Bent deep in the heavy brush, fingers locked around the old axe's rough handle. Breathing quiet, each pull of air measured while tension built through every part of me, held tight.
Alright. Focus.
The thought looped again, checking each step without rushing. What came next stayed clear, fixed in place.
Fires took hold of the goblin village. Right about now, thick smoke curls into the sky while rooftops crack under heat. Seeing that glow on the horizon, they'll start running.
That night, smoke curled up because I made it happen. Dried leaves went first, then splintered sticks, whatever burned easy from the run-down shelters nearby. Not an accident at all. Flame has power older than words - it shakes people loose from their senses. Panic spreads faster than embers when darkness cracks open with heat and light.
Folks on the opposing side, puzzled by what unfolded, started slipping up.
Back when I lived differently, I learned something. Ten goblins - no more - are part of this Trial. That number sticks because I saw it myself. Not guesswork, just what was shown. Each one has a place here. Counting them once was enough. They do not hide well. Their presence is loud, even in silence. This fact settled long before now. Nothing about it has changed since then.
A stone found its mark on the head of one - back at the start. Nine still remained.
A sudden rush - nine goblins stand in my way. Time is slipping fast, vanishing like smoke. Taking each one down has to happen now, or the Trial claims me instead.
A low noise crawled between the trees - claws on stone, maybe, or boots too tight for speed. It wasn't far now.
Beyond the leaves' thin spaces, I stared - fixed on what lay down that trail.
That is when they came into view.
Eight goblins, perhaps nine, sprinted through the smoke. One stumbled, then scrambled up fast. Flames licked at their huts behind them. Panic shaped every step they took. My shadow stayed hidden in the brush. Not one turned my way.
My eyes moved fast, checking for danger.
Some held rough sticks shaped like weapons. Others carried sharp rocks meant to cut. Yet a single figure caught the eye.
A shape lagged behind the rest, barely making a sound. This one stood shorter, built thinner. A bow rested in its grip. Over one shoulder hung a case full of sharp arrows.
A Goblin Archer.
My jaw tightened.
This is what actually causes harm.
Out in the open or tucked behind cover, archers always posed a threat. From far away they'd strike - never needing to close in. Staying out of reach gave them time to aim, then fire without rush. Should I sneak up and that bowman spots me first? My move ends before it begins.
First thing, I have to remove it.
Yet moving too fast wasn't an option. If they spotted me first, every one of them would close in at once.
Wait. Not now. Give space till they drift apart.
Fragments of the village stood, barely holding shape. Goblins moved through crooked paths they once knew by heart. Smoke curled from blackened beams where homes had been. Nothing greeted them but silence cracked with distant echoes.
Smoke clawed at the air as flames swallowed the village one hut at a time. From my hiding spot, the blast of heat hit like a shove. Hissing and snapping, the blaze refused to slow.
Feet froze mid-step as eyes locked onto the wreckage.
Stillness settled, just for a breath. Then nothing broke it.
After that, a scream broke out.
Screams, sharp and frantic, sliced through the stillness. Off they dashed - goblins fleeing wild, minds too jumbled now for plans.
Perfect.
Fleeing into the thick green, figures split without warning. One darted left, another veered off right, while someone pushed forward alone. What started as nine moving together now scattered like stones kicked apart.
Including the archer.
Off it went, streaking into the woods, course set nearly straight at where I stood.
Now.
From the brush I stood, axe in hand, eyes fixed on the target.
A shape darted through the air, not far off - fifteen paces at most. It moved without sight, frantic, mind locked on flight. Nothing else seemed real to it then.
The axe left my hand. It flew toward the target.
Tumbling forward, it flipped once, twice - steel flashing where shadows thinned.
THUNK.
Buried in the goblin's spine, the axe stuck fast. It had struck hard from behind without warning.
A harsh sound ripped from its throat as it lurched ahead, then dropped like stone. The bow spun away, landing silent in the dirt.
Feet left the ground before my mind caught up.
Footsteps pounded as I reached the collapsed goblin, fingers closing around the handle of the axe. A thick slurp echoed when it came loose, tugged from limp flesh.
Floating there, a screen showed up right before my eyes.
A creature falls - your strike ends its life. The goblin archer lies still, level zero, gone
Reward 8 Torin Points
A sharp look crossed my face when I saw the alert. The message didn't sit right.
Even eight feels like nothing at all.
Yet that thought couldn't stick around long.
Now the rest of the goblins had spread out through the trees - dazed, afraid, cut off from each other.
Exposed now. Hunting begins.
Through the trees I slipped, quiet as breath. Night wrapped around me, thick and close.
Frozen in confusion, the goblins didn't see it coming. Panic gripped them tight, while somewhere close, something moved - silent, patient, already picking its next target.
Bent low, I spotted it pressed against the rough bark of an old tree. Facing away, frozen mid-step.
I didn't hesitate.
The axe carved through air, steel sinking hard into flesh at the base of its throat. Red streaked the tree's rough skin. A wet choke escaped the creature before it dropped, limbs folding like old paper.
A Goblin lies dead - level zero, gone because of you
Reward 4 Torin Points
I kept moving.
A shiver ran through the small figure hidden in the leaves. Its voice rattled out words in a rough, low tongue. One knee pressed into dirt while fingers curled tight around twig and stone.
From the back I came, lifted the blade - then drove it downward with force.
A Goblin falls - its life ends at your hand. Level 0 fades into silence behind you
Reward 4 Torin Points
A shape darted sideways through the roots. One of them - faster than expected - broke toward open ground.
Down it went, caught without effort because my Agility had taken a leap. The moment slowed as I brought it crashing to earth. A knee held it fast, then the axe found its mark - deep in the skull, no hesitation.
A creature falls - small, green, gone. Its body lies still after the strike. Level zero it was, now only silence remains. Not much of a fight, just quick motion ending breath
Reward 4 Torin Points
Each of them fell, tracked step by step.
Things fell apart fast. Without a single order given, confusion took over completely. Every attempt failed before it began. Resistance collapsed into silence.
Running on fear, they huddled alone, doing what it took to make it through. Surviving looked different for each - quiet, tense, always watching.
It turned out I was what they'd always needed to fear.
When it ended, my arms ached deeply. Blood had drenched every piece of clothing. My breath came in short bursts.
Each one of them had stopped breathing.
Breathing slow, I leaned into the bark of an old pine, one foot slightly ahead. The clearing held just enough space for stillness, light filtering through gaps overhead. Beside my boot, the axe lay flat, blade dulled by dirt and time. Tremors ran up my fingers - no panic there, only muscle spent and nerves humming long after effort.
I did it.
One by one, each fell. The last breath left their bodies.
Out of nowhere, a message popped up - bigger, glowing more than the rest had.
BZZZZT.
[TRIAL COMPLETE.]
Thirty minutes needed to stay alive. Goal reached without issue
Got every enemy on the list. Task marked complete
[Calculating rewards...]
My chest tightened as I looked at the glowing monitor.
A message showed up right after that.
Well done. Your trial ended with strong results. A clear effort showed through each task. That kind of consistency stands out. Finishing well was just part of it. What mattered most was how you handled every step
Your Profession Has Been Confirmed
OMNIWEAVER Omniril Rank Hidden Class
[Status: PERMANENT.]
Sure to get extra rewards too
A slow smile crept up, even as my breath came out uneven and too loud.
I did it.
Omniweaver is mine.
A shiver ran through me - something new, after all those quiet years. That morning marked the start of feelings I thought were gone forever.
Hope.
Real, tangible hope.
Far from the blind trust I carried before - back when effort alone seemed to promise good outcomes, back when faith in others needed no reason.
No.
This was different.
That trust came from somewhere real. Shaped by what I'd learned, what I'd lived through - sharp awareness that action done right could shift outcomes. Clarity mattered most: move with sense, keep focus tight, never repeat errors already paid for.
Beyond doubt, I see it now - what moves next is clear.
When Season 2 showed up, chaos followed close behind. Hardest hits landed where few expected them. Certain creatures crawled out right on schedule. Dungeons cracked open at odd hours. Cities crumbled under pressure no one saw coming.
Then I realized I had the power to halt part of what was happening.
Few things stayed within reach - my limits were clear. Saving each person? Impossible. Size mattered little when disaster stretched beyond horizons.
Funds might stretch far - possibly a mountain of cash - if luck lined up just so.
