Chapter Three: The Forbidden Choice
The corpse of the dog twitched one final time before falling completely still.
Crow stood over it, feeling the power hum through his veins.
But then — something changed.
The world flickered.
The air thickened, heavy like syrup.
Another window — different from the standard system prompts — forced itself into view, golden letters engraved with intricate patterns:
[ SECRET PAY-TO-WIN OPTION DETECTED. ]
[ YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN: ACCESS TO THE ROYAL MARKET GRANTED. ]
[ Warning: Choices made here cannot be undone. ]
Crow's eyes narrowed.
This hadn't happened before.
Not to anyone he had heard about.
This was new.
A second prompt opened beneath it, offering him three blindingly powerful options. But only one caught his eye:
[Divine Beast: Nine-Tails (Feral Sovereign)]
— A mythical fox of endless regeneration and flame.
[Divine Beast: Queen Bee (Broodmother of Elixirs)]
— Breeds minions, crafts natural potions.
[SSS-Rank Skill: Eye of Insight]
— See through all lies, illusions, and weaknesses.
[SSS-Rank Skill: Bloodline Reversion]
— Awaken the primal bloodlines hidden within yourself and others.
Crow didn't even hesitate.
He slammed his hand onto the Accept button.
The world shattered again — like a mirror breaking inside his mind. Power screamed through his bones, molten and alive
[ Divine Pet Contracted: Nine-Tails (Divine Rank) ]
[ Divine Pet Contracted: Queen Bee (Divine Rank) ]
[ Skill Gained: Eye of Insight (SSS) ]
[ Skill Gained: Bloodline Reversion (SSS) ]
[ Note: You are now considered a "World Threat" Tier entity. Rewards for defeating you are increased. ]
Crow gasped, gripping the wall to steady himself.
World Threat.
He laughed quietly under his breath.
"Bring it," he whispered.
A sudden pulse of warmth next to him made him turn.
Out of thin air, two creatures materialized — summoned not by spells, but by raw authority.
The first was a fox — no, a force of nature wearing a fox's body — her nine silver-white tails fanning out behind her like a queen's robe.
Nine-Tails.
Eyes burning with ancient fire, she regarded him coolly, then bowed.
The second was a massive, glistening bee-like creature, six wings buzzing softly, her body covered in golden patterns like armor.
Queen Bee.
She floated forward, radiating a healing aura strong enough to make the cracked concrete around her start to heal.
Crow's new pets.
No — his weapons for the world to come.
He opened his status window, heart pounding faster.
Name: Crow
Class: Death Sovereign (Necromancer) [SSS],
Level: 2
Titles: World Threat (Hidden)
Skills: Raise Dead, Death Command, Boneforge, Soul Archive, Eye of Insight (SSS), Bloodline Reversion (SSS)
Pets: Nine-Tails (Divine), Queen Bee (Divine)
Crow closed the menu and looked up at the darkening sky.
The integration was speeding up now.
The monsters were coming.
And soon, the real enemies — other awakened humans — would too.
But they didn't know.
They had no idea what he had become.
He was no longer just Crow.
He was the storm that would devour the world.
END OF CHAPTER THREE