---
POV: Arthur's
I barely managed to catch Cordelia.
Dirk—the traitor—moved too fast.
If I had hesitated for even a single heartbeat, she would've been in his hands.
Maybe it was luck…
Though I stopped believing in luck a long time ago.
I grabbed her tightly and burst forward, flying toward Caspian who stood frozen in place. His eyes were locked on Dirk's silhouette, completely unaware that I was now right beside him.
I seized the collar of his shirt, dragged him along, and darted between the trees using Lightning Steps.
But I wasn't foolish enough to think I had truly escaped.
Dirk was letting me run.
If he wanted to catch me, he could do it in the blink of an eye.
I had only one plan:
Reach the place where Caspian's father would arrive.
It was far… but it was our only chance.
The System had already warned me they were coming, but I got distracted the moment I felt something tear into my shoulder.
I felt it—
before it hit me.
I threw Cordelia and Caspian forward to protect them.
The price…
was my arm being ripped apart.
Pain crashed through me, but thanks to Iron Will, I didn't scream.
I muttered, staggering:
"Take her… and go."
"But—"
"No 'but'. Leave. Your father is coming—everyone is coming. Just take—"
I couldn't finish.
A human arm burst out from my chest from behind.
The last thing I saw…
was the siblings' faces draining of all color.
Then everything went dark.
---
Inside the darkness, the System was desperately trying to keep me alive.
> [ Arthur… Arthur! Don't close your eyes!
Wait—initiating emergency support! ]
Ding!
> [ Host's life is in danger.
Preparing Awakening for survival. ]
> [ Error… Error ]
> [ Curses are reacting… Awakening cannot be triggered. ]
> [ Attempting forced unlock… ]
> [ Error: All Awakenings exceed system authority. ]
> [ Initiating alternative survival protocol… ]
> [ Reopening Abyssal Corruption and spreading it through the Host's body… ]
Ding!
• Berserker Skill – KRYPTON (New)
Description:
The Host enters a savage berserk state, overwhelmed with Abyssal instincts and destructive impulses.
Effects:
• Temporary boost to all stats
• Replaces damaged or missing body parts with corruption
• Grants access to all skills, at the cost of mana depletion and severe backlash afterwards
---
Right after the System's words… a strange energy flooded through me.
My fading vision sharpened.
I saw colors I had never seen before.
I stood up.
I felt nothing—
not the hole in my chest,
not my crushed spine,
not my severed arm.
Just lightness… clarity…
and violent thoughts flooding my mind.
And a deep desire… to destroy.
Screams echoed ahead.
My expanded vision locked onto Caspian shouting at the traitor:
"Tch… that idiot can't do one thing right!"
I grabbed Cordelia's fallen sword.
I activated Teleportation.
Black smoke surged around me, laced with purple sparks—
and I vanished.
I appeared right behind the head butler.
Ding.
> [ Activation requirement met ]
• Flame of Ruin (New)
Description:
Unleashes a ravenous flame that devours everything, its hunger shaped by the Host's desire for destruction.
Effects:
• Can be infused into weapons, limbs, or combined with skills
• Corrodes and nullifies all energies—unaffected by rank or level
• Everything it touches becomes its nourishment
---
I activated the skill with a twisted, vicious grin.
The blade pierced into his shoulder, sliding through him like butter.
It felt… incredible.
I wanted to do it again. And again.
But then the System's alert rang sharply through my head, weakening the berserk state.
> [ Arthur, focus. Your mana is draining rapidly. Grab Caspian and Cordelia and escape—now! ]
"No point in running. And I don't want to leave… not when this feels so good.
Someone screaming under my feet… it's amazing. Why didn't I enjoy this before?"
The System didn't respond.
It sounded… regretful.
Dirk struggled weakly, his strength fading as my flames devoured him—
they had already eaten a quarter of his mana core.
I knew… with the last bit of my remaining sanity…
I had to end this.
My plan was simple:
Drag him to the Molten Rift and throw him in.
But he refused to let go, and my mana was at its limit.
If it ran out…
my flames, my strength, my life—everything would vanish.
There was only one thing left I could do.
I let us both fall.
Into the Rift.
And from there… into the Void.
I looked back one last time.
The siblings stood frozen, pale, powerless.
My vision lifted…
my body fell…
and everything dissolved into darkness.
--