《The Last Stand: The Regressor And The Fool》


 Prologoue: Last Stand

    The battlefield was silent except for the crackling of distant flames and the soft patter of ash falling like snow. A lone figure staggered forward, blood dripping from countless wounds. The sky above was a swirling mass of crimson and black, as if the world itself was being devoured.


    He collapsed to his knees, a broken sword slipping from his trembling hand. Around him lay the shattered remnants of his comrades¡ªheroes, warriors, and legends¡ªall fallen in vain.


    His breathing was ragged, each gasp a painful reminder of his failure.


    A voice echoed in his mind, cold and devoid of emotion.


    [Travel Sequence¡­ Initiating.]


    He winced as the words resonated through his very soul.


    It wasn''t the first time he''d heard that voice. It was supposed to be his salvation, his chance to rewrite the nightmare¡ªbut each time, he failed.


    [!SYS_ERR: #2204]


    [!CRIT_ERROR: %728A]


    [W@rn!ng: F!nal Tr@vel Engaged.]


    [Sid3 3ffe(ts m@y 0((ur¡­]


    The words blurred as his vision dimmed. He tried to protest, but his voice came out as a broken whisper.


    "N-Not yet¡­ I''m not done¡­"


    Fragments of memories flashed before his eyes¡ªhis first cycle, when he''d been na?ve and full of hope. The endless battles. The betrayals. The faces of people he''d loved and lost, now little more than fleeting images.


    The voice continued, relentless and uncaring.


    [D0 you w!sh to proc33d? Y/N.]


    He clenched his teeth, his body trembling with pain and regret. For a moment, doubt crept in.


    Would this time be any different?


    Would it matter if he tried again?


    His mind was too tired and weak to handle any more thoughts.


    But the faces of the fallen haunted him, and deep within, a flicker of defiance remained.


    "¡­Just one more chance¡­" he whispered, barely audible.


    He fully collapsed onto the cracked earth, his broken body no longer able to fight against the inevitable. The warmth of blood pooling beneath him was the last sensation he could register before even that began to fade.


    The voice echoed again, cutting through the suffocating silence in his mind. This time, it was sharper and fully clear.


    [Final Travel Sequence¡­ Commencing.]


    [!]


    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.[!]


    [Error Detected. Critical Error Detected.]


    A faint hum filled the air, growing louder, more insistent, as if the very fabric of reality was tearing itself apart.


    [Attempting Correction¡­ Memory Erasure in Progress.]


    [Error. Data Stream Corruption¡ªUnable to Stabilize.]


    [Reset Protocols Failed.]


    His head throbbed violently as fragmented pieces of himself were ripped away.


    Names, faces, and moments dissolved into the void, leaving behind only a growing emptiness. His grip on who he was¡ªwhat he had fought for¡ªslipped through his fingers like grains of sand.


    "W-wait¡­" he gasped, his voice barely a whisper. He tried to hold on to something, anything, but the process was ruthless, stripping him bare.


    The voice, cold and unfeeling, continued its work.


    [Travel Imminent.]


    [Warning: Memory Core Integrity Irrecoverable.]


    The hum reached a deafening crescendo, the world around him warping and folding inwards. He felt himself being dragged through an unseen rift, his consciousness unraveling with every second.


    [Initializing Last Stand Protocol.]


    [Last Travel Confirmed.]


    And then, all at once, it stopped. Silence fell.


    He floated in a void, untethered from time, space, or self. The emptiness was suffocating, yet strangely peaceful. He no longer remembered who he was¡ªor why he was fighting.


    And yet, somewhere deep within, a faint ember still burned, fragile but defiant.


    As his essence was cast into the unknown, a faint voice lingered in the void, neither his own nor the mechanical system''s. It was soft, almost poetic, carrying a weight of finality and prophecy.


    "One last stand¡­ one last chance¡­


    Traveler, your path is scattered like shattered glass.


    Your steps falter, your purpose fades,


    But even the faintest light pierces the deepest shade.


    Run, fall, and rise once more¡ª


    For this is the end¡­ and the start of your war."


    With those words, the void gave way to blinding light, and the regressor was no more.


    ____ ______ _ _


    Somewhere far beyond the current realm, in a place untouched by time, a figure sat on a throne carved from shadows. Their form was indistinct, shifting like smoke, yet their presence was suffocating.


    They gazed into the void, their voice cutting through the silence like a blade.


    "Oh, foolish traveler¡­" they said, their tone dripping with mockery and something deeper¡ªamusement, perhaps. "How many times must you try before you understand? Fate is not yours to rewrite. It is mine to unravel."


    The void around them shimmered, revealing glimpses of the countless cycles the regressor had endured.


    Each one ended the same¡ªfailure, despair, death.


    "No matter how far you run, no matter how many times you turn back¡­ the end is always the same."


    "The end is The End."


    They leaned forward, their eyes¡ªif they had eyes¡ªburning with cruel certainty.


    "And this time¡­" A low chuckle echoed, cold and hollow. "This time, you are not the hunter. You are the prey."


    The void rippled again, showing two figures¡ªone of them stumbling through an ordinary school day, the other oblivious, lost in idle fantasies. The shadowy figure tilted their head as if amused.


    "The fool who sees the surface¡­ and the fool who sees too much. How quaint."


    They rose from their throne, the darkness around them swirling like a storm.


    "Go on, traveler. Play your little game. But know this: The End will always win as it is the end."


    Their voice faded into silence, but their laughter lingered, echoing across the void.

 The End

    The bell rang sharply through the classroom, marking the end of another tedious lecture. Chairs scraped against the floor as students hurried to escape the monotony of History class. Conversations buzzed to life, and the usual clamor of the break began.


    In the back row, Harry stretched his arms above his head and let out an exaggerated sigh. His unruly brown hair fell into his eyes, and he pushed it back with a dramatic flair.


    "Finally! I thought that class was gonna kill me."


    A few students chuckled at his antics, accustomed to Harry''s over-the-top reactions. He had a knack for turning even the dullest moments into entertainment.


    "Come on, Harry," one of his classmates said with a grin. "It wasn''t that bad."


    "Not bad?" Harry scoffed, placing a hand over his chest. "I''m convinced History is a weapon of mass destruction. My brain is already halfway to the afterlife."


    More laughter followed, but Harry wasn''t paying attention anymore. His gaze drifted to Max, the quiet boy in the seat ahead of him. Max was always the serious type, someone who paid close attention in class and avoided unnecessary interactions.


    But today, something was off.


    Max sat frozen, staring straight ahead. His eyes were unfocused, his hands limp on his desk.


    "Hey, Max," Harry called, leaning forward. "Earth to Max? Did the lecture fry your brain too?"


    No response.


    "Hello? Max, are you in there?"


    Slowly, Max turned his head, blinking as if waking from a deep trance. He looked at Harry with a puzzled expression, his brow furrowing as though trying to recognize a face he couldn''t quite place.


    "Who are you?" Max asked, his tone flat and unrecognizing.


    Harry chuckled, thinking Max was just playing along with his joke.


    "Are you trying to copy me now?" he teased with a grin. "Come on, Max, don''t mess with me."


    But Max''s confusion only deepened. "Do I... know you?" he asked, his eyes scanning Harry''s face, searching for something familiar.


    Harry''s grin faded, replaced by a puzzled frown. "You''re serious, aren''t you?" he muttered, leaning closer. "Did you hit your head or something?" He reached out to check Max''s forehead, thinking he might have a fever.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Before he could touch him, Max''s hand shot up, grabbing his wrist with surprising strength. In one swift motion, Max twisted his arm behind his back, making him yelp in pain.


    "Ah! Ow, ow, l-let go!" Harry exclaimed, struggling against the unexpected force.


    The sudden commotion drew the attention of the other students. Heads turned, and the lively chatter quieted as everyone watched the unfolding scene.


    "Hey, what''s happening?" one of the nearby students asked, curiosity evident in their voice.


    Whispered conversations spread rapidly around the room circling around the two.


    Max released Harry''s arm and turned away again, his expression still distant. Harry rubbed his wrist, shooting Max a glare.


    However, Max ignored Harry''s resentful glare and asked, "Are you seeing this too?"


    Harry blinked, his curiosity piqued. "Seeing what?"


    "The windowy thing. Floating right here," Max pointed to the air.


    Harry''s smile stiffened, his mood shifting. "Are you messing with me?" he asked, but as he looked closer, he realized Max wasn''t joking.


    There was genuine confusion¡ªand a hint of suspicion¡ªin his eyes.


    "Hmm..." Harry''s brow furrowed, his mind working at full speed. "Is there any text on it?"


    Max turned away again, his eyes focusing on something invisible in the air. He squinted slightly as if trying to read something that wasn''t there. After a few moments, he spoke. "It says something about... entering the tutorial."


    "..."


    ''No way... He is messing with me, right?''


    Harry''s breath quickened, his heart racing with a mix of excitement and disbelief.


    A part of him wondered if Max was tricking him, but the idea of his wild fantasies becoming real was too thrilling to ignore.


    "Is there yes and no as well?"


    Max first checked and then nodded.


    Harry leaned forward, his voice urgent. "Then tap the ''Yes'' button."


    Max looked at Harry for a moment, trying to gauge his sincerity. After a brief hesitation, he nodded. "Okay."


    He mimicked tapping an invisible screen in the air.


    "..."


    For a moment, nothing happened. The classroom remained still, students watching in confusion. Harry''s excitement began to wane, replaced by the sinking feeling that he might have been fooled.


    "Darn you, did you trick-?" Harry began to say, but before he could finish, something unbelievable happened.


    A faint shimmer surrounded Max, like sunlight reflecting off water. The glow intensified, spreading across his body. Max''s breathing quickened, and his eyes widened.


    "Wait¡­ what''s happening?" Max''s voice rose in panic.


    Harry reached out instinctively, but it was too late. The shimmering light consumed Max completely, breaking him apart into tiny particles that dissolved into the air.


    He vanished.


    "W-Woah!"


    "Shoot!"


    Gasps and screams erupted from the other students.


    Chairs scraped back as some bolted toward the door, while others froze in place, staring at the empty spot where Max had been.


    "WTH!" one student shouted.


    "D-did he just d-disappear?" another stuttered, her voice trembling.


    Panic spread like wildfire.


    The air grew heavy, and the ground began to tremble. Desks rattled, and the overhead lights flickered violently. It felt as if the entire building was coming apart at the seams.


    Then, a deep, resonant voice echoed through the room. It wasn''t coming from any one direction¡ªit was everywhere, shaking the very air.


    [The final chapter of humanity begins now. Welcome to The End. Survive, or perish.]


    [The choice is yours¡ªbut the odds are not.]

 Stage 0 - Welcome To The End

    The last thing Harry remembered was the voice.


    [The final chapter of humanity begins now. Welcome to The End.]


    [Survive, or perish.]


    His vision went black before he could hear the rest of the words. For a moment¡ªor perhaps an eternity¡ªthere was nothing. No sound, no sensation, no thought. Just an overwhelming void that stretched on and on, pressing against the edges of his consciousness.


    And then, with an agonizing slowness, the void cracked open.


    "!"


    Harry gasped as his senses came rushing back.


    His lungs burned, his head throbbed, and his body felt like it had been slammed against a brick wall. Blinking rapidly, he tried to make sense of his surroundings.


    Where was he?


    What was happening?


    He pushed himself upright, wincing at the ache in his muscles, and finally took a good look around.


    "W-Woah..."


    What he saw made his breath catch in his throat.


    It was a forest, but not like any forest he''d ever seen. The trees were massive, their twisted trunks reaching high into a blood-red sky.


    Jagged cracks ran along the ground, glowing faintly with an ominous orange light, as though magma pulsed beneath the surface. The air was thick with the smell of smoke and decay, and a faint wind carried an unsettling sound¡ªa distant, hollow wail that sent shivers down his spine.


    "What the hell?" Harry muttered, rubbing his eyes. "Is this a... dream?"


    He pinched his arm, hard.


    "Ouch-!"


    Nope.


    Definitely not a dream.


    As his senses sharpened, Harry noticed he wasn''t alone. Around him, scattered among the twisted trees and cracked earth, were people.


    Some were his classmates¡ªhe recognized a few faces from the back of the class¡ªbut there were also strangers, people he didn''t know. They were sprawled on the ground, some groaning as they woke, others frozen in panic as they took in their surroundings.


    "What is this place?" someone whimpered.


    "Are we dead?" another voice cried, trembling.


    Before Harry could respond, the air around them shimmered, and the voice returned. It was cold and emotionless, reverberating through the forest as if the trees themselves were speaking.


    [Welcome to The End.][You have been chosen to participate in humanity''s final trial. Your world has been deemed unworthy, and its survival now rests on your shoulders.]


    Harry''s heart raced as the voice continued. This was it. The stuff of his wildest fantasies.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    Only it felt a lot less fun when it wasn''t happening on a screen.


    [The End is not just destruction. It is a purge, a reckoning. A test of resilience, ingenuity, and cooperation.]


    [The End is the great equalizer, a thread woven into the tapestry of creation. It is neither cruel nor kind, merely inevitable.]


    [The End is not an event of judgment, nor is it destruction alone. It is a cycle¡ªa turning point in the fabric of existence. Worlds rise, worlds fall, and yours is neither the first nor the last to face it.]


    [The End is a passage, a crucible through which all things must pass. It is not unique to you ¡ª it is a truth as old as it gets, unyielding and impartial.]


    [Many will fail. Few will rise. And those who succeed will shape the new beginning.]


    The voice finally paused as if to let the words sink in.


    The people around Harry exchanged frightened glances, some whispering furiously, others too stunned to speak.


    [Stage 0: Introduction to The End will now commence.][Objective: Survive for 12 hours.][You will be provided with basic resources and a weapon of your choice. Use them wisely. The clock starts now.]


    As soon as the voice stopped, Harry felt a sudden weight in his hands. He looked down to see a small leather pouch and¡­ a sword?


    No, it wasn''t quite a sword.


    It was more like a short blade, light and unassuming. The hilt was plain, and the blade looked dull¡ªnot exactly his first choice from the weapon racks of his imagination.


    "Seriously?" Harry muttered, holding the weapon up to the light. "No flaming greatsword? No enchanted bow? Just this... thing?"


    He gave it an experimental swing, nearly losing his balance. "Great. I''m gonna die holding a glorified butter knife."


    The pouch jingled, drawing his attention.


    He opened it to find a small loaf of bread, a flask of water, and what looked like a basic first-aid kit. Not exactly a feast, but it was better than nothing.


    "Guess this is the old and niche beginner stuff."


    "Hey, Harry, is that you?" a familiar voice called out. He turned to see one of his classmates, a lanky boy named Tim, stumbling toward him with a dazed expression. Tim held a crude spear and looked just as confused as Harry felt.


    "Yeah, it''s me," Harry said, forcing a grin. "Welcome to the apocalypse. How''s your first day on the job?"


    Tim didn''t laugh. "What¡­ what do we do?"


    Harry shrugged. "Survive, I guess? The voice wasn''t exactly big on details."


    As more people began to gather, the panic in the air grew palpable. Questions flew back and forth.


    Where were they? Why were they here? What did they have to do to survive?


    No one had answers.


    Harry, meanwhile, tried to piece together what little he knew.


    A fantasy setting, a survival scenario, a system that provided weapons and resources¡­ It all felt like something straight out of the novels, comics, and games he''d spent so much time obsessing over.


    But in those stories, there was always a guide, a tutorial, some kind of helpful exposition.


    Here?


    Nothing but cryptic messages and a bunch of scared people with no clue what to do.


    ''Wait? Why am I not scared? Is it because I already imagined about such stuff a lot?''


    "Alright," Harry said, raising his voice to get the group''s attention. "Here''s an idea. Let''s not run around like headless chickens. If this really is some kind of survival trial, we''re gonna need to stick together."


    "And who put you in charge?" someone snapped.


    Harry raised his hands defensively. "Hey, I''m just saying! And I don''t know what''s going on either, but running around like idiots will only make us easier targets. At least if we stick together, we might stand a chance."


    The grumbling subsided, but the tension remained thick.


    Harry sighed and turned to Tim.


    "Guess we should start looking for a place to hunker down," he said. "And maybe figure out what kind of hell we just got dropped into."


    As the group began to reluctantly follow Harry''s suggestion, a faint growl echoed through the forest. Harry froze, his grip tightening on the hilt of his short blade. His heart hammered in his chest.


    "Please tell me that was your stomach," he whispered to Tim.


    Tim shook his head, his face pale. "I don''t think so."


    The growl came again, louder this time. And from the shadows of the twisted trees, glowing red eyes began to appear.


    "Well," Harry muttered, his voice shaky but still managing a hint of humor. "I guess this is the part where we find out if butter knives are any good against monsters."

 Regressors Last End

    Max''s eyes snapped open, his breath hitching as blinding white light consumed his vision. His head pounded, his chest heaved, and his throat burned as if he''d been drowning moments ago. Panic gripped him, and he bolted upright, his gaze darting frantically.


    Where was he?


    There were no walls. No ceiling. No floor. Just an infinite expanse of white. Yet he stood on something solid, though it felt like nothing was beneath his feet. The silence was suffocating, pressing against his ears, amplifying his every ragged breath.


    Who am I?


    The question echoed in his mind, bringing no answers. He tried to grasp at memories, but there was nothing. Just a hollow void where his past should have been.


    A soft chime broke the silence. He flinched, stumbling back as a translucent window materialized before him, glowing faintly in the empty air:


    [Welcome to The End. Would you like to skip the introduction and start the first tutorial?]


    He stared at the words, confusion twisting his expression. What¡­? His voice trembled as he spoke aloud, testing the sound. "What does that mean?"


    The silence returned, heavy and oppressive. He hesitated, his hand twitching, unsure of what to do. A faint whisper echoed in the recesses of his mind, urging him forward.


    ''That Max guy told me to press the ''yes''...''


    Without understanding the situation, he said, "Yes."


    The window flickered, vanishing only to be replaced by another message:


    [Tutorial Mode: Hell. Will you start the tutorial?]


    His stomach dropped. "Hell?" he whispered. Fear clawed at him, but there was no escape. The emptiness stretched forever. "I don''t¡­ I don''t understand."


    Yet, something inside him stirred. An instinct buried deep within told him to move forward. He clenched his fists, teeth grinding as he forced the word out. "Yes."


    Darkness swallowed him.


    When the world returned, he was standing in a massive arena. The ground beneath him was rough and sandy, littered with jagged stones. Crimson light bathed the air, emanating from a sky that churned like boiling blood.


    A deep, guttural growl echoed across the arena. His heart raced as a massive gate at the far end creaked open. From the shadows emerged a creature that made his blood run cold¡ªa towering, sinewy beast with scales like blackened steel and glowing red eyes.


    Above its head floated jagged, blood-red text:


    [Lesser Demon]You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    His legs locked, terror rooting him in place. "What the hell is this?" he choked out, voice barely audible.


    The lesson demon roared, the sound splitting the air like a thunderclap. A cold, mechanical voice spoke in his mind:


    [Trial Commencing. Objective: Defeat Your Opponent.]


    Before he could process the words, the demon lunged.


    Pure instinct kicked in, and he threw himself sideways. The ground where he''d stood shattered under the demon''s claws, sending shards of stone flying. Max stumbled, his breath ragged, panic surging through him.


    The demon turned, its glowing eyes locking onto him. He scrambled backward, barely dodging another swipe. His body felt clumsy, uncoordinated, like it wasn''t his own. Or more like his mind and body were working in disarray.


    The beast closed the distance in an instant, claws raking across his chest.


    "SWISH-!"


    Pain exploded through him.


    "A-ARGHH-!"


    He screamed, collapsing to the ground as blood poured from the deep gashes.


    "ARGH-!"


    "Arg..."


    Darkness crept into the edges of his vision, and the voice returned:


    [You failed. Would you like to try again?]


    His mind reeled, the agony leaving him breathless. But the voice repeated, cold and unyielding:


    [Would you like to try again?]


    Something inside him stirred. A faint ember of defiance burned against the overwhelming fear. Gritting his teeth, he forced out a single word: "Yes."


    The world reset.


    Max lost count of how many times he died.


    Each time, the demon tore through him.


    Each time, the voice brought him back.


    And each time, he learned.


    His movements grew sharper, his reactions faster. The fear that had paralyzed him began to fade, replaced by grim determination and growing numbness to the feeling of pain.


    He didn''t know why he kept saying "yes." He didn''t even know who he was. But he couldn''t stop.


    After about 70th or 75th reset, he stood facing the demon, his chest rising and falling with measured breaths. His shirt was shredded, his body covered in bruises and cuts, but his eyes burned with resolve.


    The demon lunged.


    This time, he didn''t flinch. He sidestepped and drove his fist into the creature''s side. A sickening crunch echoed as the demon stumbled, roaring in pain.


    Max didn''t let up.


    He followed through with a kick, then a flurry of punches, his body moving as if guided by instinct.


    The demon staggered, its once-menacing form crumpling under his relentless assault.


    With a final surge of strength, Max leapt onto its back, driving his hand into its chest. He gripped its heart, feeling it pulse weakly in his grasp.


    "ARRRH!"


    With a roar of his own, he squeezed.


    "GAR-!"


    The demon let out a final, guttural groan before collapsing.


    "Huf... Huf..."


    Max fell to his knees beside it, blood dripping from his hands. His chest heaved as exhaustion threatened to pull him under.


    A new message window appeared:


    [Congratulations! You have cleared the First Tutorial.]


    Max blinked, barely able to focus on the words. His vision blurred, and he swayed, but he forced himself to read.


    [Rewards Calculated:]


    10 End Points


    10 Attribute Points


    Skill: Demon Slayer (Basic)


    Item: Lesser Demon''s Fang


    Item: Lesser Demon''s Blood


    Skill: Demon Destroyer Fist (Standard)


    Special Reward: Timeless Enigma''s Favor (Unique Passive)


    Achievement: Tutorial Maniac


    [Would you like to return to reality?]


    He stared at the glowing words, his body trembling. Slowly, he nodded. "Yes."


    Warm light enveloped him, washing away the pain, the exhaustion, the blood. When it faded, he stood tall, unscathed, his strength restored. He flexed his fingers, marveling at the newfound power coursing through him.


    But there was no time to dwell.


    Another window appeared:


    [Stage 0 has begun. Teleporting to Stage 0.]


    Before he could react, his body dissolved into light, the world around him vanishing. As he was pulled into the unknown, a final message lingered in his mind:


    [This is your last End. Embrace the finality of the cycle.]

 Stage 0 [I]

    "Rrroarrr!"


    The growls multiplied, deep and guttural, each one sending vibrations through the ground. The sound seemed to claw its way into Harry''s chest. A moment later, an ear-splitting roar erupted, so loud and raw that Harry instinctively dropped to one knee, clutching his ears.


    "WAHH!" someone screamed, their voice cracking with terror. Other panicked cries followed, rising in a cacophony of fear.


    Harry''s head throbbed, his vision swimming. Then it hit him. Pain lanced through his skull, sharp and unbearable. He stumbled, his hands shooting up to clutch his head. Whispers¡ªcold, eerie, and incomprehensible¡ªfilled his mind, scratching at the edges of his sanity.


    "Agh! What the hell¡­?" he gasped, his knees buckling.


    Then, just as suddenly as it began, the pain stopped. The whispers vanished, leaving a cold, hollow silence in their place. A faint blue message flickered into his vision:


    [...You have overcome the Mental Attack: The Whispers of the Endtalkers.]


    Harry blinked, wiping sweat from his brow. His voice came out hoarse as he muttered, "A mental attack¡­ so that''s what it was."


    He glanced around, his pulse still racing.


    The others weren''t faring as well.


    Some were on their knees, clutching their heads and groaning in pain. Others were frozen, their eyes wide with fear, like deer caught in headlights. A few stood dazed, swaying as if they might collapse at any moment.


    Harry''s hand tightened around his kitchen knife. His mind worked furiously.


    How was he supposed to snap them out of this? In games, it was always a battle cry or some kind of cleansing spell, but he had neither."Battle cry...""!"


    Then, inspiration struck.


    He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted as loud as he could, his voice carrying a mix of urgency and Harry''s trademark humor: "HEY! WAKE UP! THIS ISN''T A ZOMBIE MOVIE¡ªMOVE YOUR BUTTS BEFORE WE BECOME MONSTER SNACKS!"


    The ridiculousness of his words broke through the mental fog.


    Tim was the first to react, blinking rapidly and shaking his head. "H-Harry¡­ what are you¡ª?" he started, but his gaze quickly locked onto the glowing red eyes in the distance.


    "Oh, crap. Oh, crap!"


    One by one, the others snapped out of their daze, confusion giving way to panic as they registered the approaching threat.


    "W-What are those things?" someone shouted, their voice trembling.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    The growls grew louder, and the shadows shifted as the creatures stepped into view.


    They were massive¡ªat least five meters tall¡ªtheir hulking forms covered in mottled, grayish-black skin that looked as tough as stone. Their limbs were thick and corded with muscle, their hands ending in claws that looked sharp enough to cleave through steel.


    Above their heads floated glowing red names, flickering ominously:


    [ Endtalker ]


    Harry''s breath caught as he squinted at the text. "Danger level¡­ high. Yeah, no kidding."


    As far as he knew, only Boss Monsters or extremely dangerous monsters had red names.


    He took an instinctive step back, muttering to himself, "Fantastic. Giant, nightmare monsters. Just my luck."


    The Endtalkers moved with a slow, deliberate gait, their heavy footsteps shattering the thick, gnarled trees in their path as if they were twigs. Harry''s eyes widened as he watched one of them swipe at a particularly large tree, its claws ripping through the trunk like it was paper.


    His thoughts about them being extremely dangerous were confirmed on the spot.


    "Harry! What are you doing?" Tim''s voice snapped him out of his trance. He was tugging at Harry''s arm, his face pale with panic. "Stop staring at them! We need to move!"


    Harry blinked, realizing he''d been frozen in place, studying the creatures with a mixture of awe and terror. "Right, running. That''s probably a good idea."


    The others had already started moving, their fear overriding their paralysis. Screams and shouts filled the air as the group scattered, feet pounding against the uneven forest floor. Harry lingered a moment longer, still half-fascinated by the sheer power of the Endtalkers.


    "Why do I feel like they''re slow? Is it on purpose?" he muttered, his voice tinged with a nervous edge. "Or...?"


    But Tim yanked at him again, harder this time.


    "Harry, COME ON!"


    "Alright, alright, I''m going!" Harry shouted back, finally turning and sprinting after the others.


    As they ran, his vision flickered once more, and a message appeared in the corner of his eye:


    [You have earned 5 End Points for rallying your group and taking action.]


    Harry didn''t have time to process it.


    The forest was a blur around him as he dodged low-hanging branches and jumped over exposed roots. The distant roars of the Endtalkers followed them, growing fainter but no less terrifying.


    After what felt like an eternity¡ªthough it was likely no more than five or ten minutes¡ªthe forest thinned out, revealing a clearing. Harry skidded to a stop, his breath coming in gasps. Tim nearly ran into him, stumbling as he tried to catch his breath.


    "Why¡­ why did you stop?" Tim wheezed, leaning on his spear for support.


    "Look," Harry said, pointing ahead.


    From two other directions, groups of people emerged, their faces just as pale and terrified as Harry''s own group. The three groups stared at each other, their eyes darting around as if expecting another attack.


    For a brief moment, the clearing was silent except for the sound of labored breathing.


    After a few moments, two figures stepped forward cautiously from the other groups, their eyes scanning Harry''s group.


    The first was a young woman with short, spiky hair and sharp eyes that darted around like she was sizing up a battlefield. She held a dagger in one hand, her grip steady despite the fear etched on her face.


    The second was a wiry, tall man, his clothes torn and his arms scratched as if he''d just escaped a fight. He clutched a crude spear tightly, his knuckles white.


    Before Harry could process their appearances, a third figure emerged from his own group.


    A burly, muscular man with broad shoulders and a scowl that seemed permanently etched onto his face. He carried a large wooden club slung over one shoulder and strode forward with an air of authority, his movements arrogant and confident.


    "Heh," Harry chuckled under his breath, already dreading what was about to happen.


    He''d seen this guy during the chaos¡ªscreaming his lungs out and tripping over roots while trying to run away. And now here he was, stepping up like some kind of leader.


    ''I can see where this is going...''


    Harry sighed inwardly, keeping his thoughts to himself as the conversation began.

 Stage 0 [II]

    The tension in the clearing was thick, but it quickly broke as a few familiar faces from the other groups spotted their classmates. Shouts erupted, voices filled with a mix of relief and disbelief.


    "Harry? Tim? You guys made it!" Sam, one of Harry''s classmates, called out as he stumbled forward. His clothes were torn, and his face was smudged with dirt, but he managed a shaky grin.


    Harry waved lazily, his knife dangling from his hand. "Yeah, still breathing. For now."


    Sam wasn''t alone.


    Several other classmates from the other groups hurried over, their expressions a mix of exhaustion and relief.


    "Oh my God, it''s really you guys!" one girl exclaimed, tears welling up in her eyes.


    "What happened to you?" Harry asked, his tone casual as always, though his sharp gaze darted between the familiar faces.


    "We¡­ we were running," Sam said, glancing nervously back toward the forest. "Those monsters were¡­ scary."


    Before Harry could press for details, his attention was drawn back to the center of the clearing where three figures stood out from the rest of the group.


    Harry sighed inwardly, watching as the three figures began to speak, their tones serious and formal, almost like NPCs in a game.


    "Well, this should be interesting," Harry muttered under his breath. Tim, standing beside him, gave a half-hearted chuckle, clearly too exhausted to share Harry''s humor.


    The burly man was the first to speak, his voice booming across the clearing. "Kyle," he said, introducing himself with a slight nod toward the other two. "We were running from¡­ something. Big, scary, and dangerous."


    The spiky-haired woman tilted her head, her sharp eyes narrowing. "Jess," she said curtly. "My group was chased by monkey-like monsters. Bigger ones. They climbed through the trees, fast and smart. We barely got away."


    The wiry man adjusted his grip on his spear, his expression grim. "Darrow," he said, his voice calm but tired. "Flying goblinlike monsters. They are called Grimlings, I think. They''d dive at us from above, picking people off. We''re lucky we survived."


    Harry''s brow furrowed as he listened.


    He glanced at Sam, who nodded in confirmation. "It''s true," Sam said quietly. "Miss Jess saved most of us."


    Harry muttered to himself, "Flying goblins, killer monkeys, and those giant nightmares¡­ is this a survival trial or some twisted zoo?"


    Tim elbowed him lightly. "You''re making jokes again."


    "What else am I supposed to do? Cry?" Harry shot back, but there was no real bite to his tone.


    The three leaders continued their discussion, their voices overlapping as they debated their next move.


    Harry only half-listened, instead focusing on the other familiar faces around him. He noticed Megan, a classmate from Darrow''s group, standing off to the side. "Megan!" he called, waving her over.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    She hurried to his side, her face pale but relieved to see him. "Harry," she breathed. "You¡­ you made it."


    "Barely," he replied, his tone light. "Grimlings, huh? That sounds fun."


    She shuddered. "It wasn''t. They were relentless."


    Before Harry could ask more, Jess''s sharp voice cut through the chatter. "Alright, listen up! We don''t have time to stand around swapping stories. The monsters are still out there, and we need to move."


    Darrow nodded. "The fourth direction is our only option. The other three are blocked by those things."


    Kyle hefted his club, his expression grim. "Then let''s move."


    Jess turned to the crowd. "Stick together. We''ll take a break once we''re far enough away. Keep your weapons ready, and don''t wander off."


    The group began to shuffle into motion, their initial hesitation fading as the leaders took charge. Harry fell in step with Tim, his gaze flicking back toward the forest.


    "Do you think they''ll follow us?" Tim asked nervously.


    Harry didn''t answer right away. His grip on his knife tightened as he thought about the glowing red eyes and the crashing trees. "Let''s just hope they''re too busy smashing trees to notice us."


    They moved quickly, the forest blurring around them as they pushed forward. The sounds of their footsteps and heavy breathing filled the air, but Harry couldn''t shake the feeling that something was watching them.


    After what felt like an eternity, Jess finally called for a stop. The group collapsed onto the forest floor, their exhaustion evident.


    People pulled out their rations, the sound of wrappers crinkling and water bottles unscrewing breaking the tense silence.


    Harry leaned against a tree, his legs aching but his mind still racing.


    "This¡­ is going to be a long day," he muttered to himself.


    Tim flopped down beside him, panting heavily. "So," he said between breaths, "do you have a plan?"


    Harry glanced over at the leaders, who were huddled together again, presumably plotting their next move. "No idea," he said honestly. "But I''m guessing it involves more running."


    Tim groaned. "Urgh... Just what I needed."


    Harry allowed himself a small smile, though it quickly faded as his eyes drifted back to the forest.


    Whatever was out there, it wasn''t going to give them much time to rest.


    So, he decided to use it as efficiently as possible.


    ''First, let''s recall those system messages...''


    Harry has received a few messages, aside from the first two.


    They told him about his stamina running low, his health decreasing slightly and his willpower and wisdom increasing by 1.


    "If there are stats... then..."


    As a fantasy lover, he knew there must be a status window as well. The problem was finding the right way to open it - as it was often different in games and webnovels. From [Status Open] to even [Open Sesame].


    Tim glanced over, raising an eyebrow. "What are you mumbling about?"


    "Nothing important," Harry said quickly, waving him off. "Just¡­ thinking."


