The summoning circle flared with blinding light, forcing Kazuki Yamamoto to shield his eyes. A moment ago, he'd been walking home from his part-time job at a convenience store, and now—what the hell was this? The ground beneath his feet felt different—softer, like grass instead of concrete. The air smelled cleaner, filled with the scent of pine and wildflowers.
When the light finally faded, Kazuki lowered his arm. His eyes widened as he took in his surroundings. He stood in the center of an intricate chalk circle drawn on a stone platform. Around him were massive stone pillars covered in glowing runes he couldn't begin to understand. Beyond the summoning platform stretched a vast green field leading to a sprawling medieval-looking city in the distance. And above it all, a sky with not one, but two moons—one blue, one red.
"Okay, I've officially lost my mind," Kazuki muttered to himself, running a hand through his messy black hair. The 22-year-old college dropout was wearing exactly what he'd had on when walking home—a worn pair of jeans, a faded t-shirt with some English band logo he couldn't translate, and sneakers that had seen better days.
"Greetings, Heroes of Earth!"
The booming voice made Kazuki nearly jump out of his skin. He spun around and realized for the first time that he wasn't alone. Six other confused-looking people stood within the summoning circle, all seemingly Japanese like him. They wore a variety of everyday clothes—a high school uniform, business attire, casual wear. They looked just as disoriented as he felt.
Addressing them was a tall man with flowing silver robes and a beard that would make Gandalf jealous. Behind him stood a line of armored guards with swords and spears at the ready.
"I am Archmage Dorian, servant of the four divine gods of Eldrin," the old man announced, spreading his arms wide. "We have summoned you, brave heroes, in our time of greatest need."
"Summoned?" a girl in the high school uniform asked, her voice quivering. "Like... in those anime shows?"
The archmage smiled. "Indeed, young one. Our world stands on the brink of destruction. The monster hordes grow more powerful each day, threatening to overrun our last bastions of civilization. But there is hope—you seven brave souls, chosen by the gods themselves to receive divine blessings and save our world!"
Kazuki looked around at the others. A muscular guy with a buzz cut looked excited. A woman in her thirties seemed to be having a panic attack. A teenager with glasses was grinning from ear to ear like Christmas had come early.
"This has to be a joke," Kazuki said, stepping forward. "Or a dream. People don't just get yanked into other worlds."
The archmage approached him, eyes twinkling with amusement. "Ah, the skeptic. There is always one. Perhaps this will convince you." He waved his hand, and suddenly, a translucent blue screen appeared in front of Kazuki.
[Status Window]
Name: Kazuki Yamamoto
Age: 22
Level: 1
HP: 100/100
MP: 50/50
Strength: 10
Agility: 12
Vitality: 10
Intelligence: 11
Wisdom: 9
Luck: 7
Titles: None
Skills: None
"Holy shit," Kazuki breathed, reaching out to touch the floating window. His finger passed through it, causing ripples like water. "This is... real?"
"Very real," Dorian confirmed, performing the same gesture to each of the other confused Earthlings, giving them their own status windows. "You have been blessed with the System—a divine gift that will allow you to grow stronger as you fight monsters and complete quests. In time, each of you will become powerful enough to face the greatest threats to our world."
Kazuki's mind raced. He'd played enough games to understand what this meant. Levels, stats, skills—this was like stepping into an RPG. But the reality of being torn from Earth was still sinking in.
"Can we go back?" asked the businesswoman, who had managed to stop hyperventilating. "I have a family—a husband, children—"
The archmage's expression softened. "I understand your concern. Once our world is saved, the gods may grant you passage home. But for now, we need you here. The fate of millions depends on it."
The woman began to sob quietly.
"Each of you will receive a class befitting your potential," Dorian continued, seemingly unbothered by her distress. "Please step forward one by one to the central altar. The divine oracle will assess your spirit and grant you the powers you will need."
The muscular guy practically sprinted to the altar—a small pedestal with a glowing crystal orb. As soon as he touched it, light enveloped him. When it faded, he was wearing gleaming silver armor, a massive sword strapped to his back.
[Class Acquired: Holy Knight]
[Title Acquired: Champion of Light]
[Skills Acquired: Divine Strike, Holy Shield, Righteous Fury]
"Awesome!" the newly minted Holy Knight shouted, flexing in his magical armor.
One by one, the others approached. The high school girl became a Celestial Mage. The businessman became a Beast Tamer. The panicking woman became a Healing Saint. The glasses kid became an Arcane Scholar. The quiet girl who hadn't spoken yet became a Shadow Assassin.
