Chapter 2: Death Is My Weapon
The forest stank of blood and damp fur.
Another wolf dissolved into shards of light, leaving behind a cracked fang and a scrap of hide.
[Quest Progress: 5/5 Wolves slain.]
[Reward acquired: Starter Pack, 100 EXP, Weapon Upgrade.]
Kade's dagger glowed faintly before reforging into a short sword. The blade gleamed with a dull silver edge—still weak compared to the flashy weapons other players wielded, but to him, it was a badge of victory.
"Finally," he muttered, flexing his fingers. His strength felt… real. Each swing carried more weight. His lungs filled easier. His body no longer felt like a husk.
All of it—bought with death.
He opened his status window.
[Name: Kade Veyron]
[Class: Graveborn (Defective?)]
[Level: 1]
[HP: 120/120]
[Strength: 9]
[Agility: 7]
[Endurance: 10]
[Intelligence: 5]
For a level 1, his stats were absurd. Most players would still be stuck with fives across the board.
He chuckled under his breath.
"Keep dying… keep climbing."
---
The underbrush rustled. A group of three players emerged, their armor gleaming bronze, their weapons polished and new. One carried a bow, another a sword, the third a staff glowing faint blue.
They stopped when they saw him.
"Hey. Isn't that the defective?" the swordsman sneered.
"Yeah. Graveborn trash," the archer added. "What's he still doing here?"
Kade ignored them, kneeling to gather wolf fangs. The system whispered in his mind, warm and dangerous:
[Optional Quest Triggered: Prove Your Worth.]
[Defeat rival players. Reward: EXP boost, hidden reputation.]
The staff-user smirked. "Oi, corpse-boy. Wanna duel? Bet you'll die in one hit."
Kade's lips curled into a grin. "That's the point."
Before they could react, he lunged at the swordsman. His silver blade clashed with the bronze sword, sparks flying. The archer loosed an arrow—straight into Kade's chest.
[-34 HP.]
[Critical hit!]
Blood sprayed across his robes. His health plummeted.
The staff-user laughed. "Pathetic!"
But Kade didn't falter. He let the next strike finish him.
[You have died.]
[Death Conversion activated.]
[Permanent stat increase: +1 Strength, +1 Agility.]
He respawned at the edge of the forest. His lips curled into a sharper grin.
Round two.
---
He rushed back. The trio was still there, mocking his corpse.
"He really thought he could take us—"
"Wait, he's back?!"
Kade struck without hesitation. His blade moved faster this time. Stronger.
Steel met steel. He parried, dodged, even grazed the archer's arm. But three-on-one was impossible.
The sword pierced his chest. Darkness again.
[You have died.]
[Death Conversion activated.]
[+1 Strength, +1 Endurance.]
Respawn. Stronger again.
---
The cycle continued.
Death.
Rebirth.
Growth.
By his sixth attempt, his stats rivaled theirs. His swings cracked against the swordsman's guard, forcing him back.
"What the hell is this guy?!"
"He's getting stronger—every time!"
"Kill him! Don't let him level!"
But it was too late.
Kade's blade cleaved through the archer's chest. The man screamed before vanishing into shards.
[You have slain Player: Arin.]
[Reward: 300 EXP, 1 Silver, Reputation +1.]
Gasps erupted from nearby spectators. Other players had gathered, drawn by the noise.
"Did he just kill an archer two levels above him?"
"No way… he was supposed to be defective!"
"That's not normal."
The remaining two fought desperately, but Kade didn't stop. Death was no longer punishment—it was a weapon. Every loss only sharpened his edge.
When the swordsman fell, Kade stood over his vanishing body, chest heaving. Blood covered his tattered robes, but his grin was wider than ever.
The staff-user stumbled back, eyes wide. "You… you're a monster."
Kade wiped the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. His eyes glowed faintly with the system's power.
"No," he said quietly, stepping forward. "I'm just using the game the way it was meant to be played."
The mage bolted into the forest, abandoning his friends' loot.
---
The crowd around him buzzed.
"Did you see that?"
"Defective my ass—he's broken!"
"Stay away from him. He's dangerous."
Kade ignored them all, stooping to collect silver coins and weapons.
His system pulsed again.
[Quest Complete: Prove Your Worth.]
[Reward: Hidden Title unlocked.]
[Title: Death's Chosen]
[Effect: Gain 10% bonus stats for every death within the last 24 hours.]
Kade's breath caught.
A hidden title.
His grin spread. "So this is the real game."
The forest wind howled, carrying whispers of fear. Somewhere in the distance, a boss monster roared, shaking the trees.
Kade tightened his grip on his blade.
Death had given him power. Now it would give him glory.
The legend of the Graveborn was no longer a joke.
It had just begun.
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