Chapter 1 – The Hero Died
The current emperor has gone mad!
By the time rumors spread beyond the palace walls, it was already too late to turn back.
The emperor had gone beyond tyranny into madness, and the citizens of the empire had become a cult that worshipped him.
A wind of blood and slaughter swept across the continent.
Countless kingdoms burned. Surrender was not an option.
One year.
That’s all it took for every kingdom and city on the continent to be wiped off the map.
But in dark times, heroes are born—and the brightest hope always shines in the deepest night.
A man raised his sword against the emperor.
People laughed.
But when imperial fortresses began to fall one by one and the imperial legions crumbled, no one laughed anymore.
They called him the Hero and praised him.
As his victories piled up, hidden heroes who had evaded the emperor’s grasp began to reveal themselves.
A woman known as the Saint stood beside the Hero.
Under her miracles, the emperor’s whirlwind of slaughter came to a halt.
A man known as the Archmage joined the Hero’s party.
His spells forced the advancing imperial army into retreat.
A Blacksmith, renowned across the land, forged weapons for the Hero and his comrades.
His arms shattered imperial armor and shields like paper.
A Spirit Caller sought out the Hero.
Though her spirits embraced all things, they rejected the emperor and his empire.
Blades glinted under the rising sun as the cry for counterattack thundered.
A coalition formed around the Hero and these legendary figures.
They rallied the strength of the entire continent and declared war on the empire.
And then—
…They all died.
The Saint’s miracles were mere tricks before the emperor’s supernatural powers.
The Archmage’s spells turned to ash before the emperor’s magic.
The Blacksmith’s weapons became toys before the emperor’s relics.
The Spirit Caller’s spirits were crushed beneath the emperor’s might.
The allied army was trampled and annihilated by the imperial forces.
The emperor claimed victory.
We lost.
Except for one man.
The Hero did not die.
The man staggering, leaning on my shoulder—
Ian, Supreme Commander of the Allied Army.
Ian still lived.
The army was defeated. The heroes were gone. But Ian survived.
No—we made sure he survived.
The entire allied army, every hero—they all gave their lives so Ian alone would live.
Now, it’s my turn to keep him alive.
“Stop, Adrian. It’s pointless.”
Ian’s voice reached me.
I ignored it.
Even now, imperial troops are in pursuit.
We have to keep moving.
“You know it too. There’s no hope anymore.”
His voice came again—empty of strength, devoid of energy.
There wasn’t much I could say to that.
“Don’t talk like that.”
Ian is the hope of our fallen alliance.
No matter what it takes, I must keep him alive.
As long as Ian lives, the alliance can rise again.
“Please, Adrian.”
His deadened eyes looked up at me.
That look at the end of the line… I couldn’t ignore it.
Maybe because Ian was not only the Hero of the continent and the hope of the army—
He was also my closest friend.
“I don’t want anyone else to die because of me.”
Maybe it was his final wish.
I wanted to honor it.
But I have a duty—to save Ian.
Even if it costs my life.
This is my final mission.
Ian is… just tired right now.
“Let’s rest a bit.”
At last, I stopped walking.
I helped Ian sit against a tree. His eyes were full of regret.
The final battle. Total defeat.
It would be strange if he didn’t regret something.
“Adrian. You know what I regret most now?”
“When you confessed to the Saint and got rejected.”
“No.”
“You mean there’s something worse than that?”
“Yeah.”
“What?”
“That I had to kill your sister.”
…My sister?
Ah, that’s right. He did kill her.
“You had no choice.”
My sister had become a corrupted witch.
Commonly known as—
The Monarch of Frost.
Recognized by the emperor as a true “Monarch,” she became the core of the imperial military, slaughtering countless of our allies.
Killing her was inevitable.
I never blamed Ian for it.
And she wasn’t really my sister.
She was adopted into our family in my place, since I’d brought shame to the house. We shared no blood. There wasn’t much of a bond between us.
In fact, it was originally my mission to kill her.
A loyalty test, you could say.
She was one of the empire’s deadliest assets—it was only natural the alliance would test me.
I accepted the order without hesitation.
But Ian—he stopped me.
He said, “She’s your family,” and took my place.
Family.
That word’s always been hard for me.
“So, what was she like?”
“Your sister… was incredible.”
“Crazy bastard. No wonder the Saint dumped you.”
“She really was incredible!”
Ian laughed.
It sounded like a crude joke, but I knew he didn’t mean it that way.
His left arm—gone.
It was my sister who took it.
That loss weakened our forces.
Maybe it’s the reason we lost the final battle.
