[Your Time Is Up]
Immediately after Syr’s message, Joe’s body crumbled. His limbs gave way, breaking as he collapsed to the ground. Blood gushed from his mouth, and the wound on his stomach fully unraveled. He laid there—in a pool of blood, motionless.
Shelly’s frantic voice broke through the haze, but it was distant, muffled. Joe couldn’t make out the words. His vision blurred, then dimmed completely.
In that moment, he was certain.
He had met his end.
[13 Years Ago...]
A six-year-old Joe sat alone in a cold, dark room. The only sound piercing the oppressive silence was the faint echo of his quiet sobs.
After a few moments, the door swung open. Light poured into the room, chasing away the shadows and revealing the space for what it was—a small, bleak chamber of grey walls and tiled floors.
Joe sat against one of the walls, his knees pulled up to his chest and his arms resting atop them. His teary eyes squinted at the light as he looked toward the door.
Standing there, framed by the glow, was his mother.
Her long black hair cascaded down her shoulders, complementing the elegant black dress she wore, one that accentuated her poised figure. But Joe’s attention wasn’t on her attire—it was on her face.
Scars marred her once-smooth skin, fresh and angry. Her blue left eye barely opened, swollen and bruised. These marks were new, different from those she had the week before.
Seeing her like that, Joe clenched his fists tightly. Her smile, wide and warm, didn’t comfort him. Instead, it twisted his stomach with a sickening ache.
Her heels clicked against the tiled floor as she approached him, each step exuding authority and confidence—qualities Joe couldn’t comprehend in that moment. Why was she smiling? Why did she walk so boldly? Wasn’t she in pain?
She stopped and sat beside him, placing a gentle hand on his head and ruffling his hair.
“Why’s my little champion crying out here by himself?” she asked, her smile widening.
“I’m not crying!” Joe quickly scrubbed at his face, trying to erase any evidence of his tears.
She chuckled softly at his attempt. “You’re a very bad liar, you know that?”
Joe’s cheeks flushed pink as he stubbornly wiped away the last traces of tears. “I’m not lying!”
Without another word, she pulled him close, pressing his head against her chest. “It’s going to be okay, Joe. I promise.”
The warmth of her embrace shattered the walls Joe had tried to put up. His tears flowed freely, pouring out like a river.
She held him, her hand gently stroking his hair, her smile never wavering.
It took several moments before Joe finally spoke, his words muffled against her.
“He did it again! Father beat up Chloe, and I don’t know what to do,” he cried, his voice shaky as he sniffled and tried to catch his breath.
“Oh, that…” His mother’s hand stilled for a moment. She gently lifted Joe’s head from her chest and looked him directly in the eyes. She wiped away the remnants of his tears with her fingers.
“You’re Chloe’s brother. If you’re the one crying, who will she depend on?” Her voice was soft, but her words carried weight. She tried to smile, but Joe saw the sadness that lingered in her gaze.
“I don’t know how,” Joe stammered, his body trembling as he thought of his father. “He’s too... I can’t…”
His words faltered, his fear too overwhelming to voice.
His mother looked up at the ceiling, her expression distant, as if searching for strength. After a few moments, she spoke again.
“You know, Joe, I’ve failed both of you as a parent. I know it’s not fair to ask you this, but please…”
Her gaze returned to him, and this time, her smile wavered. Tears began to spill from her eyes as she looked at her son with a mix of sorrow and hope.
“Can you protect Chloe for me?” she asked, her voice cracking with emotion.
Joe’s own tears began anew, cascading down his cheeks as he nodded fervently. “I will! I’ll protect her no matter what!”
His mother pulled him close again, her embrace tight and full of gratitude. She leaned down and whispered softly in his ear:
“Thank you.”
[Present Moment]
Joe’s eyes fluttered open, heavy with the weight of what felt like centuries of sleep. He sat up, clutching his head as he tried to untangle the haze clouding his thoughts.
“Was it a dream?” he murmured, his mind sifting through the fragments of a now foggy memory from 13 years ago. "Why would I dream about that of all times?" His face twisted with bitterness. He didn’t want to remember his mother—not after what happened. The thought of her brought an ache to his chest that felt like a knife twisting deeper.
“I’m sorry, Mom. I couldn’t keep my promise.” Joe buried his face in his hands, trying to block out the tears that spilled relentlessly. He sat there, letting the wave of emotion crash over him.
When the tears subsided, and he finally wiped his face dry, a sharp memory jolted through his mind. The fight.
His eyes darted around, scanning his surroundings. The chaotic forest was gone, replaced by an eerie silence. Then his gaze landed on Chloe, fast asleep, clutching her staff tightly.
