All around him, reality frayed. The distant roar of something not human echoed through concrete canyons. People scattered, some kneeling in confusion, others attempting to call for help on phones that now crackled with static. He slipped along backstreets, keeping his head down, navigating by memory. The city he knew was already contorting into something else—shadows moved oddly, streetlights flickered midday, and the air tasted faintly of ozone and ash.
Ahead, the construction site came into view. He noted fewer workers now—some had likely fled when the strange phenomena began. A few remained near the entrance, shouting questions to a foreman who barked back useless instructions. None understood what was happening, but all felt the dread pressing in. He waited in the cover of a parked truck, watching carefully.
Then he saw it: a shimmering distortion in the basement ramp he knew so well. Like a wavering heat haze, it pulsed once and resolved into a Rift—a tear in reality, about the size of a doorway. Instantly, an alarm-like hum filled the site, and the System chimed in his mind:
[System Notification: Global Integration Commencing.
All Humans Will Receive Status Initialization in 30 Seconds.
Prepare for Class & Attribute Assignments.]
[Your Influence on Local Rift Detected.
When Rift Stabilizes, Loot Table Modified in Your Favor.]
This was it. The System would grant Classes and basic Stats to everyone shortly. But he had an edge. He clenched his teeth, scanning for an opening to approach the Rift once it stabilized. He needed to wait until the System finished initializing everyone, which might cause chaos. Monsters would appear, and hopefully, he could slip inside the basement and reach that Rift core to claim whatever sword-related item awaited him.
A tremor rolled through the ground. The workers yelped, stepping back. Sparks of light danced around them. He watched as a faint overlay shimmered over each person—likely them receiving their initial System screens. Gasps and cries went up. The apocalypse was no secret now. Everyone would soon see their Attributes and realize something terrible and wondrous had begun.
He felt a familiar pressure in his skull. The System would try to assign him a Class too, even though he already had a Skill from secret training. Would it give him something random or acknowledge his sword mastery? He steadied himself, bracing for the assignment.
[Initializing User Attributes and Class Selection…]
[Attributes Detected: Strength: 5, Agility: 6, Vitality: 5, Intelligence: 7, Willpower: 8, Luck: 5
Pre-Acquired Skill: Basic Sword Mastery (Basic)
Hidden Achievements: 1 (Key Fragment)
Worldline Influence: Minor
Allocating Class…]
[Class Granted: Swordsman (Uncommon)]
He nearly laughed with relief. An Uncommon Class right at the start was leagues better than most people would get. Many would start as something like "Novice" or "No-Class." He'd been rewarded for his early efforts.
[You have gained Swordsman Class.
Base Skills unlocked: Quick Slash (Basic), Parry (Basic)]
Quick Slash and Parry—offensive and defensive basics. Together with his Basic Sword Mastery, he could handle early monsters easily.
He couldn't celebrate yet. The Rift at the basement ramp crackled and spat sparks. He needed to claim his special loot before others got the idea. He saw a couple of workers stepping back, talking about weird screens in front of their faces, fear in their eyes. No one dared approach the Rift yet. Perfect. He would strike first.
He slipped around the parked truck, keeping low. The foreman yelled at his men to stay away from the weird "doorway," calling for someone to get the phone working. He used the commotion to creep down the ramp.
In the dim basement, the Rift shimmered like a vertical pool of liquid light. The old stone with carvings stood off to the side, his personal mark faintly glowing. He could feel something waiting in the Rift's aura. He approached slowly, heart pounding. If a monster jumped out, he'd use Quick Slash and Parry instinctively.
No immediate threat emerged. Instead, a prompt appeared:
[Rift Internal Structure Aligning…
Because of Your Mark, a Sword-Type Artifact Will Spawn Upon Rift Stabilization.
Stand By…]
[Warning: Monsters Will Appear Within 10 Seconds of Stabilization.]**
Ten seconds. He gripped his survival knife in one hand, cursing that he didn't have a real sword yet. Soon, hopefully.
The Rift flashed bright, forcing him to shield his eyes. When he looked again, a small pedestal had formed at the base of the carved stone. On it lay a sheathed longsword—dark metal, simple hilt, a slight glow around its edges.
He lunged forward and grabbed it. The moment his fingers touched the hilt, a jolt of System energy ran up his arm.
[You have acquired: Lesser Blade of Dawn (Uncommon)]
+1 to Strength, +1 to Agility, Minor Light Damage Bonus
Compatible with Swordsman Class]
He almost whooped with joy. Stats boosts and an uncommon weapon right from day one. This would make early battles a breeze.
A snarl sounded behind him. He spun around, drawing the sword. Out of the Rift, a goblin-like creature emerged—scrawny, greenish, wielding a crude club. Another followed, hissing. Both eyed him hungrily.
This would be his first official battle in the System's era. He stepped into a stance, muscle memory guiding him. The goblins charged. He activated Quick Slash, feeling the System guide his arm in a swift, clean arc. The blade cut through the first goblin easily—it howled and crumpled. The second swung its club. He raised his sword, invoking Parry. A faint shimmer cushioned the impact, letting him riposte with a thrust. Dead goblin number two.
He stood over their bodies, breath steady. He felt strong, controlled. This was how it should be. Outside, he heard distant screams and shouts. Others would be fighting their first monsters with no skill, no prepared weapon. He had a head start they couldn't imagine.
No time to linger. More monsters might come. He wiped the blade edge on his sleeve—no blood remained, the sword's magical properties apparently keeping it clean—and headed back up the ramp.
At the top, the foreman and workers had scattered. He saw people running in the streets, some flailing at tiny imps or rodent-like beasts. Chaos reigned. He pulled up his Status screen briefly:
[Name: (User)
Class: Swordsman (Uncommon)
Stats: STR: 6, AGI: 7, VIT: 5, INT: 7, WIL: 8, LCK: 5
Skills: Basic Sword Mastery (Basic), Quick Slash (Basic), Parry (Basic)
Equipment: Lesser Blade of Dawn (Uncommon)
Storage: Key Fragment, Minor Catalyst Bead]
As the System began integrating everyone, he felt the familiar pressure in his mind. Data scrolled behind his eyes. This was the moment when everyone's Attributes and Class would be assigned. He tensed, worried that his carefully engineered advantages might be overlooked.
A faint line of text shimmered into view:
[System Initialization: Identify User… No Registered Personal Name Detected.]
He frowned. In his past life, the System simply took whatever name people had. Maybe because he'd done so much in secret before the apocalypse, or due to some glitch, it now demanded confirmation.
[No default name available. Please state or confirm your chosen name.]
He paused. He couldn't use his old title—The Black King was a past he didn't need to advertise. He shrugged and spoke quietly, "My name is Joon-woo."
He had never bothered to think about it before, but he needed something simple and common. Joon-woo would do.
[Name Confirmed: Joon-woo.]
[Initializing Joon-woo's Attributes and Class Selection…]
Attributes scrolled past: Strength: 5, Agility: 6, Vitality: 5, Intelligence: 7, Willpower: 8, Luck: 5. The System acknowledged his pre-apocalypse efforts—training, a Skill acquired, hidden fragments found.
[Pre-Acquired Skill: Basic Sword Mastery (Basic)
Hidden Achievements: 1 (Key Fragment)
Worldline Influence: Minor
Allocating Class…]
[Class Granted: Swordsman (Rare - Growth Type]
He breathed out in relief. Not only had the System accepted the name he gave—Joon-woo—but it also recognized his efforts and gave him an Rare Class. Perfect.