The guard was ready to jump at any moment in any sign of suspicious activity within arena.
But strangely.... Nothing happened.
'I was right! The kid is high on drugs or he's delusion as hell.'
The guard clicked his teeth in annoyance and glanced towards the audiance sections.
He could see that cadet named Ryen, The black horse who just defeated Leo Taylor was also ready to jump in the room but unfortunately nothing happened and he just holding his sword in awkward pose.
The upcoming students around me glanced and Ryen couldn't help but chuckle awkwardly.
'It is seems that guy was wrong after all.'
Ryen thought as he looked towards the arena ground where medics were taking away Lucas on stretchers who was unconscious after getting hit by bullet.
...And then his gaze shifted towards his opponent...The one who claimed that Academy was going to attack by villain.
'His name is Rin Evans...?'
Ryen thought as he looked at Rin's face.
Instead of celebrating his victory, he just stood there in shock.
As if something has gone wrong.
[All the students, please gather in auditorium for Velcrest Academy entrance ceremony within 15 minutes]
...And at that moment, the announcer's voice cut through the tense silence like a sharp blade.
The audience began to stir, murmuring among themselves. Some sighed in relief that the chaos had ended without incident, while others whispered about Rin's strange outburst.
Ryen sheathed his sword with a faint clink and took one last glance toward Rin. The boy still hadn't moved. His hands were trembling slightly, eyes fixed on the empty space where Lucas had fallen moments ago.
"What's with that guy…?" Ryen muttered, frowning.
He had seen fear before — the kind born from losing control or realizing one's mistake. But what he saw in Rin's eyes wasn't fear. It was something deeper… an overwhelming sense of dread.
Ryen's instincts, honed through years of duels and danger, whispered that this wasn't over.
The crowd slowly dispersed toward the auditorium. Medics rushed out of the arena gates, the echo of their boots fading in the distance.
Rin didn't follow.
He stood still, fists clenched, his thoughts a storm of confusion.
"Why… didn't it happen?" he whispered under his breath. "It should've started by now."
No one heard him except the guard stationed nearby, who frowned and muttered, "Kid's still acting weird…" before shaking his head and walking off.
Rin finally exhaled and lowered his gaze to the ground.
Something was wrong — not with his vision, not with his warning — but with the timing.
He had seen it. The explosion. The fire. The screams.
Everything was supposed to begin now.
And yet, nothing happened.
…Or so everyone thought.
From beneath the arena's metallic floor, a faint vibration hummed — so subtle it was drowned by the distant cheers of students heading to the ceremony.
Rin's head snapped up, his eyes widening as he sensed it.
"No…" he breathed, realization dawning like a cold shiver. "It's delayed."
Then, faintly, almost inaudible, came the low, mechanical click of something unlocking beneath the arena.
---
Rin Evans POV:
No matter how much I thought about it.
Somthing was definitely was wrong.
The explosion, The villain attack that should have been earlier didn't happened.
It's was not as I wanted to villain attack in the first place.
If the villain attack didn't happened? Then it's a good thing.
But...
Then why the hell this notification won't go away from my eyes.
—0 minutes and 0 seconds before the main quest begans—
Then I reached the conclusion.
The villain envision didn't Stop.
Instead it got delayed.
I don't know why but it go delay.
That's the only reason I could think of as right now.
And I think that Villain attack is going to happen during the auditorium.
And at the moment, I was in auditorium.
Unfortunately, I can't even asked for that guard to help.
When our gaze met earlier when I was getting out of academy I can tell by the look of his gaze that he thought I was crazy.
Well, I can't do anything about it.
"Please take your seats!"
The announcer's clear, ringing voice cut through the growing chatter.
"We will now begin the entrance ceremony of the Velcrest Academy."
Around me, the crowd settled, the rustling of robes and whispers fading into silence.
"First, we will hear the opening address from the principal."
I knew these lines by heart.
Then, an beautiful woman with platinum hair stepped onto the stage, her long robe sweeping across the polished floor.
My heartbeat quickened.
The principal or you can even tell her headmaster or mistress of the academy.
As she reached the center of the platform—
BOOM!
A deafening explosion shook the hall.
"Kyaaaah!"
Screams erupted from somewhere in the audience as the floor trembled beneath us.
I shot to my feet, heart hammering.
