THE ALMIGHTY WAR GOD

In The Brink of Death

An iron arrow struck Magnus's right thigh, sending him tumbling to the ground. Before he could even push himself up, another arrow buried itself in his back.

‘Shit! Am I going to die like this?’ he cursed internally. He could feel fresh blood soaking into his t-shirt.

Magnus was deep inside a dense forest on the outskirts of Merseyvale, a small city south of Neanderland. Six evil guys, including his cousin Julius, were hunting him down on horseback.

This whole mess started six days ago with Magnus's reckless decision. At the palace-like residence of the Barbosa family, his late father’s side, Magnus had demanded that Vincent—the head of the Barbosa family and his late paternal grandfather—pay for his mother’s surgery, which cost two million dollars.

Magnus believed his mother had become frail, constantly vomiting blood, because the Barbosa family had treated her so horribly. After his father died, his mother had worked in the Barbosa residence’s main home as a housekeeper to cover their monthly expenses.

Naturally, his demand was flat-out rejected. Even though Barbosa blood flowed through his veins, Vincent and the other family members never acknowledged him as one of them.

To them, Magnus was just a bastard child born to a poor immigrant woman. His own father was even kicked out of the Barbosa residence the day he decided to marry the immigrant woman he had gotten pregnant.

For the Barbosa family, a third-tier family in Merseyvale, Magnus's late father’s decision was an absolute disgrace. They didn’t even send a single representative to his funeral.

That night, Magnus stood his ground. His mother needed surgery immediately, or her life would be in danger. That’s what the hospital told him. So, swallowing his pride, Magnus finally backed down. He offered to do anything as long as the Barbosa family would pay for his mother’s operation.

His offer was met with laughter and mockery. Then, Julius proposed an alternative to Marco, who then relayed it to Vincent, who approved it:

Magnus had to take his mother's place as a housekeeper in the Barbosa residence’s main home, and he had to obey every single order from the family without question or protest.

Of course, he wouldn’t be paid a dime because, in the Barbosa familys' eyes, the two million dollars was a debt.

Magnus smelled a rat. He knew Julius held a grudge against him because the popular girl Julius was chasing at college was getting obsessed with Magnus. But his mother’s surgery was the priority. So, he accepted the offer.

The next day, Magnus began his housekeeping duties at the Barbosa residence’s main home. He was bombarded with insults, slurs, and physical abuse—shoved, kicked, and spat on. Magnus realized how awful his mother's days had been before she fell ill. His hatred for the Barbosa family intensified—it turned into vengeance.

On the sixth day—that very morning—Julius told him that after lunch, he had to come to the forest with him for a specific task. Julius’s sneaky grin made Magnus suspect something rotten, but according to their agreement, he didn't protest or ask any questions. He drove out to the forest in Julius's black SUV, accompanied by three of Julius’s friends.

When they arrived, Magnus's suspicion hardened into certainty: five horses were ready—two other friends of Julius were holding the reins. Julius then pulled out iron arrows from the car’s trunk, took one for himself, and handed the rest to his friends. Then, with that sneering grin, Julius explained what Magnus had to do.

In short, Magnus would be allowed to enter the forest first, and the five of them would hunt him. If Magnus could survive until sunset, his debt to the Barbosa family would be cleared—meaning he wouldn't have to work as a servant anymore. But if he failed, his debt would multiply tenfold.

The offer was insane. But what could Magnus do except accept it? So, he entered the forest, running and running, pushing past tree after tree. After nearly an hour, Julius and his friends finally found him.

Magnus heard the pounding of hooves getting closer. With his left hand, he wiped the wet dirt from his face. The pain in his back and thigh started screaming.

‘Shit! I can’t run anymore,’ he growled to himself, noticing the arrow that pierced his thigh had gone all the way through to the front.

Magnus knew he had to get out, fast. He forced himself to stand, only to immediately stumble and fall again.

“There he is! Bullseye, Julius!” one of Julius’s friends yelled.

Magnus turned his head. He could see Julius’s wide grin and his five friends closing in as their horses approached.

In less than ten seconds, the six horses had formed a circle around him. Julius raised his iron arrow, aiming it at Magnus.

