Author Of Worlds: I Reincarnated Into My Novel As A Random Character
Chapter 13: Becoming A Corrupted Fallen... Trial Completed.

Chapter 13: Becoming A Corrupted Fallen... Trial Completed.

’But... why do I struggle against death so much?’

This question surfaced in Matthew’s mind at the final moment.

At first, he thought it was because he feared death.

But now, he understood that wasn’t the reason.

He hated the feeling of powerlessness...

Ever since he acquired that strange, unique skill, his world had changed completely. Drastically in fact.

Everything was different.

Even though only a short time had passed, Matthew had already come to terms with the fact that he was no longer ordinary.

He was walking a different path now.

He knew he would be forced to make decisions that would go against his morality.

He had hesitated before, but now, with death looming over him, he had no choice.

Not only was he being forced to make a decision, he was also being pushed onto a path he never wanted to take.

Matthew’s eyes turned bloodshot, and without hesitation, he reached out toward the monstrous shadow with his head held high, just before it could crush him.

The shadow froze the moment his skin made contact with it.

It paused.

Then it began to writhe violently, twisting and morphing into countless strange and unnatural forms.

It no longer acted like a single entity, but more like a collection of wriggling curses.

Slowly, it began slithering toward Matthew.

In just a few breaths, the entire mass had completely fused with his body.

Jin, who had been watching the entire process, stood stunned.

Before he could react, Matthew had already touched the shadow and absorbed it into himself.

The instant the fusion completed, Matthew felt his mind erupt in pain.

A tidal wave of negative emotions came crashing through his thoughts like a flood.

Rage. Despair. Hatred. Madness. Grief.

All of it overwhelmed his consciousness.

But deep inside him, amidst the chaos, there was still a flicker of light.

A stubborn, fierce will to live.

That flame of resistance burned wildly within him and refused to be extinguished.

This wasn’t some random act of desperation; instead was calculated.

Matthew had planned it all.

He had known this might be the only way.

By fusing with the shadow, if one could suppress the flood of negative emotions, they could gain control over it.

This was Matthew’s last resort, and the only possible way to survive.

He hadn’t been sure it would work. But thanks to Jin pushing him to the brink and strengthening his resolve, it worked.

He opened his mouth to speak, but the voice that came out sounded monstrous and twisted.

It was hoarse and dry, like rusted metal scraping against stone.

"I have to thank you for this..."

The moment Jin heard the voice, his eyes widened.

He stared at Matthew, who now radiated a terrifying aura.

He was no longer human.

"How are you still conscious after fusing with the shadow?"

Jin’s brows furrowed. He had always suspected that Matthew was hiding something. But this went far beyond what he expected.

Was this guy even human?

The thought crept into his mind and made his heart clench.

Just as Matthew was about to respond, a series of glowing runes appeared in their line of sights.

[Corrupted Fallen detected. Please sacrifice a life to restore his soul to the light.]

Seeing the runes, Jin’s eyes gleamed.

He had almost forgotten.

Now that Matthew had become a Corrupted Fallen, all he needed to do was sacrifice one of the incapacitated trialists, and Matthew would instantly be erased.

And with Matthew gone, he could destroy the Decay Heart and complete the trial alone.

Just as Jin reached this realization, Matthew, who created the trial in the novel, had already anticipated it.

Without a single moment of hesitation, his monstrous figure moved.

His speed was terrifying being many times faster than before.

All of his physical capabilities had been pushed beyond the limits the moment he became a Corrupted Fallen.

In a flash, he arrived before the scattered trialists, the ones bleeding and unconscious.

Most of them were already on the verge of death.

Thankfully, Jin had attacked them at close range, which meant they were all bunched together.

Matthew didn’t hesitate.

He raised his colossal arm and punched downward.

With the corruption fueling his strength and dulling his emotions, he no longer felt anything toward them.

Their lives were nothing more than sparks before a storm.

His massive fist crashed down like a meteor.

Bones shattered, flesh splattered, and blood painted the floor.

They didn’t even get the chance to scream.

It was like crushing insects.

Matthew stood still, staring at the mangled bodies, his monstrous breathing deep and slow.

Jin’s face twisted in shock.

He hadn’t expected such ruthlessness.

Matthew hadn’t hesitated at all.

And now there was no one left to sacrifice.

It was just the two of them.

