Kai Akira stepped out of the convenience store.
For a moment, he just stood there.
The cool night air of Tokyo hit his face.
Usually the street outside the store was peaceful at this hour. A few late-night commuters. The soft glow of vending machines. The distant hum of traffic.
Tonight it looked like the end of the world had decided to visit early.
Cars were abandoned in the street.
A bicycle lay twisted on the pavement.
People were running.
Actually running.
Screaming.
The kind of screaming that didn't belong in a normal city night.
Kai slowly looked back over his shoulder.
Inside the store, the ruined bento still lay on the floor like the tragic aftermath of a very personal disaster.
Rice scattered everywhere.
Salmon defeated.
A beautiful meal… lost to chaos.
Kai exhaled slowly.
"…I didn't even get one bite."
The monkey on his shoulder patted his head sympathetically.
Then the roar came again.
Much closer.
Kai turned toward the park across the street.
The trees bent violently as something massive pushed through them.
Branches snapped.
The ground trembled.
And then it stepped into the streetlight.
The creature was enormous.
At least three meters tall.
Its body looked like a nightmare built out of muscle and stone, thick gray hide stretching across its frame like living armor. Long claws scraped against the pavement with a metallic sound.
Its glowing eyes scanned the street.
Searching.
Kai stared.
A blue system window flickered into existence.
D-Class Monster Detected
Threat Assessment: Severe
Kai nodded slowly.
"…That is definitely not a goblin."
The monkey nodded aggressively.
The creature suddenly slammed its fist into a parked car.
The vehicle flipped like it weighed nothing.
Metal screamed.
Glass exploded across the street.
Kai lowered the broom slightly.
"…yeah," he muttered.
"This is above my pay grade."
Another system window flashed in front of him.
Skill Unlocked
Culinary Fury
Kai stared at the message.
Then at the monster.
Then back at the message.
"...You're mocking me now."
The monkey shrugged.
Kai sighed.
"Great."
"So my special power is being angry about dinner."
Across the street, the monster roared again and crushed a streetlight beneath its foot.
The pole bent like a straw.
Kai slowly took one step backward.
Then another.
"Okay," he said calmly.
"New plan."
Behind him, the convenience store door creaked open.
The gamer from earlier peeked outside.
"Dude," he shouted urgently.
"Are you seriously about to fight that thing?"
Kai turned his head slightly.
"…No."
The gamer blinked.
"Oh."
Kai pointed at the monster.
"That thing is the size of a small building."
The monkey pointed at it too and nodded.
Kai continued backing away slowly.
"I may be angry," he said.
"But I'm not stupid."
Another roar shook the street.
More people screamed somewhere in the distance.
Kai finally turned around.
"Strategic retreat," he announced.
The monkey raised a tiny fist in agreement.
Kai started jogging down the street.
Behind him, the D-class monster smashed through another car like it was made of cardboard.
Kai didn't look back.
A system window suddenly flashed again.
New Event Unlocked
Tokyo Survival Zone Activated
Kai slowed slightly.
He stared at the message while running.
"…Fantastic."
The monkey screeched in agreement.
Kai looked down the dark Tokyo street ahead of them.
Sirens echoed in the distance.
Smoke rose somewhere beyond the buildings.
The world had changed.
Completely.
Kai sighed.
"…And I'm still hungry."
He kept running.