Leveling Through Betrayal
Dying a tragic death after being betrayed and used as a mere tool, the young man swore that he would never live for anyone else again if he were ever given a second chance.
Yet, fate threw his soul into the body of Aldric—an illegitimate son of a king, who had been slaughtered at the bottom of the Forbidden Forest's ravine by his very own biological father.
On the brink of death for the umpteenth time, a mechanical voice suddenly echoed inside his head: [Egoist System Activated].
This mysterious system did not require a holy hero. Instead, his power points surged drastically every time he made a selfish and ruthless decision. Forged by the darkness of the cursed forest, he began to crawl his way back up with a black sword in hand, preparing to tear down the royal throne built upon demonic sacrificial rituals.
He did not return to become a savior for this rotten world. He came to seize the highest throne, and to become a monster far more terrifying than the rulers before him.
"For the deepest wounds never give birth to a hero."
Read
Chapter: CHAPTER 11 — First ManaAlex still stood frozen at the edge of the Holy River. His heart pounded rapidly as a transparent blue holographic screen slowly unfolded before him, emitting a radiant glow that contrasted against the thin mist surrounding the area.Ding.[Host Status Updated]Name : Alex / Aldric StormbladeRace : HumanLevel : 10EXP : 2,450 / 5,000HP : 370 / 370Mana : 125 / 125Status Points : 20Skill Points : 2Titles :Survivor of the Forbidden ForestContractor of the Shadow DragonStrength : 32Agility : 29Vitality : 37Intelligence : 31Skills :Egoist SystemInventoryShadow Nest Lv.1Pain Resistance Lv.1Mana Sense Lv.1Contract :Nero (Shadow Dragon)Status :Absorbing the Essence of the Holy RiverMana Pathways RestoredAlex froze in place."Level ten...?"He rubbed his eyes repeatedly, making sure he was not hallucinating in the middle of this forbidden forest. Yet when he opened them again, the numbers remained unchanged.The change was not merely a set of numbers displayed on a scr
Last Updated: 2026-06-03
Chapter: CHAPTER 10 — The River That ChoosesAlex remained frozen at the edge of the river.The water was crystal clear, allowing his eyes to see straight through to the glistening stones at the bottom. A soft blue light radiated from deep within the water, spreading a magical glow that enveloped the entire area in serene tranquility. For the first time since being thrown into this cruel and foreign world, Alex felt a real sense of peace.He noticed something strange — the wounds that hadn't healed and were still bleeding slowly began to improve after he entered the sacred area. The pain gradually faded, replaced by a soothing warmth.“What kind of place is this…?” Alex muttered softly, his voice nearly swallowed by the silence.Ding.The familiar cold sound of the System suddenly rang in his mind.[Emergency Mission Completed.] [Host has successfully survived the threat of an Elite Monster.] [Reward Obtained.] [+500 EXP] [New Skill: Pain Resistance Lv.1]Alex froze for a moment. “Pain Resistance?”A confirmation window
Last Updated: 2026-06-01
Chapter: CHAPTER 9 — Guardian of the RuinsAlex froze where he stood. At the end of the pitch-black corridor, a pair of pure golden eyes pinned him in place from within absolute darkness.Alex’s fingers turned white as he gripped the hilt of his black sword, its blade still wet with the blood of monsters. His heart pounded wildly against a body that was beginning to rebel. A small voice of logic in the corner of his mind whispered the truth: if the creature before him decided to attack, the sword in his hand would be nothing more than useless scrap metal.Alex’s breathing came in ragged gasps, each one scraping through his throat, which felt as dry as a desert. Every inch of his body felt as heavy as lead. Beneath his torn robe, a burning heat pulsed constantly—fresh blood still dripped slowly from the gaping wound on his back. He was too exhausted to think about escape routes, and too weak to squeeze out any more strength to fight.For the first time since being thrown into this alien world, a cold sense of resignation crept
Last Updated: 2026-05-31
Chapter: CHAPTER 8 — Hunted by the Elite MonstersAlex froze in his tracks. His body was still aching from the previous fight, but that pain was nothing compared to the fear currently freezing his chest.Six red eyes glowed from behind the darkness of the forest. Not only that. Low growls, heavy footsteps, and the sound of breaking branches echoed from all directions, as if the forest itself were alive and hungry.Ding.[Warning.][High-Level Threat Detected.][Warning.]Alex swallowed hard with great difficulty. "System..." his voice was parched. "Are they really targeting the dragon core?"Ding.[Confirmation.]"Why?"[Answer: The dragon core is the highest source of energy belonging to a dragon.][Monsters that succeed in absorbing a dragon core have a chance to evolve.][The chance of rank promotion increases.][The chance of bloodline mutation increases.][The chance of extending lifespan increases.]Alex's face instantly turned grim. "Damn it...""So it isn't Nero. It's not the dragon's blood. They are targeting me." Or more pr
Last Updated: 2026-05-29
Chapter: CHAPTER 7 — The Prey That Turned Into a HunterAlex still stood frozen inside the cave. Wild growl after wild growl echoed from outside, drawing closer, growing more thunderous. His heart beat rapidly, as though it were about to leap out of his chest."Just a few minutes ago I managed to survive, obtained Nero, and bound my first contract. Now, it is as if the entire Forbidden Forest is moving to tear everything away from me."Ding![Primary scent source detected.][Shadow Dragon Blood.][Warning. Surrounding monsters are approaching.]Alex turned to the adult dragon's body lying still, grand and terrifying all at once."System," he called out, his voice tense. "Can this dragon's corpse be hidden?"Ding![Confirmation.][Target can be stored inside the Inventory.]Alex's eyes widened. "Even something that big?"[Confirmation.]Without wasting time, he extended his hand. Instantly, the giant dragon's body vanished into thin air.Ding![High-Value Asset Successfully Secured.][Egoist Action Detected.][EXP +20]Alex frowned. "Why do
Last Updated: 2026-05-29
Chapter: CHAPTER 6 — The First ContractThe shadow dragon lay weakly upon the cold cave floor. Its breath grew increasingly short, leaving disconnected puffs of thin vapor. Thick black blood still continued to flow, seeping from the massive, gaping wounds all over its massive body.Alex remained standing still in his place. His right hand gripped the hilt of the black sword tightly, while his eyes moved to observe the small dragon hatchling that was still continuously pushing its mother's body with its tiny head. The small creature let out a hoarse screech, as though refusing to accept the reality that its sole protector was on the brink of death.However, there was no change. Instead, the adult dragon's body grew increasingly rigid and barely moved anymore.Suddenly, the pair of large red eyes that had originally dimmed reopened slowly. The dragon turned its head slightly, locking its gaze directly onto Alex's own eyes.For a few seconds, the silence inside the cave felt incredibly oppressive. There was no sound, only the
Last Updated: 2026-05-29
