The dust from the shattered Star Stone had barely settled, but the Academy staff was already scrambling to regain control of the narrative.
"Everyone, calm down!" the Proctor shouted, his voice amplified by a wind spell, though his hands were still shaking. "The... uh... equipment malfunction has been noted. Student Lucas Vayne will be re-evaluated later. For now, we must proceed to the Practical Exam!"
He gestured frantically toward the far end of the plaza, where rows of shimmering blue magical gateways stood like silent sentinels.
"These are the Virtual Dungeons," the Proctor explained, wiping sweat from his brow. "They are illusionary realms constructed to test your combat ability. You will face mana-construct monsters. If you 'die' inside, you will merely be ejected with a headache. However, your score determines your class placement."
He pointed to the console next to each gate.
"You may choose between two difficulties: Normal and Hard. Normal is standard. Hard yields double points but carries a risk of minor psychic backlash if you fail."
The students muttered nervously. Most of them were nobles who had never swung a sword in anger. They immediately lined up for the Normal gates.
Then, Kaelen stepped forward.
The "Hero" had recovered from the shock of the Star Stone. He stood tall, rolling his shoulders as he glared in my direction. He clearly thought that while I might have freakish raw power, he had the one thing money couldn't buy: Guts.
"I choose Hard Mode," Kaelen announced loudly, his voice ringing with determination.
He slammed his hand onto the 'Hard' button. The gate turned a deep, pulsating blue.
The crowd immediately started whispering in admiration. "Hard Mode? On the first day?" "He really is brave. A true commoner hero!" "See? Lucas might be a monster, but Kaelen has the heart of a warrior!"
Kaelen paused before entering, turning to look at me. His eyes burned with a self-righteous fire. I won't lose to you, Lucas, his expression screamed. I'll prove that hard work beats a lucky birth.
He stepped into the blue light and vanished, accompanied by a round of applause.
"How touching," I muttered, adjusting my gloves. "The sheep is proud of leading the herd to the slaughter."
I walked toward the nearest console. The crowd parted instantly, their eyes filled with a mix of fear and morbid curiosity. They wanted to see if the "Star Shatterer" would be arrogant enough to follow Kaelen into Hard Mode.
I stood before the interface. The buttons for 'Normal' and 'Hard' glowed invitingly.
I ignored them both.
In the game Eternal Sword, there was a secret that 99% of players missed in the tutorial. The developers had hidden a third difficulty—a "suicide mode" intended only for New Game+ players with maxed-out gear.
But I didn't have maxed-out gear. I had something better. I had the [Ring of Shadows] and the mind of a villain who knew every spawn point.
I reached out and tapped a specific sequence of runes on the console's frame—top-left, bottom-right, center, double-tap.
Hummmmm.
The console let out a low, discordant bass note that vibrated in everyone's chest. The gentle blue light of the portal flickered and died.
In its place, a violent, crimson light erupted. It swirled like a vortex of fresh blood, casting long, sinister shadows across the marble floor.
[WARNING]
[Difficulty Selected: NIGHTMARE (HELL MODE)]
[Survival Rate: 0.01%]
[Pain Limiter: DISABLED]
The holographic warning appeared in jagged red text above the gate, large enough for the entire plaza to read.
"What... what is that?" a student gasped.
The Proctor's eyes bugged out of his skull. "Stop! Student Vayne, stop immediately! That creates a simulated reality with 100% pain feedback! That difficulty is for third-year veterans! It's suicide for a freshman!"
Sirens began to wail across the courtyard, signaling a safety breach.
I ignored the chaos. I stepped toward the blood-red vortex.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed my arm.
I stopped and looked down. Kaelen had emerged from his blue portal—he must have sensed the disturbance or hesitated at the entrance. He was gripping my sleeve, looking at me with frantic urgency.
"Don't do it!" Kaelen shouted over the sirens. "Are you crazy? You're just doing this to show off because I picked Hard! You don't have to die to prove a point, Lucas! This isn't a game!"
I stared at his hand touching my expensive uniform. The [Eyes of Truth] flashed.
[Target: Kaelen]
[Current Thought: "I have to save him! Even if he's a jerk, I can't let him throw his life away!"]
It was disgusting. He was so genuinely good, so blindingly heroic, that he was trying to save the villain who had just humiliated him. This was exactly why I hated him. He thought the world ran on good intentions.
"Let go of me," I said softly.
"No!" Kaelen tightened his grip. "I know you're arrogant, but think about your family! Think about—"
"I said, let go."I didn't use magic. I simply slapped his hand away with a backhanded motion, channeling a sliver of mana to enhance my strength.
Smack.
Kaelen stumbled back, nursing his stinging hand, looking at me with betrayal and confusion.
"You think I'm doing this for pride?" I asked, looking down at him with cold amusement. "You think I care about your little 'Hard Mode' contest?"
I turned back to the swirling red vortex.
"You play in the sandbox, 'Hero'. Build your castles. Dig your tunnels. Feel brave."
I stepped into the threshold, the red light bathing my silver hair in the color of blood.
"I have business with the devil."
I walked forward. The world twisted, the sounds of the academy screaming and the sirens fading into a dull roar.
Darkness consumed me.
[System Notification]
[Entering Hidden Zone: The Abyssal Caverns.]
[Difficulty: NIGHTMARE.]
[Quest Triggered: First Clear.]
[Reward: Unique Legendary Skill.]
I opened my eyes.
I was no longer in the academy. I was standing in a damp, cavernous tunnel that smelled of sulfur and rotting flesh. The air was heavy, suffocating, and filled with the chittering of things that had too many legs.
I smiled, the darkness reflecting in my red eyes.
"Finally," I whispered, drawing the dagger I had concealed in my boot. "Some peace and quiet."