《Loading... In Another World》


 Welcome to hell

    Delhi


    Morning


    Around 11:35 AM


    Inside a room


    "Shoot! Shoot! Quick, headshot! Shoot!"


    "Bro, revive me!"


    "Bro, only one guy left. If we don''t get the chicken dinner because of you, I''ll come to your house and give you 10 headshots on your ass!"


    "Wait! There''s an enemy ahead... enemy! Oh no, no! Behind, behind! You idiot! Where are you going?"


    Annoyed, Avinash muttered, "Time to mute all these people. They''ve been driving me crazy for the past half an hour."


    Switching on the mic, he said, "Now watch what I do."


    "Here, take these headshots..."


    Suddenly, a dangerous headshot landed¡ªnot in the game, but directly on Avinash''s head!


    His face slammed into the PC monitor as his mom yelled from behind, "You keep playing games silently! Go and get the groceries quickly. PUBG? Or, slipper son!"


    When Avinash turned around, he saw his mom holding another slipper, ready to strike. He immediately realized he needed to leave quickly, or another headshot was guaranteed.


    He glanced at his computer screen, where his team had completely lost. Avinash was sure his teammates were showering him with plenty of "are polite appreciate him by abuse words."


    A little later


    Avinash was walking home with a grocery bag when he suddenly heard a commotion in an alley.


    As he approached, he saw¡ª


    A boy pinning a chubby boy with glasses against the wall, saying, "Will you hand over the money, or should I take it myself?"


    Two other boys stood behind him, cracking their knuckles. The moment they noticed Avinash, one of them said, "Shekhar bro, look! Another target. Double battery!"


    Hearing this, Shekhar, who was holding the boy by his collar, turned around to look.


    The moment Shekhar saw Avinash, his face turned pale with fear. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead.


    Adjusting his glasses, Avinash said, "Shekhar, meeting after so many days, huh? You haven''t forgotten me, right? Won''t you snatch my money like before?"


    Hearing this, Shekhar screamed, "Run!"


    Seeing Shekhar run, his friends followed him, confused about why Shekhar was so scared of a skinny guy like Avinash.


    Avinash watched them run away and then approached the boy with glasses. He said, "Hello! My name is Avinash, and I live nearby. What''s your name?"


    The boy picked up his glasses from the ground and said, "Vivan... and thank you¡ª"


    As he looked at Avinash''s face, he started trembling with fear. Backing away suddenly, he fell to the ground and stammered, "Please! Let me go... please!" Then, he ran away quickly.


    Avinash gave a faint smile and walked back home.


    Evening


    Around 7:30 PM


    Avinash shouted, "Finally! I''ve created my gaming YouTube channel¡ªSingle Baba Gaming! Now it''s going to be all money, money, money!"


    "What should I do now? Let''s start with a live stream."


    1 hour later


    Reading comments, Avinash said¡ª


    "Face ???? skills ????"


    Laughing, he said, "Thank you for the insult, thank you, Amit bro."


    "LoL!"


    "Bro, you look familiar," another comment popped up.


    Avinash: "I don''t get it. Can you explain? You''ve been saying this for the past half hour."


    Rajat69 Bhai: "Bro, I have a question for you."


    Taking a deep breath, Avinash muttered, "Only 90 people have joined in the last hour, and half of them have already left."


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    During the live stream


    "Bro, the VFX is great. Which app are you using?"


    Avinash, confused: "VFX? I don''t understand."


    "Bro, look down! There''s a red light. It looks really cool!"


    Startled, Avinash glanced down.


    A faint smile appeared on his face as he realized what was happening.


    "Ah... Looks like I''m entering another world!"


    A glowing red circle had appeared on the floor.


    Moments later, Avinash disappeared from there.


    Live stream viewers


    "Hey! Where did he go?"


    "That was a great magic trick!"


    "I thought this was a gaming channel."


    "?10 super chat! Please do it again!"


    "Lol! I was also thinking it''s a gaming channel. Bro, come back now. This trick was fun, but enough!"


    "Bro, it''s been 5 minutes now. I''m leaving the stream."


    In the other world


    Avinash found himself in a stone chamber. The walls looked like they belonged to a 15th-century fortress.


    There were others present, equally baffled by their surroundings.


    A Japanese boy exclaimed, "To hell with that life! I finally got isekai''d without a truck!"


    Everyone turned to look at him in confusion.


    A Chinese boy asked, "Do you understand Chinese?"


    A girl added, "Your Korean is pretty good."


    The boy replied, "But I was speaking Japanese. And you all understand Japanese?"


    Everyone realized they could understand each other despite speaking different languages.


    Suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed. Moments later, soldiers surrounded them.


    One of the newcomers, an athletic-looking Black man, spoke in frustration, "Can someone tell me what''s going on here?"


    Before he could take another step, a soldier thrust a spear into his knee.


    "Ahhh!"


    His scream echoed. Everyone else froze in fear.


    A boy standing next to Avinash muttered, "Maa ki..."


    Avinash glanced at him and realized he was Indian too.


    Though Avinash didn''t fully understand what was happening, he knew one thing for sure.


    The Indian boy finished his thought, "We''re screwed."


    The Japanese boy, who had initially yelled, trembled as he said, "This is hell. This isn''t how it''s supposed to be. Tell me this is just a bad dream."


    The silence was interrupted by a blood-curdling scream. A soldier had nearly severed a girl''s leg. The floor was stained with blood.


    One by one, everyone in the room was overpowered and restrained.


    A while later


    Everyone lay on the ground when a stunningly beautiful girl entered.


    Her face looked like a stone sculpture, but a devilish grin soon spread across it.


    In a voice dripping with bitterness and hatred, she said,


    "Welcome, heroes."


    A soldier kicked Avinash and said, "Move quickly, you scum!"


    Avinash fell to the ground. A boy extended his hand to help him up. As Avinash looked at him, he uttered three words, "You''re insane! You almost got us killed!"


    The boy stared at Avinash''s face, completely stunned.


    "I''m the one who saved you, wasn''t I? Ugh, kindness is wasted these days!"


    Suddenly, a soldier''s loud voice came from behind, "Useless! Stop chatting and move forward silently!"


    An American Bald boy walked up to the boy and said, "My name is Johnny."


    The boy replied, "My name is Aniket. Okay, tell me, why doesn''t your name end with ''Sins''?"


    Hearing this, Johnny glared at him and said, "He''s right... confirm, you are insane."


    Everyone else started staring at Aniket as well.


    Feeling a bit uneasy, Aniket said, "Guys, don''t look at me like that."


    He then went over to a Chinese girl and said, "Hindi-Chinese, brother-brother! Come on, say something¡­ why are you so quiet?"


    The girl didn''t respond, and as Aniket approached her, she quietly moved away.


    No matter whom Aniket approached, they all silently distanced themselves from him.


    15 minutes earlier


    The soldiers had pinned everyone down.


    Some people were still confused and awestruck by their surroundings, but now fear had taken over. The soldiers'' actions made it clear their intentions were far from good.


    Everyone had been forcibly summoned to a strange world. But this world was nothing like they had imagined.


    Avinash struggled to lift his head toward the front, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t see the face.


    Standing before them was a girl who was glaring at everyone. Her gaze was like she was looking at insects.


    Suddenly, the girl shouted, "What do you want? Why are you doing this to us? What did we ever do to you? Please let me go!"


    Following her lead, the others began repeating the same questions.


    But just then, a soldier standing behind her plunged a spear into her hand. Her screams echoed around them.


    "Ahhh!"


    The girl cried out in agony. Suddenly, she released a terrifying pressure from within.


    Her eyes began glowing red.


    Avinash felt as though someone was choking him. He couldn''t breathe.


    In his mind, he thought, "Her eyes¡­ they''re glowing red. Could she be a vamp¡­?"


    In just a few moments, all the pressure disappeared. But an eerie silence fell over the area.


    The people who were shouting earlier had gone completely quiet.


    The girl standing ahead laughed and said, "Ah! Everyone''s silent now! Let me introduce myself first. My name is Princess Isabella.


    And as for all of you¡­ you''re all going to die. If not today, then tomorrow, your deaths are certain.


    Heroes! If you beg for mercy, maybe I''ll consider sparing you."


    Her words carried an eerie laughter.


    Avinash thought to himself, "Nonsense! They didn''t summon us here just to sacrifice us. No matter what, they''re not letting us leave this place. This girl just wants to see us helpless and broken."


    The rest of the people weren''t so foolish; they understood what was going on. An eerie silence had spread across the place.


    Princess Isabella was about to say something when a boy, panicking, blurted out, "I¡­ I beg you! Please let me go! For God''s sake, spare me! Please!"


    Avinash thought to himself, "This idiot doesn''t get it. She just wants to see us helpless."


    As Avinash looked at the boy, his eyes widened in disbelief. A single thought echoed in his mind:


    "This moron is going to get us all killed!"


    The others also turned to look at him, but none of them could find the words to respond.


    Isabella glared at him and asked, "Why are you holding up the middle fingers of both your hands?"


    Aniket, pretending to be frightened, said, "This is how we request someone in my culture. If I rub my nose while doing it, will you let me go? I promise, I won''t tell anyone about what happened here."


    In his mind, he thought, "Witch, there''s no way I''m bowing down to you!"


    James, whose leg was already injured by a spear, imitated Aniket, raising his middle finger and groaning in pain, "I''m begging you too¡­ please!"


    Although the two of them looked scared, their real thoughts were entirely different.


    Isabella laughed maniacally.


    "Haaaaa! Haaaaa! Watching just two of you do it isn''t entertaining enough!"


    She increased the pressure again.


    It felt like all the oxygen in the area had vanished. Everyone struggled to breathe, gasping heavily or trying to.


    Isabella yelled, "I said, do it quickly!"


    Out of fear, some people raised their middle fingers, and others followed, reluctantly but with no other choice.


    The scene was almost comical. Nearly 100 people stood there, both middle fingers raised in the air.


    Sweat trickled down everyone''s faces.


    Avinash thought, "If this girl finds out the truth, we''re done for. And this Aniket¡­ he''s seriously mental."


    But no one noticed the dangerous smile on Aniket''s face. Only Avinash caught it.


    Aniket was about to say something, but Avinash quickly covered his mouth.


    "Keep your mouth shut!" Avinash hissed.


    Aniket, irritated, whispered, "Hey! Hey! Let me say something!"


    But Avinash held his mouth tightly, muffling him. All that came out was a muffled, "Hmmmhmm!"


    The rest of the group silently breathed a sigh of relief.


    Isabella''s expression didn''t change much. She signaled to the soldiers, and they began leading everyone away.


    As she left, Isabella gritted her teeth in anger and said,


    "You will all pay for this. I''ll make sure your lives become worse than hell itself!"


    Present Time


    The soldiers were throwing everyone into separate dungeons.


    As Avinash had feared, this place was even more horrifying than he imagined. Black walls surrounded them, and the darkness seemed suffocating.


    A soldier shoved Avinash into a cell with sturdy iron bars and locked it shut.


    After some time, all the soldiers left the area.


    The silence was broken by a girl''s voice.


    "Did any of you see that thing?"


    Avinash was confused. He was about to respond when a familiar voice interrupted¡ªit was Aniket.


    "Are you talking about that pool of blood we passed on the way here? At first, I thought it was just colored water. But when I saw an eyeball floating in it, I was pretty sure it was blood."


    The girl noticed that the pool of blood was flowing directly toward the room where everyone had been brought earlier.


    She said, "And the soldiers'' eyes¡­ they looked like there was no life in them."


    Aniket, sounding serious, said, "Forget all that. It seems we''re in deep trouble. Did you see her face when all of you copied me and showed her the middle finger? She looked furious. That means we''re not the only ones who have been summoned to this world."


    Hearing this, everyone''s heartbeat raced. Even Avinash felt a chill of fear.


    Aniket, with a sarcastic tone, added, "If it weren''t for someone acting like an idiot, I could''ve gathered more information."


    Suddenly, a nervous voice interrupted, "But she¡­."


    Aniket cut them off and said, "You''ve seen people with strange obsessions, right? She''s just one of them. Where I come from, in Haryana, we call this a keeda¡ªa bug in the brain."


    Avinash thought, "Oh, so he''s from Haryana. I thought he was just a fool, but there''s clearly more going on here. Still, how did this situation get worse because of him? And where did he get this courage?..wait He is making excuses I actually thought he was pretty smart."


    Then, a random meme flashed through Avinash''s mind: "Man with two little balls of steel."


    He quickly shook the thought away, almost as if slapping it out of his head.


    Even with all his strength, Avinash couldn''t look directly at Isabella''s face earlier. But how had Aniket managed to pull it off?


    "Forget it," he told himself. "No point stressing over this now."


    Inwardly, Avinash wondered, "Who is that girl, really? Forget it, I just want to get out of here, go home, and play video games. I wish this was all just a bad dream!"


    Suddenly, a blue screen appeared in front of him:


    Loading...


    Not enough energy.


    Loading...


    Failed.


    Failed again...


    System shutdown.


    Avinash was startled, but within two seconds, the screen vanished.


    He muttered to himself, "Am I hallucinating now? I think my brain''s going to short-circuit. Honestly, this fantasy world isn''t what I imagined it to be. My life is officially doomed."

 Visions Of Hell

    Inside the prison, an eerie silence prevailed, broken only by the sound of approaching footsteps. The sound of the footsteps grew louder and louder.


    Avinash was about to fall asleep when, suddenly, a blue screen appeared before him:


    Loading...


    Not enough energy.


    Loading...


    Failed.


    Failed again...


    System shutdown.


    Avinash: "Why is this thing showing up again after 15 minutes? And it''s not like everyone else can see it. I asked the guy next to me, but even he has no clue about it. What is this thing? If it''s some sort of superpower, it''s the most useless superpower I''ve ever seen. Starts and shuts down right away. Wow!"


    Then, with a loud creak, the door of room number 76 opened.


    Aniket: "I knew it! No one can resist my charm. I was sure you''d come here, Shabnam! Witch! Return my money! I want my ?5 back right now!"


    A piercing scream echoed: "Ahhhhhh!"


    The loud scream abruptly jolted Avinash awake from his sleep.


    Aniket, plugging his ears with his fingers, shouted, "Who the hell is barking in the middle of the night? His mother''s... glory!"


    The screams were so horrifying that everyone in the prison woke up.


    Aniket yelled, "James!"


    Leaning against the wall, Aniket angrily shouted, "James! What''s going on?"


    On the other side, James raised his trembling hand and begged, "Please, kill me! Just kill me!"


    A merciless voice responded from the front, "What''s the hurry? First, raise your middle finger and beg for your life."


    James, trembling uncontrollably, cursed and said, "Bitch! So you really do know what it means."


    Then he spat toward Isabella''s face, but a mysterious energy stopped it mid-air.


    With a smile, Isabella stepped closer and inserted a strange bug into his ear. She said, "This will cause you such unbearable pain that you''ll go to any extent to beg for death, but death will not come to you."


    The grotesque, human-faced bug slowly crawled into James''s ear. Soon, red veins began to appear on his face. Blood poured profusely from his eyes. He screamed so loudly that blood started to flow from his throat.


    James was in such extreme agony that he began tearing the skin off his own face.


    A soft voice spoke nearby, "Princess, forgive me, but if this continues, he will die. May I heal him?"


    Isabella glared at him and said, "Permission granted."


    With that, she walked away.


    The man stepped forward slowly, his hands glowing with an unusual green light. He began to heal James''s wounds. However, James''s head still throbbed intensely, as if something inside was clawing at his brain. After a while, even that subsided.


    Seeing himself somewhat healed, James whispered in a faint voice, "Thank you!"


    As Isabella stepped outside and began to walk away, everyone stared at her. Fear was evident on their faces.


    Everyone, except one¡ªAniket.


    Aniket stared directly into her eyes.


    When Isabella noticed the hatred in Aniket''s gaze, she responded with an executioner''s smile and walked away.


    Aniket''s eyes shifted to her hands, which were still stained with red blood.


    Meanwhile...


    A man approached and said, "Hero, my name is Xavier. As you can see, I work as a doctor here. Are you feeling pain anywhere else?"


    James replied, "No, just my hands."


    Xavier looked at James''s hands, which were still bleeding profusely. Princess Isabella had mercilessly ripped out his fingernails.


    Xavier grabbed James''s hands, gently stroked them, and then suddenly snapped one of his fingers.


    James screamed at the top of his lungs, "Ahhhhhhhhhhh!"


    But Xavier didn''t care. He continued breaking James''s fingers one by one.


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    After breaking them all, Xavier healed James''s fingers and then started breaking them again.


    Laughing maniacally, Xavier said, "Breaking fingers isn''t as fun as I thought. Maybe I should start plucking out your hair one by one."


    The entire prison echoed with James''s agonized screams and cries of pain.


    Aniket, consumed by rage, punched the wall and shouted, "You bastards, I won''t spare you!"


    The punch was so forceful that the black wall was stained red with blood.


    Sparks of faint lightning flickered around Aniket''s fists.


    Amber-colored sparks erupted from the wall where his fist struck.


    Aniket looked at his injured hands, now bleeding from the impact.


    A few moments later, exhausted, he collapsed to the ground, lying flat, staring at the ceiling. He muttered, "I will destroy all of you."


    And then...


    He began to recall the time when everyone ran away from him. A boy had approached him and said, "Boss, you''re amazing!"


    Aniket, still angry, said, "How dare you insult me?"


    James, panicking, replied, "No, no! I didn''t insult you! Brother, please listen to me."


    James, holding his jaw in his hands, stepped closer and said, "I only meant it as a compliment!"


    Aniket: "Oh, you were saying ''Boss''? I thought you said something else. My mistake. Alright, I forgive you."


    James, still baffled, muttered, "But it wasn''t my fault¡­ oh well, leave it. You really are amazing."


    Aniket: "Oh, I know. I''ve been amazing since childhood. Forget all that¡ªhow''s your leg now?"


    James: "Uh, yeah, I think it''s fine."


    Just then...


    A soldier kicked them from behind and shouted, "Will you two shut up and move forward already?"


    A while later, James''s screams of pain finally subsided. Xavier, his clothes drenched in blood, stepped out of the room.


    Aniket: "James, are you okay?"


    A faint voice responded, "He... he''ll kill me!"


    Aniket shouted, "Shut up, James! Get a grip! Nobody is going to kill you!"


    But James was still trembling with fear. He stammered, "He''s going to..."


    Half an hour later


    The entire prison was engulfed in silence.


    Suddenly, a scream shattered the quiet: "Will this happen to us too? I want to go home!" The sound of sobbing echoed through the prison.


    Then a voice spoke up: "This is your fault, you bastard! If you hadn''t done that, we wouldn''t be in this mess... If only you...!"


    Everyone began blaming the same person for everything.


    Avinash, enraged, shouted, "Shut up! Keep your mouths shut! Do you really think that if he hadn''t done it, none of this would''ve happened? Stop pushing your mistakes onto others!"


    Aniket bellowed, "Stop barking like dogs! I have something very important to ask all of you. So listen carefully!"


    The room fell silent, waiting for his "important" question.


    Aniket smirked and said, "I need to pee really badly. Can someone tell me what to do?"


    Avinash smacked his forehead in frustration. "This idiot is definitely the landlord of stupidity! Feel free to curse him as much as you want!"


    Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed. A soldier entered and said, "There''s a bucket right next to you. Use it. And don''t even think about dirtying the walls!"


    Aniket: "??? ?????"


    The soldier stared at him, confused, then clarified, "I mean, jal?"


    The soldier snapped, "What nonsense are you spouting? Just wipe it clean and move on."


    With that, he tossed a disgustingly foul rag toward Aniket''s face.


    Aniket narrowly dodged it, looking at the filthy rag in horror. "I''d rather die than use this thing, you monsters!"


    Midnight


    Aniket yelled, "I don''t know how many of you understand other languages, but listen carefully! We''re being watched 24/7.


    However, that''s not the real problem. The main issue is that these people only understand our ''main language,'' and we can only understand each other''s ''main language'' too. If I speak in English, those of you who don''t know English won''t understand me. The same applies to them.


    Finally, what I want to say is this: we all have superpowers.


    That means we still have a chance to escape from here. We don''t know their true intentions."


    Suddenly, a voice interrupted him: "What''s new in that? We all know we have superpowers."


    Aniket, with a surprised expression, said, "Do you all really know about this?"


    Avinash thought to himself, So, I''m not the only one seeing this Blue Screen or system.


    Just then, a third voice spoke, "Do I also have superpowers?" There was a hint of astonishment in the voice.


    The same voice continued, "Understanding each other''s language¡ªwhat good will that do? Should I ask ants to dig a tunnel for me? Or tell a rat to gather its army for battle?"


    Interrupting, Aniket said, "Wait, wait! I think you''re misunderstanding something." But before he could explain further¡­


    Suddenly, the sound of a door opening echoed, followed by the noise of numerous footsteps.


    The group fell silent, and a nervous voice whispered, "Could it be her¡­ coming back?"


    Avinash, looking ahead with growing anxiety, saw two shadows near the door. Slowly, the door creaked open.


    What appeared strange to Avinash was the sight of one man holding a wooden bucket and a butcher''s knife. The other man resembled a church priest. Their faces were covered, making it impossible to guess their age or appearance.


    Before Avinash could make sense of it, the priest suddenly commanded loudly, "Activate!"


    Instantly, Avinash felt chains, previously attached to the wall, tightening around his hands and legs. They pulled him back, pinning him against the wall. The event happened so fast that he didn''t have time to react.


    Looking ahead, he saw that the person in front of him was similarly bound by chains and stuck to the wall.


    The man holding the knife had trembling hands, which made the priest yell, "Follow the orders you''ve been given!"


    Avinash was still trying to figure out what to do when the butcher stepped forward and cut deep gashes into both of his palms.


    Avinash screamed, "What are you doing?! Have you all gone mad?!" Tears were on the verge of spilling from his eyes.


    The butcher hesitated for a moment but then punched Avinash hard in the face, shouting, "Shut your mouth, you dog!" His voice trembled, and it seemed as though he was internally breaking down.


    Avinash could feel the blood flowing from his wounds, dripping onto the ground. The pain was intense but barely tolerable.


    The blood slowly crept toward the bucket, as if being pulled into it. Or perhaps the bucket itself was drawing the blood in.


    The priest, growing angrier, said, "What are you doing? At this rate, it''ll take forever to drain his blood. I''m telling you, cut off his hand so the bucket fills faster!"


    Hearing the screams coming from other cells, the butcher trembled uncontrollably. Most of the captives were merely 16 or 17 years old.


    Turning around, the butcher stammered, "How can you be so cruel? I can''t do this anymore. Can''t you see he''s the same age as my son? No¡­ I won''t do this. I''m leaving."


    As the man moved forward, the priest grabbed him by the neck and slammed him into the wall. The force was enough to crack the wall. The man flailed desperately, trying to free himself.


    The priest, speaking calmly but coldly, said, "Follow the orders you''ve been given, whether you like it or not. Or do you want your wife and children to rot in the slums forever?"


    And then, he released his grip on the man''s throat. The man, gasping for air, nodded reluctantly and said, "Alright."


    There was a hint of sympathy on his face for Avinash. He softly said, "I''m sorry, kid, but I have no other choice. I''ll do my best to make it hurt less."


    With that, in a single motion, he severed Avinash''s hand.


    Avinash, barely able to endure the excruciating pain, let out a loud scream.


    Meanwhile¡­


    Not everyone was as fortunate.


    "So, you''re the hero, Aniket. My name is Xavier, and Princess has instructed me to take special care of you."


    Aniket smirked lightly and said, "What a b*tch."


    Xavier''s expression hardened. "Please mind your words."


    Turning to a man standing nearby, he commanded, "Skin him alive, just like you do with animals. You''re quite skilled at it, aren''t you?"


    The man next to him gave a cruel smile. "Of course. This is something I''d be happy to do."


    Aniket chuckled faintly. "Cut the nonsense! By the way, tell me, Mr. Xavier, do you happen to have a superpower? The healing kind, perhaps?"


    Xavier''s eyes narrowed. "That boy escaped the dorm so quickly? I thought it would take him at least a week to recover."


    Aniket laughed. "Oh, yeah. He told me how you broke his fingers one by one after healing him."


    Xavier replied calmly, "My apologies, but I''ll ensure you get better treatment than that."


    Aniket smiled sarcastically. "Why not? Let''s talk about it while you torture me. I''m starting to get a bit curious about superpowers."


    The man standing nearby, licking his knife like a maniac, laughed uncontrollably. "I don''t think there''ll be much left of you to talk about after this."


    Xavier, maintaining his composure, said, "Of course, I''ll explain everything to you."


    Half an hour later


    Xavier uttered, "Heal."


    A green light began to glow, gradually closing Aniket''s wounds. Even the severed limbs began to regenerate.


    As Xavier turned to leave, Aniket''s voice called from behind, "Aren''t you afraid? Everything you''ve told me¡ªI could use it against you."


    Xavier and the other man, who were about to leave, turned back in shock. The other man yelled, "You... How can you still be talking? You¡­"


    Xavier, who usually kept his calm, now had visible astonishment on his face. The thought running through his mind was, What kind of monster is this boy standing before me?


    Masking his surprise after a brief moment, Xavier responded calmly, "I don''t think that''s going to happen. Without Mana, no matter how special your powers are, they''re useless."


    Meanwhile¡­


    The butcher shouted, "That''s enough! The bucket''s already full. Heal him quickly, or he''ll die!"


    The priest walked forward slowly, muttering, "Yes, yes, I''ll do it. We can''t let him die, after all¡ªat any cost. Isn''t that right, hero?"


    Avinash, with lifeless eyes, barely managed to lift his gaze. On the other side, Aniket muttered faintly, yet resolutely, "Everyone will pay the price for this."

 You Survive

    Slowly, the door creaked open, and Avinash, who was seated in his place, looked ahead. Standing there was none other than Princess Isabella.


    She was dressed in a purple nightgown, her red eyes glowing brightly even in the darkness. This made her look stunning, but Avinash knew better. To him, she was like a venomous serpent, ready to strike at any moment. The farther he stayed from her, the better.


    Seeing her move closer, Avinash felt chills run down his spine. In his mind, he was questioning, What is this ruthless girl doing here? What mistake did I make to come into her sights?


    As he instinctively tried to step back, his back hit the wall, leaving him no space to retreat.


    Seeing this, Isabella smiled. She cornered Avinash against the wall with both her hands, trapping him in place.


    Sweat dripped from Avinash''s face as Isabella leaned closer. Her lips approached his, and Avinash''s cheeks turned completely red.


    Just as her lips were about to touch his, Avinash pushed her away with a jolt. Clutching his chest, he exclaimed, "This is way too soon!"


    With an innocent look on her face, Isabella asked, "What happened, honey?"


    Hearing this, Avinash''s ears and cheeks turned even redder as he stammered, "W-what did you just say?"


    As he turned around to step back, he froze in shock. Trembling, he pointed at her stomach with a shaky finger and stammered, "T-that¡­!"


    Isabella smiled and lovingly caressed her swollen belly with her hand. "This is our baby, honey. How could you forget so soon?"


    Avinash immediately clutched his head and, pulling at his hair, shouted, "What nonsense is this?"


    As he raised his head, he saw Isabella holding a baby in her hands. She walked up to him lovingly, cupped his face, and said, "Won''t you look at your baby''s face, honey?"


    When Avinash finally looked at the baby''s face, his mouth fell open in shock. It wasn''t just any baby¡ªit was Aniket! With his small mustache, Aniket grinned and said, "What''s up, Dad? Get up, you lazy pig!"


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    Suddenly, drenched in sweat, Avinash''s eyes shot open. He frantically looked around and, taking deep breaths, whispered, "Thank goodness, it was just a dream."


    Avinash remembered clearly how the butcher had cut his hand, causing him to lose consciousness. With this memory, he looked at his hand, which was perfectly fine, and at his wrists, which bore no scars. Could that have been a dream too?


    But Avinash could vividly recall the pain and the uncontrollable blood flowing from his wrist to the ground. The few bloodstains still visible on the floor were proof¡ªit wasn''t just a dream.


    His eyes drifted toward the front, where a few people were carelessly tossing food inside. Most of it ended up on the ground rather than reaching the intended recipients.


    But Avinash knew there was no point in complaining. If he didn''t eat even the food lying on the ground, he''d surely die of hunger, and it wouldn''t matter to these people at all.


    Meanwhile, Aniket sat against the wall, his back leaning on it, completely focused on the tiny ice cube forming between his hands. It was incredibly small, barely a centimeter in size. Looking at it, Aniket thought angrily, This is utterly useless.


    No wonder Xavier so easily told me everything about this. He knew I couldn''t do anything about it anyway.


    His attention shifted as he saw people distributing food nearby. Just as he was about to move forward, he shouted from behind, "Wait! Where''s my food?"


    From the side, James also looked toward them with hope in his eyes. But as they moved past, ignoring him completely, the glimmer of hope on his face vanished into the abyss.


    The men left, tossing food into other cells, completely ignoring theirs.


    The girl sitting in the cell directly opposite Aniket said, "Looks like they''re not giving you any food. And they didn''t give any to the boy next to you either."


    Aniket returned to his spot and sat down. His hand brushed against something. As he picked it up to look, he realized it was an ear.


    Staring at it closely, he took a deep breath.


    Suddenly, a loud voice rang out, "Please don''t do it! I''m begging you!"


    Aniket muttered, "What?"


    The girl, in a frightened voice, said, "You were about to eat it, weren''t you? Please don''t. I won''t be able to bear it. I''ve already seen so much¡ªlike a man being skinned alive. Please, no more."


    Aniket laughed. "What did you think? That I''m Chinese and would eat anything?"


    The girl stepped out of the shadows, glaring at him. "What did you just say?"


    Now fully visible, she continued staring at him intensely.


    Aniket, chuckling, said, "Oh, you must be from Japan or Korea. Don''t tell me you''re¡ª"


    The girl cut him off, glaring even harder. "Yes, I''m Chinese. Do you have a problem with that?"


    Aniket quickly waved his hands. "No, no! You misunderstood. Hail Corona! You know, because of it, I didn''t have to take my 10th-grade exams."


