"This game's too hard!" Luthor complained, sitting in front of Vardy's gaming setup, a VR helmet snug on his head as he navigated Rune Quest.
Playing as a warrior barbarian, Luthor struggled with the character's skill set, leading to his demise against a group of level 20 trolls. "Keep at it, you'll get there," Vardy encouraged from his bed.
"Yeah, but your character just obliterates everything," Luthor grumbled.
"That's because I'm a Dark Warlock. My death magic makes short work of them," Vardy explained.
"Seems overpowered. Should've picked your class," Luthor remarked.
"You struggle with a few skills, how would you handle managing fifty units?" Vardy retorted.
Luthor paused the game and turned on his swivel chair to address the others in the room. Tracy sat at the foot of the bed, absorbed in her Eye-Phone. Although she didn't play Rune Quest due to sharing the copy, she excelled in other games.
Reflecting on their year, Luthor expressed disbelief at how quickly time had passed. "And we barely scraped through our first practical," he added.
Vardy acknowledged their achievement, noting the challenges faced by Duds like them in a class system designed to favor Altanas. Despite the odds, they relied on self-teaching and occasional help from a reluctant Techno.
As the last remaining Frame students, they endured bullying from Altana students, particularly Dean's group. Luthor, in particular, often bore the brunt of their attacks.
"In three years, we'll be out of here," Luthor declared optimistically.
Tracy voiced concerns about her mentor's failing health and dwindling business. "Sometimes, he struggles to remember small things," she lamented.
Vardy praised Tracy's prowess with Frames, suggesting she rivaled some Technos in talent. Luthor chimed in with admiration for her intelligence.
"You're always amazing too," Tracy complimented them. "Vardy, your calmness in any situation is remarkable. And Luthor, your resilience is unmatched."
Luthor, however, doubted his suitability as a hero. Vardy reassured him, acknowledging Luthor's heroic heart despite his self-perceived shortcomings.
Just as Luthor was about to dive back into his game, the tranquility was shattered by the abrupt swinging open of the door.
In rushed Dean and his rowdy gang, their drunkenness adding an extra layer of menace to their already intimidating presence. "Oh great, more trouble makers."
Vardy, Luthor, and Tracy instinctively tensed, recognizing the imminent threat posed by these volatile classmates.
The room fell into a tense silence as Dean withdrew his blood-stained arm from Tracy's chest, the sight of her collapsing onto Luthor's motionless form causing a collective gasp of horror among those present.
"What the heck?" Sly exclaimed, his bloodshot eyes widening in shock and disbelief, mirroring the sentiments shared by the rest of the group as they struggled to comprehend the gravity of the situation unfolding before them.
"We gotta finish them off," Dean declared calmly, blood splatters staining his black outfit. A red streak crossed his eyes, accentuating their cold, empty gaze.
Before Vardy could react, Dean's fist pierced through his abdomen, sending him crashing to the ground, guts spilling out.
Vardy realized it was the end as he looked at his bleeding stomach, trying to hold his insides in place.
All his efforts, all his pain, his parents' and friends' deaths—all in vain. Gone in an instant, all for these privileged Altanas to avoid consequences.
The unfairness of it all ignited a surge of emotion within Vardy, despite his numbness. He struggled to speak, his voice strained with hatred.
"You… don't deserve to live," he managed to say, pointing accusingly at Dean and his group. "I'll make you suffer. I'll be your judge."
Though dying, Vardy crawled forward with sheer hatred, chilling everyone but Dean.
"I'll come back from Hell to haunt you," he vowed, glaring at Dean with pure animosity.
As Vardy's life faded, Dean ordered his cronies to dispose of the bodies and erase any evidence, leaving Vardy engulfed in darkness.
Later, Vardy found himself in a void, illuminated by glowing letters.
"…"
"SYSTEM…initiated"
"…"
The letters transformed into golden, ornate characters, reminiscent of a fantasy game.
Welcome to Rune Quest.
"Choose your Class:"
"What is all this?"
Vardy felt like he was in a dream, not completely present, floating in a dark void with only the glowing letters of Rune Quest visible.
It was hard to focus on those letters, as if his mind might slip away at any moment.
Reacting instinctively, Vardy chose his class when he saw the prompt from Rune Quest, just as he had years ago when he started the game.
"Yes," Vardy silently agreed in the darkness.
