ParadoxReader

Yoo Jihwan was nothing more than an E-rank hunter—a disposable pawn in a world ruled by the strong. Betrayed and left to die in a dungeon, he thought it was the end.

But death was only the beginning.

In the abyss of darkness, where nothing existed, a cold truth was revealed. He could not escape. He would return—again and again. With every death, the curse grew stronger, and so did he.

As monsters began to fear him and the system itself twisted to accommodate his existence, Jihwan realized one thing:

This world does not reward the weak.

If death would not claim him, then he would carve his name into fate itself.

The E-rank hunter who defied death was no longer just prey.

He was becoming something else.

My New Afterlife System

My New Afterlife System

Jihwan stood in the dimly lit alley, his fingers trembling slightly as they gripped the Cursed Dagger. The air was thick with the lingering scent of alcohol, sweat, and fear—the remnants of a life shattered by the power of Death's Touch. The hunter he had confronted was already gone, his mind breaking under the weight of the dark energy Jihwan had unleashed.

Jihwan exhaled slowly, the cold rush of exhaustion sweeping over him. His hand tightened around the hilt of the dagger, feeling its strange weight. The blade thrummed with a dark power, a constant reminder of what he had become. The weight of his actions—of what he had done to the man—pressed down on him, but he couldn't allow himself to linger on it. The hunter hadn't died, but he had been broken. And apparently, that was enough.

[You have defeated a weakened opponent.]

Jihwan let out a bitter laugh, the sound echoing in the empty alley. "So this is how it works, huh?"

Defeating someone didn't always require their death. The System didn't care how an enemy fell, only that they did. Whether it was through death, surrender, or complete mental collapse, the result was the same. As long as they were defeated, the System would reward him.

He shook his head, almost in disbelief. The man hadn't even been killed, but the System didn't care. It had granted him both Death Points and experience. He had proven something today—something beyond just physical strength.

Jihwan opened his Status Window, his eyes scanning the screen for any sign of change.

He focused on the XP bar. It was a small victory, but it mattered. Just 100 more XP until he reached Level 4. Every bit of progress was crucial. Even though his body felt drained from the encounter, there was a sense of satisfaction that lingered in the air.

His gaze shifted to his Death Points, now sitting at a total of 7. It was a decent start, but it wasn't enough to survive what was coming. Every battle, every enemy he faced, would only get harder from here.

Jihwan exhaled deeply, feeling the weight of it all. He wasn't strong yet—not by any means—but he was learning how to survive. It was a grim process, but a necessary one. The currency of survival in this world was measured not in strength alone, but in how much death and destruction one could endure. And with every step, he was getting closer to understanding just what it took to stay alive.

The alley felt oppressive now. Every shadow seemed to carry the weight of unseen threats. But Jihwan didn't flinch. This was his new reality—one where every victory, every defeat, was a lesson. And it was all part of the system that controlled his fate.

He felt a strange sense of determination settle over him, cutting through the exhaustion. He wasn't here to be weak. He wasn't here to be a victim. He was here to rise. To survive. To become something more than just another lost soul in a world that demanded strength from everyone who dared to live.

Jihwan knew he had a long way to go. He was still a long way from being truly powerful, but he was on the right path. And with every DP, every XP, he was one step closer to claiming his place in this world.

He adjusted the grip on the Cursed Dagger, feeling its cold energy flow through him. Whatever challenges lay ahead, he would face them. After all, this was the currency of survival.

And survival, he had learned, had a price.

The Currency of Survival