CHAPTER 27: A WORLD IN RUINS

The city that once stood as a beacon of life and vitality was now a lifeless ruin. Charred remnants of buildings jutted out of the earth like jagged teeth, their skeletal remains cloaked in thick layers of ash. A burnt metallic tang hung in the air, interwoven with the sickly scent of scorched flesh. Corpses, some twisted in final moments of agony, were fused to the rubble. Flames still flickered in the distance, their mocking dance casting grotesque shadows over the desolation.

I tread carefully over the debris, each step sending ash swirling into the air like ghostly apparitions. The distant groans of collapsing structures punctuated the deathly silence. The world seemed to mourn, the skies darkened with smoke and clouds, casting an oppressive shadow over the ruins.

And yet, I felt... nothing.

These were not real people. They were empty shells, soulless phantoms meant to fill this world. Their deaths were a necessity, a mere means to my survival. My chest tightened, not with grief, but with a strange sense of liberation. If they were not real, then their loss was no loss at all. This thought solidified within me as I moved forward, a grim resolve taking root.

As I scavenged through the wreckage, I hoped for something, anything, that could aid me. My hands dug through charred remains and shattered stone, each piece carrying a story of what once was, but nothing of value revealed itself. The city was stripped bare, leaving me no choice but to press onward, the desolation swallowing me whole.

A notification blinked into existence before my eyes:

[Mission: Holy Sword]

[Grade: Unique]

[Details: Retrieve the ancient, all-powerful blade, thought to have been lost with time.]

[Reward: Holy Sword][Penalty: None][Time limit: None]

The faint glimmer of hope faded as quickly as it had come. The details were vague, the objective seemingly impossible. No one remained to guide me; no voice would answer my questions. I had to navigate this world’s mysteries alone.

Days passed. Hunger gnawed at me, an unrelenting force driving me forward. My stomach growled incessantly, its demands louder than my despair. Stumbling into a forest at the city’s edge, I spotted a deer. Its wide, fearful eyes locked with mine, freezing it in place. My blade flashed in the dim light, slicing cleanly through its neck. Warm blood gushed forth, pooling at my feet.

A screen appeared:

[+5 Exp]

The number was insignificant, yet it piqued my curiosity. What did it mean? As I examined the interface, my gaze fell upon a new element:

[Level: 1 (5%)]

The change stirred something within me, a spark of determination. This was a path forward. The road may have been shrouded in mystery, but it was one I could tread. With the deer’s lifeless body at my feet, I resolved to understand this new system.

For hours, I hunted. My blade tore through the forest’s inhabitants: rabbits, boars, deer, and eventually, even a bear. Each kill brought a small, satisfying notification:

[+32 Exp]

The bear had been a challenge, its claws raking through the air, narrowly missing me. My blade struck true, but not without cost, a shallow gash across my arm. The pain was sharp and immediate, but the rush of victory drowned it out. It finally happened:

[Level UP!]

[+2 Unallocated Stat Points.][+1 to Str, Agi, and End.]

My body thrummed with newfound energy. Muscles felt tauter, reflexes sharper. This, this was power, tangible and exhilarating. The addiction took hold swiftly. I plunged deeper into the forest, seeking stronger prey.

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By the week’s end, I had transformed. Every motion was precise, every swing of my sword deadly. The notifications flooded my vision:

[Level Up!]

[+2 Unallocated Stat Points.][+2 to Str, +1 to Agi.]

[Skill Level Increased!][Tracking: E to D-Grade] [Swordsmanship: D to C-Grade]

My stat window reflected my growth:

[Player: #23081]

[Level: 7 (3.2%)]

[Skills: Plot Armor (U-Grade), Hero’s Growth (U-Grade), Noble Sacrifice (U-Grade), Window of the Soul (U-Grade), Swordsmanship (C-Grade), Tracking (D-Grade), Pain Tolerance (E-Grade), Cold-Headed (E-Grade)]

[Stats: Str-115, Agi-121, End-95, Int-45, Mag-10, Luck-76] [Unallocated stat points: 2]

But animals were no longer enough. My thirst for power demanded greater challenges, stronger foes.

Exiting the forest, I spotted a village in the distance. Thin tendrils of smoke curled into the air, accompanied by faint screams. My pace quickened. As I drew closer, green-skinned figures came into view. Orcs. Brutish, towering forms with tusked faces and cruel eyes. They roared as they pillaged, dragging screaming villagers into chains.

The screen reappeared:

[Activating Window of the Soul.]

[Race: Orc]

[Level: 36 (64.23%)]

[Title: Warrior]

[Skills: Strength (D-Grade), Warrior’s Spirit (E-Grade), Slaughterer (D-Grade), War Cry (E-Grade)]

[Stats: Str-107, Agi-77, End-92, Int-18, Mag-2, Luck-10]

[Status effects: Light wound]

They were formidable, but something about them beckoned me. A primal desire surged within me, urging me to test my strength. My blade sang as I charged forward.

The orcs bellowed war cries as they noticed me, raising crude weapons to meet my advance. My movements were swift, precise. I danced among them, my blade carving arcs of crimson. The thrill of the fight consumed me. For every orc that fell, another notification appeared:

[+68 Exp][+56 Exp]

Their blood stained the ground, mingling with the ash of the ruined village. When the last of them fell, a quiet settled over the battlefield.

The villagers emerged from their hiding places, their faces etched with gratitude. One older man, his hands trembling, approached me with words of thanks. But as I gazed upon them, a darker thought took root. These people… they were no different from the orcs or the animals. Empty shells. This was my trial, and they were merely obstacles.

My blade moved without hesitation.

Cries of joy turned to screams of terror. One by one, I cut them down. Blood splattered across my face as their bodies crumpled. My notifications exploded:

[+14 Exp][Level Up!]

The pop-ups became a symphony, each chime feeding my addiction. When it was over, the village lay silent, a mass grave of humans and orcs alike. I stood amidst the carnage, my blade dripping with blood.

The system responded to my actions:

[Skill Acquired: Murder]

[Skill Level Increase!][Murder: F to E Grade]

[Skill Evolution: Murder -> Slaughterer (D-Grade)][Details: Steal 5% to all stats of each being killed within 15 minutes.]

[Hero Title Retracted. Overwritten by Title: Villain.]

[Granting Villain-Specific Skills:]

[Dark Dominion (D-Grade): Gain temporary control over weaker enemies who fear you.]

[Unyielding Wrath (E-Grade): Deal 20% additional damage when health is below 50%.]

[Despair Aura (F-Grade): Reduce the morale of nearby foes by 15%.]

[Attempting Retrieval of Hero-Specific Skills...]

[Attempting Retrieval: Hero’s Growth... Error. Skill locked by Villain Title.]

[Attempting Override of Plot Armor... Failed.]

[System Recalibration Required...]

The screens flickered madly. The ground trembled beneath me, and the sky began to twist. Planets collided in bursts of ethereal light, their colors blending into a mesmerizing kaleidoscope. My surroundings warped, pulling me into a vortex of chaos.

[All Worlds Merging...][Merging in Progress: 92%...]

The world shattered. And I was left to face what lay beyond.