----------------------------------------
The crumbling streets stretched endlessly before Geon and the shadow, their journey punctuated only by the occasional groan of shifting rubble or the distant echo of unseen survivors. The air hung heavy with ash and tension, the sky a muted gray canvas.
“Where are we headed, exactly?” the shadow asked, its voice restless, barely masking its impatience. “The system demands blood, Geon. You know that as well as I do.”
Geon walked with measured steps, his expression calm but focused. “Patience,” he replied, his tone deliberate. “I’ve made my choice. I’m not backing away, but there’s something I need to do first.”
The shadow snorted, an ethereal sound that carried skepticism. “And what would that be?”
Their path ended abruptly in front of the remnants of a building, its once-pristine glass doors shattered and the sign above barely legible. Geon stopped and stared at the ruins.
“We’re here,” he said, nodding toward the structure.
The shadow flickered beside him, its shape shifting slightly as it observed the wreckage. “What is this place?” it asked, confusion lacing its voice.
“The City Mall,” Geon replied simply, stepping forward. “Before I start tearing through the other players, I want to prepare. New clothes, supplies—whatever I can find to make myself ready.”
The shadow’s reaction was immediate. “Are you serious?” it asked incredulously. “You’re going shopping? Shopping, while the world’s literally falling apart?”
A smirk tugged at the corner of Geon’s lips. He stopped mid-step and tilted his head toward the shadow. His gaze was sharp, his eyes cold and unyielding. “The world, huh?” he echoed, his voice laced with a bitter edge. “I cared about it once. Not anymore.”
Geon continued toward the broken entrance, his boots crunching on shattered glass. “I used to hate consumerism,” he said, almost to himself. “I thought it was wasteful. All those clothes, all that stuff we didn’t need. I wanted to make a difference—to spend my life trying to fix the way people lived.”
His voice grew quieter, tinged with a mix of nostalgia and disdain. “But the world isn’t fair. It never was. And fools like me wasted time trying to make it better.” He stopped again, this time looking up at the colorless sky. The heaviness in his chest twisted into something else—anger, raw and unrelenting.
“I’m done with that now,” Geon said, his voice rising, resolute. “I think I’m losing myself, but I don’t care anymore. I’ll burn everything that stood in my way. I’ll do whatever I want.”
The shadow, intrigued by this shift, drifted closer, its form darkening as though feeding off Geon’s energy. “So now, you live for yourself?” it asked, its tone steady but probing.
Geon turned to face it, his expression unreadable. His voice, however, burned with raw conviction. “That’s not enough,” he said, his words like a dagger’s edge. “I want them gone—all of them. The ones who built this unfair world. The ones who let it become this.”
The shadow was silent for a moment, absorbing the heat of Geon’s resolve. Then it let out a low, satisfied chuckle. “Very well,” it murmured, a faint note of delight in its tone. Slowly, it melted into the cracked pavement beneath Geon’s feet, its presence still palpable.
Geon stepped through the mall’s broken doors, his mind sharp and his purpose unwavering. This wasn’t just survival. It was a reckoning.
----------------------------------------
Geon stood before a cracked, full-length mirror in what was once the City Mall’s clothing department. Dust and debris surrounded him, but his reflection was sharp against the grime-streaked glass. He adjusted the black jumper he had chosen, its loose fit complementing the straight black pants that hung comfortably on him. A pair of classic black runners completed the ensemble.
“This fits,” he muttered, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “I like it simple. All black.”
The shadow hovered nearby, silent for once, as Geon admired his appearance. Satisfied, he turned and began making his way toward the food section of the mall.
The aisles were surprisingly intact, lined with shelves that still held an abundance of goods. Geon scanned the area, his eyes lighting up at the sight of untouched canned food and water bottles. “There’s actually quite a lot here,” he said, his voice lifting with a note of mild joy. “That’s great news.”
As he crouched to inspect a particularly dusty can of beans, a translucent screen materialized in front of him, shimmering faintly in the dim light.
⚠️Notice⚠️
All players now have access to "Interface".
“What the—” Geon straightened abruptly, his brows knitting in confusion. “What is this? Interface?”
----------------------------------------
Welcome to the Interface.
Select your service...
Player Profile
All about your stats, health and more!
Inventory
Retrieve, store or keep tabs on your items.
Abilities
Discover your innate and rewarded Abilities!
Leaderboard
Stay informed on who to kill.
----------------------------------------
The screen changed, its strange presence almost taunting him. He reached out as if to touch it, then hesitated. “Is this supposed to be a System update?” he asked, his voice tinged with both suspicion and frustration. “Why the sudden change?”
From the shadows came the familiar voice, calm yet distant. “The System is growing,” it explained. “Just like its players.”
Geon reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone. He glanced at it, then at the shimmering Interface. With a resigned sigh, he tossed the device onto the cracked tiles. The clatter echoed briefly. “Guess this piece of junk is officially useless now,” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
Turning his attention back to the Interface, Geon instinctively swiped through its options. The inventory tab caught his eye. “Let’s see…” he murmured, his fingers hovering over the screen.
