The red light above flickered again, casting eerie shadows that danced across the fractured streets. Hyun-woo's footsteps were muffled by the unnatural stillness that surrounded him. The world felt hollow, as if it were being drained of life. The ground trembled with a low hum, resonating from deep beneath the earth's surface.
The path ahead stretched into the unknown. The city, once familiar, had become a surreal nightmare. Buildings twisted into grotesque shapes, their forms bleeding into one another like melting wax. It was like walking through a dream that was slowly being erased from existence.
His mind raced, the words of the strange figure echoing in his head.
You're the Reader.
You're meant to stop the collapse, but you won't. None of us can. It's too late.
It was a riddle, a warning, a curse. And yet, it seemed like a challenge. He couldn't afford to back down now. There was no other choice. The fate of this world—this broken world—was in his hands.
The source of the collapse... I have to find it. But where do I even begin?
He turned a corner, the remnants of what used to be a bustling shopping district now reduced to ruins. Glass shards littered the street, reflecting the red glow like fragmented pieces of a shattered mirror. The air was thick with the stench of decay, the atmosphere heavy with an oppressive silence.
Hyun-woo's breath came in shallow gasps. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching him, lurking in the dark corners of this collapsing world. The world he once knew was slipping away, and he was powerless to stop it.
[Warning: Irregularities Detected – Entity Approaching.]
[Entity Classification: Unknown. Entity Behavior: Aggressive.]
His grip tightened around the fire axe. He wasn't ready to face whatever was coming, but he had no choice.
The ground beneath him cracked open with a deafening roar. From the fissures, a monstrous creature emerged—its body a mass of shifting shadows, its eyes glowing with an eerie, otherworldly light. It was a Spawn, but unlike the others. This one was different—larger, faster, and more intelligent. It exuded a dark aura, one that seemed to warp the very space around it.
[Entity Classification: Alpha Spawn – Dominant.]
[Warning: High Threat Level – Immediate Combat Required.]
Hyun-woo's heart pounded in his chest as the creature lunged at him, its claws slicing through the air with terrifying speed. He barely managed to dodge, rolling to the side as the Spawn's claws raked across the street, tearing up the concrete in a spray of debris.
Shit! It's too fast! Hyun-woo thought, scrambling to his feet. I can't fight it head-on.
The Alpha Spawn's eyes locked onto him, and it let out a shrill, high-pitched scream that sent a wave of nausea crashing over him. The very air around them seemed to warp, twisting with the power of the creature's psychic influence. Hyun-woo felt his thoughts slow, his body heavy with the weight of the Spawn's presence.
I have to get out of here... I can't fight this thing directly.
His eyes darted around. The street was a maze of shattered buildings and wreckage, but there was no way out—not unless he could use the environment to his advantage.
The Spawn advanced, its claws raised high, preparing for another strike. Hyun-woo's instincts screamed at him to run, but he needed to think. His hand gripped the fire extinguisher tightly.
I can do this. I can use the same trick from the novel. He glanced around, searching for anything that could give him an edge.
Then he saw it. A pile of broken pipes and metal scraps is near the edge of the street. He had an idea.
Hyun-woo sprinted toward the pile, praying the creature wouldn't catch him in time. He reached the pile of debris just as the Alpha Spawn charged, its jaws snapping open to unleash another ear-splitting scream.
He grabbed a jagged length of metal from the pile, using it like a makeshift spear. He held the fire extinguisher in his other hand, ready to use it as a distraction.
I need to time this right.
The Alpha Spawn was almost upon him, but Hyun-woo wasn't about to let it have the upper hand. He fired the extinguisher at the creature's face, filling the air with a thick, white fog. The Spawn screeched in pain, momentarily disoriented by the sudden burst of cold and confusion.
Now was his chance.
Hyun-woo lunged, thrusting the metal spear forward, aiming for the creature's exposed underbelly. The steel sank into its flesh with a sickening crack. The Spawn let out a guttural roar, staggering back, but it wasn't finished yet. Its eyes burned with rage, and it swiped at Hyun-woo with one massive claw.
He barely dodged, the edge of the claw grazing his side. Pain exploded in his ribcage as the wound tore through his flesh. He gritted his teeth, fighting to stay conscious.
This isn't enough... Hyun-woo thought. I need to finish this.
With every ounce of strength left, he swung the axe upward, cleaving through the Spawn's arm. It howled in agony, but the creature didn't fall.
But then he remembered something—the weak point. He'd read about it. The Alpha Spawn's heart was exposed beneath the ribcage, a glaring vulnerability.
Hyun-woo's body screamed in protest, but he ignored it. His hand, slick with blood, gripped the axe, and with a final, desperate swing, he buried it deep into the creature's chest.
The Alpha Spawn staggered back, its body twitching violently, before it collapsed, its glowing eyes dimming.
[Spawn Eliminated.]
[Objective Progress: 25%.]
[Time Remaining: 11 hours, 45 minutes.]
Hyun-woo fell to his knees, the adrenaline wearing off as exhaustion took over. His body ached, his side throbbing with pain. Blood soaked through his shirt, but he didn't have time to stop.
I have to keep moving. He staggered to his feet. I need to find the source. It's the only way.
The world around him trembled again, the sky above swirling with cracks and lightning. The collapse wasn't slowing down. If anything, it was accelerating.
He set his eyes on the horizon—the only path forward.
Time's running out. The world's already breaking.
And with that, he began to move again, deeper into the chaos.