Right from the start, I had a chance to bring people in before things changed. Ways to grow stronger began taking shape while there was still time. Talking through plans made a difference - showing what worked, what didn't. Facing what came next felt less impossible once they knew how to keep going.
Few knew what was coming - but I saw it first. A group ready when trouble showed its face, that changed everything.
Perhaps just perhaps it would be possible to stop the biggest catastrophes before they begin.
This time, it stops here. Never again will things go the same way.
Smoke rose for days. Whole cities vanished overnight. Nothing worked anymore.
Not this time.
Fists tight, the pressure of expectation pressed against my ribs, heavy as a shield.
Maybe I'm able to handle it.
This I plan to carry out.
Breath caught mid-exhale - that glow lit up the room, cold on my face… then came the pulse.
Fingers tingling out of nowhere. That odd feeling creeping up through my palms again.
A strange buzz began, soft at first, almost like tiny sparks under the skin. Soon it sharpened, building into something deeper, harder to ignore.
I looked down.
And froze.
Beads of something spread slowly over me. Trails twisted without warning. Lines curled where they shouldn't. Shapes grew in silence. Marks appeared like whispers. Each curve arrived on its own time.
Fingertips first - that is where it began. Upward they crawled, a quiet climb along skin, moving past hands, then wrists, then forearms. Lines formed there, lit from within, deep green fading into near-black. They looked less drawn and more grown, like veins of something alive pressed just beneath the surface.
Strange shapes moved in sharp lines, humming beneath the skin. Not pain - just a deep unease settled there. Cold. Unfamiliar. As if another world's mark now lived on my body.
What the hell...?
Fingers frozen mid-air, that's when the screen lit up again.
BZZZZT.
Quantomni Artifact Detected
[STATUS: ACTIVE.]
A strange hum now lives inside you, tied to every breath. This object chose you without words. Its presence pulses when silence falls. You feel it more than understand it. Something ancient just found a new home
Your rewards - they're getting a boost now
Something new just appeared. Torin Points can now lift ability ranks higher. Progress shifts a step forward. A fresh option opens up how power grows. Rank improvements are possible through these points. The path to stronger skills changed slightly today
Everything inside my head just stopped.
What?
This time I looked at the message once more. A second later, my eyes went back to it.
Quantomni Artifact?
Active?
Blood rushed through my ears. The room seemed too quiet.
Still, the Artifact isn't mine now. Back then, just before death took me, I pulled it into myself. Vanished. Should've stayed vanished.
Unless...
My breath caught.
Even if it did not stay behind.
Maybe it was always there, hidden deep without my knowing.
It dawned on me hard, sudden, without warning.
That time I took in the Artifact's power - back when I still had a normal life - it did more than end me. The force stuck to my core, like roots weaving through dirt. My spirit changed, never the same after. It lives inside me now, silent but always there.
Back then, after being thrust into the past - reborn - the thing followed. It didn't stay behind; it arrived too.
Something ancient lives within my bones.
The glow on my skin caught my eyes, thoughts moving fast. What started as a quiet moment turned sharp, like light cutting through still air.
This here - this feels unreal.
Power surged through the Quantomni Artifact like lightning in a storm. Across OmniWars, few things matched its strength. A dozen betrayers clashed against everyone else, chasing that prize. Fire swallowed cities because they refused to walk away empty handed.
Then came the moment - it belonged to me.
Permanently.
Fingers twitched at my sides as laughter bubbled up. The smile came next, stretching wide without warning. Not calm. Not quiet. More like a spark jumping free.
"This is... actually perfect," I muttered. "I thought I lost it. But it's been with me all along."
It hit me then - the space right there started changing.
Out of nowhere, a heavy wave rose up from me, pulsing like something breathing. It pressed against the air, dense and restless, moving on its own.
Green it stayed. Not just any shade - thick, heavy, like trees under a moonless sky. Around my body the force twisted, slow as rising steam, alive with sparks that snapped without warning.
Wrapping tight, it took hold of arms, legs, chest, then face. Gone.
Something pushed up from below, freezing my limbs. It wasn't force, more like a pull from nowhere. My feet left the floor without permission.
After a pause, words came from the machine once more.
Fear will follow wherever your fingers reach. The moment has come when contact means danger. Hands that move now carry dread into every life they meet. Today marks the start of trembling at a single brush against skin
Imagine you've become the OMNIWEAVER
Brightness grew, fueled by rising heat in the green surge.
And then -
Something emerged.
Out of the spinning light came a person. The air cracked as they landed. Movement followed - slow, deliberate. Dust rose where their foot pressed down. Silence filled the space between breaths. Then, a shift in the wind broke it.
Me.
But not me.
A shadowy shape stood there, dressed head to toe in deep forest green. Not loose cloth, but tight layers that hugged every move. It seemed built for motion, maybe even combat. The weave shimmered under dim light, smooth yet strong, like it belonged on another planet. Patterns ran across the surface - twisted lines, sharp curves - all pulsing just slightly. That glow matched the color of the suit itself, soft but steady, alive without sound.
A shadow fell across the mouth and chin, solid dark green without a single seam. Only two eyes showed above it.
And those eyes...
They glowed.
Bright. Intense. Unnatural.
A blade rested by her, tucked inside a smooth sheath. Not curved - just long, narrow. Sharp enough to mean it. Stillness around it, yet clear: danger lived there.
Staring came first. The shape stood there, unmoving.
And I realized.
That's me.
This is how I appear today.
A hush followed as the glow drained away. Stillness crept in where light once pulsed.
Footsteps faded into silence as I settled onto the soil, light as dust finding rest.
My eyes moved downward, taking in what was there.
A tight fit, that deep green suit molding every line of me. Over the eyes and nose, a covering slipped into place. At my hip, a blade waited - light on its feet, steady in motion.
I felt... different.
Stronger. Faster. Sharper.
Yet somehow distant. Unmoved. Aloof.
As if peeling off a piece of who I was, stepping into another shape altogether.
Fingers tight, the odd markings under my clothes kept shimmering, just barely visible. My grip stayed locked, caught on their quiet pulse against my skin.
Out of nowhere, my words came slow, each one weighted, carrying a still kind of sureness.
"In my previous life, I endured so much pain. So much suffering."
Up above, the sky met my gaze - eyes bright, pupils thin.
"In this life, I won't suffer like that again."
The chill in my words deepened.
"I won't trust anyone. I'll become so strong that people will fear me."
The steel felt cold in my hand.
"And anyone who tries to mess with me... will die."
A fresh alert showed up.
Hey there, could you pick a name to show? What do you want folks to call you? Go ahead, type it out. Name's ready when you are
I paused, thinking.
A name.
It wasn't Sknasim Jhawar. The name sat heavy, like old stones in a coat pocket. Memories clung to it, thick and stubborn. Pain lived there, quiet but sharp.
A change felt necessary. What I chose had to reflect the person I've become.
A flash of metal caught my eye as I looked toward the weapon strapped beside me. The smooth sheath held the edge out of sight.
That moment hit like a bell ringing in an empty room.
My voice came out steady as I faced the display.
"Blade Everhart."
It's official. The name you picked has been set to Blade Everhart
Player Blade Everhart moving to Respawn Town
Everything near me started fading away.
Light swallowed the jungle, then the blood, then the bodies. Everything vanished.
After that moment, a bright flash filled the space.
Footsteps firm beneath me, the glare let go. A hush settled where brightness had been.
My eyes opened again, slowly getting used to what was there.
Beside a market once stood I. Town air tasted of dust back then.
A place untouched by today - more ancient, built long ago. From where I stood, paths of worn stone branched off without end, edged by timber houses that seemed dreamed up in old tales. Stalls sat scattered along the way, many bare now. Cloth signs dangled above, swaying with each soft gust. Far off, a thick barrier of rock rose high, wrapping everything inside like a silent guard.
Everywhere you looked, folks filled the spaces. People showed up in every direction. Here, there, all around - bodies moved through the air like dust in sunlight.
Some of them. Perhaps even a great many.
Over by the edge, small groups huddled, voices tight with worry, eyes darting without aim. Hands held close, studied like foreign objects. Fabric and seams got sudden attention, tugged and turned slowly. Questions fired upward, loud and raw, hanging there unanswered.
This place goes by Respawn Town.
Out here is where folks showed up once they finished their Tests.
This place stood apart from every other Respawn Town.
From every nation came a single starting point in OmniWars. When you joined, your passport decided where you'd land. My hometown online? Packed only with folks who shared my flag. Where I showed up after falling wasn't left to chance - it followed borders from the map we know.
