Chương 3: The One Who Rejects Death

Ch 03 - The One Who Rejects Death Zeph blinked, squinting as a sharp glare stung his face with heat. He slowly opened his eyes, only to shut them again when the sunlight pierced straight into them. He raised his arm to cover his face for a moment, trying to steady himself and feel his body again, to make sure he was truly there. A breath caught in his throat, and he coughed under it. His chest felt heavy, yet his head seemed strangely lighter than he remembered. What had happened to him?

He turned his head toward the floor in front of him, and his body jerked back in shock at what he saw. There was a thick, dark shadow clinging to the floor, spreading out from the water control area where the dark cavalry creature had stood last night. It was gone now. Zeph did not truly remember what happened after that. He had managed to trap the monster, and then used the last of his strength to try to kill it. After that, everything went black. When he woke up, the day had already changed like this.

So damn, it had all been real. The massive assault from the sky. Hundreds, maybe even thousands, of dark cavalry descending from above. And yet… He lifted his gaze to the sky and fell silent, staring at it for a long moment. The world looked just as he remembered, calm and untouched.

"Did the hunters really manage to drive those intruders away?" Zeph had been lying there for who knew how long. He could not remember. Judging by the light, it had to be morning. Maybe an entire night had already passed. Everything that happened after that point was a blur. He tried to sit up again and forced himself to stand, his steps still unsteady. His throat burned with dryness, as if he had not tasted a single drop of water in days. He stepped into the room and finally saw how wrecked it was.

The floor was cracked and broken, pieces scattered everywhere. The door hung loose, nearly torn off its hinges.

"I really… I really managed to escape that monster's hunt," he muttered, still unable to believe the words leaving his mouth. He hurried toward the kitchen sink. Without wasting a second, he twisted the tap and let the water rush out, bending down to drink straight from it. He stayed there for a while, breathing slowly after his throat finally stopped burning. Just as he straightened up, he caught the faint sound of a television playing in the main room.

Curious, he made his way there and dropped into one of the nearby chairs. He sat still, eyes fixed on the screen, and quickly realized that the topic being discussed was directly tied to what had happened the night before. The female reporter spoke in a composed tone.

"Following the unprecedented attack that descended from the sky last night, authorities have officially confirmed that the world is now safe. The invading forces have been successfully driven back thanks to the swift and coordinated response of the hunters."

"We extend our deepest gratitude to every hunter who risked their lives on the front lines. Special recognition is being given to The Strongest, Rank 9 Ascendant, Crawford, whose decisive actions played a critical role in pushing back the dark cavalry and securing our skies once again." Zeph watched in silence, absorbing every word.

"So the hunters really did manage to drive them away… even with smaller numbers on their side." He let out a slow breath, shaking his head faintly.

"Maybe it was not as hopeless as it looked after all," he murmured to himself. The broadcast then shifted to footage of the aftermath. Several massive buildings had collapsed, their concrete frames reduced to rubble. Smoke still rose in thin trails, and emergency teams moved quickly through the wreckage. The reporter continued.

"Despite the victory, the damage left behind is severe. Multiple districts suffered heavy destruction, with several high rise buildings completely destroyed. Rescue operations are still ongoing as emergency responders search through debris for survivors."

"Authorities have confirmed casualties, though the exact number is still being verified. Medical facilities across the affected regions remain on high alert, treating the injured. Government officials have promised full support for reconstruction efforts and assistance for families who have lost their homes and loved ones." Zeph kept watching without moving, doing nothing but absorbing the stream of new information pouring from the screen. There were casualties. Entire districts were damaged.

Lives turned upside down in a single night. Then the broadcast shifted again. The screen changed to show the man who had stood at the very center of last night's defense. He was the figure people had already begun calling the hero of the night. The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. A stern looking man in his early fifties appeared before the cameras. Though his hair had turned gray, there was nothing fragile about him. His sharp eyes held a commanding presence.

He was Rank 9 Ascendant, Crawford.

"There is no need for panic," he said firmly.

"The situation has been fully contained. The invading forces have been pushed back, and there are no remaining threats in our skies."

"What happened last night was sudden and severe. But we were prepared. The hunters across every rank responded immediately. We fought together, and we held the line." His expression softened just a little.

"I understand the fear many of you felt. Seeing hundreds of dark cavalry descend at once is something no one wishes to witness again. But I assure you, we will continue to strengthen our defenses. We will not allow an incident like this to catch us off guard twice." He straightened slightly.

"To those who lost loved ones, you have my deepest respect and condolences. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten. And to the citizens of this world, stand tall. We are here to protect you. As long as hunters stand on the front lines, you will not face the darkness alone." The screen suddenly went black when Zeph pressed the button on the remote. He let out a long breath and tossed the remote onto the table. Leaning back against the chair, he inhaled slowly. At least the world had not fallen into total apocalypse.