    The girl, furious, clenched her fists. "You¡­!"


    Then she sighed deeply and said, "Forget it. Don''t worry. Once they leave, I''ll throw half of my leftover food your way."


    Aniket, surprised, asked, "But why? Why would you do that?"


    The girl returned to her shadowed corner and replied, "I don''t know."


    Aniket hesitated for a moment and then asked, "Can I make a request? Instead of giving the food to me, could you throw it to James first?"


    The girl, puzzled, said, "You really want that?"


    Aniket thought for a moment and replied, "Of course."


    The girl took a deep breath. "Fine. Just wait for them to leave." Then she added, "Li Mei."


    Aniket, confused, said, "What? Did you just curse me? Look, I know you''re giving me food, but that doesn''t mean You can abuse me."


    The girl smacked her forehead and said, "That''s my name, you idiot."


    Aniket blinked. "Oh."


    Li Mei muttered, "May Buddha grant you strength. And good luck."


    Aniket, suspicious, asked, "Good luck for what?"


    Li Mei sighed. "Did you forget so soon? It''s your turn today. I hope you survive."

 Little Change

    Slowly, a cocoon begins to crack open, revealing a beautiful blue butterfly. It unfurls its wings and tries to fly. As the butterfly flutters, shining powder trails behind, glimmering as it falls to the ground.


    The powder lands on a plant, and as soon as it touches the leaves, they wither and turn black. The butterfly is about to spread its wings and fly out the window when suddenly, a hand reaches out, clutching it tightly. Tears stream down as the hand clenches into a fist, crushing the delicate wings.


    The man, shaking off his hand, remarks, "Beautiful, but deadly."


    At that moment, the door opens, and Isabella steps into the room. She says, "Father, you called for me?"


    The man, Vincent Griffin, the king of the entire empire, stands calmly and responds, "A fragment of the Dark Moon is being auctioned inside Silver City. We need it at any cost. You must go personally to ensure that no one else even dares to lay eyes on it."


    Isabella, slightly uneasy, asks, "But Father, is it so crucial for me to go? And what about the other responsibilities entrusted to me? What if this news turns out to be false...?"


    Vincent Griffin turns sharply, his voice filled with anger. "How dare you question me?"


    Hearing this, Isabella''s face pales, and she quickly apologizes, "Forgive me, Father, that was not my intention."


    Vincent, now composed, says, "Good. As for your duties, Victoria will handle them."


    After Isabella leaves, Vincent whispers to himself, "Dark Moon..."


    Evening, in the dungeon


    Aniket lies on his back, staring at the ceiling, humming a tune, "Come, come, my heart calls you. We, the unlucky ones, are helpless."


    In a nearby cell, another boy, sitting with his mouth slightly open, mutters to himself, "I''m in this pit because of that girl, and here this guy is singing like he''s expecting royal delicacies instead of torture."


    Half an hour passes, then two.


    Aniket, playing rock-paper-scissors with himself, declares with a chuckle, "Look, I won!" Yawning, he adds, "What nonsense... she''s still not here."


    Li Mei, watching him coldly, comments, "Why are you in such a hurry to be tortured?"


    Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps grows louder. Two figures appear in front of Aniket.


    With a sly grin, Aniket remarks, "Xavier... and you, the useless guy. Are your ancestors still cursing me? I remember hitting you pretty hard between the legs yesterday."


    The man''s face flushes red with anger.


    Ignoring him, Aniket continues, "Where''s your blood-sucking mosquito of a princess? I''ve been waiting all morning to get tortured!"


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    Xavier, calm as always, replies, "For your own good, you should hold your tongue."


    The other man interjects, "After all the torture you went through yesterday, how do you still have the audacity to speak like this?"


    Xavier extends his hand and commands, "Activate."


    The chains mounted on the wall behind Aniket rattle violently, dripping with oil, and swiftly restrain him once again.


    Xavier opens the barred door and steps inside. With a faint smile, he says, "You can thank the gods that the princess had to leave for an important task. But that doesn''t mean we won''t take special care of you."


    Avinash, now more alert after witnessing yesterday''s events, braces himself as the door opens once more. But it''s of no use. A calm voice echoes, "Activate."


    Chains shoot out and bind him as well. Avinash looks ahead and notices the priest standing there, but this time, his clothes are stained with blood.


    As he glances to the left, he realizes the man standing there isn''t the same one from yesterday. This new man''s hands are trembling slightly.


    Noticing this, the priest chuckles and says, "I hope you don''t disappoint me like the last one. You''ve already seen what became of him. There''s no turning back now, so stop trembling."


    The trembling man starts laughing maniacally. "This is going to be so much fun!" he exclaims, his tone unhinged.


    The priest sneers. "You sewer rat, it seems you''ll last here longer than I thought."


    Avinash, realizing he''s in deep trouble, stammers nervously, "W-What happened to that other man?"


    The priest looks at him and says sharply, "Hero, I suggest you keep your mouth shut. We don''t like idle chatter while we work."


    The new man, gripping his butcher''s knife tightly, moves toward Avinash''s fingers. Just as he''s about to slash, the priest interrupts, "Stop. This will take too long. I want you to¡ª"


    But the new man ignores him, mumbling obsessively, "First the fingers, then the hands, then the legs, and finally the head¡­" He repeats the mantra like a lunatic as he readies his blade.


    Sweat drips from Avinash''s face. His fear is so overwhelming that he feels paralyzed, unable to sense his own legs. His heart pounds louder and faster than ever before. He wants to scream, but his throat feels dry, his voice utterly lost.


    Suddenly, the priest shouts angrily, "NO! Didn''t you hear what I said?"


    The man abruptly stops, stepping back and muttering, "Apologies¡­ I got a little too excited."


    The priest takes a deep breath, calming himself. "Good. At least you know your place. For a moment, I thought I''d have to teach you the same lesson as the last one."


    Just then, a sting lashes out, wrapping around the priest. Startled, the priest looks back and exclaims, "Victoria! Sir, you¡ª"


    Victoria, wielding the sting with precision, yanks it sharply, shredding the priest into countless pieces.


    With a commanding voice, Victoria declares, "I hope everyone is listening carefully. I don''t know how things were run here before, but from now on, everything will be under my supervision."


    He continues, "As for collecting the blood¡ªheroes must be rendered unconscious first. I won''t tolerate anyone dying from excessive torture. Understand this: your lives are worth less than ants compared to the heroes."


    His voice booms through the chamber, resonating in every corner.


    For some, it felt like the voice of an angel. But whether it belonged to an angel or a demon, only time would tell.


    A Week Later


    Someone shouted angrily, "That''s it! I can''t take this anymore! You said we could escape from here!"


    Aniket, taking a deep breath, replied, "It''s pointless. We can''t beat them. Even if you manage to get out of your cage, there are so many guards outside the door that they''ll capture you in an instant."


    He added, "And on top of that, their powers are on a completely different level."


    Another voice chimed in, "But you said we have superpowers. If we use them, we can¡ª"


    Aniket interrupted, "It''s useless. Our powers are completely worthless."


    A third voice snapped, "Shut up! Just because your powers are useless doesn''t mean ours are!"


    Aniket retorted, "First, stop speaking in your native language. They might understand it."


    He continued, "And yes, your powers might be better than mine, but without mana, they''re still useless. You couldn''t even pull off a basic magic trick with them."


    Another voice spoke up, "So, you''re saying we should just sit here, without a plan, while they ruthlessly drain our blood every day?"


    Yet another voice questioned, "Do you even know why they''re collecting our blood daily?"


    Aniket smirked, "Ah, Miss Silent finally speaks. I think that''s the first time I''ve heard you open your mouth. Honestly, I sometimes wonder if you''re even alive."


    The girl''s voice came again, sharp and cold, "Shut up and answer the question."


    Aniket sighed, "That dog, that cunning bastard Xavier, won''t spill anything. Every time I try to trick him into talking, he clams up like the sly fox he is. Sure, he talks a lot, but none of it is useful."


    He added, "And for the record, I don''t know what kind of superpowers you all have, but mine isn''t completely useless. I''m planning to blow a hole in this wall in about a month."


    Another voice questioned, "Even if you manage that, what then? You think they won''t kill you?"


    Li Mei asked cautiously, "How exactly are you planning to blow up the wall?"


    Aniket replied with a grin, "Obviously, with explosives. I''ve been manifesting a stash of gunpowder and storing it on the left side of my room. You see, my power allows me to create or manifest things. But without mana, I can only manage about a gram at a time. Just a few more days, and I''ll have enough."


    Li Mei, slightly concerned, said, "Just make sure you don''t blow yourself up along with the wall."


    Aniket laughed, "Have you ever heard the line, ''Risk is the price you pay for freedom.''"


    Avinash, "And thus, I was watching him move towards his death."

 Whispers of Mana

    "You said we can''t use our powers without mana. So how are you able to create gunpowder?"


    Aniket, thinking, said, "When did I ever say we can''t use them? I just said that without mana, it''s completely useless."


    "Look, I have a theory. Even though we don''t possess mana ourselves, what about the environment? As we breathe, we also absorb some traces of mana particles into our bodies. They''re not permanent, but they''re enough to let you use a small amount of power."


    "And according to my calculations, it takes me about 15 minutes to create one gram of gunpowder. So you can imagine how useless these powers really are."


    "I think you understand what I''m saying, Silent Lady," Aniket concluded.


    In response, a voice replied, "Your plan is absolute nonsense. Do you realize how much gunpowder you''ll need to blow something up? If you use too little, they''ll find out, and if you use too much, you''ll die. And another thing: even if you manage to blow up the wall, I don''t think you''ll get very far after that."


    "We''re completely stuck."


    Aniket laughed, "Oh, I hadn''t even thought about that."


    "Wait, wait, I have an idea. What if I create a radioactive substance and inject it directly into the guards'' bodies? They''ll start dying one by one, and then the path will be clear."


    Avinash shouted, "That''s nonsense too! Even if you somehow make it, what happens to us afterward? This is suicide! We won''t be immune to the radiation either. Don''t even think about it¡ªyou''ll drag us down with you."


    "And I absolutely don''t want to die from radiation."


    Li Mei thought to herself, Creating a radioactive substance? His powers are far more dangerous than I imagined.


    Understanding the implications, Li Mei said, "If you do something that foolish, you''ll be the first to die."


    Annoyed, Aniket replied, "Fine, I have no plan left. You make the plan now. I''m off to the toilet."


    "Lazy, unemployed soldier! Hurry up and take me to the toilet before I create a mess here!"


    Ten seconds later, a soldier came running and yelled, "Don''t even think about it!" Taking a deep breath, he added, "Follow me quietly."


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    "And if you try anything clever, the consequences will be dire."


    Yawning, Aniket said, "I know, I know, you say the same thing every time, you robot."


    After Aniket left, Avinash looked at the blue screen in front of him and thought, I need more mana to use this, but how?


    Here, people only talk when blood is spilled, and most of them are unconscious anyway, except for that headache of a person. Even if I somehow convince him to find a way... chances are Xavier hasn''t told him anything.


    Elsewhere:


    Suddenly, a shadow entered through the window.


    Seeing this, Vincent Griffin calmly turned around and said, "Why the rush? Tell me, what news do you bring?"


    The man, completely cloaked in shadows, replied nervously, "He''s coming back, Your Highness. He was seen near the borders."


    Vincent Griffin, growing serious, asked, "Are you sure it was him?"


    The man said, "I saw him with my own eyes. The sword saint was right there."


    Worry was clearly visible on Vincent Griffin''s face as he said, "Go quickly and keep an eye on him. And make sure you don''t get too close¡ªmaintain at least a kilometer of distance."


    The man responded, "Yes, Your Highness," and suddenly vanished into the shadows.


    After some time,


    Victoria entered the room, saw Vincent Griffin in front of him, and said, "Your Highness, you called for me."


    Vincent Griffin, sipping red wine from a glass, said, "We need to get everyone out of here, and quickly."


    Victoria was a bit surprised and replied, "I don''t understand."


    Vincent Griffin, angry, said, "Do as I say. The situation has worsened considerably."


    Victoria said, "Alright, I''ll get them out by tomorrow."


    Vincent Griffin, furious, said, "Not tomorrow¡ªtoday. We don''t have time."


    Victoria hesitated and asked, "Why do you seem so worried, Your Majesty?"


    Vincent Griffin, glaring at him, said, "Just do as I''ve told you."


    Victoria left the room, called a servant over, and said, "Gather all the staff."


    A little while later,


    All the palace staff had gathered in one place. One servant whispered to another, "Do you know why we''ve been called here?" The other replied, "How would I know?"


    Similar murmurs spread among the group until everyone suddenly fell silent, noticing someone approaching.


    Victoria shouted loudly, "Listen carefully, everyone! Prepare for the arrival of the heroes. The time has come to summon the heroes into this world."


    "The time has come to show the world our true power and bring humanity back to the top."


    Saying this, he walked away. After walking for a while, Victoria opened a door where many people were standing.


    Seeing them, Victoria asked, "So, is the teleportation circle ready?"


    In the dungeon,


    Suddenly, a group of soldiers entered, banging on the iron bars and shouting, "Everyone will come out now!" All the cell doors were opened.


    Avinash, who didn''t understand what was happening, quietly followed the orders.


    The other prisoners around him looked equally puzzled, but the soldiers remained silent.


    After some time, they were led through a narrow corridor, where Aniket, covered in blood, appeared and said, "What is this nonsense? Can someone tell me what''s going on here?"


    One of the soldiers kicked Aniket and pushed him into the group with the others. Aniket, looking around, asked the people nearby, "What''s happening here?"


    A boy replied, "I don''t know. They suddenly started taking us out of here. But why is there blood on your clothes?"


    Aniket said, "Oh, that? The soldier who took me to the toilet snapped out of their hypnosis. When these people found out, they killed him. Looks like they''re taking us somewhere else now. Which means my 408 grams of gunpowder is going to waste."


    As soon as everyone stepped outside the building, their eyes widened in astonishment. Aniket exclaimed, "We were underwater this whole time?"


    Everyone could see the massive bubble surrounding them.


    Victoria, standing in front, said, "I know you all have many questions, and I''m here to answer them."


    Aniket raised his hand and said, "Yeah, sure, so tell us¡ªshould we call you Uncle or Aunt? Because I really can''t figure out whether you''re male or female."


    From the crowd, Avinash shouted, "Will someone shut his mouth?"


    Learning from last time''s mistake, a boy immediately covered Aniket''s mouth while a few others held his arms and legs.


    Victoria smiled and said, "You can call me whatever you like. As for why you''ve been brought here¡ªit''s time to end your suffering and free you from all the pain you''ve endured."


    A boy, trembling with fear, said, "They''re going to kill us!"

 What happening

    Victoria commands, "Bring him here. Excellent."


    Victoria takes a box from a man who had just arrived and opens it. Inside is a silver skull, with a red, brain-like substance visible from the top.


    Someone softly asks, "What is that thing?"


    Aniket, who overhears, replies, "Maybe it''s an artifact. You could call it a kind of magical machine. I mean, just like we use machines here, this is an artifact. The only difference is that it''s not made using science but with materials from magical beasts or similar things."


    "Stop your nonsense," someone interrupts. "These people are going to kill us."


    Aniket responds, "Oh, is that so? As if I didn''t already know."


    "Can''t you see? We''re surrounded from all sides. There''s no way to escape. Even if we somehow reach the edge of this bubble, we''ll drown and die the moment we step outside."


    "So, we''re doomed, no matter what."


    Someone asks, "But why are they killing us?" Another voice replies, "Maybe they''ve gotten what they wanted from us, and now we''re useless to them."


    Victoria smiles and says, "Attention, heroes! The time has come to forget all your pain."


    Saying this, he lifts the skull and commands, "Activate."


    Avinash, who was cleaning his glasses, puts them on and is momentarily blinded by the intense light. One by one, everyone collapses to the ground. They are all lying unconscious, except for a few. Avinash realizes what he must do and pretends to faint as well.


    Victoria, observing the scene, says, "Excellent. Everyone is in place. Now, quickly, pick them up and arrange to move them elsewhere. After all, it doesn''t look good to see heroes lying unconscious like this on the ground. And make sure they don''t get even a scratch."


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    At that moment, Xavier speaks up, "Don''t you think you should ensure that their memories are completely erased and that they''re genuinely unconscious?"


    Victoria, replying sharply, says, "Stay in your place. Don''t tell me how to do my job. Everyone, prepare to transfer them to another location immediately."


    Xavier shouts, "No one will move forward! You''ve already made enough changes here, but no more. First, we need to confirm that they are truly unconscious."


    Victoria, controlling his anger, says, "This is a royal order, and it must be fulfilled immediately. I don''t care what you tell the King later or how your princess reacts. Now, get out of my way."


    Xavier hesitates for a moment and says, "But..."


    Before he can complete his sentence, several stingers emerge from Victoria''s fingers, wrapping tightly around Xavier.


    Victoria, with a dangerous smile, says, "I absolutely love it when someone interferes with my work."


    Xavier, visibly shaken and not wanting to meet the same fate as the priest, says, "Fine, do whatever you want."


    A While Later


    Avinash could feel his body being tossed around like a sack. He tried to open his eyes slightly but quickly shut them when he noticed someone standing nearby.


    Gathering some courage after a moment, he opened his eyes slightly again and saw a glowing purple pattern beneath him. It was similar to what he had seen earlier when he was first brought into this world.


    A voice echoed, "Magicians, what''s taking so long? Isn''t the teleportation done yet?"


    Another responded, "It''s almost done." Suddenly, the glow intensified.


    Avinash felt a sharp pain in his stomach, as though someone was twisting it from the inside. He felt like he was about to vomit, but he knew if he did, he''d be exposed. He tried his best to suppress it.


    One of the magicians said, "Why hasn''t the mana stone arrived yet? Hurry, we need to finish the supplies immediately."


    The second magician asked, "What about these people?"


    The first one yelled, "Are you out of your mind? They''re unconscious. Now, move!"


    After the two magicians left, Avinash slowly tried to stand up, glancing around the place. It was nothing more than a dark room. There was a large door ahead, but not a single window. The faintly glowing purple circle on the floor was now dimming.


    Suddenly, Avinash felt another wave of pain in his stomach. Despite his best efforts, he couldn''t hold it in anymore and was about to vomit when a hand covered his mouth.


    "Don''t do anything stupid."


    In front of him stood a girl, her hand over his mouth. Her other hand pressed tightly against her own stomach, and her lips were sealed shut as she struggled to suppress her discomfort.


    Suddenly, the door began to creak open. The two magicians entered, carrying some stones.


    One of them glanced ahead and said, "Doesn''t something feel off? That boy was lying over there. How is he here now? Something''s wrong."


    The second magician snapped, "Stop your nonsense and do your job. You''re imagining things. Besides, these people''s faces look different anyway. Quickly place the mana stones in position; there are more to be teleported."


    Later


    Avinash could feel himself being carried again, like a sack.


    A voice commanded, "Listen carefully. Use your repair ability on all their clothes. Then use your clean ability to ensure they are spotless. Lastly, heal each one of them, whether they''re injured or not.


    And remember, they''ll regain consciousness in two hours, so the work must be completed within one."


    Two Hours Later


    Someone slowly opened their eyes, holding their head in pain. "Where am I?" they mumbled, looking around to see many others gradually waking up.


    Someone shouted, "Can anyone tell me what I''m doing here, and why does my head hurt so much?"


    A calm voice responded, "Welcome, heroes."


    Standing before them was none other than Victoria, a faint smile gracing his face.

 Again Summoned?

    Victoria: "I understand that you must have a lot of questions running through your mind right now. Feel free to ask anything you wish without hesitation."


    Suddenly, a voice spoke up, "Alright, my first question is, should I address you as Mister or Miss? I''m a bit confused."


    Victoria, smiling, replied, "You can call me whatever you like."


    Aniket commented, "The lipstick is pretty cool. Auntie¡ªI mean, Uncle¡ªI mean, whatever you are. See, that''s why I was asking."


    At that moment, someone in the crowd raised their hand. A girl asked, "What are we all doing here?"


    Victoria, speaking softly, said, "Finally, someone reasonable! Let me explain. Heroes, all of you have been summoned to this world to help humanity reclaim its lost identity.


    Over the past few years, humans have fallen far behind compared to other species. To put it in simple terms, our situation is quite dire.


    We had no other choice, and thus we decided to summon heroes like you."


    A boy introduced himself, "My name is Akira Nakamura, and my question is, does this world have magic or something like it?"


    Victoria replied confidently, "Of course, it does. Magic is precisely what brought you all here. Any other questions?"


    Another asked, "Can we level up by killing monsters, like in a game?"


    Victoria responded, "That''s an important question. The answer is no; you cannot become more powerful by killing. However, you can enhance your abilities and grow stronger by practicing hard and improving your stats."


    Avinash asked, "Is there any way to return if someone wants to go back?"


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    Victoria answered, "Yes, that''s another vital question. Unfortunately, at the moment, we don''t have the resources to send you back. However, we promise that preparations to send anyone who wishes to return will begin in due time."


    A girl''s voice chimed in, "So, have you summoned others like this before? Because the talk about games and leveling up seems familiar."


    Victoria smiled. "I must commend your sharpness, young lady. You''re right. Before you, others were summoned to this world in a similar manner. Once their mission was complete, they were sent back as per their wishes."


    Someone asked, "What if someone refused to leave?"


    Victoria replied, "If someone wishes to stay, that would be fortunate for us. Heroes are highly respected in this world, and their strength is invaluable to us."


    Avinash interjected, "So, does that mean we''re just weapons for you?"


    Victoria: "Absolutely not. But you are like our trump cards. However, don''t worry, we have no intention of hurting anyone''s feelings. We deeply respect your opinions."


    Victoria continued, "I think we''ve had enough questions and answers for today. All of you should rest now; you must be exhausted after the process."


    Suddenly, a childish voice interrupted, "No, I want to go home! I want to go to my mommy!"


    Avinash''s eyes widened as he saw James crying like a child. He clearly remembered that James was completely fine on the first day. So, what had happened to him in the meantime, and why was he behaving like this?


    A girl remarked, "What about him now? I think you accidentally summoned someone crazy."


    Victoria replied, "It seems we''ve made a mistake, so we''ll take special care of him."


    Saying this, Victoria left. After walking for a while, he punched a pillar with such force that it shattered into pieces, leaving debris scattered on the ground.


    Victoria, fuming with anger, said, "Where is Xavier?"


    A While Later


    A maid spoke, "Hero, this is your room."


    Avinash entered the room, and as soon as he saw the bed, he lay down and held his head.


    He couldn''t believe what had happened to him over the past few days, let alone what lay ahead.


    Talking to himself, Avinash muttered, "Calm down, Avinash, calm down. Three things are clear now. First, these people are not letting us go, no matter what. Second, everyone has lost their memories except for me and that strange girl. And third, I still don''t know what these people want from us."


    Suddenly, a blue screen appeared in front of him, displaying familiar messages:


    Loading...


    Not enough energy.


    Loading...


    Failed.


    Failed again...


    System shutdown.


    "Perhaps there''s a fourth thing¡ªI still have no idea about my powers," he thought.


    "Given the situation, I should gather some information about mana. At least I won''t be completely defenseless.


    I hope this turns out to be something useful. If not, I''m done for."


    Elsewhere


    "So, you''re here," Victoria said angrily.


    Xavier, upon seeing him, asked, "What are you doing here?"


    Victoria replied, "I''ll ask you only once. What did you do to him? Everyone knows that when a hero is summoned, all their disabilities are cured. So how could there be a crazy person among us? Tell me honestly¡ªwhat did you do to him?"


    Xavier, sitting calmly in his place, said, "Stay out of my business. This has nothing to do with you."


    Victoria''s voice turned cold. "It seems you''re not understanding me. This isn''t a request¡ªit''s a threat. And I don''t think anyone would question me about this, even after you''re dead."


    Beads of sweat were now visible on Xavier''s face. He finally said, "Look, it''s not my fault. The Princess inserted some strange worm with a human face into his mind. I don''t know anything else. I was just the torture in-charge.


    So if you have any questions, ask the Princess. I had nothing to do with it."


    Taking a deep breath, Victoria said, "I hope this doesn''t create more problems."

 Gaming ability

    There was a knock at the door. A voice from outside said, "Excuse me, may we come in?"


    Having not slept for days, Avinash was in a deep slumber. Hearing the voice, he slowly got out of bed and opened the door.


    As the door opened, he saw a servant standing there, holding some items in his hands.


    The servant said, "All the items have been delivered for you."


    Avinash asked, "What is this?"


    The servant replied, "These include some clothes, a mana drink, and a few books that will help you understand this world better, as well as guide you in using your abilities."


    Avinash silently took everything, shut the door, and spread the items out on his bed. Among them were some clothes that looked quite royal. Judging by their quality, it was evident they were extremely expensive.


    There was also a bottle containing a glowing liquid, which shimmered faintly blue at intervals.


    Alongside these were some books about abilities, history, and geography.


    Avinash thought to himself, "Well, at least I won''t have to gather information on my own. But I still don''t trust anyone here."


    With that, he picked up the book about abilities first. What was strange was that the language in the book was peculiar, yet he could understand it perfectly, as if he had been reading it since childhood.


    A while later


    Avinash closed the book and muttered to himself, "The power levels here are pretty straightforward. Starting from the weakest and most basic: F, E, D, C, B, A, S, SS, and SSS being the strongest. But as of now, no one has reached the SSS level."


    "The most fascinating thing is that every ability must be gradually upgraded. First, an ability must progress from F to F+. Everyone starts at level F, which requires constant practice. The second factor is mana. Even if you possess an S or higher-level ability, it''s useless without mana."


    Taking a deep breath, Avinash looked at the mana drink. He debated whether or not to drink it. After a moment''s thought, he picked it up and drank it quickly.


    "Doesn''t seem like it made any difference. I don''t feel anything," he muttered. "The taste was like salty water."


    Suddenly, a blue screen appeared again, and the same messages began to display.


    Loading¡­


    Avinash silently prayed, Please, God, let it work this time. Please, please, please.


    System activated.


    Please register.


    With this message, several empty boxes appeared in front of him. Avinash wondered how to fill them. He tried touching the blue screen, but his finger passed right through it.


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Reassuring himself, he thought, "Maybe it''s voice-activated."


    He said his name aloud, "Avinash."


    Please confirm: Yes or No.


    Avinash tried to click "Yes," but again his finger passed through the screen. Frustrated, he said aloud, "Yes."


    Registration successful.


    Status:


    Name: Avinash


    Race: Human (Another Worlder)


    Age: 17


    Gender: Male


    Ability: Gaming Window


    Mana: 100/99


    Downloaded Video Games: 0 (+)


    Avinash was still observing the interface when his attention shifted to the other options:


    Games


    Game Store


    Settings


    Help


    He commanded, "Open Games."


    Another screen appeared, completely black, with a message in the center:


    Not Available.


    Avinash said, "Back," and then commanded, "Open Game Store."


    The screen changed again, displaying icons of various games. Avinash was astonished because more than half of them were games he had already played back on Earth. It felt as if he was browsing a Play Store to install apps on a mobile device.


    Everything seemed identical, except for one detail: instead of "MB" for file size, it was just "M," which struck him as odd but he decided to ignore it.


    He thought to himself, Wow, what a power! Now I can play video games all day and night... but wait, this is bad.


    How am I supposed to survive here by playing video games? In a world where people have extraordinary powers¡ªsome controlling elements, others flying, and wielding strange abilities¡ªand I''ll just be playing games?


    He reasoned, Okay, let''s try it once. Who knows? Maybe the skills from the game can be used in real life. That would be amazing!


    Deciding to give it a shot, he thought, Alright, let''s download a game. But which one?


    He then decided, Call of Labour, and said aloud, "Search option: Call of Labour."


    Suddenly, a message appeared:


    Result: Call of Labour.


    Avinash selected the first icon and said, "Install."


    A new message appeared:


    Downloading started.


    Avinash''s full attention was on the screen, where the download progress was moving slowly. So he returned to the main menu and began reviewing his status.


    Status:


    Name: Avinash


    Race: Human (Another Worlder)


    Age: 17


    Gender: Male


    Ability: Gaming Window


    Mana: 100/23


    Downloads: 00 (+1)


    Suddenly, he noticed his mana dropping rapidly¡ªfrom 23 to 22, then 21, and it kept decreasing until it reached 5.


    Confused and unable to understand, the same annoying messages appeared in front of him:


    Energy low.


    No external energy sources found.


    System is going to shut down...


    Downloading failed.


    System shutdown.


    Avinash''s eyes widened in disbelief. He slapped his forehead and muttered, "What the hell was that?!"


    He suddenly realized that his body had been completely drained of mana. Then it hit him¡ªthe "M" under the game icon meant mana.


    It was as if he had been dreaming of buying the Taj Mahal with pocket change!


    Avinash slapped himself, muttering, "Brilliant! Just brilliant! I wasted all my mana. I should''ve tried a smaller game, but no, I just had to download Call of Labour! Genius!"


    In another room


    Someone was laughing hysterically. On the bed in front of him lay a bazooka, two handguns, grenades, an AK-47, and piles of ammunition.


    Looking at the arsenal, Aniket laughed like a madman and exclaimed, "The world is in my grasp! Although... why does it feel like I''m some kind of terrorist?"


    Shrugging it off, he grabbed a P-grenade and started tossing it in the air. Suddenly, it slipped from his hand and fell to the ground. Alarmed, he bolted out of the room and began counting loudly, "One... two... three... four... five... six... seven... eight... nine... ten!"


    Plugging his ears with his fingers, he cautiously looked back. Nothing had happened. That''s when it dawned on him¡ªit was just a pin grenade.


    "All that panic for nothing," he sighed in relief.


    Suddenly, a loud explosion reverberated through the house, shaking Aniket to his core. He froze, trembling, and realized the sound had come from the adjacent room.


    Fuming, he yelled out, "What the hel you mother fuc¡ª" only to stop mid-sentence when the door to the adjacent room creaked open.


    A girl stepped out, coughing, her face smudged with soot. She turned to Aniket, glaring, and said, "What were you saying about my mother?"