So it begins.
I was right, the attacked didn't stop.
Instead it got delayed.
Shit...
The story of this world was finally starting in earnest.
----
"KYAAAAAAAH!!"
"What's going on?!"
"Did something happen?!"
The piercing scream shattered the quiet like glass. In an instant, the once-orderly auditorium dissolved into chaos.
Students shot to their feet. Murmurs turned to frantic voices as hundreds of eyes darted around, searching for the source of the disturbance.
On the stage, academy officials exchanged panicked glances, their dignified expressions cracking as they struggled to make sense of the sudden commotion.
But the woman's scream didn't stop. It echoed again and again, sharp enough to rattle the air.
And me?
I knew exactly what was happening.
The first episode of the novel.
The magical power outburst incident at the entrance examination and then villain invaded.
Only the difference is that this incident was happening in entrance ceremony instead of entrance examination.
I don't why as matter of fact.
Anyway... despite the changes in the plotline.
This was it—the pivotal event that would propel the protagonist, a mere commoner, into the spotlight.
Ryen was already in the spotlight after he defeated the everyone most favourite Leo Taylor who is antagonist of this story in early chapters.
Only to become second protagonist in very later chapter of the novel.
But this is where the story truly began.
My heart pounded as I shot to my feet.
Where is he?
Ryen.
The protagonist of this entire tale. He had to be somewhere in this crowd.
Now that I can't on plot or the guard who I threatened earlier.
My only option is him.
I scanned the sea of unfamiliar faces, weaving between frantic students as my eyes darted from one row to the next.
Come on… where are you—
"Found him."
Far across the auditorium, a single head of black hair stood out like an ink blot in a field of gold and brown.
Ryen.
Without hesitation, I pushed through the crowd, my steps quick and deliberate.
The distance was greater than I expected. Each second felt like it stretched into an eternity.
I need to reach him.
I have to reach him before it starts.
"It" is about to begin.
My breath came sharp and fast as I cut through the panicked students, keeping my eyes locked on the boy with black hair.
Finally—finally—I made it to his side.
Safe. Just in time.
Or so I thought.
The air behind us suddenly swelled with a violent, unseen force.
A massive surge of mana erupted from the back of the auditorium, so dense it made the very space warp and shimmer.
"Magical power outburst! Evacuate the students—now!" someone shouted, their voice cracking with urgency.
But it was already too late.
The wave of mana struck before anyone could move.
My body jerked as if pulled by an invisible hook.
The world tilted. The light around me twisted and blurred, colors smearing into black.
And then—
Nothing.
Only darkness.
---
"Ugh…"
A wave of nausea hit me like a hammer, twisting my stomach into knots.
This was worse than anything I'd imagined.
I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head, desperately trying to steady myself.
It felt like someone had hung me upside down and rattled my skull like a drum. My insides were spinning, my balance shot to pieces.
Slowly—painfully slowly—the nausea began to fade, and my vision cleared.
Cold, gray stone stretched beneath my palms.
I looked up.
Massive stone walls loomed on all sides, their surfaces rough and ancient, like the interior of a giant labyrinth. There was no ceiling I could see—only an endless dark above us.
"What… where is this place?" someone whispered, their voice cracking.
"What's happening?!" another cried, panic breaking through.
All around me, the students who had fallen with me clutched their heads or staggered to their feet, their faces pale with confusion and fear.
The air itself felt heavy, almost oppressive, like the walls were leaning in to swallow us whole.
And then—
"Everyone, please remain calm!"
A steady voice cut through the chaos.
I turned toward the source and wasn't surprised.
Ryen.
Of course it was him.
The so-called hero stood tall despite the disorienting fall, his sharp eyes sweeping the group with calm authority. His voice carried an unwavering steadiness that immediately drew everyone's attention.
"As long as we keep our heads, we can figure this out together," he said, his tone firm but reassuring. "Panic won't help anyone."
Even now, even here, his righteous, dependable personality shone through—exactly like in the webtoon.
This was classic protagonist behavior.
"What should we do first?" someone asked, their voice trembling.
Ryen didn't hesitate.
"Check for injuries," he ordered. "Before anything else, make sure no one is seriously hurt. Help anyone who needs it."
The students quickly moved to follow his lead, their fear giving way—at least partially—to action.
