Pain.
That was the last thing Seo Jin felt before everything went dark.
He had been sitting in front of his computer, fingers flying across the keyboard, eyes bloodshot from staring at the glowing screen all night. The final boss was at one percent health. Just one more combo and the dungeon raid would be cleared.
But before he could press the last key, his chest seized. A sharp pain shot through his heart. His vision blurred. His body slumped forward.
The last thing he saw was the words [Game Over] flashing across the screen.
…
When Seo Jin opened his eyes again, the first thing he noticed was the smell.
It wasn't the familiar scent of cheap instant noodles and stale coffee. No. It was the heavy, metallic stench of blood.
His head spun. His body ached. He tried to sit up, only to realize he was lying in the middle of a broken courtyard. Rotten wood, shattered tiles, and cracked stone surrounded him. His clothes were thin and torn, his hands pale and bony.
"This isn't… my body."
His voice was hoarse, weaker than he remembered.
And then, like a knife, the flood of memories hit him.
This body… belonged to an abandoned young master of a small cultivation clan. Once born with talent, but crippled after a failed breakthrough. The clan lost hope in him, stripped him of resources, and left him to rot.
The worst part? The boy had just been poisoned. His death was supposed to happen tonight.
Seo Jin froze. "So I died in my world… and now I'm in this trash body?"
[Ding!]
A crisp sound rang in his ears.
He stiffened. "…What now?"
Something white leapt onto his chest. Soft. Fluffy. Warm.
When Seo Jin looked down, a pair of round golden eyes blinked at him. A snow-white fox, no bigger than a cat, tilted its head proudly. Its fluffy tail curled like a question mark.
"Host!" The little fox's voice was sweet and smug, echoing directly in his mind. "Congratulations. You have been chosen by the [Survival System]. I will be your guide from now on."
Seo Jin stared. "…A talking… furball?"
The fox flicked its tail. "Correction. I am not a furball. I am your System! My name is Bai. You may also call me Lord Bai, Master Bai, or—"
"Shut up."
The fox's ears drooped. "…Host is cold. Host is mean."
Seo Jin pinched the bridge of his nose. His body was weak, his chest burning from poison, and now a smug fox was claiming to be his "system."
"Alright," he muttered. "Let's cut the nonsense. What do you want?"
The fox perked up instantly. "Missions! If you want to survive, you must complete missions I assign. Fail… and you die. Easy, right?"
Seo Jin's eyes narrowed. "So it's one of those systems."
The fox wagged its tail. "Correct. But don't worry, I'm cute, I'll guide you, and… maybe annoy you a little."
"…I already regret this."
[Ding! First Mission: Survive the Night.]
[Details: An assassin has been sent to kill you. Outlast the attempt and live until dawn.]
[Reward: Body Detoxification + Beginner Cultivation Method.]
[Failure: Death.]
Seo Jin's pupils shrank.
An assassin? Tonight?
Before he could even react, the creak of wooden steps echoed from behind the courtyard wall. A shadow moved under the dim moonlight. The faint sound of a blade being drawn filled the night.
"Great," Seo Jin muttered under his breath. "First mission, and someone already wants me dead."
The fox bounced off his chest and landed on the ground, tail wagging. "Good luck, Host! You can do it! Survive!"
Seo Jin glared at it. "Aren't you supposed to help me?"
"I am helping. Moral support!"
Seo Jin cursed under his breath and forced himself up. His limbs trembled, the poison in his veins burning. His body was a joke compared to his old gamer self. Back then, his fingers were sharp weapons on the keyboard. Now, he couldn't even swing a sword properly.
But Seo Jin wasn't the type to panic. In games, he had clawed victory out of impossible situations. He always played the cunning way—waiting, watching, and striking at the perfect moment.
He pressed himself against the cracked wall, eyes sharp.
The assassin entered the courtyard, dressed in black, face covered. His steps were silent, but his killing intent was heavy. He carried a dagger glinting with poison.
Seo Jin's weak body shook, but his mind was cold.
Think.
If he fought head-on, he would die. But the courtyard was full of broken wood and shattered tiles. Hazards. Traps.
Seo Jin bent down, picked up a broken tile, and gripped it tight. His hand bled, but his eyes glowed with focus.
The assassin moved closer, step by step.
Seo Jin waited. His heart pounded. His body screamed from the poison. But he did not move.
Closer.
Closer.
Now.
Seo Jin hurled the broken tile with all his strength. It shattered against the assassin's face, not killing him but startling him for a split second.
Seo Jin used that moment to grab a wooden pole lying on the ground. With a sharp twist, he rammed it toward the assassin's leg.
The assassin stumbled, crashing against the broken wall. Dust and wood splinters exploded.
Seo Jin's body almost collapsed, but he forced himself to stay standing. He gritted his teeth, his cunning mind pulling every ounce of strength from this frail body.
The assassin hissed, raising the dagger again—
"Stop."
The voice was ice.
Cold. Deep. Sharp enough to freeze the air.
The assassin froze in place. His dagger shook. Sweat rolled down his back.
Seo Jin turned.
At the courtyard entrance stood a man dressed in black robes. His long hair fell like ink down his shoulders. His eyes were dark, sharp, merciless. The moonlight framed his tall figure, making him look more like a devil than a man.
The fox's tail wagged nervously. "O-Oh. Host… this is the Main Villain. Your future mission target. Your… uh… destined partner."
Seo Jin's lips twitched. "You're kidding."
The villain's cold gaze locked onto Seo Jin, and for the first time, the gamer who had never feared bosses in his life… felt a shiver run down his spine.
---
Cliffhanger End.