Ashes of deep night hues painted the shadowlands, streaked with vibrant traces of yin. High above in the mountains, a Night Shade Peacock tilted its head, its iridescent feathers shimmering faintly under the pale light.
Shards of dreams descended softly onto humanity's realm, ethereal and fleeting.
In the dense woods, an otherworldly entity moved effortlessly—unburdened by earthly struggles, driven only by a steadfast will. Moonlight flowed like liquid silver, illuminating a figure moving with the grace of a wandering dragon. As his boot pressed against a fallen trunk, Zaroth stepped into a clearing bathed in the night's glow.
At its center stood a being of pure silver, cloaked in a dark robe, gripping an obsidian odachi. The figure's crystal-blue eyes, sharp and cold, locked onto Zaroth with an unwavering intensity.
Suddenly, a blue panel materialized before Zaroth's vision.
> [Ding—]
[Mission (1), Part (A): Keen Wanderer Completed]
[Host has increased efficiency in Keen Perception.]
[Final Ratings: Very Good.]
Zaroth smirked as the notifications streamed in. The system's missions were more than training tools—they were keys to unlocking his potential. Even the silver swordsman, with his commanding presence, felt like part of this relentless journey toward mastering the blade. Surviving the wilderness with only his senses had sharpened his abilities, blending his Keen Perception with his very essence.
Status Information
Name: Nyxor Zaroth
Age: 17 (Mid)
Star: 357/1000
Mana: 100%
Rank: Pseudo-Steel Squire
Artifacts: Grade 2 Steel Blade, Grade 2 Healing Essence Potion ×2, Grade 1 Iron Bracelets
Luck: Seven Spectral Dragon Soul
System Ability: [Keen Perception]
Grinding stats like this in just a few days? I must be a genius! Zaroth thought, shaking off the self-praise as he locked eyes with the silver swordsman—his new mentor.
The man radiated an aura of disciplined intensity. Heart pounding, Zaroth unsheathed his Steel Blade, the metal glinting ominously under the moonlight. Adjusting his Iron Bracelets, he braced himself for the clash to come.
And then it began.
---
Clang—!
With overwhelming force, the obsidian odachi struck, shattering Zaroth's blade and hurling him backward.
Thud!
Groaning in pain, Zaroth forced himself upright, channeling Mana to heal his wounds.
> Mana: 87% (Depleting)
When the grueling duel ended, a dark red and pink panel materialized, intricate patterns lacing its surface.
> [Ding—!]
[God-Level Mission Detected]
[Host will receive clues to the Evil God's inheritance!]
Zaroth froze, staring at the panel for what felt like an eternity. "Evil God? God-level mission?" The thought alone sent chills down his spine. Am I as good as dead?!
"System, explain this more clearly!" he demanded.
Without delay, another blue panel appeared atop the first.
> [System analysis of this world is complete.]
[Remains of the Evil God's inheritance detected.]
[Clues to the main inheritance provided; branch inheritances remain hidden. Further analysis required.]
> [CLUES]
[Within the hollow cave of the Forgotten Mountain, 50 miles away.]
Resolute, Zaroth decided to claim the inheritance. First, he ate a simple meal, replenished his Mana, and steeled himself for the journey. The allure of the Evil God's power was irresistible, its magnetic pull driving him toward an uncertain fate.
But no matter if he smiled, feared, got excited, or anticipated, the suddenness of all the events greatly shook his brain.
He needed time to digest this...
Time passes, and up in the deep midnight, steps echo, the silence making the quiet steps much louder.
Zaroth used his Mana, faintly illuminating his body with blue energy before dashing forward.
His Mana depleted and reached rock bottom after 6 minutes. But he was now close to the Forgotten Mountain.
The mountain was huge, 40 kilometers in height and 9 kilometers in width.
The air was dense and heavy while its top was rumored to house the Sovereign Rank beast "Monstrous Vile Raven."
The top of the mountain was pure black while its medium and lower were fully white.
Zeroth looked over the looming Gaint mountain, his next steps felt a little weaker than before.
Suddenly, bursts of winds flew past him; a Feral Rank beast was in the trees or maybe even in the bushes.
Zaroth walked while Keen Perception ability was in full swing. He entered a cave, only for it to be filled with Fledgling Rank Ors Moles.
The creatures were small but all simultaneously popped out of the door as Zaroth took one step. Their bloodshot eyes shook his very core while they plunged at him and ripped small bits of his flesh, accumulating to much higher levels.
Escaping from there while desperately trying to hold back his pain and horror.
Next, he encountered a Savage Ranked Bullhorn Rhino.
He protected himself but, in the end, had to use all the potions that he had, and with his Grade 1 Iron Sword breaking apart.
*Shit! Gotta run!*.
Minor damages were on the Rhino, but it lacked speed; opening its mouth, it let out a primal growl before slamming its front legs on the ground and turning away.
Zaroth crashed against the edge of a cave wall while sliding down on the mountain's lower side.
Holding on to the edge, he moved up; his clothes were torn, his body had countless dirt and bruises on it,, and his white hair was a mess.
He looked at the cave with his crimson hateful eyes and moved up. Entering the cave, as if seemingly being called into it.
The cave inside was dark and gloomy, with resounding steps and whispers of demons; maybe his imagination was producing those, or he was insane.
Deep inside of it was located a wide door with weird scriptures and texts.
He was only able to point out a demonic sword with multiple blood eyes with a man holding it in his hands and the sword's "Flesh" connecting to his hand, like a part of himself.
The pale moonlight from above could only allow him to pinpoint this, all things that happened afterward were non-sensible.
First, he walked through a void with only a wide wooden road. Afterward, he moved through the stomach of a massive creature, its internal flesh gross and sticky.
He passed through, well lost himself in a myriad of mirrors that formed a weird maze. Trapping himself and all his senses.
Be it his mental state, rational thoughts, or anything else, were all just dull.
The maze of crystals began to morph into shapes, sometimes in different angles or a chaotic segment that was unpassable.
After passing through even that in a process his mind would explode upon, he finally returned to reality.
A nice cave, with the beautiful handle of a sword, black and pristine, absorbing the darkness around as if desperate to form its blade and complete.
Near it were 3 manuals, two of certain arts while another one was like a diary.
It had a blood-red cover with no title.
Inside of the notes had its first word "Evil God, Chapter 4".