(A/N: As I said before, we’ll be going into the third person for a while. In cases of changes, you’ll see * for the first person and *** for third in future).

…

“VOW bro! What the hell is that?!” Skullius yelled, his socket flames blazing fiercely.

[The guidance field has given you a clear description of the enemy you’re facing].

“I get that, but how in the world is that thing a Level 1?!”

[I warned you about the disparity between levels. Also, it is a full tier above you. You might want to run with your…death].

As soon as the VOW finished speaking, the ground trembled from the galloping of the Boar as it soon emerged from the line of trees and faced Skillius with fury abound in its eyes and bluish-white mana converging on its figure!

“Flesh me! This is so not fair! Now I really wish that I have cultivated [Boneman of Steel]. Mana Sense is only helping me see how I will face my doom vividly!” Skullius said as he lifted himself with his remaining arm and took to his heels.

The boar followed after him, accelerating at a rapid pace as its hooves scraped the grass and dirt.

The two were running amidst the dense forestry while nothing in particular spectated this comical scene.

The plus side of having infinite endurance was the ability to keep running forever.

The downside was that if that infinite endurance was paired with a trash race like the Lesser Moronic Undead, there would be no increase in pace.

As the boar approached, reaching 5 metres from Skullius, he panicked.

“VOW bro! Help me!” he pleaded.

[As I said before, I cannot intervene any more with your destiny. I have already granted you many chances to live]._.

“Come on! Then why are you still here?!”

[Uhm… I’m only allowed to stay here until you…Uhm… the promotional package has been unlocked and used].

“Promotional package? You mean the Lifeless Evolution ski—”

HUMPH! HUMPH! HUMPH!

The boar bellowed as it reached Skullius and prepared to release another attack on his void ass!

Skullius immediately dived to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack which then blasted a tree which the boar faced and ran into in his stead!

BOOOM!

Nothing remained of the tree aside from the stump which sizzled with a weak flame, chips of its previously strong body falling to the ground.

Skullius’ mouth was agape.

He instantly dashed away, appreciating the head start he got while the boar was shaking its head and focusing its vision.

The game of cat and mouse continued with the boar getting increasingly agitated and Skullius getting increasingly frightened.

He vaguely discovered a way to stall his doom by dodging at the precise moment that the boar activated whatever the socket it planned to use to kill him.

After almost 30 minutes, the boar was starting to feel exhausted, much to Skullius’ glee.

“Great! I managed to survive long enough until it tired itself out! Now all I have to do is—”

VUUUUMM!

Skullius felt a chill from the back of his bones as a large influx of mana that was gathering into a single position behind him made him turn his head.

He saw the boar’s body glowing in a bright red hue as it seemed to be activating a deadly skill!

“Oh, my Lich! What the hell is it doing now?!” Skullius screamed as he watched the boar glare at him with reddening eyes that completed the look with its red aura!

[Please refer to the Invasive Status of the Boar].

“UGHH!”

Skullius frustratedly looked at the boar and activated the guidance field to give him more information about the boar.

~~~

[ Invasive Status ]

Currently cooking up the skill ‘Dead End’…. to end you.

~~~~

“Bro! Is that really necessary?!” Skullius almost wanted to stop and kowtow to the boar.

As he anticipated the worst to come, the light from the boar suddenly died down and it screeched to a halt.

Skullius was dumbfounded as he saw this.

The boar started backpedalling as it looked ahead.

Skullius also turned to where it was looking and saw the view that he had missed as a result of the chase.

There was an abrupt transition from the green grass to a golden shade that plastered itself on all life that was ahead of him.

Trees.

Grass.

Even some patches of the ground had this golden shade.

The sky remained ever blue above, Skullius even sensing the mana to be denser from here onwards. He had already stepped into this new patch of land.

[Your luck truly is atrocious].

“What was that?”

[N-nothing].

Skullius felt a sense of foreboding as he looked at the image before him. What could be waiting for him ahead?

He turned and took a step forward, heading back to the greenery of the forest.

As soon as he did, the boar also took a step forward in his direction, its body beginning to flare in a red hue.

Skullius took two steps back and watched the boar take a step back as well, away from him.

He repeated his previous action, taking a step forward towards the boar and it did the same again.

“This sockethole isn’t giving up. Why do you hate undead so much?! I mean, I hate your lively guts too but can’t we just talk about this?!”

The boar gave him no response other than a grunt as it released a burst of hot air.

He turned and faced the golden path ahead and began to walk forward.

[Atrocious..].

“What was that?”

[N-nothing… ].

Skullius grew increasingly wary of the road ahead. He turned again and saw the boar huffing as it glared at him.

There was no choice.

He walked ahead, passing the trees that were on both sides.

Strangely, the further he walked, the more he realised that the tree path became wider as if welcoming him to this new place.

“Maybe… it’s not that bad?” he tried to comfort himself.

On either side, a few rows of trees could be seen before the rest turned into a shallow darkness that became pitch black the further one looked.

Skullius gulped air as he continued walking ahead.

“VOW bro.. what is this place?” he asked.

[Sigh…].

“What is it?”

[…..].

“GAAAAH! Now you won’t answer me?!”

Sooner after, Skullius heard the voice of VOW announcing as a notification from the guidance field.

[Congratulations. You have royally screwed yourself by entering a Higher Tier Beast’s ‘Majestic Territory’]

[You are now under ‘Gargantuan’s Scrutiny’. You are practically naked before the Great Mane Mountain Ape]

[You are now under ‘King’s Gaze’. All your skills and stats have been reduced by 90%]

[Haha. What stats?]

[You are now under ‘King’s Court’. Depending on what you say or do, you may walk away a free skeleton or your existence will end with a single word]

Skullius felt a tremendous force descend and almost trample him on the ground. He felt a severe sense of weakness as well as a scorching sensation that made his bony body start to sizzle!

From the surroundings, creatures that looked like dragonflies with bright blue butterfly wings appeared and began flying around him. At their ends, a bright yellow light flickered from time to time as they circled around Skullius.

A distance ahead, it was as if space distorted, changing from the view of a cluster of golden trees to the view of a massive figure that sat on a similarly massive stone throne.

Skullius gazed at this figure and his core screamed.

“Uhmmm…..” Skullius mumbled as he cursed his luck…which was indeed atrocious!