Each received impressive titles: "Starborn Conjurer," "Master of Beasts," "Divine Healer," "Keeper of Forbidden Knowledge," and "Blade of Silence."
Finally, only Kazuki remained.
"Your turn, young man," Dorian said, gesturing to the altar.
Kazuki approached cautiously. Something felt off about this whole situation. Why him? He was nobody special—a college dropout working a dead-end job, living in a tiny apartment, with no remarkable talents or abilities. But maybe that was the point. Maybe in this world, he could be someone important.
He placed his hand on the orb.
Nothing happened for several seconds. The archmage frowned. The guards shifted uncomfortably.
Then the orb turned black.
A searing pain shot through Kazuki's hand and up his arm. He tried to pull away, but his palm was stuck to the crystal as if glued there. The pain intensified until he was screaming, his entire body feeling like it was being torn apart from the inside.
The other "heroes" backed away. The guards raised their weapons. The archmage's eyes widened in what looked like... anticipation?
Finally, the orb shattered into dust, and Kazuki collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath. A new window appeared before him:
[Class Acquired: None]
[Title Acquired: Ultimate Prey]
All monsters within a 10km radius will relentlessly hunt you down.
Bonus: Triple EXP gain when killing monsters.
[Skills Acquired: None]
"What... what the hell is this?" Kazuki demanded, staring at the title in disbelief. "Ultimate Prey? What does that mean?"
The archmage's expression had changed completely. The grandfatherly warmth was gone, replaced by cold calculation.
"Most interesting," Dorian said, stroking his beard. "I've never seen the oracle bestow such a... unique blessing."
"Blessing? This says every monster within ten kilometers will hunt me down! How is that a blessing?" Kazuki shouted, rising to his feet.
The buzz-cut Holy Knight laughed. "Tough break, man. Looks like you're monster bait."
"This has to be a mistake," Kazuki said, turning to the archmage. "Can we try again?"
"I'm afraid the oracle's decision is final," Dorian replied, not sounding sorry at all. "But fear not—your sacrifice will not be in vain. With that title, you'll draw monsters from far and wide, making them easier for your fellow heroes to hunt."
The realization hit Kazuki like a truck. "My sacrifice? You mean you're using me as bait? As monster food?"
"Such a crude way to put it," Dorian said with a dismissive wave. "Think of yourself as a strategic resource. The Ultimate Prey. With your... unique ability, you'll help clear monsters faster than ever before." He turned to address the group. "Heroes, prepare yourselves. Tomorrow, your training begins!"
The guards ushered the other summoned individuals toward the city, all of them giving Kazuki a wide berth, as if his title might be contagious.
"Wait!" Kazuki called after them. "What about me? What am I supposed to do?"
The archmage glanced back at him. "Stay alive as long as you can, I suppose. The longer you survive, the more useful you'll be." Then, in a lower voice that only Kazuki could hear, he added, "Though I don't expect that will be very long at all."
With that, Dorian turned and walked away, leaving Kazuki alone on the summoning platform as the sun began to set.
"This can't be happening," Kazuki muttered, staring at his status window again. He tried swiping it away, but it persisted. He tried willing it to change, but the damning title remained: Ultimate Prey.
As darkness fell, Kazuki realized he had no choice but to head toward the city. At least there, he might find shelter, food, maybe even someone who could help him understand this nightmare.
He'd made it halfway down the hill when he heard it—a low, guttural growl coming from the treeline to his left. Kazuki froze, the hairs on the back of his neck standing up.
A pair of glowing yellow eyes stared at him from between the trees.
"No way," Kazuki whispered. "It's started already?"
The creature stepped into the moonlight. It resembled a wolf, but easily twice the size of any wolf Kazuki had seen on Earth. Its fur was midnight black, and what looked like smoke curled off its body with each breath. Its teeth gleamed like daggers when it snarled.
[Shadow Wolf detected!]
[Level 5 Monster]
[Danger: Moderate]
The notification appeared in Kazuki's vision, confirming his worst fears. The title was working exactly as described. He hadn't even been in this world for an hour, and already the monsters were coming for him.
Kazuki did the only sensible thing—he ran.
His sneakers pounded against the grassy field as he sprinted toward the city gates in the distance. Behind him, he heard the wolf howl, followed by the sound of heavy paws giving chase.
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"Help!" Kazuki shouted, though he knew no one could hear him. The city was still at least a kilometer away, its walls towering in the distance, torches illuminating its battlements.
He risked a glance over his shoulder and immediately wished he hadn't. The Shadow Wolf was gaining on him, its smoky form covering ground with supernatural speed. And worse—it wasn't alone anymore. Two more sets of yellow eyes had emerged from the forest, joining the hunt.
