Kai Ren's eyes widened as goblins poured out from the dark forest. Their green skin glistened in the crimson light, jagged blades in their hands, teeth bared in vicious grins. The air smelled of rot and iron, making Kai's stomach churn.
The hall, which had seemed impossibly large in Chapter 1, now felt like a death trap. The dozens of people around him screamed and scattered in all directions, trampling over each other in their panic.
A man next to him, mid-twenties, grabbed a torch and swung it wildly. Two goblins shrieked and fell, but more took their place, darting between pillars and tossing themselves at anyone in reach.
Kai ducked behind a massive stone pillar, taking a deep breath. Think, Kai. You can't just run. That's how people die.
Then the Hidden System flickered to life again, visible only to him.
Hidden Quest DetectedObjective: Survive the first floor for 5 minutesReward: Unknown
Kai frowned. "Unknown reward?" he muttered. Doesn't matter. Survive first, figure out the rest later.
He glanced around. Many of the other challengers were already injured, or worse, lying in bloody pools. A young woman screamed as a goblin lunged at her, and someone else tackled it to the ground. Kai realized the chaos was a mixture of fear and raw instinct—no strategy, just desperation.
He gritted his teeth. I won't be a victim.
Kai's hand brushed against a fallen iron pipe. He gripped it tightly, bracing himself as the first goblin lunged at him. He sidestepped, barely avoiding its jagged blade, and swung the pipe with all his strength. The sound of bone cracking echoed through the hall as the creature collapsed, twitching.
Level Up flickered across the Hidden System window.
Kai blinked. Level 2? He had barely survived a single strike. The system… it was rewarding him for instinct alone.
Another goblin charged, this time from the side. Panic prickled at Kai's spine, but instinctively, he focused on the faint blue glow emanating from his chest. A strange warmth filled his hand, then he vanished from view, reappearing behind the goblin in an instant.
Skill Unlocked: Shadow StepAllows user to instantly move short distances to dodge attacks.
Kai clenched his fists. So that's my first skill.
He didn't have time to admire it. The goblins were relentless. One shrieked and tried to attack from above, leaping onto a pillar and swinging down. Kai rolled, feeling the cold stone scrape against his cheek, and the goblin's blade missed him by inches.
Chaos filled the hall. People screamed, tripped over each other, and fought with whatever they could find. A man grabbed a fallen statue piece and hurled it, crushing a goblin's head. Another woman stabbed a creature in the chest with a broken spear. Blood painted the floor, and the smell was overpowering.
Kai kept moving, Shadow Step helping him dodge attacks while he fought goblins at close range. Each successful strike made the system flash, rewarding him with small bursts of XP and stat increases.
Hidden Quest Update:
Survive 2 more minutes → Progress 40%
Kai realized this wasn't just survival. The system was teaching him. He had to observe, react, and learn.
A sudden scream tore through the hall. Kai turned to see a young man cornered by three goblins. The man tried to fight back but was overpowered. One goblin slammed him into a pillar, and he crumpled to the floor.
Kai hesitated. Should he help? Intervening could expose him, and if he misstepped, he'd die too. But he couldn't just ignore it.
He darted forward using Shadow Step, knocking one goblin aside with a well-placed strike. The other two turned toward him, but Kai was faster. He slammed the pipe into the nearest one's head, and used Shadow Step again to evade the last.
The man he saved scrambled back, wide-eyed.
"Th-thank you," he stammered.
Kai nodded briefly, moving on. No time to make friends. Just survive.
Then the temperature in the hall dropped. The torches flickered violently. A new presence entered the hall—heavier, darker, and radiating a suffocating aura.
A larger goblin, unlike the others, stepped forward. It stood at least twice the size of the rest, its red eyes gleaming and tusks jutting out of its mouth.
Warning: Floor 1 Boss Detected
Kai's stomach sank. The first floor had a boss? Already?
The creature let out a roar that shook the stone pillars. The smaller goblins scattered, bowing before it. The aura emanating from the boss made Kai's skin crawl.
Then a notification appeared on the Hidden System:
"Only you can see me. Use me wisely."
Kai swallowed hard. He could feel the power of this system, but he didn't fully understand it yet.
The goblin boss charged, tusks lowered and claws extended. The other challengers froze in terror.
Kai's mind raced. He needed a plan. Fight head-on? No. Wait for an opening? Maybe. Use Shadow Step aggressively? Yes… but how far can it take me?
He clenched his fists. "Bring it on," he whispered.
The boss roared again, closing the distance. Its claws swung, leaving deep grooves in the stone floor. Kai darted sideways with Shadow Step, narrowly avoiding the deadly strike.
Hidden Quest Update:
Survive the Floor 1 Boss → Progress 10%
Each attack, each dodge, each system prompt taught him something. The tower wasn't just a challenge. It was a lesson in survival.
Kai ducked another strike and noticed the boss had a pattern—every third swing, it paused slightly. He counted, planned, and waited.
Then he struck. Shadow Step behind the boss, pipe connecting with the creature's jaw. It roared, spinning to catch him, but Kai stepped back and prepared for the next strike.
The other challengers watched in awe. Some started helping him fight strategically, while others still panicked, running blindly.
The Hidden System window glowed:
Hidden Quest Update:
Survive 5 minutes → Progress 70%
Boss HP detected → 85%
Kai realized the battle had just begun, but he also realized one crucial thing: this tower was alive, and it was watching them all.
And somewhere far above, the floors he hadn't even reached yet were waiting—more deadly, more cunning, and more terrifying.
Kai gritted his teeth. I won't die here. Not today. Not on the first floor.
The goblin boss roared again, claws raised, and the hall plunged into chaos once more.
The first battle had only just begun.