The words resonated deep in his consciousness, and before he could even react, a brilliant flash of light engulfed him. The world twisted, colors inverting for an instant — and then it appeared.
Before Ethan floated a colossal roulette wheel suspended in midair, radiating both holiness and sin. Its circular frame was carved from obsidian-like metal, its rim edged with flowing golden sigils that pulsed as if alive. Each segment of the wheel shimmered with numbers, from 1 to 999, glowing under a soft divine light. The air itself hummed — a blend of angelic chorus and demonic whisper, both harmonious and unsettling.
Then came the voice again, neither male nor female, reverberating through his skull like a god's decree:
[Please select the number you desire.]
Ethan stood silent for a moment, his eyes narrowing. His mind, trained by months of survival and countless near-death moments, instantly began to analyze. Each glowing number was a mystery — a potential miracle. He studied their order, the subtle flickers of light that danced across certain digits, hoping to spot a hidden pattern, a secret left by the creator of this strange System.
Nothing. The roulette was pure chance — or perhaps divine will.
He exhaled slowly. "Of course," he murmured under his breath. "This is the System of God and Demon. No luck, no fairness… only balance through chaos."
He tapped his fingers against his thigh thoughtfully. If this world really reflects that balance, he mused, then the winning numbers must mirror both sides — the sacred and the damned.
A faint smirk curved his lips. "Then the choice is obvious."
Two numbers pulsed in his mind like twin beacons of fate — 666, the mark of the Beast, and 777, the symbol of divine perfection. Both had weight. Both carried power.
For a brief moment, Ethan hesitated. The silence around him deepened, the hum of the roulette filling the void like the heartbeat of the world itself. He remembered the endless screams of humanity outside the safe zones, the madness that turned men into beasts. He remembered the women who still smiled despite the stench of death in the air.
Humanity still clung to something divine… even in a world abandoned by gods.
Ethan clenched his fist. "Then it's 777," he said with calm finality, his voice echoing through the golden air. "If I'm destined to choose, I'll do it with divine — not the Beast's curse.
Even if the God of this World had abandoned them."
The moment his thought solidified, the roulette began to tremble violently. A surge of power rippled outward, distorting the light around him. The golden section marked 777 flared brighter and brighter — until it burst free from the wheel like a shooting star.
A streak of blinding gold shot toward him. Ethan instinctively raised his hand — and the light condensed, folding in on itself until it became solid. When the brilliance faded, a single object rested in his palm.
A black ring, ancient and regal, forged from an unknown dark metal. Its surface was etched with runes so intricate they seemed to shift when looked at directly. The air around it shimmered faintly, a strange fusion of holy warmth and infernal chill radiating from its core.
Ethan turned the ring in his hand, the faint glow reflecting in his sharp eyes. "Interesting," he murmured. "A gift from both Heaven and Hell, perhaps?"
Spawn stood silently behind him, its hollow sockets flickering faint blue. The skeleton's presence made the eerie landscape feel even more unreal — a blend of death and rebirth, faith and blasphemy.
[[Level 6: Spatial Storage Ring]
Type: Accessory – Ring
Durability: 100/100
Effect:
An extraordinary artifact forged through a fusion of high-tier arcane engineering and dimensional magic. The Spatial Storage Ring grants its wearer access to a personal sub-dimensional space measuring 4×4×4 meters, unaffected by the passage of time or environmental conditions.
Whether storing weapons, food, potions, or fragile relics, all contents remain perfectly preserved—untouched by decay, corrosion, or spoilage. Time stands still inside.
Bonus Stats:
+15 Spirit
Special Traits:
Timeless Preservation: Stored items retain their condition indefinitely. No aging, rotting, or degradation occurs inside the storage space.
Instant Access: Items can be mentally retrieved or stored within a second of thought—requires no physical interaction.
Spatial Isolation: Items stored are hidden from detection, theft, or external dimensional interference.
Compatibility:
Usable by all classes. Especially favored by mages, hunters, and survival-oriented explorers.
Sell Value: 1,00,000 Survival Coins
Description:
A marvel of magical innovation and divine craftsmanship, the Spatial Storage Ring is more than just a container—it is a miniature pocket realm under your control. Coveted by kings and assassins alike, this ring blurs the boundary between physical limitation and magical mastery. In a world where survival hinges on preparedness, the wearer of this ring always has the edge.]
Ethan slid the ring onto his finger, and at once a surge of power rippled through his veins—foreign yet strangely familiar, like awakening a dormant current buried deep within his soul. The sensation was electric, wild, and intoxicating.
A slow grin spread across his lips, a flicker of danger gleaming in his eyes.
"Now this…" he murmured, voice low with satisfaction, "this is worth more than any bullet or blade."
The ring shimmered faintly, runes flickering like stars beneath the metal's surface. Ethan turned his hand, admiring it from every angle. "A true treasure," he breathed. "Thank God."
His reflection danced across the ring's surface—sharp, determined, hungry. With this storage ring, his survival had just shifted to an entirely new level. He could now hoard weapons, food, ammo—anything. A portable vault of endless possibilities.