Kazuki's lungs burned. His legs ached. He wasn't an athlete—just an average guy who occasionally went for a jog when he felt guilty about eating too much junk food.
A hundred meters ahead, he spotted a rocky outcropping—a small cluster of boulders that might offer some protection. He changed course, hoping to put something solid between himself and the wolves.
He reached the rocks and scrambled up the largest boulder, scraping his hands in the process. The Shadow Wolves circled below, snarling and snapping. One leaped, nearly reaching the top before sliding back down.
"Stay back!" Kazuki yelled, grabbing a fist-sized stone and hurling it at the nearest wolf. It bounced off the creature's head, seeming to do no damage at all. The wolf responded with a growl that made Kazuki's blood run cold.
From his elevated position, Kazuki could see the city walls clearly now—tantalizingly close, yet impossibly far with three predators blocking his path. And on the horizon, he noticed movement—dark shapes heading in his direction. More monsters, drawn by his cursed title.
"I need a weapon," Kazuki muttered, scanning the top of the boulder. Nothing but small rocks and dirt. He picked up the largest stone he could find, about the size of a softball. It wasn't much, but it was better than bare hands.
One of the wolves backed up, preparing for a more powerful leap. Kazuki knew the boulder wasn't tall enough to keep them at bay forever. He had seconds, maybe a minute at most.
His mind raced through options. Fight? He'd be torn apart. Wait for rescue? No one was coming. The so-called heroes and the archmage had made it clear—he was expendable. Bait.
"Screw that," Kazuki growled. "I'm not dying my first day in this messed-up world."
The wolf launched itself upward, front paws scrabbling at the edge of the boulder. In that moment, Kazuki made his decision. Instead of backing away, he lunged forward, bringing his makeshift stone weapon down with all his strength on the wolf's snout.
The creature yelped in pain and lost its grip, tumbling back to the ground. It shook its head, dazed but not seriously injured.
[Shadow Wolf HP: 95/100]
The status window appeared, showing Kazuki he'd barely hurt the monster. But it gave him an idea. If he could see its health, maybe he could actually win this fight. One wolf at a time, starting with the injured one.
He waited for the same wolf to attempt another jump. When it did, instead of hitting its snout again, Kazuki aimed for its eyes, driving the pointed end of his rock directly into one glowing yellow orb.
The wolf's howl of pain echoed across the field.
[Critical hit!]
[Shadow Wolf HP: 65/100]
The other wolves grew more frenzied, circling faster, looking for ways up the boulder. The injured one backed away, blood and black smoke pouring from its damaged eye.
Emboldened, Kazuki picked up another rock and threw it with all his might at the retreating wolf, hitting it squarely in the side of the head.
[Shadow Wolf HP: 55/100]
But his small victory was short-lived. The largest of the wolves had found a path up the back of the boulder—a series of smaller rocks forming a rough staircase. Kazuki turned just in time to see it crest the top, lips pulled back in a snarl, smoke billowing from between its teeth.
In desperation, Kazuki charged, hoping to knock it off balance before it fully gained the high ground. He slammed into the wolf's chest, nearly losing his footing in the process. The wolf's claws raked across his shoulder as they both tumbled over the edge.
[HP: 85/100]
Pain lanced through Kazuki's arm, but adrenaline kept him moving. He rolled away from the wolf, coming up on his feet. Now he was back on the ground, faced with three Shadow Wolves. The one he'd injured hung back, but the other two advanced slowly, forcing him against the boulder.
"Come on then," Kazuki said, raising his bloodied stone. "If I'm going down, I'm taking one of you with me."
The largest wolf pounced. Kazuki sidestepped and swung his rock, connecting with the side of the wolf's head. The impact jarred his arm to the shoulder, but the wolf crashed into the boulder, momentarily stunned.
[Shadow Wolf Alpha HP: 85/120]
The third wolf lunged while Kazuki was distracted. Teeth sank into his calf, and he screamed in agony.
[HP: 65/100]
Kazuki smashed his rock down on the wolf's head repeatedly, desperate to break its grip. On the fourth blow, something cracked—either the wolf's skull or his improvised weapon. The jaws released.
[Shadow Wolf HP: 40/100]
Blood soaked Kazuki's jeans, but he couldn't stop now. The one-eyed wolf had regained its courage and was advancing again. The alpha was shaking off its daze. He was surrounded.
Kazuki's gaze darted between the three predators, trying to track their movements. The injured one from his first attack seemed the weakest. If he could finish it off...
He feinted toward the alpha, then suddenly pivoted and launched himself at the one-eyed wolf, driving his shoulder into its ribs. They went down in a tangle of limbs and fur. Hot breath washed over Kazuki's face as jaws snapped inches from his nose. He jammed his rock into the wolf's throat with all his strength.