Inside this setup, order stayed clear because no one spot ever filled up too much. From different nations, gamers appeared in separate starting zones, spread out through the map.
So that leaves only Indians in this group.
A quick look passed over everything nearby. The moment settled into place without a sound.
Chaos filled the air. Outfits varied wildly across the group - each one tied to a role, handed out by OmniWars depending on what class someone picked.
A jolt of metal clanked as the guy nearby fidgeted, shifting the bulky plates strapped over his torso. Heavy gloves, stitched tight with iron lining, weighed down his hands. From his belt swung a broad blade, dull along the edge. Dings pocked the armor, scratches ran deep - cheap issue, fresh off the rack. Yet everything about him shouted the same word: fighter.
He looked down at himself, his face pale. "What... what is this? Why am I dressed like some ancient knight? I didn't ask for this!"
A figure stood close by, eyes locked on the glass where her shape flickered back at her. Flowing fabric draped her form - dark blue threaded through with silver lines that caught the dim light. Around her middle, a strip of worn leather held it all together. There was a long stick gripped lightly in one palm, its base humming just enough to make the air tingle. The arms of her robe flared out like wings folded at rest.
Mage.
"This is insane," she muttered. "I look like I'm about to cast a spell in some fantasy movie. What the hell is going on?"
A flicker of surprise crossed the young man's face as he looked down at what he had on. The black leather clung close to his skin, built for speed more than show. Overhead, the brim of his hood dipped forward, shadowing his eyes. Strapped along each leg sat a blade, balanced and ready. Not a sound came from his feet, even as he shifted - he moved like someone who'd learned silence by necessity.
Assassin.
"This is so weird," he said, flexing his fingers. "I feel... different. Like I could run faster or something."
A figure stepped forward, this one a woman around thirty, covered in fine-linked metal armor under a green cloth that fell down her back. Over her shoulder ran the strap of a bow, resting behind her. At her side, fastened by leather, dangled a case full of sharp arrows.
Archer.
"I didn't sign up for this," she said, her voice shaking. "I just clicked 'accept' because I thought it was a joke. And now I'm here? Dressed like this? What is this place?"
Voices rose, fear thick in the air. People pressed closer, restless, uneasy.
"Where are we?!"
"How do we get out?!"
"Is this some kind of virtual reality thing?!"
"Did anyone else get that weird notification about a Trial?!"
"I had to fight goblins! Actual goblins! What the hell is happening?!"
My feet stayed fixed while sound filled the air. Eyes open, I watched what moved. Silence grew heavy around me.
That is when my attention caught a detail.
Glances began turning my way. Eyes lingered a second too long. A few heads tilted, then another. Quiet curiosity spread through the group. Someone whispered without moving their lips. The air shifted, just slightly.
Something shifted when eyes met, briefly. Hesitation hung in those early looks. Quiet questions formed without words. A moment passed before either looked away.
Yet suddenly, faces began shifting toward it.
And more.
Only when close to fifty percent of the people had their eyes locked on me.
Something about the way they looked made my skin tighten. Their gaze moved slow, like a hand checking every part.
It made sense to me then.
Far from their image, I stand apart in every way.
Most folks stuck to run-of-the-mill work clothes - nothing fancy, just dull armor, threadbare cloaks, or worn-out leather. Like they'd barely stepped off a beginner's path.
But me?
A shadowy green suit clung close, more movie prop than real life. Smooth fabric shifted slightly under soft pulses of light tracing its edges. Over the mouth and nose sat a solid mask, color matching the gear, nothing broken except where eyes showed through.
Flickering light came from my eyes. Sharp. Not right.
A blade dangled near my hip, slender and sharp, its shape clean. Expensive was the first thought upon seeing the sheath, made of glossy dark stuff edged with silver threads.
Strange how I never matched the rest.
And they noticed.
"Who the hell is that guy?" someone muttered.
"Why does he look so different?"
"Look at his outfit - it's way better than ours."
"And that mask... why is he wearing a mask?"
"Is he hiding his face? Why would he hide his face?"
"Look at his sword. That thing looks expensive."
"He's not dressed like a Warrior or a Mage. What class is that?"
"Maybe it's some rare Profession?"
"Or maybe he's just showing off."
A man in Warrior armor stepped forward, his tone suspicious. "Hey, you! Why are you dressed like that? What Profession did you pick?"
I didn't answer.
Off I went, moving my feet without looking back.
Voices rose up from the back, getting stronger. Behind me, sound swelled without warning.
"He's ignoring us?"
"Rude."
"Who does he think he is?"
"Maybe he knows something we don't."
"Should we follow him?"
One by one, I left each behind.
Thoughts sprinted ahead, sorting what mattered first.
Turns out I showed up slower than planned. Already, more folks are around than I thought there would be.
Okay, that worked out. I saw it coming before it happened.
Yet leaving this place feels urgent. Right away.
Finding out about my rewards was next. To know my Profession made sense only after seeing which skills showed up, especially those tied to weaving everything together like an Omniweaver does.
This place won't allow it.
Far from any busy plaza where chaos swallows voices. Where eyes lock on one person like prey. Screams pile up without answers. Faces blur in the rush of fear.
Quiet matters most. Room to move helps too.
Footsteps firm, I moved past people without slowing. Eyes locked forward, the press of bodies didn't pull my attention.
They moved out of the way when I came near, shifting without thinking.
Out beyond the last house, the paved roads turned to dust underfoot, fading into trails that slipped between trees. Paths branched without warning, drawn inward by the quiet pull of untouched land. Footsteps grew faint there, swallowed by tall grass and shifting soil. The air changed - thicker, slower, laced with the scent of bark and damp earth. Signs of people thinned until only animal tracks remained pressed into soft ground.
Jungle.
Dense, green, untamed.
Perfect.
Off the trail I went, vanishing among the trunks.
Footsteps grew quiet as I moved away from Respawn Town's clamor. The sounds slipped behind like echoes losing breath.
Beneath thick leaves, I kept going, each step sinking slightly into the wet ground. Back where people yelled and things clashed, that noise thinned out fast. Trees closed in above, eating every sound one by one.
Fine. Silence works better now.
Noise always bothered me. Crowds made it worse. So many faces staring. Questions came fast, even when I stayed quiet. Being around too many people felt heavy. Answers they wanted never fit how I felt.
Far from everything, just silence around. Thoughts came clearer now, without noise pulling them apart.
A space opened up between the trunks, just wide enough to stand in. Light found its way down, broken into pieces by the shifting canopy above.
Okay then. Let us see what rewards I have earned.
Out loud, I said something after breathing in.
"Status."
A bright panel popped up right there, floating ahead. It just hung in space, lit from within.
[STATUS WINDOW]
Blade Everhart
Level: 1
Omniweaver Profession Omniril Rank Hidden Class
Stats:
Intelligence: 10
Strength: 10
Agility: 15
Stamina: 10
Available Stat Points 5
The figures held my gaze, thoughts racing ahead of me. Numbers pulled at my attention, ideas forming fast.
Points - five of them - I have to place each one right where it matters most.
For a second, I paused, thinking through what could happen next.
Faster than most, that's where I stand now. When the Trial came around, it was this edge that pulled me through - speed on my side, movement never slowed. Building up what's already strong makes sense here.
Fighting takes staying power. Running low mid-battle isn't an option.
A bit stronger… that is what I require if my hits are going to carry any real weight.
That choice sits heavy now. The moment passed fast. A quiet breath before it landed right there between us.
Start with two points in Agility. Next, assign a pair to Stamina. Finish by placing one point into Strength.
A tap on the screen sent the points where they needed to go.
The numbers shifted.
[STATS UPDATED]
Blade Everhart
Stats:
Intelligence: 10
Strength: 11 ↑
Agility: 17 ↑
Stamina: 12 ↑
A shift came fast - not loud, just there. Lightness settled into my limbs, movement easier now. Air moved in smooth. Hours of running didn't seem far off at all.
Good.
The screen shut after I clicked away. A fresh panel appeared next.
"Abilities."
Another screen appeared.
[ABILITIES]
Active Abilities:
1. A thick slab of rock heaves upward when you trigger Stonewall Guard at basic rank. Ground must be solid - dirt, gravel, cliff faces work fine. Sand dunes won't hold it. Lakes or oceans block activation too. If something breaks the barrier, shattered chunks burst outward. Nearby foes feel a small impact from the blast. Structure fails only after taking enough hits.
