Kill The Author

Aiden is a typical protagonist in the story. Every story features a protagonist, but not all stories include one who revolts against The Author himself.

Aiden, age seventeen, has black, messy hair which he never takes care of, blue eyes, and he wears a black robe.

Its been a while he had been living in a game-like world where he cultivated levels long enough to stand against the unborn monster.

Back to the present world of Aiden ...

"Good morning, master. It's time for your morning warm-up ! " said a female voice on a glowing screen 

Aiden woke up groaning...

"Do I have to do this today too ?!" "Aiden said this in his half-asleep state."

"Yes, master. If you want to kick your opponents ass ! " said the system 

The system always praised Aiden to inspire his lazy soul.

The system suddenly appeared when he was at the age of 16 

"Uhhh, give my status."

[ Name: Aiden ] 

[ Level : 1099 ]

[ EXP : 104,890 ]

"One more level, it will be 1100." said Aiden with a sigh.

DING !

[ TODAY'S QUEST: COMPLETE 1000 PULLUPS AND LIFT THE GODS HAMMER 200 TIMES ]

Aiden stared at the screen in disbelief.

[ TODAY'S QUEST: COMPLETE 1000 PULLUPS AND LIFT THE GODS HAMMER 200 TIMES ]

"...You've got to be kidding me," he muttered, still half-asleep.

The glowing screen flickered with an almost too-cheerful chime.

"Come on, Master," the system's voice sang, "Push past your limits today too! Muscles over misery!"

Aiden groaned, pulling the pillow over his head."Why do I have to train every single day like some hero with a death wish?"

"If you want to kick your opponents' asses," the system replied, "You need to suffer. Remember: pain today, power tomorrow!"

"You sound like one of those gym guys who yells at teenagers on motivational reels."

"Thank you, Master! I take that as a compliment!"

"I wasn't complimenting you."

Despite his complaining, Aiden knew the system wasn't wrong. His world wasn't normal. Not anymore.

It hadn't been for a while.

He was seventeen, just a kid in the real world once. But ever since that cursed day a year ago when the system suddenly fused into his soul, his life became a twisted hybrid of a game and a reality show. He lived in what felt like a simulated realm layered over Earth, where rules of RPGs and ancient powers governed daily life.

The "System," as he called it, gave him quests, upgrades, and stats—like a walking, talking game HUD with a sarcastic personality. Sometimes it helped him. Sometimes it almost killed him. But it was always there.

He sighed, then wiped his eyes and stretched lazily."Alright. Give me my status. I want to see it again !"

The familiar chime rang in the air.

[ NAME: Aiden ][ LEVEL: 1099 ][ EXP: 104,890 ]

"One more level until 1100," he said, eyes narrowing. "Then maybe I'll finally unlock that Mythic trait."

He didn't get time to wonder long.

A sudden flash of light enveloped the room.

"Wait, wha—"

CLINK !

He was gone.

The familiar sound of wind rushing past filled his ears as his surroundings changed in an instant.

He landed with a thud on cracked earth. The sky above was a strange crimson hue, like the world had been dipped in blood. The wind howled unnaturally. The air felt... corrupted.

"Where the hell are we?" Aiden asked, looking around. "This isn't the training grounds."

The system's voice replied, but it sounded hesitant. Glitchy.

"Master... this isn't my doing. This area's coordinates were overwritten. I've lost partial control."

Aiden's instincts screamed. He spun around—

There it stood.

The Shadow Crawler.

His blood ran cold.

That thing... that thing wasn't just any monster. It was a near-impossible foe. An S-tier elite. He'd fought one once before—and barely escaped with his life.

It resembled a spider merged with a scythe-wielding centaur, its body cloaked in a shroud of shadow, and its six eyes glowing like embers from hell. Its limbs clicked as it moved, too fast, too smooth.

It hissed and charged.

Aiden barely dodged.

For the next two hours, Aiden fought like a demon. He summoned all his skills—blade bursts, flame strikes, rapid movement arts. He used every combo and buff he could remember. His arms ached. His breathing turned ragged. Blood ran down his robes.

But still, he kept fighting.

The Shadow Crawler didn't slow down. Every time he thought he had an edge, it evolved, shifting patterns, attacking harder.

Finally, with a roar, Aiden stabbed through its heart, the blade in his hand burning with system-light energy. The beast screeched as it turned to black mist, then vanished into the air.

He collapsed to one knee.

Sweat dripped off his chin.His body throbbed with pain.

"What... was that doing here...?"

That's when the message appeared—red, jagged letters burning in midair.

"Nice warm-up, Aiden. While you played with my pet, I destroyed Altherion."

Aiden's eyes widened.

Altherion...?

That was the last surviving stronghold of peace in this twisted world. The city where his father lived. His home.

"No—no no no—"

Before the system could speak, he roared: "Teleport me back. NOW!"

BLINK.

He landed in the smoke.

Everything was... gone.

The familiar buildings were collapsed, blackened. People screamed in the distance. The skies rumbled with fire.

He sprinted through broken alleyways, hopping over debris.

He reached what used to be his street.

And there, amidst the ruins—lay his father.

Aiden dropped beside him, heart cracking.

"Dad...?! DAD!"

His father was barely alive. Blood soaked his robes. His once bright eyes were dimming.

"A...Aiden..." he croaked, a soft smile forming despite the pain.

Aiden gripped his hand tightly.

"Hang on! I'll get the healer! Do n't—don't talk, just!"

But his father pulled him close, using the last of his strength.

"Son... kill the Aut—"

His voice cracked.

"...He is... evil."

He went still.

His hand went cold.

"Dad, just a minute, stay here please ! " said Aiden 

The silence that followed was unbearable. Aiden trembled. His knuckles turned white. The world around him became a blur.

A storm erupted from within.

Something ancient.

Something furious.

System alerts popped up instantly.

[ ALL BUFFS UNLOCKED ][ BERSERK STATE: ENRAGED ][ SPEED x5 | STRENGTH x10 | RESISTANCE x6 | MIND FOCUS: INFINITE ][ SECRET SKILL UNSEALED: SHADOWBREAK ASCENT ]

His aura exploded in a surge of dark blue flames, rippling across the ruins like a shockwave. The debris lifted off the ground. Lightning cracked through the sky.

Aiden's eyes turned pure blue, no pupils, just energy.

"Lucius..."

He clenched his fists.

"You're dead."

The system pinged one last time.

"Warning: User approaching critical fury level."

"Don't care."

He raised a hand and whispered the command:

"Teleport to Lucius!"

He arrived in a dark chamber lit by bone lanterns and crimson fire.

A twisted throne stood at the end.

And there sat Lucius—the self-proclaimed Archfiend of Collapse. The man who had destroyed kingdoms with a whisper. A traitor who once stood with the defenders of Altherion, now the architect of its ruin.

He leaned back on his throne of skulls and smiled.

"You're early."

Aiden's breath steamed in the cold darkness.

Lucius stood, dragging a crimson scythe from behind his throne.

"You came just in time. The Author's watching."

Aiden blinked."What did you just say?"

Lucius grinned."Let's just say... we're all characters, my boy."

The air split between them.

They locked eyes.

Aiden's feet slid into position, his sword glowing in his hand.

Lucius raised his scythe.

For what ?