I watched them scatter, half-expecting heroic music to start playing in the background.
Typical Ryen.
Even trapped in a giant stone maze, he was already taking charge, just like the shining main character he was meant to be.
And me?
I stayed quiet, keeping my head down while my thoughts raced.
As far as I know, in the novel no one was transported anywhere.
The only thing that happened was the explosion, monster attacks then after the one who behind these attack reveal himself.
This was major difference from the novel.
The plot is already in shithole for me as if this moment.
I can't count on it.
Meanwhile, something Ryen hadn't accounted for was already in motion.
Among nobles or someone who is from higher family, hierarchy is everything.
Even if someone is weaker or less capable, the moment their rank is higher, the others will bow their heads.
And these were young heirs—kids who hadn't yet shed their inherited arrogance.
But Ryen?
He didn't look like a noble at all.
It was only a matter of time before someone decided to challenge him.
Sure enough—
"…Why should we listen to you?"
A voice rang out, sharp and dripping with disdain.
"Yeah. Who are you supposed to be?"
The speaker stepped forward with a confident swagger, his brows drawn together in a permanent scowl.
"My name is Luke Ashborn," he declared proudly, his chin lifting. "Third son of the distinguished House Ashborn."
There it was. The troublemaker makes his move.
Ryen met his gaze calmly, saying nothing, while Luke tilted his head, clearly expecting a reaction.
Before Ryen could say anything, somthing happened.
"Wh-what is that?!"
A sudden, panicked shout cut through the tense silence.
—Woooooo…
A low, haunting moan rolled across the hall as a shadowy figure materialized behind us.
A creature, pitch-black from head to toe, appeared into view like a nightmare dragged into reality.
The air grew cold. Students froze in place as the thing drifted forward, its eyes glowing faintly, sweeping over us like a wolf picking the weakest prey.
A Specter.
A wraith said to feast on human flesh and bones.
In short, we are that monster food.
Around me, panic rippled through the crowd—gasps, frantic whispers, the scuffle of retreating feet.
But then, as if to prove himself, someone strode boldly toward the creature.
"Tch. Just a mere magical beast? Watch and learn. [Fireball]!"
It was Luke, of course. The same loudmouth who'd challenged Ryen moments ago.
He raised his hand, mana flaring around his fingers.
And… nothing.
"Wh—what…? Why isn't it working?!"
Luke eyes went wide as the spell fizzled before it could even form.
Of course it failed.
This wasn't an ordinary space.
The Specter glided closer, its eerie glow reflecting in Luke panicked eyes.
Luke stumbled back, his hand trembling as the last trace of mana fizzled out between his fingers.
The Specter's hollow gaze locked onto him, its translucent form rippling like smoke in the wind.
A faint whisper—no, a chorus of whispers—slithered through the air, words I couldn't quite make out. But the tone was unmistakable. Hunger.
"Damn it, move!" Ryen barked, shoving Luke aside just as the creature lunged.
The Specter's claw tore through the air where Luke had stood a moment ago, slicing through stone as if it were paper. Dust exploded from the wall, the sound of grinding stone echoing through the vast chamber.
Ryen grabbed Luke by the collar and threw him toward the group. "Get back with the others! Don't try to fight it unless you know what you're doing!"
He turned to the rest of us. "Everyone, stay together! Form a circle—keep your backs covered!"
His tone cut through the panic, and the students scrambled to obey.
I, however, didn't move immediately.
Because I knew something Ryen didn't.
Specters weren't just dangerous—they were immune to normal magic. The only way to harm one was with enchanted weapons or purified mana, neither of which any of us had.
And by purified mana I meant holy mana.
The only one who has it is Ryen, becouse of his talent.
Other than him... were basically screwed.
The creature let out another shriek, the sound so sharp it made my ears ring. Its long, ghostly arms stretched toward the nearest student—a girl who froze like a statue, her eyes wide with terror.
"Move!"
Ryen dashed forward again, pulling the girl out of the way at the last possible second. The Specter's claw missed her by inches, tearing through her cloak instead.
Then Ryen took out his sword and dashed towards the monster only to stop few steps before.
Why? Because more Specters were popping out of mid air like nothing.
Withing seconds we were surrounded by hoard of Specters.
...And then massive change.
One more Specter pop out of mid air but somthing about him was different.
