Chapter Three: This Is a Trial

The creature in the rain imitated a human voice, saying, “Delicious—”

Humans stand at the pinnacle of the food chain, but in the end, they are still animals. Just as lambs tremble before a ravenous wolf, when faced with a monstrous beast far beyond the limits of the human body, the primal instinct called “fear” instantly floods the mind, awakening the drive to survive.

Now, Morningstar had already yielded to this instinct, retreating at full speed. The desperate urge to survive made him forget the searing pain in his right hand in a heartbeat.

What the hell is this thing!

Driven by terror, Morningstar snatched up his phone and continued to stumble backward. Twenty meters ahead of him stood a pitch-black monster, at least two meters tall, its entire body glistening with slick, oily skin from which thick liquid dripped continuously.

Its face was featureless—no eyes, no nose—only a huge mouth filled with jagged teeth and smeared with fresh blood. Dozens of long, pointed fangs filled its maw, enough to crush his skull to pulp.

Judging by its form alone, this was a creature no ordinary person could ever hope to defeat, let alone withstand those saw-like teeth.

And now, there was no one to save him. Forcing down his terror, Morningstar reminded himself again and again:

“Stay calm, calm down, just stay calm…”

As life and death hung in the balance, his body’s every function raced, his mind scouring frantically for any possible means of survival.

Suddenly, fragments of earlier text flashed through his mind.

Pitch black, eyeless, noseless—wasn’t this the very “Shadow Beast” described in the Star of Dawn’s identification text?

He was in the midst of the Catastrophic Black Rain!

The reason the text appeared again was because he’d encountered a disaster in the real world.

The Shadow Beast hunted living things through this black rainfall. The calamity was named Black Rain.

By the light of the streetlamp, Morningstar scanned his surroundings. As he expected, within the dirty downpour, thin strands of black rain could be seen, though not many.

Being targeted by this monster meant there was black rain on him!

An unusual chill and sticky sensation clung to his face…

Twenty meters away, the Shadow Beast’s thick, slick limbs splashed through the rain, moving with a speed far beyond that of a rabid hound!

Boom!

With a sudden burst of power, the Shadow Beast closed the distance by ten meters in an instant: “Tasty, tasty!”

In desperation, Morningstar yanked a tissue from his jacket, wiped the black rain from his face, and flung the tissue away.

Whoosh—

In a flash, the Shadow Beast lost track of its target, coming to a halt, its entire body frozen like a black statue in the rain.

Don’t make a sound, find a way to stay calm!

Morningstar edged closer to the shelter, suppressing the instinct to dash out into the rain. He stood as far as possible from the rainfall, eyes locked on the monster’s movements.

Wipe the black rain off—will that be enough?

No, it’s still not enough! This thing is so much faster than me, and outside, the black rain is everywhere; there’s no escape!

I mustn’t get drenched by the black rain!

Morningstar glanced around, but the black rain was growing heavier, and the streetlamp’s glow was steadily overwhelmed.

A violent gust howled, like Death itself swinging a scythe, driving the black raindrops harshly into Morningstar’s face!

Damn it!

The instant the black drops struck his skin, the Shadow Beast lunged, charging straight at him: “Found you! Food!”

Gritting his teeth, Morningstar twisted at the ankle, barely dodging the beast’s snapping jaws.

But with such a difference in speed, there was no way he could evade a second attack. Impossible!

At that moment, a brief message flashed on Morningstar’s phone.

[You have successfully equipped the Possession-type weapon—Shadowthorn Dagger.]

A stabbing pain shot through his right hand. Morningstar could feel an incomparably sharp dagger forming in his palm.

With no way out, he might as well fight—

The Shadow Beast whirled after missing its mark, swinging its massive tail for balance, then snapped its bloody jaws, aiming to crush Morningstar’s skull.

Kill!

Cornered, the look of a helpless prey in Morningstar’s eyes vanished, replaced by the ferocity of a hunter.

While retreating, he swung his right arm. From his palm, a chilling black dagger flashed into existence.

The dagger sliced toward the Shadow Beast’s face. Although it reacted and jerked its head back, its cheek was still slashed, leaving a fresh wound.

Seizing the brief moment, Morningstar glanced at his phone.

