The street reeked of blood and smoke. The Goblin Chieftain's body lay sprawled across the cracked pavement, its skull shattered by the Beastbone Spear. The monster's lifeless eyes still held that unsettling spark of intelligence, as though even in death it mocked them all.
For a moment, silence hung over the city.
Then the whispers began.
"He killed it""That guy…. he took down the big one.""By himself?"
Civilians clutched each other, trembling. Some sobbed openly. Others stared at Ji-hoon with wide eyes, like he was less a man and more a force of nature.
A small group of newly awakened Kronos users stood frozen, wooden swords and flickering sparks of magic in their hands. Their knuckles were white, their breaths ragged. They had fought goblins, barely survive and then watched Ji-hoon fight something beyond comprehension.
One of them whispered, voice hoarse: "That thing it spoke. Didn't it?"
Another nodded shakily. "Monsters aren't just monsters."
Blue screens still hovered in front of the survivors.
[Kronos System Active]Current Level: 1EXP: 0/50
Some tried poking at the glowing panels, swiping like it was a phone screen. Others yelled at the sky, demanding explanations.
"Is this a game?!""Why do I have stats?""I got a skill. Look!" A woman raised her palm, conjuring a weak flame that sputtered and died after a few seconds.
The awe quickly twisted into panic.
"If they can talk if they can kill then what the hell are we supposed to do?!"
No one had answers.
The sound of engines broke the tension. Military trucks screeched to a halt at the end of the street. Soldiers poured out, weapons raised.
"Secure the perimeter!""Get civilians back! Contain the scene!"
The men in uniform pushed forward, eyes wide as they caught sight of the Chieftain's corpse. For a moment, discipline faltered. A few even muttered prayers under their breath.
One officer approached Ji-hoon cautiously. "Did you do this was this you?"
Ji-hoon wiped the spear tip clean against the Chieftain's skin, his expression unreadable. "Stay away from the body. It's not safe."
The officer flinched at the coldness in his tone but didn't press.
Ji-hoon turned and walked toward the alley where his grandparents hid. He had no interest in explaining himself. Not now.
His grandparents emerged slowly, their faces pale. His grandmother's hands shook as she reached for him.
"Ji-hoon….. what are you….?"
He forced a small smile, though his body ached with every step. "Just keeping a promise."
They didn't ask more, not with the chaos still raging around them. His grandfather's eyes, though, lingered on the bloodied spear in Ji-hoon's hand. There was no judgment, only a grim understanding.
That night, the news exploded.
Television broadcasts replayed shaky phone footage of goblins tearing through the city, of civilians screaming, of fire and chaos. But most replayed one clip above all others grainy footage of Ji-hoon standing against the Goblin Chieftain, spear raised, as the monster fell in a spray of blood.
The headlines screamed:
"Unidentified Fighter Slays Giant Monster During City Attack!""Gate Phenomenon Linked to Mass Awakening The Kronos System?""Are Monsters Intelligent? Witnesses Claim Creature Spoke Before Death."
Governments scrambled to respond. Military lockdowns spread across major cities. Research teams dissected dead goblins under tight security.
But the public knew the truth now.
The world had changed forever.
Ji-hoon sat alone that night, the Beastbone Spear resting beside him. His grandparents were asleep, their breathing steady.
He pulled up his system screen.
[Level: 7]HP: 62%Stamina: 41%Skills: Echo of Fear (Passive), Piercing Thrust (Active)
The glowing words pulsed faintly.
Kronos users were all Level 1. Weak. Uniform. Shackled.
His system was different. Older. Darker. Stronger.
And no one could know.
He clenched his fist. The Chieftain's eyes haunted him, that twisted grin, the broken words. If one goblin leader could think and command what else was waiting inside the gates?
Across the world, thousands of gates had appeared. Most were dormant, shimmering silently. People whispered about them like ticking bombs.
And now they knew when one of those bombs went off, monsters didn't just spill out. They organized. They killed with strategy, with cruelty.
And they spoke.
The war hadn't truly started yet.
But Ji-hoon knew.
It was coming.
And this time, he would be ready.