I moved through the streets of the refuge city, wand in hand, keeping my Magical Girl form tucked away. Base form was safer for blending in, but it also made me painfully aware of my limited abilities. Half-power Magical Strike, limited mana—fuck, it felt like walking around holding a loaded gun with only half the bullets.
Hunters and system users passed by, chatting, laughing, practicing small skills. Merchants sold enchanted rations, mana potions, and scavenged weapons, while civilians browsed safely. The city hummed with life—a fragile, buzzing bubble of survival in a world that had gone completely to shit.
I wasn't here to admire city planning. I had a mission.
Luna.
I ducked down an alley to avoid wandering kids and minors practicing magic in public. My eyes scanned faces. Every system user here could be someone with info—an old acquaintance, someone who had been given Luna's trail, or even someone who had seen her when she'd arrived at the refuge. But asking outright? Yeah, that would just make me look like a desperate idiot.
I clenched my jaw. Keep it casual, Mio. Act like a normal fucking person… if a normal fucking person carried a wand and had white hair.
A small chime sounded in my vision.
[Quest Received — Random Assignment]
I cursed under my breath. The System liked to shove quests at people without warning. Some were easy, some were hard, some were absurdly humiliating. Completion gave stat enhancements or even unlocked new skills.
I opened the notification:
Quest: Kill Any Monsters 0/10
I groaned.
"Of course. My first quest is literally 'kill ten monsters.' Amazing. Fantastic." My face in utter disbelief.
Am I unlucky?
I looked down a side street, already thinking about how to find them without accidentally transforming and causing a scene. Base form meant I had partial Magical Strike—weak, but enough to kill small monsters if I played it smart.
I rounded a corner, distracted by the System's interface, and slammed into someone.
"Whoa! Shit—sorry, dude," a voice said.
I looked up. A guy about my age, messy dark hair, bright eyes, with a warm, nervous smile. He carried a small dagger and a satchel of supplies.
He… had the same quest notification blinking above his head.
[Quest: Kill Any Monsters 0/10]
He noticed me staring.
"Oh! Wait… you got the same quest?" His eyes widened. "Wow… crazy coincidence!"
I blinked.
"Yeah. Seems like it," I said flatly, keeping my wand hidden.
He shuffled slightly, looking embarrassed. "I—I just turned eighteen yesterday, so… it's my first quest too. Um… would you… maybe want to team up? It might be safer… and faster."
I raised an eyebrow.
"You're… what? Fresh eighteen? Cute. And naive. And yeah, I'm definitely trusting a complete stranger. Fucking brilliant."
He laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "Uh… yeah, I guess that's fair. I'm Xander, by the way."
"Mio," I said curtly, wand still tucked in a pocket of my cloak.
We walked side by side toward a vendor district. Xander moved differently from most system users I'd seen. He was polite, careful, and carried himself with an almost innocent aura.
Every vendor we passed greeted him warmly, smiled, even offered him discounts on enchanted food rations and potions.
Meanwhile, I got curt nods or suspicious stares. The city didn't like loners. The city didn't trust me.
"Wow… they really like you," I muttered.
Xander shrugged, looking sheepish. "I—I guess I've just been… lucky, I don't know."
Lucky. Yeah, that was one way to put it. The system had apparently decided this kid was a walking angel. I'm assuming Perfect stats, perfect manners, and even a fucking perfect smile.
"I hate you already," I muttered under my breath, wand still hidden.
He looked down at me, smiling shyly. "Heh… thanks? I think?"
We ducked into a small shop selling daggers, potions, and a few random magical trinkets. Xander's friendly energy lit up the space. The merchant handed him a bag of mana potions.
"On the house, kid. You're new, huh? Be careful out there."
Xander thanked him politely, cheeks slightly red. I clenched my teeth, muttering:
"Fuck. How is everyone here such a goddamn cinnamon roll except me?"