2. Fortune's Edge Astra Rank
Every time you earn rewards, they go up a little - just two percent more lands in your hands. A small bump shows up in how often rare things appear when loot drops. Gaining experience feels slightly quicker, like everything moves just two percent faster than before. It stays quiet in the background, doing its job without making noise.
3. Aqua Severance Epic Rank
A sudden motion sends water surging alongside the blade. As the sword cuts through air, liquid hardens into a razor-thin extension. This added edge grows longer when more water is present. Power rises with how thick the flow feels. Movement stays locked to the weapon's pace. Each swing shapes the fluid instantly. Force depends on how much mass moves with it. Works only when it rains or close to water. A sword must be there to turn it on.
My eyes moved down the page, taking in every skill one by one.
A wall of rock rises when danger nears. This is the first step in protection training. It holds firm if built on soil or solid ground. Without stone beneath, it cannot form.
Frowning came first. This skill works okay at the beginning - only when things line up right. Wrong ground under my feet? Then it does nothing. That thought settled last.
Fortune's Edge, though...
One corner of my mouth began to rise. The rest followed without hurry.
That's a game-changer.
That skill felt familiar. Once, long ago, a well-known gamer had it. Folks gave him money simply to stand close during boss fights or treasure openings. They believed his quiet effect might tilt luck in their favor. Being near mattered more than effort. Chance seemed less random around him.
A name that stuck around longer than most thought possible. Teammates hoped they'd show up when picks were made.
This thing belongs to me today.
A single percent here, another there - soon it piles up. Think about hunt after hunt, chest after chest. Small odds stack when you're deep in the grind.
Numbers grow quick. Before you know it, they pile high. Soon enough, what seemed small turns heavy.
This is incredible.
Aqua Severance came later. It arrived without warning.
An Epic-rank ability.
This time, I went over the words once more, thoughts racing ahead of me.
Waves carry the strike farther. From deeper currents, strength grows. The blade cuts through liquid force.
Fighting smart made up for it - even when the range stayed tight around storms or rivers. Planning early changed everything.
A storm like this might break everything apart.
Fingers off the keyboard, mind still jumping ahead.
A single skill might help. Two could change things entirely. Even three? That's something worth noticing. For someone just starting out, it means progress.
That's when it hit me - something I'd forgotten earlier.
Wait.
Again, I pulled up the status window, eyes moving slow across each line.
A message showed up before. It mentioned the Quantomni Artifact letting me reach… another thing. Not sure what came next.
Fingers moved across the screen, hunting. Options flickered past, one after another.
That was when my fingers touched the object. It had been there all along.
A tiny choice tucked low on the display. It sits there without drawing attention.
Previous Life Abilities Available for Purchase
Breath caught in my throat.
I clicked it.
The screen changed.
A fresh pane slid into view, spilling out rows of skills one after another.
A sudden tightness gripped my chest. Air stopped moving through my windpipe.
No way.
No way.
My fingers shook as I looked at the glowing display.
Previous Life Abilities For Sale
Holy Release Mythic Rank
Cost One Million Lifeline Points
Sacred Severance Elite Rank
Cost 500000 Lifeline Points
Radiant Flare Unive Rank
Cost 3000 Lifeline Points
Celestial Avatar Mantle Mythic Rank
Cost Five Million Lifeline Points
(And many more...)
I couldn't move.
I couldn't breathe.
This... this is...
That's what I could do. Back when I lived before. Skills stayed with me.
Each and every person among them.
A flicker inside me, called Holy Release. It carried light through my veins, mended cuts on its own, washed toxins out like rain clearing dust. Power moved when I needed it most - quiet, steady, never loud.
A blade unlike any other. This move slices clean, leaving little chance for resistance.
Light flashed again. That glare - my rescue before, now returning.
A shimmer ran through my bones, then - four arms instead of two. Power like I'd never known surged under skin now plated in god-metal. The mantle settled heavy on shoulders meant for it.
Here stood each one. Not a single person missing.
Available for purchase.
My mind spun.
What makes that happen?
What steps do you take to regain skills you once had?
It hit me after that.
The Quantomni Artifact.
Beyond the moment I stopped breathing, it took each piece without asking. Not just breath left my body but every trace of who I was slipped into its hold. What stayed behind? Nothing. It carried off the past like a shadow folding into stone.
Back with me it came - and joined into the form I now have - carrying every piece along.
Still, using them isn't enough. Getting them again means paying first.
Down the list I went, surprise growing as numbers climbed higher.
A single million Lifeline Points arrives just before Holy Release begins. Though it shows up late, the timing somehow fits perfectly into place.
5 million for Celestial Avatar Mantle.
Folks really can't believe what they're seeing on price tags these days.
Only a few Lifeline Points dropped when you beat monsters. Getting them that way felt like luck more than strategy. Finishing entire Chapters gave far more than fights ever did. Victory in player battles added decent amounts too. Sometimes they appeared in treasure from tough zones - rare, but possible.
Killing thousands of monsters - that's what it'd take to buy even one.
But still...
A smile began at the corner of my lips. It grew wider without me even trying.
Back they'll come. Sure thing. One day.
All of them.
Breathing fast, I shut the pane tight.
This changes everything.
My lungs filled slow, trying to steady the rush inside.
Okay. Pay attention. One last detail requires a look.
Back at the status screen, I moved into another area.
[Profession Details]
Hold on - that thing called Omniweaver? Got no clue what it actually is.
The screen loaded.
Foward I leaned, eyes tracing each word slow.
My gaze stayed fixed on the glowing display, moving line by line through each word. The light flickered slightly as I focused without blinking.
[PROFESSION: OMNIWEAVER]
Rank: Omniril
Type: Hidden Class
Description:
A single spark of power can pass from fallen foes into those who hold the thread - this gift belongs only to the few called Omniweavers. Abilities once locked within adversaries now live on, pulled across the silence after battle ends.
How it works:
A single strike against another living fighter gives you access to one of their powers. That power taken is always the most powerful one they held when life left them. Should you face the same foe later - and end them once more - you pull out their next strongest skill. Each repeated defeat of that person unlocks another layer of what they could do. What you take stays yours forever. Using it needs no permission after it becomes yours.
A creature without thoughts can't lend its powers. Only those who think - players, characters, enemies with minds - can be sources. Copying stops at the edge of awareness.
I stopped reading.
Fingers trembled without warning. The shake came from somewhere deep inside.
Wait.
Wait, wait, wait.
This time I went through it once more. Carefully, so nothing slipped past me.
Mirroring skills comes naturally to me.
Out of those I take life from.
A sudden tightness gripped my chest. The air just stopped moving.
Should I end a person's life, their top skill becomes mine. Killing that same person once more grants me their next most powerful trait.
Thoughts surged, each one crashing into me harder than the last.
This is...
This is insane.
Out of nowhere, memories surfaced - those dominant figures from before. Each one a force, really. Not just any group, but the dozen who turned against us. Then there was Blaze. And not far behind, Kevin. Every single one carried more than one top-tier skill. Mythic level. Some touched Omniril. A few went beyond that.
Killing them means I get what they can do.
All of them.
Fingers tugged at my cheeks while a laugh pushed through.
Fueled by raw will, strength isn't fixed. Instead of waiting, grabbing traits from top players reshapes what's possible. Power shifts when you borrow excellence.
Fingers tight, pressure building under skin. My breath came fast, energy buzzing in the bones.
This job - somehow fits just right.
Truly, it soared past flawless.
Built like a storm back then, muscle and will unshaken. The title carved authority into my bones - people stepped aside. Fear curled around every introduction.
But Omniweaver?
Faster every time I use it. That's what sticks. Not magic - just works.
Still, the vision formed clear in my mind. With each foe brought down, power grew. As abilities were taken, options multiplied. Not limited to a single way - this path allowed every kind.
Fighter with magic. Soldier in armor. Killer from shadows. One who mends wounds. Shield for others.
Everything was within reach. Yet something held me back.
This was just right for me.
My grin widened.
Fate moves quietly toward those twelve who betrayed trust. They sit unaware of the storm building close.
That moment stuck, me trying to make sense of it all, feeling the weight of what my job had become, when suddenly - the sound cut through.
A sound.
Faint, then fading further. Far off, it lingered like a breath held too long.
Then louder.
Screeching. Growling. Footsteps.
Many of those.
Something loud made me look that way, muscles going stiff without thinking.
Beyond the trunks, something shifted.
