The Dead City ,first battle

Jin-Won Kim stood amidst the ruins, his breath heavy as he took in the eerie silence. He wasn't alone—Hori Jang stood before him, and the others were slowly gathering, their faces mirroring the same shock and confusion.

"Is this… a dream?" someone murmured, their eyes fixed on the dark crimson sky.

But the pain in Jin-Won's body was real, and the cold wind biting at his skin wasn't an illusion. No, this wasn't a dream.

"We need to move," Jin-Won said firmly. "Standing in an open area like this isn't safe."

Hori looked at him, concern flickering in his eyes. "Move where? We don't even know where we are."

Before Jin-Won could answer, glowing words materialized in the air before them—like a digital interface floating in reality.

> [Welcome to the Forgotten Realm.]

[Mission: Survive.]

A tense silence followed.

"Survive?" someone echoed, their voice unsteady. "Survive what?"

The answer came almost immediately.

From the shadows of the ruined buildings, grotesque figures emerged—twisted, emaciated creatures with glowing, hollow eyes that pierced through the darkness.

Then, a guttural voice echoed:

"Humans… food…!"

---

The creatures moved with unnatural speed, charging toward them with a vicious hunger. There was no time to think—fight or die.

"Run!" Hori shouted, but Jin-Won didn't move.

Before him, another notification appeared, glowing faintly in the air:

> [Shop Available]

Without hesitation, he mentally selected it. A brief menu flickered into view:

Starter Weapon – 100 Points

Light Armor – 150 Points

He had only 100 points. His choice was clear.

The moment he confirmed the purchase, a short sword materialized in his grip, pulsing with an eerie blue energy.

There was no time to question it.

One of the creatures lunged at him, claws extended, aiming straight for his throat.

His body moved on instinct—he sidestepped and slashed.

Slash!

Dark blood sprayed through the air as the beast collapsed, twitching violently before falling still.

But there was no time to celebrate. More monsters were closing in.

The battle had only just begun.

---

Can Jin-Won and his friends survive this mysterious world? What secrets does it hold?

(To be continued…)