Ren slowly exhaled.
"So it really started…"
Outside the convenience store, screams still echoed through the streets. People ran in every direction while blue status windows floated before their eyes.
Some stared at them in confusion.
Others panicked.
Most had no idea what was happening.
Ren did.
Because he had already lived through this nightmare once.
He looked down at the glowing screen floating in front of him.
Name: Ren Kaizen
Level: 1
Class: None
Unique Ability: Infinite Level Up System
Ren's heartbeat quickened.
In his previous life, he had awakened his system years later. By then it was already too late. He had fallen far behind the other players.
But now…
He had it from the very beginning.
"That means I can change everything."
Another message suddenly appeared.
[First Quest Generated]
Objective: Kill 1 Monster
Reward: 100 EXP
Bonus Reward: System Function Unlock
Ren's eyes narrowed.
"So it begins already."
He remembered this moment clearly.
The first dungeon that appeared in the city was inside the subway station two streets away.
At that time, nobody understood what dungeons were.
People walked inside out of curiosity.
Most of them never came out.
Ren clenched his fists.
"This time… I won't be one of the victims."
He stepped outside the convenience store.
The sky had turned dark gray, even though it was still noon.
Cracks had begun appearing across the roads.
From some of them, strange creatures crawled out.
A monster screeched somewhere in the distance.
People screamed and ran past him.
"Run!"
"There's a monster near the station!"
Ren's eyes sharpened.
"Perfect."
He began walking toward the subway entrance.
Not running.
Walking.
Like someone heading toward something inevitable.
The closer he got, the louder the chaos became.
Police sirens blared.
People pushed each other trying to escape the station.
And above the subway entrance, a massive blue window floated in the air.
Dungeon Gate Detected
Difficulty: F Rank
Ren stopped.
In his previous life, this dungeon had killed over forty people before anyone managed to clear it.
But Ren also remembered something important.
Inside the dungeon…
There was a hidden boss room.
And that boss dropped an item that changed someone's fate forever.
Ren's lips slowly curved into a cold smile.
"This time… it will be mine."
He stepped toward the entrance.
A man grabbed his arm suddenly.
"Are you crazy?!" the man shouted. "People are dying in there!"
Ren calmly removed the man's hand.
"I know."
Then he continued walking.
The moment he crossed the dungeon gate—
The world around him changed.
The noise of the city disappeared instantly.
Darkness surrounded him.
Cold air brushed against his skin.
The smell of damp stone filled his nose.
Ren slowly opened his eyes.
He was standing inside a long underground tunnel.
Broken subway tracks stretched into the darkness.
And something was moving there.
A pair of glowing red eyes appeared.
Then another.
And another.
Low growls echoed through the tunnel.
Ren stared into the darkness.
Dozens of creatures slowly crawled out.
Their bodies were twisted.
Their claws scraped across the ground.
[Monster Detected]
Cave Crawlers – Level 2
Ren cracked his neck slightly.
"Level 2…"
In his previous life, monsters like these had terrified him.
But now…
His eyes burned with determination.
"This time," he whispered,
"I'm the hunter."
The creatures suddenly lunged toward him.
And the system voice echoed again.
[Battle Initiated]