System

The system clock ticked in the corner of his vision.

59... 58...

Allen lunged forward.

His cracked dagger gleamed faintly, glowing with a strange hue it hadn't possessed before. Was it reacting to the system or to him?

The monster swiped again — Allen ducked, barely avoiding it. The air screamed above his head from the force.

[Warning: HP critically low.]

He stumbled but didn't fall. His body was burning, his muscles tearing with each movement — but something inside him refused to stop.

[New Passive Skill Unlocked: Death Drive]

– When HP is below 10%, all stats are temporarily increased by 200%.

– Pain resistance increased. Fear suppressed.

Allen's eyes widened as the world slowed around him.

The monster reared back.

Allen dashed forward — impossibly fast. His broken dagger carved across the beast's leg, leaving a thin glowing line. Not deep enough but the monster flinched.

52... 51...

'I can hurt it.' he thought, going for it again.

The monster roared, spinning to slam its tail into him.

Allen jumped or tried to. The tail grazed his side, sending him flying again, but this time, he rolled into a crouch and skidded to a stop.

He coughed blood. His vision dimmed again.

[30 seconds remaining.]

The monster approached, more cautious now.

Allen's legs wobbled.

Then—

Another notification.

[Active Skill Unlocked: Soul Piercer – Lv.1]

– Deliver a precise strike that ignores physical defense.

Cooldown: 30 seconds.

Allen's hand moved before he could think.

The dagger shimmered. For a moment, it looked whole, like it had never broken before.

The monster charged but this time, Allen leapt forward, there was no hesitation or fear in his eyes. He drove the dagger straight into the creature's chest — into the pulsing core between its ribs.

Time froze.

A blinding light exploded from the point of impact.

Then—BOOM!

The monster shrieked. Its chest caved in, dark energy cracking out from within as the beast staggered and collapsed, its many limbs twitching violently.

Then stillness.

[5... 4... 3...2...]

The system chimed again.

[Tutorial Complete.]

[You have survived.]

The monster's body crumbled with a heavy thud behind him, smoke still rising from the shattered core.

Allen stood, panting, his legs shaking as well.

The system, message floated before his dimming eyes—

[Reward Granted: Beginner's Package – Open Now?]

But he never got to choose.

His vision blurred completely, without warning and his breath caught in his throat.

Then before he knew what was happening, everything faded to black.

He collapsed, unconscious, blood pooling beneath him, the dagger slipping from his fingers.

And above his motionless body, the glowing message remained... waiting.

[Yes / No]

------

After what seemed like hours, Allen's eyes fluttered open and when he looked around, he was caught with the sight of white ceiling and wires connected to his body.

He tried to get up but felt something heavy, pressing down on his right hand. Turning his head around, he was met a sight that warmed his heart.

His sister, Mia.

She was sleeping, lying on his hand.

His brows furrowed because he knew how worried she must have been. Now, thinking about that, his mind wandered to the fight earlier and how he mysteriously made it out alive — he had almost died if not completely.

It was strange enough that he was alive and more strange that he felt stronger than before.

Just then —

Ding!

The now-familiar mechanical chime echoed faintly in his ears, though no one else in the room reacted.

A translucent blue screen appeared before his eyes.

---

[Welcome, Allen.]

[Your Potential Has Been Unlocked.]

[You are now recognized as an official Player.]

Class: Undefined (Hidden Potential Detected)

Level: 1

Title: Tutorial Survivor

HP: 150/150

MP: 60/60

Strength: 15

Agility: 14

Endurance: 12

Intelligence: 10

Luck: ???

Skills:

– [Death Drive] (Passive)

– [Soul Piercer – Lv.1] (Active)

----

Allen blinked. The interface was clean, sharp, too real to be a dream.

Another tab opened next.

---

[Beginner's Package Received.]

Open now?

[Yes] / [No]

---

He hesitated, glancing at his sleeping sister. This wasn't a hallucination. The system, the fight, everything — it had followed him here.

He exhaled slowly.

"…Open," he whispered.

The screen shimmered.

---

[Beginner's Package Opened.]

– [Item: Starter Weapon – Shadow Fang Dagger (Uncommon)]

– [Item: Basic Health Potion x3]

– [Item: Basic Skill Scroll – ???]

– [Item: Inventory Unlocked (10 slots)]

– [New Feature: Quest Log Unlocked]

– [New Feature: Stat Points Available – 5 points]

---

A faint ripple of light washed over Allen's body, and he could feel it—something within him clicking into place, like a lock turning.

A new life… a new path… had begun.

Before he could explore further, Mia stirred beside him.

"Allen, brother... You are awake!" She cried and hugged him instantly. "I told you not to put yourself in danger but look at what you've done to yourself!"

Allen hugged her back, smiling faintly at how worried she was for him.

"I am sorry, Mia but as you can see, I am fine,"he gently said, hoping that she would stop crying. "I'm fine, really."

"....are you sure?" Mia asked him, after staring at him for a while.

"Yes," he replied. "You know I can't lie to you."

"Very well then," Mia said and then wiped her face clean. She was now calm but it didn't stop her from being worried.

"By the way, Mia," Allen said. "Do you by chance know about a screen popping out of nowhere?"

"What screen?" Mia asked, confused.

"Like... The computer games you play. Screen popping out and giving you quests, and rewards.... Something like that."

"Yeah, I do know about that one. Why do you ask?"

"Is it possible for it to appear in thin air? Like hovering above someone's face? Do you see anything?"

"No, I don't know about that and I don't see anything," Mia replied.

"Oh, I see...." Allen muttered. 'So I am the only one seeing it.'

"Why do you ask?" Mia suddenly asked him. She didn't know her brother was behaving strangely.

"Nothing exactly. I was just curious about the games and how they work," Allen lied. 'Since no one can see it, it is best if it remains a secret.'

Throughout the rest of the day, Mia spent time with her brother and towards evening, she decided to head back home because the next day was going to be school again. She didn't like missing school, not for any reason.

After she had gone, Allen closed his eyes to sleep but suddenly, the mechanical chime rang out.

Ding!

[An enemy is approaching. Defeat them to stay alive]