[You are the first human to kill an otherworldly being. You have earned the title:
[You have gained
[You have gained
[You have gained
[You have gained
[You have gained
[You have gained
"ARGH!!" Yuin clutched his head as pop-ups flooded his vision, each one adding to his frustration.
He didn't even spare them a long glance to comprehend the contents, his mind only occupied with escaping the void.
Haa! I should've tortured him first... made him tell me how to leave before killing him.
He stared lazily at the celestial's bloodied face, exasperated at himself for losing his cool.
Getting stuck here forever is as good as dying. I shou—
A glowing light from the celestial's face interrupted his thoughts, causing Yuin to lurch back in a heartbeat.
What?! Is he reviving? He squared up.
He watched the golden glow envelope the celestial's corpse until it was fully coated. Then the body disintegrated like pieces of paper and drifted away till nothing was left.
Ah.. so they get taken away.
He felt a bit conflicted because he wanted the body of the celestial to remain in the puddle of blood like all the others the celestial slaughtered.
But oh well, good riddance. He turned to the wall of glass.
Grabbing his shoulder, he rolled his arm, loosening his muscles.
Like hell I'd rot in here!
Even if it takes 365 days of punching, I'II break through.
He threw his head back, gazing respectfully at the corpses.
"May you all find peace. I'm sorry but I can't stay here with you guys."
Then he turned back to the glass.
Drawing taut his muscles till they were bulging, Yuin clenched a power packed punch. He slid a foot backward, crouched into a sprinting position and—
SHOOT!
He shot forward, slamming his fist onto the glass wall when he reached. But—
PLOOK!
His fist sank in like a pebble into an ocean.
"Eh?!" He let out before his body fell forward and sank in.
The glass wall that had felt as hard as a reinforced shell was now soft, rippling rings of waves like a disturbed ocean.
THUD!
Yuin fell out the other side.
A second didn't slip by before he scrambled to his feet to take in his new environment.
Another endless void?! His eyes darted around.
It was exactly like the one he just came out from. Except that there were no corpses or blood stains.
HAK! His breath hitched. D-Don't tell me this is how I'll be endlessly falling into voids one after the other.
This thought itself was scarier than death. But looking around, Yuin couldn't find any glass wall like the last one.
The celestial had to do something to reveal the previous one, so I guess it shouldn't be shocking. But then what do I—
"You've now entered the customization space." A voice rang out.
It was a familiar voice that brewed eeriness. One he had just departed from.
Yuin's breath seized.
Another celestial!
His eyes darted around in search, his survival instincts flaring to maximum.
But the voice simply continued.
"This is a private space to customize your looks and appearance. An avatar to keep your real identity discreet. You also get to set a code name."
Even though he could find no one besides himself in the void, he was still so alert and skeptical, only paying half a mind to the instructions.
"You have two minutes. Get started."
A large screen materialized before him, containing all his information and customization settings. And at the bottom end of the screen, the time limit counted.
What's this? Am I being thrown into a game now? He thought, puzzled.
Or is it a test to see whether or not I deserve to be freed from here?
While he didn't fully understand the situation, he directed his focus to the screen.
I should do what they say for now.
He carefully scrutinized the words on the screen.
Thankfully, none of the words were too big for him to read.
He shut his eyes and chuckled softly.
I should pay more attention when Bummie teaches me from now on.
His heart was full of gratitude toward the youngest of his brothers.
Seeing the many adjustments available, Yuin settled on an appearance that wouldn't be too close to home to avoid drawing suspicions to his siblings.
For all he knew, he could be preparing for an execution.
Since black was already common enough, he kept his black hair. The other shades were either too bright or too dull, just not to his liking.
Eye color…
"Black."
Skin tone…
"Same."
Hairstyle..
"Over-the-face."
He customized a simple appearance that differed from his real self and his siblings.
His eyes swept over to the next one, and when he saw it, his eyes lit up like a child that was offered candy.
'Height'
His height wasn't impressive since he was 19 and barely over 170 cm. His siblings had almost already caught up to him.
I can customize my height here?!
Excitement rippled through him like a wave, lighting up his eyes with stars. But it was quickly quenched when the sharp white of the void pierced his eyes, reminding him of his situation.
"It doesn't matter," he said quietly. "I should appear as a worthy man of image even if my head would soon roll."
He eagerly tapped in the height he wanted, all giddy as he touched the input button.
But—
No matter how much he tapped the input button, it wouldn't register.
TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP!
He tapped again and again, but the screen still wouldn't register his height.
What's wrong with this thing? It's been working fine since.
His body flared with irritating heat.
