"The crystal feeds on pain. The statue watches. I failed the trial."
Adil stared at the small button on the stone table.
His hand hovered over it.
Then, he pushed it.
The cave changed.
The crystal pulsed.
The air grew heavy.
A system message appeared:
Trial Activated: Bloodcore Extraction
Time Limit: 10:00
Pain Level: Extreme
Status: Locked in place
Adil stepped forward and grabbed the crystal.
Instantly — a sharp current surged through his body.
It burned his skin, pierced his nerves, and rattled his bones.
"AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
He screamed.
The crystal wouldn't move.
It was stuck — like it was fused to the ground.
Why is it so hard to move? He thought.
Suddenly, the current pushed him backward.
He slammed into the wall.
His body was scorched — skin cracked, muscles torn.
Then the healing began.
"AHAHAHSHHHHHHHHH!"
The pain doubled.
His body shook violently.
He tried again and again — slamming into the wall, grabbing the crystal, enduring the current.
Each time, the pain returned.
Each time, the healing restarted.
Five minutes passed.
On the eighth attempt, he slammed into the wall again — and lost consciousness.
04:59… 04:58…
Then — his eyes opened.
He gasped.
"One minute left?!"
He panicked.
"No, no, no!"
He ran toward the crystal.
60… 59… 58… 57… 56…
He grabbed it again.
50… 49… 48… 47…
He struggled to move it.
"I can't give up yet… I have to give my all."
But it was too late.
The crystal sank into the ground.
Time's up.
Adil was thrown back again.
The healing began — and the pain returned, twice as strong.
Then, the statue beside the crystal began to move.
Its eyes glowed bright blue.
It reached behind its back…
And pulled out a sword.
Adil stepped back, keeping his distance.
Then he remembered the paper from the skeleton.
"The crystal feeds on pain. The statue watches. I failed the trial."
"So that means… I failed."
Suddenly, the statue vanished.
It appeared behind Adil.
A slash hit him from behind.
"GRR…EHHHH!"
Adil fell to the ground.
"OCHHH…C…"
He groaned, trying to stand.
The system appeared again.
Entity Identified: Gatekeeper of Bloody Cave
Danger Level: E+
Adil turned and ran toward the skeleton.
He counted in his mind.
"1… 2… 3… 4… 5…"
The healing started.
Pain hit him again — sharp and deep.
"As expected… it takes five seconds to heal. I don't regenerate instantly."
He gasped as the pain faded.
He turned his head.
The Gatekeeper was walking toward him — slowly, step by step.
Then — it dashed forward.
Fast.
It slashed and cut his right hand.
Adil couldn't react in time.
He dropped to his knees.
"AGHAA…"
He thought:
"I'm tired… I want to rest. Can't I take a break from this pain? From the start… It's hurt."
The Gatekeeper raised its sword, aiming for his chest.
Adil rolled to the side — just in time.
The sword stabbed the ground.
He breathed hard.
"Sigh… what do I do now? How can I defeat this creature?"
Suddenly, the system appeared again.
Gatekeeper — Combat Info Unlocked
High attack damage
Weakness: Simple pattern, easy to read
Adil blinked.
"Huh… I get more info every time I'm injured or kill something. That's why I couldn't get any data on that giant snake."
He ran toward the skeleton again.
He broke two ribs in his chest.
Gripped the bones tightly.
With a burst of rage, he charged the Gatekeeper.
The sword clashed against the bones.
But Adil kept blocking fatal attacks.
"AHAHAHHHHHH!"
At the moment, the Gatekeeper paused — a cooldown between strikes — Adil moved fast.
He jumped.
And stabbed both bones into its glowing eyes.
The Gatekeeper roared.
Its sword fell.
Its body collapsed beside the crystal.
Adil dropped to his knees, breathing hard.
Relief washed over him.
Then, he looked at his right arm.
It wasn't healing.
He sat on the ground, panting.
His body was healing slowly.
But his right arm… remained dead.
"Why isn't it regenerating?"
He clenched his teeth.
"Is it because I only have self-healing? Not full regeneration?"
He was lost in thought.
"It's unfair."
Then — a sound.
A low rumble.
He looked up.
The Gatekeeper's body twitched.
Its spine cracked and curved unnaturally.
Its eyes turned red — glowing like fire.
Its body grew larger.
Its stance shifted — monstrous.
It roared.
Adil stepped back.
"Hahah… this is a joke, right?"