Bent figures. Quick movements. Tiny forms.
My eyes narrowed.
Goblins.
Out of nowhere, a group - twelve at least - slipped between the trees, closing in on where I stood.
My fingers slid toward the sword's handle as I kept watching. Quiet steps, sharp eyes, nothing missed.
A smile began to grow, quiet at first. It widened bit by bit till it reached both sides of my mouth.
Perfect timing.
Out came the sword, steel whispering out of the sheath like a secret let loose. The sound was thin, sharp, almost shy.
Ahead of them, silence hung thick. Not one had turned my way just then. Their heads stayed low, busy poking through brush, noses twitching like live wires. A growl slipped out now and again between sharp barks. Air carried scents they couldn't name but chased anyway.
Out from the dark, I came - foot meeting earth beneath open sky.
It came out steady. Sure of itself.
Almost amused.
"Looks like I'll be the first person to kill a monster in OmniWars this time around."
Up came my sword, gaze fixed on the goblins, light burning in my stare.
"Let's get started."
Footsteps soundless on damp earth, I closed in on the goblins. The air hung thick between trees as I advanced.
Not seeing me just then. Huddled close, they took deep sniffs, speaking through rough, throaty sounds.
Nothing here feels quite how the Trial goblins did.
Right away, it was clear. Those during the Trial were scattered, afraid, simple to influence.
But these?
These are smarter.
Together they walked. Around them, their gaze swept without pause. Close at all times, one stayed near the other. One step ahead, then another, always watching.
Not quite strong, these ones start at zero - same as the trial lot. Yet they move together. That makes them tough.
My fingers closed harder around Reverblade, the hilt steady in my palm.
Fingers closed around the hilt - just right. Not heavy, yet steady. That edge gave off a soft glow, as if breathing.
It could do something special.
Teleportation.
Flying through air, the blade would hit wood or stone or dirt - then suddenly I was there, standing where metal met matter.
Let's test it.
The blade lifted into my hands as I lined up the target, then flew through air straight at the goblins.
A flash of metal twisted above the trees, vanishing into thick green shadows. The blade hissed past vines, slicing silence apart.
Out of the corner of their eyes, the goblins spotted it approaching. Fast as anything, they bolted off in different directions.
A heavy thud rang out as the blade hit the tree trunk right behind them.
And I teleported.
Twenty feet off, that's where I stood. Then everything shifted.
After that moment, I followed close at their back.
Not a single goblin noticed when I shifted position.
Blade in hand, I cut sideways fast, right from the start.
A shape lunged close, too slow. Steel flashed across its throat without pause. Off came the head, spinning sideways as thick red sprayed upward like a bent branch snapping back.
A creature named Goblin lies dead. Its level was zero when it fell
A shriek ripped through the air as they spun around, startled.
Yet my feet had started before thought caught up.
Out of nowhere, the world turned as I swung my weapon downward in one fierce motion. Blocking with its rough wooden club, the next goblin barely stood a chance - my steel smashed through it, diving deep into flesh without slowing.
Down it went, making wet sounds, red spreading under its body.
A creature falls - silent now - a Goblin, its level nothing more than zero
Out of nowhere, a second goblin came rushing from the flank, fingers curled tight, jaws wide open.
Out of the way I moved, allowing it to lurch forward off balance, after which my knife found its spine. A shift to the left, momentum carried it onward, steel followed without delay. Not waiting, not hesitating - the point pressed deep where shoulders meet neck. It fell, weight collapsing like wet sand, breath gone uneven. My stance held firm while silence returned.
A choked sound escaped its throat before it dropped to the ground.
A creature falls - its life ends at your hand. This one was small, weak, called a Goblin. Level zero means nothing much. Breathing stops. The world moves on
A pair charged at once, hoping strength in count would finish it.
A leg gave way beneath my blade. The cry came after.
A figure lunged toward my neck.
A sudden grip stopped its fall, then down it went - hard earth meeting bone - as the knife found its mark without pause.
A creature falls - goblin, level zero. Its life ends under your hand
A Goblin falls at your feet - its life ends here. Level 0 fades into silence
Silence.
Breath caught in my throat as I stood there, the open space quiet except for me. Red drops fell slow from the edge of the steel.
A single breath passed before the fifth body hit the ground. Speed mattered when steel flashed between them. One stumbled, then another fell without sound. Blades moved where shadows stretched thin. The last goblin barely raised his axe.
A notification appeared.
BZZZZT.
Fate shifts at Fortune's Edge - power sparks to life
Now getting 2% more in rewards
A score flashes after you strike down five goblins - each one barely a challenge. Moments pass like silence following thunder
Rewards 101 Torin Points 16 Lifeline Points
New Ability Acquired Silent Stride Basic Rank
My eyes shut fast, then opened again on the screen's message.
Surprisingly solid, 101 Torin Points. Not bad at all.
Fifty points might have been my limit, had it not been for Fortune's Edge. A mere two percent rise, tied to taking down five enemies together, pushed the payout much higher than expected.
A fresh skill had found its way into my hands.
Silent Stride.
Foot hit the floor right after I gave it a try.
Nothing.
Silence hangs heavy. Feet make nothing on the ground. Even trees stay still.
Perfect.
I grinned.
Hunting just got simpler because of this.
With the red off the steel, I kept on walking.
Out here, these goblins aren't like the ones before. Tied into a larger web they didn't show back then.
Something felt connected, though I could not name it. Maybe OmniWars Season 1, Chapter 1 held the thread.
One key goal right at the start of play.
If figuring out Chapter 1 works somehow….
Finding a way out might be possible.
Still figuring out this place, really. Every player just dropped in blind. The shift into OmniWars hit without warning. Understanding what kind of world we'd landed in? That came later.
Not yet, anyway.
Through thick vines I crept, each step soundless - Silent Stride made sure of that.
Before too much time passed, a new group showed up.
Around the firelight, six goblins huddled close. Over flames, something unidentifiable cooked slowly. Their shadows stretched long behind them.
Boldness grows among them now. Together, they gather in numbers. Camps rise where none stood before.
Bent close to the ground, I stayed out of sight among the leaves, eyes fixed on their every move.
A fresh plan is what matters now. Rushing headfirst won't work anymore.
Fingers tight on Reverblade, thoughts darting between choices.
A thought came to me after that.
Out of the shadows I came, feet moving slow, closing the distance without a word. Then forward I went, leaving cover behind.
Right away, they noticed me.
A jolt went through them, sudden stillness before the shout. Their gaze hit mine like a shove. Screams tore out, sharp and raw. Hands flew to tools - wooden bats, jagged blades, poles split at one end.
On I went, steady steps, each one measured. Stillness in motion, pace unhurried.
A few steps closer, I lifted Reverblade high - then sent it spinning through the air.
Not at them.
By a tree on their left side.
THUNK.
A sudden thud marked the knife sinking into wood. It stuck there, handle trembling slightly.
Heads turned, puzzled, as the goblins shifted their gaze toward the noise.
And I teleported.
A shape formed near the trunk - sudden stillness, then fingers closed around cold metal. Without pause, energy sparked through veins, pulling power from deep within.
"Stonewall Guard!"
Bursting upward, a thick barrier of rock split the space ahead, cutting off the goblins' view. Ground heaved as slabs piled high, sealing them away mid-stride. Dust swirled where their faces had been moments before.
Confusion made them scream, darting along the barrier, searching every angle. Their voices cracked while they moved fast, eyes scanning cracks and gaps. One tripped near a corner, got up quick, kept moving without speaking. Dust rose where feet hit stone, each step louder than the last.
Yet I had left long before.
This time I hurled Reverblade toward their right, sticking it into a different tree.
Teleport.
A shape formed in the space just beyond their backs.
A shaky figure hobbled ahead, wounds fresh from the last fight. My steel found its spine - silent, sudden - before it turned to look.
A Goblin lies dead at your feet - level zero, gone. Its life ends here, cut short by you. Not much of a challenge, really. Just silence now where it once stood
Another turned, snarling -
A sharp cut went across, opening up its flank. Down it fell, hands gripping where it bled.
A creature falls - defeated by your hand. This one was a Goblin, weak and small. Its level meant little strength. You ended its life just now
Four came rushing forward, their anger boiling over.
Again I hurled Reverblade, sending it wide of their position.
Teleport.
"Stonewall Guard!"
A shape of stacked rocks rose up, blocking my view of the goblins. It stood there like a quiet barrier made by unseen hands. Not built fast, but placed one on top of another with care. Between me and them now - only cracks and silence.