    Tim shrugged and returned to gulping down his water, leaving Harry to his thoughts. He stared at the ground, wracking his brain for how to trigger whatever system interface was lurking just out of reach.


    "Let''s start with the basics," he murmured. "Show Status. Open Stats. Display Info."


    Nothing happened.


    He frowned, tilting his head. "Stats Display. Personal Info. Character Sheet."


    Still nothing.


    Harry rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe it''s voice-activated? Or¡­ do I have to think it? Okay, let''s try¡­ [Show Status]."


    For a moment, nothing happened.


    Then, faintly, there was a flicker in the air before him. A translucent interface shimmered into existence, jagged and cracked like fractured glass, its edges pulsing faintly with a dim, ominous blue light.


    [***** Status: Personal Fragment]


    Harry blinked, stunned. "Whoa¡­ that actually worked?"


    Tim, noticing the look on Harry''s face, leaned over. "What worked?"


    Harry ignored him, focusing on the display before him. The fractured interface was unlike any status window he''d seen in games or novels. The background seemed to shimmer faintly, and each word was etched in sleek, angular text that seemed to hum with quiet power.


    _ _ _ _ _


    [ Personal Fragment ]


    Name: Harry


    Health: 88% (Condition: Minor fatigue and soreness)


    Stamina: 64% (Condition: Tired)


    Core Attributes:


    ? Willpower: 9


    ? Wisdom: 11


    End Points: 5


    _ _ _ _ _


    Harry tilted his head, studying the numbers. "Well, it''s not much, but it''s a start." His gaze lingered on the title, ''Personal Fragment.'' "Fancy. I like it."


    ''And, from what it shows, I am pretty sure I need to get messages about other attributes and stuff for them to be shown on the status.''


    ''I guess this is self-discovery type system.''

 Stage 0 [III]

    Harry leaned back against the tree, a faint smile playing on his lips as he stared at the fading status screen. His thoughts were interrupted by a soft chime, and another message blinked into view:


    [Congratulations! You have successfully unlocked your Personal Fragment and gained an understanding of the process.]


    [Rewards: 5 End Points, Wisdom +1.]


    Harry''s smile widened. "Oh," he murmured, amused. "So I get rewarded for things like this too? Nice."


    He chuckled to himself, the thought sending a ripple of excitement through him. It reminded him of achievement systems in games¡ªearning bonuses for doing specific things.


    But, he reasoned, there must be conditions involved.


    Maybe being the first to figure something out, discovering specific locations, or completing unique tasks would grant more of these rewards.


    Harry leaned forward, his mind buzzing with possibilities when Tim''s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.


    "Harry¡­ what are you doing?" Tim asked, staring at him with a mix of confusion and suspicion.


    Harry glanced at him and grinned. "Oh, you can''t see mine, huh? Nice."


    Tim''s confusion deepened, his brow furrowing. "What are you talking about? See what?"


    Harry stood and stretched lazily his grin widening. "Alright, Tim. Say these words: [Show Status]."


    Tim blinked, his expression skeptical, but he knew better than to doubt Harry when it came to things like this, especially now. With a hesitant nod, he spoke the words aloud. "Show Status."


    For a moment, nothing happened, but then Tim flinched as a translucent screen flickered into existence before him. His eyes widened, his mouth falling open.


    "T-This¡­ it looks like a status window!" he stammered, glancing between the screen and Harry. "Just like the ones you always used to show us in your games! But why does it only show my name, health, and stamina?"


    Harry''s smile turned knowing.


    "Exactly what I thought," he muttered to himself, Tim''s reaction confirming his earlier theory. Before he could elaborate, another chime interrupted his thoughts:


    [Your Wisdom has increased.]


    There was no number attached to the notification this time, but Harry''s smile faltered for a brief second. A new idea crept into his mind. He stood abruptly, brushing dirt off his pants, and cupped his hands around his mouth.


    "Hey!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the murmurs of the resting group. "I''ve discovered something good! Everyone, listen up! Say these words out loud: [Show Status]. Trust me, it''ll be worth it!"


    The crowd froze, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten as they turned to stare at Harry.


    Some exchanged puzzled glances, while others rolled their eyes. But then, familiar faces¡ªhis classmates, the ones who knew Harry''s eccentricities¡ªhesitated before muttering the words themselves.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "Show Status," one boy whispered hesitantly. A second later, his eyes widened. "I-It worked! I can see it!"


    Another girl gasped, her hands shooting up to cover her mouth. "Woah, it''s real!"


    The reactions spread like wildfire. People all around the clearing began repeating the words, their faces lighting up as the shimmering screens appeared before them.


    "It''s true!" someone exclaimed. "It''s like a video game status window!"


    Harry stood in the middle of it all, arms crossed, watching the chaos unfold with a smirk. His gaze lingered on the leaders¡ªJess, Darrow, and Kyle.


    Jess''s sharp eyes narrowed as she stared at her own screen, her expression unreadable. Darrow tilted his head slightly, studying his display with quiet intensity. Kyle, on the other hand, let out a bark of laughter, his rough voice carrying over the noise.


    "Alright, alright," Harry called out, raising his voice to regain their attention. Slowly, the chatter quieted, and all eyes turned to him. "I''m sure most of you are only seeing your name, health, and stamina, right? And now you''re wondering¡ªwhere''s all the other stuff? Attributes? Skills?"


    A few people nodded hesitantly, their curiosity piqued.


    "Well," Harry continued, his tone light but confident, "I just received a message when I figured out how to open the status window. It said my Wisdom attribute increased, and I earned something called End Points. After that, they appeared on my screen ¡ª my Wisdom and End Points."


    He let the words sink in, watching as realization flickered across their faces.


    "So," he added, gesturing to the crowd, "it''s not just about looking at your status. It''s about discovering things, completing actions, and probably meeting specific conditions. That''s how you unlock more."


    The group buzzed with renewed energy, whispers and murmurs spreading as people processed what Harry had said. Some looked excited, others anxious, but all of them were thinking the same thing: what could they do to unlock more?


    Tim nudged Harry''s arm, his expression still a mix of awe and disbelief. "You''re loving this, aren''t you?"


    Harry chuckled. "Maybe a little."


    His smile faded slightly as he glanced back toward the forest, his grip tightening on his knife. "But let''s hope we get the chance to figure it all out before something else decides to eat us."


    "Haha, we left behind those things, I''m sure-"


    "ROARRR-!"


    Harry froze, his grin slipping instantly.


    Tim stiffened beside him, his face draining of color.


    "W-what was that?" he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.


    Before Harry could respond, a sharp, whistling sound cut through the air.


    "WHIZZZ-¡­ THUNK!"


    A jagged, stone-like projectile shot past Tim''s head, missing him by mere inches before slamming into a tree trunk. The impact sent splinters flying, and Tim stumbled back, nearly losing his balance.


    "Tim, duck!" Harry yelled, grabbing his friend by the shoulder and pulling him down.


    The clearing erupted into chaos. People screamed, their earlier excitement evaporating as panic took hold. Harry''s heart pounded as he instinctively crouched lower, his eyes darting toward the direction of the attack.


    In the midst of the commotion, a familiar chime echoed in his ears, and a translucent message appeared before him:


    [Congratulations! You have earned 10 End Points for your earlier actions.]


    [Attributes Updated: Intelligence +1, Wisdom +3.]


    Harry blinked at the notification, his brain struggling to process the sudden flood of information. "At this time?" he muttered.


    The whistling sound returned, sharper and closer this time.


    "WHIZZZ-¡­ CRACK!"


    Another stone projectile zipped past, striking the ground nearby and sending up a cloud of dust. Harry flinched, his instincts screaming at him to move.


    "RUN!" Jess''s voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding. "Those are the Jonkeys! Everyone, MOVE!"


    Harry''s head snapped toward her. "Jonkeys?" he echoed, bewildered. He barely had time to question it before the answer revealed itself.


    From the trees came movement¡ªdark, hulking shapes leaping from branch to branch with unnatural agility.


    Their forms became clearer as they closed the distance: monkey-like creatures, their bodies grotesquely muscular and covered in coarse, matted fur. Their eyes glowed a sickly yellow, and in their clawed hands, they held jagged stones, which they hurled with terrifying accuracy.


    "Move! Move! Move!" Jess shouted again, waving her dagger to spur the group into action.


    Harry didn''t need to be told twice.


    He grabbed Tim by the arm and hauled him to his feet. "You heard her! Everyone RUN!"

 Stage 0 [IV]

    The forest descended into pure chaos as the group scattered, running for their lives. At the front of the pack was Kyle, his earlier bravado utterly gone.


    His powerful strides were now panicked and uncoordinated, his club forgotten as he barreled forward like a frightened animal. The only thing he seemed focused on was getting as far away as possible.


    At the back, Jess and Darrow moved with purpose, their weapons in hand as they ensured no one was left behind. Jess''s sharp eyes darted back and forth, scanning for stragglers, while Darrow''s wiry frame seemed tense but ready for action.


    Harry, somewhere in the middle, found himself torn between fleeing and helping. The screams and cries around him were deafening. People tripped over roots, collided with each other, and stumbled in their frantic attempts to escape. The Jonkeys'' screeches echoed through the trees, accompanied by the sharp whistling of their projectiles.


    "Keep moving!" Jess''s voice rang out, firm and commanding. "Don''t stop!"


    Harry spotted a boy no older than fourteen, frozen in place, his wide eyes locked on the dark shapes leaping through the trees. Without hesitation, Harry veered off course, grabbing the boy by the arm.


    "Hey! No time to freeze up!" Harry shouted, pulling him along. "Move your legs or they''ll turn you into a monkey pancake!"


    The boy stumbled, but Harry kept him upright, practically dragging him forward until his feet started moving again.


    Ahead, a girl tripped over an exposed root, landing hard on her hands and knees. Harry''s eyes darted toward the approaching Jonkeys, his stomach twisting. He ran to her, helping her to her feet.


    "Come on, up you go!" he urged. "We''re not stopping for sightseeing!"


    The girl nodded mutely, tears streaming down her face as she clutched his arm. Harry pushed her forward, glancing back at the chaos behind him.


    The situation was dire.


    People were getting injured left and right¡ªsome from falling, others from the Jonkeys'' sharp projectiles. A man let out a blood-curdling scream as a stone struck his shoulder, sending him crashing into the dirt. Another stumbled into a tree, his ankle twisting painfully.


    Harry''s chest heaved as he ran, his kitchen knife gripped tightly in one hand.


    His mind raced, torn between wanting to help more people and the raw instinct to save himself.


    "Everyone!" Jess''s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. She and Darrow had slowed their pace, keeping to the rear of the group. "Bear with it! We''re almost through this!"


    "Tim, help out here, I''m falling back." Harry fell back, joining the two at the rear.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Jess''s face was set in a grim mask of determination, while Darrow''s sharp eyes flicked between the trees, watching for incoming threats.


    "W-What are those things?" Harry asked between gasps, his voice tight with exertion. "Do you they have any weak points?"


    Jess nodded, her tone clipped. "They''re fast, agile, and terrifyingly strong. But they do have got weaknesses."


    "Good and?" Harry''s asked again as he dodged another whizzing projectile.


    "Low stamina," Jess said, glancing over her shoulder. "They can''t keep this up forever. And their aim isn''t that great. As long as we keep moving and dodge, we''ll outrun them."


    "And if we don''t?" Harry asked, though he already suspected the answer.


    Jess''s gaze hardened as if remembering a gruesome scene. "If one of their attacks lands, you''re done. So, just don''t get hit, boy. If you do... you are dead."


    Harry swallowed hard, the cruel reality of the situation kicking in slowly. "Noted."


    Behind them, the Jonkeys'' screeches grew louder, their shadows flitting through the trees. Harry could feel his lungs burning, his legs screaming in protest. He kept receiving messages telling his stamina was running low.


    But like all the others he pushed on, fueled by the knowledge that stopping wasn''t an option.


    "We just need to keep going," Darrow said, his voice steady despite the chaos. "A little further."


    Harry glanced at him, surprised by his calm. Darrow''s spear was gripped tightly in his hands, but his movements were deliberate, not panicked.


    ''He looks really cool.''


    And it was oddly reassuring.


    They pressed on, the forest a blur of shadows and movement. The group''s cohesion was all but gone, each person running on raw survival instinct. But thanks to Jess and Darrow''s guidance, and a few other helpful people like Harry and Tim''s occasional interventions, most of them were still moving.


    Harry gritted his teeth, his breath ragged. "Come on," he muttered to himself. "Just a little further."


    Just as a faint hope began to creep in, a sound tore through the air¡ªdeep, guttural, and bone-chilling.


    "Rrroarrr!"


    A familiar roar echoed through the forest, reverberating in Harry''s chest and sending shivers down his spine. His eyes widened as a wave of goosebumps spread across his skin.


    "No..." he muttered under his breath.


    "Rrroarrr!"


    The roars¡ªlouder, darker, and more oppressive than the Jonkeys¡ªstole the air from the forest. Nearly everyone froze, their faces twisted in fear. Hands shot up to clutch heads as people whimpered and groaned, collapsing to their knees. It was as though the sound had pierced directly into their minds, drowning them in an invisible weight.


    Harry staggered but managed to stay upright, his knife trembling in his grip. His voice came out in a hoarse whisper, more to himself than anyone else. "Whispers of the Endwalkers..."


    Beside him, Jess''s jaw tightened, her eyes darting toward the source of the sound. Darrow shifted his stance, his spear held at the ready, though his knuckles were white with tension. Both of them seemed shaken but were managing to stay focused. Around them, however, the situation was deteriorating rapidly.


    The Jonkeys seized the moment. Their guttural screeches grew sharper, almost gleeful, as they rained down projectiles with unnerving accuracy. Stones whistled through the air, striking the frozen crowd with sickening force.


    "WHIZZ-THUD!"


    "CRACK!"


    The first impact sent a man flying backward, blood spraying from his chest. Another stone smashed into a young woman''s side, crumpling her to the ground like a ragdoll.


    Screams erupted, piercing and raw, as bodies fell one by one.


    Harry''s legs locked in place, his eyes going wide as the horrific scene unfolded before him. Blood splattered across the forest floor, pooling beneath the fallen. The air was thick with the sound of anguished cries and the sickening thuds of bodies hitting the dirt.


    "!"


    His mind went blank.


    For a moment, he couldn''t think, couldn''t move.


    His stomach churned violently, the bile rising in his throat. This wasn''t like a game. This wasn''t some fantasy where people got back up after a critical hit.


    These were real people.


    And they were dying.

 Stage 0 [V]

    The forest was a cacophony of chaos and despair. Survivors stumbled over roots, their faces pale with terror. Some clutched their heads, groaning from the echoes of the Endwalkers'' whispers still ringing in their minds. Others screamed for help, their voices raw and desperate.


    "Help me!" a man cried, blood streaming from a gash on his forehead. He reached out, his fingers trembling, but the crowd surged past him, ignoring his pleas.


    A woman fell to her knees, her sobs choked as she clutched her leg, which hung at an unnatural angle. "Please¡­ someone¡­ I can''t move¡­!"


    No one stopped.


    The Jonkeys'' screeches pierced the air, followed by the deadly whistle of their projectiles. Sharp stones rained down, striking trees, the ground, and flesh. Each hit elicited a sickening crunch or a blood-curdling scream.


    Harry stumbled as he ran, his chest heaving. His wide eyes darted between the carnage unfolding around him. His stomach churned violently as he saw a teenage boy collapse, clutching his side where a jagged stone protruded. The boy''s eyes met Harry''s, pleading silently, but Harry froze.


    The bile rose in his throat. He turned away, gagging, barely stopping himself from vomiting.


    "Get it together!" Jess''s voice snapped him out of his daze. Her firm grip on his shoulder steadied him, her sharp eyes boring into his. "You can''t save everyone. If you stop, you''ll die too."


    Harry nodded shakily, his mind a blur.


    Darrow, running beside them, cursed under his breath. "Grimlings¡­ those vermin have joined the fray."


    Harry''s heart sank as he glanced upward. The trees rustled unnaturally, and the sound of leathery wings filled the air. Dark shapes flitted above them¡ªsmall but quick, their glowing yellow eyes scanning for targets.


    "Perfect," Harry muttered, his voice dripping with dark sarcasm. "Flying goblins and murder monkeys. What''s next? Killer squirrels?"


    "Focus!" Jess barked.


    Harry bit back a retort, his grip tightening on his kitchen knife as they pushed forward.


    The group had fragmented into small clusters. Many ran mindlessly, their movements fueled by sheer panic. Others fell behind, their strength waning, until they were overtaken by the monsters. The horrifying sounds of their deaths lingered in the air¡ªa grim reminder of what awaited anyone who stopped.


    "Keep moving!" Jess shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos.


    Harry''s lungs burned, his legs felt like lead, and his stamina bar¡ªif he had one¡ªwas probably scraping the bottom. Yet, he kept running. They all did. The will to live was a powerful force, driving them forward even as their bodies screamed for rest.


    Darrow swore again. "We''re losing people too fast."


    Jess glanced back, her jaw clenched. "Then we need to focus on those who can keep up."


    Harry looked over his shoulder. His gaze lingered on a man sprawled on the ground, blood pooling beneath him. The man''s lips moved silently, as if praying. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "We can''t just¡ª" Harry started, but Jess cut him off sharply.


    "We can," she said, her tone cold but resolute. "They''re gone, boy. Focus on the ones who can still run."


    Harry''s fists clenched, but he didn''t argue.


    Deep down, he knew she was right.


    Yet... Still...


    ''Please forgive me.''


    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the dense forest began to thin. The trees grew sparser, and the oppressive canopy of branches gave way to open sky. The survivors, their numbers now significantly reduced, stumbled out of the forest and into a vast clearing.


    For a moment, no one moved. They collapsed onto the earth, their bodies trembling with exhaustion under the sunlight.


    A woman fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face. "We¡­ we made it!"


    Another man let out a shaky laugh, his voice tinged with hysteria. "We''re alive!"


    The clearing filled with the sound of laughter, sobs, and cries of relief. People hugged each other, their faces alight with joy despite their battered and bloodied appearances.


    Harry dropped to his knees, his chest heaving as he stared back at the forest. The shadows of the Jonkeys and Grimlings lingered at the edge of the treeline, but they didn''t advance. It seemed the creatures wouldn''t follow them into the open.


    "We did it," Tim gasped, collapsing beside Harry. "We actually made it."


    Harry nodded wordlessly, his mind too numb to form a reply.


    The celebration was short-lived.


    A collective gasp rippled through the group as someone pointed toward the horizon.


    "There!"


    Harry followed their gaze, his breath catching in his throat. In the distance, silhouetted against the setting sun, stood a massive fortress-like structure. Its dark stone walls loomed high, topped with sharp spires that seemed to pierce the sky.


    "What¡­ is that?" Tim asked, his voice barely above a whisper.


    Jess stepped forward, her eyes narrowing as she studied the structure. "Shelter," she said simply.


    Darrow nodded, his expression grim. "Or a trap."


    Harry''s lips curled into a tired but hopeful grin. "Only one way to find out."


    The group stared at the fortress, their momentary relief giving way to a mixture of hope and unease. Whatever awaited them there, it was better than the horrors they had just escaped.


    "..."


    The clearing became eerily quiet, save for the ragged breathing of the survivors and the occasional sob or murmured prayer of relief.


    Harry slumped against Tim who found him after arriving, his trembling hands clutching his knees. The forest behind them loomed like a living nightmare, shadows shifting as if the Jonkeys and Grimlings were still watching.


    But for now, they didn''t follow.


    "F-finally¡­ a break," Tim whispered, his body trembling nonstop.


    Others murmured in agreement, their bodies sagging with exhaustion.


    Just as Harry started to relax, an unsettling sound reached his ears.


    "Laughing?" he muttered, lifting his head.


    Kyle, the burly man who had led the charge out of the forest, was already on his feet. His laughter rang out, loud and manic, cutting through the tense atmosphere like a blade.


    "HAHAHA! I did it! I''m safe!" Kyle shouted, his voice cracking. Without warning, he took off at a sprint toward the fortress, his bulky frame moving with surprising speed despite his earlier exhaustion.


    "Hey!" Jess called, her tone sharp. "Stop!"


    But Kyle didn''t listen.


    He ran like a man possessed, his laughter echoing across the clearing. "The fortress! I made it! Nothing can touch me, hahaha!"


    Harry''s eyes narrowed, his grip tightening on his kitchen knife.


    "Is this guy serious?" he muttered.


    Tim muttered, "H-he must have lost it."


    Harry wanted to make a snarky comment, something about how Kyle''s bravado was only showing up now, but the gruesome scenes from the forest flashed through his mind. His jaw clenched, and he bit his lip instead.


    Then, it happened.


    "!"


    The ground beneath Kyle suddenly shifted, the grass rippling unnaturally. Before anyone could react, a massive, spiked tendril shot out of the earth with terrifying speed.


    "SWOOSH!"


    The appendage wrapped around Kyle''s torso in an instant, its jagged spikes digging deep into his flesh. His laughter turned into a strangled gasp as he was yanked downward, his feet leaving the ground.


    "H-Help¡ª!" Kyle''s scream was cut short as the tendril pulled him down, swallowing him whole into the earth. Blood sprayed across the grass, and then, just as quickly as it had appeared, the tendril vanished, leaving no trace of Kyle behind.


    "¡­!"


    The clearing fell into stunned silence.


    Harry''s eyes went wide, his heart hammering in his chest. His breath caught in his throat as his gaze locked on the spot where Kyle had stood just moments ago.


    "N-No way..."

 Stage 0 [VI]

    "!"


    The clearing felt heavier than ever, as though an unseen weight pressed down on every survivor''s chest. The tension from Kyle''s gruesome demise rippled through the group like a shockwave, leaving them paralyzed.


    "A-AARHH!"


    A girl''s piercing scream broke the fragile silence. Others flinched, trembling as if the tendril might spring up beneath them next. A few clutched their heads, rocking back and forth in futile attempts to block out the horrifying image burned into their minds.


    One man fell to his knees, mumbling incoherently under his breath. Another bit down so hard on his lip that blood began to trickle down his chin. A woman stood frozen, her fists clenched at her sides, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.


    Harry watched it all, his breath still caught in his throat. His mind replayed the scene of Kyle being swallowed whole, again and again, until it felt like the ground beneath him might split open too.


    "...There are monsters underneath too?" he muttered inwardly, his stomach knotting.


    He glanced toward the fortress in the distance, its foreboding silhouette against the darkening sky. The faint glimmer of hope it had represented was now a cruel joke.


    The fortress was out of reach. They couldn''t move forward. They couldn''t go back. And now¡­


    "Then¡­ there''s no hope anymore," a quiet, trembling voice whispered.


    Harry turned his head to see a girl¡ªone of his classmates¡ªspeaking with a hollow expression. Her words hung in the air like a curse.


    "We''re going to die here, aren''t we?" she added, her voice cracking.


    The despair spread quickly. Those near her who heard the words¡ªor had already reached the same conclusion¡ªbegan to crumble.


    "We can''t¡­ we can''t do this¡­"


    "There''s no way out¡­"


    "I don''t want to die¡­"


    The whispers of despair became a low murmur, growing louder with every passing second. People stared at the ground, at the sky, at the horizon, their eyes empty or brimming with tears.


    Harry''s fists clenched.


    He''d seen enough of these scenes¡ªwhether in books, games, or movies.


    He knew how this would go if things didn''t change.


    When panic and hopelessness set in, survival became impossible. They''d freeze when they should run, hesitate when they should act, and turn on each other when they needed to stay united. They''d fall apart, and when they did, they''d be picked off one by one.


    "If this keeps up¡­" Harry muttered, his mind racing. "They''ll get themselves killed."


    But what could he say? What could he do? He wasn''t a leader like Jess, or composed like Darrow. All he had was¡­This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    A soft thud beside him drew his attention. Jess had sat down next to him, her expression calm but her sharp eyes focused on the group.


    "Hey, boy," she said quietly.


    He blinked, surprised. "Uh¡­ yeah?"


    "Can you make them laugh?"


    Harry stared at her, taken aback. "Wait¡­ what?"


    Jess turned to meet his gaze. "These people are on the verge of losing it. We need to ease the tension a bit, or this is going to spiral out of control. Can you make them laugh?"


    Harry opened his mouth to respond but stopped. He wasn''t sure what to say. His first instinct was to joke, "What do you think I am, a clown?" But the weight of her request made him pause.


    Subconsciously, he nodded.


    Then, realization hit, and he blinked. "Wait, hold on. Why are you asking me?"


    Jess''s lips quirked slightly, though her expression remained serious. "I''ve just noticed it. You seem have a knack for it."


    "A knack for what?"


    "For making people smile," she said simply. "You joke, you say the kind of things that make others loosen up. Even in the worst situations. It''s a talent."


    Harry blinked again, this time in genuine surprise. Of all the things Jess could''ve said to him, he hadn''t expected that.


    "A¡­ talent?" he echoed.


    Jess nodded. "Right now, we need that more than anything. Can you do it?"


    Harry glanced back at the group, his mind whirring. His natural instinct was to deflect, to say something self-deprecating or sarcastic. But as he looked at the pale, trembling faces of his classmates and the others, he realized Jess wasn''t wrong.


    He did have a knack for this kind of thing. It wasn''t much, but it was something.


    "Yeah," Harry said finally, a small, crooked smile tugging at his lips. "I think I can."


    Jess gave him a slight nod, her expression softening for just a moment. "Good."


    Harry stood, dusting off his pants and shaking out his nerves. "Alright," he muttered to himself. "Time to play the fool."


    He then took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the scattered crowd. Most of them were huddled on the ground, trembling or staring blankly at the earth beneath them. A few were murmuring to themselves or clinging to whoever was nearest, but no one seemed to notice him.


    "Alright, folks," Harry said, raising his voice as he stepped into the center of the group. "Everyone, listen up!"


    No one moved.


    Harry''s eye twitched, but he kept his smile plastered on. "Okay, I get it. You''re all busy staring at the ground, hoping for it not to eat you like it ate Kyle. Totally understandable. But hey, good news¡ªI think I cracked the mystery of what''s happening!"


    A few people glanced his way, their expressions dull and unamused. Most ignored him completely.


    Harry scratched the back of his head. "Tough crowd," he muttered. Then, louder, "Fine, let''s talk about Kyle! Our dear, uh¡­ fearless leader who taught us how to run. May he rest in¡­ uh, the belly of whatever that thing was."


    That got their attention. Heads turned, some with shocked expressions, others glaring as if Harry had just insulted their ancestors.


    "Too soon?" Harry asked, grinning sheepishly. "Look, I''m just saying, if you''re going to die in a dramatic way, at least do it quietly, right? Not running and laughing like a maniac. I mean, come on, Kyle! Were you trying to audition for the role of ''fast food''?"


    A small snort broke through the tension. Harry caught the sound and turned to find one of his classmates¡ªSam¡ªbiting his lip to keep from laughing.


    "Gotcha," Harry muttered under his breath.


    "I''m just saying," he continued, gesturing to the group, "if you don''t want to end up like Kyle, maybe don''t sprint toward the giant ominous fortress while laughing like a hyena. Not the best strategy, you know?"


    More people looked his way now, some gritting their teeth as if trying to hold back their anger, while others cracked hesitant smiles.


    "What are you doing?" one girl hissed, glaring at him. "Are you making fun of us?"


    Harry held up his hands. "No, no, I''m making fun of the situation! You know, the whole ''we''re trapped in a nightmare world, surrounded by killer monkeys, flying goblins, and now literal death soil'' thing. If we can''t laugh at that, what can we laugh at?"


    A few more chuckles escaped the group, hesitant and awkward, but they were there.


    "Look," Harry said, his tone softening as he addressed the crowd, "I know this sucks. Trust me, I''m not exactly thrilled about almost getting turned into a Jonkey pi?ata back there. But if we sit here crying, we''re done for. We need to think. Why did Kyle get caught?"


    "There has to be a reason."

 Stage 0 [VII]

    The murmurs grew quieter as people began to listen carefully.


    Right, there has to be a reason, right?


    Harry paced in the center of the group, his mind racing. "Let''s break it down. Kyle was running, right? Laughing, shouting¡ªbasically drawing all the attention to himself. And then¡­ bam! Death by underground tentacle."


    He paused, rubbing his chin theatrically. "So, maybe it''s noise? Or movement? Or¡­ I don''t know, maybe it smelled his fear?"


    A voice piped up, hesitant but clear. "Or sound," someone said.


    Harry turned, spotting a boy with glasses¡ªone of his quieter schoolmates. The boy adjusted his glasses nervously as he spoke. "A lot of animals rely on sound or smell to detect things when they can''t see. It''s possible¡­ whatever that thing was, it detected Kyle because of how loud he was."


    Harry snapped his fingers, pointing at the boy. "Exactly! Thank you, uh¡­ what''s your name again?"


    "Ryan," the boy muttered, looking down.


    "Right! Thank you, Ryan!" Harry grinned. "So, if it''s sound¡­ then maybe we have a chance. If we stay quiet, move carefully, and don''t draw attention, we might be able to avoid triggering whatever''s lurking underground."


    A ripple of understanding spread through the group. People exchanged glances, their panic giving way to tentative hope.


    "But¡­" someone started, their voice shaking. "What if it''s not just sound? What if it''s¡­ something else?"


    Harry shrugged. "Then we''re screwed. But hey, let''s focus on what we do know, yeah? Better than sitting here waiting to get eaten."


    Jess stepped forward, her sharp eyes scanning the crowd. "You heard him. No more shouting, no sudden movements. We move carefully and stay quiet. Anyone who can''t keep it together¡ªstick close to someone who can."


    Harry stepped back, letting Jess and Darrow take over. He exhaled slowly, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. The group still looked terrified, but at least they weren''t falling apart anymore.


    "Nice work," Jess murmured as she passed him, her tone approving.


    Harry smirked. "Told you I could play the fool."


    Her lips quirked into a faint smile remembering a line from her workplace.


    ''Sometimes, the fool''s the smartest one in the room.''Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    _____ __ _


    A few hours later.


    Even though they had found a possible way to cross the distance to the fortress, no one moved. The group stood frozen, a palpable fear gripping them as they stared at the ground. The image of Kyle being swallowed whole was fresh in everyone''s minds, replaying like a nightmare they couldn''t wake from.


    Every rustle of grass or creak of the earth made someone flinch. Whispers rippled through the group, hushed and panicked.


    "No way I''m stepping forward," someone muttered.


    "Are we just supposed to wait here until that thing gets us too?" another asked, their voice trembling.


    But no one volunteered to test whether the ground ahead was safe. It was one thing to theorize about sound and movement; it was another to risk your life to prove it.


    Harry, leaning against a tree, felt the weight of the group''s indecision pressing on his chest. His breathing had calmed, and his mind had begun to clear.


    The earlier panic that had gripped him was now replaced by a grim determination. He took a deep breath and whispered, "[Show Status]."


    The translucent screen flickered into view before him.


    [ Personal Fragment ]


    Name: Harry


    Health: 76% (Condition: Fatigued)


    Stamina: 63% (Condition: Tired)


    Core Attributes:


    ? Strength: 8 ¡ú 9


    ? Agility: 8 ¡ú 10


    ? Willpower: 9 ¡ú 11


    ? Intelligence: 11 ¡ú 12


    ? Wisdom: 15


    End Points: 35


    Harry studied the updates, his mind racing. His strength and agility had both increased, by one and two points, respectively. His intelligence had risen by one, and his willpower had jumped by two. He could even feel a subtle improvement in his stamina, though it was still displayed as a percentage.


    "End Points are stacking up too," Harry muttered, his eyes flicking toward the total. "What can I even do with these?"


    Could he use them to increase his attributes? Unlock skills? Or maybe they were part of some kind of shop system? He sighed, realizing he had no way of knowing yet. The system seemed to reward exploration and discovery, but so far, it hadn''t given him a manual.


    He even tried to open the shop by speaking out loud many terms but it was of no use.


    His gaze drifted to the horizon, where the fortress loomed. Between them and safety lay uncertainty¡ªand danger. Behind them, the forest was eerily quiet, the Jonkeys, Endwalkers, and Grimlings seemingly held at bay by the underground creature.


    But Harry wasn''t naive. Whatever was keeping the forest monsters in check wouldn''t last.


    His eyes flicked to the sky, where streaks of orange and red painted the horizon. Nightfall was coming.


    "Only six hours left," Harry muttered under his breath. "Two hours until dawn. That''s all we need to survive. So why does it feel like the clock''s ticking slower?"


    He clenched his fists, his mind racing.


    ''We''re stuck between two nightmares. One behind us and one beneath us. If we don''t move before night comes...''


    His stomach twisted at the thought. He looked around at the group. Most of them were sitting or standing in clusters, muttering nervously. Their faces were pale, their bodies trembling from exhaustion.


    Jess and Darrow were at the edge of the clearing, speaking quietly, their faces grim.


    ''We need a plan,'' Harry thought. ''But no one''s going to step forward, not after Kyle. Not unless we''re sure.''


    He glanced back at his status window, the rising attributes giving him a small flicker of hope. Then his eyes locked onto the End Points again.


    "There''s gotta be a way to use these," Harry muttered. His fingers itched to test something, but the thought of burning points on a wrong guess held him back.


    For now, all he could do was think.


    And then it hit him: they didn''t just need a plan¡ªthey needed hope. Something to rally them.


    Harry stood straighter, his eyes narrowing as he stared toward the fortress.