His face twisted in pain and frustration.
The system appeared:
"It's not a joke."
The trial wasn't over.
It had just evolved.
The Gatekeeper jumped.
It slammed into Adil, knocking him hard against the cave wall.
"GRHUHHHH!"
Blood spilled from his mouth.
"AHGH… damn it…"
His body trembled.
But he didn't stop.
He looked toward the ground — the Gatekeeper's sword had fallen during the last clash.
Adil pushed himself up.
He ran toward the sword.
Every step hurt.
But he kept going.
The Gatekeeper roared again and charged forward.
Adil stepped to the side — fast.
But the claw still caught him.
"OUCHHH!"
A deep scratch tore across his abdomen.
Blood spilled.
But he didn't stop.
He crawled toward the sword.
His hand reached out — and grabbed it.
The metal felt heavy. Cold. Alive.
Pain surged again as his body began to heal.
"AGHHH… I can't let my guard down…"
He gritted his teeth.
The Gatekeeper moved again — faster, more violent.
Adil bent his knees.
He lowered his stance.
Focused.
The creature was near.
Then — suddenly…
The system appeared.
Weapon Identified: Sword of Gatekeeper
Material: Titanium
Specialty: Self-Explosion
Status: Active
Crystal Core: Bloodbound Ignition
Adil's eyes locked onto the sword.
There was a red crystal fixed into its hilt — pulsing faintly.
The Gatekeeper wasn't near.
Adil moved fast.
He pushed the crystal and shouted:
"Self explosion!"
Then, he stabbed the sword into the Gatekeeper's chest.
The blade glowed.
Then exploded.
A shockwave tore through the cave.
The Gatekeeper collapsed — its body shattered.
Silence.
Adil dropped to his knees.
His whole body was burning.
"AHAHAHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Insane pain surged through him.
Blood dripped from his eyes.
His skin cracked.
His breath shook.
Victory had a price.
After calming down, Adil approached the Gatekeeper's remains.
He sighed deeply.
"Finally… he's dead."
He picked up the sword.
Then, a sharp pain stabbed through his chest.
He looked down.
The Gatekeeper's claw had pierced him.
"No… no… You bastard… I'll take you with me!"
Adil twisted his torso.
With his left hand, he slashed the Gatekeeper's neck.
Both collapsed to the floor.
"Am I really going to die…? Why… why…"
His vision blurred.
His body felt heavy.
Scene shift.
Adil opened his eyes.
He was in a hospital.
Drips were attached to his arm.
Doctors stood nearby.
"We need to inject him."
"Where… am I?"
They injected him.
His eyes closed again.
He opened them.
Now, he was in a void.
No walls. No light. No sound.
He stood up.
"Where is this place?"
He walked forward.
Then, he felt a presence behind him.
He turned.
Someone was sitting on a throne.
He couldn't see the figure clearly.
The voice spoke:
"Who are you?"
Suddenly, Adil woke up.
Panting heavily.
He looked around.
He was lying on the cave floor.
He sat up slowly.
"Ouch… my head hurts…"
He looked down.
A crystal was embedded in his chest — right where the Gatekeeper's claw had pierced him.
It pulsed faintly.
"What is this…?"
Suddenly, the system appeared.
Item Identified: Bloodcore Crystal (Embedded)
Type: Unknown
Status: Active
Effect: Unknown
Removal: Not possible
Adil stared at the message.
He touched the crystal gently.
It felt cold… but alive.
He sighed.
"If I think about it… I've been running endlessly since I came to this world. No clear thoughts. No plan. Just pain and survival."
He sat down.
The cave was quiet now.
He closed his eyes and breathed slowly.
Ten minutes passed.
His body relaxed.
"Now I feel… calm. For the first time."
He looked up at the cave ceiling.
"My system is strange. It's not like the ones I've seen in fantasy stories. No EXP. No level-ups. No attribute points. No quests."
He paused.
"It has none of those features. Just pain… and glitches."
He remembered the red light when he was transmigrated.
"Maybe it's because of the glitch. That's why the light was red when I arrived. Whatever…"
He looked at the system window still floating beside him.
"Can't you tell me why I was sent here?"
The system replied:
No.
Adil blinked.
"Oh… you can talk?"
He chuckled weakly.
"I didn't even know you could reply to my questions…"
He leaned back against the cave wall.
The crystal pulsed again.
His right arm still hadn't regenerated.
