Everyone around me stood frozen and shocked while I walk towards them with blood on my hands. They watched me as I approach Jiyoon-nim who was on the ground and scared. They might be thinking I'm planning to kill her.
"Stand up, Jiyoon-nim. As long as you follow me, I'll protect you from anything from now on for being one of the only people that's been truly nice to me."
Jiyoon-nim stared at my eyes with her own wide blue eyes as I crouched in front of her, holding the bloodstained pen from the man I just killed. I took her hand and opened her palm to put the bloodstained pen on it.
"Sorry, I don't want you to do this, but this is now the world that we live in. What you were in the old world, stays in the old world." I said.
"... I might never... be able to take a life." Jiyoon-nim said as the bloodstained pen fell from her hand.
"Jiyoon-nim, you need to wake up. Our former reality, is nothing but a dream or a nightmare now. This is our new reality, Jiyoon-ssi. You're not my boss anymore nor are we coworkers." I told her, hoping that this would be enough for her to realize the new harsh reality we were in.
I would be lying if I said I killed the man because I woke up to this harsh new reality, I only did it out of self defense and my desire to live a long life. If accepting this reality is the key to live, I'll gladly accept it.
"If you want to live in this new world, become one who can wake up from any nightmare." I said and Jiyoon-ssi continued staring at me. She seemed to be confused and hesitant of what I was saying and whether she would be willing to take a life to live her own life.
Suddenly, I was grabbed by a man from behind who had picked up the same metal pole from earlier prevented me from moving by putting me into a bear hug[1].
"I'm taking you down since you're smart and all." He was lying about that part. Some have called me smart, but I think it's just because of some observant traits of mine that aren't even much of a big deal.
"Thanks, I've been wanting to die." I said with a sarcastic tone which I think might have provoked him, but I already knew it before I said it.
"What was it you were saying earlier? You've been wanting to die, was it?" He seemed pissed off of my sarcastic statement and let go of me from the hug before kicking me to the ground.
"Seems about right." I tried to stand up, but he forcefully struck my face with the metal pole and an annoying smirk on his face.
But before the man could hit me again, time seemed to have stop for me and everyone. I couldn't move an inch in my body, but I could think. Everything turned black when a screen pops out in front of my very own eyes.
[ Congratulations. You have awakened your System. ]
System? Is this... the power that "God" was referring to earlier?
[ You have unlocked your first skill of your talent branch. Would you like to unlock it? Choice: Yes or No. ]
[ Yes. ]
[ Momentary Shield: Unlocked. ]
This is like an RPG game... Did the world just turn into an MMORPG game with 7 billion players?
[ Returning to real life scenario... ]
And just like that, everything started moving again and I could move again. First thing I noticed was the metal pole coming at me, so I raised my hand towards it. Shockingly, the metal pole hit my hand hard that it would've been enough to break it, but a faint glow on my hand seemed to have protected me from the hit. Maybe this was the [ Momentary Shield ] skill thing.
"His... The symbol on his hand is glowing green!" I heard a random guy shout and as far as I know and if I'm correct, the symbol on our hands used to glow red. The only cause I could think of was the awakening of the system inside all of us.
Before I could react again, the man started hitting me with the metal pole again and repeatedly but to no avail, he could not pierce through the [ Momentary Shield ]
I don't know how much damage can this shield take or how long can this shield can last, so I immediately took this as an opportunity to crash into two more people tackle all three of them on each other.
"Jiyoon-ssi, come here. I need help." I called her and Jiyoon-ssi slowly walked nervously towards me after seeing what I just did to the last guy earlier.
Once Jiyoon-ssi got closer, I extended my hand to her and showed her the same bloodstained pen I tried to give her earlier.
"Kill one of these guys, so two gets away or I'll kill all three of them. Choose." I stared into Jiyoon-ssi's astonished eyes while she looked back at me.
"Go." I said, inviting her to kill one of these three men while they plead to kill me or the other instead. Jiyoon-ssi bit her bottom lip out of nervousness while the three men begged to kill the other one instead.
"You still wish to meet someone, am I right?" I added more pressure was being put onto Jiyoon-ssi as of now and I was the cause of the majority of it.
"I..." Her hands started trembling nervously every second that passes and every step she takes.
"Go." I said and I could see Jiyoon-ssi was still unable to pick so I grabbed the neck of one of the men and started putting pressure on it, making difficulties for them to breathe.
"Look around, Jiyoon-ssi. There's no one watching. They're all trying to save their own lives. No one will judge you and killing someone is not omitted in this world anymore." I said and Jiyoon-ssi finally makes the choice and stabs the neck of the man who attacked me earlier. But I had tricken Jiyoon-ssi. Just as I had thought, she was too nice for this world that it would be difficult for her to survive. The tears of guilt in her eyes showed it.
Letting both of these men go after I threatened to kill them, and used them as a tool to manipulate someone into killing is a bad choice, so I just knocked them out to give them a chance and save ourselves.
"I'm sorry..." Jiyoon-ssi clasped her hands together and started mourning at the man she just killed.
"We've cleared the first trouble of the trial. We just need to find somewhere safe from people who'd try to kill us." I said, but I was ignored and Jiyoon-ssi continued apologizing.
"I'm sorry..." She repeated.
"Jiyoon-ssi, I forced you into this, I should—" Before I could even finish my sentence, she had cut me off already.
"I don't even know if... I should resent or thank you. You manipulated me into saving my own life." She said as I looked at her face where tears streamed down her cheeks. Perhaps, she should be resenting me. But now's not the time to worry about her current thinking of what I said and just did.
[1] Bear hug - A move in martial arts where a fighter grabs an opponent to prevent them from moving or attacking.
[2] Sudden change in Jiyoon's honorifics is because Minhyuk doesn't see her as a superior anymore, but still respects her.