    "Alright," he said to himself, a grin tugging at his lips despite the dread creeping into his chest. "Time to check it out."

 Stage 0 [VIII]

    The group had been resting for some time after escaping the forest, but "resting" was a generous term. No one truly relaxed. Most of them sat stiffly, fidgeting with nervous hands, or staring vacantly toward the horizon where the fortress loomed. The clearing felt like a fragile bubble, ready to pop at the slightest sound.


    Jess stood at the edge of the group, her arms crossed as she scanned the distance. Her gaze flitted from the fortress to the grasslands, then to the treeline behind them. Every muscle in her body remained coiled, ready to spring into action at the first sign of trouble.


    She didn''t trust the quiet.


    Her mind turned over the facts they knew¡ªor rather, didn''t know. The creature that had killed Kyle was still lurking beneath their feet. The monsters in the forest had stayed back, likely afraid of the same underground threat or something else.


    But that wouldn''t last as the night was creeping closer.


    She exhaled through her nose, running a hand through her short hair.


    Her thoughts faltered as she spotted movement in the corner of her eye.


    It was Harry.


    The young man wandered a short distance away from the group, his shoulders hunched and his face thoughtful. He bent down, picked up a rock, and lobbed it a few meters ahead.


    What''s he doing now? Jess''s lips quirked in curiosity.


    Harry left a strange impression on her. At first glance, he seemed ordinary¡ªa jokester, a slacker even¡ªbut that wasn''t the whole picture. He was sharp, quicker on his feet than most. His humor, while grating at times, had a way of cutting through the tension and rallying others when things looked grim.


    Jess chuckled under her breath, shaking her head. ''If he trained under my boss¡­ nah, he''d drive him mad. Or maybe he''d surprise us all.''


    She watched as Harry threw another branch. It landed with a soft thud, kicking up a puff of dirt. Nothing happened.


    Harry clicked his tongue in frustration, crouching to grab another rock.


    Jess smirked faintly. "It''s because they don''t make enough sound or impact," she muttered to herself. Still, credit where it was due¡ªat least he was trying.


    Other people began noticing him too. Whispers rippled through the group, a mixture of curiosity and exasperation. Harry''s antics weren''t exactly subtle.


    Tim soon joined him, the pair exchanging murmured words. Tim picked up a rock and threw it too, copying Harry''s actions.


    Jess''s brow furrowed slightly. She tilted her head, watching as Harry and Tim continued their strange experiment. ''They''re testing something,'' she realized. ''It''s crude, but¡­ maybe it could work.''The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Her eyes widened slightly as an idea clicked into place. If one rock wasn''t enough, what about dozens?


    Jess pushed off the tree and straightened, her voice cutting through the murmurs. "Alright, everyone, listen up!"


    The crowd turned toward her, startled.


    Jess didn''t waste time. "Grab whatever you can¡ªrocks, branches, anything heavy. We''re joining them."


    Confusion flickered across their faces, but Jess''s commanding tone brooked no argument. Slowly, people began rising, hesitating but obeying.


    When they approached Harry and Tim, Harry looked up, startled. "Uh¡­ what''s happening?"


    Jess smirked. "You''re not the only one throwing rocks now."


    Harry blinked, then grinned. "Team effort, huh? I like it."


    Jess ignored his comment and addressed the group. "We''re aiming for one spot¡ªtwenty, thirty meters out. Same spot, all at once."


    The group spread out, clutching their makeshift projectiles. Jess positioned herself near Harry, her gaze locked on the patch of ground ahead.


    "On my count," she said firmly.


    "Wait, wait¡ªthis is my thing!" Harry protested, though there was no real bite to his tone.


    Jess gave him a sidelong glance. "You can count next time."


    Harry huffed but didn''t argue further.


    Jess raised her voice. "One¡­ Two¡­ Three!"


    Rocks, branches, and debris soared through the air, landing in a concentrated area with a series of dull thuds and cracks. The clearing fell silent, every pair of eyes fixed on the spot.


    For a moment, nothing happened.


    Then¡ª


    "SWOOSH!"


    The ground erupted as a large, spiked tendril shot upward, its dark surface glinting in the fading sunlight. Gasps and cries of alarm rippled through the group as the creature writhed, searching for prey.


    It twisted and hovered, its jagged edges glinting. But finding nothing, it froze for a moment, almost uncertain. Then, as quickly as it had appeared, the tendril slammed back into the ground, vanishing.


    The clearing fell silent again.


    Harry''s laughter shattered the tension.


    "Ha! Did you see that?!" he shouted, spinning toward the group with a wide grin. "We made it come up! And it was scared of the sun! The big bad tentacle monster''s a wimp in the daylight!"


    The group stared at him, their shock slowly melting into tentative smiles. A few chuckles escaped, hesitant but growing.


    Jess exhaled, a small smile tugging at her lips as she watched the tension ease.


    Harry''s grin widened as he gestured grandly. "So, what''s next? Are we throwing boulders next time? Maybe we¡ª"


    "Boy," Jess cut in, her tone dry but tinged with amusement. "Maybe save the jokes until after we figure out the rest of the plan."


    Harry held up his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. But you gotta admit, that was pretty alright."


    Jess shook her head, her smirk lingering. ''This kid might be a fool, but he''s a fool with heart.''


    ''And... now we tested it out... should I try the next step by myself.''


    ''In case something happens, I am the best person to get out unscathed.''


    ''My agility and perception are at Max, so it won''t be impossible to dodge that tentacle if it does come out.''


    She rolled her shoulders, flexing her fingers. Her body still ached from the earlier sprint, but she''d recovered enough stamina to move quickly if she needed to. She could feel the confidence in her own abilities¡ªher speed, her reflexes, her instincts.


    ''Any other person will probably die without being able to react...''


    She exhaled and muttered under her breath, "Alright, Jess. Time to put your money where your mouth is."


    Jess took a step forward, her muscles coiling like springs as she prepared herself mentally. But before she could move further, a collective gasp from the group froze her in place.


    "What¡ª?"


    She whipped her head around, following their wide-eyed stares and pointing fingers.


    And then she saw him.


    Harry.


    The boy was already fifteen meters ahead, casually strolling toward the fortress with his hands shoved in his pockets, as if he were on a leisurely walk through the park.


    Jess''s heart lurched.


    "That fool!"


    "What the hell is he doing?!"

 Stage 0 [IX]

    The clearing stretched endlessly before Harry as he took another painstakingly slow step forward, his boots barely brushing the grass. His heart thudded in his chest, each beat amplified in his ears. Every movement was deliberate¡ªheel to toe, weight shifted with care¡ªhis body tense as a coiled spring.


    His breaths were shallow, his lips pressed tightly together. Not a single sound escaped him. The ground beneath his feet felt like it could betray him at any moment.


    Behind him, the group watched, holding their collective breath. No one shouted, no one called after him.


    That was good.


    He didn''t need any distractions.


    ''One step at a time,'' Harry thought, swallowing hard. He glanced down at the ground. Every tuft of grass, every uneven patch of dirt felt like a potential trigger for disaster.


    Three minutes passed. Maybe four. He wasn''t sure anymore. But when he chanced a glance back, he realized he''d covered nearly fifty meters. It wasn''t much. At his current pace, it felt like a lifetime.


    He sensed Jess''s intense gaze but decided to ignore it.


    Then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed movement.


    Tim.


    The guy was tiptoeing forward, his face pale and drenched in sweat but determined nonetheless. Harry''s eyes flicked to the rest of the group. They were hesitating, but he could see the resolve in their eyes.


    Jess and Darrow must''ve given instructions. The way they were spacing themselves out, with gaps between each person, wasn''t a coincidence.


    One by one, more people started following.


    It was surreal. A slow, silent procession of survivors, each moving as if walking through a minefield. Jess and Darrow took up the rear, their expressions unreadable, but Harry didn''t miss the way Jess''s sharp gaze kept flicking back to the forest.


    He knew what she was thinking.


    They weren''t safe yet.


    An hour crawled by.


    The fortress loomed larger now, its jagged silhouette stark against the fading light. The group had made progress, but it was slow, agonizingly slow. They''d covered half the distance, maybe a little more, but the horizon had started to bleed shadows, the sun dipping lower and lower.


    Harry paused, glancing back over his shoulder. The forest behind them had started to come alive again.


    The growls were faint at first¡ªdistant, guttural echoes carried on the wind. But they were growing louder.


    The creatures were moving, creeping out of the shadows of the forest.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    Harry''s chest tightened. His gaze darted to Jess, who had also stopped. Her expression was grim, her lips pressed into a thin line.


    The monsters wouldn''t go beyond the forest shadows earlier. That much was clear. But now, the shadows were stretching. With every passing second, the sun''s retreat gave the monsters more ground to work with.


    Harry clenched his fists.


    ''Damn it. The sunlight theory was right, but it doesn''t matter if the sun''s leaving us behind.''


    He forced himself to keep moving, every step feeling heavier than the last.


    When the fortress was less than two hundred meters away, Harry''s heart sank further.


    There were no gates.


    No doors.


    No ladders.


    Just massive, smooth walls stretching upward like an impenetrable barrier.


    Harry bit down on his lower lip, his mind racing.


    ''There has to be something. A crack, a rope, anything.''


    He shook his head. There was no point panicking now. ''First, get there. Worry about climbing later. One thing at a time.''


    The minutes slipped away too fast.


    Five minutes left.


    They''d covered another hundred meters, but that left another hundred to go.


    The sun was almost gone now, the sky bathed in deep reds and purples. And the forest creatures? They were still advancing. Slowly, yes, but deliberately. Harry''s stomach churned as he realized why.


    ''They''re savoring it.''


    The Jonkeys were prowling, their growls guttural and eager. The Grimlings were silent for now, but Harry caught glimpses of their leathery wings flapping in the distance. as for the Endtalkers, they had just come out of the forest.


    Fear prickled at his skin, but his legs kept moving.


    ''Don''t think. Just move.''


    The darkness pressed in from all sides, and with it, the weight of the monsters.


    Everyone around him was tense, their movements jerky and uncertain. No one spoke, but the fear was palpable, a living, breathing thing among them.


    Harry''s teeth ground together as he glanced at the fortress again.


    ''We''ll figure it out,'' he told himself, gripping the knife at his side. ''We have to.''


    The seconds ticked by, the growls of the forest monsters growing louder. And Harry knew¡ªif they didn''t reach the fortress before the last light disappeared, it wouldn''t matter how slow or quiet they were.


    The monsters would run them down.


    He took another careful step forward, his heart pounding in his ears.


    Meanwhile, the growls behind them were growing louder.


    Too loud.


    He glanced over his shoulder. The Jonkeys had stopped prowling. Their bodies were tense, their glowing yellow eyes locked on the group like predators waiting to pounce.


    Something was about to happen.


    He could tell it easily.


    "Not good," Harry muttered under his breath.


    As if on cue, one of the Grimlings let out a bone-chilling screech, its leathery wings unfurling. The sound cut through the air like a blade, and the Jonkeys responded with guttural roars.


    Harry''s stomach dropped.


    ''Here we go¡­''


    The monsters surged forward.


    The Grimlings leapt into the air, their wings flapping erratically as they soared toward the group. The Jonkeys didn''t even bother trying to close the distance on foot. Instead, they started hurling their projectiles¡ªsharpened stones and jagged debris¡ªstraight at the survivors.


    "RUN!" someone screamed, their voice breaking the fragile silence.


    And just like that, chaos erupted.


    Harry didn''t need to look back. He could feel the panic spreading like wildfire, hear the frantic shouts and the thunder of footsteps as everyone abandoned their careful pace and broke into a full-on sprint.


    A sharp whistle cut through the air¡ªa projectile¡ªand Harry instinctively ducked. It slammed into the ground inches from where he''d been standing, sending up a spray of dirt.


    "Move!" Jess''s voice roared from the back of the group, sharp and commanding.


    Harry''s legs burned as he pushed forward, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The fortress was so close now, but it still felt impossibly far.


    "Keep going!" Darrow shouted, his voice raw.


    The sound of wings beating the air grew louder. Harry chanced a glance upward and saw a Grimling diving toward the group, its claws outstretched. It swooped down on one of the survivors, narrowly missing as the man stumbled and rolled to the side.


    Another projectile whizzed past Harry''s head, too close for comfort.


    ''They''re trying to pick us off before we even get close,'' he thought grimly.


    Then, the ground rumbled.


    ''Shoot-!''

 Stage 0 [X]

    Harry felt it before he saw it¡ªa deep, guttural vibration that seemed to come from the earth itself. His blood turned to ice.


    "Shoot¡­"


    The ground exploded.


    A massive tendril shot upward, its spiked surface glinting in the dim light. The underground creature(s) had joined the fray.


    At first, it lashed out wildly, snatching at the nearest moving targets¡ªthe Jonkeys. But the agile creatures dodged easily, their movements fluid and precise. The tentacle slammed back into the ground, only to emerge seconds later in another spot, searching for prey.


    Then it froze, as if sensing something.


    The sunlight was gone.


    Harry''s heart sank as the realization hit him. The thing wasn''t afraid of the dark.


    It wasn''t afraid of anything.


    With a guttural roar, the creature fully emerged from the ground. More tendrils followed the first, their spiked lengths writhing and snapping at the air. A grotesque, bulbous mass rose from the earth, its surface glistening and pulsing as though alive.


    It didn''t care about the Jonkeys or the Grimlings anymore. Its attention was on the group.


    "Move! MOVE!" Jess''s voice rang out again, but this time there was a hint of urgency¡ªmaybe even fear¡ªin her tone.


    Harry didn''t need to be told twice.


    The group, already in chaos, descended further into madness. People screamed and shoved, their survival instincts overriding any semblance of order.


    Harry dodged another projectile, his mind racing. ''This is bad. Really bad.''


    The Grimlings dove and screeched, the Jonkeys roared and hurled stones, and the tentacle monster lashed out with terrifying speed.


    It was a nightmare.


    And the fortress was still a hundred meters away.


    Harry gritted his teeth, forcing his legs to move faster despite the burning in his muscles. His chest heaved, his lungs screaming for air.


    They had to make it.


    They didn''t have a choice.


    Up ahead, someone tripped, their scream cut short as a Grimling snatched them up. Another person was struck by a Jonkey''s projectile, crumpling to the ground with a sickening thud.


    Harry''s vision blurred, his surroundings a chaotic blur of movement and sound.


    ''Don''t think about it. Just keep running.''


    The fortress walls loomed closer, but they still felt impossibly far.


    More tendrils burst from the ground, each one a twisted mass of spikes and muscle. They lashed out in every direction, striking indiscriminately.


    Harry''s mind screamed at him to stop, to hide, to do anything but run straight toward the chaos. But he pushed forward, his eyes locked on the fortress.


    "Harry!" Tim''s voice shouted from somewhere behind him.


    Harry didn''t look back.


    "Just keep running!" he shouted, his voice hoarse.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    The darkness pressed in, and the monsters closed the gap.


    Fifty meters.


    Thirty.


    Ten.


    Five.


    One.


    ...


    The fortress walls were impossibly high, smooth, and unbroken.


    There was no gate, no ladder, no visible way inside.


    Around him, people were falling apart.


    Some clawed at the walls, futilely trying to climb the slick surface, only to slide back down. Others broke into sobs, collapsing to their knees in despair. A few, too panicked to think, bolted along the base of the walls, shouting for an entrance that didn''t exist.


    Jess and Darrow, breathing hard but still composed, stood nearby, their sharp eyes scanning the chaos and the approaching monsters.


    Harry planted his hands on his knees, forcing his breath to steady as he looked back toward the darkness.


    The Grimlings were diving in closer now, their shrieks cutting through the air like jagged glass. The Jonkeys weren''t far behind, their hulking forms charging forward as they hurled stones with deadly precision. Tendrils writhed and slammed into the earth, leaving craters in their wake.


    It was hopeless.


    And then he saw her.


    A small figure stumbled in the darkness, her thin legs trembling as she tripped and fell. She couldn''t have been older than eleven. She let out a cry, her voice piercing and frantic.


    "Lily!"


    The shout came from near the wall¡ªa boy, no older than sixteen, his face pale and streaked with tears. He reached out, his voice cracking. "Lily, get up! Run!"


    The girl tried, scrambling to her knees, but her movements were sluggish, her sobs wracking her small frame.


    "Move," Harry whispered under his breath, his nails digging into his palms.


    "Move, kid."


    But she didn''t.


    His mind screamed at him to stay where he was.


    To wait.


    To think of the group. His own life.


    But his body had already made the decision for him.


    "Damn it, boy!" Jess''s voice cut through the chaos, but she was too far to stop him.


    Harry bolted.


    His legs burned, his lungs felt like they were on fire, but he didn''t stop. He weaved through the chaos, dodging projectiles and snapping tendrils, his eyes locked on the girl.


    "Lily!" he shouted, his voice hoarse. "Get down!"


    The girl turned, her tear-streaked face frozen in fear as Harry reached her. Without slowing, he scooped her up in his arms, nearly losing his balance in the process.


    "I''ve got you, kid," he muttered, forcing a grin even as the Jonkeys'' projectiles whizzed past him. "But we''ve gotta work on your running skills later."


    The girl clung to him, her small hands trembling as she buried her face in his shoulder.


    "Harry!" Tim''s voice called from the wall, panic clear in his tone.


    Harry glanced back at the writhing mass of tendrils closing in on him.


    "Yeah, yeah, I''m working on it!" he shouted, sprinting toward the fortress.


    As he ran, an idea¡ªhorrible, desperate, and undeniably Harry¡ªstruck him.


    "Hold on tight," he whispered to the girl, shifting her weight slightly.


    He reached into his pocket and pulled out a rock¡ªa stupid, small, insignificant rock.


    Then, with all his might, he hurled it at the closest tendril.


    The rock bounced off with a harmless thud, but the tendril recoiled slightly, momentarily distracted.


    Harry grinned. "See? Brains and brawn!"


    It lasted exactly two seconds before the tendril snapped toward him, angrier than before.


    "Great. Real smart, Harry," he muttered as he sprinted the last few meters to the wall, thrusting the girl into her brother''s waiting arms.


    "Catch!" Harry barked, not waiting for a response.


    Before he could catch his breath, the clearing erupted in fire.


    Light burst forth from the top of the walls, illuminating the battlefield as fireballs streaked toward the monsters. Arrows followed, glowing with enchantments¡ªflames, ice, lightning¡ªeach finding their mark with deadly precision.


    "Oq Uz!"


    "Oldir!"


    Voices shouted from above, their language unfamiliar but commanding. Figures stood silhouetted against the firelight, their forms moving with practiced coordination.


    Hope flared in Harry''s chest.


    They were saved.


    And then his luck ran out.


    A tendril shot forward, faster than he could react, slamming into the ground beside him and throwing him off balance. He stumbled, barely dodging a second strike, but it was clear now¡ªhe was the target.


    "Darn you!" he shouted, his voice cracking as he tried to evade.


    The tendril lashed out again, and this time it struck true, hitting Harry square in the chest. The force sent him flying, the air ripped from his lungs as he hit the ground hard.


    "Cough-!"


    Pain exploded through his body, and he coughed violently, tasting blood.


    His vision blurred as he struggled to push himself up, his limbs shaking. The Grimlings were swarming now, their claws glinting as they dove toward him. The tendril loomed above, ready to strike.


    "W-well," Harry muttered, his voice weak but laced with dry humor. "This s-sucks."


    And then, through the haze of pain and impending death, he saw it.


    A figure descended from the clouds like a shadow, falling impossibly fast. The tendril lashed out, but the figure dodged effortlessly, its movements fluid and precise.


    Harry''s vision wavered, but he caught a glimpse of familiar yet unfamiliar eyes, flashing in the firelight, a presence that seemed impossibly calm amidst the chaos.


    The last thing he saw before darkness claimed him was the figure standing over him, its weapon poised and unwavering.


    "...Cool."

 Between Light and Dark

    Tim''s legs trembled as he leaned against the cold, unyielding fortress wall, his eyes darting between the chaos and his friend in the middle of it all.


    "Harry!" he shouted, his voice cracking with desperation. "Get back here!"


    But Harry didn''t stop.


    Tim''s mind spun, caught between panic and disbelief. It was like d¨¦j¨¤ vu, the scene before him overlapping with a memory he''d buried years ago¡ªa time when Harry had done something equally reckless.


    He remembered that day all too well. He''d been cornered by a group of bullies in the schoolyard, their taunts and shoves forcing him into a corner. Just as he thought he''d be left humiliated¡ªor worse¡ªHarry had stepped in, grinning like the fool he always was.


    He''d made a joke, something stupid and completely out of place, but it had distracted them just long enough. Then he''d grabbed Tim by the arm and bolted, laughing as if it were all some grand adventure.


    Although they were still beaten after being caught up, they paid back as well.


    Anyway, now, years later, here he was again. Charging in, reckless and unthinking, to save someone else.


    Tim shook his head violently, trying to dispel the memory. This wasn''t the schoolyard. This was life or death.


    "Damn it, Harry¡­" he muttered under his breath, his fists clenching as he watched his friend reach the little girl.


    Harry scooped her up with a wild, uncoordinated grace that only he could pull off, and for a brief, fleeting moment, Tim felt a surge of relief.


    Then the ground shook.


    A tendril slammed into the earth not far from Harry, narrowly missing him as he sprinted back toward the wall.


    "Lily!" someone called from beside Tim.


    A few moments later.


    "Catch her!" Harry yelled, thrusting the girl forward.


    Tim didn''t hesitate.


    But the boy was too slow, his trembling hands fumbling as Tim stepped in, grabbing the girl and holding her close. Her tiny hands clutched at his shirt, her sobs muffled against his chest.


    "It''s okay," Tim said, his voice trembling as he handed her off to her brother. "Take care of her."


    Before he could process what was happening, the night erupted in light.


    Fireballs rained down from the top of the fortress walls, their blazing trails illuminating the battlefield. Arrows followed, each one glowing with a strange, otherworldly energy¡ªflames, frost, and lightning sparking as they found their marks. The ground beneath the monsters lit up in a brilliant, deadly display.


    "Ular Ki?"


    "Nima bol yap ti?"


    The shouts came from above the walls, unfamiliar voices barking commands in a language Tim didn''t understand.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Then, cutting through the chaos, came a voice he did know.


    "They are our people, save them, please!"


    Tim''s heart skipped a beat. His head snapped up toward the wall, his eyes scanning the shadowy figures moving at its edge.


    "Is that¡­?" he muttered, his breath catching. "The student council president?"


    Before he could dwell on it, movement above caught his attention. Figures leaped down from the walls with ropes in hand, their forms blurs of agility and speed. They landed lightly, their feet barely touching the ground as they grabbed the nearest people and began scaling the walls again.


    The firelight illuminated their faces briefly¡ªmen and women clad in armors, their movements precise and calculated. Tim watched in awe as they worked, their voices calm but commanding.


    "Kel!" one of them barked, his voice thick as he motioned for a group of survivors to move.


    Tim''s focus snapped back to Harry.


    He was still out there.


    "Harry!" Tim shouted again, his voice breaking. He stepped forward, but a firm hand grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks.


    "Don''t," Sam, his classmate said sharply, his eyes locked on the battlefield.


    "But he¡ª!"


    "Look."


    Tim''s gaze darted back toward Harry, his heart pounding as he saw his friend surrounded. The Grimlings were diving in, their claws glinting in the firelight. The Jonkeys hurled their projectiles with deadly precision, and the massive tendrils twisted and were slamming right at him.


    Harry was already on the brink of fainting, unable to move or speak.


    "N-No..." Tim whispered, his nails digging into his palms.


    And then, something happened.


    A figure appeared.


    It moved like a shadow, weaving through the monsters with a speed and grace that didn''t seem human. The firelight caught flashes of dark clothing, the gleam of a blade.


    Tim''s breath caught in his throat as the figure leaped into the air, straight toward Harry.


    The tendril lashed out, but the figure twisted midair, narrowly avoiding it. The Grimlings dove, but the figure''s blade flashed, cutting through them effortlessly.


    Time seemed to slow as the figure landed beside Harry, picking up his limp form just as he lost consciousness.


    Tim''s eyes widened, his heart pounding as he watched the figure rise, holding Harry securely.


    "No way¡­" he whispered, his voice barely audible.


    The figure turned briefly, the firelight illuminating a familiar face.


    Tim''s legs nearly buckled beneath him.


    "I-is that¡­ Max?"


    Sam voiced out his exact thoughts.


    ''Harry...''


    ''He''s saved...''


    _____ __ _


    ''...''


    The darkness stretched endlessly around Harry, a vast, oppressive void that seemed to swallow everything.


    He wandered aimlessly, his steps soundless, his form weightless. The blackness pressed against him, unyielding and infinite, suffocating in its silence.


    His mind was empty, a stark contrast to the usual chaos of thoughts, quips, and worries that constantly filled it. The sharp humor that had always been his shield, his armor, was gone.


    His face, once so animated with grins and smirks, was blank. His footsteps lacked purpose. His eyes, usually alight with mischief or curiosity, stared vacantly ahead. As if he has become a puppet.


    There was no sound, no sensation, no tether to reality.


    Just nothing.


    And yet¡­


    Far above, something flickered.


    A tiny pinprick of light appeared, faint and distant, like a lone star in an endless night.


    Harry''s steps faltered. His head tilted upward, his vacant expression shifting ever so slightly, curiosity stirring faintly in the emptiness.


    The light grew, slowly but steadily, its glow pushing back the darkness.


    It wasn''t harsh or blinding. It was warm, gentle¡ªlike the first rays of dawn breaking through a cold, endless night.


    Harry''s steps quickened, though he didn''t know why. His chest tightened, an unfamiliar ache blooming in the void where his heart should have been.


    The light expanded, illuminating the void in soft hues of gold and white. It reached for him, wrapping around him like an embrace.


    He felt¡­


    Alive.


    The emptiness in his mind shattered as memories, emotions, and thoughts came rushing back. The chaos, the monsters, the fortress, the girl...


    The pain.


    His eyes widened, and his lips parted as a sharp gasp broke free.


    The void vanished.


    "!"


    Harry''s eyes snapped open.


    "Hah-!"


    He bolted upright with a loud, ragged inhale, his chest heaving as if he''d been pulled from underwater.


    Huf-! Huf-!


    His heart hammered in his chest, every beat echoing in his ears. His vision swam for a moment before settling, the world around him coming into focus.


    He was lying on something firm but soft, a stark contrast to the cold, hard ground he''d been running on before.


    "Where¡­"


    "...am I?"

 Who Am I?

    Harry''s eyes blinked open to the faint glow of firelight dancing along rough, gray stone walls. The smell of wood and faint herbs lingered in the air, mixed with something metallic¡ªlike old iron.


    It took him a moment to register his surroundings: a medieval-style room with heavy wooden beams overhead, a simple bed beneath him, and a sturdy wooden door across the way.


    "Woah-ar-!"


    He groaned softly, sitting up, his hand automatically rubbing the back of his head. His body ached, a dull throb in his chest and limbs, but there was no sharp pain¡ªno sign of the injury he was sure should''ve left him on death''s door.


    "What the¡­" he muttered under his breath, flexing his arms. Perfectly fine. Not a single scratch, just residual soreness. "Did I¡­ dream that?"


    "ZZZZ-!"


    A loud snore broke the quiet, making Harry flinch. His head whipped to the side, where another bed lay pressed against the wall.


    On it sprawled a figure, one arm behind his head, the other hanging loosely off the side. His face was lit faintly by the firelight, his expression serene, almost peaceful.


    "Hmmm?"


    Harry''s breath caught.


    "M-Max?" he whispered, his voice hoarse.


    There was no mistaking it. The figure was Max, but something about him seemed different. His face was sharper somehow, his posture unnervingly still despite his snoring.


    Harry''s brow furrowed as he stared.


    ''He looks like he''s in a freaking movie poster,'' Harry thought, half-annoyed.


    Harry shifted, swinging his legs off the bed and planting his feet on the cool stone floor. He tested his limbs, bending, twisting¡ªnothing was wrong.


    "Okay, should I be happy that I am not dead?" he muttered.


    His thoughts snapped back to Max. Standing, Harry crossed the short distance between their beds, his footsteps echoing faintly. He leaned down, poking Max''s arm with a finger. "Hey, Max. Wake up."


    No response.


    Harry huffed, reaching out fully this time to shake him. "Come on, man. You can''t just¡ª"Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    "!"


    Max''s eyes snapped open.


    Harry barely had time to react before his wrist was seized in a vice grip. His arm was twisted slightly, not enough to hurt but enough to make his breath hitch. Max''s gaze locked onto him, sharp and unyielding like a predator assessing prey.


    "Ouch!"


    "L-Let go, you idiot!" Harry yelped, yanking his arm back.


    The clarity returned to Max''s eyes, and his grip slackened immediately. He released Harry''s arm and sat up smoothly, his movements eerily precise, like clockwork.


    Harry took a step back, cradling his wrist and glaring. "What the hell, man? Are you an assassin or something?"


    Max tilted his head slightly, his expression blank. "What is an assassin?"


    Harry blinked, his glare faltering. ''That was¡­ not the response I was expecting.''


    He squinted at Max, who sat unnervingly still, his posture rigid, his gaze unwavering.


    ''He reminds me of a trained dog or something,'' Harry thought, keeping the observation to himself.


    "Whatever," Harry muttered, sitting back down on his bed. "Where are we? And what happened back then?"


    Max''s brow furrowed slightly, as though piecing together fragments of memory. "I saved you," he said after a pause, his tone matter-of-fact. "They saved us and told us to sleep here."


    Harry stared at him, unimpressed. "Super clear, thanks. Who''s ''they''?"


    Max shrugged. "I don''t know."


    "You don''t¡ª" Harry groaned, rubbing his temples. "Fine... Wait, did you just say you saved me?"


    Max nodded once like it was the most obvious thing in the world.


    Harry exhaled, his shoulders relaxing. His lips curved into a bright grin as he reached out to pat Max on the shoulder. "Then I owe you one. Thanks for saving me, man. I''d be a goner if it weren''t for you."


    Max''s body stiffened slightly at the contact, but he nodded again, his expression unreadable. There was something strange about the way his gaze lingered on Harry, a flicker of something unnameable in his eyes.


    Then, Max spoke, his tone quiet but deliberate. "Who am I?"


    Harry froze mid-pat, his grin fading. He stared at Max, his hand still on his shoulder, his mind scrambling to process the question. "What?"


    "Who am I?" Max repeated, his tone calm but firm. His face betrayed no emotion, his eyes sharp yet strangely distant.


    Harry blinked, narrowing his eyes at Max. "You''re¡­ Max? Are you seriously checking if I''ve got amnesia or something?"


    Max tilted his head slightly, his gaze unwavering. "What is this¡­ amnesia?"


    Harry''s stare turned blank. "...You''re joking, right?"


    Max shook his head, his expression entirely serious.


    Harry groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "No way. You don''t even know what amnesia is? Like, seriously?"


    Max didn''t flinch. Instead, he stared at Harry as though awaiting a lecture.


    Sighing in defeat, Harry straightened up. "Alright, fine, I''ll tell you, so stop with the puppy stare."


    "Anyway, amnesia is when you lose your memories, like completely blank. You don''t remember who you are, where you''re from, nothing. It''s like your brain just¡­ wipes itself clean. There are also cases where you only lose some part of it, which is more common I think."


    "Well, this is all I know."


    Max''s eyes widened ever so slightly, the weight of Harry''s words sinking in. His expression shifted, the faintest flicker of unease breaking through his calm demeanor. He went silent for a long moment, staring at the floor.


    Finally, he lifted his head and spoke, his voice quieter but deliberate. "It seems¡­ I am experiencing this amnesia thing."


    Harry''s jaw dropped.


    He stared at Max, his mind scrambling for a response.


    "...Seriously?"


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    "Shoot."

 I wish patience for both of us, friend

    Harry sat on the edge of his bed, staring at Max, his fingers twitching as he struggled to process what he''d just heard. Amnesia? Seriously?


    He couldn''t wrap his head around it. Yet, the longer he looked at Max¡ªthe guy''s unnervingly calm expression, his eerily precise movements¡ªthe more suspicious it all seemed.


    Thousands of thoughts swirled in his mind, each wilder than the last. He''d played enough games and read enough novels to recognize a trope when he saw one.


    Amnesia? That was practically the first chapter of every great and mysterious protagonist''s journey!


    Some hero losing their memories after a grand battle, or waking up with no idea who they were but destined for greatness. Heck, the situation practically screamed "main character energy."


    ''Wait¡­ what if Max really is one of those?'' Harry thought, his fingers drumming against his leg. ''Main character vibes¡ªcheck. Amnesia¡ªa rare but killer trait¡ªdouble check. Oh, man, what if he''s secretly OP?''


    ''Are we in some kind of a novel or game?''


    His mind raced back to their classroom earlier. Max had been acting¡­ strange. Not just awkward, but completely out of it, like he was seeing the world for the first time.


    Which meant, amnesia happened during the history class.


    "History really is a weapon of mass destruction," Harry muttered, almost unconsciously.


    Max tilted his head slightly, his calm demeanor breaking for just a moment as confusion flickered across his face. "What?"


    "Nothing!" Harry waved him off hastily, though his mind was spiraling further. ''Think about it. What if this whole amnesia thing started in history class? He acted like a total fool back then. And after he pressed yes, he disappeared, and boom-! Makes sense, right?''


    Harry squinted at Max, deep in thought. ''And then¡­ how did he save me back there? The guy was sprinting through monsters like a pro. Does he have some cheat? Like¡­ leveling up or some overpowered system?''


