Archmagus Apocalypse (Beta)

Archmagus Apocalypse -

An idea I worked on a year back. Wanted you all thoughts on it.

Synopsis -

When the System arrived on Earth, an Archmagus stood against it.

Archie “Arc” Jones was a random nobody until he found himself in another world named Ascaris, a ruined magical world with monsters crawling every part of it.

For almost a decade, he worked hard to perfect his magic to find a way to get back to Earth and when he managed to do so, tragedy struck.

He found himself in a ruined version of the Earth and gets flung into a Tutorial to gain powers to come out on top against other similar worlds.

Denied any rest, Arc finds himself battling deadly monsters, killing other races and finding out why the apocalyptic system was so different from the magic system he had been mastering.

***

Chapter 1

“I don't know about other people, but there would only be one thing I would do if I could go back to the past— Smack the delusion of getting Isekaied to a fantasy world out of my teenage self!”

— Archie “Arc” Jones, Tier 5 Core Archmagus.

***

Arc looked over at the dunes of black sand, glancing past the cracked earth to the distant mountain peaks covered in a tar-like substance. Cold winds fluttered his jackmare-skin cloak. The Tier-4 beast had proven harder to kill than expected, and memories of the battle still haunted him.

The air felt damp. Red-tinted clouds obscured the twin suns. Even after living in this hellish place for over a decade, they remained a mystery to him.

He gave another look around the land, confirming once more that he was, in fact, alone, before turning his eyes back to the project he had been working on for over two years.

Two dozen glistening black stones and crimson wooden pillars, each carved with sigils representing different functions of the spell jutted out of the ground, slowly drawing on the leftover mana of the earth. A creation he was proud of.

“It should work this time,” he said. “I have reviewed every sigil, the ground formation, and the amount of mana required over and over. If this doesn't work, I will forever be trapped in Ascaris.”

Arc had never been one to voice his thoughts aloud, but it had become a habit after so long. Loneliness changes people; he had learned that well during his time here. Although there were underground human settlements, he had never been able to make one his home, forever wandering the surface, exploring the ruins of old societies, and studying magic to find a way back.

Today might just be that day.

However, doubts lingered in his mind—not about whether his spell would work, but about the possibility of being interrupted.

It had taken him two years to collect the necessary materials, and the effort had nearly cost him his limbs many times over. He had no talent for healing spells, and while he could mend simple wounds, anything more severe would be a struggle.

The beasts in this world were capable of much worse, and many of them thrived on mana. Since they couldn’t consume mana directly, Mages became their primary prey, and an Archmagus like him was akin to a delicacy.

The worst part was that the [Riftgate] spell was one of the most mana-consuming spells recorded by the Order of Gray, bound to attract a lot of attention. Would he be able to handle it? Arc wasn't sure, but he also knew that he would be wasting time if he didn't start now.

He took a deep breath, memories of his time in Ascaris resurfacing. Every bit of his brutal past had led him to this moment, and he wasn't going to let anyone interfere with him going home. Back to his family.

A gust of wind swept past him, sending sand swirling into the air. The mana in his core simmered as if eager to be unleashed. He raised his hand, crimson threads of arcane energy weaving through his fingers, and began the lengthy incantation required for the spell.

As he spoke the threads intertwined, forming a spell matrix around his right hand. It cast a glow on him as the air crackled with raw power.

A guttural sound echoed in the distance, but he ignored it, unwilling to be distracted at this crucial stage.

Arc willed more threads to emerge from his free palm, encircling the pillars as they came to life and glowed. The brilliant light radiating from them was so intense that it could have blinded him if not for the protection spell he already cast on his eyes.

One by one, the sigils activated, taking on the role of additional Mages that he would have needed to complete the spell. They shot more mana threads into the center of the formation, and soon his threads joined the substitute streams of power.

He accelerated his incantation as another roar echoed through the air. Whatever beast had sensed the surge of mana would be here any moment. He needed to finish the rift before it arrived.

Determined, he poured all his energy into the spell. Sweat trickled down his face, and he could feel his core thumping in rhythm with his heart. More mana than he had ever channeled for a spell surged from him, strengthening the threads that seemed to slice through reality itself.

The air rippled and cracked before him. Darkness seeped out, forming a small opening. He concentrated as a powerful force slammed down on him, emerging from the ruptured reality. Gritting his teeth, he endured.

Dark cracks formed in the air as arcs of crackling, lightning-like energy shot out from them. The swirling vortex of dark energy pushed against Arc, but he planted his foot firmly, his cloak shielding him from the intense heat near the rift.

The magical waves hit him like a blow from a dune troll's fist, but his spell matrix remained intact. He channeled more force into it, using his intent to tear through reality and widen the rift enough for him to enter.

A loud crack echoed across the wasteland, followed by more snaps as the mana crackled. Arc could see that his efforts were paying off, a rare grin forming on his face. The rift expanded, mending and growing larger, burning the sand around it into glass.

Gradually, more and more energy was siphoned from the pillars to keep the rift open. He knew it wouldn't be long before they depleted their mana, but the spell was functioning for now. That was one of his biggest concerns, and he finally allowed himself a moment to breathe.

Another roar thundered across the dunes, causing his concentration to falter. He turned back just in time to see movement rising in the sky. His breath caught in his throat.

Before him, he saw black scales glistening in the light of the twin suns. Four large, leathery wings cast shadows over vast patches of sand, and dark energy swirled around the colossal body. Its claws extended as it drew closer.

Crimson lines split the air before Arc, revealing information about the creature.

**?%$#$ - ???**

**Ascender system version 137.8 is ?$#_$#$. Please &$$#.**

Once again, the information was unusable. Arc dismissed it, accustomed to the broken system he had encountered since his first day in Ascaris.

He didn't need anything like that to identify the creature.

Reaper dracolich—A Tier 6 creature that ruled over the mountains to the east, a being that Arc had never dared to challenge before. The worst kind of mana eater.

The difference in strength was enormous; even his best spells might only scratch its scales. And right now, the dracolich soared over the dunes, hunting him. Its reptilian eyes displayed a familiar emotion—hunger.

“This is why I fucking hate Ascaris!”

Arc turned back. The rift hovered in the air, waves of dark, void, and astral mana swirling at its centre. Beyond it, the boundary between realms called to him; but he wasn’t ready. Not yet.

“I need to enter Earth coordinates; otherwise, I’ll just get stranded in space,” he muttered, glancing back at his spell matrix that held the rift together. His heart thumped in his chest, the roars of the dracolich echoing in the background.

