《A Throne of Hollow Stars》 Chapter 1 (Ashes and Echoes) The world was burning. Crackle Crackle The sound of splintering wood echoed all around as flames devoured the small village, reducing homes to skeletal ruins. The acrid stench of charred wood and iron clawed at my throat, mingling with the metallic tang of blood. Shadows leapt wildly in the light of the inferno, twisting into monstrous forms as the fire roared and howled in the night. ¡°Come on!¡± The small girl gripping my arm yanked me forward, her voice breaking with desperation. Her tiny fingers dug into my wrist, trembling violently as though sheer terror gave her strength. I stumbled, my boots slapping against the uneven, mud-soaked ground. The squelch of wet earth beneath my feet mixed with the chaos¡ªthe crackling of flames, the distant screams of villagers, and the unmistakable clanging of swords. I wanted to run faster, to pull the girl to safety, but my legs felt heavy, like I was wading through quicksand. My lungs burned, my chest heaving as if the very air was on fire. I didn¡¯t know where we were going; all I knew was that we had to keep moving. And then, we stopped. A wall of soldiers emerged from the flames, their dark silhouettes sharp against the burning backdrop. Their metal armor gleamed with a sinister glow, and their swords¡ªshing!¡ªslid from their scabbards, dripping crimson. I froze. The girl whimpered, her grip tightening like a vice. ¡°No¡­¡± My voice was barely a whisper, drowned by the fire¡¯s deafening roar. The nearest soldier stepped forward. His blade gleamed wickedly, and in one swift motion, it came down. Slash! Pain exploded in my arm as the world tilted, my arm held by the little girl was cut off. My scream tore through the air, though it felt distant, like it belonged to someone else. My vision blurred, but I saw the girl collapse, her small body crumpling to the blood-streaked ground. Thud. Another blade followed, cutting through the smoke-filled air. My knees buckled, my body giving way. The world spiraled into darkness, the only sound the relentless crackling of the fire consuming everything. "GAH!" I jolted awake, a guttural gasp tearing from my throat. My breath came in short, panicked bursts as I clutched my arm. The phantom pain of the blade lingered, sharp and vivid. Sweat dripped from my forehead, soaking my shirt and sheets. I scanned the room, my eyes darting from shadow to shadow. The only sounds were the faint tick-tick of the clock on the nightstand and the muted hum of cars outside the hotel window. Slowly, my breathing steadied, though my heart still thundered in my chest. ¡°That dream again,¡± I muttered, my voice hoarse. Swinging my legs over the side of the bed, I planted my feet on the cold, tiled floor. My head dropped into my hands as I tried to shake off the lingering sense of dread. ¡°It¡¯s just a dream.¡± But it didn¡¯t feel like just a dream. Not this time. The heat of the flames, the girl¡¯s trembling grip, the searing pain in my arm¡ªit all felt too real. "Tch, fuck it." I made my way to the window, desperate for something familiar to anchor me. With a sharp pull, I flung the curtains open, expecting to see the bustling streets of Salvador. Instead, my breath caught in my throat. "What...." The world outside... wasn¡¯t mine. Buildings stood crooked and uneven, their structures crafted from strange, otherworldly materials. The streets bustled with people, their clothing an eclectic mix of eras and styles, none of it making sense. Vendors sold glowing trinkets, their stalls manned by creatures straight out of a storybook¡ªscaled, feathered, monstrous. ¡°What the hell...?¡± I whispered, gripping the window frame until my knuckles turned white. The street signs weren¡¯t much better. The language seemed almost familiar but twisted, as if someone had rewritten reality with a half-formed understanding of Earth. Even the air felt alien¡ªthick and buzzing faintly with some unnameable energy. Then it hit. A gust of wind rattled the window, sharp and sudden. Instinctively, I raised my arm to shield my eyes. When I lowered it, the world beyond shimmered, flickering like a broken projector. I blinked. And it was gone. Salvador returned. Ordinary. Loud. Chaotic. Cars honked, pedestrians scrolled through their phones, and nothing seemed out of place. My legs hit the edge of the bed as I stumbled back, collapsing onto it. ¡°I¡¯m just... exhausted. I haven¡¯t been sleeping right. That¡¯s it.¡± But even as I sat there, my hands pressed against my face, the images lingered, seared into my brain. ¡°Get it together, Zane,¡± I told myself, barely above a whisper. My voice wavered. The day began the way it always did¡ªroutine and unrelenting. I stepped out of the cramped hotel room just as the first pale light of dawn broke over the city and headed into the narrow streams behind. The air was cool, carrying a faint bite that crept through my thin jacket. "Hu... it''s quite chilly today," I muttered, rubbing my hands together for warmth. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The uneven pavement scraped against the soles of my boots as I walked, each scuff echoing in the silence. The shadows of rusting streetlights stretched long across the narrow streets, mingling with discarded trash. "How do people even live like this?" I murmured under my breath, eyeing the growing piles of waste by the alleyways. The warehouse loomed in the distance, its dull gray walls a constant reminder of another grueling shift ahead. Inside, the familiar clang of metal crates and grunts of tired workers filled the air, mingling with the sharp scent of cleaning supplies. "Zane, you¡¯re late." Raul¡¯s sharp tone cut through the noise as I stepped inside. "Two minutes, Raul." "Two minutes too many." He waved a clipboard in my direction before turning back to the line of workers. Grabbing a crate, I muttered under my breath, "Always the same with him." The hours blurred together, the weight of each box pressing down on my already sore shoulders. The occasional joke from the guys kept the monotony at bay. "You good, kid?" Mark glanced over as I heaved another crate onto the stack. "Haven¡¯t slept much," I shrugged. "But hey, caffeine exists for a reason." "Caffeine and stubbornness," Mark chuckled. "Best combination there is." By the time my shift ended, my shirt clung to my back, and every muscle screamed in protest. I changed my clothes, grabbed my bag and headed straight for school, ignoring the ache in my legs. "Finally," I sighed, stepping outside and breathing in the slightly fresher air. "When will I be free from all this? When will I be able to live like... I don¡¯t know, a normal high schooler?" I glanced at the sky, the pale morning light now giving way to the full glow of the sun. There was no time to stop. "Hope everything goes well like usual." Yeah... I shouldn''t have jinxed that. "Fucking hell, just when school, work, and other bullshit weren''t enough, I got myself into a fight just to save someone from getting robbed." *Tap-tap-tap* The rain began as a soft patter, droplets tapping gently against the pavement. It was almost calming at first. *Pourrr-shhh* But within moments, the sky opened up, and the light drizzle turned into a relentless downpour. My shirt clung to me like a second skin, water streaming into my eyes and blurring what little I could see of the street ahead. Each step felt heavier than the last. My soaked shoes squelched with every movement, and the sharp ache in my skull refused to fade. The empty street stretched endlessly before me, broken only by faint, flickering streetlights that barely pierced the darkness. "Fucker really hit me with a brick straight to the head, and I was tryna be fair by going in with hands, tch." When I finally reached the bridge, exhaustion dragged at me like lead weights. I barely noticed the uneven ground until my foot caught on a loose stone. Thud! Crack! Pain exploded in my ankle as I hit the ground hard. For a moment, I just lay there, gasping as cold rain poured over me, mixing with the blood dripping from my head. Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to move, dragging my aching body toward the shelter of the bridge. I collapsed against a jagged, moss-covered rock beneath it. The cold, damp surface pressed into my back, offering little relief. Water trickled down from the bridge above, pooling at my feet. My breath came in ragged gasps as the throbbing in my ankle grew worse. ¡°Perfect,¡± I muttered, my voice hoarse and barely audible over the relentless rain. ¡°Just what I needed.¡± I tried to shift, to ease the pressure on my injured ankle, but my muscles refused to cooperate. Every inch of my body ached, and the dizziness from the head wound made everything spin. I slumped back, letting the rain mask the steady drip of blood pooling around me. That¡¯s when I noticed it. The rock beneath me was cold and unremarkable, or so I thought. But then it changed. A faint glow began to seep from its cracks, dim at first, like a flicker at the edge of my vision. I squinted, unsure if it was the rain playing tricks on me. The glow grew stronger, steady and pulsing, its pale light cutting through the darkness. Warmth spread from the stone, traveling up my back and into my chest. ¡°What the hell¡­¡± I whispered, barely able to finish the thought. The air shifted. A strange energy filled the space around me, buzzing faintly like static. The ground trembled beneath me¡ªrumble, rumble¡ªand the rain seemed distant now, its drumming muted by the hum growing louder in my ears. I tried to move, to push away from the stone, but my body wouldn¡¯t respond. It was as if I were rooted in place, held captive by the stone¡¯s strange power. The glow intensified, blinding and all-encompassing, until everything else faded away. The world twisted. The rain, the pain, the bridge¡ªthey all dissolved into a swirling void of light and sound. My body felt weightless, floating in an endless expanse where time seemed to stretch and warp. Then the memories came. Not in flashes, but as a torrential flood. My life played out before me in vivid detail¡ªevery mistake, every triumph, every regret laid bare. Faces I had long forgotten stared back at me, their voices echoing through the void. I wanted to look away, to block it out, but there was no escape. The first memory hit me like a punch to the gut. I was ten years old, sitting on the stairs, clutching the banister as my parents shouted in the living room. My father¡¯s voice, cold and sharp, cut through the air. ¡°You¡¯re holding me back! You think I want to live like this? Scraping by while you play the moral high ground?¡± My mother¡¯s voice trembled, but she stood her ground. ¡°I won¡¯t let you drag us into your schemes. Not me, and not Zane.¡± I remember the sound of the door slamming, the way the house seemed to shake with it. And then silence. The kind of silence that feels heavy, like the air itself is holding its breath. That was the night he left. The memory shifted, and I was back in middle school, standing in the hallway with my head down. The kids around me whispered, their voices dripping with mockery. ¡°Look, it¡¯s the charity case. Did your mom beg for your lunch money too?¡± I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. It wasn¡¯t just the words¡ªit was the way they looked at me, like I was something less. Like I was nothing. One day, after school, a group of boys cornered me near the playground. Their leader, a kid named Derek, smirked as he shoved me against the fence. ¡°Your dad left because he couldn¡¯t stand you, huh? Guess he didn¡¯t want a loser for a son.¡± I swung at him, but there were too many of them. They laughed as I hit the ground, my knees scraping against the gravel. I didn¡¯t cry. Not then. But that night, I sat in the bathroom, staring at my reflection, wondering if they were right. The memory shifted again, and I was sitting at the kitchen table, watching my mother count the few bills she had left. Her hands shook as she dialed the phone, her voice soft and pleading. ¡°Please, just until the end of the month. I¡¯ll pay you back, I promise.¡± I hated seeing her like that. She used to be so strong, so confident. But after Dad left, it was like the light in her had dimmed. She worked double shifts, came home exhausted, and still, it wasn¡¯t enough. One night, I overheard her crying in her room. I stood outside the door, my hand hovering over the knob, but I couldn¡¯t bring myself to go in. What could I say? That everything would be okay? I didn¡¯t even believe it myself. The memories kept coming, relentlessly. I saw my father again, but this time, he was smiling. He was standing in front of a big house, a woman by his side and a little girl in his arms. They looked happy¡ªthe kind of happy we used to be before everything fell apart. I remembered the day I found out about them. I was fifteen, walking home from school, when I saw his car parked outside a fancy restaurant. He was laughing, his arm around a woman who wasn¡¯t my mother. I stood there, frozen, until he noticed me. For a moment, he looked almost guilty. Then he straightened, his expression hardening. ¡°Zane,¡± he said, like I was a stranger. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± I didn¡¯t answer. I just turned and walked away. The final memory was the hardest. I was sitting in a lawyer¡¯s office, my mother beside me. My father was across the table, his new wife sitting primly next to him. The lawyer was talking, but I wasn¡¯t listening. ¡°Zane,¡± my father said, his voice calm, almost businesslike. ¡°You can come with me. I¡¯ll give you everything¡ªmoney, a good school, a future. Or you can stay with her.¡± I looked at my mother. Her eyes were red, her hands clenched in her lap. She didn¡¯t say anything, but I could see the fear in her face. The fear of being left alone. ¡°I¡¯m staying with Mom,¡± I said, my voice steady despite the lump in my throat. My father nodded, like he¡¯d expected it. ¡°Your choice,¡± he said, and that was it. The memories faded, leaving me gasping for air. The glowing stone beneath me pulsed, its warmth spreading through my chest. I wanted to scream, to cry, to do something¡ªbut I couldn¡¯t move. The faces of everyone I¡¯d ever loved¡ªor lost¡ªflashed before me. My mother, worn down but still fighting. My father, distant and cold. The bullies who¡¯d made my life hell. And me, always caught in the middle, always trying to hold everything together. ¡°Why am I seeing this now?¡± I whispered, my voice breaking. Chapter 2 (Strange Things) The stone didn¡¯t answer. Its glow pulsed once, twice, then faded into nothing. The warmth lingered, though, spreading through my chest like a slow, steady heartbeat. I blinked, and the world shifted. The rain was gone. The bridge, the pain, the blood¡ªall of it vanished. I was lying on soft grass, the kind that felt like it had never been touched by frost or drought. Above me, the sky stretched wide and clear, painted in shades of gold and pink as the sun rose. The air smelled like flowers¡ªnot the faint, distant scent of a garden, but something richer, deeper, as if the earth itself was exhaling. I sat up slowly, my hands sinking into the grass. My head didn¡¯t throb. My ankle didn¡¯t ache. I touched my temple where the cut had been, but the skin was smooth, unbroken. Even the bruises on my knuckles were gone. ¡°What the hell¡­¡± My voice sounded small, swallowed by the stillness around me. Swoosh The garden stretched in every direction, a sea of colors so vibrant they almost hurt to look at. Flowers bloomed in shapes and shades I couldn¡¯t name¡ªpetals that shimmered like glass, stems that twisted into spirals, leaves that glowed faintly in the sunlight. A breeze stirred the air, carrying the faint hum of bees and the rustle of leaves. It felt alive, this place, in a way nothing in my world ever had. I looked down at the ground where the stone had been. It was crumbling now, breaking apart into tiny, glowing particles that floated upward like fireflies. I reached out, half-expecting them to burn, but they were cool against my skin. One by one, they drifted toward me, dissolving into my palm, my arm, my chest. A strange warmth spread through me, not uncomfortable but¡­ familiar, like something I¡¯d forgotten. ¡°Okay, no. This isn¡¯t real.¡± I shook my head, squeezing my eyes shut. ¡°I¡¯m hallucinating. Exhaustion. Head injury. Something. This isn¡¯t happening.¡± But when I opened my eyes, the garden was still there. The flowers swayed gently, their colors shifting in the light. The air felt too crisp, too clean, too real. to be a dream. I pinched my arm, hard, and winced. Definitely not dreaming. Flicker ¡°Huh?¡± For a moment, the space in front of me seemed to¡­ glitch. Like a broken screen, the air shimmered and distorted, as if reality itself had stuttered. It was gone as quickly as it came, leaving me staring at empty air. I stood, my legs steady beneath me, and took a step forward. The grass whispered under my feet, soft and cool. A butterfly¡ªor something like a butterfly, its wings shimmering with colors I couldn¡¯t name¡ªfloated past, brushing my cheek before disappearing into the flowers. ¡°Where am I?¡± My voice echoed faintly, swallowed by the vastness of the garden. No one answered. No one was here. Just me, the flowers, and the hum of the wind. I crouched down, running my fingers over the petals of a nearby bloom. They felt like silk, but warmer, almost alive. The flower tilted toward me, as if curious, and I jerked my hand back. ¡°Nope. Nope, nope, nope.¡± I stumbled backward, my heart racing. ¡°This is too weird. Way too weird.¡± I turned, looking for some kind of exit, some way out of this impossible place. But there was no path, no gate, no sign of where I¡¯d come from. Just endless flowers and sunlight. My legs gave out, and I sank back onto the grass. The ground was soft, welcoming, like it was trying to comfort me. I lay back, staring up at the sky. The sun was warm on my face, the breeze gentle against my skin. It should¡¯ve been peaceful, but my mind was spinning. ¡°Okay, Zane. Think. You were on the bridge. You were hurt. You touched the stone, and now¡­ this.¡± I ran a hand through my hair, trying to make sense of it. ¡°Either I¡¯m dead, or I¡¯ve completely lost it.¡± A faint sound broke the silence¡ªa soft chime, like glass tapping against glass. I sat up, scanning the garden. The flowers swayed, but there was no sign of where the sound had come from. ¡°Great. Now I¡¯m hearing things too.¡± I flopped back down, closing my eyes. ¡°Just¡­ give me a minute. Just one minute to figure this out.¡± But the garden didn¡¯t give me a minute. The chime came again, louder this time, followed by a voice¡ªsoft, melodic, and impossibly close. ¡°You¡¯re not dead, Zane. And you¡¯re not losing your mind.¡± My eyes snapped open. Standing over me was a figure, silhouetted against the sun. I couldn¡¯t make out their face, but their presence was¡­ calming, somehow. ¡°Who¡ª¡± I started, but the figure raised a hand, cutting me off. ¡°Rest. You¡¯ve been through enough for one day.¡± And just like that, the exhaustion hit me. My eyelids grew heavy, my body sinking into the grass. The last thing I saw before everything went dark was the figure kneeling beside me, their hand brushing against my forehead. The flames roared in my ears, their heat licking at my skin. The girl¡¯s grip on my arm tightened, her small fingers trembling as she pulled me forward. The village burned around us, the air thick with smoke and screams. I tried to run, but my legs were heavy, like I was wading through quicksand. The soldiers emerged from the fire, their swords gleaming¡ª This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. I jolted awake, gasping for air. My heart pounded, the dream still clinging to me like a second skin. But this wasn¡¯t the bridge. This wasn¡¯t the garden. I was lying on a straw mattress, the rough fabric scratching against my skin. The room was small and dim, the walls made of uneven stone plastered with dried mud. A single window, covered by a frayed cloth, let in thin shafts of sunlight. The air smelled of earth, smoke, and something herbal¡ªlike dried lavender or thyme hanging from the rafters. I sat up slowly, my head spinning. The last thing I remembered was the garden, the glowing stone, the figure kneeling beside me. Had she brought me here? Creak. The door creaked open, and I tensed, my eyes snapping toward the sound. A woman stepped inside, her movements calm and deliberate. She was older, her face lined with years of hard work, her hair streaked with gray and tied back in a loose braid. Her dress was simple, patched in places, and her hands were calloused, like she¡¯d spent a lifetime laboring. ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± Her voice was low, steady, and carried an accent I couldn¡¯t place. ¡°Good. The children were worried.¡± I blinked, my mind still foggy. ¡°The¡­ children?¡± Don''t fucking tell me I now have a family in this world. She nodded, stepping further into the room. A wooden bucket hung from her arm, sloshing with water. ¡°They found you in the meadow. You were lying there, unconscious. You didn''t seem like you were from around here so they came running to me, and I brought you here.¡± The meadow. So it was real. But how did I get here? And where was the woman I¡¯d seen¡ªthe one who¡¯d spoken to me before I passed out? I hesitated, then decided to play it safe. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t remember much. Everything¡¯s a blur.¡± Her eyes narrowed slightly, studying me. ¡°You don¡¯t remember how you got to the meadow?¡± I shook my head, forcing a look of confusion. ¡°No. I don¡¯t even know where I am.¡± She didn¡¯t respond right away, her gaze lingering on me as if trying to piece together a puzzle. Finally, she set the bucket down by the hearth, where a small fire crackled, and gestured for me to follow. ¡°You should eat. You¡¯ve been asleep for hours.¡± Growl. I opened my mouth to argue, but my stomach growled loudly, betraying me. She smirked, a faint glimmer of amusement in her eyes, and motioned toward the table. Scuff. I swung my legs over the side of the bed, my feet hitting the packed dirt floor. My body felt¡­ fine. No aches, no bruises, no lingering pain from the fight or the fall. Even the exhaustion that had been my constant companion was gone, replaced by a strange, restless energy. I followed her into the main room of the house, which doubled as a kitchen. A rough-hewn table stood in the center, surrounded by mismatched stools. A pot hung over the fire, bubbling with a stew that smelled of root vegetables and herbs. She ladled a portion into a wooden bowl and set it in front of me. Sizzle. I hesitated, then picked up the spoon. The first bite was warm, hearty, and unlike anything I¡¯d ever tasted. It was simple but filling, the kind of food meant to sustain, not impress. ¡°This is¡­ good,¡± I said, my voice softer than I intended. She nodded, leaning against the hearth. ¡°It¡¯s nothing special. Just what we have.¡± But it was. Everything about this place was. The way the sunlight filtered through the cracks in the walls, the way the firelight danced on the rough surfaces. Even the way she spoke¡ªher words flowed smoothly, her accent melodic, and yet¡­ I understood her perfectly. Wait. I froze, the spoon halfway to my mouth. She hadn¡¯t been speaking English. I was sure of it. And yet, I¡¯d understood every word, as easily as if she¡¯d been speaking my language. I set the spoon down, my mind racing. ¡°Where¡­ where am I?¡± She didn¡¯t answer right away. Instead, she walked to the door and pushed it open, revealing a view of the village outside. The houses were small and clustered together, their thatched roofs sagging with age. Chickens pecked at the dirt path, and children ran past, their laughter echoing in the crisp morning air. Beyond the village, fields stretched out, dotted with workers bent over their crops. Cluck-cluck. Scuffle. ¡°You¡¯re in Willowbrook,¡± she said finally. ¡°A small village in the kingdom of Eryndor. You¡¯re safe here. That¡¯s all that matters for now.¡± Eryndor. The name meant nothing to me. I¡¯d never heard of it. Not in any geography lesson, not in any history book. My chest tightened as the realization hit me¡ªthis wasn¡¯t Earth. This wasn¡¯t even close. I pushed the bowl away, my appetite gone. ¡°Eryndor¡­ I¡¯ve never heard of it.¡± She raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. ¡°You¡¯ve never heard of Eryndor? Where are you from, then?¡± I hesitated, scrambling for an answer. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t remember. Like I said, everything¡¯s a blur.¡± She studied me for a moment, her gaze sharp and probing. Then she shrugged, as if deciding it wasn¡¯t worth pressing. ¡°Well, you¡¯re here now. That¡¯s what matters.¡± I wanted to argue, to demand more, but the weight of her words settled over me, heavy and final. I leaned back in the chair, my mind spinning with questions I couldn¡¯t answer. Who was the woman in the meadow? How did she know my name? I forced a weak smile, trying to play the part of the confused amnesiac. ¡°Willowbrook¡­ it¡¯s a nice village. Quiet.¡± She nodded, her expression softening slightly. ¡°It¡¯s home. Not much happens here... for most of the time at least, but that¡¯s how we like it.¡± I glanced out the door again, watching the villagers go about their day. A man led a donkey pulling a cart piled with hay, while a group of children chased each other around a well, their laughter ringing through the air. It all looked so¡­ normal. Except it wasn¡¯t. Not even close. ¡°The meadow where you found me,¡± I said carefully, ¡°is it far from here?¡± ¡°Not far. A short walk to the east.¡± She tilted her head, studying me again. ¡°Why? Do you remember something?¡± I shook my head quickly. ¡°No, just¡­ curious.¡± She didn¡¯t look convinced but didn¡¯t press further. Instead, she picked up the wooden bowl and moved to the hearth, where the fire crackled softly. ¡°You should rest. Whatever brought you here, it¡¯s clear you¡¯ve been through something.¡± The weight of everything¡ªthe meadow, the stone, the woman who¡¯d known my name, this strange village¡ªpressed down on me. I leaned back in the chair, my fingers tapping restlessly against the table. ¡°Thank you,¡± I said finally, my voice quiet. ¡°For helping me.¡± She nodded, her back still turned. ¡°You¡¯re welcome. But don¡¯t get too comfortable. Strange things have a way of finding their way to Willowbrook sometimes.¡± Her words sent a chill down my spine. Strange things. Like me. I stood, my legs steady but my thoughts anything but. ¡°I think I¡¯ll take a walk. Clear my head.¡± She glanced over her shoulder, her expression unreadable. ¡°Don¡¯t wander too far. The forest isn¡¯t kind to strangers.¡± I nodded, stepping outside. The sunlight felt warm on my skin, but the air still carried that strange, buzzing energy. As I walked, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that I was being watched. The flowers swayed gently, their colors shifting in the light, and for a moment, I thought I saw a shadow move between the trees. Strange things, indeed. Chapter 3 (A Fading Mirage) Strange things, indeed. I stepped further into the village, the dirt path crunching softly under my boots. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of wildflowers and woodsmoke. Children darted past, their laughter echoing, while villagers bustled about their daily chores. It all looked so normal, so peaceful. But the unease in my chest refused to fade. I wandered toward the edge of the village, where the fields gave way to a dense forest. The trees loomed tall and dark, their branches twisting like skeletal fingers against the sky. Something about the forest felt¡­ alive. Watching. I shook my head, trying to push the thought away. Buzz Then it happened. The air in front of me buzzed, a low, electric hum that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I froze, my breath catching in my throat. The buzzing grew louder, sharper, until the air itself seemed to crackle and warp.
