rastq12

Betrayed and sacrificed by a shadowy cult, Alex should have died. Instead, time rewound one week, giving him a second chance.

This time, he has an edge—the power to enhance any item up to a billion times. From a simple heirloom watch to legendary artifacts, his weapons defy logic. But true strength isn’t just about power—it’s about knowing when to reveal it.

Staying in the shadows, Alex plays the world like a chessboard. Between ancient sects, mercenary guilds, and forgotten ruins, danger lurks everywhere. The cult that killed him is still out there. But this time…

He’s the true predator.

The Artifact Monarch

Alex turned the small metallic cube over in his hand, his eyes narrowing.

No other details. No name. No description.

That meant one of two things: either this item was too special for his system to recognize right away… or it required activation.

Alex stored it in his inventory for now. There were more immediate concerns.

The ruined city around him was eerily silent, but he knew better than to assume he was alone.

The survival test was just getting started, and already, people had fallen—whether to monsters, traps, or their own stupidity.

But something told him this test wasn't as simple as it seemed.

A distant explosion shook the ground.

Alex turned his head sharply. Smoke was rising in the distance.

'Something's happening over there.'

Normally, he would avoid unnecessary fights. But curiosity got the better of him.

With silent steps, he made his way toward the commotion.

As he got closer, the scene became clearer.

A massive stone golem stood in the middle of a clearing, swinging its heavy arms at a group of examinees.

It was at least four meters tall, with glowing red runes carved into its body. Every step it took cracked the ground beneath it.

Several people lay on the ground—some unconscious, others… dead.

The remaining survivors were desperately trying to fight back, but their attacks barely scratched the creature.

Alex's sharp eyes caught something.

At the base of the golem's neck was a faintly glowing core.

Every construct-type monster had a weakness. Destroying the core would bring it down instantly.

But the golem wasn't just standing there waiting to be defeated.

A spear-wielding examinee lunged at its leg—only to be swatted away like an insect.

"Damn it! We need to retreat!" someone shouted.

"No! If we can take this thing down, we'll definitely pass!"

They were under the illusion that this was a simple test where effort equaled results.

The academy didn't care about effort.

And right now, these people weren't producing any.

With his speed-enhancing boots, he shot forward like a shadow.

The golem didn't notice him. It was too focused on the bigger group.

He activated his Dagger of Silent Fang.

His blade plunged into the glowing core.

Faint golden lines spread through its stone body like veins.

The entire creature shattered into rubble.

The surviving examinees stood in stunned silence.

Alex dusted himself off and turned to leave.

That was when one of them, a girl with short silver hair, stepped forward.

She had a sharp gaze and a confident posture, unlike the others who were still processing what just happened.

Alex didn't bother answering. He simply smirked, turned around, and disappeared into the ruins.

He had more important things to focus on.

Like figuring out what that mysterious cube really was.

Chapter 11: The True Test Begins