He took out a strand of his hair and placed it into the spell matrix. It burned in seconds, and he hurried through his second set of incantations.

The rift churned with power as he spoke, beginning to spin and sending another wave of energy rushing past him. It emitted a hum. He had no idea whether this was a good sign, but with the dracolich closing in, he couldn’t afford to care.

Taking a quick glance back amidst the lengthy incantation, he saw that the dracolich was almost upon him.

Dread filled his chest as he counted the seconds—half a minute before it reached him. That wasn’t enough time to complete his incantation. Panic raced through his mind, envisioning his imminent death. His nerves screamed as his mana dwindled.

In a brief moment, Arc sought every possible way to gain more time. But all his mana was dedicated to maintaining the spell matrix. Desperate, he looked around, hopelessness crawling up his spine, until his eyes locked onto the pillars. An idea began to bud.

All his magical theory-crafting suggested that tampering with the pillars would disrupt the rift and lead to a fate worse than death. But caution was the least of his concerns at that moment. If he was going to die, he would at least do it inside the rift.

His decision made, Arc created more threads from his left hand while holding the matrix with his right. The threads wrapped around three of the pillars that maintained the rift’s integrity.

Then, he pulled. Waves of mana surged into his body, and the sigils on the pillars lost their glow. The rift crackled and flickered, its energy dimming, making his heart sink for a moment. But it didn’t disappear.

Taking one last look at the rift, he turned back to face the dracolich. It let out another roar, and a blast of energy transformed the sand around it into glass. The beast wouldn’t risk attacking him; it didn’t want to disrupt the rift, which it likely aimed to consume.

But he had no such qualms.

“Soul Breath!” he shouted in his mind, severing the threads that connected him to the three pillars.

His left hand shot up into the air, summoning a ball of energy that came to life in his palm. It grew larger by the second until it took the shape of a golden sphere of swirling mana—a Tier 6 spell, his only one, which required both mana and soul force.

Keeping his eyes fixed on the dracolich, Arc released the sphere. It erupted in a massive explosion, sending streaks of golden light across the air. The force of the wind pushed him back, but he maintained his focus on the dracolich while simultaneously upholding the spell matrix and the incantation.

The dracolich spotted the incoming sphere and dove to the left. Arc waited for the precise moment to let the spell reveal its true power.

It exploded in the sky, casting a golden hue over the entire world. Waves of mana surged across the sky in glowing lines, showering down upon the dracolich's body like a meteor shower.

Perhaps for the first time in its life, it screeched; its voice filled with pain as it plummeted toward the ground. Its wings caught fire, and as the golden light faded, everything returned to normal.

Arc almost allowed a smile to grace his lips, but his expression changed as his eyes widened.

He saw the dracolich picking itself up. The gaps in its wings began to heal as it flapped to extinguish the flames. Cries of anguish and hurt echoed from its mouth, yet it kept moving, its falling form hovering above the dunes.

He almost swore but restrained himself, fearing it would disrupt the incantation.

The glow of the sigils began to fade. He realized he would not be able to cast any more spells, and he was only halfway through the incantation. With the dracolich looming over him, there was no time to finish it.

His heart raced. He glanced at the swirling, sparkling portal, then back at the dracolich, which bared its teeth, ready to devour him whole. At that moment, it was no longer about succeeding; it was about choosing a better death, and Arc had already made his choice.

I’ll be damned if my last moments are spent in the jaws of an overgrown flying lizard!.

Arc fixed his gaze on the rift. He broke his incantation and stepped over the glassy sand. He extended his palm toward the portal, a jolt of lightning coursing through him. But he didn’t give up.

He thrust his other fist into the rift. Energy pushed him back, and he hesitated briefly. But another roar from the dracolich steeled his resolve as he moved closer to the portal that might very well be his deathbed.

Goosebumps prickled his skin. A cold energy surged toward his hands alongside the zapping sensation. A voice in his mind urged him to give up, but he pressed on until the rift enveloped both of his hands.

His muscles trembled as he let out a shaky breath, mere inches from a vortex of mana that could tear him apart. Still, he needed just one more step to escape this godforsaken wasteland.

That thought propelled him to push his right leg forward and enter the rift completely.

As he did, he looked back and froze, struck by the sight of the dracolich. Its eyes throbbed with rage as it opened its mouth, revealing large, pointed teeth bigger than any sword he had ever seen. Dark saliva dripped from its maw as the beast lunged toward him.

But it touched nothing.

The rift enveloped Arc before the dracolich could reach him, causing his ears to pop painfully.

A wave of nothingness enveloped him. Iridescent lights danced around him amidst the void of darkness, and as he concentrated on them, he saw worlds passing by—a man swinging a spear in a forest, giant stone golems stomping over a castle, a burning sea where ships crashed into each other.

He witnessed it all as he fell through the void. A powerful force crushed and shredded his body, but he did not die. He felt something encase him, a sort of barrier.

Then, darkness swallowed him whole. Before losing consciousness, Arc saw crimson lines flickering in his vision.

**Ascender System version 137.8 has been disconnected. You are in the void between realms.**

**Home world Earth has been registered. System name Terra has been assigned.**

**Ascender System version 146.1 has been connected.*”

**An oddity has been detected.**

**Name: Archie Jones has been given the title ‘Oddity.’ Additional titles are being processed. Human Core Tier 5 has been detected. Reset completed.**

**Archie Jones has been—**

***

Chapter 2

Arc blinked open his eyes

A terrible pain washed over his entire body, and he struggled to sit upright. He felt an overwhelming heaviness for some reason, and his lungs begged for air. Mana tingled within him, and he fought to comprehend the fact that he was alive. The cold, hard surface beneath him caused him to groan.

Why is it so familiar, like concrete? Wait, concrete?!

The realization made him look around. It took him a few seconds to push himself up, his legs nearly giving out beneath him. When he looked down, he saw that most of his cloak was burned, and pieces of his leather armor were falling onto the surface beneath him, which seemed to be a rooftop.

In another situation, Arc might have cursed, but right now, all he could do was laugh. He was alive. The dracolich hadn’t gotten him. The rift hadn’t claimed him. But where was he?

That thought prompted him to look up. There, in the middle of the sky, a single sun cast its rays upon the world. No other sun accompanied it. His heartbeat quickened.

He wasn’t on Ascaris.

Before he realized it, he stepped toward the railings, hoping to recognize the city below. Suddenly, a loud, thrumming sound, like sharp wind spells crashing against each other, echoed through the air. He stopped, turning toward the noise.

