Smoke still hung in the air like ash-colored fog.
The forest had gone silent — no birds, no wind, not even the rustle of leaves.
Only the faint crackle of fire from where the cave used to be.
At the center of the crater… lay Ash.
Unmoving.
His shirt was shredded, his skin marked with black veins that pulsed faintly — like something beneath was still alive, still burning.
Minutes passed before his fingers twitched. Then his chest rose, sharply, as if he'd just remembered how to breathe.
He gasped and sat up, coughing soot.
His vision blurred for a moment — then sharpened unnaturally, colors sharper, sounds louder, every heartbeat in the forest echoing in his skull.
He looked at his hands — the faint glow under his skin pulsed like veins of magma.
Ash: What… what the hell happened to me?
Then the HUD appeared — bright red instead of blue now, runes flickering across it like corrupted data.
SYSTEM WARNING: Demon Protocol Overridden.
Soul Fragment Assimilation — Complete.
Congratulations, Ash.
You are now the Bearer of the refined Unholy Death Card.
The text glitched, then reformed:
New Perks Unlocked:
• Soul Harvest — absorb fragments of fallen enemies to heal and gain power.
• Specter Command — command the ghosts you raise for combat or scouting.
• Demonic Surge (Lv.1) — temporary overload of strength and regeneration.
• Side Effect: gradual loss of humanity with repeated activation.
"Refined?"
Ash asked himself
Ash stared at the screen — then at his reflection in a puddle of rainwater forming nearby.
His eyes… were still glowing faintly gold, slit like a predator's.
When he blinked, they flickered human for a second — then back again.
He touched his left arm — or what was left of it.
Gone. Torn off completely. But instead of blood, the wound had sealed over in dark smoke, like scorched metal cooling.
He laughed weakly.
Ash: So this is what it takes to survive, huh?
The ghost appeared again — flickering, barely stable.
Ghost: You… you're alive. You're actually—
He stopped, staring at Ash's eyes. His voice trembled.
Ghost: What happened to you?
Ash: I could ask you the same thing, how did you know I had to swallow the chip?
Ash stood, looking around the crater.
The wind howled faintly now.
In the distance, he could see the walls of Level Two territory — faint lights flickering from other survivors who'd probably seen the explosion.
He clenched his remaining fist.
Ash: Whatever I am… doesn't matter. I have to survive.
He took one step forward — and the ground beneath his foot froze solid, frost spreading in a perfect circle. His system clicked again.
Warning: Demonic energy unstable. Use cautiously.
Suggestion: Hunt and Consume to balance.
Ash exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing.
Ash: Guess this world really is survival of the fittest.
Ash blinked through the fading smoke. His chest rose and fell quickly, every breath scraping against the ash-filled air.
What's going on?
The ground around him was scorched, trees burned down to black husks. His HUD still glowed crimson. Panic started to creep in.
Ash (thinking): I need to get out of here—if anyone sees this, they'll freak out. In a world where survival means killing or being killed… they'd probably hunt me next.
He turned and sprinted into the forest. Every step came easier, lighter—faster than he'd ever run before. His body felt like wind and fire at once. In one leap he cleared an entire ravine, landing silently on a branch the size of a car.
He stared at his hands, then at the faint glow under his skin.
Ash: What the hell did that chip do to me?
A flicker of light swept across his vision—SYSTEM ALERT.
The interface pulsed red instead of its usual calm blue.
SYSTEM STATUS:
• Critical body damage detected — Left Arm: Absent
• Commencing Regeneration Protocol...
Ash's eyes widened. His missing arm began to reform—muscle fibers weaving out of dark smoke, bone knitting together, veins glowing crimson before sealing beneath new skin.
He gritted his teeth, watching in horror and awe as it completed.
Ash: What… the hell…
From behind him, the familiar translucent figure floated up, crossing ghostly arms.
Ghost: You tell me, pal.
Ash spun around, still breathing hard.
Ash: What's happening to me?!
The ghost rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
Archy: Okay, so—funny story. When you leveled up, I kinda got some memories back. Turns out that chip you swallowed? You had to swallow it. Most who tried… well, let's just say it swallowed them instead. It absorbs life force when it rejects a host. But somehow, it didn't reject you.
Ash stared, silent, processing the horror in that "funny story."
Ash: Great. So I'm a lucky experiment now.
Archy floated closer, a faint smile tugging his ghostly beard.
Ghost: Oh—and I remembered my name! It's Archaemos. Has a nice ring to it, right?
Ash raised a brow.
