[Warning: System Active…] [The audience awaits the premiere!]
Kang Jin-woo fell to the ground. The bullet in his chest was the "period" the law had placed at the end of his life as a serial killer. But to the entities watching from behind the veil, it was merely the "starting whistle."
In that gray space between life and death, Jin-woo found no judge, no executioner—only an audience. Towering figures with erased faces and silent laughter circled him, their presence suffocating and alien.
"Kill him? No… this vessel is far too entertaining to die now."
"Grant him power… and let us see how he tears this dull world apart."
Suddenly, translucent screens flickered into existence before his weary eyes:
[Demon Entertainment Contract Accepted]
Current Status: Resurrection in progress.
Reward Unlocked: Skill – [Random Predator Instinct].
Note: The audience craves chaos; the more senseless the killing, the greater the rewards.
Alley Outside the Hospital – After Resurrection
Jin-woo didn't wait long. Once he stepped out of the hospital, his body refusing death, he could feel the demons' pulses in his mind.
[The audience demands blood!]
Ahead, a homeless man slept peacefully. No enemies. No reason. Jin-woo paused, tilted his head at an unnatural angle, and his eyes—stripped of any human warmth—sparkled with amusement.
There was no plan. Just a swift motion, a muffled scream… and silence returned.
[Target 'Random Victim' Eliminated!]
[Audience Thrilled! +100 XP]
[Skill Acquired: 'Phantom Trace']
Jin-woo walked away, calmly wiping the blood from his hands, as new screens blinked before him: calls for more victims… without reason, without remorse.
Crime Scene – One Hour Later
Police lights bathed the alley in red and blue. A tall, crumpled figure stepped out of the shadows, smelling of cheap tobacco and stale coffee.
Detective Lee Do-hyun.
He bent over the corpse, touched the blood lightly with his fingertip, and inhaled its "viscosity" with disturbing precision. His narrowed eyes scanned the alley with meticulous intent.
"Sir, seems like a random attack for money," one officer muttered.
Lee chuckled low and foully:
"Money? Look at the angle of the stab… the stillness of the scene. This is no panicked thief. This is someone who enjoys it. Someone who has returned to his old pastime… in a completely new style."
He straightened, eyes toward the dark sky, sensing the gaze of the demons lurking above.
Whatever pit you crawled out of, I will find you. The stench of your filth lingers in the air.
System Log – Chapter End
[Alert: 'Natural Enemy' Detected!]
[Detective Lee Do-hyun has begun tracking your trail.]
[The audience wagers on who will fall first!]