It was a chance to finally break free from the shackles of his seemingly short height, even if it meant in a void, yet it wouldn't work.
Again, he tapped, his frustration mounting.
He was too engrossed with this that he didn't notice the time limit reaching its end.
Then the Celestial's voice came again.
"Time over. Get ready for the next phase."
Huh?! What?! I haven't chosen a codename yet.
Yuin snapped to the area where he would input his codename, and attempted to type in. But it was too late.
The time limit exhausted and the screen faded away, leaving his hand hanging.
He went stiff, mouth slightly agape in shock and despair that you could hear his sorrowful cry of regret if you listened close enough.
Before long, the endless expanse itself began to fade.
Yuin broke away from his despair and got ready for whatever was coming next.
At the corner of his heart, he feared, nervous for what laid beyond the void. But even more perturbed by the thoughts of his siblings being left alone.
The endless expanse completely faded and Yuin found himself staring at a vast expanse of greenery.
The same one he had seen from the glass wall inside the first void.
It stretched wide like a gigantic field, rolling into slopes and hills, with forests scattered about.
Loitering like ants were thousands of people. The ones the celestial he killed had shown them.
The Chosen, Yuin said in shock.
But why am I here… with them..?
Paying attention, he realized they he was clad in the same attire as them. A simple tunic and trousers, bound at the waist with a sash, with plain black boots.
Above their heads floated a name; their code names.
So that was what the codename is for, he thought.
Yuin raised his head, attempting to check what floated above his head. But from that angle, he couldn't see it.
He dared not ask someone to check it for him either after he had just waltzed in here.
Still confused about his situation, a sight in the far distance set him in a deeper puzzle.
A wall of fog. So thick and dense, it was impenetrable.
It stood tall like a giant veil, hiding the other side.
No matter how hard Yuin peered, the fog remained impenetrable, almost like it was purposely hiding something that shouldn't be discovered.
Could that be— his heart hammered. Could that be where I'll be execu—
!!!!
Yuin's eyes spread wider than they ever had, breath freezing in his throat.
Never had he felt this kind of hostility shrouding him this instant.
It was thick.
Heavy.
It carried something suffocating and choking as it coated his frame and stilled him.
Then came a churning voice, chilling as it grazed his ear.
"What is an error that should've been executed in the void…. doing here?"
The Profane Victor
[You are the first human to kill an otherworldly being. You have earned the title:
[You have gained
[You have gained
[You have gained
[You have gained
[You have gained
[You have gained
"ARGH!!" Yuin clutched his head as pop-ups flooded his vision, each one adding to his frustration.
He didn't even spare them a long glance to comprehend the contents, his mind only occupied with escaping the void.
Haa! I should've tortured him first... made him tell me how to leave before killing him.
He stared lazily at the celestial's bloodied face, exasperated at himself for losing his cool.
Getting stuck here forever is as good as dying. I shou—
A glowing light from the celestial's face interrupted his thoughts, causing Yuin to lurch back in a heartbeat.
What?! Is he reviving? He squared up.
He watched the golden glow envelope the celestial's corpse until it was fully coated. Then the body disintegrated like pieces of paper and drifted away till nothing was left.
Ah.. so they get taken away.
He felt a bit conflicted because he wanted the body of the celestial to remain in the puddle of blood like all the others the celestial slaughtered.
But oh well, good riddance. He turned to the wall of glass.
Grabbing his shoulder, he rolled his arm, loosening his muscles.
Like hell I'd rot in here!
Even if it takes 365 days of punching, I'II break through.
He threw his head back, gazing respectfully at the corpses.
"May you all find peace. I'm sorry but I can't stay here with you guys."
Then he turned back to the glass.
Drawing taut his muscles till they were bulging, Yuin clenched a power packed punch. He slid a foot backward, crouched into a sprinting position and—
SHOOT!
He shot forward, slamming his fist onto the glass wall when he reached. But—
PLOOK!
His fist sank in like a pebble into an ocean.
"Eh?!" He let out before his body fell forward and sank in.
The glass wall that had felt as hard as a reinforced shell was now soft, rippling rings of waves like a disturbed ocean.
THUD!
Yuin fell out the other side.
A second didn't slip by before he scrambled to his feet to take in his new environment.
Another endless void?! His eyes darted around.
It was exactly like the one he just came out from. Except that there were no corpses or blood stains.
HAK! His breath hitched. D-Don't tell me this is how I'll be endlessly falling into voids one after the other.
This thought itself was scarier than death. But looking around, Yuin couldn't find any glass wall like the last one.
