t be surprised. After all, this is a world where you never know what might happen. The amulet might come in handy, but is it really worth it?" she wondered.


    Further down the list was the Rat¡¯s Magic Robe.


    [Rare] Rat¡¯s Magic Robe


    <ul>


    <li>Stats: +10 to Intelligence, +5 to Stamina, +3 to Magic Resistance</li>


    <li>Description: A lightweight, flexible robe woven from fine fibers imbued with the magic of rat rulers. It reduces damage from spells.</li>


    </ul>


    "Now that sounds more like something in your style," observed Darius.


    "True. It boosts intelligence and endurance while offering magic protection, which is quite enticing," she admitted.


    Next, they looked at the Cursed Steel Blade.


    [Rare] Cursed Steel Blade


    <ul>


    <li>Stats: +7 to Attack, +3 to Attack Precision</li>


    <li>Description: A weapon with an incredibly sharp edge, steeped in a curse. Every strike has a chance to inflict a deep, bleeding wound, though prolonged use may weaken the user.</li>


    </ul>


    Darius raised an eyebrow. "Something tells me that if we take this, I''ll have to test it out."


    "And then you''d complain that your own weapon is wearing you down?" she asked with a smile.


    "Exactly. But it does sound powerful."


    There were three more items left on the list¡ªthe Gold Coins, the Beast Summoning Seal, and the Rat''s Shadow Gloves.


    [Common] Gold Coins x5000


    <ul>


    <li>Description: Standard currency, useful for trade and purchases. It may not be a mighty artifact, but it will always come in handy.</li>


    </ul>


    Darius shrugged. "I won''t lie¡ªthe coins could come in handy. After all, you need something for a rainy day."


    "Maybe so. I understand that in the future money will probably be a valuable trade currency, but right now we don''t have access to society as such. It''s better to focus on items that will help us survive," I observed, then directed my gaze to the next item on the list.


    [Rare] Beast Summoning Seal


    <ul>


    <li>Description: An item that allows you to summon a random magical creature for battle one time. The effect depends on the user''s luck¡ªyou might summon a powerful beast or a weaker creature.</li>


    </ul>


    "So it''s like roulette," Darius summarized.


    The final item was the Rat''s Shadow Gloves.


    [Rare] Rat''s Shadow Gloves


    <ul>


    <li>Stats: +12 to Agility</li>


    <li>Description: Made of thin yet durable leather, they allow for faster and more precise attacks. Ideal for someone who relies on speed in combat.</li>


    </ul>


    "Well, look at that¡ªa nearly complete assassin''s set," I remarked, glancing at the boots and gloves.


    "Exactly, now the only question is¡ªwhich three do we choose?" Darius crossed his arms, looking at me.


    It was time to decide.

 Chapter 20: You have entered the territory of the Inheritance

    Before us, the reward list was still displayed by the system.


    [SYSTEM] Choose three rewards from the list.


    Darius ran a hand along his neck and glanced at me. "Better not waste time. We need to think this through properly."


    "Exactly," I replied, analyzing the available options. "We need to choose something that will realistically help us survive, not just look impressive."


    First, I looked at the Magic Rat Cloak.


    [Rare] Rat''s Magic Robe


    <ul>


    <li>Statistics: +10 to Intelligence, +5 to Stamina, +3 to Magic Resistance</li>


    <li>Description: A lightweight, flexible robe woven from fine fibers imbued with the magic of rat rulers. It reduces damage from spells.</li>


    </ul>


    "For me, it was the obvious choice," I said. "It increases my protection against magic and boosts my intelligence and stamina."


    Darius nodded. "Alright, that''s our first choice. Now it''s my turn."


    He scanned the reward list, then pointed to the Rat Armor.


    [Rare] Rat Armor


    <ul>


    <li>Statistics: +10 to Stamina, +5 to Strength, +3% reduction in physical damage</li>


    <li>Description: Armor made from extremely durable, magically reinforced rat scales. Provides excellent physical protection.</li>


    </ul>


    "Solid, well-made," he evaluated, examining the holographic description. "I''m not a fan of heavy armor, but something tells me this armor might save my skin."


    I looked at him and said, "Good choice. It will increase your resistance to damage and give us better chances in the upcoming battles."


    Darius nodded, and I looked at the list again. There was one choice left. I scanned through the available options and stopped at the Blood Ring.


    [Rare] Blood Ring


    <ul>


    <li>Description: A magical ring forged from the blood of a fallen beast lord. It allows the user to partially recover mana for each point of damage dealt. </li>


    <li>Statistics: +5 to Stamina, +5 to Intelligence, +5 Mana per damage dealt</li>


    </ul>


    Darius smiled slightly. "Sounds like something that will let you cast spells without constantly worrying about mana. You won''t have to run away from little rats just to conserve your energy."


    "You''re right. At least I won''t have to act as a living bait for rats just to gain some experience. Now I can simply kill them with my skills without worrying about my mana reserves."


    After confirming our decision, the system displayed another notification.


    [SYSTEM] Congratulations! The rewards have been granted.


    In an instant, the chosen items materialized in our hands. The Magic Rat Cloak rested lightly in my hand, its delicate fabric seemingly pulsating with hidden energy. The ring gleamed in the light, waiting to be worn, while Darius lifted the armor, examining its weight and sturdiness. We exchanged glances, contemplating the usefulness of our new acquisitions. I felt like putting on the cloak right away, but one glance at my blood-soaked clothes reminded me that it would have to wait until we returned to the shelter for a proper wash.


    Instead, I slid the ring onto my finger, feeling its gentle pulse of energy. The ring was made of dark red metal, as if it had truly been forged from congealed blood. Its surface seemed to pulse with a faint glow, and at its center was set a small ruby that appeared to react to my presence.


    "I suppose it''s time to check the stat changes," I muttered to myself as I opened the system menu.


    After a few seconds of staring at the stats screen, I took a deep breath. It was time to see just how much this battle had strengthened me.


    [SYSTEM]


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.Name: Ashira


    Level: 8


    Talent: Legendary ¨C Eye of Chaos


    Experience: 3000 / 12,500


    [Stats]


    Strength: 13


    Agility: 32


    Stamina: 38 (+5)


    Intelligence: 62 (+5)


    HP: 300 / 430


    Mana: 270 / 325


    Chaos Energy: 850


    Unassigned Stat Points: 5


    [Special Effects]


    +5 Mana per damage dealt (Blood Ring)


    "Not bad..." I murmured under my breath, analyzing the changes. The jump in stats was clear, and the additional stamina and intelligence would certainly come in handy.


    Darius glanced at me, raising an eyebrow. "Satisfied?"


    "Definitely. Every point counts. And this ring might turn out to be a real game-changer. If I can regenerate mana during combat, my options will significantly expand."


    "Sounds like something that will let you fight longer and run less."


    Before I could answer him, a system notification appeared in the air.


    [SYSTEM] Attention! The gate will close in 60 minutes.


    That was a sign that we couldn¡¯t delay any longer.


    "Let''s go," I said, heading toward the portal. Darius followed me, and with each step, I felt the tension gradually ebb away. Stepping through the portal was almost like awakening¡ªthe cold air brushed my face, and the familiar sight of ruins finally reminded me that we were back in reality.


    Behind us, the gate began to tremble as if losing its stability. The air around it rippled, and its edges started to vanish, dissolving into the air like mist swept away by the wind. Within seconds, the entire structure imploded, leaving only a delicate, shimmering dust hovering where the passage had been just moments before.


    Darius sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. "Well, that''s that for our gate. I wonder how they actually work."


    "Apparently, they''re not meant to be permanent," I replied, watching the tiny particles of energy slowly drift downward. "And it''s probably best not to stand too close when they shut down."


    Darius shot me a quick glance and chuckled softly. "So, another thing best observed from a distance. Like exploding rats."


    The sun was slowly setting, and fatigue was finally catching up with me. Darius stretched his arms above his head with a sigh.


    "So, are we heading back to the Shelter? I don''t see any reason to linger here any longer."


    "That''s right," I confirmed, then added after a moment, "although I need to stop somewhere along the way."


    He looked at me quizzically.


    "The Source. I¡¯m not planning on returning all covered in blood. Besides, since I¡¯m finally going to test my new cloak, it¡¯d be nice if it wasn¡¯t dirty right off the bat."


    Darius rolled his eyes but offered no further comment. "Alright then, let''s split up for a while. Don''t disappear on me for too long. We''ll meet at the Shelter."


    "Sure." I nodded and set off toward the Source, leaving him behind.


    I reached the Source faster than I expected. After the battle and the lingering stress still coursing through my body, the sound of splashing water was almost hypnotic. The smooth surface reflected the faint light, and the surroundings exuded the calm I so desperately needed.


    I carefully set the Magic Rat Cloak aside next to the containers I had previously created with my ability. I didn¡¯t want the precious fabric to soak up water or get any dirtier before I even had a chance to wear it.


    Without hesitation, I began washing the blood and grime off myself, feeling the tension gradually leave my muscles. The icy water refreshed my body, finally allowing me to breathe. In my thoughts, I noted one more thing¡ªat last, I could discard that rag I¡¯d been wearing since I was teleported to this world. Replacing it with something new felt like the next step forward.


    While I was washing, I felt something strange. The water around me was icy, but as I moved a little further, it suddenly turned pleasantly warm. I frowned, trying to understand where the change was coming from.


    I blinked and moved closer, dipping my hand into the warmer area. The temperature difference was distinct, and after making several circular motions with my hand, I got the impression that the warmth was emanating from the very bottom of the Source.


    "That''s interesting..." I muttered under my breath, then began testing the phenomenon. Several times, I moved through the water, checking whether it was a coincidence or if something was truly going on. Every attempt confirmed my suspicion that the warmth wasn¡¯t dispersing randomly¡ªit had a source somewhere beneath the water.


    I wasn¡¯t about to guess. I focused my energy in my eye and activated the Eye of Chaos.


    Now I could see the energy flows, a misty aura hovering above the water, and subtle vibrations that were invisible to the naked eye. I directed my gaze toward the warm area¡ªand then I saw it.


    Beneath the water, deep below the surface, energy pulsed. Its movement was slow yet unmistakable¡ªit didn¡¯t appear to be a natural phenomenon. It was too stable, too precisely localized in one spot.


    I took a deep breath and activated Basic Energy Analysis.


    [SYSTEM] Detected energy flow of unknown structure. No additional information available.


    I frowned. This wasn¡¯t the ordinary magic I¡¯d seen before¡ªbut what exactly was it?


    I had no choice. If I wanted to find out, I had to dive underwater.


    Without further hesitation, I plunged in, allowing my body to sink deeper as I moved toward the pulsing energy. The water around me grew progressively warmer, and as I swam onward, I felt something gently vibrating in the air¡ªas if the very place were reacting to my presence.


    [SYSTEM] Warning! You have entered the territory of the Inheritance.


    Before I could react, I felt the energy around me suddenly intensify. My body was seized by a strange impulse, and the world spun wildly. For a fraction of a second, I saw nothing but a blinding light¡ªand then everything vanished.

 Chapter 21:Tower of Nature’s Heritage

    The chill of the surroundings struck my body like a blade, snapping me out of my stupor. My skin¡ªstill wet from my bath¡ªbroke out in goosebumps as I realized something was wrong. A moment ago, I had been in the water¡­ and now I stood on cold, stone ground in a completely unfamiliar place.


    I slowly lifted my gaze, ignoring the trembling in my muscles. Before me loomed a massive tower whose walls pulsed with a gentle, greenish glow. I sensed something strange in the air¡ªa singular, pure energy, untainted by any other kind of force. Unlike the outside world, where the energies of nature, water, and earth intermingle, here there was only one. It was calm and steady¡­


    "Something like that¡­" a hoarse, gravelly voice suddenly echoed through the space. "I haven¡¯t seen an entrance like this in ages. And you¡¯re completely naked. Aren¡¯t you afraid you¡¯ll catch a chill?"


    Before me, seemingly out of nowhere, a translucent, slightly phosphorescent figure materialized. A man with stern features, gray hair, and narrowed eyes looked at me with an expression of overt disdain mixed with amusement. He crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows.


