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Geon sat on the cold pavement, his breath fogging in the blood-red light. The world around him seemed eerily quiet now, the distant screams muted by the hammering of his own heartbeat. He glanced at the ash pile that had once been the creature.
Carrion Wraith, huh?
A part of him wanted to believe it was some kind of alien, or maybe a demon summoned from the pits of hell. But deep down, he knew the truth was far stranger. That thing had been an animal—maybe a scavenger like a vulture or a hyena—twisted and boosted into something monstrous by this insane game.
His shadow stirred again, curling around him protectively like a living thing.
Geon frowned. “So... this is my life now?”
His phone buzzed, answering him with another chilling update.
Notice
Players must gain experience to level up. Players who do not level up within the next 48 hours will be eliminated.
Kill or be killed. Good luck.
The words hit like a gut punch.
“‘Eliminated,’ huh?” Geon muttered bitterly. He knew what that meant. He didn’t need a dictionary to figure it out.
Dead.
The game wasn’t just forcing people to fight. It was driving them to kill. And it wasn’t just limited to monsters like the Carrion Wraith. If he wanted to survive, he’d have to kill other humans.
The thought made his stomach churn.
He looked around. The streets were eerily empty now, the blood-red light casting long, twisted shadows over the cracked asphalt. Somewhere in the distance, a car alarm blared, followed by the sound of shattering glass.
He stood up, brushing ash off his jeans. “Alright, Geon,” he said to himself, trying to steady his breathing. “Think. You need to level up. You need a plan.”
His shadow shifted again, forming a tendril that pointed down the street. Geon hesitated, then nodded. “Fine. We’ll move. Sitting around is just asking to get ambushed.”
He started walking, his steps cautious and deliberate. The world felt alien now—like something out of a dystopian video game. Buildings loomed overhead, their windows shattered and dark. The streets were littered with debris: abandoned cars, broken signs, and... bodies.
Geon forced himself not to look too closely.
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He didn’t know how long he’d been walking when he heard it: the unmistakable sound of claws scraping against concrete.
Geon froze, his hand tightening instinctively around the shadow-sword that had formed at his side. The sound came again, closer this time.
He stepped back, his eyes scanning the shadows. “Alright, come on out,” he muttered, his voice low.
A shape emerged from the darkness.
It was a wolf—or at least, it had been a wolf. Its fur was matted and streaked with crimson, its eyes glowing a feral yellow. Jagged spikes jutted from its shoulders, and its jaws dripped with something black and viscous.
Enemy identified: Dire Wolf.
Difficulty: Moderate.
Experience reward: 100 points.
Geon’s grip tightened on his sword. The wolf growled, its lips pulling back to reveal rows of sharp, blood-stained teeth.
“Alright, buddy,” Geon muttered, his voice shaking. “Let’s do this.”
The wolf lunged.
Geon barely had time to react. He dove to the side, rolling across the pavement as the beast’s claws raked the air where he’d been standing. His shadow moved with him, the sword extending like a whip to strike at the wolf’s side.
The blade connected, slicing through fur and muscle. The wolf howled in pain, staggering back, but it didn’t fall.
“Of course it’s tougher,” Geon grumbled, scrambling to his feet. “Why wouldn’t it be tougher?”
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The wolf charged again, faster this time. Geon raised his sword, bracing for impact, but the beast was smarter than it looked. It feinted left, then lunged right, its jaws snapping inches from Geon’s arm.
He swung wildly, the shadow-sword slicing through the air. The wolf yelped as the blade grazed its leg, but it didn’t stop. It circled him now, its glowing eyes locked on his every move.
Geon’s heart pounded. He couldn’t outrun it, and he definitely couldn’t outlast it. If he didn’t end this quickly, he was dead.
The wolf lunged again, and this time, Geon didn’t dodge.
He stepped forward, swinging the shadow-sword in a wide arc. The blade met the wolf’s neck with a sickening crunch, severing it cleanly.
The beast collapsed, its body dissolving into ash.
Geon stood there, panting, his hands trembling as he lowered the sword.
Enemy defeated. Experience gained: 100 points.
+1 Level up!
+1 Level up!
+1 Level up!
+1 Level up!
+1 Level up!
+1 Level up!
Player reached Level 17.
His phone buzzed, and a new message appeared.
Abilities unlocked! (2/5)
Type
Name
Description
Innate
Shadow Manipulation Manipulate the real you.
Defense
Shadow Shield
Protect yourself from incoming danger.
???
???
???
???
???
???
Geon didn’t have time to celebrate.
A sound behind him made him whirl around, his sword ready.
It wasn’t another wolf.
It was a man.
He was tall and wiry, with a scar running down the side of his face. His clothes were torn and blood-stained, and he held a crude axe in one hand.
Geon’s shadow shifted uneasily at his feet, sensing the threat.
The man grinned, his eyes glinting with a predatory light. “Nice work, kid,” he said, his voice rough. “But you’re not the only one hunting.”
Geon swallowed hard, his grip tightening on the sword. “I don’t want to fight you.”
The man laughed. “That’s cute. But if you don’t fight me, you’re gonna die. That’s the game, kid. Kill or be killed.”
Geon hesitated. He didn’t want to kill another human. But the man wasn’t giving him a choice.
The axe came down, and the fight began.
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