Wheels screeched. Heads spun. Everything felt upside down.
Beyond the barrier I went, trailing their steps again from the rear.
Two quick slashes.
Two more dead.
A creature falls - small, green, lifeless now. Its level meant nothing in the end
A goblin lies dead at your feet - its level was zero. That creature is gone now
A shape stood frozen, watching bodies hit the ground. Fear sparked behind its stare.
Spun away fast.
I didn't hesitate.
Faster than thought, I sent Reverblade flying forward - its edge biting deep into earth right where it would step next.
Teleport.
A shadow stepped into view ahead of the running goblin.
A sudden halt, breath caught tight. Fear stared out from wide-open eyes.
I swung.
A creature falls. Level zero it was. One goblin down now. Not hard to do
Breath came fast as I looked at the body, drops of sweat rolling off my skin.
This time took more effort compared to the earlier team.
But it worked.
Something shifted each time I stepped into combat. Not just skill - awareness grew too. Each clash revealed a fresh edge of what I could do, where I broke down, what held firm.
This is what keeps me going. Improvement shows up in steps that matter. Speed grows without announcement. Thinking sharpens through practice.
I kept hunting.
Group after group.
Fight by fight, things changed. With every bout, a new approach took shape.
Now here's a trick - using Stonewall Guard not just to block, but to shape the battlefield. Paths narrowed where goblins had no choice but to march into trouble. That spell didn't only stop them - it guided their rush. Corners became traps when set right. Position mattered more than power in those moments. Trapped by geometry, they piled up before falling one after another.
Out of nowhere, I'd pop up using Reverblade's teleport trick, vanishing just as fast to throw them off.
Out of the dark, I'd move quiet - close enough to act while they stayed unaware. A sudden shift, then silence took hold again.
Fighting came from the goblins. Not gentle, they pushed without stopping.
Yet I moved quicker. Power surged through me. Thoughts outpaced theirs.
Each time I took a life, my certainty deepened.
A signal blinked on screen, breaking the long silence.
BZZZZT.
Great job getting to Level 2
Reward 5 Stat Points
Bonus Reward One Spin on the Random Wheel
My feet froze. The glow of the monitor held my eyes. Not a blink. Just stillness, pulling me in.
Level 2 already?
Wow. Speed caught me off guard.
Only later did it hit me.
Last time I checked, it was one after another - goblin bodies piling up without pause. Not just a few. More like wave upon wave falling where they stood.
Few points came from one Level 0 monster. Yet after a string of kills, the total climbed without warning.
The door slid aside. A fresh view appeared. Light spilled through the frame.
[RANDOM WHEEL AVAILABLE.]
Try your luck spinning to grab something uncommon
The light from the spinning circle caught my eyes. It just kept turning there, bright against the dark.
A spinning circle comes to mind. This one? Yep, that's it.
Chance played a big role. One moment might bring incredible rewards - skills fit for top players, uncommon gear, sudden jumps in power stats.
Maybe it hands you junk instead - weak potions, broken skills, zilch.
It does not cost anything. Give it a go, why not.
The machine beeped after I touched the switch.
[SPINNING...]
A blur of color came fast - red then white, sliding into blue, melting toward gold before flickering into purple.
It slowed.
Slower.
Slower.
And stopped.
You made it - Spider Sensor now belongs to you at Unive Rank. The win lands right here, no extra steps needed
Spider Sense Gained
A prickle runs across your arms when something's wrong. This heightened sense spots what lies out of view - traps, movements, waiting dangers. Quick reactions come easier because the warning arrives before the threat shows itself. Skin hums faintly, like wind brushing through grass, signaling unseen risks nearby
A flicker on the screen caught me still. My breath hung there, unbroken.
That moment, laughter took over.
"Are you kidding me?!"
A smile just stayed on my face. It didn't fade, not even a little.
Unive rank?!
What if it started with just one turn?
Fate handed me a top-level skill moments ago - pure chance made it happen.
"This is insane! This day just keeps getting better!"
There it sat, inside the menu - my power showing up just fine.
Web watcher at university level.
Real. Permanent.
Fingers tight, my pulse jumped with fire.
Fine. Here is how it looks when taken apart.
One way to rank players existed alongside another in OmniWars.
Starting at the bottom, there is Basic. A step up comes Rare. Moving further takes you to Epic. Higher still stands Legendary. Above that sits Mythic. At the very top rests Omniril.
Reward/Ability Ranks: Basic, Epic, Unive, Astra, Elite, Mythic, Omniril.
One bled into the other without matching exactly. Where skill levels had gaps, job titles filled space - yet not always. Missing here showed up there, sometimes not at all.
A sudden flash lit up my senses - then came the Unive-rank power.
Beneath Omniril by two levels. Power beyond reason.
Head still moving side to side, I let out another laugh.
"Today is my day."
Respawn Town was packed.
Down every narrow lane, bodies pressed close on old stone paths. Some rested on wooden seats, others stood propped along brick edges, clusters packed tight without space to shift. A roar filled the air - shouts cutting through chatter, tempers sparking fast, disorder moving quick through the mass.
Suddenly, each person stood still, eyes wide, piecing together the moment. Quiet thoughts spread through the group like ripples on water. One voice broke silence, then another followed close behind. Confusion hung thick until a detail clicked into place. What came next started with a single question, spoken low.
A sudden hush fell. Above the cobbled plaza, space split open - cold air crackled. Out of nowhere, a giant pane hovered, glassy and silent, where clouds had been seconds before.
Something massive stood out, glowing sharply under the sun's late reach.
[SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT]
[LEADERBOARD UPDATE]
A hush spread through the people, their faces turning to the sky.
A message showed up on the display
FIRST PLAYER TO LEVEL UP BLADE EVERHART
FIRST PLAYER TO REACH LEVEL 2 BLADE EVERHART
FIRST PLAYER TO KILL A MONSTER BLADE EVERHART
Beneath it sits a ranking list
[CURRENT RANKINGS]
Blade Everhart Level 2
Nothing else showed up on the page after that.
Silence hung in the air. Not a single person said anything.
Out of nowhere, things fell apart.
"WHAT?!" someone shouted. "We have to kill monsters?!"
"Are you serious right now?!" a woman yelled, her voice shrill with panic. "This isn't a game! This is insane!"
"Wait, wait, wait," a young man said, waving his hands frantically. "This feels like a video game, right? So... how do we play it? Does anyone know?!"
"Who the hell is Blade Everhart?!" someone else demanded. "Does anyone know that name?!"
Not once have I come across his name, she said under her breath while folding both arms tightly. Seems made up
"Bro, can someone please introduce me to this guy?" a guy in Assassin gear called out, grinning. "I need to learn from a pro player!"
"Forget introductions," another man snapped. "How did he even know you had to kill monsters to level up? Did he get some kind of tutorial we didn't?!"
"Maybe a monster attacked him first," someone suggested. "Like, he was forced to fight it, and then he figured it out."
"That makes sense," another voice agreed. "He probably got lucky."
"But where are the monsters?" a woman asked, looking around nervously. "I haven't seen a single one. Are they invisible or something?"
"Maybe they're in the jungle," someone else said.
"Wait - wasn't there a guy earlier?" a girl piped up. "The one with the mask and the weird green outfit? Didn't he go toward the jungle?"
"Oh yeah! That guy!" someone else said, snapping their fingers. "Do you think he's Blade Everhart?"
"Has to be," another person muttered. "He was the only one who looked like he knew what he was doing."
"Should we follow him?" someone asked hesitantly.
"Are you crazy?!" a man barked. "What if there are monsters out there? We could die!"
"Bro, stop being such a coward," another guy shot back. "If we want to get out of this place, we have to level up. And to level up, we need to kill monsters. It's that simple."
"But what if we die?!" the first man repeated.
"Then we respawn," someone said flatly. "That's how these games work, right?"
"You don't know that!"
"Well, we won't know unless we try!"
An older man stepped forward, raising his voice. "Listen! If we want to escape OmniWars, we need to complete five levels. That's what the system said earlier. So we have to go into the jungle eventually. Might as well start now."
"Easy for you to say," a woman muttered. "You're not the one who has to fight."
"None of us are fighters!" someone else shouted. "We're just normal people!"
"Then we team up," a young man said, stepping onto a bench so everyone could see him. "We form teams, go into the jungle together, and hunt monsters as a group. Safety in numbers, right?"