In the far distance, giant purple clouds wafted across the sky, with green arcs of energy dancing through them. Each movement vibrated the world with its sound.

Arc froze, his voice weak and nasal. “W-what the hell is that? Did global warming really go that fast?”

He momentarily ignored the clouds and leaned against the railings of the rooftop, almost tripping over the step. As he looked down, he froze again.

He was in a human city— though one that had been ravaged and wrecked by something.

The engineering of skyscrapers, roads, and cars lay in ruins. Only a few buildings stood; the rest were broken, with large chunks collapsing onto the abandoned streets. Overturned cars and bikes littered the ground, and in the corner of the next street, he noticed dried blood.

When he shifted for another angle, he spotted a towering beast resembling a piranha. It stood as tall as a truck, devouring what appeared to be the remains of human corpses. A gulp caught in his throat as he began to smell the decay and death in the air.

“Why are there beasts here? Isn't this Earth? Thirteen years is a long time, but it shouldn’t change things this much. Am I in some other world?”

The thought terrified him. As he turned to glance at the purple clouds that were rapidly approaching the city, he wondered if this would truly be his end. He had escaped from the jaws of death in Ascaris to find himself standing on a similar world.

A scream of frustration ripped out from his mouth and he stomped his foot down. Memories flooded through him, each one of them terrible, reminding him of every single thing he had committed just to stay alive and get back. All for nothing.

Arc looked down the railing, then back at the clouds. Wind roared against his face as it drew closer. He took deep breaths, filling as much air as he could.

For some reason, it felt different. Unlike the dry air of Ascaris, this air felt... sweet.

Ignoring that thought, he assessed his situation. Something had gone terribly wrong with the [Riftgate]. He knew that, and although he was alive, it seemed he had been transported to another world— or something terrible had happened to Earth. He recalled seeing lines of text in his vision about it, but the details were hazy now.

His armor had broken, leaving him vulnerable until he found a replacement.

He looked up at the purple clouds that loomed over the broken city. They did not look friendly, reminding him of the mana storms he had faced in Ascaris. If they were even slightly similar, he would need to hide, preferably in a room sealed off from all sides.

Fortunately, he was on top of a building that had survived the worst of whatever cataclysm had befallen this city. He could simply—

A shrill screech shattered his thoughts.

Something wended through the clouds. He squinted, trying to make it out before it revealed itself.

A monstrosity of pockmarked fur and bone emerged from the clouds, surrounded by arcs of green energy similar to the ones that danced around the purple clouds. This creature briefly reminded him of the dracolich he just escaped, but several times larger.

Eyes dotted its face, which lacked a nose and ears, and its mouth split into a sneer that sent chills down his spine. Its aura descended upon him, making him stumble back a step.

In his decade of battling beasts, Arc had never felt fear like this, as if he were facing a creature far beyond his capabilities. He had been able to hurt the dracolich, but against something like this, he could only hope for a swift death.

Crimson lines split his vision, providing information about the beast.

**Terraformer - Level 20 Tier 8 Core.**

His jaw dropped— first in surprise at his system functioning properly for the first time, and then at the core level of the beast. Although he had no idea what “Level 20” meant, he knew there was no one in Ascaris who had reached Tier 8.

Even the Order of Gray had no records beyond Tier 6.

Should I just hide back in the building? No, it had already seen me. It could easily wreck through the entire structure. What should I do?

As he pondered his options, the terraformer descended, its massive, city-sized body becoming visible. Arc noticed spikes running down its length, the green energy sparkling along its surface as its pitch-black eyes locked onto his.

A paralysing grip tightened around his throat. Every fibre of his being urged him to devise an escape plan, to flee from his impending doom, but nothing came to mind.

Summoning sheer willpower, he jumped away from the railing, searching for the stairs, determined not to remain in one place and become a meal for the beast.

He took a step to his right, and just then, another screech tore through the air, projected as an attack. Waves of pure mana slammed into him, flinging him into the air as his body soared over the railings. A sonic spell.

A hand reached out to grab the railing, but he missed. He plummeted.

Despair enveloped him as he fell toward the pavement, his hair whipping around him in the wind. The sinking feeling in his gut intensified as he felt death closing in.

In a last-ditch effort to survive, Arc called upon his mana, desperately wishing that even a thread of energy remained in his empty core to activate a [Featherfall] to cushion his descent. But just before he could do it, he froze, suspended in mid-air just a few feet from the ground.

His eyes widened, wondering if it was the terraformer’s doing, when lines of text filled his vision.

**Ascender System version 146.1 has been connected.**

**Name: Archie Jones has missed the integration. The title “Oddity” has been confirmed.**

**Error! Error! Protocol AK-8008 has been applied.**

**New Integrate has been registered. Starting Integration now.**

Before he could make sense of those words, a woman's voice flowed into his ears, oddly reminiscent of a call centre employee.

**Native of Planet Earth, System name Terra, Code name SK2611, World Rank E has become a part of the Ascender System.**

**Congratulations!**

**Welcome to the multiverse!**

**The Ascender System is pleased to inform you that Planet Earth has connected to worlds far beyond its own universe. As per the Multiverse Integration Pact signed 4,900 years ago, you will have the chance to hone your skills and acclimate to the system during the Tutorial.**

**You will face species from other similar E-ranked worlds in it before returning to the terraformed Earth. If you succeed in the Tutorial, you will be able to control parts of your world, engage in defence against invasions, and participate in them.**

**This is your opportunity to become more than you are in the wider multiverse, to rise as a Sovereign and gain governance over your own planet, provided you succeed. Ascenders wish you the best.**

The voice paused, and just as Arc was processing the information, another series of sentences began to flow.

**Due to Protocol AK-8008, the effect of the Title “Oddity” has been applied.**

**You have been relegated to a Trial of Class to gain more information. The system has been locked until you succeed.**

**You don't have an option to reject.**

**We wish you the best!**

The lines faded as soon as they appeared, but the woman's voice still echoed in his mind. She was speaking directly inside his head, but Arc had no time to dwell on that.

Beneath him, the surface stretched out until a large rift appeared.

He fell right into it as time resumed. Unlike the last one he had experienced, this one acted more like a door than a tunnel. He slammed head-first into a sea of colors, but it didn't hurt.

Red, blue, green, and purple— all sorts of hues floated beneath him. They passed through his hands as he turned to look around.

