The air trembled.
A deafening crack thundered through the temple as the altar split in half.
Then, silence — the kind that freezes blood.
Dozens of glowing eyes turned toward the hunters.
Statues that had once stood still now raised weapons carved from stone, their movements slow… deliberate… alive.
Someone screamed first.
"THE STATUES— THEY'RE MOVING!"
Then chaos erupted.
Blades of stone cut through flesh like paper. Spears impaled hunters mid-run, pinning them to the marble floor. In a heartbeat, blood pooled across the ground, crimson against gold.
Jinwoo's breath caught in his throat. Even knowing what was coming… I can't stop it.
"Get back! Everyone, stay behind me!" Mr. Song roared, swinging his sword at a charging statue — only for the blade to shatter on impact.
The statue's counterstrike sent him flying across the room, blood spraying from his mouth.
"MR. SONG!" Jinwoo shouted, rushing to his side. His legs trembled, barely able to stand.
He's alive. Good.
Another statue loomed above him, shadow falling across his face. Jinwoo's instincts screamed. He dove to the side as a massive hammer smashed into the floor, cracking the stone where he'd just been.
He crawled, his body shaking, his lungs burning.
Everywhere around him — screams, blood, and death.
The once-proud hunters now crushed like insects under the hands of gods.
He did say the order of the rules — kneel, worship, prove devotion — but not all people believe in him so who don't kneel become target of massacre.
He saw one of the survivors — a young hunter — trying to crawl away. A stone spear pierced his chest, silencing him instantly.
"Damn it!" Jinwoo slammed his fist into the ground. "Why?! Even knowing everything… I still can't change a thing!"
The statues turned again, their glowing eyes locking on him.
A tremor ran through his body — not from fear, but from anger.
I won't die here. Not like this. Not again.
He forced his battered body to stand. Every muscle screamed, but his will roared louder.
He grabbed a broken blade from the floor, holding it up with shaking hands.
"I… won't run!" he shouted. "If you're gods, then test me! I'll live through this nightmare!"
The nearest statue swung its sword.
Time seemed to slow — his heartbeat echoed in his ears — and in that instant, something inside him shifted.
A faint, blue light flickered across his vision.
[Emergency Quest: Survive.]
Objective: Endure until the time limit expires.
Reward: Qualification to become a Player.
Failure: Death.
His eyes widened in disbelief. "T-The System… it's starting…"
Pain surged through him as another attack struck, sending him crashing into the altar. Blood dripped down his forehead, blurring his sight — but the blue window still floated before him, unwavering.
Even on the brink of death, his heart pounded faster.
The System… the thing that changed the original Sung Jinwoo's fate… had finally appeared.
And this time, he wasn't just a bystander.
Through cracked lips, he whispered, half in madness, half in determination—
"Fine… let's see if I'm worthy to survive."
As the temple crumbled around him, his blood mixed with the glow of the altar.