1 - Chapter

Cold.

It pierces to the bone, making me shiver. The stone floor beneath me is damp and sticky. Breathing is difficult; sharp pain crushes my chest.

I slowly open my eyes.

A dim light flickers somewhere in the distance, casting long shadows. The smell of blood seeps into my nostrils, mixed with something metallic, bitter. I try to move and immediately scream.

My body… It's covered in blood.

I'm wounded. No, I'm dying.

No… no… My voice trembles. This can't be real. This can't be happening to me.

Fragments of memories flash before my eyes— running, screams, gunshots.

He found me.

He killed me.

Then why… why am I still alive?

And then it hits me.

I'm dreaming.

I'm still in a dream.

My head spins. I clench my fingers, feeling the stickiness of blood on my skin. Everything is too real. The pain, the cold, the fear. I was dying. I felt life slipping away from my body.

But if this is a dream… then I didn't die?

Or… will I die again?

I blink.

A moment ago, I was lying on a cold floor, bleeding out. The pain, the fear, the blood on my fingers — it was all so real.

But now…

I'm standing.

Around me - emptiness. A black space, dimly lit as if by artificial light. In front of me - a massive screen, distorted like an old monitor.

[Welcome.]

A voice speaks. Monotone, lifeless, mechanical.

[You have been eliminated. Initiating reboot.]

Reboot?

[In this world, you have only one goal - to survive.]

The voice is emotionless, but the words crash down on me like a sentence.

[If you are killed, you will return to the beginning.]

I freeze.

This isn't the first time.

I've heard this before.

I've stood here before.

I've died before.

And if I lose again…

I will simply start over.

A hollow sound, like a signal, tears through the silence. The screen flickers, and the world around me collapses, falling into an endless void.

And in the next moment — I'm back where it all began.

The crowd moved around me, their faces blurred, but I could feel their presence. As long as I was among them, I was safe.

But it wouldn't last forever.

I didn't know exactly where I was, but my legs carried me away on their own. My heart pounded wildly, my head buzzed with thoughts. I needed a place where there were always people.

A café.

I almost ran.

Footsteps behind me quickened.

I knew he was near. I couldn't see him, but I could feel him. It was instinct—I knew that if I turned around, I would see his figure lurking in the shadows, watching me.

But he couldn't attack. Not here.

The café door chimed as I rushed inside, gasping for air.

Inside, it was warm and cozy. People sat at tables, chatting, laughing, sipping coffee. It looked so… normal.

I took a few unsteady steps before suddenly weakening and sinking into the nearest empty seat.

I was safe. This time.

But how long would my safety last?

I sat at the table, breathing heavily. The café felt peaceful, almost comforting, but something was wrong.

I looked up.

The people around me… Their faces were blurred. Smooth, featureless, like NPCs in old games. They moved, talked, but it all seemed fake.

I clenched my teeth.

"How do I escape…?" I whispered under my breath.

The rule was clear: the killer couldn't touch me in front of others. But I couldn't hide among puppet-people forever.

"Good evening. What would you like to order?"

I flinched.

A waiter stood before me. His face was slightly blurred too, but unlike the others, he at least had eyes and a mouth.

"Uh… Coffee. Black, no sugar," I said without thinking.

He nodded and walked away.

I clasped my hands together. Maybe there was a way out? A way to escape this nightmare? I couldn't keep dying and restarting forever…

A minute later, a cup was placed in front of me.

I picked it up and took a sip.

The bitter taste spread across my tongue, waking my senses. I expected it to bring at least some relief, but the effect was completely unexpected.

[Alert: Wakefulness +3 hours]

I froze.

The system's voice rang in my head, clear, like an announcement.

What?

I frowned. Wakefulness? Like in a game?

Then… does this world have a system of stats?

I carefully set the cup down.

If I have wakefulness, then maybe… there are other parameters too?

I took a deep breath.

If the system announced "wakefulness," then this must be some kind of attribute system.

I closed my eyes and focused.

"Open status."

A white flicker flashed before my eyes. Then, a translucent window appeared, resembling a game interface.

---

[Status]

Name: ??? (Undefined)

Age: 19

Condition: Fatigue, mild stress

Wakefulness: 3 hours

Physical Strength: Average

Endurance: Below average

Agility: Above average

Intelligence: High

Survival Skill: Low

I blinked.

What is this…?

My gaze skimmed over the attributes. "Name: ???" — I don't even know my own name here? What happens if it appears?

"Survival Skill: Low" — great. Just fantastic.

I looked at the cup of coffee, then back at the status window.

So coffee gives me wakefulness…

I swallowed.

If I have stats… then my killer must have them too.

I need to find out what they are.

I scrolled down.

[Additional Attributes]

Reaction Speed: Low

Combat Skills: None

Stress Resistance: Below average

Charisma: Average

Intuition: Above average

Is it really this bad?