He stood in a vast expanse, light filling the boundaries that seemed to stretch farther every second. A warm energy flowed through the entire room, and as it touched his body, he felt the pain from the terraformer's attack lessening.

"What is this? A room full of healing engravings?" He frowned at his own words. "Who am I kidding?"

Arc swallowed hard. He walked through the colors, which supported his weight effortlessly. He was not a fool, nor was he dense. The lines of text had provided him with some context for what was happening.

He had come back to Earth, but it had been too late. An upgraded version of the Ascaris system had appeared on his planet, destroying everything in its path. How? Why? When? All those questions swam in his mind, but first, he needed to escape this place.

He walked for a while, searching for any engravings, sigils, or anything else that might control this space, but all he touched were the light and the colours.

"Status!" he muttered, hoping for a response, then recalled that one of the messages had indicated that his system was locked until he completed the trial.

But Arc could see no trial in this expanse.

As that thought crossed his mind, another voice rang out in his head. Unlike the previous voice, this one was a man’s. It spoke in a husky tone, and crimson lines split the air.

**You have missed the Integration. A special Trial of Class has been applied according to Protocol AK-8008.**

**Class guide has been denied due to the Title "Oddity."**

**You have received a copy of the Multiversal Integration Pact. You can access it if you succeed in the trial.**

**You have received a copy of the Basic Tutorial Guide. You can access it if you succeed in the trial.**

**Class Trial Grade has been decided.**

**Grade - Nightmare.**

Arc groaned at the messages.

“I thought my nightmare was over…”

As the system text disappeared, a rattle gripped the entire space, gradually intensifying into a tremor that caused him to flinch.

A violent light assaulted his vision, and he closed his eyes, turning away to shield himself from any pain. He felt warmth flowing through his body, not the painful kind, but a comforting one.

The tremor and warmth faded, and when he opened his eyes, he saw a stone platform rising in the air, occupying half the room. Stairs were carved at its corners for climbing up onto it.

Arc took a step toward the platform, realizing this was where the trial would begin—a battle, if he interpreted the platform correctly. He could feel a warning in the back of his mind, alerting him to danger ahead.

Still, what choice did he have?

Despite searching the entire space, he had no idea how it operated, and whatever this Ascender system was, it controlled everything here.

Arc couldn't back down from this trial. If the system prompted him into a fight, he would fight and emerge victorious. That mentality had ensured his survival in Ascaris, and he needed it more than ever now.

He stood on the platform and immediately noticed a wooden rack to his right, standing out against the otherworldly expanse. He walked towards it and found every type of weapon—sword, spear, shield, rapier, staff, daggers—but he didn't see a mage staff.

Something like that would have made the situation much easier. Perhaps that was the reason it had been omitted from the trial.

**Name: Archie Jones has entered the ring.**

**The species of your opponent has been selected.**

**Species: Goblin has been generated.**

“A goblin? That sounds pretty easy,” Arc said, not realising that those words would come back to haunt him.

**A Goblin Butcher has been selected.**

He didn’t have time to reflect on what that meant, as a violent rift erupted in the center of the platform.

A green, diseased foot marked with rot stepped through. A roar split the air, causing him to jab his fingers into his ears to block out the noise. Arc's eyes widened as another foot slammed down onto the floor, revealing the full body of the butcher.

Bulging muscles covered its chest, and it towered over him at seven feet tall. Crooked teeth flashed in a maniacal grin, with bugs and bits of flesh sticking out of its mouth. It wore only a torn pair of pants, and Arc doubted it needed armor.

In its left hand, it held a cleaver twice the size of his arm, blood dripping from the blade. Its green eyes bore down on him with an inexplicable pressure, as if trying to crush him.

Arc fought against the pressure, trying to gauge the goblin butcher's level while calling forth [Force Armor]. But then he paused, realizing something critical that he had completely overlooked since emerging from the first rift.

His core felt different.

The sea of mana inside it had vanished, regressing back to a small crater. His Tier 5 core had returned to Tier 1.

He felt a surge of cold, hard dread fill his heart. Just then, the butcher took a step forward.

Its grin twisted into something deadly, sending chills down his spine.

**The Trial of Class commences.**

“Motherfu—”

The butcher rushed forward.

***

Chapter 3

The goblin butcher rushed forward, its cleaver held high. Despite all its weight that made the platform rattle and rumble, it was swift. Its grin turned almost psychotic as it aimed to end the fight in three seconds.

Arc didn't give it the opportunity. Despite the shocked state of his mind, his battle instincts pulled over. A slide barely brought him out of the range of the cleaver.

The butcher followed it with another chop, grounding its weapon on the stone floor as chipped shards flew. Arc jumped backwards, careful not to get hurt by them, and gazed at his enemy, but he saw no crimson lines splitting his vision.

With the system out, he had no clear way of knowing how strong the butcher was. He knew it was strong, powerful enough to chop him in half and eat his remains in one go. Primal senses rang inside his mind, telling him to run.

Arc looked around the platform, finding it long and wide enough to run for a while, but unlike the vast expanse, it has boundaries. He didn't want to lose the trial even if he could run. Winning the trial seemed paramount to finding the truth about the system and Earth.

He had no time to think further. The butcher charged, stomping through the slabs of stones and bringing its cleaver down in an overhead strike. It whistled past his ears as Arc moved to the side, nearly falling on his side.

Careful not to turn his back against the monster, he pushed out the mana he felt inside his regressed core. Even if he had lost most of his powers and spells, Arc had survived a far harsher climate with Tier 1 spells. He could do it again.

In the next second, his mind went through a long list of spells to find one that would be the most useful here, and in the end, he found it.

The goblin butcher lunged for him again, but for the first time since the battle started, Arc didn't try to run. He let the monster come closer, and it ate the distance between them in three large strides.

His mana crackled in his right palm, crimson threads weaving together to form a spell matrix. Compared to the [Riftgate] spell, this one was simpler and smaller, with just one thread creating a circular pattern.

The butcher's eyes rose in shock. A small cloud of dust wafted through the air, hitting it right in the face. It stumbled back. Its cleaver scratched the surface and let out an irritable sound.

Arc took the opportunity with a stride, disengaging the [Summon Dust] spell and creating another spell matrix on his free palm, a slightly bigger one that hummed with cracking energy.

A sharp stone shot forward out of it, hitting the butcher right in the back. Green blood flowed out of its cheek as a painful roar filled the expanse.

He didn't stay to send out more spells, knowing he needed to preserve his mana and turned back to jump towards the rack of weapons. He picked up a round, metallic shield.