The final two standing on the trial grounds.

The last battle to determine the victor.

The one who emerged alive would gain a new ability.

Jin’s eyes blazed with intensity and his heart burned fiercely with ambition.

Just then, the world fractured.

Cracks spread through the very air, and a dense, grey aura of decay began to fill the surroundings.

It moved like mist, but with every inch it touched, buildings began to crumble and disintegrate.

A new series of runes appeared in the air.

[Corruption is now at 94 percent.]

[Passive destruction of the Hollow Sphere initiated.]

[Trial will end in one hour.]

[Passive decay begins to erode the world.]

[Pass the trial within the stipulated time or be consumed.]

Matthew’s monstrous eyes flickered as he read the message.

He felt something stir within him.

His monstrous form expanded again, and with it came a terrifying surge of emotion.

Keeping his sanity was becoming harder and harder.

He could feel the tide of madness crawling back.

He estimated that at most, he had ten minutes before he lost control completely.

And he still had to destroy the Decay Heart.

He clenched his monstrous fist so tightly that his thick, corrupted skin cracked.

The pain helped him regain a sliver of focus.

Without warning, his enormous body surged forward.

He towered over Jin and sent a massive fist flying toward him.

But Jin had been prepared.

"It seems you don’t have much time left!" Jin shouted, grinning wickedly as he leaped to the side, dodging with ease.

Matthew didn’t speak.

Instead, he charged again.

He released a barrage of punches, each more forceful than the last, each breaking the ground where it landed.

But Jin was fast.

He danced between the blows, dodging every one with calm precision.

Time passed.

Each second burned at Matthew’s mind.

His breathing became heavier and his focus wavered as the world around him began to twist and spin, as the corruption took its toll.

Then, something caught his attention.

A figure who was moving not too far away.

Matthew’s monstrous eyes narrowed.

He had thought she was dead.

One of the female trialists.

She was bleeding, barely standing, but was moving as though she had a purpose in mind.

So I didn’t kill them all?

He realized now that in his corrupted state, he had overlooked her.

She was barely alive and clearly preparing something.

Matthew instantly understood what she planned.

’I’ll help you then.’

He aimed one final blow at Jin, this time causing him to stagger and leap a few feet away.

Exactly where the woman was waiting.

Gripping Jin’s own dagger, she didn’t hesitate.

The moment he landed, she lunged.

"What...?"

Jin froze in disbelief.

The same woman he had stabbed in the throat was still alive?

Blood covered her skin completely, and her eyes were wild.

Without pause, she stabbed Jin again and again.

Over and over.

Jin screamed as blood spurted from his mouth.

He turned to look at her in disbelief. His eyes were full of hatred and confusion.

"You... bitch..."

That was all he could mutter before he collapsed.

Within moments, his breath faded.

A smile touched the woman’s lips.

But it didn’t last.

Her body trembled, and the light in her eyes vanished.

She had used everything she had left to kill Jin.

She collapsed, lifeless.

The blood pooling around them was silent.

...

[Trialist Eliminated: Jin Devel]

[Corruption: +2 percent to remaining participant]

[Current Corruption: 97 percent.]

...

[Trialist Eliminated: Adriana Love]

[Corruption: +2 percent to remaining participant]

[Current Corruption: 99 percent]

...

Another set of runes glowed.

[Sacrifice obtained. Corrupted Fallen is now liberated.]

...

Matthew was already sprinting toward the still-beating Decay Heart.

He had predicted this outcome.

He knew his time was almost up.

But just then, his heart skipped a beat.

He felt something shift inside him.

A pure, cleansing sensation flowed through his soul.

There was no need to ask.

If anyone could recognize this sensation, it was Matthew.

After all, he had written about this part as well.

’I’m dead.’

Matthew felt his lifeforce slipping away.

His body was already beginning to crumble.

But, fortunately, he had reached the Decay Heart in time.

Summoning everything he had left. his will, his rage, and his final breath, he hurled one final punch.

The blow landed with absolute force.

The Hollow Sphere cracked.

The Decay Heart, no matter how powerful, could not survive the pressure of that final strike.

With a thunderous impact, it shattered.

Just before he was completely erased, Matthew destroyed the Decay Heart and completed the trial.

His soul paused in the cleansing.

And then, a final line of runes flared brightly before him.

[Detected an abnormality in passing the trial.]