⌛ 00:01 After Integration
The world ended between two heartbeats.
One moment, Lee Ji-hoon was restocking energy drinks in a convenience store cooler.
Ji-hoon's dying phone buzzed with a phantom notification as he crawled through the wreckage. The screen flickered:
```
[DELETED CALENDAR ALERT]
» Project Sovereign - Final Prep - 4AM
» Location: Sector 7-D
```
He frowned. Sector what? Before he could react, the screen shattered underfoot
The next—
[WARNING: SYSTEM INTEGRATION FAILURE]
`> Reality stabilization compromised`
`> Host Lee Ji-hoon detected`
`> ERROR: Low Soul Power reserves`
White fire seared his nerves as the store flickered—fluorescent lights warping into eerie blue torches, the snack aisle merging with crumbling stone arches. Ji-hoon collapsed, his vision filled with pulsing notifications:
```
[STATUS OVERVIEW]
╔════════════════════════╗
║ LEE JI-HOON ║
║ Level 0 (Civilian Tier)║
╠══════════╦═════════════╣
║ HP: 50/50║ SP: 20/100 ║
║ (Malnourished Penalty) ║
╚══════════╩═════════════╝
[ABILITIES]
◻ OMNI-CLONE PROTOCOL (Lv.1)
» Stability: 61%
» Cost: 30 SP
» Lifespan: 47min
◻ APEX SELECTION (Locked)
◻ BLOOD DOMINION (Locked)
```
A wet crunching sound came from the storage room.
First Encounter
The thing that crawled through the doorway had:
- His manager's face
- A jaw unhinged like a snake's
- Fingers fused into chitinous blades
```
[SCAN COMPLETE]
» Fractured Human (Stage 1 Aberration)
» Threat Level: Moderate
» Weakness: Head Trauma (2x Damage)
```
Ji-hoon grabbed the nearest weapon—a metal shelf pole—just as the aberration lunged.
Combat Log
- Swing 1: Miss (Combat Skill: 12%)
- Swing 2: Glancing hit (-5 HP to target)
- Aberration Counter: Claw rakes arm (-15 HP)
```
[HP: 35/50]
`> Bleeding detected`
`> Soul Power sufficient for OMNI-CLONE`
```
Ji-hoon activated the command before he could think.
OMNI-CLONE
The clone materialized in a burst of blue static:
- Right arm translucent
- Left eye pupil dilated unevenly
- Movements jerky, like a buffering video
But it moved faster than him.
```
[DIRECTIVE MENU]
1. Attack
2. Defend
3. Flee
```
Ji-hoon chose 1. Attack + Distract.
The clone charged without hesitation—because it wasn't a person. Just a weapon wearing his face.
While the clone grappled the monster, Ji-hoon:
1. Shattered the glass cigarette case
2. Grabbed a lighter
3. Ignited spilled alcohol
The explosion sent him skidding across the floor.
```
[BATTLE SUMMARY]
» Aberration eliminated (+8 Fate Points)
» Clone destroyed (Lifespan: 2min)
» Blood Dominion: 3% unlocked
```
The New World
Ji-hoon staggered outside to see:
- The city skyline torn by floating obsidian monoliths
- Distant screams echoing between buildings
- His phone's last notification:
Mom [05:47 AM]: "The news says to—"
The message cut off mid-sentence.
```
[NEXT OBJECTIVE: Survive until dawn]
`> Reward: Clone Slot +1`
`> Failure: Neural Dissolution`
```
Ji-hoon tightened his grip on the scorched shelf pole.
First, I live. Then I burn this System to the ground.
---