Ash: Archaemos? Bit long, don't you think? I'm calling you Archy.
Ghost (offended): Hell no! I prefer Archaemos!
Ash gave him a tired glare.
Ash: You wanna disappear again?
The ghost immediately straightened up.
Archy: Actually, Archy sounds perfectly dignified, master.
Ash sighed, resting his back against the trunk.
For a brief moment, he let the silence of the forest wash over him—the new heartbeat of power echoing through his veins.
Whatever he had become… it wasn't human anymore he felt different.
The forest had grown quieter now.
No crickets, no wind — just the faint hum of energy from Ash's body as he walked through the trees. His expression was calm, but his eyes… cold and calculating.
Ash (thinking): It's getting dark. I need a place to rest… somewhere no one will bother me.
Archy floated lazily beside him, yawning — though he didn't need to breathe.
Archy: You know, master, I don't get tired, but I do get bored.
Ash: Then disappear. Problem solved.
Archy: Heh, not happening. You'd get lost without my wisdom.
Ash: The last time you shared your wisdom, I nearly became bear food.
The ghost chuckled awkwardly.
Archy: Technical mishap. Happens to the best of spirits.
They reached a waterfall hidden deep within the Marajong forest. Behind it, a rocky alcove opened into a shallow cave.
Ash crouched, scanning the area.
Ash: No traps, no footprints. This'll do.
He gathered dry sticks, sparked a small flame using friction and flint shards he'd found earlier, and within minutes, a campfire crackled to life behind the waterfall curtain. The light danced off his half-healed skin and armor.
His stomach growled.
Ash: I need meat.
Moments later, he returned with a spear-eared rabbit dangling by its leg. He skewered it, letting it roast slowly over the fire. The scent filled the cave.
Archy floated closer, eyes shining with hunger he shouldn't have.
Archy: Ahhh... that smell... I almost remember what eating feels like.
Ash: You're a ghost. You don't need to eat.
Archy: Doesn't mean I can't want to! Just a bite!
He reached for the roasted meat — his hand passed right through it. The rabbit dropped into the fire.
Ash stared blankly.
Ash: …Nice one, genius.
Archy (pouting): I was this close!
Ash ignored him, pulling out another chunk from his pack and roasting it again.
When it was done, he ate quietly, eyes reflecting the firelight.
After a few bites, he spoke.
Ash: This world's not about right or wrong anymore. Just power.
Archy: And you've got plenty now. You scared the life outta that bear.
Ash: Not enough. Not yet.
He flicked his wrist — a blue screen unfolded before him, glowing faintly against the dark cave.
Ash: System. Show skills.
UNHOLY DEATH CARD — EVOLVED FORM
▪ Summon Minion (Ghost): Bind a fallen soul to your will. Bound souls can manifest physically for combat.
▪ Soul Devour: Consume ghost essence of the dead to gain Energy.
▪ Grave Pulse: Detect all corpses and spectral entities in a 50-meter radius.
▪ Demon Core: Energy efficiency boosted by 80%. (Warning: unstable)
▪ Curse Storage: Store up to 3 spiritual curses for future use.
- Card refinement: refine all skill cards to their best form.
"Card refinement? That's what has probably transform the unholy death card to make it have different properties"
Archy peeked over his shoulder.
Archy: Huh… "Bind a fallen soul to your will"? You're not thinking—
Ash: Oh, I'm definitely thinking.
Archy: Hold up. No. No binding me! I'm not a minion!
Ash: Then start calling me "master."
Archy: …We can negotiate.
Ash smirked faintly.
He swiped the screen to the next tab.
USER STATS
Name: James Ash
Level: 1
Class: Death Channeler (Hidden)
HP: 390/390
Energy: 680/680
Strength: 45
Agility: 59
Endurance: 42
Intelligence: 65
Luck: 23
Status: Stable (Demon Core dormant)
" Luck? Huh?"
Ash leaned back against the cave wall.
Ash: Above average stats… yet still level one. Figures.
Archy: Yeah, because you've got the cheat of the century! That chip turned you into a walking bug in the system.
Ash: Good. I'll use every bug, glitch, and shadow this world gives me… until I'm strong enough to never die again.
Archy floated quietly for a moment, the firelight passing through him like mist.
Archy (softly): You've changed, master. You were scared before.
Ash: Fear's for people who still have something to lose.
The waterfall's rush drowned the silence that followed.
Ash's eyes, glowing faintly yellow, reflected the flame.
The hunter had stopped running.
Now, he was evolving.