Chapter 1: Death
The next day
"Turns out that ghost kid just needed someone to clean his grave since it had been neglected… For my own sake, I really hope that was the first and last soul I ever see," I thought, practically begging the heavens that this wouldn't happen again.
I wanted nothing to do with the spiritual world. If I ever saw another soul, I'd just play dumb and pretend I didn't see it. Better to live in ignorance than know the truth. And honestly, I preferred staying clueless. Just look at journalists—once they know too much, they get silenced.
And hell no, I valued my life.
I let out a heavy sigh as I dropped down onto a park bench. Today was Saturday, which meant no classes—in other words, total relaxation.
"Nothing can go wron—" I mumbled with a faint smile, closing my eyes and soaking in the peaceful atmosphere of the park.
…Or at least, that peace lasted about five seconds.
Because, as if the universe hated me, a thunderous crash echoed through the air.
I immediately opened my eyes and looked around, trying to figure out what had caused it. And when I finally spotted the source, every muscle in my body froze.
A freaking Hollow was chasing the same ghost kid whose grave I'd cleaned.
Oh, you've gotta be kidding me.
I wasn't an idiot. I knew perfectly well I couldn't do anything. I was weak. If I tried anything stupid, I'd just end up as the Hollow's next meal.
No way in hell I was getting involved in this.
But when I saw that poor soul of a kid crying for help, I couldn't help but feel like complete garbage for doing nothing.
But what could I do? I was powerless. Unless I offered myself as bait, there was no way to save that kid. It was him or me. And being brutally honest, I'd rather it be him than me.
"This scent… and this spiritual pressure… it's greater than that of the child,"
the Hollow growled, stopping abruptly and twisting its grotesque head around, searching for the source of the energy it had sensed.
"There you are," it hissed.
Its gaze locked onto me.
"Oh, for fuck's sake…" A cold shiver ran down my spine as I saw its expression twist with insane hunger. And then, the bastard started charging straight at me.
"SON OF A BITCH!"
I leapt from the bench, heart pounding out of my chest, and ran as fast as I could—because, literally, my life depended on it.
I don't want to die.
I want to live.
I ran with everything I had, but this weak-ass body wasn't helping at all. I could feel my stamina failing me; my legs grew heavy, my breathing ragged, my vision starting to blur.
I wouldn't last long running. And sure enough, I didn't.
The Hollow caught me.
"Got you, little prey…" it whispered with a sickening chuckle. "You'll make a fine meal, human."
It opened its enormous mouth—oozing saliva and reeking of death—and slowly brought me closer.
And then—
CRACK.
The pain hit instantly—sharp, brutal, unbearable. The bastard tore my arm off in a single bite. My scream echoed through the area as I writhed helplessly, trying to break free. But it was useless. The Hollow simply tossed me into its mouth and started chewing—like it was savoring the flavor. The agony was beyond words.
My body was breaking, my consciousness fading… but in those final moments, as my mind screamed and begged desperately to live, I saw something.
Something I couldn't fully comprehend amidst the madness.
Just as everything began to blur and death loomed over me, a strange blue screen appeared before my eyes.
---
[Notification]
[Secret Mission: "The Weak One's Desire to Live"]
[You possess the qualities to become a Player]
[Do you accept?]
[Your heart will stop in 0.5 seconds if you choose not to accept]
[Yes / No]
---
My thoughts froze.
What the hell…?
Every inch of my body burned in pain, my bones creaked under the Hollow's grip, my vision dimmed—and yet, I could clearly see that damned screen floating in front of me.
Was this real?
I didn't have time to question it. If it was a death hallucination, I was screwed. But if it was real… I didn't hesitate. With the last bit of consciousness I had left, I screamed in my mind with everything I had:
"YES!"
And then—everything went black.
From afar, a shadow quietly watched the scene unfold. The only thing visible in the darkness was a pair of glowing golden eyes, reflecting the chaos that had just occurred. The silent observer, shaped like a cat, narrowed its eyes with curiosity, as if it already knew what was about to happen. Then, without a sound, it disappeared into the shadows.
---
End of Chapter