Invitation to Ferum
Kang Geon was in his one-room apartment. It was a cramped space near the university district, just big enough to fit a desk, a bed, and a wardrobe. At least, it had been—until glowing letters appeared before his eyes and the scenery around him shifted without warning.
Welcome to Ferum?Where the hell is Ferum?
Most people would have panicked at such an abrupt change, but Kang Geon remained strangely calm. Power surged through his entire body, the kind of raw strength that made anything feel possible. For instance, snapping the steel chains wrapped tightly around both his arms.
Why not give it a try?
Upon closer inspection, the chains weren't some cheap scrap metal. They were proper steel, each link thicker than his thumb. No ordinary human could break them, no matter how hard they tried. Even a robot from the future would have been helpless. Still, he had nothing to lose. Kang Geon poured his strength into the restraints.
"Hup!"
The chains stretched, reached their limit, and finally snapped. It was almost too easy—even Kang Geon was surprised by how effortless it felt. The broken links clattered to the floor, revealing his forearms.
Are these really my arms?
They weren't the arms he'd known for twenty years. The skin was a pale grayish-white, and the muscles were far thicker than before. The same was true for the rest of his body. His entire frame had turned that same ashen color, and both his height and build had increased dramatically. Kang Geon found he rather liked his new physique. He'd never been short at 180 centimeters, but in his eyes, bigger was always better. He'd always felt a twinge of irritation whenever he saw someone taller than himself.
Clang! The sound of rattling chains echoed as the iron bars blocking his path rose upward. Beyond them stretched a sandy arena dotted with corpses and bloodstains. It looked like a recreation of the ancient Roman Colosseum.
—We've kept you waiting! The fifth opponent for the cunning butcher Tuspaeng— the idiot Johnny!
The announcer's voice boomed across the arena. In the center stood a muscular man raising a battle axe high as he let out a savage roar. The crowd packed into the circular stands erupted in thunderous cheers.
So this is Ferum, and I've been put into a different body. Or maybe just my soul was brought here. Kang Geon calmly assessed the situation. The letters he'd dismissed as a hallucination had apparently been a genuine invitation.
"You idiot! Get over here!" Tuspaeng barked, treating him like an animal.
Kang Geon scanned the area for a weapon. There were no blades worth using, but a length of broken chain on the ground caught his eye. It was long enough to serve as a whip even after being snapped. He grabbed the two longest pieces and stepped out into the arena.
"Too stupid to even speak? Hurry up and fight!"
The language Tuspaeng used was completely unfamiliar—neither English, Chinese, nor Arabic. It was probably a tongue that didn't exist on Earth. Yet Kang Geon understood it as clearly as his own native language.
—The idiot Johnny is standing there like the fool he is.
The crowd burst into laughter at the announcer's joke. Being made a laughingstock soured Kang Geon's mood.
"Those fucking bastards."
While cursing under his breath, he hurled the chain in his right hand with all his might.
Whoosh!
The announcer didn't even flinch at the deadly projectile screaming toward him. His tower was protected by B-class defensive magic, cast by the Colosseum's owner himself. No attack of equal or lesser rank could harm him until the barrier was broken. That assumption lasted less than a second.
BOOM!
The sheer force behind the chain tore through the defensive magic like paper and obliterated the tower. Wooden splinters flew in every direction, and the announcer's body was reduced to chunks of flesh.
—Waaaaah!
The crowd's roar grew even louder. For spectators who had come to revel in blood, this unexpected twist was an exciting bonus.
"What the hell are you?" Tuspaeng's face had gone deathly pale. The strength of gladiators in this minor arena was predictable, but what Kang Geon had just displayed far exceeded that.
From Tuspaeng's reaction, Kang Geon realized the power he'd been granted was extraordinary. Any lingering hesitation vanished. He charged.
"U-uaaah!"
Tuspaeng screamed as Kang Geon swung the chain. It was a simple overhead strike, but the speed was so overwhelming that Tuspaeng could barely raise his axe in defense.
CRACK!
The axe handle snapped instantly, and Tuspaeng's skull burst open, splattering brain matter everywhere. Kang Geon wiped the fluids from his face. The headless corpse collapsed with a thud. Amid the gruesome sight of blood pouring from the neck, Kang Geon's first thought was how satisfying it felt—the sweet thrill of revenge against the man who had mocked him as an idiot.
—Boooo!
The crowd jeered. They'd paid good money expecting a brutal, bloody spectacle, not a fight that ended in an instant. Irritated, Kang Geon shouted.
"Shut up!"
A single booming voice from one man drowned out the noise of thousands. Kang Geon spun the chain menacingly. The sight of the deadly weapon reminded people of the announcer's gruesome death, and the jeering died down.
Clang! An iron gate in the wall rose, and a person emerged. It was a scrawny boy in ragged clothes, thin as a twig. He scurried over, dropped to his knees in a deep bow, and stammered while trembling visibly.
"M-M-Master wishes to see the I-Inviter!"
"Who's your master, and what's an Inviter?"
"M-Master is the manager of this Colosseum! I-Inviters are those summoned to Ferum!"
"You're giving me a headache. Speak slower."