    Aniket, masking his fear with a nervous laugh, replied, "Oh, nothing, sis! I was just leaving!" He darted back into his room, clutching his chest, and whispered to himself, "Did that girl really have a beard?! She doesn''t seem to know... oh my god!"


    Aniket burst into laughter.


    Meanwhile, the girl, inspecting the charred remains of her room, muttered, "Nonsense bastard." Touching her face, she suddenly felt something odd.


    Her fingers brushed against stubble on her chin. Alarmed, she rubbed her face again and realized she had indeed grown a beard.


    Kneeling to the floor in disbelief , Now she understand Aniket''s expressions.


    From Aniket''s room, faint but mocking laughter echoed, piercing her ears.


    Elsewhere


    Victoria: "Your Majesty, as you instructed, we''ve gathered the status information of all the heroes. Without their knowledge, we''ve used the Appraisal Artifacts on all of them.


    "As expected, each of them possesses unique abilities."


    Vincent Griffin, emotionless, replied calmly, "It doesn''t matter how unique their abilities are. Their fates will be determined only by their potential."


    He turned slightly, his voice colder. "Anything else I need to know, Victor?"


    Victoria hesitated, then said, "Two individuals have abilities that are exceedingly dangerous. We must eliminate them before they grow stronger and become a threat to us."


    Pausing, he added, "But forgive me, Your Majesty... Victor is already dead."


    Victoria stepped forward and declared, "I now stand you as Victoria."


    Vincent Griffin turned fully, an air of regret in his tone. "A pity. As for the other... take care of them swiftly."

 Heartless

    Aniket, panicking, said, "Oh, my sister, calm down!


    Why are you crying so much that my ears are hurting?


    Please, just stop now."


    The girl, who was crying uncontrollably, replied, "How can I stop? My beautiful face is ruined now... Have you ever seen a girl with a beard? No boy will even look at me anymore."


    Saying this, she started crying even louder.


    To calm her down, Aniket said, "Oh, don''t worry. Everyone will still look at you, and they''ll definitely talk about you. Your new look is amazing!"


    The girl stopped crying for a moment and stared at Aniket''s face.


    Aniket continued, "And as for a boy proposing to you, well, there are people with unique tastes. Who knows, someone might actually like a bearded girl." He tried hard to suppress his laughter.


    The girl, with tears in her eyes and a hopeful face, said, "Please, tell me the truth. Don''t comfort me with lies."


    Aniket took a deep breath and said, "Alright, if you really want to hear the truth, listen. If you propose to a boy, He Vomit on the spot.


    And everyone will stare at you like you''re some weird monkey from a zoo. Ha! Feeling better now?"


    The girl, shocked and staring at him intensely, could only utter two words: "You''re heartless. You don''t even know how to comfort someone."


    The girl picked up a nearby gun and said, "That''s it! I have nothing left in this world, so I''m leaving."


    Aniket pleaded, "Please, don''t do this! Someone will care for you; they''ll take care of you. Just as long as they don''t look at your face."


    Hearing this, the girl, who had pointed the gun at her head, angrily turned it toward Aniket and said, "You scoundrel! You''re first!"


    Aniket, panicking, said, "Please, please, listen to me. You don''t even know how to fire a gun! You haven''t even taken off the safety. So just let it go; you won''t be able to do it."


    Hearing this, the girl threw the gun down and started crying again, this time with rivers flowing from her nose.


    Aniket, unable to tolerate it anymore, said, "Alright, alright, I''ll help you. You just need a shave, right? Look, I have the power of creation, so I can create anything. Making shaving supplies for you is no big deal.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Don''t worry; my mana will recover in a while."


    15 minutes later


    The girl, now somewhat calm, looked around and said, "So this is why there''s a bazooka, an AK-47, two handguns, and grenades lying here.


    Any normal person would think of creating food or something lovely, but you¡­"


    Aniket smiled and said, "It''s been my hobby since childhood."


    "Anyway, forget that. You haven''t told me your name yet," he added.


    The girl wiped her eyes and said, "Alice Dupont."


    Aniket smiled and said, "And my name is Aniket, from India. Where are you from?"


    Alice replied, "Paris."


    Aniket laughed and said, "It''s a great place. The pizzas there are pretty famous. And maybe the pasta too."


    Alice retorted, "If you don''t know anything about it, just keep your mouth shut! Paris is famous for the Eiffel Tower!"


    Aniket, confused, said, "What? Isn''t that in France?"


    Alice laughed and said, "How can someone be this clueless? You buffoon."


    Aniket said, "Alright, forget all that. Tell me, how did this happen to you? Looks like your mood has improved a bit, so you can talk now."


    Aniket,"so you are abilities you can make anything more better and you want make you more beautiful so that is why you try it first on your face."


    Alice blushed and said, "Well, at first, nothing happened. But later, when I went outside¡­"


    Aniket interrupted, "Alright, but how did the explosion happen? You didn''t even have any grenades."


    Alice explained, "Well, I tried to enhance the flame of a candle. It kept growing and growing, and then¡­ boom."


    Blushing, Alice said, "I wanted to tell you something. Would you be my¡­"


    Seeing her blushing, Aniket stepped back and said, "Look, I''m telling you upfront, I called you sister earlier. And I''m not from China, so don''t think of anything weird."


    Alice, angry, said, "Forget it. I was asking you to be my friend. But I don''t know why I even thought of that."


    Aniket laughed and said, "Friend? That works. Anyway, my group doesn''t have a bearded¡­"


    Alice silently moved her hands toward her feet, removed her sandal, and said, "You dare¡­"


    And then, the room was filled with screams and yelling.


    But there was someone, burning with rage and was stunned. Whether it was anger or fear, no one could say for sure.


    In a dimly lit room, a boy sat trembling. "Why is he here? Of all places, why here? Out of the entire world, why him?"


    Clutching his head, he muttered nervously, "If I come face to face with him¡­ if he confronts me, what will happen? Either he''ll destroy me¡­ or¡ªno, no! That''s not going to happen. I won''t let it. If he shows up, I''ll destroy him first.


    It doesn''t matter how good a friend he used to be. Avinash, I swear, I''ll kill you."


    Meanwhile, somewhere far away, a massacre was underway.


    Debris lay scattered across the ground, flames devoured everything in their path, and the stench of death hung heavy in the air. Normally, such a scene would be accompanied by screams and chaos, but here, silence prevailed. Every soul had been wiped out, their lifeless bodies strewn across the blood-soaked ground.


    Isabella''s voice, dripping with fury, broke the silence. "How dare you spread false information?"


    A man, his limbs brutally severed, lay bleeding profusely. Trembling, he begged, "Princess, spare me. I didn''t do it intentionally. We were just trying to draw the attention of some important people¡­"


    Isabella sneered mockingly. "Well, congratulations. You''ve done a fantastic job. But do you even realize what your little stunt has cost you?"


    "You saved a life. And in return for saving one life, isn''t it fair to lose another?"


    With a simple gesture, she signaled to a nearby soldier.


    The soldier unsheathed his sword and, with a single swing, decapitated the man.


    Turning to Isabella, he reported, "Princess, everyone here has been killed."


    A faint smile curled on Isabella''s lips as she replied, "I don''t think so."


    Her finger moved slightly, and blood from the surrounding corpses began to gather, forming a small crimson orb.


    The orb grew denser and more menacing before it shot through the soldier''s head like a bullet. His lifeless body collapsed to the ground with a thud.


    Isabella continued walking, casually shoving aside heavy debris with one hand. Beneath the rubble, she found a young child crying hysterically.


    A faint smile crossed her face. "Don''t cry, little one. You''re not alone anymore."


    And in the very next moment, the child''s cries were silenced, replaced by the sickening splatter of blood painting the walls.


    From a distance, a soldier stood watching. His entire body trembled as he observed the horrors unfolding before him.


    He muttered under his breath, "I know¡­ I know this is barbaric. There''s no way this can be justified. And yet, I''m a part of it."


    "My mind screams at me, telling me this is wrong. So very wrong. But my heart¡­" He paused, his voice trembling as his eyes glowed red. His sharp fangs emerged, glistening in the dim light.


    "My heart is intoxicated by the scent of blood."


    His voice grew darker. "I want more¡­ I need more."

 Is Fate

    The sound of someone laughing loudly echoed all around, creating an eerie atmosphere.


    Aniket laughed and said, "So you''ve finally arrived. But you took quite some time. Look around, there''s no one left here anymore."


    The woman standing before him was staring at the corpses scattered around, their blood continuously staining the ground red.


    With calm composure, the woman said, "A commendable effort, but do you think we care about the lives of these slaves? The time has come for you to join the other heroes and take your last breath forever."


    Aniket took a deep breath and said, "Of course, since you''ve already come here, there''s no chance for me to escape anyway.


    But before that, why not accept a gift from me?"


    Aniket, with rage, raised his hand and shouted, "Black Hole, Create!"


    But nothing happened.


    An unsettling silence hung in the air.


    Aniket chuckled and said, "Do you know what black holes are? Just destruction that swallows everything within itself. And when it''s full, it explodes. As far as I know, maybe something like that."


    Then he raised his middle finger and pointed it straight downward.


    The next moment, his head was severed from his body.


    Blood gushed from his neck, staining the ground red, and even the air around seemed to freeze.


    His head rolled to the side, thudding slowly, but one thing that didn''t change was the dangerous smile on his face.


    As soon as the woman sensed that something was about to go wrong, she saw a small black sphere emerging from the ground in front of her, slowly growing larger. Things around it began being sucked in violently. The air, which had seemed still moments ago, was being forcefully pulled into the growing sphere.


    Before long, the sphere''s size increased, pulling in nearby trees and the ground itself. Within moments, a massive crater had formed. Whether it was dirt or trees, nothing could escape this voracious beast.


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    The woman was slightly shaken, for she had never seen anything like it in her life.


    A girl watching from afar murmured, "This is absolute destruction¡­No it''s Disaster."


    Suddenly, a flying sword pierced straight through her head. Her eyes were wide open, even as the sword split her forehead apart. She couldn''t comprehend how she was still able to think when a sword was lodged inside her brain.


    Then suddenly, a girl woke up in her bed, gasping for air and clutching her chest. "What was that? A dream, or¡­ the future?"


    Victoria greeted the man standing before her, saying, "My Majesty, the princess has returning, and the Dark Moon rumors turned out to be false."


    Vincent Griffin, who was staring at a map laid out before him, spoke in a stern tone, "If that''s all, you may leave."


    Victoria nodded, saying, "Yes, sir."


    As she turned to leave, she stopped and added, "But this is wrong. The entire Silver City has been destroyed. Don''t you think this is going too far? Their thirst for blood grows stronger every day, and they''re becoming increasingly violent."


    Vincent Griffin paused for a moment and replied, "Fine, then. Make the necessary arrangements and spread the news that the city was attacked by beasts.


    No one should suspect anything."


    Victoria stepped back for a moment and said, "I''m sorry, but this is too much. Have you forgotten your purpose? Your goal was to restore humanity¡­"


    Vincent Griffin, enraged, interrupted, "Keep your mouth shut! You know that to achieve great things, small sacrifices must be made.


    And don''t forget, your hands are stained with blood too¡ªyour own family''s blood, Victor."


    Victoria bit her lip in anger and said, "But for how long? You know it''s becoming increasingly difficult to control their bloodlust.


    You have to make a decision, no matter how much you love them."


    You decided to turn her into vampire to save her life, not so they could take the lives of your other children¡ªyour country''s peoples.


    If I''ve said too much, forgive me. I''ll take my leave now. Anyway, tomorrow the potential of the heroes will be assessed, along with their future.


    With that, Victoria left the room.


    The moon in the sky, spotless and radiant, shone brightly. Looking at it with a smile, Isabella held a glass of red wine and said, "I''m coming back.


    Let''s see how long your two days of life will last."


    In a dark room, a boy sat with all the windows and doors shut. This was none other than Akira Nakamura, who was staring at the cat-shaped mark on his hand.


    "Ridiculous! What kind of ability is this? Just a mark and nothing else. Looks like life is going to be as useless as it always was."


    He began to recall the past.


    A boy sneered, "Hey, loser.


    Didn''t I tell you not to come here without bringing money?"


    Turning to the two boys beside him, he commanded, "Strip him of all his clothes!"


    They beat him mercilessly.


    After a while, the boy said as he walked away, "Now, go home, loser, without your clothes!"


    The boy being humiliated yelled, "Hey Akira! Did you record the video properly? I better look like the hero in it!"


    Akira replied, "Yeah, it''s recorded. So, whose turn is it next?"


    The boy smirked and said, "Yours."


    Akira laughed nervously and said, "You''re joking, right?" His voice trembled.


    The boy grinned and said, "Told you, he''d be scared! Ha ha ha!"


    The other boys around burst into laughter, mocking him.


    Akira forced a smile to hide his fear and joined their laughter. "You guys almost scared me to death. So, where do we upload this? YouTube or Facebook?"


    Turning around, he saw the boy lying on the ground, looking back at him. Akira could see the disappointment on his face.


    Though Akira wore a smile, his heart was filled with pain. It had to be this way because the boy in front of him, beaten and humiliated, was none other than his childhood friend.


    At that moment, Akira realized how much of a coward he was. He started to hate himself.


    But one day, everything changed when he arrived in another world. Yet now, as he stared at the cat-shaped mark on his hand,


    his heart was breaking because he didn''t want to feel that same weakness again, where someone stronger would come and crush him over and over.


    He had believed that this time, things would change, but in the end, all his hopes were shattered.


    Tears welled up in Akira''s eyes, and one thought consumed his mind: Enough is enough. I can''t stay weak anymore. I need power¡­ power.

 Potentials

    The Next Day


    Victoria: "I hope all of you had a good night''s sleep. By now, you must have a basic understanding of your abilities. Heroes?"


    A voice emerged from the crowd, "Yes, of course! Yesterday, I discovered how good I am at cutting hair. I should have become a barber!"


    Hearing this, Victoria looked slightly puzzled. "I don''t understand," he said.


    Aniket was about to say something further when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his foot. He looked down to see Alice, standing next to him, stomping on his foot with force.


    Her face seemed calm, but Aniket knew she was furious. If there weren''t people around, she might have grabbed and beaten him.


    In a low voice, Alice threatened, "If you mention this again, next time, I''ll use my ability on you and turn you into a complete ape."


    Controlling his pain, Aniket pleaded, "Oh, my dear sister, please let go of my foot. I won''t say it again, I promise."


    Setting this drama aside, someone asked, "Why exactly have we been called here?"


    Maintaining his composure, Victoria responded, "That''s a very good question.


    You''ve been gathered here to learn about your potential.


    For your information, potential is not directly related to your abilities. Instead, it is tied to your physical strength.


    Potential determines how quickly you can grow your stats, which is crucial since you cannot always rely solely on abilities."


    He continued, "Potential is divided into several tiers. First is Bronze, then Silver, followed by Gold, Diamond, and finally Platinum, which is considered the limit. However, legends speak of another level, referred to as¡­"


    Everyone was now fully attentive, hanging on his every word.


    Victoria confidently concluded, "I don''t know."


    The crowd collectively gasped. They had expected to learn something critical, but Victoria''s answer dashed their hopes.


    Victoria then gestured towards the devices in front of them. "As you can see, these instruments will help determine your potential. If you face any issues, feel free to ask us."


    A boy raised his hand and asked, "I have a question. What if someone doesn''t know their ability?"


    Victoria: "In that case, you''ll need the help of an Appraisal Artifact. If required, I can arrange one for you. Hero, Akira Nakamura."


    Akira, beaming with excitement, said, "Thank you so much for that."


    Standing nearby, Aniket remarked, "Don''t you think these people are being a bit too nice?"


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Alice, taking a deep breath, replied, "I don''t know. But honestly, we have no choice but to trust them in this unfamiliar world."


    Then, irritated, she added, "And could you stop staring at my face now?"


    Aniket quickly defended himself, "I was just noticing how well the hair removal spray you enhanced worked. Look, no one can even tell that your beard¡­"


    Alice: "Enough! Stop reminding me about that thing again and again, or else..."


    Avinash interjected, "Mr. Victoria, we still don''t fully understand why we''ve been brought here. You''ve only mentioned that it''s to restore humanity''s old glory, but we genuinely don''t know what that means."


    Victoria, turning toward Avinash, replied, "It seems you haven''t read the books properly. They contain all the necessary information. Judging by your faces, it appears most of you haven''t gone through them either."


    He continued, "In recent years, humanity has grown significantly weaker. Compared to other species, it''s becoming increasingly difficult for us to survive. We''ve even been forced to sign a treaty with our greatest enemies¡ªthe Demons¡ªfor protection.


    "Other species have been encroaching on human borders steadily. If this continues, it won''t be long before humanity is reduced to being slaves to those species."


    Victoria paused and then declared, "This is why we need your strength, heroes. You may be weak now, but your powers will grow rapidly over time."


    A nervous voice from the crowd asked, "Does that mean we''ll have to fight a war?"


    Victoria reassured them, "Nothing of the sort is expected. But if the situation arises, we won''t back down."


    Someone muttered sarcastically, "So it''s the same old story¡ªheroes summoned to another world to defeat the Demon King. We just have to do the same, right?"


    Victoria, with a calm yet firm tone, corrected them, "I''m sorry, hero, but you''re mistaken. The Demon King has already been killed. I think it''s time I tell you everything."


    15 Years Ago


    Victoria began, "Due to the terror caused by the Demon King, we summoned a few heroes. When they reached his castle to defeat him, they discovered that the Demon King was already dead. Not a single member of his family had survived.


    "It seemed like the Demon King had taken his own life. But why? The answer was found in his diary. The heroes learned that someone had been forcibly controlling the Demon King''s mind to carry out their plans.


    "To protect his race, the Demon King sacrificed his family and his own life.


    "But that''s when the true evil emerged¡ªa malevolent spirit that thrived on every form of negative emotion. It came to be known as the Devil King.


    "The heroes gave their lives to defeat this evil spirit and put an end to the endless cycle of war.


    "However, the aftermath of the war left humanity in a dire state. While the Demons quickly regained their strength, humanity remained weakened.


    "Other species, sensing our vulnerability, betrayed us and began seizing our territories bit by bit."


    Victoria concluded, "This is why we desperately need your help, heroes."


    Back to the Present


    A voice called out, "Miss Victoria."


    Victoria turned her attention toward the speaker.


    Aniket quipped, "The story was kind of boring."


    Victoria, maintaining his composure but with a hint of sadness, responded, "I''m sorry, hero, but this is the truth."


    Another voice chimed in, "So, how do we check our potential?"


    Victoria explained, "You''ve been provided with special artifacts, crafted under the guidance of past heroes. These artifacts will give you accurate information about your potential and stats."


    Some Time Later


    Everyone now had a bracelet in their hands. Someone asked, "What do we need to do to activate it?"


    "Maybe we have to say ''status''?" another suggested.


    Victoria clarified, "To activate any artifact, both authority and command are essential. Authority is established when the artifact comes into contact with your blood. The command, however, is usually set to the word ''activate,'' but for some specific artifacts, it can vary.


    "As for the artifact in your hands, the command to activate it is: ''Mai Ka Lal Jai Kishan.''"


    Someone quipped, "You mean ''Michael Jackson,'' right?"


    Victoria repeated sternly, "Absolutely not. It is Mai Ka Lal Jai Kishan."


    Aniket, grinning, remarked, "Whoever designed this must definitely be from India. So, we need to drop a single drop of blood on it first, right?"


    After Activation


    One person exclaimed, "Wow, I have Bronze rank!"


    Alice turned to Aniket and said, "You''re at Bronze? My rank is Gold."


    A loud voice interrupted, "There must be a mistake! How can I be Bronze?!" It was Akira. "I think something''s wrong with this system!" he added, but no one paid much attention as everyone was too absorbed in their own results.


    Avinash, filled with hope, checked his status, praying for a good rank. However, when he opened his eyes, he saw it: Bronze. The lowest rank. His heart sank.


    Meanwhile, someone shouted joyfully, "I got Diamond rank!"


    Another voice chimed in, "Mine''s Gold. I wish it had been Platinum or Diamond."


    The chatter continued, with everyone reacting to their ranks.


    Amidst this, someone stared at their status and muttered, "Nameless. What rank is that?"


    Victoria, noticing this, quickly apologized, "Excuse me, but I need to leave for an urgent matter. Xavier will explain everything else to you."


    With that, he left the room. After walking some distance, he took off a ring, put it on, and recalled the face of a girl sticking her tongue out at him. With a mix of irritation and embarrassment, he muttered under his breath, "Mai Ka Lal Jai Kishan."


    Saying it made him feel utterly humiliated.


    A status window appeared before him, displaying the ranks of all the participants. Scanning the list from top to bottom, Victoria muttered, "What a trash. Most of them are Bronze rank."


    The calm demeanor he usually wore was replaced by visible frustration.


    Then his gaze fell on a name: Saira - Potential Rank: Nameless.


    Victoria froze. Time seemed to stop as his hands began to tremble.


    Suddenly, he sprinted down the corridor, muttering to himself, "I must inform His Majesty about this immediately!"

 Mistake and Encounter

    "Nameless, are you sure about this?"


    Victoria replied, "No doubt about it. Of course, you can see for yourself, Your Majesty."


    As soon as Vincent Griffin saw the word "Nameless" on the list in front of him, his hands started trembling, and a dangerous smile spread across his face.


    "Vincent Griffin," he ordered, "separate the blood as possible from this hero and store it apart from the rest."


    Victoria responded confidently, "Yes, this order has already been executed."


    Vincent Griffin began laughing maniacally, "The time has come to bring the entire world under my control!"


    "My name is Xavier. You probably don''t know me, but I''m going to be your training guide, helping you enhance your powers."


    Some of you look a bit downcast, and I know why. You''re worried about your low potential.


    But let me tell you this: potential doesn''t matter. If you have a powerful ability, you can make the whole world dance to your tune, regardless of your potential rank.


    And the second, most important thing: potential can be increased with the help of certain rare medical herbs. So, there''s no need to worry about how low your potential might seem.


    Hearing this, more than half the people standing there gained some hope.


    Akira thought to himself, Great! There''s still a chance for me to become even stronger. I have an opportunity. His heart was bursting with joy.


    Avinash softly said, "System, activate."


    Slowly, a loading screen appeared, followed by a gaming window.


    Avinash was thinking about which game to try first to understand his ability better. Many games were running through his mind, but all of them seemed out of reach.


    In the meantime, Avinash learned some new things, like how keeping the gaming window active also consumed mana. Additionally, downloading or playing any game required mana as well.


    So, given the current situation, the best option would be any 2D game with a size of 50M or less.


    "Alright, let''s search accordingly," he decided.


    In the window before him, several game options appeared, most of them around 50M in size.


    Avinash was looking at these options when suddenly someone shouted loudly, "You have a system?!"


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    Avinash was startled. He couldn''t understand what had just happened. He looked at the boy standing in front of him, whose eyes were wide with shock.


    In no time, everyone''s attention shifted toward him.


    The crowd began murmuring, "Look, he has a system!" One after another, people started discussing the same thing.


    Avinash had thought this system would only be visible to him, just like in other stories. But this situation was entirely different.


    Everyone was staring at him as if he had committed a grave crime.


    The atmosphere had become unbearably awkward for Avinash. He didn''t know what to do or say.


    Aniket remarked, "Wow! This doesn''t look like just a status display; it''s definitely a system. But why does he have it? I want one too!"


    Xavier was losing his temper because everyone was now ignoring him, and no one was paying attention to what he was saying. He glared at Avinash, who had unknowingly drawn everyone''s attention.


    Seeing Xavier turn his gaze toward him, Avinash panicked even more. In his haste, he tried to turn off the window but accidentally installed a game. The download started at an unexpectedly high speed.


    Avinash wanted to cancel it, but the gaming window disappeared because he had already issued the close command.


    Now, Avinash realized that a significant amount of mana was about to be wasted. But even more troubling was the fact that everyone was staring at him.


    Some people were shocked, others were angry, a few were consumed with jealousy to the point of wanting to kill him, and some just wanted to learn more about what had happened.


    Among the crowd, someone clenched their fists in anger while glaring at Avinash.


    Avinash stammered, "Guys, I can explain. This isn''t what you think it is!"


    A moment later, someone commented, "So, that was his ability? I thought he was the Chosen One."


    The boy standing next to him said, "Hurry up, we need to gather at the training ground. They said training will significantly boost our stats. The higher our potential rank, the faster we''ll improve."


    "Sure, my potential rank might be low, but with my ability, I can easily take both of you down!"


    "You''re quite the comedian. But don''t underestimate my ability either."


    Everyone had gathered at the training ground. Xavier, sounding like a military instructor, shouted, "I expect all of you to take this training seriously starting today!


    "And please forgive us for the strict measures we''ll be taking from now on."


    "I have good news for all of you," Xavier announced. "Each of you will be assigned a personal instructor to assist with your training. But before that, it''s crucial for us to determine your potential ranks. You can register your rank at the tables in front of you, with the officials seated there."


    Aniket grabbed a loudspeaker and shouted, "What if I refuse to share mine?"


    Everyone covered their ears, and someone yelled, "Why does he even have a loudspeaker?"


    Xavier, plugging his ears and clapping near them to check if he could still hear, replied, "As I said before, your wishes will be respected. We won''t force you to share anything. If you choose not to disclose your rank, that''s perfectly fine."


    Someone in the crowd commented, "He''s right. Besides, what difference does sharing your potential make?"


    Another voice snapped back, "Shut up! I refuse to share mine too. I''m with that guy."


    The crowd quickly split into two groups: those who registered their ranks and those who didn''t.


    Aniket''s words had a significant impact, leading 70 out of the 100 participants to refuse registration.


    Aniket smirked and muttered, "What nonsense. These people sure know how to put on a show, don''t they? Am I right or what?"


    As Aniket turned to his right, he paused and asked, "Who are you? And where''s Alice?"


    The girl standing nearby replied, "I don''t know any Alice. My name is Li Mei."


    Aniket said, "Interesting name."


    Li Mei, curious, asked, "What were you talking about just now?"


    With a sly smile, Aniket replied, "Do you want to know? Alright, listen carefully. A while ago, that man or woman¡ªwhoever it was¡ªsaid we''d need an appraisal artifact for evaluation. Clearly, they''re using it to assess our capabilities. That artifact they gave us? It''s these bracelets we''re wearing." He gestured toward his bracelet.


    Li Mei frowned. "I still don''t follow. Can you explain properly?"


    Aniket took a deep breath and said, "Fine. They already have all our information. This whole evaluation process is just a formality. They know our abilities, our potential¡ªeverything.


    "And they''re hiding a lot from us. Don''t you think it''s suspicious that they''ve gathered 100 people like this? That must''ve taken a significant amount of energy. I''m sure they have other motives.


    "Also, the books they gave us¡ªthey''re newly written. How can we trust them? On top of that, none of the staff, not even the maids, have tried to communicate with us properly."


    Just then, a voice interrupted, "Pardon me for intruding on your conversation, Hero. Li Mei, I am your personal instructor." A woman stepped forward and introduced herself.


    Li Mei''s suspicions were confirmed. These people knew everything, and there was truth in the boy''s words. She had never told anyone her name, so how did they know it?


    Aniket glanced around but saw no one come for him. Their instructors were standing beside them all except him.? Lifting the loudspeaker again, he was about to say something when Xavier sprinted toward him, shouting, "Please, Hero! Spare my ears!"


    Catching his breath, Xavier said, "I am your personal instructor. It''s a pleasure to meet you again."


    Fate seemed to be playing an odd game. The man who stood before Aniket was the same person who had tortured him in the prison. If Aniket remembered that moment, the man wouldn''t have lasted a second; his body has been split in two parts.


    Aniket glared at him and muttered, "You..."

 Old Friend

    Avinash, panting heavily, struggled to take even a single step forward. As he attempted to take another, his legs trembled violently, and he collapsed onto the ground with a thud.


    Barely able to lift his head, Avinash looked at the man sitting before him. This guy is completely insane, he thought. If he keeps training me like this, I''ll end up dead.


    Avinash recalled their first meeting. The man, with a smile on his face, had said, "Hero, my name is David, and I''m thrilled to work with you. I''ll do everything I can to make you stronger. So, let''s start training together!"


    Now, David taunted him, "Hero, what happened to you? You can''t even handle triple gravity? I thought I''d start your training under five times gravity!"


    "It''s only been three hours, and you''ve already taken five breaks."


    In a faint voice, Avinash asked, "Can I rest a little longer?"


    David shrugged, "As you wish. Fine, we''ll resume training in half an hour."


    Cursing him silently, Avinash thought, You mother... Why is this guy so obsessed with training? He then turned his gaze to his status screen, which he had left open to avoid repeatedly uttering the same awkward words.


    Status


    Strength: 3 (+0.3)


    Agility: 4 (+0.5)


    Defense: 0.3 (+0.01)


    Intelligence: Low


    Recovery: 0.2


    Potential: Bronze


    Mana: 100/67


    Ability Rank: F


    David extended his hand to help Avinash up from the ground. Avinash''s eyes fell on the black mark on David''s hand, something he was sure he''d seen before.


    It reminded him of the second man who had come to the prison after the priest''s death. That man also had a similar mark on his hand.


    David asked, "What''s wrong? Why are you staring at my hand?"


    Taking a deep breath, Avinash replied, "It''s nothing. I''m just a bit tired and was lost in thought."


    After David left, Avinash noticed two people training nearby¡ªXavier and Aniket. Seeing them, he became certain of one thing: the trainers were the same people who used to come to his prison to draw his blood.


    Quietly, Avinash muttered, "What do these people want to achieve? But one thing is clear¡ªthey''ll exploit us in every possible way."


    Just then, a voice called out from behind him, "It''s been a while, hasn''t it?"


    Avinash turns around, and as soon as he sees the boy standing behind him, his face fills with anger. He growls, "What are you doing here, Karan Singhania? I clearly remember you ran away to America."


    Karan, in a slightly nervous voice, replies, "I didn''t run away. I relocated. I know you''re furious with me, but please forgive me. Back then, I was scared. Please try to understand. I didn''t know my little lie would create such a huge mess."


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    Walking away, Avinash says, "I have nothing to talk about with you."


