"I Was Reincarnated as a Talker, But My Words Can Rewrite Reality"

"Velian! Velian!"

His name rang out through the chaos.

Velian's eyes shot open, pain roaring through his head like thunder. Blood coated half his face, the coppery taste of it in his mouth. He blinked, vision blurry. The cavern ceiling spun above him. Screams. Roars. Steel clashing against fangs.

He turned his head, wincing, and saw them—Kael, Dren, and Aera. Fighting. Three figures standing against a swarm of beasts.

"How can you be sleeping in this situation?!" Kael's voice barked.

Velian groaned, touching his forehead. His fingers came away red.

"I still haven't forgotten my past life, huh…" he muttered.

"Get your butt up and support us with your talker abilities!" Dren shouted without even glancing at him.

Velian blinked slowly, then pushed himself up with a grunt. "Right… on it."

He steadied himself and looked ahead. From the shadows of the chamber, black-furred beasts burst forth—twice the size of a man, claws dragging across stone, fangs like daggers, and crimson eyes glowing like dying embers.

Velian narrowed his eyes. "C and D-rank Lycerg beasts…" His voice was calm, but sharp. "Fast. Pack hunters. Weak to light magic. If they surround us—we're dead."

A magic circle glowed beneath his feet and extended beneath the others. His golden eyes pulsed. "Focus."

Kael and Dren moved as one, blades glowing with mana as they split. Kael shouted, "Split and flank!"

Dren surged forward to meet the right flank, blade flashing. Kael dashed left, his sword slashing in wide arcs.

Velian stood still.

And then, with a calm breath, he spoke.

"Buffer Spell: Burn louder than silence!"

Golden light erupted around Kael and Dren. Rings of glowing energy swirled around their arms and weapons, igniting them with raw force.

Kael's blade caught fire, burning bright crimson. Dren's swings grew heavier, faster—each strike landing with the force of a hammer.

The beasts screamed. The balance shifted.

Kael grinned. "Now we're talking!"

But behind them—

A soft sound. Fragile. Shaking.

Aera had fallen to one knee, her staff rattling in her hands. Her lips trembled.

"I can't… I-I'm too slow," she whispered. "I'll just mess it up. I can't keep up…"

Kael turned briefly, shouting, "You can do it, Aera! Don't give up! We'll make it out alive!"

Velian's steps echoed as he walked to her side.

He cast a long shadow over her.

He didn't shout. He didn't plead.

His voice came like stone through mist.

"Buffer Spell: Stand tall, even if your knees beg you not to."

A golden ring pulsed from her chest. A glow like a mother's warmth wrapped around her. A protective aura cradled her body, whispering comfort.

The chill of fear cracked and shattered like glass.

Her fingers gripped her staff.

She stood.

"Cover fire," she whispered.

A blast of light shot from her staff, striking a Lycerg that had lunged at Kael. It screeched as its skin sizzled under holy light.

Kael laughed. "There you go! I knew you had it in you!"

Velian said nothing. Just whispered, barely audible.

"...That's it. That's your strength."

Behind them, the battle turned. The Silent Howl Guild—four against many—fought like one.

But fate is cruel.

The ground trembled.

A heavy, demonic voice echoed through the cave.

All movement stopped.

The beasts backed away—slowly, respectfully.

Aera gasped. "I-Is it… an earthquake?"

"No…" Dren muttered. "The Lycergs are... clearing the way…"

Velian narrowed his eyes. "They're not afraid. They're showing reverence."

BOOM. BOOM.

The stone cracked.

And from the shadows stepped a giant.

A towering beast — claws like greatswords, eyes like molten lava, drool dripping from its jagged fangs. The air thickened.

Riven whispered, "That thing… isn't a C-rank."

Dren shook his head. "There's no way we can stand against that!"

Fear took hold again. Aera froze.

Riven turned. "You ready, Velian?!"

Velian glanced at his trembling hands. "...I'm out of mana."

"WHAT?!" Dren shouted.

The beast pounded its chest and let out a scream so loud the cavern cracked. The ceiling trembled. Dozens more Lycergs emerged from every crevice, answering the call.

"RUN!" Riven yelled.

They bolted.

But Aera stumbled. Her legs locked. A beast leapt toward her.

Velian's instincts took over. He launched himself forward, kicking the Lycerg mid-air. It crashed into a wall.

"Go!" he yelled, grabbing her wrist. "Move!"

They ran.

But pain shot through him — a claw slashed his leg.

Velian cried out, hitting the ground hard.

Blood gushed from the wound.

"Velian!" Kael turned, panic in his voice.

Riven and Dren rushed back and hauled him up.

They ran again. Harder. Faster. Breathing sharp.

They ducked into a narrow gap. Velian collapsed, panting, blood pooling under him.

"They… they're still finding us!" Aera said.

Dren looked down. Blood trails. "They're tracking him... through his wound."

Velian bit his lip, guilt crushing his chest.

Riven snapped, "We split. Now. It's the only way."

"But Velian—" Aera protested.

"He'll slow us down!" Dren barked. "We'll all die if we stay!"

Velian looked up, pain in his eyes, but nodded. "It's fine... I agree."

Aera reached into her bag and handed him a small pouch. "This will help. Ash that drives them off…"

Velian looked her in the eyes. "...Thanks."

They all left, disappearing into the shadows.

Velian limped alone, dragging his leg. His breaths were shaky.

The pouch felt warm in his hand. A spark of hope.

But then—

Growling.

He turned.

A Lycerg was in front of him.

He reached into the pouch and opened it.

His heart dropped.

It wasn't ash.

It was meat.

Raw. Bloody. Meat.

His hands trembled.

"N-No… this... this isn't to drive them away…"

Beasts closed in. Dozens of glowing eyes. Teeth glinting.

Velian's voice cracked. "It's to lure them... to me."

He backed away. The beasts stalked forward.

Tears welled in his eyes.

"They… used me."

"To give them time."

"They sacrificed me."

Behind him, a cliff.

He turned.

Below—darkness.

No escape.

He turned back.

Hundreds of beasts.

Heartbreaking silence.

Velian's lips trembled.

"I should've known…"

"Trust… friendship…"

"It's always a lie…"

A Lycerg leapt at him.

He didn't move.

It struck him—and he fell.

He fell down the cliff.

The wind howled in his ears.

Tears rolled upward as he descended into black.

His fingers curled into a fist.

"Why is it always me...?"

"Betrayal... after betrayal."

"I gave everything."

"I trusted again."

"I believed again."

His eyes snapped open.

"No more."

"I won't die here."

"I refuse to die here."

"I will return…"

"I will take revenge on all of you."

His heart pulsed. Power stirred.

"I'll burn this sinful world."

"And you'll burn with it."

BOOM.

The ground exploded.

Lycergs above screamed as a massive shockwave threw them off their feet.

A blinding light pierced the darkness.

Velian hovered above the crater, blood dripping from his body—but the wound on his leg was gone.

His silver hair turned crimson.

His eyes, glowing red.

His aura burst like wildfire, shaking the entire dungeon.

Stone crumbled. Magic circles spun wildly behind his back.

The Lycergs roared and charged.

He didn't move.

He didn't scream.

He didn't flinch.

He opened his mouth—

And said coldly.

"Die."