"It hurts, it hurts so much!"
The Sky-devouring Beast relentlessly tore into Silas Voss's body, the searing pain crawling through every nerve, almost like it was spreading to his very soul.
But no matter how intense the pain was, it still didn't even come close to the suffering in his heart!
"Why... why?"
Silas Voss stared at the cold, indifferent face before him. He had loved her so much, given her everything, yet this was how she repaid him.
"Why? You keep saying you love me, but you won't even give me the Soul-Devouring Staff!"
Judy's face was emotionless, her gaze as icy as a stranger's. Her voice was distant, like it didn't matter at all.
"Since you won't give it to me, I'll just have to kill you and take the Soul-Devouring Staff for myself!"
The Soul-Devouring Staff? Ha. That was the S-rank mage weapon he'd fought tooth and nail for, almost dying a hundred times to get it!
As a mage, it was the perfect fit for him.
But Judy? She was a thief! She couldn't even equip a mage's weapon!
And she was doing all of this for that pretty boy. She was willing to kill him after all he'd done for her, just to give the staff to that guy!
He'd known Judy was obsessed with idols, but he never imagined she'd go this far. She was willing to murder the one person who'd been by her side for ten years, all for the sake of some pretty boy!
Had their ten years of love meant nothing? Was that guy really worth more than everything they had?!!!
"Judy, are you even human? Do you still have a heart?!!!"
Silas Voss wanted to scream these words at her, his chest burning with fury. But he had no strength left. He couldn't even open his mouth.
His vision faded to black, the pain in his body gradually lessening. Soon, he felt nothing at all. All that remained was a deep, endless regret.
If he ever got another chance, he wouldn't let anyone control his heart again. He would live for himself. He would reach the peak of the world and see the most breathtaking views.
The darkness was all-consuming. He opened his eyes, but there wasn't even the slightest hint of light.
His consciousness started slipping away, until he could no longer feel anything.
"Hiss!"
A blinding light suddenly flashed in his eyes, so bright and sharp it felt like it was burning through his soul.
Silas Voss snapped his eyes open. This was clearly not the Forsaken Land anymore. The Sky-devouring Beast and Judy were both gone.
He looked around. Was he in a room?
It was small but cozy, with posters on the walls that gave the place a vibrant, energetic feel.
"Where am I?"
"Didn't I die?"
He looked at the familiar-yet-unfamiliar surroundings in disbelief. The intense pain had completely vanished. It almost felt like it had all been a dream.
Suddenly, the sharp sound of a ringtone echoed through the room.
"Ding-ling-ling!"
So familiar... Wait, wasn't this his old ringtone?
Silas Voss suddenly realized where he was. Could it be his old apartment from ten years ago?
He looked around again, and the familiarity hit him like a wave. It really was his old place!
He rushed to where the ringtone was coming from, grabbed his phone, and lit up the screen.
[Tuesday, March 26, 4202]
[07:30]
4202? Was he really back ten years in time?
Silas Voss clenched his fists, and tears almost welled up in his eyes.
He was back. He'd really gone back!
Wait—today was?
March 26th!
It was the day of the class awakening!
At 9 AM, every school would conduct the class awakening!
This day was burned into everyone's memory, the day that would determine their entire fate.
Silas Voss clearly remembered awakening as an S-rank Necromancer. (Class ranks go from F, E, D, C, B, A, to S.)
He had mastery over various negative and mental magic, and he could summon undead creatures. Whether in solo combat or team battles, he was an absolute powerhouse.
In his past life, with the advantage of his class and his own hard work, he still managed to become one of the top 100 professionals in the world—even with Judy dragging him down the whole time!
If it hadn't been for her, he was confident he could've made it into the top 50, maybe even the top 30!
He'd sacrificed so much for her, given up everything, and yet she had betrayed him!
To her, everything he did was expected. Even a single refusal from him had led to her wanting him dead.
In his past life, he had been such a fool, letting Judy sweet-talk him into being her loyal lapdog.
But this time, he wouldn't let her change him. He would live for himself!
Armed with the memories of his past life, he was confident he could reach the peak of the world, maybe even become the world's number one.
...
Magic No. 9 High School.
"Silas Voss, the class awakening is coming soon. I'm so scared!"
Judy's face was full of fear, her voice trembling. "After the class awakening, we'll have to fight."
"But I've heard the monsters inside are really scary! I'm so scared!"
It was the same old routine. Silas Voss had tried so hard to stay away from her, but here she was, seeking him out again.
In his past life, he'd been so dumb, taking out a loan to buy her an entire set of gear just because of her sweet talk!
If it hadn't been for his S-rank class awakening, that loan alone would've been enough to keep him in debt for a lifetime.
With the lessons of his past life in mind, Silas Voss knew he wouldn't fall for her again. Not killing her was already the greatest mercy he could show.
"As long as I act pitiful, that simp Silas Voss will instantly start obeying me like a puppy. I'll get a full set of gear for free right at the start — that'll put me miles ahead of everyone else!"
A faint smile curled at the corner of Judy's lips. Guys like him were the easiest to fool.
"If you're so scared, then just skip the class awakening and go get a job. Jobs are protected by the government, so there's almost no risk involved."
Silas Voss looked at Judy coldly, throwing the words back at her with a sharp tone.
Being merciful to someone like her was nothing but cruelty to himself.
His past life had already given him that lesson.
This time, Silas Voss's attitude was a complete 180 from how he used to be. In that moment, Judy couldn't quite process it.
She stared at him with wide eyes, disbelief written all over her face. She could hardly believe what she was hearing.
"What's gotten into Silas Voss, the loyal lapdog? Since when did he dare talk back?"
Judy was confused, and a little angry, her mind racing. "If the gear wasn't so expensive, do you think I'd even bother with you, you little simp?"
But for the sake of the gear, Judy decided it was better to hold her tongue for now.
"Voss,my big brother~ What are you talking about? Judy doesn't really understand. I heard that before the trial, we can buy some gear~"
Judy blinked her eyes innocently, putting on a clueless expression. She gave Silas Voss a look that was almost too sweet, her voice dripping with a fake, playful tone.
"If you don't understand, then just get lost! If you want the gear, go buy it. Stop bothering me!"
Silas Voss wasn't falling for her act anymore. He saw right through her sweet talk—it was all for her own gain. To her, only benefits were real.
If it weren't for the school rule forbidding personal fights on campus,
he would've already dealt with this shameless woman. Why waste any more words on her?
Judy's expression darkened, as if something had clicked in her mind. "Silas Voss is definitely playing hard to get! He's trying to mess with my emotions, but luckily, I saw right through him!"
Her expression softened, and a smug smile crept onto her face, as if she'd just caught Silas Voss in a trap. With a tone that almost felt like a threat, she said, "Silas Voss, if you don't buy me the full set of gear, I'll never talk to you again!"
With that, Judy turned to leave, but as soon as her back was to him, she could hardly hide the smug grin on her face.
"Now Silas Voss's really going to crack, right? He'll probably beg and cry, asking me to buy the gear!"
She wore a look of triumph, like she had complete control. She could easily have a dozen simps like him, so what was there to worry about?
Silas Voss simply shut his eyes, deciding that if he couldn't see it, it wouldn't bother him.
A clown like that—even if she made it to the end of the trial—he would kill her on the spot.
Though killing was forbidden within the school, once they were out, in the vastness of all the different spaces, no one would stop him.
After counting to three and seeing that Silas Voss hadn't moved an inch, Judy gritted her teeth and walked off, defeated.