    Karan tries to stop him, pleading, "Please, listen to me. Can''t we go back to being friends like before? Won''t you give me another chance? Can''t you forgive your best friend? Please, Avinash. I regret everything. I admit my mistake, so please forgive me."


    Avinash halts in his tracks, turns around, and says, "Fine, one last time."


    Hearing this, Karan beams with joy and says, "Thank God! We''re friends again." He hugs Avinash tightly and says, "I missed you so much. When I first saw you here, I couldn''t believe it was you. Who would''ve thought we''d meet like this?"


    Avinash, with a blank expression, mutters, "Yeah, I didn''t expect this either."


    Curious, he asks, "By the way, what ability do you have?"


    Karan responds, "It''s pretty strange. I can devour any creature''s special traits."


    Avinash, narrowing his eyes, asks, "So, you can steal their traits and use them for yourself?"


    Karan nods, "Yeah, you can say that. But it''s nothing compared to your ability. I''ve heard you have a system."


    Avinash sighs and says with disappointment, "It''s nothing special. I just have a gaming window that lets me download and play games. My ability is completely useless."


    Karan tries to console him, "Don''t worry. Your potential must be really great, right?"


    Avinash shakes his head and says, "As always, my luck is terrible. Just a bronze rank. I don''t think I''ll¡ª"


    Before he can finish, Karan loudly declares, "I want to spar with you!"


    Avinash, startled, mutters, "Huh?"


    With a dangerous smile, Karan says, "So that means you''ve accepted my request." Without waiting for an answer, he throws a powerful punch at Avinash''s face.


    Caught completely off guard, Avinash is sent flying backward by the sheer force of the blow.


    Avinash, struggling to regain his balance, placed his hand on his bleeding nose, trying to process what had just happened.


    Karan, glancing at his fists, smirked and said, "Wow, after just a little training, I feel like I''ve become a superhuman. Now, no one can save you from me." With that, he charged toward Avinash with no intention of letting him escape.


    Wiping the blood from his nose, Avinash growled, "You''re still a coward, just like always. You made sure first that you could handle my ability and potential before attacking. Coward!"


    With a roar, he yelled, "I won''t let you live!" and launched a punch at Karan. But his eyes widened in shock as he noticed Karan''s eyes¡ªthey had transformed, resembling those of a fly: red and divided into multiple visions.


    Effortlessly, Karan dodged Avinash''s punch and delivered a powerful kick straight to his stomach.


    Clutching his abdomen in pain, Avinash struggled to figure out what to do. It didn''t take him long to realize that his stats were no match for his opponent''s.


    In that moment, Avinash understood how the gap in potential rank could create an insurmountable divide between him and his enemies.


    Despite three hours of grueling training, his status had barely improved due to being bronze-ranked. Meanwhile, his opponent had grown as strong as a superhuman in just a few hours of training.


    Nearby, Akira, who had been watching the scene unfold, turned to the instructor and said, "Aren''t you going to stop this?"


    The instructor replied calmly, "This is the hero''s personal matter. We can''t interfere unless someone''s life is in danger. Besides, there''s no need to worry. If they get injured, they can be healed again."


    Fuming, Akira retorted, "Can''t you see he''s being beaten badly? If this keeps going¡­"


    The instructor interrupted, "I''m sorry, but there''s nothing I can do. They''re sparring under the supervision of the other boy''s instructor. It''s not my place to intervene."


    Noticing Akira''s rising anger, the instructor added, "However, if the other boy''s instructor shows up, he could stop it. Unfortunately, the bad news is that his instructor is probably drunk by now. I''d bet he''s passed out somewhere because, after noon, he turns into a complete drunkard."


    Hearing this, Akira realized that this world wasn''t much different from his old life, where the strong always crushed the weak.


    The other onlookers remained silent, watching the scene unfold. Everyone knew what was happening was wrong, but no one stepped in to stop it. A few had approached the instructor, but his responses were as disappointing as ever.


    Avinash, who was being brutally beaten, suddenly grabbed Karan''s hands and stared directly into his eyes. Karan felt a shiver run through his body.


    Trying to regain his composure, Karan delivered a powerful kick to Avinash''s face. Avinash, writhing in pain on the ground, attempted to get up, only to see another kick aimed straight at his face.


    Just then, someone shouted, "Justice Hero is here!" A shadow swiftly advanced and caught Karan''s leg mid-air, flinging him away. Karan skidded across the ground and, filled with rage, stood up, yelling, "You mental basterd! What are you doing here?"


    Standing before him was James, draped in red cloth like a cape and with his face partially covered by a scarf.


    Laughing, James declared, "The superhero will punish you!"


    He landed a powerful punch on Karan''s face. Karan smirked, saying, "Your attacks are useless against me," but the punch broke his nose and sent him crashing to the ground, smashing through wooden training weapons.


    Karan, stunned, thought, How can this lunatic be so strong? My potential is diamond rank, yet his power surpasses mine. Could he be platinum rank?


    As Karan pondered, James advanced and kicked him in the face, launching him into the air. Karan landed headfirst, groaning in pain.


    James turned to Avinash and said, "No need to thank the superhero."


    Avinash, chuckling through his pain, replied, "Ah¡­ but I will anyway. Thank you."


    From behind, Karan, consumed with rage, screamed, "Enough!" He transformed his hand into a sharp, blood-red claw resembling an ant''s leg.


    One of the instructors gasped, "A Metal Ant claw? But why does this kid have it? No¡­ his hand itself has changed!"


    He continued, "Metal Ants are a rare species, known for eating metal and lifting objects a thousand times their weight. They possess immense strength and defense, earning their place among the most dangerous low-rank monsters. Let''s hope nothing terrible happens."


    Karan, now with his transformed claw, charged toward James in fury. Suddenly, a gunshot echoed, and a bullet grazed Karan''s ear.


    A deep voice boomed, "Oya!, you walking freakshow. I''ve had enough of you.Stop and say sorry ."


    It was Aniket, holding a gun aimed directly at Karan. Calmly, he added, "Sure, your fly-like eyes may help you see things in slow motion, but I doubt they''ll save you from dodging a bullet."


    Pointing his gun unwaveringly, Aniket continued, "So do yourself a favor. Pick up your dirty ass and leave."


    Frozen in fear, Karan clenched his teeth and muttered angrily, "I''ll deal with you later."

 Im in game

    The sound of another gunshot is heard, and the bullet once again narrowly misses Karan. Aniket, in anger, says, "Stop delivering those old dialogues and get out of here.


    Before I make another hole in your ass."


    Karan, swallowing his anger, leaves the place.


    Aniket looks around to see that everyone was staring at him. Seeing this, he says, "Do you all want to fight too? Come on, let''s fight."


    Hearing this, everyone quietly avoided making eye contact with him.


    James, laughing, says, "Can I get a gun too?"


    To this, Aniket replies, "Why not, but a water gun."


    Xavier from behind says, "Where are you going?"


    Aniket angrily responds, "I''m going to rest. Do you have a problem with that too?"


    A strange silence had settled there. Alice softly says, "What happened with him?"


    After a while,


    A rather fat instructor comes alone and sits beside Avinash, asking, "You didn''t get hurt too badly, did you?"


    Avinash was surprised because the instructor''s weight was excessive, almost resembling a sumo wrestler.


    In response, Avinash says, "I think I''m fine."


    The instructor says, "Look at your condition first," and then extends his hand toward him. Holding Avinash''s hand, Avinash tries to understand what the instructor was trying to do.


    He notices the fat instructor sweating profusely, and the sweat seems to evaporate rapidly. The sweat flows down his body and reaches Avinash''s hand, and soon it starts covering Avinash''s hand.


    Avinash tries to pull his hand away with a disgusted expression, saying, "What is this? What are you doing?" But the instructor does not let go of his hand, and soon the sweat seems to absorb into Avinash''s body.


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    However, Avinash, who kept trying to break free, feels that the pain in his body has significantly reduced. He notices that his wounds are healing, and the bruises from the fight have almost disappeared.


    Avinash thinks, "What kind of healing ability is this?" He also finds it absurd that someone else''s sweat has entered his body.


    The instructor, letting go of his hand with a jerk, says, "Sorry, I know my ability is a bit strange, but it was necessary. I suppose you were planning to wait here?"


    "But you should go and rest."


    Avinash says, "But that instructor..."


    The fat instructor standing nearby says, "I don''t think he''s coming. Besides, he becomes a complete drunkard after noon. So don''t expect him to show up."


    "Go to your room and rest, boy... I mean, hero."


    Avinash starts to leave, and someone says, "Instructor, can I go to rest too?"


    The instructor, questioning, says, "But you don''t look tired. Never mind, you can go, hero."


    Hearing this, the girl quickly runs off. Watching her run so fast, the instructor says, "What a strange girl. What''s the rush?"


    Avinash, who was heading to his room, is suddenly grabbed by a hand emerging from the darkness.


    He wants to scream loudly but feels a soft hand covering his mouth. A girl''s soft voice whispers, "Be quiet. It''s me."


    Avinash looks closely at the girl''s face and says, "It''s you! I remember you well. You''re the one from that time."


    The girl says, "Don''t remind me. You almost threw up on my hand."


    Avinash, nervous, says, "I''m sorry for that. But what are you doing here at this time?"


    The girl says, "I''ve found out the place where they''ve kept our blood."


    Avinash says, "What!"


    The girl tells him, "Keep your voice down."


    Avinash, surprised, asks, "But how did you find out about this?"


    The girl replies, "It''s connected to my ability, so I know about it."


    "Will you come with me there tomorrow night?" she asks.


    Blushing, Avinash says, "That''s fine, but could you step back a little? You''re standing a bit too close to me."


    As soon as the girl realizes this, she begins to move back, but her attention is drawn to a boy staring at them. Akira, flustered, says, "Sorry, I didn''t hear anything. I just got here. You guys carry on with whatever you''re doing. I''m leaving."


    With that, he quickly walks away.


    The girl, in a serious tone, says, "Do you think he overheard us?"


    Avinash replies, "Doesn''t seem like it, but judging by his expression, it looks like he misunderstood something entirely different."


    Walking back toward the training ground, Akira thinks to himself, Couldn''t these lovebirds find another place? They start anywhere they like!


    A while later, Avinash enters his room and collapses on the bed. But as the incident with the sweat comes to mind, he says, "I think I need to take a shower first."


    After bathing, he lies down on the bed again, but then remembers he had left something unfinished. He quickly opens his Gaming Window.


    Status


    Name: Avinash


    Race: Human (Another Worlder)


    Age: 17


    Gender: Male


    Ability: Gaming Window


    Mana: 100/78


    Downloads: 01


    After reviewing his status, Avinash navigates to the Games section, where he sees a game titled Shadow Ninja Assassin Load.


    Curious, he open it, and the loading screen appears.


    Loading...


    Loading... 10%


    Loading... 40%


    Loading... 74%


    Loading... 99%


    Loading... 99.999990%


    Loading... 99.999999999999990%


    Frustrated, Avinash says, "What kind of nonsense is this?"


    Suddenly, the surroundings grow dark. He is confused and doesn''t understand what''s happening. When he opens his eyes, he finds himself in an entirely different place.


    As he looks around, a glowing scroll appears before him, with text slowly forming on it:


    Shadow Ninja Assassin Load


    Behind Tokyo''s neon lights lies a mysterious organization, Kurokami. This group trains ruthless assassins from childhood¡ªfast, deadly, and precise. Among them is Raiden, known for his lightning-fast speed and accuracy.


    But Raiden is different from the rest. A deep fire burns within him¡ªto destroy Kurokami, the very organization that made him a warrior but also took his parents from him.


    Born in the darkness, Raiden is now ready to extinguish it. But the question remains¡ªcan he survive against assassins like himself, or will Kurokami''s shadow consume him forever?


    Avinash stares at the scroll and says, "What is this? The introduction to a game?"


    He pauses, his eyes widening in realization.


    "Wait... I''m in the game!"

 Hunting Begins

    Avinash, despite being frustrated, says, "Now what do I have to do? Wait, status."


    Nothing happened.


    After a long attempt, a few options appeared:


    Settings


    Resume


    Sound


    Music


    Exit


    Avinash was considering exiting when suddenly he remembered the moment when Karan had brutally beaten him. Remembering this, he changed his mind.


    Avinash was ready to restart the game, although he was quite annoyed that he always had to operate it through voice commands, which felt awkward. If there were people around him, they would definitely think he was crazy.


    Avinash began to observe his surroundings, which looked like the interior of an ancient Japanese house. He had only seen traditional Japanese homes on TV, and seeing it now left him astonished.


    As he was closely examining his surroundings, he noticed an old scroll lying in front of him. It read:


    Act 1


    Survive


    "Some people are chasing you to kill you. You are running to escape them, but you have no options left. Either you die or eliminate them."


    Targets:


    1. Stay alive.


    2. Eliminate all enemies.


    3. Complete within 2 days.


    Tutorial


    Avinash noticed an arrow floating in the air, pointing toward the door. As soon as he stepped outside, he saw a shooting target with a green zone marked right in front of it.


    Avinash muttered to himself, "It seems like this is a tutorial. Am I inside the game right now? No, that can''t be possible. To my knowledge, no F-rank ability can do all this. This must mean only my consciousness is here."


    Avinash walked into the green zone and noticed a cross mark on the target in front of him. He couldn''t figure out what to do next.


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    He had played similar games before, but in those, skill slots would be displayed on the screen to use any skills.


    Avinash hesitated for a moment and then said, "Skill activate."


    But nothing happened. Silence surrounded him.


    Avinash thought, "I have to shoot at the target. But with what? I don''t have a bow or arrow, nor do I have shurikens like a ninja."


    Suddenly, a ninja shuriken appeared in Avinash''s hand out of nowhere and immediately strike on the ground.


    Seeing this, he understood what he needed to do. Avinash pointed his hand toward the target and said, "Shuriken attack."


    With a swift motion, the shuriken hit the target. Avinash, delighted, exclaimed, "That was great! But these voice commands are really annoying. I wish there was character information..."


    No sooner had he said this than another scroll appeared in front of him, floating in the air, with the following details:


    Name: Raiden


    Life: 1


    Main Weapon: Sword


    Skills:


    Shuriken Throwing:


    Expert in attacking with shurikens. Your aim is sharp and precise. Capable of attacking within a 50-meter range. (Type: Active, Cooldown: None)


    Double Jump:


    Using your internal energy, you create a powerful air effect with your feet that helps you jump a second time. (Type: Passive, Cooldown: None)


    Speed Dash:


    Using internal energy, you can propel yourself forward with a burst of wind, covering up to 10 meters. (Cooldown: 0.5 seconds)


    Substitute:


    You can merge with your surroundings and take the form of an object to deceive enemies for up to 1 minute. (Cooldown: 30 seconds)


    After reading everything carefully, Avinash said, "I should have done this earlier."


    He then began completing the tutorial:


    Jumping over the house and performing a double jump.


    Attacking a dummy with a sword ten times.


    Hiding by transforming into a bush.


    Using the dash skill.


    After doing all this, Avinash felt like he had become a real ninja. He was especially pleased with the ability to attack anywhere with a shuriken using just hand gestures and commands.


    Avinash noticed another arrow pointing him to leave the house. As he followed it and stepped outside, a group of people came running toward him.


    They were armed, and one of them fired an old gun. Avinash narrowly dodged the bullet using his dash skill.


    Had he not used the dash, it would have been nearly impossible to save his head from the bullet. Avinash realized that the tutorial was over, and now the real danger had begun.


    He understood that if he didn''t escape now, he would surely die at their hands. He didn''t know whether dying in the game meant dying in real life, but he wasn''t willing to take any chances. So, he started running as fast as he could.


    One of the men shouted, "Why is he running like an amateur? Is he really the ninja assassin?"


    Another man replied, "Shut up! Does it matter whether he is or isn''t? We just have to kill him. And anyway, if he''s just an ordinary guy, it''s even better for us. The hunt will be more fun!"


    Avinash was running as fast as he could, saying to himself, "Run, Avinash, run! Or you''re not going to make it."


    He glanced back and saw the pursuers closing in rapidly. Realizing that he would be caught if he continued running at this pace, he began using his dash skill repeatedly, creating a significant gap between himself and the enemies.


    One of the men chasing him shouted, "He''s just running fast! Shoot him quickly!"


    The gunman stopped to reload his weapon. It was an old gun that could fire only one shot at a time and took considerable time to reload. This caused him to fall behind the group. As he reloaded, he yelled, "Everyone, clear the way!" His companions moved aside from his line of sight.


    The gunman stood still, aiming carefully.


    When Avinash glanced back, his heart sank. The dash skill was on cooldown, and though the cooldown was brief, it was more than enough time for the gunman to aim and fire a deadly shot.


    Avinash immediately stopped, shouting, "Shuriken attack!"


    The shuriken flew forward with great speed, but Avinash''s aim was poor due to his panic, and he missed the target. However, the distraction was enough to delay the gunman, who hesitated and missed his chance to fire.


    Taking advantage of this, Avinash began using the dash skill vertically to make it harder for them to aim. As he ran, he threw shurikens behind him intermittently. Luckily, only one of the pursuers had a gun; the second carried a club, and the third wielded a sword.


    One of the chasers muttered, "Boss, if this keeps up, he''ll reach the forest."


    The leader, with a cruel smile, replied, "It doesn''t matter. He won''t escape us now. He''s already trapped."


    As Avinash pushed through bushes, he suddenly skidded to a halt. He had reached the edge of a cliff. Looking across, he estimated the gap to be at least 180 meters wide. Even with his dash or double jump, there was no way he could cross it.


    Avinash wanted to turn back, but men with clubs and swords had already blocked his way. The three pursuers arrived moments later, panting heavily.


    Avinash realized he had been lured here deliberately to prevent his escape. To make matters worse, there were no trees nearby to use as cover or to confuse his enemies.


    He muttered to himself, "This is it. I''m really in deep trouble now. Why are these NPC bastards so clever? And how the hell did they know I''d come here?"


    One of the men stepped forward. He was the leader, a muscular figure with a scar across his nose. He said, "So, you''re the infamous Raiden, the deadly ninja assassin whose very name sends shivers down people''s spines.


    What a shame that you''re about to die like this, at our hands."


    Avinash looked around desperately, but there was no way to escape. More men emerged from the bushes, bringing the total to fifteen. The situation worsened as he noticed three of them were armed with crossbows.

 The game wasn鈥檛 over

    In The Silence Of The Night


    Avinash finds himself in a situation where escaping seems almost impossible. At that moment, he remembers what was written on the scroll that had appeared before him:


    "Some people are chasing you to kill you. You are running to escape them, but now you have no choice left. Either you kill them, or you die."


    Recalling this, Avinash wonders, Do I really have to kill them? I know these people are NPCs, but their actions feel way too real.


    The boss of the group, holding a sword, moves toward and say in deep voice"So you are the famous raiden, Hearing This name, a thrill runs through people''s bodies."


    Avinash quickly draws his sword and, with his other hand, throws a shuriken. This momentarily startles the boss, and Avinash takes advantage of this to strike. His sword pierces slightly into the boss''s shoulder, but despite putting all his strength into it, Avinash cannot push the sword further.


    Frustrated, Avinash curses under his breath, What the hell! In movies, this sword can cut through anything. So why isn''t it working now? Isn''t this supposed to be the sharpest sword?


    (Of course, the sword Katana is an extraordinary weapon, but using it requires the proper technique, which Avinash clearly lacks at this moment.)


    Why isn''t it working, then? he thinks angrily. Without wasting time, he quickly uses a reverse dash to evade and barely avoids falling into the gorge behind him. His steps had brought him so close to the edge that even one small misstep would have sent him plunging into the abyss.


    The boss, now furious, shouts, "Stop playing games with me, bastard! Are you really the famous Raiden? Then fight me properly!"


    Avinash is even more tense now because he no longer has his sword. The only good thing is that his shuriken-throwing skill is highly effective, and he doesn''t have to worry about running out of them.


    But the boss yells to his followers, "Everyone, attack together!"


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    Avinash, who was already struggling to fight the boss alone, now faces the challenge of battling 15 enemies at once.


    At this moment, Avinash realized he had only two viable options: use his Speed Dash skill or keep throwing shurikens. Both Substitute and Double Jump were useless in this situation. If this were a normal game, those abilities might have been helpful, but here, they were of no use. If he tried to use Double Jump to get into the air, he would immediately become an easy target for crossbows and guns.


    Then, a crazy idea struck him. This game is almost like reality, right? So why not take advantage of it? He knew there was no cooldown for his Shuriken Attack and that he could adjust the angle of his dashes.


    I should rush them. I''m pretty sure my throat won''t thank me for what I''m about to do. With that thought, Avinash surged forward, using Dash consecutively. Thanks to his maneuver, he zipped past the leader on the right side. The leader, caught off guard, stood stunned for a moment.


    When he regained focus, he noticed something was missing¡ªhis sword. Avinash had stolen it using his Dash skill.


    Avinash knew that as soon as the Dash ended, a swarm of spears and attacks would rain down on him since the enemies were already poised to strike. Escaping was impossible now, and the best defense was a relentless offense.


    He understood that if he kept attacking nonstop, his enemies wouldn''t get a chance to counter. As soon as his Dash ended, Avinash began shouting the same command over and over again in a single breath:


    Shuriken Attack! Shuriken Attack! Shuriken Attack! Shuriken Attack! Shuriken Attack!


    He kept spamming attacks blindly, not caring if they hit or missed. All he cared about was unleashing an unstoppable barrage. Avinash had no idea how many shurikens he had launched; he had lost count.


    Suddenly, the sound of a gunshot rang out. A bullet grazed his arm and struck his shoulder. Avinash screamed in pain, gritting his teeth through the agony. Why the hell can I feel pain in this stupid game?! he cursed.


    Opening his eyes, he saw the ground littered with corpses. Some enemies had gotten dangerously close to him, but before they could land a hit, they were all dead.


    His gaze shifted to the gunman in the distance. The man''s body was riddled with shurikens, pierced so thoroughly that no part of his body remained unscathed.


    Surrounded by countless corpses, Avinash felt a wave of nausea. He was on the verge of throwing up. Sure, this was a game, but it felt far too real.


    If he hadn''t known it was a game, he might have already been traumatized by the act of killing so many people.


    As he prepared to leave, a voice called out from behind, "What kind of dark magic is this? You are a demon! I will kill you!"


    Avinash turned around to see that the boss was still alive. The man had managed to lie flat on the ground just in time to avoid fatal injuries. Although he was gravely wounded, the pain didn''t seem to matter to him anymore. All he wanted now was to tear apart the person standing in front of him with his bare hands.


    The boss''s eyes burned with rage and grief, knowing all his comrades had been slaughtered. With a furious scream, he yelled, "Worshipper of dark powers, die!" He pulled out a knife and charged at Avinash.


    Avinash steadied the sword in his hand, pointing its tip toward the boss''s face. Using Dash, he propelled forward in a swift motion, slicing the boss''s head clean off. The lifeless body toppled into the gorge below.


    Exhausted, Avinash collapsed to the ground, lying flat on his back. Placing a hand over his chest, he muttered, "This game is absolute garbage." But even as he said that, a faint smile crept across his face.


    He wasn''t entirely sure what he was feeling. Perhaps it was a strange sense of satisfaction¡ªafter all, he had just accomplished something he would never forget for the rest of his life.


    Taking a deep breath, Avinash said, "Finally, it''s over. Ugh, it still hurts so much."


    Suddenly, he froze. Wait, why hasn''t a mission completion message appeared? Don''t tell me¡­ I haven''t finished the mission yet.


    The game wasn''t over.

 Welcome in Tokyo

    Avinash, lying down, says, "According to the story of this game, right now I am Raiden, a ninja assassin being hunted by an organization called Kurokami.


    Based on the mission I''ve received, I must stay alive and eliminate all enemies. To finish the game, I either need to wipe out every member of the organization or survive for two days, which seems to be the time limit.


    But why is this only Act One?" Avinash says, "Forget it. It''s not like I''m stuck here forever. I can use the exit option anytime and get out."


    "My first priority should be to find the organization called Kurokami," he decides. Just then, his attention is drawn to his injured hand and shoulder. A bullet hole was visible in his hand, and blood was dripping continuously. The bullet fired by a gunman was still lodged in his shoulder.


    Seeing this, Avinash thinks, But first, I need treatment. Who knows, I might die from blood loss.


    With this thought, he starts to move but notices the corpses lying nearby.


    Avinash begins searching the bodies, hoping to find something useful¡ªmaybe some money. It felt strange to steal from the dead, but he knew he had no other choice.


    After the search, Avinash finds some weapons and money. Most of the weapons were of no use to him except for a sword.


    He couldn''t carry much because he didn''t have any storage facilities yet, and carrying too much would only slow him down.


    After bandaging his hand and shoulder with cloth, Avinash leaves the area. But then, someone behind him slowly opens their eyes and mutters, "I won''t let you live."


    After walking for a long time, Avinash starts getting frustrated. He was already severely injured, and on top of that, he had no idea about the paths.


    What made it worse was that if he used Dash, it might cause more harm to his body.


    After walking for a few more hours, he spots a residential area. Relieved, he takes a deep breath but knows he can''t enter through the main gate.


    It was already late at night, and the surroundings were quiet. Taking advantage of the silence, Avinash approaches a high wall, double-jumps onto a tree branch, takes a deep breath, and then double-jumps again, reaching considerable height. While in the air, he uses Dash.


    This allows him to easily cross the wall, but he hadn''t thought about how he would land. If this were a regular mobile game, falling wouldn''t have mattered, but¡­


    As soon as Avinash realizes this, he tries to use Dash again, but it was on cooldown. This meant he was definitely going to get hurt when he landed.


    And with a loud thud, he crashes to the ground. Nearby, a small boy eating some strange candy watches the scene and starts laughing.


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    The boy looks at Avinash and says in a lisping voice, "Fake ninja," before disappearing.


    Dusting off the dirt from his back, Avinash looks at his wounds and says, "This really hurts. Wasn''t there a small boy here just now? Maybe it was my imagination."


    "I need to find a doctor first."


    The part of ancient Tokyo where Avinash was present was extremely quiet. Beyond the walls, there were rows of small houses, with the faint light of lanterns flickering between them. In the distance, dogs barking and the soft tune of a shehnai playing in solitude could be heard.


    Avinash looks around and says, "Who would have thought my dream of visiting Japan would come true without actually going there?"


    Everything around him felt new¡ªwhether it was the buildings or the surroundings. But there was no time to admire the beauty of the place.


    Avinash didn''t know how the locals would react to him, so he thought, First, I need to get rid of these clothes. Even a kid mocked me and ran off.


    If I appear in front of someone in these clothes, they''ll definitely find me strange. Worse, if anyone from the organization spots me, I''m done for.


    Avinash quietly sneaks into a nearby house. Inside, a man was sleeping alongside his wife. Avinash didn''t want to wake them, so he began exploring the room.


    But suddenly, he accidentally knocks something over, and the noise wakes them both up. The man yells, "Who are you?"


    Avinash says, "Oh no¡­"


    Seriously, I''m such a disgrace to the title of ninja, he thinks to himself.


    The man quickly gets up, unsheathes his sword, and angrily says, "Who are you? If you don''t answer my question right now, prepare to die." He glares furiously at Avinash.


    Avinash, laughing nervously, says, "Uncle, I just came here to borrow some clothes."


    The man replies, "Stop talking nonsense! Do you think I''m stupid enough to believe that?"


    Avinash takes a deep breath and says, "Uncle, calm down." He uses Dash and, with a single punch¡ªenhanced by the speed of Dash¡ªhits the man squarely in the face.


    The man falls to the ground, blood dripping from his nose. The katana he was holding loosely falls to the floor.


    His wife, about to scream, freezes as Avinash says, "Aunty, calm down. Now listen to me carefully. No one should know about me. Otherwise, you both are done for."


    (It was an empty threat; Avinash wasn''t going to do anything to them.)


    With a smile, Avinash says, "By the way, have you thought of a name for the baby yet?"


    The woman, still scared, nervously replies, "Satsuki." She places her hand on her pregnant belly and says, "You can take whatever you want, just spare us."


    Avinash responds, "Satsuki¡­ I don''t know what it means, but it sounds nice. Can you tell me where I can find a doctor? I need their address¡ªand some clothes too."


    Tomoyo Sato, still on the ground, picks up his sword and says, "Stay away! I¡­ I''ll¡­"


    Avinash mutters to himself, "Why do I feel like I''m the villain here? Or some kind of thief or bandit?"


    "Forget it. If you don''t want trouble, just do as I say."


    Looking at the clothes nearby, Avinash says, "Only kimonos? I guess I don''t have a choice. Hey, Uncle, can you help me out here? By the way, what''s your name?"


    The man hesitates but answers, "Sato Tomoyo."


    Tomoyo, trembling, moves forward and signals his wife to leave the house quietly so she could call for help.


    His wife noticed the signal and quietly began moving toward the door.


    Sato Tomoyo''s gaze briefly shifted to the bodies riddled with bullets outside, but he stayed focused on his task. Deep inside, he couldn''t help but think how young this boy looked. However, the wounds on his body told a completely different story.


    Tomoyo had already realized that, no matter how youthful the boy appeared, he was far more dangerous than he seemed. He couldn''t forget the moment Avinash had closed the distance between them in an instant.


    Avinash had almost finished changing into the clothes and reached for his pouch. Seeing this, Tomoyo became even more alert.


    Ignoring him, Avinash pulled out some money from the pouch and said, "Thanks for the help, and here''s some compensation for the trouble."


    Tomoyo nervously took the money. Avinash noticed the sweat on his face and asked, "Uncle, did you do something wrong?"


    Avinash suddenly heard footsteps approaching from outside. His expression turned sharp as he glared at Tomoyo and said, "So, you did call them, huh?"


    Tomoyo, now visibly shaken, replied, "What now? Will you kill me?"


    But his eyes no longer held fear. He knew his wife and unborn child were safe, and that gave him courage.


    Avinash picked up his sword and muttered, "All or nothing¡­ This is definitely going to hurt."


    With that, he used Dash to break through the wooden window, leaping outside.


