The sky cracked like glass.
Kael Vorrin climbed through the dust and rubble. His hands were trembling. from fear and confusion. One second, he was running a late-night delivery through the Gangnam district. The next, a pillar of light swallowed the street. The asphalt split open, cars flipped, and something... changed.
A translucent blue screen hovered before his eyes.
[SYSTEM BOOT COMPLETE]
[Welcome, Player.]
He wasn't alone. Hundreds of others stood in the ruins around him, staring at the same floating screens. Some screamed. Some stayed silent. One person tried to slap away the screen, as if it were an illusion. The screen flickered for a second, then emitted a sharp buzzing sound before a burst of light knocked them back, unconscious.
Another message appeared.
[SELECT YOUR CLASS]
A list appeared in front of him: Knight, Rogue, Mage, Healer, Summoner... the usual RPG options. It felt unreal. Game-like. Ridiculous.
And then the list glitched.
"Flicker"
"Buzz"
And a new option appeared at the bottom.
[ERROR CLASS DETECTED]
[CLASS: ENEMY OF THE WORLD]
Kael's screen stuttered. A searing headache pierced his skull. His vision blurred,
but cleared just in time to see a final message override everything else:
[You have been chosen.]
[You are not a Hero.]
[You are the Threat.]
"...What?" Kael said.
Before he could react, a blaring siren echoed through the city.
[EMERGENCY PROTOCOL ACTIVATED]
[HIGH-THREAT ENTITY DETECTED]
[ALL PLAYERS: ELIMINATE THE TARGET TO RECEIVE BONUS REWARDS]
The screen displayed his face. His name.
[Kael Vorrin]
[Target Level: 1]
[Threat Class: ???]
And his location
Dozens of players turned toward him.
Some backed away. some didn't.
Someone yelled, "That's him! He's a monster, Get him!"
A fireball flew past his cheek.
Kael ran in confusion.
The Hunt had started.