NOVPUBTime: 05:00 PM.
「Bonus Objective: Uncover the Death」
Progress: 15%
Reward: [Skill: <Resurrection—S Rank>]
Note: All rewards obtained in this world will also reflect in the real world.
— — — — — — — — — — — — —
"15% progress?" I blinked at the screen as I read through the message.
For a moment, I just… stared.
Not because I didn't understand, but because I did.
All rewards obtained in this world will also reflect in the real world.
I exhaled, a slow, steady breath.
So this wasn't just an alternate version of me getting stronger.
"Resurrection…" I murmured.
An S-rank skill.
'Will it revive the dead?'
But what was bugging me was—who was offering me this skill?
Karton? Or Agroth?
There was so much I was unaware of.
"Sigh, guess I'll have to find out soon."
My gaze shifted back to the progress bar.
15%.
It seemed I was making progress in this trial. One step closer to uncovering the true reason for Elise's death.
Finally.
A slow grin tugged at my lips.
"Zane."
Ruby's voice pulled me back.
I turned to see her watching me, arms crossed, but her gaze… softer.
"You know something, don't you?"
"Maybe," I admitted.
"What is it? And what did you mean when you said it was done by some demon?"
"It's complicated to explain," I said. "Just know this—I'm one step closer to uncovering the Death."
Right now, I feel much better.
'Finally, I'm progressing.'
I tilted my head. "Though, I'm starting to think it's uncovering me."
Ruby's lips thinned.
"What does that even mean?"
"Good question." I dismissed the screen with a flick of my hand. "We'll find out soon. But first—"
From my pocket, I pulled out the crumpled photos Albert had given me.
"The noble houses that got wiped. One of them's not far from here."
Ruby's gaze sharpened.
"You want to go there?"
"Of course." My fingers curled around the photos. "I need to see it myself. After all, that symbol was meant for me."
For a moment, Ruby seemed to consider arguing. But she didn't.
Instead, she simply nodded. "Alright. But you're not going alone."
"I wasn't planning to."
A small smirk curved her lips.
"Good. Because if you were, I'd detain you for a whole academy year."
'Seriously?'
Letting that aside, I opened the map on my wristband, zooming in on a particular location.
House Silverrest.
One of the prominent noble houses in Stormshade. It was near the border of Frostvile, and to reach there, I'd need to board a three-hour flight.
It was a long trip, but I had to do it.
That Death symbol on each of the annihilated noble houses…
It wasn't random. Someone knew about my existance.
And I was going to find out who.
— — — — — — — — — — —
Time: 09:30 P.M
Location: House Silverrest.
— — — — — — — — — — —
Right now, Ruby and I were in a taxi, to get off near House Silverrest.
For my entire 3-hour flight, I explained to Ruby about this whole situation.
My reason for being in this world. The gods and their apostles. I shared everything with her.
At first, she didn't believe all of it so easily, but as I explained further, she now somehow gets the gist of it all.
Screech—
The tyres screeched on the wet road as the driver gestured for us to step off.
"We're here."
Wearing a cap and sunglasses at night, Ruby stepped out.
Shaaaa—
The drizzle painted everything grey as far as my eyes could see.
Opening my umbrella, I started following Ruby to the side of the forest.
Glancing at me she informed.
"The investigation must be ongoing right now, we have to enter the estate from the back."
I nodded, covering my face with a black cotton mask.
I need to be cautious.
The rain, which was pouring relentlessly, was now subdued due to all the trees surrounding us.
Crunch— Crunch—
My focus was ahead, but my eyes dropped down to my feet.
Burnt stone pieces, shattered glass, and chunks of twisted metal were scattered all over the ground. The aftermath was as ugly as it could get.
"Wonder how strong the blast was," Ruby said, her voice cutting through the quiet.
"I do too."
But we didn't stop to admire the destruction.
Ignoring it all, we kept moving forward.
Up ahead, I could see what remained of the estate's dome.
Its roof had collapsed inward, leaving a half-shattered skeleton of what once stood tall.
As we reached the back door, Ruby didn't wait.
She kicked it open.
The hinges didn't even creak. The door was barely holding on.
Inside, it was pitch black.
No lights.
Nothing.
