Noah stood upon the soaked, uneven ground of the Forest of Imosul as rain poured endlessly from the sky, drenching his entire body. The blood that once covered his face was slowly washed away, leaving behind pale skin and trembling breaths beneath the cold, suffocating atmosphere.
He could hear it clearly.
Even without his eyes—torn out, leaving him trapped in endless darkness—something flickered before him. Not in sight… but within his mind.
He couldn't see the monsters surrounding him.
But he could feel them.
Watching.
Waiting.
Then—
A voice echoed.
Not outside.
Inside.
For a brief moment, everything stopped.
His thoughts.
His breathing.
Even the rain itself felt distant.
The maniacal grin on his face slowly faded, replaced by something else—
Cold.
Still.
Controlled.
[Attempting Override of Default System...]
[Override Complete]
[Integrating Overridden System: Ultimate Sword System]
[Integration Complete]
[Host can now utilize unlocked functions of the Ultimate Sword System]
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Unnatural.
Noah frowned slightly as his thoughts resumed—sharper now, calmer… more focused than before.
'So… devouring that monster was the requirement to awaken this system…?'
His mind moved quickly.
Too quickly.
'Ultimate Sword System…?'
The name lingered.
Heavy.
As if it carried something far beyond simple power.
A faint irritation surfaced.
'…It didn't explain anything.'
No instructions.
No guidance.
Nothing.
Only fragments.
'How am I supposed to use this…?'
He paused.
Then—
A memory surfaced.
Novels.
Systems.
Interfaces.
'Right… Status.'
Standing still beneath the relentless rain, his drenched body unmoving, Noah spoke calmly into the void—
"Status."
Silence.
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
Then—
Something shifted.
Not outside.
Inside.
It felt like a door opened within his mind.
A faint glow appeared in the endless darkness of his consciousness, slowly taking shape—forming into a translucent white panel as structured words began to appear one after another.
Noah's brows lifted slightly.
It worked.
Even without eyes—
He could see.
[ Ultimate Sword System ]
[ Host: Noah Novachrono ]
[ Age: 17 ]
[ Level: 00 ] (0000/1000 EXP)
[ Bloodline: Velzar Royal Bloodline, ??? ]
[ Talent: Sword {Rank-???} (Not Awakened) ]
[ Inventory ]
That was all.
No explanations.
No descriptions.
Nothing more.
'…That's it?'
A trace of dissatisfaction surfaced.
His thoughts sharpened.
"Those '???'… what are they? My abilities?"
Silence.
The system didn't respond.
Noah exhaled slowly, rainwater dripping from his chin.
'…So it's one of those systems.'
A faint smirk formed.
Cold.
Knowing.
'Fine.'
'I don't need it to talk.'
'I just need it to work.'
His priorities aligned instantly.
'First… I survive.'
A pause.
Then—
'Then… I return to Earth… to my sister.'
That thought—
Hardened him.
'But before that… I need to escape this forest.'
A flicker of irritation returned.
'And this system hasn't given me anything useful yet.'
—DING.
A chime echoed.
[For successful integration, the Host will receive a Gift Package]
Noah's expression didn't brighten.
It sharpened.
'…A gift package?'
His thoughts slowed.
Careful.
Suspicious.
'Now?'
'Nothing like this… is ever free.'
[Gift Package received. Open it? Y/N]
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
He began walking slowly across the wet ground.
Each step deliberate.
Measured.
'It's suspicious…'
'But…'
'If it increases my chances of survival… even slightly…'
The memory of death surfaced again.
Sharp.
Cold.
Final.
'I can't ignore it.'
He stopped.
Exhaled.
Decision made.
"Sigh… Open it."
[Gift Package Opened!]
[Sword God Physique {Rank-???} (Integrable)]
[Bloodline Awakening Stone]
Silence returned.
Noah processed it instantly.
'…Only two?'
A flicker of disappointment—
Gone just as quickly.
'No… this is enough.'
His focus locked onto the first item.
'Sword God Physique…'
Understanding came immediately.
'This will hurt.'
His thoughts shifted.
'Bloodline Awakening Stone… unknown.'
Dismissed.
'Later.'
His gaze—though sightless—felt sharper.
"The Physique comes first."
"System… can I integrate the Sword God Physique right now?"
[Yes. No preparation required.]
[Integrate Sword God Physique? Y/N]
Noah inhaled slowly.
Steady.
Controlled.
'…Let's begin.'
"Yes."
And then—
It began.
A spark.
Deep within him.
Then—
It exploded.
"Khuk—Ugh…!"
His body dropped to his knees instantly as something ignited inside him—not flesh, not bone—
But his soul.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"
The scream tore through the forest.
Rain.
Wind.
Silence—
All shattered.
His soul burned.
Crushed.
Reforged.
Something ancient—
Something monstrous—
Was being forced into existence within him.
"UGHHHHHHHHHH—GAHHHHHHHHHH!!"
His muscles tightened violently.
Bones cracked.
Cells multiplied.
Everything changed.
The pain—
Was absolute.
Endless.
But—
His mind didn't break.
'I… will not… fall…!'
'I will survive…!'
'I will return… to my sister…!'
His will surged.
Fierce.
Unyielding.
This wasn't just suffering anymore.
This was defiance.
A rebellion against death.
Against fate itself.
Time lost meaning.
Then—
Silence.
[ Sword God Physique Successfully Integrated ]
Rain continued to fall.
Soft.
Endless.
Noah remained still.
Then—
Slowly—
He stood.
His head tilted slightly.
Not toward sight.
Toward something deeper.
His expression changed.
"…I can feel them."
Everything.
Every breath.
Every movement.
Every heartbeat.
The monsters froze.
Because something had changed.
Something unnatural.
The prey—
Had begun to see.
And for the first time—
They felt it.
Fear.
Because what stood before them…
Was no longer human.