The wolf thrashed, its claws opening gashes on Kazuki's chest and arms.
[HP: 45/100]
But Kazuki didn't let go. He pushed harder, feeling something give way beneath the stone. The wolf's struggles weakened, its smoky breath coming in ragged gasps.
[Shadow Wolf HP: 10/100]
[Shadow Wolf HP: 0/100]
[You have killed a Shadow Wolf!]
[Experience gained: 150 (x3 Ultimate Prey bonus)]
[Level Up! You are now Level 2]
[Strength +1]
[Vitality +1]
[HP restored to 120/120]
A rush of energy flowed through Kazuki's body. His wounds didn't heal, but the pain dulled, and he felt stronger, more alert. The dead wolf beneath him dissolved into black smoke, leaving behind only a small, glowing purple crystal.
Kazuki snatched it up without thinking, then rolled to his feet to face the remaining wolves. To his surprise, he moved faster than before, his reflexes sharper.
The wolves seemed to sense the change. They backed away, growling uncertainly. Kazuki felt something stir inside him—a new awareness, a strange connection to the shadows cast by the moonlight.
[Skill Acquired: Shadow Sense (Passive)]
You can detect movements within shadows within a 20-meter radius.
Suddenly, Kazuki could feel the presence of the wolves on a new level—their positions, their movements, even their intent. When the alpha charged again, Kazuki knew exactly where it would strike.
He sidestepped at the last moment, bringing his rock down on the back of the wolf's neck with precision he hadn't possessed before.
[Critical hit!]
[Shadow Wolf Alpha HP: 55/120]
The wolf stumbled, and Kazuki pressed his advantage, striking again and again. His movements were still those of an amateur fighter, but now guided by an instinctive understanding of how shadows moved and flowed.
[Shadow Wolf Alpha HP: 35/120]
[Shadow Wolf Alpha HP: 15/120]
The wolf snapped at him, catching his forearm. Kazuki cried out but used the wolf's grip against it, pulling it off balance while bringing his rock down one final time.
[Shadow Wolf Alpha HP: 0/120]
[You have killed a Shadow Wolf Alpha!]
[Experience gained: 300 (x3 Ultimate Prey bonus)]
[Level Up! You are now Level 3]
[Strength +1]
[Agility +2]
[HP: 110/140]
[Skill Acquired: Alpha's Howl (Active)]
Release a terrifying howl that intimidates lesser monsters. 10% chance to cause fear. Cooldown: 1 hour.
The alpha dissolved like the first, leaving behind a larger purple crystal. The third wolf, seeing both its packmates defeated, turned and fled into the darkness.
Kazuki collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath. Blood streamed from multiple wounds, but the System's level-up healing had prevented him from bleeding out. He clutched the two crystals in his hand, feeling them pulse with energy.
[Shadow Essence (Common) x1]
[Shadow Essence (Uncommon) x1]
These essences can be used for crafting or sold to merchants.
"I... I did it," Kazuki whispered, hardly believing it himself. "I killed monsters."
But his victory was short-lived. In the distance, more eyes had appeared—dozens of them, approaching from all directions. His title was still working, still drawing every monster for kilometers around straight to him.
Gritting his teeth against the pain, Kazuki pushed himself to his feet. The city gates were still his only hope. Maybe now, with his new skill and increased stats, he had a chance of making it.
He pocketed the crystals and began running again, his wounded leg protesting with every step. But he was faster now, his movements enhanced by the levels he'd gained. The Shadow Sense ability let him detect monsters hiding in the darkness, allowing him to choose the path of least resistance.
Halfway to the city, he encountered a pair of what the System identified as Burrow Spiders—dog-sized arachnids that leapt from hidden holes in the ground. With his new awareness, Kazuki detected their ambush before they struck and managed to evade their initial attack.
Fighting them was still terrifying—all eight legs, venom-dripping fangs, and too many eyes—but compared to the wolves, they were slower and more predictable. Kazuki killed one with repeated blows from his rock, now cracked and close to breaking. The other managed to sink its fangs into his thigh before he crushed its head.
[You have killed a Burrow Spider!]
[Experience gained: 100 (x3 Ultimate Prey bonus)]
[You have killed a Burrow Spider!]
[Experience gained: 100 (x3 Ultimate Prey bonus)]
[Level Up! You are now Level 4]
[Vitality +2]
[Intelligence +1]
[HP: 120/160]
[Skill Acquired: Poison Resistance (Passive)]
Reduces damage from poison effects by 10%.
