---
Arthur drifted in and out of consciousness…
Whispers—strange, distorted—echoed inside his skull, tugging him upward from the darkness of exhaustion.
He opened his eyes slowly.
Pain ignited through every inch of his body.
He couldn't move a single finger. It felt as if his bones had been ground into dust.
From the sheer intensity of it, one of his skills activated on its own:
«Iron Will»
It was the only thing keeping his mind from shutting down entirely.
As his blurred vision began to settle, the system's voice echoed—carrying, for the first time, something that resembled fear:
[We are trapped… in an alternate dimension.
I cannot relocate you until we escape.]
Arthur froze.
He didn't know what to say. But before a single thought could form, a voice boomed behind him—rough, deep, and heavy:
[So… you're finally awake.]
A cold shiver crawled up Arthur's spine.
A primitive fear—raw and overwhelming—took over his instincts.
But his body couldn't even turn to face the source of the voice.
The entity didn't wait for him to respond:
[Who are you?
What are you?
You weren't supposed to be here…
How did you enter this place?
And why are you interfering with my plans?]
Despite his condition, Arthur answered quietly—shockingly calm:
"And why wouldn't I? What would any normal person do… when they find a lost little girl alone?"
A strange silence followed.
Even the system spoke with dry astonishment:
[Oh… was that sarcasm?]
Arthur didn't understand what it meant. He had spoken nothing but the truth.
Before he could reply, the unknown voice returned—this time quieter, heavier:
[So tell me, hero…
Did you choose to bear that girl's fate?
Even if what awaits you… is certain death?]
Arthur answered simply:
"No."
Silence.
It swallowed the entire dimension.
Voice: […]
System: […]
Finally, the voice asked—genuinely confused:
[…What?]
Arthur continued, unbothered:
"Why would I take responsibility for her fate?
I'm not obligated to.
And who is she, anyway, that I'd throw my life away for her?
I'm human—and humans are greedy by nature.
Wanting to survive isn't greed."
He took a breath.
"I helped her, yes—but out of kindness, not sacrifice.
I'm no saint to offer my life for someone I've known for mere hours."
The silence deepened—almost solid.
Even the system stuttered:
[Are you… serious?!]
Arthur tilted his head slightly.
"Yes. And if you keep saying nonsense, I'll let this thing kill us both.
You're the reason we're in this mess, and I'm the one trying to find a way out."
The entity roared:
[Do you think I'm a fool?!
I saw everything.
You protected her as humans protect their family—
How dare you claim you don't ca—]
Arthur cut him off:
"Then you must've also seen her fighting…
And how I was fighting.
Tell me—who needed protection more?"
The voice fell silent.
After a while, it returned—colder, accusing:
[You ruined my plans.
I needed that girl to free myself…
She was the perfect vessel—until you interfered.]
Arthur didn't reply.
He didn't know how to.
The voice continued:
[Tell me… what are you?
You are cursed.
Not by one curse—by five.
You… are not fully human.
I can feel it.
What exactly are you?]
A tremor ran through Arthur's body.
He expected the entity to know things…
But not this much.
He spoke slowly:
"I don't know.
But I know one thing…
The people who did this to me—
will regret it."
The entity burst into laughter—a laugh that shook the dimension itself.
Arthur nearly fainted from the pressure.
Then—
Ding.
[Skill Upgrade:
Iron Will → Level 2]
[New Description:
A will that defies pain, poison, and temptation.
Allows limited movement even when the body is broken.]
New Ability:
• Reduced effect of mental and spiritual attacks
• Minor resistance to overwhelming auras
The pain eased—barely, but enough to breathe.
When the laughter died, the voice spoke with icy disdain:
[You can't even defeat a "Dark-White" ranked beast.
How will you punish those who cursed you?]
Arthur responded calmly:
"For now… I'm weak.
But who said the future is far away?
Fate changes.
Everything has its time—
even revenge."
For the first time… something odd stirred.
The entity sounded almost… proud?
Ding.
• Charisma: 73.98% → 74.00%
Arthur's eye twitched.
"I'm broken, half-dead, and trembling…
What part of this looks charismatic?!"
The system snorted:
[If you could see yourself… you'd shiver.
Smiling coldly with that dangerous glint in your eyes—
Man… even your death pose is elegant.]
Before Arthur could respond, the entity spoke again:
[You are… interesting.
Perhaps I'll enjoy speaking to you before I crush you.
I am furious—the vessel escaped.]
Arthur muttered:
"And how would you possess a child's body?
You think her body could withstand your soul?
I know you're strong—strong enough that even a Duke or Duchess might not defeat you."
The voice replied with pride… tinged with sorrow:
[Yes.
I was the strongest.
But those I trusted betrayed me—
Feared me.
And because of that pain… I became an abyssal monster.]
Arthur's eyes dimmed.
"Betrayal…
Yes, I know that feeling.
Try saving someone—working for them—
Then, the moment you trust them…
They blow up your home and kill you out of fear."
The air trembled.
The voice spoke again:
[And you… were just a child when they betrayed you.
From what I can see, you are not awakened yet…
You are not dragonborn…
And yet—
You smell like them.
A faint scent, but unmistakable.]
Arthur's heart skipped.
The system had never said anything about this.
He opened his mouth to ask, but the system whispered quickly:
[Don't.
I know much about your origin… and about the original owner of your body.
But you're not ready to hear it.]
Disappointment stung, but Arthur didn't argue.
The entity resumed:
[Do you truly… know nothing about your origin?]
Arthur answered:
"Nothing."
A long silence…
Then:
[Do you know a woman named… Martha?]
A violent tremor ran through Arthur.
Something inside the original body's memories…
Stirred.
A name faintly remembered—
but with no context.
The entity noticed, and continued:
"Mar—"
But before he could finish—
Ding.
A golden screen appeared:
[We can leave now.]
Arthur shouted:
"Wait—!"
But the dimension shattered—
and Arthur vanished.
In the collapsing darkness…
two golden eyes opened.
Shadows twisted, forming the shape of a man with curved horns on either side of his head.
And with a voice that echoed through the void, he whispered:
[Are you… him?]
---
Now, this is a long chapter. How is it? Did you like it? I'd appreciate your honest opinion.