As I locked the sky and a dark hole appeared, swallowing everything in its path, I regretted my decision not to follow my friends into the dungeons. I regretted not seeking power like they did. I regretted leaving the world's survival to those greedy people. I regretted watching my friends die to protect me, all because I chose to refuse the system's offer, by pressing 'No' instead of 'Yes.' I tightened my hand into a fist and screamed out loud, "Scum heroes, choosing power over life!"

Suddenly, a system offer popped up:" Do you want to fix your mistakes?"

"The protagonist could resist and answer 'Yes.' But as soon as the words left his lips, a blinding light enveloped him. Before he could even react, he was swallowed whole. The last message from the system flashed across his mind: "Good luck with this curse."

Suddenly, the protagonist found himself back in his bedroom. Disoriented he suddenly stumbled to his feet. Without a second thought, he rushed out the door, racing to catch a train to his parents's apartment complex. When he reached the station, he glanced up at the clock. Six hours left before it begins. The countdown filled him with urgency.

After he boarded the train, the puzzled stares from passengers eyeing his unusual attire 'pajamas covered in baby ducks and infront his chest were the cheerful words, "Best Big Brother!" ' But he didn't care about what they thought. He had only one goal: to reach his family before it was too late.

Finally, he arrived at his stop and dashed off the train, barely slowing down as he ran through the streets to his family's building. As he reached the apartment complex, he took the stairs, his heart started racing. When he finally reached a familiar door, he stopped to catch his breath, hands trembling. He took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.

A few moments later, the door swung open, and a young boy ,barely eight years old looked up at him.

"Brother, you came home!" the boy exclaimed, his face lighting up with joy.

The protagonist knelt down and pulled his brother into a hug, squeezing him tightly. "Yeah," he murmured, voice choked with emotion. "I'm really home now."

After a moment, he gently pulled back and looked his brother in the eyes. "Hey, where's Mom and Dad and Siel at?" he asked, glancing past the boy and into the familiar apartment.

His little brother tilted his head, looking thoughtful. "Mom and Dad went out," he said, "but Siel's in her room." He pointed down the hall, where the door to his little sister's room was.

The protagonist nodded, his mind racing with plans. "Ash, go tell Siel to pack a backpack for each of us, alright? Tell her to pack water, food, some warm clothes, and a few things for summer, too."

Ash nodded seriously, sensing the urgency. "Okay, big brother! I'll tell her." He turned and hurried down the hall whit his small footsteps echoing softly on the wooden floor.

The protagonist watched him go, feeling a wave of gratitude for his siblings. Siel was 15 years old and Ash, despite being only eight, was a reliable little guy.

Once Ash disappeared into Siel's room, he stepped into his own bedroom and grabbed his phone to call his parents. he dialed, hoping they'd pick up right away.

After a few rings, his mother's voice came on the line. "Hello? Honey, is everything okay? Did something happen?"

The protagonist took a steadying breath, knowing he had to make his mother understand, even if it sounded unbelievable.

"Mom, listen carefully," he said, keeping his voice as calm as possible. "We need to evacuate right now. In about five hours, something big is going to happen here. A… a system is going to activate, and it's going to bring monsters with it. I know it sounds crazy, but we need to leave. I'll send you a location where it's safe."

He could almost hear her frowning on the other end. "Honey… if you want us to come home, just say so. But please don't make things up. Your dad and I are at the hospital your aunt had an accident, and we're here with her. We'll be home in a few hours."

Kai gripped the phone tighter,"Mom, I'm serious." He paused, realizing he'd have to find another way to convince her. "Just… try to come as soon as you can, okay? And if anything happens, promise me you'll get somewhere safe. Promise."

There was a brief silence before she sighed. "Alright, sweetheart. We'll try to be back as soon as we can, but if not, just hang tight, okay? We'll see you at home after we leaving the hospital."

"No, Mom, listen—this isn't a joke! I'm serious!" Kai said urgently, feeling the desperation creeping into his voice.

But before he could finish, there was a click, and the line went silent. She'd hung up.

Kai lowered the phone, staring at it in disbelief. His hands clenched, frustration bubbling up inside him. Why did it end this way? He'd hoped, desperately, that they'd be home in time that his parents would understand, or at least get back quickly. But now, with only a couple of hours left, he knew he couldn't afford to wait any longer and prepare.

He took a steadying breath, pushing the frustration aside. No time for doubt. I have to get us out of here.

He walked quickly to the next room, where Siel and Ash were waiting. Both had their backpacks packed and ready, their faces reflecting a mix of anxiety and trust. Siel, as always, seemed calm despite the situation, but even she couldn't hide the concern in her eyes. Ash, clutching his little backpack, was looking up at Kai.

Kai took a deep breath, trying to shake off the unease that gnawed at him. There was no more time to waste. They had to move, and fast.

He turned to Siel and Ash, his voice steady but urgent. "Listen, I need you both to wear something easy to run in. We're not going to stand around waiting anymore." His gaze shifted between them, his heart heavy with the weight of responsibility. "I'm going to change too. We need to be ready for anything."