Turning it back, he pushed his hand through the strap and moved it around to check its weight and flexibility. It felt just right.

A roar took his attention, and he saw the butcher looking down at him with tears coming out of its reddened, green eyes. Its sneer twisted to a stone-cold expression, and it jumped in the air, bringing the cleaver down right before him.

He put the shield forward, blocking the shards raining down on him. A low cloud of dust enveloped both of them, and the butcher stepped forward. Out of it

It swung his cleaver, trying to cut him in half, and Arc countered with his shield. A tremble ran down his arm as both metals met in a loud, clinking sound. But only a smile coated his face.

By this point, Arc forgot all the questions and shock running through his mind. Adrenaline surged through him parallel to his mana. He let his instincts take over completely, knowing his strength and his opponent's power very well.

The butcher sent another barrage of strikes his way, but he swiftly put distance between the both of them, using the shield to protect his most vital body parts. And seeing a small opportunity, he pushed out its palm, sending two more its way.

It blocked one with the cleaver, but the second one passed through its bare chest, grazing a wound by the side of its heart. Another line of green blood flowed out of it, skin giving way to the sharpness of the stone.

The butcher stomped on the ground, muscles bulging with sheer anger as it whirled around. Its cleaver rushed through the air at him, and he dodged instead of blocking with his shield.

Landing on the ground on his side, Arc turned just in time to launch another stone towards its legs. It lodged right deep in its knees and a guttural, painful screech escaped its mouth, but rather than falling on the ground or walking lamely, the butcher rushed forth, ignoring the pain altogether.

Arc's eyes widened, putting its shield up to block the strike coming for his head. The pain from the hit made him grit his teeth as his arms buckled, almost giving up. Fortunately, the shield stood and he rolled out of the way of a kick before pulling himself to a stand.

He took exhaustive breaths and looked at the butcher. The shield felt heavier in his swollen arm and even with three lines of blood flowing down its body, the butcher looked as good as new. The pain didn't seem to halt him more than momentarily, but Arc thought differently.

It's not like pain doesn't affect him. It's just not enough pain yet.

Letting out a hiss, he put up his shield, ready for the charge of the butcher and when it came, Arc spun, weaving through the continuous blur of its attacks and running backwards.

They moved through the left, right and the centre, and then back in a circle, both trying to one up each other. Arc took full advantage of the long platform as the attacks kept coming.

His eyes traced each of their pathways, holding back on any spells. He studied the bloodthirsty creature in front of him that moved with a single purpose, to kill him and after five minutes, it finally showed itself.

Patterns.

Another whirlwind of an attack cut through the air, aiming to cleave him through the shoulders. Arc stepped to the side, letting it past his body as his spine chilled. Without wasting a second, he shoved the swirling spell matrix in his palm forward. Another stone blasted forward, straight for the butcher's eyeball.

It tried to put his other arm in between, but Arc slammed his shield right into him. Green blood splashed onto his face as he saw the stone jutting out of its left eye.

It howled in pain, swinging its cleaver in a rageful, uncontrollable motion. Having prepared for it, Arc dodged back, escaping it just in time before launching three more sharp stones at the butcher.

Each one of them seemed to take large chunks of mana out of his core and he felt less powerful every second, but he had no time to wail on his weakened state.

They bolted through the air, one of them skittering off the cleaver while the other two dug right in the centre of the goblin's chest. More blood sputtered out in waves, flowing down its muscles to the ground. It took a step back, another howl nearly popping Arc's ears out.

Repeated stompts of its feet shook the earth as the wounds on its body sent shivers of pain down its spine. It's whole face flushed with green blood, watering his vision.

Arc tried to end it right then, sending another barrage of stones to its skull to end it, but just then, a wave of energy burst forth from the butcher. A ravenous cry filled the air and its skin glowed the colour of red, hands moving to pick out the stones jutting inside its flesh.

As it did so, it seemed to grow an inch, wounds slowly closing with mana coating them. His eyes widened as the flesh of the goblin sealed itself shut. Even the blood coming out of its eye socket stopped, and although it looked like it still couldn't see well, just this display of regeneration sent cold spikes of trepidation in his heart.

Slowly, the rushed and pained movements stopped. Its saliva dripped down on the ground, mixing with the green blood still on its face.

A predatory grin split its face into two.

Arc felt all his planning going to waste. He felt his mana pool having only enough to cast another three or four [Stone Shots], and before he could make another plan, the butcher was upon him.

“Fuck!”

He jumped back, the cold sensation of the cleaver almost touching his neck. With a swiftness that he hadn't seen before, the butcher pushed, swinging it's weapon wildly with a mad charge.

His shield protected him, barely. Each block made him tremble, his arm threatening to break. But Arc didn't lose his face, dodging the attacks he could and blocking the rest.

How long could he go on for? He wasn't sure, but he saw no other option. The only relief seemed to be the fact that its regeneration ability looked to be one-off rather than a constant thing. At least he hoped it was.

Another deadly swing made its way for his head. Arc ducked under it, but the butcher twisted it's wrist, going for another overhead strike. Dread filled him as he jumped back, the iron ripping up a line of hot blood on his shoulder.

His shield fell on the ground and he cursed.

The butcher rushed again as he moved to pick it up, not caring about the pain in his shoulder. He was too slow and in a rapid movement, the goblin stood right in front of him.

One swing and he would be dead. Memories of his time in Ascaris tore through his mind at that thought. He refused to be killed. Not by an ugly, hungry goblin.

An idea struck him.

In a moment of adrenaline and fear, he slid out of the cleaver's range and threw his shield right at its face. It passed by its large hand, hitting it right in the chestback.

The butcher stumbled backwards. Ignoring the rushes of pain going up his arms and shoulders, Arc made a run towards the rack of the weapons.

He reached ten steps away from it when he heard a loud, hissing roar from the back. Blood streamed down the goblin's nose and in its anger, it stomped on the shield, crushing it beneath its large elephant-like foot.

Then, it made for a mad rush.

Arc waited for it with hitched breaths, feeling the last puddle of mana in his core. It simmered with faint energy and he pushed it towards his palm. A spell matrix came to life, illuminating his face.

The goblin could care less about it in its seething rage and didn't wait to see that the spell wasn't projected at him, but on the ground.

Cold water blasted forward, wetting the floor. In its madness, the monster stepped foot on it and slipped, hurling towards the ground. Stone cracked, blood burst out of its head and Arc rushed, spear already in its hand.

