Ethan Graves sat in the dim corner of a small, concrete-walled room, his breathing steady but his mind racing. The Safe Room was a blessing—one of the strange sanctuaries the System had designated, pces where monsters could not enter. But it did little to calm the fear in those inside.
Around him, people whispered and cried, some curled up against the walls, others pacing with panicked eyes. The metallic tang of blood still clung to the air, mixing with sweat and desperation. The city outside had turned into a nightmare—one of monsters, colpsing buildings, and a sky fractured with glowing rifts.
Ethan, however, wasn’t panicking. He was staring at the translucent blue screen floating before him.
[Status:]
Unique Ability: Fusion
Level: 3
Css: Adaptive Marauder
Titles: Not owned
Rank: F
Body Essence Rank: F
Mind Essence Rank: F
Vital Force: 500/500
Essence: 200/200
Abilities: Phantom Step
He had learned a few things already. His Body Essence and Mind Essence would increase as he killed monsters and leveled up. That was the only way forward. No one would save him.
His grip tightened on the metal pipe resting across his p. It had already killed one of those creatures—the Ravager—but barely. He needed more power.
Across the room, the two most prominent survivors were deep in conversation. One was a man with short, curly brown hair and a muscur build, his arms still flickering with embers. Jason, the one who had awakened a fire ability. The other was taller, leaner, his pale blonde hair messy, his blue eyes sharp. Michael, the telekinetic.
Ethan ignored them. He had always worked alone.
Standing, he adjusted his grip on the pipe and strode toward the exit.
The Streets of the New World
The moment Ethan stepped out of the Safe Room, he felt it.
A crushing force pressed against his skin, like the very air carried a weight of death. The world outside was eerily silent, except for the occasional distant scream or the sickening sound of flesh being torn.
The sky was wrong. The fractures above pulsed with energy, their glow bathing the ruined streets in ghostly light. Buildings stood like broken husks, their gss shattered, their structures unstable. The scent of burning rubber and something more metallic—blood, maybe—hung in the air.
Ethan moved carefully, his Phantom Step letting him stay silent as he walked. If he drew attention, things could spiral fast.
His mind went to what he had heard earlier—ordinary objects had transformed into Artifacts. If he could find something better than this pipe, he might stand a chance.
Then, he saw it.
Another Ravager prowled near the remains of a car, its reptilian body tense, sniffing at the air. Its muscur limbs coiled as it prepared to pounce on something unseen. The scales covering its body reflected the eerie light, its glowing red eyes locked onto movement in the shadows.
Ethan exhaled. No hesitation.
He activated Phantom Step.
The ability surged through him, his momentum exploding as he dashed forward. The pipe swung, whistling through the air before smashing into the Ravager’s side.
CRACK!
The impact sent a shock up his arm. The resistance was incredible—its hide was tough. The Ravager screeched in pain, twisting to swipe at him with its razor-like cws.
Ethan tried to dodge, but the beast was fast. Too fast.
Pain fred as the cws raked across his side, slicing through his shirt and drawing blood. His muscles tensed, his breath hitching.
“Fuck!” he hissed.
The wound wasn’t deep, but it was enough to send adrenaline flooding through his veins.
The Ravager lunged again, its maw opening wide to snap his throat.
Ethan saw his chance.
As the monster bit down, he jammed the pipe sideways into its mouth. The force shattered one of the beast’s fangs, sending bck blood spraying. The Ravager roared, but its jaws cmped down on the pipe. It bit clean through a section of it—leaving one end sharpened like a spear.
A wicked grin crossed Ethan’s face.
“Now we’re talking.”
He thrust the newly sharpened pipe forward, aiming for its eye.
The jagged metal slid into the socket, meeting resistance at the skull. Ethan roared with effort, pushing with all his strength, his veins bulging as he forced the weapon deeper.
The Ravager spasmed. Blood gushed from its eye socket, pooling beneath it. With one final shudder, the beast colpsed.
[Enemy Defeated: F-rank (Level 6) Ravager]
[XP Gained]
Ethan took a deep breath. The rush of combat faded, repced by the weight of exhaustion. He had won.
His eyes flicked toward the Ravager’s corpse. Maybe someone back at the Safe Room could use its materials—or even cook it. Meat was meat.
He bent down, grabbing one of its legs, when he felt something watching him.
His head snapped up.
A girl stood behind a crumbling wall, her dark brown eyes locked onto him. She was young—maybe around his age—with short bck hair, pale skin, and a slim but athletic build. She wore a hoodie, torn jeans, and fingerless gloves.
Ethan’s grip tightened on his weapon.
“Who are you?” he asked, dragging the corpse behind him as he approached. “And why are you following me?”
The girl didn’t flinch.
“I’m Lisa,” she said. “And I followed you because… my ability needs me to.”
Ethan’s eyes narrowed.
“What?”
Lisa hesitated before expining, “It’s called Stalker. I designate someone as my ‘victim,’ and… it makes them stronger.”
Ethan froze.
That was… disturbing.
“That sounds like some serial killer bullshit.”
Lisa rolled her eyes. “I know how it sounds. But it’s useful. You’re stronger because of it.”
Ethan didn’t like the idea of being someone’s victim—but he couldn’t deny the utility.
He sighed. “Fine. You wanna help? Make me stronger so I can carry this bastard back to the Safe Room.”
Lisa nodded. A second ter, Ethan felt it—his body getting lighter, the weight of the Ravager becoming almost negligible.
His lips curled into a smirk.
“Alright. Let’s go.”
Lisa followed silently as Ethan led the way back. The world was ending, but that didn’t mean he had to die with it.
He would get stronger.
No matter what it took.
