Aiden moved through the ruins, each step kicking up dust and debris. The shattered hall behind him still smoldered faintly from the Trial collapse. His arm throbbed, his chest burned, and the system's warning still pulsed like a heartbeat in his veins.
He reached the outer corridor, where scattered mana crystals glowed weakly. Every broken weapon and torn robe told the same story: the Trial had been merciless, and everyone else had been erased.
"Survivor…" a voice hissed from the shadows.
Aiden spun. A figure stepped out, tall and perfectly poised, a smirk forming on a familiar face.
Kael Ardent.
The academy's golden prodigy. His hair perfectly in place, his uniform immaculate, his dagger gleaming as though it had just been polished.
"Looking for clues, or are you just scavenging?" Kael's eyes gleamed with a dangerous mix of amusement and superiority.
Aiden tightened his grip on the cracked amulet. "You survived too."
Kael chuckled lightly. "Of course. Someone has to see you struggle."
Aiden felt a cold surge. He's going to enjoy this too much.
Kael stepped closer. "You know, I could have finished you off when the Trial collapsed. I could have taken your system—or at least made sure it destroyed you. But… well… the System seems to like you."
Aiden's tattoo burned faintly on his arm. It's already reacting to him?
Kael leaned down, voice low and sharp. "That ability of yours… unstable. Dangerous. And you're already broken inside. You should be dead, but you aren't. That makes you… interesting."
Aiden swallowed. "Interesting? You're insane."
Kael smirked wider. "Maybe. Or maybe I just know what comes next. You're not just Level Zero anymore, Aiden. You're… something else. Something the academy won't handle if you keep surviving."
The ground trembled beneath them. Mana still rippled from the ruins behind Aiden, spreading into the corridors.
Kael's expression turned serious. "Listen carefully. The next Trial—the Survival Rank Exam—doesn't care about rules or mercy. Monsters, traps… rivals like me. And that system you have?"
Aiden felt the pulse of energy in his veins. It's unstable. Dangerous. Uncontrollable.
Kael continued: "It will try to kill you if you push it too far. And trust me… you will want to push it."
Aiden's jaw tightened. "I'll survive it. Whatever it takes."
Kael tilted his head. "We'll see. But consider this your first warning, Level Zero. Out there, survival isn't just about power. It's about knowing who will stab you first."
A sudden roar echoed from the far corridor. Both Aiden and Kael turned sharply.
A hulking shadow moved among the debris—larger, faster, and more lethal than anything they'd faced before. Its claws scraped the stone floor, sparks flying.
Kael drew his dagger, his eyes narrowing. "Well… looks like your first real challenge is already here."
Aiden swallowed hard, system warnings flashing violently on his tattoo.
[WARNING: TARGET DETECTED. THREAT LEVEL: F-Rank Survival Creature]
[SYSTEM INSTABILITY HIGH]
The monster's glowing eyes locked on Aiden. It let out a deafening roar, shattering the silence.
Aiden took a deep breath, gripping the amulet in one hand, his other hand trembling over the tattoo.
Kael's smirk faded. "Do whatever it takes… Level Zero. Just don't die before I do."
The creature charged.
Aiden's heart pounded.
[TIME TO SURVIVE: 00:02:47]
He had no choice.
He had to fight.
And this time… the System would not hold back.