The celestial had to do something to reveal the previous one, so I guess it shouldn't be shocking. But then what do I—
"You've now entered the customization space." A voice rang out.
It was a familiar voice that brewed eeriness. One he had just departed from.
Yuin's breath seized.
Another celestial!
His eyes darted around in search, his survival instincts flaring to maximum.
But the voice simply continued.
"This is a private space to customize your looks and appearance. An avatar to keep your real identity discreet. You also get to set a code name."
Even though he could find no one besides himself in the void, he was still so alert and skeptical, only paying half a mind to the instructions.
"You have two minutes. Get started."
A large screen materialized before him, containing all his information and customization settings. And at the bottom end of the screen, the time limit counted.
What's this? Am I being thrown into a game now? He thought, puzzled.
Or is it a test to see whether or not I deserve to be freed from here?
While he didn't fully understand the situation, he directed his focus to the screen.
I should do what they say for now.
He carefully scrutinized the words on the screen.
Thankfully, none of the words were too big for him to read.
He shut his eyes and chuckled softly.
I should pay more attention when Bummie teaches me from now on.
His heart was full of gratitude toward the youngest of his brothers.
Seeing the many adjustments available, Yuin settled on an appearance that wouldn't be too close to home to avoid drawing suspicions to his siblings.
For all he knew, he could be preparing for an execution.
Since black was already common enough, he kept his black hair. The other shades were either too bright or too dull, just not to his liking.
Eye color…
"Black."
Skin tone…
"Same."
Hairstyle..
"Over-the-face."
He customized a simple appearance that differed from his real self and his siblings.
His eyes swept over to the next one, and when he saw it, his eyes lit up like a child that was offered candy.
'Height'
His height wasn't impressive since he was 19 and barely over 170 cm. His siblings had almost already caught up to him.
I can customize my height here?!
Excitement rippled through him like a wave, lighting up his eyes with stars. But it was quickly quenched when the sharp white of the void pierced his eyes, reminding him of his situation.
"It doesn't matter," he said quietly. "I should appear as a worthy man of image even if my head would soon roll."
He eagerly tapped in the height he wanted, all giddy as he touched the input button.
But—
No matter how much he tapped the input button, it wouldn't register.
TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP!
He tapped again and again, but the screen still wouldn't register his height.
What's wrong with this thing? It's been working fine since.
His body flared with irritating heat.
It was a chance to finally break free from the shackles of his seemingly short height, even if it meant in a void, yet it wouldn't work.
Again, he tapped, his frustration mounting.
He was too engrossed with this that he didn't notice the time limit reaching its end.
Then the Celestial's voice came again.
"Time over. Get ready for the next phase."
Huh?! What?! I haven't chosen a codename yet.
Yuin snapped to the area where he would input his codename, and attempted to type in. But it was too late.
The time limit exhausted and the screen faded away, leaving his hand hanging.
He went stiff, mouth slightly agape in shock and despair that you could hear his sorrowful cry of regret if you listened close enough.
Before long, the endless expanse itself began to fade.
Yuin broke away from his despair and got ready for whatever was coming next.
At the corner of his heart, he feared, nervous for what laid beyond the void. But even more perturbed by the thoughts of his siblings being left alone.
The endless expanse completely faded and Yuin found himself staring at a vast expanse of greenery.
The same one he had seen from the glass wall inside the first void.
It stretched wide like a gigantic field, rolling into slopes and hills, with forests scattered about.
Loitering like ants were thousands of people. The ones the celestial he killed had shown them.
The Chosen, Yuin said in shock.
But why am I here… with them..?
Paying attention, he realized they he was clad in the same attire as them. A simple tunic and trousers, bound at the waist with a sash, with plain black boots.
Above their heads floated a name; their code names.
So that was what the codename is for, he thought.
Yuin raised his head, attempting to check what floated above his head. But from that angle, he couldn't see it.
He dared not ask someone to check it for him either after he had just waltzed in here.
Still confused about his situation, a sight in the far distance set him in a deeper puzzle.
A wall of fog. So thick and dense, it was impenetrable.
It stood tall like a giant veil, hiding the other side.
No matter how hard Yuin peered, the fog remained impenetrable, almost like it was purposely hiding something that shouldn't be discovered.
Could that be— his heart hammered. Could that be where I'll be execu—
!!!!
Yuin's eyes spread wider than they ever had, breath freezing in his throat.
Never had he felt this kind of hostility shrouding him this instant.
It was thick.
Heavy.
It carried something suffocating and choking as it coated his frame and stilled him.
Then came a churning voice, chilling as it grazed his ear.
"What is an error that should've been executed in the void…. doing here?"