[W-welcome, Zane Lennox.]
The voice was mechanical, glitching in and out like a broken recording. It echoed in my head, not through my ears, and sent a jolt of panic through me. My heart pounded as a screen materialized in front of me, hovering in midair. The text flickered, distorted, as if struggling to hold itself together.
[You h-have b-been c-chosen. The Record-Binding S-system has b-been activated. P-please confirm your r-readiness to b-begin y-your journey.]
I stumbled back, my boots scraping against the dirt. ¡°What the hell is this?¡± My voice came out hoarse, barely above a whisper. The screen glitched again, the text scrambling before reforming.
[S-Syst-system Record F-fragment: 0/10] [S-Skill T-t-tree: Unknown] [P-power: L-Limited A-ccess] [Mana: U-unavailable.]
I stared at the screen, my mind racing. This couldn¡¯t be real. It had to be some kind of hallucination, a side effect of whatever had brought me here. But the buzzing in the air, the cold sweat on my skin¡ªit all felt too real. ¡°Wait¡ªwhat?¡± I managed to choke out. ¡°What is this? What do you mean, ¡®chosen¡¯?¡± The voice crackled, the glitches growing more pronounced.
[You must gain the Record Fragments to gain full access to the system. Y-you are not of this world, but this world... needs you.]
A shiver ran down my spine. ¡°No¡­ no way,¡± I gasped, my voice trembling. The screen flickered, the text stabilizing for a moment.
[It is real, Zane Lennox.]
The voice was firmer now, no glitches, no hesitation. It carried a weight, an authority that made my chest tighten.
[You are now a part of Myrithar. And your journey... begins now.]
The screen dissolved into a shower of glowing particles, the buzzing fading into silence. I stood there, my heart pounding, my hands trembling at my sides. The forest loomed ahead, its shadows deeper now, more menacing. ¡°Myrithar¡­¡± I whispered the name, testing it on my tongue. It felt foreign, heavy. A world that needed me? A system that was broken? None of this made sense. I stared at the empty air where the glitched screen had been moments ago, my mind racing. The voice, the text, the buzzing¡ªit all felt like some kind of twisted joke. But the warmth from the stone still lingered in my chest, a constant reminder that this wasn¡¯t a dream. ¡°Alright, system,¡± I muttered, my voice low and cautious. ¡°If you¡¯re real, show yourself.¡± Nothing. I tried again, louder this time. ¡°System! Open up!¡± Still nothing. Frustration bubbled up, and I ran a hand through my hair, tugging at the strands. ¡°Great. A glitched system that doesn¡¯t even work when I need it. Perfect.¡± I tried a few more variations, my tone shifting from annoyed to pleading. ¡°Stats? Menu? Status window? Come on, you stupid thing, work!¡± Silence. I let out a sharp breath, my shoulders slumping. ¡°Fine. Whatever. I¡¯ll figure this out later.¡± Turning to leave, my boots scuffed against the dirt path. But just as I took my first step, the air in front of me buzzed violently, and the screen materialized with a loud pop. ¡°What the¡ª!¡± I stumbled back, my heart leaping into my throat. The screen flickered, the text glitching in and out as if struggling to stay stable. ¡°Oh, now you show up?¡± I snapped, glaring at the screen. ¡°Real helpful, thanks.¡± The system didn¡¯t respond, of course. It just hung there, glowing faintly, waiting. I sighed, running a hand over my face. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got.¡± Focusing on the screen, I waited, and after a moment, my stat window appeared.
Name: Zane Lennox Level: 1 (EXP: 0/100) Mana: Locked Class: None Race: Human (Anomaly) Title: None Affiliation: None
Core Stats
Strength (STR): 12 (F) Agility (AGI): 15 (F) Vitality (VIT): 18 (F+) Intelligence (INT): 20 (F+) Wisdom (WIS): 8 (G) Charisma (CHA): 25 (F+)
Special Stats
Record Resonance (RR): 10 (G) Mana Manipulation (MM): 5 (G)
Skill Tree
Unknown
Record Fragments Collected: 0/10 --- If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Unallocated Points Points Available: 10
I scanned the stats, my brow furrowing slightly. ¡°No health bar? That¡¯s¡­ unusual. Maybe it¡¯s because the system¡¯s glitched.¡± I paused, considering my options. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see if I can improve anything. Strength seems like a good place to start.¡± Mentally, I assigned 3 points to Strength, but the system glitched, the numbers flickering wildly. When the screen stabilized, the points had gone into Charisma instead. ¡°Bro what?!¡± I stared at the screen, my jaw tightening. ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you to put them there! Fix it!¡± The system didn¡¯t respond, of course. I growled under my breath, frustration mounting. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s try this again.¡± I tried again, this time assigning 2 points to Strength and 3 to Agility. This time, the system seemed to work correctly, and the points went where I intended. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s better,¡± I said, a small sense of relief washing over me. Finally, I assigned the last 2 points to Wisdom, but once again, the system glitched, and the points ended up in Intelligence. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s¡­ frustrating,¡± I admitted, keeping my tone as calm as possible but tinged with mild irritation. ¡°But I guess I¡¯ll have to work with what I¡¯ve got.¡±
Core Stats
Strength (STR): 14 (F) Agility (AGI): 18 (F) Vitality (VIT): 18 (F) Intelligence (INT): 22 (F+) Wisdom (WIS): 8 (G) Charisma (CHA): 28 (F+)
Unallocated Points Points Available: 0 I was about to dismiss the stat window when the screen flickered violently, the text scrambling into a chaotic mess of symbols and letters. For a moment, I thought the system had crashed entirely, but then a new prompt appeared, glowing faintly in the air:
[Main Mission: Save the Village from th-]
The text glitched, the words distorting and breaking apart before reforming.
Main Mission: Save the Village from [ERROR: TARGET UNKNOWN]. Time Remaining: [ERROR: DATA CORRUPTED]
I blinked, my brow furrowing. ¡°Save the village?¡± Before I could get any answers, the screen glitched again, the words distorting into gibberish.
Compensation: 3 Unallocated Points. Reward: Ironwood Shortsword. WARNING: SYSTEM INSTABILITY DETECTED. MISSION PARAMETERS MAY BE INCOMPLETE.
The prompt disappeared as quickly as it had come, leaving me staring at empty air. ¡°Wait, what?¡± I said aloud, my voice tinged with disbelief. ¡°Save the village? From who? And how? I¡¯m weaker than anyone here!¡± I clenched my fists, my frustration bubbling up again. ¡°Fucking System, if you¡¯re going to give me a mission, at least tell me what I¡¯m supposed to do!¡± The air buzzed faintly, and for a moment, I thought the system might respond. Clang Instead, a low-grade sword materialized in front of me, dropping into my hands with a dull clang. I stared at it, my annoyance giving way to a mix of confusion and resignation. The sword was simple¡ªa basic ironwood blade with a worn leather grip. It wasn¡¯t flashy, but it was better than nothing. I stood there for a moment, the weight of the sword in my hand grounding me. "This shit wants me dead." My grip tightened around the sword hilt before I shoved it into my belt. If there was something coming, I wasn¡¯t about to wander around clueless. The only person I knew here was the woman who had taken me in. With that, I turned on my heel and headed back. The walk back felt longer than it should have. Maybe it was because my mind was spinning, trying to make sense of everything. The system¡¯s glitched messages, the mission, this world itself. Nothing fit together. I needed clarity¡ªanything that made sense¡ªbut all I had was more questions. The wooden door creaked as I pushed it open. The woman was already at the table, sorting through bundles of dried herbs, her expression calm, collected¡ªlike she hadn¡¯t just nursed a complete stranger back to health. She looked up, her sharp gaze scanning me before settling on the sword at my waist. ¡°That¡¯s new.¡± I shifted on my feet, suddenly aware that I hadn¡¯t even asked for her name. I had been too caught up in my own confusion to show any basic courtesy. Heat rose to my cheeks as I scratched the back of my head. ¡°Uh¡­ I just realized I never asked your name,¡± I admitted, avoiding her gaze. ¡°You helped me, let me stay here, and I didn¡¯t even properly thank you. So¡­ thank you. For everything. If there¡¯s anything I can do to help, just let me know.¡± A flicker of amusement crossed her face. ¡°Took you long enough.¡± She wiped her hands on a cloth before crossing her arms. ¡°My name is Elira.¡± Elira. The name fit, it wasn¡¯t overly elegant or flowery, but it carried a quiet authority. She looked the part too¡ªhigh cheekbones, sun-kissed skin that hinted at a life spent working outdoors, and dark brown hair streaked with silver, tied back in a loose braid. Her sharp, assessing eyes gave nothing away, but there was something steady about her presence, like she was the type of person who handled problems rather than panicked over them. I hesitated for a moment before saying, ¡°I¡¯m Zane.¡± She raised an eyebrow, her lips quirking slightly. ¡°Yeah, even your name isn¡¯t from around here.¡± She eyed me for a moment longer before letting out a small hum. ¡°If you want to help, you can carry some of the groceries later. I need to head into the village for supplies.¡± I nodded, glad to have something¡ªanything¡ªto do that didn¡¯t involve glitched quests. Elira, however, wasn¡¯t done inspecting me. Her eyes traveled down to my clothes, and her expression twisted slightly. ¡°You¡¯re going to attract attention like that.¡± I glanced down at myself. Jeans. A t-shirt. A hoodie, now a little worse for wear. Normal. But in a world like this, where people wore tunics, cloaks, and armor, I might as well have been walking around with a flashing sign that said ¡®outsider.¡¯ ¡°Right,¡± I muttered. ¡°Didn¡¯t think about that.¡± She shook her head, grabbing a small coin pouch from the shelf. ¡°Come on, we¡¯ll find something for you to wear while we¡¯re out.¡± The village center was alive with movement. Stalls lined the main street, their vendors calling out to passing villagers. The scent of fresh bread, herbs, and roasting meat filled the air, mixing with the chatter of bartering customers and laughing children weaving between adults. The noise was overwhelming, but not in a bad way. It was... alive. Elira led me through the crowd, occasionally stopping to pick up items while I trailed behind, carrying a growing number of bags. I wasn¡¯t going to complain¡ªit was the least I could do. Eventually, she steered us toward a modest shop near the edge of the market. Inside, bolts of fabric lined the shelves, and a few simple tunics and trousers hung on wooden racks. She wasted no time, picking out a dark tunic, a pair of sturdy trousers, and boots that looked like they¡¯d actually survive some wear and tear. ¡°These should fit you well enough,¡± she said, handing them over. I hesitated. ¡°I don¡¯t have money.¡± She gave me a flat look. ¡°You can pay me back later.¡± I wanted to argue, but something about her tone made it clear I wasn¡¯t winning this one. With a sigh, I took the clothes and changed into them in the back room. When I emerged, Elira gave an approving nod. ¡°Better. Now you won¡¯t stick out like a lost traveler.¡± She gave me a once-over, then smirked slightly. ¡°Actually, you clean up well. You¡¯ll have no trouble turning heads.¡± I blinked at her, caught off guard. ¡°Uh¡­ thanks?¡± A small mirror hung on the shop¡¯s wooden wall, and curiosity got the better of me. I stepped closer, peering at my reflection. Decently long black hair, slightly messy but falling just past my ears. Dark eyes¡ªso dark they looked almost like voids, swallowing light instead of reflecting it. My features weren¡¯t anything extraordinary¡ªstrong but not too sharp, symmetrical but not unnaturally perfect. Yet, somehow, it all worked together better than it should have. Handsome, in a way I¡¯d never really paid attention to before. Then again, the system had given me a high Charisma stat. Was this part of that? Some passive effect that made me more naturally appealing? That would explain Elira¡¯s comment¡ªmaybe even why people didn¡¯t look at me like a complete outsider despite the strange clothes earlier. I frowned slightly, running a hand through my hair before stepping back. ¡°Well,¡± I muttered, shaking off the weird feeling, ¡°at least I don¡¯t look completely out of place now.¡± With that, we returned to her house, dropping off the groceries before I found myself drawn back toward the village center. It wasn¡¯t long before something caught my attention. A small clearing near the marketplace had been turned into a training ground. A few villagers stood with wooden swords, practicing basic drills while an older man barked corrections. My gaze lingered on them, a mix of curiosity and something else¡ªsomething deeper. Fighting. Combat. It wasn¡¯t something I had ever trained for, but if this world expected me to face whatever unknown threat was coming, I couldn¡¯t just stand around clueless. Maybe watching would help me understand something. Just as I took a step closer, a blur of motion caught my eye. A child, no older than eight or nine, came running, weaving between people. I barely had time to react before she tripped, her momentum sending her straight toward me. Instinctively, I reached out to steady her. Her small hand grasped my arm, and the world shifted. At first, it was subtle¡ªlike a drop in temperature, a change in air pressure that made my ears pop. But then it hit all at once. The air turned thick, like I was suddenly wading through something invisible. Sounds stretched and warped, muffled as though they came from underwater. My breath caught in my throat. I looked down at her¡ªbig, wide eyes staring up at me, startled yet oddly familiar. Too familiar. A strange pressure built behind my skull, a dull throb that grew sharper the longer I held her gaze. Then, in a blink, the world around me wasn¡¯t the same. Flames. Screams. The acrid stench of burning wood. I gasped. My chest tightened, my lungs struggling for air. I could hear it¡ªthe crackling fire, the frantic shouts, the clash of steel meeting flesh. But I wasn¡¯t there. I was still in the village. It was still standing. Yet my body refused to believe it. The girl¡¯s face overlapped with another¡ªsoot-streaked, tear-stained, filled with the same fear. My fingers twitched, the ghost of another hand clutching mine in desperation. A memory. No¡­ not a memory. A dream. The dream. A sharp, stabbing pain exploded in my head. My vision blurred at the edges, a sickening nausea twisting my stomach. The weight of realization pressed down like a boulder crushing my ribs. This was it. The same village. The same layout, the same roads, the same houses. But alive. Untouched. My legs buckled. I collapsed, my knees slamming into the dirt. My breath came in ragged gasps as the world spun around me. The stalls, the people, the laughter¡ªit all twisted, distorting into flickering images of fire and ruin. This village¡­ I had seen it burn. And suddenly, the system¡¯s words weren¡¯t just cryptic nonsense anymore. "Save the village." Chapter 4 (Training) A few villagers gathered around me, murmuring in concern. Someone placed a hand on my shoulder, trying to steady me, but my body still felt like it wasn¡¯t fully here. My breaths came short and uneven, my chest tight like a vice was pressing down on it. The world flickered¡ªstable one moment, hazy and distorted the next. ¡°Someone fetch some water,¡± a voice said. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I tried to say, but the words barely made it past my lips. My head throbbed, the lingering shock from the realization refusing to fade. And then, just as I thought I might collapse again, the buzzing started. A low, electric hum filled my skull, crawling down my spine like static. The air thickened, warping at the edges as jagged, flickering text forced itself into existence.
[S-Situ...tion ana-lyzed¡­]
The voice cracked and jittered, overlapping like a broken recording.
[M-Miss-ion... n-now b-being gr-g-granted...]
My pulse pounded in my ears.
[T-Time until v-vill-lage i-is o-overtaken¡ª2 w-weeks...]
A cold chill shot through me. Overtaken? The word burned itself into my mind, sinking in deeper than it should have. The text violently flickered, breaking apart before reassembling into something barely readable.
[Miss-sion: L-earn s-s-swordsm-manship...]
A sickening lurch twisted my gut.
[Re-reward: S-s-set sk-kills f-for s-swordsmanship...]
And then¡ªsilence. The buzzing cut out, and the world snapped back into focus. The villagers were still there, their worried faces looking at me like I had just seen a ghost. Maybe I had. I swallowed hard, my throat dry. Two weeks. I had two weeks before something¡ªsomeone¡ªovertook this village. And I wasn¡¯t even close to ready. I clenched my jaw, my head still spinning. The system had spoken before, but it hadn¡¯t been this broken. The words barely stitched themselves together, each syllable jagged and unstable. Weren¡¯t you speaking a bit better last time? I thought bitterly. Why do you keep turning even shittier? Fix that speech of yours. For a moment, there was nothing but static. Then, the system¡¯s text flickered violently before a response came through.
[R-Reach... l-level 5... f-for s-speech p-pattern c-c-consist-ency...]
I stared blankly at the air where the text had just been. ¡°¡­Are you serious?¡± I muttered under my breath. No response. Of course. Not only was my system glitched, but now it apparently had a speech level requirement. Fantastic. A deep breath. Then another. Slowly, the pounding in my skull faded, the crushing weight of realization easing¡ªjust enough for me to focus again. I forced my fingers to unclench from the dirt and exhaled shakily. That¡¯s when I finally noticed him. The man crouched beside me, one hand on my shoulder. He was older, probably in his late forties or early fifties, but sturdy¡ªhis frame packed with the kind of strength that didn¡¯t just fade with age. His beard was neatly trimmed, streaked with gray, and his sharp eyes studied me with an unreadable expression. And I recognized him. He was the same one I had seen earlier, the one training those men with swords. Something inside me clicked. Before I could second-guess myself, I grabbed onto his shirt, my grip desperate. "Teach me swordsmanship in two weeks." The words came out rushed, almost frantic, but I didn¡¯t care. The man blinked, clearly thrown off. He gave me a long, puzzled stare before grunting, "What nonsense are you spouting, boy?" "I¡¯ll do anything to pay you back," I pressed, my voice firm despite the shakiness still clinging to me. "Anything. Just teach me." His brow furrowed, and for a moment, I thought he was going to refuse outright. He exhaled sharply, prying my fingers off his shirt and standing up. "You¡¯re serious about this?" "As serious as it gets." He shook his head, rubbing his temples. "Learning the sword in two weeks? Impossible." "I don¡¯t care." His expression darkened. "You should care. This isn''t something you pick up in days. It takes years of discipline¡ªyears you don¡¯t have. What makes you think you can do the impossible?" I gritted my teeth. "Because I have to." He scoffed, crossing his arms. "That¡¯s not an answer." I clenched my fists. "Then what about this? I don¡¯t have a choice. If I don¡¯t learn, people die. I don¡¯t know how, or who, but I know it happens. If there¡¯s even the slightest chance I can stop it, I have to take it." His gaze didn¡¯t waver. "And what if you fail?" "I won''t." The words left my mouth before I could even process them. Not because I was confident, not because I knew I could do it¡ªbut because I couldn''t afford to think otherwise. The man was silent for a long moment, his sharp eyes locked onto mine, searching for something. A lie. Doubt. A reason to tell me no. I stood my ground. Finally, he sighed heavily. "You really are a stubborn bastard." He rubbed the back of his neck, then pointed a finger at me. "Fine. I¡¯ll train you. But when you''re puking your guts out from exhaustion, don¡¯t come crying to me." I didn¡¯t hesitate. "Noted." I rushed back to Elira¡¯s house, my mind still racing. The moment I stepped inside, she turned from the fireplace, her silhouette outlined by the glow of the flames. And for just a second¡ªjust a second¡ªI saw someone else. My breath hitched. My mother. The image was fleeting, gone before I could grasp it, but the ache it left behind was real. I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. She must have been losing her mind back on Earth. I had just disappeared without a trace. What was she going through right now? Guilt curled around my chest like a vice. I had to find a way back. I would find a way back. No matter what it took.

