The sky burned behind Andrew. The once peaceful world Andrew had a sword to protect was no more.
His world was collapsing—cracking, breaking, melting into a red and black ruin—but he did not stop running.
His boots slid across broken stones, his robe torn from endless battles, his hands soaked in the blood of monsters he had cut down to reach this final place.
He had only one wish left. It was what kept him moving.
[Reach the end. Break the seal. And have his wish granted.]
That was the only way to save this world. That was the only hope Andrew was left with. The hopes and dreams of his comrades, of his family, they all rested on his shoulders.
So he ran.
Even with his lungs burning and his magic almost empty, he pushed forward.
A massive gate stood in front of him. It was the last room of his world's core. According to the system map, this was where the final door was. But once Andrew entered this place, there would be no coming back.
He would not get another chance.
Andrew did not look back.
He slammed his palm against the gate and magic circles immediately lit up underneath his feet. The stone door groaned, then opened with a shuddering scream.
Monsters came rushing at him. They were all monsters he had faced before. Some had taken a new form, the others looked even more twisted compared to before.
And they all chanted his name, calling out to him to try and stop his madness.
"Andrew… Andreww… ANDREW!"
He swung his hand, and his spell exploded outward. A storm of blue light shot from his fingertips and smashed into the wave of monsters. The fire burned everything in its path, leaving no crumb behind.
"I don't have time for you."
He whispered, his staff clutched in his hand tightly.
The monsters kept coming and he kept cutting them down. There was an endless rain of blood and monsters in his path.
By the time he reached the inner room, only one enemy remained.
The commander of these demons.
He stood in front of the seal like a guardian of death. His armor was black as night, his eyes glowing like burning coals, and he held a massive spear. A smile broke out on his face as soon as he saw Andrew.
"So you finally made it, mage. Your world is dying. You should lie down and accept it. Perhaps the system will take pity on you and give you another chance."
The commander almost laughed at his own words.
Andrew summoned his weapon—a long staff topped with a blade-like crescent. It was a beloved gift from his family which had broken once but had been reforged with new life. It was called Moon Bringer.
"I'm not here to die. I'm here to finish everything."
Andrew's voice was resolute.
The commander lunged.
Andrew dodged and swung his weapon.
The blade clashed with his spear, sending sparks scattering across the floor and the shockwave pushed both of them apart. The commander was strong—much stronger than any monster he had met.
But he had fought for a thousand years and he had nothing left to lose. And he would not stop now.
Their battle shook the entire chamber. The ceiling cracked, rocks fell, and each attack sent waves of magic across the room.
The commander tried to push him back, but he pressed on, fighting like a man who had burned his last fear a long time ago.
He aimed for his heart and Andrew blocked it with his spear.
He tried to crush him with raw strength but Andrew used his speed, dancing past him.
Finally, he saw an opening and he twisted his body and swung his blade upward in one swift motion.
The commander's body froze and a second later, his head rolled across the stone floor.
His body collapsed with a heavy thud.
Andrew did not celebrate. He barely looked at him.
All his attention went to the thing behind him—the glowing, ancient seal carved into the wall. It pulsed weakly, as if waiting only for him.
His heart raced as his body took a step forward.
"This is it. My wish… it will finally come true."
He whispered.
His wish… the one he had chased for a thousand years…
To have his people back. He just wanted everything he had lost to be returned back.
The system had promised him that breaking the seal would grant his one wish—any wish. Even resurrection should be possible.
Andrew raised his hand and slammed it into the seal.
Cracks spread across the glowing surface.
The seal shattered.
Andrew held his breath—
—and waited for his wish.
Nothing happened.
He frowned.
"System… grant my wish."
He said softly.
Silence.
"System…?"
A chime echoed in his ear.
[Ding.]
[Wish cannot be fulfilled.]
[Target world no longer exists.]
[All life signatures have been devoured.]
[No restoration possible.]
Andrew felt the blood drain from his face.
"What… did you just say?"
He clenched his fists.
"How can it be impossible? You told me—the system told me—breaking the seal would grant my wish!"
Another cold chime.
[Your world no longer has a presence.]
[Your people no longer exist in any form.]
[There is nothing left to restore.]
His breath trembled.
"You… lied to me…"
"No. We lied to you."
A voice said from behind the broken seal.
A demon stepped out of the darkness, tall and thin, with skin like polished onyx and eyes glowing silver.
Andrew raised his weapon immediately but the demon chuckled.
