Shadows Before the Storm

The sun didn’t rise.

Not really. It loomed as a pale blot behind an ashen sky—unable to warm, unable to truly illuminate. Here, light felt like a mistake. A flickering glitch in a world designed by Kaëron, where even the laws of nature bent toward cruelty.

Haruka had wandered away from camp.

The smoldering carcass of the thunder-struck beast still lay there, about fifty meters off. He stared at it without blinking. Not out of guilt. Not out of remorse. That was long past. This was something else.

The moment he unleashed the lightning… he remembered it vividly. A guilty thrill. The surge of power. The precision. The explosion of light.
And then—silence.

He should have felt fear. Or shame.

But deep inside, something… enjoyed it.

A dull throb echoed in his skull. His power wasn’t just a tool. It whispered. It pulsed. It lived. It murmured things he didn’t yet understand—maybe things he didn’t want to understand.

“You planning to stand there all day?”

Keiji had found him, dragging his feet with exhaustion, weapon still clutched in his hand. His bloodshot eyes said he hadn’t slept either.

“You should rest,” Haruka said without turning.

“You didn’t sleep either.”

“I don’t need it as much as you.”

Keiji let out a sigh.

“You seen your screen? Level 3… almost 4. You’re already two steps from the threshold.”

Haruka nodded slowly.

[Current Status: Level 3 – EXP: 3,000 / 3,800]
Time Remaining Until “Elimination”: 5 days, 22 hours
Survival Goal: Level 5

Two levels to go. Two more monsters. Two more chances to die.

“They’re getting stronger,” Keiji continued. “The monsters. Every time we level up, so do they. Some say Kaëron tweaks the difficulty. Makes sure no one just farms the weak ones.”

“It makes sense,” Haruka replied coldly. “This system isn’t made for us to adapt. It’s made for us to fail.”

Keiji crouched near the corpse.

“You think he’s watching?”

“Kaëron?”

“Yeah. You think he… sees us? Each of us?”

Haruka didn’t answer with words. Just a look. And Keiji understood.

A rustle in the trees. Not a monster this time.

Three teenagers stepped out of the underbrush—two girls and a boy. Haruka straightened instantly, muscles tense. He hated surprises. Too many variables.

The first, a dark-skinned girl with braided red hair, raised both hands.

“We’re not here to fight. Just need to talk.”

Haruka said nothing.

“I’m Sana,” she continued. “This is Luca, and that’s Misha. We’re part of a small group. We were attacked last night… lost two people. We’re looking for a place to rest. Just for a bit. Just long enough to heal.”

Keiji took a step forward, sympathetic. Haruka remained still.

“You have a Chosen among you?” he asked.

Sana nodded.

“Misha. She can create a healing field—but it drains her. We just need somewhere safe for a few minutes.”

Misha, frail and exhausted, gave a weak nod. Her cracked glasses slipped down her nose. Her arms were bandaged, freshly cut.

Haruka gave a nod.

“You’ve got ten minutes. No more.”

Keiji looked surprised but didn’t argue.

The trio settled nearby. Misha began to whisper something unintelligible, and a soft green glow spread from her body.

Keiji turned to Haruka.

“Why are you letting them stay? You’re the one who said we shouldn’t trust anyone.”

“I don’t. That’s why I gave them a time limit. I want to see how they react under pressure.”

“You’re testing them?”

“This world tests us. I’m just returning the favor.”

After a few minutes, Sana walked back.

“Thanks for letting us catch our breath. We’ll be on our way. But if you ever need us… look for the green beacon. We place it in every safe zone we find. It’s our signature.”

She handed him a small flat stone engraved with a stylized eye.

Haruka accepted it silently.

“Oh—and one more thing,” Sana added. “Be careful up north. Rumor says a player group is forming there. They’re leveling fast—too fast. And they’re not shy about killing others to climb quicker.”

Haruka raised an eyebrow.

“How many?”

“At least fifteen. Led by a guy named Ryosuke. He’s a Chosen too. They say… he absorbs the powers of those he kills.”

Keiji went pale.

“Wait—what? He can steal other Chosen’s abilities?”

“Only if they’re weaker than him, supposedly. Kaëron might’ve… ‘blessed’ him or something. He’s a monster. And he’s rising fast.”

Haruka tucked the information away. A threat. Or a rival.

Sana signaled to her group, and they vanished into the trees as swiftly as they had come.

Silence returned.

Keiji sat back down, thoughtful.

“What do you think?”

“I think the world just changed again. Before, we were running to survive. Now—we’ll have to hunt to stay alive.”

He looked toward the woods where the trio had gone.

“And more importantly… we’re not the only ones who know how to kill smart now.”

📢 [Side Quest Unlocked: “Survive the Northern Pack”]
Estimated Difficulty: ★★★★☆
Reward: EXP + Random Secondary Ability

Time Left Until Weekly Evaluation: 5 days, 20 hours
Current Level: 3
Minimum Goal: Level 5