The night was colder than usual.
A sharp wind swept through the outer courtyard, carrying dust and silence with it. The lanterns flickered weakly against the darkness, barely lighting the figures gathered in a loose circle.
At the center of it all—
Jin Muyeon lay on the ground.
His body trembled slightly, his thin clothes already soaked with blood. Bruises covered his arms, his face swollen beyond recognition. Every breath he took was shallow, uneven… like his body had already begun to give up.
"Still alive?"
A voice came from above him—mocking, amused.
One of the outer disciples stepped forward, his shadow stretching over Muyeon's broken body.
"I told you he'd last longer than a cockroach," another one laughed.
More laughter followed.
It was loud.
Careless.
As if the person lying there wasn't human at all.
Muyeon tried to move.
His fingers twitched weakly against the cold stone floor, but no strength followed. Pain shot through his body with even the smallest motion, like needles tearing through his muscles.
"I… didn't take it…" he forced out, his voice barely audible.
A lie, they said.
Even when it was the truth.
The disciple above him sneered. "You expect us to believe that? The manual disappeared, and suddenly you're nowhere to be found."
"I was working…" Muyeon whispered, his vision starting to blur. "I didn't—"
Before he could finish—
A foot slammed into his ribs.
CRACK.
The sound echoed through the courtyard.
Muyeon's body jerked violently as the air was forced out of his lungs. He coughed, blood spilling from his mouth as his vision flickered between darkness and dim light.
"Just die already," the disciple said coldly. "No one cares about a useless servant."
And that was the truth.
No one would come.
No elder.
No disciple.
No one.
Because Jin Muyeon was nothing.
Just a nameless servant in a declining sect, someone who existed only to clean floors, carry water, and take the blame when something went wrong.
He had no talent.
No backing.
No future.
Only this ending.
The laughter around him grew distant.
Fading.
His hearing dulled, replaced by a ringing silence.
So this is how I die…
His eyes slowly drifted upward, staring at the dark sky above. The stars were faint, barely visible through the clouds.
Empty.
Just like his life.
His fingers curled slightly.
If only…
If only I had power…
Even a little…
Even once…
I wouldn't—
[System Booting…]
The voice didn't belong.
It was cold.
Flat.
Inhuman.
Muyeon's fading consciousness flickered.
What… was that…?
[Condition Met: Extreme Regret]
[Condition Met: Near Death State]
[Hidden Trait Activated: Unyielding Soul]
A faint blue light appeared before his eyes.
Transparent.
Floating.
Impossible.
No one else reacted.
The disciples were still laughing, still talking, still unaware.
[System Initialization Complete]
[Binding to Host: Jin Muyeon]
Muyeon's heart pounded weakly.
Am I… dreaming…?
A window formed in front of him.
Clear.
Sharp.
Real.
[Welcome, User.]
More words appeared.
[You have been granted one chance.]
[Do you accept the System?]
[YES] / [NO]
His vision blurred further.
His body was dying.
He could feel it.
This… was the end.
Unless—
"…Yes…"
The word barely left his lips.
But it was enough.
[Choice Confirmed.]
Everything stopped.
The pain disappeared.
The voices vanished.
The world itself went silent.
Then—
Darkness swallowed everything.
…
…
…
GASP!
Jin Muyeon shot upright.
His body trembled as he dragged in air, his lungs burning as if he had just surfaced from deep water.
Alive.
He was alive.
His eyes widened as he looked down at himself.
No wounds.
No blood.
No broken bones.
He touched his chest, his arms, his face—
All intact.
"What…?"
He quickly looked around.
The same courtyard.
The same night.
But—
No disciples.
No bodies.
No signs of what had just happened.
It was as if everything had been reset.
[System Activated Successfully]
The voice returned.
Calm.
Unfeeling.
A blue window appeared in front of him again.
This time, clearer than ever.
[Welcome, Jin Muyeon.]
Another screen opened.
[Main Quest]
Survive in the Outer Sect (0/7 days)
Reward: Basic Martial Art + 50 EXP
Failure: Death
Muyeon's expression froze.
Death… again?
So this wasn't a miracle.
It was a test.
Before he could think further—
Another message appeared.
[Starter Reward Granted]
Beginner Body Enhancement
Basic Internal Energy Manual
Suddenly—
A surge of energy exploded within him.
His muscles tightened.
His breathing stabilized.
The weakness that had defined his entire life—
Vanished.
Muyeon's eyes sharpened.
For the first time—
He felt strength.
Not overwhelming.
Not absolute.
But real.
He slowly clenched his fist.
The air felt different.
Closer.
As if something within his reach had finally awakened.
"…So this is power."
His voice was quiet.
But steady.
Memories flooded back.
The laughter.
The accusations.
The pain.
The moment of death.
Something cold settled in his chest.
Not fear.
Not hesitation.
Something deeper.
Resolve.
Muyeon stood up.
His movements were no longer weak.
No longer hesitant.
He looked at the system window again.
His expression calm.
Focused.
"Seven days…"
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
Cold.
Sharp.
"…I won't die again."
Far above the silent courtyard, the clouds slowly parted—
Revealing a sky filled with distant stars.
And somewhere within the vast world of Murim—
A nameless existence had just taken his first step toward becoming something far more dangerous.