pages of rebellion

[You Died]

A clock began moving in reverse, and the world turned gray, losing its color. The clock's reversal sped up until it suddenly stopped, and the world regained its colors.

Noah appeared again, standing on his feet.

"W-what just happened?" Noah was terrified and nervous. He was sure he had just died. Did he get revived? Is that even possible?

[You have unlocked a secret mission.]

"Secret mission?" Noah asked, still terrified.

[Mission: Die 10 times (10/1) (Incomplete)]

"D-die?" Noah was shocked and horrified. He still hadn't recovered from his first death, yet the system was asking him to die again—over and over. He would break in no time. But did he even have a choice?

A Spiritual Bull appeared again, emerging from the same spot as before.

Noah was nervous, yet he remained calm, staring at the bull. The beast noticed Noah's presence and charged at him. Noah dodged, but the bull quickly adjusted its path and attacked again. Noah dodged once more.

"It's the same moves," Noah thought as he stepped back. Did he come back to life by reversing time? Or maybe he never actually died at all, since his real body was outside. After all, it didn't make sense for consciousness to die. But did common sense even apply in this place? It didn't matter how he came back—what mattered was the bull in front of him trying to kill him again.

The bull kept attacking, and Noah struggled to dodge.

[Rewards: Physical and mental health restoration, 100 Gacha, C-Rank skill: "Foresight"]

"Rewards!?" Noah's eyes widened. There were rewards for this mission too, and one of them was a C-Rank skill. Judging by its name, it would probably allow him to predict an opponent's next moves or something similar. Still, dying was terrifying. What if he didn't come back this time? What if the mission's conditions were different from what he assumed? His instincts screamed at him to run, but his mind told him something else. It only made sense that power came with a cost—even if that price was dying ten times.

"Fuck it! I won't fall without a fight!"

Noah stopped retreating and rushed toward the Spiritual Bull, trying to attack. The bull lowered its head and thrust its horns into Noah's chest, impaling him before tossing him away.

"...Damn it..."

[You Died]

The clock began reversing again. The world turned gray, the clock moved faster, then it stopped—and once again, the world regained its colors.

"I died again..."

Noah looked at his hands, making sure he was really alive. He pinched his cheek and winced slightly.

"I'm really alive..." He still couldn't believe it. He had died twice, yet here he was, standing on his feet.

[Mission: Die 10 times (10/2) (Incomplete)]

"The mission..."

Noah could do it. He finally believed that he could. It didn't matter anymore—whenever he found a way forward, he would take it. Not even death could stop him.

A smile crept onto his face, and his eyes darkened slightly.

The bull appeared again, emerging from the same spot. Noah stared at it, waiting. The beast noticed him and rushed forward, attacking. This time, Noah dodged the attack and countered with a punch to the bull's right side, leaving a visible mark. He stepped back and stared at his hand.

"I landed a successful punch."

His smile widened. He rushed toward the bull again.

The beast noticed Noah's approach and took a defensive stance. When Noah got close, it tried to surprise him with an attack—but he dodged, grabbed one of its horns, and delivered a powerful punch, shattering it. Holding the broken horn in his grip, Noah stabbed it deep into the bull's body, pinning it to a tree. The bull let out a final cry before its body turned to black ashes and disappeared.

Noah panted, struggling to catch his breath.

"That was fast..." He still couldn't believe he had actually killed a monster—even if it was just an E-Rank creature.

[Level Up]

[Kill 50 Spiritual Bulls (50/1) (Incomplete)]

Noah now believed he could do it. He just had to be careful and stay calm. If not, he would break from the sheer number of times he would have to die.

A herd of Spiritual Bulls appeared.

"W-what?"

A herd? He had struggled against just one—now he had to face an entire group? He smiled nervously as he stared at them.

"Cheap system..."

The herd noticed him and charged. Noah gripped the broken horn tightly, bracing himself. The bulls rushed toward him at full speed.

He was trampled to death.

The clock reversed. The world turned gray. Time sped up. Colors returned.

Noah appeared again and immediately collapsed to his knees, throwing up. The sensation of being trampled to death was horrifying.

[Mission: Die 10 times (10/3) (Incomplete)]

Noah stood up, still shaken, waiting for the herd to appear again. He tried to push the memory of his death away, but it was already burned into his mind.

The herd reappeared.