One Week Later Pain. That was the first thing I became intimately familiar with over the past seven days. A deep, bone-weary kind of pain that refused to let go. If I had to choose between another round of training or getting hit in the head with a brick again, I¡¯d take the brick. At least that would be over in a second. My body had been pushed to the breaking point every single day. Wake up at dawn. Swing a sword until my arms felt like they¡¯d fall off. Spar until I was beaten into the dirt. Repeat. The first few days had been nothing short of hell. The other trainees¡ªmost of whom had been at this for years¡ªwatched as I stumbled, fumbled, and collapsed more times than I could count. But slowly¡ªvery slowly¡ªI was getting better. And I had noticed something. The system¡ªmy glitched, pain-in-the-ass system¡ªwas actually doing something when I trained. At first, I thought it was just me adjusting, but after enough grueling hours, I realized that my body was adapting faster than it should. My swings became steadier, my footwork sharper. The pain was still unbearable, but I was lasting longer before collapsing. Then, one night, when I had dragged myself back to Elira¡¯s house, sore and half-dead, the system had finally acknowledged my suffering. A faint buzz filled my skull, followed by a flickering message.
[S-System Update...][Physical Advancement Recognized...][Stats Increased.] Strength: 14 ¡ú 17 Agility: 18 ¡ú 19 Vitality: 18 ¡ú 19 [New Skill Acquired: Arc Step]
I had stared at the glowing text for so long that my vision blurred. So I really can grow stronger through training? It was painfully slow, but it was possible. And then there was the skill. "System," I muttered, keeping my voice low. "Show me Arc Step." For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a flicker and a faint buzz in my skull, a panel appeared in front of me.
[New Skill Acquired: Arc Step] Type: Movement Technique Rank: Low-Tier Combat Skill Description: A rapid footwork technique that allows the user to reposition with minimal wasted motion. When activated, the body instinctively adjusts stance and weight distribution to optimize movement. Cannot be used continuously. Effect: On activation, the user moves up to half a step instantly in any direction with enhanced stability. Requires proper reaction timing. Cooldown: 3 seconds.
I frowned as I read over the description and also the system could read out info pretty neatly without stuttering like a tsundere. Was it cause the data already existed and the system didn''t have to come up with it? Anyway... So it wasn¡¯t teleportation or anything insane¡ªit was just damn good footwork. The kind that let me react faster than I normally could. The biggest part that stood out, though? The moment I focused on its description, something shifted in my body¡ªan understanding that hadn¡¯t been there before. It wasn¡¯t like memorizing a move or learning a technique. It was like my body already knew how to execute it, even if my mind didn¡¯t. It felt unnatural. Then, before I could dwell on it too much, the system buzzed again.
[Experience Gained: +40 EXP][Current Progress: 40/100 EXP to Level 2]
I sat up slightly, blinking at the notification. So I could gain experience through training too? It wasn¡¯t much¡ªonly 40 EXP after a full week of hell¡ªbut it was something. Fighting probably gives way more, I thought, staring at the glowing numbers. If just surviving this hellish training got me that much, actual combat might push me further. I dismissed the panel, letting my eyes shut as exhaustion finally won over my thoughts. Tomorrow was going to be hell again. But at least now, I had something to work with. I was back in the dirt. The blade in my hand trembled, my lungs burned, and my opponent¡ªone of the senior trainees, a guy built like a damn ox¡ªlooked down at me with a mix of pity and mild disappointment. "You''re fast, but your footwork¡¯s garbage," he said, sheathing his sword. "Speed means nothing if you¡¯re unbalanced." I gritted my teeth, barely managing to push myself up. That had been the third time he¡¯d sent me flying in a single match. The others chuckled from the sidelines, and I felt frustration boil in my chest. I needed to get better. I needed something more. "Alright," I muttered under my breath, gripping my sword tighter. "Let¡¯s try the new skill." I locked eyes with my opponent. His stance was steady, his grip unwavering. He wasn¡¯t expecting anything different from me. Just another desperate attempt, another predictable failure. I¡¯d prove him wrong. He moved first, lunging with a downward slash. It was fast¡ªbut not unpredictable. Normally, I would¡¯ve stumbled back, barely dodging in time. Not this time. Arc Step. The moment I willed it to activate, something inside me clicked. My body reacted instantly, shifting before I even fully processed what was happening. My foot slid back, my stance adjusting at the perfect angle. It was like my weight had been redistributed without my input, my movements more natural than they had ever been. I was just outside his blade¡¯s reach, and before he could adjust, I pivoted. Now! I surged forward, my sword cutting through the air toward his exposed side. Clang! His blade met mine at the last second, but this time, his eyes weren¡¯t calm¡ªthey were surprised. ¡°The hell?¡± he muttered. A second ago, I had been an easy target. Now, I was behind him, repositioned in the blink of an eye. It worked. It actually worked. For the first time, I wasn¡¯t just scrambling to survive. I wasn¡¯t blindly swinging or relying on brute instinct. My movements had purpose, precision. I didn¡¯t have time to revel in it. He recovered fast, his stance shifting as he came at me again. I braced myself, raising my sword to block. My grip was still too shaky, my counters still too slow. I lost. Again. But this time? I was fighting. But there was a problem... Three seconds. That was the cooldown for Arc Step. In a fight this fast-paced, three seconds felt like a damn eternity. I had to do more than just dodge¡ªI had to create a gap, immediately. If I repositioned but stayed in range, I was still a sitting duck. I picked myself up and reset my stance. Again. The next spar began. My opponent swung¡ªa fast diagonal slash. I activated Arc Step, slipping just outside his attack range in a smooth pivot. Now! The moment I was in position, I lashed out. My wooden sword struck his side¡ªnot hard enough to hurt, but enough to land a clean hit. Then, before he could retaliate, I jumped back, putting distance between us. A gap. This was the key. If I kept moving like this, I could control the flow of combat. I kept drilling it into myself, forcing the sequence over and over. Dodge. Strike. Retreat. And I was getting faster. The fifth match of the day. My opponent¡ªone of the more experienced trainees¡ªwas starting to look frustrated. At first, he had been patient, treating me like a rookie. But as I kept dodging, kept slipping just out of his reach, his swings became sharper, his stance less relaxed. It was getting under his skin. I saw it in his eyes. The next time I dodged and countered, his jaw clenched. And then, in an instant, his wooden sword glowed with a faint, flickering aura. Mana. Before I could react, he lunged¡ªfaster than before, his strike heavier. I barely had time to process it, but my instincts screamed at me. I activated Arc Step. Too late. I knew it the moment my feet started moving¡ªI wouldn¡¯t make it in time. The wooden blade was already coming down, and I couldn¡¯t block it. Not with my sword. Not with my arms. If that hit landed, I¡¯d be lucky to walk away with just a few fractures. A rush of panic flooded my system. I braced for impact¡ª But the strike never came. Instead, the wooden sword froze mid-air, stopping just inches from my face. For a second, nothing moved. Then I felt it. A presence. A force that weighed down on the air itself, turning the training grounds dead silent. Slowly, I turned my head¡ªand standing just beside me was the man who had taken me in for training. The one who had agreed to teach me despite my insane request. His calloused fingers rested lightly on my opponent¡¯s wrist, and yet it looked like the man had been locked in place. No, more than that¡ªit was as if his own sword had refused to strike. His gaze was calm. Steady. But something in his presence made the air feel thicker. "That''s enough," he said, his voice smooth but heavy with authority. The tension shattered instantly. My opponent¡¯s hands trembled as the mana faded from his blade. His face paled, his breath ragged. He stepped back, bowing his head quickly, as if shaken by his own actions. I exhaled slowly, my heartbeat still thudding in my ears. The old man let go of his wrist and turned to me. His expression unreadable. "You''re learning fast," he said, "but you''re still reckless." I swallowed, still trying to piece together what the hell just happened. "Master Cael," one of the trainees muttered. Cael. The man who had stopped that strike without lifting a weapon. I didn''t know who he really was yet. But one thing was clear¡ª He was dangerous. Chapter 5 (Blood Shed)
[Time Until Village is Overtaken: 2 Days]
I stared at it. Two days. A bitter taste settled in my mouth as I leaned back against the wall, arms crossed, my mind spinning. After watching Cael display a fraction of his strength, I had been sure of one thing¡ªhe was strong. Stronger than anyone I had seen here. His presence alone had been enough to make that trainee¡¯s mana-imbued strike falter mid-swing, to make the others bow their heads in silent fear. And yet, the village was still doomed to fall. How? Were the enemies that strong? Were they beyond even Cael¡¯s ability to stop? Or¡­ was Cael simply not here when it happened? If it was the former, I had no chance. If it was the latter¡­ then why wasn¡¯t he here? The more I thought about it, the more my stomach twisted. Then, another thought slipped in¡ªone I hadn¡¯t considered until now. "Why do I need to save the village?" My fingers tightened around my arm. The system never mentioned a punishment for failing the mission. There was no looming curse, no "Death upon failure" warning. I could just¡­ leave. If things got too dangerous, I could run. No one here even knows who I really am. I don¡¯t belong to this place. I don¡¯t owe them anything. The words echoed in my mind, cold and logical. But then¡ª A flash of memory. Elira handing me a bowl of warm food, despite knowing nothing about me. The children who had found me unconscious in the meadow. The small girl I had bumped into at the marketplace¡ªthe same girl from my dream. I swallowed. Running away felt wrong. I had been in Myrithar for nearly two weeks now, and in that time, I had come to understand a few things. This world was harsh. Power wasn¡¯t something everyone had¡ªit was something that required years of training. Mana existed, but few could wield it properly. Even those who could spent their lives struggling to master it. And then there were the factions. A person could dedicate themselves to a faction if they had the talent¡ªthe right affinity. An elf with an affinity for the sword could train and surpass even a human swordsman, despite elves traditionally being known for magic. Factions provided a structured path to strength, a progression through specialized skill trees. And yet, I didn¡¯t belong to any of them. I had no skill tree, no recognition by the Records. The people here called it the Blessing of the Universal Records¡ªa divine order that dictated who could wield power and who could not. The Records held the beginning and end of time, an omniscient force that maintained the world¡¯s balance. Those chosen by the Records were guided into their proper paths. But I¡­ wasn¡¯t chosen for anything yet. My system had mentioned Record Fragments, but when I had tried asking about them, the system had just glitched out¡ªrefusing to explain. And then there were my special stats. Even in my status window, several stats had no descriptions. And among all of them, the one that stood out the most was Wisdom. It was my lowest stat. But based on what I had seen, Wisdom seemed to be directly tied to understanding mana. If I wanted to grasp what was really going on¡ªif I wanted to understand what this system actually was¡ªI needed to level up. Level 5. That was the requirement for speech pattern consistency. Maybe if I reached it, I could get some real answers out of the system. I exhaled slowly, dragging a hand through my hair. I had two days. That wasn¡¯t nearly enough time. But it was all I had. I found Cael near the training grounds, seated on a worn wooden bench, sharpening his sword with slow, deliberate strokes. The rhythmic sound of metal against whetstone filled the quiet air. I hesitated for a moment before stepping forward. ¡°Are you leaving the village in the next two days?¡± Cael didn¡¯t react at first. His hand continued its steady motion, gliding the whetstone along the edge of his blade. Only after a long pause did he glance up, his sharp eyes scanning my face. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± I swallowed, keeping my expression neutral. ¡°Just curious.¡± Another silence. Then, Cael chuckled¡ªlow and dry, like he had already figured out my intentions. ¡°And here I thought you were just bad at swordplay. Turns out you¡¯re nosy too.¡± I frowned, but before I could speak, Cael set the sword down on his lap and looked at me properly. ¡°Yeah, I was supposed to leave a few days ago,¡± he admitted. ¡°But I stayed because of you.¡± My stomach twisted. So in the dream¡­ I never asked him for training. That¡¯s why he wasn¡¯t here. The realization hit hard. If Cael had left when he originally intended, the village would have been completely defenseless. But now, because I had asked him to stay, things were already shifting. Still, something didn¡¯t make sense. I narrowed my eyes. ¡°You¡¯re clearly strong. So why are you here? Why train people in a small, secluded village instead of fighting somewhere that actually matters?¡± Cael smirked, but there was no amusement in his eyes. ¡°Kid, do you think a strong person always has to be somewhere important?¡± I didn¡¯t answer. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Cael sighed and leaned back slightly, stretching his arms. ¡°Let me put it this way. If there were fifty mediocre knights¡ªeach trained in mana, each with a sword¡ªI could take them all at once.¡± I stiffened. ¡°Fifty?¡± ¡°With a single hand,¡± Cael added. He smirked slightly, tapping a finger against the hilt of his sword. ¡°You keep asking why I¡¯m here instead of somewhere important. You¡¯re assuming that just because someone¡¯s strong, they should be out fighting wars or chasing glory.¡± He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. ¡°The truth is, I don¡¯t need to be anywhere specific. Strength like mine doesn¡¯t make a difference unless there¡¯s a reason to use it. I fight when I choose to, and right now, my job is training people. That¡¯s all.¡± I needed to know more. I forced myself to keep my voice neutral. ¡°So if¡­ something happened to the village while you were gone¡ª¡± Thkkk! My throat seized. The words wouldn¡¯t come out. I tried again, but nothing left my mouth. A sharp, electric buzz rang in my ears, followed by an unnatural pressure in my skull. Then the system¡¯s text forcibly appeared in front of my eyes.
[System Interference: Topic Restricted] [Speech Function Disabled]
My heart pounded. The system was blocking me. Not just ignoring me, not glitching out¡ªit was actively stopping me from talking. Cael raised an eyebrow. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I shook my head, trying to play it off, but my mind was racing. Why won¡¯t it let me talk about the village being overtaken? Before I could think any further, Cael sighed and stood up, sheathing his sword. ¡°Anyway, I have something for you.¡± I forced myself to focus. ¡°What?¡± His eyes locked onto mine. ¡°To pay off the debt of training you, I want you to head to the capital in four days.¡± I blinked. ¡°The capital?¡± Cael gave a slow nod, standing up fully, his presence looming even without effort. ¡°You¡¯ve got talent, kid. More than you realize. You¡¯d be of use there.¡± I hesitated. ¡°You want me to go to the capital? For what?¡± He smirked, but it wasn¡¯t his usual amused expression¡ªit was something more measured. ¡°Let¡¯s just say I know people who¡¯d be interested in someone like you. Someone who learns fast.¡± He crossed his arms. ¡°And don¡¯t look so shocked. You think I spent all this time training you for nothing?¡± I let out a slow breath, my thoughts still tangled. Cael knew I was improving too fast. He had noticed it from the start. And yet, instead of questioning it, he was pushing me forward¡ªtoward something bigger. Something I wasn¡¯t sure I was ready for. But four days¡­ If I left in four days, that meant I¡¯d still be here when the village was attacked. I swallowed hard. ¡°And if I refuse?¡± Cael tilted his head, amused. ¡°You won¡¯t.¡± I tensed. ¡°You seem pretty sure of that.¡± ¡°I am.¡± He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. ¡°You¡¯ve got that look in your eyes. The kind that says you know you¡¯re meant for more than this place.¡± I clenched my fists, saying nothing. He let the silence stretch before straightening again. ¡°Four days. I expect you to be ready.¡± With that, he turned, heading back toward the training grounds without another word. I stood there for a long moment, my mind spinning. Four days. If I could change things¡­ if I could make a difference in what was coming¡ª I had to. It¡¯s here. The thought clung to me as I stepped outside, the cold morning air biting against my skin. A heavy silence lingered over the village, the kind that settled before something happened. I had done all I could to prepare. I had trained. I had forced my body past its limits. I had even made sure Cael stayed. Now, all I could do was pray things didn¡¯t spiral out of control. The day felt colder than usual, and even Elira noticed. She stood by the doorway, rubbing her arms as she glanced at the gray sky. ¡°Strange. It¡¯s never this chilly around this time.¡± I forced a small smile. ¡°Yeah¡­ weird.¡± She looked at me, frowning slightly. ¡°You¡¯ve been acting tense all morning. Is something wrong?¡± Everything. But I only shook my head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Before she could press further¡ª A presence. I felt it before I saw it. Fast. Dangerous. Closing in. My instincts screamed at me. I moved. A blur of motion¡ªsteel flashed toward Elira. My hand shot to my sword, unsheathing it in one smooth motion. Clang! I met the strike mid-air, deflecting it to the side before twisting my wrist, forcing the attacker back. The force of the impact sent a sharp vibration up my arm, but I held my ground. My breath came slow, controlled, as I fixed my gaze on the figure before me. Cloaked in black. I narrowed my eyes, taking a step forward. "Why are you here?" I asked. The man tilted his head slightly, as if amused by the question. Then, his lips curled into a grin, but he didn''t reply. Something in me snapped. Not rage. Not blind fury. Annoyance. I had been preparing for this. I had trained, bled, pushed myself to the brink¡ªand the first enemy I encountered was some psychopath who enjoyed slaughtering for fun? Pathetic. I didn¡¯t waste time. "Elira, go inside." She hesitated. "Now." She gave me a final glance before retreating into the house. I turned my full attention back to my opponent. The system had been generous this past week¡ªnearly all my main stats had increased by 4 points. My strength, agility, and even vitality were higher than ever. Arc Step had also leveled up. It was at Level 2 now, and while a 0.5-second reduction in cooldown didn¡¯t sound like much, it made a difference. I exhaled, loosening my grip on my sword. Then, I lunged. The cloaked man reacted instantly, slashing toward me with a curved dagger. I didn¡¯t dodge. I stepped in. His eyes widened in surprise as I shifted just outside his blade¡¯s arc, using Arc Step to slide past him in one swift motion. My own sword followed through, carving a clean, diagonal path across his torso. Shhk! His breath hitched. He staggered. Then, just like that¡ªhe collapsed. Dead. Blood pooled beneath his twitching body. I watched as his grip on the dagger loosened, his life slipping away in mere seconds. A strange sensation surged through me. Not horror. Not hesitation. Adrenaline. I had done it. My first kill. My breathing was steady, my body light¡ªalmost too light. My pulse pounded, but it wasn¡¯t from fear. I wanted more. And just as the thought crossed my mind¡ª I sensed them. Two more. I turned my head slightly, eyes locking onto the two new figures emerging from the alley. Both wore similar cloaks, both had drawn weapons. One carried dual knives, the other a short sword. One of them clicked his tongue, glancing at the dead body. "Tch. That idiot actually lost." The other grinned, rolling his shoulders. "Guess we¡¯ll just have to cut this one down ourselves." I shifted my stance, exhaling slowly. My fingers curled tighter around my sword. "Come and try." They didn¡¯t hesitate. The one with the dual knives moved first¡ªfast, fluid, his movements sharp and calculated. He wasn¡¯t like the first guy. He knew what he was doing. I saw his footwork¡ªsmall, controlled steps, shifting weight perfectly with each motion. A proper assassin. His blades came from two angles, aiming for my ribs and neck simultaneously. I activated Arc Step. My body moved instinctively, sliding just outside his range. But before I could counter, the second enemy was already lunging at me from the side. Shit. I raised my sword just in time to meet his short sword head-on. The impact jarred my arms, but I used the momentum to twist, slipping past him in a sharp pivot. My blade lashed out¡ª The assassin barely dodged, twisting his body unnaturally to avoid the cut. But I wasn¡¯t done. I pressed forward, keeping up the attack, my swings relentless. I didn¡¯t let them breathe, didn¡¯t let them control the flow of battle. And then I saw an opening. I feinted a downward slash¡ª The dual-knife wielder raised his blades to parry¡ª I stepped in. My free hand shot forward, grabbing his wrist. Before he could react, I twisted sharply, disarming one of his knives. Then, without hesitation¡ª I drove my sword straight through his gut. Shhk! His body stiffened, a gurgled sound escaping his lips. I pulled my blade free and Arc Stepped back, just in time to dodge the second enemy¡¯s counterattack. But instead of fear¡ª I grinned. The second enemy hesitated for the first time. He had seen it. The moment I got the first kill, something had shifted. I wasn¡¯t hesitating anymore. I wanted to cut them down. The last remaining enemy clenched his jaw, eyes darting between me and his fallen ally. "Monster," he muttered. I tilted my head, blood still dripping from my blade. "You came here to slaughter innocent people. And I¡¯m the monster?" His face twisted in rage. With a roar, he rushed me, his short sword glowing with faint mana. I welcomed the challenge. His movements were sharper than the others. Faster. His footwork was aggressive, his swings precise. But I was faster. I kept my distance, dodging his slashes, watching for a pattern. He was trying to force an opening, trying to make me panic. But I wasn¡¯t panicking. I had control. And the moment he overextended on a thrust¡ª I struck. I sidestepped, pivoting cleanly to his exposed side. My sword flashed¡ªone fluid, horizontal motion¡ª His head separated from his body. Silence. The body crumpled to the ground, blood pooling beneath it. I let out a slow breath, my pulse still high. Three kills. And yet¡ª I wanted more. Chapter 6 (Battle) I exhaled slowly, my heartbeat still hammering in my chest. The air smelled of iron, the ground slick with blood. Then, the system buzzed violently in my skull.
[EXP Gained: +30] [EXP Gained: +50] [EXP Gained: +50] [Level Up!] [Zane Lennox ¨C Level 1 ¡ú Level 2]
I blinked as the glowing text flickered in front of me. I leveled up. I barely processed it at first, but then I saw the numbers shift.
[Current Progress: 170/250 EXP to Level 3]
I had needed 60 EXP to reach Level 2. Killing the first guy pushed me forward, and the next two kills shoved me even closer to the next level. It was working. I was getting stronger. Another system prompt flickered to life.
[Level Up Bonus: +5 Unallocated Stat Points] [New Skill Acquired: Low-Grade Swordsmanship Skill] [ERROR: Skill Allocation Failed] [Assigning Replacement Skill...] [New Skill Acquired: Low-Grade Healing (Mage Class)] [Speech Consistency Upgrade: 25%]
I froze. "What?"
[New Skill Acquired: Low-Grade Healing] Type: Basic Healing Spell (Mage Class) Rank: Low-Tier Support Skill Description: A weak healing spell designed for minor wounds. The user channels mana into their hands, applying a faint restorative effect to cuts, bruises, and surface-level injuries. Ineffective on deep wounds, broken bones, or fatal damage. Effect: Restores a small amount of health over 10 seconds. Requires active concentration and a steady mana flow. Cannot be used in rapid succession. Cooldown: 30 seconds.
My hands clenched as I read the last few lines again. I was supposed to get a new swordsmanship skill. But instead, the system had glitched and thrown some useless low-grade healing spell at me. I gritted my teeth. "Fucking system." I had no time to waste on spells I couldn¡¯t even use. My mana was still locked. But I couldn¡¯t stand around. The village center¡ªthat¡¯s where I needed to be. If there were more enemies, I had to help. But my eyes flicked back to Elira. She was inside, but that wasn¡¯t safe. Not really. If more of them slipped past, she¡¯d be an easy target. She¡¯s safer with me than without me. I exhaled sharply. I couldn¡¯t just ask her to come with me¡ªnot without raising suspicion¡ªbut if I moved carefully¡­ Making my decision, I slipped back inside the house. ¡°Elira,¡± I said quietly, keeping my tone steady. ¡°I need you to follow me.¡± She frowned. ¡°Follow you? Where?¡± ¡°Just trust me.¡± She hesitated, but something in my expression must have convinced her. With a nod, she pulled a cloak over herself. I positioned her behind me, keeping my stance loose but alert. ¡°Stay close. Stay low. And don¡¯t make a sound.¡± Without another word, I led her out, moving quickly but carefully through the village streets. By the time we reached the center of the village, the first thing I noticed was the silence. No fighting. No screams. No lingering footsteps. And then I saw why. Bodies. Piles of them. Cloaked figures lay scattered across the cobbled ground, limbs twisted, blood pooling beneath them. The sheer number of dead should have made my stomach turn. But my eyes weren¡¯t on them. They were on the man standing in the middle of it all. Cael. He hadn¡¯t moved from his spot. His blade dripped with fresh blood, his stance relaxed, his breathing steady¡ªlike this had been nothing more than a mild inconvenience. How strong is he really? A choked gasp pulled my attention. One of the dying enemies, barely clinging to life, twitched on the ground. His eyes flickered toward Cael, filled with something between agony and disbelief. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. With ragged breath, he managed to rasp out¡ª ¡°Why¡­ are you still here¡­? You¡¯re not supposed to be here¡­¡± My blood ran cold. Not supposed to be here? I had already suspected that in my dream¡ªCael hadn¡¯t been in the village when it was attacked. But this? This confirmed it. I barely had time to process before my system buzzed violently.
[M-Miss-ion Int-t-terferenc-ce D-Det-t-ected...] [I-Irreg-gular Occ-currence I-Iden-t-tified...] [Re-Recal-calcu-lating M-Miss-ion P-Param-met-ers...] [A-Adjust-ing Diff-ficulty... a-and R-Rew-wards... Ac-cor-dingly...]
I stiffened. The system was changing the mission. What the fuck is about to happen? Is it because Cael is here? That dying bastard¡¯s words echoed in my head¡ª"You''re not supposed to be here." Then¡ª BOOM. The explosion tore through the village. Flames erupted in the distance, swallowing a row of houses in a violent inferno. The shockwave sent debris flying, the force shaking the ground beneath my feet. And then¡ª The screams began. The villagers who had been hiding¡ªsilent, afraid¡ªwere now crying out in terror, their voices sharp with panic. I gritted my teeth, my grip tightening on my sword. I could feel them now. At least ten presences. Moving fast. And three of them¡ªstrong. Cold sweat ran down my back. Two of them¡ªmaybe even as strong as Cael. The weight of that realization settled in my gut like a lead brick. I turned to glance at Cael, expecting some sort of reaction, some change in his expression¡ª Nothing. His face remained the same. Calm. Unbothered. Like none of this mattered. Then, before I could even blink¡ª Swish He was gone. One second he was standing beside me¡ª The next, he was in front of the two strongest enemies, his blade already slashing toward their throats. The sheer speed of it sent a sharp gust of wind through the battlefield, kicking up dirt and embers. His sword glowed with mana, the edge burning blue as it cut through the air, a strike so fast my eyes barely kept up. CLANG! Both enemies reacted just in time, their blades flashing up to block his attack. Sparks burst into the air from the impact, a shockwave rippling through the ground beneath them. But Cael didn¡¯t stop. The moment his first strike was deflected, he was already moving, his body twisting with inhuman precision. His second attack came from below¡ªa sharp upward slash, aimed directly at the enemy on the left. The man barely managed to sidestep, but Cael anticipated it. Before the enemy could counter, Cael shifted his footwork, sliding into his blind spot. His sword came down like a guillotine. The enemy had no choice but to abandon his footing and leap back. But as he did, Cael lifted his free hand¡ª A pulse of pure mana erupted from his palm. The invisible force slammed into the enemy mid-air, sending him crashing into the ground like a meteor. The other fighter didn¡¯t hesitate¡ªhe lunged at Cael¡¯s exposed side, his sword crackling with black energy¡ª But Cael merely turned his wrist, tilting his blade at an impossible angle. Clang! A single flick of his sword, and the attack was redirected¡ªnot blocked. Redirected. The enemy''s own force sent him stumbling forward, off-balance. Cael moved to finish him¡ª But I had my own fight to worry about. I couldn¡¯t just sit here and watch. I clenched my jaw, forcing my body into motion. And I wasn¡¯t the only one. A few of the villagers who knew how to fight had drawn their weapons, joining the fray. They weren¡¯t warriors, but they weren¡¯t helpless either. Two enemies rushed toward me. I met them head-on. The first enemy came at me with a broad swing, aiming to cleave straight through me. I ducked low, my instincts firing before I even had time to think. My feet adjusted¡ªArc Step activated. I slipped to the side, dodging the attack by a hair¡¯s breadth, my body shifting into a perfect counter position. Now! I lashed out, my sword carving a clean path toward his ribs¡ª But he wasn¡¯t alone. The second enemy lunged from my blind spot, thrusting forward with a dagger. Shit¡ª! I had no time to dodge, so I did the only thing I could. I pivoted. Instead of dodging away, I twisted into him, bringing my sword across his arm just before he could reach me. Blood splattered onto the dirt. The pain must have broken his focus, because his attack lost momentum. I didn¡¯t hesitate. With a sharp exhale, I drove my knee into his gut, sending him stumbling back. The first enemy recovered quickly, charging at me again, but this time I was ready. Arc Step. I slid backward just enough to stay out of reach, then immediately lunged forward, closing the distance before he could adjust. My sword cut deep into his shoulder. He screamed, his weapon clattering to the ground¡ª But the second enemy was already moving again. I barely had time to react before he spoke. "Fuck¡ªwhy is Cael still here? And we also have other interferences! Split up and reach the well!" I froze for half a second. The well? "The core should be inside at the deepest part after a small pathway¡ªbreak it and bring it back, unscratched!" What the hell were they talking about? Something inside the well? The words barely had time to settle before¡ª Shhk! A sharp sting ripped across my side. I staggered, my breath hitching as pain flared through my ribs. The bastard¡¯s dagger had cut deep. My grip on my sword faltered for just a second, my vision blurring from the sudden jolt of pain. But a second was all it took. The enemy didn¡¯t hesitate. His blade gleamed under the dim village lights as he raised it high, ready to bring it down on me. Shit¡ªI¡¯m not fast enough! But just as the sword came crashing down¡ª CLANG! Two villagers blocked the strike. One carried a rusted longsword, his hands trembling but firm. The other wielded a makeshift spear, his stance steady despite the fear in his eyes. ¡°Get up, damn it!¡± one of them barked. ¡°You¡¯re not dying here!¡± The second one pushed forward, forcing the enemy back with a sweeping thrust. I gritted my teeth, pressing a hand to my bleeding side as I forced myself up. My legs wobbled, the wound still stinging, but I wasn¡¯t done. Not yet. The enemy snarled, realizing he was now outnumbered. He lunged at one of the villagers, trying to finish him first. Big mistake. The moment he shifted his focus¡ª I moved. I pushed through the pain, surging forward with a controlled slash. My blade carved into his back, cutting deep into flesh. He howled, stumbling forward¡ªjust as the villager with the longsword drove his weapon straight through the enemy¡¯s chest. Shhk! The man¡¯s body twitched violently¡ªthen slumped. Dead. I let out a slow breath, my hands still shaking. The villagers turned to me, eyes sharp. ¡°You still breathing?¡± I exhaled, rolling my shoulder. ¡°Barely.¡± But there was no time to recover. Because across the battlefield, Cael was watching me. Even while in the middle of a brutal fight, Cael¡¯s eyes were on me. His gaze was sharp, calculating. He had already killed one of the two strongest enemies, and his blade dripped crimson. But the second one¡ªthe stronger one¡ªwas proving to be a real challenge. Their battle had torn through the village, leaving trails of destruction in their wake. Cracks split the ground where their swords clashed, debris scattered from their movements. The sheer force of their attacks sent small shockwaves rippling through the air. Cael parried a devastating strike, his boots skidding across the dirt. But instead of pressing forward, he suddenly extended his free hand. His palm glowed. A faint, golden light stretched toward me. I barely had time to react before I felt it. The sharp pain in my side dulled. The sting faded, the wound knitting together slightly. It wasn¡¯t much¡ªI was still injured¡ªbut I could move again. I flexed my fingers, exhaling. So Cael could use healing magic too? But he wasn¡¯t done. As he blocked another attack with a sharp flick of his wrist, he pointed. I followed his gesture¡ª One of the enemies was sprinting toward the well. I didn¡¯t know what was inside. But I knew I couldn¡¯t let him reach it. I clenched my jaw and moved without thinking. I activated my new skill.