    "Well, look at that¡ªso young and already having the nerve to step into my abode without warning. And in such a state, no less." He tilted his head, feigning thoughtfulness. "I won¡¯t say it¡¯s a clever way to attract attention, but unfortunately it doesn¡¯t impress me. I¡¯m far too old for such things."


    "Shut up." I snapped, clenching my arms as I struggled to retain even a shred of dignity. "Where am I?"


    The spirit raised his hand and pointed toward the tower behind me.


    "In a place that is not meant for you, girl. In the Tower of Nature¡¯s Heritage." His lips curled into a crooked smile. "Though judging by your aura¡­ you have no business here."


    I narrowed my eyes, straightening up despite the cold.


    "What does that mean?"


    "It means you¡¯re utterly talentless." He laughed¡ªa sound like a dry croak. "This is a place for those who feel nature, who can synchronize with its essence. And you? Pff! Everything about you screams ''chaos.'' I can already see you trying to grasp these subtle energies and ending up setting the entire forest on fire."


    I furrowed my brow, trying to understand what he was really saying. Nature, essence? I¡¯d never heard such terms used in the context of magic before. In my world, energy was transient¡ªand here¡­ I felt like something was slipping away from me.


    "Who exactly are you?" I asked, tilting my head.


    The spirit raised an eyebrow, as if amused by my question, but there was something more in his gaze. He narrowed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair, sighing theatrically.


    "Finally, a sensible question." He crossed his arms. "You may call me Eldric. I was the one who created this place and left behind the legacy that you now attempt to sully with your presence. And now¡­ I am but the remnants of a spirit, tasked with finding a worthy successor."


    "So, since I''m here, does that mean I have a chance to become your successor?" I asked, watching him intently.


    Eldric raised an eyebrow and snorted with laughter.


    "Technically speaking, yes. The very fact that you¡¯ve found yourself here means you have something within you that could, in theory, make you worthy. But let me dash your hopes¡ªyou are the worst candidate for an heir I¡¯ve ever seen. Just because you have the potential doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯ll use it."


    Anger began to boil within me. I had no idea what it truly meant to be his successor, but I wasn¡¯t about to give up simply because some spectral old man deemed me useless. Was it fate? Chance? Or perhaps something more led me here? Regardless of the answer, I couldn¡¯t let this opportunity pass me by.


    I clenched my fists, looking at Eldric with renewed determination. Even if I didn¡¯t know the rules of this game, I could learn them. If there was even the slightest chance, I intended to seize it.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "Nevertheless¡­ I want to try." My words were soft yet determined as I stared him in the eyes. He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.


    "You really don¡¯t know when to quit, do you?" he said, shaking his head as if speaking to an exceptionally stubborn child. "Alright then, girl, but let me warn you: foolishness and determination often go hand in hand."


    "That remains to be seen." I straightened up, ignoring the shiver running through my body. Naked, wet, and treated with hostility, I could feel his gaze upon me. Yet there was no hint of genuine interest¡ªonly pure, amused contempt, as if he were waiting for me to embarrass myself. I clenched my fists, feeling anger slowly supplant my embarrassment. I wasn¡¯t about to give him that satisfaction.


    "Maybe you could stop staring at me, you old pervert, and give me something I can cover myself with?" I snapped irritably, folding my arms.


    Eldric raised an eyebrow, as if surprised by my bluntness, then let out a long sigh.


    "Ah, youth¡­ zero gratitude." With a wave of his hand, a simple yet sturdy robe appeared at my feet. "Here, take this as your covering."


    I looked down at the robe lying on the ground and sighed softly. Of course, he couldn¡¯t simply hand it to me¡ªhe had to make me fetch it myself. I bent down and picked up the fabric, which felt surprisingly warm to the touch. It was plain, but sturdy, and at that moment, that was all that mattered. I draped it over myself, feeling how pleasantly it embraced my chilled body. Although I was still wet, at least I didn¡¯t have to stand here completely naked.


    "Since you''re now covered, we can begin the trial."


    "The first trial is a test of your ability to synchronize with the energy of this place." Eldric squinted, as if assessing whether it was even worth explaining. "Your task is to sense the flow of nature''s energy and adjust to it. Those who possess talent can naturally harmonize with their surroundings, but you..." He paused for a moment, smiling mockingly. "You''ll have to try a little harder."


    "And what exactly am I supposed to do?" I asked, frowning.


    "First and foremost, survive." He shrugged. "If you fail to meld with the rhythm of the energy, you will be rejected by this place. Most people with even minimal talent pass this trial within minutes. We''ll see how long you last."


    Before I could react, I felt the ground beneath my feet vanish. For a brief moment, disorientation overwhelmed me, then suddenly I felt a powerful surge of energy envelop me. Everything around me swirled, and my body began to dissolve into a radiant glow. In the next second, I was transported to the first floor of the tower.


    I fell to one knee, still stunned by the sudden change of surroundings. I drew a deep breath, trying to regain my balance. This was my chance. I would show that spirit he was wrong. I would prove that I was capable of doing this.


    "So, let''s begin," I muttered to myself, rising to my feet and lifting my head with determination.


    ***


    "Hahahaha! I knew this would be entertaining!" Eldric''s voice boomed with laughter as I once again found myself before him, lying face down.


    I groaned softly, pressing my hands into the ground. My entire body trembled, as if I had just been thrown into the raging current of a river. I tried to lift my head, but every attempt ended in another fall.


    The first floor was hell. Eldric had said I needed to synchronize with the energy of the place, but to me it felt like trying to listen to a melody while someone hammers a wall. I could sense the energy pulsing around me, yet I couldn¡¯t adapt to it. Instead of harmonizing, it felt as though I was battling an invisible foe.


    At first, I tried to concentrate¡ªto find the rhythm of that single, dominant energy¡ªbut it was like trying to catch water with my bare hands. Every time it slipped away, it returned with even greater force, crushing me with its own momentum. Eventually, I felt my body grow heavy and the world around me spin. A second later, I felt that familiar tug and... I was ejected from the trial back before Eldric.


    "Well... I suppose nature doesn''t like you." Eldric leaned over me, a derisive smile playing on his lips. "So... you wanted to prove something to me? It seems your grand plan to conquer this tower has just become a bit more complicated."


    I gritted my teeth, ignoring the burning sting of defeat. I didn''t want to admit he was right, but my body¡ªstill trembling from being expelled from the tower¡ªtold a different story.


    This wasn''t just an ordinary loss. It wasn''t something I could blame on bad luck or inexperience. I had failed because I didn¡¯t belong in this place, with its unique energy. It felt as though the entire system of this tower was rejecting me, as if condemning me to failure from the start. I couldn¡¯t accept that. There had always been a way, some solution... and now? I was in a situation where none of my skills or talents mattered.


    But I had to accept it. I couldn¡¯t pretend things were any different. Eldric was right¡ªthis wasn¡¯t a place for me. I bit the inside of my cheek, feeling bitter irritation, and forced myself to speak the words that burned from within.


    "Fine, I lost. I can''t do this." I exhaled, trying to ignore the searing frustration. "But even so, your stupid tower is nothing compared to my Tower of Chaos."


    A sudden, ominous silence fell.


    In an instant, the mockery vanished from Eldric''s face. His eyes widened, and the air around us grew heavier. For the first time since our conversation began, he looked genuinely surprised.


    "What did you say?" His voice, once full of ridicule, became low and disturbingly serious.

 Chapter 22: Every Lord in the world knows who they are!

    As soon as the words left my lips, I felt the air around us change. The atmosphere thickened, as if the very world were opposing what I had just said.


    I didn''t even have time to wonder what had gone wrong before Eldric appeared before me in the blink of an eye. His figure seemed more distinct, less ethereal. He looked at me with such anger that I involuntarily froze.


    "Repeat. Immediately," he commanded. His voice, which had been full of mockery moments before, now sounded stern and dangerous.


    I didn¡¯t know what to expect¡ªbut certainly not this. I took a half-step back, yet he did not flinch. He looked at me intently, as if trying to read the truth from my soul.


    "Chaos Tower," I repeated cautiously.


    Something in him trembled. For the first time, he looked like someone who was truly afraid.


    "Don''t lie," he growled. "Don''t you dare utter those words if you have no idea what they mean!"


    "I''m not lying," my own words sounded more confident than I felt. "Chaos Tower lies within my territory. It has been there since I arrived."


    Eldric clenched his fists. His face was etched with a mixture of fury and something I couldn¡¯t quite name. He still looked as if he were about to tear me to pieces at any moment, yet he didn¡¯t take a single step forward.


    "Stop lying," Eldric snarled. "Chaos Tower was destroyed long ago. It cannot exist¡ªnot after what Aldreith and Veylith did."


    I furrowed my brows, feeling a growing sense of unease. Those names¡­ they didn¡¯t sound familiar. I searched my memory, but found no recollection that could link them to anything I knew. Yet something in the way Eldric uttered them made me feel a slight apprehension.


    "Aldreith? Veylith?" I repeated, frowning. "I''ve never heard those names before. Who were they?"


    Eldric looked at me in disbelief, as if he couldn¡¯t believe his own ears.


    "Every Lord in the world knows who they are!" he roared. "It was because of them that a gigantic catastrophe befell the world of Lords! Don''t tell me you''ve been living under a rock your entire existence."


    I furrowed my brows even more.


    "A gigantic catastrophe? What are you talking about?" I asked.


    Eldric snorted, as if he couldn¡¯t believe I actually had to ask.


    "A war that shattered the very foundations of the world of Lords! Aldreith and Veylith, using the Chaos Tower, created monsters that were impossible to control. These beings, unlike ordinary summons, had their own system¡ªjust like the Lords. They obeyed no rules, not even those of their creators. And then¡­"


    "And then?" I asked cautiously, watching as Eldric clenched his fists.


    "Then they united," he hissed. "Just as the Lords once ruled the world, these beings established their own hierarchy. They were no longer chaotic monsters¡ªthey became something more. And as their power grew, they turned against us, igniting a war the likes of which this world had never seen."


    For years we fought, but they were different. Not only did they possess their own system, but they also learned, adapted, and¡ªjust like the Lords¡ªwere capable of evolving. Every victory cost us more than we could bear, for with each foe we felled, others grew stronger. Thousands of Lords were sacrificed to halt their invasion, and yet we barely managed to win.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    "And yet, you managed to defeat them?" I asked, unable to comprehend how such a war could ever have been ended.


    Eldric was silent for a moment, then he smiled bitterly.


    "We managed to defeat them only because the Lords united to exterminate them all," he said in a serious tone. "Something like that had never happened before. The Lords had never been united; there were always disputes, struggles for power. But then... then we had to act together. We sacrificed thousands¡ªentire civilizations crumbled¡ªso that we could win. And it was precisely then that the Chaos Tower was destroyed. After what transpired, no one would dare rebuild it¡­ And yet you tell me it exists?"


    "I don''t know what to tell you," I replied, folding my arms. "I had no idea about this war, about these creatures¡­ and now it suddenly turns out that every Lord should know about it? Maybe it was all hidden? Perhaps the system erased that information?"


    Eldric narrowed his eyes, his anger giving way to deep contemplation.


    "The system does not have that kind of power over history. At least... it didn''t," he murmured, wiping his forehead as if suddenly burdened by troubling thoughts. "If you truly live in a world where no one knows these events, then someone deliberately erased them. But who? And why?" He fell silent for a moment, his gaze growing distant. "It makes no sense. Even if they intended to cover up this war, no one could completely erase it. Has the system changed so much that it now controls even what the Lords can remember?" His voice was quiet, as if he were speaking more to himself than to me.


    Suddenly, his gaze refocused on me.


    "Tell me, what does the world of Lords look like now? Do great kingdoms exist? Do the Lords still hold power over their domains? How does the system function?


    I hesitated.


    "I don''t know exactly. I don''t know anyone who rules the way you''re describing. There are no great kingdoms, no councils of Lords. If they exist, they hide. I haven''t seen any signs of their power."


    Eldric grimaced, as if he couldn¡¯t believe it.


    "That''s impossible..." he whispered. "If the Lords have really fallen this low, it means something else has happened. Something that no one recorded in history."


