Darkness consumed Noah completely as the system message appeared before him, its broken fragments flickering like shattered glass in the void. Yet in the very next moment, those fragmented words dissolved, replaced by a new unstable message that trembled with resistance.
['Soul Clasier' is rejecting Forced Authority from the System, Undoing Memory Suppression]
At that instant, Noah felt two opposing forces collide—not within his body, but within something far deeper. His very essence trembled as his soul became the battlefield, the clash violent and incomprehensible beyond physical sensation.
The collision ended abruptly.
Noah dropped to his knees, panting heavily as his vision blurred. His thoughts struggled to form properly as he tried to grasp what had just occurred. Wh-what… was that? His mind reeled, unable to fully process the clash that had taken place.
He shook his head violently, forcing away the lingering unease. Slowly, his vision stabilized, returning to clarity as control came back to him. Noah pushed himself up, his movements sluggish, his knees now stained with mud from the forest floor.
His right hand pressed against his forehead as he shut one eye tightly, his teeth gritting in discomfort. Ahh… that was dangerous. His breathing steadied gradually. I almost forgot… even speaking that word can alert them.
That word—
Sin.
Entities so powerful that even uttering their name was akin to inviting death itself. Their existence transcended normal understanding, and merely acknowledging them could draw their attention from beyond unseen layers of reality.
Noah exhaled slowly, a long breath leaving his lungs as he spoke under his breath, "Sigh… I need to be more careful from now on. If not for my Talent doing something just now… I would be dead again."
His gaze lingered briefly on the fading system message before he dismissed it entirely. His attention shifted back to the forest, towering trees looming over him as silence returned, though his mind remained alert to what should come next.
He recalled the sequence.
"I think I will be sent ba—!"
His words were cut short.
A new system message appeared.
[Difficulty for Participant Noah has been Adjusted – Supreme Hell]
[A Second Trial is being generated due to miscalculation]
[Trial Name: Hell's Trial – Mukan's Steps]
[Objective: Take 100 steps on Mukan's Stairs]
Noah's eyes widened instantly.
"WHAT?! A second trial?!" His voice rose sharply, disbelief filling every word. "I already cleared my trial, so why is there another—?!"
Before he could finish—
His body vanished.
The forest disappeared completely.
Hell.
The lowest surface among the twelve layers.
Noah's body appeared midair, unstable, before gravity claimed him instantly. He fell roughly five meters before crashing onto the volcanic ground below with a heavy impact.
"THUD!"
"AGHHHHH!"
Pain exploded across his back as if it had shattered entirely.
The ground beneath him burned intensely, its temperature far beyond tolerable limits. The air itself scorched his skin, making it feel as though it was peeling away layer by layer under the oppressive heat.
Noah groaned as he forced his eyes open, his body trembling as he pushed himself up with shaking arms. "Ugghhh…" His palms pressed against the burning surface, sending waves of pain through his nerves.
His gaze lifted.
Volcanoes erupted in the distance.
Lava pools bubbled violently.
The sky burned with a hellish glow.
"…Shit."
His voice came out hoarse.
"…Am I really in Hell?"
As if answering him, the system appeared again—this time glowing in a deep crimson hue, its presence far more ominous than before.
[Trial: Mukan's Steps is Beginning]
The ground beneath Noah cracked suddenly.
The fracture expanded outward endlessly, splitting the terrain apart as black obsidian plates rose from within. Each plate bore a symbol—a skull crushed beneath a palm—emanating an oppressive aura.
The plates floated upward.
One after another.
Forming stairs.
Each step massive—ten meters wide.
One hundred steps emerged in total, stretching upward into the hellish sky like a path toward something unknown.
Noah stared in disbelief.
"…What is this…?"
His voice carried both shock and frustration.
"Why is there a second trial at all… and this heat isn't normal either."
The system remained silent for a brief moment before finally responding—something it had never done before.
[Participant's Talent exceeds expected parameters]
[Trial Difficulty adjusted accordingly]
Noah's eyes narrowed slightly.
The system… answered me?
Even in his previous life, it had never responded directly. Is it because of my Talent? His thoughts deepened, but he didn't dwell on it for long.
His gaze shifted toward the stairs again.
Something felt wrong.
Too large… too simple…
His instincts warned him.
This isn't just climbing.
Even in this unbearable environment, his mind remained sharp and analytical. Well… I have no choice anyway. I need to step on them to clear the trial.
He moved forward.
Slowly.
Then—
He stepped onto the first stair.
Instantly—
A crushing pressure slammed into his body.
"Ingh—!"
His knees buckled as an invisible force pressed down on him, forcing his entire frame toward the ground. His thoughts raced in confusion. What… is this pressure?!
"KHEUK!"
He gritted his teeth, struggling to remain standing, but his body refused to respond properly under the immense force.
Then—
The system appeared again.
[Soul Clasier is in effect]
[Hell's Aura is being absorbed]
[Converting into Soul Energy]
Noah's eyes widened despite the pressure.
Hell's Aura…? His thoughts trembled. I'm not strong enough to withstand this yet…!
But then—
He felt it.
The pressure began to decrease slowly.
His body adapted.
The overwhelming force weakened gradually as his soul absorbed and converted the hostile energy.
Noah exhaled sharply, thinking the worst had passed—
But the moment his guard dropped—
A growl echoed.
Low.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
"Grrrrrr…"
Noah lifted his head slowly.
His expression froze.
An Orc stood before him.
Not a normal one.
A massive figure with a red horn protruding from its forehead, radiating a dense, violent aura. Its muscular frame towered over him, and in its hand rested a massive axe capable of crushing anything effortlessly.
Its eyes glowed with killing intent.
Its lips curled into a mocking smile.
Noah's face turned pale.
Why… is that here?!
The system displayed its information.
[Hell's Minion: Orc of Hell]
[Rank: E]
[Weapon: Axe]
Noah read it quickly.
Is this a joke…?
His mind raced desperately. I can't even scratch that thing with my knife. His thoughts accelerated rapidly, searching for a solution under pressure.
Then—
The System Shop.
He had forgotten.
Everything had been happening too fast.
His gaze shifted briefly to his knife.
Useless.
I need something stronger… something that can kill in one shot.
His thoughts sharpened.
An arrow.
Before he could think further, the Orc began walking toward him slowly, its crooked smile widening as it clearly underestimated him.
That smile—
Triggered something.
Noah's mind flashed back.
The Abyss.
The monsters.
The same expression.
Looking down on him.
Rage surged.
His veins bulged as he shouted, "Are you looking down on me?! You filthy Orc…?! You're going to pay for that!"
Without hesitation, he opened the system shop and found it instantly.
[Bow and Arrow of Elven Recargol's – Rank E – Cost: 20 SP]
He didn't read further.
He bought it.
A silver bow materialized in his hands, along with a single arrow glowing with sharp, radiant energy. Its aura matched the intensity of the Orc's presence.
Noah moved instantly.
He drew the bow.
Aimed directly at the Orc.
"…Take this, you filth."
His voice turned cold.
"…Your days in Hell end here."
He released the arrow.
It shot forward at blinding speed—
Cutting through the burning air—
Heading straight toward the Orc.