Hmm… As I stood there, I found myself lost in thought. The question swirling in my mind was simple yet heavy:
What should I do now?
Or more precisely—will I become a monster who finds pleasure in killing others?
Just minutes ago, a few more people tried to kill me. Sigh. I let out another breath, tired of it all.
Coins: 6,000
For now, I'll save them. No point wasting resources without a clear plan.
That's when I realized—I'm standing in the ruins of what used to be my apartment building. A problem. No... a huge problem. The entire area was in shambles. Broken walls, shattered glass, scorched earth. Chaos.
Another sigh escapes my mouth.
"When will this end?"
But I shook my head. Focus, Alex. Stop thinking negatively.
Right now, my home is gone—along with half the neighborhood. The devastation is too large to be random. Could it have been a powerful monster? Or… a dragon?
Right—this world is called Aeon.
It's divided into five massive continents, each connected by gigantic bridges. Surprisingly, this world is more technologically advanced than my previous life. How advanced?
There are devices that control the weather, and weapons like the Water Gun and Water Sword—yes, actual weapons made from water, somehow shaped and solidified. Oh, and let's not forget the robots roaming around, too.
Yeah… definitely more advanced.
But now what? I need time. I need peace.
I have to reflect.
I whispered, "Status."
Ding!
Name: Alex Dawn
Age: 21
Coins: 6,000
Updated Stats:
Strength: 15
Speed: 30
Stamina: 32
Perception: 20
Vitality: 20
Items:
Good Sword
A finely-forged blade that strikes a balance between power and speed. Slightly enchanted to enhance agility and precision. A solid choice for those with refined technique.
Attack Power: +35
Durability: 200/200
Attack Speed: Fast
Crit Chance: 10%
Special Effect: +5% Agility while equipped
Bloodweave Coat
A long, dark crimson coat woven from enchanted fibers soaked in monster and human blood. Created by a forgotten warlock who believed blood was the key to power. It pulses faintly—almost alive—and grows stronger the more blood it absorbs.
Durability: 250/250
Base Stat Boosts:
+5 Vitality
+10% Movement Speed
+15% Slashing Resistance
+25% Fear Intimidation Aura when bloodied
Passive: Regenerates 1% HP/sec when near or in blood
Special Effects:
Blood Memory: After 10 kills, activate Blood Surge
+20% Strength
+20% Speed
Duration: 60 seconds
Cooldown: 10 minutes
Intimidating Presence: Enemies with lower stats may hesitate or flee before attacking
With a deep breath, I scanned the area. Destruction stretched in every direction. I needed shelter—somewhere quiet to clear my mind.
I headed into a nearby house. My home was gone, after all. Pushing open the door, I let myself in.
It was quiet… but not for long.
As soon as I stepped inside, the stench of blood hit me hard, flooding my nose. It was suffocating. I almost gagged.
Strange, I thought. I was just knee-deep in corpses earlier... and yet, this scent disturbed me.
Am I… a hypocrite?
I shook the thought away and moved deeper into the house.
Then I saw it.
A gruesome scene lay before my eyes. Three corpses.
By their positioning... were they a family?
But what chilled me most wasn't the blood or bodies. It was the truth—
They weren't killed by a monster.
A human did this.
The wounds were messy. Prolonged.
They suffered.
"Heh… how cruel."
My gaze shifted to a cracked clock on the wall.
11:00 AM.
I still have about two hours before the next descent—a mutant.
I should prepare.
I noticed there was a backyard behind the house. Curious—and needing a break—I headed out to cool my head.
Stepping outside, I took a moment to look around.
This place... it's actually kind of peaceful.
I walked a little farther, then sat down on the ground. I didn't care if the soil got me dirty. Right now, I just needed a moment.
Sitting there, I thought to myself:
Ever since I arrived in this world… maybe I still haven't fully accepted it?
No.
It's not that I refuse to accept it—
It's just that I haven't adjusted yet.
But the truth is simple:
If I didn't have this strength, I would've died countless times already.
This isn't my fault.
There's nothing wrong with me.
This is a natural reaction—anyone in my place would've done the same.
I was just lucky to have some knowledge ahead of time. That allowed me to act first.
And now, I'm here.
This is my reality. This world, Aeon, is where I live now.
And here?
