The growl outside Kai's window was guttural. Inhuman.
He peeked through the blinds—his heart caught in his throat.
A creature with mottled black fur and glowing red eyes stalked across his backyard, its body semi-transparent like smoke trapped in flesh. It looked like a wolf—but taller than a man, with elongated claws that raked gouges into the ground as it moved.
> [Monster Identified: Shadow Wolf]
Tier: E
Status: Hunting
Threat Level: Moderate
Weakness: Light-based attacks, fire
Objective: Kill System Host
Kai stepped back from the window, pulse hammering.
"This can't be real. There's no way. That thing's out of some horror RPG. Why is it here?!"
> [Mission: Survive Until Sunrise]
Time Limit: 8 hours, 21 minutes
Reward: Random Skill Draw + Combat Upgrade
Penalty: Death
> [System Tip: Hide, run, trap, or fight. Your choice.]
"No pressure or anything," Kai muttered. He grabbed his phone, but it was already losing signal. The screen flickered with static. "So it can jam electronics too? Great."
He paced in tight circles, sweat beading on his forehead. Then the System pinged again.
> [Beginner Weapon Draw Unlocked — One-Time Use]
Draw a starter weapon?
[Yes] | No
"YES!"
A digital wheel spun in midair, blinking with icons: daggers, pistols, magic tomes, even frying pans.
> [Drawn: Combat Knife – Shadowsteel Variant]
A small black-bladed knife materialized in Kai's hand, cool to the touch. It shimmered faintly with violet energy, the edge unnaturally sharp.
"Could've gone for a shotgun, but I'll take it."
Then—
> [Skill 'Observe' activated automatically]
Target: Shadow Wolf – Distance: 12 meters
Status: Searching. Smell locked. Heat signature tracking.
Kai swore under his breath. The thing could track him by body heat and scent.
He grabbed his hoodie, wet it with water from the bathroom sink, and pulled it over his head.
> [Clever thinking. Slightly reduces heat signature.]
"Not good enough," he muttered, looking around. He had to either distract the creature or trap it.
Then an idea clicked.
The shed.
It was barely standing, filled with old junk and his dad's leftover fireworks stash from last year's canceled 4th of July. If he could lure the beast inside, ignite the fireworks, and trap it—
He didn't finish the thought. A loud SNAP echoed in the backyard.
It had stepped on a twig.
Kai ran.
---
Outside – 11:44 PM
The cold air bit into his skin. The Shadow Wolf snarled from the other side of the yard, lunging at the movement. Kai sprinted to the shed, diving inside and knocking over boxes of junk.
He found the half-used fireworks crate and dragged it toward the back.
"Please don't be duds. Please."
The creature's massive form prowled into view at the shed's entrance, its eyes glowing like coals.
> [Observe Activated – Status: Aggressive | Alert | Cautious]
"Come on, ugly," Kai whispered, crouched behind a workbench. He took out his lighter and lit the end of a string fuse connected to the pile.
Sparks.
Hissing.
The Shadow Wolf snarled and charged—
BOOM!
Fireworks exploded in a chaos of light and sound. The shed filled with blinding colors—red, gold, blue—loud enough to rattle windows.
The wolf howled in pain as white-hot sparks seared its dark fur. It turned to retreat—but Kai was already moving.
He leapt forward, blade in hand, and slashed—
The knife cut deep across the creature's side. The Shadowsteel hissed as it burned into shadow flesh, leaving a glowing wound that didn't close.
The beast lashed out, claws raking across Kai's chest—he cried out in pain, crashing into a pile of old garden tools.
Blood ran down his hoodie. But the wolf was weakening—its body flickering like unstable flame.
Kai forced himself up, adrenaline drowning the pain.
With a roar, he launched forward, driving the knife straight into the monster's glowing eye.
FWOOSH.
The Shadow Wolf exploded into a plume of black mist and vanished, leaving only a faint scorch mark on the floor.
Silence returned.
> [Enemy Defeated]
+100 XP
Level Up! Host is now Level 2
+2 Stat Points Awarded
Mission Complete – Reward: Random Power Draw + Combat Upgrade
Kai fell backward, gasping.
> [Initiating Power Draw...]
Selected: Shadowstep (Lv.1) – Short-range teleport through shadows (5m range, 15s cooldown)
> [Combat Upgrade Unlocked: Reflex Boost Lv.1]
He stared at the system interface, still panting.
"...I just killed a literal monster in my dad's old shed. What is happening to my life?"
---
Morning – 7:03 AM
Kai wrapped his wound as best he could, using a roll of duct tape and gauze. The bleeding had mostly stopped, and thanks to the System's bonus, the pain had dulled.
He glanced outside. The mist was gone. The yard looked… normal.
Too normal.
No trace of the battle. Not even a scorch mark.
Just the lingering ache in his chest and the screen in his vision.
> [Daily Mission Unlocked]
1. Practice 'Shadowstep' 3 times
2. Win one social interaction
3. Spend Stat Points
> Rewards: 30 XP + Skill Bonus
Kai sat on the edge of his bed.
"No going back now, huh?"
> [Correct. Welcome to the System Quest Protocol.]
He opened his Stat Page.
---
Name: Kai Valtor
Level: 2
XP: 150/200
Class: Unassigned
Health: 62/100
Mana: 30/30
Skills:
Observe (Lv.1)
Shadowstep (Lv.1)
Reflex Boost (Lv.1)
Stat Points: 2
---
He dumped 1 point into Agility and 1 into Vitality. His body immediately felt lighter. The ache lessened.
> [Stat Update Complete]
A chime echoed. Then—
> [New Quest Branch Unlocked: Tier Trials]
Mission: Complete three system-selected challenges to unlock your Tier Classification.
Reward: Combat Class Selection + Unique Weapon
Kai's eyes widened.
"Tier Classification?"
> [Explanation: System Users are ranked by Tier – E to SSS. Completing Tier Trials unlocks your true class and power potential.]
> First Trial: Duel another System User (within 3 days)
Status: Target Approaching…
"Wait. Another system user?"
> [Correct.]
The system blinked once more.
> [Target Identified: System User – Rank Unknown – Enrolled at Oakridge High.]
Kai leaned back against his wall, exhaling.
His normal life was gone.
Freak monsters. Magic knives. Missions with deadly stakes.
And now—other people like him.
"Guess I'm not alone in this game…"
He looked at his glowing hand. The shadowy energy from Shadowstep curled around his fingers.
"Fine then. Bring it on."