The quiet town they once knew was now a shadow of its former self. Once vibrant streets lined with friendly faces were now empty, replaced by a palpable sense of fear. The sky was tinged with a strange, dark hue, as if something ominous had seeped into the air. It was supposed to be just another ordinary day, but something had changed—and neither Jack nor Clara could shake the unease that hung heavily around them.
They had walked this route countless times before—through familiar alleyways, past shops that had been closed down years ago. But today, something felt different. The world seemed to pulse with an underlying, unnatural energy—one that both terrified and confused them.
Clara glanced at Jack, her brow furrowed as they turned a corner. The streets had fallen silent, the usual hum of life absent. The familiar sounds of birds chirping had been replaced by a heavy, oppressive quiet.
"What's happening?" Clara murmured, gripping Jack's hand tighter.
"I don't know," Jack replied, his voice equally strained. His fingers tightened around his makeshift blade, one of the few items they had salvaged during the chaos of the day. "But it doesn't feel natural."
Suddenly, a soft voice, mechanical and calm, echoed in both their minds—faint, but unmistakable.
"Welcome, Chosen Ones. You have awakened to the System. You have been granted a free Skill to aid you in your journey. Use it wisely."
Clara and Jack stopped in their tracks, looking at each other in disbelief. "Did you hear that?" Clara whispered.
Jack nodded, his grip on his weapon loosening slightly. "What's going on? A system? What does it mean?"
Before they could process it further, another voice—this one harsher, more urgent—spoke in both of their minds.
"You have received your first Skill. Choose it wisely, for it may be the key to your survival."
Clara blinked, staring at the strange prompt that had appeared before her. It shimmered faintly in front of her, glowing with a soft light. A simple choice—yet crucial.
[Choose Your First Skill]
Summon Spirit Wolf – Call forth a spectral creature to aid you in combat.Empower Ally – Temporarily boost the strength and abilities of an ally.Barrier of Light – Create a defensive barrier to protect yourself from attacks.
Without hesitation, Clara chose Summon Spirit Wolf. A surge of energy coursed through her, and suddenly, a shimmering, ethereal creature appeared beside her—a silver wolf, glowing softly. It growled low, eyes fierce and protective.
"Did you see that?" Clara whispered, staring in amazement.
Jack, still trying to comprehend, looked at his own vision. Another prompt appeared before him—simple yet filled with potential.
[Choose Your First Skill]
Fireball – Hurl a fireball to deal damage to a single enemy.Flame Shield – Envelop yourself in flames to protect from attacks.Ignite Weapon – Temporarily imbue your weapon with fire to increase its damage.
Jack's brow furrowed. He didn't hesitate—he had a clear instinct about what he needed. He selected Fireball. A burst of fiery energy ignited in his hand, and a ball of flames appeared, glowing intensely.
"What... what is this?" Jack asked, staring at the burning orb. "Did I just make this?"
Clara was still trying to comprehend what had happened to her, but now, as they both glanced around, reality began to set in. The beasts were already appearing—shadowy figures, crawling from dark corners and the surrounding trees. Their glowing red eyes shone menacingly in the fading light.
"They're here," Clara whispered, her voice trembling. "They're coming."
Jack gritted his teeth, his fiery orb still glowing. "We have to fight. Whatever this system gave us—this power—it's our only chance."
But before they could react, another voice—this one urgent—spoke in their minds once again.
"The System has chosen others like you. You must find them and form a group. Together, you stand a better chance of survival."
Clara and Jack exchanged a glance, their minds racing. They had seen others in town before—neighbors, friends. Were they part of this too? The system had chosen them… and now it was guiding them toward something greater.
"Others?" Jack muttered. "We're not alone in this?"
Clara nodded. "We need to find our friends. They must have been chosen too—there must be more people out there with powers."
Their gaze shifted to the nearby road—dimly lit by flickering streetlights. Shadows were closing in, and the creatures were getting bolder, drawing closer.
"We don't have time," Clara said, urgency thick in her voice. "We need to stick together. They'll overwhelm us alone."
Without another word, they set off toward the outskirts of town, moving quickly. As they ran, Clara could feel the presence of her summon beside her—its protective energy steadying her as they pushed forward. Jack's fiery orbs left faint trails of smoke behind him as he burned away any shadow that got too close.
The streets were quiet now—eerily so. They couldn't trust the silence. Something was coming—something far worse than they had ever faced before.
"Jack," Clara called out, panting as they reached a familiar neighborhood—a place where they had spent countless days with their close friends. "We need to check if they're safe."
Jack nodded. "Agreed. If they've been chosen too, we'll need them. Together, we stand a better chance."
They moved swiftly, heading toward their friend's house. Time was slipping away, and the creatures were closing in fast. The system had chosen them—but survival now meant finding others and forming a group. Only together would they have the strength to face what was coming.
As the first beasts appeared again—twisted shadows rising from the ground—they fought back, their new powers clashing against the darkness. But deep down, they both knew this was only the beginning. The true battle was far from over.
And as the system guided them forward, they could only hope it wasn't leading them into something far more dangerous