    Suddenly, his gaze sharpened, and suspicion sparked in his eyes.


    "Who were your parents? What kind of Lords were they? Since you inherited the Lord¡¯s system, they must have belonged to the old order."


    I froze for a moment, surprised by the sudden change of subject.


    "I don''t know," I finally admitted. "I didn''t have Lord parents. The system chose me and granted me the status of a Lord as soon as I appeared in this world. I inherited nothing from any parents."


    Eldric narrowed his eyes, watching me intently.


    "Impossible. Every Lord knew their origin, their bloodline. The system did not choose Lords at random. If you truly claim that it chose you..." he trailed off, as if he couldn¡¯t believe his own words. "That means something has changed. Something that even I do not understand."


    His face stiffened, and his gaze turned cold and analytical. After a moment, his eyes widened in a sudden flash of understanding.


    "No... that''s impossible..." he whispered. "But if the system chose you, then it means you are like the first Lords. In the era of the primordial age, the system itself designated who would become a Lord¡ªbefore bloodlines and dynasties existed. If that has happened again..." he trailed off, his expression mingling both fear and fascination. "That means the world is returning to its primordial state. And that changes everything."


    His gaze darkened, and a sudden realization dawned on his face.


    "Maybe... maybe that''s why you don''t remember these events," he began speaking more quickly, as if struck by a new thought. "Something must have happened. Something so powerful that it erased all the Lords and forced the system to restart the cycle, just as in the primordial age. That''s why you and the other new Lords have no memories of the old world."


    "So you''re suggesting that the system simply reset the world?" I asked, crossing my arms. "But why? And how did it happen?"


    Eldric shook his head, his gaze clouded with thought.


    "If I knew the answers, I wouldn''t be asking so many questions," he sighed heavily. "This isn''t something that should be possible. If the system truly restarted everything, it means the primordial structure of the world was completely destroyed. Who could have caused that? And more importantly... why did the system allow such a reset?"


    "Maybe it just had no choice?" I suggested, trying to find any sensible theory.


    "The system always has a choice," Eldric grumbled, giving me a stern look. "If something like that happened, it means we faced a force that even it couldn''t control."


    "So you''re saying that there could have been something... even more powerful than the Lords?" I raised an eyebrow, unsure whether what he was saying made any sense at all.


    Eldric fell silent for a long moment, then looked at me with something that, for the first time, resembled unease.


    "I don''t know, but if that''s true... it means we''re no longer at the top of the food chain."

 Chapter 23: Trial

    For a long while, I remained silent, trying to process what I had just heard. What Eldric was saying sounded unreal. The system had such power as to erase the past and create new Lords? And if that were so¡­ what exactly was it?


    "I wonder¡ªwhat exactly is the system?" I finally asked, furrowing my brows. "You keep referring to it, but no one has ever explained to me what it really is. Is it something that can be controlled? Is there some force behind it? Or is it simply a mechanism that operates on its own?"


    Eldric raised an eyebrow, as if he hadn¡¯t expected such a question.


    "The system is the foundation of everything that exists for the Lords," he replied after a moment''s thought. "It establishes the laws, grants us power, and allocates territories. Every Lord is bound to it, whether they like it or not. But if you¡¯re asking whether someone controls it¡­" He


    hesitated for a moment, his face taking on a strangely serious expression. "In my time, no one knew the answer to that question. There were theories that the system was self-aware, that it created us, but there was no evidence of its intentions. It simply... was."


    I grimaced.


    "So, no one really knows what it is, yet everyone submits to it?" I observed.


    "We had no choice," Eldric replied. "You try to fight something that permeates your very existence. If the system recognizes you, you''re a Lord. If not, you''ll never be one. That''s just how the world works."


    I wasn''t entirely satisfied with that answer, but before I could press further, Eldric drew in a deep breath, as if he¡¯d suddenly remembered something important.


    "Chaos Tower¡­" His tone sharpened, and his gaze became piercing. "I have seen what it is capable of, but I do not know how it functions from within. Rumors have circulated about it, but most of them were mere conjecture. You use it, so tell me¡­ how does it work? Do you have control over it? Can you choose what appears, or does it operate according to its own logic? What limitations does it have?"


    I hesitated for a moment. My instincts told me that Eldric wasn¡¯t asking these questions without reason. There was more in his gaze than simple curiosity¡ªI could see in him a hunger for knowledge and a tension, as if he were teetering on the edge of discovering something he wasn¡¯t sure he wanted to know.


    "I don¡¯t choose the beings I summon," I began cautiously. "The Tower gathers some sort of data¡­ something that even I do not fully understand. It creates beings rather than merely summoning them. Each one has its own system¡ªthey can evolve, gain experience¡­"


    Eldric clenched his fists.


    "So it is true¡­" he muttered to himself. "That damned Tower can really create beings¡­ and if that is the case¡­" He suddenly broke off, as if struck by a powerful thought.


    I raised my eyebrow, watching as Eldric began to pace nervously in place, his face contorted with tense, unreadable emotion. He muttered something under his breath, his hands clenching and then relaxing in a nervous gesture.


    "A miserable curse¡­" I heard a quiet whisper. "A power that cannot be tamed¡­ Is it really the only way?"


    He suddenly stopped, his gaze darkening. There was a stark conflict within him. Here was Eldric¡ªa powerful Lord, now degraded to a mere disembodied existence¡ªcontemplating whether he truly wished to be resurrected by means of a power that, throughout his life, he had regarded as the degeneration of the Lords.


    "It should not exist¡­" he finally said, more to himself than to me. "But¡­ I have seen what that damned Tower can do. Am I really ready to become something like that?" He clenched his jaw and then shook his head, as if trying to dispel those thoughts. "If that''s the only way¡­"


    "You¡­ you can use the Chaos Tower," he eventually declared, his eyes fixed on it. "You can transfer data into it."


    "Well¡­ yes," I replied cautiously. "But what are you getting at?"


    A gleam flashed across Eldric''s face¡ªa gleam I could have sworn I had seen before among merchants when they stumbled upon a brilliant scheme.


    "You can resurrect me."


    I blinked, unsure if I had misheard.


    "What?" I asked.


    "If the Chaos Tower creates beings based on data¡­ and I am nothing more than a fragment of consciousness, that means I can be reconstructed. You just need to transfer my data into the Tower, and it will do the rest."Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    I took a deep breath, trying to process this new information.


    "Even if that''s true," I said slowly, "why should I do that?"


    Eldric offered a half-smile.


    "Because I can give you something in return. Access to the Trial."


    I squinted.


    "Trial?"


    "Only those who have conquered all nine floors of the Tower can enter it," he explained. "But I can get you in."


    I bit my lip.


    "And what am I supposed to find there?"


    "Title," declared Lord Eldric. "I created this Tower to pass on my legacy to the one who inherits it. I wanted my heir to have a solid foundation for the future, so I tied it to access to the Trial. If you complete it, you will earn a unique title that will set you apart from the other Lords."


    I remained silent for a moment, weighing his words.


    "So it''s simple," Eldric added, folding his arms. "You will take my data to the Chaos Tower and create a new version of me. And in exchange, I''ll grant you access to the Trial."


    I watched him for a long moment, feeling a growing irritation.


    "Wait, wait..." I raised my hand, frowning. "You get a second chance at life, and in return I get nothing but some title? That''s hardly a fair trade. Resurrecting someone is worth a bit more than entering some Trial, don''t you think?"


    Eldric looked at me, raising an eyebrow, his face adopting an expression of indulgent irritation.


    "Some title?" he snorted. "You don''t understand its value. Every completed Trial upgrades that title, increasing all your stats by five points. It may seem small to you, but that''s not all. If you complete all the Trials, you''ll receive the ultimate bonus¡ªa permanent 30% boost to all your stats."


    He fixed me with a steady gaze, noticing that I still wasn''t convinced.


    "Imagine you have a thousand points in every stat. And then suddenly, thanks to that title, your stats rise to thirteen hundred. At that level, you are unbeatable against someone who hasn''t completed the Trials. This isn''t just about prestige or a reward for the chosen; it''s a fundamental difference that determines who rules and who perishes."


    He stepped a bit closer, his eyes flashing with stern determination.


    "This title is the key. Every completed Trial makes its power grow, and all your stats increase by five points. It''s not just a reward; it''s a tool for building true might. If you complete every Trial, you''ll not only gain an upgrade but also the ultimate bonus¡ªa 30% increase to all your stats."


    "Imagine," Eldric continued, looking at me intently, "that you have a thousand points in every stat, like most Lords. With this title, you''ll have thirteen hundred. At that level, no one who hasn''t completed the Trials stands a chance against you. It''s the difference between mediocrity and dominance."


    He fixed his gaze on me, his voice ringing with stern certainty. "This title is not merely a symbol; it is the foundation that makes a Lord a true force to be reckoned with."


    I pressed my lips together, analyzing his words. If what he was saying was true, then it really wasn''t just any title. Every Lord in the world strove to increase their stats, and an additional 30% was a colossal difference. Lords fought each other to the death; the balance of power was never even¡ªand he was offering me an advantage that no one else could obtain.


    But was it worth the price I had to pay? Resurrecting someone like Eldric... I was risking the creation of a powerful ally or an enemy I would never be able to control. I wasn''t naive.


    Nevertheless, that title¡ªits value was undeniable. Such an increase in stats would give me an advantage that no one else could achieve by any other means. In a world where everyone fought for power, where even a single point could decide life or death, a 30% boost was a chasm.


    "Alright," I finally said. "I agree."


    Yet deep down, I knew that nothing compelled me to keep my promise. I could complete the Trials, earn the title, and simply... not input his data into the Chaos Tower. Eldric had no guarantee that I would keep my word, and I had no intention of risking the resurrection of someone who might pose a threat to me.


    Eldric smiled broadly, as if he had just won a game whose rules only he knew. Before I could say anything, a system notification appeared before my eyes:


    [SYSTEM]


    Contract Agreement:


    Parties: Lord Eldric & Lady Ashira


    Content: Lord Eldric grants Lady Ashira access to the Trial. In exchange, Lady Ashira will transfer his data to the Chaos Tower and use it to create a new being.


    Do you accept the terms? [YES] / [NO]


    I grimaced, casting a sharp look at Eldric. Of course, something like this had to happen. For a moment, I really thought I could trick him like a preschooler swindling candy. Naivety. Lords are not fools, and Eldric was undoubtedly not about to leave anything to chance.


    I sighed softly, feeling my irritation grow. After a moment of hesitation, with little choice left, I extended my hand and accepted the terms of the contract. After all, the title was still worth it...


    The agreement was made.


    The termination of the contract by either party will result in immediate execution.


    I froze, a cold shiver running down my spine. Immediate execution? The system truly left no room for manipulation. I glanced at Eldric, who continued smiling as if he took pleasure in my reaction.


    "Something wrong?" he asked with undisguised mockery.


    "You really leave nothing to chance, do you?" I snapped, clenching my fists. "I should have expected that."


    "Of course," he replied with a shrug. "If I''m going to give you such a valuable reward, I must be sure that you uphold your part of the deal."


    I rolled my eyes, though inside I was furious. In an instant, my plan to withdraw from the contract without consequences crumbled to dust.


    Suddenly, I felt an intense pulsing of energy around me. The air thickened, as if space itself were reacting to the agreement. Eldric raised his hand, and a spark of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.


    "It''s time to begin," he announced, and his voice echoed around us.


    The ground beneath my feet began to tremble. The air glowed with a gentle, golden light, and before me a monumental gate appeared, covered in ancient symbols that pulsed with raw energy.


    "Soon you will find out if you are truly worthy of this power," Eldric added, a trace of amusement in his voice.


    I gazed at the gate as it slowly took shape before me, and an increasing tension surged within. There was no turning back.


    I glanced at Eldric one last time. In his eyes flickered a mixture of satisfaction and something I could not quite decipher.


    I didn''t intend to ponder it further. Clenching my fists, I took a deep breath and stepped forward, crossing the threshold of the gate.