This class was more than just a choice; it was a reflection of his inner self, a familiar path he'd tread countless times, even in dreams like this one.
Vardy instinctively chose the Order of Chaos without a moment's hesitation.
It was the embodiment of his beloved Dark Warlock class from the game, a choice that resonated deeply within him.
As the message confirming his selection vanished, Vardy's consciousness snapped back to reality.
He found himself lying on a bed of damp leaves, the canopy of shadowy trees looming overhead like silent sentinels. Recollections of his recent demise flooded his mind—the treacherous betrayal orchestrated by Dean, the searing pain of death's embrace.
Yet here he was, inexplicably alive, fueled by a fierce thirst for vengeance that consumed his every thought and action.
Noticing his pale skin and the hole in his stomach, Vardy realized he was undead. His hands trembled as he processed what had happened.
Then, a status screen appeared before him, confirming his new reality. It was real, not a dream.
With newfound power, Vardy vowed revenge on Dean and the Aegaon.
Hearing rustling nearby, Vardy tensed. He was in danger, likely from Vagrants lurking in the forest. But now, as a Dark Warlock, he felt confident.
Facing the glowing yellow eyes of the Vagrants, Vardy didn't see a threat, but potential recruits for his Legion of undead minions.
"Welcome, Host," the message read.
"Choose your Class," it prompted.
"Yes," Vardy thought.
"This class is familiar," he pondered.
"I choose the Order of Chaos," Vardy confirmed.
"All selections have been finalized," the message stated.
"Dark Warlock of the Legion Occult, your adventure will now begin," it declared.

Related Chapters
The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 5: The Dark Awakening
The Dark Awakening Lines of glowing bright, Slyly green energy transferred from the book and into Vardy's body, moving up the veins of his arm and lighting them in the dark."Spells: Freeze Bolt, Flame Torch, Raise Rank 1, and Dark Heal Rank 1 learned," Vardy noted.Dark Heal is a passive skill that heals a Warlock. "It's a good thing I have a firm knowledge on how to use my new powers, I can recite the spells mentally. "Freeze... ." He muttered softly as the air around him became cold. "Bolt!" Feeling the energy surge through him, Vardy prepared to face the Essentrias charging from the forest. to his former friend's skull. "But you'll be patched up soon with my "Nega Force". Plus, like you said, it's not like you're missing out with that face of yours."Vardy did not know why he talked to his friends as if they were still alive. He felt a twinge of hurt when he saw them as zombies. He thought he was immune to loss, and though he definitely was cold to it, there was still a pa
The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 6: The rise of the Undead
Vardy charged at the Essentria this time, rushing toward it before it could do the same. He figured out that the Essentria's only way out was to charge at him and make him dodge, so he acted first to prevent that. It was risky, but he wanted the EXP and undead from defeating Essentria.When Vardy got close, the Essentria bit his shoulder, causing him a lot of pain. He managed to hold it off while Luthor and Tracy attacked it. They wrestled the Essentria to the ground, and Vardy told them to finish it off.Vardy swiftly delivered a forceful kick to the Essentria's neck, causing it to snap and crumple in defeat. He then turned his attention to Luthor, who had suffered an injury from the attack. With remorse evident on his face, Vardy apologized for the harm inflicted upon him and offered reassurance that he would soon be healed.Afterwards, Vardy took a moment to carefully allocate his stat points, meticulously reviewing each attribute's functionality before making any decisions.- Stre
The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 7: The Hunter's Trap
"Stop me here," said Sly from the comfortably cushioned backseat of a commercial hover car. He was the only passenger in a car that had enough seating space to fit six people, and he abused the space by putting his feet on the seat and sprawling out like he was in his own bed. He had ordered a black tier express ride from Carrier, the best and most reliable taxi and rideshare service on the market, and he was damn well going to make the most of his purchase, especially now that he was getting jitters from coming off the high of X."Are you sure, sir? This is still quite a ways from the compound, and there may be Vagrants out and about," said the driver from the front seat. An opaque black plexiglass sheet separated passengers from the driver, but Sly could still see the silhouette of the driver's head cocked in confusion."Did you not hear me?" said Sly, annoyed. "I want out here.""As you wish, sir," said the driver. He halted the sleek black, expensive hover car to a smooth stop. S
