A hot wind blew softly, carrying the stench of iron and rotting flesh rising from the earth. Beneath the gray sky, the battlefield stretched out in eerie silence—strewn with lifeless bodies, mangled beyond recognition.
Dried blood etched terrifying patterns into the soil, as though painting a hellish canvas left behind by demons.
In the pitch-black void, I could hear cries for help. But why… why can't I move? Why does my body feel so heavy?
"Ugh… no…!" That voice—filled with fear and agony—cut through the suffocating heat, accompanied by the vile laughter of those creatures. I knew then… something terrible was happening.
What should I do? What can I even do? What does this all mean? Am I being punished? Was my sin so great? Why am I in this world? Why!!?
"You could call it punishment... or maybe a trial."
A woman's voice? Who? Who's speaking?
"Your sins aren't unforgivable, but you did make a serious mistake. You're aware of that, aren't you?"
"What's so wrong with just enjoying video games? I never bothered women, never hurt anyone's feelings!" I screamed into the void.
"See? Your ego is so inflated, you can't even recognize your own flaws. You're rebellious, selfish, short-tempered—and you can't even control your own thoughts." Her gentle tone pierced deeper than any blade.
"If you had just gone to celebrate your father's birthday that day… you wouldn't have ended up in a place like this. Am I wrong?" she added mockingly.
...
Dann didn't answer. Only the soft sobbing of a young man lying in darkness could be heard.
"hehehe, Now listen. Accept your mistake and rise. There's something you need to do in this world. Or… do you prefer whining, waiting for some miracle to bring you back to life?"
...
"You're the last one left on the battlefield. That man you called uncle—he's gone. And he had a family waiting for him."
"I also have a daughter about your age," Dann recalled Blard's words. The memory jolted his frozen body.
"Well? Want to keep going? Or is it game over? Aren't you a hardcore RPG gamer?"
"Do I get a wish option?"
"shame on you—"
"Grant me one wish, and I'll wipe out every monster in this world."
"Seriously? There's no shortcut, you know," she replied playfully.
Dann suddenly rose as if levitating. "If you want me to save this world, then you must—"
"No way!" —YOU!! she snapped, clearly annoyed.
"But I'll give you one key answer. Your power… is yourself."
Dann paused, calming his thoughts and suppressing his anger, trying to decipher her words.
"I can see you've made your choice. Good luck. Bye bye."
Darkness was devoured by blinding light, carrying with it the unshakable resolve that now gleamed in the young man's eyes—he had found his purpose.
The cries and wails faded. Dann slowly opened his eyes. He stood under bright moonlight. Before him lay a sea of blackened blood and shattered fragments of hope.
His gaze fell on someone familiar. But all that remained were empty eyes filled with sorrow."I'm sorry, Uncle Blard. You were the first good person I met in this world."
GWHAHAHAHAHA!!
Laughter erupted from a horde of Hogkin and the Hogking, crashing into Dann's ears. He reached into his coat pocket."So this… is my power?"
A silver revolver. Click. "No bullets huh?" he muttered, checking the chamber.
"This fate is fucking joke," he whispered.
Dann then walked toward the source of the Hogkin's laughter.
What he saw upon arrival was a scene of tragedy—like a filthy pigsty during mating season."Who's that scrawny human?"
One Hogkin stood, pushing the female beside him aside. He looked furious.
Dann's eyes fixed on something resembling a blazing cauldron. Inside, baby chicks were being boiled alive.
No anger. No hatred. Dann simply aimed his revolver at the approaching Hogkin. The others looked at one another, clearly confused.
"So that's how it is."As Dann took aim, it felt like a game—his vision enhanced like in the RPGs he once played.
"I can see your stats clearly. So… what happens when I pull the trigger?"
"BUOHHHHHHH!!"
The enraged Hogkin charged forward with thunderous steps, like an earthquake shaking the mountains.
BANG!!
The gunshot shattered the silence—just as black rain began to pour from the Hogkin's decapitated head.
"Die, you bastard!" Dann growled as he landed gracefully, dagger in hand. He had vanished from the moonlight—now standing behind the Hogkin, as if he'd teleported.
The scene stirred the Hogking and his horde. They discarded their worn-out playthings. Some of them trembled in fear.
"Who is that human? A holy knight sent to destroy us?" one Hogkin muttered, drenched in cold sweat.
BOHIYOHHH! The Hogking tossed his leftovers with a grunt.
"What are you afraid of? He's just a scrawny human pretending to be tough."
"You lot—attack! All at once!" the Hogking roared, his voice splitting the night.
The ground trembled. The Hogkin horde charged, their rage murderous—like hyenas chasing a lone deer.
Dann stood his ground. He raised the revolver skyward and pulled the trigger.
BANG!!
Dann vanished.
The eight Hogkin halted, startled by the blast. They searched frantically for the human.
"Bohiiihyy, where'd he go?" They looked around.
Above, the full moon glowed brightly. At its center, a small shadow hovered. A young man cried with joy—and aching loneliness.
"This all feels like a dream… Mother, Father, Ruphina… I miss you all."
Dann closed his eyes, letting go of his past with glittering tears. As he descended from the sky, he flipped midair—ready to strike.
His eyes locked onto the confused Hogkin below.
"That pattern… Capricorn!!"
Dann aimed at the Hogkin standing at the Capricorn constellation's first point.
BANG!!
With each shot from above, a Hogkin fell—decapitated in sync with the star pattern.
Dann now stood amidst the fallen, soaked in black rain. THUD! He dropped to his knees, breathing heavily.
"Why do I feel so drained? Don't tell me I've used too much Mana?" he muttered, gasping.
"This is bad… If it's true, I've got no Mana recovery items. And I can't even check my own status?"
"Calm down, Dann. Treat this like an RPG. You usually have 20 or 30 MP left… and it regenerates slowly..."
"I just need to buy time… until I can shoot one more time at that damn Hogking… haah," he exhaled, weary.
As he strategized, the earth trembled again. The hot wind swallowed the cool breeze of night."What's going on?"
Dann looked ahead. From the shadows, two glowing eyes stared at him. The Hogking emerged, radiating crimson heat, wrapped in black mist. Its slow steps cracked the earth.
BUOHHHHHHHHHGHHR!!
Its roar was different—so powerful Dann had to cover both ears. Even the ruined buildings trembled and collapsed.
"This… there's no doubt. He's entered Berserker Rage mode. I need to escape."
Dann stood and turned to run.
But after only a few steps, the Hogking leapt into the air—landing in front of him. The impact threw Dann ten meters back.
He tried to rise, but something was wrong. His revolver had slipped from his hand—now out of reach.
"Oh… So you're the mysterious knight I've heard of? "The Hogking's thunderous voice echoed as it stomped forward.
"What the hell is this monster talking about?" Dann thought.
"Don't worry… I won't kill you… not yet. Not until you scream."
BUOOHGHHHHHHHHHRG!!!
Dann Fasto blacked out instantly—his mind shattered by the monstrous roar from point-blank range. The Hogking's massive hand gripped Dann's fragile body.
BUOHHHHHHHHHRG!!
It all happened so quickly, even the moonlight couldn't bear witness. But the result was clear.
Do you know what a crushed apple looks like in someone's fist?