New Skill Activation ¨C Phantom Stride

A reward for learning basic swordsmanship. It wasn¡¯t as precise as Arc Step. But it had its own purpose.
[New Skill Acquired: Phantom Stride] Type: Movement Technique Rank: Low-Tier Combat Skill Description: A rapid movement skill that allows the user to take a quick step every 2 seconds. Prioritizes speed over stability. The strain on the body is high, making it difficult to use repeatedly without proper conditioning. Effect: Instantly step forward a short distance every 2 seconds. Causes mild burning pain in the legs due to lack of mana reinforcement.
The moment I activated it¡ª I moved. My body lurched forward, faster than I could react. A sharp burn ignited in my legs, pain flaring through my muscles. Unlike Arc Step, this wasn¡¯t a precise dodge or repositioning. It was raw acceleration. But I didn¡¯t care. I needed to catch him. And I needed to stop him. Chapter 7 (Mana Core) What the hell is down there? The enemy¡¯s boots slammed against the cobblestone as he raced toward it. He was fast¡ªtoo fast for me to reach in time with normal movement. So I gritted my teeth and forced Phantom Stride again. My legs screamed. The burning pain intensified, but I didn¡¯t stop. I was closing in. Five steps away. Four. Three. The enemy leaped forward, about to descend into the well¡ª I lunged. My sword swung toward his back. Slash With my sword buried in his back, we plunged into the well. The walls blurred past as we freefell, the rush of wind screaming in my ears. The enemy flailed weakly, his body still barely clinging to life. I twisted the blade¡ªone final, decisive motion¡ªbefore ripping it free. Shhk! His body spasmed. A dying gurgle escaped his lips¡ªthen silence. I let him drop. A second later, we hit water. The impact was brutal. The cold shock flooded my senses as I was dragged downward, my limbs stiff from the sudden chill. For a moment, darkness swallowed everything, bubbles rising as I struggled to orient myself. Then¡ªinstinct took over. I kicked upward, breaking the surface with a sharp inhale. The cavern at the bottom of the well was larger than expected, the dim glow of moss-covered stones barely illuminating the space. I treaded water, scanning my surroundings. How the hell do I get out of here? That¡¯s when I saw it. A circular wooden door, half-rotted and wedged into the stone wall above water level. My mind clicked. "Break it and bring it back, unscratched." The pathway. Without hesitating, I lifted my sword and hurled it. The blade slammed into the wooden door with all the strength I could muster. CRACK! It splintered apart, fragments falling into the water. A dark, narrow passage was now exposed. I swam toward the wall, gripping onto the jagged stone edges. My muscles screamed in protest as I pulled myself out of the water and into the passage. The air inside was thick, damp¡ªand pitch black. There was no turning back. The darkness swallowed everything. I pressed a hand against the wall, using it to guide myself forward. The stone was rough, uneven, but it kept me from losing balance. My breath was steady, controlled¡ªyet something about this place felt wrong. The deeper I went, the heavier the air became. Then¡ª A shift in the atmosphere. A faint disturbance. I slowed my steps. Up ahead, a dim purple glow flickered, barely visible in the suffocating blackness. As I moved closer, the passageway opened into a small chamber. And in the center of that chamber, floating above the ground¡ª A sphere. It pulsed, a deep purple glow radiating from its smooth surface, as if reacting to something unseen. Thick, swirling purple smoke coiled around it like tendrils, twisting and shifting in unnatural patterns. A warning instinct screamed at me. Don¡¯t touch it. Everything about it felt wrong. The air here was different¡ªtainted. And yet¡­ I couldn¡¯t look away. Something about it called to me. I took a step forward. Then another. My hand moved on its own, reaching toward the sphere. The moment my fingers neared it¡ª BZZT! The system buzzed violently.
[Corrupted High-Density Mana Core Detected][Absorption Sequence Initiating¡­]
What the fuck¡ª This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Before I could react¡ª A sharp crack split the air. The sphere fractured. A surge of thick, blackened smoke exploded outward, spiraling wildly. Before I could pull back, the smoke rushed toward me, enveloping my body. Then¡ª Agony. --- A searing, unnatural pain tore through my body, originating from my left hand. I gasped, staggering back, but the pain only intensified. My fingers spasmed violently, twisting at sickening angles as if something was crawling beneath my skin. The glow of the sphere flared brighter, corrupted mana forcefully flooding into me like a dam breaking. Then¡ª SNAP. A wretched, bone-cracking sound echoed through the chamber. I screamed. My hand contorted, twisting in unnatural directions. Bones shattered, then broke again. "FUCK¡ª!" My voice ripped through the air, but the pain didn¡¯t stop. It kept spiraling, growing, consuming. My flesh rotted away, sloughing off like burnt paper¡ªthen regenerated only to rot again. An endless cycle of destruction and rebirth. "MAKE IT STOP¡ª!" I thrashed, but my body wouldn¡¯t listen. The corrupted mana held me in place, sinking deeper, crawling into every inch of my arm like thousands of invisible blades tearing me apart from the inside. I could feel it¡ªrewriting me. It wasn¡¯t just my body breaking. It was my very existence unraveling. I clawed at my arm, desperate to stop the flow, but my own fingers crumbled at the touch, dissolving into raw pain before reforming just as broken as before. My vision blurred, the world twisting into a nightmare of colors, static, and screaming.
[E-Error¡­] [Mana Absorption C-Cannot be halted¡­] [User¡¯s capacity limit exceeded¡­] [Due to¡ª[ERROR]¡ª(Data Corruption)]
"STOP IT¡ªJUST STOP¡ª!" I barely recognized my own voice¡ªraw, desperate, shattered. The pain spiked. My arm twisted grotesquely, bone pushing through flesh, fingers bending backward. I wasn¡¯t breathing. I wasn¡¯t thinking. I was breaking.
[Warning: High Pain Intake Detected][User Consciousness Shutting Down¡­]
Darkness rushed in. And I collapsed. --- ¡°Zane. Zane, wake up.¡± The voice was soft. Familiar. I blinked, the world around me hazy, my mind sluggish. A hand gently shook my shoulder, the warmth of it grounding me. ¡°Come on, you¡¯re gonna be late.¡± I let out a groggy groan, rubbing my eyes. The ceiling above me¡ªplain, white, normal. I shifted under my blanket, the scent of fresh laundry lingering in the air. My room, my bed¡ªhome. None of it felt wrong. None of it felt off. I sat up, stretching as I looked toward the doorway. There she was. My mother. She smiled, her usual tired-but-loving expression on her face. ¡°You okay? You were tossing in your sleep.¡± I blinked at her, my mind struggling to latch onto something, but the thought was gone before I could catch it. ¡°Yeah,¡± I muttered. ¡°Just a weird dream.¡± She gave me a knowing look but didn¡¯t push. ¡°Breakfast is ready. Don¡¯t take too long.¡± I nodded absently as she walked out, the smell of coffee and eggs drifting into my room. Weird dream? For some reason, I felt like I should remember something. Something important. But the more I tried, the more it slipped through my fingers. So I let it go. The day played out as it always did. I helped Mom with small chores around the house. Washing dishes, taking out the trash, fixing the damn shelf that had been wobbly for weeks. I went to work, punching in for my shift at the convenience store. The same dull hours of stocking shelves, scanning barcodes, and dealing with customers who couldn¡¯t count change. I went to school, barely paying attention to class, nodding along to whatever the teachers were saying. My friends joked around, our conversations light, forgettable. It was all normal. Completely, painfully normal. Like nothing had ever been different. Like this was how it had always been. That night, I went to bed as usual. And then¡ª The nightmare came. Smoke. Fire. Destruction. The air was thick with ash and dust, the sky a twisted mess of black and crimson. The ground beneath my feet cracked and burned, jagged ruins stretching out in all directions. What had once been a city was now nothing but rubble. And in the middle of it¡ª A man. He stood tall, broad-shouldered, his dark black hair whipping in the wind. His presence was overwhelming. Unnatural. Like the world itself twisted around him. And his left arm. It pulsed. The flesh was wrong¡ª shifting, moving, writhing in a way that defied logic. It glowed with a sickening hue, something between violet and pitch black, cracks of unstable energy running through it. The moment I saw it, my stomach churned. I knew¡ªinstinctively¡ªthat whatever that was, it wasn¡¯t human. Then¡ª He turned. And I froze. Eyes. Pitch black, endless and void-like, staring straight into my soul. For a moment, nothing moved. Then his mouth opened, just barely. He was about to say something. Something I needed to hear. But before I could even register the words¡ª I woke up. I gasped, choking on air. Every nerve in my body screamed. Pain. Disorientation. Cold sweat clinging to my skin. I wasn¡¯t in my bed. I wasn¡¯t home. I was back in the chamber. The air was damp, heavy, still laced with the remnants of whatever the hell had happened to me. My left arm throbbed, an aching, unnatural sensation buried deep in the bone. I felt fucked up. And worst of all¡ª I remembered everything. My left arm burned. I sucked in a sharp breath, pushing myself upright, but the moment I caught sight of it¡ª I froze. It was rotting. Or at least, it looked like it was. The flesh was a deep, sickly purple, veins glowing faintly as they pulsed with some unnatural energy. Cracks of violet light ran along the length of my arm, flickering in and out like unstable mana leaking through my very skin. It hurt like hell. A deep, gnawing agony, like my arm was constantly decaying and rebuilding itself over and over again. Then¡ª The system buzzed violently.
[Mana- [Error] Corrupted Mana - Unlocked]
I let out a dry, bitter laugh. "What the hell does that even mean?" Unlocked? Did that mean this was mine now? Did it mean I could control it? I clenched my fist, but the moment my fingers curled, pain spiked through the limb, sending a shudder through my body. No. This wasn¡¯t something I could just use. Not yet. My breath came slow, uneven, as my mind spiraled. Then, the dream slammed into my thoughts like a hammer. The man standing in the ruins. His glowing, twisted arm. His void-like eyes. Was that me? The nausea hit instantly. I swallowed hard, my pulse pounding in my ears. Would I be the one to end an entire city? Was that what the dream was telling me? Or¡ª Had it already happened? Had I already done it in some other timeline? Had the Universal Records written it all down, sealing it into history? If so¡ªwhy was I seeing it? Why was the system corrupted? Why was I constantly being thrown into these visions of destruction? Where the hell was this leading me? And the most terrifying question of all¡ª If that future was to come true¡­ Would I be able to change it? I clenched my teeth, trying to steady my breathing. The pain from my left arm was a constant, throbbing ache¡ªdull when I stayed still, but sharp and agonizing the moment I so much as twitched. I had no idea what had happened to me. No idea how to fix it. But one thing was clear¡ªI needed answers. The Universal Records. Everything seemed to trace back to it. The system, my fragmented dreams, the way my very existence felt like it was being pulled in an unseen direction. If I was going to make sense of any of this, I needed to learn more about the entity that dictated power in this world. But first¡ªI had to get out of here. I forced myself to stand, using the damp stone wall for support. My legs felt weak, my muscles sore¡ªbut it was nothing compared to the agony searing through my corrupted arm. Then¡ª A flicker of light. My status window suddenly forced itself open in front of me, glitching faintly at the edges. My breath hitched. What the hell? Chapter 8 (Silence)
Name: Zane Lennox Level: 2 (EXP: 200/250) Mana: Unlocked (100/100) Corrupted Mana: Unlocked (500/500) Class: None Race: Human (Anomaly) Title: None Affiliation: None
Core Stats
Strength (STR): 30 (E) Agility (AGI): 34 (E) Vitality (VIT): 33 (E) Intelligence (INT): 28 (F+) Wisdom (WIS): 18 (F) Charisma (CHA): 25 (F+)
Unallocated Points: 5
Nearly every single one of my stats had jumped by ten points. Charisma went down. Seeing how I still didn''t receive the rewards, the village mission must still be going on. I hadn¡¯t leveled up. I hadn¡¯t trained. I hadn¡¯t done anything to warrant this. There was only one explanation. The Corrupted Mana. I glanced down at my left arm, the violet cracks still pulsing faintly. The system had recognized it as an energy source. But the strangest part? Both Mana and Corrupted Mana had been unlocked at the same time. What does that even mean? Could I use both? Did they fight against each other? Were they connected somehow? I had no idea. But I didn¡¯t have time to sit here and figure it out. I turned toward the passage I had entered from, retracing my steps through the dark, damp tunnel. My body still felt weak, my arm throbbing with a pain that refused to settle, but I pushed forward. The ruined wooden door I had broken through earlier was still in pieces. Beyond it, the underground cavern and the well¡¯s stone walls stretched high above me. I had to climb out. And considering how deep this place was¡ªthat wasn¡¯t happening with just normal strength. I exhaled slowly, my gaze flickering back to my status window.
[Corrupted Mana: 500]
I had unlocked it. Whatever that meant. Now was as good a time as any to test it. I adjusted my stance, bending my knees slightly before activating Phantom Stride. But this time¡ª I pushed Corrupted Mana into it. A pulse of dark energy surged through my legs¡ªviolent, raw, unstable. I moved. Faster. Way faster. The force launched me upward, my body slamming against the stone wall as I kicked off with each step, I grabbed onto stones poking out till the skill use duration reset. Every two seconds, I activated Phantom Stride again, propelling myself higher and higher. The momentum was insane. But so was the pain. It was tearing me apart. I could feel the corrupted energy digging into my muscles, forcing them to work beyond their limits. The sensation was unlike anything I had ever felt¡ªlike my body wasn¡¯t my own anymore, like something else was forcing it to move. By the time I reached the top, I could barely breathe. With a final push, I lunged over the edge, collapsing onto the ground beside the well. I groaned, gripping my left leg. It burned. The strain was immense. If I kept using Corrupted Mana like that, I wouldn¡¯t last long in a fight. But the moment I stopped using it, a new thought hit me. The healing skill. I gritted my teeth and raised my hand. It was shaky, weak, but I forced myself to focus. "Activate Low-Grade Healing." For a moment, nothing happened. Then¡ª A faint, pale glow formed around my hands. Unlike Corrupted Mana, this felt¡­ natural. Warm, even. But magic didn¡¯t work instantly. I focused. Pushed the energy toward my legs. The pain didn¡¯t disappear, but it dulled. The strain from using Corrupted Phantom Stride eased slightly, my muscles feeling just a bit lighter. I checked my status.
[Corrupted Mana Used: 70/500] [Mana Used: 90/100]
I used way more normal mana than Corrupted Mana. I sighed, shaking my head. That just meant I needed more practice. But at least now, I knew something. Healing magic worked. It wouldn¡¯t fully repair me, but if I used it properly, I could lessen the damage from Corrupted Mana. I let out a slow breath, rolling my shoulder. Good enough. Then I felt a presence. I looked up. Cael was approaching. The battlefield was silent. No more enemies. No more fighting. Just him¡ªwalking toward me, his sword sheathed, his expression as unreadable as ever. I sat up, flexing my fingers instinctively. His eyes flickered once to my left arm. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. For a second, I expected a reaction. A question. A demand for an explanation. But he said nothing. Instead, he picked up a cloth¡ªone from the bodies of the fallen enemies¡ªand tossed it toward me. I caught it instinctively. We locked eyes. I understood. Without a word, I wrapped the cloth around my corrupted arm, covering the glowing violet cracks. Cael gave a small nod. Then, without another glance, he turned away. I let out a slow, shaky breath. I had no idea what just happened to me. But whatever this was¡ªCael didn¡¯t want anyone else seeing it. Just as I tightened the cloth around my arm, a familiar buzz rang in my skull. The system window popped up, its glitched edges flickering for a moment before stabilizing.
[Mission Complete: Defend the Village] [Objective Achieved: Prevent Village¡¯s Destruction] [Assessing Performance¡­] [Difficulty Increased Mid-Mission ¨C Bonus Rewards Granted]
I exhaled, my muscles still aching from the insane amount of strain I had put myself through. Then, the rewards started rolling in.
[Rewards Granted:] +10 Unallocated Stat Points 3 Random Mid-Tier Skills Acquired
My eyes widened slightly. Mid-Tier skills? The last two skills I had gotten¡ª**Arc Step and Phantom Stride¡ª**were both low-tier. If these new ones were stronger, this could be huge. The system flickered again, listing my new skills one by one.
[New Skill Acquired: Heavy Blade] Type: Sword Technique Rank: Mid-Tier Combat Skill Description: A technique that allows the user to temporarily increase the weight of their weapon through mana reinforcement, making strikes heavier and harder to block. Best used for overpowering defenses and breaking through guards. Effect: For 10 seconds, all sword attacks gain increased impact force. Strain on arms and stamina increases. Cooldown: 30 seconds.
[New Skill Acquired: Shadow Veil] Type: Stealth Technique Rank: Mid-Tier Utility Skill Description: A movement-based skill that lets the user blend into shadows, reducing presence and muffling footsteps. Ideal for ambushes or evasion. Effect: Reduces detection for 15 seconds. Effectiveness depends on the surrounding light and environmental conditions. Cooldown: 60 seconds.
[New Skill Acquired: Shock Pulse] Type: Offensive Magic Rank: Mid-Tier Spell Description: A short-range burst of mana that stuns and knocks back nearby enemies. The force depends on the user¡¯s mana control and strength. Effect: Releases a shockwave in a 3-meter radius, staggering opponents. Cooldown: 45 seconds.
I clenched my fists. These weren¡¯t just useful¡ªthey were exactly the kind of things I needed. Heavy Blade would help me go on the offensive, Shadow Veil gave me a way to move unseen, and Shock Pulse could create openings in a fight. The system flickered one last time before closing out¡ª But then, a new buzz rang through my head, followed by another wave of system notifications.
[EXP Gained: +100] [EXP Gained: +250] [EXP Gained: +150] [Level Up!] [Zane Lennox ¨C Level 2 ¡ú Level 4]
My vision blurred for a second as the changes settled in. A familiar sense of power flooding through me, my body feeling just a bit lighter, stronger¡ªmore refined. I opened my status window.
[EXP: 200/250 ¡ú 100/500]
I had completely skipped Level 3, landing right at Level 4. The system followed up with a new message.
[Level Up Bonus:] +10 Unallocated Stat Points (5 per level) +1 Random Skill Per Level
Three mid-tier skills from the mission, two more skills from leveling up, 10 unallocated stat points, and my corrupted mana now unlocked¡ª I was changing fast. I wasn¡¯t sure if that was a good thing. Or something I should be terrified of.
[New Skill Acquired: Quick Guard] Type: Defensive Technique Rank: Low-Tier Combat Skill Description: A reaction-based skill that allows the user to instinctively raise their weapon to block or deflect an attack. While not foolproof, it increases the chance of mitigating damage when caught off guard. Effect: Grants a small boost to reaction speed when an attack is detected. Can¡¯t block heavy strikes without proper strength. Cooldown: 10 seconds.
