The world changed in a single day.
No one knew exactly when it started.
Some said it began with the strange crimson clouds that spread across the sky like a wound torn into reality itself. Others believed it started when the first dungeon appeared in the middle of Seoul, swallowing an entire street before anyone realized what was happening.
But Kael knew the exact moment everything changed.
Because he was there when the System appeared.
It was raining.
Cold droplets fell from the night sky as Kael walked home through the empty street, his backpack slung lazily over one shoulder. The dim streetlights flickered, casting long shadows over the wet pavement.
His day had been terrible.
Failed exam.
Part-time job lost.
Another message from his landlord reminding him that rent was overdue.
"Great," Kael muttered under his breath. "Just what I needed."
Thunder rumbled somewhere in the distance.
For a moment, the world seemed strangely quiet.
Then—
The sky cracked open.
A blinding white light exploded across the clouds, freezing the entire city in silence.
And suddenly…
A voice echoed inside everyone's mind.
[The System has been successfully installed.]
Cars screeched to a halt.
People collapsed onto the ground in shock.
Some screamed.
Others stared at the sky in disbelief.
Kael froze in the middle of the street.
"What…?"
More messages appeared.
Floating blue windows materialized before everyone's eyes like holograms from a science-fiction movie.
[Welcome, Players.]
[Earth has been selected for the Trial of Survival.]
[Monsters will begin spawning shortly.]
[Awaken your abilities. Level up. Survive.]
The city exploded into chaos.
Distant screams echoed from several blocks away.
Something massive crashed through a building.
Kael's heart began pounding violently in his chest.
"This has to be a joke…"
But deep inside, he already knew.
It wasn't.
Suddenly—
Another window appeared before his eyes.
Unlike the others, it was pitch black.
The letters glowing across its surface were blood red.
[Unique System Detected.]
[Initializing…]
Kael blinked.
"Unique?"
The window flickered once.
Then the message changed.
[SYSTEM LINK COMPLETE.]
A cold shiver ran down his spine.
Something felt… wrong.
Very wrong.
The message updated again.
[Primary Objective Assigned.]
Kael leaned closer to the floating screen.
"Alright… let's see."
His eyes scanned the words.
And then—
His blood turned cold.
[Primary Objective: End the World.]
Silence filled the street.
The rain continued to fall.
For several seconds, Kael simply stared at the message.
"…What?"
The system chimed again.
[Quest Generated.]
[Begin the Collapse.]
Reward: Unknown
Failure: Unknown
Kael felt his stomach twist.
"Hold on."
Everyone else had received a system to save humanity.
But his system…
Wanted the world to end.
Somewhere in the distance, a monstrous roar shook the city.
Buildings trembled.
The trial had begun.
And Kael stood alone beneath the rain, staring at the crimson words glowing before him.
A slow, uneasy smile formed on his lips.
"…You've got to be kidding me."