For a moment, silence swallowed the room entirely. The rain hammered against the window in relentless sheets, as if it was trying to drown the echo of that humming voice of rain.
Silas Veil stared into the empty air where golden runes still shimmered like dying embers. His breath came out in slowly ragged bursts.
What the fucking hell was even that?
He took a trembling step backward, his head bumped into the coffee table. The knife then fell on the floor, laying relentlessly, glinting wetly in the neon light spilling through the blinds.
Then something else stirred the air—a faint rustle, felt like a fabric brushing against the silk.
Silas's heart lurched. He then dropped into a half crouch, snatched up the knife, and gripped it so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The blade trembled as he pointed it into the shadows.
"Whoever the fuck you are—come out right now!" His voice cracked on the last word. "Don't you fucking fuck around with me."
Nothing answered back to him.
For a few seconds, the only sound was the relentless drumming of rain and the harsh whistle of Silas's own breathing.
Then—
A pale flicker of blue light stuttered into existence directly in front of his two eyes.
He staggered back, nearly tripping over the coffee table. The knife then wavered in his grip.
Symbols and letters cascaded across the air, coalescing into a sharp-edged screen of translucent sapphire. Each letter glowed with cold, electric fire.
[Greetings, host.]
Silas started to blink rapidly, sweat beading on his forehead.
Host…?
The screen shifted, lines of text unfurling like digital scrolls.
[True Awakening initiated.]
[SSS-Rank Talent: Awakened.]
[Infinite Skills Potential detected.]
[Maximum Level capacity unlocked.]
[Warning: Most skills are currently locked. Complete quests to unlock them.]
[Multi-Dimensional Shop now accessible.]
Silas felt as though his brain had short-circuited. He lowered the knife slowly, jaw slack.
"SSS-rank...? infinite...skills...? max potential...?" His voice trembled. "Are you fucking kidding with me?"
He let out a sound that was half a laugh, half breathless wheeze. His emotions skyrocketed, breath went out of control, heart started to tremble on the beats of 200 beats per minute.
Me...? SSS-rank talent? The best in the world...?
His pulse thundered in his ears. A single bead of sweat crawled down the side of his face.
Is this some kind of cruel cosmic joke? Or am I seriously... the strongest now?
His pulse thundered in his ears. A single bead of sweat crawled down the side of his face.
Is this some cruel cosmic joke? Or am I seriously… the strongest now?
A manic giggle bubbled up in his throat.
This has to be a dream... This has to be.
Abruptly, Silas lifted the knife and slashed a shallow cut across his left forearm.
Pain exploded instantly through his nerves. Blood welled crimson, running in thin rivulets down his arm.
"Fuck—" He hissed and clutched the wound tightly to stop the flow of bleeding, wincing as the sting tore through his muscles.
But even as pain throbbed through in his arm, he began to laugh like a maniac—low at first, then it started to grow louder—out of control, it was sharp and almost feral.
So it's real. The pain's real. This isn't a dream.
A grin split his face, eyes started to glimmer with feverish light.
"Finally..." He whispered under his breath. "Finally... my fucking dream came true."
A grin split his face, eyes gleaming with feverish light.
He threw his head back and let out another sharp, choked laugh.
"I can be the best in the world now. No more crawling here and there like an insect... No more looking up to the bastards like Nathan Cross."
His voice dropped to a vicious growl.
"System."
The floating screen pulsed gently in front of his eyes, almost as if it was breathing.
[Awaiting command.]
"What do I have to do… to become the strongest?"
There was a faint hum, like distant chimes echoing through glass.
[To reach peak power, host must:]
[Complete quests.]
[Clear dungeons.]
[Level up.]
[Increase all stats.]
Silas exhaled sharply, the sound of his breath was shaky and uneven.
Complete quests... Clear dungeons... level up...
It all felt unreal—and yet it set his blood on fire.
"I want my first quest." He snarled. "Right fucking now," said with madness in his voice.
The screen pulsed a brighter blue.
[As you command, host.]
[Initializing first quest…]
Lines of code raced across the interface, symbols spinning in intricate spirals. A new screen snapped into place, the letters gleaming white.
[New Quest Generated:]
[Quest Name: Trial of Blood.]
[Objective: Clear an E-Rank Dungeon solo.]
[Rewards: Skill Unlock Ticket x1, Stat Points x10, $5,000 cash bonus.]
[Failure Penalty: None.]
Silas felt his lips peel back in a wolfish grin.
An E-rank dungeon, huh...
He scoffed, wiping the smear of blood from his arm.
"That's nothing. I've been terrified of E-rank dungeons my whole damn life— and now I finally get my chance to rip them apart." Voice filled with excitement and feat.
With a menacing grin on his face, "I will surely do that with a big damn smile on my fucking face."
He tilted his head, eyes gleaming.
"It's finally time for me to shine."
His laughter rang out in the cramped apartment, echoing off the cracked walls. Outside, lightning split the sky in a blaze of white fire.
[Host may access the Multi-Dimensional Shop for supplies prior to the quest.]
Silas stared at the flickering words, still smiling like a man who'd glimpsed salvation—or salvation.
So... This is how my story begins.
He clenched his fists, feeling the sting of the cut in his arm.
SSS-rank infinite potential. The world's going to remember the name Silas Veil.
He took a single step forward, shoulders tightened, eyes locked on the glowing screen.