Transmigrated to a Dark Fantasy World of SSS-Rank: King of the Void-Chapter 5: Lone Wanderer

A deep darkness filled the throne room. The knight glanced at the walls, restless. It raised its sword in a defensive stance, disturbed by the strange presence that had taken root in the air.

Sshh...

All that darkness whispered. Faintly glowing purple shadows danced from side to side, drawing closer to the dying boy like scorching flames.

In the next instant, the darkness crawled across the walls, clearing the hall before sinking into the mass of flesh that was Mitsuki—filling his wounds and stopping the bleeding. His shattered body shifted back into place, cracking painfully amid the wet, viscous sounds of flesh and blood.

His limbs trembled violently as bones reconstructed one after another.

The knight whispered. Ash gathered into a cloud in its free hand, shaping itself into a primitive double-barreled shotgun.

It aimed at Mitsuki—but like a revenant, he rose to his feet. The tips of his long black hair turned purple. The iron gauntlets disintegrated, along with the boots, and the darkness beneath his feet expanded like tentacles stretching toward the knight.

The armored creature fired. The pellets disintegrated an inch before touching Mitsuki.

At that moment, the tattoo displayed a cascade of chilling messages.

[ The Void has descended and entered your body. ]

Lightning and sparks exploded around him.

[ Your body is too weak to withstand possession. Beginning adaptation process. ]

[ The Void’s possession has been adjusted. ]

The tentacles wrapped around the giant’s limbs, lifting it effortlessly into the air. Its arms and legs stretched, cracking along with the armor under the pressure.

[ You are using an infinitesimal fraction of the Void’s power. ]

[ Your title "King of the Void" is taking effect. ]

[ The skill "Pro Gamer" is displaying its effectiveness while calculating your stats. ]

Mitsuki exhaled a small cloud of vapor. A strand of hair fell over his face.

[ You have temporarily obtained the skill "Void Authority." ]

He took another step forward. His body appeared completely healed now, despite the horrific black cracks that filled his former wounds.

With absolute calm, he walked toward the black knight.

The spectral armored figure shook violently in an attempt to escape, but Mitsuki raised his hand—and the tentacles stretched the knight’s limbs even farther.

His bare feet brushed the floor lightly. With the next step, he mysteriously rose into the air.

He was flying.

Wrapped in the same mystery that had brought him into this world, Mitsuki spoke:

"Master of Cinder..."

The rays of sunlight vanished, along with everything that had existed around them. Darkness became absolute—a place where only the two of them faced each other in silence.

With a delicately atrocious grace, Mitsuki placed the tips of his fingers against the knight’s helmet.

Whispering, he said,

"Sleep..."

The tentacles ignited in violent purple flames. Each one pierced through the knight’s armor, shattering it into pieces and burning the tormented soul that possessed it.

Its screams echoed through the void—muffled cries like the whispers of a distant memory fading across the eternal parchment of time.

Before disappearing completely, the Master of Cinder groaned a single phrase:

"You... King of the Void..."

Finally, it vanished forever, surrounded by the ash that had accompanied it.

Mitsuki watched in silence. He lowered his hand and looked back.

His body absorbed all the darkness at once, returning to the palace hall. Then he descended like an angel upon the ash and walked toward the exit.

His relaxed steps made no sound. His decaying body moved between the ash statues that watched him from a story frozen in the past.

He continued down the long corridors.

He descended the grand staircase.

He crossed the wide stretch of brick and stone houses.

His steps carried him to the kingdom’s exit—a massive gate that was, ironically, near where he had first entered.

He paused for a second and breathed in the dusty air.

Then he stepped beyond the walls.

As his foot touched the outside, the tattoo on his arm shifted, transforming once more into a flood of notifications.

[ You have defeated the SSS-Rank Specter "Master of Cinder" and seized its existence. You will obtain all of its possessions. ]

However, Mitsuki did not even look at it. His eyes were dull—dead within complete darkness.

[ You have obtained the titles "Master of Cinder" and "Prince of Misfortune." ]

[ You have obtained all skills and items belonging to the Master of Cinder. ]

[ Your Level and Stats are too low to withstand the power you have acquired. All potentially harmful effects will be sealed. Everything else will be reduced in level. ]

[ Recalculating. ] 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

[

You have obtained the following skills:

Ash Manipulation Lv. 1

Weapon Mastery Lv. 1

Charisma Lv. 1

Acceleration Lv. 1

Martial Arts Lv. 1

Stealth Lv. 1

Spatial Storage Lv. 1

]

He kept walking along the cobblestone road.

