It was an ordinary day.
I was walking home from school, headphones in my ears, thinking about what my mom cooked today...
Pasta? Or the curry I love?
But suddenly... the sky turned red.
Not a sunset red... but blood-red.
A loud crack split the sky like glass shattering. A massive portal opened in the air, flashing with lights that blinked on and off as if breathing.
Before I could comprehend what was happening... a red beam shot down and surrounded me.
In an instant — the world turned black.
I woke up...
To find myself standing in complete darkness.
No streets, no people, no sound... just emptiness.
And then... he appeared.
Not a human... but not a monster either.
He looked strange, with elegant features, but his eyes were dark, almost void-like.
It was as if darkness itself had taken the form of a human.
He approached me, his gaze cold, and said:
"Welcome... to the Underworld."
His voice was calm, but full of threat.
"I am a high-ranking demon in this underworld.
You've been dragged here, against your will... to fight."
"What? What do you mean?"
"Whether you want it or not... you're here to fight. Fighting is the only way to survive."
He paused for a moment, his eyes glowing darker.
"Anyone who refuses to fight will be killed... either by their own kind or by us."
"I'm not understanding... What are you talking about?"
"The people around you... they're just like you. They were dragged here just like you.
Fighting is not a choice... it's law. The underworld is filled with monsters. Some people will fight you, others will kill you. To be the sole survivor, you must win... or die like the others."
This was too much for me to take in. Was this a dream? Is this real?
"Death in the underworld is not just a natural thing. Every moment you fight brings you closer to survival.
Survival is the only measure." He spoke like it was nothing, as if life here was a mere game.
And then...
A screen appeared before me.
System Activated.
Loading Status.
Objective: Be the last survivor.
Participants: 1,000.
Remaining: 1,000.
And then...
Suddenly, I found myself in the middle of a massive arena, surrounded by hundreds of people — young, old, men, women, children... all standing around in shock.
The screen above us started counting down.
And announced: Begin the fight.
The people around me began screaming, attacking each other.
Some ran, some collapsed, and others attacked.
Each one had the same goal... to survive.
And I just stood there... still unable to understand what was happening.
"You!"
I heard someone call my name.
I looked...
Ayran.
The kid who used to bully me in school.
He was grinning.
"This is my chance!" he said. "Now we're equals. You won't survive if you don't fight. Let me be the first to show you."
And then he attacked.
He lunged at me, his strikes coming from all directions. I was still trying to make sense of everything, but my reflexes kicked in.
I dodged the first strike, but the second one came too fast.
His eyes were full of hatred, like he'd been waiting for this moment.
I kicked his leg to stop him, but he slid back and attacked again.
"You won't escape me! This is my chance to be stronger than you!"
The fight was brutal. We exchanged heavy blows, the air around us whipping with every strike.
But no matter what I did, I couldn't understand why I couldn't just kill this guy in one blow.
I couldn't forget all the years of bullying.
He'd been waiting for this moment to prove he was stronger than me.
I couldn't understand it all!
Suddenly, in the heat of the battle, as I went to strike him, I saw a massive rock in front of me.
I grabbed it quickly.
And as he charged at me again, I didn't hesitate.
I swung the rock with all my strength, and crushed his head.
Blood splattered around us, and the sound of his skull cracking echoed in the arena.
Ayran fell, his face hitting the ground.
But in his last breath, he looked up at me with bitterness, saying:
"Impossible... Why? Why aren't you like us? Why won't you fight alongside us?"
I didn't answer. But this... was the turning point.
I started to understand that the fight wasn't just about survival... it was about evolution.
A message appeared:
You have defeated Ayran.
Level Up!
Remaining Participants: 999.
I stood there, breathing heavily, my heart racing.
This was the first time I'd ever killed.
The first time I'd ever been surrounded by people who all wanted me dead.
But this moment... was the moment of transformation.
From now on...
I wasn't just fighting to survive.
I had to be the last one standing.
End of Chapter 1.