"The system can grant any wish… within a certain perimeter, of course. But humans like you work better if you do not know everything. We used it to control your people… and it was all too easy as well. The seal was a lie too. It was nothing more than a gate we used to gather the energy needed for our journey to the next world."
The demon explained and Andrew's whole body froze.
"Next world…?"
"Yes. Your people fed us well. Their suffering gave us exactly what we needed. So, thank you, human. You worked so hard for a lie. I am here just to express my gratitude… and to show how thankful I am. In your last moments, you deserve to know the truth. That way… you would give me the tastiest betrayal."
The demon said with a charming smile.
Something inside him snapped.
The demon turned to leave—
—but Andrew moved faster.
His blade sliced his neck before he could take two steps. His head fell, and he stared down at it, shaking with anger.
"I lived a thousand years for NOTHING? I fought… killed… sacrificed everything… for a lie? Why us?"
He whispered.
His hands trembled as his heart burned with fury. He could barely breathe from how much betrayal pressed down on him.
"Why us?"
He asked again, but there was no one to answer. The only one who could answer lay at his feet.
"I'm not done yet. If you demons are moving to the next world… then I'll go there too. Until every last one of you have been eradicated, I will follow you."
He whispered.
He placed his hand on his chest, and a magic circle formed beneath his feet.
[Ding.]
[Warning: Activating Soul Transfer Spell.]
[You will lose all powers.]
[All skills will reset.]
[You will be forced to start from the beginning.]
"That's fine. I will take those odds if that means I will get a shot at my revenge."
Andrew said. His voice was cold, steady, determined.
[Are you sure?]
"Yes."
The magic circle glowed brighter, swallowing his body in white light.
[Wish accepted.]
[Transferring soul to a suitable host in the next world.]
[May we meet again once the game starts, player #001]
His body dissolved as his soul drifted.
And his consciousness faded—
__________
When he opened his eyes again, his head throbbed painfully. He felt heavy, like he was sinking inside a body that didn't belong to him.
He was walking.
Or rather… his body was walking on its own.
His feet moved forward without his control. His hands trembled at his sides. Soft fabric brushed against his skin, and he realized he was wearing something long and flowy.
His vision was blocked by a thin white cloth.
A mark…?
"What is this…?"
Someone tugged his arm sharply.
"Don't talk. And don't make a scene. You should be grateful my daughter n agreed to marry someone like you. An orphan with no family, no status, and no future. You don't deserve this marriage, so at least behave properly. The only good thing you have is money, but you don't have a sense for it."
An older woman hissed next to him.
Andrew blinked.
Marriage?
Him?
He had never even been proposed to in his past 1,000 years because he was considered too savage. And now he was getting married?
He looked around. They were walking down a hallway decorated with flowers, lights, and ribbons. People watched from the sides. Their eyes were full of pity… or disgust.
The mask brushed his eyelashes and his dress was heavy. Even his body felt weak and tired.
"Was the spell… successful?"
He questioned as bits and pieces of memory began to come back to him. He recalled where he was and what he was doing.
Most important, he recalled his desire to get revenge.
The older woman grabbed his arm again, her nails digging into Andrew's skin.
"What's wrong with you? Don't you dare ruin this."
Andrew stared ahead.
He sensed danger. He sensed something wrong. And he knew one thing for sure:
'Both I and this body do not want to cooperate with this forced marriage.'
The hallway ended.
A large hall opened before them, filled with people dressed in fancy clothes. A stage stood at the front, decorated with gold cloth and bright flowers. It looked like a wedding ceremony.
All eyes turned to him.
The older woman pushed him forward with a fake smile.
"Go on. Don't embarrass me."
She whispered harshly, but Andrew did not move.
"Mark, move. Do you want to get punished for your disobedience?"
The older woman whispered but Andrew lifted his hands and grabbed his veil and then pulled it down.
Everyone gasped.
He stared at them with clear, sharp eyes.
"I'm leaving. Right now."
He said, his voice calm but loud enough for the entire hall to hear.
The hall erupted in shocked whispers. Some covered their mouths. Some stepped back.
The older woman looked like she had been slapped.
"What is wrong with you?!"
The woman yelled, reaching toward his arm.
Andrew slapped her hand away with a sharp smack causing everyone to stand still in shock.
Andrew turned around, lifted his dress slightly so he could walk, and headed toward the exit without looking back.
Behind him, people had started to yell at each other to catch him. But none of it mattered to him and he was not worried.
Why? Because within 10 mi
nutes, the earth was about to enter the game. Demons were about to come here as soon as the big clock struck midnight.
And then, a new hunt would begin.