The voice faded, leaving only the faint hum of the holographic panel floating before Eliel's eyes. He stared at the blue text until it vanished into thin air, replaced by the sound of his own ragged breathing. His heart was pounding like a drum inside his chest.
"Grace, system, levels… what kind of twisted fever dream is this?" he muttered, pacing the small room. His eyes fell on the collapsed corpse near the shattered door. Blood pooled beneath the broken rake, its metallic scent thick in the air.
That was no dream.
That was death—and it had been very real.
He ran a hand through his messy black hair, feeling the sweat stick to his fingers. "Okay, Eliel, think. You've got a level-up notification, and two orbs—whatever those are."
He focused his thoughts the same way he had summoned his status window earlier.
'Inventory.'
A translucent grid appeared before him, containing two faintly glowing spheres—one gold, one silver. The gold one pulsed faintly, exuding a warmth that reminded him of a beating heart, while the silver one radiated a colder, sharper aura.
[ Skill Orb (Uncommon) – Swordsmanship (Basic) ]
[ Weapon Orb (Rare) – Greatsword of the Fallen Dawn ]
"...Swordsmanship and a greatsword?" he said aloud, a wry grin forming despite the chaos. "Guess the system wants me to play the swordsman role, huh?"
He reached out mentally toward the golden orb. The sphere dissolved instantly into motes of light that entered his body, surging through his mind like memories that weren't his. Images flashed before his eyes—stances, strikes, parries, the flow of steel against steel. Every muscle in his body twitched with the rhythm of battle.
When it stopped, Eliel exhaled shakily. "I… I know how to use a sword," he whispered, astonished. The knowledge wasn't perfect—it felt instinctive, like muscle memory buried under fog—but it was there.
Next was the weapon orb.
He tapped it mentally.
The silver sphere exploded into a gleam of white light, and before him, a weapon materialized—longer than his arm span, its black blade etched with faint crimson veins that pulsed softly as if alive. The hilt was wrapped in dark leather, and despite its size, the sword felt strangely balanced in his grip.
[ Greatsword of the Fallen Dawn – A relic of the first warrior who defied extinction. Attack +30. Durability: 100%. Passive: Cleave – Attacks release a compressed arc of energy once every 10 swings. ]
The moment he gripped it fully, a deep hum resonated through the room, and the weapon's edge shimmered faintly.
Eliel couldn't help but chuckle. "Looks like I'm in a game now… but one where dying's not an option."
He swung it once experimentally. The blade cut through the air with a satisfying whoosh, leaving behind a faint silver trail that crackled with static energy.
Then—
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The door, already cracked from the first assault, groaned under another set of blows.
Eliel froze.
The sound wasn't from the same zombie,it was heavier, deeper. Each impact made the hinges creak.
His knuckles tightened around the sword.
"Damn it, there's more."
He glanced around. The room was small, cluttered, and the only exit was through that door. The window was barred shut,student housing safety standards, ironically meant to protect him.
The next strike splintered the top half of the door.
Through the gap, a bloodshot eye stared back at him,milky white and twitching. Then came another roar, louder, guttural, enough to make his ears ring.
[ Warning: Threat Detected – Level 3 Mutated Zombie ]
The hologram blinked into view just as the creature smashed through the remains of the door, its malformed body forcing its way inside. It was taller than Eliel, its muscles swollen, veins bulging with blackened blood. Jagged teeth gnashed beneath a ruined face.
"Guess you didn't get the memo. This apartment's full," Eliel muttered, planting his feet.
The zombie lunged.
Instinct took over. His body moved before his mind could catch up, one step sideways, pivoting his hips as he swung the greatsword upward. The blade met rotten flesh and bone with a sound like tearing fabric. The swordsmanship skill subtly adjusting the body to suit the needs of the skill
The strike sent the creature staggering back, its arm severed at the elbow. Dark ichor like blood splattered across the wall. A severe stench released from it opened wound. The smell was that of something so rotten it would make an elder gag and blur his sight with tears.
Eliel's arms vibrated from the impact, but a grin formed on his face. "This thing's got bite," he said through gritted teeth.
The zombie howled and charged again, this time slamming its entire body weight forward. Eliel shifted his stance, one step back, sword raised high and brought it down in a clean arc.
The greatsword sliced through the creature's skull, embedding halfway before stopping. A pulse of golden light erupted from the wound.
[ Level Up! ]
[ +10 Available Stat Points ]
[ Swordsmanship (Basic) proficiency increased: 12% → 18% ]
Panting, Eliel yanked the weapon free, wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his hand.
"Level two already," he muttered, looking down at the corpse. "If killing these things levels me up… then surviving just became a lot more possible."
He leaned against the wall for a moment, catching his breath. The apartment smelled like death and sweat. He couldn't stay here long.
'System, open map,' he tried on a whim.
Nothing happened.
'Figures,' he said dryly. "Too early for convenience features."
He glanced toward the city skyline through the narrow window. Even from here, distant fires glowed against the night. Sirens blared. The world outside was falling apart.
And yet, something inside him stirred a dangerous spark, equal parts fear and excitement. Well he couldn't help himself, the opportunity to wield superhuman strength like Garou and other fictional characters was at the tip of his fingers.
He just needed to thrive.
"This world's gone mad," he whispered, gripping the greatsword tighter. "But if evolution's what it wants…"
He smirked.
"Then I'll evolve."