Siel nodded without hesitation, already reaching for her clothes. Ash, a little slower but understanding, tugged at his own shirt, eager to follow his older sister's example. Both of them had always followed Kai's orders without question, and today was no different.

Kai quickly turned and headed to his room. He grabbed a set of clothes that were easy to move in 'dark pants, a comfortable t-shirt, and sturdy sneakers'. After tossing them on, he grabbed his own backpack and began filling it with essentials: water, food, a few basic tools, a flashlight, matches, and a pocket knife. His hands moved quickly as he thought through everything he might need.

He added a first-aid kit, just in case, along with some granola bars and energy snacks. A lighter, extra batteries, and a few other small items went in next. As he stuffed the last of the items into his bag, his eyes lingered on his phone. He had tried calling his parents again, but they still hadn't answered. I'll try again later, he thought, frustration bubbling up.

He took a deep breath, steadied himself, and made his way out of his room. The apartment was quiet, with six rooms in total, including the living room, kitchen, and bathroom.

He walked into Ash's room, where his little brother was sitting on the bed, clutching his teddy bear. Ash looked up to Kai who extended his hand, and Ash placed his smaller hand in to his brother's.

Kai gave his brother a soft, reassuring smile as he gently squeezed Ash's hand. "We need to go, Ash," he said, his voice steady but urgent. "Stay close to me, okay?"

Ash nodded, still clutching his teddy bear tightly. With a quiet breath, Kai turned and led his brother down the hallway. Their footsteps echoed softly in the silence of the apartment as they approached Siel's room.

Kai knocked twice on the door before entering. Inside, Siel was standing by her bed, her backpack already packed and ready. She wore a silver bunny necklace, the one their parents had given her on her last birthday. Her calm demeanor remained, but Kai could see that she had just now grabbed a water bottle from the nightstand.

"Everything set?" Kai asked, glancing around the room.

Siel nodded, a small but firm smile on her face. "Yeah. Just needed to grab my water," she said as she opened the bottle and then slung her bag over her shoulder. She latter grabbed Ash's hand as well, before taking a sip of the water.

"Alright," Kai said, trying to keep his voice steady despite the growing tension in the pit of his stomach. "We leave now. No time to waste."

Siel nodded, and Ash, still clutching his teddy bear tightly, looked up at his older siblings, ready to follow them without question. But before heading out, Kai paused for a moment and dialed his parents' number again, hoping that they were on their way back. But as the call rang through and went to voicemail, he felt a tight knot of frustration form in his chest. His heart pounded, knowing that time was running out.

He quickly put the phone down and typed a text, his fingers moving quickly across the screen. "Mom, Dad, meet us at the mall. We're heading out now. Please be safe. I'll explain everything when you get there."

With a quick glance at the text, Kai hit send and looked at his siblings. Siel stood there with her backpack secured, her and calm demeanor. Ash was still clutching his teddy bear, looking up at his brother.

"Alright, we're going to the mall," Kai said, his voice firm but gentle. "Stay close to me."

Siel nodded, her face set in determination. Without saying much more, she adjusted her backpack and followed Kai, with Ash trotting closely behind, clutching his teddy bear.

Kai carried two bags one filled with their supplies, and the other with things for their parents, hoping that, somehow, they would make it in time to meet them at the mall. The trio left the apartment, stepping into the quiet streets.

As the trio made their way through the quiet streets, Kai couldn't help but feel the weight of the situation bearing down on him. Every step felt like it was leading them into the unknown, and the only thing he could focus on was getting his siblings to the mall.

As the trio stepped into the subway station, the cold, musty air seemed to settle around them, a stark contrast to the heat of anxiety swirling in Kai's chest. The soft hum of the train's arrival echoed as people milled around, oblivious to the impending danger. But for Kai, every step felt heavier, as if the world itself was shifting beneath his feet.

He couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out. He had tried to warn his friends, but it seemed like most of them didn't take him seriously. Some laughed it off, thinking it was just another one of his jokes. Others had gotten angry, accusing him of making up stories to get attention.

"Come on, Kai. Monsters? Really? Stop messing around."

"Are you trying to ruin the day, or what? Chill out."

"Dude, this is just crazy. You need help."

The responses stung, but Kai pushed them aside, knowing he couldn't afford to dwell on their reactions. He had tried his best to warn them, but now his focus had to be on the people who mattered most and for most his family.As they stepped into mall ,Kai led them into a McDonald's, the familiar smell of fries and burgers filled came to there nose.

Kai walked up to the counter and quickly placed their order. He took the meal's found a table and started eating.

Kai's heart skipped a beat when his phone buzzed, his parents' names flashing across the screen. He quickly answered, his voice tight with relief. "Mom? Dad?"

"Honey, we saw your text. Your dad and I are on our way to the mall," his mother's voice came through, calm but with an edge of concern. "There's a lot of traffic, though. It's going to take about an hour for us to get there."

Kai's grip on his phone tightened, the pressure mounting in his chest. An hour? They didn't have that much time.

Kai froze, his finger hovering over the screen of his phone. The message of the system was unexpected, a sudden pop-up that felt oddly out of place in the midst of everything. "You are chosen to enter the awakening test. Please confirm to participate."