The sensation of falling lasted only a moment, yet it was terrifying. Ling Wu Ji felt neither the wind nor gravity, only the absolute emptiness. Then, his body slammed against solid ground.
"Ugh..." he coughed, feeling the air rush back into his lungs.
Nearby, Lian and Mo Yun breathed heavily. The boy they had rescued lay unconscious.
"Where are we...?" Mo Yun glanced around.
They found themselves in an unusual place. The city was gone, replaced by an endless field of dark green grass, glowing blue flowers, and... houses.
The same city, yet now it was deserted.
"Is this the same city?" Lian frowned.
"No... It's different," Ling Wu Ji muttered.
The buildings stood lifeless. No lights, no movement, no footsteps. Even the air seemed frozen.
"Maybe it's finally letting us go?" Mo Yun suggested hopefully.
"Or just moved us somewhere else," Lian replied dryly.
The boy slowly sat up, his gaze empty, as if he saw something the others could not.
"They... are watching," he whispered.
At that moment, Ling Wu Ji felt a strange pressure at the back of his neck, as though someone was standing right behind him—invisible, yet palpable. He spun around quickly—nothing.
"That's nonsense," Lian scoffed, though his voice faltered. "Who are 'they'?"
"Those who were here before us," the boy answered.
Ling Wu Ji felt a chill spread inside him. He understood—these weren’t just empty words. Something was wrong.
"And who are you?" Mo Yun narrowed his eyes, studying the child.
The boy looked at him and gave a strange smile.
"Just someone who’s been here longer than you."
Ling Wu Ji felt a shiver down his spine.
"So, do you know how to get out of here?"
The boy slowly nodded.
"But would you want to leave when you know the truth?"
Suddenly, the houses around them began to shift. Their outlines twisted like a reflection in water. It seemed as if reality itself was trembling, ready to slip into chaos.
"Enough with the riddles!" Lian stepped forward, grabbing the boy by the shoulder. "Speak plainly!"
The boy blinked slowly.
"You are no longer in the city you once knew. Welcome to its true form."
The sky above the city darkened, as if space itself thickened, awakening nightmarish creatures. The air was filled with a low, resonant sound—the precursor to disaster.
"They’re coming..." the boy whispered, his hands trembling.
Ling Wu Ji clenched his fists.
"System, what’s happening?"
A cold, emotionless voice responded:
[New Quest: "Cleansing"]
Description: Destroy all monsters and find the city's core.
Reward: ???
From the shadows of the streets emerged monstrous figures. Their bodies were contorted, deformed as if someone had tried to create a human but failed. Some moved on all fours, their joints bending backward. Others resembled living statues of stone and flesh.
"Monsters," Mo Yun sighed, pulling the chains of his kusarigama. "It’s been a while since I’ve stretched."
One of the monsters, tall with a face resembling a mask, lunged forward. Its claws blazed with crimson light as it darted toward Mo Yun, trying to tear him apart.
Whizz!
The chain wrapped around the creature’s neck at lightning speed. Mo Yun yanked it back, and the sickening crack of breaking vertebrae echoed. The creature’s head crashed to the ground, but its body kept moving, attempting to strike.
"Disgusting..." Mo Yun scowled, throwing his kusarigama with a single motion, piercing the monster’s chest.
A dull thud echoed nearby—Lian had spun around and driven his foot into the skull of another monster, one resembling a giant rat with human eyes. The force of the blow sent the creature crashing into a wall, leaving cracks behind.
"These things don’t die with one hit!" Lian yelled, jumping away from the claws of yet another monster.
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
Ling Wu Ji felt his heart racing in his chest. He couldn’t stay behind. His fingers curled into a fist, then relaxed—he remembered his training, the pain in his muscles, the strikes he had learned.
A two-faced monster charged at him.
"Come on!" Ling Wu Ji roared, intercepting its attack, sidestepping, and driving his elbow into its side.
It growled but didn’t retreat. Instead, its second mouth opened wide, releasing a stream of black liquid.
"Shit!" Ling Wu Ji barely managed to dodge, but a few drops splattered on the ground, corroding the stone.
"Careful, their blood is poison!" the boy shouted.
But no one listened—the battle raged on. The monsters were numerous, and it seemed the city itself was spawning them.
"What the...?" Lian looked up and saw a silhouette atop a building.
