Henry_inketh

For centuries, sixteen castles have acted as seals to otherworldly monster dimensions, preventing their horrors from spilling into reality. When these monsters escape, they manifest as natural disasters—earthquakes, plagues, massacres, and worse. To keep them at bay, elite warriors and raiders with supernatural abilities fight back each time a portal opens.

Fifteen castles have accepted the help of governments and organizations, except one—the Kanagawa Castle. The secretive Kanagawa family has always fought "their monsters" alone. But when they unexpectedly call for help, the world listens.

Among those chosen to document the event is Kaede, a nobody—an awkward, cowardly school journalist assigned to follow the powerful Sun Jia, a top-tier raider and his long-time crush. But when they enter Kanagawa’s portal, everything goes wrong.

Two doors open instead of one—an anomaly. Sun Jia and the team enter what appears to be the safer path. But inside, they face a nightmare beyond comprehension—the domain of Shiniyuku Shinigami, the Dying Death God.

Reality collapses. The raiders don’t just die—they feel their deaths transcending time, erased from existence before they can even react. Kaede, the weakest among them, experiences his own death differently—shorter, but far more agonizing. Shiniyuku, intrigued by his insignificance, spares him, mocking his cowardice.

Kaede wakes up two years later, the only survivor of the disaster. The world has changed—door hunting is now a global industry, and the Kanagawa family has become more powerful than ever. But something inside him has changed too. A power is growing, something unnatural.

Determined to uncover the truth behind Kanagawa, Akihiko’s true intentions, and the identity of the enigmatic Knight X, Kaede embarks on a journey—not as a hero, but as a man seeking redemption. But as he grows stronger, a terrifying truth emerges...

Kaede is no longer just a survivor.

He is becoming something else entirely.

Something that should never exist in reality.

A Thousand Death System - The Death Paradigm

In the shadowed stillness of a narrow alley, the soft clink of a metal cup echoed as a blind beggar tapped it gently, his weathered fingers brushing against cold coins. Though his clouded eyes could not see, his senses prickled—something had shifted in the air.

Fwshhh! A ripple of light tore through the space beside him, distorting reality for a split second before a glowing portal expanded outward with a low hum.

Kaede stumbled out, his clothes torn, boots scuffed, and thin trails of blood tracing cuts along his arms. His breathing was steady, but his body bore the marks of survival. The moonlight hit his frame, revealing the newfound muscle—his physique leaner, harder, refined by battle. Dirt and dried blood streaked his jawline, but his eyes gleamed with raw determination.

The beggar, though blind, flinched as Kaede's heavy boots struck the pavement. But sensing no threat, he settled back.

Kaede exhaled sharply, noticing the beggar's unseeing eyes. "Good. He didn't see the portal," Kaede mused, glancing back as the swirling gateway fizzled out behind him, leaving no trace. "But I need to figure out a way to control these exits better. Can't risk being spotted next time."

A cascade of glowing screens flickered into existence before him, illuminating the alley's cracked walls with a soft, greenish hue.

Another window popped up—sleek, red-lettered, edged with a metallic sheen.

Death #1: Allergy Insect - Improved Body Health [UNLOCKED]

Death #2: lethal Projectile - magic barrier [UNLOCKED]

Death #3: Venom Inhalation - Venom Resistance [UNLOCKED]

Death #4: Suffocation (Toxic Fog) - Improved lungs Capacity [UNLOCKED]

Death #5: Crushed Skull (Hard Impact) - Increased bone density [UNLOCKED]

Death #6: Blood Loss (Clawed Beasts) - Regenerative Healing [UNLOCKED]

Kaede smirked, wiping blood off his jaw with the back of his hand. "six down... nine hundred ninety-four to go." He scrolled through the logs, eyeing the new skills and stat boosts each death had granted him.

His fingers flicked upward, revealing a detailed stat chart. His speed had quadrupled—he was now four times faster than the world's fastest man. His stamina and health had seen moderate improvements, though he noted the gaps. There was still work to do.

Yet there was an undeniable rush in his veins, a high that dulled hunger, fatigue, even fear. He flexed his fingers, feeling the raw energy pulsing within. The idea of sleep barely crossed his mind. "But maybe I should clean up before the next one…"

As he turned to leave, the beggar muttered, "The night's thick with strange winds... death lingers close."

Kaede paused, a flicker of unease sparking before he shrugged it off. "You have no idea, old man."

With that, he vanished into the maze of streets, his boots echoing against the cold concrete as another digital screen blinked out of sight.

EPISODE FOUR - 2