The world stilled.
Cars halted mid-intersection. Conversations choked off mid-sentence. Even the wind itself seemed to hold its breath.
And then. He appeared.
A man floated above the crowded street, wreathed in dazzling light.
His long hair shimmered like molten gold, his coat was woven from threads of starlight, and his eyes burned with a cold, inhuman amusement.
"Greetings, Humans of Earth~!"
His voice was smooth, echoing as if spoken from the heart of the universe itself.
"I am called 'Nocturne'. One of the Cosmic Streamers for this sector of the Korean Peninsula! Representing The Galaxy Stream! The Galaxy Stream is the greatest live broadcast show in the whole goddamn dimensions!"
Murmurs rippled through the crowd, but the man ignored them.
"My role is simple: To moderate your entertainment, To bring joy to our viewers, and… to kill anyone who fails to keep things interesting."
His grin widened.
"We Cosmic Streamers draw our power from the almighty Constellations! Legendary, Almighty beings scattered across the heavens. They watch you now, curious to see who will become their favorite toys… and who will die screaming"
For a heartbeat, the sky itself changed, splitting open to reveal a vast darkness filled with shimmering, unblinking stars.
Thousands of them. Watching. Judging.
Nocturne spread his arms.
"To survive in the Star Stream, you must entertain. The rules are simple. Follow the scenarios, Amuse the Constellations and perhaps they will bless you with power. Fail, and…"
He flicked a finger toward a man in the front row. The man suddenly screamed in pain as his chest caved in with a wet crunch, his body collapsing like a discarded doll.
Screams tore through the crowd.
Nocturne clapped his hands once, the sound like a thunderclap. Silencing everyone.
"Now... let's begin with the First Main Scenario~!"
He snapped his fingers. A glowing blue panel appeared before everyone.
[Main Scenario 1 - First Phase]
[Prove Your Will]
Objective: Kill a living organism with your own two hands.
Time Limit: 10 Minutes.
Penalty: Death.
Rewards: 100 Coins. Interest of the Constellations.
"Ten minutes. Tick-tock."
Jinhyuk didn't hesitate. While the others around him shouted in confusion or froze in shock, he thought a single command.
'Status Window.'
[Name]: Kang Jinhyuk
[Level]: 1
[Class]: None
[Sponsor Constellation]: None
[Exclusive Skill]: Author's Deviation LV. 1
[HP]: 100 / 100
[Strength]: LV. 3
[Stamina]: LV. 4
[Agility]: LV. 4
[Mana]: LV. 3
[Luck]: LV. 5
It was exactly as he remembered. Exactly like the novel. But what was his exclusive skill? He doesn't remember adding a skill like that.
But everything else remained the same. The rules were the same. The scenarios were the same.
Which meant he already knew the fastest way to clear this.
His eyes swept the street.
Cats darted out of sight, birds took flight, and panicked people pushed past each other.
Then he spotted him. A young boy with brown hair and hazel eyes, maybe 10 or 11 years old, clutching a small planetarium of insects to his chest.
Jinhyuk strode toward him.
"Hey, kid"
The boy blinked up at him, wide-eyed.
"What's going on? Why is-"
"I'll explain what I can later, For now just trust me"
Jinhyuk crouched, snapping open the container before the boy could react. He reached inside and plucked out a large beetle. Without hesitation, he crushed it in his palm.
[You are the First to complete this objective.]
[500 Coins have been awarded.]
[You have survived Main Scenario 1 - First Phase.]
[100 Coins have been rewarded.]
The beetle's body dissolved into blue particles.
The boy stared in horror.
"Y- You killed it…"
"You'll need to do the same, or you'll die in…"
Jinhyuk glanced at the timer above their heads.
"8 minutes"
"I… I can't…"
Jinhyuk turned his head to look at the young boy, He had his eyes closed, tearing up, He was scared.
"I know... How scary this maybe. How you don't want to kill the bugs you worked hard on capturing... But If you don't do this. You'll end up like him"
Jinhyuk nodded toward a man down the street, just in time for his body to collapse lifelessly as the failure penalty claimed him.
The boy opened his eyes, His hands trembled, but he reached into the container, pulled out a cricket.
Jinhyuk could see his hesitation. He placed a hand over the boy's and smiled at him.
"Everything's gonna be okay"
The boy looked up at Jinhyuk, who had a gentle smile on his face, The boy stopped crying and closed his hand.
He squeezed tightly until he could no longer feel the cricket's movement.
The kid's breathing was ragged, but there was a flicker of determination behind his fear.
"What's your name?"
Jinhyuk asked.
"…Min Jaehyun"
"Alright, Jaehyun"
Jinhyuk rose, scanning the chaos erupting around them as Nocturne laughed from above.
"Stay close to me if you want to live."
Above them. Nocturne's voice rang out like a delighted host.
"Oh... I like this one~ Let's see how long he lasts~"