I grabbed a few basic potions and a couple of rations for myself, ignoring the merchant's glare.
Xander turned, holding his small bundle, and said quietly, "Mio… thanks for letting me team up with you. I know it's weird. I just… I figured someone experienced would be better than wandering alone."
I sighed. Also wait.. Experienced?
Dude I just turned 18 like what 3 days ago? But he didn't have to know that.. for now.
"Yeah… okay. Don't die, stay out of my way, and don't scream if we run into monsters. Deal?"
He nodded eagerly. "Deal!"
"Good. Now let's find some monsters and get this stupid quest over with," I muttered.
I glanced around. The refuge city was calm tonight, but monsters were out there. The streets were patrolled, barriers in place, but that didn't make it safe outside the dome. We had to move quickly, stay low, and—ideally—not trigger my magical girl form until necessary.
Xander hummed softly, adjusting his dagger. He looked like he genuinely believed this quest was an adventure. Meanwhile, I was thinking about survival, mana management, cooldowns, and how absurd it was that I had skirts and pads under my clothes while we prepared to kill monsters.
"This is gonna be fun," I muttered sarcastically.
Xander smiled nervously. "Yeah… totally fun!"
Oh fuck me, I thought. This kid is pure. I am going to kill him by the end of the week.
The air felt different the moment we stepped outside the barrier. The faint shimmer of the dome disappeared behind us, leaving only the ruined cityscape bathed in moonlight. Shadows stretched long, twisted, and alive. Every abandoned building, every skeletal car, every toppled sign could be hiding a monster.
I pulled my wand slightly from the folds of my cloak. Half-power, base form. Enough to keep me safe if we ran into something small.
Xander bounced beside me, completely oblivious to how tense I was. He practically hummed as he walked. "Isn't this exciting? I can't believe we finally get to hunt monsters. I just turned eighteen yesterday, and this is my first real mission!"
I narrowed my eyes. "Exciting? You're talking like this is a fucking festival. Stay quiet."
He tilted his head, smiling sheepishly. "Oh! Sorry. I'm just… nervous. My class is Friendly Assassin, so I can attack, dodge, and summon daggers. I also have skills called Dagger Strike, Friendly Stealth, Stealth, and Dagger Weapon Summon."
I nearly dropped my wand. "Wait, wait. Stop. What the fuck are you doing, telling me all that? You do not share your full class information with anyone, Xander!! Some people out here will try to exploit that. You just made yourself a target." I let out a scoff, just how naive is this freshly turned 18 kid?
Is he someone who doesn't realized the world is literally CONQUERED by MONSTERS?
Xander blinked, clearly not processing the danger. "Oh… I thought… I mean, you don't seem like a bad person, Mio."
I froze. The world tilted slightly. That simple, naive sentence… it was like a spark dropped into a powder keg.
"Xander, focus. I do not give a shit what you think of me right now. There are very bad people out there, and they will kill you in a heartbeat if you're stupid."
The words left out of my mouth, I didn't expect that to come out.
Xander gave a small shrug, still smiling. "I know, I just… it's hard to believe anyone's actually bad when you meet them."
I rolled my eyes. I was about to lecture him on the absolute futility of innocence in this world when a chilling screech ripped through the ruined streets. A scream layered with dozens of whispering voices, echoing in the distance. My stomach dropped.
I froze. The System overlay flickered with a low warning.
[Warning — Unknown Monster Detected: Level 92+]
[Monster Type: Hundred Eye NightOwl]
I swallowed hard. That thing was supposed to be asleep during the day. It hunted only at night, rare even for seasoned hunters. And now… it was awake.
Xander turned toward me, eyes wide. "Uh… Mio… that does not sound good. What is it?"
"Do not ask. Just move. Quietly."
We ducked into the shadow of a collapsed building, creeping along broken walls. The NightOwl's screech echoed again, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. Its massive, glowing eyes scanned the streets, and the air felt wrong. Predatory. Hungry. Everything about it screamed death.
