The classroom was silent, except for the monotonous drone of the teacher's voice. The clock read 2:32 PM, and Renji Kurogane stared out the window, utterly bored.
"My life is just one endless routine..."
Everything was predictable. The same classes, the same annoying classmates, and the same ridiculous expectations for the future. Life had become an endless loop.
Until everything changed.
A bright blue light exploded in the middle of the room.
"AHHHH!"
"What the hell is going on?!"
The floor vanished beneath everyone's feet. Renji felt himself being pulled into a seemingly endless void. Panic swept through the students as they tumbled into the unknown.
[Welcome to the Great Labyrinth of Nyx.]
[Survive. Evolve. Or perish.]
Those words echoed in his mind before everything went black.
When Renji opened his eyes again, he was no longer in the classroom. Around him stretched a vast hall of black stone, illuminated by blue crystals embedded in the walls.
Behind him, dozens of students lay unconscious on the floor. But what really caught his attention was the holographic screen floating before his eyes.
[Evolution System Activated!]
[Calculating initial status...]
A chill ran down his spine.
"System? Like in a game?"
Before he could make sense of it, the screen flashed again:
[Unique Skill Unlocked: "Hidden Player"]
Renji frowned. The name... it didn't seem normal.
Other students began to wake up, their voices filled with confusion and panic.
"What the hell is this?!"
"Is this a dream? It can't be real!"
Renji scanned the room, searching for answers. Suddenly, a massive stone gate in the center of the hall rumbled open with a deafening roar. On the other side, a horde of goblins emerged, their eyes burning with murderous intent.
The fight for survival had begun. Renji felt adrenaline course through him, and a grin spread across his face.
"Alright, if this is a game... then this must be the tutorial."
"What... what the hell are those!?" Haruto Minami, one of Renji's classmates, stuttered as he struggled to get to his feet.
"I... I don't know, but we have to do something!" Yui Aoyama, Renji's childhood friend, frantically looked around for a way out.
Before anyone could act, the first goblin charged forward, brandishing a rusty dagger. It snarled, a guttural sound that echoed off the stone walls.
Renji's instincts kicked in, as if something deep within him had awakened.
[System Activated: "Hidden Player" skill available.]
The screen flickered again, and Renji didn't hesitate. He pulled an energy blade from the holographic interface, as if the system itself had crafted a weapon for him.
The goblin lunged at him, but Renji sidestepped the attack with ease. The creature swung again, but its strike met only air.
"It's up to me, then," Renji muttered.
The goblin, furious at missing, turned on Renji, but he was already mid-air, leaping behind the creature. With a swift slash, the energy blade sliced through the goblin's body as if it were paper. The creature's head hit the ground with a sickening thud, leaving a trail of black blood.
"That... that was real..." Haruto mumbled, staring wide-eyed at the dead goblin. "What the hell did you just do?!"
Renji took a deep breath, the system screen still hovering in his vision. With every move, the system seemed to adjust, like a game learning his playstyle.
[You defeated a Level 1 Goblin. +50 XP.]
He didn't fully understand what it meant, but one thing was clear: he was stronger. A strange, exhilarating power surged through him.
"Renji!" Yui shouted. "Are you okay?!"
He turned to Yui, who was shielding a group of students with a glowing, golden aura—a magical barrier, perhaps. It seemed Renji wasn't the only one who had gained abilities, but there was no time to dwell on it. More goblins were pouring through the gate.
[System Activated: "Usurper of Glory" detected.]
A new power emerged within Renji. He could see it was just the first step in a branching skill tree.
"What is this…?" Before he could think too deeply, he saw a goblin rushing at Yui.
In a blur of motion, Renji activated his new ability, absorbing the goblin's strength and agility. In the blink of an eye, he was behind the creature, slicing it down with surgical precision.
[You defeated a Level 1 Goblin. +50 XP.]
"This... this is incredible," Renji whispered to himself. Every action felt smoother, more precise, and the system seemed to be amplifying his abilities.
"Renji, I don't get it..." Yui's voice trembled. "How are you doing this?!"
"I don't have all the answers yet, Yui. I'm as lost as you are!" The goblins were closing in, and he had a sinking feeling that they weren't the biggest threat here. "Please, keep protecting the others. I won't let those things get near you again."
Yui's face flushed, but she quickly nodded, focusing on reinforcing her barrier.
Renji leapt back into the fray, charging through the goblin ranks with growing confidence.
[You defeated a Level 1 Goblin. +50 XP.]
Every strike felt sharper. Every movement faster. It was as if he was stealing the goblins' very essence.
[You defeated a Level 2 Goblin. +100 XP.]
Renji picked up a tribal-looking dagger from one of the fallen goblins. Dual-wielding it with his energy blade, he doubled his killing speed.
[You defeated a Level 2 Goblin. +100 XP.]
[You defeated a Level 1 Goblin. +50 XP.]
[You defeated a Level 2 Goblin. +100 XP.]
In no time, the hall fell silent. The sounds of clashing blades and goblin snarls faded. The only sound left was Renji's heavy breathing, the man who had single-handedly slaughtered an entire horde.
"Renji... you... you're amazing!" Yui gasped, still in shock. "You killed all of them... by yourself!"
Renji surveyed the room, making sure there were no more threats. The other students were frozen in place, some trembling, others simply in disbelief, but all of them safe behind Yui's barrier.
Then a thunderous crash echoed from the far end of the hall. Renji turned, gripping his blades tightly.
From the darkness, a hulking figure emerged. It was clad in dark metal armor, and atop its head rested a crown of bones. A Goblin King. But what really caught Renji's attention were the creatures surrounding it—goblins wielding shimmering staffs, surrounded by a dark, crackling aura. Mages.
The pressure in the room grew unbearable. The battle he had just fought suddenly seemed like child's play compared to what stood before him.
[Boss Appearance: Goblin King (Level 10)]
[Eight Goblin Mages detected: (Level 5)]
Renji's mind screamed at him to run, but deep down, he knew this was a pivotal moment. The system's words echoed in his mind: "Evolve. Or perish."
Taking a deep breath, he prepared himself for the fight of his life.
[Warning: Boss fight initiated.]
[Calculating rewards based on level disparity...]
"Alright then... let's begin."