 Chapter 24: Itch Trial

    Eldric watched as the gate closed behind Ashira, allowing himself a brief moment of introspection. It wasn¡¯t the first time he had seen someone step through that gate, yet despite the passing years, the same feeling always accompanied him¡ªa quiet nostalgia mixed with a hint of bitterness. The Trial was eternal, immutable, and indifferent to those who dared to undertake it. People came and went, but it endured like an unceasing ritual for those brave enough to face its challenges.


    How many times had he witnessed that moment already? How many hopeful, ambitious candidates had passed through that portal, believing that fate was on their side? Eldric could scarcely count them all, but one thing was certain¡ªthe Trial held no sentiment. It accepted everyone equally, caring not whether someone was exceptional or merely average. It simply did what it was meant to do.


    He sighed softly, crossing his arms. Ashira was now alone. There was nothing he could do for her. He stared at the sealed gate, his thoughts drifting back to the past.


    Memories slowly returned to him, like a soft echo from days gone by. In his family, the Trial was more than just a mere test¡ªit was a ritual, a tool of selection, the ultimate examination for those deemed worthy of bearing their name. Access was not a gift; it was something one had to earn. Eldric recalled how he himself had to devote years to preparation, earn the favor of his elders, and prove his worth. Merely being allowed into the Trial was evidence of extraordinary talent.


    Those who failed were neither punished nor cast aside, yet they were not forgotten either. They simply ceased to matter. They were no longer considered potential heirs or individuals worth nurturing. Instead, they became tools¡ªservants of the family, soldiers, advisors¡ªbut never the very foundation of it.


    The four Trials were designed to separate the truly talented from those who not only possessed talent but also the mindset of a victor. The Itch Trial tested one¡¯s endurance against a minor yet persistent discomfort. The Physical Pain Trial exposed the body to sheer suffering, forcing one to endure despite the lure of immediate relief. The Mental Pain Trial altered one¡¯s very perception of reality, confining the mind in a realm of agony. The Absolute Solitude Trial stripped away all stimuli, condemning the participant to an emptiness that proved to be the most grueling test of all.


    Each Trial eliminated those who could not withstand the ordeal¡ªthose who possessed talent but could not bear the burden of being a Lord. Only those with something more than mere strength, with an indomitable spirit, could progress.


    And then there was the Final Trial¡ªthe Betrayal Trial. It was a meticulously engineered trap, a test that offered the greatest bonus, an enhancement of incomparable power¡­ but it came at a steep price. The family regarded it as the ultimate culling¡ªa means to separate the loyal from those who craved power above all else. Those who passed it proved they were willing to sacrifice everything for their own might.


    They weren¡¯t expelled or punished; rather, they ceased to be part of the clan. They were deemed unworthy to sit at the table of power, unworthy of trust¡ªand yet they became extremely valuable tools. Their enhanced statistics rendered them formidable, their determination made them effective, and their lack of loyalty meant they could be deployed in situations where true family members would never be sent. They became the blades that could be directed wherever needed.


    However, those who resisted that temptation were the most prized by the family. They needed not only determination but also the mindset to forsake unimaginable power in order to remain true to their comrades. The family sought not only those ready to betray¡ªequally valued was the discovery of those who, even in the face of the greatest temptation, could say "no." For they were the true foundation of the clan, its real strength.


    He raised an eyebrow slightly, and a barely perceptible smile curved his lips.


    "Let''s see what kind of Lord you are," he murmured to himself, not taking his eyes off the portal.


    ***


    Ashira POV


    The moment I stepped through the portal, everything around me vanished. There was no sound, no light, not even the sensation of falling. Simply¡­ emptiness. I felt as if I were suspended in an endless void.


    [System] First Trial Initiated.


    The words resonated in my mind as if the system itself were whispering in my ear. The air suddenly grew heavier, and the surrounding darkness began to brighten. In an instant, I found myself in a white room¡ªwithout windows, without doors, without any point of reference. Only an immaculate, sterile space.


    [System] Itch Trial


    Victory Condition: Endure until the end.


    I blinked. Is that all? Nothing more? No monsters, traps, or opponents?


    For the first few seconds, nothing happened. Then I felt a slight tingling on my skin¡ªinitially gentle, barely noticeable, like a single ant crawling along my shoulder.


    I raised my hand and scratched my shoulder. For a fraction of a second, I felt relief, but then the itch returned¡ªstronger and far more irritating. It spread over a larger area, as if my touch had merely awakened a hidden fire beneath my skin.


    Instinct urged me to raise my hand again, but I held back. It was just a mild itch¡ªnothing I couldn¡¯t ignore.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    Seconds passed, and the sensation began to intensify. The tingling transformed into a searing itch that spread over my hands and neck. With every moment, it grew worse¡ªas if someone were dusting my skin with millions of microscopic needles.


    I could have scratched, but when I tried, the itch intensified even further, as if my skin had remembered every touch and retaliated with a double dose of suffering.


    I gritted my teeth. Now I understood what this Trial was all about. I could scratch, yet every time I did, the itch spread further, amplifying the agony. It wasn¡¯t a simple test of endurance¡ªit was a trap for the mind, forcing me to fight against my own instincts.


    At first, there was only a slight change. The skin on my hands appeared a bit lighter, as if it were subtly taut. Then something twitched¡ªa barely perceptible ripple beneath the surface. My breath caught in my throat. For a second, I tried to convince myself it was just an illusion, but then came the next sign¡ªa more distinct movement, as if something was shifting under my skin, crawling, trying to find a way out.


    Tiny, writhing shapes moved beneath my skin, slowly sliding along my forearms, climbing onto my shoulders, and reaching up to my neck. My heart raced, and my breath became shallow. Every movement of those shapes made the itch erupt in waves of unbearable discomfort, like thousands of tiny creatures seeking an escape, crawling just beneath the surface.


    I recoiled suddenly, trying to shake off the sensation, but it was everywhere. My hands trembled, and my muscles tensed in a desperate attempt to hold back the movement I so desperately craved¡ªscratching. My skin burned, itched, and pulsed, as if something lived within it.


    A choked gasp escaped my throat, and my hands moved of their own accord toward my arms. At the last moment, I pulled my fingers back, feeling my instinct clash with my reason. I had to stop it, but I couldn¡¯t¡ªI knew that if I began, I wouldn¡¯t be able to cease.


    My body begged for relief, but my mind screamed: don''t do it.


    No, it couldn¡¯t be real.


    It isn¡¯t real.


    I knew it, yet my mind refused to listen. My entire body screamed, demanding relief. Every nerve pleaded for me to end this nightmare.


    Scratching did nothing. Every touch only deepened the illusion¡ªI felt my skin pulsating under my fingers, as if something were trying to break free.


    My fingers clenched into fists, my nails digging into my palms, all in a vain effort to suppress the instinctive urge. Time seemed to slow down. Seconds stretched into eternity.


    I couldn¡¯t breathe.


    The world around me pulsed in an erratic rhythm, as if it were losing its shape. The itch was omnipresent¡ªa fire that seared my skin, gnawing at every cell of my body. Every nerve screamed, demanding relief.


    Beneath my eyelids, I felt a feverish pulse. My skin trembled in convulsions, and my senses split into two realities at war with each other. My mind pleaded for reason, but my instinct roared: SCRATCH.


    I couldn¡¯t. I couldn¡¯t give in. I already knew it was a trap¡ªevery movement only worsened the situation, and now I felt the line between illusion and reality beginning to blur.


    [System] Warning! Psychological stress threshold exceeded 75%. Level continues to rise.


    My breath grew shallow, as if I were breathing through a narrow slit. Everything around me seemed to contract, confining me within a tight space filled with an itching nightmare.


    Scratching was the only thought in my head. Scratch. I had to do it. Just a little. Maybe then it would stop.


    No. It was a trap. I knew it.


    My fingers moved against my will. Sharp nails scraped along my skin, slicing through the air, ready to dig into my flesh. I had to restrain myself. I had to¡­ But the itch pulsed on, and the pain grew¡ªreal, tangible, unbearable.


    [System] Psychological stress level has risen to 80%. Illusion symptoms are intensifying.


    I felt something new.


    My skin began to move.


    No, not the skin¡ªwhat lay beneath it.


    Something was shifting, crawling along my bones. I blinked, but it didn¡¯t help. It was real. I felt something pushing beneath my nails, along my arms, as if it were trying to break free.


    My breath caught in my throat. Scratch. I had to. It was no longer about seeking relief¡ªsomething had to emerge from within.


    I recoiled abruptly; my legs refused to obey me. I collapsed to my knees, my hands clenched into fists, my nails digging into my skin in a desperate attempt to hold back the inevitable.


    No. This cannot be real.


    [System] Psychological stress level has risen to 90%. Critical threshold reached.


    A deep inhale. One.


    An exhale. Two.


    However, it achieved nothing. The itch pulsed like a living, separate entity, drilling into my nerves. The visions grew more intense¡ªI saw the skin on my hands crack, and from beneath it emerged thin, black threads. This isn¡¯t real.


    My world spun. My mind fought for control, but my instinct screamed for relief:


    "Scratch yourself."


    No.


    I couldn¡¯t do it.


    This was the Trial¡ªa test of willpower. I could have surrendered and let the sensation consume me¡­ or I could endure it.


    Without looking at anything else, I closed my eyes. I focused on something simple: my breathing. On one point in my body that wasn¡¯t touched by the suffering¡ªmy heart.


    Thump. Thump. Thump.


    I am here. I am alive. This is just an illusion.


    Inhale.


    For a moment, the itch subsided.


    Exhale.


    For a fraction of a second, I felt silence.


    When I opened my eyes, the illusion was still there, but something had changed. My mind no longer reacted to it in the same way. It was no longer real¡ªit had lost its grip.


    [System] Psychological stress level drops to 85%.


    Once again. Inhale. Exhale.


    The images in my head began to blur, like tracks in the sand washed away by waves. The visions lost their clarity, as if my brain had finally begun rejecting the false stimuli.


    [System] Psychological stress level drops to 70%.


    It was working.


    I stopped fighting. I allowed the illusion to exist, but I refused to give it control.


    I didn¡¯t ignore the pain¡ªI accepted it.


    [System] Psychological stress level drops to 50%.


    I didn¡¯t run from the itch. I didn¡¯t scratch. I simply let it be, letting it flow through my body like a wave that would eventually recede.


    The chaos in my mind gradually quieted, like waves receding after a storm. The illusion weakened until it finally vanished completely.


    [System] Psychological stress level dropped to 0%. Trial completed successfully.


    I collapsed to my knees, gasping for air. My entire body ached, as if I had truly endured real torture. Sweat drenched my forehead, my hair clung to my skin, and my hands trembled.


    I lifted my gaze, and the white room slowly began to fade, as if it were merely a shadow of reality. My eyes sparkled with exhaustion, yet a faint, triumphant smile appeared at the corners of my mouth.


    When I blinked, the world around me spun, and then suddenly everything went silent. There was no more white room, no more illusion, no more itch. I was once again suspended in that same void I had found myself in before the Trial¡ªshapeless, without boundaries, merely adrift in nothingness.


    [System] Congratulations! Trial completed successfully. Title "Unyielding Will - First Degree" acquired.

 Chapter 25: Trial completed successfully

    [System] The Second Trial has begun.


    I hadn¡¯t even caught my breath after the nightmare that was the Itching Trial when the world around me shifted once more. I found myself again in that same sterile, white room. There were no windows or doors¡ªonly smooth walls whose surface seemed to pulse with a strange, immaterial energy. The air was muffled, as if absorbing all sound, and a faint scent of something indefinable¡ªperhaps metal, perhaps ash¡ªirritated my senses. For a moment, I felt as if the surroundings were contracting, as if they were trying to engulf me.


    [System] Physical Pain Trial


    Victory condition: Endure.


    "Endure?!" I thought, feeling tension beginning to seize my body. I didn¡¯t yet know what awaited me, but my intuition warned that it was not something to be ignored.


    For a long while, nothing happened. My heart pounded wildly, waiting for a blow that never came. Every second of waiting stretched on, intensifying the tension. Then, suddenly, I felt a strange tingling spreading through my muscles. It was barely perceptible, yet carried something ominous.


    Then it struck.