It hauled its body forward, turning on its arms to push itself to its feet. Arc stabbed just then, his strike aimed straight for its face.

Its second eyeball burst, blood wheezing out of the wound. The butcher hissed in pain, flailing its arms in an attempt to get him. Arc jumped around it, taking out his spear and aiming it at the butcher's jugular veins.

A large, meaty hand grabbed him as he pierced it. Pain rushed through Arc as his bones crunched, but the oozing green blood was all he cared about.

He gripped the spear tight, twisting the head. His mana crackled and surged as another Matrix formed on his left hand. Stones shot out of it hitting the goblin's hand. It still didn't let go.

“Just die, you green bastardly beast!” He yelled, taking out its spear again. More bones cracked and the butcher turned to his side, pulling Arc down with it.

But he stabbed his spear right in its skull before falling on the ground.

The grip on his leg eased and he quickly crawled backwards, eyes locked at the monstrous body. No red glow came out of it. More and more blood pooled around the stone floor every second and for a moment, he felt the butcher's body twitching.

Tension gripped him before words split the air.

**You have slain a Level 13 Tier 1 Goblin Butcher!**

**Congratulations! You have succeeded in the Trial of Class!**

Instantly, he felt relief washing over him. The goblin butcher lay dead. He had survived. If the messages were anything to go by, it had been a far stronger creature than him with his regressed core. Yet he had won.

His body shook with the happiness of his victory before pain hammered down on his body. He let out a yell, feeling agony from his cracked bones, swollen arm and grazed shoulders. But soon, he felt an energy washing over them.

The same healing mana he had felt in the expanse when he arrived. It hadn't permeated the platform with the trial, but now, he felt it, moving to aid his wounds. He closed his eyes, letting it do the work before another set of notifications arrived.

**Rewards have been given for succeeding in the Trial of Class.**

**The effects of the Title “Oddity” had been applied.**

**You are the first person to defeat an opponent ten levels stronger than you in the Trial of Class.**

**You are in the first hundred people to survive the Nightmare difficulty Trial of Class.**

**You have been given the Title “Nightmare Survivor”.**

**Your system has been unlocked.**

**A unique class has been generated. Your current skills and experience has been taken into account.**

**Class: Archmagus has been given.**

**An Epic Grade lootbox has been given.**

Arc read the lines of sentences one by one, but the class notification stood out the most.

“Archmagus,” he muttered through heaving breaths. “How is it a class? It's supposed to be a rank. A mark of a Tier 5 Mage.”

He looked back at the notifications, wondering if they would display more and as his thoughts turned towards his class, another line of text gave him the information he needed.

**Class: Archmagus (Unique)

Everyone loves a magician and Archmagus are the ones that sit at the very top.

With their ability to manipulate mana and their bundle of spellbooks, they are one of the most feared classes all over the multiverse. With mana manipulation, they could cast all sorts of spells— elemental, conjuration, imbuement, divination. Say the name and they would be able to cast it.

Gains efficiency in every magical spell and discipline with every level.

Gets +3 Mystic, +1 Vitality, +1 Dexterity and +1 free stat point with every level and the stat gains increase every core advancement.**

**Would you like to see your status? Y/N.**

Arc mentally clicked yes and another hovering screen popped up in front of him.

Name/Age: Archie Jones/31

Race: Human

Class: Archmagus

Core Level: Level 1 (Core Tier 1)

Titles: Oddity, Nightmare Survivor

Arcane Crystals: 0

Health: 34%

Mana: 4%

Stamina: 21%

Skills/Spells: Summon Dust (Modified), Stone Shot (Modified), Summon Water (Modified)

Talents: Mana Manipulation, Mana Perception, Survivor's Will

Stats:

Power: 10

Vitality: 12

Dexterity: 10

Will: 14

Perception: 11

Mystic: 15

Free stat point: 0

**You need 30 arcane crystals to level up.**

***

A figure floated in the vast expanse of darkness, her robes fluttering in the gale that swept the room that had been her prison for seven hundred years. A white cloth wrapped around her eyes that saw nothing, but she heard it clearly.

The winds whispered to her, making every report of the wider multiverse, of the new worlds being integrated, of the new adventurers that had shown promise. But out of all those faint whispers, she only stopped to listen to one of them.

The birth of a new oddity. One that gained a unique class.

Her winds confirmed it, making a shiver run down her spine. How many years it had been? Eight hundred maybe. She wasn't sure, but she intended to find more. She needed every information about this new oddity.

An Archmagus. The winds whispered again and she felt her heart swell sign an emotion she had forgotten— Hope.

Every fibre of her being surged with a power she hadn't felt in so long. Her mana roared to life as she extended her hands. White lines split the darkness, illuminating every corner of her sanctuary before a screen popped up in front of her.

The face of a man swam. Bloodied, battered and just finished with his trial. She couldn't see him, but through her magic, she felt him. He was strong, his will forged in hellish landscapes and not suitable for this new integration. Too strong for it.

But maybe. Just maybe that's what this cycle needed. An oddity strong enough to reach the top in a way no one ever had.

She didn't know if she was putting her expectations on the right man, but it didn't matter. She had waited too long, floating in this darkness. This was her chance. A way to finally fulfil her goal.

“Archie Jones,” she spoke, her voice ethereal and ringing in the space. “I will watch over you, son. For you will be my key.”

Her hands moved to pull at the cloth binding her eyes and she removed it. For the first time in centuries.

***

Chapter 4

Arc sat on the stone platform, enjoying the warm energy that healed his wounds slowly. His bones seemed to have mended, and his flesh had sealed shut, not even leaving a scar. He had been looking through his status screen for the last hour, trying to understand it all.

Fortunately, the system seemed to move with his thoughts, and he didn't have to rack his brain over the stats.

**Stat glossary**

**Power - The ability of your body to exert physical power.

Vitality - The ability of your body to resist adverse health outcomes and recover from damage.

Dexterity - The ability of your body to control your motor functions efficiently.

Will - The ability of your mind to keep going in stressful situations and recover from them.

Perception - The ability of your mind to comprehend awareness of the outer environment.

Mystic - The ability of your soul to sense, channel, and use mana.**

The stats had been pretty easy to understand. Almost reminded him of the video games he had played in his childhood, and it hadn't taken him much to get their function, especially with the levels he had started to see since returning to Earth. Or whatever was left of it.