[New Skill Acquired: Mana Sense] Type: Perception Technique Rank: Low-Tier Utility Skill Description: A basic ability that lets the user detect nearby mana sources, including enemies, objects, or latent magical energy in the environment. Effect: Allows the user to sense mana signatures within 10 meters. Precision depends on Wisdom and Intelligence stats. Cooldown: None, but drains mental focus over time.
I exhaled, my mind still racing as I read over my updated skill list. Neither of these were as strong as the mid-tier skills I had just gotten, but they were useful. Quick Guard gave me a better chance to react in a fight, and Mana Sense¡­ I glanced at my left arm. Would it let me understand this thing better? For the first time since the attack, the village was quiet. Not the eerie silence of death or fear, but the soft hum of rebuilding. The scent of burning wood still lingered in the air, but it mixed with the freshness of the earth as villagers cleared rubble, repaired what they could, and tended to the wounded. I leaned against a half-broken fence, my body still aching from everything I had been through. My left arm was wrapped in cloth, concealing the glowing cracks that pulsed faintly beneath. It still hurt, but at least it wasn¡¯t completely useless. The villagers had been hesitant around me at first¡ªsome stealing wary glances, others whispering. I didn¡¯t blame them. A random outsider had fought alongside them, killed intruders, and somehow survived things that should¡¯ve killed him. But eventually, the tension melted. As I helped lift fallen beams, gather supplies, and assist the injured, I felt the shift in their gazes. No more fear. No more whispers. Just quiet gratitude. "Careful with that!" one of the older men, Gareth, called out as I helped lift a broken wooden cart. "Your arm still looks like hell." I smirked. "You should see the other guys." A few chuckles rippled around us. Humor was a good sign. It meant they weren¡¯t just mourning¡ªthey were moving forward. As we worked, I spoke with the villagers, learning their names, their families, their stories. Most had lived here their whole lives, never knowing the outside world. This village was their everything. And I had almost watched it burn. Later in the evening, I found Elira near what remained of her house, sorting through supplies. Her usual sharp expression was softer than usual, her movements slow with exhaustion. ¡°You okay?¡± I asked, stepping beside her. She glanced at me, then back at the crates. "I should be asking you that." I shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ve been worse.¡± She sighed, placing down a bundle of herbs. "Still, you should be resting." I leaned against the wooden railing, watching the village. ¡°I will.¡± Then, after a moment, I hesitated. "...I need to talk to you about something." She turned fully to face me, something in my tone catching her attention. "I¡¯m leaving," I said quietly. "In two days." Elira froze. The soft clatter of supplies stopped. Her fingers curled slightly around the cloth she had been folding, her usual calm expression faltering. "...So soon?" I nodded. Cael had reminded me earlier¡ªthe capital was waiting. This was never supposed to be permanent. For a long moment, she said nothing. Then, she let out a breath and forced a small, lopsided smile. ¡°Well... I suppose I shouldn¡¯t be surprised." But her voice held a sadness she couldn¡¯t quite hide. I looked away, the weight of the moment settling in. Leaving was necessary. But that didn¡¯t mean it was easy. Chapter 9 (Kingdom of Eryndor) I found Cael standing near the remnants of the training grounds, watching as villagers repaired a broken fence. His expression, as always, was unreadable¡ªcalm, composed, like he hadn¡¯t just wiped out a small army single-handedly. I approached, flexing my left hand beneath the cloth wrapped around it. The pain was duller now, but the unnatural sensation¡ªthe way it pulsed like something alive¡ªhadn¡¯t faded. "I need to ask you something," I said. Cael didn¡¯t look at me. ¡°You¡¯re going to ask about your arm.¡± I stiffened. Of course, he had noticed. He probably knew from the moment he saw me. I took a breath. ¡°What the hell is happening to me?¡± Finally, he turned. His sharp gaze locked onto me, searching. Measuring. Deciding how much to say. Then, he exhaled. ¡°You¡¯ll understand everything once we reach the capital.¡± I frowned. ¡°So you do know something.¡± He didn¡¯t deny it. I waited, hoping for an explanation. Something. But after a few seconds, I realized¡ªhe wasn¡¯t going to tell me anything. Not yet. "...Fine," I muttered, looking away. Cael nodded approvingly, then added, "We leave at dawn." That was the end of the conversation. Morning came faster than I wanted it to. The air was crisp, the faint chill of dawn rolling over the village as I stood at the entrance, packed and ready. But I wasn¡¯t alone. Nearly everyone was there. Villagers had gathered, standing in small clusters¡ªsome offering quiet smiles, others just watching. The kids were at the front, fidgeting, their faces somber. And then there was Elira. She stood directly in front of me, arms crossed, her usual composed demeanor shattered. Her red-rimmed eyes glistened with unshed tears, her jaw clenched like she was forcing herself not to cry. I opened my mouth¡ªto say what, I didn¡¯t know. But before I could, she stepped forward and pulled me into a tight embrace. I stiffened, caught off guard, before slowly relaxing into it. "You idiot," she muttered against my shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re really leaving, huh?¡± I swallowed past the lump in my throat. "Yeah." A shaky breath. Her arms tightened slightly. "...You better come back." I shut my eyes, willing myself to hold it together. "I will." I had to. After a few seconds, she pulled away, quickly wiping at her eyes before stepping back. Then¡ª A small tug at my sleeve. I looked down to see one of the kids¡ªMira. She sniffled, holding out a tiny carved figurine. It was rough, uneven, but I could tell it was supposed to be a swordsman. "For you," she mumbled. "So you don¡¯t forget." I took it carefully, my vision blurring slightly. Another kid, Rean, shoved a badly sewn cloth pouch into my hand. ¡°It¡¯s got sweets,¡± he muttered. ¡°For the road.¡± And then, one by one, the other kids stepped forward, giving me small gifts. Simple things¡ªbeads, a lucky charm, even a tiny wooden carving of a tree. Each one was precious. Each one made it harder to leave. I exhaled, trying to smile. "You guys are making this way too difficult." Mira wiped at her tears. "Then don¡¯t go!" I crouched slightly, ruffling her hair. "I have to. But I¡¯ll come back. I promise." "Swear on it!" I grinned. "I swear on it." They didn¡¯t look convinced, but they nodded. Finally, I stood, turning back to Elira. She didn¡¯t speak, didn¡¯t try to stop me. She just gave me a soft, bittersweet smile. "...Stay safe, Zane." I nodded. "You too." With one final glance at the village¡ªat the people who had become my first real connection to this world¡ªI turned. And I walked away. The village faded behind us, shrinking into the rolling hills as the carriage rumbled down the dirt road. I kept my eyes forward, focusing on the journey ahead, but the weight in my chest remained. I was leaving behind the first place that had truly felt like home in this world. But I had to move forward. "The capital," I muttered after a while. "What¡¯s it like?" Cael, who had been silent for most of the ride, glanced at me. ¡°Vaeloria. The heart of the Kingdom of Eryndor.¡± I raised an eyebrow. "Vaeloria?" He nodded. "It¡¯s unlike anything you¡¯ve seen before. It¡¯s not just a city¡ªit¡¯s a world of its own. The center of trade, power, and politics. The strongest factions operate from there, and the Royal Family rules over everything." Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. "Sounds¡­ overwhelming." "It is," Cael said bluntly. "It¡¯s nothing like the village. The people there? They live by a different set of rules. Status matters. Strength matters. And if you don¡¯t know how to move, you¡¯ll get trampled underfoot." I frowned. "And you¡¯re taking me there because¡­?" Cael gave me a sidelong glance. "Because you have potential. But you¡¯re also reckless. If you want to survive in Vaeloria, you need to learn when to fight and when to stay quiet." I clenched my jaw, but before I could say anything, he continued. "Which brings me to my next point¡ª" He tossed me a cloth. "Keep your arm covered at all times." I caught it, looking down at my bandaged left arm. Even through the wrappings, I could see the faint glow of the cracks pulsing beneath. Cael¡¯s voice turned sharp. "I don¡¯t know what¡¯s happening to you, but I do know this¡ªif the wrong people see that arm, you¡¯re dead. Or worse." I tightened my grip on the cloth. "Stay low," he said. "Don¡¯t draw attention. Don¡¯t get involved in things that don¡¯t concern you." I exhaled slowly, wrapping the cloth around my arm. "Fine," I muttered. "I get it." Cael nodded once. "Good." The carriage rolled steadily along the winding roads, pulled by two black-plated draft horses. The driver, a weathered old man, didn¡¯t ask any questions, which was fine by me. For the first time since arriving in Myrithar, I had the chance to really see the world. The first day, we passed through golden wheat fields stretching endlessly under the sky. Farmers worked in the distance, their voices carrying in the wind. The air was clean, open, untouched. By the second day, the fields had given way to dense forests. The towering trees formed a natural canopy overhead, the sunlight filtering through in golden beams. At night, glowing blue fireflies drifted lazily through the branches, their soft hum blending with the distant sounds of the wilderness. I tried using Mana Sense, but my control was still too weak to pick up much beyond vague disturbances. On the third day, the trees thinned, replaced by rolling hills and flowing rivers. Small outposts and trading villages dotted the landscape, the first real signs of civilization beyond our village. Then, just before noon¡ª I saw it. From the top of a hill, the capital of Eryndor stretched before us. Vaeloria was massive. Towering white stone walls surrounded the city, twice the height of any building I had seen before. They weren¡¯t just for defense¡ªthey were a statement. Beyond the walls, I could see layered districts, each with its own identity. Some areas were lined with lavish golden rooftops, while others had smokestacks and towering iron structures. And at the very center¡ª A colossal citadel stood, its spires piercing the sky. It wasn¡¯t just a city. It was a kingdom within a kingdom. Cael barely reacted. "Welcome to Vaeloria," he said. I swallowed hard. For the first time, I truly understood what I was walking into. As we approached the towering gates of Vaeloria, the sheer scale of the capital became even more overwhelming. The city¡¯s walls weren¡¯t just high¡ªthey were thick, made of smooth white stone that gleamed under the afternoon sun. Engraved patterns of runes and symbols lined the edges, faint traces of magic-infused defenses woven into their very foundation. Even the gate itself was a masterpiece. It wasn¡¯t just a simple drawbridge¡ªit was a set of massive reinforced doors, large enough to fit five carriages at once. Heavy metal gears and chains lined the sides, enchanted to make the process of opening them smooth despite their weight. And guarding the entrance¡ª Knights. Not just any knights¡ªVaelorian Knights. They were clad in polished silver armor, each piece inscribed with golden etchings, their helmets sleek and expressionless. Unlike the village guards, these men radiated discipline. Their movements were sharp, precise, like they could snap into battle at any given second. I pulled my cloak a little tighter around myself, conscious of my arm. "This place is built like a fortress," I muttered under my breath. Cael smirked slightly. "That¡¯s because it is." We slowed as we reached the gates, where a checkpoint had been set up. A few other travelers were ahead of us, presenting papers and exchanging brief words with the knights before being allowed in. I watched carefully, noting how each person was inspected. Their clothes, their weapons, their faces. The knights weren¡¯t just letting anyone walk in blindly. I tensed slightly. "Do we need papers?" Cael shook his head. "No. I have connections." I didn¡¯t like the vagueness of that answer, but I didn¡¯t question it. When it was our turn, a knight stepped forward, his gold-trimmed cloak swaying slightly with the movement. His voice was firm, commanding. "State your business in Vaeloria." Cael didn¡¯t hesitate. "Returning from an assigned mission. The boy is with me." The knight studied him for a moment. "Your name?" "Cael Veydris." I blinked. That was the first time I had heard his full name. Apparently, the knight recognized it, because he gave a short nod before gesturing to the other guards. "He¡¯s clear. Open the gates." I glanced at Cael as we stepped forward. "You just say your name and they let you in?" His smirk returned, just barely. "Like I said, I have connections." I had no idea what that meant, but the gates rumbled open, revealing the capital in its full glory. The moment we entered, the world changed. Everything in the village had been simple, quiet, grounded. But here? Here, everything was alive. The streets were bustling with people, packed tightly as merchants, knights, and civilians moved about their day. Shouts of vendors filled the air, selling everything from enchanted weapons to rare fabrics. The scent of freshly baked bread and sizzling meat drifted through the open marketplace. The buildings weren¡¯t just functional¡ªthey were art. The lower districts had stone and wood structures, reminiscent of the village, but with intricate carvings and hanging lanterns. The upper areas had tall, elegant towers, some lined with floating runes that pulsed faintly with magic. And above all¡ªthe citadel loomed in the distance. Its spires gleamed under the sunlight, a reminder of who truly ruled this city. I turned to Cael, still taking everything in. "So where exactly are we going?" He gestured for me to follow. "I¡¯ll show you around first. You need to understand this place before anything else." I nodded and fell into step beside him. As we walked, Cael pointed out key areas of the city. "The capital is divided into four main districts, each serving a different purpose." He gestured toward the bustling streets filled with vendors and traders. "This is the Merchant District. The economic hub. If you need to buy, sell, or trade anything¡ªthis is where you go. But be careful. Merchants here are shrewd, and the wealthy hold all the power. If you don¡¯t know how to negotiate, you¡¯ll get fleeced." I nodded, taking mental notes. Next, we moved toward an area where the air felt heavier. The scent of burning metal and oil filled my nose, and I saw massive workshops and forges. "This is the Industrial District, home to blacksmiths, alchemists, and engineers. The best weapons and armor come from here. But it¡¯s also where the city¡¯s underground dealings take place. Be careful who you talk to." Underground dealings? I didn¡¯t press further¡ªfor now. We then walked toward an area where the streets became cleaner, the buildings taller, the people... different. Their robes were finer, their expressions more composed. I could feel the mana in the air. "This is the Scholar¡¯s District, where researchers, mages, and healers study under the Crown¡¯s watch. If you want to learn about mana, factions, or the Universal Records¡ªthis is where you¡¯d start. But they don¡¯t take well to outsiders." I kept my expression neutral, but my mind was already racing. If I wanted answers about my corrupted mana, this would be the place to look. Finally, we reached the gates of the Inner District. Beyond them was the Royal Citadel and the estates of nobles. Unlike the rest of the city, this area was heavily guarded. "This is the Noble District. The heart of Vaeloria. It¡¯s where the aristocracy, high-ranking knights, and the Royal Family live. It¡¯s also where power struggles happen. If you want to keep your head, don¡¯t get involved." I swallowed hard. This city was nothing like the village. It wasn¡¯t just about surviving¡ªit was about navigating a world of power, secrets, and danger. I exhaled slowly, glancing at Cael. "Alright. What now?" He gave me a knowing look. "Now?" he said. "Now, we find you a place to stay." Chapter 10 (Questions) As Cael finished explaining the four main districts, a question nagged at me. "You mentioned the nobles, scholars, merchants, and craftsmen," I said, keeping pace beside him. "But what about the normal people? The ones who aren¡¯t rich or important? Where do they live?" Cael didn¡¯t answer immediately. His gaze flicked toward the crowded streets, where children weaved between merchants, their faces smudged with dirt, their hands quick as they reached for unattended goods. Some were caught instantly, punished with harsh shouts and a cuff to the head. Others disappeared into the crowd, slipping through like shadows. Finally, he spoke. "The mid-class citizens live in the Outer Districts. It¡¯s not officially called that, but that¡¯s what people say. It¡¯s spread around the edges of the Merchant and Industrial Districts. Workers, shopkeepers, apprentices¡­ they all settle there. It¡¯s safe enough, but the moment you drop too far¡ª" He gestured toward a narrow alleyway between two tightly packed buildings, its entrance swallowed in shadows. "¡ªyou end up in the Lowtown Slums." I frowned, following his gaze. Past the bustling main streets, the edges of the city became grittier. The buildings were older, patched up with scrap wood and metal. Laundry hung from windows, and makeshift tents sprawled in tight corners. The people here moved differently¡ªwary, sharp-eyed, hands tucked under cloaks or hidden in pockets. "The slums stretch along the outer walls of Vaeloria," Cael continued. "Most of the poor and unwanted end up there. No one really governs it, and the city doesn¡¯t bother controlling it. If you live in Lowtown, you fend for yourself." A group of kids ran past us, laughing as they ducked into an alley, their feet bare, their clothes torn. A moment later, an angry merchant stormed after them, cursing about stolen bread. I exhaled, shaking my head. "So even in a city this grand, people still struggle to survive." Cael glanced at me. "That surprise you?" "No," I admitted. "Just pisses me off." He gave a small, knowing smirk but didn¡¯t say anything. As we moved away from the slums, Cael led me toward a less chaotic street on the border between the Merchant and Industrial Districts. "We¡¯ll find you a place to stay here," he said. "Somewhere quiet, cheap, and unremarkable." I raised an eyebrow. "Unremarkable?" He shot me a pointed look. "You want to keep that arm hidden, right?" I rolled my eyes but didn¡¯t argue. After a few more turns, we arrived at a modest-looking inn. The sign above the door was worn, the letters slightly faded¡ªThe Rusted Anvil. Not the fanciest name, but it looked sturdy. Built from stone and reinforced wood, the structure was old but well-kept. A faint glow from the windows cast a warm light onto the street. Cael pushed open the door, stepping inside. The scent of roasted meat and ale filled the air, the soft hum of conversation settling in the background. A few patrons sat at round tables, eating or playing cards. The innkeeper, a gruff-looking woman with silver-streaked hair, glanced up from behind the counter. Cael approached her. "We need a room." She eyed him, then flicked her gaze toward me. "Long stay or short?" Cael shrugged. "A few weeks, at least." She nodded, rubbing her chin. "Fifteen silvers per week. Food¡¯s extra." I glanced at Cael, but he had already pulled out a small pouch and dropped the coins onto the counter. "That should cover a month." I raised an eyebrow. "You¡¯re paying for me?" Cael smirked slightly. "You¡¯ll pay me back eventually." This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Somehow, that didn¡¯t sound like a favor. The innkeeper took the coins, grabbed a metal key from the wall, and handed it to me. "Second floor, last room on the left. Don¡¯t cause trouble." I took the key with a nod. Cael turned to leave. "Get some rest. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll show you more of the city." Before I could respond, he was already gone.

