---
After a long journey, Kenji had finally returned to the Capital. He swiftly returned the sleeping guard's blade. The clock displayed 2:48 AM. With stealth and determination, Kenji made his way back to the castle, skillfully climbing up the walls before tumbling into his room with a loud thud. Fatigued and utterly drained, he compelled himself into the shower, hoping to wash off the lingering odors of blood, sweat, and decaying flesh, while also changing into clean clothes.
He carefully stowed away his armor, concealing it beneath his bed along with his sword.
Kenji then flopped onto his bed, surrendering to the embrace of sleep. As the weight of fatigue enveloped him, he was suddenly thrust into a dark, empty space. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself gazing down into a pool of water that was as black as night. Looking upwards, he encountered a sight that no mortal should ever behold and continue to live.
Before him lay a boat, upon which stood a figure draped in black. Its face appeared to be melded into a shroud of dark fabric, a hood obscuring its head. The figure's robe was as dark as the void itself. As it peered into Kenji's very soul, clutching a scythe, Kenji felt his mind begin to unravel at the figure's words.
"Mortal, you are quite the enigma. You have defied us," it intoned, sniffing the air. "Oh mortal, you have made a grave error. U have become an undead being. It has been thousands of years since I have encountered one of your kind passing through this realm, not to mention the Chosen Undead." As it leaned in closer, Kenji's sanity felt as though it was slipping away.
"Mortal, for your defiance against death itself, you cannot be granted passage to either the cycle of reincarnation or the afterlife. Upon your demise, you will be compelled to become a Reaper like myself for all eternity. Now, begone! I trust I won't have to see you again soon, foolish mortal." With a swift slash of its scythe, the dark space dissolved around him, and Kenji awoke in his room to the sight of a maid trying to rouse him. His mind was still hazy, yet thankfully not shattered. He strained to grasp what the maid was saying.
"Si—"
"THE DARKNESS SHALL DEVOUR ALL!"
Startled, Kenji leaped up in shock, recoiling as the maid gazed at him, equally shocked and embarrassed. "Sir, are you alright? I merely mentioned that the royal family is calling a meeting and that I should be at the training grounds in an hour."
Sitting upright in bed, Kenji held his head, contemplating how his mind began to unravel after encountering a Reaper. However, if he could withstand this ordeal, he would, at the very least, be granted a Death affinity.
He quickly dressed and tidied himself before making his way down the lengthy staircase, where he found Henry, Amy, Liz, and Mark waiting for him, looking rather bored. Zenith stood beside the guards and the King.
As Kenji approached Amy, he greeted her with a good morning kiss, which she returned with noticeable reluctance.
The King began to speak. "Last night, we witnessed someone leap from their room down the castle, fall, and then ride off on one of our horses, Jerry, who is still unaccounted for. Now, which one of you was it, and what was the reason behind this?"
The group of five fell silent, each one hesitant to speak until Amy finally broke the quiet. "Why would we want to sneak out? Isn't it extremely dangerous outside the city? I read in the library that most cities are safe havens from monsters."
The King nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, you are absolutely right, but the capital city of the West continent is known as an adventurer city. Most factions have already been completed, save for a few exceptionally difficult ones, and the majority of the monster population in this area has been eliminated. So, who among you was the one who snuck out?"
Mark raised his hand. "So, what will happen to the one who sneaked out if I find out who it is?"
King Lionheardt replied sternly, "They will face an additional six weeks of confinement and intensified training. Furthermore, their allowance will be suspended until further notice."
Zenith interjected, "Father, that seems excessive, considering everyone is still here, which means the individual who sneaked out didn't get too injured or die."
Kenji yawned, still feeling the weariness from the previous night. "So how will I find this person?"
The King explained, "Under normal circumstances, we would employ mind magic, but that could result in severe consequences for you. Instead, we will examine the bodies. Our informant reported seeing someone fall from the third story, so they should at least have some bruises, if not worse. Therefore, everyone, shirts off!"
Kenji removed his shirt, revealing a body that was once well-toned from rigorous training but now appeared thinner and more malnourished, a consequence of the challenges faced by the [Chosen Undead] class.