Even without speaking, Joe could tell she’d pushed herself far beyond her limits. Her Mana Signature was faint, weaker than he’d ever sensed before. His thoughts shifted to himself. His own injuries—the ones that should’ve been fatal—were gone. His body was whole, not even a scar remained.
“Shelly must’ve done this,” Joe muttered, guilt gnawing at him. Healing him in that condition must have been incredibly draining.
[I See You're Awake]
Joe yelped, clutching his chest as if trying to calm his hammering heart.
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“Come on, man! You nearly gave me a heart attack!”
[Don’t Be Such A Baby. A Little Surprise Won’t Kill You.]
Joe glared at Shelly’s presence before speaking. “Can we use my inner thoughts to communicate? I don’t want to wake her. I’m the reason she’s like that in the first place. The least I can do is let her rest.”
[I’m Already In Your Head. We Can Converse Whenever You Like. Now, Let Me Catch You Up On Your Progress.]
[Main Quest Complete!]
• Reward: 15,000 Rank Points.
[You Have Cleared The Sub-Dungeon: The Black Forest]
• Reward: 25,000 Rank Points.
• Additional Reward: +20,000 Gold Pieces.
[You Have Unlocked The Dungeon's Hidden Item: The White Fang]
A white light coalesced in Joe’s palm, forming a sharp fang that gleamed briefly before vanishing.
[The White Fang Has Been Added To Your Inventory.]
[You Have Ranked Up!]
• New Overall Rank: 9 [15,400/30,000 Rank Points Required].
[Achievement Unlocked: Baby Steps]
• Condition: Complete Your First Main Quest.
• Reward: 10,000 Rank Points.
[Achievement Unlocked: First Dungeon]
• Condition: Clear Your First Dungeon.
• Reward: 10,000 Rank Points.
[You Have Ranked Up!]
• New Overall Rank: 10 [5,400/35,000 Rank Points Required].
[Achievement Unlocked: First Boss]
• Condition: Slay Your First Dungeon Boss.
• Reward: 15,000 Rank Points.
[You Have Slain The Mana Beast 'The Great Wolfin' (Rank 15)]
• Reward: 15,000 Rank Points.
[You Have Ranked Up!]
• New Overall Rank: 11 [400/40,000 Rank Points Required].
[Updated Attributes]
• Physical Attributes: 27
• Mana Attributes: 45
• Psychological Attributes: 22
The smell of blood yanked Joe out of his reverie. Turning, he spotted the source—a massive beast, split cleanly in half, lying a few paces away. The Mana Beast Core nestled in its chest still burned brightly, pulsating with energy.
Joe approached cautiously, crouching next to the creature. His blade, still slick with blood, lay nearby. He sheathed it before activating [Predator] and consuming the beast entirely, including its core.
The taste was foul, almost unbearable. Joe clamped a hand over his mouth, forcing the bile back down as a surge of mana coursed through him, overwhelming in its intensity.
[Due To Devouring The Remaining Mana Of The 'Great Wolfin' (+2,700) Rank Points To Your Mana Pool.
• Current Mana Pool: 8,445.
[+1 (Rank 15) Mana Beast Core Has Been Added To Your Inventory.]
Joe stood and made his way back towards Shelly. His steps were deliberate, his mind racing. A sudden thought struck him, and he reached out to Syr using his inner voice.
“Syr, you mentioned that Mana Beast Cores can be used to upgrade equipment. Can you help me with that?”
The efficiency of mental communication surprised him. It was a welcome change from muttering to himself like a madman.
[Sure, I Can Use The Core You Just Collected And Improve Your Attire.]
"Let’s do it."
[You Have Used 1 [Rank 15] Mana Beast Core To Upgrade Your Attire.]
[Upgrade Ongoing...]
A flash of light enveloped Joe, and he felt weightless, as though suspended in mid-air. The sensation was divine, like angels were wrapping him in their embrace. For a fleeting moment, it was as if he had stepped into heaven itself.
[Upgrade Complete.]
As Syr’s notification echoed in his mind, the light faded, and Joe found himself grounded once more. His transformation was complete.
His boots looked mostly unchanged but felt sturdier, as though they’d been custom-fitted for battle. His pants, though snug before, now fit perfectly without restricting his movement. His jacket, however, had undergone a dramatic transformation, extending to below his knees and morphing into a black coat. The collar flared high, wrapping securely around his neck like armor.
[Equipment: Black Sheep]
• Description: An Outsider Needs To Survive Until The End. Their Equipment Can Become A Source Of Strength In Their Time Of Need.
