A cold wind blew across the ruined village.
Smoke rose from the destroyed houses.
The royal knights lay unconscious on the ground.
Captain Leon struggled to stand, blood dripping from his mouth.
And before Saksham...
stood General Nocthar.
A monster.
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Emergency Quest
Objective: Survive.
Time Remaining:
02:59
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The timer had already begun.
Saksham swallowed nervously.
His hands were trembling.
Nocthar smiled.
"So this is the Child of Fate."
"I expected more."
The words pierced Saksham's heart.
For the first time in a long while...
he felt completely helpless.
Nocthar slowly raised his hand.
"Come."
"Show me your strength."
Saksham clenched his fists.
"No matter how strong you are..."
"I won't give up!"
Blue mana exploded around him.
He dashed forward.
BOOM!
His fist shot toward Nocthar's face.
But...
Nocthar caught it with one hand.
"What?!"
The general looked disappointed.
"Too slow."
He gently pushed Saksham backward.
Yet the simple push sent him flying across the ground.
CRASH!
Saksham smashed into a broken wall.
Pain spread through his body.
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HP: 720/1000
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"Cough!"
Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
Nocthar hadn't even attacked seriously.
He had merely pushed him.
The difference in strength was overwhelming.
The timer continued.
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Time Remaining:
02:31
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Nocthar began walking toward him.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
Fear slowly entered Saksham's heart.
Then—
DING!
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Passive Skill Activated
Courage of the Chosen One
Fear Resistance +50%
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Saksham's breathing steadied.
He stood up again.
Nocthar's eyes narrowed.
"Oh?"
"You still have the courage to stand?"
Saksham wiped the blood from his mouth.
"I won't lose."
The general smiled.
"Interesting."
Dark mana gathered around his finger.
A black beam shot forward.
BOOM!
Saksham barely jumped away.
The ground exploded behind him.
Another beam.
Then another.
Then another.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The entire battlefield shook.
Saksham desperately dodged.
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Time Remaining:
01:56
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He only needed to survive.
Just survive.
Suddenly, his Divine Eyes activated.
The world slowed.
The dark mana around Nocthar became visible.
The path of every attack appeared before him.
Saksham's eyes widened.
"I can see it..."
The next beam came.
He moved.
The second.
He dodged.
The third.
He stepped aside.
Nocthar stopped attacking.
A smile appeared on his face.
"Those eyes..."
"So they have awakened."
Saksham breathed heavily.
Even with the Divine Eyes, his body was reaching its limit.
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MP: 120/350
Stamina: 34%
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Nocthar suddenly disappeared.
"What?!"
A hand grabbed Saksham's neck.
He looked up.
The general was standing right in front of him.
Impossible.
He had crossed dozens of meters in an instant.
Nocthar lifted him into the air.
"You are weak."
"You are inexperienced."
"And yet..."
His crimson eyes glowed.
"My master fears your future."
Saksham struggled.
"W-Who... is your master?"
Nocthar smiled.
"You are not ready to know."
BOOM!
He threw Saksham into the ground.
The earth cracked.
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HP: 430/1000
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Pain spread through his entire body.
His vision blurred.
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Time Remaining:
00:58
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Less than one minute remained.
Nocthar slowly raised his hand.
Dark mana gathered above him.
A massive black spear appeared in the sky.
Even Captain Leon's face turned pale.
"No..."
"That spell can destroy an entire city."
The knights looked at the enormous spear in horror.
Nocthar looked at Saksham.
"Survive this."
The spear descended.
Everything shook.
Saksham looked at the sky.
For the first time...
he thought he was going to die.
Then—
A warm voice echoed inside his mind.
"My child..."
Another voice followed.
"Stand up."
Then another.
"We believe in you."
And another.
"You are not alone."
The voices of the gods.
Light suddenly surrounded Saksham.
His eyes glowed brightly.
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Hidden Skill Unlocked
Divine Eyes of Fate
First Ability: Future Sight
Duration: 10 Seconds
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The world stopped.
Saksham could see it.
The future.
The exact path of the black spear.
He moved.
BOOOOOOM!!
The spear struck the ground.
An enormous explosion covered the village.
Smoke filled the air.
Silence.
Then—
DING!
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Emergency Quest Completed!
Rewards:
+5 Levels
Divine Eyes Mastery Increased
New Skill Fragment Obtained
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The smoke slowly disappeared.
Saksham was still standing.
His clothes were torn.
Blood covered his body.
But he was alive.
Nocthar stared at him.
Then...
he smiled.
"Amazing."
"Simply amazing."
For the first time...
there was excitement in the general's eyes.
"The prophecy was true."
He turned around.
"Our next meeting will decide the fate of this world."
Darkness gathered around him.
"Grow stronger, Child of Fate."
"Because next time..."
"I will not hold back."
WHOOSH!
He disappeared.
Silence filled the ruined village.
Saksham fell to his knees.
Everything had ended.
But deep inside his heart...
he knew.
This was only the beginning.
To be continued...