Tower of The Fated Star

[12:20 PM | Mirae Industries | Lower Floor]

[The First Scenario has begun.]

——————

[Scenario #1: SURVIVE]

Time Limit: 20 minutes

Objective: Earn at least 100 Coins to survive.(Coins are earned by killing living beings. The stronger the being, the more coins you receive.)

Penalty for Failure: Death

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[Time Remaining: 19:59]

Kang Haejin was trembling behind him.

Her fingers clutched the edge of Jun Young's sleeve, and he could feel her breath quicken.

The boy standing before them — wild eyes, blood-covered fists — cracked his neck to the side and grinned. His shirt was soaked in someone else's life.

"Hey, boy..." the boy said, tilting his head. "If you wanna live, move aside. I have something to discuss with her."

Jun Young didn't move.He stared directly into the boy's eyes.

"And if I refuse?"

The boy's grin didn't falter.

Without hesitation, he slammed his foot down on the head of the man he'd just been beating.

A wet crack echoed.

[You have killed a living being.]

[You have earned 100 Coins.]

Jun watched the boy's eyes flick toward the glowing window in front of him.

[You have met the requirement to open the System Shop.]

[Would you like to open it? Y/N]

"Oh...?" the boy muttered with amusement. "Now this is interesting. Heh… Ha… Ha... YES. I want to open it."

[Skill: Micro Movement has been purchased.]

His body shimmered faintly with energy.

Then — silence.

He glanced at Jun Young and Kang Haejin."You two stay right there. I'll finish cleaning up these insects."

And he vanished.

Literally vanished.

The next few seconds were slaughter.

He moved like a blur, his fists cracking bones and splitting skulls. No one could scream in time. No one could run fast enough. Every movement was precise. Calculated. Efficient murder.

"A skill…" Jun whispered.

He wanted to intervene. Every bone in his body told him not to.The gap was too wide.

But he couldn't just watch.

His eyes swept the floor.

And then—something small caught his eye.

Insects. Tiny ones. Crawling across the blood-stained tiles.

"...It might work," he muttered.

He raised his foot.

Crushed.

[You have killed a living being.]

[You have earned 10 Coins.]

Another.

[You have killed a living being.][You have earned 10 Coins.]

Again.

And again.

[You have killed…]

[You have earned…]

[You have killed…]

[You have earned…]

[DING…]

[DING…]

[DING…]

The notifications began to flood his screen like rain on a tin roof.

Jun's lips curved.

"Miss Haejin… Start killing the insects. On the floor. Now."

She blinked in disbelief. "Huh? What?"

"Just do it. Trust me."

"...O-Okay."

They crouched together, stomping and crushing every crawling insect in sight.

It was absurd. Pathetic.

But it worked.

[You have killed a living being.]

[You have earned 10 Coins.]

[You have killed a living being.]

[You have earned 10 Coins.]

They were surviving.

Until—

Crack.

A shadow flickered.

Then pain.

Jun was sent flying across the floor. His body crashed into a cabinet, knocking over trays and glass. His ribs screamed.

The boy walked forward, slow and calm.

His eyes gleamed with delight.

"Khe… Khe… Khe… Did you think I'd wait until I finished killing everyone else?"

Jun struggled to breathe.

"You psycho… You already killed a person. You only need 100 Coins to survive. Why are you still doing this?!"

The boy paused, tilted his head.

"Oh, that?"He smiled."It's just… fun."

Jun's pupils dilated.

"What did you say...?"

The boy stepped closer.

"Let me ask you something," he said softly. "Why are you trying to save these people?"

Jun didn't reply.

"No answer?" The boy shrugged. "You think they're worth saving? They're good people? How naive! Let me give you a piece of advice."

He leaned in.

"They're only pretending to be decent because they're weak. Once they get power—"He snapped his fingers."You'll see who they really are."

He looked down at Jun, eyes like knives.

"There's no place for people like you in this world who don't have any idea about the reality of this world. You can't leave in this world if you're a weakling."

His voice grew colder."In this world—"

The pressure in the room dropped.

"ONLY THE STRONGEST CAN LIVE!"

His foot slammed into Jun's ribs.

Jun hit the ground again, blood pooling in his mouth.

[You have earned a total of 350 Coins.]

[You have met the requirement to open the System Shop.]

[Would you like to open it? Y/N]

His head spun.

He blinked through the pain.

And then—clarity.

"Yes… Open."

[System Shop has been opened.]

[Please select any item you wish to purchase.]

Jun's thoughts surged.

No time… There's no time. Just—give me a skill that fits the situation!

[A skill has been selected for the host based on current danger level.]

[Error Detected]

His heart froze.

"What…?"

[A mysterious system is interfering.]

[Skill Purchase: FAILED]

[A mysterious system is interfering.]

Jun's mouth fell open in disbelief.

And then—

Too late.

The boy stood over him.

"Bye-bye… Pretty boy."

His hand moved.

To be continue...