I climbed the stairs, stepping into my new room. It was simple¡ªa single bed, a small desk, a wooden chest for storage. A window overlooked the streets below, where the glow of lanterns flickered in the growing night. I sat on the edge of the bed, flexing my left arm. Even wrapped in cloth, I could still feel the corruption beneath. The faint, pulsing energy. The ache that refused to disappear. I let out a slow breath. Vaeloria was massive. Overwhelming. Dangerous. But if I wanted answers, power, and a way forward¡ª This was the place to start. The Rusted Anvil was quiet that night, the soft hum of conversation downstairs fading as the evening deepened. My room, though small, was comfortable enough, but I couldn¡¯t sleep. My mind buzzed with too many thoughts, too many unanswered questions. So the next morning, when Cael arrived, I was ready. We sat in the inn¡¯s lower floor, where a simple breakfast of bread, eggs, and dried meat sat between us. I wasn¡¯t hungry¡ªnot really¡ªbut I needed answers. I leaned forward. "Alright. I¡¯ve been holding back for a while, but I need to ask some things.First¡ªcurrency. I saw you hand over silver yesterday, but I have no idea what the money system even is." Cael took a slow bite of his food, chewed, then sighed like he knew this conversation was coming. "Simple enough," he said. "The Kingdom of Eryndor uses three main types of currency¡ªCopper, Silver, and Gold Crowns. Most people deal in copper and silver. Gold is for the wealthy." I nodded. "How does it convert?" "Roughly 100 Copper Crowns make 1 Silver. 100 Silver makes 1 Gold. But the value changes depending on where you are. In villages, a silver coin can feed a family for a week. In Vaeloria? It won¡¯t even get you a proper meal in the Noble District." I frowned. "So a gold coin is a fortune." "To most, yes. But to the powerful? It¡¯s pocket change." Of course. The rich hoarding wealth was a universal concept. I exhaled. "Alright, next question¡ªthe Universal Records." At this, Cael¡¯s expression darkened slightly. "I¡¯ve heard the name tossed around a lot," I continued. "And I know it dictates power and skill trees, but I don¡¯t actually know what it is." Cael studied me for a moment. Then, he spoke. "The Universal Records are the foundation of the world itself," he said. "It¡¯s an omniscient force that dictates power, progression, and history. Every warrior, mage, or faction has their abilities recorded within it. Those who are blessed by it gain skill trees, abilities, and progression paths suited to their natural talent." I frowned. "So it¡¯s like a¡­ living record of everything?" "In a way." Cael leaned back. "No one truly understands it. Scholars have studied it for centuries, but no one has ever seen the Records themselves. They only feel its presence. It¡¯s why people train, why they seek power¡ªto be acknowledged." I stiffened slightly. I had never been acknowledged by the Universal Records. Instead, I had this glitched, corrupted system. I swallowed, forcing myself to stay calm. "Then, how do people gain access to their skills? Does it just¡­ happen?" "It depends. Some are born with blessings, awakening abilities from childhood. Others have to train rigorously before they¡¯re recognized. And then there are the ones who undergo faction rituals to bind themselves to a skill tree." That caught my attention. "Factions?" Cael nodded. "There are six major factions in Eryndor. They each control a different path of power." Cael counted them off, his voice steady.
  1. Verdant Circle ¨C Nature magic, healing, beast communication. Primarily made up of elves and druids.
  2. Obsidian Veil ¨C Stealth, assassination, shadow magic. Operates in the underworld.
  3. Emberforge Covenant ¨C Fire manipulation, craftsmanship, and combat. Blacksmiths and warriors.
  4. Azure Sanctum ¨C Water magic, healing, divination. Scholars and mages.
  5. Ironclad Dominion ¨C Metal manipulation, defense, and engineering. The best weapons and armor come from them.
  6. Celestial Chorus ¨C Light magic, healing, divine power. Priests and holy warriors.
"Every strong individual belongs to one of these factions," Cael continued. "They provide resources, training, and skill tree advancement. If you¡¯re not part of one, you¡¯re at a disadvantage." I exhaled slowly. "So, what about you?" I asked. "Are you part of one?" Cael smirked slightly. "I was. Not anymore." That answer only gave me more questions, but something told me I wasn¡¯t getting any more out of him about that.

I tapped my fingers on the table, processing everything. But then, a final question slipped out. "What happens to those who aren¡¯t recognized by the Records?" Cael¡¯s smirk faded. "They struggle," he said simply. "Without the Universal Records¡¯ acknowledgment, progression is slow, unstable. The strongest in this world are those who follow the system laid out for them." I swallowed. "And those who don¡¯t?" Cael met my gaze. "They either become nothing¡­ or something far worse." A shiver crawled up my spine. I had never been recognized by the Universal Records. I wasn¡¯t sure which category I was falling into. But something told me I was heading toward "far worse." I had no skill tree or anything. Maybe collecting the Record Fragments the system spoke about could help. Chapter 11 (Mission) The Record Fragments. The system had mentioned them before, but whenever I tried to ask about them, it glitched out. If the Universal Records dictated everything in this world, then what exactly were Record Fragments? Pieces of the past? Fragments of futures not yet written? And why did the system want me to collect them? I exhaled, leaning back in my chair. "System, open interface." For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the system buzzed violently, and a new window appeared before me.
[ N-Ne?w Mis-sion: S-Save the L-Lady in the Ch-Chamber ] R-Rewards: Will b-be revealed u-upon c-completion P-Penalty: L-Lose all e-experience and s-skills gained u-until now T-Time R-Remaining: 24 h-hours (O-Out of 2 D-Days)
My stomach dropped. "What the hell¡ª" I hadn''t even been notified of the mission before. And now? Half the time had already elapsed. But that wasn¡¯t the worst part. The penalty. I stared at the text, my hands going cold. If I failed¡­ everything I had gained¡ªmy levels, my skills, my stats¡ªwould be wiped away. Gone. A punishment like that wasn¡¯t just harsh¡ªit was insane. I shot up from my seat, my breathing uneven. "System, what the hell is this? Who am I supposed to save?" For the first time, the system actually responded. A map interface opened, displaying a general layout of Vaeloria. My location was marked clearly, but in the far outskirts, a large red circle glowed ominously. Not a specific location. Just a general area. I clenched my fists. You¡¯re joking, for fuck''s sake. "This isn''t helpful. Be more specific!" No response. I gritted my teeth. If I had more time, maybe I could have investigated slowly, but I had already lost an entire day. I needed help. I turned to Cael, my instinct telling me to bring him along. If anyone could handle whatever danger was there, it was him. But before I could even move¡ª
[System Intervention: No Outside Interference Allowed]
My breath hitched. Unlike the usual glitched texts, this time the words were crystal clear. No distortions. No broken code. The system wasn¡¯t letting me bring anyone. I was on my own. A chill ran down my spine. What kind of mission was this? Why was the system suddenly enforcing rules so strictly? I exhaled sharply, forcing myself to focus. If I couldn¡¯t rely on anyone else, then I needed to make sure I was as strong as possible. I pulled up my stat window.

[Unallocated Stat Points: 25]

I hesitated. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. With how broken my system was, if I tried to allocate them myself, they¡¯d probably end up in random places. "System, distribute the points efficiently." The moment I said it, my stats shifted automatically.

[Updated Stats]

Strength: 44

Agility: 46

Vitality: 43

Intelligence: 35

Wisdom: 25

Charisma: 37

At first, I was relieved. Then I noticed something off. There were extra stat points added. The system had only 25 points to distribute, yet my stats had increased by more than that. A slow, uneasy feeling crept up my spine. "System, where did the extra points come from?" No response. I clenched my fists. My body tensed. Was the mission going to be so hard that the system actually felt pity? Was it giving me extra stats because it knew I wouldn¡¯t survive otherwise? I let out a slow, shaky breath. I didn¡¯t know. And that terrified me. I moved carefully through the crowded streets, keeping my hood low over my face. Vaeloria was dense, filled with people of all walks of life, but even among the chaos, I stayed hyper-aware of my surroundings. My arm ached. The corruption pulsed harder the closer I got to the marked location. It wasn¡¯t unbearable. I glanced at my map again¡ª16 hours left. Cael had gone off to handle his own business, which meant I was completely alone in this. I took another turn, entering a narrow side street where buildings were packed closer together. I had been surveying the area for a while now, trying to pinpoint anything that seemed off. The general location the system had marked was large, and I couldn¡¯t afford to waste time checking places blindly. But then¡ªI saw it. A normal-looking building, wedged between two others. It didn¡¯t stand out¡ªno fancy decorations, no signs, nothing. But I noticed something off. People were coming and going. Not just any people¡ªa specific kind. They dressed well¡ªnot nobles, but clearly not street rats either. Many had hoods, others wore masks, and their movements were too precise, too intentional. At first glance, it could¡¯ve been a gambling den, a hidden trade market, or even an underground meeting spot. But it was located exactly in the general area marked on my map. And that meant I had to check it out. I didn¡¯t rush in blindly. For the next two hours, I observed. I watched how people entered and exited, noting their patterns. The way they spoke, the way they walked, the way some lingered near the entrance for a second too long before stepping inside. The most important detail? There was no obvious guard. No armored brute standing at the entrance. No one stopping people at the door. But there was a man sitting outside, dressed in filthy rags, his hand outstretched like a beggar. He looked like just another poor soul trying to survive. But I knew better. He wasn¡¯t just a random beggar. He was listening. Watching. The people entering all spoke a few words to him. Some said more, some said less, but there was always a brief exchange. A password, then. I needed one of them to get inside.

I didn¡¯t wait long. One of the masked individuals¡ªa man in a long dark coat¡ªstepped out of the building, making his way through the streets and into an isolated alleyway. Perfect. I moved quickly, keeping my steps silent. The moment he turned a corner¡ª I struck. With a single calculated movement, I wrapped my arm around his neck, cutting off his airflow in a clean chokehold. He struggled, his hands clawing at me, but I was stronger. My stats had increased significantly, and now? I could feel the difference. Within seconds, he went limp. I lowered him carefully, making sure no one had seen. "Sorry," I muttered under my breath as I quickly pulled off his cloak, mask, and gloves. I switched outfits, securing his hidden blade as well¡ªjust in case. The mask fit snugly over my face, covering my features. I adjusted the cloak, making sure the hood shadowed my corrupted arm completely. Then, with a deep breath, I stepped back onto the main street. I was one of them now.

As I walked toward the building, I slowed my steps, keeping my posture relaxed but purposeful. The beggar-guard glanced up as I neared, his dull eyes barely flicking toward me. Now came the real test. I focused, listening¡ªsharp, keen. With my enhanced senses, I had caught snippets of other conversations from people entering earlier. I took a gamble. As I stepped closer, I murmured the same phrase I had overheard. "The silver sun sets at midnight." The beggar nodded, his expression unchanged. "And the shadows whisper in return." I said nothing, simply inclining my head slightly¡ªjust as I had seen others do. He gestured lazily toward the door. I didn¡¯t hesitate. I stepped inside. The moment I stepped inside, I knew. This wasn¡¯t a gambling den. This wasn¡¯t some underground black market. It was a slave auction. The interior was almost insultingly bare. No grand decor, no lavish chandeliers¡ªjust a large, open chamber filled with wooden benches and dim lanterns, enough to provide light but not attract attention. The walls were stone, rough and undecorated. The place had been designed with one purpose only¡ªefficiency. It wasn¡¯t meant to be beautiful. It was meant to hide in plain sight. I scanned the crowd, keeping my movements subtle. Most of the people here were masked or hooded, just like me. But from their posture¡ªthe way they carried themselves, the arrogance in their stance¡ªI could tell. They weren¡¯t just random criminals. These were aristocrats. Rich bastards from the higher districts of Vaeloria. Nobles and merchants with too much wealth and too little morality. They didn¡¯t want to be seen here, but they also didn¡¯t want to give up their twisted luxuries. The capital had laws against slavery, but here they were, buying and selling people like property. How did I know all this? Well, I read enough fantasy novels to assume and be right about it¡ªuhm. It was almost laughable how predictable these things were. The hidden auctions, the corrupt nobles, the underground dealings¡ªthe moment I saw the masked figures and the chained prisoners, I knew exactly what kind of place this was. I clenched my fists beneath my cloak, forcing myself to stay calm. I needed to find the woman in the chamber¡ªif she was here, that is. Which should be likely, because this place felt like a chamber, but I could be wrong. I couldn''t afford to waste too much time if I was mistaken. As I moved toward the back of the room, I noticed a raised platform at the far end. A man in a dark suit stood there, overseeing the auction. Beside him, a row of people in chains. Some were beaten, malnourished. Others looked defiant, but exhausted. My stomach twisted. The auction had already begun. One by one, slaves were presented, their prices shouted out by the bidders. Some were bought for a few silver coins. Others¡ªthose deemed more valuable¡ªwent for gold. That¡¯s when I realized something. I don¡¯t have any money. Even if I found the woman I was supposed to save, how the hell was I supposed to buy her? A bead of sweat rolled down my temple. Shit. I needed a plan. Or at least, I thought I did¡ªuntil I instinctively patted the pockets of my borrowed coat. And froze. There was something inside. Frowning, I reached in and pulled out a heavy leather pouch. I slowly opened it. Inside? Gold. Not silver. Not copper. Pure gold coins. My breath hitched. The bastard I had robbed wasn¡¯t just some random noble. He had been carrying a ridiculous amount of money. Arrogant. Stupid. A spoiled rich brat who thought no one would dare rob him. Well. Sucks for him. I did. I stayed still, blending into the crowd, watching. Each time a slave was dragged onto the raised platform, the auctioneer would chant out their strengths, their worth, their use. Some were exotic species¡ªbeastkin with enhanced strength, elves with latent magic, dwarves with craftsmanship skills. They were sold within seconds, nobles bidding ruthlessly, gold coins exchanged with cold efficiency. It was sickening. Then, the system buzzed.
[Rescue the Lady]
My breath hitched. Bingo. So she was indeed here. And as if on cue, a new slave was brought onto the platform. She wasn¡¯t dragged or forced forward like the others. She simply... stumbled. Her frail frame barely supported itself as she collapsed onto her knees, her shackled arms trembling under her weight. Her clothes were tattered, her skin sickly pale, almost ashen, as if she had been drained of life itself. Her dark, unkempt hair clung to her face, matted with dust and sweat. Beneath the strands, her eyes¡ªdull, sunken, and a faded shade of blue¡ªstared blankly ahead, empty of emotion, empty of hope. She looked less like a person and more like a wraith, a forgotten remnant of someone who once lived. No life in her eyes. No will to live. Compared to the other slaves, who still had some strength left, some hope, she was the closest thing to a corpse I had seen so far. And unlike the others, when the auctioneer started the bid¡ª No one spoke. The room was silent. She had no worth to them. A weak, dying human.

