Arakio's vision blurred.
The stars above him dissolved into darkness,
as if the sky itself had been swallowed.
"Am I… dying?"
His knees hit the ground.
Then—
DING.
A cold sound echoed, not in the air,
but inside his mind.
_______________________________________________
◼ SYSTEM INTERFACE ◼
Name: Arakio
Existence: Human (Incomplete)
Condition: Starving
Threat Level: Negligible
_______________________________________________
Arakio froze.
"…A system?"
The words felt unreal,
yet painfully clear.
Before he could think further,
red text appeared.
_______________________________________________
⚠ WARNING ⚠
•Your existence lacks value.
•Probability of meaningless death: 99.8%
_______________________________________________
His breath caught.
"So even my life has a percentage now…?"
His fists clenched.
"I don't want this."
The screen flickered.
_______________________________________________
•Then survive.
•Hunger chooses only those who refuse to •disappear.
_______________________________________________
Pain surged through his chest.
Not sharp.
Not burning.
It was empty.
As if something inside him had been hollowed out.
_______________________________________________
◼ NEW STATUS ◼
Strength: 1
Endurance: 1
Agility: 1
Aura: Sealed
Bhuk (Hunger): 0.5%
Note:
Growth possible only through consumption.
_______________________________________________
"Consumption… of what?"
The answer came instantly.
_______________________________________________
• Pain.
• Fear.
• Despair.
• Defeat.
_______________________________________________
Arakio laughed weakly.
"That's all I've ever had."
_______________________________________________
Suddenly—
CRACK.
The rooftop floor fractured.
Arakio stumbled back.
From the shadows, something moved.
Not human.
Not animal.
A shape crawled out,
its body flickering like broken reality.
_______________________________________________
◼ EMERGENCY NOTICE ◼
Anomaly Detected
Trial: Initiation
Objective:
( Survive for 3 minutes. )
Failure:
(Death.)
_______________________________________________
"…You're joking."
The creature turned its head.
No eyes.
Yet it was looking at him.
_______________________________________________
Hunger lavel :1%
His heartbeat slowed.His heartbeat slowed.
The fear didn't vanish—The fear didn't vanish—
it was absorbed.
Arakio stood up.
"I don't know how to fight,"
he whispered.
"But I won't run anymore."
The creature lunged"
Instinct took over.
Arakio raised his arm.
_______________________________________________
◼ SKILL UNLOCKED ◼
Passive Skill: Devour Fear (Lv. 1)
• Fear increases temporary endurance.
_______________________________________________
Pain exploded as claws tore into him.
But Arakio didn't scream.
He gritted his teeth.
"Is this it…?"
"No."
He grabbed the creature's arm.
And for the first time—
he felt full.
_______________________________________________
HungerLevel: 3%
The creature dissolved into black fragments.
Silence returned.
Arakio collapsed, breathing heavily.
"I lived…"
_______________________________________________
◼ SYSTEM MESSAGE ◼
• Trial Complete.
• You are now eligible to grow.
_______________________________________________
Far away, inside a tall, silent tower—
The academy principal opened his eyes.
"So it begins,"
he murmured.
"Another starving one…
trying to reach godhood."
_______________________________________________
Arakio stared at the fading system window.
His hands were shaking.
Not from fear.
From anticipation.
"If this hunger makes me strong…"
he whispered,
"…then I'll keep starving."
_______________________________________________
Chapter 2 Ends
_______________________________________________