The sun beat down fiercely on the city, one of the oldest metropolises of the Seventh World. Its streets bustled with adventurers, merchants, and domesticated beasts used for transport, surveillance, or companionship. At the city's center, a massive structure of black stone with magical engravings rose defiantly toward the sky. It was the Adventurers' Guild.
Josuke Hachimizu pushed open the guild's double doors with a slight creak. He entered calmly, with steady steps, but inside him burned a quiet tension.
Slung across his back was an old leather bag full of monster remains and materials he had hunted in the depths.
He hoped to sell them, maybe earn some gold, perhaps a clue... or just a bit of recognition. But what he found was hostility.
The murmurs began as soon as he took his third step into the main hall.
—What... is that?
—A monster...?
—How did it get in here without anyone stopping it?
Josuke stopped, frowning.
One by one, the adventurers stood, cautiously surrounding him. Swords drawn, bows aimed, staffs charging with magic energy. The air grew thick, like the smoke of gunpowder.
—What's a monster doing here?! —yelled a fully-armored warrior.
—Those things are supposed to stay in the dungeons, not walk in here! —roared a sorceress.
Josuke stepped back, his eyes glowing with a faint crimson light—not from fear, but caution. His senses, sharpened by years in the Underworld, could feel when something was wrong. At that moment, a notification appeared before him.
[Blood System: Danger detected. Direct threat to host's life identified. Recommendation: activate immediate precaution protocol.]
Josuke rolled his eyes, sarcastic, as a crooked smile formed on his hardened face.
—Oh, thank you, useless system... I almost didn't realize I was about to get crushed.
Still wearing his bitter humor, he quickly slid through an interface in the air and scanned the nearby entities. Dozens of names and parameters appeared before him.
[Nearby Enemy Information]
[Levels]: 30, 27, 38, 40, 24, 29
[Races]: Humans
[Ranks]: D+, B+, C+, E+
[Classes]: Assassin, Archer, Mage, Beast Tamer, Healer, Swordsman
—So there's a sixth class... Healer —he muttered, narrowing his eyes— I didn't even get that option. Whatever...
On the second floor of the guild, leaning on the wooden railing, a young man with bluish short hair and sapphire eyes watched the scene closely. He wore a coral-colored shirt and light armor fitted to his clothing. His gaze was analytical.
—Why is everyone mistaking him for a monster...? But he's clearly human —he whispered to himself— His body doesn't emit mana... just dark miasma with a putrid stench. But... he's definitely human... where did he come from?
Then it happened.
A blast of fire shot through the air. A mage screamed:
—Die in hell, spawn!
—No thanks, I don't want to go back there —Josuke said, eyes half-closed.
He dodged the attack easily, spinning on his heel. In the same motion, he unsheathed his ruby-red katana, which shimmered with an ominous aura. He sliced the fire spell in half, dissipating it.
Before he could counter, a burly adventurer lunged at him wielding an entire table. The furniture smashed against Josuke's head, but he didn't even flinch. His gaze slowly rose, full of fury.
—A table? Seriously? —Josuke Hachimizu said, clearly annoyed.
With a devastating punch, he struck the attacker's jaw. The adventurer's body flew through the air like a rag doll, crashing through the guild's wooden ceiling and disappearing into the sunlight. The hole left behind let a golden light pour in, illuminating Josuke's body... as if the heavens themselves bore witness to his wrath.
—I'm sick of all of you!
—The monster can talk?! —a terrified archer shouted.
—Of course I can talk, you idiot! I'm a human like you, not a monster! —Josuke roared, his fangs slightly visible.
Another system notification floated beside him.
[Warning: Environment has become extremely hostile. Recommendation: evacuate the area.]
Josuke growled in disdain.
—I'm not going anywhere. If it's a fight you want... come get it! I'll send you all to that damn Spirit God.
He opened the system to the Weapons tab and materialized a new blade in the air. From the interface emerged a sword black as night, its wavy edge emitting a dark and ancient energy.
[Weapon Equipped: Blade of Darkness – Host's Class: Swordsman]
The adventurers charged him like a mindless mob. Josuke spun the blade, and with a single slash he tore through the ground, sending a wave of darkness that halted the enemy's advance. The power was so immense it cracked the tiles in jagged, trembling black lines.
The crowd stepped back, terrified.
—He's dangerous! Damn monster!
Josuke was breathing hard, the dark blade still vibrating in his hand.
—Tsk... I just wanted to sell some stuff. But it's obvious... they don't want me here.
The blade vanished from his fingers, and Josuke left the guild without looking back, leaving behind a ruined hall full of whispers and fear.
Hours later, Josuke walked down a forest path outside the city. As he passed by, people glanced at him with terror, then fled with desperation in their eyes.
[Blood System: Detection – Humans feel fear and intimidation in the host's presence.]