The moment the ring fully attuned to him, the golden roulette board in front of him began dissolving into motes of light that drifted down into the earth like embers fading into ash.
Yet even as it vanished, the mechanical alert chime did not cease.
It continued to echo through the air—cold, sharp, and ominous—like the ticking of a countdown.
[Since you are the first to complete the novice quest, the system will award you a level 3 Protective Garment. In addition, you have received the title of Havenstead Village Discover.]
[{Havenstead Village Discover effect: Strength+1, Agility +1, Vitality +1, Stamina +1, Spirit +1, Endurance +1.}]
[[Protective Garment – Level 3]
Type: Armor / Body Suit
Effect:
A next-generation defensive combat suit woven from synthesized high-metal fibers and embedded with anti-infection enchantments. Engineered to endure the chaos of biological warfare, the Level 3 Protective Garment offers elite-tier resistance against both viral contamination and modern ballistic weaponry, combining divine craftsmanship with tactical efficiency.
Infection Resistance:
Withstands up to 50 infection attempts from viral strains ranked Level 50 and below before degradation.
Ballistic Defense:
Can absorb impacts from 12.7 mm caliber rounds, protecting vital areas under sustained fire and explosion shockwaves.
Bonus Stats:
+10 Strength
+10 Agility
+10 Vitality
+10 Stamina
+10 Spirit
+10 Endurance
Limitation:
Cannot stack bonus stats with other God and Demon System protective garments.
Ineffective against viral strains or mutations exceeding Level 50.
Description:
A marvel of survival engineering, the Protective Garment – Level 3 represents the pinnacle of battlefield resilience. Forged from materials salvaged after divine warfare, every thread hums with residual spiritual energy—granting unmatched balance between mobility, durability, and adaptability.
Designed for those who lead from the front, its internal weave adjusts dynamically to kinetic stress, diffusing trauma across the entire frame while retaining full movement range. Its lightweight structure conceals a powerful legacy—armor once worn by those who dared to stand against extinction itself.
For warriors, scouts, and survivalists alike, this suit is not mere protection—it is a testament to defiance, built for those who refuse to fall.
Compatibility:
Universally wearable. Perfect for frontline combatants, survival leaders, and high-mobility adventurers operating in extreme infection zones.
Durability: 50/50
Sell Value: 15,000 Survival Coins]
Ethan's gaze lingered on the newly acquired Level 3 Protective Garment, his expression a mix of awe and calculation. "This… this thing is insane," he muttered under his breath, running his hand across the armor's sleek black surface. "Defense against 12.7mm rounds? That means even heavy machine guns can't pierce it."
The fabric gleamed faintly under the ambient light — smooth, flexible, and unnervingly light. It wasn't made of metal, nor any conventional material he'd ever seen. It looked like woven shadows layered with silver veins, faintly pulsing as though it possessed its own heartbeat.
Ethan slipped out of his Level 2 armor and donned the new one. To his surprise, it was even lighter than his previous set — a second skin that seemed to adjust perfectly to his physique. The moment he tightened the last strap, a subtle hum ran through him, and his movements became more fluid, his balance sharper.
"Lightweight, adaptive weave, ballistic resilience… whoever designed this was no ordinary craftsman," he murmured, adjusting his collar. "This is closer to legendary engineering than human design."
The mysterious world around him shimmered in soft sunlight. For a moment, Ethan thought he had somehow returned to his Earth — but this realm was far too perfect, too unnaturally clean. The air was crisp and sweet, carrying a faint metallic tang.
The ground beneath his boots was made entirely of white marble, so polished that his reflection shimmered beneath him. At the center of the vast open square was a massive magic array, carved deep into the stone — its runes faintly glowing, weaving a soft blue light that rippled across the entire plaza like living energy.
Above, a colossal crystal orb floated silently in the air, burning with eternal flame. Inside that fire, digits slowly formed — 24 — glowing like a divine countdown.
But the strangest thing wasn't the architecture. It was the silence.
No voices. No footsteps. No wind. The entire city seemed frozen in time, with Ethan standing as the only soul left to witness its beauty and its loneliness.
After a few moments of eerie observation, he finally spotted a single building with lights flickering — a Tavern.
Without hesitation, he walked toward it.
The instant he stepped through the doorway, the world exploded into life.
The heavy thrum of metallic rock roared through the air, vibrating through his bones. The space was vast, almost cathedral-like, but alive with chaos. Neon lights of pink, violet, and electric blue sliced through the smoky haze, casting everything in surreal colors.
The crowd was a carnival of madness.
At the far end, a pair of dancers swayed and spun on a small stage — their bodies glistening under strobe lights, clad only in shimmering bras and black lace that barely counted as clothing. Their movements were sharp, seductive, and mesmerizing — not just human but enhanced, every motion tracing energy patterns in the air.
Around them, a wild mix of beings filled the room — not just men, but creatures that defied description.
A hulking bear-headed warrior wearing a laser-cut vest clinked glasses with a goat-horned mercenary whose body glimmered with holographic tattoos. A slender woman with a mechanical arm poured a glowing red drink for a cowboy with a plasma revolver resting casually at his hip. At the next table, a group of imps were gambling with bones that screamed faintly when thrown.