CHAPTER 40 : HAUNTING REGRETSAs the witch’s chilling whispers lingered in Howard’s mind, he felt himself slipping into a dark, dreamlike haze. He drifted deeper and deeper, his surroundings dissolving until he found himself standing in the middle of a vast battlefield. Smoke and ash choked the air, and the echo of steel clashing against steel filled his ears.The nightmarish battlefield stretched out endlessly before Howard, trapping him in its suffocating grip. The earth beneath him was soaked with the blood of countless fallen warriors, and the air reeked of smoke and despair. Every broken weapon, every torn banner embedded in the ground seemed to hold a memory of the battle’s brutal intensity, echoing with the silent screams of the lives lost here. The storm raging above mirrored the turmoil in Howard’s heart, casting flashes of blinding light that momentarily illuminated the devastation around him.Raindrops pelted down with merciless force, cold and unrelenting, mingling with th
CHAPTER 41 : A NEW JOURNEY“They’re in danger.” declared a paladin, his voice low but resolute as he spotted Loren and his friends trapped in the swamp’s nightmarish haze. Without hesitation, he sprinted towards them, the radiance of his armor cutting through the shadows.As he neared the witch, the paladin raised his hands, and a spiraling vortex of light swirled into existence, gathering energy before launching toward the witch with divine force.“Disturber!” the witch hissed, her eyes flashing with anger as she twisted her form to evade the radiant tornado. The power of light scorched the air as it passed, leaving a crackling trail that made her recoil, shadows writhing at the edges of her figure.“You will not harm these souls any longer,” the paladin said, his voice firm and unwavering. The witch’s laughter faded as her anger intensified, her form momentarily flickering under the power of his light. He advanced, his presence steady and commanding, ready to face her dark magic h
CHAPTER 42 : XUN“The third crystal will appear in Festerfort.” the system’s voice echoed, breaking through the eerie silence. This time, unlike its usual cryptic tones, the system delivered its message with unusual clarity and precision, as if the stakes demanded no room for ambiguity.In the shadows, a woman stood with poised determination. Her long black hair was tied back neatly, a contrast to her sharp, focused eyes. She worked quickly but methodically, inspecting her long rifle. Its sleek, shiny black surface gleamed in the faint light, a testament to the care and precision she devoted to her weapon. It was more than just a tool, it was an extension of herself. Satisfied with her preparations, she stood, slinging the rifle over her shoulder.The landscape before her was the remnants of what once had been a thriving city: Festerfort. Now, it was a place where time and war had left their indelible scars. The air was thick with the smell of moss and decay, as vegetation slowly rec
CHAPTER 43 : DAGGER AND BULLETXun hurled his dagger with expert precision toward the woman. As the blade sliced through the air, he suddenly disappeared, reappearing in the blink of an eye at the dagger’s trajectory. In one fluid motion, he seized the weapon mid-flight and slashed downward at the woman.But she was faster. Anticipating the attack, she twisted her body, narrowly avoiding the blade, and leapt backward. With a smooth movement, she raised her rifle and fired, the shot ringing out through the quiet ruins. Xun’s dagger flashed as he deflected the bullet, the sound of metal clashing against metal reverberating in the empty streets.Adjusting her stance, the woman shifted from defense to offense. Her rifle's barrel gleamed under the faint light as she unleashed a rapid volley of shots toward Xun, each bullet aimed with precision. Xun, however, moved like a shadow given form. His dagger spun and twirled in his hands, deflecting every bullet with unnerving precision, the metal
CHAPTER 44 : BLADES, BULLETS, AND BLOODThe ruins of Festerfort trembled with the chaos of battle. The rhythmic clang of metal meeting lead bullet echoed through the desolate city as Xun and the woman engaged in a deadly dance. Sparks erupted with each deflected shot, the woman’s rifle crackling like thunder while Xun’s dagger moved like a serpent, weaving through her onslaught with unnerving precision.Xun smirked as he deflected another bullet with a flick of his blade. “Persistent, aren’t you?” he taunted, circling her like a predator.The woman said nothing, her sharp eyes locked on him. She reloaded her rifle with practiced speed, the faint click of the mechanism the only answer to his mockery. Her movements were calculated, each step carefully measured as she sought the perfect angle to strike.Then, the ground shuddered.A low, guttural rumble rolled through the ruins, growing louder with each second. Dust and loose debris trembled, cascading from the remnants of nearby struct
CHAPTER 1: THE BEGINNINGLoren, a 28-year-old employee at a large corporation, finds himself trapped in a world of ambition and deceit. While he appears to lead a normal life with a stable job, a comfortable apartment, and a partner who once believed in his potential, he feels hollow inside. The daily grind has turned into a battleground of backstabbing and sabotage, isolating him further despite his commitment to integrity.Loren’s competence is overshadowed by accusations of incompetence. On the day he is called to the executive room for the third time, a sense of dread settles in.“Loren, you’ve been called to the executive room again,” his colleague says, feigning sympathy."What's it this time?" he mutters."He is done for" his friend whispered with a smirky smile.Inside, his boss's face is a mask of fury. "Why did you delete all of our company’s asset data? What are you trying to accomplish?""What? That’s impossible! I swear, I didn’t do it," Loren stammers, his heart racing.
CHAPTER 2: STRANGE POWERHoward began to explain that Loren had inadvertently become involved in a "Holy War" a brutal war that involved various races from across this strange world. Each participant was chosen to fight one another to collect magical crystals that held extraordinary powers capable of granting a single wish to the victor."You’re not from here," Howard continued, his voice low and urgent. "But somehow, your fate is tied to this battle. If you don’t fight and win a crystal, you won’t be able to return to your world."Confused, Loren felt like he had stepped into a nightmare. "But… I don’t know how to fight," he said, desperation creeping into his voice. "I don’t even know how I ended up here."Howard fixed him with an intense gaze. "That’s why I’m here," he replied firmly. "I’ll teach you, but you have to trust me and train hard. They are after you, especially once they realize you’re unprepared."As they spoke, Howard elaborated on the threats looming over them. T
CHAPTER 3: THE ELVES AND THE VILLAGE OF HEILENAnfalen, the summoner, and Nelaeryn, the elven archer, fled the battle after witnessing Loren unleash his incredible power. Loren’s quick victory over Olalen, the formidable elven warrior, left them trembling in fear. “Damn it, did you see that? What kind of power was that?” Nelaeryn exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock.“My blinding light wasn’t long enough to counter that attack. He crushed us without a hitch,” Anfalen replied, his voice laced with frustration.“We need more help to deal with them especially after Olalen was defeated so easily.” Realizing their own strength would not be enough to defeat Loren and Howard, Anfalen suggested.“But the more of us involved, the greater the risk. He might kill us all in an instant.” Nelaeryn shook her head, hesitant. “We have no choice,” Anfalen replied firmly, determination hardening his voice. “We must return to Montmart and seek help from the Assassins.”They soon returned to Montmart, the