—You don't need to remind me, it's obvious —Josuke Hachimizu said with discomfort.
The wind brushed the branches, and sunlight filtered through the leaves in flickers of light on the ground. He stopped beside a crystal-clear river, the only place where the world seemed to fall silent.
He knelt and stared at his reflection in the water. His hair fell to his shoulders—tangled, dark, and coarse. His face had hardened, sharper, more feral. His dark eyes shimmered with a supernatural intensity. His toned muscles were the result of years of struggle and survival in the underworld.
—When... did I become this?
He couldn't remember his face before the Underworld. All he knew was that he had survived there for ten years. Ten years of killing, eating, absorbing the blood of countless infernal creatures. Ten years trying to level up to escape that empty, painful cycle... but he had never progressed past level 9 because of his defective system.
He summoned the system in front of him.
[Stats]
Strength: +9800
Speed: +9800
Defense: +9800
Endurance: +9800
Attack: +9999
Experience: +2,000,000 Blood Points
[Current Level: 9]
—Two million points... and I'm still level 9? This system is cursed.
He sighed and opened the Skill Tree. It was like an infinite web of dark and crimson branches stretching through the virtual system. Each node was a skill devoured, acquired, ripped from the soul of a monster.
[Skill Tree]
Hardening – (Crimson Serpent)
Web Creation – (Spider Queen)
Acid Shot – (Crimson Serpent)
Blood Absorption – (Bloodhound Bat)
Electricity – (Demonic Eel)
Water Creation – (Water Slime)
Fire Creation – (Magma Slime)
Sound Shot – (Demonic Wolves)
And hundreds more. Most forgotten. Some locked. Many never used.
—So many skills... and I can't even use half of them because I don't have a "high enough level" —he said sarcastically.
Finally, he opened his identity panel.
[Name]: Josuke Hachimizu
Age: 32
Class: Swordsman
Level: 9
Rank: None
Race: Unknown?
Unique Skill: Blood Absorption
Energy Type: Unknown?
Status: Humanized without genocides
Nationality: Japanese
Location: Seventh World
—Race unknown? I'm human, damn it! —he shouted.
Then he glanced down at a line he'd never seen before.
—"Status: Humanized without genocides"...? What the hell does that mean...?
He dropped onto a log, the river flowing in front of him, a silent witness to his frustration.
—Maybe... I'm no longer human. Maybe... I never was. Or maybe... I just became the monster everyone sees.
The air was fresh, filled with the scent of green leaves and the moisture from the nearby river. Josuke was still sitting by the water, staring into his reflection as if trying to find the one he used to be. But then—
—So you're a transported one, huh?
The voice came from behind. Calm. Confident. As if it weren't speaking to a monster with abnormal stats and miasma so dense it could make low-tier mages vomit.
Josuke turned quickly, startled. There stood a young man with short, tidy bluish hair, and eyes as blue as sapphire gems carved with divine patience. He wore a fine, form-fitting light armor over a coral-colored shirt. A blend of elegance and delicacy.
The boy smiled and extended a hand with absolute ease.
—A pleasure, mister monster. My name is Mark Vilanger, of the Vilanger family.
Josuke frowned. His body tensed by instinct, but he quickly let his guard down. He took the boy's hand with his large, rough palm—grotesquely contrasting with the noble's clean skin.
—Please... don't call me monster. Just call me Josuke Hachimizu. That's my name.
—Pleased to meet you, Mr. Josuke Hachimizu —Mark replied with a slight bow.
While the boy spoke, Josuke studied him carefully. But what truly surprised him wasn't the armor or noble posture—it was the silence of the system. No alerts, no warnings of hostility. No fear readings.
—What's going on? The system isn't detecting fear from him... doesn't he feel intimidated like the rest? —Josuke thought, eyeing him sideways.
—Hey —he finally said— how did you figure out I was a transported one?
Mark tilted his head, as if the question were far too simple.
—Isn't it obvious? You mentioned the name of the God of Souls back at the guild. Every transported person who's come to our world has arrived through him... In this continent, that's almost a sacred symbol. Many see transported ones as chosen heroes.
Josuke smirked to the side.
—Heroes, huh...? What a joke. But tell me something—why aren't you afraid of me like everyone else?
Mark shook his head gently.
—Not at all. Honestly... you seem pretty normal to me. Although... you do smell really bad. No offense. It's... like a rancid stench. A mix of rusty iron, sulfur, and something... rotten.
—Explain —Josuke ordered, eyes narrowing.
—You see... in this world, there are different types of energy. Four main ones are known: mana, ki, aura, and prana... Most races possess at least one of these innately, even if they don't use it. But you —Mark pointed at him like passing a verdict— you don't emit any of them. Nothing. Zero. Instead... from your body leaks dark miasma, a sort of pure negative energy—similar to the monsters found in dungeons.