    The blow came so suddenly that I couldn¡¯t even scream. It wasn¡¯t an ordinary hit¡ªit was as if an invisible force thrust me into the very epicenter of pain. I felt every particle of my body burst in spasms of searing agony, as if my innards had been suddenly turned inside out. I couldn¡¯t move; I couldn¡¯t breathe¡ªthe entire world had contracted into pure, brutal agony that I couldn¡¯t comprehend.


    At first, there was only a jolt, as if something had shattered in my chest, but then the pain exploded throughout my body, tearing me to pieces. It didn¡¯t matter where it began, for it was everywhere. Every muscle, every bone pulsed with an agony I couldn¡¯t pinpoint, yet I felt it in every cell.


    At first, I could only gasp, unable to draw breath. But as successive waves of pain surged through my body, I eventually let out a scream. An echo tore from my throat¡ªraw and terrifying¡ªreverberating off the sterile walls, filling the space with the sound of pure agony. Another ragged scream burst from my lungs as my body instinctively tried to expel that unimaginable suffering. But there was no escape. Every breath, every second stretched into infinity, turning the world into one vast sea of pain.


    My body convulsed reflexively, trying to flee, but there was nowhere to go. It was a closed loop of torture governed by a single law: pain.


    [System] Pain level increased by 10%.


    "It won''t end..."


    I felt panic rising in my mind¡ªoverwhelming, pure, primal fear. I was like an animal caught in a trap, a being stripped of any choice. I had no means to defend myself, nothing to rely on¡ªit wasn¡¯t a fight; it was pure survival.


    The pain erupted within me like a raging blaze. I felt my bones shattering, my ligaments stretching to their limits. Every fiber of my body screamed for relief, yet I knew it would never come.


    [System] Pain level increased by 20%.


    The pain was endless. It throbbed in my body like an incessant rhythm, offering no respite. Every second stretched into eternity, and I drifted on the edge of madness, unable to find escape. My body seemed to lose its shape, merging with pure suffering¡ªas if reality had been reduced to a single, brutal emotion: pain.


    There was no time, no boundaries. It was an endless night filled with searing impulses that redefined my very existence. I tried to fight, to regain control, but with every blow the light of my mind dimmed.


    I was nothing but pain.


    I no longer knew where I ended and the agony began. My mind was drowning in an endless ocean of suffering, my thoughts shattering like fragile glass. It seemed that nothing existed beyond this¡ªuntil, suddenly, amidst the chaos, a single spark of consciousness appeared.


    At first, it was only a barely perceptible twitch deep within my mind. It wasn¡¯t relief, but something else¡ªa moment when you realize that you¡¯re drowning, yet still breathing. Gradually, that feeling grew, like a quiet whisper in a chamber full of screams.


    I am not powerless. I am not merely a tool of pain.


    Pain is something I can understand. Something I can control.


    I couldn¡¯t change reality, but I could change the way I perceived it.


    Breath. One. Two.


    I began to breathe. Slowly. Deeply. I no longer resisted the pain¡ªI allowed it to be. I didn¡¯t fight it, for it was inevitable.


    I was not a victim. I was an observer.


    [System] Pain level stabilized.


    It hadn¡¯t vanished, but it no longer controlled me. It was like a river¡ªraging, brutal, yet flowing in its own current. And me? I was a stone, unmoving, enduring.


    Time ceased to exist. It could have been a few seconds or a few hours¡ªit didn¡¯t matter. I was here and now. I simply was.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    And then everything fell silent.


    [System] Trial completed successfully.


    The pain ebbed away like a tide returning to the sea, leaving behind only an echo trembling somewhere within my body. My breath was still ragged, my heart pounding too fast, and my body felt lighter¡ªas if, for a moment, I had been detached from reality.


    I staggered, my knees buckling beneath me, and the ground became my only point of support. Shivers raced over me, like a memory of pain that was no more. I looked at my hands, expecting to find marks of torture, but they were intact¡ªthey only trembled, as if their owner were still unsure whether she had survived.


    I did it. I survived.


    [System] Title Earned: "Unyielding Will - Second Degree"


    Before I could gather my thoughts, everything around me blurred once again. I felt myself falling into emptiness, as my soul prepared for the next challenge.


    It was time for another trial.


    [System] The Third Trial has begun.


    Even before the world had fully stabilized, I sensed that something was off. The surroundings changed once again. This time, however, there was no endless void or surreal illusion. I stood in utter darkness. The air was heavy¡ªas if denser than it should be¡ªand the silence around me was so absolute that I could almost hear the beating of my own heart.


    [System] Mental Pain Trial


    Victory condition: Maintain your consciousness.


    I sighed. This time, the system did not impress.


    I had expected something¡­ greater. Something that would break me from the inside. But I knew it wouldn¡¯t work. Not after everything I had been through. Not after the first encounter with the Eye of Chaos.


    The first waves of mental pain struck me¡ªor rather, they tried to. I felt a familiar pulsation in my head, as if someone were forcefully trying to pour a million things into my mind at once. The void filled with chaotic images¡ªflickering lights, incoherent thoughts, sounds too intense to make sense.


    It was exactly the same as when I first opened the Eye of Chaos. It nearly destroyed me. Nearly.


    But now?


    I sighed, almost bored. I focused, allowing the chaos to flow through me like a stream of water¡ªneither resisting it nor attempting to control it. This was my reality. This was the world in which I lived. My mind had become a part of that chaos.


    [System] Mental Disintegration Level ¨C 0%


    "Really?" I whispered to myself.


    The voices that were meant to break me merely bounced off my consciousness, having no impact on my will. The system tried to increase the intensity of the effects, but I felt the same as I did every day when I used the Eye of Chaos.


    I couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    [System] Error... no reaction from subject to pain.


    For a moment, it felt as though the system itself did not understand what was happening¡ªas if it had never encountered someone who did not react to this form of torture. Its mechanisms tried to adjust the intensity, but it was already too late.


    The trial was merely a formality.


    [System] Trial completed successfully.


    [System] Title Earned: "Unyielding Will - Third Degree"


    I blinked. Was that all?


    The surroundings immediately returned to normal, and I stood in the same darkness¡ªbut I already knew: it was over. Another trial completed. Without a fight. Without suffering.


    There was something almost satisfying in how much I had changed. How the pain that once broke me was now incapable of even ruffling me.


    [System] The Fourth Trial has begun.


    There was no change at all.


    There was no shock, no sudden strike of pain, nor any rupture of reality. Simply¡­ everything vanished.


    There was no sound. No light. No wind, no scent, no temperature.


    There was nothing.


    The void was omnipresent, absolute. It couldn¡¯t be called darkness, for darkness exists only in relation to light. This place was something more¡ªit was nonexistence. Not even I existed.


    My breath? I couldn¡¯t hear it. My heartbeat? Silence.


    I tried to move, but I couldn¡¯t feel my body. There was no pain, no fatigue, no heaviness in my muscles¡ªbut there was no lightness either. I was suspended in nothingness, in a void where absolutely nothing existed.


    [System] Trial of Absolute Solitude


    Victory condition: Survive. Do not lose yourself.


    At first, I thought it was just another formality. That if I had already endured physical and mental pain, solitude would hold no power over me. I was wrong.


    Time passed¡­ how much? Seconds? Minutes? Hours? There was no measure of time, no point of reference. I tried to concentrate, to find anything that resembled reality, but every thought, every attempt to make sense of something, dissolved into nothingness.


    I couldn¡¯t concentrate.


    I couldn¡¯t think.


    I couldn¡¯t¡­


    [System] Phase Two ¨C Consciousness Disintegration.


    My thoughts began to scatter. Individual images, memories, sensations¡ªeverything started to dissolve like ink spilled into water. I tried to grasp them, but the harder I tried, the faster they vanished. I was ceasing to be myself.


    "That''s not me."


    The words sounded foreign, as if they didn¡¯t belong to me.


    [System] Phase Three ¨C Identity Severance.


    I felt the light of my existence gradually fading, as my own thoughts grew quieter, weaker, until eventually I began to wonder¡­ did I even exist?


    It was a trap. Perfectly constructed. It held no pain, no torture¡ªonly a void to which no one could resist.


    No one.


    Not even me.


    No¡­ I couldn¡¯t allow it.


    But who was I, really? Who¡­


    [System] Disintegration Level ¨C 75%.


    And then¡­ something stirred within me. It was chaos¡ªthe kind I knew.


    I did not summon it consciously. I couldn¡¯t. But as my consciousness crumbled and the void nearly engulfed me, something trembled within the very fabric of that reality, as if something deep inside me refused to submit to the rules of the system.


    The void was not the natural state of chaos. Chaos pulsed, shifted, shattered stagnation. And I¡­ I was a part of it.


    The trembling grew stronger. The air¡ªwhich wasn¡¯t even there¡ªsuddenly seemed to crackle. Along the edges of my shattered mind, cracks began to dance, barely perceptible, like unstable waves in reality. Chaos repelled the stagnation of the void, challenging its very existence.


    [System] Anomaly detected. Attempting stabilization.


    No.


    I will not. I won¡¯t surrender to the void.


    I couldn¡¯t control the chaos, but I could allow it to be. I stopped fighting. Instead, I took a deep¡ªthough unreal¡ªbreath and accepted what was happening around me. I allowed the chaos to shatter the void.


    And then¡­ something inside me broke. Not the world, not the void¡ªme. Something in my consciousness shattered into pieces, scattering into the emptiness.


    The silence shattered like glass. In an instant, everything returned¡ªmy body, my senses, gravity, sound, light. I collapsed to my knees, taking my first true breath as if I had emerged from deep water.


    [System] Trial completed successfully.


    I trembled. Not from cold, not from exhaustion¡ªbut from a pure, primal instinct to survive.


    I had made it.


    But this time¡­ it could truly have broken me.


    [SYSTEM] Understanding of the Law of Chaos increased.


    Progress: 5%


    [System] Title Earned: "Unyielding Will - Fourth Degree"

 Chapter 26: Had I always been this strong?

    Warm rays of sunlight gently caressed my face, forcing my eyelids to flutter open. Soft bedding wrapped around my body pleasantly, and somewhere in the distance I heard familiar, everyday sounds¡ªthe rustle of the wind, the creak of wooden planks, the gentle clatter of a cup being set on a table.


    I blinked, instinctively reaching out as if to grasp something.


    It was¡­ strange.


    The last thing I remember is¡­


    I furrowed my brows, but before I could recall anything, I heard a familiar voice.


    "Finally, you woke up. I was beginning to think I¡¯d have to douse you with water."


    I lifted my head, looking at Darius sitting across from me. A slight smile played on his face, and his figure was so¡­ natural. As if everything were exactly as it should be. As if¡­ nothing had happened.


    I blinked again. Slowly. Far too slowly.


    "How are you feeling?" he asked, and concern shone in his eyes.


    I didn¡¯t answer right away. Something was off. This place. This moment. It¡­


    I looked around the room, feeling a strange pang of unease. We were in a shelter, but something about this scene didn¡¯t fit. I shouldn¡¯t have been returning here. The last time we parted, I had headed toward the source of water, and Darius had returned here. So why was I here with him now, as if we¡¯d never been separated? Was it some kind of illusion?


    Everything looked natural. An old, wooden table, a few crates in the corner, a fire dying down in the hearth. I could feel the warmth, the scent of wood, a slight pressure in my muscles after intense exertion. Even Darius looked just as always¡ªsmiling, yet focused, as if ready to fight at any moment.


    "I thought you¡¯d wake up earlier," he said, without interrupting his meal. "We slept longer than usual, but I think you deserved it. That fight really put you through your paces."


    I blinked. Really? Did that make sense? We fought together. We defeated the First Gate. That was certain.


    "Yes¡­" I mumbled. "I''m just a bit¡­ disoriented."


    Darius shrugged.


    "Not surprising. We defeated the Gate, and now we can rest before moving on. The system gave you solid rewards, didn¡¯t it?"


    I opened my status screen, and a familiar window appeared, as always¡ªeverything looked fine. And yet, I felt an undefined unease, as if something was slipping past me.


    Nothing happened.


    My heart began to beat faster. Something was wrong.


    But if it was an illusion, it was a perfect one. Everything here was realistic, crafted down to the smallest detail. My body remembered the fight, yet I felt no fatigue that should have accompanied it.


