Darkness swallowed the sky.
A huge shadow stood over me, its outline shaking the ground beneath my feet.
My breath came out weak. My body couldn't move.
Is this how immortality ends…?
The thought echoed in my mind as everything faded—
—Cut.
---
The present returned.
A cold wind pushed dust out of the cave ahead of us.
The entrance looked like a giant mouth waiting to swallow someone whole.
That "someone" was always me.
Ovi, the Middle Class mage and leader of the group, crossed his arms and pointed.
"Varun. Go inside first."
Behind me, the twin swordsmen—Sword One and Sword Two—grinned like they enjoyed this.
"Come on, Varun. Lower Basic guys are used for scouting, right?"
"Yeah, and he's immortal. Let him handle it."
The healer girl shifted nervously, her hands fidgeting with her robe.
"W-We shouldn't push him too much… he's still recovering—"
Ovi snapped, "He won't die. That's his whole role."
Everyone stepped back.
I stepped forward.
My shoulders were already heavy from carrying everyone's bags. I didn't complain. I never did. Being immortal meant being useful in the most painful ways.
I walked into the cave.
The sound of my footsteps echoed.
The air was colder inside, like it was holding its breath.
A low rumble vibrated through the stone walls.
My heart thumped once.
Twice.
A pair of red eyes appeared in the darkness.
Before I could react, something huge crashed into me.
The impact threw me across the cave floor.
Pain burst through my body, then everything became blurry.
My vision slipped away—
—and my body stopped moving.
For a moment, there was nothing.
Then the familiar sting came back.
My chest rose again with a sharp breath.
My wounds pulled together slowly.
My heartbeat returned.
Immortality…
It never let me rest.
It only sent me back to the same dying point every time.
I opened my eyes and whispered in my mind:
People think immortality is a blessing… but they've never died of hunger.
They've never revived again and again just to feel the same pain twice.
They've never had to live as the weakest person in a world full of magic.
"R-Run!" someone shouted from outside.
Footsteps scrambled away.
Ovi's voice cracked, "Retreat! The beast's too big!"
They didn't even check if I was alive.
They never did.
Slowly, I pushed myself up.
My legs shook.
My fingers trembled.
The monster roared again deeper inside the cave.
I looked at my hands—
the same hands that had died countless times.
Is this all I am? A shield? A sacrifice?
A breath escaped me.
"No…" I whispered.
The cave rumbled as the beast approached again, its heavy steps echoing through the shadows.
I stood up straight, even though my body begged for rest.
If immortality won't protect me… then I'll protect myself.
I won't stay Lower Basic forever.
Away inside church
Two robed priests stood inside a dimly lit underground hall.
A massive stone tablet floated before them, glowing with ancient symbols.
The older priest's voice shook.
"It is awakening… the Unholy Ultimate Excalibur."
The younger priest swallowed hard.
"Seven pieces scattered across the planets—Sun, Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Saturn… all reacting at once."
A line of light streaked across the tablet.
The old priest whispered:
"When all nine planets align… the shards will form one blade. A sword so long it can pierce a world."
"And then… shrink into mortal size," the younger said, fear in his eyes.
The chamber trembled.
The old priest whispered:
"The prophecy is starting."