Josuke crossed his arms, annoyed.
—Wow, smart guy... At least now I get why everyone sees me as a monster. But let's get to the point—what do you want from me? You clearly didn't come here just to chat.
Mark smiled. His eyes gleamed with determination.
—I'll make you an offer. Help me retrieve a peculiar item from a dungeon. In return, I'll use my connections to fix your problem with the guild... and help with anything else you might need.
Josuke raised an eyebrow.
—And why would I help you, kid?
—Because I need your strength. With those huge muscles... you'll be perfect for carrying the resources I collect. We'll only go down a few levels. Nothing complicated. You handle the heavy lifting... I do the gathering.
Josuke turned around without hesitation.
—No thanks. I don't need help from strangers. I can manage on my own.
As he walked away, his expression was calm and confident. He closed his eyes for a moment and thought:
—I've read enough manhwas to know how this ends. The protagonist agrees, goes into the dungeon, gets betrayed, ends up buried... No thanks. I'm not that dumb. I'm not some generic fool. I'm smarter than that, and I'm not even the protagonist.
But then, Mark said the magic words—
—Of course... and I'll pay you a lot of money. …
[Dungeon: Level 1 – Entrance to the First Layer]
In front of a carved stone passage marked with glowing glyphs, Josuke now stood with a huge backpack filled with flasks, tools, and identification scrolls. Beside him, Mark held his wand with the calm of a scholar who knew exactly what he was after.
—So, young Mark —said Josuke with a resigned tone— When do we begin?
—Now, Mr. Josuke. After you.
The two began descending the stairs. As they went down, the surroundings changed: from gray rocks to a crystalline terrain, filled with minerals that shone with their own light.
A new notification popped up in front of Josuke.
[Blood System: Location – First Dungeon Layer, Level 1]
Josuke activated the system's scan to analyze his companion.
[Information]
Level: 32
Race: Human
Class: Mage
Rank: B++
—Level 32, not bad... and me, stuck at level 9 with this useless system —Josuke thought, chewing on his anger.
As they descended through the levels, they gathered crystals, glowing mushrooms, rare minerals, beast fangs. Mark eliminated monsters without effort: acid slimes, minor basilisks, skeletal archers, and the occasional mimic that tried to trap Josuke—though it only managed to make him sigh.
Josuke carried the backpack as if it were made of paper. His toned muscles and abnormal endurance made carrying hundreds of kilos feel like lifting a feather.
Eventually, they reached a dark chamber, sealed by a door covered in grim inscriptions.
—Is this it? —asked Josuke.
Mark nodded solemnly.
—The item I need is in here.
—How many layers have we descended? —Josuke questioned.
Mark smiled, as if waiting for that exact question.
—We haven't gone down any layers.
—What? —Josuke looked confused.
—Dungeon layers are stacked in parallel dimensions, one atop another endlessly. What we've traversed are levels of the same layer. We're now on the sixth level of the first layer.
—Now I get it... —muttered Josuke, and Mark replied with irony—
—No, you don't.
The massive door groaned as it opened. Inside was a colossal, dark hall, adorned with cracked columns. In the center stood a throne of thorns holding an imposing figure: a black, majestic armor, perfectly forged, sitting like a king, crowned with metal and gems.
At its feet, adventurer corpses lay scattered. Many still held their weapons. Total silence. Except for the pressure... which was beginning to rise.
—What I need —said Mark, pointing his wand— is the red gem from the crown of the King of Darkness.
A system notification flashed urgently.
[Information: Monster detected]
Name: King of Darkness
Rank: AA+
Level: 99
—Level 99...? —Josuke's eyes widened— Hey... don't you think this is a bit extreme? Is that gem really worth it?
Mark raised his wand, now glowing with a sphere of compressed water.
—Exactly. It's worth everything.
The armor's eyes opened. A scarlet glow like cursed embers lit up the chamber. The King of Darkness stood, and with him, the skeletons on the floor began to tremble... rising, as dark magic flowed from their bones like smoke.
Josuke stepped back on reflex while Mark raised his wand with firm resolve. A spinning blue water sphere roared at its tip.
—We're getting out of this dungeon with that red gem... whether we live or die! —shouted Mark with sapphire resolve.
—YOU'RE INSANE! —JOSUKE HACHIMIZU SCREAMED IN PANIC.
[Blood System: Warning — Extreme defense level required to eliminate this level 99 monster. Reward: +2000 experience]
Josuke frowned, staring at the monster before him... and his new, unpredictable lunatic ally.
—Please let this life not turn into some typical generic isekai manhwa. I really hope it does... I just want to go back to my world.
Thought Josuke Hachimizu, now facing yet another problem to deal with. It seemed the troubles from the Seventh Underworld had followed him into this world.