Prologue: The end of the beginning

Under the reddish sky, the world stretched out like a vision of Earth’s purgatory—a land ravaged and broken, scarred by chaos and ruin. The ground was cracked and lifeless, as if every trace of hope had long since been scorched away by the fires of countless battles.

In the midst of that devastated wasteland stood a lone woman. Her figure swayed with exhaustion, barely upright, clad in what remained of her once-proud armor—now torn, battered, and stained with blood. Wounds lined her body, and crimson streaks traced down her limbs like rain that refused to end. Yet even in this state, she continued to fight. Step by step, breath by breath, she pressed forward—despite her strength fading, despite her energy leaking from her like sand slipping through fingers.

Even as the world around her crumbled and her body threatened to collapse, she did not yield.

Her limbs trembled, her body screamed for rest, but still she persisted. Her senses warned that the end was near—that the moment she stopped moving would be her last. But instead of giving in, she clenched her teeth and spoke, her voice low and laced with bitter frustration.

“How can these rats be endless… despite being so weak?”

“They respawn like there’s no tomorrow.”

“I thought I could wipe them all out if I just held on. But if this spawning keeps going, I’ll have to use my last resort…”

With a desperate breath, she forced her body to release the last remnants of her energy, pouring everything she had into one final push—hoping it would be enough to end the nightmare, to destroy the swarming monsters spilling endlessly from the crypt. But even then, her efforts bore no fruit. The creatures kept coming, relentless as ever. Her movements slowed, her breathing turned ragged, and the space around her narrowed as the endless tide pressed in, overwhelming her shrinking strength.

And as the end crept closer, her vision blurred. Her thoughts drifted. Memories rose unbidden—pulling her back to a time before the sky turned red, before the land cracked open and became a graveyard for the living.

Just a year ago, she had been one of the top hunters in Korea. A front-line warrior, praised for her power yet feared for her cold, unapproachable demeanor. But despite her distant exterior, countless people admired her. She never fought for fame or recognition, only to protect others. Every saved life, every whispered “thank you,” stayed with her. Though she rarely showed it, those quiet moments of gratitude gave her strength. They made the battles worth it.

But happiness is fleeting.

Everything changed the moment the system announcement arrived.

———

[Notice to all humans of World #10945: Your novice protection period has ended. You are now part of the Ten Thousand Worlds.]

[Each world will now compete against others for the right to claim racial talents. You are encouraged to engage in interworld combat. With each victory, crystals will be awarded and displayed in your system interface.]

[Win three times against a single race, and their racial trait becomes yours. Lose three times, and yours will be taken. The victorious race will have the right to either enslave or exterminate the defeated to claim their world.]

[Your current task: Select a representative for this month’s battle. This representative will face another world’s champion under mutually agreed rules. Victory or death—only one outcome awaits.]

As the notification resounded across the globe, humanity was split. Some were thrilled by the chance to grow stronger, to test themselves in combat against other worlds. But others—those who understood the weight of such battles—were filled with dread.

She had been one of the latter.

Confident in her own abilities, yes—but uncertain about humanity’s fate. Could Earth’s chosen truly withstand the unknown strength of alien races? Could they survive this so-called “game”?

And now, standing bloodied and alone amidst a sea of monsters, she had her answer.

Whether this was the price of survival… or the beginning of the end… only time would tell.

But even as her body collapsed into the dirt and darkness claimed her senses, a single thought pierced through the haze.

Not a regret.

Not a prayer.

A name.

His name.

The man she had once called her rival—the one she fought against as often as she fought beside. Cold. Ruthless. A monster in human skin. At least… that was what they said.

He had always watched her from the shadows. Always appeared when she least expected it—never to save her, never to comfort her, but to test her. To challenge her.

And yet, in the final moments of his life, he died shielding her.

She never understood why. Not until it was too late.

Now, as her soul drifted between life and death, she heard a whisper—not from a god, not from the system…

But from him.

“You were always mine… even if I had to die to prove it.”

And when she awoke again—reborn into a world forever changed—the truth about him would unravel.

Her greatest enemy…

Might have been her only obsession.

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