Amy gasped in disbelief. "Kenji, what has happened to your body?"
Kenji replied sheepishly, "I suppose I haven't been eating enough since I last saw myself."
Amy regarded him with suspicion before taking off her own shirt. Her physique was impressive, with well-defined muscles, larger breasts, sculpted abs, and enhanced biceps—all thanks to her [Divine Archer] class.
The same could be said for the rest of the group; everyone's body had been augmented by their respective classes, while Kenji seemed to have been debuffed.
The guards examined them and found nothing amiss.
The King, now visibly frustrated, declared, "FINE THEN! YOU ALL WILL BE TRAINING FOR SIX WEEKS LONGER! TRAINING STARTS LATER TODAY!"
Kenji began hearing voices beckoning him, urging him to seize the Knight's blade and eliminate them all. In a panic, he rushed to the nearest bathroom and held his head, splashing water on his face. When he looked up into the mirror, he was horrified to see a reflection of himself—burned all over, one eyeball hanging loosely, his rib cage exposed with insects crawling from it, his left arm missing, and numerous cuts marring his body.
Behind him in the mirror stood the Reaper. As Kenji spun around, he found himself back in the training ground, with everyone staring at him as if he had lost his mind.
"Kenji, are you alright?" Amy asked, reaching out her hand to comfort him, but he instinctively slapped it away.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Kenji shouted.
Amy recoiled in shock and sadness, retreating as Henry tried to console her.
The King, Zenith, and the guards had already departed from the training ground.
Kenji sank to his knees, clutching his head in agony as he heard breathing in front of him. "DAMMIT, I CAN'T DIE HERE! MY REVIVES STILL ON COOLDOWN! Oh god, am I truly going to die?"
Looking up, he found himself face to face with the Reaper. In a burst of instinct, Kenji punched the Reaper, sending it reeling. He stood up, prepared to fight, but was left in disbelief as he watched the other three help the Reaper to its feet, their voices drowned out by the screams of undead souls and the murderous thoughts echoing in his mind.
Rushing forward, Kenji attempted to kick the Reaper, but to his astonishment, Amy screamed at him, though her words were lost to him. She pushed him away and began to slap him repeatedly. After four slaps, the fifth connected.
In that moment, clarity returned. The voices ceased, his headache faded, and he could finally hear again. He heard Amy exclaim, "WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU? HENRY TRIES TO HELP YOU, AND YOU ATTACK HIM?!"
Kenji glanced at the now-weak Reaper, who was actually Henry, his nose broken and bloodied, and then back at Amy, who was furious. "I... I don't kno—"
Another slap reverberated through the air.
"WE'RE DONE!" Amy shouted, striding toward Henry to help him to the healer.
Kenji held his now-red cheeks, tears brimming in his eyes as he approached Henry and Amy, but was blocked by Liz. "What are you trying to do?"
"I'm trying to apolo—"
Liz interrupted him, "You have done enough for one day! You're lucky Henry won't report this to the King. Now, get lost!"
Feeling despondent, Kenji walked away to his room. He sat on the bed, reflecting on how quickly the situation had devolved into chaos. Well, it was too late to turn back now, wasn't it? He lifted his gaze to the mirror, only to see the Reaper lurking behind him. The Reaper finally spoke, "Mortal, you have endured this trial. For that, I shall grant you the Death affinity." Kenji watched as the Reaper faded into nothingness.
Lying back on his bed, Kenji quickly succumbed to sleep, but was stirred an hour later by maids calling him to the training grounds.
With a downcast expression, he made his way downstairs. Upon arriving at the training ground, he discovered that everyone was already present, with Henry's broken nose miraculously healed thanks to magic.
The instructor addressed them. "Welcome! It seems everyone is here. I am your Combat Teacher, Beru the Great. Now, everyone, please select a weapon." He gestured towards the various weapon barrels and crates. "Even though some of you may not possess combat classes, it is essential to learn how to fight for those moments when you find yourself cornered without help, or if your mana runs out, or if your bow breaks. Regardless of the reason, you are here to train in weapon combat."