[ You have obtained the following items:

Igor (Basic Double-Barreled Shotgun)

Viktor (Shapeshifting Sword: Firearm Form)

Cloak of Stealth

Boots of Acceleration

Royal Uniform

Bottles of Ambrosia

Prince Arthur’s Testament

Ancient Locket

]

As his bare feet were torn by the road, the ash statues looked upon daylight one last time. Every single one of them—even though it was day—turned to face the gates of one of the ancient kingdoms of the land of Nemoria.

They watched the horrifying being who had freed them from that ancient curse.

Their bodies were carried away by the wind, scattering into the air until they vanished completely.

Meanwhile, that hero—whose existence was judged monstrous by the very thing that empowered him—walked away without saying a single word.

[ You have leveled up. ]

[ Your stats have grown in proportion to your achievements. ]

[

❖ Level: 1 → 12

❖ XP: 50 of 650

❖ HP / MP / Stamina:

11 / 1 / 6 → 100 / 45 / 20

❖ Strength / Agility / Intelligence:

3 / 2 / 20 → 20 / 10 / 50

]

However, he suddenly stopped.

He looked up at the clear sky and sighed. The tattoos on his arm displayed the final notifications.

[ The Void watches you, bidding farewell. ]

[ Your body is shattered. When the Void leaves you, you will die. ]

[ Recalculating. ]

[ You have obtained the skill "Progression Healing" as a starting gift from the Void. ]

[ Estimated recovery time: 1 month and 12 days. ]

Purple mist enveloped his body before fading away.

[ The Void has departed. You have lost its protection. ]

[ Until the estimated recovery time is complete, you will remain in a state of Trance. ]

Thus, far from his own material body, Mitsuki’s mind drifted through the void. Yet he continued walking—away from that dangerous place.

From that moment on... he would keep walking.

***

One month later.

Great green trees lined both sides of the road, where a massive wooden carriage rattled over the stones.

The old cloth canopy, pulled by two beautiful silver-coated horses, shielded the passengers from the sun, though small holes allowed glimpses of those inside.

"How much longer until we arrive? I haven’t practiced my magic in three days. If I rust, it’ll be your fault," said a beautiful woman who looked more like a moody teenager.

Her hair was long, green, and silky. Her pointed ears revealed her race, as did her cold, arrogant silver eyes. Her skin was pale as snow, and her chest was as flat as the road they traveled. Over her shoulders she wore the black cloak of a witch, though beneath it she wore an elegant dress crafted by the elves themselves.

"If we stop to rest, it’ll add two more weeks to the trip," replied a blonde woman.

She wore silver plate armor that concealed her voluptuous figure. Her breasts were pronounced, her hips wide—where the belt of her sword’s sheath rested. Her skin was fair with soft pink tones in certain places. Her emerald-green eyes and refined, elegant features gave her the appearance of a cold-hearted woman.

"I’m tired of this. You told me I could get what I wanted here, and we still haven’t found anything," said the elf.

"I know what I said—and it’s true. Setting aside how dangerous Nemoria is, the ancient grimoires in these castles are extremely valuable. Exactly what you want."

"And in two weeks we’ve found nothing."

"Whatever. Even if we don’t find anything, we grew stronger in the first castle."

The elf sighed.

"You’re right. I feel like I could turn you into a worm."

"You don’t know that kind of magic. First—"

She stopped. She frowned and looked at the elf.

The elf met her gaze, picking up the staff resting on the floor. Then she nodded and said,

"Jeanne..."

"Yes. It’s weak—but we can’t let our guard down."

Tapping the seat with her knuckles, Jeanne signaled for the carriage to stop.

Both women stepped down with weapons in hand. They looked toward the trees and bushes along the roadside.

The leaves rustled, and from the brush emerged a thin, pale boy with visible dark circles under his eyes and long, unkempt hair. His clothes were strange and stained with blood. His eyes were so lifeless that it would not have been surprising if he were a zombie—or a lone wanderer.

However, Jeanne did not lower her guard. She approached the boy, who was walking toward the other side of the forest without paying attention to anyone.