Chapter 1: The End and the Beginning
The sound of screeching tires filled his ears.
A blinding light.
A sudden impact.
Then—silence.
When he opened his eyes again, he wasn't lying on the cold asphalt. Instead, he was surrounded by towering trees, their leaves whispering under a crimson sky. His chest rose and fell, his heart pounding as if it refused to believe he was alive.
"What… happened to me?" he whispered, his voice trembling.
That's when he noticed it—
A rusted black sword lay on the ground beside him. The moment his fingers brushed its hilt, a chilling voice echoed in his head.
> [System initializing…]
[Binding complete.]
[You are the chosen heir of the Black Sword.]
[Mission: Rule this world… or be destroyed by it.]
His breath hitched. "A… system?"
Before he could think further, a low growl rumbled from the bushes. Two glowing eyes emerged, followed by a monstrous wolf, its fangs dripping with saliva.
Fear froze his body. He was just an ordinary student yesterday—how was he supposed to fight a beast like this today?
The voice returned, calm and merciless:
> [First Trial: Defeat your enemy. Failure equals death.]
As the wolf lunged, instinct took over. He swung the sword wildly—
A dark aura exploded from the blade, slashing through the air like lightning.
The wolf fell in two, its blood staining the ground.
He stood frozen, gasping, staring at his trembling hands.
"…I killed it."
The voice spoke again, colder than ever:
> [Congratulations. You have survived. Your path as a ruler begins now.]
And for the first time, a strange fire lit up in his eyes.
"I don't know why I was brought here," he muttered, gripping the sword tighter. "But if the world wants a ruler…"
His lips curved into a thin, determined smile.
"…then I am the ruler now."