He stood up and walked out. Thankfully, the door leading outside the mansion wasn't closed.
The air outside was cool, with a gentle wind blowing through the floating mountains. The sky was painted in deep purples and fiery oranges, like a living painting. Strange glowing birds soared across the sky, chirping musical notes that echoed through the cliffs. There were several moons in view.
Zane made his way to the training grounds. The place was massive—smooth stone floors, tall pillars, and racks filled with all kinds of gear. He spotted a few gravity-weight belts hanging neatly on the wall and grabbed them without hesitation.
He wrapped one around his waist… then another around each arm… and one more around his legs. By the time he was done, he felt like a walking black hole.
Everywhere ached.
He gritted his teeth.
"All right," he whispered. "Let's suffer a little."
He climbed down the mountain—slow and steady. Each step was a battle. The extra weight made his knees shake, but he kept going. At the base, he dropped to the ground and started training.
Push-ups.
Squats.
Side jumps.
Burpees.
Lunges.
He forced his body through it all, over and over, until sweat poured from his skin and steam rose from his back like smoke from a dying fire. Every movement felt like dragging a mountain.
And when he was done, he climbed back up again. Then repeated it.
Twice.
Three times.
He didn't care how much it hurt. This world wasn't going to give him a second chance. If he wanted to survive, he had to earn it.
Far above, in a floating palace hidden behind clouds, the Master Daiking Zodiache watched through a hovering mirror, sipping his tea with amusement.
He chuckled and leaned back in his throne.
"Hm, interesting," Daiking said, eyes on the screen. "But a few push-ups aren't going to help in what's coming next…"
His smile widened slightly.
"…Not even close."
Zane dragged his aching body back toward the mansion, sweat still dripping down his face. The sky above was beginning to darken into deep purple shades, scattered with floating lights like stars drifting lazily through the air. Strange wind chimes hung from the cliffs nearby, singing haunting melodies as the breeze passed through.
He had trained until his limbs felt like jelly, climbing up and down the mountain, pushing himself beyond his limit. Now, all he wanted was a bath and a long nap.
As he reached the door to the bathhouse, he hesitated—bracing himself for another round of humiliation. Last time, the door refused to open no matter how hard he tried. But to his surprise, the door creaked open… just a little.
"Finally," he muttered, gripping the edge and squeezing his body through the narrow space like a piece of meat being stuffed into a tube. His bones creaked louder than the door.
The bathroom inside was unreal.
Smooth white marble walls shimmered like pearls, and steam gently curled around the air, carrying the scent of exotic herbs and minerals. Crystal basins poured warm water into a deep pool that glowed faintly from beneath, as if stars had been trapped inside. Strange glowing vines clung to the walls, giving the room a dreamlike glow.
Zane sighed deeply as he sank into the water, feeling the pain melt away from his bones.
"I wonder how much time has passed on Earth…" he mumbled, leaning his head back.
Since one day on Earth equals a hundred days here, and he'd been in this realm for nearly two weeks, only a few hours must've passed back home. The thought felt weird. Back on Earth, people were probably still screaming and running for their lives… and here he was soaking in a magic hot tub.
He stayed in a little longer, then finally pulled himself out and dried off, stepping into the hallway in simple robes.
He looked down the corridor that led to Onilia's room and paused.
"…Should I check on her?"
A part of him was curious, but a louder part of him said no.
Wise decision. He headed straight for his bed instead.
The moment his head hit the pillow, he was out cold. No dreams, no thoughts—just pure exhaustion.
"Hey! Wake up! What are you planning to do, sleep forever?" a familiar voice called out.
Zane groaned and squinted his eyes open. The room was dimly lit, moonlight seeping through the large window behind her.
Onilia stood at the edge of his bed, arms crossed, and a less-than-amused look on her face.
He yawned, stretching like a tired cat. "How long was I out?"
"Two hours and a few minutes," she replied flatly.
Zane stared at her for a second.
'Two hours? Seriously? What the hell is wrong with this world? Why is everyone here allergic to rest? Can't a guy sleep for three hours without getting dragged into something?'
He rubbed his face. "Are we… supposed to be up this early or something?"
"Not really," she said casually, then added, "I woke you because I wanted to talk."
She said it without any emotion, as if it was a perfectly normal thing to do in the dead of night.
Zane took a deep breath.
'Breathe, Zane. She's stronger than you. Just breathe.'
"…And this couldn't wait until morning?" he asked, trying his best to keep the irritation out of his voice.
That's when he noticed it.
She was wearing something sheer. Very sheer. Light fabric clung softly to her blue skin, and under the soft moonlight, it might as well have been made of fog.
