“Well, well, what do we have here? Isn’t this Julian Stark? Or am I seeing things?”

  “Hehehe, boss, you’re spot on! That’s him—the brat who slipped through our fingers the other day. We were fuming, but who’d have guessed he’d just stroll into us here?”

  Damn it, them again, Julian thought as he turned toward the voice, carefully arranging his face into a mask of innocent curiosity. Standing before him were five thugs, their expressions a mix of smugness and mockery.

  “What an unexpected pleasure, Lord Gray,” Julian greeted smoothly, his voice dripping with feigned respect. He nodded at the ringleader, a broad-shouldered, golden-haired boy whose expensive clothes screamed wealth. His girth and overly polished appearance made him look more like a stuffed peacock than a noble heir.

  “You filthy brat,” Gray sneered, his lip curling as if the sight of Julian offended his delicate sensibilities. “Didn’t I warn you not to run? I told you there’d be consequences when I caught you. And now, here we are—sooner than expected.” His grin widened, all teeth and no warmth.

  Julian’s eyes flicked around, noting two other thugs stepping in behind him, cutting off his escape. Wonderful. It was turning into a proper reunion.

  “Lord Gray,” Julian said with a thin smile, “I assure you, there’s been a misunderstanding. I wasn’t running from you the other day. It’s just—when I saw some shady figures coming after me, I thought it might be a group of, you know, street rats. Had I known it was you, I would’ve stopped immediately to... pay my respects.”

  The insult veiled as a compliment seemed to fly right over Gray’s head. He snorted, crossing his thick arms over his chest.

  “Still as cheeky as ever, I see. That’s why you were my favorite toy back in the city. It’s fun watching you squirm.”

  The other thugs burst into laughter as if Gray had cracked the best joke of the century. Julian joined in with a dry chuckle, though his mind was racing.

  Favorite toy? Who does this guy think he is? Acting like he’s royalty when his father’s barely a city lord. Someone give this man a reality check.

  Julian’s smile didn’t falter as he replied, “Ah, yes, Lord Gray. Your... unique sense of humor is truly unforgettable.”

  “Enough talk,” Gray growled, taking a step closer. “We’ve got some time to kill before the academy’s selection test. Hold him down, boys. Let’s remind him what happens to those who defy me.”

  Julian’s heart skipped a beat. Of course, they wouldn’t just let him go. He took a subtle step back, then plastered on a dramatic look of concern.

  “Oh, Lord Gray, I wouldn’t dream of wasting your valuable time. You’re clearly destined for great things at the Royal Magic Academy. Please, continue on your way. I’ll even stay here and wave you off, praying for your health and success!”

  The sarcasm was so thick it practically dripped off his words, but Gray’s grin only grew.

  “Don’t worry, Julian. We’ve got plenty of time for a little fun. Grab him!”

  Julian had anticipated this. Before Gray could finish his sentence, he bolted.

  “Get him!” Gray roared, his face turning an angry shade of red.

  Julian shot toward the dense woods ahead, weaving through the underbrush like his life depended on it—which it probably did. Behind him, Gray’s voice thundered:

  “If you let him escape again, I swear none of you will eat tonight! I’ll do to you what I plan to do to him! Move it!”

  Julian barely stifled a laugh. “You guys seriously need to get a hobby!” he called over his shoulder.

  The sound of crashing leaves and snapping branches filled the air as Julian sprinted deeper into the woods. His breath came in sharp gasps, but he couldn’t afford to slow down.

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  “Stop running, you little rat!” one of the thugs barked, his voice laced with frustration.

  “Stop chasing me, and I might think about it!” Julian shot back, barely dodging a low-hanging branch.

  “Don’t push your luck, Stark! You’ll regret this!”

  “Oh, I already regret it!” Julian called over his shoulder. “Regretted it the moment I met you guys! But here we are!”

  Gray’s furious voice boomed behind him. “You’re heading into the dark forest, you idiot! Do you have a death wish? Stop now, or you’ll get us all killed!”

  “Dark forest?” Julian muttered to himself, his legs pumping harder. “Great. Just great. That explains why it’s getting colder... and why it feels like I’m being watched.” He suppressed a shiver as a creeping sense of dread began to settle in his chest.

  “You hear that?” one of the thugs whispered behind Gray. “I think something’s out here...”

  “Shut up!” Gray snapped, though his voice wavered. “He’s trying to scare us. There’s nothing out here but trees and shadows. Now move!”