A massive creature, towering twice the height of a human, its body pulsing, red eyes burning like torches.
"What the hell is that...?"
The creature raised its hand, and the street filled with an eerie hum.
The hum in the air grew louder. It felt as if the city itself groaned in pain, awakening the creature towering over the streets.
"What is that thing?!" Lian exclaimed, retreating.
"This isn’t just any monster..." Mo Yun frowned.
The giant silhouette took a step forward. With each movement, the stone walls trembled, and the ground cracked beneath their feet.
"Mortal ones..." its voice echoed, as if thousands of voices spoke at once.
In the next instant, it vanished.
"Where did it go?!" Lian shouted.
BOOM!
A powerful blow sent Mo Yun crashing into a wall, smashing through it. Lian barely managed to dodge, while Ling Wu Ji felt a crushing pressure on his chest.
"Fast... too fast!"
He didn’t even realize what happened before he was airborne. The giant's claws pierced his abdomen, tearing through flesh. The pain was so sharp that Wu Ji Han couldn’t even scream.
"Wu Ji Han!" Lian’s voice echoed from far away.
His body flew backward, crashing through buildings. The world around him slowed.
"Am I... dying?"
Blood poured from his mouth. His vision blurred.
"Don’t fear... you’ll return..."
The whisper in his head sounded strangely comforting. Then—darkness.
...Time resets...
Information from location effect "City of Forgotten Names" received.
[Activation of ability "Forgotten Death"]
[Teleporting to the last save point...]
Second chance.
Somewhere far away, the crackling of fire could be heard. The smell of blood. The distant sound of battle.
His eyes snapped open.
Ling Wu Ji sat up suddenly, gasping for air. He was back in the battlefield... but the monster hadn’t attacked yet.
"I’m back!" He clutched his chest, but the wound was gone.
Wu Ji Han breathed heavily, feeling cold sweat dripping down his back. Everything was happening exactly as it had before... but now, he knew what was coming.
"The monster is too fast. If I make a mistake again, I’ll just die once more."
"I saw my death," he murmured quietly.
Lian looked at him in confusion.
"What are you saying?"
But Wu Ji Han didn’t answer. His gaze was fixed on the monster, which was already preparing to strike.
BOOM!
The monster disappeared, rushing toward them again.
"LIAN, LEFT!"
Instinctively, Lian darted to the side, and the creature’s claws whizzed just inches from his neck.
"WHAT?!" he yelled, barely avoiding death.
"MO YUN, RIGHT!"
Mo Yun didn’t question it—he simply obeyed the command. The very spot where he had just stood exploded with shockwaves.
"What the hell...?" Lian couldn’t believe his eyes.
Just moments ago, they could’ve been killed, but Wu Ji Han had warned them a second before the attack.
"You..." Mo Yun began, but didn’t finish.
The monster moved forward again, but this time, Wu Ji Han also advanced.
"I won’t let myself die again!"
He concentrated all his strength into his legs and pushed off.
"LIAN, HELP!"
"SHIT!"
Lian reacted instantly, channeling his power into his fist.
"TAKE THAT, MONSTER!"
A powerful strike sent the giant reeling backward. Wu Ji Han seized the moment and leapt up, aiming for the monster’s head.
"DIE!"
But the creature was faster.
Its claws shot toward him again, this time targeting his heart.
"Again?! No... NOT AGAIN!"
He couldn’t afford to die again.
In that moment, his body moved on its own. He twisted sharply in the air, avoiding the claws, and struck with his foot directly to the monster’s face.
BOOM!
The creature roared in fury and recoiled.
"WHAT?!" Lian couldn’t believe his eyes.
"HE HIT IT!" Mo Yun exclaimed.
Wu Ji Han landed, breathing heavily. He felt his heart pounding in his chest.
"I... am still alive."
But the battle wasn’t over.
The monster growled, its eyes burning with murderous rage. It was no longer playing.
"Watch out... Now it’s really pissed off."
The monster wasted no time. Its body twisted as it surged forward, as if the space around it had compressed.
"SHIT!" Lian barely managed to shield himself before being thrown aside.
Mo Yun charged forward, his blade cutting through the air, but...
— WHAT?!
The blade merely slid across the monster’s skin—without leaving a single scratch.
BOOM!
Mo Yun was sent flying, crashing into the nearest wall.
— MO YUN! — Wu Ji Han felt a chill race down his spine.
