The system chimed with absolute certainty, though Noah barely heard it through his fading consciousness. His mind was collapsing, drifting into darkness, yet something deep within him had already responded before he could even realize it.
[Host's Dormant Talent 'Sword' has been awakened]
The moment his anguish, his desperate will to survive—to kill—surpassed its limits, something sealed within him shattered. That dormant power, buried deep inside his very existence, awakened completely.
And with it—
Came silence.
The forest fell into a suffocating stillness, as if every living thing had instinctively chosen to stop. The rain softened, the wind died, and even the distant creatures retreated, leaving behind a void that felt unnaturally heavy.
Noah's half-dead body trembled slightly.
Then—
It rose.
Slowly.
His body lifted from the ground without any support, his head pulling free from the cracked tree trunk as if gravity itself no longer held authority over him. Blood dripped faintly before stopping entirely.
The Orc leader stepped back instinctively.
For the first time—
Fear appeared.
Something was wrong.
Not just unusual.
Wrong.
Noah's body continued to rise, ascending higher and higher until he floated nearly ten meters above the ground. His figure hung silently in the air, unmoving, as if suspended between life and death itself.
The sky responded.
The already dark heavens began to shift, clouds gathering unnaturally as the atmosphere grew heavier. It wasn't just darkness—it felt like the world itself was reacting to something it could not ignore.
Then—
Light.
A golden, radiant brilliance tore through the dark sky, descending from above like a divine judgment. It fell directly upon Noah's body, enveloping him completely, spreading across the ground beneath him.
The forest was painted gold.
The remaining orcs rushed closer, drawn by instinct and fear, only to freeze as their eyes widened in pure horror at what they were witnessing.
They recognized it.
But—
Not like this.
They had experienced awakenings before, felt the surge of power within themselves. But never had such a phenomenon descended from the heavens. Never had light like this chosen someone.
Their instincts screamed.
This was not normal.
This was not human.
If they didn't stop him now—
It would be too late.
The same realization flashed within the Orc leader's mind.
Hatred surged.
Desperation followed.
He crouched low, his aura erupting violently as his muscles tightened beyond their limits. The ground beneath him cracked slightly as he gathered every ounce of strength within his body.
Then—
He leapt.
His massive form shot upward with explosive force, reaching Noah's floating body within the golden light. His fist clenched tightly, carrying everything he had left.
He struck.
But the moment his hand touched the golden light—
He disappeared.
Not shattered.
Not destroyed.
Erased.
His entire body turned to dust in an instant, dispersing into the air before a single second could pass.
Silence returned.
The remaining orcs froze.
Their bodies trembled uncontrollably, their instincts collapsing completely under the weight of what they had just witnessed. Their leader—gone, without resistance, without struggle.
Fear consumed them.
They stepped back.
Then fell.
Their knees hit the wet ground as their bodies refused to obey them any longer.
Something was terribly wrong.
Something far beyond their understanding.
Meanwhile—
The golden light surrounding Noah began to fade.
Slowly.
Gently.
As if its purpose had been fulfilled.
His body descended back toward the ground, landing softly upon the wet grass. His feet touched the earth without sound, his posture unstable, his consciousness still drifting.
But—
He had changed.
Something within him had completely shifted.
He began walking forward slowly, his steps unsteady, almost like a drunken man struggling to stay upright. Yet the presence surrounding him was no longer weak.
It was quiet.
But overwhelming.
His right hand lifted lazily, his index finger pointing toward the kneeling orcs as his lips moved faintly.
"...This...is...not Good."
His finger moved slightly.
From left—
To right.
A simple motion.
Effortless.
Silent.
Then—
"THUD"
The orcs' heads fell to the ground simultaneously.
Clean.
Instant.
As if reality itself had been sliced apart.
Their bodies remained kneeling for a brief moment before collapsing lifelessly into the wet earth.
No struggle.
No resistance.
Only death.
Noah's body swayed.
Then—
He collapsed.
Face-first into the ground, his strength completely exhausted. The golden light had healed his injuries, yet his mind could no longer endure the strain.
Darkness took him.
And he fell unconscious.
What would happen when he woke—
Only time would tell.
Five minutes ago…
Far away from the Forest of Imosul, within the grand halls of the Velzar Kingdom, silence reigned inside the royal chamber. The King sat upon his throne, his expression calm, emotionless, as he prepared to conclude his duties for the day.
Then—
He felt it.
A disturbance.
Subtle.
Yet undeniable.
His gaze shifted toward the west, his perception extending far beyond the palace walls. It pierced through distance effortlessly until it reached the forest.
And there—
He saw it.
A blinding golden light descending from the heavens.
His eyes narrowed.
His perception deepened further, attempting to analyze the phenomenon, to uncover its source—
But—
It was blocked.
Repelled.
His vision snapped shut instantly as sweat rolled down his chin.
'What was that? I couldn't Look through it? and...I had expelled that failure to that forest as well, is it a coincidence?'
A thought surfaced.
An old memory.
Something he had been told long ago.
'Did 'that' thing Awakened that was sealed in that forest for Ages?...but how could it be that strong to even repel my perception?'
He stood abruptly.
Without hesitation, he left the hall, moving swiftly through corridors and stairways until he reached his private chamber.
His voice echoed calmly.
"Velkis, I have orders for you."
The shadow beneath him distorted.
Then—
A figure emerged.
Cloaked entirely in darkness, its form concealed beneath a black robe, its presence silent yet deadly. It knelt immediately, one knee touching the ground, head lowered in absolute obedience.
"Your orders are my command your Majesty, Please speak."
The King did not turn.
"There was some disturbance in the Forest of Imosul, i called you out to investigate that area. And heed my words carefully Do not engage in battle In any circumstances."
Velkis hesitated briefly, confusion flickering beneath his calm demeanor, but it vanished just as quickly.
"Yes, Your majesty...I understand, i will not engage in battle."
He disappeared back into the shadows instantly.
Gone.
His destination—
The forest.
The King walked toward the window slowly, his gaze distant as his thoughts deepened.
'She is always sending her people to keep me under check huh? I can't even call out Velkis in open because of her...huh.'
His expression remained unchanged.
Cold.
Unmoved.
'Does she think I will forgive and bring that Failure back?...If it were before i would have done that but...Now is not similar to then.'
The night deepened.
And far away—
Something had been born.