2. The beginning of hell

Screams and cries echoed from every direction of Shin's town. He picked himself up to go and check what was going on outside, his legs trembling beneath him.

He stumbled outside when he heard the gut-wrenching sobs of his neighbor.

He dragged his heavy steps to her house, pushed open the door—and saw Elena, sprawled across the soaked wooden floor, her body shaking as her tears flooded the planks. Her wails weren't just cries—they were the sound of a soul being torn apart, the kind of scream that made hearts ache and stomachs turn.

That kind of grief didn't need explaining.

Shin knew what had happened.

Her father—the only one she had. The only person who lived with her. He was above 60 also.

Which only meant he was eliminated too.

Just like Shin's grandfather.

Just like 1.1 billion others.

His mind raced. There weren't that many elderly in Japan alone. Which meant…

This wasn't national.

This was a global massacre.

Who, or what could be responsible for such a colossal massacre?

Were they even human?

And then, there were the screens. RPG-like stats had appeared before everyone, strange new skills assigned to them like characters in a game. Were they functional? Or just some twisted illusion?

His question was answered with another blood-curdling scream.

He bolted outside and saw chaos across the road being caused by Darren, the town's notorious thug. The kind of guy you hoped never noticed you. Now, he was cackling like a madman, beating down an innocent family without remorse.

Shin froze, watching the scene unravel.

"Damn! This shit is real!! My unique skill weaponry really works!" Darren exclaimed, eyes wild with excitement as a pistol materialized in his hand. "Let's see if the gun works!"

He aimed without hesitation at the family.

A thunderous BANG echoed as the father's head exploded, his brains splattered across the floor like spilled paint. He collapsed instantly—lifeless.

Screams erupted. Onlookers scattered like terrified prey.

"Holy shit!" Darren roared with unfiltered joy. "It fucking works! I've gained some EXP! Let's see how many kills are needed for me to level up!!"

He turned the gun on the child—no older than ten. But before he could fire, the mother lunged forward, shielding her son with her body.

"Please." Her voice cracked with desperation. "You can kill me. But please, spare my child. He's still too young to die."

Darren grinned.

"Well, aren't you a loving mother? Well, then. Any last words?"

She sniffled, eyes never leaving her son. "Just, promise you won't shoot my child."

Darren chuckled darkly. "Alright! I promise."

Then, without mercy, he pressed the cold barrel of the gun to her nipple and pulled the trigger. BOOM—flesh torn apart. Her scream was silenced by three more shots that ripped into her chest, each one robbing her body of life, leaving her in a pool of her own blood.

Her child sobbed, falling over her corpse. "Mommy! Please, wake up!"

"Level two!" Darren cheered like a lunatic. "I've reached level two!!!"

His gun vanished.

Now, a dagger shimmered into existence in his hand.

Without a pause, he grabbed the child by the hair and slammed him into the floor. The kid whimpered—once.

Then came the blade.

Over.

And over.

And over.

The first stab drew a gut-wrenching wail from the boy. But the stabs kept coming. Darren's maniacal laughter grew louder, drowning out the sound of the boy's voice, now replaced only by the grotesque gush of blood splattering to the ground. The floor turned red—slick and sticky.

When it was over, Darren stood, breathing heavily, and spat on the boy's lifeless face.

"Sorry, buddy! I promised your mother l wouldn't shoot you. But l didn't make any promises about not killing you."

Shin trembled in place. Every part of his body screamed for him to run, but his legs wouldn't move. His soul was frozen in fear.

"He's insane..." he muttered, gulping.

Doors slammed shut all around. Windows closed. No one came out. No one dared.

The world had changed.

"Listen up, morons!" Darren bellowed. "Whatever is going on, the world has changed! It's kill, or be killed! And I sure as hell will enjoy killing anyone I come across if it means surviving in this world! But I need people! People brave enough to join me! And well, those who won't join will die!!! And those with useless skills will also die!!"

Shin's heart pounded. He could see it—Darren wasn't just serious.

He was thriving in this chaos.

Shin turned and rushed back inside, grabbing Elena—still broken—and pulled her with him, back to his house where Suzune, his grandmother, lay on the floor, eyes bloodshot from crying.

"Guys! Let's run! This place is not safe anymore!!" Shin urged, panic rising.

Outside, a few brave souls stepped forward, defiant.

Trying to stand against Darren.

Trying to end the madness.

The first man raised his hand, and used his lightning skill.

"Thunderbolt!"

It struck—but as the bolt neared Darren, it fizzled out, bouncing off a shimmering dome that enveloped him.

A barrier.

The others followed with their skills—fire, wind, whatever they had.

None worked.

None could penetrate Darren's shield.

He groaned, glaring at them with pure contempt. "How dare you lowlives think you can go against someone with a higher level than you?"

Two pistols flashed into his hands.

Amd the, the massacre resumed.

One by one, he shot them, their bodies dropping, blood painting the streets.

Some began emerging from their hiding spots—hands up, fear in their eyes, wishing to join him.

Better to serve the monster than be torn apart by him.

Shin watched it all from the window, jaw clenched, hands shaking.

There was no saving this town.

He grabbed Elena and Suzune's hands—and ran.

Ran like hell.

He didn't know where they were going.

But anywhere was better than here.

Still, doubts clawed at his mind. Would it be smarter to join Darren? Gain his protection?

But that meant killing others... That meant turning into a monster like him.

And if Darren found their skills useless… he'd kill them in the spot.

"No. We have to flee."

"It's useless running away! Leave me to just die!" Elena screamed, voice cracking. "My father has died! What reason do I have to live?"

Shin winced. The words cut deeper than any blade.

"Don't give up on life just yet!" he snapped, biting his tongue to stay strong. "There are some people who don't want to lose you!"

"No one like that still exists in the world! I watched as the only person who cared for me disappeared in front of my own eyes!" she cried, her grief pouring out like an open wound.

Shin felt his chest tighten. His legs didn't want to move anymore—but he had to.

He couldn't let her die.

"I know a better place we could hide!" he shouted, dragging them forward.

They didn't look back.

Because behind them?

Was the beginning of hell.

TBCL