I tried tapping on "Combat Skills", hoping for a description or an upgrade option, but nothing happened.

"What the…?" I muttered.

I tried again. And again. No effect.

Then I tapped "Reaction Speed" — still nothing.

Are these stats fixed?

Panic started creeping up my spine. If I can't improve them, then I'll always be weak. That means I have no chance against him…

No. I can't think like that.

If attributes can't be upgraded, then I need to find another way to survive.

I was still staring at the status window when I heard the scraping of chairs.

I looked up.

If the system announced "wakefulness," then this must be some kind of attribute system.

I closed my eyes and focused.

"Open status."

A white flicker flashed before my eyes. Then, a translucent window appeared, resembling a game interface.

---

[Status]

Name: ??? (Undefined)

Age: 19

Condition: Fatigue, mild stress

Wakefulness: 3 hours

Physical Strength: Average

Endurance: Below average

Agility: Above average

Intelligence: High

Survival Skill: Low

---

I blinked.

What is this…?

My gaze skimmed over the attributes. "Name: ???" — I don't even know my own name here? What happens if it appears?

"Survival Skill: Low" — great. Just fantastic.

I looked at the cup of coffee, then back at the status window.

So coffee gives me wakefulness…

I swallowed.

If I have stats… then my killer must have them too.

I need to find out what they are.

I scrolled down.

---

[Additional Attributes]

Reaction Speed: Low

Combat Skills: None

Stress Resistance: Below average

Charisma: Average

Intuition: Above average

---

Is it really this bad?

I tried tapping on "Combat Skills", hoping for a description or an upgrade option, but nothing happened.

"What the…?" I muttered.

I tried again. And again. No effect.

Then I tapped "Reaction Speed" - still nothing.

Are these stats fixed?

Panic started creeping up my spine. If I can't improve them, then I'll always be weak. That means I have no chance against him…

No. I can't think like that.

If attributes can't be upgraded, then I need to find another way to survive.

I was still staring at the status window when I heard the scraping of chairs.

I looked up.

People were getting up.

They moved slowly, but with purpose. One by one, they left the café without saying a word.

A cold grip tightened around my chest.

Why is everyone leaving?

I turned sharply toward the window.

And froze.

In the darkness of the street, just at the edge of the lamplight - he stood there.

The killer.

A tall figure, motionless in the shadows. I couldn't see his face, but I knew - he was looking straight at me.

I clenched my fists.

The system said he couldn't kill me in front of others.

But if everyone leaves…

Damn it!

I jumped up and quickly headed for the exit. I needed to stay among people. Any crowd.

I stepped outside, blending in with the last few people leaving. Just walk, don't stop, don't look back.

My bare feet touched the cold asphalt, but I only noticed it when I stepped onto a gravel path.

I blinked.

I… don't have shoes?

I sharply lowered my gaze to myself.

A white nightgown.

Thin, light, almost weightless, it draped down to my knees like a dress.

What…? I don't remember putting this on.

But my thoughts were interrupted as I realized where I had arrived.

Before me stretched a strange park.

Trees with crimson leaves, as if soaked in blood. Dark paths, winding deeper inside. Red lanterns, glowing with a dim, eerie light.

Now I need to figure out what to do next.

I walked over to the nearest bench and sat down, trying not to look scared.

A man sat beside me - dressed in dark clothing. He didn't move, only stared ahead, as if he wasn't really there.

I took a quiet breath and looked around.

This park… was too strange.

Trees with crimson leaves, paths disappearing into the darkness, and no normal light sources except for the dim red lanterns.

There was nothing here to defend myself with.

If he found me now - it would be over.

I clenched my fists.

I should have taken something from the café.

A knife. A fork. Anything.

Even a glass could have been a weapon.

I pressed myself harder against the bench.

Too late now.

I could feel him somewhere nearby.

I flinched when something soft brushed against my leg.

I looked down.

— A dog?

A small, fluffy creature with dark eyes stared up at me, wagging its tail.

My heart pounded so hard that I barely registered reaching out and running my fingers through its warm fur.

— Where did you come from?

The dog let out a quiet yap, nuzzling its head against my palm.

For a moment, I felt… safe.

I glanced at the man beside me. He was still motionless, showing no reaction to me or the dog.

That meant… the killer couldn't attack me yet, right?

I was still protected.

But in the next second - sharp pain.

A knife.

I didn't even have time to gasp before something cold and sharp pierced my back.

The world tilted.

I collapsed forward, hitting the ground.

Leaves.

Red, crimson - like blood - scattered around me.

My head touched the earth, and I smelled it -damp, decayed, like after the rain.

The dog.

It was a trap.

My lips trembled, my breathing grew heavy.

Before my eyes, a familiar system window appeared

[DEATH 99]

[SECOND ROUND]