Elian's hands wouldn't stop shaking.
He shoved Rin into the broom closet like stuffing guilt into a corner. She didn't argue. Her eyes were wide, bruised with fear and leftover headache, and he couldn't stand the way she looked at him like he had answers.
"I'll be back."
"You can't fight that," she whispered. "You'll die."
He nodded. "I guess that's the point."
Rin grabbed his hand, "please don't go."
His eyes softened, caressing her hand before letting go. "I'll come back. I promise. Stay here and wait for me, okay?"
He closed the closet door gently, breath hitching as the lock clicked in place. The weight in his chest hardened. Fused like iron behind his ribs.
[New Quest: Die A Hero Reject]
[Progress: 1/5]
"So that's how it works?" he muttered. "Level up by dying?"
[That's the gist. You're built different. Mostly defective.]
His fists clenched. Fine. If death meant power, then let it hurt.
He stepped outside.
The street was chaos laced in flame.
Smoke dripped like oil across the rooftops. Civilians ran past armed guilders, some barefoot, some dragging children who screamed for their parents already gone. Sirens blared like dying horns from every street lamp.
And at the center of it all, towering above a flipped police van, glistening red and bulbous, was the monster.
Its segmented flesh slithered across asphalt, smashing through cars as if they were eggshells. It had dozens of ridged segments that pulsed with ugly muscle. Its eyes glowed green. Its teeth weren't even shaped right, like someone had shoved swords into a blender and called it a mouth.
[New Raid Monster Detected: Crimson Graveworm]
[Class: BOSS LVL 30]
Everyone focused on hitting the legs. The belly, mostly its head.
None of them noticed the part behind the third segment. A pulsing blue nerve webbed along its side—barely visible under the armor. Elian could see it. It blinked like it was calling to him.
He blinked again. It was still there.
[Weak Point Identified.]
[New System Passive: Weakpoint Analysis I – Unlocked]
[Huh. Guess those two deaths were good for something.]
[Try not to waste it.]
"...That's it!" Distracted, he ran forward, clutching his stick. His worthless, chipped stick that was dented from his last dungeon raid.
"What the hell are you doing?!" a female voice shrieked. A crossbow bolt whizzed past him.
A team of adventurers blocked his path.
[C-Rank Knight: Brenner]
[D-Rank Bishop Healer: Mim]
[E-Rank Rook: Tess]
They weren't here to save people. They were here for rewards. Their guild logo gleamed gold on their sleeves.
"Hey, commoner. Sit back unless you want to be monster jam," Brenner snapped, slashing at one of the Graveworm's limbs. The sword bounced.
"No, listen! The third leg, behind it—there's a—"
"We don't need tips from a walking tutorial corpse."
Elian ignored them. He sprinted towards the creature, swinging his stick.
The Graveworm hissed.
A leg slammed into the street beside him, sending Elian tumbling into the side of a shattered truck. His ribs screamed. His arm went numb.
He pushed himself up. Blood dripped down his chin.
He could see the weak point clearer now.
It's blue radar, vibrating as it moved.
He dragged his stick against the ground. This time, the Graveworm noticed.
And it struck him. Cutting through the air like lightning and slammed into Elian's chest.
His vision blacked.
[Critical Hit! -240 HP]
[HP: 20/260]
[Your spleen is now optional.]
Half-dead, half-conscious, he felt the world pause.
[Passive Skill Activated: Resurrection (Cooldown — 1 Hour)]
His vital signs are stabilizing but barely keeping him up.
Then a voice cut through the smoke.
A smooth deep voice calling him a dumb person.
"What an odd way to level up. Are you on a suicide mission?"
Elian opened one bruised eye.
A figure stood at the tip of a lamppost. Cloaked in black. His collar flared like a cape. Silver rings lined every finger, and a brooch in the shape of a Queen piece hung below, shining on his chest.
He was a male. Although almost too pretty for this apocalypse ruined world.
He floated down like mist and landed before Elian. His navy blue hair long to his shoulders.
[?-Rank Queen]
[Name: Aven of the Black guild]
"You're a Pawn," he cooed, amused. "What the hell are you doing here? Get out. This place isn't safe for you."
Elian struggled to stand. He wiped off the blood from his mouth. "I don't care what you are. Move."
Aven's eyes widened slightly. Then he laughed. A single sound, sharp as glass.
"You'll die."
"So?"
Aven grinned widely. He scanned Elian's overall look, eyeing him. "Fight me."
That was... sudden.
"What?"
"You want power, don't you?" he asked, voice low. "And I want to see what's in you, a low E-rank Pawn facing death head on."
Huh? He viewed my profile. The system didn't give me any notification.
Aven gestured to the Graveworm.
"I'll handle that. You handle me."
Elian swallowed. "Why?"
"Because I'm bored."
He raised his hand.
[New Sub-Quest: Duel of the Queen and the Pawn]
[Win to Gain Class Insight — or Die. Again.]
[Accept or Decline.]
The Graveworm reared behind them, shrieking loud enough to rupture windows.
Elian's stick trembled in his hand. It was half-broken, covered in splinters, welding just a little magic ability.
The system pinged again.
[You want to take on a Queen with… that? You're more pathetic than a Pawn.]
It's sure as hell obvious that the guy's a Queen.
If you can't help me, shut the hell up.
[Do you want me to intervene?]
…Yes.
[Hit your stick till it breaks. Your choice.]
Elian scowled at the screen. What? No!
[Would you like to trade your stick for a… slightly worse stick? It's a +5 to your agility point!]
Aven eagerly tapped on his silver rings. "I'm waiting… would you accept or decline? It'll be a waste if you decline. I mean, how else would you avenge your dead family?"
Elian's neck snapped back to face him, shocked. How did he know?
Aven smirked, "ha, that did get your attention."
Elian gripped his stick tighter, eyes cold. His face wore a serious expression. A little thing he knows about the [Queen] class was that some have the ability to tap into smaller class's memories. Especially an SS ranked Queen. But that's rarely obtained.
"I'll fight you."
[Congratulations! You have chosen Violence.]
[God help you.]
[Tip: The Forgotten Tomb is still an available option. Think fast.]
[You have three open slots for more deaths.]