    As he landed, he noticed several people standing outside with weapons. He knew he couldn''t take them all on in a fight. Without hesitation, he combined a high jump with Dash and began sprinting across rooftops, moving swiftly from one to the next.


    Despite the intense pain from his wounds, it wasn''t enough to slow him down.


    Behind him, his pursuers were carrying flaming torches, but they were quickly falling behind.


    Avinash kept moving, but suddenly, as he landed on another rooftop, he saw several figures waiting for him ahead.


    They were clad in black, their presence unmistakable.


    "These are Kurokami''s ninjas," he muttered to himself.


    "Looks like I''ve landed in big trouble. So, this is what they mean by ''out of the frying pan and into the fire.''"

 Seppuku

    Avinash was thinking, "At this moment, fighting these people would be completely out of the question. If I try to fight, they''ll toss me around like a rag doll. On top of that, I''m injured and exhausted.


    This is my worst possible condition. If I had just one minute to take them down, I might survive if I use my substitute. That would be perfect."


    Just then, a ninja shouted, "Who''s there? Everyone, attack at once!"


    Cursing under his breath, Avinash muttered, "Praise these people''s mothers. Could this get any worse?"


    Ahead, he saw people holding torches and weapons. Observing closely, Avinash realized they were all samurais. One of them shouted, "Catch him! They''ve killed Master Yoshida Tadashi. Leave no one alive!"


    One of the ninjas yelled, "We must leave quickly!"


    With that, all the ninjas began to flee at great speed. Avinash was wondering what to do next when suddenly, an arrow grazed his cheek.


    From the crowd, a man shouted, "Look over there!" Avinash understood that reasoning with these people was out of the question. He was about to run when suddenly¡ª


    Two iron balls, connected by chains, struck his legs and ensnared them. Instantly, Avinash used his dash, but with his legs bound, he couldn''t land properly. He slipped from the roof and fell below.


    Avinash was trying to steady himself when he felt multiple swords pressing against his neck, ready to decapitate him.


    Avinash said, "Looks like my luck can''t get any worse... or maybe it can."


    The next day


    Avinash was tied in chains, surrounded by several samurais. A voice rang out, "What is your name?"


    Exhausted from the mistreatment overnight, Avinash snapped and said, "Akira Nakimuda."


    The man standing in front said in a serious tone, "Tell us your real name."


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    With confidence, Avinash replied, "That is my real name."


    The man said, "Takeshi Hayato¡ªare you aware of him?"


    The next moment, a powerful kick struck his stomach. The man standing behind, Hayato Takeshi, said angrily, "Don''t dare lie! Your head can be separated from your body at any moment."


    Takeshi Hayato''s voice was filled with rage. The man in front spoke again, "I''ll ask you just once¡ªwhat is your real name? If you don''t answer, you''ll never speak again."


    Hearing the threat, Avinash replied, "Alright. Zoro, Roronoa Zoro."


    The man sitting in front said, "Alright then, I''ll only ask you two questions. First, what were you doing with Raiden''s sword? And second, why did you break into my house?"


    Avinash glanced at the man sitting before him. In the darkness of the night, he hadn''t gotten a good look at Sato Tomoyo''s face, so at first, Avinash didn''t recognize him.


    After a brief exchange of questions and answers, Avinash finally raised his head and asked, "I have one question. Do I have any chance of surviving?"


    Sato Tomoyo replied, "Absolutely not. You are accused of conspiring with murderers and breaking into someone''s house. And I will do everything in my power to ensure you don''t survive."


    Saying this, he turned to leave.


    Avinash shouted after him, "Wait! I don''t want to die such a disgraceful death. At least grant me the honor of dying through seppuku."


    Sato Tomoyo turned back and asked, "Are you really a samurai?"


    Avinash replied, "Look, we don''t have any personal enmity, right? So at least let me die an honorable death."


    Sato Tomoyo thought for a moment and said, "Fine."


    But then, as if recalling something, he suddenly punched Avinash hard in the face and said, "This is for daring to make me look bad in front of my wife."


    Avinash, wiping the blood from his nose, sarcastically said, "So, you''re already planning to have me killed¡ªwas punching me really necessary too?


    And by the way, the kids in your neighborhood are really rude. Who eats candy in the middle of the night? And that too, a five-year-old! I suggest you tell his parents to keep an eye on him."


    Ignoring him, Sato Tomoyo said, "You sure talk a lot of nonsense. And for the record, there are no children in our neighborhood."


    Avinash raised an eyebrow and said, "What kind of joke is that? I''m talking about the kid with the lisp, the one with a mole in the middle of his forehead that looks like a bindi. That little rascal mocked me and ran off."


    Sato Tomoyo, now red with anger, landed a hard kick on Avinash''s stomach and said, "That joke wasn''t funny." Then he stormed out of the room.


    The samurais standing behind began dragging him away. Avinash muttered, "What''s wrong with this crazy man? Why get so angry over such a small thing?"


    Hayato Takeshi said, "If it were me, I''d have slit your throat by now. How dare you mock his dead son?"


    Avinash, shocked, said, "Wait, what? Dead?!" He thought to himself, Then who did I see? A... ghost?!


    Hayato Takeshi replied, "Yes, he drowned a year ago. You should just be thankful you''re still standing alive."


    Avinash said, "Alright, calm down, Mr. Samurai. Why are you so intent on killing me?"


    A samurai asked, "Did you really kill Raiden?"


    Avinash replied, "What do you think? Maybe I borrowed his sword and forgot to return it? The blood on that sword belongs to Raiden."


    "I came here looking for the Kurokami Organization to claim my reward. But, unfortunately, you people caught me. By the way, do you know where they are?"


    The samurais behind him shoved him into a cage, locking it before walking away. Hayato Takeshi said, "A doctor will come soon to treat you, so sit quietly."


    "Kurokami isn''t known to many, except for one man. But the bad news is, he''s no longer alive¡ªMaster Yoshida Tadashi.


    "It''s a shame, but warriors like you have to die because of politics." He thought to himself, *Yoshida Tadashi was a highly respected figure. His death cannot be taken lightly, and yet we failed to catch his killers.


    "That means someone has to be made a scapegoat."


    Avinash, yawning, said, "You people are so corrupt."


    Lying down, Avinash began thinking, Seppuku¡ªa punishment that samurai choose to die honorably. They cut open their stomachs with a small blade. But before that, the criminal is given proper medical treatment, as per the rules.


    Seppuku¡ªwho knew the game would end like this?

 Bad Luck at max

    Look, Brother Akira, we people from Asia''s eastern countries are forming a group together. Would you like to join us?


    Akira asks, "A group? But why?"


    The boy standing in front replies, "Even after witnessing what happened today, you''re asking why? Didn''t you see how that crazy Indian boy brutally beat up the other Indian boy?"


    "That''s why we want to ensure something like that doesn''t happen to us. We''re forming this group so that, when the time comes, we can raise our voice."


    Akira thinks about it for a while and then says, "Park Seo, I..."


    Suddenly, a girl wearing a burqa, with only her eyes visible, arrives there and says, "Excuse me, sir."


    She then turns to Akira and asks, "Can you tell me where I can find the instructor guide? I have some urgent work with him."


    Akira replies, "I have no idea about that." As he says this, his eyes are fixed on her hands, which are subtly signaling him to say no.


    Akira couldn''t understand why the girl wanted him to respond this way. The nervousness in her brown eyes was evident.


    Park Seo speaks from behind, "Excuse me, if you''ve got your answer, you can leave now."


    The girl apologizes, "Sorry for the trouble. I''ll take my leave."


    Park Seo then asks again, "So, what have you decided?"


    Akira replies, "Alright... I won''t join."


    The girl in the burqa thinks to herself, ya Allah, does this mean I''ve altered his fate?


    But then her attention shifts as she sees Xavier approaching and thinks, This wasn''t how it happened in the dream.


    Xavier says, "So, here you are, the hero Akira Nakamura. Apologies for the delay. As per your request, the artifact has been brought here. Would you like to test your ability now?"


    With confidence, Akira nods, "Yes."


    Park Seo, who was about to leave, stops and starts intently observing the artifact, which looked like a fish with bulging eyes.


    Xavier begins explaining, "This has been created using the same technique as your bracelets but is several times more advanced." He then activates the artifact.


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    A screen appears in front of them.


    Name: Akira Nakamura


    Race: Human (Another Worlder)


    Potential Rank: Bronze


    Ability: Your Fate is like that of a cat. (Unable to provide further details)


    Ability Type: Unique


    Strength: 2


    Agility: 3


    Defense: 0.2


    Intelligence: Low


    Recovery: 0.1


    Mana: 105/105


    Ability Rank: F


    Disappointment is evident on Park Seo''s face as he walks away.


    The girl remarks, "Even after all these efforts, Fate cannot be changed. So, does this mean...?"


    Then the girl''s attention shifts to Avinash and Alice, approaching from the right.


    Avinash, dragging a heavy sack, complains, "What nonsense is this? Why do I have to carry this when your potential rank and stats are higher than mine?"


    Alice, fixing her hair in a mirror she''s holding, replies nonchalantly, "Because I''m a girl."


    Aniket, with a sarcastic tone, adds, "Wow! In times like these, no one remembers gender equality.We need to protect men''s rights"


    With the first rays of sunlight...


    Takeshi Hayato walks, holding a bottle of liquor in his hand. Someone asks, "What''s in your hand?"


    But Takeshi Hayato takes a deep breath and continues walking without responding.


    After a while, he reaches a cage and says, "I hope you''ll like this drink."


    However, as soon as he looks inside, he finds the cage empty. Takeshi Hayato is stunned. He doesn''t understand what happened. He first examines the floor, which is completely intact, and then looks around, but there are no signs of disturbance.


    Only the chains lie there.


    The place looks as though the person who was inside the cage has completely vanished. Takeshi Hayato quickly opens the door and checks to see if anything is wrong, but there are no traces nearby.


    The chains weren''t forcibly broken.


    Takeshi Hayato is at a complete loss, unable to fathom how someone could disappear from such a heavily guarded area.


    He drops the liquor bottle to the ground and runs off, shouting, "Roronoa Zoro is missing!"


    From behind the cage, Avinash exhales and mutters, "That was close. The substitute skill was about to wear off. Changing physical form is awesome, though."


    Avinash quietly sneaks out of the cage, looking around. Soon, he notices a group of people running toward him.


    Avinash mutters, "So soon?How?"


    Moments later...


    A man exclaims, "How did he escape from here? Who was the last person to see him?"


    Takeshi Hayato replies, "The last time I and my companion were here, the doctor had come to treat him. He was in the cage then.


    "But when I came here a while ago, no one was inside. The cage was completely empty, not even a scratch on it."


    The man, angered, says, "Then tell me what you were doing here."


    Everyone around unsheathes their swords and points them at Takeshi Hayato.


    Takeshi Hayato calmly responds, "Do you doubt my loyalty?" He locks eyes with the man in front of him, full of confidence.


    The man says, "Not at all. That won''t be necessary."


    Everyone sheathes their swords again.


    The man continues, "But I just want to know what you were doing here."


    Takeshi Hayato takes a deep breath and says, "As you all know, he''s the one who killed Raiden. And I was deeply upset that a great warrior was going to die so meaninglessly."


    "So, I came to talk to him one last time, and that''s when I saw¡ª"


    Avinash muttered in irritation, "Was this drama really necessary right now? Enough already, just leave!"


    At this moment, Avinash was clinging to the wall and ceiling using sunken claws. However, the bad news was that the claws were slowly losing their grip on the wall.


    The group was about to leave when a samurai turned around and said, "Shouldn''t someone check the surroundings while the rest of us search outside?"


    Everyone''s attention shifted to the man, but just then, Takeshi Hayato shouted, "What''s that over there?"


    The group saw a feather falling to the ground.


    Someone said, "A feather?"


    Takeshi Hayato stepped forward and said, "But how could a feather be here? Not even a fly can enter this place, let alone a bird.


    "And this feather is strange. Feathers usually fall gradually, but this one dropped straight down."


    Saying this, Takeshi Hayato extended his hand to pick it up, but suddenly¡ª


    Avinash appeared in a puff of smoke, smiled, and said, "Hello."


    In his mind, he thought, So if anyone touches me, the substitute ends? Why wasn''t this crucial information in the description?


    Takeshi Hayato was frozen in shock, standing still. He slowly asked, "Who are you? Roronoa Zoro?"


    Avinash, now quite frustrated, realized that everyone around him had drawn their swords. Internally, he thought, *Am I in trouble? No, no. I''m in big trouble.


    "My simple plan just got shredded to pieces. I think my bad luck is at maximum level."


    But then, with a sudden smile, he thought, Wait, no. This can''t be. It seems like God accidentally helped me.


    Takeshi Hayato, noticing the faint smoke rising around, asked, "What''s happening here?" He shouted loudly, "Everyone, pay attention! There''s something¡ª"


    But it was too late. One by one, everyone around collapsed unconscious, except for Avinash, who stared ahead and said, "So, we finally meet, Kurokami."

 0.01% Chance

    Avinash says, "How will the Kurokami Organization react if they find out that Raidan, the traitor of Kurokami, is dead?"


    The answer he receives is, "They''ll want to confirm it. And the only person who can provide that confirmation is me."


    Avinash had planned everything carefully, but he made one mistake.


    One of the ninjas steps forward and says, "When we heard the news of Raiden''s death, we couldn''t believe it. But seeing you here with our own eyes, we''re convinced. Raiden wouldn''t be taken down so easily."


    "Right, my friend? Because your death is destined to be at the hands of the Sedo¡ªme," he adds.


    Saying this, the ninja crushes the unconscious bodies lying on the ground as he moves forward with his sword, ready to attack.


    Seeing this, Avinash thinks to himself, This wasn''t part of the plan. According to the plan, they were supposed to take me to the organization, not kill me.


    Avinash takes a deep breath and says, "Alright then, it looks like it''s time for some action."


    But before he can finish saying "this," he stumbles, barely avoiding a fall. He notices a poisoned needle stuck in his hand.


    He realizes there''s no way out now. It''s game over. But deep down, he still refuses to accept it.


    His eyes grow heavy, and just then, Avinash softly mutters, "Options."


    Suddenly, a set of options appears before him:


    Settings


    Resume


    Sound


    Music


    Exit


    Avinash feels a strange sensation. Though he was losing his consciousness moments ago, he suddenly feels perfectly fine. Distracting himself from his current condition, he looks around and notices everything is frozen, as if time itself has stopped. Even his own body is immobilized. He tries to move, but it''s no use.


    "So, let''s take a look at the options," Avinash says to himself. "Sound and music are useless. Exit isn''t a good choice either; I can''t leave after putting in so much time and effort."


    "Resume is also pointless right now because as soon as the game resumes, the assassins will definitely kill me. And on top of that, I''m poisoned."


    "Strange, but I haven''t checked Settings yet," he murmurs. Avinash tries to click on the Settings option but fails because his body is frozen.


    Using a voice command, he opens the Settings menu.


    Save Progress


    Load Progress


    Pain Sensitivity: 100%/10%


    Difficulty: Normal


    Control: Voice Command


    Back


    Avinash carefully examines the options and then shouts, "What the hell does this mean? I''ve been enduring so much pain, and it was only 10%? Why didn''t I open this earlier? I''m such an idiot! A complete moron, imbecile, fool!"


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    At this moment, he wishes he could slap himself hard. If only he had checked this option earlier, he wouldn''t have gone through so much trouble.


    After scolding himself for a while, Avinash tries to lower the Pain Sensitivity further, but it doesn''t work because it''s already at the minimum. And based on the Normal Difficulty setting, he can''t reduce it any further.


    And Avinash silently hoped that the game had automatic saves.


    But when he selected "Load Progress" in the history menu, no save file appeared.


    Avinash muttered under his breath, "B.C." (a curse word).


    After thinking for a long while, an idea struck his mind. If my chances of survival are even 0.01%, that''s still enough. But now I''m really going to lose my mind.


    After saving, Avinash said, "Resume."


    The figure standing before him, Sedo, rushed forward to kill him and attacked with his sword. Before Avinash could react, blood splattered all around.


    With a sword piercing his heart, Avinash endured the pain and said, "Looks like I''ll be losing my mind and feeling a lot of pain."


    Options


    Settings


    Load Progress


    The scene repeated itself. Sedo rushed forward with his sword to attack Avinash. This time, Avinash redirected the sword with his hands, saving his heart.


    But the very next moment, an arrow pierced his chest. Before dying,


    Options


    Settings


    Load Progress


    After countless attempts, Avinash''s mind began to unravel. He repeated the same scene over and over, only to die each time. But now he was close¡ªclose to breaking free from this loop.


    He said, "Resume."


    As usual, Sedo charged at him with his sword. But this time, Avinash used his hands to deflect the attack, barely saving his heart. His injured hand caused immense pain, set at 100%, but it was enough to keep him conscious for a few moments.


    He used Dash and slammed into the opposite wall. The arrow struck the wall instead of him. Knowing that someone would attack him with a poisoned needle next, Avinash tilted his neck slightly, dodging the needle with precision.


    He also anticipated the next attack¡ªshuriken. All the ninjas would launch a coordinated attack with shurikens, which had been the most frustrating part of this loop. After struggling for a long time, he found the solution: the Substitute Skill, which allowed him to change his physical form.


    Using the skill, Avinash dodged all the attacks. He immediately canceled the substitution and used Dash, which had just cooled down, aiming directly at the ceiling.


    Within moments, he was close to the roof, knowing exactly what to do next. He commanded, "Options," freezing everything around him. Then, through the Settings menu, he changed the Control option to Touchscreen.


    After 25 attempts, he realized it was impossible to counter shuriken attacks using voice commands alone in his current state.


    With this adjustment, he thought, Now it''s time to show my finger speed.


    As time resumed, everything around him started moving again. All the ninjas began climbing toward the roof. A screen appeared before Avinash, and he unleashed a flurry of shuriken attacks.


    Although the attacks were less frequent compared to voice commands, they were enough to distract the enemies momentarily.


    Taking advantage of the confusion, Avinash landed among the ninjas¡ªa precarious position to be in.


    The first ninja, Sedo, who had charged to attack earlier, paused mid-way and said, "Your skills have greatly improved, Raiden, my friend."


    "We were just testing you. Won''t you hug your old friend?" Sedo said with a sly grin.


    Avinash smirked and replied, "Why not?" as he stepped forward to embrace him.


    With a cruel smile of his own, Avinash hugged Sedo.


    Just as Sedo prepared to plunge his venomous claws into Avinash''s back, Avinash used a sudden, powerful Dash, slamming the ninja into the wall.


    The impact left Sedo, who had been mere moments away from stabbing Avinash, disoriented and struggling to understand what had happened.


    No one had time to react except for Avinash, who, though still trying to steady himself from the shock, knew exactly what needed to be done¡ªor rather, his body did.


    Avinash immediately used Substitute, transforming into a stone that fell to the ground. This move allowed him to dodge the poisonous arrows, needles, and shurikens aimed at him.


    The attacks redirected, piercing Sedo''s chest instead. And just like that, one enemy was eliminated.


    But Avinash''s vision began to blur again as the poison resumed its effect. Quickly, he pulled out a pill and swallowed it¡ªa pill he had stealthily stolen from Sedo during their brief embrace.


    The medicine wouldn''t work instantly, though. Avinash had no idea how many times he''d repeated this sequence¡ªit was enough that he had stopped counting after a thousand attempts. Nor did he know how much time had passed since he''d been stuck in this endless loop.


    A ninja, drenched in sweat, thought to himself, So this is Raiden, the other name for death.


    By now, every ninja present understood one thing: if the man standing before them survived, none of them would.


    One of them pulled out a bomb and instructed his comrades, "Cover me!" But just as he finished speaking, a shuriken pierced his eye.


    After countless failed attempts, Avinash''s aim had finally hit its mark.


    The ninja screamed in agony. "Aahhhhhh!"


    The sight sent a shiver down the spines of the remaining ninjas. They couldn''t fathom what kind of monster they were up against. Even after being poisoned, how could someone still be this dangerous¡ªespecially without his full arsenal or being in his best condition?


    The thought filled their hearts with dread. If he was this lethal in his current state, what would he be like if fully equipped and healthy?


    Fear gripped their bodies.


    Avinash, still in poor condition and barely able to move, knew he couldn''t let his enemies sense his weakness. If they did, his death would be inevitable.


    He taunted, "Don''t aim for the heart¡ªgo for the head, Mr. Samurai."


    The ninjas were confused, unsure what Raiden was trying to say.


    Takeshi Hayato, wielding his sword, decapitated one of the ninjas in a single swift motion. As the others turned around in shock, they realized who the message was meant for.


    Avinash explained, "That man inhaled the least smoke and regained consciousness the fastest. He was also the one who killed me in several previous attempts."


    The remaining ninjas would still need 5¨C10 minutes to regain full awareness. Only three remained¡ªor rather, two, as the one with the shuriken in his eye collapsed to the ground, the poison finally taking effect.


    Unbeknownst to him, Avinash had subtly injected the poison-tipped needle into his leg¡ªjust as he hadn''t noticed when it was done to him.


    Takeshi Hayato advanced toward the remaining two with his sword, but before he could strike, two shurikens flew straight into their necks, severing critical arteries. The attack was more than enough to finish them.


    Takeshi Hayato stood alone in front, slowly stepping forward. "So, you''re Raiden..." he said.


    As soon as he uttered those words, he collapsed to the ground.


    Avinash began moving forward slowly. His mind was utterly exhausted, but he felt a sense of relief knowing he was so close to freedom.


    However, darkness started to cloud his vision. Avinash couldn''t understand what mistake he had made. He had taken the antidote correctly, and the poison''s effects were almost gone.


    Then why was this happening? Wait, wait. I can''t pass out just from exhaustion. That meant...he hadn''t eaten in a long time. And what he had just done had drained whatever energy he had left.


    Darkness consumed Avinash''s eyes. He was so close to freedom, but hunger and fatigue crushed all his hopes. Tears rolled down his face, and then everything fell silent.

 Do Or Do Again

    Avinash slowly opened his eyes. Above him was a wooden ceiling that seemed entirely unfamiliar. As he gradually opened his eyes and took in his surroundings, he realized he was in a house, lying on a bed.


    He couldn''t comprehend what had happened. The last thing he remembered was fainting from hunger. So, how did he end up here?


    While Avinash was still observing his surroundings, he caught the scent of something. Just as he tried to get up from the bed, he fell with a loud thud.


    The sound brought a girl rushing in, dressed in a yukata. She asked, "Are you awake?"


    Avinash raised his head to look at her and asked, "Who are you?"


    The girl smiled and replied, "My name is Nakamura Haruka."


    Avinash, confused, asked, "Can you tell me what I''m doing here?"


    Nakamura Haruka moved closer to help him and said, "You had fainted there, Roronoa Zoro-san. Perhaps you don''t remember me, but I was imprisoned near you.


    When you defeated all those people, I saw an opportunity to escape. You saved my life, so to repay you, I helped you escape and brought you here.


    Thank you again for saving my life, Roronoa Zoro-san."


    Avinash sat up and asked, "How long have I been unconscious?"


    Nakamura Haruka replied, "Since yesterday."


    Shocked, Avinash exclaimed, "A whole day?! ...Can I get something to eat?"


    Nakamura Haruka nodded and said, "Of course."


    A while later


    Avinash was eating, and quite quickly at that. Nakamura Haruka watched him and said, "You can eat slowly, using chopsticks."


    Avinash, in a carefree tone, replied, "I don''t know how to use them. Can I have more?"


    Nakamura Haruka, slightly nervous, said, "Yes, of course." She mumbled to herself, "At this rate, all the food will run out soon."


    When she brought the second serving, Avinash asked, "By the way, what were you doing there? This question has been on my mind for a while."


    Nakamura Haruka replied, "It''s a long story. I was falsely accused so they could take advantage of me."


    Avinash took a deep breath and said, "Now I''m thinking I should''ve taken care of those people along with the ninjas."


    After a moment of thought, Nakamura Haruka said, "Oh, by the way, is this yours?" She brought out a sword from somewhere.


    Avinash looked at his old sword, which was Raiden''s.


    Nakamura Haruka, nervously, asked, "But why were those people calling you Raiden?"


    Avinash calmly replied, "Because we look alike. He''s my twin brother who was swept away in a river. I still cry remembering that day. He became a killer. When I met him¡­"


    Before he could finish, Nakamura Haruka panicked and said, "I''m sorry! I''m so sorry!"


    Surprised, Avinash asked, "Now what happened? Don''t tell me you put something in the food¡­"


    Nakamura Haruka, trembling, bowed her head to the ground and said, "Please forgive me! I thought you were him¡­ so I¡­"


    Avinash, with a nervous expression, asked, "Was it poison or a sedative?"


    Nakamura Haruka, visibly shaken and with tears forming in her eyes, replied, "Neither of those¡­ I¡­ I¡­"


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    Hearing this, Avinash became even more tense. "What did you give me?" he demanded.


    Nakamura Haruka, now crying, said, "An itching herb."


    Avinash replied, "Wait, then why don''t I feel anything yet?"


    With an innocent face, Nakamura Haruka said, "The effects will start in 10 minutes."


    Avinash, exasperated, exclaimed, "Who does something like this?"


    Nakamura Haruka meekly replied, "I was scared."


    Eight hours later


    Avinash, lost in thought, muttered, "What a mess. I still haven''t learned much about Kurokami, and after what happened last time, I''m definitely in deep trouble. Even the government is on my tail now."


    He sighed. "It''s ridiculous how my handsome posters are plastered everywhere so quickly. People are hunting for me like I''ve eloped with their mothers and sisters. And on top of that, this itching¡­"


    From behind, Nakamura Haruka spoke softly, "Roronoa Zoro-san, are you okay?"


    Avinash turned around and snapped, "You¡­ just don''t say anything. By the way, do you know anything about the black market? Somewhere I can gather information?"


    Suddenly, he paused and said, "Wait, that''s a brilliant idea. Do you know where someone can place a bounty?"


    Nakamura Haruka, in a faint voice, asked, "Are you planning to have someone killed?"


    Avinash smiled and replied, "Me."


    Confused, Nakamura Haruka asked, "I don''t understand."


    Without giving her an answer, Avinash smiled and began walking toward the next room.


    Nakamura Haruka, alarmed, stopped him and said, "You can''t go out like this! Takeshi Hayato and the others are searching for you all over Tokyo."


    Avinash casually replied, "Of course they''re searching for me. I slipped out from under their noses. So, what''s the situation outside?"


    Nakamura Haruka, panicking, said, "It''s really bad. They''re looking for you everywhere, and with Sato Tomoyo''s death, the search has intensified even more."


    Avinash, confused, asked, "Who''s that?"


    Nakamura Haruka explained, "The man whose house you broke into. Someone killed him, and you''re being blamed for it. Early this morning, someone visited their house and found Sato Tomoyo and his wife''s bodies."


    A chill ran down Avinash''s spine as he clenched his fists in anger. "This is nonsense," he growled. He remembered that the man''s wife was pregnant. The memory reignited his fury, a rage that seemed ready to explode.


    Silently, Avinash picked up his sword and said, "Looks like I''ve completely lost it. Where is Sato Tomoyo''s house? Can you take me there?"


    Shocked, Nakamura Haruka exclaimed, "What?! I think I misheard you."


    In a cold voice, Avinash replied, "You heard me right. But not now¡ªtonight."


    Nakamura Haruka, utterly baffled, thought to herself, Why does this man want to go there?


    At Night


    Nakamura Haruka whispered nervously, "Roronoa Zoro-san, it''s crucial to go inside the house now."


    Avinash replied calmly, "If you want to stay here, you can." Without waiting for her response, he moved forward.


    A few guards still lingered at the door. After a while, Avinash, concealing his presence, slipped inside. As he pushed open the door, Takeshi Hayato stood there with his sword drawn. "Prepare to die, Raiden!" he snarled.


    Avinash, unfazed, responded, "I didn''t come here to killed by some one.But for blood."


    Hearing Takeshi Hayato''s voice, others outside came rushing in, swords drawn. Footsteps echoed from the outer area as well, signaling that Avinash was completely surrounded.


    Takeshi Hayato shouted angrily, "It''s time for you to pay for your crimes so Sato Tomoyo and his family can find peace."


    Avinash let out a cold laugh. "Quite the performance. You''d make a fine actor. But tell me, why did you kill them, Mr. Samurai?" His expression darkened ominously.


    Takeshi Hayato''s face showed a flicker of fear as he barked, "What nonsense are you spouting?"


    Avinash continued, his tone cutting. "After I escaped last night, you came here. You slit Sato Tomoyo''s throat first, and then¡­"


    "Shut up!" Takeshi Hayato roared. "Everyone, attack!"


    This time, Avinash shouted back, his voice filled with rage, "Try it! Not a single one can survive!"


    Moments later


    The scene was chaotic. Everything around was shattered and broken. Swords were embedded in walls, furniture, and the floor. Corpses littered the ground, and blood seeped into the wooden planks, staining them.


    Only one man was left standing, barely alive¡ªTakeshi Hayato. He was missing an arm, which lay severed on the ground.


    Writhing in pain, he screamed, "You¡­ you''re a monster!"


    Avinash stepped closer, his voice cold and commanding. "You were the one who drowned Sato Tomoyo''s first child in the river. Why? Who ordered you to do it? Speak!"


    Takeshi Hayato, trembling, stammered, "How¡­ how do you know about that?"


    A Few Moments Earlier


    Before entering the house, Avinash ready to use a double jump and dash technique to get inside but paused near the spot where he had fallen previously.


    There, he noticed faint shadows and whispered voices.


    Returning to the present, Avinash smirked. "You don''t need to know how I found out." To intimidate Takeshi Hayato further, he used a substitution technique, transforming into the image of a terrifying demon Asura.


    His voice boomed, "If you don''t want me to obliterate even your soul, give me answers!"


    Takeshi Hayato, trembling and overwhelmed with fear, stammered, "Tadashi Yoshida!"


    Avinash narrowed his eyes. "But he''s dead, isn''t he? That''s what you told me."


    Takeshi Hayato, still panic-stricken, shook his head vigorously. "No, no, he''s alive! To the world, he''s dead, but he''s the real master of Kurokami."


