I was just an ordinary university student, spending most of my time studying and working part-time at the nearest convenience store.
I lived alone in an apartment. My parents died in a car accident ten years ago. It was the worst moment of my life.
My grandpa took me in until I turned eighteen, and then I started living on my own. My life was full of ups and downs, but I knew that effort bore fruit.
Well, at least that was what I thought—until my professor said to me.
"Lee Han, I know you worked hard for the scholarship. But Kang Jinseok did better than you."
I clenched my fist as I listened to the disgusting bastard who called himself a teacher. I knew the truth.
Kang Jinseok.
He was the youngest son of the third-generation chaebol family of the Jinseok Group, the conglomerate that sponsored Hanseong University.
Everything was just bullshit.
Kang Jinseok and his friends were laughing in the corner, clearly enjoying the scene.
"I understand, professor. If there's nothing else, I'll excuse myself."
I left the room without hesitation. I heard the ridiculing voice of my professor but decided to ignore it. I slammed the door shut.
Bam!
"Fuck! I worked my ass off for that scholarship, and that bastard just took it from me to humiliate me. I'll never forget this humiliation."
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After leaving, I headed to my apartment. It was on the third floor of a building, and the rent was cheap. I had been living there for years.
Today was my day off, so I spent my free time reading a web novel to relieve my stress. The fantasy novel was called The Infinite Regressor.
"I wish life was interesting like this novel. I miss my parents... Why? Why did you have to die and leave me alone?”
Tears started to fall from my eyes, and I eventually fell asleep. Despite everything that had happened in my life, I looked calm.
As my phone lit up, a red alert notification popped up on the screen.
[Emergency Alert! National level Crisis!]
[(Gangnam, 10:46 pm) Towers have appeared all around the world. The government has declared martial law. All citizens are required to stay indoors immediately. Stay inside for your safety. Further instructions will follow. Stay alert.]
The next morning, I woke up to the sound of my ringtone. I hurriedly fixed my bedsheet, brushed my teeth, and took a cold shower.
After putting on my school uniform, I locked the door to my apartment.
The air outside was cold, and the eerie silence gave the streets an unsettling feeling.
The street was empty—no cars, no people. I checked my phone and saw the message sent at 10:46 PM—the exact time I had fallen asleep.
"No wonder it's so quiet," I thought, grumbling.
Just as I was about to turn back, a growl came from a distance. A massive beast stood far away, glaring at me with hostility. I turned toward it, my expression stiffening.
"Shit! Are you fucking kidding me? Where the hell did that monster come from? Am I seeing things? What’s that above its head? A name and level?"
Bloodhound (A basic monster, undead)
LV. 5
HP: 300
My instincts told me I would die if I didn’t act quickly. Without hesitation, I threw my bag at the bloodhound and ran toward the nearest building.
The bloodhound growled, chasing me with insane speed.
“Damn it! This thing’s faster than a normal wolf. One wrong move, and I’m dead.”
I panted heavily, my legs shaking as I ran. My heart pounded in my chest, and my thoughts raced.
I reached the entrance of an old, abandoned building, slammed the door shut, and locked it with an iron pipe I found on the floor.
This construction site had been abandoned for years and was scheduled for demolition this week.
After catching my breath, I cautiously looked around the dark interior of the building. I then glanced at the monster outside through a small crack in the door.
I picked up my phone and tried calling the police, but to my surprise, there was no signal. It felt as if I’d been completely cut off from the world.
"Fuck! I should’ve stayed at home and waited for rescue. At a time like this, I need to think. Think, Lee Han. Think."
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself, when suddenly, a hologram-like screen popped up right in front of me.
[A few selections of classes are now available. Please choose a basic class to ensure your survival.]
I was confused. A class? Is this some kind of game?
[Pick your class]
[Warrior]
[Thief]
[Ranger]
[Swordsman]
[Mage]
[Cleric]
I quickly picked the swordsman class. The sword was something I was familiar with since I was a national-level Kumdo practitioner.
It’s ironic that swordsmanship in the 21st century would still come in handy in this kind of situation.
“Not bad,” I thought as I picked up the sword that came with my class.