Kenji selected a formidable great sword from the wall, one that was about 1.5 times his size, and effortlessly swung the massive blade over his shoulder. Liz chose a kopesh, while Amy picked up a dagger. Henry selected a longsword, and Mike opted for a tanto.
"Now, each of you five will face off against me, and by the end of the day, you should be able to last at least 30 seconds in combat with me."
Kenji stepped forward for his turn, and the battle commenced. Immediately, Kenji channeled his mana, enhancing his speed and strength. He charged forward, engaging in a clash of blades with Beru. However, despite the size and weight of Kenji's sword, he found himself overpowered, forced to retreat and rethink his strategy. Realizing that survival was his only objective, he aimed not to land a hit but merely to endure. With the clock ticking past 9 seconds, he initiated a slash, but it was merely a feint for his true attack. As he attempted to kick Beru, he quickly discovered that Beru had effortlessly blocked it, leading to Kenji being seized and slammed into the ground, rendering him unconscious after a mere 12 seconds.
When Kenji regained consciousness, he found himself back in his room, bandaged and healed. Rising from his bed, he made his way to Amy's room to apologize for his earlier actions. He knocked on the door, and after what felt like an eternity—about 40 seconds—Amy finally opened it, appearing in a revealing nightgown.
Looking surprised, she immediately attempted to shut the door.
"Wait!" Kenji interjected, placing his foot in the doorway. "Let me at least explain myself, please!" he pleaded.
With a voice laced with disdain, Amy responded, "Fine, what is it? We can talk like this."
"Thank you, Amy. Now, please listen carefully. U know the game I used to love."
"Yeah, what about it?" Amy replied, her tone dripping with annoyance.
"This world is strikingly similar to the game. I was on the verge of obtaining a hidden class, but it had a side effect—mental instability, essentially. It caused temporary insanity, which is why I wasn't in my right mind when I accidentally attacked Henry."
"STOP LYING! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU! IT'S LIKE YOU'RE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT PERSON!" she shouted, slamming the door in his face.
Dejected, Kenji returned to his room and sat on his bed, when suddenly a blue screen appeared before him.
**Hidden Quest: Find the blade where The Hatred God Malek has been sealed.**
**Reward: #######**
**Time limit: N/A**
"Shit, I get a status window?" Kenji exclaimed, but nothing happened. He spent the next 20 minutes trying various commands to access it, but none yielded results.
"Shit. I guess it's not a stats menu, but rather a quest system. That's still pretty decent. Who am I kidding? Finding the best sword in the game is supposed to be the first quest. This is nonsense. I know where it is, but I'd be killed if I went there."
Yet, there was a nagging feeling that he was forgetting something incredibly important. Oh well, it probably doesn't matter. Kenji soon drifted off to sleep.
Later that night, he awoke to the sounds of screams and the clash of blades. In a flash, he recalled the coup that had transpired, resulting in the fall of the King, and truth be told, the rise of a much better replacement. He quickly donned his undead armor and grabbed his rusted great blade, making his way through the blood-soaked halls toward the throne room, where the other four heroes had already engaged in combat with the assassin. The battle came to a swift conclusion as the assassin incapacitated everyone using poison needles, Kenji included. They were forced to witness the King's brutal murder right before their eyes. His head was severed, rolling directly in front of the six of them, while another member of the coup brought forth the bound princess, Zenith.
They sat in silence as she wept. Before long, they succumbed to unconsciousness.
When Kenji awoke again, he found himself at the back of a carriage, bound and stripped of his armor and weaponry.
"What happened?" Mike asked groggily as he stood up.
Kenji replied in a cold, calculated tone, "It seems there was a coup in the kingdom. The King is dead, and we've most likely been sold into slavery. If I'm correct about our destination, we might be in serious shit."
Liz, now fully awake, inquired, "What do you mean we're in trouble, and how do I know this place?"
"While we were at the palace, I studied the geography and history of this world and learned about a myth in elven folklore stating that if the heroes were allowed to enter the World Tree, it would reactivate and regain its power."
Henry looked perplexed. "World Tree? What's that?"
"It's located in the central continent, so I suspect we're headed for the docks. However, the texts I read indicate that the World Tree serves as the binding agent for all continents, acting as a gateway to countless different dimensions," Kenji explained while searching the carriage for something sharp.