  Julian smirked. “What’s the matter, Lord Gray? Afraid of the big, bad forest?” he called, his voice dripping with mockery. “You’ve got all your goons with you. Surely you’ll protect me from the monsters, right?”

  There was no roar, no sound to confirm danger, but the oppressive silence of the forest was more terrifying than any noise. The thugs hesitated, glancing nervously at each other.

  “He’s bluffing,” one of them muttered, though his voice wasn’t convincing even to himself.

  “Catch him!” Gray bellowed. “If we stop now, he’ll get away again, and I’ll make you all pay for it!”

  They’re not stopping. Of course they’re not stopping, Julian thought grimly. His legs were starting to burn, and he knew he couldn’t keep this up much longer. If they caught him now, the beating would make last time look like a light slap.

  Through the dim light filtering through the trees, something caught Julian’s eye—a dark hole, half-hidden by vines and shadows. A cave.

  He hesitated for only a second before veering toward it. “Better a creepy cave than these lunatics,” he muttered, diving inside.

  The moment he crossed the threshold, a chill ran down his spine. The air was heavy, suffocating, and thick with the sensation of something ancient and sinister.

  Outside, the thugs skidded to a halt.

  “Did that idiot really go into the cave?” one of them asked, his voice shaking.

  “Looks like it,” another muttered. “He’s lost his mind. That place reeks of dark magic.”

  “Do we... follow him?”

  “No!” Gray barked, though his confidence seemed to waver. “We’re not going in there. Whatever’s inside isn’t worth it.”

  The young lord’s eyes gleamed with malice as he pulled something small and golden from his pocket. “But that doesn’t mean we let him escape.”

  “My lord, is that your father’s enchanted relic?” one of the thugs asked, eyes wide. “That’s worth more than—”

  “Silence,” Gray snapped. “This brat humiliated me twice. Twice! If we can’t get him, we’ll make sure he doesn’t come out.” He hurled the object at the cave’s entrance, and with a deafening explosion, the mouth of the cave collapsed, sealing Julian inside.

  Dust and rocks rained down around Julian as the cave shuddered. He stumbled backward, coughing and waving a hand in front of his face.

  “What... what just happened?!” he wheezed. Turning back, he saw nothing but a wall of rubble where the entrance had been.

  “Oh, that bastard really hates me,” Julian muttered.

  For a moment, he stood there, panting, the weight of his situation sinking in. Then, with a resigned sigh, he turned toward the darkness ahead.

  “Great. Trapped in a creepy cave full of dark magic. Exactly how I wanted to spend my day. Well, nothing to do but find another way out. Forward it is.”

  The air grew colder as Julian stumbled deeper into the cave, following the rough wall with his hands. Every step felt heavier, the oppressive energy pressing against him like an invisible weight.

  The stench hit him first—a foul, gut-wrenching smell that made his stomach churn. “What the hell is that?” he muttered, gagging.

  Then he saw it: a faint, eerie glow up ahead.

  His heart raced as he moved closer. The light led him into a massive chamber, where his jaw dropped at the sight before him.

  Mountains of gold and jewels sparkled in the cold blue light, but it wasn’t the treasure that caught his attention—it was the enormous, decaying corpse of a snake sprawled at the center. The light came from its cracked core, a pulsating crystal embedded in its forehead.

  “What... what is this place?” Julian whispered, stepping closer despite himself.

  As his fingers brushed the crystal, a surge of power shot through him. The core melted, spreading over his skin like liquid fire. Julian screamed as his vision went dark.

  When he opened his eyes again, he was surrounded by nothingness. A glowing screen appeared before him, displaying words that made his heart pound.

  Julian Stark

  Stats: Strength: 1 | Mana Power: 38 | Vitality: 8

  Skills: Void Cracker

  Special Class: Space Magician

  Bloodline: Emperor-Level Serpent: Apophis

  “What... what the hell is this?”

  A calm, emotionless voice echoed in his mind. “These are your stats. Each represents a specific aspect of your abilities. Do you have any questions?”

  Julian blinked. “Who are you?”

  “I am an advanced artificial intelligence assigned to serve you. If you require further explanation, I will provide it.”

  “Artificial... what now?” Julian muttered. His head spun as he stared at the screen.

  Somewhere deep inside, despite the fear and confusion, one thought stood out clearly:

  Maybe... maybe my luck’s about to change.