The golden halls of the goddess’s castle shimmered with celestial light, a divine backdrop to the relentless training taking place below. The vast training grounds buzzed with activity as the goddess’s chosen honed their skills, each guided by their unique blessing.

  Each of them had been granted a System, a translucent screen that hovered at will, displaying their stats, skills, and quests. With a simple tap, they could see their stats and skills, and accept quests assigned by the goddess.

  Yet, despite the beauty of their surroundings, a quiet tension wove through the air.

  Iris stood in the courtyard, her silver hair catching the light as intricate patterns of magic shimmered around her. The Blessing of Lumina allowed her to weave radiant spells, illuminating the space with golden hues.

  A flick of her wrist sent a chain of light wrapping around a distant training dummy.

  [New Skill Acquired: Radiant Chains]

  Her system screen flickered, displaying her current Mana Reserves (72%) alongside her new ability. She tapped the notification, lips pressing into a thin line. “A new skill… I wonder what it can do?”

  Across the field, Liam moved with brutality , his great sword carving deep gashes into reinforced dummies. His Blessing of the Blade enhanced his strikes, pushing him beyond human limits.

  His screen displayed [Strength +1] and [Swordsmanship Lv. 4 → Lv. 5]

  He barely glanced at it before dismissing the screen with a flick of his hand.

  Power was the only thing that mattered.

  Near the treeline, Sophia knelt beside a small fox, fingers brushing through its fur.

  Her Blessing of the Whispering Bond connected her to creatures in ways others couldn’t understand.

  [Beast Affinity +3]

  The fox tilted its head, nudging her palm. Even as she leveled up, her thoughts lingered elsewhere.

  Kaido.

  The chosen trained, talked, and compared stats. Some swiped through their skill lists, others boasted about their rising levels. Yet one name remained absent from their conversations.

  In a quiet corner, Max and Elena sat together, their screens hovering beside them, their faces tense.

  Max scrolled through his stats. His Blessing of the Storm Blade had increased his Agility and Sword Proficiency, but none of it felt satisfying. “I still can’t believe Kaido isn’t here,” he muttered.

  Elena, her fingers idly swiping through her Frostweave Magic spells, frowned. “The goddess didn’t even explain why. It’s like he was just… discarded.”

  Max’s grip tightened. “And most of the others don’t even care.”

  A scoff was heard behind them.

  Liam, passing by, swiped his screen open mid-stride, glancing at his Combat Stats before dismissing them. “Why waste time on him? He was weak.”

  Elena’s glare was sharp. “Not everyone’s heartless, Liam.”

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  Liam’s expression remained indifferent as he tapped into his Quest Log.

  [Train Your Blessing for the Goddess]

  [Protect the Holy Grounds]

  [Personal Quest: Learn an Advanced Sword Technique]

  Kaido’s absence meant nothing.

  “We’re in a new world with real responsibilities,” Liam continued, voice cold. “There’s no room for nostalgia.”

  As the sun dipped beyond the horizon, the chosen gathered in the grand hall for their evening meal. Lavish dishes lined the long table, but for some, their attention remained on the glowing screens beside them.

  Sophia idly flicked through her Beast Affinity menu, barely touching her food and thinking of Kaido.

  Liam laughed loudly, his voice cutting through the quiet. “Man, I’m glad that loser isn’t here to drag us down.”

  Laughter rippled through the hall, cruel remarks thrown between bites of food.

  Max’s fists clenched. His Combat Log beside him displaying his progress, all his growth felt hollow to him.

  Undeserved

  “That’s easy for you to say,” he snapped. “You never cared about him back home either.”

  Liam’s smirk faded. “I focus on what matters. Not people who are irrelevant. He’s probably dead by now anyway so give it a rest”

  The conversation ended there.

  Kaido’s name never came up again.

  The glow of their system screens flickered softly in the dim candlelight, the world moving forward.

  Without him.

  - - -

  Kaido’s world was a haze of pain and shadows. His body was battered, his senses dimmed, but the familiar feeling of cold earth beneath him gradually pulled him back to consciousness. As the fog cleared from his vision, he found himself lying on a makeshift bed of leaves and branches.

  A figure sat nearby, diligently working on something. The figure was a rugged man with a grizzled beard, wearing worn but sturdy clothes. His face was set in a determined expression as he applied a bandage to Kaido’s shoulder wound.

  Kaido’s eyes widened as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. The forest was still dark and ominous, but the presence of this stranger was a contrast to the earlier threat. The man noticed Kaido and looked up, his expression a mix of surprise and relief.

  “You’re awake,” the man said gruffly. “You took quite a beating out there.”

  Kaido tried to speak, but his throat felt dry and scratchy. He croaked, “Who—who are you?”

  The man nodded towards the nearby stream. “I’m called Thorne. Found you while I was scouting. You were in pretty bad shape. Thought I’d do what I could to patch you up.”

  Kaido tried to sit up but winced in pain. “Thank you... I didn’t expect anyone to find me.”

  Thorne gave a small, reassuring smile. “In these woods, you’re never really alone if you know where to look. Just rest for now. You’ve been through a lot.”

  Kaido took in the scene around him. The forest was still dark and treacherous, but there was a sense of safety in Thorne’s presence. He could feel the bandage working its magic, dulling the pain and easing the ache in his shoulder.

  “I need to... find a way out,” Kaido said, his voice more determined. “I can’t stay here.”

  Thorne’s eyes were sharp as he assessed Kaido. “You’re right. These woods can be unforgiving. But first, you need to regain your strength. The forest will test you, but it’s also full of resources if you know how to use them.”

  Kaido nodded, feeling a surge of resolve. The pain was still there, but it was now accompanied by a fierce determination to survive.

  As he lay back and closed his eyes, his thoughts didn’t dwell on his classmates. He didn’t know where they were or what they thought of him. To Kaido, they were as distant as the stars above the dark forest.

  His focus had shifted entirely. No longer was he seeking the blessing he once desired. Now, survival and revenge had become his primary goals. He had no idea what his former classmates were doing, but it didn’t matter. He would grow strong in his own way, away from the goddess, away from their world.

  As sleep claimed him once more, the dark forest loomed around him, but Kaido’s resolve burned even brighter. He would survive. He would fight. And when the time came, he would show them all.