“Any last words, loser?” he asked, a cold smile playing on his lips.

Magnus took a deep breath, preparing to shift his body the moment the arrow was fired. He wouldn't die by Julius’s hand, especially not like this.

But suddenly, Julius lowered his arrow. His grin returned, wide and nasty.

“You failed,” Julius said. “As agreed, your debt to the Barbosa family is now ten times higher—twenty million dollars. And since you’re going to die here, your younger siblings will have to pay it. Let’s see what they can do—especially your hot little sister. Of course, debt always comes with interest. And that interest will go up over time. I won't let them live in peace until they pay off your debt to us.”

Magnus snarled. He had two younger siblings—a sister (a freshman in college) and a brother (a junior high school student). Julius shouldn't drag them into this shitty debt.

“Your fight is with me, Julius. Don’t involve them!” Magnus protested. “I know you have a grudge on me. Why don't we settle it here? You and me, one-on-one.”

There was a moment of silence, then Julius and his friends burst out laughing.

“He must be crazy, Julius. He’s challenging you to a fight, in this pathetic condition.”

“I guess he’s desperate. He doesn't know what else to do, so he throws out this stupid challenge.”

“What do you say, Julius? You taking him up on it?”

“Just beat his ass, Julius! You’ll win easily.”

“Yeah, there’s not much he can do right now.”

Julius’s friends chattered on. Julius gave Magnus a condescending smirk.

“Alright. Let’s fight one-on-one,” Julius finally agreed, dismounting his horse.

Still holding the iron arrow, Julius stepped forward a few paces. He and Magnus were now in the center of the ring formed by the horses.

Slowly, fighting the agony, Magnus forced himself to stand. With all his strength, he snapped the arrow stuck in his thigh, then pulled the one out of his back. More blood seeped into his shirt.

“Ready, tough guy?” Julius scoffed, dropping his arrow.

Magnus took a deep breath, letting it out through his mouth. “Come!” he shouted.

Julius grinned. He attacked Magnus, delivering punch after punch. Under normal circumstances, Magnus could easily block these blows. But now, his movement was limited. Not only that, Julius relentlessly kicked his right thigh, then his back, without mercy.

Magnus fell to his knees, groaning in pain. Julius attacked again, showing no mercy. At one point, he picked up his iron arrow and smashed it against Magnus’s head.

Thwack!

Magnus collapsed face-down. Blood streamed from his temple. His head throbbed, and his vision blurred.

“This is what happens when a poor immigrant’s kid like you challenges me,” Julius sneered. “Now, feel this!”

Shnk! Shnk! Shnk!

“Agh!”

Julius drove three of his arrows into him. Two hit his back, and one lodged in his left thigh.

Now, he wouldn't just be unable to run. Even walking would be incredibly difficult.

“I could finish you right now. But I have a better idea,” Julius said. “I’m going to let the wild dogs in this forest tear you apart. But before that…”

Magnus heard Julius’s footsteps. Then, the smell of piss hit Magnus’s nose as a liquid soaked his head.

Julius was pissing on him!

“A loser like you deserves this,” Julius chuckled. His friends roared with laughter.

Magnus shook his head, trying to avoid Julius’s urine, but it was useless. He was losing too much blood, too weak to even sit up or move his body.

‘Damn it. If only I had a lot of money, if only I was immensely powerful, something this pathetic wouldn’t be happening!’ he screamed inside.

At that moment, suddenly, Magnus seemed to hear a voice from deep within himself:

[Condition met. System activated.]

Along with the voice, a deafening thunderclap boomed.

“Looks like it’s going to rain. We should get going, Julius.”

“Agreed. Besides, the wild dogs won't show up if we're still here.”

Two of Julius’s friends urged. Julius immediately stopped pissing, tucked his penis back into his underwear, and remounted his horse.

“Enjoy waiting for your death, loser,” Julius scoffed.

Magnus stayed still. He felt something strange happening to his body. Something inexplicable.

And he heard the voice from within himself again:

[System is now active. In a few minutes, a portal will open, and Player will be transferred to the Pure World.]

[There, Player will automatically be healed and granted the mastery of basic magic.] 

[Player’s main mission is to become the strongest and most powerful being in the Pure World.]

...