The body turned to ash.The silence afterward was deafening. Not even the wind dared move.
He stood frozen, still gripping the bloodied rod. His fingers were trembling.Not from fear—But from adrenaline.
[Vital signs stabilized. First hostile eliminated.][Auto-analysis complete. Skill compatibility: 91%. Cognitive adaptability: 87%. Combat reflex: Satisfactory.]
"What the hell is this place..."
He turned, finally taking in the world.
The ruins stretched endlessly. Half-collapsed buildings, broken highways, burned-out cars. Skyscrapers twisted like melted wax. Everything had been frozen in a moment of disaster—then abandoned.
But the world wasn't dead.
It was watching him.
In the distance, something moved. A blurry shape, two-legged, hunched, dragging a long blade. Then another. And another. They weren't charging—just... waiting.
[Warning: Hostile units detected – Grouped Behavior Pattern: "Hunters" – Estimated Threat Level: Class D]
He backed away, checking his map.Three red dots. Slowly closing in.His Time Freeze... was still on cooldown. Two minutes left.
"No weapon, no cover, no skill…"
[Tutorial Tip #1: "Standing still = dying faster."]
[Tip #2: Loot fallen enemies. Even trash can save your life.]
He glanced at the pile of black ash where the Rilak had fallen.Something shimmered faintly inside it.
He reached in—and pulled out a jagged stone shard, glowing dimly with a pale blue light.The moment his hand touched it:
[Item Acquired: Frost Shard – Tier F+]A basic elemental weapon. Causes frostbite damage. May trigger freeze effect (4% chance).
The shard reshaped in his hand, becoming a crude dagger. Cold to the touch.
The red dots were closer now.
And then—he saw it.
A sign. Half-buried. Broken. Words barely legible:
"RULE #1: DON'T LOOK AT THE SKY."
He frowned and—instinctively—glanced upward.
The sky twisted.
And something looked back.