Staying weak is a sin.
I should stop thinking like a victim.
Enough of that.
What I need now is a strong mind. A focused will.
This… is only the beginning.
I inhaled deeply, then exhaled slowly.
My eyes lifted to the sky, taking in the scenery.
For a moment, despite everything, I felt peace.
It was fleeting—just a glimpse of calm in the storm—but it was real.
Refreshing. Soothing.
Yeah… I need to take time like this again someday.
Just to breathe.
Just to be.
Having made up my mind and finished my self-reflection, it was time to get serious.
I stepped out of the ruined house and strolled around the neighborhood. Occasionally, I encountered goblins—nothing too threatening for me—and they helped boost my coin total.
Coins: 10,000
I'd earned exactly 4,000 coins from that brief encounter. Not bad.
Since it was still the first day, I also occasionally spotted other people hunting monsters. Thankfully, they didn't seem to have any sinister intentions. That's a relief.
Most people right now were hiding wherever they could. Monsters were roaming everywhere—chaos ruled the streets. I couldn't possibly clear all of them out myself, but luckily, there were a few brave individuals who adapted quickly.
Those types... they'll become strong in the future.
As I continued walking, a loud voice suddenly called out, stopping me in my tracks. It sounded oddly familiar.
"Hey! Stop right there!!"
"This isn't funny at all!!"
I looked around, following the source of the voice—and there they were.
In the alleyway, about ten men holding clubs were surrounding three people.
Tch... thugs.
They looked like members of a local gang. Right, this world had those too. The gangs usually handled the dirty work the government couldn't do in public. The system was corrupt—driven by influence, benefits, and politics.
Disgusting.
The ones being surrounded consisted of one woman and two men. The older man had a strangely familiar face, and the younger man—likely in his mid-twenties—had a muscular frame and a sharp, handsome face. The woman?
Well... she was stunning. Beautiful, with large assets that made me momentarily lose focus.
Tch. What am I even thinking right now?
All three of them were armed with swords.
Smart. Looks like they've figured out how to use the system right away.
The older man spoke with urgency:
"Jack, protect your sister no matter what happens."
The younger man, Jack, replied confidently:
"Don't worry, Dad. I'm strong now. I'll protect both of you."
They all took a fighting stance—prepared to go down swinging.
Then, one of the thugs chuckled and said:
"Hahaha! City Lord Mark Drake! Maybe if we kill you, we'll get your title and your reward coins!"
Another added with a wicked grin:
"Yeah, but before that... let's have some fun with your daughter."
At that, the girl trembled in fear, her whole body shaking.
The older man—Mark—roared in anger:
"You bastards!! You'll pay for this!!"
Wait—Mark Drake...?
That name… Drake.
Drake… that's why he looked familiar!
Damn.
I just stumbled into one of the protagonist's future harem members.
And it's only the first day...
What kind of luck is this?!
Then it hit me—Alicia Drake, the girl trembling right now, becomes one of the most powerful individuals in the future. Her talent in swordsmanship, especially with a rapier, was unmatched. And right now, she and her family were on the verge of death.
If I remember correctly, Alicia's father was killed here while trying to protect them during their escape.
And her brother—Jack—dies later due to betrayal from one of the protagonist's teammates. Neither Alicia nor the protagonist ever knew what really happened to him.
What a waste. Such raw talent…
Maybe this is fate. Maybe this is my opportunity.
If I save them, I might earn their loyalty... and start building my own faction.
I don't have any subordinates yet—and these three could be perfect.
Their blue hair confirms it.
Mark Drake—the city lord.
Jack Drake—the brother, a potential swordmaster.
And Alicia Drake—the future rapier queen.
Mark was no ordinary man. He was a genius in both politics and martial arts. Now it makes sense why Alicia and Jack turned out so strong.
Looking at the thugs again, I assumed they used underhanded tactics to win. It was still the first day, so Mark might have assumed they'd back off after a show of force. That was a deadly mistake.
This is the apocalypse now. Trust must be earned. Not given.
From behind a collapsed building, I observed quietly. They hadn't noticed me yet.
I stepped forward.
Time to make my entrance.
I needed to sound cold, calm, and confident. First impressions matter.
"Hey—need help?"
At that moment, everyone turned to me—thugs and family alike.