[Time remaining: 2 minutes, 45 seconds.]
The safe zone was eerily quiet. The shimmering blue barrier hummed faintly, isolating the survivors from the chaos outside. Inside, the department store had become a strange purgatory. People huddled in corners, clutching their knees or holding onto loved ones, their breaths ragged as they awaited their fate.
Percy sat cross-legged in the corner near a mannequin display, his back pressed against the cold wall. His pulse had finally begun to slow, though his mind was still racing. He clenched his fists tightly, his palms slick with sweat. How did it come to this? he wondered. The reality of his situation had begun to settle in, suffocating him like a heavy blanket.
Outside the barrier, the world screamed and burned. He could hear the sound of claws scraping against asphalt, the wet crunch of bodies being torn apart, and the agonized cries of those who hadn't made it to safety in time. Percy refused to look. He knew the sight would stay with him forever.
He glanced up at the countdown floating in his vision. [Time remaining: 1 minute, 37 seconds.]
A man sitting a few feet away from Percy was whispering a prayer under his breath, clutching a rosary so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. Others were too stunned to speak, their eyes wide and unfocused. Fear hung in the air like a miasma.
A woman near the entrance, her face streaked with blood, stood abruptly and began pacing. "This can't be real," she muttered, her voice growing louder with each repetition. "This can't be real. It's some sick prank. It has to be!"
Percy didn't say anything. He knew better than to try to convince her otherwise. The woman's rant devolved into incoherent sobs, and no one moved to comfort her. Everyone was too consumed by their own terror.
[Time remaining: 30 seconds.]
Percy exhaled shakily, his gaze fixed on the glowing numbers. It's almost over, he told himself. The first scenario will end, and we'll all… He didn't finish the thought. He knew what would happen to those who hadn't reached a safe zone. He remembered the scene vividly from the novel. The brutality, the sheer finality of it.
And then, it began.
[Time remaining: 0 seconds.]
The world seemed to hold its breath for a moment. Then came the sound—a wet, visceral crack—followed by a chorus of screams. Percy's stomach turned as he heard it: flesh tearing, bones snapping, and the unmistakable gurgle of dying breaths.
He glanced out of the corner of his eye, unable to stop himself. Through the translucent barrier, he saw them. Dozens of people still on the street, frozen mid-step. Their bodies convulsed violently, as though invisible hands were crushing them from the inside out. Blood sprayed into the air like crimson mist, painting the shattered windows and cracked pavement.
It was over in seconds. The bodies collapsed where they stood, their lifeless forms twisted and broken. Silence fell once more, broken only by the quiet sobbing of those inside the safe zone.
Percy closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall. His breathing was shallow, his hands trembling. No amount of prior knowledge could have prepared him for this. This isn't a story anymore, he thought bitterly. It's real.
The sound of faint static filled the air, followed by a familiar mocking voice. "Congratulations, survivors!" The Dokkaebi reappeared in the center of the safe zone, its grotesque grin wider than ever. It clapped its hands in mock applause, as if they were contestants on some twisted game show.
"You've made it through the first scenario! Truly impressive. Out of the thousands in this city, only a handful of you managed to survive. Well done!" It floated in lazy circles, its eyes scanning the room. "I must say, the despair in here is absolutely delicious. Do keep it up."
A man in the back shouted, his voice shaking with rage. "You monster! What the hell is this? What do you want from us?!"
The Dokkaebi's grin didn't waver. "Ah, such passion! I do love it when humans get feisty. But to answer your question, dear human, this is simply the beginning. You've all been chosen to participate in the Star Stream's scenarios, a series of delightful trials that will determine your worthiness to exist in the new world."
Murmurs of fear and confusion rippled through the group. Percy remained silent, his jaw clenched. He could feel the eyes of others darting toward him, as if seeking answers. But he had none to give. Not here. Not now.
The Dokkaebi continued, its voice dripping with glee. "Now, as promised, it's time for your rewards! You see, survival comes with its perks. You've all earned coins, the most precious currency in this world. Use them wisely—or don't. I do so enjoy watching humans squander their resources."
A translucent screen appeared before Percy, listing his rewards:
[Scenario 1 Complete]
[Survivors: 32]
[Reward: 200 coins]
Percy stared at the screen, his mind racing. The coin system. He remembered it well. Coins were the lifeblood of the scenarios, used for everything from purchasing items to enhancing abilities. Without them, survival would be impossible.
He let out a slow breath, forcing himself to focus. His thoughts drifted back to the novel. In the early chapters, the protagonist had used his knowledge of future scenarios to gain an edge, stockpiling coins and resources while others floundered. Percy had planned to do the same, but something wasn't adding up.
Why does this feel so off? he thought, his brow furrowing. The safe zone, the distribution of coins, even the Dokkaebi's speech—it all felt… different.
Then it hit him like a freight train. His eyes widened as realization dawned.
The novel took place in Korea.
He was in the United States.
"Shit," he muttered under his breath. His hands tightened into fists. That's why everything feels different. The scenarios here won't follow the same order. I have no idea what's coming next.
The Dokkaebi's voice snapped him back to the present. "Now then, on to the next scenario! I do hope you're all ready, because this one's going to be spectacular."
A new screen materialized in front of Percy, displaying the details of the second scenario:
[Second Scenario: The Predator's Hunt]
[Objective: Survive the night by evading the designated predators or defeating them.]
[Duration: 8 hours.]
[Difficulty: C-.]
[Reward: 500 coins for survival. Additional rewards for predator eliminations.]
[Penalty for failure: Death.]
A collective gasp rippled through the room. The words were clear, leaving no room for interpretation. The penalty was absolute.
The Dokkaebi clapped its hands again, its grin impossibly wide. "Now, now, don't look so glum. This is your chance to shine! Prove your worth to the constellations watching above. Who knows? Perhaps some of you will catch their eye and become incarnations!"
"Incarnations?" someone whispered, their voice trembling.
The Dokkaebi chuckled. "Oh, you'll find out soon enough. For now, I suggest you prepare. The predators will be unleashed shortly, and they are… quite hungry."
Panic erupted in the safe zone. People shouted over each other, scrambling to make sense of the situation. Percy remained seated, his eyes fixed on the screen. Eight hours. It didn't seem long, but in a scenario like this, it might as well be an eternity.
His gaze shifted to the coins listed in his reward. 200 coins. It wasn't much, but it was a start. He opened the system interface, scrolling through the options. Weapons, skills, stat upgrades—everything came at a price. And every choice mattered.
As the others argued and panicked around him, Percy made a decision. If he was going to survive this, he couldn't rely on luck or brute force. He would have to play the system. Carefully, strategically.
The countdown for the second scenario began.
[Time remaining: 10 minutes.]
Percy tightened his grip on the screen. This is just the beginning, he thought. I'm not dying here.