The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 8: Vengeance Made Flesh
Vardy experienced a peculiar sensation as he gazed down at Sly in this manner. The act of looking down was entirely novel to him, yet it felt undeniably fitting. In fact, it felt just. Yes, it resonated with justice. Justice backed by tangible actions, not mere idealism. This was the justice Vardy intended to enact, a justice sorely lacking in this world.As his eyes met Sly's, a screen materialized before him, presenting a new quest: "VENGEANCE obtained". The interface differed slightly, with the quest details displayed in bold, bloody red font, giving it a sinister appearance."VENGEANCE "ACTIVE"Difficulty: 5Details:Hunt down Dean and his crew. Enact vengeance. Enact judgement.Rewards:-Death of Sly: 200 EXP, 200 Coin-Death of Evan Harker: 50 EXP, 50 Coin-Death of Simon Wells: 100 EXP, 100 Coin-Death of Zayn Soldata: 250 EXP, 200 Coin-Death of Dean: 1000 EXP, 800 Coin-Bonus EXP gained from absorbing Negative Energy from each individual\"Vardy adjusted his neck, uncertain
The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 9: The Immortal Knights Return
Ferah finally released Vardy after what felt like an eternity. Removing her black great helm, she knelt before him on the grass, revealing her deathly pale face, similar to Vardy's, indicating her Undead nature.She was a hybrid of Dullahan and Vampire, evident in her sharp, ferocious eyes with black sclera and glowing crimson red pupils. Her dark black hair was styled in a messy bob cut, partly obscuring her left eye with bangs."You look as good as ever," Vardy remarked, noting Ferah's stunning beauty, even more impressive in real life than in the game's graphics.Vardy's Undead nature prevented him from being distracted by her appearance, focusing solely on his purpose. Risen Undead like them were driven by a single purpose, unlike natural Undead like Vampires or Dullahan, who experienced a wide range of emotions."I-I am grateful, my master," Ferah responded, closing her eyes briefly before meeting Vardy's gaze. "You too look splendid, my master. But I must ask - why have you chan
The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 10: Forge of the Future
Vardy stepped onto the Sign, and the teleporting light him and everyone else. In a moment, they arrived in the dim interior of the Apex Realm temple, with its gray stone and tall gothic pillars."The Apex Realm. I never thought I'd be back here with you, master," said Ferah. She seemed happy at first, but then she squinted. "Something feels off about this place.""What do you mean?" asked Vardy."The Apex Realm is supposed to be a safe space created by the twin gods Amara and Sindri. It should have a warmth to it from their powers. But I don't sense it. It feels...dead," said Ferah. "It's like this place is just a copy, lacking the real 'life' but still having its powers.""I noticed that too," said Vardy. "My theory is that this isn't the real Apex Realm. It's just a replica, still holding its powers but lacking the true essence.""Is that so?" Ferah looked around warily. "As long as you trust it, I will too.""So far, it hasn't let me down," said Vardy. He leaped over the Wellspring
The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 11: The Forest’s Secret
The Evil Eye observed a Vagrant approaching Vardy, likely drawn by the scent of blood and death. It stood three meters tall, with smooth white skin and a heavily muscular body. It moved with a hunched back, dragging its knuckles along the ground. Its appearance was almost unsettling, resembling an overly muscled mannequin from a horror movie.This creature was a Geist. Vardy remembered from his research in White Oak that Vagrants were classified into three categories. Natural Vagrants, like the Essentrias, adapted to nature and behaved like wild beasts. Geist Vagrants, on the other hand, were inexplicable monstrosities that were functionally immortal and had a relentless thirst for blood and flesh. Titans were monstrously powerful Vagrants of legendary size."We're leaving," Vardy declared. He wasn't willing to risk a fight with a C-rank monster at the moment. Ferah sensed his hesitation and agreed to follow his lead."Geists hunt living humans," Vardy explained. "So, as undead, we sh
The Dark Warlock's Game Chapter 12: Shadows over Haven
