Leveling Through Betrayal

CHAPTER 4 — The First Step of the Egoist

Ding!

[Warning: Target's condition is critical.]

[Target's survival probability: 2.7%]

[Analysis complete. Recommended action for the most efficient course of Host's survival found.]

[Choose yourself.]

Alex did not move. His gaze shifted from the system's holographic screen toward the man sprawled on the ground.

"Please..." The man's voice was almost entirely gone. "I have a daughter... she is still waiting for me to come home..."

Alex squeezed the strap of the bag in his grip. That sentence briefly triggered a tightness in his chest. However, it was only for a fleeting moment.

In the past, he too had lived for others. Helping them, trusting them, even sacrificing everything. And what did he get in return? Betrayal, humiliation, and death.

Alex stared at the man expressionlessly. "You are looking for Aldric, aren't you?"

The man's eyes widened weakly.

Alex exhaled a long breath. "If you don't die..." He paused his sentence, "...then I will."

The man tried to raise his hand, trembling. "No... I won't..."

However, Alex had already turned around. He did not finish the man off, but he did not extend a hand to help him either. He simply chose himself.

"Please..." The wail echoed again from behind. "Don't leave me..."

Alex's steps halted briefly. For a moment. However, he immediately marched forward again, this time without turning back at all. The sound of the groans slowly faded, buried by the silence of the fog and the trees.

Ding!

[Egoist Action successful.]

[EXP +5]

[Additional reward obtained: New Skill 'Fear Resistance Lv.1']

Alex stared at the system screen for a few moments, and then a thin, bitter smile carved at the corner of his lips. "I actually got a reward..."

Ironic. Leaving someone in a dying condition actually granted him an advantage.

However, as his steps took him further away, a sudden reality jolted him. He did not feel guilty. Not as bad as he had imagined. Instead, there was a spreading sense of relief. Relief because he finally prioritized himself, without any further need to care about others.

Alex frowned. "Am I starting to change?"

There was no answer. Only the rushing of the wind blowing between the gaps of the branches.

While continuing to walk with his mind still in chaos, searching for a suitable place for him to rest, Alex began to inspect his looted goods. A small knife, a rough map, dry bread, a water pouch, flint, and a few basic potions. Simple items, but useful enough to survive in the Forbidden Forest.

Alex took the dry bread, which he figured was the first proper food he deserved to eat since being in this forest. Alex bit into the dry bread slowly; it tasted bitter but was enough to satisfy his stomach, and then he drank from the soldier's water pouch. In his mind, this was far better than starving to death.

For the first time since arriving in this world, he felt his decision was not wrong.

The further he walked, the more peculiar the surrounding atmosphere felt. He passed the ruins of an ancient building that was almost completely entangled by the roots of giant trees. There were strange symbols carved into the cracked stone walls, an ancient altar, and scattered human skeletons. Furthermore, several large trees appeared filled with skulls hanging like fruit.

The hairs on the back of Alex's neck stood up. "What is this place?"

Ding!

[Traces of demonic energy detected.]

[This location was used for human sacrificial rituals.]

Alex gasped. "Human sacrifice?"

[Confirmed. Sacrifices offered for wealth, power, longevity, and strength.]

Alex swallowed hard. Humans could actually act that cruelly. In his old world there were indeed many bad people, but this place radiated a different kind of horror. "So, the rumors about the demon-worshipping cult are real..."

[Correction: Past tense. This place has been abandoned for hundreds of years.]

Alex exhaled a sigh of relief. At least he did not have to deal with living demon worshippers.

He walked past the ruins until he found a large cave. The inside was pitch black, but it felt safe enough for a temporary shelter.

As soon as he stepped inside, Alex's body instantly went rigid. Dozens—or perhaps hundreds—of human skulls lay scattered across the cave floor.

"Damn it..." Alex rubbed his cooling nape. This place was truly testing his nerve.

As he explored the deep area of the cave, his eyes caught something unusual. A leather bag of a quality far better than that of a standard soldier. Alex immediately approached and opened it.

Inside the bag were several valuable items, an official royal emblem, and a scroll of documents. Alex took one of the faded letters and read it. At that exact moment, his facial expression changed drastically.

"Kill that trash child."

"Bring his body to me to ensure he is truly dead."

At the bottom of the letter, an official royal seal was stamped.

Alex crumpled the paper slowly. It did not take a genius brain to know who the mastermind behind it was. King Theron Valemire—Aldric's own biological father. That man truly wanted his own flesh and blood dead.

However, before Alex had time to process that fact any further—

Grrrrrr...

A low growl echoed from the deeper darkness of the cave. Alex's body instantly tensed up.

Slowly, he looked up. Two glowing red dots appeared from behind the black shadows, staring at him sharply. Alex's heart beat rapidly. His basic instinct screamed for him to immediately get out of there, but his legs were instead pinned to the spot.

With slow movements, Alex drew his black sword. Cold sweat began to drench his temples.

At the same time, the system's voice chimed again in his head.

Ding!

[Warning: Elite Rank Monster detected.]

[Host's winning probability: 0.8%]

Alex's eyes widened. "...You must be kidding."

The two red eyes slowly multiplied into four.

Alex's body tensed even further.