I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to stay calm. If the system had reacted, that meant she was the one I had to save. So, before I could hesitate, I raised my hand. "10 silver." A few heads turned toward me. I stiffened. Shit. Was that too much? Too low? The auctioneer paused, eyeing me with mild amusement. "A bid of 10 silver. Any others?" Silence. No one even considered it. Then, the man beside me let out a chuckle, leaning slightly toward me. "Are you that desperate?" His voice was smooth, mocking. "You could get something better than that over there. Or¡­" His gaze flickered toward the stage, and his smirk curled into something darker. "Are you just into such things?" A cold shudder ran down my spine. I didn¡¯t react. Didn¡¯t even look at him. But deep down, my stomach twisted. These people¡­ were worse than I thought. Chapter 12 (Auction)
These people¡­ were worse than I thought. The auctioneer scanned the silent room, then gave a small, amused smile. "10 silver, going once." Silence. "Going twice." No one even bothered. "Sold." He banged his wooden gavel against the podium. Two guards approached the frail girl and unhooked her chains from the platform, attaching a long leash of iron links before leading her toward me. She didn¡¯t resist. Didn¡¯t struggle. She moved like a lifeless puppet, her legs barely carrying her weight as they dragged her forward. I clenched my jaw as they handed me the end of the chain. I didn¡¯t want to take it. Didn¡¯t want to even touch the damn thing. But I had to blend in. With a tight grip, I held the chain loosely, making it seem like I was playing along with their disgusting practices. The girl didn¡¯t even glance at me, her head hanging low, her breathing shallow. "What the hell happened to her?" I had won the bid. Now, I just needed to leave. And as I turned toward the exit, I found myself thinking¡ªThat was surprisingly easy. Then¡ª BOOM. The doors to the auction hall exploded inward, sending splinters and dust flying. The entire room lurched in shock, some people stumbling back, others reaching for weapons. Through the thick smoke, three figures stepped inside. Two women. One man. Their outfits were flashy¡ªadventurer-style gear, sturdy but unnecessarily decorated. Expensive. Clean. They were clearly from higher circles than the filthy slum rats that usually operated in places like this. The man in the center stepped forward, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword. His hair was short and golden, and his expression twisted in disgust as he surveyed the room. "Filthy," he spat. "To think scum like you gather in places like this, selling people like livestock." His sword flashed. In a single motion, he slashed downward, cutting through the nearest hooded man like he was nothing. Blood splattered across the floor. Panic erupted. Before the crowd could react, the two women beside him lunged forward. One wielded twin daggers, moving fast¡ªtoo fast¡ªas she cut through a group of stunned nobles. The other had a short sword, her swings precise, merciless. Screams filled the chamber. The nobles and slavers scattered like rats, some pulling out weapons, others running for their lives. I exhaled sharply, instincts kicking in. Heroes. Of course. Coming to rescue the slaves, cutting down the wicked, acting as righteous warriors of justice. How clich¨¦. I didn¡¯t have time for this.

I quickly glanced down at the girl I had just bought. She barely reacted to the chaos¡ªas if none of this mattered to her. I sighed, shifting my grip on the chain. "Screw this." I let go of it entirely, bent down, and lifted her into a princess carry. She was light. Too light. Like skin and bones held together by sheer will. Without wasting a second, I activated Phantom Stride, my legs burning as I surged toward the exit. Two seconds¡ªI was at the back of the room. Two more¡ªI was almost out. I was so close¡ª Then, I felt it. A presence locked onto me. One of the women¡ªthe dagger-wielding one¡ªnoticed my escape. Her eyes narrowed. She moved instantly. A flick of her wrist¡ªa dagger left her hand, spinning toward me. Shit¡ª! I could have dodged it. Easily. But I wasn¡¯t alone. With the girl in my arms, my movements were restricted. I twisted, trying to shift my body¡ª Too late. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. The dagger sliced into my shoulder. A sharp, burning pain exploded through me. I gritted my teeth, ignoring the wound as I pushed forward. The exit was right there. One more step¡ª And I was gone.

I burst out into the night, my boots slamming against the damp stone streets. The cool air hit my face, but I barely registered it. My mind was locked on one thing¡ªescaping. The girl in my arms was practically weightless, her body limp, barely reacting to anything. I wasn¡¯t sure if she was conscious or just too far gone to care. I gritted my teeth, my shoulder throbbing from where the dagger had lodged itself. The pain was sharp, but I had no time to deal with it. The streets of Vaeloria¡¯s underground district twisted and turned, the buildings packed tight, narrow alleys leading into even darker corners. I needed to find cover. Needed to vanish. But before I could even make a move¡ª A chilling presence flickered behind me. Fast. Too fast. A dagger cut through the air, slicing past my side, missing by inches. I skidded to a halt, my eyes snapping to the rooftop above. There she was. The dagger-wielding woman. Her short black hair framed a sharp face, her dark eyes gleaming with focus. She crouched on the edge of a rooftop, her lithe frame coiled like a predator ready to strike again. "You¡¯re fast," she called out, twirling another dagger between her fingers. "But not fast enough." I exhaled sharply, shifting my grip on the girl. "You really don¡¯t wanna pick this fight." She tilted her head. "You stole a slave, didn¡¯t you?" My jaw clenched. That¡¯s what she thought? I had no time to explain. I turned to keep running, but¡ª Shhhk! A dagger buried itself into the wall right next to my face. She was playing with me. "Not running anymore?" she asked, jumping down effortlessly. She landed without a sound, standing just a few feet away. Too close. I adjusted my stance, my mind racing. I could fight¡ªbut with the girl still in my arms, my movements were slower. I could run¡ªbut she was faster than me. Think. Think. Think. Then, an idea hit me. I didn¡¯t have to outrun her. I just had to create a distraction.

I grinned suddenly, surprising her. "You¡¯re strong," I said casually, shifting the girl¡¯s weight in my arms. The woman raised an eyebrow. "Obviously." "But you¡¯re also kind of dumb." Her eyes narrowed. "Excuse me?" I smirked and threw the girl into the air. Her eyes widened¡ªnot at me, but at the girl I had just launched. For the briefest second, her instincts kicked in. She moved to catch her. And in that moment¡ª I activated Shock Pulse. A sudden wave of force exploded from my feet. The sheer impact cracked the ground, sending a burst of concussive energy outward. The woman stumbled, her footing thrown off just as she caught the girl. I didn¡¯t waste a second. The moment her balance wavered, I lunged forward, yanking the short sword I had taken from the rich bastard earlier. Before she could react, I slashed at her legs¡ªquick, precise, brutal. The blade cut deep, and she let out a sharp hiss, staggering. In the same motion, I caught the girl out of the air, securing her in my arms before activating Phantom Stride. By the time she regained her balance, I was already gone. I darted into a side alley, my breath coming out in sharp, controlled exhales. My legs burned from Phantom Stride, the adrenaline still pumping through me. I didn¡¯t stop until I was far enough away from the auction hall, the sounds of chaos fading behind me. Finally, I slowed, pressing my back against the cold brick wall of a secluded alley. I glanced down at the frail girl in my arms. She still looked lifeless, but there was something different. Her dull blue eyes, once completely empty, now held the faintest flicker of awareness. Surprise, even. She was processing everything. That was good. That meant she was still in there. I slowly crouched down, setting her on her feet. She swayed slightly but stayed upright. "I need you to listen," I said, keeping my voice calm but firm. "I don¡¯t have any ill intentions. I¡¯m not here to hurt you, and I don¡¯t plan on doing anything wrong." She didn¡¯t react at first. Then¡ªa small nod. Barely noticeable. Almost hesitant. But it was enough. I exhaled and pulled off my hood, placing it over her head. The oversized hood covered not just her head, but most of her frail frame, draping over her thin shoulders and concealing the tattered remains of her clothes. Now, she looked just like any other commoner avoiding attention. I ripped off the mask I had stolen, tossing it into a pile of discarded trash in the alley. No point in keeping it now. I straightened, adjusting the hood over her head. "Alright. Walk with me," I murmured. "Slowly. Don¡¯t rush, don¡¯t draw attention." She nodded again¡ªthis time, slightly more certain. We stepped out of the alleyway, merging into the lively streets of Vaeloria. The moment we blended into the flow of people, it was like we had never been part of the chaos at all. No one looked twice at us. No one questioned a boy and a hooded girl walking through the marketplace. As we moved through the crowded streets, a sharp pain flared up in my left arm. I clenched my jaw, suppressing a wince. The corruption was burning again, pulsing under my skin like it was reacting to something. I didn¡¯t know if it was because of the mission, the girl, or the fact that I had used too many skills back to back. Either way, I couldn¡¯t afford to show weakness. I adjusted my pace, keeping my expression neutral. But as I walked, a thought crept into my mind. The system hadn¡¯t notified me about the mission being completed yet. No reward, no confirmation¡ªnothing. Either it had glitched out again, or I have to keep her safe until the full time ran out. Twelve more hours.

As we walked toward The Rusted Anvil, I felt the system buzz. A window popped up before me¡ª
[Mission Updated: Save the Lady in the Chamber] Status: Rescue Successful Next Objective: Ensure her safety for the next 12 hours Time Remaining: 12:00:00
"I knew it," I muttered under my breath. I had to keep her safe¡ªbut from who? Was it the three lunatics who stormed the auction and started cutting people down? Or was it someone entirely different? The thought unsettled me. If it was those so-called heroes, they had probably written me off as some rich bastard trying to smuggle away a slave for myself. But if there was someone else after her... That meant I had just walked into something way bigger than I realized. This was turning into a way bigger pain in the ass than I thought. I sighed, shaking off the irritation. It didn''t matter who was after her. I just needed to make sure they didn¡¯t find us. We arrived at the Rusted Anvil¡¯s side entrance, avoiding the front just in case. Suddenly the system buzzed again.
[Warning: Presence Detected]
I froze. What? Don''t tell me I fucking jinxed something again. My eyes snapped up, scanning the inn¡¯s surroundings. The street was normal¡ªpeople walking, vendors shouting, the usual noise of city life. But the system never gave warnings like this before. That meant something¡ªor someone¡ªwas nearby. Watching. I forced myself to stay calm, acting as if I hadn¡¯t seen the message. If I suddenly stopped, looked around, or reacted too strongly, whoever was tracking us would know that I had noticed them. I gave a small nod to the girl, signaling her to keep walking up the stairs. She didn¡¯t question it. My senses sharpened. I listened. Felt. For a few seconds, the presence remained. Then¡ª
[System Notification: Threat Neutralized]
I blinked. The oppressive feeling in the air vanished. What the fuck does it mean by ¡®threat neutralized¡¯? Did the system take care of them? Or did they just leave on their own? This shit is driving me insane.

Chapter 13 (Record Fragments) In a dimly lit hideout deep within Vaeloria¡¯s underground district, a woman sat on the edge of a worn wooden table, her dagger spinning idly between her fingers. The wound on her leg throbbed. A reminder of the unexpected fight. She had been too careless. Too confident. And now, she was back empty-handed. Across from her, her two companions stood with crossed arms¡ªLeoric, the self-proclaimed leader of their little group, and Vera, the swordswoman with a sharp tongue and sharper instincts. "So?" Leoric leaned forward, his golden hair catching the glow of the lanterns. "Where¡¯s the girl?" The woman¡ªSylen¡ªexhaled sharply, flipping the dagger in her hand before stabbing it into the table. "Gone." Leoric¡¯s eyebrow twitched. "Gone?" "I was this close to getting her," Sylen muttered, flexing her sore leg. "But some masked bastard got in the way." Vera scoffed, leaning against the wall. "So you¡¯re telling me you let some random noble run off with the girl?" Sylen¡¯s eyes darkened. "He wasn¡¯t a noble." Vera raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" Leoric frowned. "Explain." Sylen leaned back, crossing her arms. "At first, I thought the same thing¡ªsome rich prick who bought himself a toy. But then he fought back. Fast, precise, not sloppy like some overfed aristocrat." Leoric¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, but his fingers tapped against the hilt of his sword. "Did you see his face?" "No," Sylen said bitterly. "He was wearing a mask the whole time. But..." She hesitated, then continued. "I remember the girl." That made both Leoric and Vera pause. "You got a good look at her?" Vera asked. Sylen nodded. "Pale. Half-dead looking. Dark hair, faded blue eyes. Weak. She barely reacted to anything around her." Leoric rubbed his chin, thinking. "That description could match any starving slave, but..." His gaze sharpened. "The fact that he went through all that trouble to get her specifically means she¡¯s important." Sylen clicked her tongue. "I thought the same. He didn¡¯t even hesitate to fight me. As if he had to protect her." Vera pushed off the wall, stretching lazily. "So what now? We go after them?" Leoric smirked. "Of course. But this time, we don¡¯t rush in blind." His golden eyes gleamed with sharp amusement. "Someone like that can¡¯t stay hidden forever." Deep within Vaeloria¡¯s underbelly, hidden behind layers of deception and bribed officials, a secret chamber buzzed with tension. The air was thick with the scent of damp stone and burning incense, the dim glow of enchanted lanterns casting flickering shadows on the hooded figures seated around the table. None of their faces were visible¡ªintentionally hidden. The only rule of this room? Anonymity. Each seat at the long table was occupied by individuals whose influence stretched far beyond the slums¡ªwealthy merchants, corrupt officials, underground crime lords. These were the true rulers of the city¡¯s black market. And tonight, they weren¡¯t happy. The gravelly voice of an older man cut through the room. "The heroes struck again." A few murmurs followed. Some irritated, some bitter. "They destroyed one of our biggest auction houses," another voice, this one smoother, sharp as a blade. "Slaughtered valuable clients. Disrupted the entire supply chain. You know what that means?" A man on the left scoffed. "We lose money. Lots of it." "And potential buyers," another added. "Many of the nobles will hesitate now. Even those who don''t give a damn about morality care about their own safety." The Head of the table finally spoke, his voice calm¡ªtoo calm. "So what do we do?" The room fell into silence. Then, a chilling response. "We kill them." Simple. Direct. A few chuckles echoed in the dimly lit chamber. "They think they¡¯re righteous," a woman sneered. "They think they can keep doing this, rescuing worthless garbage while stepping on our profits?" The smooth-voiced man chuckled. "No. They¡¯re a nuisance. A thorn in our operations. And thorns¡ª" His gloved hand traced the edge of a dagger resting on the table. "¡ªmust be plucked." There was a pause, a shared agreement in the air. The Head leaned forward, his presence suffocating. "Then we¡¯ll deal with them. But that¡¯s not all." He exhaled sharply, his calm mask breaking slightly. "The raid on Willowbrook." A heavier silence followed. Then, a gruff voice spoke. "It... failed." Failed. The word lingered in the room, poisonous. The Head¡¯s fingers drummed against the table. "We lost valuable warriors, and our shipment of mana orbs is now short by three." "Three?" someone muttered. "That¡¯s not much¡ª" "It¡¯s a lot." The cold interruption silenced the speaker. "It¡¯s a lot when we needed those orbs for a very specific order." The Head¡¯s voice darkened. And then¡ª BANG. The entire table shook violently as he slammed his palm down. The flickering lanterns brightened, casting a sickly glow over his outstretched hand. A hand that wasn¡¯t normal. The flesh twisted, veins darkened and pulsing, cracks glowing with corrupted purple energy. The fingers looked mismatched, as if broken and forced together unnaturally. It was like Zane¡¯s arm. But worse. "Three orbs may not seem like much to you." His voice was lower now, deeper, his tone carrying an eerie resonance. "But when you are dealing with forces beyond your pathetic understanding, you learn that even a single piece missing can mean everything." The air grew heavy. No one spoke. The Head finally leaned back, flexing his corrupted fingers before pulling his sleeve back down, hiding the abomination of his arm. "...We will replace the lost orbs," he continued, voice returning to calm, calculated control. "That means collecting more slaves and raiding more targets." A few hesitant nods. "And as for the heroes?" A cruel smirk crept into his voice. "We make them regret ever interfering." The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of a single lantern flickering against the wooden walls. But in this small, enclosed space, everything felt silent. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! I paced near the window, fingers pressing against my aching left arm. The pain had been growing worse ever since I left the auction house. A dull, pulsing throb that spread from my fingertips to my shoulder, like something was crawling under my skin. Behind me, the girl sat on the edge of the bed, eating quietly. The food wasn¡¯t much¡ªjust a bowl of warm stew and bread, something I had grabbed from the tavern¡¯s kitchen. She didn¡¯t complain. Didn¡¯t hesitate. Just ate. Like someone used to starvation. I glanced at her briefly. She was still wrapped in my oversized hood, her face half-hidden in the fabric¡¯s folds. But even in the dim light, I could see that her complexion wasn¡¯t as lifeless as before. A little more color, a little more presence. Progress. I turned back toward the window, rolling my left shoulder to ease the discomfort. "Damn it¡­ this is getting worse." The pain flared again, sharp this time. I hissed under my breath, gripping my arm¡ªonly to freeze. Something was wet. I lifted my hand slowly and stared. Purple. Thick, viscous blood coated my fingers, seeping through the bandages wrapped around my arm. The cracks along my skin pulsed faintly, the unnatural glow shifting with every movement. My heartbeat sped up. "Shit." I moved quickly, grabbing the spare bandages from my bag. But before I could start wrapping the wound, the system buzzed.
[System Notification: Body is deteriorating at a higher rate than normal.] [Find a Record Fragment as soon as possible.]
My stomach dropped. "What?" Deteriorating? At a higher rate? That meant this was always happening, just slower before. And now? It was speeding up. I clenched my jaw, trying to stay calm. The system kept throwing one thing after another at me. First, the mission. Then, the warning about danger. And now, this? "I can¡¯t even catch a damn break." I grabbed the cloth tightly, preparing to re-wrap my arm¡ª Then I felt it. A gaze. I turned my head slightly. The girl was staring. Her bowl of food sat untouched in her lap, her hands clutching it loosely. She wasn¡¯t frozen in fear or disgust¡ªjust watching. Like she recognized something. I tensed. "Don¡¯t¡ª" "Corrupted Mana." Her voice was quiet. Almost distant. But to me, it hit like a thunderclap. I went still. My entire body tensed as my eyes locked onto her. "What did she just say?" I stared at her. She had said it so casually, like it was something she had known all along. Corrupted Mana. The words still hung in the air, thick and heavy. I swallowed, my grip tightening around the bloodied bandages. "...What did you just say?" She didn¡¯t reply. She just kept staring. Like she had seen this before. Like she knew something. I shifted forward slightly. "You recognize this, don¡¯t you?" Nothing. "Say something." Silence. I clenched my fists. "You¡ª" Her body swayed slightly. And then, without warning, she collapsed forward. My instincts kicked in just in time to catch her before she hit the ground. I hesitated for a second, then sighed, carefully shifting her back onto the bed. Her breathing was steady, just exhausted. She must have reached her limit. I ran a tired hand through my hair, exhaling sharply. "Of course. Of course you pass out right when I finally get something useful out of you." I reached for the bowl of food beside her lap, setting it aside before grabbing a thin blanket from the corner of the room. With a quick motion, I draped it over her, making sure it covered her properly. She barely stirred. Fine. I¡¯d ask her again when she woke up. I sat down on the chair next to the bed, gripping my left arm again. The pain hadn¡¯t stopped. The corruption still throbbed, the purple cracks spreading slightly more across my skin. I had to talk to Cael. Soon. But then another thought hit me. How the hell was I supposed to explain this girl? I had already told Cael the lie about losing my memories. I couldn¡¯t suddenly say, "Oh yeah, I bought a slave at an illegal auction last night. Don¡¯t worry about it." I groaned, pressing a hand to my face. "What the hell am I supposed to say?" I didn¡¯t even know her name. A long silence stretched through the room as I leaned back against the chair, staring at the ceiling. Cael wasn¡¯t stupid. He¡¯d ask questions. Who she was. Why I had her. Where I even got the money to buy someone. I had no solid answers. "Fuck," I muttered under my breath. This just kept getting more complicated. I shook my head and pulled up the system interface.
[Mission Update: Ensure her safety for the next 12 hours] Time Remaining: 08:24:31
I stared at the countdown. "Eight hours left." A few more hours, and this entire nightmare of a mission would finally be over. At least, that¡¯s what I told myself. But deep down, I had a bad feeling. I had thought the same thing before¡ªback in the village, when I thought I had changed fate. I had thought the same thing after escaping the auction house, when I assumed everything would be fine. And every single time, I had jinxed myself. I exhaled slowly, rubbing my temples. "No. This time, things will go smoothly." A pause. Then, I cursed under my breath. "Fuck. I probably just jinxed myself again." I sighed, leaning back in the chair, fingers tapping idly against my knee. The girl was asleep, her frail frame still barely visible beneath the blanket. My thoughts drifted back to something far more important. The Record Fragments. The system had been mentioning them since the beginning, but it never actually explained what they were. Every time I asked, it would glitch out or refuse to answer. But now? Now that my body was deteriorating, and the system was actively telling me to find one¡ª I couldn¡¯t ignore it anymore. I took a slow breath, then called out in my mind. "System. What are Record Fragments?" For a moment, silence. Then¡ª The system responded. Clearly.
[Record Fragments are the manifestation of the Universal Records themselves¡ªpieces of history, present, and future, bound to those who are chosen. They are power beyond comprehension, a will that shapes the world itself.] [They can be possessed for good or for ruin. Those who wield them stand leagues above all others¡ªgods among men, monsters among mortals.] [To hold a Record Fragment is to hold fate itself.] [A king¡¯s burden. A ruler¡¯s gift. A curse upon existence.]
I sat completely still. Not a single glitch. Not a single error. The words rang in my mind, heavy with meaning. The Universal Records themselves? A piece of history, past, and future? And the people who possessed them¡ª Were above everyone else. "A king¡¯s burden, huh?" I muttered. What kind of bullshit was this? I inhaled deeply, gathering my thoughts. "Alright. Fine. Then where do I find one? How do I obtain a Record Fragment?" The system¡¯s response was instant.
[Kill the one who possesses a Record Fragment.]
Chapter 14 (Rewards) Kill them..? A dry chuckle left my lips. How about I kill myself and be free from this bullshit, haha¡­ Of course, that wasn¡¯t an option. Not that I hadn¡¯t considered it before. But if death was an easy way out, then the system would''ve probably suggested it already. Still, the words clung to my mind like a parasite. Kill them. So that¡¯s how I was supposed to obtain Record Fragments. I exhaled slowly, leaning against the wall. Who even has them? How do I find them? What do they even look like? Were there signs? A mark? Some kind of aura? And how many people in the world even possessed them? Too many questions, no answers. But for now, I had bigger things to worry about. I glanced toward the bed. The girl was still asleep, her breathing slow and steady. She hadn¡¯t stirred once since passing out. I didn¡¯t blame her¡ªshe looked like she had been through hell and back. I sat by the window, resting my arm against the wooden ledge. My body was heavy with exhaustion, but I didn¡¯t let myself sleep. I couldn¡¯t. The system had warned me to keep her safe, and I had no idea who or what might come for us. So I stayed awake. Waiting. Listening. Every creak in the floorboards, every distant murmur from the tavern below made my senses sharpen. The minutes dragged, each second stretching longer than the last. But nothing happened. No sudden attack. No mysterious figures appearing at my door. And then¡ª
[Mission Completed.]
A deep breath I hadn¡¯t realized I was holding finally left me. The moment the timer hit zero, the pressure in my chest eased. I half-expected some kind of last-minute twist, but there was nothing. Just a simple completion message.
Rewards Obtained: 10 Unallocated Stat Points +1 to All Base Stats Level Up: 4 ¡ú 5 New System Feature Unlocked: Speech Consistency 3 Random Skills Obtained- [Mid-Tier] Phantom Mirage- [Mid-Tier] Precision Flow- [High-Tier] Rift Severance
Finally. Speech Consistency. As for the skills¡ª
[New Skill Acquired: Phantom Mirage] Type: Movement Ability (Agility-Based) Rank: Mid-Tier Utility Skill Description: Enhances the user¡¯s speed-based maneuvers, creating afterimages that persist for 1.5 seconds. These afterimages disorient enemies by mimicking the user¡¯s movements before fading. The number and duration of afterimages scale with Agility. Effect: Creates 1-3 afterimages when moving at high speeds. Higher Agility increases the number and duration. Can be toggled on and off. No mana cost, but prolonged use strains stamina.
[New Skill Acquired: Precision Flow] Type: Passive Enhancement Rank: Mid-Tier Combat & Utility Skill Description: Increases the user¡¯s fine motor control, allowing for precise movements in combat and delicate tasks. Enhances weapon handling, quickens reaction time, and improves dexterity in actions like lockpicking and crafting. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Effect: Grants a 15% increase in accuracy, reaction speed, and weapon control. Passively refines coordination for detailed work.
[New Skill Acquired: Rift Severance] Type: Spatial Manipulation (Advanced) Rank: High-Tier Destruction Skill Description: A rare and dangerous ability that allows the user to cut through dimensional fabric, temporarily distorting space within a small radius. Can be used to create unstable rifts that deal immense damage to anything caught inside. Requires precise control and a stable mana flow. Effect: Generates a spatial rift that distorts reality in a targeted area for 3 seconds. Any matter caught within suffers severe fragmentation damage. Unstable due to high mana requirements and unpredictable interactions with the user¡¯s corrupted system. Usage is not recommended until further mastery is achieved.
I stared at the skills listed before me, taking a moment to process each one. Phantom Mirage. A better version of the movement skills I already had. The afterimages would be useful for misdirection, but Phantom Stride still had the edge when it came to pure evasion. Precision Flow. Now this? This was actually solid. Better accuracy, faster reactions, improved dexterity. A skill that worked both in and out of combat. Then there was the last one. Rift Severance. I narrowed my eyes at the description. Cutting through space itself? That sounded ridiculously powerful. But the warning at the end¡­ Unstable due to high mana requirements and unpredictable interactions with the user¡¯s corrupted system. Yeah. That was a problem. The last thing I needed was my arm exploding just because I tried to use some broken ability. I exhaled, rolling my shoulders. One good skill, one decent one, and one that might tear me apart. Sounds about right. I paused, rubbing my chin. If the system was actually working properly now¡ªor at least somewhat more stable¡ªI could start asking it questions directly instead of relying on Cael. Less risk, less suspicion. I still wasn¡¯t sure how much I could trust the old man, even if he had helped me out so far. But there was still one problem. The system was still glitched. It kept flickering in and out, sometimes responding normally, sometimes cutting off mid-sentence. I didn¡¯t know when it would decide to randomly shut down on me again. Still, it was better than nothing. I let out a sigh. Might as well use it while it works. "System, why am I even getting skills? I¡¯m not part of a skill tree, so how does this work?" For a second, there was silence. Then, the familiar text appeared in my vision.
[Through the system, the user is capable of acquiring skills recorded in the Universal Records, as the system is part of the¡ª] Error.
The interface flickered violently. The text glitched, warping into unreadable symbols before the entire system crashed. Gone. Just like that. I clenched my jaw, frustration boiling in my chest. Part of the what?! The Universal Records? What the hell was that supposed to mean? I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair. Figures. Just when it was actually telling me something useful. I glanced at my arm and then the girl on the bed. Purple blood. Corrupted mana. Her reaction to it wasn¡¯t normal. It wasn¡¯t just shock or fear¡ªshe knew what it was. That meant she had seen it before. And that meant someone else out there had the same corruption as me or something similar. I didn¡¯t like that thought. I turned away, pacing toward the window. The streets outside were still alive with the remnants of the night market, drunkards stumbling home and merchants packing up their stalls. The city never truly slept¡ªjust shifted into another form of chaos. I should be resting, but I couldn¡¯t. My nerves were too wound up. I needed air. With one last glance at the girl to make sure she was still asleep, I pulled my hood over my head and quietly slipped out of the room.