Adil sat quietly, the crystal pulsing in his chest.
The silence of the cave felt heavier now — not just from pain, but from questions.
He looked up at the system window still floating beside him.
"Hey… tell me where I am."
The system responded:
Location: Hell Saga Verse — Realm: Ninefold Hell
Adil blinked.
"Hmm… Hell Saga Verse… Realm…"
He stared at the cave walls.
"How many realms exist in the Hell Saga?"
The system replied:
Access Denied.
Adil sighed.
"Huh. As expected. It won't give me more information unless I meet certain conditions."
He looked toward the skeleton again — the one he had taken the ribs from.
Its body was still slumped against the wall, half-broken, half-preserved.
"Then tell me about this corpse."
The system responded:
Entity: Trial Challenger (Deceased) Name: Unknown
Status: Failed Trial
Cause of Death: Crystal Overload + Gatekeeper Execution
Time of Death: 3,211 hours ago
Adil stared at the bones.
"So he tried… and failed. Just like I almost did."
He leaned back against the wall.
The crystal in his chest pulsed again.
He looked down.
"But I survived. Barely."
He closed his eyes.
Adil stared at the skeleton again.
Its bones were cracked, ribs missing, skull tilted sideways.
He looked at the system window still floating beside him.
"Can I have more info about him?"
The system replied:
Access Denied.
Adil smirked.
"How harsh…"
He leaned back against the wall.
"Well, forget it. What about my arm? Why isn't it regenerating?"
The system responded:
Self-Healing Ability: Active
Limb Regrowth: Not Supported
Adil nodded slowly.
"I see… healing doesn't mean regeneration."
He looked at the skeleton again.
"Can you tell me how this person died? If he were like me… how did he come to this world? Did he have abilities like mine?"
The system paused.
Then replied:
Subject: Trial Challenger (Deceased)
Arrival Method: Unknown
System Type: Fragmented
Cause of Death: Crystal Overload + Gatekeeper Execution
Adil's eyes narrowed.
"You just give me the same answer."
Scene shift
Far away from the cave, a castle exists, built from red and black stone; the air was heavy and cold. The walls looked alive — twisted and dark. Shadows moved like smoke.
Inside the throne hall, a man knelt.
He had long blue hair, sharp blue eyes with cat-like pupils, and a cloak that shimmered like frost.
He bowed low before the throne.
"Greetings, Maulter — Silent Vault Lord of the Ninth Hell."
The throne was massive — carved from bone and black stone. The figure sitting on it was hidden in shadow. Only his voice echoed through the hall.
"I saw a strange dream today."
The blue-haired servant raised his head slightly.
"What was it, my lord?"
The voice replied, calm and cold.
"I saw… a human."
The blue-haired servant knelt before him.
"Majesty… you saw a human?"
Maulter's voice echoed, calm and deep. "Yes."
The servant's eyes narrowed. "That means… another human has arrived."
Maulter leaned forward slightly. "How many came before him?"
The servant replied, "Seventeen, my lord. He is the eighteenth."
Maulter's voice darkened. "What happened to the others?"
The servant lowered his gaze. "Most were eaten by your pet, Majesty."
Maulter raised an eyebrow. "You mean the serpent?"
"Yes," the servant said. "The rest were imprisoned. When we tried to investigate, they died suddenly. One perished during the Bloodcore Trial. Most don't survive a week."
Maulter sat in silence.
The servant continued, "Shall I send someone to observe him?"
Maulter shook his head. "No need. Let him walk alone. If he survives longer than expected… then we act."
The servant bowed. "As you wish, my lord."
Scene — Cave Interior
Adil sat quietly, the crystal pulsing in his chest. His body ached. His right arm is still dead. The silence was heavy.
Then — something caught his eye.
Behind the skeleton, half-buried in the dirt, was a metal box. He pulled it out slowly. It was cold, rusted, and sealed with a strange symbol.
The system appeared:
Item Identified: Bloodcore Shard Container Status: Locked Decoding… Complete
The box clicked open.
Inside was a shard of Bloodcore Crystal, glowing faintly red.
Adil reached out.
The shard flew into his chest — merging with the crystal already embedded there.
His veins lit up — glowing red like fire. His body surged with energy.
Adil gasped. "I… feel stronger. What is this?"
The system replied:
Bloodcore Power: +1%
Status: Charging
Effect: Unknown
Adil clenched his fists.
His body felt heavier… but more alive.
