The village bells rang like a warning from the heavens.
"INCOMING! EVERYONE INSIDE—MOVE!"
Civilians rushed through narrow streets, clutching children, dragging carts, stumbling in panic. Doors slammed shut. Windows barred.
A crying child was pulled into a house just as the last guard kicked the gate shut behind him.
Outside the walls—
The ground trembled.
A dark mass rolled over the distant hills.
The Formation
"Positions!" Seraphina's voice cut through the chaos.
Nearly two hundred warrior-class participants spread out across the perimeter.
It wasn't enough to fully encircle the village, so they fortified key points—especially the main gate.
Frontline fighters stepped forward:
Knights raised shields
Vanguards tightened grips on heavy weapons
Rogues melted into shadows
Behind them:
Mages formed casting lines
Healers prepared recovery circles
On rooftops and towers:
Archers nocked arrows
Scouts scanned the horizon
Azlea raised her staff, wind brushing past her face.
"This isn't a simulation," she said quietly.
Kaizer cracked his knuckles.
"Good."
Dazai said nothing.
He just stepped forward.
The First Wave
They came like a flood.
Goblins. Hundreds of them.
Shrieking. Laughing. Screaming.
Weapons raised. Teeth bared.
Types in the Horde
Normal Goblins – crude blades, reckless charges
Wild Goblins – larger, armored skin, feral strength
Fat Goblins – towering, commanding units
Tiny Goblins – fast, coordinated, unnervingly smart
"Hold the line!" Seraphina commanded.
"Archers—FIRE!"
A rain of arrows fell.
Dozens of goblins dropped instantly.
But the rest kept coming.
Impact
The wave crashed into the frontline.
Steel met flesh.
Bones snapped.
Blood sprayed.
Kaizer vanished into fog.
Lightning flickered—
CRACK! CRACK!
Goblins dropped one after another.
"MOVE FASTER, YOU UGLY RATS!" he shouted, grinning wildly.
Nearby, Dazai moved like a force of nature.
No magic.
No hesitation.
He ducked under a blade—
Grabbed a goblin's arm—
SNAP
Kicked another in the chest—
CRUSH
Took a spear to the shoulder—
Didn't even slow down.
"Is he insane?!" one participant shouted.
"He's not even using mana!"
The Rankers Move
"Push forward!" Seraphina ordered.
Her sword glowed faintly.
She stepped into the horde—
Each swing clean. Precise. Deadly.
Kael from above fired arrow after arrow.
Every shot hit a vital point.
Lyra raised her hands.
"Frost Spiral!"
Ice burst outward, freezing dozens in place.
"Elion!" she shouted.
"I've got it!" the healer replied, golden light spreading across injured fighters.
Veyron slipped through shadows—
Appearing behind goblins—
Cutting throats silently.
Chaos Escalates
For a moment—
It looked easy.
Then—
A roar echoed.
FAT GOBLINS ENTERED THE FIELD
Massive bodies crashed through their own ranks.
"SHIELDS UP!" someone screamed.
Too late.
One swing—
A knight was thrown across the field.
Another—
A rogue crushed into the ground.
Blood spilled faster.
The battlefield shifted.
The Breaking Point
"Don't lose formation!" Azlea shouted.
Wind surged around her—
Water followed—
A controlled storm pushed goblins back.
But even she was breathing harder now.
Kaizer appeared beside her.
"More coming."
"I know."
Dazai stepped forward again.
"I'll hold them."
Azlea grabbed his arm.
"You're already injured!"
He pulled away.
"I'm not done."
The Cost
Minutes turned into an hour.
The wave didn't stop.
Bodies piled up.
Participants began falling.
Not just wounded—
Dead.
A young mage collapsed, eyes wide open.
An archer slipped from a rooftop.
A healer screamed as she ran out of mana.
Exhaustion spread like poison.
"Mana's gone…" one whispered.
"I can't move…" another said.
Even Kaizer's lightning flickered weakly now.
Azlea's spells slowed.
Dazai's breathing grew heavier.
Still—
He kept moving.
Silence
Then—
The goblins stopped coming.
The battlefield went quiet.
Heavy breathing filled the air.
No cheers.