Inventory (5/50)
Health Node (x2)
Grade: Minor
Recover 25% of your Health.
Stamina Node (x2)
Grade: Minor
Recover 25% of your Stamina.
Energy Node (x1)
Grade: Minor
Recover 10% of your Energy.
When the inventory details appeared, his expression shifted to surprise. “Huh? I have items?” he said aloud, a hint of disbelief coloring his tone. “How?”
“The System rewards those who level up,” the shadow replied, its voice tinged with intrigue. “In other words, those who kill. Since you leaped twenty levels in one move—without doing much of anything—the System assumes you’ve been slaughtering players left and right.”
Geon frowned, the shadow’s words settling uneasily in his mind. “I see…” he said slowly, his tone contemplative. “So it’s rewarding me for kills I didn’t earn.” He paused, his gaze sharpening. “That means there’s probably more I’ve overlooked. My stats—why didn’t I think of that sooner?”
Before diving into his stats, he quickly stored the food and water he had gathered into his inventory.
Inventory (13/50)
Health Node (x2)
Grade: Minor
Recover 25% of your Health.
Stamina Node (x2)
Grade: Minor
Recover 25% of your Stamina.
Energy Node (x1)
Grade: Minor
Recover 10% of your Energy.
Can of Beans (x2)
Grade: None
Recover 100 points of your Health and Stamina.
Bread (x2)
Grade: None
Recover 150 points of your Health and Stamina.
Water Bottle (x4)
Grade: None
Recover 50 points of your Health and Stamina.
“All set and ready to go hunting,” he muttered with a confident, almost sinister edge. He opened the Player Profile tab, his anticipation growing.
----------------------------------------
Player Profile
Health
4700/4700
Stamina
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
2000/2000
Energy
1800/1800
Distribute Stat Points (500)
Power
0
Strength, affecting the damage of physical attacks.
Defense
0
Resistance, reducing the impact of incoming attacks.
Stamina
0
Endurance, dictating how long the player could fight or move before exhaustion set in.
Agility
0
Speed, improving reflexes and movement.
But as the new screen popped up, Geon’s expression turned to one of shock. His voice rang out in alarm. “What the—why are all my stat points at zero?!”
“Relax,” the shadow said calmly, flickering beside him like a broken light. “Look closely. Part of the contract reset your stats. You’ve been granted all the points you would’ve earned by leveling up normally to level 50. Use them wisely.”
Geon exhaled a deep sigh of relief, the tension easing from his shoulders. “Okay… that makes sense.”
He stared at the screen, his fingers hovering over the options. “I need to be stronger,” he said to himself, his voice firm. “This time, I’ll put most of my points into—”
Player Profile
Health
4700/4700
Stamina
2000/2000
Energy
1800/1800
Distribute Stat Points (0)
Power
200
Strength, affecting the damage of physical attacks.
Defense
50
Resistance, reducing the impact of incoming attacks.
Stamina
150
Endurance, dictating how long the player could fight or move before exhaustion set in.
Agility
100
Speed, improving reflexes and movement.
The shadow, intrigued by his choice, let out a low chuckle. “Heh… This is the opposite of how you distributed your points before the contract.”
Geon didn’t flinch. His voice was steady, his resolve unshakable. “Of course it is. Back then, I didn’t want to kill. I was naive. A fool. All I wanted was to survive—just enough to make the world a better place again.”
He paused, his gaze hardening. “But that’s over now. Let bygones be bygones. From here on out, I’m hunting. I’ll cleanse this world of its filth.”
The shadow seemed to shiver with excitement, its voice carrying an eerie undertone. “Very well then…”
----------------------------------------
Geon turned to the Abilities tab, his curiosity piqued. “Let’s see what’s changed,” he said, swiping to open it.
Abilities
Innate (3/5)
Name Description Type Mastery Shadow Manipulation Manipulate the real you. Innate
Elite Shadow Shield Protect yourself from incoming danger. Defense
Advanced Exchange
Enter and leave any shadow within eyesight. Beware, this will drain your Stamina.
Innate
Advanced ???
???
???
???
???
???
???
???
Rewarded (2/5)
Name Description Activation Mastery Shadow Tendrils Tendrils as far as your shadow spreads, increases your mobility, versatility and more. Automatic and Manual Advanced Dark Temper
Reinforce your shadow to make it stronger. Manual Advanced ???
???
???
???
???
???
???
???
???
???
???
???
His eyes widened as he scanned the list. “Whoa…” A grin spread across his face. “Can’t wait to try these out.”
His enthusiasm was interrupted by a sudden notification. He barely had time to react as another translucent screen flashed before him, its message demanding his attention.
“What now?” he muttered, the words forming as his mind braced for whatever was coming next.
----------------------------------------
⚠️Notice⚠️
A Player has placed a BOUNTY on you.
You will be hunted for 24 hours.
SURVIVAL REWARD
Health Node (5x)
Grade: Major
----------------------------------------
"I will be hunted??!"