    His eyes widened as a realization hit him. He leaned forward, practically buzzing with excitement.


    "Hey, Max," he said, his voice low but eager. "What happened after you pressed ''Yes''? Did you get teleported to this place? Or did something else happen?"


    Max blinked at him, his calm mask slipping ever so slightly. He nodded slowly, his tone measured as he began to recount his experience. "I¡­ appeared in a strange place. There was nothing but darkness. Then, I heard a voice."Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    "A voice?!" Harry''s eyes sparkled, but he quickly forced his expression into something more neutral. "Go on."


    Max hesitated for a moment before continuing. "It told me if I wanted to skip the intro and start the hell tutorial or something and when I said yes, it asked me to survive. Then¡­ something appeared. A creature. It was called a Lesser Demon."


    Harry''s heart skipped a beat. ''A Hell tier tutorial?! This guy''s the real deal.''


    Max continued, his voice steady but laced with a strange edge. "It attacked me. I¡­ didn''t know how to fight. It killed me."


    Harry''s jaw dropped. "Wait¡ªyou died?!"


    Max nodded, his expression unreadable. "Again and again. Every time I died, I returned to the same place, the same fight. It was¡­ endless."


    Harry leaned in, his excitement barely contained. "And then?"


    Max''s eyes darkened slightly, remembering all those gruesome and painful moments. "I learned. I fought. And eventually¡­ I killed it."


    Harry''s breath hitched. ''This guy really is a protagonist. There''s no doubt about it now. Tutorial? Check. Death and resurrection mechanic? Check. Fighting a monster and winning through sheer grit? Oh, yeah, we''ve got ourselves a main character right here.''


    "I received rewards," Max continued, his tone flat. "But then, I lost consciousness again. When I woke up¡­ I was here. Right outside the forest. I wandered until dusk¡­ then heard screaming. I ran. I found people, you surrounded by monsters and the rest you know."


    Harry sat back, his mind racing faster than ever. ''This is it. The rarest and most overpowered MC trope¡ªguy with amnesia who starts in the middle of a messed-up situation but has some insane cheat system. He''s definitely OP. And¡ªhold on¡ªso that is how I saved by him?''


    Harry snapped out of his thoughts and grinned at Max, leaning over to clap him on the shoulder. "So it really was you who saved me. Thanks, man. Seriously. I owe you big time."


    Max nodded, though his gaze lingered on Harry, as if trying to figure him out. "You''re welcome."


    But then Max''s expression shifted, his brows furrowing slightly. He stared at Harry, his voice quiet but firm.


    "Can I ask something?"


    "Haha, of course, you are my savior after all." Harry replied, his mind working on the background.


    "Do you know what''s happening? What happened to me? What happened to everyone? And where are we?"


    Harry froze, blinking at Max. For a moment, he felt like the world had tilted. Max''s question hung in the air, heavy and unrelenting.


    Then, Harry''s lips quirked upward into a slow, deliberate smile. He straightened up, crossing his arms as he took on a mysterious, almost smug air.


    "You," he said, his voice low and dramatic, "have asked the right question¡­ to the right person."


    Max stared at him, unblinking.


    Harry mentally screamed, ''This is going to be awesome.''


    Max blinked wondering if he really made the right choice. But this guy was the only one he knew and talked to since that ''amnesia'' thing.


    So, he could only choose to put his trust in him. Not to mention the guy seemed really knowledgeable about everything.


    "Cough..." Harry coughed, as if to gain Max''s full attention and started.


    "Honestly, I have no complete idea what''s happening or what will happen. Nor where are we and what caused you to have amnesia."


    "However, I might be the only person who might have a clear idea about everything."


    "First of all, we are now in the End."


    "Or more simply - in an apocalypse event."


    "And... We seem to have isekaied too."


    "..."


    "..."


    "You didn''t understand anything, did you?" Harry''s lips twitched seeing Max''s confused state.


    "...Yes." Max replied after a pause.


    ''Damn, I forgot about the most important thing,'' Harry chuckled wryly. ''These types of MCs are like newborn babies, albeit a bit better. And they are mostly a pain in the neck to deal with...''


    ''Sigh...''


    ''Guess, I have no choice but to drag him to my world, huh.''


    "I wish patience for both of us, friend."

 Elender Keep

    The firelight flickered across the room as Harry leaned back on the bed, arms crossed, grinning like he was about to unveil the secrets of the universe. Max sat opposite him, his face still calm, but a faint furrow in his brow betrayed his confusion.


    "Alright, lesson one: common sense," Harry began, his tone light and theatrical. "In this world¡ªor whatever this place is¡ªthings are a little¡­ unusual. There are monsters, magic, and apocalypse vibes. You with me so far?"


    Max blinked slowly. "Monsters and magic... I seem to have an idea what they are."


    "Great. So, now we¡ª"


    Knock, knock.


    Harry stopped mid-sentence, his head snapping toward the door. "Huh?"


    The wooden door creaked open, and a familiar figure stepped inside. A mop of messy hair, slightly hunched shoulders, and a tired but relieved expression¡ªit was Tim.


    "Hey!" Harry exclaimed, sitting up straight. "Tim! Long time no see."


    Tim''s face lit up with a smile as he stepped into the room. "Harry," he said, his voice warm with relief. "You''re awake. Thank goodness." He crossed the room quickly, exchanging a fist bump with Harry. "I''m glad you''re alright, man."


    "Same to you," Harry replied with a grin.


    Tim turned to Max, his hand raised for a fist bump. "And you¡­ Max, right? Thanks for saving this guy. I don''t know what we would''ve done without you."


    Max stared at the offered fist, his expression unreadable. For a moment, Tim hesitated, his hand hovering awkwardly in the air.


    "Uh, Max?" Tim said, his tone uncertain.


    Harry caught Max''s blank look and quickly gestured with his eyes, nodding toward Tim''s fist. Max tilted his head slightly, clearly confused, before slowly raising his own fist and tapping it lightly against Tim''s.


    "There you go," Harry said, grinning. "You''re a natural."


    Tim chuckled, though his smile faltered slightly as he studied Max. Something felt¡­ off. But then again, Max had always been on the quiet side. Maybe it was just his introverted nature.


    Tim let it slide, sitting down beside Harry with a relaxed sigh. "Man, it''s good to see you two up. Things have been¡­ crazy."


    Harry leaned forward, his grin softening. "So, where are we? And what happened after I, uh¡­" He gestured vaguely with his hands. "You know, fainted."


    Tim nodded, his expression turning serious.


    "Alright. Here''s the rundown." He clasped his hands together, his voice steady as he began recounting the events. "After Max saved you, those people on top of the walls¡ªremember the fireballs and arrows? Yeah, they came down and got everyone. They carried us back up using ropes."


    Harry raised an eyebrow. "Carried us? Like princess-style?"


    Tim snorted. "Don''t flatter yourself. They just tossed you over their shoulder like a sack of potatoes."


    Harry grimaced, but he couldn''t hold back a laugh. "Fantastic. My dignity is intact."


    Tim smirked, then continued. "Once we were inside, they gave us dinner ¡ª basic food, but not bad¡ªand a place to sleep. Oh, and they healed you and the others who were injured. I mean, properly healed, not just patched up. You should''ve seen it. They did it using¡­ I don''t know, glowing hands? Some kind of magic?"


    "Magic or potions," Harry mused, nodding thoughtfully. "Classic RPG stuff."


    Tim tilted his head. "I guess. Whatever it was, it worked. You looked half-dead, but now you''re¡­ well, you."


    Harry grinned. "Glad to know I''m back to my charming self."This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Tim rolled his eyes. "Anyway, there''s a lot going on here. I figured we''d talk about it while grabbing breakfast. You guys must be starving. You didn''t eat dinner last night."


    Harry''s stomach growled on cue, and he winced. "Ah, yeah. Good timing, stomach. Real subtle."


    Tim laughed. "Come on, let''s go. The kitchen''s this way."


    Harry stood, stretching as he glanced at Max. "What do you say? Breakfast?"


    Max nodded once, his movements deliberate and precise. He stood as well, his gaze flicking between Harry and Tim, as though observing their dynamic.


    Harry smiled, clapping Max on the shoulder. "Alright, let''s fuel up and figure out what''s going on. Because, spoiler alert: I have theories."


    Tim opened the door, leading the way. "Oh, this I''ve got to hear."


    With Harry''s jokes and Tim''s laughter filling the air, the three of them left the room, stepping into the hall together.


    _____ __ _


    The hallway leading to the kitchen was dimly lit, the occasional flickering torch mounted on the stone walls casting long shadows. The air smelled faintly of bread and something herbal, a welcome change from the chaos and blood of the night before. Harry stretched his arms above his head, letting out a groan as his sore muscles protested.


    "So," Harry said, breaking the silence, "what''s this place called? Got a cool name or something? Fortress of Doom? Castle of Endless Torture?"


    Tim snorted. "Not quite. It''s called Elender Keep."


    "Elender Keep," Harry repeated, rolling the name around in his mouth. "Sounds like something out of a fantasy novel. I like it."


    Tim nodded. "It''s definitely got that medieval vibe, but the people here¡­ they''re a bit different."


    Harry raised an eyebrow. "Different how? They''ve got horns or tails or something?"


    Tim shook his head. "No, they''re human¡ªjust like us. At least, they look human. But their language¡­ it''s totally different. I don''t understand a word of it."


    Harry frowned, scratching his chin. "Huh. So, no magic translation cheat, huh? That''s disappointing. What about the people who didn''t appear in the forest? You know, the lucky ones who skipped the monster buffet?"


    Tim glanced over his shoulder as they walked. "Yeah, as I mentioned some people appeared directly in Elender Keep. They didn''t have to deal with what we did. They''re already inside, eating, sleeping, and¡ªget this¡ªthey can actually understand the locals. They speak in our language but the locals can understand them too."


    Harry stopped in his tracks for a moment, his mouth falling open. "What?! They skipped the tutorial AND got the language pack for free? Lucky people." He shook his head in mock outrage before jogging to catch up. "So, what, they''re VIPs or something?"


    Tim shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe they got some kind of privilege or blessing. Maybe they''re chosen or something."


    Harry narrowed his eyes, his mind racing. "Sounds suspicious. Maybe it''s like a tiered system¡ªlike, easy mode for them, hardcore mode for us."


    Tim rolled his eyes. "Harry, not everything''s a game."


    "You say that, but have you seen Max?" Harry gestured at Max, who was walking silently beside them, his eyes scanning their surroundings like a hawk. "Guy''s definitely got protagonist vibes. Maybe we''re in his story."


    Tim snorted but didn''t argue.


    They reached a set of double doors at the end of the hallway. Tim pushed them open, revealing a massive hall that stretched far wider than Harry had expected. Long wooden tables lined the room, their surfaces scarred and worn with age, but sturdy. Benches flanked each side, and overhead, a series of iron chandeliers cast a warm glow.


    The aroma of food hit Harry''s nose immediately, making his stomach rumble again. On the tables were plates of simple food: rough slices of bread, steaming bowls of soup, small plates of dried fruits, and wooden mugs filled with tea.


    The sight of the spread made Harry''s mouth water. "Well, it''s no steak dinner, but it''s better than starving."


    Tim grinned. "Not bad, right? Basic, but it''ll fill you up."


    Harry nodded as they approached one of the tables. The room wasn''t packed, but there were several people scattered around¡ªsome of them the foreign locals, dressed in plain but sturdy clothes, and others who looked like they came from Earth, judging by their modern outfits.


    As they passed a group of locals, Harry couldn''t help but notice their curious glances. They spoke to each other in low voices, their language fluid and unfamiliar. One of them nodded politely at Harry, who gave an awkward wave in return.


    "Yup, definitely no idea what they''re saying," Harry muttered under his breath.


    Tim leaned closer. "Yeah, I tried to talk to them earlier. It''s like hitting a language barrier the size of this fortress."


    Harry glanced at the food again. "Well, language barriers or not, at least they''re feeding us."


    Tim gestured toward a nearby table. "Come on, let''s sit before Max decides to stand in a corner like some brooding loner character."


    Harry snickered but quickly noticed Max wasn''t paying attention. The guy''s gaze was fixed on the locals, his eyes narrowing slightly, as if trying to piece something together.


    "Yo, Max," Harry said, snapping his fingers. "Earth to our friend. Food''s calling."


    Max turned his head, his face as calm as ever, and followed them to the table without a word. Harry couldn''t help but grin. ''At least he listens.''


    The three of them settled at the table, and Harry grabbed a slice of bread, taking a big bite. It was dry and coarse, but after everything they''d been through, it tasted like heaven.


    "Alright," Harry said between bites, "breakfast and intel. Let''s talk."


    Tim chuckled, grabbing his own piece of bread. "Fair enough. But eat first¡ªno use planning on an empty stomach."


    Max, for his part, picked up a mug of tea, staring into it like he was trying to decode its secrets. Harry watched him for a moment, smirking as he thought, ''This guy''s definitely an amnesiac.''

 Regressors Dilemmas

    The clatter of wooden cups and the low hum of conversation filled the hall, blending with the faint crackle of firelight. Max sat in silence, his hands resting lightly on the table, his gaze flickering between Harry and Tim. They spoke with ease, their voices rising and falling in rhythm, trading questions and answers like a familiar dance.


    Max listened, absorbing their words like a sponge, though much of it was beyond him. He tried to focus, his sharp mind clinging to every fragment of knowledge they offered, hoping to piece together some semblance of understanding.


    But the truth was, this amnesia¡ªthis void where his memories should be¡ªwas a constant thorn in his side.


    Frustrating didn''t begin to cover it.


    Every word spoken by the locals, every flicker of their foreign language, felt like a ghost brushing past him. He didn''t know the words, couldn''t grasp their meaning, but they stirred something deep inside. Like he''d heard them before, in another life, a distant dream he couldn''t quite reach.


    The food was the same. The scent of the bread, the herbal tang of the tea¡ªit all felt familiar. But as he sat staring at the wooden cup in his hands, he couldn''t connect the dots. The familiarity was maddening, like chasing a shadow that always slipped through his fingers.


    He clenched his jaw, forcing himself to focus on the present. At least there was one constant in this chaos: Harry.


    The boy''s infectious energy and endless chatter were grounding in their own strange way. He was someone Max could trust, someone who could teach him, guide him.


    So Max stayed silent, watching, listening.


    "Alright, so what else did you hear?" Harry asked, leaning forward, his hands gesturing animatedly.


    Tim shrugged, his expression thoughtful. "Not much. Just what some of the others were talking about. The people here seem... organized. Like, they''ve been preparing for this kind of thing. They''ve got guards, fighters, supplies, even healers."


    Harry''s eyes narrowed. "Prepping for what exactly? The apocalypse? Monster invasions? Or... our arrival?"


    Tim gave him a flat look. "I don''t know, man. I''m just repeating what I heard."


    Max tilted his head slightly, processing their conversation. Guards. Supplies. Healers. It painted a picture of preparation, of stability amidst the chaos outside. These people¡ªlocals, as Tim called them¡ªwere no strangers to survival.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    Wait, the system-like entity told something about The End, an introduction to it.


    Does that mean, they should learn about the end from this world?


    Harry groaned, throwing his hands up. "Great. So, basically, we''re all clueless. Classic apocalypse starter pack."


    Tim smirked faintly, but his expression softened as his eyes drifted toward the entrance. Harry followed his gaze, and for a moment, he went quiet.


    A small smile tugged at Harry''s lips. Max''s eyes flicked to him, curious.


    Tim turned to look. At the entrance stood the little girl Harry had saved, clutching her brother''s hand tightly as they entered the hall. Her face was still pale, but there was color returning to her cheeks. She clung to her brother like a lifeline, her eyes darting around nervously.


    "You saved her, Harry," Tim said softly, his voice carrying a weight of gratitude and a bit of regret. Then his tone shifted, more serious. "But... don''t be reckless like that again. If it weren''t for Max¡ª"


    "Yeah, yeah, I get it," Harry cut him off, waving a hand as if brushing away the concern. He forced a laugh, his usual grin returning. "But hey, everything''s fine now, right?"


    Tim frowned, but before he could respond, a firm hand landed on Harry''s shoulder.


    "GAH¡ª!" Harry flinched violently, letting out an embarrassingly high-pitched yelp. He spun around, his face turning red, only to find a familiar figure standing behind him.


    The tall, no-nonsense form of Jess loomed over him, her lips quirked in a faint, amused smile. "Your friend is speaking the truth, you know," she said, her tone warm but firm.


    "O-Oh, it''s you, Big Sis Tess," Harry mumbled, his face burning as he avoided her gaze. "Uh, did you eat yet? You should totally join us."


    Jess arched an eyebrow but nodded, pulling out a chair and sitting down beside him. Max noted how her movements were controlled, precise, and efficient, like she was always ready to spring into action.


    Harry, ever the opportunist, opened his mouth to start prying for answers, but Jess cut him off with a knowing smile. "You''ll learn everything soon. Be patient."


    Harry deflated slightly, grumbling under his breath, but he didn''t press further.


    As if on cue, the hall began to fill with people. Survivors from Earth trickled in first, their faces etched with relieved exhaustion, curiosity, and wariness.


    Max observed them closely, noting their varied expressions¡ªfear, confusion, determination. Among them, the locals moved with quiet confidence, their language flowing like water as they exchanged words with one another.


    The chatter died down as the massive doors at the far end of the hall creaked open. Four armored guards stepped inside, their boots thudding against the stone floor. They moved to either side of the door, standing at attention, their expressions stoic.


    The room hushed, a collective tension rippling through the crowd.


    Harry leaned closer to Tim, whispering, "Is it just me, or does this feel like the setup for a king''s entrance?"


    Tim hushed him with a quick gesture, but Harry could see the anticipation in his eyes as well.


    Max''s gaze shifted to the open doors, his body unconsciously straightening as he waited. Something about this moment felt pivotal, like the calm before a storm.


    And then, a shadow appeared in the doorway.


    ''...''


    Max muttered as people started to enter the hall, wearing fancy and cool noble clothes, and a few people from Earth followed beside them.


    But only one person - the black-haired girl wearing a formal uniform got his attention.


    ''Her...''


    ''...Why does she feel familiar...?''


    ''....Who is she?''

 Do Not Despair

    The air in the hall grew heavy with anticipation as the last of the newcomers entered. Harry, Max, Tim, and Tess sat, their eyes locked on the people stepping onto the elevated stage opposite the entrance.


    A hushed silence fell over the crowd as all eyes turned toward the figures who had gathered at the front.


    Harry leaned back slightly, letting his gaze sweep over the group. Among the finely dressed individuals¡ªmost of whom seemed to be locals¡ªthere were a few familiar faces.


    "Hey," Tim whispered, shifting closer. "Look at that¡ªit''s the student council president."


    Harry followed Tim''s gaze and, sure enough, standing near the center was a tall girl with straight black hair and sharp, composed eyes. Her uniform, though slightly worn, was unmistakably the one from their school. She held herself with a natural authority, her posture firm, her gaze steady.


    "And beside her¡­" Tim continued, his voice hushed with disbelief. "That''s¡­ the vice class president. Or our class rep, whatever you wanna call her."


    Harry squinted, recognizing the shorter girl standing beside the student council president. She had shoulder-length brown hair and a serious expression, her hands clasped tightly in front of her.


    ''Is she pretending or what?'' Harry chuckled inwardly.


    "They''re standing next to¡ª" Tim paused, swallowing as his gaze landed on the two people beside them.


    A woman, regal in demeanor, stood in an elegant yet practical dress adorned with silver embroidery. Her presence alone exuded authority, her calm gaze sweeping across the hall with quiet command.


    And next to her stood a middle-aged man dressed in noble attire¡ªdeep blue robes lined with gold, a silver crest pinned to his chest. His face, though worn by time, carried an air of refined strength.


    "That is our Director," Tim muttered.


    "And that guy¡ª" His throat bobbed. "I think he''s someone important."


    Harry hummed in thought. "No kidding. Fancy clothes, standing in the middle like he owns the place¡­"


    He grinned. "I''d bet a loaf of this fine medieval bread that he''s our host."


    As if responding to his remark, the nobleman took a step forward, and without hesitation, he began speaking.


    The moment his voice rang through the hall, something strange happened.


    "Salom me ning anniy dost larim."


    {Welcome, friends from another world.}


    Harry''s breath caught for a moment.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    He could understand him.


    The man''s lips moved, speaking words that should have been foreign¡ªwords in the same unknown language that the locals spoke. And yet, the meaning reached Harry''s mind as if it were his own tongue.


    A murmur rippled through the crowd. Judging by the way others perked up, they understood him too.


    Harry didn''t speak. He had a guess as to what was happening, but for now, he decided to just listen. Information was the most important thing right now.


    The nobleman''s voice carried effortlessly, each word calm and measured.


    A moment of silence followed as if to let the words settle. Then, he continued.


    "I am Lord Alric Vaelthorn, ruler of Elender Keep. On behalf of my people, I extend my greetings to you."


    His gaze swept across the gathered survivors, his expression a perfect blend of formality and genuine sympathy.


    "I imagine you have many questions, and in time, they will be answered." He paused. "But first, allow me to express my deepest regret and sympathy."


    A heaviness settled in his tone.


    "For your world has now begun its descent into calamity. The End¡ªan event that once ravaged our world¡ªhas found its way to yours."


    The hall remained deathly silent.


    ''So, now it''s confirmed. The system''s words about our world not being the first or the only one.''


    ''If it is like that, I can guess what he says next.''


    ''He will probably talk about Stage 0 - introduction to the end.''


    "The End is neither merciful nor fair," Alric said. "It does not discriminate. It does not negotiate. It is cruel, ruthless, and inevitable."


    His eyes darkened, as though recalling horrors no words could describe.


    "It is a trial beyond reason, a force that does not simply destroy¡ªbut changes. It corrupts, twists, and consumes all in its path. Those who cannot fight will perish. Those who falter will be erased. And those who resist¡­" He exhaled, his jaw tightening. "They will suffer, over and over again."


    A shiver ran through the room. Even the strongest-willed among them couldn''t hide the unease creeping up their spines.


    Harry, of course, couldn''t help himself.


    "Man sounds like those government people warning you about the economy, only this time the threat is real," he muttered under his breath.


    Tim elbowed him. "Dude. Not the time."


    "Hey, someone had to say it," Harry whispered back, though his grin was weaker than usual.


    Lord Vaelthorn continued, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.


    "I am sure you all wonder why you are here. Why you were cast into this place, rather than left to face The End in your own world first."


    A murmur spread through the survivors. Harry leaned forward slightly, listening intently.


    The nobleman took a breath before answering.


    "The Messenger has decreed it to us. You were brought here not as punishment, nor as a mere twist of fate. You were chosen to experience The End beforehand¡ªto be introduced to its trials, to understand what awaits your world."


    The silence grew heavier.


    Harry swallowed. ''I really guessed it right!''


    "Through this trial," Vaelthorn continued, "you will see what awaits your kind should you fail to prepare. You will understand what it means to fight, to survive¡­ and what it means to lose. And it''s sad that some of you have already experienced many of them by now."


    His eyes swept across the room, taking in the expressions of fear, confusion, and defiance.


    "But do not despair."


    His voice shifted, becoming steadier, more resolute.


    "You are not alone in this."


    A few people stirred at that.


    "We will aid you with what we can," he declared. "Elender Keep will provide shelter, food, and guidance. We have suffered The End before. We know its horrors. And so, we will not turn our backs on those who must now walk the same path."


    A ripple of relief moved through the survivors. It wasn''t much¡ªit didn''t change the reality of their situation¡ªbut it was something.


    Max listened closely, his expression unreadable. The words made sense, the logic was clear. But the feeling gnawed at him¡ªthe certainty that he had been here before, that he had heard these words before.


    Yet, no matter how hard he tried to grasp it, the memory remained just out of reach.


    ''...I...''


    ''I don''t like this...''

 Shut Up

    The grand hall fell into a hushed silence as the Lord extended his hand, offering the ornate, rune-engraved tool to the Director. The device pulsed with strange energy, its weight shifting from one authority to another.


    Director accepted it with a calm smile, her gaze sweeping over the gathered crowd¡ªa mix of wary survivors, locals, and uncertain students.


    She lifted the device, her voice smooth yet commanding as it echoed through the chamber.


    "Good morning, everyone, my name is Evelyn. And I''m the director of the well-known high school of our Nightfall City - the Nightfall Academy."


    Many nodded, some already recognizing her while some realizing her identity after her introduction.


    "First and foremost, let me express my gratitude. To the Lord and his people, for their generosity and guidance. To those from Earth, for enduring the first trial and reaching this moment."


    A murmur rippled through the hall, heavy with unspoken doubts. Then, a voice cracked the stillness¡ªa man, disheveled and shaking, pushing forward.


    "Gratitude?" His voice was raw, edged with something close to hysteria. "We barely survived! Do you even know what''s out there? The monsters, the horrors¡ªwhy were some of us thrown into that nightmare while others were safe here?"


    The unrest spread like wildfire¡ªfaces contorted in agreement, whispers rising, questions pressing at the edges of order.


    Evelyn did not flinch. She only tilted her head slightly, a serene, almost unreadable expression settling into place. This was within her expectations after all.


    "The End is merciless," she said, her voice threading through the chaos like steel wrapped in silk.


    "As the Lord himself stated, fate was not equal to all. Some were fortunate. Others were tested in ways unimaginable. But tell me¡ª" her gaze locked onto the man''s, pinning him in place, "¡ªare you dead?"


    Silence.


    A beat passed.


    Then another.


    "H-Hick."


    His breath hitched.


    "No," she answered for him. "You stand here, breathing. Your pain is valid. Your fears justified. But you have something those who perished do not."


    A pause. A slow shift of weight, the room drawn into the cadence of her words. "A choice. To waste this second chance lamenting the past¡­ or to steel yourself for what is to come."


    The murmurs quieted. The fire of protest dimmed, reduced to glowing embers of contemplation.


    "Luckily, we weren''t left to wander aimlessly upon arrival. We talked with our otherworldly friends and learned necessary knowledge regarding the current situation." Evelyn continued, turning her attention to the whole assembly. "And here''s the most important news - a month remains before Stage 0 ends. Therefore, with the help of our friends, a Special Training Program will be conducted¡ªto prepare every single one of us for the true End."If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    A shift in the air. Interest, this time. Uncertainty laced with something sharper.


    "W-What kind of training?" A young man''s voice rose above the crowd. He seemed to be a student.


    Evelyn''s lips curved, subtle and sharp. "That will be revealed soon."


    "Ah, right, I almost forgot."


    "Every student of our academy will participate in the program. It''s mandatory." Her mischievous yet serious gaze cut through them like a blade. "The Student Council and Class Representatives will be your guides. Orders will be given. Discipline will be expected."


    "G-Gulp." Students gulped, shivers running down their spine.


    They knew it was best to comply with their school''s director.


    "Isn''t she using her authority?"


    "Yeah, don''t they/we have free will?"


    A few students shifted uneasily, whispers curling through the air like smoke¡ªdoubt laced in every breath. Something about being forceful or free will.


    Evelyn let it fester, let it breathe¡ªthen struck the final blow.


    "Those who refuse to prepare," she said, voice soft as a whisper, "will have only themselves to blame when the next Stage arrives. And make no mistake¡ªit will."


    A hush fell, heavier than before.


    Then, with a graceful nod, she concluded, "That is all for today. Rest while you can."


    As she stepped back, the hall erupted¡ªnot in protests, but in hurried, hushed conversations. Groups formed, familiar faces gravitating toward one another, survivors reuniting.


    On the other side, the black-haired girl strode forward, her presence cutting through the noise without effort. It was obviously the President of the Student Council. At her side, the Vice President and other council members stood like shadows, their unspoken authority weaving through the tension.


    "Students of Nightfall Academy," her voice rang clear, slicing through the crowd. "Follow us to the Training Hall."


    The students exchanged glances, some hesitant, some resigned. But they moved. Following after the council members like a flock of sheep.


    The movement of the students toward the Training Hall was steady, yet within the sea of shifting figures, the Vice President suddenly came to a halt. Her brow furrowed as something tugged at her memory¡ªa certain boy.


    She turned around, her eyes sweeping over the gathered tables, scanning each face with quiet precision. And then, they landed on a particular one. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she strode forward with purpose, halting beside that specific table.


    "Harry," she said, her voice loud enough to cut through the noise. "Don''t even think of secretly backing out."


    "..."


    "...Tsk."


    Harry clicked his tongue in disappointment.


    He had been sitting quietly, blending in among the locals, his posture relaxed, his demeanor nonchalant. His new outfit, same as the native residents, should have helped him disappear into the background.


    Should have.


    Unfortunately, his ''disguise'' had one fatal flaw.


    "Same goes for you too, Max."


    Right, it was Max.


    Sitting right next to him, the oblivious protagonist was leaning forward, arms crossed, scanning the retreating students as if debating whether or not to follow.


    And in doing so, he had effectively drawn all attention straight to their table.


    Harry sighed, rubbing his temple before breaking into an easy grin.


    "What are you talking about?" he chuckled, pushing back his chair. "I was just getting up, you know."


    The Vice President remained unimpressed, arms crossed as she tilted her head slightly. "Oh? Then you won''t mind joining us immediately, will you?"


    Harry stood up with exaggerated ease, stretching as if he had planned to leave all along. "Of course not. Just taking a moment to rest my legs. Didn''t you hear about how heroically I acted, how cool I - "


    "Shut up."


    "Urgh."


    A few students snickered at his blatant act, while others exchanged amused glances. The Vice President then turned away, not dignifying his excuse with any more response.


    Her gaze then lingered on Max.


    "I thought you weren''t a rulebreaker," she added, her tone a bit annoyed. "You aren''t, are you?"


    Max blinked, slowly turning his head to meet her eyes. For a moment, his expression remained unreadable, but then he exhaled through his nose and stood up without a word. His silence carried weight, an acceptance of something inevitable.


    ''Did I really make the right choice?''


    "..."


    Harry slung an arm over Max''s shoulder as they followed after Vice Prez. "Well, buddy, looks like we''re in this together."


    Max merely gave him a side glance before shrugging his arm off.


    "H-Huh? Are you betraying me?"

 First Step Forward

    Harry walked on the right side of the Vice President, his hands casually clasped behind his neck, his steps relaxed and almost comically exaggerated. A wide grin stretched across his face as he glanced down at her, his expression brimming with mischief.


    To her left, Max moved in silence, his posture straight and his eyes scanning their surroundings with the quiet intensity of a bodyguard.


    The Vice President, shorter than both of them, walked between the two, her presence dignified yet oddly resembling a princess being escorted by her knights.


    The rest of the students were already far ahead, their figures distant blurs some 40 or 50 meters away. The hallway was eerily quiet, save for the soft echo of their footsteps.


    "Hah," Harry chuckled, breaking the silence. His eyes sparkled with amusement as he leaned slightly toward the Vice President.


    "So, Princess Caroline," he began, his tone playful, "are you satisfied with your escort? Or should we have brought a carriage too?"


    The Vice President, Caroline didn''t turn her head, but her eyes flicked toward him from the corner of her vision. "Didn''t I tell you not to call me by my name on formal occasions?"


    Harry feigned surprise, placing a hand over his heart as if wounded. "Ah, right, my bad. Sorry about that, Class President."


    "I''m the Vice President of the Student Council right now," she corrected.


    Harry clicked his tongue, his grin widening. "Tch, should I sue you for abusing your authority?"


    She sighed, finally turning her head to look at him fully. "I''m not abusing anything. I''m maintaining order. If I let you call me whatever you want in front of everyone, do you know how many others would start doing the same? It''s about setting an example."


    Harry raised an eyebrow, his playful demeanor shifting slightly. "...Tsk, you''re no fun when you''re like this," he said, dropping his hands to his sides.


    He adopted a more serious expression, though the glint of mischief never fully left his eyes. "Anyway, what are you gonna talk to us about? Is it about the program thing?"


    The Vice President nodded, her gaze returning to the path ahead. "...Yes. And you''ll know the rest soon."


    Harry''s face twisted into an exaggerated look of hurt. He clutched his chest dramatically. "Why so cold? Don''t you remember who''s the best in this kind of situation? The one and only¡ª"


    "We''ve arrived," she interrupted, her voice cutting through his theatrics.


    They came to a stop in front of a large, metal door.


    Caroline turned to them. "Stand beside our class. I need to join the Council members."


    Harry gave her a mock salute, his grin returning for a brief moment. "Yes, ma''am. We can''t join the nobles after all."Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Caroline shot him a sharp look but said nothing more. She walked toward the front of the room, her steps measured and confident, joining the other Council members who stood in a line facing the students.


    Harry glanced at Max, who had been silent the entire time. "Come on, buddy. Let''s find our class."


    Max nodded, his expression unreadable as usual, and followed Harry to the side of the room where Class 11-C was gathered. The students were murmuring among themselves, their voices a mix of anxiety and curiosity.


    As Harry and Max took their places beside Tim who was waiting for them, the Student Council President stepped forward. She raised her right hand, and the room fell silent almost instantly.


    "Dear fellow students," she began, her voice clear and steady. "As you witnessed in the dining hall, we have received an important task from the Director. But before we proceed, we need to take attendance."


    She gestured to the Class Representatives, who quickly moved into action. Each rep carried a sheet of paper and a pen-like writing tool, moving through their respective classes to mark down who was present and who was absent and the reasons.