A part of him wondered if he was adjusting to everything at an abnormal rate. But then again, Arc had already experienced a fantasy wasteland with beasts and magic. He had also been aware that a system was a thing. It just hadn't been accessible to him before this.

However, there were still parts he still felt confused about, and even thinking about it in his mind didn't make another screen pop off to quench his curiosity. For example— Why were his spells written as modified?

Things such as Titles, Traits and Arcane Crystals were familiar enough to him, but with modified spells, he had no clue. It could be an effect of his Archmagus class, but Arc doubted that.

With that in mind, he decided to test it out later and stood up, moving over to the body of the goblin butcher that lay dead in the middle of the platform.

If everything he knew about how the crystals worked was the same as Ascaris, it would be a waste to find a way out of here before harvesting its core.

As he scooted closer to it, he observed the sheer brutality with which it had been killed, with both its eyes repeatedly stabbed and wounds all over its face. Still, Arc felt no sympathy for it.

It would have killed him if he hadn't done the same to it. Just like Ascaris, beasts were no man's friends. Druidic or summoning magic could be used to tie them up with bonds, but they were simply outliers, in his opinion.

Carefully, he crouched down, holding a sword that he had picked up from the weapon's rack and held the tip on top of the butcher's chest. He was about to cut his way through its core when a notification rang.

**Do you want to retrieve Arcane Crystals? Y/N**

Arc stared at it in wonder for a second. He hadn't expected such an option, but it looked convenient.

He mentally clicked yes, and a simmering wave of golden energy touched the butcher's dead body before flowing back into him. He stiffened but felt nothing wrong with his body.

Giving another command in his mind, he opened up his status and focused on the Arcane Crystals stat.

**Arcane Crystals - 248**

**You have enough Arcane Crystals to reach the next level. Do you want to level up? Y/N.**

Arc mentally clicked yes again, and another wave of electrical energy flowed into his body, heading straight towards his core. He felt power flooding him and drew a hitched breath.

His back only loosened the next second as the sensation disappeared. A notification blinked right before him.

**Congratulations! You have reached Level 2 (Core Tier 1). Stat points earned: +3 Mystic, +1 Vitality, +1 Dexterity and +1 Free Point.**

Steadying himself, Arc looked at his level and stats.

Name/Age: Archie Jones/31

Race: Human

Class: Archmagus

Core Level: Level 2 (Core Tier 1)

Titles: Oddity, Nightmare Survivor

Arcane Crystals: 218

Health: 100%

Mana: 100%

Stamina: 100%

Skills/Spells: Summon Dust (Modified), Stone Shot (Modified), Summon Water (Modified)

Talents: Mana Manipulation, Mana Perception, Survivor's Will

Stats:

Power: 10

Vitality: 13

Dexterity: 11

Will: 14

Perception: 11

Mystic: 18

Free stat point: 1

**You need 50 arcane crystals to level up.**

As he had expected, his stats went up, and the electrical energy he had felt was probably his core absorbing the crystals to get stronger or, in this case, level up.

It was the same way of growing his core that he practised. The only difference was that back in Ascaris, he had to absorb the broken-down Arcane Crystals from the core, which could take anywhere between a few seconds to hours. It was instantaneous here.

He wondered how the system was streamlining something like this.

“Had my core just gone through changes other than being regressed in strength to absorb the crystals in mere seconds by just a command?” Arc muttered, feeling frustrated over the system having such power over him.

He only felt sure that this Ascender system was far more mysterious and more potent than anything he had encountered.

Shaking his head, he decided to deal with his questions later. He wasn't getting his answers standing in this expanse after all.

He hadn't missed that although he had won the trial, the expanse hadn't just thrown him out, giving him time to recover his strength and even collect the crystals.

“But what now? Am I just trapped here?” He walked through the stone platform, hoping to see some door that might lead outside.

As he reached the platform's edge and was about to descend the stairs, crimson lines split the moving particles.

**Your class selection is over. The grade for your Tutorial has been decided.**

**Tutorial Grade - Nightmare has been selected.**

**You are the 2,000,001st human to gain access to the Nightmare Grade Tutorial.**

**Ascenders wish you the best!**

The same woman's voice he had heard before getting pulled inside here rang inside his mind, and as it faded, a rupture formed in reality right before him.

Faint dark cracks split the expanse as a portal simmering with dark energy appeared, reminiscent of the one he had created back in Ascaris. But a lot weaker and more stable.

It seemed to call for him, but Arc hesitated to approach it. He turned, looking through the expanse, knowing he had no use staying here anymore. It had no food or water, and he couldn't just live off healing energy.

Moreover, Arc wanted to know exactly what had happened to Earth and how. For that, he would have to move to the Tutorial, and if the system notifications were to be believed, there would be humans there.

At the same time, he knew what else would lurk around there.

“Beasts and other races that would want nothing more than to kill me.”

He had briefly looked at the “Multiversal Integration Pact” and “Basic Tutorial Guide”.

The former had been a five thousand three hundred and seven-page document detailing a contract through which the species of a planet could enter the larger multiverse. Arc had skimmed over it, but the latter guide had been of some use.

It hadn't explained everything about what would be needed to do to survive in the Tutorial since, apparently, every one of them was different, but it had confirmed for him that he would have to fight a lot of beasts and other hostile races. Even in that, it had labelled nightmare as the worst difficulty and apparently, its name was “You're Dead” in earlier versions of the system.

If that were the case, then Arc wouldn't be surprised to find himself right before a beast as he stepped out of the portal.

So, before heading to the tutorial, he prepared himself thoroughly.

First thing first, he closed his eyes, feeling the bubbling mana in his core. It had refilled, but his core didn't have too much of it to begin with right now. To solve the issue, he decided to use the rest of his crystals.

**Arcane Crystals - 218**

**You have enough Arcane Crystals to reach the next level. Do you want to level up? Y/N.**

As soon as the message appeared, Arc affirmed it in his mind. Just like before, another rush of energy filled him, expanding his core to store more mana. He stood at Level 3 now but didn't plan to stop there.

Looking back at his status, the crystals required to level up had increased again from 30 to 50 to 80.

He didn't know how the system calculated each level, but at least he knew it would gradually increase, like Ascaris, where he needed stronger beast cores to advance his core.

“At this rate, I might require thousands of crystals to level up as I go,” he said. “Well, it will be a problem for later. Not like I'm doing it for the first time.”

After two levels up, Arc only had 168 crystals left and as he moved to level up again, the requirements increased again to 120 Arcane Crystals.