    I tried to ignore it. Maybe I just needed a moment to recover.


    A few hours later, we stood before another Gate. My body felt light, stronger. The fight began immediately¡ªbeasts leaped from the darkness, but it all seemed to unfold in slow motion.


    One move¡ªand the opponent fell.


    Another¡ªand he vanished before I could even react.


    It was too easy.


    I looked at Darius. He was fighting, but¡­ he was slower. Not as distinctly, not as drastically, but suddenly the difference between us became palpable.


    Had I always been this strong?


    Had we¡­ or had I¡­ always dominated in battle? Perhaps Darius simply wasn¡¯t developing? Maybe I was growing stronger faster than him? And if so¡­ did it even matter?


    I felt no pity. I felt no doubt. I felt only pure, primal excitement. The fight was simple, natural¡ªas if I had finally stepped onto the right path. As if I¡¯d always had the upper hand, but only now had I fully recognized it. It wasn¡¯t a forced feeling, but an instinct.


    I felt an excitement that built with every blow, with every battle. There was something primitive, almost addictive about it¡ªthe feeling of absolute control, the certainty that I could do more, faster, harder. That I was stronger. That I was in command.


    Before us lay more Gates. Each one presented a new obstacle, yet none seemed insurmountable. New challenges, new victories. New levels that I conquered with astonishing ease.


    And I had no intention of stopping.


    Weeks passed. Time flowed inexorably, and every battle became just another step, another test that I passed without hesitation. More Gates fell before me, and the system generously rewarded my efforts.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    [System: Level up.]


    New Skill Acquired.


    Item Received: Ring of Bloody Dominance.


    This became my everyday reality. Opponents were no longer a challenge. I fought instinctively, as if my body knew the answers before I even had a chance to think. I felt every movement becoming more fluid, as if I had finally reached the place where I was always meant to be¡ªat the top.


    Darius¡­ At first he served as a reference point, a measure of my progress. We fought side by side, but now? Now his steps were delayed, his strikes imprecise, and his breath grew heavier. Had I accelerated, or was he simply falling behind?


    At first, I didn¡¯t even notice that he fought less often beside me. He was always a few steps behind. Initially, I assumed it was natural¡ªperhaps he was tired, or it was his way of conserving energy. But over time, the difference became more and more apparent.


    Another Gate.


    I thrust my hands forward, and a wave of energy exploded around me, striking the monsters before they could even move. Every movement I made was fluid, almost intuitive¡ªI cast spells as if they were a part of me. Notifications of experience points filled my field of vision, yet I paid them no mind. Only the fight mattered, flowing through my body and mind like a river.


    Darius fought a few steps behind me. I saw him dodging blows, still trying his best, but¡­ it wasn¡¯t the same anymore. He was slower. He was heavier. As if he clung to me by sheer force of will rather than following his own pace.


    I only stopped when the battle was over. I took a deep breath, filled with satisfaction, while Darius leaned on his sword, catching his breath.


    "Not bad," he said with a smile, but something else flickered in his eyes¡ªperhaps fatigue, perhaps doubt. "You¡­ really sped up."


    I looked at him in silence, and the inner voice that had been so quiet until now began to speak more clearly. Did he really still need me? Or should I stop waiting for him? Had I accelerated? No¡ªhe slowed down. For the first time, this thought formed fully in my mind: I was stronger. Much stronger.


    Did that mean I had always been better than him? Or simply¡­ that he couldn¡¯t keep up?


    [System: Level up]


    Darius did not level up.


    I didn¡¯t comment on it. We moved on, but from that moment on I saw more and more differences. His strikes were slower. His reactions less precise. And I¡­ I no longer waited for him.


    For the first time since we began our journey, I felt weariness. The fight was no longer a challenge. My strength grew at a pace I couldn¡¯t understand, yet I didn¡¯t question it. The system rewarded me for every step. And Darius?


    He was beginning to look like someone who would soon be left behind.


    Perhaps he already was. Or maybe he had never really been on my level, and I was only now noticing it?


    Finally, we reached the largest Gate we had encountered so far. Its dark interior pulsed with an unknown energy, promising the greatest reward we could ever obtain.


    "This¡­ looks different from the others," Darius said, staring into the space before us. "Do you have a bad feeling about it?"


    I didn¡¯t answer immediately. My thoughts were focused elsewhere.


    Could Darius keep up with me? Should I stop and wait for him? This thought was strange, unpleasant. But I couldn¡¯t shake it.


    Would it even matter if I no longer needed him?


    The air was thick with the heavy scent of magic. The Gate before us pulsed with an almost living energy, and its dark surface seemed to absorb the light. I stood at its threshold, feeling a familiar shiver of excitement.


    Darius stood beside me. His breathing was heavy, and I saw tension in his eyes. He didn¡¯t look away from the Gate, but I felt him watching me. Perhaps he was trying to discern some change he couldn¡¯t yet name. Perhaps he had finally realized that we were no longer the same.


    I didn¡¯t wait.


    I stepped through the Gate, and the energy hit me like a wave.


    The battle began immediately. The monsters waiting for us were unlike any we had faced before¡ªstronger, faster, more intelligent. But I, too, was different. I felt power flowing through me without resistance, as if my body and magic had finally become one.


    I saw everything¡ªtheir movements, their weaknesses. Every strike of my magic obliterated them in an instant. I was fast, precise. Powerful.


    Darius fought beside me, but¡­ he was slower. Watching his movements, his fighting style, I began to notice a difference that had previously been only an intuition.


    He hadn¡¯t changed.


    It was I who had become stronger.


    Strikes that once required concentration now came naturally. Spells that needed preparation now formed in a fraction of a second. I was faster, more powerful. And him? Still the same. Still the one trying to catch up with me.


    I didn¡¯t look at him. I focused on the fight, on the next wave of enemies falling before me like marionettes cut by invisible strings.


    [System: Level up]


    New Skill Acquired.


    Everything became so easy.


    And then the thought came.


    There were no longer any challenges for me; no one posed a real threat. I no longer had a worthy rival. And then I saw myself.


    I was sitting on a throne forged from pure energy, looking down at the Lords kneeling before me. Their faces concealed a mixture of fear and admiration. They paid homage to me, acknowledging my strength, my dominance. I was more powerful than ever. There was no one who could stop me. No one could match me. Only I, at the top, beyond the reach of the weak.


    I felt a conclusion forming in my mind. Was all of this¡­ a trial? Did someone really think I might hesitate? That I would consider a choice that had been obvious from the very beginning?


    I snorted with laughter. It was pathetic.


    Power demanded sacrifice. It always had.


    I raised my hand... but then I suddenly hesitated.


    Something was wrong. My mind, brimming with certainty, encountered resistance. The illusion trembled at the edge of reality, and I began to notice its imperfections. The Lords kneeling at my feet were formless; their faces blurred, as if they had never truly existed. The throne on which I sat felt cold, lifeless. This wasn¡¯t true power. It was an imitation.


    Darius looked at me. There was no fear in his eyes, nor was there adoration. Instead, his gaze was calm, almost¡­ certain. As if he, too, had understood something. As if he knew that true power does not lie in solitude.


    Not fear, not anger. But calm. Understanding.


    In that moment, I realized that this trial was not about strength, but about choice. And I had made mine.


    Lowering my hand, I felt the illusion begin to crumble. And with it¡­ the entire false vision of power dissolved.

 Chapter 27: See you in the Chaos Tower

    Darkness receded.


    Before I even opened my eyes, I felt the chill beneath my fingers. A stone floor¡ªhard, rough, real. My body trembled, but not from the cold. I was exhausted, as if I¡¯d been fighting for weeks without pause, even though not even a moment had passed.


    I opened my eyelids. Above me, I saw the familiar vaulted ceiling pulsing with lines of energy. I was back. The Trial was over.


    [System: Trial completed. Failure.]


    I rose cautiously, feeling stiffness in my muscles. Every part of my body remembered the nightmare of all the Trials¡ªthe illusions that nearly consumed me. I reached deep into my consciousness, into the place where, during each Trial, I had been subjected to extreme experiences¡ªpain, solitude, the illusion of power. I found nothing there but an echo of those sensations. I felt traces of suffering in my body, suffering that was never real, yet had left its mark on my mind.


    [System: Opportunity for full completion of the Trial lost.] [System: Title "Unyielding Will ¨C Fourth Degree" acquired.]


    I bit my lip, letting the words roll through my consciousness. The final moments of the Trial, that illusion of power¡ªthey were all meant to break me. Had I chosen a different path, perhaps I wouldn¡¯t have even noticed that I had fallen into a trap.


    I didn¡¯t view it as a failure. It was my choice¡ªa conscious decision. My mind remained clear, and if I had to face it again, I would do the same without a shadow of doubt.


    "You''re back faster than I thought."


    I looked up. Eldric was standing a few steps away, leaning nonchalantly against one of the stone columns. He looked pleased, but there was something else in his gaze¡ªsomething I couldn¡¯t quite decipher.


    "Is something wrong?" I asked cautiously.


    "On the contrary." He smiled slightly, though there was something hard to read in his eyes. "The Betrayal Trial isn¡¯t a simple test of strength. It¡¯s a choice that defines who you become. Most choose power, discarding everything else. Others cannot make a decision and eventually lose themselves."


    I clenched my hands, feeling the weight of his words.


    "And what about me?"


    Eldric studied me intently.


    "You rejected the illusion of power, but that doesn¡¯t mean loyalty comes without a price. Lords act according to their own interests, but their strength doesn¡¯t derive solely from individual might¡ªit comes from their alliances, their trust, and shared goals. Betrayal isn¡¯t merely an act against an individual¡ªit undermines the entire structure upon which their existence is built."


    "Everyone who becomes a Lord must understand this. It¡¯s not about fear or duty, but the awareness that true power is more than just the strength of an individual. It¡¯s the ability to sustain relationships that withstand the test of time."Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    He paused, looking at me intently.


    "Lords who betray perish¡ªnot because they are weaker, but because they stand alone. Power that no one supports is an illusion, and you have just understood that."


    I clenched my hands again. For a moment, I wondered how many Lords had faced the same choice, how many had made the decision consciously and how many had bowed under pressure. It wasn¡¯t about who failed, but who truly understood what it meant to be a Lord.


    "So what now?" I asked, gazing at him.


    Eldric stepped away from the column and moved toward me.


    "The Trial was only a test," he said slowly. "But its reward isn¡¯t merely symbolic. It has given you a title and allowed you to better understand what true power is."


    "Loyalty and betrayal are two sides of the same coin," he continued. "Only the strong can decide which side they stand on. If you are weak, others will decide for you. Power requires not only strength but also control over your own fate."


    Eldric smiled mysteriously.


    "This is only the beginning. Your choice has shown that you¡¯re driven by more than mere ambition. But loyalty without strength is an empty word. If you aren¡¯t strong enough, your decisions will lose their meaning because others will make them for you."


    He looked at me carefully, as if weighing my potential.


    "You must understand that power isn¡¯t just about making decisions¡ªit¡¯s about the consequences that follow. Are you ready for what your choice means?"


    I froze.


    He meant our agreement¡ªthe resurrection of him through the Chaos Tower. Now that the illusion had ended and reality had taken on clear contours once more, what once seemed like a mere theoretical possibility had become a real decision.


    I smiled slightly, looking up at Eldric.


    "Of course I know the decision I¡¯ve made," I replied calmly. "And I¡¯m ready to face its consequences."


    Eldric smiled lightly, as if he had expected that answer.


    "Very well," he said, though his gaze grew penetrating. "You know my opinion about those who once ruled the Chaos Tower. History has shown what they were capable of¡ªhow their lust for power and foolishness led to destruction. I will not allow that to happen again."


    He paused, his gaze fixed on me with a disquieting intensity.


    "Aren''t you afraid that if you continue down the same path, I will be forced to stop you? That I might decide it¡¯s better to destroy you before you share their fate?"


    For a moment, his expression grew somber.


    I smiled lightly, keeping my eyes on him.


    "I''m not afraid," I replied calmly. "These Trials have shown me much, and above all, they have allowed me to better understand who you are. I know that you won''t kill me simply because I possess an object that once, in the wrong hands, led to destruction. It is not power that makes someone a monster, but the way it is wielded."