    Harry scanned his own class, 11-C, his eyes darting from face to face. Out of the 20 students, only 15 were present. His grin faded as he mentally noted the absences.


    The Class Representatives finished their task and handed the lists to the President. She took them without a word, her eyes scanning the papers quickly. Her secretary, a tall girl with glasses, stepped forward and began reading the results aloud.


    "Our academy has a total of 12 classes," the secretary announced, her voice carrying through the room. "All of the classes are present. Class 11-A and all 12th-grade students are accounted for. However, there are a few students missing from other classes. Some of them... are confirmed dead. The others haven''t been seen since the incident and are considered missing."


    A heavy silence fell over the room. Students who had experienced the terrors of the End trembled, their faces pale. Some of them had seen their classmates die in front of their eyes. The memories were fresh, the pain raw.


    Harry stood still, his expression uncharacteristically serious. He glanced at Max, who remained stoic, but even he seemed to feel the weight of the moment.


    Five of their classmates were missing.


    Three of them were confirmed dead.


    The other two... their fates were unknown.


    His hands clenched into fists at his sides, his usual playful demeanor replaced by a strange calm. He knew those students. They were his classmates, his friends. Especially him¡ªthe one who had always been by his side during the worst of times.


    Harry muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible, "Please be safe, buddy..."


    "I need to repay my debt to you..."


    One the front, the President stepped forward again, her presence commanding attention. She held the attendance lists in her hands, her gaze sweeping over the students. When she spoke, her voice was softer, tinged with regret.


    "First," she began, "I want to express my deepest condolences to those who have lost friends, classmates, or loved ones. The pain you feel is shared by all of us. To those who have passed, may they find peace. And to those who are still missing... we can only hope they are safe and that they will return to us soon."


    The room was silent, the weight of her words sinking in. Even Harry, who was usually quick with a joke, remained quiet, his usual bravado replaced by a somber respect. While Max didn''t seem that much affected - either it was because of his amnesia or...


    The President took a deep breath, her tone shifting to one of resolve. "But we cannot afford to dwell on our losses. The End is merciless, and it will not wait for us to grieve. That is why we are here today¡ªto prepare for what is to come."


    She paused, letting her words sink in before continuing. "The Special Training Program will begin immediately. This is not just for your survival, but for the survival of everyone in Nightfall City, and our world. The event is called Awakening and it is the first task we need to complete. You will be introduced to details later."


    The students exchanged glances, a mix of fear and determination in their eyes. The President''s voice grew firmer, her words cutting through the tension like a blade.


    "Class Representatives, ensure your groups are ready. It will begin in 30 minutes."

 Awakening: What? Prez is a...

    The group was ushered out of the guests'' hall and into a nearby building, their footsteps echoing in the narrow stone corridors. The air was cooler here, the walls lined with torches that cast flickering shadows.


    Harry glanced around, taking in the medieval architecture¡ªarched doorways, intricate carvings, and a faint scent of incense lingering in the air.


    The building they entered was unlike anything he''d seen before. It resembled a theater hall, but with a distinctly medieval twist. Rows of wooden benches curved around a half-round stage at the center, and the ceiling soared high above, supported by thick wooden beams.


    The atmosphere was solemn, almost reverent, and Harry couldn''t help but feel a twinge of amusement. He was already imagining the next course of events.


    ''Haha, I will witness an awakening of OP or hidden protagonists!''


    The council members followed closely, their own expressions a mix of curiosity and anticipation. Harry turned to the student council president, guessing she might be one of the candidates of his recent imagination.


    The rest of the room was filled with locals¡ªmen and women dressed in simple yet elegant attire, their eyes fixed on the newcomers.


    At the front of the room stood the director, her presence commanding as always. Beside her was the nobleman from earlier, Lord Vaelthorn, and a few of their teachers.


    One of the teachers stepped up.


    "Welcome students," he began, addressing the group. "I know this is all overwhelming, but we don''t have much time. In a moment, we''ll begin the process of awakening your full status. This is something every individual in this world undergoes, and it will give you a clearer understanding of your strengths and abilities."


    He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room. "After that, you''ll undergo an Essence Awakening¡ªa traditional ritual of our friends that will help you unlock your personal fragments. Think of it as¡­ discovering the core of who you are and what you''re capable of."


    Harry raised an eyebrow, leaning toward Tim. "Sounds like a tutorial to me."


    Tim chuckled. "Yeah, but I doubt there''s a skip button."


    The teacher continued, ignoring the murmurs. "To demonstrate, we''ll start with our student council president. Please, step forward."


    "We shall begin with the help of an Elder from the locals."


    The president nodded, her expression calm as she descended the steps to the stage. The elder woman¡ªa regal figure with silver hair and piercing blue eyes¡ªstepped forward as well, her hands clasped in front of her. She gave the president a gentle nod, her voice soft but carrying through the room.


    "Close your eyes," the elder instructed. "Clear your mind and let go of any fear or doubt. Just empty your mind."


    The president obeyed, her posture straight and her breathing steady. The elder raised her hands, her fingers glowing with a faint white light. She began to chant, her voice low and melodic, and the light spread, enveloping the president in a soft, radiant glow.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    For a moment, nothing happened.


    Then, the light intensified, and the president''s body seemed to shimmer, her form outlined in brilliance. The room held its breath as the light faded, leaving behind a large, translucent screen that hovered above the stage.


    _______


    [ Personal Fragment ]


    Name: Ashley


    Health: 100%


    Stamina: 95%


    Core Attributes:


    ? Strength: 10


    ? Agility: 11


    ? Vitality: 10


    ? Intelligence: 15 (Max)


    ? Wisdom: 14


    Skills:


    ? Leadership Aura


    End Points: 10


    ______


    "Woah, look at her stats."


    "They are all over 10."


    "But is that good or average?"


    "Must be good. Don''t you see her intelligence at Max?"


    "Yeah, amazing."


    "She even has a skill already and those ''endpoints''."


    A murmur of awe rippled through the room. Even the elder woman looked impressed, her eyes widening slightly as she studied the screen. The locals whispered among themselves, their admiration evident, while the students exchanged glances, a mix of envy and excitement on their faces.


    Harry whistled low under his breath. "Not bad! Ax expected of a heroine character!"


    Tim elbowed him. "Dude, she''s right there."


    "...Is she strong?" Max asked, confused why everyone was reacting so strongly.


    "Well, I can''t say anything for now, but I bet she is strong." Harry replied with a chuckle, proud his imaginations didn''t fail him.


    "Ahem." Meanwhile, the elder woman cleared her throat, drawing everyone''s attention back to her. "Now, we will proceed with the Essence Awakening. This ritual will allow you to connect with your inner self and awaken your essence. However, be warned¡ªthis process is not without its challenges."


    She gestured to a small, ornate crown resting on a pedestal nearby. The crown was simple yet elegant, its surface etched with intricate runes that glowed faintly. The elder picked it up carefully and placed it on the president''s head.


    "This is the Awakening Crown," the elder explained. "It will guide you through a mental trial, a test of your will and self. The trial is unique to each individual, and it will determine the strength and nature of your personal fragment."


    The president''s body tensed as the crown began to glow, her face contorting slightly as if in pain. She bit her lip, her hands clenching into fists, but she didn''t cry out. The elder watched her closely, her expression calm but focused.


    "The essence awakening has begun," the elder said, her voice steady. "She may be facing her deepest fears or difficult challenges. Since it is unique for each individual, we don''t know what she is currently experiencing."


    "Meanwhile, let me briefly explain the situation."


    The elder woman''s voice carried through the hall, calm and measured, as the president''s body trembled under the weight of the Awakening Crown. The room was silent, every eye fixed on the stage, waiting for what would come next.


    "Although it is called an Essence Awakening," the elder began, her tone steady, "not many are able to awaken their full essence. It is considered a rare occurrence, one that hasn''t been seen in recent decades even in our world. However, this does not mean failure. Most individuals awaken personal fragments¡ªmanifestations of their essence, pieces of their true potential. These fragments are still powerful, still a reflection of who you are, just not the entirety of your essence."


    "I understand most of you are confused." She paused, her gaze sweeping across the room. "But don''t worry, you will learn more about this in detail later, but for now, understand that this process is deeply personal. It reveals a part of you that has always been there, waiting to be unlocked."


    The elder''s eyes flicked back to the president, who was still standing rigidly, her face tense but determined. The crown on her head glowed brighter, the runes etched into its surface pulsing with a faint purple light.


    "It seems this young girl is about to finish her awakening," the elder said, her voice softening slightly. "Watch closely. This is the moment her essence¡ªor fragment¡ªwill manifest."


    The room held its breath.


    "We have reached the peak moment." Harry leaned forward, his earlier amusement replaced by genuine curiosity.


    Even Tim, who had been nervously fidgeting, was now staring intently at the stage. Max''s expression was unreadable, his eyes fixed on the president as if searching for something he couldn''t quite grasp.


    Then, it happened.


    "W-Whoa!"


    "President is..."


    "Prez is a!"

 Beacon Of Hope & Social Chameleon

    The president''s eyes snapped open, glowing with a deep purple haze that seemed to radiate an otherworldly energy. The light pulsed for a moment, illuminating the entire hall, before slowly fading. Her gaze regained its usual calm clarity, but there was something different about her now¡ªsomething sharper, more focused.


    Behind her, the translucent screen that displayed her status blurred several times, the text flickering as if it were being updated. The room waited in tense silence as the screen stabilized, revealing new information.


    __________


    [ Personal Fragment ]


    Name: Ashley


    Age: 17


    Essence Core: Dormant


    Status:


    ? Health: 100%


    ? Stamina: 95%


    Core Attributes:


    ? Strength: 10 ¡ú 11


    ? Agility: 11 ¡ú 12


    ? Vitality: 10 ¡ú 11


    ? Intelligence: 15 (Max)


    ? Wisdom: 14 ¡ú 15


    ? Charisma: 13


    Skills:


    ? Leadership Aura


    Personal Fragment:


    ? Beacon of Hope


    End Points: 10 ¡ú 20


    ______


    The room erupted into murmurs as the updated status screen hovered above the stage, its glowing text casting a soft light over the hall. The locals whispered among themselves, their eyes wide with awe, while the students exchanged glances, a mix of envy and admiration on their faces.


    "Beacon of Hope¡­" one of the locals muttered, his voice tinged with reverence. "That''s definitely a rare fragment. She''s destined for greatness."


    Harry leaned back in his seat, a grin spreading across his face. "Knew it. She''s definitely FML material."


    Tim, sitting beside him, was still staring at the screen, his jaw slightly slack. "That''s¡­ insane. Her stats went up, she got a powerful ability and a new attribute, and her Points doubled. How is that even fair?"


    Max, on the other hand, was silent. His eyes were fixed on the president, his expression unreadable.


    The faint purple glow that had emanated from her eyes moments ago seemed to linger in his mind, stirring something he couldn''t quite place. He flinched slightly, as if the memory of that light had physically touched him.


    On the stage, the president¡ªAshley¡ªturned to the elder woman, her calm demeanor unchanged despite the ''dramatic'' transformation she had just undergone.


    "Is it over?" she asked, her voice steady.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    The elder woman, who had been momentarily stunned into silence, quickly recovered. She smiled warmly, her eyes shining with pride. "Yes, child. The awakening is complete. You''ve done exceptionally well. Beacon of Hope is a powerful fragment, I can tell it reflects your innate ability to inspire and lead others. With time and training, you will undoubtedly become a true beacon of hope for many."


    Ashley nodded, her expression thoughtful.


    "Thank you," she said simply, before stepping down from the stage. The crowd parted slightly as she made her way back to her seat, wondering what exactly her fragment was and if they could awaken similar, powerful ones themselves.


    The elder woman turned her attention back to the group, her voice carrying through the hall. "Now that you''ve witnessed the awakening process, it''s time for the rest of you to undergo the same ritual. Remember, this is not a competition. Your fragment is a reflection of who you are, and there is no ''right'' or ''wrong'' outcome."


    She gestured to the Awakening Crown, which still rested on the pedestal, its runes glowing faintly. "We will proceed one at a time. When your name is called, please step forward."


    The room buzzed with nervous energy as the students exchanged glances. Harry crossed his arms, his grin returning. "Well, this should be fun. Who''ll be next?"


    Tim groaned. "Why do I feel like you''re going to make this even more stressful?"


    Harry chuckled. "Relax, Tim. It''s just a little awakening event. What''s the worst that could happen?"


    ''...''


    ''Wait a minute...''


    ''Wait a damn minute¡­'' he repeated, his earlier amusement replaced by a flicker of unease.


    Harry''s grin faded as a sudden thought struck him, his mind racing through familiar scenarios from the countless webnovels and games he''d consumed over the years. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he leaned back in his seat, his fingers tapping restlessly against his arm.


    ''Aren''t we exposing ourselves to them? Our strengths, our weaknesses, everything? What if this is all a setup? What if they''re just gathering information to use against us later?''


    He glanced around the room, his gaze lingering on the locals who were watching the awakenings with a mix of curiosity and¡­ something else. Admiration? Envy? Or was it something more calculating?


    Harry''s intuition, honed by years of reading about protagonists falling into traps, screamed at him to be cautious.


    But then another part of him argued back.


    These people had saved them, given them shelter, food, and even promised to help them survive the apocalypse. Was it fair to doubt them so quickly?


    ''But nothing''s ever as it seems on the surface,'' Harry reminded himself, his inner conflict growing. ''Most isekai protagonists get screwed over by the people who "help" them at first. What if this is just another one of those scenarios?''


    Then he remembered how they were saved. If others appeared at the fortress at the same time they appeared in the forest, then, why didn''t they help them earlier?


    But this was a weak detail as they might not have known about them.


    ''But still...''


    ''...''


    He sighed inwardly, his fingers still tapping. ''Alright, let''s not jump to conclusions. For now, I''ll just observe and see how things play out. If something feels off, I''ll figure it out then.''


    His attention shifted back to the stage as the next student was called up. It was Caroline, their princess classmate. She stepped forward with her composed demeanor, though Harry noticed the faint tremble in her hands as the elder woman placed the Awakening Crown on her head.


    The ritual began, and after a few tense moments, Caroline''s status screen appeared above her.


    _______


    [ Personal Fragment ]


    Name: Caroline


    Age: 17


    Essence Core: Dormant


    Status:


    ? Health: 90%


    ? Stamina: 90%


    Core Attributes:


    ? Strength: 8 ¡ú 10


    ? Agility: 10 ¡ú 11


    ? Vitality: 9 ¡ú 10


    ? Intelligence: 12 ¡ú 13


    ? Wisdom: 12


    ? Charisma: 12


    Personal Fragment:


    ? Social Chameleon


    End Points: 0 ¡ú 10


    _______


    "Oh, that''s just like her." Harry chuckled seeing Caroline''s fragment name. Perhaps he was one of the few people who knew what exactly it meant. "I think I''m starting to get the hang of this ''Essence and Fragment'' thing..."

 Max Leveled Max

    The locals murmured among themselves, their reactions mixed. Some nodded approvingly, while others exchanged puzzled glances.


    "Social Chameleon? What kind of fragment is that?" one of them muttered.


    "Must be powerful, she also has an attribute same as the first girl."


    Harry turned his attention back to the stage, where Caroline was stepping down, her expression calm but her eyes flickering with something unreadable. She returned to her seat, her friends and other students whispering to each other, some with admiration, others with thinly veiled jealousy.


    The awakenings continued, one after another. The next few students awakened fragments that were¡­ underwhelming, to say the least. One boy, whose stats were all below 10, awakened a fragment called Flame Spark, which allowed him to create small bursts of fire.


    Even the locals snickered, some openly muttering in pity.


    "A firestarter?" one of them muttered. "That''s barely useful."


    The boy''s classmates weren''t much kinder.


    "Wow, you''re really weak, huh?" one of them said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Guess you''re not cut out for this."


    Harry winced, his earlier amusement replaced by a pang of sympathy. ''Man, that''s harsh. Even if he''s weak, there''s no need to rub it in.''


    "Even I''m not that low, you know."


    Tim stared at Harry as if he wanted to argue with him.


    "What?"


    "...Never mind."


    "Hey-!"


    Meanwhile, another student, a girl with timid eyes, awakened a fragment called Bookmark, which seems to allow her to memorize and recall information with perfect accuracy.


    The locals dismissed it as useless. "What''s she going to do, read the enemy to death?" one of them joked, earning a few chuckles.


    But Harry had the opposite idea - most times, unusual abilities like these were actually useful. However, it depends on the individual.


    He watched it all unfold, his earlier conflict resurfacing. ''This is exactly what I was worried about. They''re already labeling people as strong or weak, useful or useless. What happens to the ones they don''t think are worth their time? Will they exile them? Or ''kindly'' show the way out of the fortress?''


    He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. ''Focus, Harry. You''re not here to play hero. You''re here to survive.''


    "Hmm?"


    ''Speaking of a hero...''


    His eyes landed on Max, who was sitting quietly, his expression unreadable as he observed the awakenings. Harry''s lips curled into a sly grin.


    ''This guy...''


    ''Since he is a protagonist...''


    Leaning closer, Harry whispered, "Hey, Max. Say ''Show Status'' and tell me what you see."


    Max blinked, turning to Harry with a puzzled look. "What?"


    "Just do it," Harry insisted, his grin widening. "Trust me."


    Max hesitated for a moment before muttering under his breath, "Show Status."


    A faint glow appeared in front of him, and his eyes widened slightly as a translucent screen materialized. Harry leaned in, his curiosity piqued. Alas, he couldn''t see Max''s status himself.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    __________


    [ Personal Fragment ]


    Name: Max


    Status:


    ? Health: 90% (Amnesia)


    ? Stamina: 94% (Well)


    Special Status: Memory Loss


    Core Attributes:


    ? Strength: 15 (Max)


    ? Agility: 15 (Max)


    ? Vitality: 15 (Max)


    ? Intelligence: 15 (Max) (!)


    ? Wisdom: 15 (Max)


    ? Willpower: 15 (Max)


    ? Dexterity: 15 (Max)


    ? Perception: 15 (Max)


    Skills:


    ? Demon Slayer


    ? Demon Destroyer Fist


    Achievements:


    ? Tutorial Maniac


    Special Abilities:


    ? Timeless Enigma''s Favor [?]


    End Points: 10 ¡ú 20


    Attribute Points: 10


    Items:


    ? Lesser Demon''s Fang


    ? Lesser Demon''s Blood


    _______


    "Hmm..." Max stared at his so-called status thingy.


    Honestly, he didn''t have any idea about what these texts really meant. And to his luck, Harry hasn''t been able to teach him nearly anything since they left their room.


    ''But... why is he asking me now?''


    Although curious, he started whispering those texts to Harry.


    "...So, I really have a memory loss..." He commented as he told the special status.


    "Told you, now continue, what are your attributes?" Harry urged him to continue.


    "Hmm... There are 8 of them, and all of them are 15 with my name written beside the numbers." Max whispered after analyzing his core attributes.


    "Hm, I see..." Harry muttered nodding slightly.


    "..." Suddenly, his eyes widened, his head freezing.


    He stayed like that for a few seconds and abruptly turned to Max.


    "D-Did you say your name? And 8 of them?"


    "Yes? Is there a problem?" Max asked confusedly, looking at the screen again to check if anything was wrong.


    "..." Harry''s lips and fists twitched, barely stopping himself laughing and punching this clueless protagonist''s face.


    "Sigh... Be glad you have an amnesia..." He muttered under his breath. "But this confirms my theory even more... You really are..."


    "..." Max stared back at Harry, curious about who he was.


    "...OP."


    "Max leveled Max, huh? How funny..."


    Harry ended his sentence with a bitter smile.


    "Op?" Max tilted his head in confusion.


    "It is a common phrase to describe overpowered people like you," Harry explained. "In simple, stronger than others, with a large margin."


    "I see..." Max nodded although he didn''t fully get it.


    "Anyway, continue. I need to confirm something." Harry urged him back to the task.


    "Oh, alright..."


    "Hmm... I have two skills," Max replied and slowly told the rest of his status. Everything except the special ability.


    On the other side, Harry stopped smiling, already convinced with his theory about Max''s identity as a protagonist.


    He stayed silent for a minute and turned back to Max.


    "Hey, I have an idea. Listen here..."


    Max lend his hear to Harry.


    A few moments later.


    "I-Is that... ok?"


    "Won''t they disagree?" Max asked with a worried expression.


    "Hehe, trust me. The director herself will allow it."


    "...If you say so..."


    _____ ___ _


    As time passed, the awakenings continued, one after another, each student stepping onto the stage with varying degrees of confidence and fear.


    The 12th class students and two of the 11th classes had already finished their awakenings, leaving the order to the 11th ''C'' class.


    Director Evelyn stood at the side of the stage, her hands clasped neatly in front of her. She wore a gentle smile, her eyes scanning the room with a mix of satisfaction and quiet sorrow.


    She was pleased with the results overall¡ªmany of her students had awakened fragments that showed promise, and a few, like Ashley and Caroline, had even drawn admiration from the locals.


    But there were others, like that weak boy and the girl with the Bookmark fragment, who had been met with ridicule and pity. Evelyn''s heart ached for them, but she knew there was little she could do to change how the locals and others perceived strength and weakness.


    Lord Alric, standing beside her, noticed her expression and leaned in slightly. "You seem¡­ satisfied, yet troubled," he remarked, his voice low. "Is something the matter?"


    Evelyn turned to him, her smile softening. "I''m just reflecting on the results. Some of my students have awakened truly remarkable fragments, while others¡­ well, they''ll need time to find their place in this new world."


    Alric nodded, his gaze shifting to the stage. "It''s natural. Not everyone is destined for greatness, but even the smallest spark can ignite a flame."


    Evelyn''s smile deepened, though there was a hint of something else in her eyes¡ªsomething Alric couldn''t quite place. "You''re right, of course."


    However, he noticed her turning back to the stage as the next student named Harry was called to the stage.


    "Hmm?" Alric raised an eyebrow. Because Evelyn''s eyes seemed to express deep curiosity about the person.


    "I feel like, you seem deeply interested in the boy. Even more so than the girl with Beacon of Hope."


    Evelyn chuckled softly. "Was I that obvious?"


    She passed a bit before continuing. "Yes. You are right. I''m more¡­ intrigued by him. But I am more worried."


    "Worried?" Alric''s brow furrowed. "Why?"


    Evelyn hesitated, her gaze drifting to the group of 11th C students. "Well¡­ that boy is¡­ a bit¡­"


    Before she could finish, a commotion erupted on the stage, drawing everyone''s attention. Evelyn''s smile turned knowing as she muttered under her breath, "This is what I was talking about."

 Fools Logic

    Harry sauntered up to the stage, hands stuffed casually in his pockets, his grin as wide and carefree as ever. The elder woman, her silver hair catching the light, gestured for him to close his eyes, her voice calm but firm. "Please, clear your mind. The ritual will begin shortly."


    Harry tilted his head, his grin stretching further. "Nah, I don''t think I will."


    The elder woman blinked, her composed demeanor cracking for the briefest of moments. "I beg your pardon?"


    "I said, I don''t want to," Harry repeated, his tone light but unyielding. "I already figured out how to see my status. I can see it anytime I want. Just say ''show status'' if you don''t believe me." He turned to the students, raising his voice just enough to carry across the hall. "Go on, try it!"


    A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd. A few curious students muttered the words under their breath, their eyes widening as translucent screens materialized in front of them. Gasps and exclamations followed.


    "Whoa, it works!" one of them exclaimed, staring at their own status.


    "I can see mine too!" another added, their voice tinged with awe.


    The elder woman''s brow furrowed, her gaze flicking to Lord Alric and Director Evelyn. She hesitated, her mind racing. ''Is he hiding something? Is he¡­ weak? Afraid of being ridiculed?''


    Director Evelyn, standing at the edge of the stage, gave a subtle nod. The elder woman sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "Very well. If you''ve already awakened your status, we''ll proceed with the Essence Awakening. You haven''t discovered how to do that yet, have you?"


    Harry smirked, crossing his arms. "I know how it works, but if you insist, let''s do it your way this time." His tone was teasing, almost playful, like a child reluctantly agreeing to a game they''d already mastered.


    The students erupted into laughter, some amused by his antics, others rolling their eyes.


    "Typical Harry," Tim muttered, though there was a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.


    Max nodded, slowly understanding what kind of person Harry was.


    The elder woman sighed again, clearly exasperated, but she gestured for Harry to close his eyes. "Very well. Please close your eyes and remain still."


    Harry complied, his smirk lingering as he shut his eyes. The elder woman placed the Awakening Crown on his head, the runes etched into its surface glowing faintly. The room fell silent, all eyes fixed on Harry.


    For a moment, nothing happened.


    Then, the crown''s glow intensified, and the air around Harry seemed to shimmer. Unlike the others, who had trembled, flinched, or shown signs of struggle, Harry remained perfectly still. His expression was calm, almost serene, with a faint smile tugging at his lips.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    The elder woman watched him closely, her brow furrowed in confusion. ''Why isn''t he reacting? Is the crown not working? Or is he¡­ resisting it somehow? Is his willpower that high?''


    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Harry''s eyes snapped open. The light from the crown faded, and a translucent screen materialized above him, displaying his essence and fragment.


    _______


    [ Essence ]


    Name: The Fool


    [ Personal Fragment ]


    Name: Fool''s Logic


    _______


    The hall went silent for a moment, the air thick with tension. Then, the 12th class students burst into laughter, pointing at the screen and shouting.


    "The Fool? Fool''s Logic? That''s perfect for him!" one of them jeered.


    "He got what he deserved!" another added, their voice dripping with mockery.


    The laughter spread, with even some of the locals joining in. "A fool''s essence? How fitting," one of them muttered, shaking their head.


    Harry''s classmates, however, reacted differently. They showed worried and irritated expressions.


    Tim groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Of course. Of course he''d get something like this."


    Max, sitting beside Tim, watched Harry with a puzzled expression. "Is¡­ is that bad?"


    Tim sighed. "Knowing Harry? Probably not. But everyone else is going to make fun of him for it."


    Director Evelyn, standing at the side of the stage, studied Harry with a thoughtful expression. Her earlier curiosity had been filled, maybe so there was a faint smile on her lips. ''The Fool, huh? How fitting.''


    Harry, meanwhile, was staring at the air in front of him, his smirk still firmly in place. He was reading his status screen, his eyes scanning the details.


    ______ ___ _


    [ Personal Fragment ]


    Name: Harry


    Essence: The Fool


    Essence Core: Dormant


    Status:


    ? Health: 90%


    ? Stamina: 92%


    Core Attributes:


    ? Strength: 9 ¡ú 10


    ? Agility: 10 ¡ú 12


    ? Willpower: 11 ¡ú 13


    ? Intelligence: 12 ¡ú 15 (Max)


    ? Wisdom: 15


    ? Luck: ?


    Hidden Attributes:


    ? Fool''s Paradox: ?


    Skills:


    ? Banana Peel Fate


    Achievements:


    ? The Face of Incompetent Heroism


    Personal Fragment:


    ? Fool''s Logic


    End Points: 35 ¡ú 50


    _______


    Harry''s smirk widened as he read the name of his fragment. ''Fool''s Paradox, huh? Sounds like my kind of thing.''


    The elder woman cleared her throat, drawing everyone''s attention. "The Fool is an essence that embodies unpredictability and creativity. While it may seem¡­ unorthodox, it has the potential to be incredibly powerful in the right hands."


    Her words did little to quell the laughter, but Harry didn''t seem to care. He stepped down from the stage, his grin as wide as ever. "Well, that was fun. Thank you and see you next time."


    "Ah, yes," Elder replied surprised by Harry''s attitude.


    As he returned to his seat, the teacher called out the next name. "Class 11 C¡ªMax."


    Max stood up, his expression calm but his heart racing. He glanced at Harry, who gave him a thumbs-up and a wink.


    "Just do as I said," Harry mouthed.


    Max took a deep breath and walked to the stage, his mind replaying Harry''s earlier instructions. ''Just trust my words,'' Harry had said. ''And don''t let it show.''


    ''...''


    ''I can do it...''


    His head was slightly bowed as if weighed down by an invisible burden. His hands hung loosely at his sides, fingers twitching faintly, betraying the tension beneath his calm exterior.


    The elder noticed his unease and gave him a gentle nod of encouragement. She then asked him the same lines she did from the others.


    Max hesitated, his gaze flicking to Harry, who sat in the crowd with his usual grin, giving him a subtle thumbs-up. Max swallowed hard, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke. "Umm¡­ ca-can I skip the first part too? I¡­ I¡­ I am¡­"


    "..."


    "What?"

 Fool, Traveler and their meat shield

    "W-What?"


    The elder woman blinked, her composed demeanor faltering for a moment. She studied Max closely, taking in his shy demeanor, his downcast eyes, and the faint tremor in his hands.


    ''This one¡­ seems really afraid?'' she muttered inwardly.


    ''Um...''


    Her heart softened, and she shifted her gaze to their director - whose expression calm but with a faint, apologetic smile indicating the elder to spare the boy. The elder woman sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "Very well. If you''re uncomfortable, we''ll proceed directly to the Essence Awakening."


    A murmur of discontent rippled through the students below. "No fair!" one of them shouted. "Why do they get to skip it?"


    "Yeah!" another added, their voice tinged with frustration. "We had to show ours!"


    The elder woman opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, the student council president¡ªAshley¡ªrose from her seat. Her sharp gaze swept across the room, her voice cutting through the noise like a blade. "Quiet."


    The hall fell silent instantly, the students shrinking under her commanding presence. She gave a small, polite bow to the elder and sat back down, her expression calm.


    The elder nodded in gratitude before turning back to Max. "Let''s begin."


    Max closed his eyes, his breathing steadying as the elder woman placed the Awakening Crown on his head. The runes on its surface glowed faintly, and the room fell silent once more, all eyes fixed on Max.


    Just like Harry, Max''s expression was calm, almost serene, with only the occasional tilt of his head suggesting any internal activity.


    The elder woman watched him closely, her brow furrowed in confusion. ''Wasn''t he weak and afraid? Why is he similar to the previous boy...?''


    ''Or... Is he gonna end up...''


    Soon, Max opened his eyes, a subtle and faint blue glow playing in his gaze. The light from the crown faded, and the old and same translucent screen materialized above him, displaying his essence and fragment.


    [ Essence ]


    Name: The Traveler


    [ Personal Fragment ]


    Name: Traveler''s Burden


    The hall went silent for a moment, the air thick with tension. Then, previous scums burst into laughter once again, pointing at the screen and shouting.


    "The Traveler? Traveler''s Burden? What kind of fragment is that?" one of them jeered.


    "He''s carrying a burden? Sounds like he''s just a deadweight!" another added, their voice dripping with mockery.


    Max nodded to the Elder who was showing a gentle expression.


    But to his surprise, the prez girl stood up once again, shutting the noisy students up once more.


    ''...''


    ''Why is she doing this?''


    _____ __ _


    "Why is she doing this?"


    Harry muttered with an annoyed expression.


    "She didn''t stand up for the others like this? Why is she doing it for only Max?"


    ''Is she perhaps one of his love interests?'' He mused inwardly.


    "What, are you jealous?" Tim smiled.


    "Me, jealous?" Harry glared at Tim. "As if. Besides, she isn''t my type. At all."


    "Hehe, if you say so." Tim chuckled teasing him even more.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    "Stop laughing, it''s gross. Ah, go, it''s your turn now." Harry retorted.


    "Alright, alright, stop sulking." Tim stood up, brushing off his pants and giving Max a quick nod on his way before heading to the stage.


    As Tim stepped onto the stage, the elder woman showed the same treatment as the others.


    "Umm..." Tim hesitated, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly.


    He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his expression a mix of nervousness and hesitation. Unlike Max, who had acted shy and hesitant, Tim''s discomfort was more genuine, though laced with a hint of concern.


    The elder woman frowned, her brow furrowing slightly. "What, do you want to skip too?"


    Tim''s eyes widened, and he quickly shook his hands. "No, no, no! In fact, I want to see it. It''s just that¡­ I can''t see my attributes or other info aside from my health, name, and stamina. It seems like Harry''s way of seeing status doesn''t work very well."


    As soon as Tim finished speaking, a murmur of agreement rippled through the students who hadn''t yet undergone the awakening.


    "Yes, he''s right," one of them called out. "


    That fool fooled us."


    Another added, "I can only see my health and stamina too. What''s the point of this?"


    The elder woman sighed, her gaze flicking to Harry, who sat in the crowd with a perfectly serious expression as if he hadn''t just caused a minor uproar. She shook her head, muttering under her breath, "This guy..."


    Turning back to Tim, she said, "Alright, we''ll continue as intended. Now, close your eyes."


    Tim gave one last glance at Harry, who responded with a quick wink.


    ''I told as he said, now let''s focus.''


    "Thank you." Bowing to the elder, Tim started his own awakening.


    ____ __ _


    Harry leaned back in his seat, his arms crossed and his smirk widening as he read Tim''s status screen. "Guardian''s Resolve, huh? Not bad, Tim. Sounds like you''re destined to be the team''s babysitter."


    Tim rolled his eyes as he returned to his seat, plopping down beside Harry with a sigh. "Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up. At least I''m not stuck with something called ''Fool''s Logic''."


    Harry''s grin didn''t falter. "Hey, don''t knock it till you''ve seen it in action. Besides, being the ''babysitter'' suits you. You''ve always been like that."


    Tim groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Great. Just what I needed¡ªmore responsibility. And why do you speak like you have known me for decades?"