Xander whispered nervously. "Do we fight? Or…?"
I shook my head. "No. Not now. We hide, and then we figure out a way back. But…" I clenched my wand tighter. "We're very far from the barrier. We walked too far already. Going back is going to be a pain in the ass."
He swallowed hard, eyes darting. "You mean… we can't just run back?"
I groaned. "No. It's not that simple. Monsters are fast. This one… it's smarter than most. Don't panic, just… stay low."
We ducked into the nearest abandoned building, the floorboards creaking beneath our feet. Dust coated every surface. Broken furniture lay scattered. Faded posters of pre-apocalypse propaganda hung crookedly on the walls. Moonlight filtered through cracks in the ceiling.
Xander crouched beside me. "Mio… you're really calm. Are you sure you're not freaking out inside?"
I glared at him. "Calm? I'm pissing myself quietly. Quiet's the key here. You keep talking and we'll get eaten."
He flinched but nodded, whispering: "Right… quiet. Got it."
I scanned the building for a defensible spot. Broken crates in the corner could act as cover. The front door was weak, but the NightOwl's senses were limited if we stayed in shadow.
[System Tip: Monster senses rely on movement, sound, and heat signatures. Minimize all three to avoid detection.]
I muttered, more to myself than to him. "We're basically ghosts if we don't screw up."
Xander peered around the corner. "Mio… do you think we can make it back to the city? We're really far."
I bit my lip. "Probably not in one go. We'll have to move carefully, scout the area, and hope nothing notices us. You're going to have to trust me and do exactly what I say."
He nodded solemnly, eyes wide but determined. "I trust you."
I suppressed a groan. "You better. That's all I'm saying right now. One wrong step and—well… you'll die."
We crouched in silence. Outside, the NightOwl prowled, eyes glowing faintly as it moved through the shadows. Every now and then, it tilted its head, listening. Its wings made no sound. Its presence was oppressive.
I adjusted my grip on the wand. Base form still, half-powered Magical Strike ready just in case. Full transformation would be a death sentence for stealth right now. But the ribbons and frills that normally humiliated me would have to wait.
Xander whispered, almost in awe, "It's… huge. That thing is enormous."
"Yeah. And if we screw up, it will eat us like we're appetizers," I said flatly.
He nodded again. "Got it. Mio… I really hope I don't die."
I muttered under my breath, "Buddy, I hope I don't die either."
We waited. Shadows stretched, the night grew longer, and the hundred-eyed predator moved silently, hunting for anything foolish enough to expose itself.
And for the first time since getting the System, I realized: survival in this world wasn't about power, or frills, or stats. It was about brains, timing, and knowing exactly when to move and when to shut the hell up.
I crouched low, every muscle tensed. The Hundred Eye NightOwl prowled outside the alley. Its glowing, all-seeing eyes scanned the street like lasers. Even in base form, the air it passed through seemed heavy, suffocating.
Xander whispered nervously beside me. "Uh… Mio… I think I can help. I can use my Stealth skill. We'll be basically invisible to the NightOwl. It's what assassins do."
I raised an eyebrow. "Invisible? Really? Because that sounds like the kind of bullshit that works for storybooks, not reality."
He grinned, shaking his head. "Trust me. It'll work… just stay close."
I narrowed my eyes. "Define close."
"Really, really, really close," he said, blushing faintly.
I groaned. "Of course. I have to be a human magnet now. Great. Just what I wanted. My life is perfect."
He activated his skill. A faint shimmer surrounded him, the air bending subtly, light distorting around us. I could feel my own pulse sync with his aura. Somehow, staying within it made me harder to detect.
We crawled forward. Shadows clung to us like a cloak. Every step was silent. My wand hovered lightly in my hand, ready to fire a half-powered Magical Strike if anything stupid happened.
We were almost past the NightOwl. Almost.