"I-I'm sorry."
"Why does he want to see me?"
"I-I don't know the details."
"Are you an idiot?"
"I'm sorry."
"Lead the way."
Kang Geon figured meeting the Colosseum's manager would give him answers about Ferum and the invitation. Following the slave for about five minutes, they arrived at a dining hall that reeked of alcohol. A long table large enough to seat over ten people was laden with appetizing food.
"Welcome to my Colosseum! First time in Ferum?"
A plump man with jiggling cheeks spoke. On either side of him sat naked women flaunting their seductive figures, feeding him food with sultry smiles. The manager's hands groped their breasts. It was an enviable sight.
"What do you mean by Ferum?"
"This world. An endless land and sea where people fight endlessly to claim more."
"And Inviters?"
"There are those like you, randomly summoned here from other worlds. We call them Inviters."
It was a clear explanation. A world ruled by power, not law. Kang Geon liked that.
"Inviters grow strong quickly. But someone who breaks a B-class defensive magic tower and kills Tuspaeng right after arriving? That's rare."
"So I'm strong. That's good."
"Exactly! That's why I called you here—to get acquainted. What's your name? What should I call you?"
"Call me Geon."
"Good name. Drink up."
The manager poured wine into a cup, and one of the women brought it to Kang Geon. He sniffed it. The sharp scent of alcohol hit him hard. It was potent stuff.
"Looks good."
Kang Geon, who preferred strong liquor, downed it in one shot. As he savored the burn sliding down his throat, a murderous glint flashed in the manager's eyes. Kang Geon's heightened senses caught the subtle shift.
"What? Did you put something in the drink?"
The manager looked startled. He'd deliberately prepared strong wine laced with a sleeping drug—magic-crafted and nearly impossible to resist. His plan had been to knock Kang Geon out, tie him up, and sell him to recoup today's losses.
How did he notice?
Yet Kang Geon hadn't passed out. Instead, his sharpened instincts had detected the manager's scheme.
"Of course not! If it were poison, you'd be reacting by now."
"That's right. If Sir Geon had drunk poison, he wouldn't still be standing so calmly."
"If you're suspicious, I'll drink from the cup myself right now."
As the manager denied it, the slaves chimed in. Kang Geon found their pathetic attempt at deception laughable.
"Trying to fool me?"
The cup in his hand crumpled. Killing intent radiated from him, freezing the manager in place.
This is the aura of someone who's just arrived in Ferum? Impossible!
New arrivals were usually naive and weak. That's why Inviters who started in isolated areas like this often ended up as slaves or test subjects if they were unlucky. For women, rape and gang rape were everyday occurrences. There shouldn't have been a novice Inviter who could see through a local's trap like this.
I have to survive!
The manager dropped to his knees at once. His knees cracked under his weight, but what did pain matter compared to his life?
"Please spare me! I'll do anything if you let me live!"
"Then tell me the truth. What did you put in the drink?"
"A sleeping drug. It wasn't poison!"
"Why a sleeping drug?"
"I wanted to put you to sleep and negotiate from a position of advantage..."
"Shut it!"
Kang Geon feinted a strike, and the manager screamed, throwing his arms up in defense. The sight of him sweating and cowering was ridiculous.
"Last chance. Speak properly."
"Yes! The truth is, I planned to sell you to make up for the losses from the destroyed tower and Tuspaeng's death."
"Where were you going to sell me?"
"To mages who want test subjects or rulers who want slaves. Your special body would fetch a high price..."
"You want to die!"
"I'm sorry!"
"How strong am I in Ferum?"
"I only saw a glimpse, but you're definitely not weak. You'll know for sure once you access the Ferum System."
"How do I access the Ferum System?"
"Use your Status."
"What's that?"
Kang Geon snapped in irritation.
"It's an item that proves your identity in Ferum. About the size of a palm, it can do all sorts of amazing things."
A rectangular black object materialized in the manager's hand.
"This is it. You can summon your Status anytime, anywhere, and it shows your titles and abilities as an Inviter."
"Give it here."
"N-No, you can't!"
"Want to die?"
"Handing over your Status means becoming a slave."
"Explain in detail."
The manager wet his throat with wine.
"If someone absorbs your Status with your consent, a master-slave relationship is established. The master who absorbs it gains access to the slave's titles, name, and skills, along with the power of life and death. Giving up your Status is the same as surrendering everything you are."
Kang Geon would later learn that masters could also enhance or modify their slaves.
"Are those women slaves too?"
"Yes! I hold their Statuses."
"How do you break free from slavery?"
"Only if the master releases you or dies."
"Nice system."
"It is! As long as the slave isn't stronger than the master or hires an assassin, there's no need to worry about betrayal. Hehe."
"How do you summon the Status?"
"Just think about it, and it'll appear."
When Kang Geon willed his Status to appear, it materialized in his hand. It looked exactly like a smartphone.
"So that's how it works."
"Yes! Only you can see the screen. Though you can choose to make it visible to others if you want."
"Convenient. How do I operate it?"
"The Status reads its owner's thoughts."
When Kang Geon thought about wanting to see his status, the black screen lit up.