    "I only follow orders," Takeshi continued, his voice quivering. "Whether it was ensuring Raiden''s death or infiltrating that place¡­ Sato Tomoyo had to die because he started suspecting me."


    Suddenly, the fear on Takeshi''s face twisted into a sinister grin. "Die basterd, you scum die!" he screamed.


    Avinash, caught off guard for a moment, felt a sharp pain as a sword pierced through his chest. Gritting his teeth, he turned around to see Nakamura Haruka standing behind him, the sword in her hands.


    "Haruka¡­ you?" Avinash muttered in disbelief, his eyes filled with shock. He couldn''t fathom the betrayal.


    Outside, the scene was no less horrifying. The once-living guards were now corpses scattered across the area, their blood painting a gruesome picture. The rooftops were lined with countless assassins¡ªninjas waiting silently to strike.


    Inside


    Nakamura Haruka coldly withdrew the sword from Avinash''s chest, stepping forward. In a swift, merciless motion, she beheaded Takeshi Hayato. "You were getting too full of yourself," she said icily.


    Avinash, clutching his wound, let out a weak laugh. "I should have suspected it earlier¡­ How could a girl manage to get me out of such heavy surveillance? And the way you carried me¡ªit was all so strange. I was foolish not to think of it before."


    "But the game''s over, Haruka," he continued, his voice steady despite the pain. "Not mine, but yours. Your biggest mistake was not finishing me off in one strike."


    Haruka, her eyes icy, replied, "Don''t worry. My sword was coated with a special poison made just for you, Raiden."


    Avinash shouted, "You''ve made a grave mistake! options."


    Settings


    Load progress...


    Takeshi Hayato, grinning maniacally, shouted again, "Kill me, you scum!"


    This time, Avinash calmly raised his hand behind him and muttered, "Shuriken attack."


    A razor-sharp shuriken flew through the air with deadly precision, striking Haruka in the center of her forehead just as she prepared for another stealthy strike. She fell lifelessly to the ground, her sword clattering beside her.


    Without even turning around, Avinash said, "How unfortunate for you all. Your deaths were destined to come by my hands."


    He then ended Takeshi Hayato''s life with a swift blow, leaving him lifeless in the pool of blood.


    Aftermath


    However, as the reality sank in, Avinash realized his grave error¡ªhe still didn''t know Tadashi Yoshida''s exact whereabouts. Outside, the ninjas perched on the rooftops awaited their moment to strike, ready to ensure Avinash''s end once and for all.

 Where is Final fight?

    Notification Appeared


    Hidden Quest Failed.


    Avinash was in despair, wondering how he could have failed the hidden quest. Gradually, his mind started piecing things together. Sorry thoughts began to shrink. He realized that seeing the Ghost child was part of a hidden story.


    Now, he was trying to figure out what mistake he had made. If he wasn''t supposed to kill Takeshi Hayato, then what was he supposed to do?


    "So, I had to take him to him? Damn it! I made a mistake." Avinash regretted his error when suddenly he noticed a bomb falling inside through a broken window.


    The burning fuse of the bomb was almost out. Avinash didn''t even get a chance to think before it exploded. Darkness consumed his vision. He couldn''t hear properly.


    All around, he heard the sound of footsteps. Avinash felt like his game was over, but something strange lingered¡ªhe couldn''t understand why so many people were standing around him.


    But how was he still alive? Avinash realized there was a reason for his survival. If they wanted, they could have killed him earlier. Why had they kept him alive?


    The answer was clear: they wanted something. But what? Avinash couldn''t figure it out.


    As Avinash started to get up, a ninja struck him directly on the head, rendering him unconscious.


    Someone said, "We need to leave quickly. Someone will surely come here after hearing the explosion."


    Avinash slowly opened his eyes. He was tied up and appeared to be in a courtyard surrounded by walls, with many people around.


    In front of him sat a man surrounded by numerous ninjas.


    Avinash smirked and said, "So, you''re Kurokami, the real boss?"


    Tadashi Yoshida calmly replied, "Quite a good joke. I am not."


    "The real boss of Kurokami isn''t me. I am merely a pawn¡ªa fake villain made by the government, like you. My apologies, you aren''t Raiden."


    "Judging by your expression, it seems you''re surprised by this revelation. But if the real Raiden were in your place, he wouldn''t be surprised at all. He would already know about all this.So u don''t have the documents."


    "Who are you? Neither a Zoro nor someone with a fake name worth hiding behind. So, who are you?"


    Avinash calmly replied, "l am just a player."


    Saying this, he used a substitute skill, changing his physical form and first freeing himself from the chains.


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    Everyone''s eyes widened in shock. No ordinary human could even imagine such a thing, let alone attempt it.


    Avinash understood one thing very well: his skills were nothing short of a miracle to these people.


    A warning appeared before Avinash:


    ALERT!!! Final Boss Has Arrived.


    Avinash said, "So, the time has come to finish this."


    Tadashi Yoshida said calmly, "Do you think you''re going to survive?" because at that moment, many people were aiming their guns at Avinash.


    Tadashi Yoshida calmly walked away, saying, "Kurokami cannot be destroyed


    As long as politics exists."


    Avinash shouted in rage, "Are you not going to fight me? Fine, let''s fight fair and square!"


    Tadashi Yoshida replied, "But why should I fight you? Besides, these old bones don''t have any strength left."


    Avinash taunts him to provoke anger:


    "You Scared, old man? Or are you afraid that you might wet your pants while facing me! Don''t worry; I''ll go easy on you. Alright, I won''t even use both hands. Now come on, old man!,I slept with your mother and your my son.Hey come back!"


    Tadashi Yoshida continued walking calmly and replied, "What a nonsense you doing young man,The youth these days have no respect for their elders. And anyway, why sacred by dead one?"


    Avinash was shocked, as everyone around had already locked their aim on him.


    Escaping from there seemed nearly impossible. If he used "Dash," the 0.5-second countdown wouldn''t save him from a hail of bullets, and surviving so many attacks at once was almost unthinkable.


    All Avinash could do was watch Tadashi Yoshida walking away and death approaching him.


    Tadashi Yoshida paused for a moment, turned back, and said, "Attention, everyone! If he changes his form, the moment anything touches him, he will revert to his original form. So, there''s no need to fear¡ªkeep attacking!"


    Avinash understood he was cornered. He had only one chance.


    Everyone fired their bullets simultaneously. Avinash used the Substitute technique, managing to evade them for a moment. As the enemies reloaded, others stood ready with swords nearby.


    With anger, Avinash lunged forward, launching a Suriken Attack with his hands.


    Tadashi Yoshida drew his sword and deflected all the suriken in a single strike. His speed was extraordinary.


    And why wouldn''t it be? After all, he was the final boss.


    Avinash used Dash to move forward. Tadashi Yoshida watched him approach calmly.


    Avinash crossed the gate and prepared for another Suriken Attack. But then he realized something was wrong¡ªthe ground wasn''t rising; it was his head falling.


    He couldn''t understand what had happened¡ªhis neck had been severed in an instant. How? This question echoed in his mind.


    Avinash had lost all hope as the game ended before his eyes. But something strange happened.


    Avinash found himself back where he had been tied up. This time, he was unharmed, and his sword was in his hand.


    He looked at his character information. A scroll appeared:


    Name: Raiden


    Life: 0


    Main Weapon: Sword


    Avinash said to himself, "So I had an extra life from the beginning." His frustration made him want to scream profanities, but he wasn''t about to waste such an opportunity.


    Avinash knew he couldn''t match Tadashi Yoshida''s sword skills. The Suriken Attack was ineffective, and Dash would only give him a momentary advantage before leading to certain death. Swordmanship was out of the question.


    Someone shouted, "How is this possible?" and began reloading his gun. Avinash''s attention turned to him. Before the man could act, Avinash drew his sword, used Dash, and plunged the blade straight into his head.


    A notification appeared, but Avinash ignored it. He immediately picked up a gun lying on the ground and aimed at Tadashi Yoshida''s head. The shot missed, hits on his heart.


    Tadashi Yoshida, the final boss, died without putting up a fight.


    The people around screamed and aimed at Avinash, but darkness began to envelop the surroundings.


    A scroll appeared.


    Game Completed


    Game Explore Area: 3%


    Quests Completed: 1


    Incomplete Quests: 65


    Hidden Quests: ?/0


    Seeing the results, Avinash was stunned. He couldn''t comprehend what had just happened. His eyes fell on the face of one of the group members who had attacked him at the beginning.


    He noticed a notification containing details about the quest. He checked it, and the details read:


    Survive: Fail


    Kill All Enemies: Pass


    Time Limit: Fail


    Now, Avinash realized he had made a huge blunder¡ªhe had completed the game too quickly without exploring the storyline.


    Avinash slowly opened his eyes to see his gaming window open in front of him, where the rewards were being calculated based on the results.


    He anxiously looked at the rewards, his mind already worn out by the game''s events.


    Rating: 1 Star


    A spinning wheel appeared before him, displaying the game''s skills and several items. Avinash understood he was about to receive one of these as a reward.


    The spinning wheel offered him only one spin, meaning one star equaled a single chance.


    All the game''s skills were on the wheel, but Avinash''s eyes were fixated on one thing: Tadashi Yoshida''s sword skill. He wanted nothing else. He vividly remembered how that skill had severed his neck in one swift motion without him even realizing it.


    The most worthless reward, in his opinion, was Raiden''s Sword. It was an ordinary weapon, and Avinash was sure the world had far better options. For him, this would be the worst possible outcome.


    Nervously, Avinash commanded the spin.

 Thiefs

    It was almost midnight.


    A spinning wheel was rotating in front of Avinash, gradually slowing down. Avinash''s heart was pounding hard because it was about to Arrow stop on " Sword Skills." The speed was decreasing bit by bit. The arrow was just about to pass the skill sword slot. The speed had almost reached a standstill.


    Avinash''s joy knew no bounds. But to shatter his happiness, the wheel moved slightly and stopped. Avinash cursed loudly, "System, you mother f¡­!"


    Controlling his anger, Avinash looked at the reward in disappointment. It was a Dash Skill. Trying to console himself, Avinash thought, Fine, it''s not that bad.


    "Forget it. What else can I do anyway?"


    Another notification popped up: the skill was being adjusted.


    Speed Dash (Skill Rank - F):


    Using Mana, you can propel yourself forward with a burst of wind, covering up to 5 meters. (Cooldown: 3.0 seconds) Cost: 10 Mana.


    Seeing this, Avinash got up and literally banged his head against the wall.


    He recalled playing a game he had never even heard of before. He had screwed up the very first mission.In short his performence was fresh piece of shit.Somehow, he managed to complete the game, but the reward he got was a skill he didn''t even want. And later, even that skill got nerfed.


    And then, Avinash opened the window and jumped straight out.


    Somewhere else:


    Someone said, "Why is this black ninja costume so terrible? Couldn''t we have just stolen it in a normal way?"


    His partner, running alongside him, replied, "Look, first of all, black doesn''t show up well in the dark, and it also hides our identity. So stop complaining and run, Pig Bank!"


    "If we get caught, the soldiers will coat bamboo sticks with mustard oil and shove them up your ass. So stop babbling and focus on running."


    "And most importantly, call me by that name."


    Pig Bank, frustrated, said, "Stop calling me Pig Bank! And this is no time for jokes."


    Looking ahead, Pig Bank said, "Alright, Fake God, is this really going according to plan?"


    Both of them stopped. Standing in front of them was Victoria, along with some soldiers. Both were shocked.


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Victoria, smiling, said, "Looks like you''ve been caught stealing. As stated in the laws of this kingdom, you will now be executed."


    "And that idea of coating bamboo sticks with mustard oil is quite good. It will be implemented soon."


    Both thieves stood frozen in their spots.


    Fake God said, "I think you shouldn''t be here because¡­"


    Suddenly, a loud explosion echoed in the distance.


    Fake God continued, "You should hurry, who knows? Maybe you can save your nameless potential hero before it''s too late."


    Victoria stood there in shock but quickly sprinted past them with incredible speed. Victoria didn''t have the time to waste on them.


    Many questions swirled in Victoria''s mind, like how these people knew about Nameless, what they wanted, and who they were. But what mattered more was keeping that hero alive.


    Fake God snapped, "Stupid Pig Bank! Don''t even think about moving, or you''ll end up in pieces."


    One of the soldiers growled, "Shut up!"


    Fake God replied, "Please give me a minute, you fool, because there''s a strings of traps set up here."


    Pig Bank retorted, "Do you have a plan? I don''t want to die because of some idiot who was obsessed with stealing."


    Fake God shot back, "Keep your mouth shut! Don''t forget you willingly joined me in this. We just need to get through the traps, and then we''re free."


    The soldiers standing in front of them were seething with anger. The thieves weren''t even taking them seriously. One of the soldiers, enraged, punched the wall, leaving a gaping hole. His companion yelled, "Is your father going to pay for that?"


    Before he could respond, the soldier suddenly collapsed, unconscious. One by one, all the soldiers dropped to the ground.


    Fake God smirked, "See? They''re useless. Now everyone''s attention will be on that explosion on the other side of the palace, and we..."


    Pig Bank cut him off, "Shut up! Stop wasting time and focus on clearing these traps. I don''t want some vampire or werewolf to turn me into minced meat for their feast."


    Fake God replied, "I already disarmed them. Let''s move quickly. We''ve already wasted 50 seconds, and we only have 1 minute and 12 seconds left to escape safely."


    As they ran, Pig Bank asked, "Are you sure we won''t run into anyone? If we accidentally encounter someone, we''re done for."


    Fake God reassured him, "Don''t worry. Not everyone has abilities. They''re pretty rare."


    Pig Bank countered, "But physically, they''re all much stronger than us."


    Fake God sighed, "Yeah, I know. That''s why we''re taking the safest route. Wait! Stop! We took the wrong turn. Someone''s here. We need to go left!"


    Pig Bank said, "Stop the nonsense! Freedom lies that way. If you lose focus at this critical moment, we''re done for."


    Fake God replied, "Quietly follow me." With that, he dashed ahead.


    A few moments earlier


    Avinash jumped out of the window. Unfortunately for him, his room was on the first floor. The unlucky flowers in the garden below were utterly ruined, but Avinash walked away unscathed. Poor flowers.


    To refresh his mood, Avinash strolled through the garden. Suddenly, an idea struck him to try out his new skill. He activated Dash, and a gust of wind swirled around him. In an instant, he was flung forward, skidding across the grass before landing in the bushes.


    As he crawled out of the bushes, he saw something shocking.


    In front of him were two people, carrying sacks in their hands, running like ninjas. They dashed past him in the blink of an eye.


    Fake God gave Avinash a quick wave and disappeared.


    As they ran, Pig Bank asked Fake God, "Are you sure that idiot will go there?"


    Fake God replied, "What choice do we have? They''re going to break in there tomorrow night. Be ready And most important thing don''t take him lightly"


    Meanwhile, Victoria had reached the site of the explosion. But what she saw left her speechless. Written before her eyes were the words April Fools.


    Another explosion was heard. Victoria turned toward the sound and exclaimed, "Majesty!" The explosions continued, one after another, leaving Victoria confused.


    It didn''t take long for her to realize she had been distracted. Furious with herself, she muttered that she should''ve severed their necks when she had the chance.


    She turned and sprinted back toward the thieves with incredible speed, faster than any human should be able to move.


    When she arrived, she saw all the soldiers unconscious.


    One hour later


    Victoria, filled with rage, shouted, "What do you mean you can''t track them?"


    One soldier replied, "My ability isn''t able to locate them, nor is anyone else''s. It''s as if¡­"


    Victoria finished his sentence, "They never exist in this world.Your abilities can''t even reach them. The Phantom Snake Ring¡­ They managed to steal the artifact!"


    "How did they steal it right from under your noses? What were you even doing there?"


    Someone stepped forward and said, "Apologies, Royal Guard Commander. The South Squad was sent to suppress the rebellion."


    Victoria, consumed by fury, yelled, "You all are useless!"


    A calm voice spoke from behind, "Calm down. Such anger isn''t good for your health, Victoria."


    Victoria turned around in surprise and said, "Princess Isabella? You''ve returned?"


    Isabella smirked, her eyes glowing red. "No need to look so shocked. After all, I have some unfinished business to settle."

 Wolf And Sheep

    Avinash was walking while recalling how Victoria had informed him about a theft that occurred here at night. However, she assured him that there was no need to worry, as the thieves had been caught soon after.


    But Avinash didn''t believe her words at all. The explosion sound during the night had disturbed everyone''s sleep. People claimed that the thieves couldn''t escape because the palace was surrounded by barriers.


    Descending the stairs, Avinash was heading toward the training ground when he noticed someone below. It was Princess Isabella. The moment he saw her, he changed his path and began climbing back up the stairs, thinking, That psycho vampire is back!


    Avinash didn''t want to confront her at any cost. But fate had other plans for him. While rushing up the stairs, his foot slipped accidentally.


    He began falling downward, straight toward Isabella, who was climbing up the stairs. The clear implication in his mind was: I want to be dead!


    Without wasting a moment, Avinash used his Dash. Air from the surrounding gathered with a swirl, and in a single thrust, he landed on the floor below. Fortunately, he wasn''t seriously injured.


    Isabella glanced at his actions with astonishment but continued climbing the stairs.


    From the other side, Aniket was descending, completely engrossed in his special mobile that he had created earlier today.


    Due to the disturbance caused by Avinash''s Dash, the fabric laid on the stairs had gotten slightly displaced. Aniket, unaware and distracted, stepped on it, losing his balance, and began falling directly toward Isabella.


    Realizing he was falling, Aniket instinctively extended his hands forward. But as he noticed Isabella below him, his eyes widened in horror, realizing that his hands were about to land in a very wrong place¡ªright on Isabella''s chest.


    But before that could happen...


    With a calm expression, Isabella caught his hands, which were advancing toward her chest, and effortlessly tossed him aside like a toy. Then she walked away without another word.


    Aniket landed on the ground with a thud, screaming in pain. He was convinced that at least 4-5 of his bones were definitely broken.


    Slowly, he composed himself and looked at his special mobile, only to find it completely destroyed. The screen was shattered.


    Avinash approached him and helped him up. Aniket, groaning like an old man, exclaimed, "Oh, my back! Kid, thank you so much. God bless you my child."


    Then, brushing off Avinash''s hand, he said, "I''m fine," and stood up, attempting to straighten his back.


    Aniket mumbled, "Thank goodness I managed to create wind pressure below me before falling. Otherwise, I''d have been done for."


    He added angrily, "Who was that crazy girl? I won''t let her go!"


    Avinash responded calmly, "Keeping your distance from her is a wise choice. She''s the princess here."


    Aniket, fuming, retorted, "She may be a princess in her own home!"


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Avinash replied, "This is her home. The farther you keep from her, the better. She''s extremely dangerous."


    "Forget that," he added. "Did they check your hands as well?"


    Aniket responded, "Yeah, it was strange. While distributing mana water, they kept staring at everyone''s hands."


    "Listen, you haven''t used mana water yet, have you?" Avinash asked.


    "No," Avinash replied.


    Aniket said, "Then, how about trading it?"


    "Trading?" Avinash asked, confused.


    Aniket explained, "Anything¡ªweapons, food, medicine¡ªwhatever you can think of."


    Avinash began walking away, saying, "No, I''m not interested. I think I''ll drink it after a week. Anyway, I believe I''m about to achieve F+. To reach E rank, I''ll need 200 mana."


    Aniket sighed deeply as he watched Avinash walk away. "Didn''t even glance at my offers¡­ fool!"


    From behind, Alice teased, "Are you still trying to scam people? I doubt anyone would be interested in your stuff in exchange for mana water."


    Alice tossed a Desert Eagle toward Aniket, saying, "As you requested, it''s been enhanced three times."


    Aniket caught it, grinning. "Now, this is going to be fun."


    A soft voice called from behind, "Excuse me. Can I trade with you?"


    Aniket turned around with a sly smile, muttering, Gotcha, another sucker. "Of course!"


    But as soon as he saw Akira''s swollen face, he said, "Don''t tell me someone forced you to get this stuff."


    Aniket smiled again and said, "Let''s talk in my room first."


    A little while later...


    Akira, nervous and fidgeting, said, "Cigarettes... a solar mobile charger..."


    Aniket interrupted, "Wait! Wait, buddy wait! So, you''re being made to bring stuff for someone? Who is it? In my rule, thugs running amok without us knowing¡ªunacceptable. Tell me their names!"


    Akira stammered, "No one''s making me get these things. Actually, it''s..."


    Before he could finish, Aniket interrupted again, "You''re really a coward, huh? Forget all that. You need this!" He handed Akira a gun.


    Akira hesitated, sweating as he held the gun with trembling hands. He quickly handed it back, saying, "I can''t take this."


    Aniket asked, "Are you sure? Look, if you keep being this scared, people will only suppress you more."


    Fuming, Akira snapped, "Shut up and do what I asked! Here''s the mana water. If you don''t want it, I''m leaving."


    As Akira turned to go, Aniket called after him, "Wait! The charger will come later. My mana is still recovering."


    In the Garden


    Park Seo said, "Welcome our new member, Li Mei."


    Several people sitting in front muttered, "Another one? Is Park Seo she''s really that strong?"


    Park Seo smiled and replied, "Why don''t you try and find out?"


    A boy sitting in front scoffed, "I don''t hit girls."


    Li Mei also smiled and said, "I don''t hit weaklings either."


    The boy, Min-Jun, retorted, "Look, you''re a girl, so I''ll let it slide, otherwise¡­"


    Before he could finish, he noticed someone offering him a cigarette box. Akira,"here''s your secret box, sir," the person said.


    Min-Jun was startled for a moment. "What?" he exclaimed.


    Park Seo''s expression darkened, and he asked, "Did you threaten him?"


    Min-Jun quickly defended himself, "No, I didn''t! I''m meeting him for the first time."


    From behind, a voice called out, "Oh, so it''s you! What was your name again¡­ ah yes, Seo Parking! Back then, you were preaching about peace, and now you''re threatening kids?"


    Park Seo turned around and said calmly, "It''s not what it looks like."


    Aniket sarcastically chimed in, "Oh! So he must''ve hit his head on a coconut tree if he''s trading mana water for useless junk. And look at the bruises on his face; it tells the whole story."


    Park Seo, now a bit irritated, replied, "Look, we don''t owe you any explanations. This doesn''t concern you, so stay out of it. We''ll handle our matters ourselves."


    He added firmly, "No one else needs to interfere. As for Akira, we don''t know anything about that.Why we do this?"


    Aniket stared at him and replied, "Because mana water is useless to you. Everyone knows that consuming too much mana water without ability rank+ is pointless."


    Min-Jun, now visibly stressed, pleaded, "Park Seo, you know me. I didn''t do anything like that. This is all that kid''s doing!" He grabbed Akira by the collar and shouted, "Tell the truth! Did I ever ask you to bring anything? Speak up, or else¡ª"


    Aniket, angered, said, "Let go of his collar, or I''ll show you what ''or else'' really means."


    Park Seo interjected, "You''re overstepping your boundaries. This is our matter; we''ll resolve it ourselves. Leave now."


    Aniket shot back, "And what if I don''t?"


    Park Seo, still composed, said, "Then we''ll have to use force."


    Aniket pointed his Desert Eagle at Park Seo''s forehead and said, "Then Try."


    Park Seo, unflinching, replied, "You''ve never killed anyone before, so you''re not going to pull the trigger. You''re a sheep in wolf''s clothing, trying to look strong but nothing without your ability."


    He continued, "It''s better for you to leave now. You can''t take all of us on anyway."


    Aniket hesitated and stepped back, which made Park Seo and his companions smirk.


    Just then, there was a loud bang! Aniket, with a bitter smile, fired his gun. The bullet grazed Park Seo''s ear and hit the wall behind him, causing a massive explosion. The wall, 52 cm thick, was completely destroyed, leaving a 90-meter-wide hole.


    In his mind, Aniket thought, What a powerful shot, but the mana battery''s dead after one shot. This needs more work.


    He smiled at Park Seo and said, "You were saying something about sheep and wolves?"


    Park Seo stood frozen in place.


    Aniket smirked and added, "Did you really think your empty threats would scare me? Now, apologize to him quietly if you want to keep your arms and legs intact."


    Turning to the boy holding Akira''s collar, Aniket said, "You still holding his collar?"


    Min-Jun, panicking, immediately released Akira''s collar.


    Akira, stunned by everything, quietly slipped away.


    Aniket smiled and said, "Looks like you''ve learned your lesson. I''ll take my leave now."


    Park Seo, furious, shouted, "Stop!"

 Whats you trying?

    Park Seo says, "He won''t apologize. I''m sure he hasn''t done anything wrong, so we won''t back down."


    Park Seo turned around, looked at Min-Jun, and smiled faintly.


    Aniket, trying unsuccessfully to suppress the anger rising within him, says, "What nonsense are you talking about? The evidence is right in front of you, and yet! First the theft, and now this arrogance!"


    A screen appeared in front of Park Seo. Seeing it, Aniket noticed a new system-type ability.


    Park Seo saw that Min-Jun''s trust had increased by 25%. And with that trust, he put this on speed which increased by 25%.


    Then, swiftly snatching the gun from Aniket''s hand, Park Seo moved forward and said, "Now what? Without this weapon, you''re powerless."


    Park Seo thought to himself, "My ability is such that when I gain others'' trust as a leader, I can merge their stats with my own based on their trust percentage. It''s like a buff, but if their trust decreases, I weaken as well.


    This ability rapidly drains mana but boosts stats


    significantly. After a certain trust amount, I can even share my mana with them if trust so high. However, its low rank keeps it from becoming an absolute cheat ability."


    Aniket, irritated, says, "Stop with these dramatic dialogues. And by the way, I still have my ability."


    Saying this, Aniket summoned sharp, double-edged ice spikes and hurled them toward him.


    Park Seo saw the incoming ice spike and destroyed it with a kick.


    Internally frustrated, he thought, "Why is everyone standing around silently? Do something!"


    Aniket laughed and said, "Fool, that was an artifact."


    After this, the shards of ice on the ground began forming spikes one by one, floating in the air and targeting Park Seo directly.


    Behind him, Min-Jun was running toward Aniket to punch him. Aniket noticed him and said, "Create."


    Suddenly, numerous ice spike formed on the ground.


    Min-Jun slowed down and leaped into the air, trying to attack from above. In response, Aniket extended one hand and calmly said, "Wind Burst."


    A strong pressure of wind sent Min-Jun crashing into the wall. However, he wasn''t seriously injured.


    Groaning in pain, Min-Jun said, "Everyone attack! Quickly, his mana will run out soon. Without his ability, he''s nothing!"


    Aniket replied, "Wanna bet? Let''s see who runs out of mana first."


    Aniket thought to himself, "My ability consumes mana to create things. But if the material already exists, the mana consumption decreases significantly.


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    I need to focus on wind or water-type attacks since these elements are present in the environment. Ground-type attacks could also be a good option."


    With full attitude, Aniket gestured for everyone to come at him.


    On the other hand, Park Seo was barely floating in the air, dodging the spikes. He was breaking every spike he could to drain Aniket''s mana faster. However, with every shattered piece, the ice spikes only seemed to multiply.


    "Where did he even get this artifact from?" Park Seo wondered.


    Seeing Park Seo''s strength, the trust level of his teammates was rising and his power also. But with it, his mana consumption was increasing rapidly, leaving him with only a short amount of time before it ran out.


    Aniket noticed the broken So many spikes piling up behind Park Seo, and the sight startled him. Without hesitation, he deactivated his artifact.


    Now, Aniket was truly in trouble. He had no weapons left. While he could create a gun, the problem was that the fight had escalated from one-on-one to one-on-nine.


    Taking a deep breath, Aniket thought, "Well, I''ve already stuck my hand into the snake''s den. Let''s see what happens now."


    With that, he created two taser guns and smiled.


    "Bye-bye, everyone!" he said.


    Bubbles Of Water formed over everyone''s heads and popped, soaking them and spreading water all over the floor.


    Park Seo and his team quickly realized what was coming. They yelled, "Run!"


    With a ruthless smile, Aniket fired the taser guns at the floor. The water ensured that three of them got a powerful electric shock.


    Just then, Aniket felt someone standing next to him.


    Li Mei said, "Your game is over now!"


    She swung a punch toward Aniket''s face.


    Aniket immediately created wind pressure, pushing her back. The good thing about his ability was that he only needed to imagine something to create it¡ªhe didn''t even need to speak.


    Park Seo yelled, "Get away from the wet area!"


    But Aniket wasn''t going to give them the chance. He fired the taser gun again, sending shocks through everyone.


    Turning around, Aniket said, "Two against one now? That also doesn''t seem fair."


    Park Seo, furious, charged toward Aniket to punch him.


    Someone shouted, "Stop!"


    But Park Seo ignored them.


    Suddenly, a gunshot froze them both in their tracks.


    Alice said, "What mess have you gotten into now?"


    Aniket smiled innocently and said, "It''s not my fault. They were bullying me."


    Alice smirked and replied, "Oh, really? You? That''s impossible."


    Park Seo stepped forward and said, "You won''t shoot me."


    Alice threatened, "Stay where you are!"


    But Park Seo didn''t listen. She fired, and the bullet struck Park Seo''s forehead, causing him to feel a stinging pain.


    Alice said, "That wasn''t a real bullet, but the next one will be. Now don''t move."


    Li Mei, furious, said, "Who do you think you are to give us orders? He started it!"


    Victoria, in a calm tone, said, "It seems like it''s time for the heroes to stop. But all of you need to stand down right now."


    Everyone''s attention shifted to Victoria.


    Aniket sarcastically remarked, "I think there''s something more important here¡ªthose people are still writhing from the electric shocks.Mis. or Mr. What ever you are?"


    Victoria extended strings from her hands and, with a single move, flung both taser guns far away.


    The others had already passed out.


    Victoria looked at Aniket and said, "I must congratulate you. You''re the first hero to reach +E."


    Park Seo was shocked. He thought to himself, "So quickly? How did he climb to ready D rank so fast?"