He was not sure whether he should feel relieved or unsettled. He straightened up again, and that was when he noticed something strange. His own reflection staring back at him from the dark television screen.

"Is that… me?" Zeph quickly got to his feet, a little too fast, and hurried toward the bathroom. He pushed the door open and rushed to the mirror. He stopped right in front of it. The person staring back at him looked… different. He touched his nose, traced the line of his jaw, then brushed his fingers over his skin. It felt firmer. Healthier. Even his face seemed sharper, more defined than before. Even so, one thing was painfully obvious.

He still looked thin, as if he did not have enough flesh to support the changes happening within him.

"But the slash marks on my neck are gone," he said quietly as he stared at his reflection. If he had truly been beheaded again and again like he remembered, there should have been something left. A scar. A trace. Anything. Lowering his hand to his stomach, Zeph hesitated for a moment. Slowly, he lifted his shirt and looked down at his abdomen. His stomach appeared noticeably more solid. There were no signs of being split open either, even though he clearly remembered that it should have been.

Yet his shirt was stiff with dried blood, clear proof that something terrible had happened.

"I really did gain regeneration this strong," he murmured softly.

"What if I injure my own hand?" He fell silent, then opened the lid of a small metal utility box near the sink and found a kitchen knife inside. He held it for a few moments, studying the blade under the light.

"I've endured worse than this," he said quietly. Then, without hesitating further, he sliced the tip of his left index finger. Blood immediately welled up and dripped into the sink below. He watched closely for several seconds.

"There's no sign of healing," he muttered. He gave a small nod.

"Maybe the ability doesn't allow me to harm or kill myself." He then decided to check something else and whispered under his breath, "Status." Lines of text suddenly began forming in front of him. [Name: Zephion] [Level: 12 Apprentice] [Divinity: The One Who Rejects Death] [Authority: Undying Core] [Sigils: Epic - Night Cavalry] Zeph's hands trembled as he reached out to touch the lines of text. His fingers passed straight through them, as if they were made of light and air. He could really see it.

He could access the status panel. Something that only those who had awakened were able to do.

"But…" he paused, his brows pulling together.

"Level 12?" He had just awakened and he was already at Level 12. That meant he was officially a Rank 1 Apprentice. When someone awakened, it meant they had successfully developed a mana core inside their heart. It functioned as the source of their power, the center where energy gathered and flowed through their body. By cultivating that mana core, they increased their level step by step. Every ten levels marked a bottleneck.

At Level 10, 20, 30, and so on, they had to break through and rise in rank in order to continue growing stronger. Rank 1 Apprentice covered Levels 11 to 20. Rank 2 Guardian ranged from 21 to 30. Then came Rank 3 Master, Rank 4 Champion, Rank 5 Grand Master. Beyond that were Rank 6 Archon, Rank 7 Paragon, Rank 8 Sage, and finally Rank 9 Ascendant.

"The One Who Rejects Death…" he muttered under his breath. Not everyone possessed a Divinity within their system. That alone meant his awakening was far rarer than he had first assumed. And then there was the Authority clearly stated there, Undying Core. That explained the main ability he now carried. The reason his body had reconstructed itself. The reason he was still breathing. He gave a faint nod.

"Undying Core. This authority allows me to return to life each time death claims me. But it clearly states that this does not mean I am immortal. There is still a permanent death waiting for me under certain conditions. It only means that I will revive… as long as those conditions are fulfilled." Then there was the Sigil. Because he had ranked up to Rank 1 Apprentice, he had also obtained his first Sigil.

"But… Night Cavalry?" he said, frowning slightly. Before he could dig any deeper, a loud bang echoed through the house. The front door had been slammed open. Zeph's head snapped toward the sound. Someone had just entered the house. He rushed out of the bathroom and into the main room. The moment he saw who it was, his hands clenched into fists and his teeth ground together. That bastard had returned. The man looked like a complete wreck.

His eyes were bloodshot, his face flushed as if he had been drinking all night. Even from a distance, the sharp smell of alcohol drifted straight into Zeph's nose.

"Zephion!" the man barked.

"What kind of mess did you make? What the hell did you even do?" He staggered forward, steps uneven and careless. Zeph instinctively took a step back, but he quickly stopped himself. His jaw tightened. His fists clenched so hard his knuckles turned pale. He lifted his chin and glared straight at the man. The man closed the distance in seconds. Just like always, his hand shot forward, aiming straight for Zeph's collar. But. Not today! Zeph's body moved on its own.

His hand lashed out faster and caught the man's fist midair, stopping the strike before it could even touch him. For a brief second, the man looked confused. Then his expression shifted into anger.

"How dare you. Zephion!" he growled.