He was more massive in size, power and he more aggressive!
People panicked.
Screams erupted. Some ran. Others froze. One poor student vomited on the spot.
Before Ryen had chance to attack them, they attack first.
A massive fist came hurtling forward, slamming directly into the protagonist.
Ryen barely had time to register the attack before he was sent flying across the arena stadium.
My breath caught in my throat.
Shit.
Ryen hit the ground with a sickening crunch, rolling once—twice—before slamming into a pillar and falling limp.
"RYEN!" someone screamed.
A girl with pink hair.
No. No, no, no.
This wasn't how it was supposed to go.
And I?
I couldn't move.
I stood there, heart pounding in my ears, locked in place by the sheer wrongness of it all.
That thing was not in the original story.
In the original story, the monster were troll.
Not this!
Fuck! I really shouldn't have cursed my friend novel!
—Main Quest begains now.—
And at that moment, The notification change and offically quest begains.
All I wanted to curse at this moment but I know that won't help me.
But I don't have time for this.
My mind raced.
In the story, there was a troll. But only one. It was enough to push Ryen to the brink. Enough to awaken something inside him. A moment of transformation.
But now?
This would kill him.
Unless…
Unless I helped.
"I need to get to him," I said, taking a shaky step forward.
"You're insane," the someone from besides me hissed. "We need to regroup! You're injured. You can't even—"
It was Luke, the same one that Ryen saved earlier.
"I don't care!" I snapped. "If we don't do anything or fight back we will dead anyway!"
Luke hesitated. Then cursed under his breath.
The students were getting killed and some brave one trying to fight spectors with group.
As for me? My only weapon was destroyed in that explosion earlier.
My gun with rest of bullets were gone.
So.
What did I have?
No weapon. No plan. No backup. Just a fractured rib, a bruised ego, and a terrifying awareness that I wasn't the main character.
But I did have something else. Knowledge.
This wasn't just a deviation. This was a full-blown divergence from the script.
"Okay. I'll help too.
He drew his weapon—a broadsword etched with runes from his dimensional bracelet—and stepped in front of me. His stance was shaky, but determined.
Luke stepped forward, sword raised.
I watched him, teeth clenched, a bitter taste rising in my throat.
He was going to die.
The way his hands trembled, the way his eyes kept darting toward the approaching trolls—it was all wrong. This wasn't some hardened warrior from the novels. He was scared. Human. Just like me.
And humans didn't win against monsters like these.
Even so, he charged towards them.
At the same time I couldn't help but thought about Ryen, the protagonist of this novel.
Ryen was an overpowered protagonist—there was no doubt about that.
But he was not invincible-type protagonist.
That meant, at the start of the story, he was strong—but not invincible.
If this …was truly the beginning of his arc—if this was supposed to be the moment that cracked him open and awakened whatever slumbering power hid beneath his skin—then things were spiraling far beyond what the story ever intended.
This wasn't a character-breaking moment anymore.
It was a character-ending one.
Ryen couldn't awaken if he was dead.
And that was exactly where this was heading.
I watched Luke charge forward with every ounce of bravery he could muster, his rune-etched sword glowing faintly in the dim light. He let out a war cry—raw, desperate—and slammed into the nearest Specter with all his might.
It barely flinched.
The creature swatted him aside like a ragdoll, and I heard bones crack. His body crumpled, tumbling across the stone floor like a tossed doll, landing in a heap near the wreckage of a shattered pillar.
But he didn't stop, he stood up and drink some kind of potion and charged towards Troll more aggressively then before.
I took a step back, heart pounding in my chest. My breath came in short, sharp gasps. This wasn't just a bad ending.
It was all wrong.
And then, in the distance—I saw him.
Ryen.
He was bleeding.
It was uncertain.
Blood dripped steadily from Ryen's arm, staining the stone floor beneath him. His breathing was shallow but controlled, as if he were trying to pretend he wasn't in pain. The student he'd shielded—some first-year boy who'd frozen up—was now being pulled away by another cadet, eyes still wide with shock.
Ryen didn't move.
He couldn't. Not yet.
He needed at least a minute—just sixty seconds—to regulate his mana, to stabilize the flow that had burst when he took that hit.
But the Specter wasn't going to wait.
