The Anomaly's Path

[Leo’s POV]

I stared at the status screen, my eyes scanning the familiar yet foreign interface.

There were no mana techniques or weapon arts listed—not even a simple skill to my name. It was as if I had started from scratch, a blank slate in a world determined to crush me.

My gaze drifted to the last section, the quest log, and a spark of curiosity ignited within me.

”Hey System... how do I open these?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

The System’s voice shimmered in my head, its tone neutral yet somehow reassuring.

[You just have to say or think the words ’Quest System’ and it will open.]

I muttered the words, ”Quest System,” and the air in front of me began to shimmer. A familiar black and blue screen started to form, and I felt a shiver run down my spine as the quest log materialized before me.

—『 QUEST LOG 』—

『 MAIN QUEST 』

▸ The World’s Ending

∟ Objective → Defeat the Abyss King

∟ Time Remaining → 10 Years

∟ Reward → ???

∟ Penalty → World Destruction / Host Death

『 MANDATORY QUEST 』

▸ Path Awakening

∟ Description → Enter the Path Awakening Trial and awaken your Path

∟ Time Remaining → 1 Month, 10 Days

∟ Reward → Bloodline Awakening

∟ Bonus Reward → ???? Skill

∟ Penalty → Death

『 CHAIN QUEST 』

▸ Defy the Fate

∟ Requirement → Survive the Path Awakening.

∟ Reward → Rank Core Evolution

∟ Penalty → Death

—『 QUEST LOG CLOSED 』—

The quest system sat there, mocking me. The first thing that grabbed my attention was the Main Quest. It was screaming for me to look at it.

▸ The World’s Ending

∟ Objective → Defeat the Abyss King

I stared at it. For a long moment, I just sat there, my eyes locked on the words. Then a low sigh escaped me. A hopeless smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.

”...Figures.”

Fate really couldn’t let me live in peace, huh? I’m screwed. Totally screwed.

What the hell did they mean, ”Defeat the Abyss King”? We’re talking about the Abyss King.

He isn’t some random toy I can smash whenever I want. For four years, I played The Hero Chronicles, and I barely even managed to damage him in the end-game. And this time, it wasn’t a game—it was real. I’m real, and so is he.

Death here means real death.

And they’re telling me to fight and defeat that bastard? The same one the protagonist of this world couldn’t even touch at the start?

I leaned back and let out a long, heavy sigh. ”I am really... screwed this time.”

I barely know how to fight. In my previous life, I only knew a few hand-to-hand moves I picked up by chance. But here? I have nothing. Even the original Leo spent his time wasting away instead of learning a single useful thing.

”...Haaa.”

Then I noticed the timer. Ten years. In ten years, the Abyss King will descend upon this world, and he and his generals will slaughter everyone. The penalty for failure was world destruction, and the reward was hidden behind ”???”.

There were so many things I had to do, but that was a problem for the future me to worry about. Right now, I needed to focus on the present.

I looked at the second quest and... ”Damn it.”

Seriously? It was like the world wasn’t satisfied with just killing me once; it wanted to make sure I died in the most stressful way possible.

The Mandatory Quest was staring me right in the face—the most immediate threat. I had to enter the Path Awakening Trial and awaken my Path.

Simple, right?

Except I only had 1 month and 10 days to do it. If I missed the deadline? Death. If I failed the trial? Death.

It was a total lose-lose situation. The only thing keeping me from throwing the screen out the window was the reward: BloodlineAwakening. And then there was that bonus reward—a ”??? Skill.”

Another hidden mystery. Not only is the world trying to kill me, but it’s playing hard to get with the loot, too.

”Wow,” I muttered under my breath. ”Just great. So if I don’t enter the Path Awakening in the next forty days... I die?”

I clenched my jaw. This was absurd. This wasn’t just a quest; it was a countdown to my execution.

”Hey System!” I barked, ”What the hell are these quests? First, I have to defeat the Abyss King or I die, and now I have forty days to enter a trial that killed the original Leo, or I die?”

The system panel appeared before me, its voice low.

[I am sorry, Host. But these are your quests. Failure is not an option if you wish to remain among the living.]

”...Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.”

Fuck! I felt like killing whoever was behind my transmigration. Look, I told myself I wouldn’t run anymore. Fine. But that doesn’t mean I’m playing hero. Saving the world isn’t my style—staying alive is.

