It had been three days since the world collapsed, and Arjun Verma was stuck in his apartment, unable to leave. He stood by the entrance door, his hand gripping the doorknob, his heart pounding. No matter how many times he tried, no matter how much force he used, the door wouldn't budge. An invisible barrier stopped him every time.
[The Bound Dweller cannot leave the dwelling space.]
Arjun let out an exasperated sigh. "Not again." He had learned the hard way that this was no ordinary lockdown. Outside, the world was a war zone, filled with mutated monsters and creatures. His apartment was the only sanctuary he had left—thanks to a strange power that had manifested within him. But this power came with a curse: he couldn't step outside.
As much as Arjun tried to resist it, the reality of the situation was unavoidable. His family was out there, somewhere in the chaos. His mother, father, younger brother... They were all out there, and he was trapped. The power that kept him safe also kept him in solitary confinement.
Arjun glanced around the small apartment, taking in the empty space that felt more suffocating with each passing moment. A 30-square-meter apartment—once a place of comfort—had now become his prison. The air felt thick with frustration, and the ticking of the clock on the wall seemed to mock him.
His thoughts turned to survival. The instant noodles in his pantry would only last so long. Water, at least, wasn't a concern, as he had ordered plenty before everything fell apart. But the real issue was food. The refrigerator had been out of power since yesterday. He couldn't even salvage the leftovers in it.
"Damn it…" Arjun muttered, staring at the empty refrigerator. If he didn't find a way out, he'd starve to death in this apartment. It was as simple as that.
But then, something unexpected happened.
A loud crash from outside—the sound of something heavy slamming against the window—brought Arjun to his feet. He rushed to the living room window and peered outside. His eyes widened as he saw the source of the noise: a massive bird-like creature, sprawled out on the ground below. Surrounding it were dozens of goblins, their grotesque forms feasting on the carcass of the fallen creature.
"What the hell?" Arjun muttered to himself, his heart racing. This was no longer a normal world.
And then, something strange appeared in his vision:
[Hunted Kellican (Lv. 23).]
He didn't know what a "Kellican" was, but as he looked down at the goblins and the massive bird, he felt a strange sensation. It was as though the very air around him had changed. He could sense something—power, perhaps—awakening within him. Before he could process it, another notification appeared:
[Acquired a large amount of experience points.] [Skill level has increased.] [Skill level has increased.]
His heart skipped a beat. This wasn't a dream. He wasn't imagining it. He had just gained experience from the death of that creature. And in return, his abilities had grown.
But that wasn't all. The notifications kept coming:
[Loot settlement completed.] [Funds of ₹2,203,241 have been deposited into the Bound Dweller's wallet.]
"Two million rupees?!" Arjun gasped, staring at the sudden windfall. What was happening? This power… it was more than just a passive ability. It was giving him resources—abilities he didn't understand.
As Arjun stood there, trying to comprehend what had just occurred, the apartment around him began to change. The lights flickered and then stabilized. The refrigerator hummed to life. The sink began to flow with water. Even the Wi-Fi had reconnected.
"I... I don't believe this." Arjun blinked in disbelief as he looked around. His apartment, which had been in disarray, was now functioning as if nothing had happened. The skills he had gained were somehow repairing the world within his walls.
And then, he saw it.
His [Bound Dweller's Declaration] had leveled up, and with it, a new skill appeared:
[Dignity Maintenance of the Bound Dweller (Lv. 1)]: Restores the functions of the dwelling space to preserve its dignity.
Arjun didn't know what to make of it, but he could sense that the world outside was shifting. Somehow, this strange power was going to change everything.
For the first time in three days, Arjun felt a spark of hope.
"Maybe I can make it," he whispered to himself. "Maybe I can survive this. But first... I need to get my family back."