    Victoria stepped between Aniket and Park Seo and said, "If you both enjoy fighting so much, you can settle this in the training grounds. But such fights will not be tolerated outside. I hope this is your first and last mistake."


    Akira was heading towards his room when someone suddenly called out, "You''re about to get into trouble, buddy."


    Akira turned around and saw a boy standing there. The boy said, "My name is Kang Dong-won. Quite the nasty plan you had¡ªpitting Aniket and Park Seo against each other. But why did you do it?"


    Akira stammered nervously, "I didn''t do anything like that. Actually, they were the ones who..."


    The boy interrupted him, "Did you really think they were fools? That they wouldn''t see through your little trick? You didn''t expect him to handle things so well, did you? You thought that after the attack, many people would turn against Park Seo and his team¡ªor maybe you''d do it yourself."


    Sweat trickled down Akira''s forehead. He stammered, "What are you trying to say?"


    Dong-won replied seriously, "You pretended to be the victim. But now you''re in big trouble because you''ve landed yourself on Park Seo''s target list."


    Akira yelled, "Speak clearly! Or else..."


    Dong-won coldly replied, "Fine, listen. Both of them know exactly what you tried to do.


    Park Seo needed to prove himself as a good leader. In return, he offered something to Aniket. Both of them were waiting for an opportunity, and you gave them that chance. Now, Park Seo stands as a leader in his team''s eyes, and you...you''re just a enemy.


    You are cooked, buddy."


    With that, Dong-won walked away.


    Akira fell to his knees. He had seen Park Seo staring at his status and had been terrified ever since, fearing that his fate here might mirror what had happened before.


    He had planned to eliminate Park Seo and his group from his path. He knew very well how furious Aniket had been that day because of Karan. That''s why he staged this drama, hoping to spark a conflict between the two.


    My goal was to break Park Seo''s group before it could even fully form, ensuring it wouldn''t become a threat in the future. But now...

 Time to investigate

    Park Seo extended six bottles of Mana Water toward Aniket and asked,


    "How did you manage to rank up your ability so quickly?"


    Instead of answering, Aniket said,


    "You made your team feel weak so they would rely on you more."


    Park Seo smiled and replied,


    "They were starting to lose fear and ignore my commands from the beginning. I had to remind them who the real leader is."


    Aniket asked,


    "What was that boy''s name again¡­ yeah, Akira. What are you planning to do with him?"


    Park Seo smirked and said,


    "Nothing. But if he tries anything else, he''ll pay for it."


    Then, with a more serious tone, Park Seo asked,


    "Can I ask you a question? Your potential rank isn''t Bronze, is it?


    When I grabbed your gun, your eyes stared at me as if you were ready to react to every move I made, even though I had activated all my speed buffs.


    How? A Bronze-ranked person shouldn''t be able to do that."


    Aniket picked up an apple from nearby and said,


    "Would you like an apple?"


    Park Seo, sounding disappointed, replied,


    "If you don''t want to answer my question, fine. I''ll take my leave."


    As he started to walk away, Aniket said from behind,


    "If you ever want to make a deal in the future, let me know. He''s definitely going to regret it."


    With that, Aniket began eating the apple.


    Meanwhile, Victoria was sitting in a room, staring at a screen displaying someone''s stats. It wasn''t anyone else''s¡ªit was Aniket''s.


    Aniket''s Status:


    Strength: 29


    Agility: 34


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    Defense: 8.3


    Intelligence: Mid


    Recovery: 6.2


    Potential: Bronze


    Mana: 406


    Ability Rank: E+


    Victoria thought to herself with a serious expression,


    "His growth rate is unbelievably fast. Despite being ranked Bronze, his stats are skyrocketing.


    Even Platinum-ranked potential heroes haven''t managed to gain more than 20 stat points in this amount of time, but his growth is unreal."


    Just then, someone called from behind,


    "Did you summon me?"


    Victoria turned and saw Xavier. She said,


    "So you''re this hero''s training instructor. Can you tell me something about him?"


    Xavier, drenched in sweat, replied,


    "He hasn''t trained at all. He spends all day lazing around. Other than his ability, he doesn''t have any notable talent.


    And controlling him is nearly impossible. I don''t think he''ll amount to much in the future."


    Victoria, with a cold tone, responded,


    "He''s about to reach Rank D. His stat growth speed rivals even Nameless. His Intelligence is at Mid, and with his weapon, he can easily destroy a B-rank shield ability."


    "And you''re saying he''s completely useless? Do your job carefully. Under no circumstances should we leave such a powerful hero free like this."


    After he left¡ª


    Victoria said, "This boy is destined to rule the battlefield in the future."


    In the evening¡ª


    Aniket, swearing, muttered, "You dog''s a****... parking in Suesu." Then, clutching his head, he added, "I shouldn''t have trusted that a****."


    As Aniket stormed off, he noticed two people talking nearby. The moment they saw him, they panicked and hurried away.


    Aniket muttered, "Great, now everyone thinks I''m a gangster because of him. I''m not that bad, but in people''s eyes, I''ve become the villain. Perfect!"


    "That jerk hid the fact that he was using me to defame me for promoting his group.


    Next time I catch him, I''ll shove something so far up his ass that it''ll come out of his mouth, and I''ll roast him like a coin kebab over lava."


    Just then, his attention turned to a tree where two people were standing. Aniket said, "These lovebirds can''t help but start wherever they feel like."


    He shouted, "Hey, you two, what are you doing over there?"


    A beautiful girl turned around and snapped, "Get lost and let us enjoy our private time."


    Aniket''s gaze shifted to the guy standing behind her, and he yelled, "You¡­"


    Aniket was in shock because standing there was Avinash. He thought to himself, Shame on you, Aniket! This double battery has a girlfriend, and you''re still single.


    With pain in his heart, tears in his eyes, and shock on his face, Aniket walked away.


    Avinash, whose face was now red with embarrassment, said, "Saira, are you sure about this? The security has gotten tighter than ever."


    Saira, with a cold expression, replied, "If you don''t want to come, then don''t. I can do this alone anyway."


    Avinash thought for a moment and said, "Fine. We''ll go there tonight. But what about the soldiers?


    After the last theft, the danger has increased even more."


    At night


    Both meet in the garden. Avinash asks, "What''s in your hand? Is it Mana Water?"


    Saira replies in a cold tone, "No, it''s chloroform¡ªto knock out the soldiers."


    Avinash says, "Really? Do you think it''ll work on them? And how are you planning to use it?"


    Saira responds, "A single drop can knock out even an elephant, so why not humans? Even if they''re super strong. I traded Mana Water for it."


    And she recalls how¡ª


    Aniket had said, "Here''s your bottle of chloroform. Be careful¡ªit''s extremely strong. Just one drop, and even an elephant will faint. But what are you planning to do with it?"


    Saira replied, "I need it for self-defense."


    Aniket warned her, "Remember, this has been specially made stronger because of your request. If you accidentally use 2¨C4 drops more on someone, they might not wake up for a week. So, be careful."


    Then he added, "By the way, what do you see in that dumb-ass fool anyway?"


    Saira asked, "Who are you talking about?"


    Aniket reminded her, "That guy double battery. What was his name again? Oh yeah, Avinash."


    Saira, getting angry, said, "Mind your own business," and started to leave.


    As she walked away, Aniket shouted from behind, "At least tell me what you like about him!"


    Coming back to the present¡ª


    Saira cuts her hand with a knife, letting her blood float in the air before mixing it into the bottle.


    The chloroform''s color began turning slightly red.


    Avinash, confused, asks, "What are you doing?"


    Saira replies, "Stay back, or you''ll faint. I''m trying to use this blood control to knock out the guards."


    Avinash says, "So you''re mixing your blood with the chloroform so that you can control it through blood control and knock the guards out?"


    From a distance, Fake God yawns and says, "Hurry up already."


    Pig Bank asks, "Are you sure these people will succeed?"


    Fake God replies, "Absolutely not. They''re 100% going to get caught."


    "Because this time, Vampire Princess Isabella is here. The scent of blood might already have revealed their location to her."

 Fake Gods Arrive

    Two guards stood in front of the door.


    Avinash whispered from behind the wall, "There are two guards standing there."


    One of the guards noticed the sound and hurled a spear with tremendous speed, breaking through the wall. Avinash narrowly avoided getting hit.


    Seeing the guards approaching, Sayra quickly wrapped chloroform in a blood bubble and hurled it toward the guards'' faces. The bubbles hit the guards directly and burst.


    The effect of the chloroform caused both guards to faint on the spot.


    Sayra turned to Avinash and said, "Next time, keep your mouth shut. Now hurry before someone else shows up."


    Fake God, slapping his forehead, said, "Of course someone''s going to come after hearing that noise! One danger wasn''t enough, and now they''re inviting another. We need to do something."


    Pig Bank said, "Don''t worry. I don''t think anyone would have paid much attention to the noise since most of the guards are near the treasury, and this place is a bit far from there."


    Fake God nodded. "Hurry up. We still need to follow them."


    Avinash and Sayra opened the door and entered. In front of them were numerous books and scrolls arranged on shelves.


    Avinash asked, "Are you sure about this?"


    Sayra closed her eyes and pointed downward. "There. There''s something down there. Definitely something important."


    Avinash said, "Wait. I remember now¡ªthis is the same place where we were teleported. There must be a camera here, or at least a magical circle."


    Ignoring him, Sayra walked ahead and said, "I thought you were about to say something useful." She began picking up books and flipping through them.


    Avinash remarked, "It''ll take forever to check all these books. Do you think we have that kind of time?" He placed his hand on the table, causing it to shift slightly.


    A mechanical sound followed, and a hidden passage opened behind the wall.


    Sayra noticed the table and the slightly protruding brick behind it, which had been pressed due to the table''s movement.


    Without wasting any time, she moved forward. Avinash followed her silently.


    As they descended the stairs, Sayra suddenly stopped and stared upward.


    Avinash asked, "What happened?"


    As usual, there was no response from her. Her gaze remained fixed upward.


    After a moment, someone descended the stairs. The figure waved and said, "Hello."


    The newcomer was dressed entirely in black, with their face hidden.


    "I''m not surprised that you two were waiting for me," the figure in black said calmly.


    Sayra asked sharply, "Who are you? And why are you following us? You''re not from the royal family. Could you be a thief?"


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    Fake God interrupted, "Look, I don''t think you two are planning to go against me. All we need is the Black Blood, and you just need to figure out what these people are doing with your blood."


    Sayra, maintaining her composure, said, "How do you know about this? Who are you?"


    Fake God smirked. "You can call me Fake God. As for how I know all this, well, let''s just say I know plenty. And don''t even think about using your Blood Control abilities on me. Sure, I might get caught, but so will you. And trust me, you wouldn''t want that."


    Avinash asked, "What do you want from us? Are you..."


    Fake God cut him off. "Enough with the guessing. Look, you need my help because neither of you knows how to activate the teleportation circle. But I do. And no, I''m not your enemy."


    Sayra said skeptically, "I still don''t trust you."


    Fake God shrugged. "Fine, you''ll believe me soon enough." He pointed toward a rat and asked, "Doesn''t it strike you as odd that there are rats here? These aren''t ordinary rats¡ªthey''re demon spies. Don''t you think your cover has already been blown?"


    There was no response from the shadows.


    Fake God spoke again, calmly but firmly, "Alright, then. It''s time to kill the gutter rats and flush them down the drain."


    As he moved forward, the four rats suddenly transformed into shadowy humanoid figures. Their horns and lizard-like tails were barely hidden by their cloaks.


    The four advanced rapidly, aiming to attack Fake God. But before they could strike, they felt their bodies freeze, completely paralyzed.


    Fake God said mockingly, "I bet you''re wondering what''s happened to you. Well, it''s simple¡ªyou''ve been poisoned. When and how? That, I''m not telling."


    He turned to Sayra and Avinash. "And you two must understand by now that I can kill you in an instant. So trust me, because you really don''t have another choice."


    Avinash asked, "Who are these people?"


    Fake God walked over to the demon spies and began searching them. "They''re demon spies. They''ve been watching everything for quite some time. The people here think their activities have gone unnoticed, but the truth is far from it."


    He pried open the mouth of one of the spies, extracting something hidden in its teeth. The sight was revolting.


    Turning to Sayra and Avinash, he said, "What are you staring at? Start removing the poison capsules hidden under their teeth. Don''t worry¡ªthey''ll remain paralyzed for at least half an hour."


    After some time, Fake God angrily said, "Poor fools. Didn''t find anything special. Shameless people, next time make sure to keep something valuable!"


    He turned to Sayra and Avinash. "You both searched the others, right? Alright, now follow me."


    As they followed him, Avinash whispered, "This guy is way too strange. Do you really trust him? I don''t think he''s trustworthy at all. Who knows when he''ll betray us?"


    Sayra snapped, "Keep your mouth shut. We don''t have a choice but to trust him because, if he wants, he could kill us anytime."


    A magic circle activated.


    Fake God stood inside it and said, "If I''ve done everything correctly, teleportation will start in about three seconds. And you¡ªwho''s thinking of jumping out of the circle¡ªstand still in the center!"


    With that, he motioned for Sayra and Avinash to move to the middle of the circle.


    They all felt a sharp pain in their stomachs, and in the next moment, they were somewhere else. A large crowd of people stood there, staring at them.


    Fake God smiled wickedly and said, "Didn''t I tell you? You''d need my help. Let''s go."


    He started walking away casually, but suddenly one of the people in the crowd charged at him.


    The attacker collapsed in the next moment, vomiting blood. Soon, everyone standing there started vomiting blood one after the other.


    Avinash was stunned, unable to understand what was happening. He thought, Maybe they were poisoned too.


    Fake God noticed Avinash looking at the people and said, "Don''t worry. There are more corpses to come. Right now, we''re in the Great Lake Prison¡ªone of the most secret places in this kingdom."


    After following Fake God for a while, they entered a large room filled with countless bottles of blood.


    Sayra and Avinash''s attention was drawn to the bottles. Avinash was shocked to see so much blood. A single question echoed in his mind: What are they doing with so much blood?


    As if reading his thoughts, Fake God said, "Hero blood can enhance anyone''s potential. Suppose a hero''s potential is at gold level, and someone consumes their blood in a limited quantity¡ªit can raise their potential to silver level.


    Or, if a vampire keeps consuming hero blood, there''s a high chance of them evolving. In short, hero blood is extremely valuable to these people.


    The higher the potential of the hero, the more beneficial their blood becomes. But I don''t think this is all they''re up to."


    Sayra said in a calm voice, "You mean to say that our blood is nothing less than a power tonic for these people."


    Fake God replied, "Yes, you can say that, but I don''t think those people just want to do this much."


    Sayra felt something and looked in a particular direction, saying, "Over there..."


    Avinash''s attention turned to Sayra. He asked, "What''s over there?"


    But Sayra didn''t respond and moved ahead.


    Behind them, Fake God was mixing something in the jar of blood.


    Sayra stopped in front of a door as she walked, and Avinash came up to her from behind. Sayra tried to push the door open, but it wouldn''t budge.


    Seeing this, Avinash stepped forward to help her.


    Despite their efforts, the door didn''t open. There wasn''t anything significant around, nor was there any place on the door to insert a key.


    Frustrated, Sayra punched the door, but it didn''t make any impact.


    A voice came from behind, "If I were you, I wouldn''t make such a mistake. You''re just trying to break your hand."


    Fake God approached calmly from behind and said, "I don''t think this door can be opened. It''s sealed with magic. Only someone from the royal family can open it. Forcing it is pointless, as it''s made from a very strong material."


    Avinash asked Sayra, "What''s inside?"


    Sayra replied, "My blood. Why have they kept it separate?"


    Fake God said, "Let''s find out by going inside. Isn''t it funny? These fools made the door so strong, but the walls are still the old stone ones. They''re strong but not that strong."


    He stepped forward, touched the wall, and placed a crystal against it. Counting down from ten, he moved back:


    "Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one... zero!"


    There was a loud explosion behind them. The rubble fell to the ground, and the wall was completely destroyed, but the door remained intact.


    Fake God said from behind, "I have to go meet some old friends, so you go ahead." Then he left.


    Watching him leave, Avinash didn''t feel good about it.

 Black blood

    Saira entered the room. Seeing her go in like that, Avinash said, "Wait, there could be danger inside."


    Avinash also ran after her.


    The moment he stepped inside, his eyes widened in shock. In front of him were several jars of blood. Some were quite small, while others were much larger.


    But what was shocking wasn''t the blood¡ªit was the labels written on the jars.


    The first jar had Dragon Blood written on it.


    The second jar read Vampire Queen Blood.


    The third one said Elf Queen Blood.


    The fourth jar was even more astonishing¡ªGiant Blood.


    Avinash''s attention was drawn to a jar that had broken due to an explosion. It had Demon King Blood written on it. But the strange thing was, there wasn''t a single drop of blood anywhere nearby. The jar was shattered, yet the blood was missing.


    Avinash began to sense something was wrong. He said, "Something''s not right¡ª" before he could finish, Saira suddenly jerked backward.


    Something had grazed her cheek, cutting it. She touched her cheek, which was now bleeding. A dark, fast-moving entity rushed toward Avinash.


    Avinash instinctively raised his arms to shield his face. But after a moment, when he opened his eyes, he saw a dark object floating in the air.


    Saira, who had been controlling the blood, realized something¡ªit wasn''t just the blood around her she could control but also the dark entity. She said, "This thing... it''s blood." The black blood, however, was still writhing, trying to escape her control.


    Avinash observed it closely. It was living blood. He could feel a faint, dominating power emanating from it. The sensation made him feel like he should bow before it, but this feeling was weaker than the one he had felt the first time he encountered Isabella.


    Saira wiped the blood from her cheek¡ªit was black.


    Avinash quickly scanned the room and found a jar lying in the corner. Picking it up, he said, "Saira, into this!"


    The blood, still thrashing, was finally sealed inside the jar.


    Both of them had the same question in their minds: What does Fake God want with this?


    But Saira shifted her focus to her own blood. There was a significant amount of it¡ªnot stored in a jar but in a large tub. The label on it read Nameless.


    Suddenly, screams and cries echoed from outside, growing louder by the second. People were groaning in pain. Hearing this, both of them rushed out, only to witness piles of corpses lying around.


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    Blood was flowing on the ground, and in the midst of it stood a man¡ªFake God. Not a single drop of blood had stained him.


    Amid the horrific scene, he stood there calmly, as if he had merely come for a stroll in the park.


    Both of them could clearly see that no one had managed to get close to Fake God. Anyone who entered within a 10-meter radius of him vomited blood and died instantly.


    Avinash thought, We''ve barely been here for three minutes, and he''s already caused this much destruction...


    Holding the ring in his hand, Fake God said, "It seems it''s time for me to leave." With that, he slammed the ring onto the ground and vanished.


    Saira shouted, "Let''s get out of here immediately! Something''s not right." The two of them ran toward the room with the magic circle cameras.


    Breathing heavily, they reached the room only to find Isabella standing before them. The sight of her sent chills down their spines.


    With a merciless smile, Isabella said, "Sorry, I got a bit delayed taking care of those spies. So, you two are the thieves."


    She paused, then added, "Wait, wait. Is that the strong scent of blood coming from outside?"


    Behind her, a teleportation circle lit up again. Victoria stepped forward, scanning the corpses scattered around her. As soon as her eyes landed on Avinash and Saira, her expression turned furious. She said, "Prepare to die!"


    Meanwhile, Pig Bank asked Fake God, "Where are they?"


    Fake God replied, "I told you before, there''s a 100% chance they''ll be caught. Anyway, our work here is done."


    Pig Bank, still uneasy, asked, "But what about them?"


    Fake God replied, "That has nothing to do with us. Besides, poison works perfectly on vampires. Don''t worry¡ªthey won''t kill the girl. She has Nameless potential.


    As for the boy... there''s a 50% chance that Demon King''s blood is in his body. If it is, he''ll survive. Otherwise..." He smirked. "I can only say one thing: Rest in peace."


    Elsewhere, Saira quietly hurled a bottle of chloroform toward Isabella and Victoria. A few droplets splashed in their direction, ensuring they would soon lose consciousness.


    But Victoria''s eyes glimmered faintly, and the bottle, along with the droplets, froze mid-air. Some strange mental energy surrounded her, holding everything in place.


    In a stern voice, Victoria said, "A good attempt, but ultimately futile."


    Avinash''s thoughts were racing. This is hopeless. There''s no way out of here. The teleportation circle is right behind us, but I have no idea how to activate it. Escaping is almost impossible. And I don''t even have a chance.


    "We''re in the biggest mess right now, that bastard Fake God!"


    Avinash was lost in thought when he took a deep breath and used his desk to push the floating chloroform bottle directly toward Victoria and Isabella''s faces.


    The next moment, several energy strands lifted him into the air, and his desk froze in place.


    With a serious expression, Victoria moved forward to end his game once and for all.


    Without thinking, Avinash spat toward her. She stopped it effortlessly.


    But just then, a bubble made of blood containing chloroform burst right near Victoria''s nose with tremendous force.


    Victoria was in shock, realizing too late what had happened, and collapsed unconscious.


    The problem, however, was that a second bubble burst near Isabella''s face, showing no effect at all.


    Isabella swiftly grabbed Saira by the neck and slammed her repeatedly against the wall.


    Avinash, now free from the bindings because of Victoria''s unconsciousness, immediately looked around. He spotted a knife lying among the fallen bodies and, with precise aim, hurled it at Isabella''s head using his desk''s power.


    Despite using all his strength, the knife didn''t move forward at all. Its tip couldn''t even scratch Isabella''s skin.


    Meanwhile, Saira was trying to use her blood control ability to block the flow of blood to Isabella''s brain. But it seemed like the effect would take too long, and by then, her neck bones would already be shattered.


    Avinash, desperate, struck at her neck, but the knife failed to cause any damage. He couldn''t comprehend how thick her skin was.


    Had she been an ordinary human, the knife would have pierced through her skull by now, thanks to the desk''s force.


    Realizing his mistake, Avinash decided to target her weaker spots.


    Isabella, frustrated, used her mental energy to grab Avinash by the neck and lift him off the ground. On the other side, Saira could feel death creeping closer and closer.


    But something strange was happening¡ª the faint black blood smeared on Saira''s cheek was slowly spreading through her body. One of her eyes turned blood-red, and she felt as if electric currents were racing through her entire body.


    Just as Isabella was about to finish them off, she suddenly froze. She felt it¡ªpure, unfiltered fear.


    Startled, she stepped back abruptly.


    Both Saira and Avinash were gasping for breath. Saira could feel something changing inside her body.


    "Avinash, your horns..." Saira whispered, startled.


    She touched her head, her tongue brushing against what felt like new, sharp fangs. She could feel a strange movement behind her back, something alien.


    Avinash looked at her and thought, Demon. Saira now looked partially like a demon.


    In shock, Isabella muttered, "Demon King... How can you have the Demon King''s bloodline?" Her entire body trembled.


    Suddenly, a bright light filled the room. Avinash and Saira both felt an unseen force pulling them.


    When the light vanished, Isabella looked around and saw no one.

 Just Ants

    Avinash slowly opens his eyes and looks around. He finds himself surrounded by massive mountains. In front of him, Saira stood in her demon form.


    But someone else was present there too. As soon as he turned to his right, he saw a woman standing there with very huge...


    Horns. She was a demon.


    Her body was trembling violently as she slowly moved forward, touching Saira''s cheeks with her hand and said, "The Great Demon King''s bloodline isn''t extinct yet. There''s still hope."


    Saira immediately pushed her hand away, stepping back, and asked, "Where are we?"


    Before anyone could answer, a deafening scream echoed in the air. Everyone covered their ears to shield themselves from the noise.


    Avinash and Saira looked up to see Isabella standing above, screaming furiously. Her bloodlust radiated in all directions.


    From their perspective, she looked nothing less than a giant or a titan.


    Avinash thought to himself, "That means we haven''t gone anywhere; we''re still here. But our size has drastically reduced. To her, we''re nothing more than ants. Looking at the surroundings, even the smallest bumps on the ground seem like towering mountains to us. It means we''ve shrunk beyond comprehension. Could this be the ability of that demon woman?"


    The demon woman spoke, "Who would''ve thought some vampires would now be working with humans?"


    Avinash asked, "Who are you?"


    The demon woman glared at him fiercely and then said, "Know your place, filthy human. If you utter another word, be prepared to die."


    Her hatred for Avinash was evident in her eyes.


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    Avinash, shocked, could only mutter, "What..."


    The demon woman charged toward Avinash at incredible speed, her powerful fist aimed to crush his skull.


    She moved so fast that Avinash didn''t even get the chance to react or use his defense in time.


    A voice called out, "Stop!"


    In a cold tone, Saira commanded, "Stay away from him."


    The demon woman, whose fist was just a centimeter away from Avinash''s face, stopped instantly. Stepping back, she said, "Apologies. But I had already warned you if he dared to speak..."


    Saira interrupted, "Who are you?"


    The woman replied, "I am Shrinkaate. I was sent here by the Demon Queen to keep an eye on these people."


    Avinash, trembling, said, "You both should look up."


    Because at that moment, Isabella was about to step on all three of them. As her enormous foot moved closer, everything around turned dark.


    The ground shook violently as her step landed, accompanied by a deafening sound and a powerful gust of wind.


    Avinash was stunned. He was still unharmed, but how? The answer lay in their extreme reduction in size. To them, even an ant seemed like a giant.


    Saira, brushing aside her thoughts, asked again, "You said you were keeping watch here. What did you find out?"


    Shrinkaate replied, "Not much, but enough to know that these people are planning something big. Until now, no one has been able to reach this place.


    "As you can see, everyone here is incredibly powerful, people whose gaze no one has escaped. But today, because of you, we''ve had the chance to come here."


    Saira asked, "Fake God. Do you know anything about him?"


    Shrinkaate replied, "No. But one of his allies was outside. I didn''t dare make any move that would draw their attention to me."


    Avinash asked, "How strong was he?"


    Shrinkaate glared at him and said, "I don''t think it''s necessary to answer you!"


    Avinash thought to himself, What''s her problem?


    Saira repeated the question, "In your opinion, how powerful was he?"


    Shrinkaate, now nervous, said, "It''s hard to say. Everyone here was at the peak of their strength. Some were even stronger than me. But even they were killed."


    Saira asked, "Why are you showing me so much respect, and why are you protecting us?"


    Shrinkaate replied, "After many years, the Demon Bloodline has chosen someone. Many times, demons have tried to find a successor through the blood of the Demon King. But no one has been able to inherit the Demon King''s bloodline.


    "It was then decided that until someone is accepted by the Demon King''s bloodline, one of the five Demon Lords would assume the throne.


    "That''s why protecting you is my duty, even if it costs me my life. As for this weak human, it was just an accident."


    Shrinkaate paused and then said, "I apologize for my rudeness, but we need to leave this place before¡ª"


    Before she could finish, her expression changed as she looked upward. Two enormous eyes were staring down at them.


    All three of them turned their attention to the gigantic face gazing at them.


    A deep, heavy voice echoed, "Two demons and a human."


    In a trembling voice, Shrinkaate said, "Of all the people, we had to encounter him here. Maxwell Griffin. The man whose eyes miss nothing. The Divine Eye Prince. The worst leader in history."


    Avinash and Saira could clearly see the sweat dripping from Shrinkaate''s face. They now realized they should have left earlier, but it was too late.


    The man standing before them continued to stare at them. Even though their size was far smaller than an ant, it felt as if he was peering directly into their souls.


    The man smiled.


    A voice came from behind him, "Why are you crouching down like that?"


    Maxwell replied, "Oh, nothing. Just a few ants."

 Demon Next Ruler

    Maxwell, while heading there, said, "I don''t think I have any business here, brother. I mean, my king."


    Vincent: "So, does that mean I should assume you won''t help us?"


    Maxwell, taking a deep breath, replied, "Whatever you''re doing won''t end well anyway." Saying this, he walked away.


    Avinash, in a panicked voice: "Did he not see us?"


    Shrinkaate: "There''s no time for this. We need to leave as quickly as possible." But in his mind, he kept thinking, Why didn''t Maxwell do anything even after seeing us? What''s going on in his mind?


    A little later:


    Avinash, now back to his normal size, threw up and said, "Who the h*** designed this magic circle?"


    Then he added, "Are you sure this strange demon woman will help us?"


    Saira, in a calm voice, replied, "She saved our lives once and told us she was working on getting us out of here."


    Avinash noticed something and said, "Your demon form¡ªit''s slowly disappearing."


    Saira looked at her body, realizing her human form was returning. She thought to herself, It seems I''ve run out of mana.


    Saira said, "Don''t focus on that. We need to get to our room before anyone notices."


    From a distance, the Fake God, watching them, said angrily, "Damn it! What is the Demon King''s bloodline doing with that girl?"


    Pig Bank asked, "So what now? Is there no other way to wake him up?"


    The Fake God didn''t respond and muttered, "It''s not that simple."


    A little later:


    Avinash was in his room and said aloud to check his status, "Mae Ka Lal Jai Kishan!" Thinking to himself, What was the logic behind making this the command?


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    "Thank goodness no one is here. Still, this is so embarrassing."


    The status appeared before him:


    Strength: 4.3


    Agility: 5.2


    Defense: 0.5


    Intelligence: Low


    Recovery: 0.2


    Potential: Bronze


    Mana: 100/26


    Ability Rank: F+


    Seeing this, Avinash couldn''t contain his happiness. The time had come to upgrade his ability to rank E.


    He pulled out a bottle of mana water and started drinking it slowly. Just like last time, it tasted salty. He then looked at his status, where mana was rapidly restoring. Soon, his permanent mana points began increasing at a fast pace.


    As the mana increased, so did the smile on his face:


    Mana 125/+125


    Mana 135/+135


    Mana 184/+184


    Mana 190/+190


    Mana 199/+199


    But when the mana stopped increasing further, his smile faded away and was replaced by frustration and anger.


    Avinash angrily exclaimed, "Why isn''t my mana increasing further?!" To upgrade his ability to rank E, he needed 200 mana points. After reaching that milestone, the ability would start developing gradually. But now, his mana was stuck at 199.


