The journey to the small police station felt like an eternity. The world around Mon was unrecognizable, and every corner he turned, he saw the aftermath of chaos. Streets littered with debris, abandoned cars, shattered windows, and distant cries for help. But Mon's focus was clear: get the girl to safety.
She walked beside him, her hand in his, her small form trembling. Mon could tell she wasn't speaking because she was afraid, but her silence was an expression of the trauma she'd already gone through. The world had become a nightmare, and her childhood had been stolen from her in an instant.
"Are you okay?" Mon asked softly, glancing down at her.
She nodded but didn't meet his eyes. Her gaze was lost in the distance, probably searching for a trace of her parents among the wreckage of the city. Mon didn't press her. The last thing she needed right now was more questions.
After a while, the pair reached the small police station. It was one of the few places in the city that still seemed to have some order. The station had been hastily barricaded, with makeshift barriers erected at every entrance. A few officers stood guard, their faces tired and grim. Some were still in uniform, but most were in plain clothes, clearly off-duty but staying to help in any way they could.
Mon approached one of the officers, a middle-aged man who looked as if he hadn't slept in days.
"Excuse me," Mon began, "I have a girl here. She's lost her parents, and I think this might be the safest place for her."
The officer eyed him warily but nodded, taking a step back to allow them to enter. Inside, the atmosphere was tense. Some survivors sat in corners, their faces blank, while others spoke in hushed tones. It was clear that everyone was on edge, unsure of what the next moment would bring.
Mon explained the situation to the officer, who quickly called over a few other officers to help. They took the girl into their care, promising to keep her safe and search for her family. Mon watched them lead her away, feeling a mix of relief and guilt. He didn't know if he would ever find her parents, but for now, at least she was off the streets.
As Mon walked out of the station, the weight of the past few hours began to settle on him. His mind, which had been running on adrenaline, suddenly felt heavy with the burden of everything he had witnessed. The roar of monsters, the chaos in the streets, the terror in the girl's eyes—it all replayed in his head.
What the hell is going on?
The question kept echoing in his mind. He had barely begun to process the existence of the Dimensional Gate and the monsters that had appeared. And yet, already, his world had changed.
Mon leaned against a nearby streetlamp, staring out at the desolate horizon. He hadn't asked for any of this. He wasn't prepared for a monster outbreak, and he certainly wasn't prepared for the power that had suddenly been thrust upon him. Dimensional Gate. He could store items. He could trap enemies. But why him? Why had he been chosen for this strange skill? Was there more to it than just survival?
---
It wasn't long before Mon turned back, heading toward his home. His apartment, a small unit in an old building, felt like a sanctuary amid the destruction outside. He hadn't been there in days, lost in the turmoil of the streets. It had been a long time since he'd had a moment to think—about what had happened, what was happening, and what he was supposed to do next.
As he entered his apartment, the door creaked, and Mon stepped inside. The apartment was modest, filled with things he had accumulated over the years: books, old electronics, random trinkets. The kind of clutter that once represented a life full of potential.
He hadn't even bothered to unpack after his last move. Instead, he had lived in a kind of perpetual limbo—living day by day, unsure of what came next. But now, as he sat down on the couch, he realized how much had changed in such a short time.
The old Mon—the jobless, aimless man—was gone. In his place was someone who had been forced into a world of chaos, where survival wasn't guaranteed and every decision could mean life or death.
He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, trying to steady his breathing. This wasn't just a random event. The gates, the monsters, the skills—it had all been set into motion by something greater than he could understand.
"I need to be stronger," Mon muttered to himself, staring down at his hands. His fingers were still trembling from the encounter with the boss monster. He knew he couldn't keep relying on his Dimensional Gate forever. It was a useful skill, but it wasn't enough to survive in this new world.
"I need training."
Mon closed his eyes, recalling the message from the system about leveling up. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that the world had changed permanently. People were evolving. Skills were evolving. But only those who adapted, who took the opportunity to grow, would survive.
He needed to level up, to figure out how to use his power. And more importantly, he needed to figure out how to fight back. Because no matter what, he couldn't afford to stay passive. There were monsters out there, and they wouldn't wait for him to catch up.
---
The sound of a distant explosion shook him out of his thoughts. Mon stood up, looking out the window at the distant skyline. It was chaos out there, and he knew he couldn't afford to wait too long.
The world had changed. And Mon had to change with it.