No victory.
Just survival.
"We… did it…" someone whispered.
The Warning
A sudden glow appeared in the sky.
WARNING
BOSS ENTITY APPROACHING
The ground trembled again.
But this time—
It was different.
Slower.
Heavier.
More… deliberate.
The Second Wave
From the forest—
A massive figure emerged.
Goblin Lord.
Twice the size of fat goblins.
Eyes glowing red.
Armor made of bones and iron.
Behind him—
Six Goblin Leaders
And another army.
Bigger.
Stronger.
Smarter.
"…We're dead," someone whispered.
Fear
Even the S-rankers fell silent.
Seraphina tightened her grip.
"This is bad…"
Lyra stepped back slightly.
"…That's not normal."
Kael's voice was sharp.
"Too many."
Elion whispered,
"I don't have enough mana left…"
Veyron smirked nervously.
"Well… this just got interesting."
The Lord Moves
The Goblin Lord raised his hand.
Fire gathered.
He hurled it—
BOOM
An explosion ripped through the frontline.
Screams followed.
Another attack—
This time a massive boulder.
Crushing everything in its path.
Desperation
"Healers—move!" Seraphina shouted.
"Archers—target leaders!"
"Everyone else—SURVIVE!"
The battle began again.
But this time—
It was different.
Collapse
Participants fell faster now.
Fatigue.
Fear.
Pain.
Everything caught up.
Kaizer dropped to one knee.
"Damn it…"
Azlea staggered.
"I'm running out…"
Dazai stood still.
Watching.
Breathing.
Thinking.
The Turning Point
The Goblin Lord laughed.
A deep, monstrous sound.
It stepped forward—
Crushing bodies beneath its feet.
Dazai's fists tightened.
His heart pounded.
Not from fear.
From something else.
Something deeper.
Inside him—
Something stirred.
Hungry.
Endless.
Watching.
The Edge
Kaizer looked at him.
"…Dazai?"
Azlea followed his gaze.
"Don't…"
Dazai stepped forward.
"I'll stop it."
Kaizer grabbed him.
"You can't fight that alone!"
Dazai looked at him calmly.
"I won't be alone."
Kaizer frowned.
"What do you mean—"
Dazai pulled his hand away.
And walked forward.
Toward the Goblin Lord.
The Storm Before Something Greater
The battlefield froze.
Every eye turned.
The boy with no mana.
Walking toward a monster.
Alone.
The Goblin Lord tilted its head.
Curious.
Then smiled.
A cruel, hungry smile.
And somewhere deep within Dazai—
The curse…
Watched back.
The battlefield held its breath.
Dust drifted through the air. Flames flickered from shattered ground.
The cries of the wounded faded into a distant echo.
And in the middle of it all—
Dazai walked forward.
Alone.
The Line That Shouldn't Be Crossed
"DAZAI!"
Kaizer's voice cracked.
"Stop! That thing will kill you!"
Azlea stepped forward too, her voice sharp with fear.
"Think! This isn't something you can just fight with strength!"
But Dazai didn't stop.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
Not because of fear.
Because of something else.
Something pulling him forward.
Inside Dazai
Run.
You can't win.
You'll die.
Voices echoed in his mind.
But beneath them—
Another presence stirred.
Cold.
Endless.
Hungry.
It didn't speak.
It didn't shout.
It simply…
Waited.
Dazai clenched his fists.
"…What are you?"
For a split second—
He felt it respond.
Not with words.
With hunger.
The Monster Recognizes Something
The Goblin Lord stopped advancing.
Its glowing red eyes locked onto Dazai.
It tilted its head slowly.
Then—
It laughed.
A deep, guttural sound.
Mocking.
Curious.
Dangerous.
It raised one massive hand—
Fire gathered again.
This time stronger.
Hotter.
More violent.
First Clash
"MOVE!" Seraphina shouted.
But Dazai didn't.
The fireball launched—
A blazing mass of destruction.
And at the last second—
Dazai moved.
A sharp sidestep.
The explosion hit behind him—
Blasting dirt and bodies into the air.
Shockwaves slammed into his back.
He staggered—
But didn't fall.
The Distance Closes
Dazai ran.