Vardy and Ferah walked up to the Odinsons base. Odinson members stood up from tables and tarps where they enjoyed the shade to talk or play cards or inspect tech and put their hands to their hips, thumbing Bolter pistols.All of the Odinsons notably had an artificial blue left eye - a signature marking for their gang. Among this were tattoos that evoked the image of old Norse runes."What do you want, Mr. Mask?" An Odinson, a big guy, probably easily six foot two (~188cm), came up to Vardy and Ferah. He scratched his rough blonde beard with a mechanical hand and smiled at Ferah. "Or are you here to sell her? Cause' if you are, I'd buy in a damn heartbeat. Promise I won't rough her up too much, either. Gotta make sure you can keep her fresh to put food on your table, right?"A nerve became visible on Ferah's forehead, and Vardy immediately raised a hand in front of her as he sensed a lethal punch coming."No, I'm no pimp," said Vardy. "I'm here to buy tech.""Yeah?" said the Odinson. H
Latest Chapter
Chapter 106: A New Haven
“I’ve been thinking,” Tracy said as they walked. “What do you think we’ll find when we finally confront the Aegaon? What if they’re not what we expect? What if they’re not behind all of this?”Vardy glanced at her, a little confused. “I don’t know what we’ll find. But I do know this, whatever happens, we won’t be caught off guard. We’ll go in prepared. And we’ll keep our heads. The truth is out there, and it’s waiting for us. We just have to find it.”Luthor, who had been quietly walking alongside them, spoke up then, his voice low. “And we’ll find it together. No matter what it takes.”“We have to always be on the lookout.” Selene muttered.Vardy nodded.This journey, this mission, it wasn’t just about uncovering the truth about his parents. It was about understanding the world around him.And so, the four of them walked on.The Aegon would not be easy to find, nor would the truth come easily. But together, they would uncover it. As Vardy stood atop the hill, the early morning sunli
Chapter 105: I’m Leaving Haven
Vardy turned back to the boy, who was still looking up at him with those wide eyes. The boy’s face was streaked with dirt. “What’s your name, kid?” Vardy asked gently, crouching down to meet the boy’s gaze.“I’m Jorin,” the boy replied quickly, his voice eager. “My sister, she’s inside. They said she’d never make it. But now... now, she’s getting better.”Vardy smiled, his heart aching for the boy. “I’m glad we could help,” he said, his voice soft but firm. He reached out, touching Jorin’s messy hair. “Tell me about your family. Where are you from?”Jorin’s eyes brightened even more, and he immediately launched into a story. “We came from the east. My dad used to work for one of the old Altana families, but after they started... doing bad things, he left. We ran, and we didn’t know where to go. We heard about this place, so we came here. And now... now we have a chance.”Vardy listened carefully, intrigued by the boy’s story. He could hear the underlying fear in Jorin’s voice, the y
Chapter 104: The Secret Society
Vardy followed Elyra through the narrow streets of the city, his mind racing with questions. They were venturing into a part of the city he didn’t recognize, the buildings growing older.Elyra seemed unshaken, as though she had walked this path a hundred times before. Her gaze never wavered.Finally, they stopped in front of a tall, crumbling structure that seemed like little more than a forgotten relic. The building was squat, with a heavy, iron door that looked as though it hadn’t been opened in years. It looked abandoned, a place that would be easy to overlook, but Vardy sensed that Elyra had brought him here for a reason.Without a word, she stepped forward and pushed open the heavy door with a creak that echoed.Vardy hesitated for only a moment before following her inside, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, just in case.The inside of the building was dimly lit. As Vardy’s eyes adjusted to the light, he saw the faint outlines of large figures gathered in the corners o
Chapter 103: Vardy’s Resolution
“Tell us what’s next!” a man added, his voice trembling, waiting for response.Vardy swallowed hard. He wasn’t ready for this. He hadn’t come here to give a speech. He hadn’t come here to be a leader. But here he was, surrounded by the very people he was fighting for. Their hope, their belief in him, it was overwhelming.“I will fight,” he said, his voice gaining strength as he spoke. “I will fight for every single one of you, for every person who has suffered under the Altanas. But this fight isn’t just mine. It’s ours. We all have a part to play in this revolution. We will rise together, and we will take back what is ours.”The crowd erupted into cheers, their voices echoing through the market square. The applause was deafening, and Vardy could feel their expectations settle on his shoulders. He had just made a promise, a promise that he wasn’t sure he could keep. But as the crowd continued to chant his name, Vardy realized that he no longer had a choice.He wasn’t just Vardy anym
Chapter 102: At the Market