[You attacked the Shadow Beast (Lv3), dealing 2 damage. Enemy HP: 90%.]

Clutching his dagger, Morningstar stared at the monster. It still lifted its head arrogantly, a hunter looking down on its prey, as if mocking the tiny blade attempting to threaten it.

But Morningstar’s heart stirred. This monster was already dead!

“Gah gah gah gah!” The beast cackled hoarsely, baring its mouth as it charged once more.

Bang!

As the Shadow Beast opened its maw, dark shadowy spikes burst from its wound, spreading like roots, piercing its massive body in an instant.

[Weapon trait “Shadow Thorn” activated, dealing 10+15 damage. Shadow Beast HP: 0%. Dead.]

[You killed Shadow Beast Lv3. Gained 9 experience. Blade Resonance triggered: bonus 2 experience. Total gained: 11 experience.]

[Level up to Lv2. Gained 3 free attribute points. Current experience: 1/30. Next level: 29 experience required.]

Morningstar held his breath, eyes fixed on the monster.

The dead Shadow Beast burst like an overfilled water balloon, its body losing all solidity and dissolving into a black liquid that seeped into the ground.

Its corpse melted in the rain, flowing down the street gutters, as though this horrifying fiend had never existed at all.

One move—done. It shouldn’t come back to life…

This is the power of this weapon…

Standing frozen, Morningstar stared at the ground.

What on earth…

…

With the Shadow Beast dead, the relentless pattering ceased, and the world fell into a profound silence. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly.

The rain had stopped—

The black rain vanished like steam, and the streetlamp’s glow shone once more on Morningstar, bringing a comforting warmth.

Cautiously, Morningstar picked up his phone:

[Star of Dawn reminder: You (the user) have escaped the catastrophe—Black Rain.]

Safe, at least for now…

As the crisis passed, a tidal wave of thoughts crashed through Morningstar’s mind.

He stared wide-eyed at the dagger in his right hand—a blade brought from another world.

The hilt was fused to the bones of his palm, plainly visible. The blade bore fine marks from years of use.

The sharp pain, the cold metal, the thunderous beating of his heart—everything felt all too real.

So real, it was almost impossible to accept…

Touching his head, Morningstar recalled all the strange scenarios he’d read about in novels and seen in films. He’d often fantasized about being transported to such a world, about what it would feel like.

But when something so terrifying and dreamlike truly happened, he found himself at a loss for words, unable to accept it as easily as those movie heroes.

Fear? Confusion? Relief? Excitement?

He exhaled a long breath.

The world view he’d built over ten years collapsed, and even the mountain of fatigue in his body vanished in an instant.

Learning the newest skills, seeking a better-paying job; saving each month to grow his nest egg; working out to stave off illness; marrying someone who wouldn’t tire of him; repaying those who cared for him like family at the orphanage…

Just moments ago, these were the goals Morningstar had been striving toward.

But now, none of it seemed important—not for the moment, at least.

Everything that had just happened swept through his worldview like the wind scattering a sandcastle.

Now, his mind was filled with questions about this new text-based game, and a burning hunger for the unknown power it offered.

Just from waiting for the rain to pass, he’d obtained a unique dagger beyond price.

The black rain had hurled his thoughts and soul into a strange, fantastic world.

And it all began with a text game, and the treasure he’d gained through a hidden talent.

If only he had more time—what then?

This disaster text game had become vital to him.

Calm down, calm down, learn to accept—

Morningstar closed his eyes, breathing deeply and steadily.

From this moment on, whatever the outcome, the dull hues of his past life had been irrevocably altered, and he was stepping onto a brand new path.

He opened his eyes again, looking at this familiar yet strange world. His hands trembled as he glanced down at his phone once more.

Though he was momentarily safe in reality, the crisis in the game was far from over.

At the top of the game interface, the third blessing trial of the King of Wandering Worlds was still ongoing…

[You must survive for fifteen minutes. Time remaining: ten minutes.]

A glaring red message appeared.

[In the underground cell, your deranged boss, Ford, noticed the noise coming from below.]

[At the only entrance, you now see his malice—he stands there with a blood-red axe, eyes fixed on you.]