But he had no time to react. In the very next instant, the enemy was already in front of him.
"Damn… I can't dodge in time!"
Claws sliced through the air.
BANG!
Blood splattered onto the ground.
— …Huh?
The monster froze.
Standing right before it was Lian—his arm pierced clean through, but he had caught the strike, stopping the claws from reaching Wu Ji Han.
— LIAN!
— SHOOT, NOW! — Lian roared through gritted teeth.
Wu Ji Han hesitated for a second, but instinct took over.
He activated his power, pouring in every last drop of his energy.
— DIE!
A flash of light.
BOOM!
The monster was blasted backward, its body smoldering.
Yet it did not fall.
It was still alive.
— You’ve got to be kidding me…! — Lian clenched his bloodied hand.
The monster snarled and lunged at them.
And then—
— I… won’t let you.
Wu Ji Han stepped forward.
The monster was already mid-air, claws tearing toward him.
He knew he wouldn’t be able to dodge.
But he had no intention to.
Grabbing Lian by the shoulder, he shoved him back with all his strength.
— What?! NO!
— …I’m sorry.
BOOM!
Claws pierced through his chest.
For a moment, silence reigned.
Lian stood frozen, his pupils dilated.
— …You.
The monster slowly pulled its claws free.
Wu Ji Han staggered.
Blood dripped onto the ground.
— Ah…
His knees buckled.
His vision blurred.
— No… DAMN IT, NO! — Lian’s voice trembled.
He rushed forward—too late.
— Wu Ji…
The last thing Wu Ji Han heard before darkness swallowed him was a scream.
— HAAAAAAAH!
---
Somewhere deep within his consciousness, a cold mechanical voice echoed:
[Death confirmed. Initiating reboot…]
---
— Hah… Hah…
Lian panted heavily, gripping his bloodstained sword. His hands trembled, his eyes burned with fury.
— You… You bastard…
The monster that had killed Wu Ji Han stood nearby, lazily licking its claws, savoring the moment.
— Lian… — Mo Yun’s weak voice broke the tension. He had managed to stand, his body covered in cuts and bruises, but he was still on his feet.
— SHUT THE HELL UP!
Lian roared and charged forward.
His sword gleamed as it sliced through the air.
BOOM!
The monster was sent flying, crashing into a building.
— Oh? Did that piss you off, little human? — The monster crawled out from the rubble, grinning.
But its smirk didn’t last long.
— …What the—
Lian was no longer holding back.
His strikes grew faster. More relentless.
He no longer felt pain.
No exhaustion.
Only one thing remained—rage.
— YOU’RE GOING TO REGRET THIS!
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The monster was flung around like a ragdoll, its body riddled with wounds.
And yet—it still wasn’t enough.
— Mo Yun, I’m coming!
Through his pain, Mo Yun smirked.
— Don’t keep me waiting.
He raised a hand, power surging to his palm.
— Burn to ashes.
IGNITION!
BOOM!
A pillar of fire erupted into the sky, consuming everything in its path.
That night, the City Without a Past was erased—by three lone warriors.
Mo Yun murmured.
---
Far away… In an unknown place.
Within a grand, opulent hall, a man sat in silence.
His face was shrouded in shadow, but his presence alone exuded absolute authority.
He took a slow sip from his cup.
The silence was broken by the sound of approaching footsteps.
— My lord.
A servant knelt before him.
— The City Without a Past… has been destroyed.
A pause.
Then, the man set his cup down.
— Oh? Interesting.
He lifted his gaze—within his eyes, an unnatural glow flickered.
— Send the troops.
The servant bowed and vanished into the darkness.
The man picked up his cup once more, taking another slow sip.
— If my pawns fail…
A smirk curled his lips.
— Then I will go myself.
---
Darkness enveloped Wu Ji Han’s vision. An empty void. He could feel his consciousness fading away.
System:
— Reboot error detected!
— You will die permanently in 10 SECONDS.
— 10… 9… 8… 7… 6…
Fear gripped him—until the system’s voice suddenly spoke again.
System:
— Quest completed!
— You have leveled up! Congratulations.
System:
— Emergency
quest activated in case of critical failure:
"Second Chance"
Objective: Reach the Island of Trials and complete a new trial to return to your body!
Failure: Permanent death. Your body will be forever lost.
Secret reward acquired: ???
