A Last Chance

"I- I have a son?"

Richard let out a deep sigh of relief as he stood up, his legs shaking beneath him. He walked towards the room with slow but trembling steps, his heart pounding in his chest. Their son had been born without complications. The news lifted a heavy weight from his shoulders and made him feel as light as a feather.

When he reached the door he saw Grace. She looked exhausted, but there was a peaceful smile on her face. When she saw Richard enter, Grace gestured to the crying baby in her arms.

"Look, Richard. Our child. Our precious son."

Grace's voice trembled, but not from exhaustion. Her eyes filled with tears as she continued, her voice wavering with happiness.

"This may be the happiest day of my life. Come, Richard, his scent is so sweet."

Richard continued his slow steps towards her, his own eyes filled with tears of joy. He gently took his son into his arms and stared at him in awe. *So this is what it feels like to be a father,* he thought.

"So what are we going to name him, love?" Grace asked.

Richard paused and thought for a moment.

"Your name will be Damian. Damian Reed."

As if agreeing with the name, the baby stopped crying.

"I didn't know you were so good at picking names. Look, even he loves it," Grace said, her voice light with amusement.

A smile spread across Richard's face.

"Sir, if you don't mind, we need to put the baby in an incubator now," the doctor said.

Still in a daze, Richard nodded. "Oh, of course. Please, go ahead."

The doctors took the newborn, placed him in the incubator, attached a name tag to the front, and left the room.

"So when will I be discharged, Doctor?" Grace asked curiously, a hint of anticipation in her voice.

"You'll have to stay here tonight, ma'am. Tomorrow we'll check your condition and if everything looks good you'll be discharged," the doctor replied.

Grace wasn't too pleased with the answer and groaned. "Oh come on! I wanted to rest at home... What are you going to do tonight then, honey?"

As soon as he heard Grace's question, Richard froze. *No, no, no. I made the same mistake again. Once again, in the excitement of the birth, I forgot the most important thing.

His emotions were in turmoil - he felt like the happiest man in the world because of the birth, but also like the dumbest man in the world because he had forgotten something so crucial. He kept repeating the question in his mind as he paced the room: *What am I going to do now?*

"Um... Richard, darling, are you okay? You don't seem to be here," Grace's voice brought him back to the present moment. Richard quickly turned to the doctor.

"Where are the neonatal rooms? Where is my son going? Tell me!"

"Sir, please calm down. What's happening?"

"You just need to tell me where my son is!" Richard shouted.

"Your son is being taken to the neonatal unit on the 30th floor, sir," the doctor explained.

Just as he finished speaking, the doctors who had taken Damian entered the room.

"The neonatal unit is full, overflowing in fact," one of them stated.

The doctor clucked his tongue in frustration. "Tch. There have been so many births today, it's no wonder there's no room in there."

Grace stepped in, trying to make sense of it all.

"Can someone tell me what's going on? What do you mean by 'so many births'? And you, Richard, why are you so tense?"

The doctor chose to answer Grace's question first. He pulled a cloth from the right pocket of his coat and wiped the sweat from his brow. He spoke in a thick, calm voice.

"Ma'am, the hospitals are incredibly full right now due to all the births. It's estimated that around 150,000 people are giving birth today."

"What? How?" Grace couldn't believe what she was hearing. The idea of 150,000 people giving birth at the same time was mind-blowing. But why and how had so many people given birth on the same day?

Grace's eyes, which had been fixed on the doctor, slowly turned to Richard.

"Tell me what's going on, now."

Her tone had lost all the warmth it had earlier. Each word cut through the air like a knife.

"I'm sorry, love. I made a mistake. But don't worry. I'll keep you both safe from any danger."

Grace was even more confused now.

"What do you mean, 'I made a mistake'? What are you protecting us from? Answer me, Ric-"

Before Grace could finish her sentence, a system screen appeared in front of everyone, even Damian. Everyone, momentarily stunned, began reading the system screen before them.

.....

Scenario 17: Children of the Blood Moon

(The birth dates of 150.000 children have already been set and prepared for this Scenario. The Scenario will begin when all the children have been born.)

Congratulations. Your child has been chosen by the Blood Moon. But there are too many Chosen Ones. That's why the Blood Moon wants to measure the worth of its children. The Blood Moon's solution is to send a large number of Faceless to Earth.

Protect your child from the killers for one hour and prove your worth. Surviving children will be given a special title and skills that vary from person to person. Parents who keep their children alive will gain access to the Library. Good luck!

This Scenario lasts for one hour.

