First Blood

The courtyard was still there, the ancient stone pillars and cracked tiles unchanged. The air was crisp, the sky a familiar shade of twilight. But something was different—an unsettling tension, a weight that pressed down on their chests, making it hard to breathe.

Serena stood among the survivors, her hands still trembling, the Shadow Dagger cold in her grip. Around her, the world seemed... off. It looked the same, felt the same, but an invisible shroud had fallen over everything. She could feel it in the air, taste it on her tongue—a lingering darkness that twisted the familiar into the unknown.

A low hum echoed above them, vibrating through the ground, making the air shiver. Letters of golden light materialized in the sky, sprawling across the horizon, glowing with an eerie brilliance.

[Welcome to the New World.

The Tutorial is Complete.

The System is Now Active.]

The words hung above them, massive and surreal, their glow casting a faint light on the courtyard. Serena's eyes narrowed, her heart pounding. The New World? But nothing had changed. The ground was still solid beneath her feet, the air still cold and sharp. The city was just beyond the gates, skyscrapers piercing the sky, traffic lights blinking in the distance. It was the same world she had always known.

And yet, it wasn't.

People were staggering out of buildings, their faces pale, eyes wide with shock. They looked around, confusion and fear twisting their expressions. Cars were abandoned in the street, doors flung open, engines still running. A woman stood frozen at the corner, her grocery bags scattered around her feet, apples rolling across the sidewalk.

No one moved. No one spoke. They all stared at the words in the sky, their faces painted with horror and disbelief.

A man's scream shattered the silence, raw and broken. He was kneeling on the ground, clutching his arm, his body writhing in pain. Black lines were crawling across his skin, twisting like vines, spreading up his neck, coiling around his face. His eyes were wide, bloodshot, his mouth open in a silent scream.

[Player Selected: NO —

Curse Applied: Agony Amplification.]

The words hung above his head, glowing with cold indifference. Serena's blood ran cold. She remembered him—he had been in the courtyard, one of the defiant ones who chose NO. Now his body was convulsing, his veins turning black, his screams echoing off the walls.

He collapsed to the ground, his body curling into a fetal position, his fingers clawing at his skin. The lines continued to spread, wrapping around his body, sinking into his flesh. His mouth moved, his throat working, but no sound came out. Only the hollow echo of his suffering.

Serena took a step back, her chest tightening. She could feel the other survivors shifting, their faces pale, their eyes locked on the man. But no one moved to help him. No one even took a step closer.

[Those who Refuse the System will Bear Curses for Eternity.]

The words were cold, devoid of emotion, hanging above them like a death sentence. The man's body twitched, his fingers curling, his back arching. Then he went still, his body limp, the black lines fading, leaving behind deep scars that marred his skin.

He was still alive—his chest was rising and falling, shallow and uneven. But his eyes were empty, hollow, staring at nothing. A broken shell.

Serena swallowed, her throat tight. Her fingers trembled around the dagger, the cold metal pressing into her palm. She had chosen YES. She had accepted the system. And now she knew why.

The golden letters in the sky began to shift, swirling like smoke, twisting into new words.

[Survive, Conquer, Ascend.

Defeat Monsters to Earn Coins and Power.

Use Coins to Purchase Items from the System Market.

The Game Begins Now.]

A faint chime echoed, high and mechanical. A screen appeared before her, translucent and shimmering with golden light. It was a profile, her name written at the top, followed by numbers and symbols she didn't recognize.

[Player: Serena Valeria

Level: 1

Health: 100/100

Class: Shadow Assasin

Power: Shadow Manipulation

Coins: 500

Status: Alive]

Her eyes narrowed, her fingers brushing against the floating letters. It felt surreal, intangible, like a dream she couldn't wake from. But the numbers were real. The coins in her pocket were real. And the pain in her body was painfully, horribly real.

Another screen appeared, filled with rows of images and names. Weapons—blades, staffs, bows—each with its own description and price. There were potions, armor, tools, all shimmering with golden light.

But one stood out among the rest, a shadowy figure outlined in darkness, its edges blurring as if it were fading into the background.

[Shadow Dagger – 250 Coins

A blade forged from darkness. Lightweight, swift, and deadly. Compatible with Shadow Manipulation.]

Serena's heart skipped, her fingers twitching. It was perfect. It was meant for her. Without hesitation, she selected the dagger, watching as the coins in her pocket vanished, dissolving into golden dust.

The dagger materialized in her hand, cold and weightless, the shadows curling around the blade, merging with her power. It felt natural, an extension of her own body. A weapon that fit her perfectly.

A voice echoed through the air, cold and mechanical.

[Prepare for the First Quest.

Survive and Conquer.

Fail, and be Consumed by the Shadows.]

The golden letters faded, the sky clearing, the world returning to its eerie normalcy. But nothing felt normal anymore. Not the streets, not the buildings, not even the air. Everything was the same, yet everything had changed.

