chapter 3:New Chance

Kai leaned against the cold metal railing of the fire escape, his breath still uneven from the fight. The three goblin corpses around him were proof that he had survived his first real battle. But as the adrenaline faded, exhaustion crept in. His arm throbbed where the goblin's claws had slashed him, and his shirt was torn and stained with blood.

He needed a moment to process everything.

With a deep breath, he focused on the glowing system window still hovering before him.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

Quest Completed: Survive the Awakening.

Rewards Unlocked:

- New Skill: Quick Step (Level 1)

- Item Acquired: Minor Healing Potion (x1)

New Quest Unlocked: Escape the Infected Zone.

Objective: Leave the city before the next wave begins.

Kai narrowed his eyes at the information. The system wasn't just a hallucination—it was real.It reacted to his actions, recorded his progress, and even rewarded him like a game.

Curious, he muttered, "Status window."

At his command, a translucent screen materialized in front of him.

[STATUS WINDOW]

Name:Kai Jin

Rank: F

Health: 87%

Mana:0%

Strength: 5

Agility:6

Endurance: 4

Intelligence: 10

Dexterity: 7

Skills:

- [Analysis] (Level 1) - Allows basic observation of items and creatures.

- [Quick Step] (Level 1) - A short burst of speed to dodge or reposition in combat.

Inventory:

- Goblin's Dagger (Rank F)

- Goblin's Rusted Knife (Rank F)

- Goblin's Claw (Rank F)

- Minor Healing Potion (x1)

Kai scanned the information carefully. His stats seemed straightforward enough. Strength, agility, endurance—it was all self-explanatory. But his intelligence stat was higher than the rest. Did that mean he was naturally smarter? Or did it have some other function?

The skills section caught his attention next.

[Analysis] (Level 1). He hadn't used it yet, but if it did what he thought, it could be useful for identifying enemies and items.

Then there was [Quick Step] (Level 1). He wasn't sure how it worked, but the description suggested it would help him dodge attacks or move quickly in battle. That could be a lifesaver.

Finally, he opened his inventory.

The weapons were basic. Goblin's Dagger and Goblin's Rusted Knife—not ideal, but better than nothing. The Goblin's Claw was an item, but he wasn't sure what it did yet.

Then there was the Minor Healing Potion.

He hesitated for a moment before pulling it out of his inventory. Instantly, a small glass vial appeared in his hand, filled with a faintly glowing red liquid.

"Looks like a health potion from a game," he muttered.

His arm still stung from the goblin's attack. He had 87% health left, so technically, he wasn't in critical danger. But if he wanted to test how the system worked, this was a good opportunity.

Without overthinking, he uncorked the vial and drank.

The effect was immediate. A warm sensation spread through his body, and the stinging pain in his arm faded. The torn skin sealed itself before his eyes.

A notification popped up.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

- Health restored: +20%.

- Current Health: 100%.

Kai stared at his now-healed arm, flexing his fingers. Instant recovery. If potions like this existed, then injuries weren't as permanent as they used to be. That was a huge advantage.

The system wasn't just a way to track progress—it could actively help him survive.

He exhaled, letting his body relax for the first time. His situation was still dangerous, but now, it felt manageable.

Kai looked at the new quest.

Quest: Escape the Infected Zone.

Objective: Leave the city before the next wave begins.

His brows furrowed. The next wave?

That meant more monsters were coming. Maybe stronger ones.

His gaze shifted toward the city. Fires burned in the distance, screams still echoed through the streets, and the monstrous growls of creatures filled the air.

The goblins were just the beginning.

If he wanted to survive, he needed to move.

Kai closed the system window and tightened his grip on his daggers.

Kai stood on the fire escape, staring down at the ruins of his apartment building. The quiet night seemed surreal after the chaos of the battle with the goblins. The weight of his situation pressed on him as he turned to face the city below. The once familiar, bustling streets of Seoul now looked abandoned and desolate, like a ghost town.

Time to leave.

He turned back into his apartment, his footsteps echoing in the silence. He hadn't expected to say goodbye to his home so suddenly. But this wasn't just some random crisis anymore—it was a war, a war that had just begun, and he was no longer just a bystander.

He walked to his closet, taking a long look at his modest clothes. A hoodie, a pair of old jeans, and sneakers—nothing suited for combat.

With a grim resolve, he quickly started changing. He swapped his hoodie for a thicker jacket, one that would provide a bit more protection. His jeans were replaced with sturdier cargo pants, and he tucked a few basic supplies—like water and snacks—into the pockets. He found an old backpack and threw it over his shoulder. His shoes would have to do for now, though he knew they'd wear out quickly in this new world.

Kai grabbed his weapons—the goblin's dagger and the rusted knife. He hesitated for a moment, looking down at the bloodstained floor. He hadn't had a choice, but he had just killed three creatures in his apartment, and while the fight was necessary, it still felt strange. The world had changed, and so had he.

