At the exact moment the world was supposed to end, Arin woke up.
A sharp, piercing pain exploded inside his head, forcing him to gasp for air. His eyes snapped open, and the first thing he saw was a cracked ceiling glowing faintly red.
"Where… am I?" he muttered.
Memories rushed into his mind like a broken dam. This wasn't Earth. This was Elarion — a world of swords, magic, monsters, and endless wars.
Before he could process the shock, a cold mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
[System Initializing…]
Arin froze.
[Host detected.]
[Compatibility check… Complete.]
[Unique System granted: Survival Evolution System.]
His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
"A system…?" Arin whispered, his hands trembling.
He had read enough novels to know what this meant.
But before excitement could take over, another message appeared.
[Warning: Host is currently in a Level 1 Danger Zone.]
[Time until monster invasion: 10 minutes.]
The ground beneath him trembled.
From outside the ruined building, a deafening roar shook the air.
Arin clenched his fists.
"If this world wants me dead," he said quietly, eyes burning with resolve,
"then I'll evolve until I become unstoppable."
[Quest Activated: Survive the First Wave.]
[Reward: Basic Skill Package.]
The system countdown began.
09:59…