The Countdown to Death
> [System Announcement]
[The First Selection will begin in 2 hours.]
The glowing text hung in the air, flickering ominously.
Ryo's grip tightened.
It's happening.
In Apocalypse of the Chosen, the First Selection was the first true test of survival. The system would divide survivors into groups and force them into a battle where only the strongest—or smartest—would live.
Most people didn't survive.
And the worst part?
Ryo didn't remember the exact rules.
He knew the general idea—people would be pitted against each other, but the system often changed the conditions in minor ways. A slight difference could mean life or death.
And if he made one wrong move…
He was dead.
> [Beginner's Privilege: 2:00:00 Remaining.]
The timer was ticking.
Ryo turned to the others.
The mother still clutched her son, her face pale. The teenager looked shaken. The older man sat against the wall, staring at nothing.
They didn't know what was coming.
But Ryo did.
And he had to make a choice.
---
Option One: Survive Alone
The logical choice was to leave them behind.
They were dead weight.
In the novel, Kael Draven had started alone, using his knowledge of the future to get ahead. He didn't form a team until later, when he had the power to protect himself.
If Ryo stayed with them, he'd have to protect them.
He'd have to slow down for them.
And that could get him killed.
Ryo exhaled.
But something about this situation… felt different.
Unlike Kael, he wasn't in a novel—this was real life. These people were real.
And if he abandoned them now…
Would he be any different from those scavengers?
His jaw clenched.
No. I can't think like that. This isn't about being a hero.
He had to be smart.
And that meant making a third option.
---
Option Three: Use Them to Survive
If these people were going to stay with him, they had to become useful.
"We need weapons," Ryo said, breaking the silence.
The others looked at him.
"What?" the teenager asked.
"The First Selection is coming," Ryo said. "I don't know exactly what's going to happen, but if we're not ready, we'll die."
The mother swallowed hard. "T-That system message… it's real, isn't it?"
Ryo nodded.
"We have two hours. We need to prepare."
The older man, who had been silent until now, let out a shaky breath. "You sound like you know what's going on."
Ryo met his gaze. "I have a good instinct for this kind of thing."
It wasn't a lie.
Not exactly.
The man studied him for a long moment, then slowly nodded. "Alright. What do we do?"
Ryo turned to the teenager.
"You. What's your name?"
The boy flinched. "Uh—Takeshi."
"Okay, Takeshi. You're fast. Your job is to find anything sharp—knives, broken metal, anything we can use as a weapon."
Takeshi hesitated, then nodded. "Got it."
Ryo turned to the mother.
"You and your son stay close to me. Your priority is survival, not fighting. If things go bad, you run."
She bit her lip, nodding.
Finally, Ryo turned to the older man.
"You're strong, right?"
The man exhaled. "I used to work in construction."
"Good. Help Takeshi look for weapons. If you find a thick pole or something heavy, take it. You're going to be our frontline."
The man's hands curled into fists. "Understood."
Takeshi blinked. "Wait, what about you?"
Ryo's lips curled into a grim smile.
"I'm going to find something better than weapons."
---
A Hidden Advantage
Ryo moved through the ruins of the department store, carefully avoiding broken glass and collapsed shelves.
In Apocalypse of the Chosen, the system often left hidden advantages in the world for people to find.
In the early stages, those advantages were usually minor items or skills.
But in the First Selection, the system always gave a small clue to survivors.
Ryo needed to find it before someone else did.
His eyes darted across the shelves, searching for anything out of place.
And then—
A faint blue glow caught his attention.
Ryo's breath hitched.
There it is.
He stepped forward, pushing aside debris to reveal a small floating text box hovering over a cracked mirror.
> [Hidden Bonus: Early Insight]
Touch to unlock.
Ryo didn't hesitate.
He pressed his hand against the text.
> [You have unlocked the First Selection's theme ahead of time.]
[First Selection: The Hunt Begins.]
Ryo's eyes widened.
The Hunt?
In the novel, one of the possible First Selection types was a predator-prey scenario.
People would be divided into two groups:
1. Hunters – Those who must kill to survive.
2. Prey – Those who must escape or hide until the time runs out.
It was randomly assigned—but there was always a catch.
Some Prey had a secret way to become Hunters.
And some Hunters… weren't human.
Ryo's pulse pounded.
This was big.
He rushed back to the others, finding them holding makeshift weapons—knives, broken pipes, and even a crowbar.
Takeshi grinned. "We're armed!"
Ryo took a breath.
"Listen up," he said. "The First Selection… it's going to be a hunt."
They froze.
"What… what does that mean?" the mother asked, fear in her voice.
"It means we might have to kill," Ryo said, voice grim. "Or be killed."
Silence.
Takeshi swallowed hard. "You're serious, aren't you?"
Ryo nodded.
"We have one hour left. We need a plan."
And this time—
He wasn't just going to survive.
He was going to win.
---
To Be Continued…
---