    I smiled again, looking him straight in the eyes.


    "And even if one day you deem me a threat, remember that to kill me, you must be stronger."


    Eldric raised an eyebrow, and a trace of amusement flickered across his face¡ªas if my words both amused and intrigued him.


    He burst into laughter, his voice echoing off the stone walls. Shaking his head, amusement sparkled in his eyes.


    "A little girl has earned a title and thinks she can throw down challenges," he said sarcastically, though there was more to his tone than mere mockery. "I''ve seen many who believed that sheer self-confidence could change the world. Most of them didn''t make it to the end of their story."


    He fell silent for a moment, then looked at me intently.


    "Well, I suppose this marks the end of our little chat," he sighed with a hint of amusement.


    His body began to fade, as if he were slowly losing substance, and a strange stone pulsing with a pale light appeared in his hand. He handed it to me without a word, and when I touched it, I felt an odd warmth spreading across my skin.


    "The energy that sustained me here is fading. I have transferred the data of my existence into this stone," he explained calmly. "See you in the Chaos Tower."

 Chapter 28: It was time to see what the next step would bring.

    Warm water lazily caressed the banks of the spring, as if nothing had happened. The air was calm and undisturbed, the only sound the gentle murmur of the surrounding nature. Ashira opened her eyes, suddenly jolted back to reality.


    She stood exactly where she had dived moments before. The water around her was still, and the world seemed frozen in time¡ªas if nothing had changed. Yet her mind remained awash with memories¡ªof pain, solitude, and the illusions she had endured in the Tower of Heritage. For a moment, she could hardly believe it was over.


    She glanced aside and spotted the robe she had acquired during her battle with the boss of the Gate. It still lay exactly where she¡¯d left it. Reaching for it, she draped it over her shoulders and felt the familiar pulsing of magical energy. The fabric was soft yet sturdy, as if ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.


    "Did Eldric really think I''d resurrect him immediately?" she muttered under her breath.


    The system did not provide her with a specific timeframe¡ªonly that she was required to do it.


    But did she really have to hurry? No. It was better to approach the situation with caution, to bide her time until she was strong enough to bring him back.


    Without wasting another moment, she headed toward the Shelter. Every step on the soft earth felt both familiar and strangely alien.


    When she arrived, she saw Darius leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, as though he had been waiting for her return all along.


    "You came back quickly," he remarked, looking up at her.


    Ashira stopped, frowning. Quickly? In her mind, days¡ªperhaps even weeks¡ªhad passed since she had entered the tower.


    "How long has it been?" she asked cautiously.


    Darius shrugged. "Maybe an hour. I never thought one could bathe for so long."


    Her heart pounded. So that¡¯s it? The whole nightmare¡ªall the trials, the pain, and the loneliness¡­ did it all happen in the blink of an eye? She felt as if she had lost touch with reality, yet she couldn¡¯t deny that the experience had left its mark.


    Taking a deep breath, she fixed Darius with a serious gaze.


    "We need to talk. There are many things you must know."


    Darius straightened up, recognizing the gravity in her tone. Though he didn¡¯t yet understand what had transpired, he knew this was no ordinary bath.


    "Alright then," he replied, gesturing toward the interior of the Shelter. "This is going to be a long conversation."


    Ashira nodded, ready to recount everything she had experienced¡ªand to decide what to do next.


    ***


    When Ashira finished her story, silence fell over the Shelter. Darius rested his elbows on the table, studying her intently.


    "So you¡¯re saying the system put you through something that lasted an hour for me, but for you it was days of trials? And then there¡¯s Eldric¡­ if I understand correctly, you have the ability to resurrect him, but you don¡¯t have to do it right away?" he summarized, frowning.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Ashira nodded. "Exactly. That¡¯s precisely why I¡¯m not rushing into any hasty decisions. I still don¡¯t know whether he can be trusted."


    Darius sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Honestly? It¡¯s incredibly complicated. But it appears that your Tower of Chaos has far more potential than anyone ever imagined. If Eldric was telling the truth, he might possess knowledge that could help you."


    Ashira clenched her fists. "I know. And that¡¯s exactly why I need to think it all through."


    Darius sighed again and looked at her seriously.


    "In my opinion, you should resurrect him immediately," he said. "He might be dangerous, but he¡¯ll start at level one¡ªjust like the rest of us. Besides, you can¡¯t be sure he¡¯ll remain the same person or retain his memories. All he gave you was data¡ªsomething like an existence code, akin to DNA. I doubt the system allows memories to be stored, as was the case with me."


    Ashira furrowed her brows, absorbing his words.


    "Maybe you''re right¡­" she admitted after a moment.


    Darius shrugged. "Anyway, if he possesses the power of nature, he could be an invaluable asset. He might even be able to heal us, which would make him a tremendous advantage in battles at the Gates."


    For a moment, Ashira pondered his words.


    Darius smiled lightly. "Besides, if he truly starts at level one, we can always show him his place in the pecking order if necessary."


    Silently, Ashira let his words sink in. Resurrect Eldric immediately? Perhaps Darius was right. After all, there was no guarantee he¡¯d be the same person¡ªand if he really began from scratch, they¡¯d have control over him. Moreover, his nature-based abilities could prove indispensable. If he indeed had healing powers, their odds on future expeditions would soar.


    "You''re right," she finally said, lifting her gaze. "Tomorrow, I''ll head to the Tower of Chaos and see what comes of it."


    Darius snorted softly, folding his arms. "And you know what else puzzles me? That new title of yours¡ª''Unyielding Will''... It seems it has truly changed something in your development." He raised an eyebrow as he looked at her. "Despite being a mage, your strength and agility are already nearly on par with mine. This... is not normal."


    Upon hearing Darius¡¯s comment, Ashira opened her system interface, eager to check how her stats had changed after the recent events. After a moment, a familiar window appeared before her eyes.


    [SYSTEM]


    Name: Ashira


    Level: 8


    Talent: Legendary ¨C Eye of Chaos


    Experience: 3000 / 12,500


    [Stats]


    Strength: 43


    Agility: 62


    Stamina: 73 (+10)


    Intelligence: 102 (+15)


    HP: 860 / 860


    Mana: 520 / 575


    Chaos Energy: 850


    Unassigned Stat Points: 5


    [Special Effects]


    +5 Mana per damage dealt (Blood Ring)


    +3 Magic Resistance (Rat King''s Robe)


    +30 to all stats (Unyielding Will - Fourth Tier)


    Her stats had surged in an unimaginable way. The power she now wielded was on a completely different level than before. She felt her body reacting differently¡ªlighter and quicker¡ªas if she had crossed a threshold she¡¯d never noticed.


    For a moment, she stared at the numbers. The figures in parentheses next to Stamina and Intelligence indicated bonuses from her equipment, which explained their sudden increase. She knew that although they were temporary, they gave her a significant edge in battle.


    She sighed, feeling the weight of fatigue beginning to press upon her. Everything she had endured¡ªevery Trial, every experience in the Tower of Heritage¡ªhad left its mark. Her mind and body needed rest.


    Closing the interface, she slowly lay down to sleep, acutely aware of the hard floor beneath her. In that moment, she resolved that she must head to the next Gate as soon as possible and acquire something to upgrade the Shelter. With her eyes closed, she decided that this would be one of her next goals¡ªafter all, she had no intention of spending every night on the cold ground.


    ***


    When she opened her eyes again, morning had already brightened the interior of the Shelter. She felt better¡ªnot fully rested, but ready to act.


    Without wasting a moment, she set off for the Summoning Tower, determined to quickly summon another ogre and send him off to search for food.


    When the process was complete, she exhaled softly and turned toward the Tower of Chaos.


    Every step she took was filled with certainty and determination.


    Finally, she stood before its massive structure, gazing at its familiar contours.


    Ashira clenched her fists and took a deep breath.


    It was time to see what the next step would bring.

 Chapter 29: Is running the only thing you can do?

    Once again, I stood before the monumental, irregular structure of the Tower of Chaos. Its black surface trembled almost imperceptibly, and quiet vibrations spread through the air as soon as I crossed its threshold. Inside, there were no walls or floor¡ªonly an endless space permeated with the raw energy of chaos, swirling in the form of dark vortices pulsating in an unpredictable rhythm. Yet this time, something was wrong.


    I gazed deep into the Tower¡¯s expanse and furrowed my brow. The chaos that had once pulsed with power now barely stirred. Instead of wild streams of untamed energy, I saw only faint, scattered flashes. The Tower was barely breathing chaos. Rather than flowing, powerful currents of energy, I observed dispersed, scarcely flickering fragments, as if it were barely clinging to life.


    "That doesn''t bode well," I muttered to myself. If it was meant to create a new being, I would have to do something about it.


    I took a deep breath and touched my hair. I could feel the pulsating power within it, accumulated over a long time. Slowly, I began to release the energy, allowing it to seep into the Tower''s space. Gradually, as if guided by intuition, I sensed exactly how much power was needed for the summoning process to begin. In an instant, I felt a weakening¡ªas if someone had suddenly drained part of my strength. The air around me shuddered, and the structure of the Tower began to flicker, signaling that the absorbed energy was sufficient.


    Chaos awakened once more.


    [System: Tower energy has been powered up.]


    I took another deep breath. This was the moment. I reached for Eldric¡¯s data, the information he had given me before his disappearance. At the moment of activation, the system reacted immediately.


    [System: Based on available data and chaotic essence, a new being will be created.]


    I clenched my fists. I knew that this was not an ordinary summoning process, but the creation of something new. There was no turning back.


    The Tower began to tremble, and the space around me rippled, as if reality itself could not decide in what state it should stabilize. Streams of chaotic energy swirled around me, forming a disturbing, non-linear summoning structure. This time, however, the formation of the being looked different than usual¡ªrather than simply shaping a body, I watched as the system gradually merged data with its own chaotic patterns.


    Slowly, a silhouette began to emerge.


    He was slender, with a lithe build and delicate facial features. His skin had an almost porcelain hue, and his light hair cascaded in gentle waves, as if forever stirred by an invisible wind. His eyes, intensely green, seemed to glow in the dim light of the Tower, giving him an almost ethereal appearance. His posture was calm, almost weightless, as if he did not entirely belong to the material world, and his movements were fluid, devoid of unnecessary force yet full of effortless grace.


    For a moment, he remained silent, as if trying to understand his own existence. His intensely green gaze swept over the surroundings, analyzing this new reality.


    "I feel as if I should know you," he finally said, his voice sounding familiar yet imbued with something new¡ªsomething different. "But I cannot recall who you are."


    I watched him closely. There was no doubt¡ªthis was Eldric. But without his memories.


    I did not reply immediately. I took a deep breath, allowing myself a moment to process what had happened. I knew one thing¡ªthe Tower of Chaos did not permit the recreation of beings exactly as they once were. The system had used the available data but merged it with chaos, creating something new.


    His appearance spoke for itself¡ªfamiliar, yet different. His facial features resembled Eldric''s, but they lacked a complete expression, as if they were an unfinished sketch. There was something more in his gaze than the void of amnesia¡ªa subtle spark that suggested he was searching for something, something that should be obvious yet remained just beyond his reach.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    The fact that he did not remember who he was could be the truth. But just as well, he might be deceiving me. Was it genuine confusion or a sophisticated game? The Tower of Chaos was unpredictable, and I did not fully understand its influence on the beings it created.


    "Do you know your name?" I asked, watching him intently.


    The man looked at me with a raised eyebrow, as if he had just heard an exceptionally poor joke. He tilted his head slightly to the side, and his lips curved into the hint of a smile.


    "Eldric," he snorted lightly, as if something about that name amused him. He furrowed his brows and glared at me. "And now perhaps you can tell me what exactly I am doing here?"


    I sighed, allowing myself a moment of silence to gather my thoughts.


    "This is not so simple," I began, choosing my words carefully. "We met at the Fall. You were a spirit bound to the Tower of the Heritage of Nature¡ªa guardian who subjected me to the Trial. In return, I promised that if I found a way to bring you back, I would do it. I had your data, and I used it here, in the Tower of Chaos. Now... here you are. But I don''t know if you are exactly the same person I once knew."


