As I stepped out onto the street, I saw the many civilians we had saved. When they noticed me, they bowed, tears of joy streaming down their faces. They thanked me for risking my life. I told them it was my duty and tried to leave, but a familiar voice stopped me. It was the girl I had saved. She shouted that she would never forget what I'd done and promised to repay me someday.
I smiled and told her it wasn't necessary, but she insisted, already thinking about how to return the favor. I told her to come up with something fun.
I headed for the training grounds—and was surprised to see all my comrades already there. No, not just comrades… friends. They were training hard, and from the look of it, they'd been at it for hours.
"What are you all doing here" I asked, genuinely confused. "We completed the mission. I thought you'd be resting, celebrating…"
They looked at each other, then one of them—Lucian, the charming guy everyone admired—replied, "Then why are you here?"
"To train," I answered, a bit embarrassed.
"Exactly, he said. "So why would we be any different?"
He was right. I realized how arrogant I'd sounded, assuming they would be slacking off. The truth was, if not for them, I wouldn't have made it through. I bowed my head.
"Sorry," I said. "I should've behaved better."
They laughed. "We all made mistakes," someone said. "But we're training now because we want to grow stronger. Let's be honest—if it weren't for you, we might not have survived. Or saved anyone."
After that, we finally introduced ourselves properly. That's when I learned who the real leaders of the group were—Lucian Duval, the sword-wielding prodigy, and Evelyn Graves, a lightning mage with sharp eyes and even sharper spells.
Inspired, I began my own training. I had a goal—to become the sword itself. To fight with or without a blade. I set my sword aside and started practicing unarmed, imagining my body as a weapon—arms and legs as blades. I merged sword techniques with martial arts, and with each strike, I felt it: this worked.
Later, I told the others I was heading to my room. That was a lie—I went into the forest.
The entire area was surrounded by woods, and once I was sure no one was nearby, I resumed my training. With a downward chop of my hand, the tree split in two. Then a sweeping kick cut another cleanly across the trunk.
Satisfied, I returned to my room.
Days passed. From our lessons, I learned that the strongest monsters come from three main worlds: the World of Gods, the World of Spirits, and the World of Nightmares—though sometimes these worlds are called realms instead. These weren't just sources of monsters—they were the heart of the chaos.
Aside from that, life was simple: training, studying, preparing. Until we received our next assignment.
A journey.
We were to travel to a distant city—on foot. Fifteen days through wildlands. We could go alone or in groups. Our destination was a city where a festival was going to be held in honor of the Day of Humanity's Rebirth.
Most of the others wanted to go together. Even Alisa suggested it. She also told us she wouldn't be able to protect us this time.
"I understand," I said. "But I'll go alone."
She didn't argue. "This is a chance," she said. "To prove yourself. To achieve something worthy."
When the others had left, I asked her, "Why are you so strong?"
The truth was, I asked because I was worried—there weren't many monsters around anymore, and as a result, it was hard to raise one's rank.
Her expression darkened. "Two years ago," she said, "they were everywhere. That time was known as the Fall of Humanity. We barely survived. That's why I'm strong. Because I had to be."
Her words stayed with me as I left. We'd been given a map. Using my spatial ring, I stored it safely.
While the others took the main trail, I went through the forest. If I went straight, I'd reach the city three or four days faster.
The forest was calm—no monsters, no screams, just silence. Peaceful. Too peaceful. I wanted to encounter monsters. I wanted to absorb their essence cores and grow stronger. Maybe that makes me sound selfish, but… I can't help it.
Eventually, I found a cave and saw a small group of people nearby. I approached and asked if I could rest there for the night. They were older men, armed with swords and axes, dressed in animal furs. There were four of them, and they told me there was a village nearby.
I agreed to spend the night in the village, but for today I had to sleep in the cave, so we went inside together.
We talked around the fire. They said I was polite, respectful. I told them that's how things should be. One of them, clearly the leader, introduced himself as Ethan.
Then he began telling stories—legends.
One was about a so-called Demonic Fruit, also known as the Monster's Fruit. According to the tale, a man once mastered every form of combat, but still sought more power. He encountered a woman known as the Overlord of demons and vampires, and she gave him a mysterious fruit.
No one knows what it looks like—or even if it's real.
After eating it, the man lost his mind and became a monster.
Some say he ascended to godhood. Others say he simply vanished.
Ethan said he first heard the story from a stranger who passed through the village just a month ago.
Then he shared another tale—one he heard from a mysterious girl he'd met two months earlier.
It was about the Divine Fruit—something like the counterpart to the previous one.
A girl, ten years ago, disappeared after battling the Overlord of Pleasure—a seductive woman with a scorpion's tail. Though the girl fought valiantly, she lost. But instead of killing her, the ruler offered her a fruit.
The girl ate it, radiated with light, and vanished. Some say she became a goddess. Others claim she entered the world of the gods.
Hearing both stories, I couldn't help but wonder: What would happen if someone consumed both fruits? Would their powers cancel out—or combine into something greater?
Ethan shrugged. "They say the fruits grant limitless potential. But who knows? It's probably just a myth."
I thanked him, then asked, "Why are there villages and cities outside the walls? Isn't the main state inside the wall?"
Ethan explained: "When people turn sixteen, they either Awaken or they don't. Those who don't become commoners like us. Cities are for the Awakened who gave up their roles. And behind the walls… live nobles, officers, elite warriors."
I nodded, understanding, and we went to sleep.
The next morning, I followed them to their village. The people were kind. Ethan's family fed me… and then it happened.
I felt the poison and immediately knew I'd been poisoned.
In the food or drink—I wasn't sure. But I felt it. My vision blurred. I stood quickly, drew my sword, and warned them not to come closer.
I'd never killed a human before. Monsters, yes—but this was different.
They surrounded me. Some cried. Some smirked. I saw guilt, fear, and pain in their eyes.
"We had no choice," Ethan said. "If we don't offer a sacrifice, someone from our village will die tonight."
I couldn't comprehend it.
Then I felt it—a presence. Something monstrous approaching.
A creature lunged at me.
I dodged.
The villagers dropped to their knees.
The thing looked human—but with four arms, violet skin, and twelve glowing red eyes.
I stepped back. "W-What are you?"
It grinned. "A demon. Low-rank."
A chill ran down my spine. I had a bad feeling about this.
Then it spoke again—in perfect human tongue.
"You're the sacrifice."
He attacked. I cut off his arms. He retreated, rapidly regenerating them.
Panic surged through me. I was poisoned—weak—and the monster was regenerating.
I had to finish it with a single, swift strike.
But where?
I don't think it's the heart or the brain; it just regenerates.
The most logical target was the neck.
I had to decapitate it with one blow.
But I couldn't act too soon. It didn't yet know I'd figured it out.
I baited him, creating a blind spot—a free zone where he could strike me. Let him think I was too weak to fight.
He charged.
And I struck—clean and fast—severing its head in a single slash.
From its body floated a glowing essence sphere. I absorbed it immediately to cleanse the poison. Not just to survive, but to grow stronger.
To my surprise, the essence didn't just heal me—it changed me.
I felt pain. Tremendous pain.
And then… clarity.
I had advanced.
Then I lost consciousness, fulfilling Alice's words that when you reach the Novice rank, you lose awareness and enter your inner self to choose an attribute.
I didn't know what the villagers would do with me next.
But somewhere deep inside, I hoped…
That everything would be okay.