After leaving the village he had burned with his own hands and caused monsters to attack, despite the difficulty of the situation, the villagers managed to fend off the disaster. However, more than half the villagers perished. The corpses were gathered around the village chief to minimize further losses, and he contacted the city to inform them of the situation.
After the call ended, a strange black fog began to surround the edges of the village. Suddenly, the villagers heard continuous screams, one after another.
The village chief, holding his sword, stepped outside to investigate, only to find the black fog covering everything while all the survivors had vanished. A wave of fear washed over him, similar to the terror he felt as a soldier fighting in a blood-soaked war, a war that resembled a meat grinder. He never imagined he would feel such dread again after leaving that hell. But today was a day of catastrophe. His home burned, his son disappeared, and his wife was dead.
As the village chief was engulfed in despair, he heard calm footsteps breaking the silence of the black fog. He looked toward the source of the sound and saw a woman standing in the darkness, as if she were a vision from a distant dream.
Her silky black hair cascaded like a waterfall, reaching her waist and shimmering under the faint glow of the moonlight piercing through the fog. Her violet eyes radiated a mysterious aura, as if they held the secrets of the universe. Her face was a masterpiece of artistry, with smooth ivory skin, full lips painted like rose petals, and a delicate nose that gave her features perfect balance.
She wore a long black silk dress that flowed gracefully around her body, adorned with silver threads interwoven to reflect the moonlight like glittering stars in the night sky. The sleeves were long and sheer, revealing a hint of her smooth skin, while the hem of her dress moved like waves under a gentle breeze.
Her bare feet remained untainted by the ground, as if she floated above it. Around her neck was a diamond necklace with a purple gem at its center, mirroring the brilliance and allure of her eyes. Every step she took seemed to leave an invisible trail of beauty and fear.
Despite her captivating presence, the village chief felt an overwhelming sense of danger accompanying her beauty, a mix of attraction and dread that made his heart race with terror and intrigue. He tried to muster his courage to speak, but the words failed him.
The woman opened her small mouth and spoke softly:
"I must complete that little one's work."
The village chief was overcome by a terrible feeling, urging him to flee, but the black fog surrounded him and took his life.
As the woman was about to leave, she noticed a flat stone with something inscribed on it. Curious, she approached to read the text:
"The Black King, Lord of Death, passed through here."
She smiled faintly and said in an enchanting voice:
"You call yourself the Black King, Lord of Death? I'm truly intrigued by you. And yes, that's a fitting title for you, for you are the one I've chosen. I am the Eternal Night Queen."
Yes, the black cat that had been watching Eden was none other than the leader of the Eternal Night Guild.
All of this unfolded while Eden remained unaware that no one in the village survived, and that he had received help from someone he least expected—not once, but twice. The first time was when the wind spread the flames across the village rapidly, and the second was when the survivors were wiped out. At that moment, Eden was hiding in a cave, waiting for sunrise to rest and avoid the nocturnal monsters.
Leaning his back against the cave wall, Eden reflected on everything that had happened, from his return to his original world to the battles and the destruction of the village.
"System, are you the one who brought me back to this world?"
[No.]
The cold voice echoed in Eden's mind, shocking him.
"Can I communicate with the system?"
[Yes and no.]
"How so?"
[You can receive assistance from an administrator within their limits.]
Eden recalled when the system mentioned it was just a beginner-level administrator.
"How can I raise my rank to become a higher administrator?"
[By fulfilling certain conditions, your rank will increase.]
"What are the conditions? And what's the benefit of raising my rank?"
[Many benefits, such as learning who brought you back to your world or who sent you the novel's book.]
A crazed smile spread across Eden's face upon hearing this, but he quickly regained his composure and focused on his question.
"Is everything in the author's notes present in this world?"
[Yes.]
A smile formed on Eden's face as he said:
"Then the pieces of the Wish Cup exist."
[Yes, everything exists—artifacts, weapons, skills, characters, and events.]
Despite the world's difficulty rising from a hellish level to an abyssal one, it had become intriguing. Eden declared firmly:
"I will gather the pieces of the Wish Cup."
The Wish Cup is a cosmic-level artifact. By gathering all its pieces, the cup can be restored, granting a single wish that even the Lords cannot oppose.
"Also, where did I get such a unique skill?"
[You obtained it through an element from a land.]
"What element are you referring to?"
[The pocket watch your friend Zane gave you. Before his death, he wished for you to create memories and live a better future. Because of this, the pocket watch resonated with his wish and became your unique skill.]
Eden felt a strange emotion. Even after his death, Zane cared so much for him that the pocket watch responded to his desire.
"When I gather the pieces of the Wish Cup, I'll reunite with you and Anya. Until then, I'll live, no matter the cost."