The streets were damp, the scent of rain clinging to the air. The cobblestone roads glistened under the dim lanterns, and the sounds of distant laughter mixed with the occasional shout from a tavern brawl. I walked with my hands in my pockets, blending in with the late-night crowd. There were fewer people now¡ªmostly those who thrived in the darker hours. Thieves, informants, mercenaries waiting for their next job. It was my kind of scene. I moved toward a quieter alleyway, needing a moment of solitude to think. But the second I stepped into the shadows, my instincts flared. I wasn¡¯t alone. Footsteps. Faint, controlled. Someone was tailing me. I pretended not to notice, keeping my stride casual. If they were following me, they either wanted something or thought I was easy prey. Either way, they were about to be disappointed. I turned a corner into an even narrower alley, forcing them to follow if they wanted to keep up. Then, the second I was out of sight, I activated Phantom Stride. My body blurred, shifting seamlessly into the darkness as I pressed against the wall. The alley was too cramped for me to use Phantom Mirage effectively, but I didn¡¯t need it. Seconds later, a hooded figure appeared at the entrance of the alley, slowing their pace. Their head turned slightly, searching. Looking for me? I moved before they could react, stepping out of the shadows and grabbing them by the collar. In one swift motion, I shoved them against the wall, a dagger pressed to their throat. They gasped, their hood falling back slightly to reveal a mess of blond hair and wide, startled eyes. A kid. No¡ªprobably my age, maybe a little older. ¡°¡­Hah.¡± He let out a shaky chuckle. ¡°Alright, alright. You got me.¡± I didn¡¯t let go. ¡°Who sent you?¡± ¡°No one. Just curious, is all.¡± ¡°Curious?¡± I pressed the dagger closer. ¡°Try again.¡± His lips curled into a smirk. ¡°You¡¯re new here. New faces always stand out, especially when they do something interesting.¡± I narrowed my eyes. ¡°And what exactly did I do that caught your attention?¡± ¡°You¡¯re still alive.¡± That threw me off. He grinned, tilting his head slightly. ¡°This city isn¡¯t kind to people who don¡¯t belong. And yet, here you are, walking around like you own the place. That makes me curious.¡± That makes no sense. I studied him carefully. He wasn¡¯t armed¡ªnot visibly, at least. But there was a confidence in his posture, in the way he spoke. He wasn¡¯t just some street rat looking for an easy mark. ¡°¡­What do you want?¡± I asked. His smirk widened. ¡°Depends. Are you hiring?¡± I frowned. ¡°For what?¡± ¡°I know things,¡± he said simply. ¡°People, places, movements. Who¡¯s worth watching, who¡¯s worth avoiding. You seem like the kind of guy who could use information.¡± I kept my grip firm. ¡°¡­And what do you get out of it?¡± ¡°A name, for starters.¡± I hesitated, then pulled back slightly, lowering the dagger but keeping it in sight. ¡°¡­Zane.¡± His grin didn¡¯t fade. ¡°Levi.¡± Levi. I didn¡¯t trust him¡ªnot yet¡ªbut something about the way he carried himself told me he wasn¡¯t just messing around. And I could use someone who knew this city better than I did. ¡°¡­Alright, Levi.¡± I released him fully, taking a step back. ¡°Tell me something useful.¡± He dusted off his jacket, rolling his shoulders before giving me a lazy grin. ¡°Well,¡± he said, ¡°for starters¡ªthere¡¯s been a lot of talk about a certain slave being stolen right from under the noses of some very important people.¡± My blood ran cold. Levi¡¯s grin widened as he tapped his temple. ¡°See? Told you I know things.¡± I crossed my arms, keeping my expression neutral. "And what does that have to do with me?" "Nothing at all," he said, voice dripping with amusement. "Just that I happened to see it go down. And, well¡­ the man who got away with the slave had a pretty similar build to you." My fingers twitched slightly, but I forced myself to stay calm. "Oh? And from that alone, you suspect me?" I let out a dry chuckle, shifting my stance. "Don¡¯t you think you need a little more than that before throwing around accusations? You do realize that kind of claim could get me killed, right?" Levi chuckled, the sound smooth, unfazed. He leaned back against the alley wall, one boot lazily propped against it. "Oh, I do. That¡¯s why I¡¯m not accusing you. I¡¯m just making¡­ an observation." He tilted his head, the dim light catching his smirk. "See, I don¡¯t care much for heroes or slavers. But I do enjoy a good mystery. And when a ghost slips out of a heavily raided market without a trace? That¡¯s interesting." I stayed silent, my mind racing. Was he just messing with me? Or did he actually know something? Either way, he was fishing for information. Levi pushed off the wall, stepping closer, his grin widening. "So? Care to entertain me?"

Notice Sorry for the lack of uploads lately¡ªI¡¯ve been caught up with work. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll be releasing four chapters at once, and I hope you all enjoy them! Happy reading! I also want to take a moment to say how incredibly grateful I am for all of your support. Every comment, every follow, and every bit of engagement truly means the world to me. Seeing how many of you are enjoying the story keeps me motivated to keep writing and improving. The novel has been doing really well lately, and there''s even a chance it could hit Rising Stars soon! That wouldn¡¯t be possible without all of you, and I can¡¯t thank you enough for being part of this journey. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. If you¡¯ve been enjoying the story, it would mean so much if you could drop a review or share your thoughts. Your feedback helps me grow as a writer and makes a huge difference in helping the novel reach more readers. I want to make this the best story it can be, and your support and suggestions are invaluable. Once again, thank you all for being here. You¡¯re the reason I keep pushing forward, and I can¡¯t wait to share more with you. Let¡¯s keep this journey going together! ?? Chapter 15 (Reality?) A sharp chime echoed in my mind, the familiar cold presence of the system pressing in.
[Mission: Escape the Illusion.]
I stiffened. Illusion? I forced my body to remain still, my expression neutral, but my mind was already running through possibilities. What illusion? Was this entire conversation fake? Had I been trapped in some kind of spell without realizing it? My senses stretched, trying to catch even the smallest inconsistency, but everything felt real. The dampness of the alley, the faint scent of mildew and old liquor, the distant sound of boots on cobblestone¡ªit was all too real. Levi was still watching me, waiting for a response, his smirk unwavering. If this was an illusion, then that meant someone¡ªor something¡ªwas controlling it, and I had no idea if they were watching for a reaction. I needed to play along. I let out a breath, rolling my shoulders casually. "Sorry to disappoint, but I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. I¡¯m just a traveler staying here for a while." My tone was relaxed, dismissive. The kind of answer someone innocent and bored would give. But my mind was elsewhere. What exactly was the illusion? Then it hit me. Last night. I had taken a hit to my shoulder in that fight. It wasn¡¯t deep, but the wound had lingered even after using my healing skill. My body had still been recovering but right now I didn''t feel anything in my shoulder. I should still feel something there if I touch it. Casually, I shifted my stance, letting my hand brush over my shoulder as if adjusting my coat. I tapped the spot. Nothing. No pain. No tightness. Not even the slightest ache. Shit. This was an illusion. My pulse quickened, but I forced my breathing to stay steady. The realization sent a chill down my spine, but I couldn''t afford to react. If this was a trap, the moment I let it slip that I knew, things could go south fast. Someone had crafted this illusion perfectly. It wasn¡¯t just some hazy dreamscape or a blurry, unstable mirage. It was solid. Real. That meant the caster wasn¡¯t just skilled, they were dangerous. But what was their goal? Was it just to keep me here? Make me say something incriminating? Or was there something else at play? I needed to test the limits. I tilted my head slightly, feigning indifference. "You seem awfully interested in me for someone who claims not to care much for slavers or heroes. You sure you¡¯re not just bored out of your mind?" Levi chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "What can I say? I¡¯ve got a curious nature. But fine, I won¡¯t pry¡­ for now." His eyes gleamed with something unreadable, but I had bigger concerns. I needed to figure out how to break this illusion. And fast.

Levi disappeared into the dimly lit streets without another word. Suspicious. But I didn¡¯t have time to dwell on it. I quickened my pace back to the inn, my mind racing with possibilities. My shoulder still felt wrong. Empty. The illusion was still active, meaning whatever game was being played here wasn¡¯t over yet. And if the illusion was still in effect¡­ then that probably meant it wasn¡¯t Levi who had set it up. When did it start? Had the illusion begun the moment I stepped into that alleyway? Or had it started before I even left the inn? Had anything been real since last night? My pace quickened further, urgency clawing at my chest. Reaching my door, I pushed it open with more force than intended, only to freeze. The bed was empty. She was gone. For a second, my brain refused to process it. She had been here when I left. Still recovering. Weak. There was no way she could have just left on her own. Panic shot through me, but I crushed it down, scanning the room for any signs of struggle. Nothing. The blankets were slightly disturbed, but that could mean anything. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. My breath was uneven. Was this part of the illusion? Was she even real to begin with? My hands clenched into fists as my thoughts ran in circles. If the illusion was trying to keep me here, then her disappearance had to be intentional. Was I meant to find her? Was she the key to escaping? My mind spiraled, but standing here wouldn¡¯t solve anything. I turned on my heel and stormed out, ignoring the eyes of a few passing patrons. The innkeeper barely glanced my way, which struck me as odd. I hadn¡¯t exactly been quiet. The streets outside were just as I had left them¡ªbustling, normal, frustratingly real. But now, everything felt wrong. My instincts screamed at me, the sensation of being trapped growing worse by the second. I had to find her. Had to figure out what was real and what wasn¡¯t.

I tore through the streets, my pulse hammering in my ears. My eyes darted from alley to alley, searching. With a sharp inhale, I activated Phantom Stride. The world blurred as I kicked off the ground, my speed multiplying as I shot up a nearby wall. My fingers gripped the ledge of a rooftop, and with a swift pull, I vaulted myself up. From this height, I could see the entire stretch of the district, crowded streets, open markets, people moving about their lives as if nothing was wrong. Tch. All of this is fake, but she¡¯s still somewhere in it. I didn¡¯t hesitate. I sprinted forward, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, my body moving instinctively. I focused, pushing my senses outward. Mana Sense, Activate. A rush of chaotic signatures flooded my perception, fluctuating energies, weak traces of lingering magic, distant pulses from enchanted items or practitioners moving through the city. Most of them were insignificant, background noise. But then¡ª A faint flicker. Not strong, but inconsistent. Like something out of place. Like something¡ªor someone¡ªtrying to remain unnoticed. My focus sharpened, my trajectory shifting toward the disturbance. But I wasn¡¯t taking any risks this time. I activated Quick Guard, a subtle layer of heightened awareness settling over me. If anything tried to take me by surprise again, I¡¯d be ready. As I neared the source, my eyes locked onto a blacksmith¡¯s forge below, sparks flying as metal clashed against metal. The heavy scent of smoke and molten steel filled the air. My boots slammed against the rooftop¡¯s edge as I leapt down without hesitation, landing in a crouch. My eyes darted toward a row of weapons on display outside the forge. Without thinking, my hand shot out, gripping the hilt of a sword. The weight felt solid, balanced, good enough. I backed up immediately, scanning my surroundings. Now armed, senses heightened, and my path set, I was ready. Where the hell are you? Suddenly, a voice echoed from everywhere at once. "You are smarter than before." My breath hitched. No one around me reacted. The blacksmith continued hammering away at molten metal. The merchants haggled, their voices a dull hum. The crowd moved as if nothing had changed. But I heard it. Slowly, I tilted my head upward. A figure hovered high above the city, barely more than a silhouette against the sky. My grip tightened around the sword. Shit. If this guy could fly and cast an illusion this massive, then I was cooked. The sun blazed overhead, its golden light making it hard to see the man clearly. He hovered there, unmoving, like he had all the time in the world. I squinted up at him, shielding my eyes with one hand. "What do you want?" I called out. The man tilted his head slightly, as if amused. "You took something that belonged to me, kid." I frowned. "The hell are you talking about?" Instead of answering, he slowly pulled his hand out of his pocket. I instinctively narrowed my eyes, trying to make out what he was holding, only to feel my stomach drop. His arm¡­ It was just like mine. No, worse. Thick veins of corrupted energy pulsed under his skin, a deep, eerie purple spreading from his fingertips up to his shoulder like ink seeping into fabric. The aura around it crackled, distorting the air like a heatwave. What the fuck¡­ A sharp, searing pain shot through my arm. My corrupted limb twitched violently, my fingers curling and spasming against my will. I barely had time to react before the man in the sky extended his own arm forward, and then clenched his fist. A surge of raw, unseen force took hold of me. I barely had time to scream before my arm twisted. Agony tore through my nerves as my corrupted limb bent in ways it wasn¡¯t supposed to. My fingers contorted, my elbow snapped to the side, my shoulder felt like it was being ripped apart from the inside. I hit the ground, vision flashing white. A ragged scream ripped from my throat. It felt like something was trying to pull my arm off, no, like it was being rewritten, piece by piece, against my will. The veins in my arm flared, pulsing erratically, the corrupted energy inside me fighting back, but against what? Him? I forced my head up, panting, vision blurring from the pain. The man above me smirked, his eyes glowing with amusement. "Feels familiar, doesn¡¯t it?" It was the same feeling. The same gut-wrenching, soul-burning sensation from when I absorbed that mana core. The corrupted energy inside me was fighting against him, pushing back against whatever force he was using to wrench it away. But the more he pulled, the more the mana burrowed deeper into me. My arm felt like it was being ripped apart, veins burning like molten iron was coursing through them. My flesh cracked, dark lines spider-webbing up my skin as the corrupted mana twisted and coiled violently, as if resisting being taken. And then¡ª BADUMP. A deep, heavy thud resonated through my chest. The mana had reached my heart. The man¡¯s eyes widened. For the first time, his smug expression faltered. "Fool," he spat. "You¡¯ll die. The mana will devour you, and all of it will go to waste if you try to link it with your heart. Just give up and hand it over." Hand what over? I wasn¡¯t even doing anything for fucks sake. I barely even understood what was happening, this wasn¡¯t me trying to take hold of the mana. The energy inside me was moving on its own, latching onto my body like a parasite desperately trying to dig itself deeper. My heartbeat slowed, but each beat was deafening. BADUM. The world around me froze. Everything¡ªevery flicker of movement, every drifting breeze, every distant sound¡ªcame to an abrupt halt. It was like reality itself had been put on pause. Except for my heart. BADUM. BADUM. That was the only sound. The only thing that moved. A heavy, earth-shaking pulse that echoed through the stillness.