Hanston's eyes snapped open. His face twisted in fury, veins bulging at his temples, and a murderous glare burned in his eyes.
He had built this camp deep inside a forest teeming with dangerous beasts not for safety, but to imprison all the test subjects he had painstakingly brainwashed.
In his previous world, the law had prevented him from experimenting on human bodies. But here, no such restrictions existed. His grand opportunity… ruined, all because of a man named Oskar.
Flames roared through the forest. People began running in panic.
"Kill him. No… cut off his arms and legs first. Death is far too kind for him," Hanston said in a calm tone, though his rage was etched into every line of his face.
His subordinates charged toward Oskar.
Oskar's arrows were gone. All he had left was a bone dagger… which he casually tossed aside.
They thought he was mocking them.
"I remember you. The one who fled the camp in the early stages. Selfish humans like you will never survive the era of revolution."
'Selfish? So they have all been brainwashed… believing in Hanston's fake revolution.'
Oskar let out a slow sigh. He stood still, closed his eyes, and easily avoided every attack that came his way.
Even with his eyes shut, he could read every movement around him. That was the power of the Scribe Class, Level One. It allowed him to see situations already written in fate.
Like a sixth sense, but sharper. By writing scenarios that made logical sense, he could manipulate the probabilities of battle.
His level was already high, yet he deliberately held back. He wanted to see just how far the Scribe's power could go in a real fight.
Words shimmered into existence around him, floating briefly before dissolving into the air.
He opened his eyes.
"Ha! There is no escape for you!""This is your end!""Hiak!"
Oskar lowered his head. In that instant, every attack missed him and struck the attackers themselves.
To an outsider, it would look like luck. In truth, it was the result of Oskar's manipulation of fate.
"What are you doing! You cannot even handle one man! Why did I even put you in the hunting team!" Hanston roared.
"Oi…"
The voice from behind made Hanston turn, but before he could react, a powerful kick smashed into his face, sending him flying several meters.
Standing behind him was Elisa, flanked by several people who had once been tied up in the middle of the forest.
They were free. And they were furious.
"How did you get out!?"
"The fire spreading through the forest was dangerous… but it also burned the ropes binding us," Elisa said, tossing aside the charred remains of a rope.
The two groups now faced each other. Hanston tried to rally his men.
"Do not be afraid. Our levels are higher than theirs."
But Oskar knew the truth. Level did not always define strength. If a Climber was already strong before entering the Tower, they could still be dangerous even at Level One.
Elisa stepped forward, her stance sharp, fists raised in a boxer's guard. She lunged, her punch slamming into Hanston's chest, knocking the breath from his lungs.
As a former police officer, she had trained her body to its limits, mastering various martial arts. Boxing was her weapon of choice.
She struck his face again and again, giving him no chance to respond.
"P…please! Spare me!"
Her final punch drove his face halfway into the dirt.
"Spare you? That is a funny thing to say for someone who tried to enslave everyone."
Elisa lifted her foot high and brought it down hard. Hanston's head was forced deep into the ground. His body went limp.
A beam of light descended from the sky, wrapping around Elisa. It was the Tower's sign that she had ended Hanston's life.
"See you around, Oskar. I owe you one," she said, raising her hand in a mock salute.
Oskar smiled and waved as her figure faded away. Others disappeared as well, while some of Hanston's men fled into the forest. Oskar did not bother to chase them.
From the very beginning, that was the true purpose of this game… to kill emotions.
He began walking slowly, searching for someone worth erasing. He would not kill the innocent.
A sudden scream cut through the quiet.
"Die, old woman! You do not deserve to live anymore!"
Oskar turned his head. A young man was stabbing an elderly woman… the same woman Elisa had once investigated.
The boy saw Oskar and bolted in fear.
Oskar was about to walk away, but the woman's trembling hand grabbed his leg. Her lips moved faintly.
"William…?"