The crunch of dried leaves echoed beneath my boots. Each step sounded louder than it should in this dead silence.
We passed through what seemed like a garden once.
Though now, it was hard to tell.
Bushes were uprooted. Statues were toppled. The ground itself was torn apart.
Then, Ruby and I stopped.
We were here.
The heart of Silverrest.
And just like in the photos Ruby had shown me, the scene was the same.
Stone bricks scattered everywhere. Shattered glass glinting under the weak moonlight.
Statues now broken and laying face-down in the dirt.
The place wasn't attacked. It was crushed.
"What exactly happened here?" Ruby asked, her eyes sweeping over the destruction.
I didn't answer right away.
Because honestly, I was asking myself the same thing.
Momentarily, my eyes wandered towards the right, where a huge spiderweb-like crack spread across the floor.
I was about to check it out when Ruby pointed something out.
"Where are the Heroes or the investigation team?" 𝓃𝓸𝓋𝓹𝓾𝓫.𝒸ℴ𝓶
At her comment, I paused and looked around the area.
Now that she mentioned it, there really was no one here.
"Weird…"
Not a single investigator. No security.
No one was here.
"Did they pack up already?" I asked.
Ruby shook her head. "I doubt that."
And she was right.
This wasn't the kind of incident where they'd just pack up and leave so soon.
Something was off.
"Let's explore the symbol first," I suggested.
Ruby nodded in agreement.
From my dimension pouch, I pulled out an old-looking katana, gripping it tightly with both hands.
Ruby did the same, following my lead.
As we approached the area where the Death symbol was carved, my feet came to an abrupt stop.
And not just mine — Ruby's too.
A chill ran down my spine.
Cold sweat dripped from my temples as I clenched my trembling hand, trying to make it stop shaking.
My eyes, however, refused to look away from the ground.
And the moment I saw it —
I understood.
"No wonder we didn't see anyone…" I whispered.
Right where the Death symbol was carved, more than twenty corpses were scattered.
Their flesh rotted away, skin hanging loose, bones exposed. Empty eyes stared ahead, as if their souls had been ripped out where they stood.
But the strangest part—
They were still wearing their uniforms of Hero Association operatives and investigation team workers.
And there was a strange energy emitting from the Death Symbol.
It was… how should I define it—Divine.
The symbol was glowing with divine energy, the same kind I once felt when meeting Goddess Ylthea.
And… it was calling me.
So, does that mean a god stepped foot here?
'I don't think so.'
If I recall Sera's words, Agroth was last witnessed long before she was born. He wasn't the type of god who enjoyed interacting with others.
Looking at the sickening sight, I tried to step inside the symbol. It was spread over a 20-foot radius.
But Ruby's hand stopped me.
"W-What are you doing?" she asked hesitantly.
Her fingers were clattering against her blade's hilt, and her eyes were dead frozen on the area.
"Can't you see," she continued, "they all died inside this symbol. If you step in, then—"
"I'll be fine," I said calmly, shaking her hand off. "You just stay there. Don't even think about touching the symbol."
With that, I didn't turn away and stepped foot inside the jagged Death Symbol.
Nothing seemed to happen for now.
Walking in further, I stopped at the center, where a skull-shaped symbol was traced outside.
Just beside it was a corpse—rotten skin, hollow eyes, still wearing a Hero Association uniform.
I squatted down to get a closer look.
"It's a male…"
I could almost see his brain wobbling out from his eye socket.
"Gross…"
With the tip of my katana, I poked his skull.
"It's fresh."
The blood sticking to his brain was still wet.
"Did someone kill them? Or…" I looked around.
"...was it because of this Death Symbol?"
Well, both are possible.
"Behind you?!"
Ruby's panicked voice reached my ears from behind.
But before I could turn to look, or even position my katana—
Smack—
It was too late.
My reflexes in this world were not up to the mark.
Someone slammed a heavy stone on my head.
My body spun, and that's when I got a proper look.
Pairs of hollow eyes stared at me.
Half-rotten flesh dripping onto the floor as it raised its almost skeleton-like, limp hands, holding the stone again—aiming straight for my face.
Sprut—
It hit right on my face.
My vision went blank, and the taste of blood filled my mouth.