Straight at the Goblin Lord.
The battlefield erupted in confusion.
"He's insane!"
"Stop him!"
"Someone pull him back!"
But no one moved.
Because no one could.
They were too exhausted.
Too broken.
Too afraid.
Kaizer Breaks
"DAMN IT!"
Lightning exploded around Kaizer.
His body trembled from exhaustion—but he forced it forward.
"I'M NOT LETTING YOU DIE ALONE!"
Azlea gritted her teeth.
"…Idiot."
Wind surged around her again.
"I'm not letting either of you die."
The trio moved.
The Lord Strikes
The Goblin Lord swung its massive arm.
Too fast.
Too strong.
Dazai crossed his arms—
IMPACT
The force sent him flying.
He crashed across the ground—
Rolling—
Sliding—
Blood dripping from his mouth.
Pain
His body screamed.
Bones shook.
Vision blurred.
This is it.
You can't win.
But then—
That presence again.
Closer now.
Watching.
Waiting.
Hungry.
Rise Again
Dazai pushed himself up.
Slowly.
Shaking.
Bleeding.
Still standing.
The battlefield went silent again.
"…He got up?" someone whispered.
The Goblin Lord frowned.
Annoyed.
Second Attempt
This time—
It charged.
The ground cracked beneath its steps.
Dazai stood still.
Waiting.
Timing.
At the last second—
He moved forward.
Not away.
Forward.
Impact Exchange
The Lord's fist came down.
Dazai slipped inside its range—
Too close for a full hit.
He drove his fist into its side.
Nothing.
It was like hitting a wall.
The Goblin Lord laughed.
Grabbed him—
Lifted him off the ground.
Choking Grip
Dazai's body lifted.
Air cut off.
Vision darkening.
The monster tightened its grip.
Slowly.
Enjoying it.
The World Fades
Sounds disappeared.
Voices blurred.
Kaizer screaming.
Azlea shouting.
Everything fading.
Until—
Only silence remained.
The Inner Space
Darkness.
Endless.
Cold.
Dazai stood alone.
Then—
He saw it.
A shadow.
Massive.
Formless.
Eyes glowing faintly within it.
Watching him.
The Truth Without Words
It didn't speak.
But Dazai understood.
You are weak.
You cannot survive like this.
Let me…
A feeling washed over him.
Not control.
Not possession.
A choice.
Refusal… or Acceptance?
Dazai clenched his fists.
"…If I use you…"
The shadow didn't move.
"…Will I lose myself?"
Silence.
But the hunger grew stronger.
Closer.
Wrapping around him.
Outside — The Breaking Point
"LET HIM GO!" Kaizer roared.
Lightning burst violently.
He slammed into the Goblin Lord—
But was thrown aside instantly.
Azlea launched a combined wind-water attack—
It barely slowed the monster.
Seraphina shouted,
"We need to pull back!"
"No!" Kaizer screamed.
Decision
Back in the darkness—
Dazai looked at the shadow.
At the hunger.
At the power.
At the risk.
Then—
He stepped forward.
"…Not for power."
"…For them."
The shadow surged.
Return
The battlefield exploded with energy.
A shockwave erupted from the Goblin Lord.
It staggered.
Its grip loosened.
Dazai dropped—
But didn't fall.
Something Changed
He stood.
Head lowered.
Breathing slow.
The air around him…
Felt wrong.
Heavy.
Distorted.
Unnatural.
The First Sign
The Goblin Lord raised its hand again.
Fire formed—
Then suddenly—
Flickered.
Shook.
Collapsed.
Vanished.
The battlefield froze.
"…What?"
The Hunger Awakens
The mana in the air—
Was disappearing.
Not dispersing.
Not breaking.
Being devoured.
The Goblin Lord stepped back.
For the first time—
It felt fear.
Dazai Looks Up
His eyes—
Different.
Calm.
Cold.
Endless.
Not rage.
Not anger.
Just…
Hunger.
Final Moment
Kaizer whispered,
"…Dazai?"
Azlea felt it instantly.
"…That's not normal…
Even Seraphina stepped back slightly.
"…What is he?"
The boy with no mana—
Had just become something far more terrifying.