I Am Dead

Rey looked carefully, his gaze moving through the darkness as he inspected the Orcs' direction.

That meant the Orcs had been around all this time, but they had masked their scent, preventing him from detecting them. They had been waiting for the perfect moment to launch their attack.

But right now, backing off wasn't an option.

Ding!!

[ New Quest ]

[ Objective: Wipe out the entire army of Orcs ]

[ Rewards: ????? ]

"A new quest?" Rey smirked, his reaction unchanging as he stared at the glowing screen before him. "This system is really testing my limits."

Hmph.

Let's see how far I can go.

Tightening his grip around the dagger, Rey steadied his stance, his focus sharpening as he prepared to launch his attack.

---

The Rankers Association

The Rankers Association was particularly busy that afternoon. Staff members moved from one place to another, each occupied with their daily tasks.

A soft ding sounded as the elevator doors slid open. Carlos stepped out, accompanied by a man who looked a year or two older than him. But in matters of official rank, age didn't matter.

"What's the latest update?" Carlos asked the moment they exited the elevator, his tone sharp and demanding.

"The tracking force was dispatched this morning," the man replied. "And judging by their report, something unusual happened in the woods."

Carlos' steps slowed. "When the demon escaped?"

The man nodded. "Yes, sir. When the trackers arrived, they discovered a mix of scents. But the most concerning thing was—"

He hesitated.

"What happened?" Carlos pressed. "I need a full report."

The man inhaled sharply. "They found blood in the woods. Along with the demon's lingering scent."

Carlos frowned. "The demon was there last?"

"Yes," the man confirmed. "The stronger scent makes it obvious."

Carlos furrowed his brows. The situation was becoming more complicated than he had anticipated. But one thing was certain—the Association had the best tracking team in the country. There was no way they would let the demon roam free for long.

"What's the next course of action?" Carlos asked as they stepped into a private laboratory within the Association's headquarters. This lab, a top-tier research facility, was managed by one of the country's finest scientists—Dr. Park.

Dr. Park glanced up as they entered. "Regarding the blood sample, I ran all necessary tests. The blood is purified and normal, but we're not yet fifty percent sure if it belongs to—"

"Since we don't know if the demon arrived before or after the attack," Carlos finished for him.

Dr. Park nodded. He picked up a file and handed it to Carlos. Without hesitation, Carlos flipped it open and scanned its contents.

The file contained basic bio-data and personal details about Rey Reed.

"A nineteen-year-old final-year student," Carlos muttered, his gaze locking onto the name and photo.

"There's a possibility that the boy was possessed by the Ghost Demon," Dr. Park stated.

Carlos closed the file, his expression unreadable. "I'll look into it."

He turned to leave but paused at the doorway. "Keep your guard up. Track any signs of this demon."

"Yes, sir."

As Carlos exited the building, Dr. Park sighed.

"If that demon's power allows it to mask its scent even when inside another body…" He shook his head. "Mister Carlos needs to be extremely careful."

---

Rey dodged to the side just in time, narrowly escaping the massive swing of an Orc's mace. The weapon slammed into the ground, nearly splitting the earth in two. Seizing the opportunity, Rey lunged forward, his dagger slicing through the Orc's chest.

Around him, the battlefield was littered with the bodies of fallen Orcs. Severed limbs, torn flesh, and pools of dark green blood painted the ground—a grotesque masterpiece of carnage.

[ Level Up ]

[ Level Up ]

A dark smirk crept onto Rey's face as he slashed his dagger across the neck of another Orc. The creature collapsed instantly, lifeless.

The horror on their faces before they died—eyes wide with shock—was proof of the terror they had faced.

Rey's breath came in ragged gasps. His legs felt weak, and he leaned against a tree for support.

Taking down an entire army of Orcs was no joke. Especially for someone as inexperienced as him.

I didn't expect to wipe them all out… Rey thought, his pulse still racing. But every time I cut one down, I felt an adrenaline rush—like something was pushing me forward.

Ding!!

[ Quest Complete ]

[ Rewards Available ]

[ Claim Rewards Now: Yes / No ]

Without hesitation, Rey selected [ Yes ].

Let's see what I got this time.

[ Quest Rewards ]

[ +2 Stat Points to Each Attribute ]

[ 30 EXP ]

[ Claim All ] [ Yes / No ]

"Claim all," Rey muttered.

A notification popped up.

[ 1 Unread Message ]

"A message?"

What could it be?

[ Player has successfully leveled up to Level 3 ]

[ Two new skills obtained ]

[ After leveling up, +2 stat points will be added to each ability. Some physical changes may occur. ]

"Wow…" Rey whispered in awe. A wide grin spread across his face. He felt stronger—faster.

So this is my reward for wiping out the Orc army?

"System, pull up my status."

---

[ Basic Stats ]

[ Player: Rey Reed ]

[ Race: Human ]

[ Age: 19 ]

[ HP: 50/50 ]

[ EXP: 30/100 ]

---

[ Level 3 ]

[ Strength: 17 ]

[ Speed: 16 ]

[ Agility: 17 ]

[ Stamina: 16 ]

[ Intelligence: 16 ]

---

[ Skills ]

[ Active Skills ]

Inspect [ Lv1 ]

Ability: Allows the player to analyze opponents, revealing their abilities and stats.

Effectiveness increases as the skill levels up.

Willpower [ Lv1 ]

Passive skill. Reduces fatigue and boosts all stats by 40% in battle.

[ Special Skill ]

Reaper

Temporarily increases all stats to their maximum potential, making the user unstoppable against enemies—unless the enemy's power level is equal or higher.

Warning: Can only be used for 1 hour.

Cooldown: 2 hours 4 minutes.

---

"Damn…" Rey clenched his fist, feeling raw power coursing through his veins. Even without exerting strength, he could sense the difference.

No wonder I tore through the Orcs so easily…

The combination of Willpower and Reaper had given him an undeniable advantage.

Most Rankers had to purchase skill books or inherit abilities from their family lineage. Yet, here he was—an F-rank hunter—already possessing three powerful skills.

"I feel stronger now…" Rey muttered.

His eyes gleamed with determination.

Now, let's see what the academy holds. That title of 'The Weakest'?

I'm about to change it.

It's only a matter of time.

---