A few nods spread among them, quiet sounds tagging along.
"That's... actually not a bad idea," someone admitted.
"Yeah, okay. I'm in."
"Me too."
"Let's do it."
"Wait, but what about that Blade guy?" someone asked. "Should we try to find him? Maybe he can help us."
"Why would he help us?" another person scoffed. "He's already ahead. He doesn't need us."
"Still, it's worth a shot, right?"
"Fine. If we see him, we'll ask. But we're not waiting around for him."
A woman raised her hand. "So... who's coming with me? I'm forming a team right now."
A few arms rose at once.
"I'm in!"
"Me too!"
"Count me in!"
Folks began gathering just a short way off.
"Anyone want to join us? We're going east!"
"We're heading west! Need a Mage!"
"Looking for a tank! Anyone with heavy armor!"
Fragments of people drifted apart, talk piling up in every direction, someone suggesting a move here, another arguing for there.
Faster than expected, groups started popping up everywhere.
One after another, they began to shift - making their way into the trees, guns ready, each face set tight with resolve.
Midnight approached. The clock showed eleven. Hours slipped by. Darkness filled the sky. Time moved without pause.
Footsore, Trita waited by Sknasim's door. Wind-tousled hair hung loose, garments creased from hours on the move. Sleep had slipped away long before noon. The city pulled her through markets, laughter with companions, then loud music at Vihan's show. Evening found her there, weight leaning against the frame, craving stillness.
The chime rang when her finger hit the button.
Nothing.
This time she pushed with more force. The button gave way under her thumb once more.
Still nothing.
Her jaw clenched.
Could it be that he's already sleeping? For real?
Each time, she hit the buzzer harder, knuckles whitening from the pressure. The sound cracked through the quiet like a warning that wouldn't stop.
Bells chime. Bells echo. Chimes repeat. Echoes fade.
Nothing.
"Oi, Sknasim!" she shouted, her voice sharp. "Open the damn door!"
Silence.
Fury spilled out of her.
"Are you deaf?! Open the door, you useless idiot!"
Still nothing.
Kicking the gate hard, she stormed off without a word.
She did not expect it to move so fast when she touched the door.
Wait -
Her foot hit the gate hard - too hard - and when it swung open fast, she wobbled, then tipped sideways without a chance to stop herself.
"Ah - !"
Floor met Trita fast - arms wide, balance lost, a sudden drop through the doorway.
THUD.
"OW!" she screamed, clutching her face. "You bastard! Why didn't you lock the door properly?! Do you want me to die?!"
Up she got, a sharp pain pulsing through her nose, face tight with discomfort.
Foolish, clumsy - that's what slipped out as she wiped grime from her sleeves. A breath came sharp. This won't happen again
SLAM.
The door at her back clicked shut.
Loudly.
Trita froze.
Her body pivoted, eyes fixed on the closed gate behind her.
Wait - did it shut on its own?
Blood rushed fast beneath her ribs.
Faint glimmers slipped between the window frames. Darkness filled every corner inside. Outside lamps barely pushed through, stretching odd shapes along the surfaces. Silence held everything still.
Suddenly quiet, her voice wavered. "Sknasim? Can you hear me?" She waited, unsure
No response.
Breath hung heavy in the air. Stillness pressed down like weight.
What makes it feel so shadowed?
What makes the silence so deep? Quiet settles like dust after rain.
Something cold moved along her back.
"Sknasim?" she called again, louder this time. "Stop playing around! Turn on the lights!"
Nothing.
Her breathing quickened.
Something's wrong.
Something's really wrong.
Forward she moved, fingers shaking without warning.
Frost bit at every breath. Not just chilly - this froze bone.
That's when the sound reached her ears.
A faint creak.
Like footsteps.
But slower. Heavier.
Thump.
Thump.
Trita's eyes widened.
It's a ghost," she said, trembling. A spirit - right there. Could feel it watching."
Thump.
Breath quick, she felt the fear climb up from her ribs. A sharp tightness took hold where calm used to sit.
"ghost! ghost!" she repeated, louder, her voice cracking. "Someone help me! There's a ghost!"
Barely keeping her balance, she reached behind, fingers scraping along the wall. A sudden need drove her to find the switch before anything else happened.
Lost again? That thing you're after - gone missing once more.
A shape pressed into her fingertips. It came without warning.
There!
The lights jumped on when her palm hit the button.
Click.
Brightness snapped into the room, sudden and sharp, filling every corner of the space.
Fog lifted from her gaze, slowly. Light settled into place after a moment of blur.
She stopped moving right there.
A space stood bare inside.
Completely empty.
A shadow? Not here. Someone hiding? Nothing seen. A spirit walking? Gone before it started.
Just... silence.
Frozen in place, Trita gasped for air, fingers flat on the cold surface behind her.
There's nothing here.
Fear held me tight.
That was when she noticed the dining table.
A single object appeared first, then another beside it
A card.
And a letter.
Her stomach dropped.
Footsteps tapped through the silence as she moved ahead, closing in on the table step by step.
Her fingers shook as she lifted the envelope, then unfolded the page inside. A breath caught in her throat while words slowly came into view.
Trita,
Today marks the split - our ways diverge now. One journey ends, another begins without you. Forward means walking alone from here.
It never crossed your mind that freedom had nothing to do with me. My presence wasn't the weight dragging behind you.
This time, it's really over. Letting go feels strange, yet right somehow.
A note came with the card I left behind. Inside, funds sit waiting - plenty to get by without worry. Things will work out just as they should.
Fate pulled us apart. Stay away. Should our roads cross once more, keep your distance completely.
Last time I checked, we stopped being siblings. That bond broke a while ago.
- Sknasim
Fingers trembling, Trita looked down at the paper in front of her.
What?
Once more, her eyes moved across the lines.
Then again.
He... he left?
Fury took over her, right after the surprise faded.
"Are you KIDDING me?!" she screamed, crumpling the letter in her fist. "You think you can just leave?! After everything I've done for you?!"
Fingers shaking, she snatched up the phone, punching in Sknasim's digits through a storm of anger.
Ring... ring...
"The number you are trying to reach is currently switched off."
"WHAT?!" she shrieked.
She tried again.
Same result.
"YOU BASTARD!" she screamed at the phone. "You think you can just run away?! You think you can ignore me?!"
Pacing back and forth, she felt thoughts rush ahead while fury grew stronger. Then silence fell between steps.
Who does he think he is? Really - how is that even an option?
It came out of nowhere. A thought just appeared.
Chiri.
Maybe she has his location figured out by now.
Tears sprang up as Trita punched in Chiri's digits, her voice cracking like thin ice underfoot - small, shaky, barely holding.
A sound came through the device two times. Then Chiri picked up.
"Hello?"
"Chiri Sister," Trita sobbed dramatically. "It's me. Trita."
"I know. Your number's saved. What do you want?"
"Sister... Brother... he's gone!" Trita wailed, her voice cracking. "He left a letter! He said we're done! He said he's not my brother anymore!"
A silence came through the line. It hung there without sound.
"What did you do?"
Her crying paused, just for a moment. "Huh?"
"You must have done something. He wouldn't just leave like that. What did you do, Trita?"
"I didn't do anything!" Trita cried, her voice rising. "I swear, sister! I didn't do anything! Please, you have to help me find him!"
Chiri sighed. "Don't cry. I'll send people to look for him. Just... stay calm."
That means a lot, Sister," Trita said softly, her words shaky.
"Yeah. I'll call you later."
Sound vanished without warning.
Down went the phone, her face changing fast - pity gone, replaced by something sharp.
Idiot.
Meanwhile at Chiri's Mansion
Fingers eased off the screen, Chiri placed the device flat. A wrinkle pressed between her eyebrows.
A soft hum escaped her lips as she settled into the plush couch, clad in a flowing silk gown that caught the dim light. Her hands moved restlessly, tapping out a quiet rhythm on the wooden edge beside her. The silence between each tap stretched longer than the last.
Sknasim left?
Just like that?
Frowning now, she reached for the phone - his number punched in once more.
Ring... ring...
"The number you are trying to reach is currently switched off."
She tried again.
Same result.
Fred cannot be reached now. The line stays dead.
Strange behavior for him.
Just then, the door flew open, cutting her thoughts short.
Bursting through the door, Nivea gasped for air, cheeks burning red.
"Chiri!" she gasped. "Do you know what happened?!"
Her eyes flicked toward me, then back - fixed on the screen. Not a word came out.
