Chapter 2: The Eerie Whispers on the Nighttime Field

Chapter 2: The Eerie Whispers on the Nighttime Field

The night before military training, at Winterpeak Academy's sports field.

Freshmen were lining up to receive the last batch of training gear. Tom Black leaned lazily against the gymnasium doorframe, watching the bustling crowd with mild boredom.

"Hey, Tom, what are you doing?" Jack Green approached, carrying two bottles of cold cola, handing one over. "Did you even listen to the instructor? If you're late tomorrow, you'll be sun-dried like a mummy."

"I don't know if military training kills people," Tom took the cola but couldn't help glancing toward the center of the field. "But this school… something feels off."

"Huh?" Jack nearly choked on his drink. "What nonsense are you spouting now?"

"Alyssa finished distributing the uniforms. The remaining ones were stored in the gym," Tom pointed toward the distance. "But look, the lights over there are still on."

Jack followed his gaze. Sure enough, a faint glow seeped through one of the gymnasium windows, and within, shadows moved.

"Instructors?" Jack guessed.

"Impossible. The instructors were in the cafeteria just now." Tom narrowed his eyes. The wind on the field suddenly felt colder.

After a brief moment of hesitation, he stepped toward the gymnasium.

"Are you insane?" Jack quickly grabbed his arm. "What if it's a thief?"

"A thief stealing military uniforms?" Tom rolled his eyes.

Yet, just as they reached the entrance, the gymnasium lights suddenly went out.

Darkness swallowed the entire field.

Ding—

An electronic voice rang in Tom's ears, as if something had been activated.

[Ding—Detected Emotional Fluctuation: 49]

Tom froze.

"Tom?" Jack noticed his odd reaction and patted his shoulder. "What are you spacing out for?"

"…Nothing." Tom snapped out of it, but his expression was complicated.

Emotional fluctuation value?

What was that?

Taking a deep breath, he glanced up at the gymnasium ceiling. Just as he did, the previously extinguished light flickered—almost as if responding to him.

And in the darkness, a deep, eerie chuckle echoed—

"Welcome to the game."

The gymnasium lights flickered once more before dying out completely. Silence fell over them like a suffocating shroud. Tom stood at the entrance, frowning.

That cold, mechanical voice still rang in his ears:

[Ding—Detected Emotional Fluctuation: 49]

[Current Reward Threshold Not Reached]

"Tom, why are you just standing there?" Jack waved a hand in front of his face. "The lights went out. No big deal. Don't tell me… you're afraid of the dark?"

"Have you ever seen someone afraid of the dark who can kill three flies in three seconds?" Tom snapped back, brushing Jack's hand aside. But his gaze remained fixed on the gymnasium's dark interior, deep in thought.

"Then why are you staring at it? You really think there's a thief?" Jack leaned closer, lowering his voice with excitement. "Or maybe… a girl sneaking snacks? Wanna check it out? Who knows, we might find some spicy chips…"

Tom ignored him. Clenching his fist, he felt a faint warmth in his palm—almost imperceptible.

His emotional value had just been activated.

The number was low, but it proved something—the range for gaining emotional fluctuations wasn't limited to people. It might be tied to the environment too.

More importantly, that voice—

"Welcome to the game."

What did it mean?

"Hey, Tom?" Sensing his seriousness, Jack finally toned down his jokes, following his gaze toward the gym. "You really think something's off?"

Tom didn't answer. He simply stepped forward.

The gymnasium door was slightly ajar. Night wind brushed past, carrying faint, rustling whispers from within. Pushing the door open, a dim glow illuminated the long shadows cast on the floor.

The air inside was thick with dust.

Jack hesitated, glancing around before reluctantly sneaking in behind him. "If we get caught, we might get kicked out before training even starts…"

Tom ignored him, walking deeper into the gym. Though shrouded in darkness, an indescribable sensation prickled his skin—the feeling of being watched.

Suddenly, static crackled overhead.

[—Establishing rules…]

[—Tester has entered the challenge zone.]

[—Adjusting rules to match environmental adaptability…]

The cold, mechanical voice echoed throughout the gym.

Jack flinched violently, crashing into a nearby basketball rack. "What the hell was that?!"

Tom jerked his head up, staring at the electronic screen above—

A countdown had begun.

[Countdown: 00:30]

Thirty seconds?

A chill crawled up Tom's spine. Instinct screamed at him—something was wrong.

"Tom… look over there." Jack's voice trembled as he pointed across the gym.

Tom followed his gaze.

A row of military uniforms hung neatly on a metal rack, swaying ever so slightly. But behind them, on the gymnasium wall—

A shadow appeared.

It was vague but well-defined.

A hand.

Pale and slender, slowly reaching out from the wall.

[Countdown: 00:20]

"…Shit," Tom muttered.

The hand twitched. Then, as if breaking free, an entire arm emerged.

Then, a head.

Lifeless, hollow eye sockets.

And a twisted, eerie grin.

Tom's breath hitched.

This wasn't a normal 'thing.'

This was a challenge beyond the rules.

[Countdown: 00:10]

The electronic voice continued:

[Tester must find a way to clear the challenge before time runs out.]

[Failure penalty: Unknown.]

"Tom, are we seriously screwed?" Jack whispered, voice laced with fear.

Tom didn't reply.

He had ten seconds to figure this out.

Or else…

Then, he suddenly remembered the system notification from before.

• Emotional fluctuation value.

If he could gain energy by triggering emotional fluctuations in people…

What if he could provoke the monster?

Tom's eyes narrowed.

Then, he did something completely unexpected—

He raised his hand.

And beckoned the shadow.

"Hey, you. Looking that ugly, and you still dare come out to scare people?"

Jack: "???"

The shadow's hollow eyes snapped toward Tom.

The grin widened.

It was getting angry.

Tom smirked. "Let me guess—you died single, didn't you? Must be lonely even after death, huh?"

[Ding—Detected Strong Emotional Fluctuation!]

[Emotion Value +134!]

Tom's eyes lit up. It worked!

The shadow trembled violently. Its fingers curled, preparing to rip through space—

But before it could, the electronic screen above suddenly flickered.

[Clear condition triggered.]

[Challenge complete.]

Instantly, the shadow froze.

Its form crumbled into dust, dissolving into nothingness.

The countdown stopped at 00:03.

"…It's over?" Jack whispered, unable to believe what just happened.

Tom exhaled slowly. He felt the warmth in his palm intensify. Glancing at his system panel, a new notification appeared:

[Current Emotional Value: 183]

Success.

This world's rules were far more complex than he had imagined.

"Tom… what the hell just happened?" Jack stammered. "That thing… was that a ghost?"

Tom shot him a look. "Could be some kind of experimental setup. Or—"

"—Something beyond the rules."

He didn't elaborate. Instead, he turned to leave.

But just as he stepped outside—

[Ding—Congratulations, Tester, for completing the first challenge. Bonus Reward: Unknown Skill (Random).]

Tom's heart skipped.

A new notification flashed before his eyes—

[Congratulations! Skill Acquired—"Werewolf Bloodline"]

[Emotion System Energy Depleted. Entering Dormant Mode.]