The Chronicle of the Beginning and Climax

Chapter 16 – The System's Wrath

The world collapsed.

Jihwan felt it—a violent shift in reality, as if existence itself was rejecting him. The moment his words took shape on the page, the system fought back.

> [ERROR: Unrecognized Narrative Path.]

[WARNING: Immediate Correction Protocol Engaged.]

A low, thunderous hum echoed through the void.

Jihwan gritted his teeth. His entire body burned as invisible chains latched onto him, tightening like iron shackles.

> "Correction?"

His voice was steady, but his instincts screamed at him.

This wasn't just a warning.

Something was coming.

Then—

The world cracked.

A jagged tear split the air above him, spilling light so blinding that it drowned everything else.

And from that breach—they emerged.

> [System Enforcers Deployed.]

Three figures descended. Their forms were distorted, faceless, yet undeniably powerful. Not NPCs. Not players.

Something beyond the system itself.

> "Host identified: Yoo Jihwan."

"Violation confirmed. Engaging termination."

Jihwan's breath hitched.

Termination?

Before he could react—they moved.

Faster than anything he had ever seen.

One moment, they were hovering above.

The next—a blade of pure energy carved through space, aimed straight for his throat.

Jihwan barely dodged, his body twisting as the sword grazed his cheek. A sharp, burning pain bloomed—the first time in a long while that an attack had actually left a mark.

These things were real.

He didn't hesitate.

Jihwan leapt backward, flipping mid-air as he raised his hand.

> "System, activate skill—"

Nothing.

Jihwan's eyes widened.

> [ERROR: Unauthorized Entity Detected.]

[All Skills Have Been Revoked.]

The realization hit him like a hammer.

He was outside the system now.

He had no skills. No buffs. No quest protections.

He was just a man against the system's enforcers.

> "Tch."

The second enforcer lunged. Jihwan barely managed to block, crossing his arms as a powerful force slammed into him, sending him crashing through the air.

The impact stole his breath. He rolled across the shifting void, stopping himself just before falling into the abyss below.

For the first time in a long while—he felt weak.

And then, the third enforcer raised its hand.

A massive formation appeared in the sky above.

> [Absolute Erasure – System Override.]

Jihwan's heart stopped.

This wasn't a battle.

It was an execution.

> "Unbelievable."

The voice was not his own.

The enforcers stilled.

And then—another presence made itself known.

The air grew heavy. Reality trembled.

From the void, a figure emerged.

Not the shadowed man from before.

Someone else.

Someone who shouldn't exist.

A Variable.

Jihwan looked up, his eyes narrowing as the figure stepped forward.

And then—they spoke.

> "You're not the first to rebel against the system."

Their lips curled into a smirk.

> "But you might be the first to survive it."

Jihwan exhaled.

> "Who the hell are you?"

The stranger's eyes gleamed.

> "Let's just say I'm someone who hates being erased."

The enforcers turned.

The world cracked further.

And in that moment, Jihwan knew—

This was only the beginning.

---

End of Chapter 16