Vardy nodded, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Someone has to. And if no one else is going to do it, then it’ll be us.”There was a brief pause, and then Luthor stood up, crossing his arms. “Alright, then. I’m in. If this is what it takes to finally bring them down, I’m with you, Vardy. We’ll fight until the last breath if we have to.”Tracy, after a long moment of contemplation, stood as well. “If you’re really going to do this, then so am I. I don’t care what it takes. We’ve come this far, and I’m not backing down now.”Vardy’s gaze softened as he looked at each of them, his friends, his allies. They had been through so much together, and now they were ready to risk everything for this cause.“Thank you,” Vardy said, his voice thick with emotion. “You don’t know how much this means to me.”Selene smiled softly at him. “We’re in this together, Vardy. We’ve always been in this together.”Luthor chuckled. “Well, it looks like we’ve got a revolution to start. Let’s get to wor
Chapter 101: We need Allies
"Every city has its leaders, Vardy," she said, her gaze steady as she met his. "We just need to find them. The ones who won’t be blinded by power. The ones who’ll keep the fire burning for the right reasons."Vardy nodded, though the worry still gnawed at him. "It’s not just about finding leaders, Selene. It’s about making sure they won’t betray us when the power starts to get to their heads."Then we keep them close," Tracy said, her voice firm. "We build a network. We bring the right people in and keep them accountable.""That’s a risk in itself," Vardy muttered. "I can’t be everywhere at once, Tracy. If things go wrong, if this thing spirals out of control… I won’t be able to stop it."Luthor clapped him on the shoulder. "Then we stop it together. You’re not alone in this, Vardy."But even Luthor’s reassuring words couldn’t erase the unease in Vardy’s chest. He had started this fight, but he had no idea how it would end."Do you think," Selene began hesitantly, her voice barely abo
Chapter 100: The Rebel
“Vardy, look at me." Selene called, her gaze still locked to him.Her voice was steady, cutting through the storm raging in his mind.But the moment her fingers brushed against his skin, a violent force exploded from the pot, and Selene was thrown backward.Her body slammed against the stone wall with a sickening crack before she collapsed to the ground."Selene!"Vardy’s world snapped.The whispers howled, furious at the interruption.Vardy’s vision turned red.The room darkened. The relics around him pulsed, the walls vibrating with a hidden force.Vardy turned his gaze back to the pot of Calabash.The source.The whispers sensed his intent."NO!"A surge of black energy shot toward him, trying to stop him.But Vardy was faster.With a roar, he lunged forward, raising his sword. With all his strength, he smashed it into the pot.CRACK!The artifact shattered.Dark energy screamed as it burst into the air. The room shook violently, the pressure lifting all at once, as if a great weig
Chapter 99: The Fall of Dean’s Chamber
“Vardy, what are your plans for Dean’s chamber?” Luthor asked before they left.Vardy turned, his gaze darting round the whole place. It was where Dean had taken as his possession, where he hid most of his things, his secret items.“We need to get these people to destroy this place, because this is too dangerous,” Selene said, darting around before settling his gaze on Vardy.“What do you mean? I should endanger their lives for my personal gain?” Vardy asked a bit skeptical of what Selene meant.Selene heaved and strode closer to Vardy, who was now down on his horse.“I mean, this is too dangerous for you, Dean would have thought so well and knew that one day, you'll surface.” Selene said and continued, “Dean is very smart and predictable.”“Do smart and predictable go together?” Tracy asked, moving closer to them, her eyes piecing deep into Vardy's.“We just have to be careful, especially Vardy.” Selene said finally, her arms akimbo.Vardy’s fingers curled into a fist. "That place n
Chapter 98: A Heavy Decision
“We can’t just sit here and do nothing,” Vardy said firmly, his voice filled with resolve. “We need to find out everything we can about the System. We need to prepare for what's coming.”Luthor, who had been silently listening nearby, stepped forward. “You’re not alone in this, Vardy. We’ll help. Whatever it takes.”Selene and Tracy, who had been standing at the edge of the group, moved closer. “We’re with you,” Tracy said quietly, her voice steady. “This is our fight too.”Vardy nodded, his heart swelling with ease. He had led them before, and they had followed him. And now, in the face of an enemy greater than any they had ever known, they were still with him.“We’ll gather our allies,” Vardy said, his voice firm. “We need to strengthen Haven, prepare for the worst, and start seeking out every scrap of knowledge we can find about the System. We’ll face this head-on. Together.”Aria’s expression softened slightly, though she didn’t look entirely relieved. She knew the path ahead woul