Then it happened. The shimmer flickered. Xander's Stealth deactivated mid-step.
"YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!! XANDER!" I yelled out as I felt the stealth ability disappear.
A high-pitched, ear-splitting screech ripped through the streets. The NightOwl's eyes blazed with recognition. Its wings stretched wide, feathers rattling like knives against metal.
"Fuck!" I yelled, pushing off the ground and sprinting.
Xander grabbed my arm, yanking me forward. "Run! Run!"
I blasted a Magical Strike from the wand as we sprinted. Pink energy lanced forward, hitting a nearby pile of rubble and sending debris flying. The NightOwl screeched again, wings flapping violently. Its massive talons smashed into the ground inches from our feet.
"Stay close!" Xander shouted, darting ahead.
I tried to keep an eye on him as we ran. He moved like a shadow, barely touching the ground, passing around obstacles with terrifying speed. I had to force myself not to look too long, knowing my Magical Girl form would make him visible if I transformed mid-run.
If my class wasn't such a fucking embarrassment. Maybe I would've survived today. God if there is one. Please keep us safe.
Just as it felt like someone really did hear the prayer.
We rounded a crumbling corner, and Xander pointed suddenly. "There! Hidden passage! Go!"
I didn't hesitate. I pushed forward, blasting another Magical Strike at falling debris to keep it from blocking us, and dove through the narrow entrance just as the NightOwl's screech echoed behind us.
We collapsed inside the passage, breathing hard. The faint scent of mold, dust, and decay hit my nose. For a moment, we allowed ourselves a sigh of relief.
"We… we made it," Xander whispered.
I wiped sweat from my forehead. "Yeah. Safe… for now."
And then I heard it.
A loud squeak. Sharp claws clicking on the stone floor. My stomach sank. I froze.
"Oh… no. No no no no. Not again."
A massive rat emerged from the shadows. Its eyes glowed faintly red, its teeth jagged and yellow. The fur was matted, covered in scars and what looked like dried blood. Its tail whipped back and forth like a whip.
"Fuck me. I hate rodents. I do not—do NOT like rats!" I hissed.
Xander's eyes narrowed. He stepped forward, pulling a small dagger from his belt. And then… the air changed. The faint shimmer of a System aura flared around him.
[Class Buff Activated: Master Assassin — Skill scaling increases with opponent strength.]
I blinked. He was no longer the nervous, polite kid I had been dragging around. His stance shifted, silent and deadly. Muscles coiled, reflexes honed, eyes glowing faintly under his dark hair. Everything about him screamed lethality.
"Holy—shit," I muttered under my breath.
The rat lunged. Its teeth snapped. Its claws swiped like razors. Xander moved like a shadow, a blur, slicing through the air with terrifying precision.
Before I could even react, the rat's head rolled across the floor. Blood splattered, scent of decay mixing with iron. Silence returned, except for Xander's heavy breathing. He looked at me. Calm. Cold. Deadly.
I stumbled back, wand shaking. "You… you—what the hell? That was… scary as fuck. You just cut its head off like it was a pillow or something!"
IS THIS GUY A MURDERER? AM I GONNA DIE?
Xander wiped his blade clean. His voice was quiet, controlled, almost eerie. "Master Assassin. My power scales with my opponent. The stronger the enemy… the stronger I become. That rat? Weak. I barely broke a sweat."
I stared. Pink energy flickered faintly around my wand as if mocking my disbelief. "You… holy shit. You're terrifying. You look… I don't even have words. That was insane. You're like… a nightmare wrapped in a polite smile."
He wouldn't kill me would he?
Do other system users give XP when killed?!
Xander shrugged, sheathing his dagger. "I told you. You don't seem like a bad person. I can trust you. That's enough for me."
I blinked. I didn't know whether to be impressed, terrified, or furious that I now had to rely on this insane, perfect, deadly angel beside me.
"Yeah… right. Perfect. Just fucking perfect."