• Effect: +15 Rank Points To Your Physical Attributes [Passive].
• Equipment Class: C.
Joe flexed his muscles, feeling a newfound strength coursing through his body. His figure felt more secure, and stable. It was a lifesaving upgrade—one he desperately needed after nearly dying.
[+6 (Rank 5) Mana Beast Cores Will Be Required To Upgrade Your Mana Tool (The Black Blade). Do You Accept?]
"Yeah, I’m fine with it." Joe gave his consent.
[Upgrading Your Mana Tool...]
A brilliant white light surrounded the blade at Joe’s rear. He watched as it glowed intensely before the light gradually dimmed.
[Upgrade Complete.]
Joe unsheathed the blade, inspecting its new form. The once-dormant inscriptions along the blade now pulsed with life. Of the six inscriptions, two were glowing faintly white. The blade had become thinner yet maintained a heft that distinguished it from ordinary swords. Its length had increased slightly, though its deep black hue remained untouched.
[Mana Tool: The Black Blade (C Class)]
• Description: A Powerful Sword Forged With A Powerful Mana Beast Core.
• Effect: By Channeling Mana Into The Blade, The Black Blade Can Condense It And Double Its Output. The Only Caveat Is That The Blade’s Weight Increases Proportionally To The Mana Infused.
• State (Unsealed): 2 Of 5 Seals Removed.
• Boost: X2 Rank Points To Your Mana Attributes (Depending On Mana Infused Into The Blade)
• Additional Boost: +10 Rank Points Each Time A Seal On The Blade Is Removed
• Mana Cost: -25 Mana Pool Rank Points/Minute While Unsealed.
Joe studied the glowing inscriptions, which he now understood were seals. Though he didn’t fully grasp the intricacies of Mana Tools, he was determined to learn.
"Can you seal it? I can’t afford to drain my mana while I’m not using the blade."
[Sure, The Black Blade Has Been Sealed.]
The glowing inscriptions dimmed and faded as Joe slid the blade back into place at his rear.
“Let’s check my attribute window and see where we’re at.”
[Attribute Window]
Personal Information
• Name: Joe White.
• Overall Rank: 11 [0/40,000 Rank Points Required].
• Special Class: Outsider.
Skills:
• Outsider’s Enhancement.
• Predator [Unique].
• Outsider’s Perspective [Passive].
Inventory:
• Mana Tool: Black Blade [C Class, Sealed].
• Mana Tool: Scorching Dagger [C Class, Sealed].
• +1 (Rank 4) Mana Beast Core.
• +1 (Rank 10) Mana Beast Core.
• Dungeon Item: The White Fang [C Class]
• Academy License
Gold:
• 20,000 Gold Pieces.
Attributes:
• Physical Attributes: 27 (+15 Rank Points From The Black Sheep).
• Mana Attributes: 45.
• Psychological Attributes: 22.
• Mana Pool: 8,445/???????.
Joe couldn’t help but smile at his progress, but the moment was fleeting. A pit formed in his stomach as a question clawed at his mind, demanding to be asked.
"Tell me, Syr. What is an Outsider, and why the hell was I transported to this place?"
Joe sat beneath a nearby tree, his gaze distant as he waited for Syr’s answer.
[Well… It’s Complicated, But I’ll Try To Simplify It For You. Outsiders Are Individuals Transported From One Planet To Another After Their World Has Been Deleted. To Put It Simply, They Were Not Born In That World And Do Not Belong There, Hence The Name 'Outsider.' As For Why You Were Sent Here, I Can’t Answer That.]
"Why not?"
[God Asura Has Forbidden Me From Doing So.]
"Screw him, Syr! Just tell me! You can’t expect me to wander this planet aimlessly without knowing why I’m even here. I need answers!"
[You Must Watch Your Tongue When Speaking About A God. You’re Lucky God Asura Has Not Been Himself Lately. Otherwise, You Would Be Dead.]
Joe’s heart raced. The idea that he could be killed for a single insult was outrageous—and terrifying.
[Just Think Of This As Your Second Life.]
Joe snapped. "My second life? You expect me to think of this as my second life? What about the others, Syr?" His voice cracked as he yelled, tears spilling freely.
"What about the billions who lost their lives? Why did it have to be me? Why did my sister have to die!"
Joe covered his face with trembling hands, his sobs muffled by his palms.
[I Can’t Answer All Your Questions, But I Can Tell You This: You’re Not The Only Person From Earth Who Has Been Transported To Grisha.]
Joe lifted his tear-streaked face, hope flickering in his eyes as he wiped them dry. "Are you serious?"
[Yes. Your Family Could Still Be Alive.]