Serena tightened her grip on the Shadow Dagger, her eyes narrowing. She had chosen YES. She had accepted the system. And now, she was a player in this twisted game.

There was no turning back. Only forward. Only survival. And in this New World, survival was the only rule that mattered.

The rules were simple, deceptively so. The system's voice echoed like a distant wail, cold and impassive.

[Special Quest: Kill one living being. Any living being. Success will grant you your first title.]

A title that would shape their destinies. But the message was a snare, veiled in ambiguity. Any living being meant anything with a heartbeat—be it a rat, a bird, even an insect. But the others were fools, their minds clouded by fear and haste. Their gazes flickered to one another, suspicion turning to murderous intent.

Serena backed away, her heart pounding like a war drum. She wouldn't be a pawn in this bloodbath. She wouldn't be a victim. Not again.

She turned and ran, her feet barely touching the ground as she weaved through alleyways and crumbling buildings. Shadows danced around her, whispering, taunting. The city was a labyrinth, twisted and broken, yet still familiar. A graveyard of the world she once knew.

When she finally stopped, she found herself in an abandoned courtyard, overgrown with vines, the air heavy with decay. Here, she thought, no one would find her. She would wait out the madness until it passed.

But she wasn't alone.

A rustle, barely perceptible, yet enough to send a chill down her spine. Three figures emerged, their faces twisted with lecherous grins, eyes gleaming with wicked intent. Men, older than her, their bodies taut with anticipation.

"Well, well… looks like we found ourselves a little prize," one of them sneered, his voice dripping with malice.

Her blood ran cold. She stepped back, but her spine hit the rough stone wall. Trapped. She cursed under her breath, fists clenching.

"Leave me alone," she spat, her voice sharper than broken glass. But her defiance only made them laugh.

"Oh, don't be like that," another one taunted, stepping closer, his breath foul, reeking of desperation. "You're too pretty to be left alone… especially in a world like this."

Their intentions were clear, their gazes undressing her, their hands reaching out. A tremor ran through her, an instinctive fear, a reminder of her powerlessness. Her body tensed, eyes wide, searching for an escape.

But there was none.

They were too close, too strong, too cruel. Their laughter echoed, bouncing off the walls, wrapping around her like chains.

Then the air grew cold. Heavy. The shadows around her deepened, writhing, twisting. A chill ran down her spine as she felt it—an urge, a pull.

The dagger.

It was there, in her hand, its blade blacker than night, shimmering like liquid smoke. It felt cold against her skin, unnaturally so, as if it were alive, whispering, urging her to strike. Her Shadow Dagger. Her power. Her curse.

She hesitated, her hands trembling. She didn't want this. She never asked for this. But survival had no patience for mercy. And monsters wore human faces.

The first man lunged at her, his hands reaching for her neck. She moved on instinct, the dagger slicing through the air like a whisper. It sank into his chest without resistance, his eyes widening in shock, his mouth opening in a silent scream. His body convulsed, shadows spreading from the wound, consuming him, swallowing his flesh and bones.

He was gone before he hit the ground. Devoured by darkness.

The other two stumbled back, horror contorting their faces. "W-What the hell is that?!" one of them shouted, his voice shaking.

Serena looked down at the dagger. Its blade shimmered, the shadows swirling hungrily. It wanted more. It demanded more. And she was the only one who could feed it.

They tried to run. They never stood a chance.

The shadows moved with her, dancing at her feet, licking the ground. She was faster than she should've been, her body light as air, her strikes precise and deadly. The dagger cut through them like butter, their blood never touching the blade. Their screams echoed, then choked, then faded.

When it was over, they were gone. Not a trace remained. Only shadows, seeping into the earth.

Serena stood alone, her shoulders heaving, the dagger cold in her hand. It gleamed, satisfied, its whispers fading to a murmur. She stared at it, her chest tight, her heart a hollow thud.

[Congratulations. You have completed the Special Quest. You are the first to spill blood. Title 'First Blood' has been unlocked.]

Her eyes widened, her fingers tightening around the hilt. The words glowed in front of her, mocking and cold. She watched as the title appeared in her profile, a bloody scarlet brand:

First Blood.

Her hands trembled, the weight of what she'd done crashing down on her. She had killed. Not one, but three. Not monsters, not creatures of the system. Humans. Flesh and blood. Just like her.

A bitter laugh escaped her lips, hollow and broken. No. Not like her. Not anymore.

She swiped her profile away, banishing the title from sight, her fingers trembling. She wouldn't use it, wouldn't flaunt it. It was a curse, a stain she could never wash away. If anyone had the power to read her profile, they would know. They would see her as the villain she was destined to become.

And in this new world, villains didn't get happy endings.

Serena turned away, her face cold and hollow. Her heart still thundered, her blood still sang. But her eyes were dead.

She walked away, the shadows curling around her, whispering her name.

The silver angel, with blood on her hands. And the world kept turning, indifferent to her sins.