I wasn’t a fool; I knew someone or some entity had pulled me here and sent this System to monitor my every move. Whoever it is must want me to help Arthur kill the Abyss King. I’m not heartless; I’ll help if I can.

But a hero? Hell no.

Heroes have that stupid complex. They risk their lives for everyone. I can’t do that. I won’t.

All my life, I ran from expectations. People expect everything from a hero. I can’t carry that weight. I can’t save everyone. I know that much. Sometimes... sacrifices are necessary. Only someone like Arthur can live with that. Only a hero can bear that burden.

I looked at the last quest, and my eyes widened.

▸ Defy Fate

∟ Requirement → Survive the Path Awakening.

Defy fate? The requirement was simply to survive. Unlike the original Leo, who had died during his trial, I had to change the script. I had to survive.

Then, my gaze drifted toward the reward and—

”...?!”

Is... is this real? RankCoreEvolution!

”Hey, System!” I shouted. ”Is this actually true? I can upgrade my core?”

[Yes, Host. That is correct. The reward for this quest is Rank Core Evolution.]

This was insane. I’d never heard of Rank Core Evolution in The Hero Chronicles. Your core was set for life. It didn’t cap your potential, but you couldn’t change its ranks.

...So why was it showing I could evolve mine?

For the first time since waking up here... I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe I could actually become strong. My biggest problem was my B-rank core. Even if I survived the Path Awakening, growing stronger would take forever with a mediocre core.

However... if I could evolve it... that changed everything.

I looked back at the screen and the same brutal penalty: Death.

In the end, it all came down to one thing. I had to enter and survive the Path Awakening.

I closed the quest log and took a deep breath. I had to get moving.

”Okay,” I whispered to the empty room. ”Let’s do this.”

But before that... I had to face them. Leo’s parents. Or rather... mine. I had to convince them to let me enter the Path Awakening.

_

I stayed on the bed for a few more minutes, my mind racing faster than my pulse. The Duke and the Duchess. In the game, they were figures of power, kind and noble. But now? They were the people who raised the boy whose body I was wearing. And more than that... they loved him. Unconditionally.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed. My feet hit the cold marble floor, and a shiver shot straight up my spine. My body still felt weak, unsteady.

But before I went to meet them, I needed to clean up.

I hobbled toward the bathroom, my breath coming in short, shaky bursts. When I pushed the door open, I froze mid-step.

”Whoa...”

I knew the Celestials were rich, but this was... absurd.

The bathroom was larger than my entire apartment back on Earth. The walls were lined with white pearl-marble, and the bathtub was a sunken pool made of glowing blue stone that probably cost more than a small village. Gold accents glittered under the soft glow of mana-lights.

The air smelled like expensive lavender—thick and heavy. I walked over to the mirror, my hands fumbling with the edge of the sink as I leaned in.

The face staring back at me was a masterpiece—and a tragedy.

Sharp, aristocratic features. A straight nose. Those deep ocean-blue eyes the Celestials were famous for. My hair was a messy nest of black strands. But my skin was too pale. Dark circles hung under my eyes—proof of years of drinking and neglect.

Just below my neck, on the left side, was that sleek black katana tattoo wrapped in what looked like lightning.

I looked away from the tattoo and splashed some cold water on my face. The sting helped clear the last of the soul-merger fog. I grabbed a towel, dried off, and took a slow breath.

I looked back at my reflection and muttered, low and firm, ”Okay. No more running.”

_

I walked back into the bedroom and opened the wardrobe. My jaw nearly dropped.

Piles and piles of clothes. Each one looked more expensive than the last. Silks, velvets, embroidered tunics, tailored coats in colors I didn’t even have names for.

And if you’re wondering if Leo actually wore all of these... you’d be wrong. He had a habit of buying expensive things just to let them collect dust.

I clicked my tongue. ”These rich bastards really know how to flex.”

I picked out a simple black shirt and matching pants, then pulled a dark vest over it. I moved back to the mirror and ran a comb through my messy hair.

”Damn,” I murmured. ”No matter how many times I look at this face... it’s stupidly handsome. I guess being good-looking is its own kind of curse.”

The System’s voice echoed in my head, sounding smug.

[Handsome? You’re just being narcissistic again.]

”Of course you would say that, you glitchy bastard,” I muttered in a low voice.

I sighed and looked back at the mirror. My reflection stared back—cleaner, sharper.

”Time to meet my parents.”