Wait," she said, pressing Sknasim's number once more.
"The number you are trying to reach is currently switched off."
Fingers clenched tight, she muttered a quiet curse.
Breathing hard, Nivea paused. Silence hung around her like a weight. She stayed still, watching the space ahead.
Her hand left the phone on the surface. Her eyes lifted. "What?"
Nivea blinked. "Uh..."
Her eyes lingered on Chiri, who sat still, untouched by the noise around them.
Then it hit her - her mind went blank.
What Was I Going To Say?
I... it slipped my mind," Nivea said, looking down.
One corner of Chiri's brow lifted. Really? That was the response
"Sorry," Nivea said, laughing awkwardly. "It was important, but I just... forgot."
Chiri sighed. "Sit down. Maybe it'll come back to you."
For a short while, Nivea stayed seated while conversation drifted between them, touching on small things without direction.
And then, just as they were wrapping up, Chiri asked offhandedly, "So... what were you going to tell me? Why did you run in here like that?"
Nivea's eyes widened.
"Oh! Right!"
Fingers gripping the edge, she shifted closer. Her face had changed, all shadows and stillness.
"Something insane happened today. A bunch of people - random people - had these floating screens appear in front of them."
Chiri frowned. "Screens?"
"Yeah. Glowing windows. They asked people to join something called... OmniWars."
She turned her head slightly. "OmniWars?"
"Yeah. Some people ignored it. Some rejected it. But the ones who accepted..." She paused dramatically. "They disappeared. Just... vanished."
Her eyes locked onto Chiri. Stillness filled the space between them.
Then she laughed.
"You're joking, right?"
Heat rose in Nivea's cheeks. This is serious, she said.
"Come on," Chiri said, still smiling. "Floating screens? People disappearing? That sounds ridiculous."
Furious fingers flew across the screen when she yanked out her phone. Look, proof right here, if you care to see it, Nivea shot back. Her voice cracked like thin ice under weight. Fine then, watch what happens next
With a small motion, she angled the display so Chiri could see it.
A video played.
A figure waited in an open plaza. Out of nowhere, a bright pane of light formed before his eyes.
Curious about stepping into OmniWars?
The man hesitated.
Then pressed [Accept].
One moment it was there. Suddenly everything changed
He vanished.
The video ended.
Fingers hovering, she watched the glow dim slowly.
"That's... edited, right?"
"It's not edited!" Nivea said, swiping to another video. "Look! Here's another one!"
Last time, she played another trio of clips - identical to the ones before. Each one matched completely.
Shadows crossed Chiri's face. A quiet shift, then stillness settled in her eyes.
Hold on," her voice came out sharp.
Nivea blinked. "What?"
Out you go," Chiri snapped again, tone like a blade cutting air. "I told you to leave
Nivea took a sharp breath. Wait, that can't be right -
"Get out, kutte!" Chiri snapped, her tone venomous. "I don't want to hear any more of this nonsense!"
A sharp breath escaped Nivea as she rose fast - pain stung her cheek.
Fine," she said under her breath, pivoting away as the door closed behind her.
Behind her, the latch clicked shut.
Alone, Chiri stayed quiet, teeth pressed tight together.
Frozen in place, she watched the cracked paint, thoughts sprinting ahead without her.
OmniWars.
People disappearing.
Then Sknasim slipped away this morning.
Back in the seat, her face showed nothing at all.
Could it actually be real, all of this?
The light from the screen pressed against my eyes, numbers shifting slowly down the display. My fingers moved without thought, tracing each new line that appeared. A quiet hum filled the room as the system recalculated what I could now do. Not everything made sense right away. Some values had changed overnight. Others stayed frozen like they were waiting for something. The air felt still, heavy with information. Nothing loud happened. Just a list growing longer by the second.
So many goblins lie dead because of me.
Level 3 already.
Hours passed. Perhaps four. Maybe five. Still, I kept moving. One group fell. Then another. And on it went. Each pack met the same fate. Not by luck. By planning. Every clash taught something new. Tactics shifted. Adjusted. Sharpened. Nothing wasted.
Over time, the prizes began to stack higher.
Fresh skills show up. Torin collects points again. Help arrives through Lifeline tallies.
Useful things started showing up among the ones I could do. A few though… didn't fit anywhere. Minor tricks, only good in rare moments - likely to sit untouched.
Sure thing will go out down the line. Exchange happens when a chance shows up.
The breath left my lungs as I shut the screen. A quiet moment settled in.
Bones heavy, every step dragged. Fire lived under the skin, deep in the muscle. Cloth clung, drenched, to shoulders and back. Red marked me - more green than red, really - up to the elbows.
Yet something inside me smiled.
Built to last longer. Speed that surprises. A steady mind leads the way.
This is progress.
This is survival.
Just then, a sound stopped me from sitting. The moment stretched thin as I froze.
A sound.
At the start, just a whisper. Far off. Barely there.
But distinct.
Footsteps halt. A grating sound follows. Sharp edges drag across rock.
My fingers crept toward Reverblade's hilt without thinking. I stood still.
It isn't one of those small, twisted creatures. A goblin? Not even close.
Out of nowhere, goblins started screeching. Not long after, low growls rumbled through the air. Wild sounds erupted - fast, messy, impossible to ignore.
But this?
This was different.
Methodical. Deliberate.
Footsteps fading into nothing, I edged closer to the noise once Silent Stride kicked in. Jungle leaves held their breath beneath me.
Footsteps closer, the sound swelled without warning.
Closer.
Closer.
That is when my eyes caught sight of it.
My feet froze. I dropped down, hidden by a dense clump of leaves.
A gasp climbed up my chest. Then silence held its place.
Wait - what could that possibly be?
A shape stood still in the open space up ahead. Nothing like it had ever crossed my path before.
Standing close to people size, it reached about five and a half or six feet high.
Yet here, the likeness fell apart.
Something moved on legs too many, each joint clicking. Not quite bug, not quite man - more like a shadow pulled thin between both.
Sharp at the front, its head carried a pair of huge compound eyes, softly lit in the low glow. These eyes looked deep, built from many tiny facets, strangely gripping - alive with an odd, distant awareness.
Beneath the eyes, a tangle of sharp jaws formed its mouth - one piece scraping over another, rough edges tearing at the air. Wet snaps echoed as they shifted, overlapping like broken plates dragged across stone.
A pair of slender feelers reached out from above its eyes, always moving, testing the space nearby.
A strange glow ran across its surface, where tough shell met raw life. Colors slid slow beneath the light - green then blue, hints of bronze, flickers of yellow. Metal-like but breathing. Hard plates wrapped every inch, slick with a shine that changed when it moved.
Each section of its form came divided, covered in hard layers, shielded from harm. Built for battle - that is what it seemed.
Built for gripping, ripping, ending lives, its front limbs stretched out long, lined with jagged, spine-like edges.
A shape emerged there, just barely visible - wings tucked close, paper-thin, marked by streaks like cracks in old glass.
A thick middle narrowed into segments, stretching out to a fine spike at the far end.
Every part of the beast gave off a threatening vibe.
This thing does not belong to the goblin kind.
This isn't that at all - it's a different matter altogether.
A message popped up right there. It just showed itself without warning. Right before my eyes it formed out of nothing. There it was, hanging in space.
BZZZZT.
[MONSTER DETECTED]
[Name: Phthiren]
[Level: 5]
Frozen in place, I watched the glow of the monitor pulse like a warning. My chest tightened with each breath.
Level 5.
I'm Level 3.
One step missing here. Then another after that.
Tension locked my teeth as thoughts sprinted ahead.
Can I Take It?
Trying anyway?
Just then, its head turned my way - no time to think.
A flicker in its gaze held me still.
It saw me.
A shiver ran through the air as the Phthiren's wings snapped open - wide, sudden, showing a pale web of skin threaded with shadowy lines. A moment before, they had been folded tight; now, nothing stood between sight and that thin, eerie span stretching into stillness.
Out of nowhere came a scream.
A scream tore through the trees - thin, piercing, impossible to ignore. It cut the air with a force that pricked at my skin, each note like shards pressed deep into bone. Jungle leaves shuddered under its weight. Sound alone could feel violent.
A sharp noise hit, making me wince. Hands flew up, blocking the worst of it. Jaw tight, each tooth pressed hard into place.
A single flap of its wings, sharp and strong, sent it rising. For just an instant, it hung there above the earth, still, silent, unsettling.
Then it dove.
Straight at me.