A final glance around the apartment. His life—his old life—felt like a distant memory already. With one last deep breath, Kai turned his back on the apartment. He didn't know if he'd ever return.

The world outside had already changed, and there was no going back.

Kai stepped out into the night, the once bright city of Seoul now quiet, with only the occasional distant scream or explosion breaking the silence. The moonlight filtered through the smoke rising from the destroyed buildings. Something about the emptiness unsettled him. The city was no longer the lively, crowded place it used to be.

People had abandoned the streets. Or... maybe they were gone.

Kai's footsteps echoed down the empty street as he moved quickly, staying alert. His sharp eyes scanned every corner, every shadow, expecting the worst. The world had become a wasteland in just a matter of hours. It was overwhelming.

As he walked further down the street, the devastation became more apparent. Abandoned vehicles littered the roads, some burned out and others overturned. But it was the bodies that caught his attention.

People, torn apart. Their remains scattered on the pavement. Blood pooled around them in the gutters. Their faces frozen in expressions of terror. It was a nightmare come to life.

Kai's stomach twisted. The humanity he had known was slipping away, replaced by a brutal new reality.

He looked away, unwilling to let the despair settle in. He had to stay focused. Survive.

His footsteps slowed as he approached the center of the city. It was eerily silent. No traffic, no people. Only the faint sounds of destruction far off. Kai continued walking, his eyes scanning the distance. The road ahead was a wasteland—broken buildings, empty streets, and the occasional shriek of something monstrous.

And then he saw it.

A massive, dark shape at the far end of the street. It was large, its body rippling with muscle, its fur matted with blood and gore. The creature was hunched over, devouring a body, its sharp teeth tearing into the flesh like a wild animal. The beast seemed oblivious to everything around it.

Kai's heart skipped a beat.

A beast wolf.

It was a rank E creature, much stronger than anything he'd fought so far. Its massive frame, gleaming red eyes, and sharp claws told him that this would be a fight he couldn't win through brute force alone.

But before Kai could react, the wolf paused. Its head snapped up.

The beast's eyes locked onto him, and for a brief moment, time seemed to stand still. Then, in a blur of motion, it let out a blood-curdling howl and charged toward him.

Kai's instincts kicked in.

[System Warning: Beast Wolf (Rank E) detected. Hostile approach. Prepare for combat.]

The system's voice seemed to echo in his mind, but Kai didn't need a warning. He already knew. The wolf was coming at him with terrifying speed.

Kai's heart raced as he quickly surveyed his options. The distance between him and the creature was closing fast.

He focused, breathing deeply.

[Quick Step]—his only hope.

He activated the skill just as the wolf lunged at him, its claws outstretched and aimed for his chest. His body moved faster than he thought possible, his feet barely touching the ground as he darted sideways. The wolf's claws scraped against the air where he had been just a split second before.

Kai stumbled but quickly regained his balance. He could feel the power of the Quick Step surging through him. It was like moving in fast-forward.

The beast growled, circling around him. Kai stayed low, carefully watching its movements. Its attack patterns were brutal, but predictable. Every time it lunged, it overextended, leaving itself open for a counterattack.

Kai's mind was sharp. He analyzed the wolf's movements, the way it shifted its weight before attacking, the way it relied on its claws and teeth to overwhelm its prey.

Then, Kai smirked.

He'd found its weakness.

With a burst of speed, Kai closed the gap between him and the wolf. He sidestepped just as the creature's claws slashed through the air and, with a swift motion, drove his dagger deep into the beast's skull.

The wolf howled in pain, thrashing violently as Kai twisted the blade. Blood sprayed out, and the wolf's body went limp. Kai quickly pulled the dagger free, but the blade snapped in half from the force of the strike.

[System Notification]

- Beast Wolf (Rank E) defeated.

- 300 XP gained.

- New Item: Beast's Claw (Rank E).

- Skill Acquired: Combat Analysis (Level 1).

- Stat Upgraded: Agility +1.

- New Weapon: Beast's Fang (Rank E).

Kai stepped back, breathing heavily as he wiped the sweat from his brow. The adrenaline was still rushing through him. He couldn't believe he'd won.

[Combat Analysis] (Level 1): The new skill would allow him to analyze the movements of enemies even more efficiently—helping him predict their next attack. He felt it in his gut—the fight had been a turning point.

And the Beast's Fang—the new weapon that appeared in his hand—was now his.

Kai examined the new weapon. It was a large, jagged fang, at least a foot long, sharp as a razor. He could feel its power coursing through him. It was different from the goblin's knives. This was stronger. And it felt right in his grip.

With a sigh of relief, Kai surveyed the wreckage around him. The world was broken. The old life was gone. But in this new world, he had the tools to survive—and more.

There was no turning back now.