The countdown to integration ticked on, but the world outside remained oblivious. The streets bustled with the usual rhythm of life—cars honking, vendors yelling, and people chatting as though the next day wouldn't bring monsters and death.
Inside Karan's apartment, however, the atmosphere was tense. Karan, Maya, and Ravi sat around a small wooden table, the glow of the system notifications still fresh in their minds.
"We have 24 hours," Karan said, breaking the silence. "The first trial is a massacre. The city will be overrun by monsters, and the system won't care who lives or dies. If we're not ready, we won't make it through the night."
The Preparations Begin
Maya leaned forward, her sharp eyes scanning the hastily drawn map Karan had spread across the table. "You said the monsters will target populated areas first, right? What's their range?"
"About five kilometers," Karan replied. "They'll spread out quickly, but the initial wave focuses on the city center."
Ravi tapped his axe against the floor, a faint glow emanating from the rune on his arm. "What kind of monsters are we talking about? Big ones? Small ones?"
"Both," Karan said grimly. "The smaller ones will come in hordes—hundreds, maybe thousands. Fast, vicious, and enough to overwhelm unarmed civilians. Then there are the larger ones—elites. Each one is strong enough to wipe out a team of untrained fighters."
Ravi grinned, his hands flexing around his axe. "Sounds like fun."
Maya shot him a glare. "This isn't a game, Ravi. We need a plan."
"I have one," Karan interrupted, his voice firm. "We'll split our focus. Maya, you'll handle logistics—find a safe location to bunker down and gather supplies. Ravi, you'll focus on combat. We need weapons, armor, and anything else we can scavenge before the integration."
"And you?" Maya asked.
"I'll scout the area," Karan said. "There are a few key spots we'll need to secure before the trial begins. If we don't, they'll become death traps."
Maya hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. But we'll need a signal system—something to communicate if things go wrong."
Karan reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a handful of cheap, outdated walkie-talkies. "They're old, but they'll work."
The Letter's Mystery
As Maya and Ravi began their preparations, Karan studied the letter Maya had brought. Its edges were charred, and the ink seemed to shift when he looked at it too long.
To the Chosen Ones:
You have been marked for survival. Prepare for the integration.
His name wasn't on the letter, but Maya's insistence that it mentioned him nagged at him. Why would the Tower single him out in this cycle? Was this another manipulation by the gods?
As he stared at the parchment, a faint pulse of energy emanated from it. A new line of text appeared:
Beware the Watchers.
Karan's breath caught. The Watchers—the gods who controlled the Tower's trials. They rarely intervened directly, but their influence was absolute. If they were paying attention to him already, it meant trouble.
Maya's Resolve
Maya returned hours later, her arms laden with supplies—a first-aid kit, flashlights, and a few kitchen knives. "It's not much," she admitted, setting them on the table. "But it's a start."
Karan nodded. "It'll do. Did you find a location?"
"There's an old warehouse near the outskirts," Maya said. "Sturdy, defensible, and far enough from the city center to avoid the worst of the initial wave."
"Good," Karan said. "We'll regroup there after sundown tomorrow. Until then, stay out of sight."
Ravi's Hunt
Ravi returned just before midnight, his axe bloodied. He carried a sack over his shoulder, and when he dumped it onto the floor, a collection of weapons spilled out—baseball bats, machetes, and even a rusty handgun.
"Found a few gangsters hoarding these," Ravi said with a smirk. "They won't need them anymore."
Karan frowned but didn't comment. They needed every advantage they could get.
The Calm Breaks
As the hours dwindled, the tension in the air grew thicker. Outside, the city carried on as usual, oblivious to the impending disaster.
But then, just as dawn broke, the first crack appeared.
A piercing sound rang out—a high-pitched hum that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once. The sky darkened unnaturally, and the towers, which had been silent until now, began to glow.
A notification flashed before Karan, Maya, and Ravi simultaneously:
[SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT]
System Integration Initiating…
All humans will now receive their unique abilities and system interfaces.
Karan braced himself as a rush of energy surged through his body. He clenched his fists, his vision blurring as the system's power took hold.
The Awakening
When the dizziness subsided, a new screen appeared before him:
[Player Status Initialized]
Name: Karan bansal
Class: [Regressor]
Abilities:
1. Godslayer's Oath – Grants resistance to divine interference and increases damage against divine beings.
2. Administrator's Privilege – Allows limited access to Tower functions.
3. Memory Archive – Retain knowledge from past cycles.
Maya gasped, her eyes glowing faintly as she examined her own interface. Ravi, on the other hand, laughed loudly, brandishing his axe, which now pulsed with a crimson aura.
"We're just getting started," Ravi said, his grin wild.
Karan stepped to the window, staring at the glowing tower in the distance. The trials were about to begin, and the city wouldn't be the same by the end of the day.
"It's time," he said, turning to Maya and Ravi. "Let's survive this nightmare."
To be continued…