For the next 30 minutes, Noah died seven more times—each in a different way. He was impaled, had his heart and lungs pierced, bled out, and was trampled over and over again. Finally, after dying ten times—

Noah appeared once more, his hair shadowing his eyes as he stood in silence.

[Mission: Die 10 times (10/10) (Complete)]

[Do you want to receive your rewards?]

"...Yes," Noah whispered.

[Your physical and mental health has been restored.]

A green aura surrounded him before vanishing.

Noah exhaled deeply. His biggest problem—his deteriorating mental state—was now gone. That wouldn't be an obstacle anymore.

[You have received 100 Gacha.]

[You have received the C-Rank skill: "Foresight."]

Finally.

[C-Rank Skill: Foresight (Passive)

-This skill allows the user to perceive the next three seconds of an opponent's movements in advance.

-The predicted actions will appear as transparent afterimages overlaying the opponent's real body.

-If the opponent changes their course of action, the afterimages will update accordingly.

-This skill does not read thoughts—only physical intent based on muscle movement and combat instincts]

The herd of Spiritual Bulls reappeared, sensing Noah's presence.

Then, his vision flickered.The next time a Spiritual Bull charged at him, three faint afterimages appeared—one leaping forward, one lowering its head, and one twisting slightly to the left.

Noah realized instantly.

The bull was about to charge, lower its horns, then pivot left to crush him.

For the first time, he didn't have to guess. He already know

Noah dodged as the bull charged toward him, then immediately started running. As he turned, he caught sight of another bull right beside him. His skill activated, revealing three possible futures—one where the bull dashed at him, one where it stabbed him, and one where he was impaled.

Noah dodged just in time, grabbed the bull's horn, and kicked with all his strength, snapping it off. Without hesitation, he drove the broken horn deep into the bull's body. The beast let out a final cry before its body crumbled into black ashes and disappeared.

The remaining bulls rushed at him. His skill activated again—one would leap toward him, and the next two scenarios showed him being trampled to death.

Reacting instantly, Noah jumped back, dodged to the side, and hurled the broken horn at one of the bulls, stabbing it. He dashed toward it and kicked the horn deeper, piercing its heart. The bull collapsed, and before its body vanished into ashes, his skill showed him the next moves—one bull would charge him head-on, another would attack from behind, and then he would be surrounded.

He grabbed the corpse of the fallen bull and used it as a shield. The charging bull slammed into it, knocking it back. Just as the other bull rushed him from behind, Noah scooped up a handful of dirt and threw it into its eyes, blinding it for a moment.

Seizing the opening, Noah jumped onto the bull's back. The beast thrashed wildly, trying to shake him off, but he held on. It charged blindly, slamming into a tree. The moment it crashed, Noah leapt off, grabbed its horn, snapped it off, and drove it straight into the beast's skull. The bull let out one final roar before its body dissolved into nothingness.

For the next 30 minutes, Noah continued the slaughter, killing them one by one until he was the last one standing in the vast, empty plain.

[Mission: Kill 50 Spiritual Bulls (50/50) – Complete]

Noah collapsed onto the ground, panting, trying to steady his breathing.

[Do you want to receive your rewards?]

"...Yes," he muttered.

[Your mental and physical health has been restored.]

A green aura surrounded his body before vanishing instantly. The exhaustion and pain disappeared, and for the first time, he could truly rest.

[You received 100 Gacha.]

[You received the S-Rank skill: "Influence Field]

Noah's eyes widened as he read the description.

[S-Rank Skill: Influence Field (Active Skill)

-This skill grants the user the ability to create an influence field that affects everything within a defined area.

-The maximum range of the field is 500 meters in all directions.

-Within this area, the user can freely manipulate all non-living objects as if they were extensions of his own body.

-Objects can be moved, reshaped, or controlled without physical contact.

-The field does not directly affect living beings, but it can influence the environment around them (e.g., lifting the ground beneath an enemy to throw them off balance).

-The strength of control depends on the user's focus, intent, and mana consumptions]

"So I can control everything except living beings within 500 meters…" Noah muttered. "That's insanely overpowered."

He let out a breath, gripping his palm. Should he test it?

The moment he activated the skill, a transparent dome-like barrier expanded outward, covering everything within range. He instantly felt a deep connection to every object inside—the ground, the air, the very space around him. It was as if his mind had hands, reaching out and gripping the world itself.

He raised his hand. A shattered piece of the ground lifted effortlessly toward him.

This wasn't just telekinesis. Inside this field, Noah was the absolute ruler.