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Chapter: Return Before the Fall
Inside a velvet palace at the far northern edge of the Loraice Continent—
specifically within a spacious, beautifully furnished room overlooking a sunset melting between towering mountains—
a young woman lay motionless on her bed.
Her hair, long and radiant like woven gold, spilled across the sheets. A few golden strands draped over her sleeping face, hiding the softness beneath.
Suddenly, her body twitched violently—
as if electricity surged through her heart, forcing it back to life.
Then… her eyes snapped open.
Emerald-green. Wide. Terrified.
She shot upright as though waking from a battlefield drenched in blood. Her gaze darted frantically around the familiar room, her chest heaving, sweat pouring down her skin as if she had run for miles.
"Th… this is… my room?"
Her voice trembled with disbelief.
She tried to stand but staggered immediately. Her body felt light, almost weightless, but her head—
her head was unbearably heavy, stuffed with memories she wished she could forget.
Half crawling, half stumbling, she dragged herself toward the enormous window.
Her breaths were sharp and uneven, tears threatening to spill with every step.
When she finally reached the window and looked out at the brilliant golden sunset…
Her knees gave out.
Tears streamed down her cheeks in silent waves.
This view—this warm glow, this peaceful sky—
was something she had fully accepted she would never see again.
As she stared, trembling, her Arachnid Watch buzzed softly on her wrist.
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[Notification for Student (Name withheld):
Please return to the Academy before the registration exams begin, and prepare to assume your position as Student Council President for the year 3110. Confirm your status and ready yourself for the upcoming evaluations.]
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Her eyes widened even more.
Her breath quickened—
faster, harsher, almost hysterical.
Then she began hurting herself: pinching her cheeks, hitting her arms, pressing her nails into her skin—
anything to prove this wasn't another cruel illusion.
When pain shot through her fingers, she collapsed into sobs.
"I… I came back…"
Her voice cracked, barely a whisper.
"I really came back… before the catastrophe… before the darkness… before everything ended…"
The memories that flooded her mind were merciless.
Her loved ones… their tragic fates…
the screams…
the fall of the world…
the abyss swallowing all hope.
But none of that hurt as deeply as one person.
The one she betrayed.
The one she doubted.
The one she refused to help—
even though he helped them all, again and again, without asking for anything in return.
And because of her…
because of her blindness and hatred…
He died.
He died saving them, while she stood there—
watching his hope fade.
And after his death, the world didn't improve.
It collapsed.
It rotted.
It ended.
She wiped her tears with a shaking hand and stared at her reflection in the glass—
the reflection of someone who lived through a hell she caused.
"Whatever happens… and whatever will happen…"
Her voice was fragile, but her resolve was steel.
"I will not repeat my mistakes. Even if I return again and again, even if you hate me now… even if you never forgive me…"
Her fingers tightened over her heart.
"I don't care. I'll do anything—anything—to earn your forgiveness. Even if I must give you my life."
She lifted her head, emerald eyes shining with grief, determination… and love twisted by regret.
"Arthur…"
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The black dust spiraled into twisting rings as Arthur stepped onto the dark ground. Even the air itself seemed to choke upon sensing the ten monsters waiting ahead—massive creatures with rippling muscles beneath cracked flesh, their skull-buried eyes glowing with unmistakable bloodlust.
Their footsteps dragged like chains scraping against marble… yet Arthur didn't lose a shred of calm.
He stood there with an unhuman steadiness, hand resting on his sword's hilt, gaze fixed forward.
No fear.
No hesitation.
No concern.
He whispered:
"Let's begin."
And with that word… the slaughter started.
The first monster charged, its enormous body tearing through the air like a boulder thrown from a mountaintop. But before it reached him, Arthur vanished—snuffed out like a fading shadow.
He appeared behind it a heartbeat later, swinging his blade with such clean precision that the head detached smoothly, spinning twice before it hit the floor.
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[Predation Successful: +4.3 Hours]
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Arthur didn't spare the blood a single glance.
"Too weak."
The second monster didn't get a chance to react. As it thrust its massive fist forward, the shadows themselves responded to Arthur—rising from the ground like a coiling pillar, twisting its arm and snapping every joint with a sickening crunch. Arthur stepped in, severed the head, and let the body collapse.
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[Predation Successful: +5 Hours]
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The third monster stayed back, gathering corrupted mana into a trembling ball between its claws.
Arthur lifted a hand—launching a razor-thin bolt of destructive lightning.
It drilled through the air and struck the monster's head, burning it to ash before it even completed the spell.
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[Predation Successful: +3.8 Hours]
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The moment the third fell, four more lunged at once. One from the front, two from the sides, and one leaping from behind.
The system appeared:
[Warning: Multi-directional ambush!]
Arthur only smiled—small, sharp, welcoming the challenge.
The attack from behind came first, but Arthur bent forward and vanished again, reappearing behind the same monster and driving his blade down its spine.
Before the pain reached it, the monster on Arthur's right slammed its massive fist into his chest—hurling him back and carving a diagonal wound across his torso.
Arthur chuckled as he steadied himself.
"Now this is better."
He summoned corrupted chrome from the ground, but the three remaining monsters leapt back, avoiding the trap instantly.
Arthur smirked.
"Good…"
He disappeared—reappearing above one of them—and crushed its skull with a vertical strike.
---
[Predation Successful: +6.2 Hours]
---
The last three swarmed him at once.
One grabbed his leg.
Another tore into his shoulder.
The third clawed toward his throat.
A killing scenario—for anyone but Arthur.
His body ignited with terrifying violet energy. His eyes narrowed into demonic, glowing slits, and sparks of lightning orbited him in wild, snapping arcs.
He whispered:
"Burst."
And all three monsters exploded simultaneously.
Bones cracked.
Flesh tore apart.
Blackened blood filled the air like mist.
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[Predation Successful: +7.1 Hours]
[Predation Successful: +5.4 Hours]
[Predation Successful: +4.7 Hours]
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Arthur stood in the carnage, breathing slightly heavier… yet undeniably stronger.
Only two remained.
Heavier. Larger.
And far more aware—the lowest rank among the Dark-Gray class.
One lifted its head and rasped:
[Hu… man… foul… meat… ours…]
Arthur let out a faint laugh.
"Come on, then. Try."
Both monsters charged—one from the front, one from behind.
Arthur didn't move.
He raised his sword… turned half a circle—
And both heads fell to the ground at the same moment.
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[Predation Successful: +8 Hours]
[Predation Successful: +7.6 Hours]
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Silence took the hall.
Blood flowed beneath Arthur's feet.
The corpses were mangled beyond recognition.
Even the darkness around him seemed to bow in respect.
The system displayed:
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[Total Hours Gained: +64.6]
[Base Remaining Time: 72 Hours]
[Current Total: 136.6 Hours (5.69 Days)]
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Arthur formed a faint, resolute smile.
"Good… but this is only the beginning."
He stepped toward the black gate opening at the far end of the chamber—the entrance to the second floor.
"Let's finish this dungeon… before I face the dragon."
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So what do you think of this chapter and what do you think this unknown character did or why did she hate Arthur?