    I fell silent, observing his reaction. His gaze grew cold, as if he were analyzing every word I had said, weighing them in his mind.


    "Wait..." His eyes narrowed, and a shadow of disbelief crossed his face. "The Tower of Chaos? This must be some kind of joke."


    He looked at me intently, as if trying to discern from my expression some clue that all of this was merely a fabricated game.


    "You... are its Master?" he finally asked, his voice laced with both skepticism and curiosity.


    "Yes," I replied calmly. "The Tower of Chaos belongs to me."


    For a moment, his face froze¡ªas if a memory had sparked in his mind that he couldn¡¯t quite grasp. He furrowed his brows, and his eyes shone with a strange light. Before I could say anything further, an intense aura began to pulse around his body, reminiscent of magical seals.


    Before I could retreat, the energy accumulated and exploded, and Eldric moved with superhuman speed. I barely managed to jump aside, avoiding his attack at the last moment. The air around us trembled from the impact of his energy.


    "What the hell are you doing?!" I shouted, raising my hands in defense.


    He looked at me with a cold, almost emotionless glare.


    "Isn''t it obvious?" he said in a calm, almost icy tone. "I''m trying to kill the greatest threat to the Lords."


    Damn. Even without his memories, he harbored an instinctive hatred for the Tower of Chaos.


    I had no time to analyze the situation. Eldric attacked again with swift, precise movements. I could have engaged him directly, but if I responded with an attack, I would destroy any chance for conversation. I couldn¡¯t allow that.


    With every passing second, I wondered what I should do. Should I try to calm him down? Is there even any chance for that?


    No, it made no sense. If he was attacking, it meant that something deep within him considered me an enemy. Instead of meeting force with force, I decided to play for endurance. After all, he was only at level one¡ªhis mana reserves must be limited.


    Besides, I could treat this as a sparring session. My stats had increased after earning my new title, but I hadn¡¯t yet had the chance to fully test them. I focused, activating the Eye of Chaos and my Analysis Ability to scrutinize how Eldric was using his energy.


    Immediately, I noticed pulsating streams of mana within him, concentrating with each attack. His movements were incredibly precise, yet he favored short, intense strikes¡ªa sign of their high magical cost. If I played this right, his energy would deplete quickly.


    The first exchange of blows was lightning-fast¡ªI dodged, leaped, and balanced on the edge of his attacks, allowing my body to instinctively adjust to this newfound strength and agility. Eldric attacked with fluid, almost dance-like motions; his strikes were brief but remarkably precise. In one moment, he feinted to the left, then lunged forward, delivering a swift blow with a hand encircled by a greenish aura.


    I barely managed to sidestep, feeling the chill of his magic brush past my skin by mere millimeters. Another attack followed¡ªa spiraling motion of his hand, almost like a whip of energy. I jumped to the side, and the ground beneath my feet exploded under the force of his strike. I could sense my instincts syncing with the pace of the fight as my body began to react more swiftly.


    A smile crept across my face. I was faster than during my last fight with the Gate Boss.


    "Is running the only thing you can do?" Eldric taunted, pausing for a moment. "I thought the Lord of Chaos was supposed to have a bit more courage."


    "Or maybe I''m just giving you a head start?" I shot back with a slight raise of my eyebrow, never taking my eyes off him. "Besides, if I''m always running, then why haven''t you hit me even once? Perhaps you need me to buy you some glasses? Although, honestly, I''m not sure anything could help such severe poor eyesight."


    His face changed instantly. The playful smile vanished, replaced by a grimace of fury. In an instant, his energy exploded around him, and a powerful wave of magic tore through the air.


    I gritted my teeth as I noticed something shifting in his aura. It was no longer just offensive magic¡ªsomething deeper began to emanate from his body, as if he had activated a new ability. Chaos and the energy of nature intertwined around him in an unsettling dance.


    "That''s enough of these games," he snarled, clenching his fists. "I''ll show you what the power of nature is truly capable of."

 Chapter 30: You have one chance

    Eldric still stood in place, his body pulsing with energy, and a strange glint appeared in his eyes. There was no hesitation¡ªonly cold determination. Suddenly, his aura began to change: the pulsation of power took on a rhythmic, controlled pattern, as if activating a hidden ability. The space around us suddenly felt different, more unstable, and I felt my senses beginning to go haywire.


    Suddenly, everything changed. My perception shattered like a broken mirror, and the world lost its depth. Shapes became blurred; the space around me began stretching and contracting in ways I couldn¡¯t comprehend. My Chaos Eye¡ªonce so reliable¡ªshowed me nothing: no energy, no patterns that could help me predict my opponent¡¯s moves.


    I realized that Eldric had used something that cut me off from my way of perceiving reality. Not only had he deprived me of my greatest asset, but he made me feel almost blind.


    My heart began pounding in my chest, and a cold sweat broke out along the back of my neck. Panic crept into my thoughts¡ªfor the first time in ages, I felt completely defenseless and truly blind.


    I heard a quiet, amused laugh from Eldric.


    "Well, well, I thought the Lord of Chaos would be more resistant to such tricks," he said with feigned pity, tilting his head slightly. "But I suppose you''re out of luck, because it only took me a few moments to figure out your way of seeing. Now you''re like a child in a fog."


    I wanted to answer him, but before I could open my mouth, his attack came.


    Before I could fully orient myself, his fist struck my face with a forceful impact. A sharp pain exploded in my skull, and the world around me blurred as the force of the blow sent me flying through the air. I tumbled several meters, rolling on the ground, before I managed to regain some balance. I barely had time to catch my breath before he was upon me again.


    There was no pause. There was no moment of respite. Another strike¡ªa knee to the stomach¡ªrobbed me of my breath, and pain shot through my entire body. Before I could recover, a powerful kick to the side sent me spinning, and an open hand landed on my back, forcing me to drop to my knees.


    Damn it. I was on the defensive, and he was showing no mercy.


    "He was supposed to be support," I thought, trying to catch my breath. "He was meant to have the power of nature. How in the world is he so good at close combat?!"


    I couldn¡¯t give up. I had to find a way to break this deadlock. I began to retreat, dodging his successive blows, but my movements were less precise without the ability to see energy.


    I had to come up with something.


    Then it hit me¡ªI couldn¡¯t rely on sight. If I couldn¡¯t see energy, I could feel it. I closed my eyes for a split second and focused on my other senses¡ªthe sound of his footsteps, the tremor of the air, the shifts in pressure around me.


    Eldric kept pressing forward. He unleashed blow after blow, and I desperately tried to dodge them.


    I attempted to adapt to the fight, ignoring the loss of my energetic perception. I analyzed each of his moves based on the sound, the gusts of air, the tension in his muscles. But it wasn¡¯t easy¡ªEldric was fast. One of his strikes hit my arm, forcing me to step back. Another almost caught my jaw, but at the last moment I managed to dodge.


    I gritted my teeth. I had to adjust¡ªand quickly. The fight didn¡¯t slow down.


    His blows came relentlessly, forcing me to continually retreat and evade. Every move was precise, almost perfect, as if Eldric had been fighting for centuries. I tried to discern patterns in his attacks, but he seemed unpredictable¡ªsometimes striking directly and brutally, other times varying his tempo with deceptive maneuvers.


    Another attack forced me into a sudden sidestep. I barely avoided his fist, but I didn¡¯t have time to position myself for a counter when he suddenly changed direction, striking me with an elbow to the side. I hissed in pain, yet forced my body to keep moving. I had to stop relying on sight¡ªtrust my instincts.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    I sensed his presence in the space around me¡ªthe soft whoosh of air with every blow, the tension in the ground with each step. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to synchronize with his rhythm. Slowly, I began to notice his patterns. I still took hits, but less frequently now; I began to dodge his attacks more effectively.


    Finally, the moment came.


    With a last-second dodge, his fist missed my head by a hair¡¯s breadth. I seized his momentum¡ªgrabbing his wrist and twisting it, forcing him to step back. In that same moment, I channeled the energy of chaos and unleashed a disruptive wave that surged into his body. Eldric reacted instantly¡ªfear flashed in his eyes, and his body tensed in a defensive gesture.


    Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, he leapt a considerable distance away, deactivating his abilities. He immediately began to expel chaos energy in an intense burst, and I felt my Chaos Eye suddenly regain its acuity. The world around me regained its depth, shapes sharpened, and Eldric''s energy no longer overwhelmed my perception.


    He was breathing heavily, but his stance made it clear he wasn¡¯t about to give up¡ªin fact, he now appeared even more alert.


    "Do you really want to continue like this?" I asked, slowly straightening up and trying to catch my breath. "Tell me, Eldric... what is it that you really want?"


    He didn¡¯t respond immediately. He still looked ready for battle, but something in his gaze had changed. There was less raw fury and more calculation.


    "You''re a threat," he finally said.


    "A threat to whom?" I raised an eyebrow, watching him carefully. "Because for someone who wants nothing more than to kill me, you sure seem damn indecisive."


    His hand twitched, but he made no move. He clenched his jaw.


    "You''re the Lord of Chaos," he repeated, as if that explained everything.


    "So what?" I snapped. "Do you see me here wreaking havoc? Burning the world to ashes? Or am I simply someone who got a power I don¡¯t yet understand? Just like you."


    He fell silent; his breathing was still rapid, yet he did not attack. That was the opening I¡¯d been waiting for.


    "Tell me, Eldric..." I began, never taking my eyes off him. "Do you really think that chaos is the only threat? That what I am is enough to destroy me?"


    His gaze did not waver, but I could see that my words had struck him.


    "It¡¯s not about what I think," he replied coolly. "It¡¯s about what I know. Chaos is unstable¡ªit destroys everything it touches. I cannot allow you to become another force of destruction."


    "And what if I¡¯m not what you expect?" I countered, stepping toward him. "What if you¡¯re mistaken? Maybe chaos doesn¡¯t destroy everything¡ªit might just be that you don¡¯t understand what it is."


    Eldric did not reply immediately. His hand tightened into a fist, but he made no move.


    "Nothing in this world is black and white, Eldric," I said firmly. "It¡¯s not the kind of power you possess, nor who you are, that determines whether you¡¯re a threat. What matters is how you use it and what purpose you serve."


    I took a deep breath, letting my words resonate in the tense silence.


    "All I¡¯m doing is fighting to survive in this cursed world. Nothing more, nothing less. If that makes me your enemy, then perhaps it¡¯s not I who fails to understand reality."


    "So instead of fighting in the dark," I continued, "maybe you should find out before you make a decision. Because if you¡¯re wrong, then right now you¡¯re the one acting like a blind man."


    Eldric said nothing. For the first time since the beginning of this battle, he had no ready retort. He looked at me, but the icy certainty in his eyes was gone.


    I did not look away. If I was going to reach him, this was the moment.


    "So I have a proposal for you," I said calmly. "Join me. See up close who the damned Lord of Chaos really is¡ªthe one who¡¯s supposedly a threat to the world. See with your own eyes whether I really need to be destroyed."


    Eldric narrowed his eyes but remained silent, and I continued:


    "If after all of this you still believe that I¡¯m a threat... I won¡¯t have any problem with you trying to kill me. But before you decide, find out if your judgment is truly correct."


    Eldric sighed, his shoulders relaxing as if this whole conversation had begun to wear on him.


    "I still don¡¯t trust you," he finally said, his voice now less cold but still filled with caution. "But if you truly believe you can convince me... you have one chance."


    "There is, however, one condition." His gaze became steely, and his voice took on a sharp edge. "If it turns out that you''re a threat... then I won''t hesitate to kill you."


    I smiled slightly, tilting my head.


    "And that''s a comforting thought," I retorted cheekily. "You know, Eldric, it''s almost like a promise of protection¡ªjust in the opposite direction. I feel particularly special."


    Slowly approaching him, I raised my hand and extended it toward him.


    "So, do we have a deal?" I asked challengingly.


    Eldric looked at my hand, then back at me. For a moment, he stood still, as if hesitating whether this was just another game. Finally, he sighed softly and, with visible reluctance, shook my hand. His grip was strong, sure, but still tense.


    "You have one chance," he warned. "Don''t waste it."