Because the only man who could face the emperor had been crippled.
“Do you think… there was another way? That I didn’t have to kill her? That’s what I regret most.”
“Let the Monarch of Frost live? Wait—did you have a crush on my sister?”
“She was the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen. Prettier than the Saint.”
“You call yourself a Hero and say that about a witch? No wonder she rejected you.”
Ian laughed again.
But his eyes stayed filled with sorrow.
He regretted killing her.
And that made me regret it too.
It should’ve been me.
I should’ve been the one to kill my sister.
Could I have done it? I don’t know.
I probably would’ve died.
But at least Ian might’ve kept his arm.
Maybe things would’ve turned out differently.
Maybe we wouldn’t have lost so badly.
“Adrian, it’s not your fault.”
“I know. You lost to my sister because you were weak.”
“Hey! I lost an arm, but I won.”
We shared a dry chuckle.
“Adrian.”
“What.”
“One last favor. Will you hear me out?”
“Only if you don’t say ‘last.’”
“…”
Ian didn’t promise that.
“So what is it?”
“Swear you’ll do it, and I’ll tell you.”
“Then don’t tell me.”
“…”
“…Fine. I promise. What is it?”
“Eat me.”
…What?
His words left me stunned.
“Use your Predation skill. Absorb me.”
Predation.
My ability to consume the hearts of living beings and gain their powers.
Beasts, monsters, insects, worms—even people.
If it had a heart, I could absorb it.
A limitless power. Overpowered, some would say.
But even with it, I could never surpass Ian.
Even now, I couldn’t catch up to him.
Which is exactly why I have to protect him.
Even if it means I die.
“Adrian. The emperor has tried everything to kill me. He’s sacrificed most of his army just to make sure I die. Why do you think that is?”
“Because you’re the only one who can stand against him.”
“No.”
Ian shook his head.
“It’s because I’m the only way to stop him.”
“Same thing.”
“It’s not.”
He looked straight into my eyes.
“I’ve had this question in my heart for a long time. After I met you, it became a doubt. And today, I’m finally certain.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Please, Adrian. Eat my heart.”
His eyes were wild. Not in their right mind.
Maybe war had worn him down.
Even heroes are human.
No one can be strong forever.
“No.”
I couldn’t do it.
It was absurd. It made no sense.
The alliance still needs Ian.
The only reason I’m alive is to give my life for him.
If one of us must live—it has to be Ian, not me.
Ian nodded as if he expected that.
“You promised… you’d grant my last request.”
He raised his remaining right arm and placed it over his chest.
I didn’t have time to stop him.
Squelch!
A splash of blood stained my vision red.
“!!!”
My eyes shot wide open.
Ian had crushed his own chest—shoving his hand inside.
“You—what the hell are you doing!?”
I couldn’t even form words.
Crunch! Crack!
Bone and muscle tore apart.
His blood-soaked hand emerged, holding—
His still-beating heart.
“Please… Adrian…”
He offered it to me, breath fading fast.
“The emperor… the continent… the people…”
He collapsed.
I caught him.
His face pressed weakly against my chest.
“If you ever… go back…”
He whispered into me—
“Don’t… hate your sister… too much…”
And with that, Ian said no more.
“Ian…?”
No response.
Just coldness.
No thoughts.
Too surreal.
Too dreamlike.
I don’t know how long I stayed there.
–There! Over here!
–There are signs they were here!
Voices. Imperial soldiers.
Too late.
I should have run.
But I couldn’t move.
I looked down—
Ian didn’t stir.
His warmth was gone.
Ian… was dead.
“We’ve found the Hero!!”
“Don’t rush! The Predator is here too!!”
The empire had found us.
I didn’t even know what I was doing.
Somehow, in my hand…
Ian’s heart.
It pulsed slower.
His life fading.
“The Predator is trying to consume the Hero’s heart!”
“Stop him! At all costs!!”
Swords came from all sides.
Crunch.
I bit into the heart.
Its tough muscle shredded under my teeth.
Blood filled my mouth.
And then—suddenly—
◆ New Player Detected.
◆ Error: Unique— There are duplicate unique perks.
◆ Unique perks will be inherited by the new player.
◆ Perk inheritance in progress…….”
Mysterious messages floated before my eyes.
At the same time, the Empire’s swords rained down from all directions and pierced through my heart.
Crash!
I died.
Why am I so sure I’m dead?
It’s obvious.
My heart was pierced by the Empire’s raining swords.
No living being can survive after losing their heart.
Even Ian, the Hero, died the moment he lost his heart.
So, I am dead.
“Urgh-!”
But then… what is this?
