Leaving the convenience store felt… strange.
Not emotionally.
Structurally.
---
The moment I crossed the street, something shifted.
> [Notice: You have left your initial activity zone.]
"…So this is the tutorial exit."
> [Assessment: Inaccurate.]
"Let me have this."
---
The city felt bigger from above.
No walls.
No anchors.
Just endless noise and emotion.
My new passive skill flared constantly.
Annoying.
Loneliness from apartments.
Anger from traffic.
Fear from dark alleys.
"…I need filters."
> [Skill Limitation: Unavailable at current level.]
Of course.
---
I drifted lower, sticking to quieter streets.
Bad idea.
Very bad idea.
---
Something moved in the alley.
Not human.
Not ghost.
Twisted.
---
> [Entity Detected:]
— Residual Wraith (Low Class)
"So monsters exist too."
> [Correction: Malformed spirits.]
The thing turned.
Its face didn't finish forming.
Limbs bent wrong.
It screamed without sound.
---
I froze.
I had no attack skills.
No weapons.
Just a core and bad timing.
---
The wraith lunged.
Instinct took over.
I pushed—
Emotion.
Regret.
Fear.
Everything I sensed, I shoved back at it.
---
The wraith staggered.
Its form flickered.
> [Skill Effect Triggered: Emotional Resonance (Active Response)]
> Spirit Energy Gained: Minor
"…Wait, that worked?"
---
The wraith shrieked again.
But weaker.
It wasn't attacking me.
It was reacting.
---
I focused.
Compressed the feeling.
Released it like a pulse.
---
The wraith collapsed inward.
Dissolved.
Gone.
---
Silence.
---
> [Entity Eliminated.]
Spirit Energy Gained: +Moderate
> Spirit Core Growth: +3%
---
I stared at the empty alley.
"…So I can fight."
> [Conclusion: Correct.]
"…Accidentally."
---
My core pulsed stronger.
Not much.
But noticeable.
---
> [New Insight Unlocked:]
— Emotions can be weaponized
I floated upward, exhaling.
A habit I should've lost by now.
---
"This city is insane."
> [Agreement: High.]
---
From a rooftop nearby—
A pair of eyes watched me.
Calculating.
---
> [Threat Level: Unknown.]
And just like that—
I knew.
Leaving the safe zone meant being seen.
---