The angel's wings folded inward, feathers overlapping with impossible grace.
Its smile lingered, too sharp, too knowing, and then the crack in the sky began to close. Light collapsed into itself, space knitting back together until the fracture vanished as though it had never existed. The vast green land, moments ago the stage of revelation and terror, fell into an uneasy stillness.
Before anyone could speak-
Windows appeared.
Not gently this time, but firmly, as if asserting authority.
SYSTEM NOTICE
'All humans returning to Earth'
A ripple of reaction spread through the crowd.
Some people clenched their fists, faces hard with resolve. Others swallowed nervously. A few, those already thinking ahead, checked their system interfaces instinctively, scrolling through stats they barely understood yet already felt dependent on.
There was no debate.
No refusal.
Reality folded.
James felt the familiar pull again, less shocking now, more like a forceful reminder. The green plain vanished, replaced by walls, shadows, and the hum of electricity.
He was back in his room.
The same cramped space. The same worn desk. The same monitor frozen mid-frame in a paused game. His controller lay where it had fallen, untouched by time. Outside, the city sounded normal, cars, distant voices, life pretending it hadn't just been sentenced.
James stood there for several seconds.
The system window faded from his sight.
"So… this is where it begins," he said quietly.
His gaze drifted across the room, and with it came a familiar heaviness.
No framed family photos.
No unread messages.
No missed calls.
He had lived like this for years, alone, unnoticed, surviving quietly while the world moved on without him. When others had something to lose, he had only himself.
And now-
The world itself was changing.
Magic.
Monsters.
Systems.
Death.
James didn't curse. Didn't panic.
Instead, he felt something settle inside him.
I've done this before.
Not monsters or magic—but survival. Emotional isolation. Standing alone when no one came to help. Making it through days that felt meaningless.
If he survived that-
He could survive this too.
He moved immediately.
Drawers opened. Cabinets emptied. He gathered every weapon-like object he owned: kitchen knives of varying sizes, a box cutter with a chipped blade, a heavy screwdriver, an old camping knife with a worn handle. He tested their weight, imagined how they would feel in his hands.
Not ideal, but better than bare fists.
Food came next, instant noodles, protein bars, canned meat, bottled water. He stuffed them into a backpack until it strained at the seams.
Then he stopped.
The angel's words surfaced again.
'If you have a question, the system will answer it.'
James straightened.
"…System," he said aloud.
The response was instant.
A clean, translucent window appeared, far clearer than before.
SYSTEM INTERFACE ONLINE
'Welcome, James.'
His stomach tightened slightly at seeing his name.
"Do I have some kind of inventory?" he asked carefully. "A sub-space storage. Something like that."
There was no delay.
CONFIRMED
Sub-space Inventory: Available
Current Capacity: Limited
Expansion Conditions: Progression Required
James let out a slow breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
"…That's a relief."
He tested it immediately.
The knife in his hand vanished at his mental command, reappearing just as smoothly when he willed it back. The backpack followed, weight disappearing instantly.
No resistance. No strain.
"Okay," he murmured, calmer now. "That changes everything."
As he began systematically storing his supplies-
Another window appeared.
This one pulsed faintly.
UNIQUE ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED
James frowned.
"I didn't-"
The window expanded before he could finish.
---
Title Unlocked: The First Inquisitive
Description: You are the first human to ask the system a direct question.
Effect: The system will pay more attention to you. You may receive favor… or gifts.
---
James stared at it.
"…That's it?"
No stats. No obvious power. Just an unsettling promise.
He considered asking the system what favor meant, but decided against it. Drawing attention from something that already claimed to notice him more felt unwise.
Before he could dismiss the window-
Another one forced its way forward.
---
UNIQUE ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED
Title: The First One to Get a Unique Achievement
Description: The First Player on Earth who get an Unique Achievement.
Effect: Applies a Slow debuff to monsters higher level than you.
---
James's breath caught.
"…Wait."
A debuff. Against stronger enemies.
"That's not small," he whispered.
Then-
A third window.
---
ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED
Title: The First One to Get an Achievement
Description: The First Player on Earth who get an Achievement.
Effect: You can now see other humans' achievements.
---
James went still.
Shock rippled through him, followed by a sharp surge of understanding.
James mind suddenly think of an achievement, something like killing 1,000 humans could be an achievement, and even can give a powerful effect.
"So I'll know who's dangerous," he said quietly. "Who's ahead… and who might come after me."
His lips curved faintly—not quite a smile, but close.
"That's… useful."
Minutes passed as he continued organizing, pulling in anything remotely valuable, tools, clothing, medical supplies. His movements were methodical now, deliberate.
That was when he heard it.
BANG.
The sound echoed through the hallway outside his apartment.
James froze.
Another bang followed, heavier this time.
Slower.
Not frantic. Not human.
Something struck the door again, wood creaking under the force.
James instincts acts, immediately coming to a conclusion that it's definitely a monster.
James's pulse quickened, but his hands remained steady.
"…So the tutorial monsters don't waste time," he muttered.
He reached into his inventory.
Cold metal formed in his grip.
James stepped toward the door, eyes sharp, mind clear.
Whatever was on the other side-
This was his first test.