The bandits had been nothing more than shadows in the alley, easily dispatched by my companions. Their deaths gave me catastrophic points, though no experience flowed into my own status. That imbalance confirmed the truth: my pact bound me differently. When I gained EXP, they shared it. But when they gained EXP, I received only catastrophe. A strange, dangerous balance.
At the auction counter, I had played my role carefully.
"I carry a curse of stealing," I told the staff. "If I do not steal daily, I will die. So I give this to you in advance."
The staff accepted without suspicion. My Lucky Looter skill activated, stealing the sword and key without a trace.
Later, in the inn, I confronted the Holy Eye. "You could have told me this method before I risked myself."
The Eye chuckled. You learn best when fate twists against you.
That night, the truth of the items revealed itself.
- The scrap sword was no mere relic. Lucky Looter unlocked its identity: the Shift Sword, a weapon that could change its shape, indestructible yet bound to its wielder's will.
- The mysterious key transformed into the All-Realm Key, capable of opening gates to any realm.
The Holy Eye greeted the sword. Shift Sword, how are you?
The blade pulsed faintly. At last, I am freed from the seal. Thanks to you, I live again.
The Eye replied, Do not thank me yet. You will see why soon.
I gathered my companions. With the All-Realm Key, I opened a simple wooden door. Light shimmered, bending space. Beyond it lay the Catastrophe Realm.
We stepped through.
A voice resonated across the void.
"Welcome, my guests. I am Catastrophe Origin. Many stories speak of me, yet none have dared to approach. No path leads here, no gate opens—until now."
The realm stretched endlessly, a core at the center of all existence. Around it spun the nine realms:
- Human Realm
- Demon Realm
- Dragon Realm
- Beast Realm
- Fairy Realm
- Elf Realm
- Sea Realm
- God Realm (heaven)
- Hell Realm (limbo)
And at the center, binding them all—the Catastrophe Realm.
Here, monsters wandered freely, crossing realms at will, save for the forbidden three: God, Hell, and Catastrophe itself.
I stood firm, my golden eye glowing. "Origin, I have come to claim Catastrophe. To destroy humankind's tyranny. To build a kingdom where all species coexist."
The voice laughed softly. "Bold words. Many have dreamed. None have survived. You carry pact-bound companions, a holy eye, and stolen relics. But Catastrophe is not given—it is earned."
The ground trembled. Shadows rose, forming trials yet unseen.
The Holy Eye whispered, This is it. The true test begins. If you survive, you will ascend beyond legend. If you fail, you will vanish into the void.
Thus begins Dransart's trial in the Catastrophe Realm—the origin of all power, the core of the nine realms, and the crucible that will decide whether he becomes Emperor or is erased forever.