For a moment, silence swallowed the room entirely.
The rain hammered against the window in relentless sheets, as if it was trying to drown the echo of that humming voice of rain.
Silas Veil stared into the empty air where golden runes still shimmered like dying embers. His breath came out in slow, ragged bursts.
'What the fucking hell was even that?'
He took a trembling step backward. His head bumped into the coffee table.
The knife fell to the floor, clattering sharply—its edge glinting wetly in the neon light spilling through the blinds.
Then something else stirred the air—a faint rustle, like fabric brushing against silk.
Silas's heart lurched.
He dropped into a half-crouch, snatched up the knife, and gripped it so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The blade trembled as he pointed it into the shadows.
"Whoever the fuck you are—come out right now!" His voice cracked on the last word. "Don't you fucking fuck around with me!"
Nothing answered back.
For a few seconds, the only sound was the relentless drumming of rain and the harsh whistle of Silas's own breathing.
Then—
A pale flicker of blue light stuttered into existence directly in front of his eyes.
He staggered back, nearly tripping over the coffee table. The knife wavered in his grip.
Symbols and letters cascaded across the air, coalescing into a sharp-edged screen of translucent sapphire. Each letter glowed with cold, electric fire.
[Greetings, host.]
Silas blinked rapidly, sweat beading on his forehead.
'Host…?'
The screen shifted, lines of text unfurling like digital scrolls.
[System initializing…]
[Life-Stealing System activated.]
[Main Function: Absorb lifespan and vitality from defeated targets.]
[Infinite Skills Potential detected.]
[Skill Unlocked: Life Drain (S-rank)]
[Effect: Steal a small portion of your enemy's remaining life upon their death.]
[Warning: System incomplete. Synchronization at 47%.]
[Questline initiated: Survive and feed the system.]
Silas felt as though his brain had short-circuited. He lowered the knife slowly, jaw slack.
"Life-Drain...? Infinite... skills...? Life stealing...?" His voice trembled. "Are you fucking kidding with me?"
He let out a sound that was half a laugh, half a breathless wheeze. His emotions skyrocketed—breath erratic, heart hammering at two hundred beats per minute.
'Me...? Getting a personal system? What the actual fuck...?'
His pulse thundered in his ears. A single bead of sweat crawled down the side of his face.
Is this some kind of cruel cosmic joke? Or am I seriously... the strongest now?
A manic giggle bubbled up in his throat.
'This has to be a dream... This has to be.'
Abruptly, Silas lifted the knife and slashed a shallow cut across his left forearm.
Pain exploded instantly through his nerves. Blood welled crimson, running in thin rivulets down his arm.
"Fuck—!" He hissed, clutching the wound tightly to stop the bleeding, wincing as the sting tore through his muscles.
But even as pain throbbed through his arm, he began to laugh—low at first, then louder, until it grew sharp and almost feral.
"So it's real. The pain's real. This isn't a dream."
A grin split his face, his eyes glimmering with feverish light.
"Finally..." he whispered under his breath. "Finally... my fucking dream came true."
He threw his head back and let out another sharp, choked laugh.
"I can be the best in the world now. No more crawling here and there like an insect... No more looking up to bastards like Nathan Cross."
His voice dropped to a vicious growl.
"System."
The floating screen pulsed gently in front of his eyes, almost as if it was breathing.
[Awaiting command.]
"What do I have to do… to become the strongest?"
There was a faint hum, like distant chimes echoing through glass.
[To reach peak power, host must:]
[Complete quests.]
[Clear dungeons.]
[Level up.]
[Increase all stats.]
Silas exhaled sharply, his breath shaky and uneven.
'Complete quests... Clear dungeons... Level up...'
It all felt unreal—and yet it set his blood on fire.
"I want my first quest," he snarled. "Right fucking now."
The screen pulsed a brighter blue.
[As you command, host.]
[Initializing first quest…]
Lines of code raced across the interface, symbols spinning in intricate spirals. A new screen snapped into place, the letters gleaming white.
[New Quest Generated:]
[Quest Name: Trial of Blood.]
[Objective: Clear an E-Rank Dungeon solo.]
[Rewards: Skill Unlock Ticket x1, Stat Points x10, $5,000 cash bonus.]
[Failure Penalty: None.]
Silas's lips peeled back in a wolfish grin.
"An E-rank dungeon, huh..."
He scoffed, wiping the smear of blood from his arm.
"That's nothing. I've been terrified of E-rank dungeons my whole damn life—and now I finally get my chance to rip them apart."
His voice was filled with equal parts excitement and fear.
With a menacing grin, he whispered, "I'll do it... with a big damn smile on my fucking face."
He tilted his head, eyes gleaming.
"It's finally time for me to shine."
His laughter rang out in the cramped apartment, echoing off the cracked walls. Outside, lightning split the sky in a blaze of white fire.
[Host may access the Multi-Dimensional Shop for supplies prior to the quest.]
Silas stared at the flickering words, still smiling like a man who'd glimpsed salvation—or madness.
"So... this is how my story begins."