He whispered, "So this is how it grows…"
The crystal pulsed again.
Adil sat against the cave wall, the crystal pulsing in his chest. His veins glowed faintly red. His body ached, but something inside felt… charged.
He looked at the system window floating beside him.
"Don't I need to calm this energy?" he asked.
The system replied:
No need.
Adil frowned. "Why not?"
The system responded:
You were not weak compared to the humans who came before. Your body was already well-built. Continuous healing from your injuries has made your body stronger. You are now capable of containing Bloodcore power.
Adil blinked. "So… if I had consumed this crystal before coming here?"
The system replied:
Your body would have been unstable. Result: Implosion or cellular collapse.
Adil leaned back, exhaling slowly.
The crystal pulsed again.
He looked down at his arm—still lifeless.
"I guess I have to train harder now."
Adil sat quietly, staring at the cave wall.
"I want to become the strongest fighter," he whispered to himself. "Not just strong… but unbreakable."
He stood up slowly, his body still aching, the crystal pulsing in his chest.
"Enough sitting around. Time to move."
He walked toward the cave entrance.
Just as he reached the edge, the system window flickered violently.
…danger…s…s…e..es ai… …ERROR… …FORBIDDEN SIGNAL DETECTED…
Adil blinked. "What the hell is this?"
The system glitched again—symbols flashing, static buzzing.
Then it vanished.
Adil stood in silence.
"Sigh… what was that?"
He stepped out of the cave.
The wind brushes against his face. The sky was still red, lightning flashing across the horizon. He clenched his fists.
He stepped forward.
Suddenly, the crystal in his chest pulsed violently.
His body froze.
A surge of energy exploded through his veins—red lightning crawling under his skin.
"AGHHHHHHHHHH!"
He dropped to his knees.
The system appeared—glitching, unstable.
…WARNING… …Bloodcore Overlord Detected… …Entity Class: Unknown… …Danger Level: S+… …Connection: Active…
Adil gasped. "Bloodcore Overlord?"
Then—he heard it.
A voice.
Deep. Ancient. Echoing inside his mind.
"You have my blood."
Adil's eyes widened. "Who… are you?"
No answer.
The system flickered again.
Bloodcore Status: 1%
Surge Level: Critical
Mutation Risk: Suppressed
Recommendation: Do not engage
Adil breathed hard, his body trembling.
The crystal pulsed once more—then settled.
He looked down at his chest.
The glow was faint now. Cold.
He stood up slowly.
"Hmmm system is hiding something."
He exhaled slowly.
"Sigh… how deep have I fallen?"
The system appeared:
Depth Reading: 1,000 meters below surface
Adil narrowed his eyes. "A thousand meters…"
He scanned the terrain—cracked stone, faint symbols, silence.
Then—he heard it.
A sound.
Clicking. Skittering. Familiar.
His eyes widened.
"No way…"
The system flickered:
Warning: Entity Signature Detected Classification: Zoag Swarm Rank: F Status: Active Quantity: High Behavior: Aggressive
Adil clenched his fists.
"They're back…"
The crystal in his chest pulsed once—cold and steady.
He looked ahead.
Just the swarm.
But this time… he wasn't running.
"Again?" he muttered. "You things never quit."
The system flickered:
Zoag Swarm Detected Rank: F Quantity: 47 Behavior: Aggressive Note: Bloodcore signature may be attracting them
Adil clenched his jaw.
"So the crystal's pulling them in…"
He looked down at his chest. The glow was faint, but steady. The Zoags hissed, clicking louder, forming a loose circle around him.
Adil took a slow breath.
"I'm not the same as before."
He stepped forward.
The first Zoag lunged. He dodged, grabbed it mid-air, and slammed it into the ground. Another came from the side—he spun, kicked, crushed.
The swarm surged.
Adil moved like a shadow—his body still aching, his right arm limp, but his instincts sharp. He ducked, rolled, and struck. Each kill was messy. Each movement was survival.
The system updated:
Zoag Eliminated: 3
Adil paused, panting.
The swarm hesitated.
He raised his voice.
"You want the crystal? Come take it."
The Zoags screeched.
But they didn't move.
They retreated.
Adil blinked.
"What…?"
The system appeared:
Behavior Shift Detected Zoag Swarm Retreating Reason: Unknown Possibility: Presence of Higher Entity Nearby
Adil turned slowly.
The wind shifted.
Something else was coming.