NOVEL NEXT Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Fragments of the Past & The Divine Conflict
A loud argument echoed through the void, voices filled with rage and desperation.
"Why are you doing this?! Why are you trying to erase the existence of other races aside from humans?!" a voice roared.
Another responded coldly, "Because they live longer and reproduce at a much slower rate. Humans, on the other hand, die quickly but multiply exponentially. By consuming their souls, we grow stronger far faster than waiting for the slow, pathetic cycles of the other races."
"That is not our purpose! Father created them! We are meant to watch over them, not to exploit them for our own gain!" the first voice argued.
"Watch over them?" Another scoffed. "They are filled with arrogance and pride, constantly warring against each other, trying to dominate everything. They are unworthy! If we erase them, we can create a world of true balance."
"Then how are you any different from them? You call yourselves gods, yet you trample over Father's final wish. You are blinded by your own pride!"
A chilling voice interrupted, "Father is no longer with us. We are free to do as we please. And you… who are you to lecture us?" you maybe strong.....
Everything blurred. The memory shattered.
Ryo's eyes shot open. His breath came in short,
uneven gasps. Sunlight streamed through his window—it was morning.
A voice echoed in his mind.
[Memory Fragment Obtained.]
He pressed a hand to his chest. That memory… it wasn't a dream. It felt real, yet foreign, as if he had once known it but had long forgotten.
His body felt… different. Lighter. Stronger. He tried to check his Status Window, but—
[Update in progress. Status Window is temporarily unavailable.]
"Again?" he muttered. "What's happening to me?"
Shaking his head, he got ready for the day and headed downstairs for breakfast with his parents. After a brief chat, he left for the academy.
Yet, something felt off. A strange presence loomed over him, but Enemy Detection picked up nothing.
"Am I imagining things…?" he whispered.
Arriving at the S-Class, he found Seyra and Selena waiting along with four other students.
Selena introduced the first as her twin brother. Seyra introduced another as her brother. The last student, however—
"Ai?!" Ryo blinked, feeling like he was hallucinating.
Ai tilted her head. "Who else?"
"How are you here?!" he asked in shock.
She casually explained, "Yesterday, while you were meeting the Vampire Lord, Seyra suggested I join the academy. Since I'm the same age, I took the test and passed."
"...Seriously?"
Ai smirked. "I aced it, obviously."
Of course she did. Ai was a genius.
The teacher arrived, instructing them to introduce themselves before beginning the lesson.
Yet, throughout the class, Ryo still felt that eerie gaze on him.
After class, Ryo headed to the back of the academy, a secluded area free from prying eyes. His instincts screamed at him—he wasn't alone.
"Who's there?" he demanded. "Reveal yourself."
Silence.
Then, a figure materialized from the shadows. A young man with violet eyes.
Ryo recognized him. He had seen this person in the classroom before. Something about him felt both normal and completely unnatural.
"Who are you?" Ryo asked. "Why are you following me?"
The man smiled faintly. "So you have finally returned…"
Ryo tensed. "What?"
The stranger's body flickered like a dying flame. "Now, I can finally rest, my lord."
Before Ryo could react, the figure dissolved into light and entered his body.
A powerful wave of energy surged through him. His mind blanked for a moment as the system's voice echoed in his head.
[Memory Fragment Obtained.]
[New Abilities and Traits Unlocked.]
[User Level Too Low to Access.]
[Suggestion: Hunt monsters to level up.]
"Wait, what?!" Ryo barely had time to process before the system dropped another bombshell.
[Advanced Training Mode Activated.]
"Hold on—"
[Teleporting…]
The world twisted. The academy vanished. He reappeared in an unfamiliar space—
A gray void stretching endlessly.
[New Quest Received: Die 500 Times.]
Ryo's eyes widened. "WHAT?!"
[Objective: Die and revive 500 times to unlock your next evolution.]
A monstrous creature emerged before him, its claws gleaming.
"You've gotta be kidding me."
Author's Note:
Hey everyone! This chapter was intense! We got major lore reveals, mystery figures, and Ryo getting thrown into literal hell training.
Some key points:
The Gods' Conflict – We now know there was a major disagreement among divine beings. But who is "Father"?
Memory Fragments & Updates – Ryo's status keeps changing. What new abilities has he unlocked?
A Stalker & New Ally? – Who was the violet-eyed man? And why did he call Ryo "my lord"?
Forced Death Training – The system really wants Ryo to suffer, huh?
What do you think will happen next? Drop your theories!
See you in the next chapter!