With only 88 crystals left, he couldn't afford it. But he already felt far stronger than before, and without wasting any time, he cast one of the spells that had saved his skin countless times in Ascaris.

[Lesser Force Armor].

The spell matrix burned to life right in front of his chest. Force mana crackled before enveloping his whole body.

Arc saw an ethereal glow covering him in the form of a magical armor that looked the same as a chain metal plate. But unlike a physical armor, this one protected him from all sorts of attacks— physical and arcane both.

Once that was done and he finally felt a semblance of protection, he opened his mana gauge to notice that the spell had taken 1/4 of it. That wasn't a tiny amount, with the only respite being that the armor would stay intact for the next six hours if another beast didn't try to maul his chest with its claws.

He decided to wait till his mana was full before moving onto the Tutorial zone, and as he waited, he decided to open up the lootbox he had gotten. Apart from the Titles and the crystals, it had been his only reward from the battle.

With a flicker of his thoughts, a screen opened before him.

**Do you want to open up the Epic Grade Lootbox? Y/N**

“I hope whatever is inside of it is worth almost dying to that butcher,” Arc said, mentally clicking yes.

A set of notifications flashed in front of him right away.

**You have received Lightball x 3.**

**You have received Mana recovering potion x 2.**

**You have received Health recovering potion x 3.**

*You have received Firemint berry x 10.**

**You have received a Goblin seamstress cloak.**

**You have received a Random spellbook.**

Unlike what he had expected, the items he received didn't just magically enter his system in some inventory like his crystals had. A heavy wooden box fell on the floor—a chest.

Arc skittered closer, looking down at it, and after seeing no sigils on it, he opened it.

A slew of items sat inside. From glass vials of red and purple that he guessed were potions to three small yellow balls. Next to them was a pouch, and when he picked it up, he found crimson-coloured berries inside.

Arc only gave a cursory glance to them, his attention taken by the green cloak that sat neatly folded on the left and a small blue book on top of it.

He picked up the book and put it beside the chest, deciding to look at it at last and moved to the green cloak. As it unruffled, he saw patches of red around its back with tons of pockets all over it.

**Goblin seamstress cloak (Uncommon)

While most goblins are dirty, sleepy, and bloodthirsty creatures, there are some who are the rotten apple of the family. Goblin seamstress' goes against their blood to offer their life for their love of stitching, and the result of that is this green, patched-up cloak made with the love of an old and horny goblin seamstress.

Gives a slight boost to your overall defence and +1 Vitality. It also has a lot of deep pockets to keep all sorts of weapons and items.**

Arc stared at the description for a while, wondering who had written it before shaking his head and trying it out. Despite the patches and slight dust that was gathered on it, it fit him perfectly over his battered tunic, which was all that he had left after his cloak and leather armour had been destroyed.

He liked his cloaks black, but he could see the efficiency in a green one, particularly if the Tutorial was going to happen in a forest. However, the boost to his vitality was the best part of it.

He moved on to the last item the lootbox had given him and picked up the spellbook. Opening it, he saw blank pages all over it and wondered if the system had scammed him.

Just then, a notification sprang up.

**Do you want to use the Random spellbook (Common)? Y/N.**

Arc selected yes, wanting to see how the system would work with a spellbook.

**You have used a Random spellbook (Common).**

**You have gained the Tier 1 spell Snake Tempest.**

Before he could even read the new notifications, a rush of information flooded his brain. A scene of a Mage aiming snakes made up of devastating wind force played and for the next minute, he just stood there, the spell matrix carving itself in his mind.

Once it was over, Arc took a deep breath, steadying himself.

His mind rang with a strange sensation as if he had suddenly gained knowledge he had never worked for. In a way, that was true.

Back in Ascaris, he had to go through the tomes and notes of Order of Gray over and over again, practicing his spell matrix for each line and curve before he had gotten a mastery in each of his spells. But this was instantaneous.

He shook his head, trying to get over the sensation and moved to inspect and pick up all the other items in the chest. The potions were self explanatory and the lightballs were just that; sources of light he could use in nightfall and caverns. And each of the berries would keep him full for 12 hours.

Giving a one last look at the potions, he realised they were small enough to be put in his pockets. The lightballs were similarly small.

Hence, he put them up in one of his inner pockets before strapping the berry filled pouch on his hip.

Arc moved through the platform to see if the weight of the items and the cloak would cause him manoeuvrability, but thankfully, it wasn't the case.

By now, his mana had returned to normal, so he decided to move towards the portal to the Tutorial. But before that, he looked back at the rack of weapons.

“The shield and spear are already broken and torn,” he said, his eyes scanning between the other weapons before deciding to go with the sword that he had already picked up. “This will do for now. In case, my mana runs out again. I would have liked a sheath to store it, but I can't get everything here.”

With that, he had finished most of his preparations.

Arc took one last look at the expanse before climbing down the stairs and standing right in front of the simmering, crackling portal.

Unlike the Trial, he had a better idea of what was going to come in it, and the basic guide had given him several options— Arena, fight to the death, dungeon exploration, siege and wars etc. But he had no idea what would come in the Tutorial among these.

If his luck stayed the same, he might just find himself underwater or on top of a bursting volcano.

Arc frowned, smacking himself on the side of his head.

I need to think positive. The guide said the Tutorial would be an equal playing ground, so humans most likely won't have an inherent disadvantage.

Even if he found himself in a dangerous habitat, Arc had enough confidence to deal with it. Ascaris hadn't been pleasant either, filled with mana storms and unlivable temperatures. Yet he had persisted and persevered.

He would do the same with this Tutorial.

Arc took one final breath, fingers brushing against the portal. A tinge of electricity flowed through him and something pulled him inside. He resisted for a moment, imagining the horror of the last portal he had been in, but there was no going back.

He plunged into the portal.

His body stretched and squashed. Rectangular and circular shapes flowed across his eyelids in a blend of different colors and he barely held back the bile rising in his throat.

Arc closed his eyes, trying to pass over the worst of it. Reality wrapped all around him and a headache assaulted his head. Seconds turned to minutes and the sensations never ended. Dread filled him, wondering if he was forever going to be trapped in the portal.

Just then, the world opened up.

Wind roared in his ears and the wrapping sensation disappeared. Arc opened his eyes and they widened, taking in the breathtaking view— large forest, mountains, valleys, ruins, lake, desert. Each of them sprawled out over large areas. But they weren't the reasons for his shock.

It was the fact that they were way beneath him and he was falling through the sky.

Right out of the portal, Arc plummeted to his death.