More monsters closed in from behind—shadows moving through the tall grass, something large crashing through the trees in the distance. Kazuki's Shadow Sense went wild with activity.
The city gates loomed ahead, torches illuminating a massive wooden structure reinforced with iron. Guards patrolled the walls above, but they showed no signs of opening the gates or offering help to the lone figure racing toward them.
"Let me in!" Kazuki shouted as he approached. "Open the gates!"
"Stay back, monster-bait!" one of the guards called down. "We don't want your kind bringing death to our doorstep!"
Kazuki's heart sank. Word had already spread about his title. "Please! I'll die out here!"
"Better you than us," another guard shouted. "The archmage said you'd serve a greater purpose drawing monsters away from the city. Now go, before we put arrows in you!"
To emphasize the point, one of the guards nocked an arrow and aimed it at Kazuki.
The monsters were gaining ground behind him. Kazuki's leg throbbed where the spider had bitten him, the poison neutralized by his new resistance but the wound still bleeding. He couldn't go back, and he couldn't go forward.
"Damn you all!" he shouted at the walls, fury and desperation building inside him. On impulse, he activated his newly acquired skill.
"Alpha's Howl!"
The sound that emerged from his throat wasn't human. It was the bone-chilling roar of a predator, amplified by magic, echoing across the open field. Several of the smaller monsters pursuing him actually stopped, trembling before turning to flee.
The guards on the wall stepped back, clearly unnerved.
"What the hell was that?" one of them stammered.
"He's turning into a monster himself!" another cried.
"Shoot him! Shoot him now!"
Arrows rained down, forcing Kazuki to dive for cover behind a large rock near the base of the wall. One grazed his shoulder, adding to his collection of injuries.
[HP: 115/160]
"I'm not a monster!" Kazuki yelled. "I'm just trying to survive!"
His plea fell on deaf ears. More arrows clattered against the rock, and behind him, the braver monsters were closing in again, drawn inexorably by his cursed title.
Trapped between certain death and probable death, Kazuki made the only choice he could. He ran along the base of the wall, keeping it between himself and the archers, looking for any kind of opening or weakness.
After nearly a hundred meters, he found it—a small drainage tunnel where waste water flowed out from the city. It was barely wide enough for a person to crawl through, and the smell was horrific, but it was his only option.
Kazuki dropped to his hands and knees and began crawling into the fetid darkness, the sounds of monsters crashing through the underbrush spurring him on. Something slimy squished beneath his palms. The stench made his eyes water. But he kept going, forcing his body through the narrow passage, praying it wouldn't get smaller.
Behind him, he heard snarls and claws scrabbling at the entrance, too large to follow. Up ahead, a faint light suggested the tunnel opened somewhere inside the city.
After what felt like an eternity of crawling through filth, Kazuki emerged in what appeared to be a slum district. The tunnel opened into a ditch behind dilapidated wooden buildings. No one was around to witness his undignified entrance to the city.
Kazuki dragged himself out of the muck, every inch of him covered in substances he didn't want to identify. His wounds stung from the contamination, but he was alive. Somehow, against all odds, he'd survived his first night in this cruel new world.
Finding a relatively secluded spot between two buildings, Kazuki collapsed against a wall, his energy finally spent. He opened his status window to assess the damage.
[Status Window]
Name: Kazuki Yamamoto
Age: 22
Level: 4
HP: 105/160
MP: 80/80
Strength: 12
Agility: 14
Vitality: 13
Intelligence: 12
Wisdom: 9
Luck: 7
Titles: Ultimate Prey
Skills:
- Shadow Sense (Passive)
- Alpha's Howl (Active)
- Poison Resistance (Passive)
He'd gained four levels and three skills in just a few hours. The triple EXP bonus from his curse was no joke. But he was also injured, alone, hated by humans, and hunted by monsters. With his title, he couldn't stay in one place for long without drawing deadly attention.
As exhaustion pulled him toward unconsciousness, one thought crystallized in Kazuki's mind: the gods and the archmage had summoned him here to die. They'd labeled him prey, food for the monsters, a sacrificial lure to make everyone else's job easier.
"I'm not prey," Kazuki whispered through cracked, bloodied lips. "I won't be their sacrifice."
He clutched the monster crystals in his pocket, proof that he could fight back, that he could kill what was meant to kill him.
"If they want me to be prey, I'll become something else entirely. I'll become the predator that haunts their nightmares."
With that oath, Kazuki surrendered to unconsciousness, hidden in the shadows of a city that had already rejected him. Tomorrow would bring new monsters, new battles, new pain. But it would also bring opportunities—to grow stronger, to learn more skills, to survive.