The city was burning.
Flames licked the night sky as monsters swarmed the streets, tearing through soldiers and civilians alike.
The Trial of Beasts had begun.
Aelric stood in the middle of chaos, holding Elara's trembling hand. His wrist still glowed with the infinity mark, but the true weight of that power pressed heavy on his chest.
He couldn't just fight blindly.
Not when Elara's timer was ticking down with every second.
[29 Days : 9 Hours : 47 Minutes]
He took a slow breath, forcing his panic down.
If I rush in, I'll die. If I hide, Elara will die. The only way forward… is to think.
---
They ducked into an alley as another beast crashed onto the main street. Its shadowy claws ripped through armored vehicles like paper.
Elara whispered, voice shaking.
"Aelric… we can't survive this. We should hide until it's over."
He shook his head. "No. Look at your timer."
She hesitated… then lifted her wrist. The digits were falling faster now, each second vanishing like ten.
Her lips parted in horror. "Why… why is it dropping so fast?"
"Because this Trial isn't just killing people with claws and teeth," Aelric muttered. "It's feeding on fear. The more hopeless you feel, the faster your time runs out."
Elara stared at him. "How do you know that?"
Aelric's eyes narrowed. He didn't know. Not really. But it was the only explanation that made sense. The only theory that fit the pieces together.
And in this world, guessing wrong meant death.
---
They reached the end of the alley, only to find another beast waiting. Its twisted body blocked the exit, glowing eyes locking on them.
Elara gasped, stepping back.
Aelric didn't move.
Instead, he studied it.
Every detail.
Its movements, its posture, the way its shadow clung to the ground.
It's slower than the others. Its eyes move first, then its claws follow. Which means… it reacts, it doesn't anticipate.
The beast lunged.
Elara screamed.
But Aelric pulled her sharply to the side—
just before the claws tore through the air where they had stood.
He shoved her behind a dumpster. "Stay down. Don't move."
Elara grabbed his arm. "You'll die!"
He gave her a faint smile. "Not today."
---
The beast roared and turned toward him.
Aelric held only a broken pipe again, rust flaking under his grip.
But his mind was sharper than steel.
I can't win with strength. I have to use timing.
He raised his wrist, staring at the infinite glow.
"Time… slow down."
The world bent.
The monster's movements dragged like it was underwater, its claws swinging sluggishly.
But Aelric felt his body scream in pain again. Every heartbeat was like fire in his veins.
I can't hold it for long.
He watched carefully, memorizing.
Claw speed. Leg reach. Breathing rhythm.
Then he released the skill.
Time snapped back.
The beast slashed, confident of its kill—
but Aelric had already stepped into its blind spot, driving the pipe into its glowing eye.
A shriek ripped through the air. The creature dissolved into ash.
---
Elara crawled out from behind the dumpster, staring at him with wide eyes.
"You… you killed it."
Aelric's chest heaved, sweat dripping down his forehead.
"No. I studied it. That's the difference."
Her hands trembled. "You… sound like you already knew how to fight them."
He gave a faint smile. "No one knows. But if I don't start learning, we'll both be dead soon."
---
As if to mock his words, another System Notice appeared in his vision:
> [Hidden Mechanic Discovered: Fear Accelerates Death Timers.]
[Reward: +10 Intelligence.]
Aelric blinked. So my theory was right. The System actually… rewards deduction?
That was dangerous.
That meant the Trials weren't just tests of strength.
They were puzzles.
And those who couldn't solve them… would never survive.
---
Suddenly, a scream echoed from a nearby street.
A young boy, no older than ten, was trapped beneath a collapsed cart. A beast loomed over him, ready to strike.
Elara gasped. "We have to help him!"
Aelric hesitated. Saving the boy was reckless. Risky. A waste of time.
But then he glanced at Elara's wrist.
Her timer was still bleeding away.
If she loses hope, she dies. If I let this boy die, she'll break. And if she breaks… all of this ends.
He grabbed her hand. "Stay behind me. Don't move unless I tell you."
They sprinted.
---
The beast turned, sensing them. Its claws rose, dripping black smoke.
Aelric didn't slow. He didn't attack either. Instead, he shouted, "Elara! Close your eyes! Don't let it see your fear!"
The beast lunged.
But at the last second, Aelric slid across the ground, grabbing a jagged piece of glass. He jammed it into the creature's leg, throwing its balance off.
Then he rolled, pulled the pipe up—
and smashed it into the monster's throat.
The beast staggered, choking on its own shadowy essence, before collapsing into ash.
The boy scrambled free, sobbing.
"T-thank you! Thank you!"
Elara hugged the boy tightly, tears brimming in her eyes.
Aelric turned away, clutching his wrist. His timer still burned infinite, but his body felt heavier by the second.
Every time I use this power… it eats at me. But without it, I can't protect her.
---
The System's voice echoed again:
> [Side Quest Complete: Save the Innocent.]
[Reward: Skill – "Predator's Insight" unlocked.]
Aelric's eyes widened. His vision sharpened instantly, details standing out in terrifying clarity. He could see weak points on the nearest buildings, the structural flaws in walls, even the slight hesitation in Elara's breathing.
This wasn't just power.
This was knowledge.
And knowledge… was control.
---
He glanced at Elara, who still held the boy. Her eyes glistened as she looked at Aelric.
"You're… different. You're not scared like the rest of us."
He met her gaze, expression unreadable.
Of course I'm scared. Terrified. But fear only matters if you let it control you.
Out loud, he only said, "We move. The Trial won't stop here."
He led them into the shadows, his mind already racing ahead.
If the System rewards intelligence, then I'll outthink it. If the world wants to test me, I'll test it back. And if Death itself wants to play games…
His fist clenched.
…then I'll become the one who writes the rules.
Above, the rift widened again, swallowing the last fragments of moonlight.
The hunt had only begun.