    "Huh? Are you saying I don''t? You are like an open book, you know."


    "Urgh..."


    Max, sitting quietly beside them, glanced at Tim, his brow furrowing slightly. "Guardian''s Resolve¡­ What does it do?"


    Tim shrugged, his expression a mix of curiosity and resignation. "From what I can tell, it''s a supportive type of fragment. Something about enhancing defense and protecting allies. Not exactly flashy, but¡­ useful, I guess."


    Harry clapped Tim on the shoulder, his grin turning mischievous. "Useful? Tim, you''re basically the team''s shield now. Congrats, you''ve officially been promoted to ''human meat wall.''"


    Tim shoved Harry''s hand away, though there was no real malice in the gesture. "Shut up, Harry. Not all of us can rely on banana peels and words to win fights."


    Harry''s smirk only deepened. "Hey, don''t underestimate the power of a well-placed banana peel. You''ll see."


    The three of them fell into a comfortable ''debate'' as the awakenings continued, one after another. The hall buzzed with a mix of excitement, disappointment, and occasional laughter as each student''s fragment was revealed.


    Some awakened fragments that drew admiration, while others were met with ridicule or pity. Harry, ever the observer, kept a close eye on the reactions, his mind already working through the implications.


    But one thing was clear - it was not at the level he and Max were ridiculed.


    Finally, the last student stepped down from the stage, their status and fragment displayed for all to see. The elder woman let out a long breath, her shoulders relaxing as she turned to Director Evelyn and Lord Alric. "The awakenings are complete."


    Director Evelyn stepped forward, her presence commanding as she addressed the room. "Today, you''ve taken the first step toward understanding your potential. Each of you has been granted a fragment of your essence¡ªa reflection of who you are and what you can become. Remember, strength is not measured by the power of your fragment alone, but by how you choose to wield it."


    Lord Alric followed, his deep voice resonating through the hall. "Tomorrow, your training will begin. You will learn to harness your abilities, to fight, and to survive. The road ahead will not be easy, but it is one you must walk if you wish to endure the trials to come."


    The students listened in silence, the weight of their new reality settling over them. For some, the awakenings had been a source of pride; for others, a bitter disappointment.


    "For now," Director Evelyn continued, her tone softening slightly, "you are free to rest and prepare. Lunch will be served shortly. Use this time to reflect, to bond with your peers, and to ready yourselves for what lies ahead."


    The hall erupted into murmurs as the students began to disperse, some heading toward the dining area, others lingering to discuss their fragments. Harry stood up, stretching lazily. "Well, that was fun. Who''s hungry?"


    Tim groaned, though there was a hint of a smile on his face. "You''re always hungry."


    "Guilty as charged," Harry replied, his grin unapologetic. "Come on, Max. Let''s see what kind of medieval grub they''ve got for us."


    Max nodded, his expression thoughtful as he followed Harry and Tim out of the hall. The three of them made their way to the dining area, their conversation light but laced with an undercurrent of tension. They all knew that the real challenges were yet to come.


    As they sat down to eat, Harry leaned back in his chair, his smirk returning. "So, Tim, ready to be the team''s shield tomorrow?"


    Tim sighed, picking at his food. "Do I have a choice?"


    Harry''s grin widened. "Nope. But don''t worry, I''ll make sure to throw a banana peel or two your way. You know, for moral support."


    Tim groaned again, though this time, even Max couldn''t suppress a small smile. For a moment, the weight of their situation seemed to lift, replaced by the familiar banter of friends.

 End Log [1]

    Max sat quietly at the table, his hands wrapped around a warm cup of tea as he mechanically spooned soup into his mouth. The dining hall buzzed with chatter, students exchanging stories about their awakenings, their voices a mix of excitement, disappointment, and nervous energy.


    But Max barely registered the noise. His mind was elsewhere, lost in the echoes of his fragment''s name.


    ''Traveler''s Burden¡­''


    The words reverberated in his thoughts, heavy and unyielding. He stared into his soup, the steam rising in faint wisps, as if it might carry away the weight pressing on his chest.


    ''I''m a traveler, huh¡­ with a burden¡­''


    He didn''t understand it.


    The name, the feeling it evoked¡ªit was like a shadow he couldn''t shake, a constant ache deep in his chest. He didn''t know what it meant, but it felt¡­ significant. Like it was tied to something he''d forgotten, something important.


    ''Why does it, my chest, feels so heavy?''


    Max''s fingers tightened around the spoon, his frustration bubbling just beneath the surface.


    He hated this¡ªthe not knowing, the massive gaps in his memory. Every time he tried to grasp at something, it slipped away, leaving him with nothing but questions. He didn''t even know who he was, let alone what this fragment was supposed to mean.


    ''I need to learn more¡­''


    But how?


    He glanced at Harry and Tim, who were seated beside and across from him, engrossed in their usual banter. Harry was grinning, his arms crossed as he leaned back in his chair, clearly enjoying himself. Tim, on the other hand, looked exasperated, his face buried in his hands as Harry teased him mercilessly.


    "Huh? You won''t protect your friends but your crush? I see how it is."


    "N-No-! You got it wrong!"


    "Haha, tell me her name, I will ask her to join us myself."


    "R-Really? Ah, wait, what are you talking about!"


    "..."


    ''These guys...''


    Max watched them, his expression dull.


    They were so¡­ lively. So sure of themselves. Even Tim, who''d been given a fragment that seemed more like a responsibility than a power, didn''t seem as lost as Max felt. He envied that, just a little.


    ''Or maybe they''re just better at hiding it.'' He stared at Harry, recalling how many others were mocking and laughing at him a while ago.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    His gaze shifted to the empty seat beside him, and for a moment, he considered joining the conversation. But before he could say anything, a movement caught his eye.


    He turned slightly, his eyes widening slightly as a woman slid into the seat opposite him. It was the same woman from the morning¡ªTess, he remembered. Her short and slightly spiky hair stood out, and her eyes scanned the table with quiet intensity.


    Strangely, neither Harry nor Tim seemed to notice her. They were too absorbed in their bickering, their voices rising and falling like waves in a storm. Max glanced at them, his expression flattening.


    ''¡­Or they''re simply immersed in their own world.''


    He turned back to Tess, who was now calmly sipping from a cup of tea, her gaze fixed on him. There was something unsettling about the way she looked at him¡ªlike she could see right through him.


    Max shifted uncomfortably, unsure of what to say.


    Before he could muster a greeting, Tess spoke, her voice cutting through the noise like a blade. "So, you''re the one with Fool''s logic?"


    Harry and Tim froze mid-argument, their heads snapping toward her. Tim nearly knocked over his cup in his surprise, while Harry''s grin faded into a look of mild curiosity.


    "Bis Sis Tess?" Harry said, raising an eyebrow. "When did you get here?"


    Tess chuckled. "A while ago. You two were too busy arguing to notice."


    Tim blinked, his cheeks flushing slightly. "Oh. Uh¡­ sorry about t-that."


    "Oh..." Harry''s gaze flickered to Tim, and his lips curled upward ever so slightly. He had caught the way Tim had looked up at Tess, then down, fidgeting slightly. The corner of his mouth twitched with amusement before he turned his attention to Tess.


    "So," Harry drawled, leaning forward with an easy grin. "Were you bored without me?"


    Tess chuckled, tilting her cup slightly before taking a sip. "Maybe. Maybe not. But I do have something to ask."


    Harry''s grin widened. "Ah, so you came for that, huh? Well, since you''re our friend, feel free to ask."


    Tess placed her cup down, her expression turning a shade more serious. "What happened with you all? And what are your ''friends'' talking about each other?"


    Harry''s smile deepened, his eyes glinting mischievously. "Oh my, I would love to tell you, but it''s a secret matter. I''d be punished if I told¡ª"


    "I''ll give you info too," Tess cut in smoothly.


    Harry''s grin stretched. "Alright, now you''re talking my language. You came to the right person."


    With that, Harry launched into an explanation, detailing everything he had learned¡ªawakenings, status, fragments, and the overall knowledge he had gathered. However, he carefully glossed over certain details¡ªparticularly his ''little act'' earlier. His words flowed smoothly, and Tess nodded along, absorbing the information with a thoughtful expression.


    After a moment, she exhaled and leaned back slightly. "Alright, now it''s my turn to complete the deal."


    Harry raised an eyebrow. "Go on."


    Tess folded her arms. "Just say, ''Open Endlog.''"


    Harry blinked, the intrigue clear on his face. Still, his curiosity got the better of him. "Open Endlog."


    The moment he spoke, a translucent screen appeared before him, similar to the status display. His eyes widened slightly as he took in the words at the top.


    [ End Log ]


    [ Stage 0 -> ]


    A branch extended below it.


    [Objective 1 - Complete(!)]


    Harry''s brows furrowed as he stared at the screen. Without looking away, he gestured toward Max and Tim. "Try it."


    Max hesitated but relented. "Open Endlog."


    Tim echoed the phrase soon after.


    In an instant, two more screens materialized in their vision, each displaying the same structure¡ªEnd Log, Stage 0, and an objective marked as complete.


    Max felt his confusion deepen. He looked at Harry, who was staring at his screen, his usual lighthearted demeanor replaced with silent contemplation.


    Then, as if drawn by an unspoken agreement, all three of them turned toward Tess.


    Harry was the first to speak. "What is this?"


    "This is..." Tess met his gaze evenly. "This is what I learned after the mission given by that voice ended."


    "Wait, you mean..."

 End Log [2]

    Harry narrowed his eyes as if recalling something. "You mean... the ''survive for twelve hours'' one?"


    Tess nodded. "Yes. It also gave rewards according to my performance in the objective¡­ or trial. You can check it¡ªsee if there''s an exclamation mark after ''Complete.'' It will give you, umm, an evaluation and the list of rewards you can claim."


    Harry leaned back in his chair, his smirk returning as he muttered under his breath, "Show Status." A translucent screen materialized in front of him, glowing faintly. His eyes scanned the text, and sure enough, there was a small exclamation mark next to the words Objective 1 - Complete.


    He tapped it, and a new branch screen appeared.


    ____ __ _


    [ Objective 1 - Complete ]


    Evaluation:


    "Ah, Harry. What can we say about your performance? You survived. That''s¡­ something. You managed to save lives using methods that can only be described as creative (read: absurd). From convincing a group of terrified people to throw rocks at monsters(Really?) to narrowly escaping death by sheer dumb luck, you''ve proven that chaos is your middle name.


    Your logic was¡­ questionable at best, but hey, it worked. You ran when you had to, fought when you could, and somehow made it out alive despite your best efforts to get yourself killed. Witnessing deaths along the way must have been tough, but let''s be honest¡ªyou were too busy running for your life to process much of it.


    All in all, you survived. Congratulations. Barely."


    _____ __ _


    Harry''s lips twitched. He could practically hear the sarcasm dripping from the words.


    ''The hell is this backhanded compliment?''


    "Creative? Absurd? Questionable logic? Who wrote this, a stand-up comedian?"


    Before he could complain further, more text appeared.


    _____ __ _


    [Rewards Granted]:


    ? 5 Attribute Points (Because even you deserve a little boost.)


    ? 1 Random Item (Let''s hope it''s not another banana peel.)


    ? 10 Bananas (For¡­ reasons.)


    [Choose One of the Following]:


    ? Lucky Charm (Increases Luck by 1. Because you clearly need it.)


    ? Sturdy Boots (Reduces Stamina consumption while running. You''ll need these.)


    ? Tactician''s Notebook (Improves strategic thinking. Or at least makes you look like you know what you''re doing.)


    _______


    "You can claim them using the ''Claim'' button at the right bottom." Tess''s voice sounded.


    Harry''s lips curled into a smirk as he turned to Tess, his voice dripping with mock gratitude. "Woah, so smart. Thank you for explaining something I could clearly read myself. What would I ever do without you?"Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    Swoosh-!


    A sharp kick landed beneath the table, right against his knee.


    "Ow! What the hell¡ª" Harry clutched his leg, grimacing in pain as he glared at Tess. "That was uncalled for!"


    Tess took a slow sip of her tea, completely unbothered. "If you''re not interested in the rest of the information, then I''ll take my leave."


    Harry immediately straightened up. "Wait, wait, wait¡ªhold on now, there''s no need to be so hasty. Of course, I''m interested! Your words are like divine wisdom, Big Sis Tess." His voice was thick with forced sincerity, but his grin remained intact.


    Tess looked at him, clearly amused. Then, still standing up, she added, "It''s about the current objective. We''ll talk when there are no ''ears'' around."


    With that, she walked away, not giving Harry another glance.


    Harry didn''t complain this time. He simply nodded, but as soon as she left, he noticed something¡ª


    Tim was still staring at her retreating figure, his eyes slightly dazed.


    Harry''s smirk returned. "Hehe."


    He nudged Max, who, to his surprise, was also watching Tess leave.


    Harry''s grin widened. ''Oh? Is Max also¡ª''


    But before he could get excited, Max turned to him with a blank expression and asked, "What?"


    Harry deflated instantly. ''Damn it, he''s just spacing out.''


    Still, he wasn''t about to let this golden opportunity go. He gestured toward Tim, who was now smiling like an idiot, clearly lost in his thoughts.


    Max blinked, then tilted his head. "...What about him?"


    Harry sighed dramatically. ''Why am I surrounded by dense people?''


    Still, he wasn''t about to let the moment go to waste. He leaned back, stretching his arms behind his head.


    "You know, I think I have a crush on Big Sis Tess."


    Tim, who had still been staring at where Tess had disappeared, snapped his head toward Harry so fast it was a miracle he didn''t get whiplash. His expression was a mix of terror and disbelief.


    "Wha¡ª"


    But before he could say anything else, his brows furrowed as he noticed Harry''s teasing smile.


    Then, realization hit.


    His face turned red. "I-It''s not what you think!"


    "Sure~ sure~" Harry waved a hand dismissively. "Whatever you say."


    Tim opened his mouth to argue, but Harry had already turned to Max.


    "Come on, Max, let''s go. We, the proud loners, shouldn''t meddle with guys like these."


    Max, still confused but not really caring enough to question it, shrugged and stood up to follow him.


    Tim, however, wasn''t having it. "H-Hey! That''s not¡ª! I don''t¡ª! You guys¡ª!"


    But Harry ignored him completely, walking off with Max in tow.


    Panicked, Tim hurried after them, trying to explain himself. "Wait! It''s really not what you¡ªHarry! MAX! STOP IGNORING ME!"


    "..."


    ...


    Tim''s protests faded into the background as Harry and Max strolled away, completely ignoring his flustered explanations. The cafeteria buzzed with activity, but amidst the chatter, a pair of keen eyes followed their departure.


    Ashley''s gaze lingered on Max''s retreating figure. Her expression remained composed, her usual air of indifference unshaken, but her fingers lightly tapped against the table¡ªa small, unconscious habit of hers when deep in thought.


    "¡­Max," she muttered under her breath, almost as if testing the name aloud. "Why is he still ignoring me..."


    Beside her, Caroline tilted her head, catching the unspoken weight in Ashley''s voice. "President, don''t look so down. Maybe he just doesn''t know how to approach you?"


    Ashley''s fingers stilled. A moment passed before she replied, her voice as composed as ever. "Perhaps."


    Caroline leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. "You know, he''s always been quiet. A bit reserved." She grinned playfully. "It''s kind of cute in its own way."


    "Hmm..." Ashley didn''t respond. Instead, her gaze subtly shifted to Harry, who was still teasing Tim in the distance. A faint, almost imperceptible frown formed.


    Caroline noticed. And she knew that look.


    "¡­But?" she prompted.


    "I don''t like him being with that guy," Ashley stated plainly.


    Caroline blinked. "Which guy?"


    "The fool."


    "¡­You mean Harry?" Caroline''s lips twitched. "Why?"


    Ashley didn''t answer immediately, instead directing a cool glance at her friend. It was the kind of look that said, ''Do you really need me to explain?''


    Caroline let out a small chuckle. "Well¡­ I mean, yeah, he''s a bit of a troublemaker. And lazy. And a low-rank student. But he''s not a bad person."


    Ashley simply hummed in response, her expression unreadable. "I see."


    ''She doesn''t believe me!'' Caroline sighed, leaning back in her chair. Even after all this time, Ashley''s thoughts were still a puzzle. But she wasn''t about to give up.


    "Oh, right," Caroline perked up. "I was planning to visit that fool later. I''ll check up on Max while I''m at it. How''s that sound?"


    Ashley finally turned her full attention to her, considering the offer. "¡­Thank you."


    Caroline grinned. "Of course. Anything you''d like me to find out?"


    Ashley gave her a long look, then simply said, "A few things."


    Caroline chuckled again. "Got it."

 I love this essence

    "Finally!"


    Harry and Max stepped inside, their bodies heavy with exhaustion. Tim had already parted ways with them earlier, much to his dismay, his room being located farther away.


    Without exchanging a word, the two collapsed onto their respective beds, sinking into the not so soft mattress as the fatigue of the day washed over them.


    "Today was fun, wasn''t it?" Harry let out a chuckle, staring at the ceiling with a lazy grin.


    Max, lying on his back, let out a quiet hum. "...I learned a lot."


    Harry turned his head slightly, smirking. "Right? The best way to learn is to observe others. So my advice worked, huh?"


    "Hmm¡­" Max responded noncommittally, but there was a hint of acknowledgment in his tone.


    Harry stretched, placing his arms behind his head. "Since you''re no different from a baby, I taught you how to learn like one. Aren''t I a genius?"


    A faint smile tugged at Max''s lips, barely noticeable in the dim lighting.


    Harry caught the small expression and, for once, decided to let him rest. His protagonist friend had a tough day today, after all.


    So, he fell silent.


    But sleep didn''t come to him right away. His mind, as always, refused to settle.


    ''¡­I am alive.''


    That simple thought echoed in his head, stirring something deep inside.


    Slowly, he began replaying the day''s events, going over every little moment, every decision, every action. His survival, discoveries, awakening, and etc.


    By now, he had thoroughly checked his status, analyzed his new abilities, and formed a rough idea of his potential.


    "Heh¡­" A quiet chuckle slipped from his lips.


    Nobody had paid too much attention to the fact that both he and Max had awakened their Essences. Perhaps they had deemed them useless.


    The Fool and The Traveler.


    If that wasn''t the definition of "trash Essences," then what was?


    Harry could already imagine the dismissive looks, the whispered judgments.


    ''But they''re the real fools.''


    The thought made his grin widen.


    He had a hunch¡ªa growing certainty¡ªabout why he had awakened The Fool. He was beginning to understand himself better, why this was his Essence.


    And as for Max¡­ The Traveler.


    Harry didn''t know the full extent of its meaning yet, but he had a vague idea. Something told him that, in time, it would all become clear.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ''I''ll confirm it... soon.''


    His thoughts shifted, drifting toward their lunch conversation with Tess. Unfortunately, they hadn''t seen her since then.


    Harry had wanted to ask about the current objective. He had been unconscious when the first one ended and the next began. The fact that no one had mentioned it throughout the day likely meant everyone had been asleep when it started.


    ''Guess she didn''t sleep.''


    He recalled their morning encounter, piecing together the subtle signs. Now that he thought about it, she had the telltale signs of someone suffering from sleep deprivation.


    Though she was skilled at hiding it, it hadn''t escaped his notice.


    "Hah."


    A sigh escaped him.


    ''It''s good she''s a good person.''


    A strange glint passed through Harry''s eyes.


    His fingers twitched slightly before he raised his hand, opening his status screen with a thought.


    The translucent panel materialized before him, its golden letters faintly glowing in the dim room.


    His gaze moved immediately to new updates.


    Harry''s lips curled upward the moment he saw Banana Peel Fate.


    A quiet chuckle slipped from him, which soon turned into a barely restrained snicker.


    Even without opening the description, the name alone was absurd.


    With a thought, he expanded the skill window.


    ______ ___ _


    [Skill: Banana Peel Fate]


    Type: Active / Passive (?)


    Rank: ???


    Description: ''At critical moments, the user may call upon the sacred force of the banana peel to shift fate itself. The results are¡­ unpredictable. Effects may range from minor inconveniences to absolute disasters. Cannot be directly controlled. Good luck.''


    Note: "Slip and fall, but maybe you''ll fly instead?"


    _____ ___ _


    "...Pffft¡ª"


    Harry had to physically bite his lip to suppress a laugh.


    This was ridiculous.


    He was half expecting some joke Essence to come with an equally useless skill, but this? This had the potential to be both a weapon and a catastrophe.


    His eyes narrowed as he recalled something.


    "The ten bananas¡­" he murmured.


    The reward from the first objective.


    His amusement briefly faded as he tapped his fingers against his bed.


    He has been pondering how he could use this skill or whether were there even bananas in this world before that.


    But he had only ten right now, which meant¡­ he had to be resourceful.


    "¡­Banana peels, huh," he muttered again.


    A low chuckle escaped him.


    Deciding to check further, his gaze moved toward his achievement which he didn''t remember when he achieved it.


    ____


    [The Face of Incompetent Heroism]


    Description: ''Awarded to those who, despite overwhelming evidence of their incompetence, somehow survive or succeed in so-called ''heroic'' situations. Causes mild admiration, severe frustration, and occasional disbelief in those around you.''


    Effect: Luck +1


    Note: People are more likely to underestimate you. You are more likely to succeed in dumb plans.


    _____ __


    "...Pfft¡ªBwahahaha!"


    This time, Harry couldn''t hold it in. He buried his face in his pillow, shoulders shaking as he laughed.


    "Severe frustration¡­? Dumb plans¡­? This thing is mocking me!"


    Still, his Luck stat increased.


    Even if it was by some stupid title, he wasn''t about to complain.


    Finally, his eyes landed on his Personal Fragment.


    His laughter died down as he tapped on it.


    The description appeared before him.


    ____ __ _


    [Personal Fragment: Fool''s Logic]


    Type: Passive (?)


    Rank: ???


    Description: ''The world bends ever so slightly in favor of the Fool. Actions that "shouldn''t work" sometimes¡­ just do. Reasonable people may experience mental distress when attempting to comprehend your actions. Reality is 99% logic and 1% nonsense. You thrive in that 1%.''


    When activated, this fragment twists fate at random¡ªbestowing unexpected boons one moment and unpredictable setbacks the next. It''s as if the universe winks at you, offering help or a playful shove, all in equal measure.


    Note: "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread¡­ and sometimes, they survive."


    ____ __ _


    Harry stared at the screen.


    A long silence stretched in the room.


    Then¡ª


    "...I love this Essence."


    A sharp grin spread across his face.


    His Essence wasn''t just some joke.


    It was a paradox.


    A contradiction.


    A glitch in the system.


    And the best part?


    Nobody knew it or could understand it, yet.


    With an amused hum, he dismissed his status screen and closed his eyes.


    He couldn''t wait to test this out.


    And with that thought, sleep finally claimed him.


    Or so he thought.


    Knock-! Knock-!

 Is She Always Like That?

    [Stage 0: Elender Keep Trial - Time Left: 1 Week]


    Objective: Observe, Learn, Prepare


    Note: In every shadow and every whispered word, a hint of what may come. Perhaps you will meet them again¡­


    ____


    "Hmm..."


    "So, we just need to observe, learn, and prepare?" Harry muttered, his eyes narrowing as he reread the objective.


    "Yes," Tess nodded, her brows furrowing in deep thought. "Though it''s a mystery what exactly it means."


    Harry shook his head, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "No, it''s not that much of a mystery."


    Tess and Max both turned to him, curious.


    Harry stretched his arms behind his head, adopting a casual tone. "Observe the environment¡ªsee how things work around here. The food, the people, even the walls. Pay attention to what they say, how they act, and what they don''t say. Watch your allies too. People change when pressure builds and the environment changes." He paused, glancing at their thoughtful expressions before continuing. "Learn from all that. Even the smallest thing might be useful later."


    Max gave a small nod while Tess crossed her arms, still processing.


    "And prepare¡­" Harry trailed off, frowning slightly. "That part''s trickier. Prepare for what, exactly? A boss fight? The next trial? Or maybe the next stage altogether?" He shrugged. "No concrete idea yet."


    Tess blinked at him, then let out a soft chuckle. "Wow. I didn''t think you were this smart."


    Harry''s lips twitched, but he didn''t look agitated. "Thanks. Your overwhelming confidence in me is heartwarming." His voice dripped with sarcasm.


    Max, still focused on the note, pointed at the last line. "But¡­ what does this mean?"


    Tess and Harry both followed his gaze.


    "In every shadow and whispered word¡­" Tess murmured, her eyes narrowing. "I can understand the first part. It suggests there''s information hidden in conversations, maybe even in things we''d normally overlook. But..."


    "But¡­" Harry picked up where she left off, his expression darkening slightly. "Who are ''they''?"


    A heavy silence settled over the room.


    This one¡­ felt simple on the surface. But the more they thought about it, the deeper it seemed.


    "I agree," Tess finally said, her voice quieter than before. "It''s vague on purpose."Stolen novel; please report.


    "Well," Harry sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I''m sure we''ll figure it out if we just complete the objective."


    Tess gave a small nod, her usual calm demeanor returning. "Alright then. I''ll take my leave. Get some rest."


    "You too," Harry and Max said almost in unison.


    Tess gave them a brief smile before slipping out of the room, the door clicking shut behind her.


    But not even a minute passed before it creaked open again¡ªwithout so much as a knock.


    A familiar figure stepped inside, arms crossed, a curious glint in her eyes.


    "Hey," Caroline''s voice cut through the quiet. "Who was that woman? Did you blackmail her? Or were you blackmailed?"


    Harry groaned, flopping back onto his bed. "Can''t I get one night of peace?"


    Caroline laughed, stepping further into the room. "Yes, if you answer my question that is. So, did you seduce her or something?"


    Harry let out a slow breath, then stood up with a mock-serious expression, dusting off his shirt like he was about to give a formal speech. "Vice President, how can you speak such vulgar words? Aren''t you breaking the student rules? At least be ashamed."


    "Urgh..." Caroline rolled her eyes, her playful grin not fading. "Are you still holding a grudge over that? You know my situation, don''t you?"


    "What are you talking about, Vice President?" Harry raised a brow, his tone dripping with faux innocence. Then he shielded his body. "And should I report you¡ªfor barging into two innocent young men''s room and talking about love?"


    Caroline''s face stiffened for a brief second, but then she quickly switched gears, puffing out her cheeks in an exaggeratedly cute, pleading expression. "Classmate Harry, please forgive me. Umm.. Right, I will owe you a favor."


    Harry glanced at her, pretending to be moved by her act. After a beat of ''reluctant'' thinking, he finally nodded. "Alright¡­ but tell me, what are you really here for first?"


    Caroline straightened up, her grin returning. "Of course, I came to check up on my dear classmates. I was worried you might be crying after what happened in the morning. I thought it was my duty to console you."


    Harry placed a hand over his heart, looking ''offended.'' "Oh my, now I understand why you''re a social chameleon! You joined those scums who found joy in mocking pitiful people like us. You..."


    But just then, a confused voice cut through their bantering.


    "Umm¡­ what''s going on, guys?" Max finally spoke up, sitting up from his bed, his brows furrowed. From what he remembered, Caroline was supposed to be this strict, no-nonsense, quiet type of person. But now¡­ she was acting just like Harry.


    Caroline turned toward Max with a bright smile, as if she hadn''t just been trading sarcastic blows with Harry. "Ah, classmate Max! Just making sure this guy wasn''t crying himself to sleep."


    Harry shot her a glare. "You''re obsessed with the idea of me crying, huh?"


    "Maybe because I''ve seen it before," Caroline teased, winking at Max, who just blinked, even more confused.


    Harry shook his head, chuckling under his breath. "You''re impossible."


    Caroline plopped down on the edge of Max''s bed like she owned the place. "So, what''s the plan? Any foolish insights from Mr. Fool here?" She jerked a thumb toward Harry.


    Harry sighed, flopping back onto his bed again. "Observe, learn, prepare," he muttered. "But no, I don''t have all the answers."


    Caroline grinned. "Wow, admitting you don''t have all the answers? That''s a first."


    Harry tossed a pillow at her, which she dodged effortlessly, laughing.


    Max just watched the whole scene unfold, still not sure how to process the fact that Caroline, the strict Vice President, was acting like this.


    "Well," Caroline finally said, standing up and brushing off her skirt. "I''ll leave you two fools alone now."


    Before Harry could throw another - Max''s pillow, she was already at the door, waving goodbye with that same mischievous grin plastered on her face.


    As the door shut behind her, Max finally spoke.


    "Is she always like that?"


    Harry let out a long sigh, putting the pillow back in its place.


    "She''s worse than that."

 Maxs POV

    Max sat alone on the cold stone, the rough surface pressing against his palms as he leaned back. The resting place¡ªif you could even call it that¡ªwas just a long stretch of jagged stone, shaped like some kind of a staircase, leading nowhere in particular. The sky above was a dull gray, like it hadn''t decided whether to rain or suffocate them with its heaviness.


    ''Four days,'' he thought, staring at the horizon. It had been four days since they arrived at this strange place called Elender Keep. And three days since the so-called training program started.


    Strangely, their group¡ªthe students¡ªhad been separated from the others.


    Harry, in his usual smug tone, said it was some kind of special treatment. Max didn''t know whether to believe that or not. Harry always had something to say, and it wasn''t always clear if he even believed himself.


    But it was true¡ªthey hadn''t seen much of the other people since that first day.


    Max only knew bits and pieces from the rumors Harry''s friend, that strange Caroline girl, brought in. According to her, there were three people among the rest of the people who awakened with powerful fragments.


    She didn''t mention anyone having ''trash'' fragments like his or Harry''s. Though she did say it nicely¡ªHarry later translated that for him later with his usual sarcasm.


    Max frowned, resting his chin on his hands.


    ''Fragments¡­'' Even after all this time, the word felt foreign. It was like everyone else had these puzzle pieces of themselves falling into place, while his just¡­ didn''t fit.


    And then there was ''her''.


    Caroline had been visiting them every day¡ªalways full of jokes when Harry was around. But when it was just the two of them, her tone changed. She''d ask him strange questions, ones that tugged at something in the back of his mind.


    "Why are you hesitating?"


    "Are you still upset with her?"


    "Should I arrange a secret meeting?"


    And so on.


    Max clenched his jaw.


    Her?


    Who was she even talking about?


    He didn''t remember anyone. No faces, no names¡ªjust blank spaces where people should''ve been. But Caroline knew something. She acted like he had this¡­ relationship with someone. And the more she asked, the more restless he felt. Like there was something important he''d lost, just out of reach.


    He could''ve told her the truth¡ªthat he''d lost his memories. But Harry had warned him against it.


    "Nobody shouldn''t know about it," Harry had said, his voice unusually serious.


    "We pretend to be sheep. But we''re secretly tigers in sheep''s clothing."


    And other strange lines he didn''t quite understand yet.


    Sheep and tigers.


    Max didn''t fully understand Harry''s metaphors, but¡­ he trusted him. Harry was the only one who knew the rules of this strange game they''d been thrown into. The only one who seemed to have even a sliver of control. Max had decided to follow his lead, at least for now.


    Besides, the past three days have been difficult. But he''d learned more than he ever thought possible.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    The locals¡ªthose friendly looking people¡ªtaught them the basics of survival in this End Apocalypse thing.


    And their first lesson?


    Run.


    Not just for a few hours, not even for a day. They''d been forced to run for two full days straight.


    With no breaks, no mercy.


    At first, Max had thought it was just mindless torture. But there was a method to it. They weren''t just running to escape¡ªthey were learning how to run. Efficiently. With purpose. How to read the terrain, how to conserve stamina, when to sprint and when to slow down.


    And then Harry took it a step further.


    Of course he did.


    His training methods were¡­ strange. Foolish, even.


    He''d make them zigzag through impossible paths he built or discovered, climb unstable walls, and even run backward at times. But slowly¡ªpainfully¡ªMax started to see the pattern. Harry''s madness wasn''t just chaos. There was a method hidden underneath, and it worked.


    Max could feel it in his body. His muscles were sore, his lungs burned, but he could run longer and faster than he ever had before. And not just that¡ªhe was thinking differently.


    Watching.


    Observing.


    Learning.


    All the while running.


    Harry was right. Even the smallest things could be useful.


    "Haa..."


    Max exhaled slowly, his breath visible in the chilly air. His gaze drifted to the training grounds in the front, where some of the other students were still running laps. He spotted Harry, easily recognizable with his casual, almost lazy stride. But Max knew better now.


    Harry''s nonchalance was just another mask.


    He was probably testing something as usual.


    He could tell since he was staring at the air and grinning like usual.


    He leaned back against the stone, letting his mind wander.


    ''Five days¡­'' And yet, it felt like he''d been here for much longer. The world before this¡ªbefore the trials, before the Awakening¡ªfelt like a distant dream.


    Or maybe it was a dream.


    He didn''t know anymore.


    All he knew was that the real trial hadn''t even started yet.


    And when it did¡­ he needed to be ready.


    Max let out a slow breath, his fingers idly tracing the cracks in the stone beneath him. The sharp edge of the chill still clung to the air, but it didn''t bother him as much as it had the first day.


    "Show Status."


    The words slipped from his lips, a quiet murmur swallowed by the emptiness around him.


    A faint shimmer appeared before his eyes, then, the familiar translucent screen flickered into view. The same as always. The same as yesterday. The same as the day before that.


    Max frowned, his eyes scanning the unchanged numbers¡ªor rather, words. That strange, mocking [Max] that hovered next to every attribute. No increase, no decrease. Just¡­ static.


