The Beginning of the End

Screams filled the train car.

People scrambled over one another, clawing for the exits as the world outside twisted into something out of a nightmare. The sky had split open, revealing a churning vortex of darkness, fire, and monstrous figures descending upon the city.

Ryo's fingers dug into his seat. His breath came in short, panicked gasps.

This is real. This is happening.

And worst of all—

I know exactly what comes next.

In Apocalypse of the Chosen, the first wave of destruction was swift and merciless. The monsters—Abyss Dwellers—would appear all over the world, slaughtering anything in their path. Most people wouldn't even have time to react before being wiped out.

> [Survive.]

The system message still lingered in his vision. No matter how many times he blinked, it didn't disappear.

Just like in the novel.

"Mommy!!"

A child's scream snapped Ryo back to reality. A young boy had fallen onto the floor, his mother desperately reaching for him as the train lurched again. Outside, one of the Abyss Dwellers had landed on the tracks.

It was hideous—twice the size of a human, its blackened flesh covered in pulsating veins. Its clawed hands dug into the train's roof, peeling it back like a tin can.

Someone pushed past Ryo, trying to flee, but there was nowhere to run.

The doors were still shut. The train was still stuck.

No, no, no. Ryo clenched his fists. In the novel, this entire subway line would be destroyed in the first five minutes. Everyone here—including him—was supposed to die.

Unless—

His eyes darted to the emergency hatch above the seats.

There! That's how Kael survived in the novel!

Without hesitating, Ryo moved.

He grabbed the boy and pulled him into his arms just as the creature's claw smashed through the train car, impaling a man who had been standing a second ago. Blood splattered across the seats.

A woman's shriek cut through the chaos.

No time!

"Move!" Ryo shouted. He shoved the boy into his mother's arms and pointed to the emergency hatch. "Up! Climb up now!"

The mother hesitated, eyes wide in terror. "W-What—"

"If you stay here, you'll die!" Ryo snapped.

That got her moving. She lifted the boy, and with shaking hands, started climbing.

Ryo turned to the rest of the passengers. Most were frozen in fear, unable to comprehend what was happening. He knew how this played out—he had read it hundreds of times.

If they didn't move, they would be torn apart.

"LISTEN TO ME!" His voice rang through the train. "If you want to live, get to the roof! Now!"

For a moment, no one moved. Then, as if snapping out of a trance, some of them started climbing. Others followed, pushing toward the hatch.

The Abyss Dweller let out a guttural screech, its glowing red eyes locking onto Ryo.

Shit!

He barely dodged as the creature's claw swung toward him, tearing through the floor. The train groaned, tilting slightly—it was about to collapse.

He turned, looking for an escape—

Then—

> [A System Event has been detected.]

[Initializing Beginner's Privilege.]

A sharp pain stabbed through Ryo's mind. He staggered, gripping his head as words flooded his vision.

> [Skill Unlocked: Observer's Insight (Lv.1)]

[You have gained access to information beyond mortal comprehension.]

His surroundings shifted. Suddenly, he could see the Abyss Dweller differently—as if a translucent screen hovered over it.

> [Abyss Dweller – Rank: E]

[Weakness: Head – Cervical Spine]

Ryo's eyes widened.

I can see its weakness?!

This wasn't in the novel.

Before he could process it, the creature lunged again.

Ryo moved on instinct, grabbing a broken metal rod from the wreckage. He didn't have a weapon. He didn't have powers like Kael.

But he had knowledge.

And right now—

That's enough.

With a desperate cry, he thrust the rod upward, directly into the creature's exposed neck.

It screeched—its body convulsed—then collapsed, lifeless.

The train finally gave way, tilting to the side.

Ryo didn't think. He jumped, grabbing onto the edge of the emergency exit just as the train plummeted into darkness.

His chest heaved, his heart pounding.

He had survived.

But this was only the beginning.

Because Ryo now knew one terrifying truth—

This wasn't just a story anymore.

This was his reality.

---

To be continued…