Amy's eyes lit up with excitement. "So one of those dimensions could be our world?"
"In theory, yes, but it's not that simple. You all understand what factions are, right? And how some of them mirror the stories from our mythologies?"
The group nodded in agreement. Amy then asked, "How do I know if I was knocked out when we were being taught this?"
"Listen closely. The World Tree operates on a system that only opens portals to the three strongest dimensions—Murium, a world of martial arts; Gaia, a world of technology; and Earth, almost identical to ours, except they possess magic and portals appear in that world, much like in manhwas."
"Is there another version of me on that Earth?" Henry queried.
"Probably not. Your parents likely don't even exist," Kenji replied, giving up on his search for a sharp object.
A somber mood settled over the carriage.
Mike broke the silence. "So what's the worst that could happen if they open the portals?"
"Well, the worlds will merge. Given that they have been disconnected for so long, the connection between them is practically non-existent. If the World Tree reopens that gate, it will forcibly fuse us with the strongest dimension among the three."
"But that's the best-case scenario. The worst-case scenario is that we get transmigrated again."
Henry chimed in, "So we're screwed either way, huh?"
Kenji sighed. "Yeah, we're in a lot of SHIT. Let's just say that."
**Two weeks later**
"This boat is awful, and this cramped cell is infuriating!" Henry shouted through the bars at the empty room.
Mike, exercising in the back, replied, "Man, it's pointless. Just be grateful they're providing us with food and water, and that we don't have to relieve ourselves in the same place we eat and sleep."
Meanwhile, Amy was reading a book in a different cell across from them, while Zenith slept next to her. "Henry, can you keep it down? Zenith is asleep! I don't want to wake her. It's the first time she's had a decent sleep in a while," Amy admonished. Liz was busy writing in her notebook.
Kenji rose from his meditative position and hopped onto the bed. Over time, his relationship with the others had improved, save for Henry, but they managed to tolerate each other.
A week passed as they neared the docks, where they were blindfolded and placed into another carriage.
Once the blindfolds were removed, they all sat in silence until Mike finally spoke up. "Are we really going to go out like this? Weren't we supposed to be the heroes of this world?"
Liz replied, her voice flat, "Why even bother? They're far stronger than us, and we'll just end up killed like the King."
Henry, his spirit renewed, declared, "So what if we die? As long as they can't fulfill their plan, let's take a stand against these bastards and at least fight back!"
Amy stood up defiantly, saying, "Yeah, we are the heroes! Let's go out like we have a reason to fight!"
Kenji remained seated as the others rallied.
Henry urged Kenji, "Get up, man! Show some dignity! Help us look for something to cut the ropes binding our hands!"
Kenji, maintaining a calm demeanor, replied, "Why bother? Look at your neck—those aren't ordinary chains; they are soul-trapping chains. They affect us down to our mana cores, and if you try to break them, you'll lose all three of your cores—essentially instant death. So I'm just going to sit this one out."
Henry shot back, "Well, I don't see you making any plans to help us escape!"
"Why would I? It's already over for you guys."
"What do you mean, 'you guys'?" Liz chimed in, her voice quivering.
"I have a class called Chosen Undead. I can revive once, and it doubles my power," Kenji said, his tone bored.
"So what about us? You're just going to abandon us here and let us die?"
"No, I'm not going to let it happen. But your implication that I can change anything is misguided."
Silence enveloped the carriage as it finally came to a halt.
They were blindfolded again and led upstairs until they stood high above the ground. Once the blindfolds were removed, they discovered they were on a platform connected to the World Tree—a magnificent tree with golden leaves. Within the white trunk of the tree, three gateways awaited activation. They gazed forward to see hundreds of elves gathered, their eyes filled with anticipation.
A high elf approached Henry and spoke in an unfamiliar language before drawing a blade across his hand. As they moved toward the first gate in the center, he smeared his blood, producing a tune that caused the ground to tremble. The world was reverting to its original state. The six continents began drawing closer together until they merged. The entire process unfolded within a minute, but before anything further could occur, the now purple portal pulled the six heroes in.
---