Zane blinked.
'Wait… what is this? Is this seduction? Night visit, see-through clothing, vague reason to talk... this is a trap, right?'
He panicked for a moment, unsure of what to do. But then another voice whispered in his head—probably his inner idiot.
'Okay… calm down. This might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She did help me a lot… maybe just this once… just as a thank you.'
Onilia walked closer and sat beside him on the bed. Uninvited.
Zane's heart skipped a beat.
'This is it,' he thought. 'I don't really care about girls and neither am I interested in them… but I guess I could make an exception. Just this once. I mean, she's earned it, right?'
He gently reached out and held her hand.
She didn't pull away.
She just stared at him—expression unreadable, quiet as a stone. Her glowing sapphire eyes watched his every move, calm and unblinking. There was no smile, no warmth. But she also didn't pull away.
And that… gave Zane courage.
'This is it. This is the moment.' He leaned closer, breathing slow, trying to play it cool. But his heart was pounding like a drum in his chest. 'She's not stopping me. Maybe she wants this too. Maybe this is how things work on this weird planet.'
"What are you doing, Zane?"
He leaned in slowly, nervously. Ignoring her question
Closer…
Closer…
And then—he reached out and accidentally grabbed something soft.
And very squishy.
She slowly looked down at where his hand had landed.
Then back at him.
"…Did you just touch… what I think you touched?" she asked in a voice so calm, it was terrifying.
Zane opened his mouth. "I-it was an accident! I swear—!"
Her hand moved faster than light.
There was no pain.
Just a flick to his forehead.
"I swear! I wasn't—!"
A sudden silence filled the room.
[System Notice]
Player Zane Walker has died.
What the hell is happening to me?
Zane groaned internally the moment he revived. Ever since I came to this planet, it's like I've become someone else—doing things I never would've dared back on Earth.
His breath came in shallow bursts. His body still tingled from whatever death technique Onilia had used on him.
When he looked up, there she was—Onilia—standing a few feet away, arms folded, she looked at him with an expression that said:
"Explain."
Zane lowered his head, his face a portrait of shame.
"I have no excuse," he said softly. "I'm sorry."
The words weren't rushed or forced. His voice was low and regretful, like he truly meant it. His shoulders slumped, his eyes didn't dare meet hers. He looked like a guy who knew he'd just tried to flirt with a lightning storm.
To think I actually tried to hook up with the one person I should fear the most... What the hell was I thinking?
Onilia's gaze lingered on him for a moment longer, as if weighing the apology in her mind. Then her expression shifted—from disappointment to something colder, more focused.
"I still don't understand why you act so strange sometimes," she said, her voice no longer angry but serious. She straightened her posture, her nightgown fluttering slightly with the movement. "Anyway, there's something urgent we need to talk about."
Zane blinked, his heart skipping a beat. He gulped.
"What… what do you want to talk about?" he asked cautiously.
Onilia moved toward the crystal window, where the sky stretched into a brilliant canvas of blue and violet, with streaks of clouds that shimmered faintly like threads of silver. She placed her hand on the edge of the glass, staring out at the endless horizon. The light danced against her skin, making her look even more otherworldly.
"There are over eight hundred trainees in this facility," she began. "Among them are five Apex-level candidates. You already met one earlier—Nenis."
Zane's brows furrowed. The name jogged his memory.
"You mean the one who showed up when you were picking a room for me?" he asked, his mind replaying the encounter.
Yes. He remembered now.
She had purple skin that looked like it had been painted by a legendary artist, and four eerie eyes were positioned on her face—each a different color: crimson, silver, jade, and gold. One would expect her to look like a monster with four eyes, but it was quite the contrast. The way they moved—each independent of the other—made her presence deeply unsettling. Her crimson hair had been tied back into a tight tail, and even without speaking, her presence could silence the room.
Onilia nodded. "Yes. That was her."
She turned back to him, her expression growing even more grave. "There are also many renowned rankers among the trainees. Fighters with real experience. Some have survived planetary wars. Others have killed monsters that devoured cities. And you, Zane…"
She stepped closer, narrowing her eyes.
"You're by far the weakest one in this batch."
Zane felt the words hit like a punch to the gut.
She wasn't wrong. Not even close.
Back on Earth, he was just some messed-up rich kid with a broken past and a bunch of trauma. Now, he was the same guy—just dropped in a world where the air itself could crush him if he breathed too hard.
The room around them stood in heavy silence. The walls shimmered slightly with ancient symbols, and a faint hum came from the glowing crystals embedded in the ceiling. It all felt so alien. So powerful. And he—he didn't even feel like he belonged in the same story.