Chapter 2: The First Confrontation
The air over São Paulo was thick with a rotten stench, mingled with the chaos of distant sirens and screams echoing through the avenues. Klaus stepped out of his apartment with his heart pounding, still processing what the System had announced. The streets, once crowded with pedestrians and cars, had turned into a nightmare scene.
People ran in panic as bluish portals tore open from thin air, vomiting horrific creatures into the real world.
"Monsters… just like in the manga," Klaus muttered, his eyes wide as he stared toward Avenida Paulista. He recognized them from countless stories he had devoured — shambling zombies with rotting flesh and hollow eyes, green goblins armed with rusty clubs, and rattling skeletons whose white bones gleamed under the dying sun.
A Level 1 Zombie — he knew it instinctively, thanks to his Player Appraisal skill — stumbled toward him, groaning softly. Klaus stepped back, fear crawling up his spine.
"Status!" he thought, and the screen appeared before him.
Name: Klaus
Level: 1
XP: 0/100
Attributes:
Strength: 10
Agility: 10
Vitality: 10
Intelligence: 10
Dexterity: 10
Luck: 10
Free Points: 0
Skills:
Essence Devourer (Lv. 1)
Player Appraisal (Rank F)
With no weapon, he grabbed the first thing he found — an iron bar from an abandoned construction site nearby. The first goblin, a small but agile Level 2 creature, screeched and leapt toward him. Klaus swung the bar, hitting the monster's arm. The impact jolted his entire body, but the goblin only snarled and countered, scratching his shoulder.
Pain exploded, and blood ran down his arm.
"Shit! It really hurts!" Klaus shouted, stumbling back as a skeleton joined the fray, swinging a bone sword.
He quickly used Appraisal again — Skeleton, Level 3 – weak to blunt damage.
With a cry of effort, Klaus smashed the creature's skull with the iron bar, feeling the bones shatter under the blow.
The monsters came in small waves, as if the System were testing the survivors. A zombie snapped its jaws near his neck, and Klaus shoved it away, sprinting into a narrow alley.
His body, long unused to exertion, burned with fatigue — but adrenaline, and perhaps a spark of the System's new energy, kept him standing.
"I have to fight… just like in the manhwas. Survive, and get stronger!"
Breathing heavily, Klaus cornered a lone zombie against a collapsed wall. The creature — Level 1 — was slow but relentless. He raised the iron bar high.
"Die!" he shouted, bringing it down with all his strength.
The skull burst open with a wet crack, and the zombie fell still.
A notification flashed across his vision:
[Monster Defeated: Zombie (Lv. 1)]
[XP Gained: 10]
[Vital Essence Absorbed: 8 (Energy Bonus: 0%)]
Warm energy surged through his body — Vital Absorption had activated automatically with the killing blow. The power reinvigorated him, partially healing his wounded shoulder.
"This… this feels amazing," he gasped, feeling the stored essence pulse within his core.
But the fight wasn't over.
Two goblins and another skeleton approached from the street. Klaus fought with newfound ferocity, using the bar to parry and counter. He analyzed each enemy — goblins were quick but fragile, skeletons resistant to slashes but weak to crushing attacks.
After several tense minutes, he crushed the first goblin (XP +15, Essence +12), shattered the skeleton (XP +20, Essence +15), and finally finished the last goblin (XP +15, Essence +12).
Each kill triggered Essence Devourer, flooding him with life energy.
His XP climbed steadily — 10… 25… 45… 60…
Still not enough.
Another small wave came — three zombies this time. Klaus, more confident now, fought with precision and rage, his swings sharper, his movements steadier.
When the final goblin fell — the tenth monster — the bar in his vision filled completely.
[Congratulations! You have leveled up to Level 2!]
[Attributes Increased: +1 to all (Strength: 11, Agility: 11, Vitality: 11, Intelligence: 11, Dexterity: 11, Luck: 11)]
[Free Point Gained: +1 (Distribute as desired)]
[XP to Next Level: 0/105]
Klaus dropped to his knees, exhausted but exhilarated. The energy of the level-up coursed through him, fortifying his muscles and mind.
He had killed for the first time — not humans, but monsters — and survived.
"This is only the beginning," he thought, converting part of his stored essence (around 120 units) into a single Evolution Point.
He could feel the potential to evolve his skill soon.
The apocalypse was real — but now, Klaus had the power to fight it.
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