DEATH IS NOT THE END

An endless void extended in all directions, consuming all light, all sound, all existence.

Kaito Ren felt weightless, suspended in nothingness. A chilling whisper brushed past his ears—though there was no wind, no presence. Just a voice.

"This is the place where all things end."

Then, pain. A deep, wrenching agony, like invisible claws tearing at his very being. It wasn't just physical—it was something deeper, something intangible.

It was his soul.

A bright crimson message flashed before his fading vision.

[You have died.]

 [Game Over.]

No. This wasn't supposed to happen.

Eclipse Online was brutal, unforgiving. It was designed with a one-life system—permadeath. The moment a player's HP hit zero, their character was erased, their data wiped from existence. There were no revivals, no second chances.

Kaito knew the risks when he logged in. He had prepared for it, studied the mechanics, analyzed the fastest leveling routes. He wasn't supposed to die this early.

And yet, here he was.

His last memory was still fresh in his mind—the chilling growls of the Dire Fangwolves, the sharp sting of claws raking across his chest, his HP dropping fast to zero. He should be gone.

But then… why?

Why was his consciousness still here?

The void around him shifted.

From the darkness, a new system message appeared.

[ERROR: SYSTEM OVERRIDE.]

 [Processing…]

 [Player Death Detected.]

Kaito's body convulsed as another wave of pain surged through him. It was unlike anything he had ever felt before—not just physical pain, but something deeper, something essential being torn from him.

Another message appeared.

[You have lost a fragment of your soul.]

The moment he read those words, he felt it—a piece of himself was missing. It was like a void had opened inside him, an empty abyss where something vital had once been.

His heartbeat slowed. The whispers grew louder.

"How much will you lose before the end?"

Kaito gasped for air as light rushed back into his vision. The suffocating void shattered, replaced by a new sight called Noctis Hollow.

He was back.

The eerie blue glow of the mushrooms bathed the dark forest in ghostly light. The same mist curled around the twisted trees.

The same Dire Fangwolves stood before him, their crimson eyes locked onto his form.

But something was different.

Kaito's breathing was ragged, his body cold. His heart pounded against his ribs, his muscles tensed, yet… he felt wrong.

Like he wasn't fully there.

A final system notification appeared in front of him.

[You have revived. But at what cost?]

Only minutes ago, Kaito had been filled with confidence.

He had logged into Eclipse Online with a clear strategy—level up fast, get ahead of the competition, and dominate the rankings.

His plan was simple: take risks, fight strong monsters, and grow faster than anyone else.

Most players started in safe zones, grinding easy mobs. Not him.

He had chosen Noctis Hollow, a perilous area filled with shadow-type creatures. High risk, high reward.

And it had worked—at first.

He had fought well, dodging attacks, slashing through enemies with precise strikes. His reflexes were sharp, his instincts honed. Even when a Level 5 Dire Fangwolf appeared, he didn't panic.

He had dodged. He had countered. He had worn it down.

Then the second wolf came.

By the time he realized he wasn't alone, it was too late. Fangs sank into his flesh, claws tore across his chest, and before he could react—his HP hit zero.

But now…

Now, he was standing again, facing the same creatures, in the same position.

As if time had rewound.

Yet, it wasn't the same.

His hands trembled. His grip on his weapon felt weaker. His body, his very presence in the world—felt lighter, faded, as if part of him wasn't truly here anymore.

That's when he saw it.

[Status Window]

He pulled it up with a thought, and his blood turned to ice.

[Name: Kaito Ren]

 [Class: Unassigned]

 [Level: 1]

 [Health: 100%]

 [Mana: 50%]

 [Skills: None]

But at the bottom of the screen, a new line of text had appeared.

[Soul Integrity: 97%]

"What the hell…?" Kaito whispered.

That wasn't there before.

Before he could process it, the wolves moved.

A blur of black fur, crimson eyes, and gleaming fangs.

The first wolf lunged.

Instinct kicked in. Kaito dodged, rolling to the side just as the claws swiped through the air. Dust and leaves scattered as the creature landed where he had stood a second ago.

He barely had a moment to recover before the second wolf attacked.

Kaito twisted his body, but—Pain. A sharp, searing pain tore through his arm. Blood splattered against the ground.

-30 HP

He clenched his teeth, gripping his sword tighter. The pain was real, far more vivid than any game should allow. His vision blurred for a moment before he steadied himself.

He had no choice. He had to fight.

With a quick step, he dashed forward, slashing at the first wolf's leg. The blade cut deep into the wolf.

-12 HP

The beast snarled but didn't retreat. It attacked faster than before, as if it recognized him.

Kaito barely had time to raise his sword before another system message flashed in his vision.

[WARNING: Your Soul Integrity has dropped.]

A sudden wave of dizziness struck him. His body lagged, just for a fraction of a second—but it was enough.

The wolf's claw slashed across his chest.

-40 HP

Kaito stumbled, gasping for breath. He had never felt delayed movement like this before. It was as if his body wasn't responding as fast as his mind.

His gaze flicked to his Soul Integrity stat.

[Soul Integrity: 94%]

It was dropping.

With every attack, every moment, his very existence was fading.

He gritted his teeth.

"If I keep dying… how much of me will be left?"

The wolves circled around him, their hunger evident. He had lost the advantage, and he knew it. He could feel it.

Something was wrong with him. Something that couldn't be fixed.

And for the first time since entering Eclipse Online—Kaito felt fear.