The door creaked open.
I didn't look back.
I was already moving.
My hands gripped the edges of the small window as I forced it open wider. The wood scraped loudly against the frame, and for a split second, I hesitated.
Too small.
There was no way I'd fit through easily.
"Check inside!" a voice shouted behind me.
My heart pounded.
[Time Remaining: 01:58]
"…No time."
I shoved my head through first, ignoring the sharp edges digging into my skin. My shoulders got stuck halfway, and panic surged through me.
"Damn it—!"
I twisted my body, forcing myself through with brute effort. The wood creaked under pressure, resisting for a moment before giving way.
Behind me—
"Stop him!"
A hand grabbed the back of my shirt.
My eyes widened.
Without thinking, I kicked backward as hard as I could. My foot connected with something solid—a grunt followed.
The grip loosened.
That was all I needed.
I pushed forward and slipped out completely.
---
I dropped outside with a hard landing.
"Ugh—!"
Pain shot through my side, but I forced myself to stand immediately.
No rest.
No hesitation.
[Time Remaining: 01:32]
"…Run."
My legs moved before my thoughts could fully form.
WORLD INTRO (light)
The outer district of Velmora was dense and irregular—tight alleys, uneven stone paths, and buildings stacked close together. It was a place where movement was difficult, but concealment was easy.
Perfect for someone trying to disappear.
And dangerous for someone being hunted.
CONFLICT
"After him!"
Voices echoed behind me.
Too many.
Too coordinated.
"They were already waiting…" I muttered as I turned into a narrow alley.
This wasn't random pursuit.
They were tracking me.
Which meant one thing—
Someone knew I would escape.
My chest tightened.
I pushed forward, turning corners rapidly, trying to break line of sight.
But the footsteps behind me didn't slow.
They adapted.
"They're trained…" I gritted my teeth.
I wasn't just being chased.
I was being contained.
Another turn.
Another narrow path.
My breathing became uneven as fatigue started creeping in.
Then—
[System Notification]
I nearly stumbled.
"…Now?"
The screen flickered briefly in front of my vision.
[Hint: Use surroundings to create obstacles.]
I scanned my environment quickly.
Crates. Loose debris. Narrow passages.
Then I saw a stack of unstable wooden boxes leaning against a wall.
"…That'll do."
I changed direction.
My steps echoed louder now—on purpose.
I reached the crates and slammed into them.
CRASH!
The stack collapsed, scattering wood across the alley.
"Watch out!"
The guards approaching from behind slowed as they navigated the sudden obstruction.
It wasn't a permanent solution.
But it bought time.
[Time Remaining: 00:47]
I kept moving.
---
My lungs burned.
My legs felt heavier.
But I didn't stop.
Not again.
Not like before.
I turned another corner—
And suddenly froze.
Dead end.
"…Seriously?"
Walls surrounded the path.
No visible exits.
No shortcuts.
Footsteps grew louder behind me.
[Time Remaining: 00:29]
"…Think…"
My mind raced.
Then the voice spoke.
"…Up."
I looked up.
A rooftop ledge.
Barely reachable.
"…Of course."
I stepped back.
Then ran forward.
Jumped.
My fingers caught the edge.
"Gah—!"
My body slammed against the wall as I struggled to hold on.
A hand reached toward me from below—
Too slow.
I pulled myself up with effort and rolled onto the rooftop.
---
I lay there for a moment, breathing heavily.
My arms trembled.
My chest rose and fell rapidly.
"…Still alive."
Below, the voices of the guards echoed, now slightly confused as they lost visual contact.
"He went up!"
"Split and search the rooftops!"
My eyes narrowed.
So they weren't giving up.
Good.
That meant this wasn't over.
[Time Remaining: 00:04]
The System timer was nearly done.
I pushed myself up slowly, still catching my breath.
The rooftop stretched ahead, connecting to other buildings through narrow gaps and uneven paths.
A new route.
An escape route.
But also a longer chase.
The System flickered one last time.
---
[Quest Status: Completed]
---
The timer hit zero.
Silence followed.
No collapse. No immediate threat. No sudden end.
Just the sound of distant footsteps and voices searching below and above.
I stood up fully, wiping sweat from my forehead.
"…This is just the beginning."
Somewhere in the distance—
A faint glint appeared between the rooftops.
Not a guard.
Something else.
Something watching.
I didn't know what it was yet.
But one thing was certain—
The hunt had already started.
And this time…
I wasn't the only one moving.