Jayden.
FELL—from the sky.
Wind roared past his ears like screaming spirits. The clouds parted as he plunged through them, limbs flailing uselessly in the void. The sunlight split around him, heat prickling his skin. But no matter how much he screamed inside—no sound escaped.
He slammed into the earth like a meteor.
A crater. Smoke. Silence.
Then, a heartbeat.
Jayden groaned.
His body ached. He rolled onto his side, coughing up dust and air.
Rain tapped against his back.
His vision blurry. His ears rang.
Then—
Welcome, New Challenger.
Objective: Defeat 7 Bandits.
Reward: EXP + 250 Greed Coins
Another notification blinked.
You have received: WOODEN SWORD.
System Note: Crafting is now enabled. Resources required.
Jayden pushed himself up, trembling. A wooden sword shimmered into view beside him. He grabbed it, staring forward.
Seven bandits stood in formation before him. Silent figures. Their faces masked with cruelty.
Each: Level 7.
Jayden checked his own tag as it hovered above his head.
Level 1.
They began to move.
Jayden braced. He didn't know what was going on. Didn't even know if this was real. But as one of the bandits lunged, he sidestepped on pure instinct. Another followed—he blocked with the flat of his blade.
Sparks flew. Pain cracked through his wrist.
He retaliated—swung with a scream. The sword connected with a bandit's cheek.
It barely flinched.
HP dropped slightly. A scratch. That's all.
Jayden backed up.
But the bandits weren't waiting.
WHAM! A punch to the ribs. His lungs emptied.
THUMP! Another bandit dove from above. Jayden rolled aside—but stamina drained with every move.
CRACK! A heavy fist slammed his jaw. He hit the ground hard.
-20 HP.
Dust rose.
Jayden coughed blood. His body screamed. But his mind… kept fighting.
He used the dust as cover—lunged forward. Got behind one. Grabbed its neck.
Tried to twist.
Failed.
The bandit elbowed him down. -10 HP. Still, Jayden refused to let go. His hands around the neck, desperate.
The system flashed warnings.
HP Critical.
He closed his eyes.
"This world won't take me yet."
Then—with one final push—he twisted the bandit's neck.
SNAP.
HP: 0.
The bandit dissolved.
Jayden staggered to his feet. Saw another rushing him.
He slid low—kicked out the leg. A crunch. The bandit screamed.
Jayden unleashed a brutal combo. Knee. Shin. Thigh. Then—he vaulted, spinning.
Full 360 kick to the chin.
The bandit's body went limp.
Two down.
The dust cleared.
The other five stood, visible again.
They didn't move.
Just stood.
Heads tilted downward. Their height towering above Jayden.
Their eyes—shadowed. Grinning.
Jayden froze.
In his vision, they weren't men anymore.
They were underworld demons.
A deep, echoing chorus. Eerie. Final.
They raised their hands toward the gray sky.
"WE NOW SHINE!!"
The chant echoed like a curse. Their fingers stretched out—bent back unnaturally.
A red glow pulsed from their palms.
Jayden's heart stopped.
His legs buckled.
He dropped to his knees.
His arms dangled at his sides. Blood dripping. His sword… gone.
The world blurred.
He stared down at the mud.
"What's the point…?"
A voice in his head whispered:
"Give up. Just sleep."
Tears mixed with the rain.
"I can't… I just… can't die yet."
CRACK!
A punch to the stomach. He choked. Spat blood.
THUD! A kick slammed into his shoulder—he spun, collapsed.
-9.5 HP.
His face hit the ground.
System Alert: YOU ARE ABOUT TO DIE.
"…Someone… please…"
Then—a shockwave. And a voice.
"NORTH! SOUTH! WEST! EAST… AND EAST AGAIN!!!"
Jayden's eyes widened.
"LIGHTNING COMPASS STRIKE!!!"
The sky cracked open.
Lightning—black veined with neon blue—descended like divine wrath. It struck from five cardinal directions simultaneously, collapsing inward on the bandits.
They screamed.
And vanished in light.
Then—he appeared.
Not from the sky.
But already there—on the ground.
As if he'd been standing still through it all.
A black cloak. No armor. No staff. Just muscle, instinct, and fury.
One eye glowing like a dying star. A dagger strapped lazily to his side.
He stood flamboyantly—shoulders squared, one foot slightly forward, his dagger spinning with confidence as if the storm itself bowed to his presence.
He crouched.
Then stood slowly. Spinning his dagger once.
He held it backward—blade under his arm. A stance that defied rules. A stance that promised death.
He cracked his neck.
WARNING: WARLORD PRESENT. ESCAPE IF POSSIBLE.
Jayden couldn't breathe.
The man approached.
And then—he knelt beside Jayden.
Not to mock.
To help.
"You're cursed to be strong, rookie."
His voice was thunder.
"Don't ever give up."
He stood again.
The air shifted.
A pulse of raw energy surged upward.
A glowing sigil marked the sky.
And with quiet strength, the man crouched low—then leapt in a flash, lightning trailing behind like burning scars across the air. The boom didn't come instantly—it chased his body like a sonic scream.
Only silence.
Jayden lay in the dirt, trembling.
Rain kissed his bruised skin.
LEVEL UP: 7 → 8.
He smiled through blood.
"…I'll catch up to you."
He clenched his fist.
"I swear it."
[End of Vol.1 Ch.1 - CRASH START!!!]