    Furious, Avinash began pulling at his hair, cursing his bad luck. That''s when he noticed the empty bottle of mana water. There was still one last drop left in it. He quickly stuck out his tongue to lap it up, squeezing the bottle with all his might to extract every single drop of the liquid.


    Mana 200/+200


    Seeing this, he finally felt a sense of peace. Now, his ability could begin developing slowly.


    Avinash summoned the gaming window, where the option to upgrade was displayed. Without hesitation, he clicked on "Upgrade."


    System updating¡­


    Meanwhile, Saira


    In her room, Saira was reminiscing about the time she had transformed into a demon. Her thoughts wandered back to Shrinkaate''s words about the Demon King''s bloodline choosing her.


    But the truth was different. Using her ability, Saira had forcibly mixed the bloodline with her own blood, without any intention of letting it take control of her.


    Now, a question haunted her mind¡ªcould she inherit the other bloodlines present there in the same way?


    However, the answer soon became evident as the black blood within her body began trying to force its way out.


    Elsewhere


    Someone shouted in anger, "What do you mean you haven''t found any trace of those thieves yet?!"


    The man standing before him stammered nervously, "My apologies, Princess. But we''ve tried to track them down before, and the result has been the same as always¡ªnothing."


    Isabella was furious and shouted, "Get out of here!" As soon as the man left, Isabella collapsed onto the ground, clutching her chest, and thought, What is happening to me?


    She muttered to herself, At that moment, I couldn''t see even in the darkness, which is why I couldn''t recognize their faces. Why am I feeling so weak?


    Could this also be the work of those two thieves? First, they stole the artifact from the treasury. Later, they infiltrated the Great Lake Prison, killed everyone there, and one of them even inherited the Demon King''s bloodline. What are they doing here? The demons are frantically searching for a suitable candidate for the new Demon King. They would never send anyone here at any cost.


    Isabella, overwhelmed by anger, grabbed her head and said, What do they want to achieve? But then her attention shifted to her hands, where strands of her hair had fallen.


    The sight made her face turn pale, and an intense fear was visible in her eyes.


    She couldn''t comprehend what was happening to her. The feeling of weakness persisted.


    (At this moment, Isabella mistakenly believed that the two individuals who stole from the treasury and those she saw at the Great Lake Prison were the same. This misunderstanding led everyone to search for these two thieves, but no one had considered the possibility that they might be different people.)


    Vincent Griffin looked ahead and said, "At last, this thing is intact."


    From behind, someone called out, "Your Majesty, the Hero''s Blood is also safe, but the Black Blood has been destroyed."


    Just then, someone came running, bowed deeply before Vincent Griffin, and said, "The Demon Queen is coming here tomorrow."


    Vincent Griffin, with a serious expression, thought, First, the destruction of the Black Blood¡ªwhich means the Demon King''s blood has accepted someone. And now, the Demon Queen herself is coming here.


    This means the new Demon King is present here. We must eliminate him at any cost.

 The Demon queen

    Avinash immediately used the Dash . He was about to punch David, and his punch was very close to hitting him when a sudden burst of intense gravity pressure slammed him straight to the ground.


    Avinash thought to himself that ever since his ability was ranked E, the gaming window had changed significantly, incorporating all the necessary updates for skill upgrades.


    However, even after upgrading the Dash , there wasn''t much improvement.


    David said, "Nice try, but that''s not enough. You need to train your battle art a bit more. By the way, which battle art are you using?"


    Avinash replied, "Battle art? I don''t understand. Are you talking about the way I fight?"


    David realized something. "It seems you people haven''t started learning battle arts yet. Battle arts are similar to martial arts. They define your fighting style, especially if you use specific techniques with weapons or bare hands, designed to fight using mana. These are called battle arts."


    "Not everyone can unlock abilities, but everyone possesses mana. That''s why special fighting techniques were developed, keeping this in mind. These techniques were created by none other than the ancient High Humans."


    Avinash asked, "I have a few questions. What is this intelligence rank? Because all of our ranks are low."


    Yawning, David replied, "It''s the capability of your brain. It''s not related to being smarter or more cunning; it''s simply a factor that measures how capable your brain is in interacting with mana."


    "If your rank is high, you can use your mind to move objects around, create pressure, registrants for abilities, and other similar things."


    "If your questions are over, let''s start training in 3x gravity. Don''t expect to get away with this."


    Exhausted, Avinash said, "Not again!" He cursed internally, thinking, Enough already! What''s next? Are you going to turn me into a Super Saiyan?


    Xavier, trembling with fear and dripping with sweat, said nervously, "Excuse me, don''t you think this is too much training? You should rest."


    At that moment, his whole body was shaking with fear, and standing before him was a monster¡ªa literal monster.


    Aniket laughed and said, "No, no, no! Training is absolutely necessary. I could do this all day!"


    A trainer observing from afar gulped and thought to himself, Thank goodness I''m not his trainer.


    In front of Xavier hung a bell, just slightly below the area between his legs. Aniket, holding his gun, was trying to aim at the bell. If his aim missed even slightly, it would mean Xavier''s future children were in danger.


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    Xavier, trembling with fear, muttered to himself, I was insane to believe Victoria''s words and come here to train him properly. I should''ve realized on the very first day that I couldn''t handle this. Oh God, please save me!


    The gun fired. Xavier shut his eyes tightly. Unfortunately, Aniket''s aim was either off or he missed deliberately. The bullet passed just below both his "bells," missing by a mere 0.5 cm at most.


    Xavier froze in terror, standing like a statue. A fragrant smell spread all around. His white pants were now wet.


    In his state of fear, Xavier didn''t realize what he had done until it was too late. When he finally came to his senses, everyone was staring at him. The attention of the entire training ground was now on him.


    Aniket, with a mocking tone, said, "Instructor, if you need diapers, I sell those too. Do you want some?"


    Then, holding his nose, he added, "Next time, don''t wake me up from my sleep. I''m going back to bed now."


    Xavier stood still like a statue, his dignity, reputation, and pride destroyed in a single moment. And all because he had disturbed someone''s sleep for training.


    He noticed a few maids in the distance, looking at him and laughing while whispering to each other. At that moment, he wished he could just disappear into the ground.


    Later that evening


    Aniket exclaimed, "What do you mean the Demon Queen is coming? All the guys have gone crazy and are waiting eagerly at the door!"


    Alice replied, "Yes, they were saying she''s a succubus. One of the Five Demon Lords, currently acting as the Demon Queen in the absence of the Demon King."


    Aniket immediately started fixing his hair and said, "Let''s go, let''s go quickly!" He conjured a bottle of perfume with his hands and began spraying it all over himself.


    Alice, shocked, said, "What''s gotten into you all of a sudden? Just a while ago, you were saying, ''To hell with the Demon Queen,'' and now..."


    Still adjusting his appearance, Aniket replied, "Because she''s a succubus¡ªI mean, one of the most powerful beings in the world! Opportunities like this don''t come often. Let''s go quickly!"


    "I can''t wait to see her huge... power."


    Alice, growing irritated, said, "I know exactly what you''re trying to say, and I know which power you''re talking about."


    A little while later


    Vincent Griffin stood at the castle gates, awaiting the Demon Queen''s arrival. A long red carpet had been rolled out in her honor. Everyone present had their own thoughts about the event, each one filled with anticipation.


    The soldiers were boiling with anger as they stood there, unable to tolerate the fact that they were welcoming their greatest enemy. The same enemy who had repeatedly attacked their cities, killed millions, and left devastation in her wake. Yet today, they were here to greet her.


    The servants and maids were visibly anxious. One mistake in their work, and they could end up being killed by the Demon Queen herself.


    On the other hand, the young heroes were unusually excited. Each had prepared meticulously, hiding their true intentions under various excuses. No one could question why they were present¡ªeveryone had their own reasons.


    Aniket stood in front like a perfect gentleman.


    Watching him, Alice thought to herself, This lazy pig¡ªwhen did he suddenly turn into a chameleon?


    Aniket whispered, "She''s coming." As the shadow of someone stepped through the doorway, the look on Aniket''s face became priceless. His expression carried shock, disappointment, and despair, all at once.


    The Demon Queen appeared strikingly masculine. Her face radiated the aura of a sigma, chad, and alpha male combined. A slight beard adorned her face, with black lipstick smeared on her lips. Her physique was intimidating enough to make even the most seasoned bodybuilders blush with shame. She stood exceptionally tall, with horns on her head, wings on her back, and a tail swaying behind her.


    Alice looked at the Demon Queen, then turned her gaze to Aniket''s face, barely able to suppress her laughter.


    She said, "Truly¡­huge indeed." Then she burst into laughter, struggling to say, "If you want, I can compliment you in front of her."


    Aniket''s eyes welled up with tears, his heart ached, and his mind was consumed with despair. The same could be said for some of the other young men standing there, who were drowning in the pit of utter hopelessness.


    Meanwhile, the Demon Queen thought to herself, Finally, someone who can inherit the Demon King''s bloodline. No matter what, I will take him back with me, even if I have to destroy an entire kingdom to do so.


    Vincent Griffin knelt on the ground, placing his crown at her feet. "Welcome, Demon Queen," he said.


    The sight made the blood of everyone present boil with rage. Many couldn''t bear the humiliation. While there was a formal treaty between the two species, the demons'' superior strength had always made them look down on humans as weak and inferior beings.


    Vincent Griffin, however, was scheming internally. Just a little more time, and soon all species will bow before us. The demons will pay for this humiliation tenfold.


    His gaze shifted to the young heroes standing nearby, who were visibly stunned.


    In their hearts, seeds of hatred against the demons had begun to take root.


    Vincent Griffin thought, At least pretending to be righteous in front of everyone has served its purpose.

 Against Demon queen

    The Demon Queen, in a cold voice, says, "Why did it take you so long to come down to the ground?"


    Vincent Griffin, apologetically, says, "Forgive me, my Queen."


    The Demon Queen, still in her cold tone, replies, "The punishment for this mistake is only death. Kill yourself, or else..."


    Beads of sweat were clearly visible on Vincent Griffin''s face. He had not expected his small claim to backfire in such a way. Of course, as the king of this kingdom, he had no need to bow before the Demon Queen, but he did so to sow bitterness in the hearts of others against her.


    But now...


    Akira, shouting angrily, says, "That''s enough! Are you out of your mind? You crazy man! How can you ask someone to die like that?"


    Min-Jun adds from behind, "I may not like this trash, but I completely agree with him."


    One by one, everyone began supporting them.


    The Demon Queen slowly smiled and said, "You people have a lot of courage."


    But the very next moment, the Demon Queen released such intense terror from her body that everyone was frozen in place.


    Everyone''s breath was caught in their throats. Many even felt as if their hearts were about to burst. The minds of all present screamed at them, telling them that death was certain if they stayed there any longer.


    Everyone in the vicinity had fallen to their knees. Some, unable to endure the pressure, had already fainted. The atmosphere had become extremely dire.


    Amid this, Vincent Griffin made a signal with two fingers.


    Suddenly, someone fired a bullet. The bullet raced directly toward the center of the Demon Queen''s forehead and was closing in fast. But just as it got close, the Demon Queen swatted it away with her hand as if she were flicking away a mosquito.


    The one who fired the shot was shocked. He couldn''t understand why the bullet had no effect. His body was trembling uncontrollably because the Demon Queen''s gaze had now fixed on him.


    Aniket, who was trying hard not to fall to his knees, choked, "Alice, what have you done?"


    Alice, trembling with fear, dropped the gun from her hands. She herself didn''t know how it had come to this. The very next moment, an invisible force lifted her into the air and flung her right in front of the Demon Queen.


    The Demon Queen, in a cold voice, said, "It seems you humans are forgetting your place."


    Vincent Griffin remained silent, thinking to himself, If a hero dies here, it would instill one thing in the minds of the other heroes¡ªthat the destruction of demons is essential for humanity. Demon Queen, push forward quickly and lead the demons further toward their ruin.


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    Aniket looked at his hand and then raised it toward the Demon Queen, thinking, Black Hole. Should I try it? But¡­


    A girl wearing a burqa whispered softly, "No, absolutely not. Don''t do it, because the Demon Queen will be killed along with her."


    Aniket turned back angrily and said, "I know. Guns are useless; our stats are nothing compared to hers. Poison won''t work on her either because demons have high poison resistance.


    And she hasn''t even used her abilities yet. If this continues¡­"


    The Demon Queen turned her gaze to a soldier and, with a simple gesture of her hand, twisted his armor brutally, crushing the soldier inside. Blood began pouring out of the armor, and she slowly twisted it further into a spiral shape, transforming it into a sharp spike. The soldier''s bones and flesh were still embedded within.


    The blood-drenched spike from the armor moved straight toward Alice, aiming to finish her off permanently.


    Before anyone could react, something unexpected happened¡ªsomeone tried to punch the Demon Queen.


    What was even worse was that the Demon Queen didn''t even attempt to dodge. At that moment, Avinash, using Dash, tried to punch her, though it was unclear what he was thinking. He could see that his punch didn''t leave the slightest mark on the Demon Queen''s face.


    But Avinash felt as though he had almost broken his hand. It seemed as if he had punched not a cheek but a solid stone.


    But Avinash felt as though he had almost broken his hand. It seemed as if he hadn''t punched a cheek but solid stone.


    The Demon Queen''s anger intensified even further. With brutal precision, she used her mental energy to trap Avinash and slowly brought her two fingers closer to his eyes, ready to blind him permanently.


    But suddenly, another gunshot rang out. This time, Aniket leaped forward with a smirk and said, "For the first time, I feel like praising someone.


    My boy, you''ve made me proud!"


    Avinash, still struggling against the mental energy trapping him, shouted, "Is this really the time for jokes? How can you even think of cracking one right now?"


    The Demon Queen snarled, "Another mosquito!"


    What was remarkable, however, was that none of the soldiers or prominent figures present dared to take a single step forward, even though the oppressive pressure had vanished. Perhaps fear had paralyzed them, and those who wanted to act lacked the courage.


    Aniket sneered, "Hey, weird old hag, do you want to taste a bazooka? I won''t waste my breath because just looking at your face has already ruined my mood."


    The Demon Queen, now seething with rage, tightened her grip on Avinash even more and said, "Where do you get such audacity?!" Then, laughing maniacally, she added, "This will end worse than death for you."


    Aniket remained calm on the surface, but deep down, he knew he was no match for her. He had willingly stepped into a quagmire.


    Aniket said, "You know why I''m not afraid of you? Because my brother, my dear friend Park Seo, is with me, along with his allies." He pointed toward them.


    Park Seo, hearing his name suddenly dragged into the situation, was stunned. At that moment, he was silently standing amidst the crowd, observing everything. Cursing internally, he thought, You piece of shit from India! Why are you pulling me into this mess?


    Just then, someone stepped forward. Li Mei, moving ahead, said, "If you''re going to keep sulking in your hole like this, I don''t think I can stick around in this fake alliance of yours for much longer."


    he could see that her reputation percentage was steadily dropping.


    Park Seo clenched his teeth in frustration and said, "Fine. If sitting here trembling in fear is the only other option, I''d rather prepare for battle."


    Turning to his allies behind him, he announced, "I''m going ahead. Anyone who wants to join me can, but let me make this clear¡ªwe''re walking into death''s embrace. I don''t know if we''ll survive, but..." We must survive, he thought to himself. We have to make it through somehow.


    The Demon Queen noticed more humans stepping forward and smiled devilishly. To her, these people were no more significant than insects.


    Suddenly, the blood from the spiked armor floated into the air and rushed toward her, clinging to her face aggressively. Sayra was concentrating hard, thinking, This is bad. I can''t control the blood inside her body. It must be because her intelligence rank is too high. But if I can stop her from breathing, maybe¡­


    However, with a violent jolt, the blood dispersed in all directions. Aniket darted forward, shouting as he grinned dangerously. But no change occurred¡ªneither in the surroundings nor in the Demon Queen herself.


    The Demon Queen couldn''t shake the feeling that something was off, but she couldn''t tell what. Suddenly, a sharp, rusted mental spike formed dangerously close to her eye, growing rapidly and poised to pierce through.


    But the Demon Queen''s high stats allowed her to react instantly, and she pulled back just in time.


    Vincent Griffin thought to himself, The damage is going to be catastrophic. But sometimes, winning a war requires small sacrifices.


    But why is she toying with them? End this quickly.


    The Demon Queen burst out laughing, her voice dripping with malice. "Prepare to die."


    Sayra, meanwhile, was lost in thought. The Demon Bloodline... should I use it? But even with that, I doubt I can harm this woman. Still, maybe¡­


    Before she could act, she realized something horrifying¡ªshe couldn''t use her ability at all.


    Aniket froze in place, choking. Moments ago, he had tried to create wind pressure to attack the Demon Queen, but nothing happened despite the mana coursing through his body.


    Is this her ability?


    Li Mei rushed forward to land a punch, but before she could, everyone found themselves suspended in midair, hanging helplessly.


    Park Seo noticed something unsettling¡ªhis respect percentage system had disappeared entirely. Regret filled his face as he muttered, "I knew I was being stupid. Now everyone''s going to die because of me."

 Not Invincible At Least

    Aniket says, "It seems we''re in deep trouble." Smiling faintly, he adds, "But it''s worth a try."


    Saying this, Aniket pulls out a P-grade grenade from his pocket, removes the pin, and throws it directly at the Demon Queen.


    The Demon Queen catches it with one hand and examines it.


    Demon Queen (to herself): "What a strange object. It doesn''t seem to hold any Mana."


    However, she had no idea what was about to happen. Ten seconds later, the grenade explodes. Though it didn''t cause much damage, the blast startled the Demon Queen slightly.


    This moment of distraction allowed Avinash to break free from the mental restraint. Understanding Aniket''s signal, he immediately moved away from the Demon Queen.


    The Demon Queen watched him leave but didn''t react much.


    "Everyone, fall back!" Aniket shouted loudly.


    He pulled out a mana bullet magazine from his pocket, loaded it into his gun, and stood ready to shoot at the Demon Queen.


    The Demon Queen stared into Aniket''s eyes as if daring him, "Do whatever you want. I fear nothing."


    Aniket cursed under his breath, "Shameless fools! You''ve been hyping yourselves up as heroes for days, and now look at you, standing frozen in place. I could curse you all day, and it still wouldn''t be enough!" With that, he fired a shot.


    The bullet was about to hit the Demon Queen, but the result was the same as before. She tried to stop the bullet with her hands, but this time, the explosion was far more intense, leaving everyone stunned.


    Her hand was severely damaged, the upper layer of her skin badly burned.


    Seeing the bullet work, Alice shouted loudly, "Attack again!"


    Aniket, with a blank expression, replied, "They''re all gone."


    Hearing this, the hopes of everyone standing there were completely shattered. Beads of sweat dripped from Avinash''s face as he stood there, feeling as though he was facing the final boss while still at Level 1.


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    The abilities of those who had come to help were not working, and no one was foolish enough to try and approach the Demon Queen.


    Avinash couldn''t even open his gaming window, which clearly meant his skills were now useless.


    Park Seo, who had stepped forward to fight with full enthusiasm, quietly said to his companions, "I think she hasn''t noticed us yet. It''s best if we quietly blend back into the crowd."


    Li Mei, nodding in agreement, replied, "For the first time, I completely agree with you. I have no desire to die young."


    Their courage had completely evaporated.


    The Demon Queen, in a cold voice, said, "I can hear you, little mice."


    "The time has come for all of you to witness hell. Attack!"


    She trapped everyone with her mental energy.


    The Demon Queen moved forward with a deadly blow, ready to finish off Alice .


    Alice quickly fires bullets at the Demon Queen, but they prove utterly useless. Death was creeping closer to her.


    Just then, Saira steps in front of her.


    The punch was still racing toward them, packed with such brutal force that it was about to obliterate Saira when, suddenly, countless glowing threads appeared out of nowhere. They began wrapping tightly around the Demon Queen''s punch one after the other, restraining its momentum. At that moment, the sky was filled with millions of threads entangled with the surroundings, helping to contain the Demon Queen''s brutal strength.


    A calm voice echoed, "Looks like I took too long to rest."


    Victoria stepped forward and said, "Demon Queen, I think you should stop here."


    The Demon Queen glared at him coldly and replied, "Who are you to give me orders?"


    Victoria smiled and said, "I''m not worthy enough to order you. This is merely a request."


    The Demon Queen smirked slightly and asked, "And what if I refuse?"


    Victoria replied calmly, "I think you misunderstand. This isn''t my request. It''s actually a directive from Maxwell Griffin." Suddenly, his tone turned sharp and bitter like venom, "And I don''t think you''re in a position to deny his request."


    "Stand down, Demon." Victoria flashed a devilish grin.


    In his mind, he thought, If you believe humanity has grown so weak that it will bow easily before you, you are mistaken. We are not that fragile yet.


    "So, stay in your limits."


    The Demon Queen swallowed her anger and said, "You people have no reason to gloat so much. Maxwell Griffin, the envoy of dragons, is the only thing keeping you afloat. Without him, you are nothing."


    "Power, territory, people, economy¡ªyou''re inferior in every single way."


    Victoria replied calmly, "And yet, we have Maxwell Griffin."


    The Demon Queen turned to leave, saying, "Prepare a room for me to stay."


    Victoria smiled and said, "Have an unlucky day."


    Then, turning back to the group, he asked, "Are all of you alright, heroes?"


    Aniket, with crocodile tears streaming down his face, replied, "Enough already, uncle...or aunty...or whatever you are. your entry on time making us cry?"


    Meanwhile, Park Seo noticed that his window reappeared in front of him, and his respect level had significantly increased. Looking at it, he thought to himself, Looks like this wasn''t such a bad thing after all.


    He was receiving a little respect from everyone present, and his percentage count was about to surpass 10,024%.


    Just as the people there were beginning to breathe a sigh of relief, a loud explosion echoed through the air.


    Aniket shouted, "That came from my room! That''s where my bazooka is! James!"


    Thinking to himself, I left my room unlocked, and there''s only one person who could have gone in there. James! The same guy I promised to give a toy in exchange for mana water! If you''ve blown up my room, I swear I''ll shove a bamboo stick straight up your ass!


    Ignoring Aniket''s theatrics, Avinash started reflecting on what had just happened. His body still felt stiff, refusing to move properly. Avinash knew that this was a foolish thing to do, and he wasn''t some saint who always meddled in other people''s affairs. So, why had he done it today?


    Taking a deep breath, he muttered, "Forget it. But today, I''ve realized something¡ªI need more skills. What I have now is completely useless. I need to become stronger and more capable."


    "Alright then. Tonight, I''ll try a new game to gain more skills so that I don''t end up in this situation again."


    Avinash wasn''t the only one feeling his weaknesses. Everyone present had come face-to-face with their shortcomings. A burning desire to become stronger had ignited in all of them.

 New Situations

    At Night


    After a long training session, Alice was returning from the training ground. She was lost in thought, wondering how she could grow stronger faster so that she would never feel helpless again.


    Suddenly, she saw someone lying on a chair in front of her. It was none other than Aniket, who was reading a book at night while wearing black sunglasses, with a campfire burning in front of him.


    As her attention shifted to the campfire, her jaw dropped in shock. Hanging above the campfire was James. His hands and legs were tied, and he was suspended over a bamboo stick, with the campfire blazing beneath him.


    Nearby, Aniket sat calmly, sipping tea¡ªeven at night.


    Tears welled up in James''s eyes. He wanted to scream, but his mouth was stuffed with a cloth.


    Alice slowly approached Aniket, ready to say something, but Aniket spoke first, "Look, I''m done with my patience, so I''m just relaxing. And as for why that guy is hanging there, well, he blew up my entire room."


    Then he added nonchalantly, "And this guy is still in perfect condition. I mean, I could¡­"


    Alice, shocked, interrupted, "But isn''t this too much? I mean, this kind of treatment¡­"


    Aniket cut her off, saying, "Once, this guy gave me a bottle of mana water that was supposedly full. But guess what? He had already drunk half of it. So, can you imagine what he filled the rest with?"


    Alice, bewildered, replied, "I can''t even imagine. Wait, water?"


    Aniket, with an expression of fury, responded, "His freshly passed urine."


    Alice, horrified, exclaimed, "And you drank it?!" She burst out laughing hysterically.


    Aniket, however, remained completely silent, because the so-called mana water hadn''t been drunk by him¡ªit had been given to Alice as a repayment. He knew that if he revealed this to her, not even God could save him.


    Aniket silently watched Alice laughing at him and then glared at James, saying, "Serves you right, you scoundrel."


    Drawing Alice''s attention back to him, he said, "Alright, enough now. By the way, I''ve got some stuff in your room, so take care of it for me. My room''s completely destroyed. It''s strange how your room is completely untouched."


    Alice replied, "That''s because I reinforced the walls a bit while practicing my ability."


    After a moment of thought, she asked, "Do you have any amazing weapons¡­?"


    Aniket interrupted her, saying, "There''s a book in your room, along with the other stuff, that has the designs of some incredible mana guns. With them, we could crush a hundred Demon Queens like her. But for now, I don''t have enough mana to create their parts."


    Behind them, James was desperately begging to be released from his cruel predicament.


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    Meanwhile, Avinash opened his eyes, focused on his gaming window, and spun the wheel again. This time, he got a three-star rating for completing the first three missions in his ninja game.


    Two things became clear to him: first, he would only receive skill upgrades after completing missions in the game, and second, each mission could earn him a star depending on how well he met the requirements. This new update was quite impressive, as he couldn''t spend days completing a game just to gain a single skill.


    However, this time, the wheel rewarded him with Raiden''s sword, a rather lousy reward. Disheartened, Avinash pouted and cursed his terrible luck. After all his efforts, this was all he got. Thankfully, he still had two chances left.


    He spun the wheel again, hoping to win a decent skill this time, but he got yet another Raiden sword.


    Avinash was now on the verge of depression. If he didn''t get something worthwhile this time¡­


    He spun the wheel one last time. This time, luck seemed to be on his side as the arrow hovered over a skill he had been longing for: the Final Boss''s Sword Skills. But then, the wheel ticked a little further, and he ended up with another substitute skill.


    Completely devastated, Avinash felt like the universe was mocking him. There was nothing more he could do.


    A Notification on the Window


    A notification popped up on the screen:


    "Generating all rewards. Skill generation successful.


    First item generation: 1%...15%...24%...36%...47%...67%...89%...99%...100%.


    Second item generation: 1%...15%...24%...36%...47%...67%...89%...99%...100%."


    Two swords dropped in front of Avinash. Ignoring them, he was about to search for a new game on his system when he noticed something shocking: his mana, which had been at 159, was now down to just 25.


    Avinash couldn''t believe it. So much mana wasted on generating two worthless swords?


    The Demon Queen, who often appeared different from her masculine counterparts, now stood as a strikingly beautiful and flawless woman.


    "All of them are weak," she said, "but dangerous nonetheless."


    Shrinkaate materialized before her, bowing apologetically. "Forgive me, my Queen, for not providing you with complete information."


    The Demon Queen waved it off. "No matter. When you informed me, I came alone here as quickly as I could. But there''s something strange about the bloodline inheritor of the Demon King.


    "He neither utilized his demon bloodline nor did it trigger on its own. That is odd."


    She paused, her tone turning sharp. "And why does Vincent Griffin want me to eliminate those children with my own hands? He deliberately refrained from intervening himself. It seems this kingdom is already engulfed in the flames of rebellion. His intent is clear¡ªhe wants the prodigies and talented children from prominent families wiped out."


    Shrinkaate lowered her head again. "I apologize once more for failing to provide the full truth. Those children are neither royal heirs nor from any noble families. They are, in fact, heroes summoned from another world."


    The Demon Queen''s eyes narrowed. "Heroes?"


    Shrinkaate continued, "You were misinformed. You were told they were promising students from the academy, but that was a blatant lie. There are 100 heroes summon here."


    The Demon Queen was stunned. "What?!"


    But the real shock was yet to come.


    Shrinkaate continued, "And the one who has inherited the Demon Bloodline is also a hero, someone whose potential can be Nameless."


    The Demon Queen''s emotions were a mix of fear and excitement. She was anxious because 100 heroes gathered together were no trivial matter. Yet, she was overjoyed because the most powerful and exceptional hero would become the next Demon King.


    The Nameless potential had resurfaced after 2,000 years.


    Who would have thought that among the heroes¡ªthose known as the slayers of the Demon King¡ªone would rise to become the Demon King himself?


    Elsewhere, Vincent Griffin bellowed, "How dare you interfere, Victoria!"


    Victoria, bowing apologetically, said, "Forgive me, but you were about to make the biggest mistake of your life. You were going to sacrifice the Nameless potential hero."


    "It''s a good thing I intervened."


    Vincent Griffin, calming his rage, said, "Fine. I shouldn''t have acted so impulsively without thinking it through."


    Victoria replied with urgency, "This is no time to calm down, Your Majesty. The Princess''s condition is worsening, and on top of that, the Demon Queen wants you to host a tournament among the academy''s ''promising students,'' or rather, the heroes, purely for her entertainment."


    "There''s still no information about the Demon King''s inheritors, nor have either of the two thieves been caught. Worse, it seems the Demon Queen has figured out the truth¡ªthat these so-called students are actually heroes."


    "If this truth comes to light, all species will undoubtedly wage war against humanity. They''ll aim to destroy humanity before it can rise again."


    "And I fear the day is near when your brother will reveal his bitterness toward the family to the world. If that happens, humanity''s backbone will be shattered."


    "And to make matters worse, I don''t believe the heroes are ready yet. Nor is your trump card."


    A knock at the door interrupted the conversation. As the door opened, someone said from behind, "Here''s the root of all the trouble. Because of him, we nearly died!"


    Akira, startled, saw several people standing in front of him. Among them, Min-Jun grabbed his collar and growled, "You almost got us all killed!"


    Before Akira could respond, a fist landed on his face. The group began beating him mercilessly, venting their anger before leaving him humiliated and battered.


    Left alone, Akira''s eyes filled with tears, his body bruised, and his heart pierced with despair. He muttered to himself, "I''ll make you all pay for this."


    But deep down, he knew nothing would change.


    Nothing had changed in his previous life, and nothing would change in this world either.


    I was weak, is weak, and will always remain weak.