Author Note:
Hey reader—yeah, you with the scrolling finger.
I'll be honest—I need this chapter to hit. Like, seriously. Your boy's running on stale toast, instant noodles, and raw hope. If you're enjoying this, please comment, share, or even scream into the void for me. I need this story to win the Spirit Award so I can eat something that isn't a packet of regrets. Alright, enough begging. Let's jump in. Hope you brought clean underwear. Because this chapter… gets dark.
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The world twisted.
Zane stumbled through the dimensional vortex like someone who took the wrong exit in a shopping mall and landed in a war zone.
Nyx Hollow was not what he expected.
The sky was black, but not nighttime black—it was smothered in moving shadows. Like smoke and oil were having a slow dance above his head. The clouds bled violet lightning, and the air tasted like cold iron and something faintly metallic, like fear given flavor.
Gnarled trees rose from cracked soil, glowing faintly with veins of green mana. The forest floor was littered with bones—not human. Not… normal. Twisted, oversized things. Some were shaped like spiders. Others like wolves. And some… had too many eyes.
"Oh. Neat," Zane muttered. "Hellspawn safari."
[Welcome to Nyx Hollow]
[Trial Timer: 7 Days Remaining]
[Survive. Earn Points. Don't Die.]
"Don't die. How inspiring. Really gets the blood pumping."
He looked around.
No students in sight. No teams. No food cart. Just trees, mist, and the sound of something large breathing in the distance.
His system chimed in.
> [S.A.S.S. Booted Up.]
System Analysis Sarcastic Subprogram Activated.
"Welcome back, loser. You now qualify for the 'We Die Like Idiots' achievement. Ready?"
"Never readier," Zane muttered, stretching his arms. His body ached from training. But he was stronger. Not strong… just less trash.
He reached into his jacket and pulled out… a potato.
"Behold," he whispered to the trees, "the ancient orb of sustenance."
The wind didn't respond.
Something else did.
CRACK.
A branch snapped to the left. Followed by a low growl.
Zane froze. Every muscle locked.
From the mist emerged a hulking, hunched creature. Taller than a man, wider than a troll, with black scales and eyes like molten tar. Its jaws opened sideways.
[Behemutt – Rank: C+]
[Status: Hungry. Very Hungry.]
Zane took a step back. "Hey. Buddy. Listen. You don't have to eat me. I have carbs. Bread. Gluten-free if you prefer."
The Behemutt roared and lunged.
Zane screamed and threw the potato.
It bounced harmlessly off the creature's forehead.
> System Tip: Excellent strategy. Maybe next time, try using something that isn't a vegetable.
"Helpful as always!" Zane shouted, sprinting through the underbrush.
Branches whipped his face. Mud splashed across his coat. Behind him, the Behemutt thundered through the forest, tearing through roots like they were noodles.
Zane's mind raced.
Think, idiot, think. What would Goku do? No—wait. What would Batman do? Or Light Yagami? Okay, bad examples. THINK.
The forest opened into a clearing. Zane saw something—stone ruins, half-buried. Arches. Statues. And something glowing.
A pedestal.
No… a mana stone.
Zane didn't know how he knew. But it called to him.
"You ever seen a trash mage do something dumber than dying?" he shouted to no one.
And he ran toward the glowing altar.
The Behemutt roared behind him.
He jumped onto the pedestal, reached for the stone—and the moment his hand touched it—
Everything exploded.
The light engulfed the clearing. The beast shrieked.
Zane screamed as pain lanced through his chest.
Symbols etched into the altar blazed.
Something entered him.
A voice. No, not a voice—an intention.
[You Have Awakened a Forbidden Skill.]
[System Override Detected.]
[Trait Gained: "Arcane Corruption"]
Zane's pupils shrank.
"What the fu—"
BOOM.
The ruins shattered.
And Zane Kingslay stood—barely—crackling with wild, unstable mana. His arms glowed. His veins pulsed black. His expression was confused. Terrified. And slightly aroused.
The Behemutt—still alive—limped toward him, now cautious.
Zane raised his hand. Instinct took over.
The mana surged.
[Skill: Arcane Implosion – ACTIVATED]
FLASH.
The next thing Zane saw was the sky. And a notification.
[Behemutt Defeated. Points Earned: 160.]
[Warning: You have triggered a World Hazard.]
"Wha—what do you mean world hazard?! I just threw sparkles at a dog!!"
But the mist was changing.
The trees trembled.
Dozens of red eyes opened in the darkness.
Dozens.
No—hundreds.
And then—
They started running toward him.
Zane's face twisted. "Nope. Nope nope nope—"
> System Message: You are now being hunted.
Zane turned. "Y'know what, author? YOU WRITE ME INTO THIS, YOU WRITE ME OUT."