The massive Specter roared, its body radiating the unnatural pressure of an unstable enhancement spell. Cracks webbed across the stone beneath its feet as it lunged again—this time, not at Ryen, but toward the Luke.
Luke met the charge with a sharp grunt. Sparks flew. The ground shook. But it was clear now—the fight was wearing on him. His shoulder sagged with every block. His footwork, usually crisp and powerful, had started to slow.
He wasn't holding back. Not even a little.
The monster's just that strong.
At this moment of dispaire, there is only one who could stop the troll.
But will he?
He Is not type to help others, specially Ryen.
But then I heard familiar voice.
"I'll fucking kill you."
A calm, confident voice cut through the chaos.
Leo Taylor stepped forward, his grip tightening around the spear in his hands.
Without hesitation, he lunged, his weapon piercing through the air, aiming straight for the Specter.
The spear flew.
It sang through the air like a javelin hurled by a god, slicing the wind apart with ruthless precision. The Specter turned too late—just enough for the weapon to pierce beneath its armpit, where the bone-armor was weakest. The impact was explosive. Mana surged along the spear's shaft, lighting up the troll's veins like a cursed tree struck by lightning.
The creature howled.
It staggered back, swiping wildly, its blood—black and boiling—splattering across the ground in thick gobs. The scent was acidic. Rotten.
Leo didn't pause to celebrate the hit.
He was already moving, dashing to the side, ripping the spear free and twirling it in a tight arc. His eyes didn't hold fear. They didn't even hold anger.
Only contempt.
"You monsters are getting real annoying," he said flatly.
The second massive Specter roared and lunged forward, its club raised high.
Leo ducked, then spun, narrowly dodging the blow that cratered the earth where he stood a second ago. Dust shot up around them, but Leo didn't waver. He surged forward, using the momentum of the dodge to jam the butt of his spear into the troll's knee.
Crack.
The leg bent unnaturally, the troll collapsing with a snarl of pain and fury. Leo raised the spear for a killing blow—when a blur shot out from the side.
A Darkspawn.
One of the smaller, goblin-like creatures—twisted by corrupted mana—rushed him with jagged blades in both hands.
Leo shifted his stance instinctively, the tip of his spear flashing outward.
But it wasn't fast enough.
The goblin's blade nicked his shoulder, tearing through the side of his uniform.
Blood sprayed.
Leo winced—but his retaliation was brutal.
He slammed the shaft of the spear into the creature's skull, crushing it into the dirt.
More were coming.
A dozen, maybe more. Swarming like insects. Crawling over the ruins. Some clung to walls. Others leapt from debris.
This was no longer a duel.
It was an ambush.
And Leo knew it.
"Tch… didn't expect this many," he muttered, spinning his spear once more. Then he looked towards Ryen and shouted.
"Hey, you idiot! Is that the best you can do? I can't believe I lost to you."
Ryen in response just manage a weak smile and said, "Just give me Minute or two."
"Tsk, How pathetic."
A monster of this caliber was something only professional hunters or seasoned adventurers could take down. For a cadet to defeat it so effortlessly was beyond comprehension.
But Leo wasn't just any cadet.
He was a Master, born with the talent of a Weapon Master—one of the two protagonists of this story.
And right now, he had just proven why.
Weapon Master.
An A-rank talent that granted its wielder proficiency in all forms of weaponry, allowing them to wield any blade, bow, or spear as if they had trained with it for years.
But that wasn't all.
The more they fought, the more enemies they faced, the stronger they became.
On paper, it might not sound that impressive, but in a world where magic reigned supreme, a perfected martial art was something far more dangerous than most people realized.
Leo was standing over Ryen like a shield, spear braced and eyes narrowing as another wave of Darkspawn charged.
"Come on then," Leo muttered, rotating his spear behind his back. "Let's see what your corrupted god really gave you."
I staggered forward, adrenaline drowning out the pain in my ribs. My body screamed with every movement, but my mind was clear. Sharper than it had ever been.
Ryen was stabilizing his mana. Leo was buying time. Luke—somehow still alive—was keeping the spectors occupied, his potion-fueled strength pushing him past what a normal man should be capable of.
But this wouldn't last.
The next wave would overwhelm them.
And me?
I needed to act.
Even without weapons.
Even without power.
Because I wasn't just a side character anymore.
I knew this world better than anyone.
I knew what came next.