Allen and the others were on their way to Khayagan. At one point, Allen stopped and sat down on a rock nearby.
"Allen, are you okay?" Stella asked with concern.
"Don't worry, I'm fine," Allen replied casually.
They decided to take a short rest. Merie pulled out a bag filled with their daily food rations, and everyone began to eat.
However, Allen suddenly felt a sharp pain in his head—unlike anything he had ever experienced.
"Damn… my head hurts like hell," he muttered.
Allen suspected that this pain was a side effect of his previous death—when his body was shattered into pieces before he somehow recovered and fought again.
He blinked.
To his shock, Allen was no longer in the same place. He found himself in a realm of pure white, a place of total emptiness surrounded only by glowing light.
> System: Welcome to the Highest Cosmology, Allen Stolen.
Allen was confused.
"Where… am I?" he asked the System.
> System: You are inside the World of Narrative.
Allen was stunned by the revelation.
"The World of Narrative?! Why am I here?"
> System: There is someone who wishes to meet you, Allen Stolen.
Allen cautiously explored the area. As he walked, he saw various narrative fragments from his own story, I Reincarnated as an NPC with a Dregs Job.
He stumbled upon two books: one labeled "Beta," and the other "Published."
Opening both, Allen noticed something strange. Both versions were marked as complete, but the chapter structures were different. The Beta version had 5 volumes with 50 chapters, around 600 words per chapter. The Published version had 4 volumes with 40 chapters, but each chapter was around 750–800 words long.
After closing the books, Allen continued exploring the world of narrative. He realized something incredible—he was a being outside the narrative itself, unbound by its laws.
Allen walked deeper into the realm until he saw a mysterious door.
He grabbed the handle.
> System: Danger detected. Please retreat!
Allen turned around just as a voice called out.
"Hey…"
Allen looked back at the door.
"Who's there?"
A terrifying scream echoed through the void. Allen clutched his head in pain.
> System: Adaptation +1.
Ignoring the warning, Allen pushed the door open. Inside stood a tall, faceless figure.
"Who are you?" Allen asked.
"I am… The Narrator," the figure answered.
The Narrator swung his arm, slicing Allen's body in two.
"Pest eradicated," he said coldly.
But Allen's body regenerated instantly.
"Huh… that was dangerous," Allen muttered with a sly grin.
The Narrator was surprised and attacked again.
> System: Reactive Evolution and Adaptation +1.
System: Severe debuff detected.
Allen unleashed a surge of lightning from his hand, striking the Narrator. The blow pierced through the Narrator's form.
However, the Narrator counterattacked, destroying Allen's arms and legs.
Still, Allen didn't die.
He backed away.
"So that's how you want to play…"
He regenerated his limbs and cast time magic, wildly launching attacks at the Narrator.
Allen was killed instantly by a powerful strike.
But time rewound—2 minutes earlier.
> System: Reactive Evolution and Adaptation +10.
Allen drew his Shinigami Blade and clashed with the Narrator once more. This time, his attack could actually damage him.
In the middle of battle, a gunshot hit Allen in the head.
But Allen smiled slyly before dying.
"Just as planned."
Time rewound again—10 minutes earlier.
> System: Reactive Evolution and Adaptation +100,000,000.
Would you like to enter True Demon Lord Mode?
Yes.
No.
Allen chose Yes.
An overwhelming energy burst from his body.
"You think becoming a 'Lord' is enough to defeat a narrative?" the Narrator sneered.
Allen pointed at him.
"Die."
The Narrator died instantly.
Afterward, Allen was suddenly transported again.
"Where am I now?" he muttered, still in Demon Lord form just in case.
He looked around and saw a man sitting in the corner.
Allen approached him.
"Yo, are you all alone here?" he asked.
The man looked up.
"Allen…"
Allen was shocked. The man knew his name.
"Who are you?"
"My name… is The Author Supreme."
"Huh?"
"Allen, I'm the one who called you here—to grant you an overpowered blessing."
"What kind of blessing?"
"Have you ever wanted a skill that lets you control a narrative on a higher level? Or a power that lets you see your enemy's abilities and instantly become stronger than them?"
"Honestly… I'm not that interested."
The Author Supreme smiled.
"You're not hungry for power?"
> System: You have acquired new abilities:
Higher Narrative Manipulation: You can now manipulate narrative and reality at will.
Data Manipulation
Information Manipulation
"Farewell, Allen Stolen," said the Author Supreme.
Allen woke up inside the tent Stella and Merie had prepared.
To be continued…