    It was unnatural.


    He''d run until his legs felt like jelly, pushed his body to the brink, and yet¡ªnothing.


    Harry had a theory about it, of course.


    "It''s probably a limit," Harry had said with a shrug the other day, waving his hand like it was no big deal. "Could be the current trial restricting us. Or maybe it''s the max humans can reach for now."


    Max had pressed him for more details, but Harry only grinned, his eyes gleaming with that frustrating mix of mischief and knowledge.


    "We''ll break it somehow," he''d added. "Near-death experiences, drinking some rare magic potions... you know, the usual clich¨¦ stuff."


    Max wasn''t sure how he felt about near-death experiences being the go-to solution, but he had to admit¡ªthere was something thrilling about the idea of breaking past these invisible barriers.


    Limits were meant to be broken, after all.


    He closed the status window with a thought, letting it dissolve into nothingness.


    His mind drifted to what Caroline had mentioned last night. She''d shown up again, as she often did, leaning against the doorway with that mischievous glint in her eye.


    "Instructors will start teaching about essence after the first week," she''d said casually, like it wasn''t a big deal. But Max had seen the flicker of excitement she tried to hide.


    Harry had been quick to chime in with his own theory after she left.


    "Essence, huh? Might be the key to breaking these limits," he''d mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Or maybe it''s just another type of training. Either way, I''m thrilled."


    Max found himself smiling at the memory. The idea of getting stronger¡ªof finally understanding this world and his place in it¡ªit was¡­ a good feeling. Something about it filled the empty spaces in his mind, made the amnesia sting a little less.


    For now, he''d keep training. Keep learning.


    Control your strength like a real protagonist, Harry had joked at the start.


    Max didn''t fully get what he meant, but maybe¡­ just maybe, he was starting to understand.


    He stood up, brushing the dust off his pants, and glanced toward the training grounds. The others were still at it, their figures moving like shadows against the dim light. Harry was there, and of course, a stark contrast to everyone else''s exhaustion.


    ''Time to get back to training.''

 A Smile Too Sweet

    The third day since their grueling training continued had finally come to an end, and Harry found himself bent over, hands on his knees, gasping for breath. His chest heaved with each inhale, his shirt clinging to his skin, damp with sweat. The cool air of Elender Keep bit at his flushed skin, but he barely noticed. His mind was elsewhere, fixated on one thing.


    "Show Status," he muttered between breaths.


    The familiar translucent screen flickered into view, the soft glow illuminating the exhausted yet satisfied grin creeping onto his face as he focused on his core attributes.


    _____


    Strength: 12 ¡ú 13


    Agility: 13 ¡ú 14


    Willpower: 13 ¡ú 14


    Constitution: 11 ¡ú 12


    Intelligence: 15 (Max)


    Wisdom: 15


    Luck: ?


    _____


    Harry let out a shaky laugh, the numbers swimming in his vision.


    "Finally¡­" he whispered to himself, the word a mix of relief and triumph. The changes were small, barely noticeable to anyone else, but to him, they were monumental. Each point felt like proof that his effort wasn''t in vain. Like¡­ leveling up in a game after fighting hordes of monsters.


    A thrill ran through him, sharp and addictive.


    "I hope I don''t get hooked on this," he murmured under his breath, chuckling at his own words.


    Before he could lose himself further in his thoughts, a shadow fell over him. He blinked, glancing up to see a leather flask extended toward him. His eyes followed the arm to its owner¡ªa girl.


    She was beautiful in a soft, understated way. Her features were delicate, framed by dark hair that swayed gently in the breeze. But what caught Harry off guard wasn''t just her appearance¡ªit was the kindness in her eyes, the warmth of her smile.


    For a moment, he was dazed, caught in the unexpectedness of it all. Then, quickly recovering, he reached for the flask.


    "Thank you¡­ Leah," he said, the name slipping out naturally as if it belonged to her.


    Leah''s smile brightened, almost like the sun had peeked through the ever-gray sky.


    "It''s alright, Harry. Seeing you work hard is enough."


    Her words lingered in the air longer than they should have, stirring something in him. He nodded, unscrewing the flask and taking a long, refreshing gulp, all the while keeping his eyes on her.


    She was a local¡ªthat much he knew.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    Part of the group assigned to "assist" the students, though Harry suspected their roles went beyond simple help. There was something off. The locals'' assignments weren''t random. Girls like Leah were paired with the boys, while local boys were assigned to help the female students. Even when he thought they may want to talk with the opposite gender, it didn''t sound less suspicious.


    It was too¡­ convenient.


    Harry didn''t believe in coincidences.


    Leah settled down beside him on a nearby wooden bench, her posture relaxed but her eyes watching him closely.


    "It''s amazing to see my peers from another world," she began, her voice soft, almost dreamy. "You all are incredible. But¡­ you are the most incredible."


    Harry''s lips curled into a grin, the familiar cockiness returning to his expression.


    "Did you just notice that now?" he teased.


    Leah laughed, a light, musical sound that didn''t seem forced.


    "That''s what''s amazing about you," she said, her eyes twinkling. "You don''t care about others'' opinions, and you''re not affected by their words. Your willpower must be really high. You really are¡­ amazing."


    Harry kept his grin, but his mind was racing behind the fa?ade.


    Suspicious.


    She was overly nice to him¡ªtoo nice¡ªwhile treating the other boys with a polite but distant attitude. He could admit she was cute, beautiful even, and for a fleeting moment, the thought crossed his mind: ''Does she have a crush on me?''


    But no.


    Harry wasn''t that gullible.


    He didn''t believe in love at first sight or whatever nonsense people fed themselves. Even in the stories he read, he disliked the parts where heroines or other characters would fall in love at first sight.


    It may be because he hasn''t experienced himself yet but he was sure he wouldn''t succumb to this cliche.


    Besides, he believed there was always an angle, always a reason. He just hadn''t figured out hers yet.


    "Why are you so silent?" Leah''s voice broke through his thoughts, her tone playful but laced with something softer. Her eyes had that puppy-like glimmer, wide and expectant. "Won''t you talk to me?"


    ''It''s really bad for my heart.''


    Harry chuckled, shaking his head slightly.


    "I was just a bit surprised, that''s all, you know?"


    Leah tilted her head, genuinely curious. "Surprised? How so?"


    "Well¡­" Harry leaned back against the bench, his gaze drifting lazily toward the training grounds where Max was, as usual, completely oblivious to another girl''s not-so-subtle hints. "Surprised that you''re treating me this way while your friends mostly ignore us. Well¡­ except that red-haired friend of yours."


    He nodded toward Maya, who was currently trying (and failing) to get a reaction out of Max. The poor girl didn''t know Max was dealing with more than just social obliviousness¡ªhis amnesia made her efforts tragically futile.


    Leah''s expression dimmed, a sad shadow crossing her features. Without warning, she reached out, clutching Harry''s hand in hers.


    "I¡­ I''m sorry about them," she whispered, her voice sincere. "Please don''t take it to heart. They just don''t understand. But I do. I believe in you."


    Her words were soft, laced with emotion that felt too personal, too intimate for someone who barely knew him. Harry raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching into a playful smirk.


    "For a second there¡­" he said, voice light and teasing, "I thought you were confessing to me."


    Leah''s eyes widened, her cheeks flushing a deep crimson. She stammered, trying to form words, but none came out coherently. The flustered look on her face was so genuine it caught Harry off guard.


    Before he could say anything else, Leah suddenly shot up from the bench, her face still bright red.


    "I-I''ll see you tomorrow!" she blurted out before turning on her heel and sprinting away, leaving Harry sitting there, dumbfounded.


    He stared after her for a long moment, then let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head.


    "Well¡­ that was unexpected," he muttered, still grinning.


    But even as he laughed, the gears in his mind kept turning. Because no matter how genuine Leah''s reaction seemed, Harry knew better.


    There was always more beneath the surface.


    And he was going to find out what it was.


    Even if her feelings were genuine, he had to think of a way to properly excuse himself.


    Because he knew too well - he wasn''t ready for a romantic relationship. Not now. And maybe not in the future. The world was ending after all.


    Not to mention - he never planned to date, he found dating before marriage inappropriate and loathsome. He would rather first marry and then date her.


    ''I wonder if there is a girl out there who agrees with me...''


    _____


    (How is the story progressing? Do voice out your thought on the comments.)

 Enemies In The Making

    The last day of the first week of the program dawned, painting Elender Keep with the same cold, indifferent light. But something was¡­ off.


    Harry noticed it the moment he stepped onto the training grounds.


    Leah wasn''t there.


    Instead, she stood beside Max, offering him the same flask she''d once handed to Harry, her smile soft and kin. Max, oblivious as ever, took it with a polite nod, his attention already shifting elsewhere, completely missing the way Leah''s eyes lingered.


    Harry''s gaze, however, didn''t linger on Leah for long.


    Because now, she was coming toward him.


    Maya.


    The red-haired beauty, whose usual lovely banter with Max was nowhere to be seen today. Instead, her green eyes were sharp, glinting with something between anger and contempt as they locked onto Harry like he was some unsightly blemish on her otherwise perfect day.


    ''Oh, great¡­'' Harry sighed inwardly, bracing himself as she stopped just a few feet away, arms crossed over her chest, glaring at him like he''d personally insulted her entire family.


    Her stare was intense¡ªburning holes right through him.


    Harry exhaled slowly, placing his hands on his hips. "Do you have something to say?" His voice was calm, almost bored. "If not, stop staring at me like that. Me and the others might get the wrong idea."


    A small snort escaped Maya, sharp and dismissive.


    "I don''t talk to scum like you," she spat, her words venomous.


    Harry arched an eyebrow, unphased. "Well, someone''s a bit¡­ dramatic this morning."


    Maya''s glare intensified.


    Harry tilted his head slightly. "Care to enlighten me on what crime I committed?"


    "Hmph." Maya''s lips curled into a sneer. "Didn''t you make her upset?"


    ''Her?'' Harry''s mind ticked, but he played dumb. "Her¡­? Are you talking about Leah?"


    Maya rolled her eyes, as if the answer was obvious. "Yeah. Or did any other girl approach you?"


    Harry chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Well, they didn''t. But that''s not the point. And it seems like you misunderstood something. I did nothing to make her upset¡ªat least, I believe so. I just joked with her."


    "Liar." Maya''s voice was ice-cold. "Then why did she ask me to switch places with her? When I asked why, she couldn''t even look me in the eye. She was trembling avoiding eye contact." Her eyes narrowed. "You clearly did something."


    "She might be just embarrassed, you know." Harry said, recalling how she left running yesterday.


    "You-!"


    "..."


    Harry stared at her for a moment, the gears in his mind turning.


    ''She won''t believe me no matter what I say,'' he realized. ''So she''s that type of individual, huh¡­''


    With a sigh, Harry''s expression shifted into something more serious. "If I did upset her," he said, voice steady, "then please apologize to her for me."


    He gave Maya a small nod, stepping to the side. "See you around."Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    But before he could take more than a few steps, he felt a sudden force gripping his wrist. Hard.


    He glanced down, surprised.


    Maya''s hand was locked around his arm, her grip strong. Stronger than he''d expected.


    ''So, she''s stronger than Max¡­ Figured.'' Harry noted inwardly, his gaze flicking to her face. But Maya didn''t flinch under his questioning look. Instead, she leaned in slightly, her voice low and pointed.


    "You know what''s happening tomorrow, right?"


    Harry met her stare, his own expression unreadable. "¡­Yes. We''ll learn how to harness Essence and everything about it."


    A smirk tugged at the corner of Maya''s mouth. "Heh. Then let me tell you something." She leaned in closer, her breath warm against his skin. "We are the ones who''ll ''help'' you with that." Her eyes darkened. "But since you made my friend upset, don''t even think about getting my help. Or hers. Or anyone''s. Even if we were to ''help'', you will understand what it means to make our princess sad."


    With that, she released his wrist, her touch lingering like a phantom.


    "See you then," she said, turning on her heel and walking away without another word.


    Harry stood there for a moment, rubbing the spot where her fingers had dug into his skin. A faint glint flickered in his eyes, sharp and calculating.


    "¡­I see," he muttered under his breath. "Open discrimination, huh..."


    The pieces were falling into place.


    Possibility One: This was a setup by Leah. Meaning she was two-faced, playing the innocent while manipulating things behind the scenes. Which was not entirely impossible.


    Possibility Two: Maya was just hot-blooded and reckless. But that didn''t fully explain her hostility or... idiocy. Which means there was more to it.


    Possibility Three: Well¡­ Harry had a hunch.


    But he wasn''t going to jump to conclusions just yet.


    ''Let''s see what happens first¡­''


    With that, Harry exhaled, pushed the thoughts aside, and resumed his morning training. The cold wind of Elender Keep bit at his skin, but it was nothing compared to the storm brewing in his mind.


    _____ __ _


    "¡­There''s another one."


    Caroline blinked, tearing her eyes away from the ground to glance at Ashley. "Huh? Another one?"


    But Ashley wasn''t looking at her.


    Her gaze, sharp and unreadable as always, was fixed on a spot across the grounds. Following her line of sight, Caroline''s eyes landed on a pair standing not too far from the others.


    Max and Leah.


    Leah''s dark hair shimmered under the morning light, her posture relaxed as she spoke to Max, who seemed his usual oblivious self, nodding along without much reaction. But Leah''s eyes told a different story¡ªsoft, lingering, almost¡­ wistful.


    Caroline''s lips parted in understanding.


    ''Ah¡­ that''s what she meant.''


    Ashley wasn''t talking about a new student.


    She was talking about Leah.


    Another person standing in her way.


    Caroline leaned in slightly, her voice low. "Wasn''t she talking with Harry till now? Why did she suddenly switch to Max?"


    Ashley didn''t respond.


    Her eyes narrowed just a fraction, the intensity in her gaze deepening as if she was dissecting the scene in front of her. Caroline shifted uncomfortably, glancing back at Max and Leah, but before she could say anything more, something else caught her attention.


    Across the field, near the obstacle course, Harry was standing still, his expression unreadable.


    But it wasn''t Harry that made Caroline''s eyes widen.


    It was Maya.


    The red-haired girl, who had been practically glued to Max''s side all week, was now clutching Harry''s forearm, her face inches from his as she spoke in low, heated tones.


    Caroline blinked in surprise. "Did she¡­ switch targets?"


    "Hmph." Ashley''s voice was laced with quiet disdain. "She must have realized it was impossible to get his heart."


    Caroline glanced sideways at her, the corner of her mouth twitching. ''She means Max, obviously.''


    "Ah, y-yeah." Caroline smiled awkwardly, trying to match Ashley''s energy, though the situation felt weirder by the second.


    "But¡­" Ashley continued, her voice quieter, more thoughtful now. "She didn''t seem friendly with that¡­ boy."


    Caroline''s brow furrowed.


    ''Whoa¡­ she''s not calling him a fool anymore. Must be because he averted that girl from Max.''


    But before she could get lost in her thoughts, Ashley''s sharp voice cut through the air.


    "Vice-President."


    Caroline straightened instinctively. "Y-Yeah, President?"


    Ashley didn''t take her eyes off the field. "You''re friends with him, right?"


    "¡­Him?" Caroline blinked, but Ashley''s gaze didn''t move.


    ''Does she want to go and ''protect'' Max again?''


    Caroline swallowed.


    "Why don''t you go and¡­ learn what they''re talking about?"


    ''Knew it.'' Caroline chuckled lightly, masking her nerves. "Don''t worry, President. Leave it to me."


    Without another word, she stepped away from Ashley''s side, heading toward Max and Leah, her mind buzzing with questions.


    Ashley watched her go, arms folded neatly across her chest.


    But as Caroline moved further from her side, Ashley''s brows furrowed slightly.


    "I didn''t mean them."


    Her gaze shifted, finally landing on Harry, who was now resuming his training, sprinting through the obstacle course with weird and strange movements yet almost perfect precision.


    Ashley''s eyes lingered, wondering whether to go herself.


    "..."


    ''¡­Nah,'' Ashley thought, pushing the odd flicker of curiosity aside.


    She turned away, but the image of Harry running¡ªunbothered and alone¡ªlingered in the corners of her mind.

 Game [1]

    The warm glow of the dining hall''s chandeliers barely softened the tension that clung to the air. Conversations buzzed in hushed tones, but beneath the surface, something colder lurked. Plates clattered, utensils scraped, but Harry, Max, and Tim were already heading toward the exit, eager to leave the suffocating atmosphere behind.


    As they neared the door, a sudden force collided with Harry''s shoulder. The impact was hard, deliberate. Harry staggered, his footing slipping on the polished floor, but before he could fall, Max''s hand shot out, steadying him with a firm grip.


    "You good?" Max asked, his voice low.


    Harry straightened, brushing off his clothes like nothing had happened. The local who had bumped into him, a tall, broad-shouldered young man, didn''t even glance back. Instead, he let out an audible tch and continued on his way, his posture oozing smug indifference.


    Tim''s jaw clenched, his fists balling at his sides. "These guys¡­ They''re doing it on purpose."


    Harry chuckled softly, the sound dripping with sarcasm. "Relax, Tim. Ever heard the saying¡ªyou don''t argue with chickens in the coop?" His smirk widened, mocking. "They''ll just cluck louder."


    The locals nearby, having overheard Harry''s words, shot icy glares their way, their expressions darkening with thinly veiled hostility. But Harry, unfazed, merely shrugged and nudged Max forward.


    "Let''s go."


    They pushed through the heavy doors, stepping into the cool night air, but the tension didn''t leave with them. It clung to their backs like shadows, following them down the dimly lit corridors toward their rooms.


    As they walked, Tim couldn''t keep it in any longer. His voice was low, but laced with frustration. "They''ve been at it all day¡­ bumping into you, whispering behind your back, stirring up rumors with the other students. They''re trying to isolate you, Harry. Heck, they already made you the outcast. If not for..."


    Max''s eyes darkened at Tim''s words, recalling his own observations. It wasn''t subtle¡ªthe pointed looks, the strategic shoves in the training fields, the snide remarks muttered just loud enough to be heard. But Harry? He''d just brushed it all off, like it was nothing.


    Harry finally stopped in front of their room, turning to face them. His expression softened just a little, the usual sarcasm giving way to something more genuine.


    "Thanks for worrying, Tim," he said, his voice calm. He clapped him on the shoulder as they reached their room. "But don''t lose sleep over it."


    Tim hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Goodnight, you two."


    "Night," Max replied, watching Tim walk down the hall before they entered their room.


    _____ __ _


    The familiar creak of the door closing behind them was barely an echo before another, softer knock came. The door cracked open, and Tess stepped inside without a word. She exchanged brief nods with both of them, her usual calm demeanor in place, before moving across the room to sit on Harry''s bed, directly facing Max''s.


    Harry pulled out a small wooden table, the surface smooth from frequent use, and set it between the two beds. With a practiced motion, he dropped down beside Max, mirroring Tess''s position.


    A playful grin spread across Harry''s face. "So, you ready to play, Big Sis Tess?"Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    Tess''s lips curved into a subtle smile, her eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and challenge. "I''ve been waiting a whole week for this rematch. Don''t think I''ve gotten rusty."


    She reached into her satchel and pulled out a scroll of parchment, followed by a pen-like tool, placing them neatly on the table.


    Harry nodded approvingly. "Good. Then, who''s starting?"


    "I will," Max said, raising his hand slightly. "Since I''m not that good at this."


    Tess and Harry both nodded, and Max leaned forward, unrolling the scroll. His pen hovered over the parchment for a moment before he began to write.


    While Max focused, Harry leaned back, a mock-proud expression on his face as if watching a student finally grasp a lesson. But deep down, he was relieved Max knew how to read and write¡ªsaved him from giving a crash course on the subject.


    After a few minutes of focused scribbling, Max finally set the pen down with a small sigh, rolling his wrist to ease the tension. He pushed the scroll toward the center of the table, glancing up at Tess and Harry.


    "Alright. I''m finished."


    Harry immediately leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with curiosity, while Tess scooted closer, her expression composed but intrigued. The parchment crackled softly as they unrolled it fully, their eyes darting over Max''s neat handwriting.


    ''1. We started understanding the locals the day after we arrived.''


    Harry and Tess exchanged quick glances before nodding.


    "Yeah," Harry said, tapping the first line with his finger. "That was weird. It was all anyone talked about that day, but then¡ª"


    "¡ªeveryone dismissed it like it was nothing," Tess finished, her brow furrowing slightly. "I guess we just¡­ accepted it."


    Harry gave a mock-proud grin. "See? Our boy''s paying attention."


    Tess chuckled softly, nodding in agreement as they moved to the next point.


    ''2. The locals are acting unusual, like they''re used to us, the otherworlders. I noticed how they interact with us, and based on what Harry said, it doesn''t feel like this is new to them.''


    Tess let out a soft, impressed hmm, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "That''s¡­ a good point. Now that I think about it, I experienced the same thing."


    Harry leaned back with a satisfied smirk. "Told you he''s learning from me."


    Max raised an eyebrow but didn''t say anything, secretly pleased with the praise.


    But as their eyes moved to the third point, Harry''s smirk grew wider, and Tess''s calm demeanor cracked, a soft giggle escaping her lips.


    ''3. There''s this girl who keeps talking to me non-stop. I think she''s trying to distract me from my training. Thankfully, she left today. But another one came instead, again, interrupting my training.''


    Harry burst out laughing, slapping his knee. "Oh, Max¡­ You''re too young to understand this, it seems."


    Max blinked, genuinely confused. "Aren''t we the same age?"


    Harry waved him off, still chuckling. "Yeah, but not in mind, my friend."


    Tess covered her mouth, stifling another giggle, while Harry clapped Max on the shoulder, still shaking with laughter.


    "Don''t worry, you''ll figure it out soon enough," Harry said, his grin mischievous. "Though, honestly, it''s better if you don''t learn it for a while. Right, Big Sis?"


    Tess paused for a moment, then nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah¡­ That sounds logical. It can lead to¡­ impulsive decisions."


    Max frowned slightly but nodded in understanding, though a part of him still felt like he was missing something.


    They turned back to the scroll, continuing down the list, their grins widening with each point.


    ''4. The food here is strange. I think the soup is alive¡ªit keeps moving.''


    Harry snorted, nearly doubling over with laughter. "Max, that was seaweed, not a living creature."


    ''5. Our class president often stares at me. Her eyes are scary. I think she has a grudge against me.''


    Tess finally broke into open laughter, shaking her head. "You are really dense, right Max?"


    ''6. Tim eats too fast when Tess is with us. I think he''s hiding something.''


    ''Hey, idiot, don''t sell out your friend in front of your crush-!''


    Harry wiped tears from his eyes, gasping between laughs. "Yeah, Max. He''s hiding hunger."


    By the time they finished reading, the tension from earlier had all but dissolved, replaced by the warmth of shared laughter. Max, though slightly embarrassed, found himself chuckling along, realizing how absurd some of his notes sounded out loud in other''s perspectives.


    Harry finally leaned back, exhaling deeply. "Alright, my turn. Let''s see if I can top that."


    "My reputation as the fool is at stake now after all."


    "You don''t say." Tess rolled her eyes playfully but nodded, readying the pen as Harry began to recount everything he''d learned¡ªhis tone shifting from lighthearted to serious as the pieces of their week''s observations began to form a more troubling picture.


    But for now, in that small room lit only by the soft glow of a single lantern, the weight of their situation felt just a little lighter.

 Game [2]

    The room was quiet again, the only sound being the soft scratch of Harry''s pen against the parchment. His grin was already in place, the kind that promised whatever he was writing was both ridiculous and important. Max and Tess exchanged glances, settling in to watch the chaos unfold.


    Harry leaned back for a second, tapping the pen against his chin, then dove in.


    1. First of all, hats off to Max, the man, the myth, the legend, for resisting that one assistant girl for so long. I mean, really, give this guy a medal. I was starting to think she''d glued herself to his shadow with how often she popped up. But, alas, it wasn''t just our dear Max being disturbed.


    Nah, turns out most of the students got paired with these oh-so-friendly assistants. But here''s where it gets fishy¡ªsuspiciously fishy. Every single pairing was boy-girl, girl-boy. Like some cosmic matchmaking service was working overtime. I mean, c''mon, I was starting to think these locals weren''t interested in their own people. But I guess foreign candy tends to look shinier. Go figure.


    But here''s the kicker:


    Some assistants were way too assisting, if you catch my drift. Not just hovering like gnats, but practically glued to certain students¡ªmostly the ones with flashy Fragments or who flexed high stats on their Status screens. Even I got one tailing me. But I guess it was because I''m just that charming.


    But seriously, there''s something more to it. Either they''ve got a way to peek at our Status¡ªlike some Appraisal skill¡ªor maybe our Essence Awakenings were just that impressive. (Looking at you, Max. And yeah, yeah, I know I''m amazing too.) Big Sis Tess and the others on your side must''ve felt it too. Bet they''ve got their own clingy shadows.


    Harry snickered to himself before continuing, the pen dancing across the parchment.


    2. Here''s where it gets real interesting:


    I''m starting to think the locals can see more than they let on. Like, a lot more. Our Status, potential, maybe even personal info¡ªwho knows? If they''ve got Appraisal-type abilities, we''re practically walking open books.


    But think about it¡ªwhat do we actually know about them? Nothing. Zero. Zip. Nada. How strong are they? Could one of them just snap their fingers and poof¡ªthere goes a city? Is there an archmage hiding behind those friendly grins? Could they squash us like bugs and we wouldn''t even see it coming?


    Fun thought, right?


    Harry paused, giving Max a playful side-eye, as if expecting him to squirm. Then he chuckled to himself and scribbled on.


    3. Oh, and guess what?


    They could be watching and listening to us right now. All. Day. Long. Ever hear of skills or abilities that let you spy from a distance? Like a magical CCTV? Yeah, that''s why I suggested this little game of ours¡ªswapping info on paper instead of chatting out loud. Pretty sure they can''t read our language in writing, even if they can understand us when we talk. Found that out the hard way.


    So, smile for the invisible cameras, folks.


    Harry leaned back again, a smirk tugging at his lips, but his eyes gleamed with something sharper beneath the humor. He twirled the pen between his fingers, then leaned in for the final touch.


    4. One last thing.


    These assistants? They''re asking a bit too much about our world. Like, way beyond polite curiosity. I don''t know what it is exactly¡ªjust a feeling¡ªbut it doesn''t sit right. Maybe it''s nothing. Or maybe it''s everything.


    Harry dropped the pen with a flourish, sliding the parchment to the center of the table with a satisfied grin. "Alright, kids. That''s my masterpiece. Try topping that."


    Tess leaned in first, her expression unreadable but eyes sharp, while Max''s brow furrowed as he scanned the words. The room felt heavier now, the laughter from before fading into thoughtful silence.


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    But Harry? He just stretched his arms behind his head, grin still firmly in place, like they weren''t potentially surrounded by people who could obliterate them with a flick of the wrist.


    Max''s eyes darted back and forth across the parchment, his brows slowly knitting together. At first, it was just confusion¡ªthe kind that comes from trying to decipher Harry''s chaotic mix of jokes and actually important information.


    But as he read further, that confusion deepened into something more¡­ unsettling. Every few lines, he''d glance up at Harry, then at Tess, then back down, as if expecting the parchment itself to explain the madness.


    "Wait¡­ what?" Max mumbled, his finger pausing on the line about foreign candy. He shot Harry a look, somewhere between disbelief and amusement. "Seriously?"


    Harry just grinned, wiggling his eyebrows like he''d just penned the greatest joke in history. "Hey, you can''t deny the accuracy."


    Max shook his head and kept reading, but when he reached the part about them possibly being watched all day, he froze. His gaze snapped up to Harry, lips parting like he was about to ask something¡ªthen closed again. He swallowed hard, realizing the implications. Right. The game. No talking.


    Max stayed quiet, but his eyes flickered between Harry and Tess, hoping for some kind of cue.


    Tess had been reading quietly, her expression shifting with every paragraph. A small smile tugged at her lips at Harry''s first joke, but as she read further, her brows furrowed, eyes narrowing slightly. She paused midway, lifting her gaze to Harry with a sharp, inquisitive look.


    Harry wiggled his eyebrows again, his grin widening. "What''s wrong? Are you charmed too?"


    Tess didn''t even dignify that with a response. She simply returned to the parchment, finishing it with a thoughtful hum before finally speaking¡ªbut her tone was light, casual, like they were discussing the weather.


    "Well," she said, tapping the edge of the parchment, "I guess Max isn''t the only one with a fan club, huh? Seems like some of us got special attention."


    Max''s brow furrowed in confusion for a second, but then it clicked. Special attention¡ªright, the assistants. He nodded slowly, trying to keep his expression neutral.


    Tess continued, her voice still casual. "Though, it''s funny. Not everyone on my side got that VIP treatment. Makes you wonder what the criteria is, huh?"


    Harry snorted, lounging back in his chair like this was all a joke. "Oh, you know. Some people just have that natural charm. Others¡­" He shot Max a teasing look. "Well, they resist too well."


    Max rolled his eyes but didn''t respond. He was too busy trying to piece together the hidden meanings.


    Tess''s expression shifted, her smile fading into something more thoughtful. "As for the¡­ CCTV thing," she said, her tone dropping slightly, "I didn''t really consider it before. Guess I was¡­ distracted by other things."


    Harry leaned forward, grinning like a fox. "Ooooh, what other things could be distracting you, Big Sis Tess?"


    Tess ignored him, her eyes sharpening. "But if we take that into account¡­ it''s pretty big."


    Harry threw his hands up in mock exasperation. "I know, right? But most people are just walking around like everything''s normal. Blind as bats."


    Tess''s foot shot out under the table, connecting with Harry''s knee.


    "OW¡ª!" Harry yelped, clutching his leg. "What was that for?"


    Tess arched an eyebrow. "I''m one of those bats, huh?"


    Harry immediately straightened, face contorting into an exaggerated look of guilt. "I¡ªI was just joking! You''re, uh¡­ the wise owl of the group!" He shot Max a pleading look. "Right, Max?"


    Max just smirked, wisely choosing to stay out of it - the best thing he learned when interacting with others.


    Tess nodded, satisfied, and moved on. "Now, about the whole¡­ background noise issue." Her voice grew quieter, almost hesitant. "It''s¡­ a little too valid for comfort. Good thing I¡­ never mind."


    She coughed, and both Harry and Max turned to her with identical looks of confusion.


    "Wait, what do you mean ''never mind''?" Max asked, leaning forward¡ªthen froze. Right. Don''t ask out loud. He sank back into his chair, pressing his lips together.


    Tess waved it off, her expression unreadable. "Doesn''t matter. Let''s move on."


    Harry raised an eyebrow but didn''t push it. Tess was good at deflecting when she wanted to.


    Tess tapped the parchment again, focusing on the final point. "But you know," she said, her tone light but her eyes sharp, "some of these questions we''ve been getting¡­ they''re a little too curious, don''t you think?"


    Harry''s grin widened. "Oh, definitely. You''d think they were writing a book about us or something."


    Tess chuckled softly, shaking her head. "I''m even shocked you noticed. Are you sure you''re the idiot and low-ranking student everyone says you are?"


    Harry puffed up like an offended pigeon. "Who said that?" He crossed his arms, chin held high. "If I wanted to, I could''ve won a Nobul Prize, you know."


    Tess snorted, her first real laugh of the night. "Haha, you don''t say."


    Max chuckled too, the tension easing for a moment.


    ''What''s a Nobul Prize?''

 Game [3]

    The room fell into a heavy silence once more, the kind that settled deep into the walls and refused to leave. Tess reached for the parchment, her expression unreadable as she began to write. Her strokes were precise, methodical¡ªno wasted words, no unnecessary flair.


    She wasn''t writing to entertain.


    She was reporting.


    Harry and Max exchanged glances, both curious but wise enough to keep their mouths shut. The scratch of Tess''s pen against the parchment echoed in the still room, each line drawn like a soldier marching in perfect formation.


    When she finally slid the parchment back toward the center of the table, Harry was the first to grab it. His grin from earlier had faded into something more serious, though the glint in his eyes remained.


    Max leaned in beside him, both reading in silence.


    _____


    1. Addition to Previous Points:


    Harry, your observation about their excessive curiosity regarding our world aligns with something I''ve noticed too. Their questions aren''t just random or casual¡ªthey''re probing, especially about our societal structures, governance, and military organization. They frame it as wanting to "advise" us based on the differences between our worlds, but make no mistake: giving away military strategies or knowledge is the fastest way to either die or become a pawn. This isn''t just about being polite or cautious¡ªit''s about survival.


    Harry''s eyebrows shot up as he read the last sentence.


    A low "Oh," escaped his lips, his grin returning but with a sharper edge this time. He glanced sideways at Tess, who was calmly observing them, her face unreadable.


    ''Military background, huh?'' Harry thought to himself. ''No wonder she''s always so composed¡­ probably works in defense or intelligence. Makes sense now.''


    Max, still reading, noticed Harry''s reaction but stayed silent, his curiosity piqued.


    ____


    2. Observation of Local Behavior:


    I''ve noticed something off about the guards. Every thirty minutes, a group of soldiers ascends the walls, likely for routine shifts or to maintain a watch. But here''s the problem: if this is their standard procedure, why didn''t they rescue us sooner that day? We were within their sight long before we reached the walls. And even after we arrived, they still hesitated.


    If they only started this routine after our arrival, that raises more questions¡ªhow were they guarding their fortress before? Either way, something doesn''t add up.