Note: Killers will only attack born children and their parents.

Note: Those not involved in this Scenario will be considered to have passed the Scenario and will not be able to help people in the Scenario.

.....

"What the fuck is this scenario?"

Grace shouted, expressing her displeasure at the scenario before her. The doctors in the room were silent. They were relieved that they were exempt from the situation, but they were afraid that they would be scolded by both sides if they said anything. Grace's eyes shifted from the screen in front of her to her husband. Now she knew exactly why he had been acting so strangely. She had known about Future Foresight and its possible consequences for a long time.

"You better do everything you can to fix this mistake of yours."

Richard, feeling crushed under her piercing gaze and biting words, chose not to respond. Instead, he focused on the system screen.

'Market.'

As soon as he said it, a new screen appeared in front of Richard, displaying four categories lined up one below the other: Potions, Abilities, Weapons, and Knowledge. Without hesitation, he mentally selected "Potions" and a vast list of various potions appeared before him:

[Regeneration Potion S/M/L, Ability Renewal Potion S/M/L, Strength Potion S/M/L, Agility Potion S/M/L, Endurance Potion S/M/L...] The list went on and on.

He immediately purchased a [Regeneration Potion L]

[This transaction will cost 4,000 gold. Do you confirm?]

'Yes.'

[Purchase successful. Current balance: 14,665 gold.]

"Ugh, this damn system always takes too long. Anyway. Inventory."

With this command, a new screen appeared, divided into 64 squares. It displayed various items and potions, along with two swords. Forty of the inventory slots were already filled. Thinking quickly, he grabbed the potion and handed it to Grace.

"Drink it."

"It seems like you have a plan."

Grace said as she watched Richard pull a [Regeneration Potion S] out of his inventory for Damian.

"You can't call it a plan. We're just going to run. These potions are just in case we have to fight." Richard replied and handed her the potion.

"Hmm, I see."

Grace said as she drank the potion. A screen popped up in front of her, reading, [Your birth wounds and previous injuries are healing.]

"Oh, I feel so much better already."

Grace jumped out of bed, stretching her arms and legs, warming up as if she hadn't just given birth. Watching her, Richard couldn't help but give a bittersweet smile. He opened the incubator, poured the small bottle of potion over Damian, and rubbed it gently into his skin. The potions were much less effective when poured rather than drunk, but it would be ridiculous to give a potion to a newborn.

The doctors who had been watching in silence still couldn't make sense of what was happening. The surgeon who had operated wiped the sweat from his brow and spoke up.

"None of us understand what's going on, but all I can say is... good luck. And by the way, if you want to get out of here, use the fire escape. Nobody should be using it right now. Leave through that door, go to the end of the corridor and it'll be just to your right. If you're lucky, you'll get out ahead of the crowd.

Both Richard and Grace smiled gratefully at the sudden advice.

"Thank you, Doctor. Could we know your name?" Richard asked.

"Just call me Ted. Now stop wasting time, get going."

Richard nodded and picked Damian up from the incubator and handed him to Grace.

They sprinted down the corridor and found the fire escape, just as the Doctor had described. Richard reached for the door, but before he could open it, another system screen appeared in front of them.

[Scenario started. Good luck.]

"Damn. We've wasted too much time."

Richard muttered as he hurriedly opened the door. The three of them began descending the stairs at a rapid pace. From outside they could hear desperate screams and cries echoing through the air.

It didn't take long for the doors to the fire exits on the lower floors to fly open. People poured into the staircase, panicking and scrambling as men wielding clubs, swords, and axes chased after them, preying on the terrified crowd. Soon some of the pursuers noticed Richard's group and lifted their heads to look up.

"GRAAAAAHHH!" A guttural roar echoed off the walls.

"Now we're screwed," Richard muttered as a deep growl echoed through the stairwell. The sound startled Damian, but instead of crying, he clung even tighter to his mother.

"Oh, look at you! Such a clever little boy," Grace cooed, trying to keep things light.

"Grace, this really isn't the time. I need to think," Richard replied, his voice tight with concentration.

"What is there to think about? Just crush them with your power. Your title isn't for nothing," Grace replied with a grin.

Hearing his wife's words, Richard's face lit up with a confident grin.

'Silent Death.'

In an instant, a katana with a jet-black hilt and scabbard materialized in his hand. He unsheathed the blade. The shiny metal sword, drawn from its sheath, was dispelling the darkness around it.

"So we're playing dirty, huh? Fine by me," Richard said, eyes narrowing as he prepared for the fight ahead.