Ethan had barely recovered from the Hero Guild trial, his clothes still tattered and stained with mud, scratches crisscrossing his arms, and hair sticking up in all directions. Somehow, he had become a public hero—a legendary wildcard whose failures were now revered as unpredictable genius.Yet today promised an entirely different challenge.The guildmaster called him into his private office, where sunlight glinted off the rune-etched walls and massive tomes lined the shelves. Kael, of course, followed reluctantly.> “Ethan,” the guildmaster began, voice measured but firm, “your performance in the trial has been… unprecedented. The council has decided you are ready for your first major guild mission: reconnaissance and neutralization of the Blight Marsh incursion. This is a high-risk operation. You will work alongside elite heroes. Success is critical. Failure… could cost lives.”Ethan’s eyes widened. “Elite heroes… like Kael?”> “And others. You will have a team of highly skilled war

Ethan trudged through the Hero Guild’s grand hall, mud, snow, and scratches marking every inch of his body. His team followed silently: Kael’s arms were crossed, the wind mage kept a stoic expression, and the archer rolled her eyes at Ethan’s constant smearing of dirt on the pristine floors.Despite the triumph over the Skyspire Mountains, the atmosphere in the guild was tense. Whispers and murmurs followed Ethan wherever he went.> SYSTEM ALERT: HIGH-POTENTIAL SOCIAL CONFLICT DETECTED.---At the council chambers, several elite heroes—some of whom had been watching Ethan with suspicion for months—gathered. Their expressions ranged from curiosity to outright disdain.> “So,” said a tall, silver-haired knight named Darius, voice dripping with sarcasm, “the so-called Wildcard Hero… returned from the Skyspire Mountains unscathed? Alone?”Ethan scratched his head. “Uh… yeah… kinda? I mean, I fell a lot… and tripped… and somehow helped?”> FAILURE DETECTED. EXPERIENCE GAINED. ABILITY UPGRA

The sun had barely risen when Ethan, Kael, and the elite heroes of the guild arrived at the outskirts of the Eastern Plains, a sprawling expanse scarred by the rising shadow forces. Smoke twisted across the horizon, and the distant sound of monstrous roars echoed through the valleys.> SYSTEM ALERT: HIGH-RISK COMBAT DETECTED. FAILURE POTENTIAL EXTREMELY HIGH. CHAOS-BASED POWER ACCRUAL OPTIMAL.Ethan’s heart raced, excitement mingling with nerves. Finally… a proper battlefield. Let’s see how failing spectacularly works against real monsters.Kael, ever serious, adjusted his sword. “Don’t screw this up. The guild is counting on you.”Ethan grinned. “Screw up? That’s my specialty. You’ll see.”---First ContactThe enemy revealed itself: shadow marauders, twisted humanoid forms wreathed in dark magic, moving with unnatural speed and coordination. They had clearly been trained for combat, unlike the beasts Ethan had faced before.The elite heroes formed a defensive line. Kael led the char

The Eastern Wastelands stretched endlessly before Ethan and the guild contingent, a vast expanse of cracked earth, jagged rock formations, and swirling mists of corrupted magic. The sun barely pierced the permanent haze, casting a sickly orange glow over the desolate landscape.> SYSTEM ALERT: EXTREME ENVIRONMENT DETECTED. FAILURE POTENTIAL: MAXIMUM. CHAOS-BASED POWER ACCRUAL: OPTIMAL.Kael surveyed the wasteland with narrowed eyes. “This place… it’s worse than the Ruined Citadel. Nothing survives here. You sure about walking into this… unprepared?”Ethan grinned, adjusting his sword. “Unprepared? Ha! I’ve been unprepared my whole life. I excel at it.”> SYSTEM MESSAGE: FAILURE-TO-POWER RATIO DETECTED. EXPERIENCE POTENTIAL: EPIC.---First Encounter: Corrupted BeastsAlmost immediately, the team encountered corrupted beasts—massive wolf-like creatures with blackened fur, glowing red eyes, and jagged, crystal-like bones protruding from their spines.Kael charged forward, sword flashing

The morning sun barely pierced the gray haze that covered the northern plains. Ethan, Kael, and the Wildcard Legion stood atop a ridge, overlooking a vast landscape of war preparations. Camps, banners, and the faint glow of magical wards stretched across the horizon. This was no ordinary battlefield—it was the convergence of shadow forces, rogue mages, and corrupted soldiers, the largest Ethan had ever seen.> SYSTEM ALERT: EXTREME THREAT DETECTED. FAILURE POTENTIAL MAXIMUM. CHAOS-BASED POWER OPTIMAL.Ethan grinned, adjusting his sword. “Perfect… bigger disaster… bigger power… bigger fun.”Kael muttered, arms crossed. “This is insane. You actually look excited.”Ethan shrugged. “Excited? No. Prepared? Absolutely… by failing spectacularly.”> SYSTEM MESSAGE: CHAOS-BASED STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT INITIATED. EXPERIENCE SURGE EXPECTED.---Surveying the BattlefieldThe northern coalition had deployed three distinct forces:1. Shadow Brigades, heavily armored soldiers twisted by dark magic.2.