    _____


    Harry''s grin faded as his brows furrowed, his mind racing. Max leaned in closer, his eyes narrowing as he processed the implications.


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    ''She''s right,'' Harry thought, tapping his finger against the parchment. ''But how the hell did she figure this out? We''re nowhere near the walls anymore.''


    ''Can she use stealth or something?''


    The question nagged at him, but he kept it to himself, his curiosity simmering beneath the surface.


    ______


    3. Hypothesis Based on Observations:


    Assuming the locals are as powerful as we suspect¡ªcapable of wiping us out without breaking a sweat¡ªyet they haven''t made a move beyond offering assistance, there are two possibilities. They are genuinely friendly. Or, they need something from us. We have something they want.


    Keep this in mind moving forward.


    "Right."


    Both Harry and Max nodded silently. It was logical, but still an assumption. The weight of uncertainty hung in the air, unspoken but deeply felt.


    _____


    Final Note (About Harry):


    Harry, strange and negative rumors about you have been circulating since this morning, not just among the locals but even within our own people. What exactly happened? Did you do something specific?


    More importantly, I might have discovered why you''re likely being treated this way. It seems you may have unintentionally upset someone important¡ªspecifically, the lord''s daughter. From what I''ve gathered, you might''ve made their princess sad.


    "!"


    Harry''s eyes widened as he read the final line. The parchment trembled slightly in his hands as realization dawned.


    "I see¡­" he murmured under his breath.


    The memory of that interaction flashed in his mind. "Our princess," Maya had said with that angry expression.


    ''So, Leah is the lord''s daughter, huh?'' Harry leaned back, exhaling deeply, his smile returning, though it was tinged with something darker now. ''Well, that''s just great.''


    Max and Tess watched him, waiting for a reaction and an answer, but Harry just chuckled softly to himself, shaking his head.


    "Guess I really know how to make an impression."


    Tess let out a soft chuckle, her usual serious demeanor cracking for just a moment.


    "Yes, you do," she said dryly, "but probably in the wrong way."


    Max nodded in agreement, his expression deadpan. "Yeah, definitely."


    Harry laughed, running a hand through his hair trying to look cool. "What can I say? It''s a gift."


    Tess smiled faintly and leaned back. "Do you need any help?"


    Harry waved her off with a grin.


    "Thanks, but I can solve it on my own. Worst case, I''ll just charm my way out of it. You know, flash a smile, maybe a wink."


    Tess rolled her eyes but stood up, gathering her things. "I''ll take my leave then. We''ll meet again tomorrow. Don''t forget to note the next objective today."


    "Got it," Harry and Max echoed.


    "Good night," Tess said, her voice softening as she left the room.


    "Night," they replied in unison.


    As the door clicked shut behind her, Harry sighed and put the table back to its place, the room returning to its quiet, lived-in state. He flopped down onto his bed, staring at the ceiling.


    A few moments passed before Max spoke up, his voice hesitant.


    "Ah, right¡­ that girl asked a lot of questions about you today."Harry turned his head, a sly smile creeping onto his face.


    "Oh, she did? What kind of questions?"


    Max scratched his head, trying to remember. "Umm¡­ she asked if you had a lover or fianc¨¦e? What''s a fianc¨¦e anyway? And, uh¡­ what kind of person you were, if you liked someone, how many friends you had, and so on."


    Harry chuckled, eyes twinkling. "And what did you say?"Max sighed, looking slightly guilty.


    "Well, I said the truth¡ªI don''t really know."Harry burst out laughing. "Haha, good job. She must''ve asked if you were my friend too, right?"


    Max hesitated, then muttered, "...Yeah, she did. At the end."Harry''s laughter echoed through the room, light and carefree.


    "Haha, good job, Max. You''re a natural."


    "Anyway, do you want to learn about what fiance and marriage is? But be warned, ot is really a scary topic."


    "...Well, it''s better than not knowing it." Max replied after a pause.


    "Alright, you asked it yourself." Harry chuckled as if preparing to tell a scary story.


    "Listen closely..."

 The Weight We Carry

    "Do you understand now?"


    Max''s eyes widened, his mind struggling to process Harry''s blunt explanation about fianc¨¦es and marriage.


    His face turned a shade paler as he muttered under his breath, "That¡­ sounds terrifying."


    Harry chuckled at Max''s reaction, his laughter low and amused, but his eyes held a glint of something darker¡ªsomething real.


    "Oh, it is terrifying," Harry said, stretching his arms behind his head. "Tying your life to someone else, promising to protect them, care for them, no matter what happens¡­ It''s not just about love¡ªit''s responsibility. And if you screw up¡­" He let the words hang in the air, his smile sharp, "it''s not just your heart that breaks."


    Max stared, his thoughts swirling. The weight behind Harry''s casual tone unsettled him. But before he could respond, Harry suddenly swung his legs off the bed, landing on the floor with a thud.


    Without missing a beat, he dropped into a push-up position and began his reps.


    Max blinked, the shift in mood catching him off guard. He shook his head, trying to chase away the lingering heaviness in his chest, and turned to Harry.


    "Eh¡­ What are you doing?" Max asked, his voice tinged with confusion.


    Harry didn''t stop, his body moving in steady rhythm. "Me? I''m training, can''t you see?"


    Max frowned, glancing toward the window where the faint glow of the moon painted soft shadows across the room. "Training? But¡­ didn''t we train all day?"


    Harry''s push-ups didn''t falter. "Yeah, we did. But that''s not enough¡ªat least, not for me." His tone was light, but there was a hint of determination beneath the words. "Besides, there is still time before the objective ends, right?"


    Max tilted his head. "What do you exactly mean?"


    Harry paused just long enough to look up at Max, sweat glistening on his brow, but his grin remained intact. "Well, I''ve got a hunch. If you push your attributes to their max before breaking your limit, you''ll get a bigger power-up, or your potential increases even more. It''s like that in most stories, right?" He shrugged. "But you don''t have to worry. Your attributes are already Max."


    Max groaned at the pun, but nodded thoughtfully, storing the information in the back of his mind.


    Harry rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling for a moment before sitting up. "Besides, we''ve got to use our time efficiently. You never know what''s coming next. We got teleported here out of nowhere, remember? And who knows what The End is cooking for us next."


    Max''s brows furrowed, thankfully he knew the other meaning of the cooking.


    "But¡­ everyone else seems to have forgotten about our situation. They''re just going through the motions, like this is all some kind of play." Harry continued. "Maybe they haven''t seen what we''ve seen¡­ or maybe they''re just idiots."


    The room fell into a brief silence.


    Then Max spoke again, his voice quieter this time. "...That''s not all, is it?"


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    Harry froze, his breath catching in his throat. He hadn''t expected that. He looked over at Max, who met his gaze with a surprising intensity.


    For a moment, Harry considered brushing it off with a joke. But the words wouldn''t come.


    "¡­Yeah," he finally admitted, his voice soft, almost a whisper. "That''s not all."


    Memories flooded back¡ªmemories he tried hard to bury.


    The screams, the chaos, the blood. People dying right in front of him, their desperate cries for help echoing in his mind. Bodies torn apart, devoured by monsters before they could even react.


    And him?


    He ran.


    He ran because he was weak. Because he couldn''t do anything else. And if it hadn''t been for sheer luck, he would''ve ended up like them.


    That helplessness haunted him. It gnawed at the edges of his mind, a constant reminder that the only way to survive now¡­ was to get stronger.


    Harry took a deep breath, forcing the memories back into the recesses of his mind. When he finally opened his eyes, he saw Max beside him, doing squats.


    Harry blinked, caught off guard. "What are you doing? Weren''t you tired?"


    Max didn''t stop, his expression calm but with a hint of defiance in his eyes. "Hmm? I''m training, can''t you see?" he echoed Harry''s earlier words, a subtle, teasing smile playing on his lips.


    Harry stared at him for a moment, then shook his head, laughing softly. "You¡­" he muttered, his grin widening. "You''re growing up. I''m proud."


    Max frowned at that, unsure if it was a compliment or some kind of jab, but he kept going, determined not to let Harry''s words distract him.


    Harry chuckled again, pushing himself up to his feet. "Alright, alright. If you''re serious about this, let me teach you properly." His grin turned mischievous. "Welcome to Harry''s crash course on real training."


    Max rolled his eyes but couldn''t suppress the smile tugging at his lips. "Bring it on."


    And so, under the dim light of the moon, the two trained¡ªnot just to strengthen their bodies, but to prepare for the unknown challenges ahead.


    Because, strength wasn''t just a tool.


    It was a key to their survival.


    ©k©k©k


    Two hours had slipped by, unnoticed in the haze of exertion. The room was thick with the scent of sweat and the faint tang of fatigue. Max and Harry leaned against their respective beds, chests rising and falling in heavy rhythm, their shirts clinging to their skin like a second layer.


    Their muscles screamed in protest, every fiber aching from the relentless push, but neither of them spoke. The silence between them wasn''t uncomfortable¡ªit was the kind that only came after shared effort, a mutual acknowledgment of the work put in.


    Max wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand, his breathing finally starting to slow. He turned his head slightly, glancing at Harry from the corner of his eye.


    "That¡­ was brutal," he muttered, his voice hoarse from both exhaustion and the dry air in the room.


    Harry, a lazy grin plastered on his face despite the sweat trickling down his temple, chuckled weakly. "Brutal? That was just the warm-up, Max. Wait until next time."


    Max groaned, dropping his head back against the bed frame with a soft thud. "You''re insane."


    "Maybe," Harry replied, his grin never fading, "but insanity keeps us alive."


    They sat there, letting the weight of exhaustion settle over them like a heavy blanket. The room was eerily quiet, save for the occasional creak of the old wooden floorboards and their labored breathing.


    Then, without warning, a familiar, disembodied voice echoed through the room, cutting through the silence like a blade.


    [Stage 0: Elender Keep Trial has come to an end.]


    Max felt a shiver run down his spine. The mechanical yet eerily human tone of The End was something he would never get used to.


    Harry''s grin faded, his eyes sharpening as he straightened up slightly, his muscles tense despite the exhaustion.


    [Objective: ''Observe ¨C Learn ¨C Prepare'' has been completed.]


    Max exchanged a glance with Harry, both of them holding their breath.


    The words felt heavier now, as if The End wasn''t just stating facts¡ªit was watching, judging.


    Then came the part they''d been dreading.


    [Performances are being calculated¡­]


    A heavy silence fell over the room again, but this time it wasn''t from fatigue. It was anticipation. The kind that made your skin prickle and your heart beat just a little too fast.


    Max swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. "What do you think that means?"


    Harry''s eyes stayed fixed on the empty air where the voice had come from, his jaw tightening. "It means we''re about to find out if all this training was enough."


    "Or if our actions aligned with the objective."


    "...I see."

 Evaluation

    [ Evaluation:


    "Harry, Harry, Harry. Here we are again. And somehow, against all logic, you have exceeded expectations. Congratulations¡ªyou have officially leveled up from ''barely surviving'' to ''surviving with style.'' A true glow-up.


    You observed, you learned, and you even prepared. (Somewhat.) Instead of just running for your life, you actually used that head of yours for something other than reckless improvisation. You trained. You analyzed. You even tried to understand the world instead of just reacting to it. Shocking, really.


    But¡ªand this is a big but¡ªyou''re starting to see too much, aren''t you? The cracks in the surroundings, the edges where it doesn''t quite fit. You ask questions that shouldn''t be asked, look at things that others overlook. Careful, Harry. There''s a fine line between awareness and madness. And you? You''re dancing on that line like a drunk acrobat with a death wish.


    Still, credit where credit is due. Your efforts were¡­ effective. You pushed your limits, helped others (sometimes by accident), and even inspired a certain someone to follow your lead. But be warned¡ªunderstanding too much comes at a price. The deeper you look, the more something might look back.


    All in all? A vast improvement. You''re still ridiculous, but at least now you''re a ridiculous person with a plan. Well done. ]


    ______


    Harry blinked. Then blinked again.


    Then he burst out laughing.


    "Oh, this thing really has a way with words," he wheezed, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. "Drunk acrobat with a death wish? That''s gold."


    Max raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He was used to Harry''s reactions by now.


    But, just like before, the moment Harry''s eyes landed on the rewards, the evaluation was forgotten.


    ______


    [Rewards Granted]:


    ? 5 Attribute Points (You''re improving. Against all odds.)


    ? 1 Random Skill Unlock (Let''s hope it''s something useful. No promises.)


    ? 1 Mystery Box (Ooooh, suspense! Or disappointment. Could go either way.)


    [Choose One of the Following]:


    - Seeker''s Lens (Enhances perception, revealing hidden details. For those who wish to keep seeing.)


    - Echoing Instinct (A sixth sense for danger. Because thinking ahead isn''t always your strong suit.)


    - Unshackled Sprint (Run faster, recover stamina quicker. Because running away is still your best strategy.)


    ______


    Harry hummed as he scrolled through the options. "So, do I want to see more, sense more, or run more?" He nodded to himself. "Tough choice. Seeing more sounds fun, but running away is a classic strategy¡­"


    "Sixth seems to be the best option..."


    Still debating, he finally turned his head.


    "Alright, what did you get, Max?"


    Max didn''t respond right away. He was still reading.


    His evaluation wasn''t like Harry''s.


    There were no jokes. No snarky remarks.


    Just a quiet, unsettling weight.


    _______


    [ Evaluation:


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    "The surface is calm, yet the depths remain untouched."


    "You have walked through the trial with steady steps. You have seen, you have listened, and you have learned. But what have you truly understood?"


    "Shadows move, yet you only notice their dance¡ªnot their source. Words are spoken, yet you hear only their sound¡ªnot their meaning."


    "You are doing well."


    "But well is not enough."


    "To prepare is to dig deeper. To survive is to understand."


    "Keep going." ]


    ______


    Max finished reading.


    Then, he frowned.


    His fingers tightened slightly as his gaze lingered on the last words.


    "Keep going."


    It felt like an expectation. A push forward.


    But¡­ forward toward what?


    Unlike Harry''s evaluation, his didn''t make much sense.


    He had seen, but not truly looked?


    He had listened, but not truly heard?


    It was frustrating.


    Max exhaled sharply, then turned toward Harry. "¡­Hey."


    Harry, who had been debating between his choices, glanced up. "Huh?"


    "This part." Max gestured at his screen, his voice steady. "It says that I only notice shadows'' dance, but not their source. That I hear words, but not their meaning."


    Harry blinked, then snorted. "Yeah, sounds about right."


    Max narrowed his eyes. "What does that mean?"


    Harry tilted his head, considering.


    "Well¡­" He tapped his chin. "You pick up on things, but you don''t really think about what they mean, do you?"


    Max frowned.


    "You notice stuff¡ªlike movements, sounds, people talking. But you don''t really question them." Harry shrugged. "Like, if you see someone limping, you just think ''they''re limping.'' But I''d be thinking, why are they limping? Did they get hurt? Are they faking it? If they''re injured, how bad is it?"


    Max processed that.


    "So¡­ you''re saying I don''t think deeply enough?"


    Harry smirked. "No, I''m saying you see things, but you don''t connect them. Like, earlier, you realized that guy who bumped into me was stronger than he looked. But you didn''t think why¡ªwhether it was because of skills, experience, or something else."


    Max was silent for a moment.


    Then, he muttered under his breath.


    "¡­So I''m only seeing the surface."


    Something clicked in his mind.


    A spark of realization.


    The evaluation wasn''t just vague words¡ªit was pointing out something real.


    He had noticed things. But he never stopped to think about them, to truly understand.


    That had to change.


    He clenched his fist slightly, determination settling in his eyes.


    Harry watched him, raising an eyebrow. "Got it now?"


    Max nodded. "Yeah. I need to see deeper."


    "Cool, cool. But don''t let it bother you too much. You have amnesia, so it''s understandable, heck there are morons who can''t see as much as you do even having so much knowledge. Anyway¡ª" Harry stretched. "What''d you get?"


    Max refocused and read his rewards aloud.


    [Rewards Granted]:


    ? 5 Attribute Points (A solid foundation. But foundations alone do not build a fortress.)


    ? 1 Random Item (May it serve you well¡ªor serve as a reminder.)


    [Choose One of the Following]:


    ? The Weight of Silence (In the absence of sound, truth lingers. Gain heightened awareness when all is quiet.)


    ? The Book of Love and Hate (A record of choices, emotions, and consequences. What it reveals depends on the one who reads it.)


    Harry hummed, rubbing his chin. "Huh. That''s¡­ not as much as I got."


    He tapped his fingers against his arm, thinking.


    "¡­Maybe your performance was weaker than mine?"


    Max raised an eyebrow. "You think so?"


    "Well, I was doing more stuff¡ªanalyzing, helping, and, you know, teaching you every now and then." Harry grinned.


    Max didn''t argue.


    "¡­Then does that mean there are people who won''t get anything at all?" Harry continued, his expression thoughtful. "If rewards are given based on performance, then maybe only the top few get something? Or maybe just those who contributed?"


    It was possible.


    It wasn''t uncommon in similar situations¡ªonly a select number of people would receive benefits.


    Harry shook his head. "Either way, let''s check your random item first."


    Max nodded. He pressed to claim the item.


    A faint glow flickered before them¡ªthen something materialized in his hands.


    A small, dark vial.


    [Midnight Extract]


    - A rare potion that sharpens the senses for a short duration. Grants temporary night vision and enhanced perception, but prolonged use may cause disorientation.


    Harry whistled. "A potion, huh? Sounds useful, but¡­ that ''disorientation'' part is kinda sketchy. And it seems like it is only enough to use 5 times."


    Max turned the vial over in his fingers. "I''ll hold onto it."


    "Yeah, might come in handy. Now¡ª" Harry motioned to the screen. "Which one are you picking?"


    Max glanced between the two choices.


    The Weight of Silence sounded useful. Increased awareness in silence¡­ that could help him notice more.


    But The Book of Love and Hate¡­


    "A book, huh?" Harry smirked. "What if it''s just some cheesy romance novel?"


    Max ignored him.


    "Ok, ok," Harry stretched. "Let me break it down to you."


    He held up a finger. "First option boosts awareness when it''s silent. Pretty good for sneaky situations."


    Then a second finger. "Second option is¡­ well, vague. ''A record of choices, emotions, and consequences.'' Sounds mysterious."


    Max stayed quiet, thinking.


    "¡­It''s up to you," Harry finally said. "One''s practical. The other''s a gamble."


    Max exhaled.


    "¡­I''ll take the book."


    The moment he did, his reward screen vanished.


    Harry stretched. "Alright, my turn."


    He tapped to open his Random Skill Unlock.


    A small glowing orb appeared in his palm.


    Text flashed across his vision.


    [You have acquired the skill:..]

 Announcement!

    The two exchanged a glance, virtual-like boxes hovering in their hands. The faint glow around them pulsed softly, as if waiting for them to make a choice.


    Max hesitated for a moment, glancing down at the box in his hands. Unlike Harry, who had just received his mystery box as a reward for the second trial, Max had been carrying his since the first.


    Right, he hadn''t opened it yet.


    Harry noticed his pause and raised a brow. "Wait¡ªare you telling me you had a mystery box this whole time and didn''t open it?"


    Max let out a small sigh. "It didn''t seem urgent. And I wasn''t sure if I should."


    Harry stared at him for a long moment before dramatically throwing his hands up. "You''re insane."


    "If it was important, I figured I''d need it at the right time," Max replied, rolling the box slightly in his palm.


    "Yeah, yeah, ''mystical destiny, right time, fate''¡ªwhatever," Harry waved him off. He then smirked, holding up his own glowing box. "Let''s get this over with. Just so you know, if I could let you open mine, I would."


    Max arched a brow. "Why?"


    "Because main characters always have high luck," Harry deadpanned. "Yours must be pretty high too."


    Max sighed treating it as Harry''s usual weirdness. They both turned their attention back to their respective boxes.


    The system chimed softly in their minds.


    [Opening Mystery Box¡­]


    The boxes vibrated slightly in their hands before bursting into a swirl of shimmering particles. As the glow faded, two distinct items appeared before them.


    Max''s eyes widened slightly as he caught the object that materialized in his hands. Meanwhile, Harry stared at his own reward with a deeply unimpressed expression.


    "¡­What the hell is this?" Harry muttered. "Is this a cursed box or a mystery box?"


    Max glanced over. "Did you get bananas again?"


    "Shut up."


    Max smirked before focusing on his own reward. A message window appeared, detailing the item''s properties.


    ____


    [Phantom Echo Pendant]


    [Rarity: Rare]


    [Rank: Resonant]


    [Type: Relic/Accessory]


    A pendant crafted from an unknown, semi-transparent metal. When worn, it faintly resonates with the user''s past, unlocking traces of lost instincts and reflexes.


    Effect 1 ¨C Faint Echo: Occasionally triggers brief flashes of forgotten skills or movements, subtly guiding the user in moments of hesitation.


    Effect 2 ¨C Reawakening: Once per day, allows the user to temporarily recall a combat technique or skill they once knew, even if they have no memory of learning it.


    Cooldown: 24 Hours for Reawakening. No cooldown for Faint Echo.


    Note: The memories accessed may not always be complete. Some echoes may be fragmented or unclear.


    _____


    Max felt something stir deep in his chest as he stared at the pendant. It was simple¡ªjust a thin, metallic charm hanging from a black cord¡ªbut holding it in his hands sent a strange sensation through him.


    ''This... can this help me solve my problem?''


    He clenched his fingers around it, lost in thought.


    Meanwhile, Harry was still squinting at his own item, looking less than thrilled.


    "What kind of scam is this¡­?" he grumbled before the system window popped up before him.


    ____


    [Smiling Raven Feather]


    Rarity: Rare


    Rank: Resonant


    Type: Relic


    Classification: Cursed


    A dark feather with an eerie, unnatural grin embedded in its shaft. Holding it fills the user with a strange confidence.


    Effect ¨C Raven''s Guile: Once per day, the user can deceive someone effortlessly, making even the most absurd lie sound believable.


    Side Effect ¨C Smiling Debt: The feather will lie on the user''s behalf at random moments, twisting their words unexpectedly.


    Note: Not all lies are convenient.


    _______


    Harry read the description twice. Then a third time. Then he slowly dragged a hand down his face.


    Max side-eyed him. "That bad?"


    Harry closed his system window and held up the feather. Its shaft was sleek and black, but the problem was the tiny, unsettling grin etched into it. It wasn''t inked on. It was¡­ part of the feather. The moment he looked at it, he had the strange feeling it was looking back at him.


    "Bad?" Harry repeated, voice flat. "It''s a feather with a creepy smile."


    "¡­And?"


    "And it talks! Well, kind of..." Harry threw a hand toward the air. "It''ll randomly lie for me! I could be in a conversation, minding my own business, and suddenly¡ªboom¡ªmy own words betray me! Do you know what this means, Max?"


    Max tilted his head slightly. "That you''re bad at lying?"


    "That I''m going to start arguments I didn''t even mean to have!" Harry groaned. "Oh, great. I can''t wait to accidentally tell a giant monster that I ate its children."


    Max held back a chuckle. "Then just don''t talk much."


    "Not talking is the same as lying when you''re me!"


    Harry sighed, rubbing his temples, but despite his complaints, he didn''t toss the feather away. Instead, he twirled it between his fingers, watching the way the grin never quite stopped shifting.


    It was cursed. It had to be. It was written in the description too.


    But it was his cursed item now.


    "...At least it lets me lie perfectly," he admitted, reluctantly.


    Max hummed. "That actually sounds useful."


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Yeah, sure. Until it lies to a murderous lunatic and tells them I stole their life savings." Harry tucked the feather away, shaking his head. "Whatever. I''ll deal with it. What about you? Something good?"


    "Yeah, it says this..." Max read it out loud.


    Harry leaned back against the pillow, letting out a deep breath. "Alright. You got a weird memory-triggering pendant. I got a demonic feather with a lying habit. I''d say this was a pretty standard reward roll."


    Max glanced down at his pendant. The weight of it against his palm still felt¡­ strange.


    He wasn''t sure what to make of it.


    Would it actually help him remember something? Or was it just another clue that led nowhere?


    No matter what, he had no choice but to keep moving forward.


    Harry broke the silence by clapping his hands together. "Okay. Now that that''s done, time for the next step."


    Max blinked. "Next step?"


    Harry grinned. "Testing them out, of course."


    Max narrowed his eyes. "You want to¡ª"


    "¡ªsee how badly this feather can screw me over? Absolutely."


    Max sighed. "You''re hopeless."


    "I''m Harry."


    "...That joke was awful."


    Harry smirked. "I know. And yet, you still reacted."


    Max exhaled sharply, shaking his head as he adjusted the pendant''s cord around his neck. "Fine. Just don''t make me regret this."


    Harry tossed the feather in the air and caught it again, eyes gleaming with mischief.


    "Oh, Max," he grinned. "I make no promises."


    ______


    Harry flipped the feather between his fingers, eyes gleaming with mischief. Testing an item''s ability was one thing, but messing with Max?


    That was just too good to pass up.


    He cleared his throat and held the feather up, its eerie grin seeming to widen ever so slightly. Then, in the most theatrical voice he could muster, he declared:


    "Max, my faithful disciple¡­ I have grown weak! It is now your duty to protect me and the world from all danger! Haha."


    Max blinked. "¡­What?"


    Harry threw a hand to his chest in exaggerated distress. "You must take up the sword in my place, Max! I, your wise and noble master, can no longer fight!"


    He expected Max to roll his eyes or tell him to shut up. Instead¡ª


    Max''s body tensed. His breath hitched. His eyes widened, an almost unnatural shine flickering in them.


    "M-Master¡­?" he muttered.


    For a moment, Harry thought Max was messing with him in return. But then, he noticed it.


    The Phantom Echo Pendant around Max''s neck was glowing faintly. And the Smiling Raven Feather¡ªits twisted grin had widened for a split second just now.


    "!"


    Max''s lips parted slightly, his breath growing shallow. A single tear escaped the corner of his eye, sliding down his cheek.


    ''What the hell?'' Harry''s amusement vanished instantly.


    As for Max, the world wasn''t the same anymore.


    A shadowy figure flickered through his mind¡ªindistinct but familiar. A warm, encouraging smile. A voice, lost to time, murmuring words of guidance. A presence that felt so close and yet so far.


    And then¡ªnothing. The image shattered like fragile glass, leaving only the aching emptiness of something forgotten.


    Max''s fingers trembled slightly. Was it real? Or just an illusion?


    Harry, still watching, gulped. ''Okay. That was¡­ weirdly effective.''


    He didn''t expect Max to tremble and even cry.


    But before he could even process it, the feather shuddered in his grip.


    And then¡ª


    Harry''s mouth moved on its own.


    "I killed your master."


    The words slithered out, cold and razor-sharp. And worse¡ªhis voice had changed. Lower. More sinister. More¡­ convincing.


    Max''s breath stopped.


    Another flash¡ªblood on his hands, a limp body in his arms. A life fading away.


    The pendant''s glow pulsed violently.


    "She was still so smug while dying."


    "Pathetic, don''t you think?"


    Harry, suddenly realizing what he had just said, felt his stomach drop.


    ''No way. It¡ªIt activated the side effect?!''


    But it wasn''t just the words. The feather didn''t just make him lie¡ªit made the lie feel real.


    Max''s mind spiraled, his heart hammering against his ribs. The images, the emotions, the rage¡ªit all built up into something uncontrollable.


    And then¡ªhe snapped.


    Before Harry could react, Max lunged.


    A strong hand wrapped around Harry''s throat, slamming him down onto the bed.


    "M-Max¡ª! Wait¡ª!" Harry choked, his hands shooting up to pry Max''s grip away. But Max wasn''t listening.


    His eyes were clouded¡ªblank, consumed by something raw and overwhelming. They weren''t seeing anything.


    Harry gritted his teeth. ''Shit. He''s not even thinking.''


    Panic flashed through him as he struggled against Max''s grip. They were usually evenly matched in strength, but this time¡ªMax''s fingers dug into his neck with an iron grip, squeezing tighter, suffocating him.


    ''Tch.''


    A dangerous glint passed through Harry''s eyes. ''If I don''t do something, he''s actually gonna kill me.''


    He swiftly shifted his arm and tapped a pressure point on Max''s neck.


    The effect was instant.


    Max stiffened, his grip slackening as his body suddenly lost strength. His eyes rolled slightly, and then¡ªhe collapsed forward, unconscious.


    Harry sucked in a breath, coughing as he finally felt air rush back into his lungs. Max''s weight still pinned him down, but he didn''t care. He just laid there for a moment, feeling his pulse hammering in his throat.


    Then¡ªslowly¡ªhe let out a breathless, slightly unhinged chuckle.


    His entire body ached from the struggle, but he was alive.


    A half-crazed laugh bubbled from his throat.


    "Hah¡­ haha¡­ survived¡­"


    Darkness clawed at the edges of his consciousness, but before he could fight it off¡ª


    A voice echoed through the room.


    [Time for accepting rewards has ended.]


    Harry''s blood ran cold.


    [Third Trial: The Nightfall Cull will start in 30 seconds.]


    [Preparing for transfer...]


    "W-what did it s-say¡­?" he mumbled weakly.


    But before he could comprehend anything, his consciousness slipped away.


    The countdown continued.


    10 seconds¡­ 5 seconds¡­ 1 second¡­


    [Transfer starting...]


    Their bodies glowed, light enveloping them¡ª


    And then¡ª


    They vanished.


    ________


    Lord''s office.


    The room was warm, bathed in soft candlelight that flickered gently against the stone walls. Despite the building''s rigid structure, this space exuded comfort, an oasis within its cold and towering walls.


    Bookshelves lined the room, filled with records of history, magic, and politics. A large window overlooked the quiet courtyard below, where guards patrolled under the dim glow of torches.


    On an ornate sofa, Lord Alaric sat, his expression gentle, his presence exuding an air of authority wrapped in warmth. His light gray eyes, brimming with kindness, fixed themselves upon the young girl standing before him.


    His daughter, Leah, stood with her hands clasped before her, her posture as graceful as ever. A soft, innocent smile adorned her lips, the same smile she always wore in his presence. The people of the fortress called her their treasure, their light.


    Alaric''s voice was calm yet expectant. "How are our youngsters doing, my angel? Have they made any progress?"


    Leah''s smile brightened. "Yes, Father. We have successfully developed friendly relationships with the otherworlders. Some of us have even succeeded in our mission to form deep bonds with them."


    She continued to report the progress of their mission.


    Alaric''s brows lifted in satisfaction. He chuckled softly, leaning back against the sofa. "Good, good. If everything goes well¡­ we will be able to save everyone."


    His eyes, kind and gentle as always, drifted back to her. And then, they sharpened just slightly.


    "And what about you, my angel?" His tone remained soft, but there was an underlying weight to his words. "You haven''t¡­ entered a relationship, have you?"


    Leah''s cheeks dusted with a light pink. She hesitated for half a second before shaking her head. "N-No, Father." But then, as if unable to contain it, her voice softened, "But¡­ there is someone¡­"


    "Hoho, is that so?" Alaric''s shoulders shook in amusement.


    ''Who is that scum?!''


    For the briefest of moments, Alaric''s kind eyes flashed with something else¡ªsomething possessive, something cold. A dangerous glint, fleeting but undeniable. Maybe it was a loving father''s protectiveness.


    "You know how much everyone treasures you, my angel." His tone was still lighthearted, but his words carried an unmistakable weight. "So, it will be best if I check out the boy first, don''t you think? I''ll make sure he''s worthy¡­ and then, I will give you my blessings."


    Leah lowered her gaze slightly, shyly nodding. "Mmm¡­"


    "Good girl." Alaric chuckled again, satisfied. "That''s all for tonight. You''re free to go¡ªhave a good night, my angel."


    Leah curtsied politely. "Good night, Father."


    ''Click-.''


    The metal door clicked shut behind her.


    Leah stepped into the corridor, her posture as perfect as ever, each step light and unhurried. The fortress walls, cold and unyielding, stretched ahead in quiet stillness.


    Two guards stood at their posts, their eyes lifting at her approach.


    (Woah, she''s cute as ever.)


    (I could watch her all day and never get tired.)


    (Alas she''s a bit young, or else I would have confessed already.)


    "Good night, little lady."


    "Good night."


    Leah replied with a smile, soft and polite, nodding at them in passing.


    But inside¡ª


    ''I''m so sick of this.''


    The moment she moved past them, her expression dropped, the warmth draining from her eyes like a dying ember.


    ''I''m sick of acting.''


    ''I''m sick of pretending to know nothing.''


    Their voices¡ªtheir thoughts¡ªbuzzed at the edges of her mind, a constant hum of admiration, devotion, blind ignorance.


    She turned a corner, her footsteps light as ever.


    The perfect daughter.


    The treasured jewel of the fortress.


    A title she never wanted.


    ''I''m sick of you, ''Father''.''


    The words pulsed through her like a quiet, seething force.


    She could hear him, even now. His disgusting thoughts, still clinging to her like an unwanted touch.


    ''You were never my father.''


    Her fingers twitched.


    ''You adopted me to raise me as your lover.''


    Even in his warmth, his kind words, she saw it¡ªthe possessiveness lurking beneath, the twisted attachment disguised as care, like filth she couldn''t scrub away.


    ''Those possessive eyes¡­ Those disgusting thoughts¡­''


    She knew what lay beneath his gentle words, beneath his affectionate voice.


    A quiet scoff left her lips, barely audible.


    "I can''t wait to get rid of you."