Auren's breath hitched as the monstrous creature lunged forward, its grotesque, scale-covered arm swinging toward his throat. Its eyes blazed like molten lava, and its teeth were jagged like broken glass. Auren couldn't move—his body was paralyzed with fear. The beast's claws closed in on his neck, and just as its talons grazed his skin—
Knock. Knock.
"Auren! Auren!"
His eyes snapped open. Chest heaving, sweat clinging to his brow, he sat up abruptly in bed. His hand shot to his neck, still feeling the phantom touch of the creature. "Just a dream," he whispered to himself, though the terror still clung to his spine like a shadow.
Then he heard it again.
"Auren! Bro, you home?"
He scrambled to the small window of his modest two-floor house. Below, he saw his two best friends waving up at him from the gate. Relief washed over him like a calming tide.
He headed downstairs and opened the door. The boys burst in, laughing.
"You live here all alone in this quiet place?" one of them joked, glancing at the small but cozy living room.
"Yeah," Auren replied, smiling faintly, "Just me."
"Lucky guy," his other friend muttered. "Freedom."
Auren chuckled, then excused himself to the washroom. But instead of turning left, he turned right—toward the hidden room. He entered quickly and shut the secret door behind him.
With a flash of light, he stepped through the Neo World portal.
As his feet touched the ground, a glowing blue dashboard popped up in front of him.
LEVEL INCREASED: 300
Auren's eyes widened with excitement. "Yes!" he whispered, balling his fists.
But his celebration was cut short. The wind shifted, and the air turned heavy. A Level 200 monster emerged from the forest, its body an amalgam of armored bark and twisting vines, eyes glowing crimson. It roared.
Auren leapt back just in time, dodging the beast's slam attack. Drawing out a sleek energy blade, he rushed forward, slicing through its side. The monster howled, vines lashing out, wrapping around Auren's leg.
He gritted his teeth and activated his new skill—Reflex Burst. Time slowed. He severed the vine and dodged three more attacks in rapid succession. With a final, spinning slash, he struck the beast's core. It collapsed, dissolving into glowing particles.
XP GAINED. CASHOUT AVAILABLE: 3.5 Lakh Cresin.
He immediately selected cash-out, then returned through the portal.
By the time he got ready and met his friends, they were already en route to Namsu University.
Classes were relatively calm—general theory, digital science. Auren paid attention but kept replaying the morning's fight in his head.
At lunch, they gathered at the bustling outdoor canteen. Students chatted, laughed, and traded stories.
But Auren's attention shifted to a group of guys cornering someone near the vending machines.
"Isn't that Reo?" Auren asked.
His friend nodded grimly. "Yeah. That gang's been shaking people down for cash. If someone refuses, they beat them. Reo borrowed money from them recently—had to buy that smart-chip medication pack for his sister. Expensive stuff."
Auren's jaw tightened.
As he watched, the gang's leader raised a fist toward Reo.
Before it could strike, Auren appeared, gripping the leader's wrist mid-air.
"Don't touch him."
The gang leader sneered. "Who the hell are you, pretty boy?"
"I am the riddle that ends civilization… the whisper that awakens gods."
The leader's expression faltered. "The hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Wanna find out?" Auren's voice was ice.
The leader jerked his arm to break free—but failed. Auren tightened his grip.
Two gang members rushed forward. One swung a chain—Auren ducked and struck his gut with a jab so fast it was barely visible. The second tried to grab him from behind—Auren stomped his foot, flipped him over, and pinned him.
"Get him!" the leader shouted.
Three more charged. Auren twisted through them like a shadow. He grabbed one's hoodie, spun him, and slammed him into a table. Another grabbed a chair—Auren kicked the legs from under him.
It became a blur—punches, slams, dodges. Auren's body moved like a practiced warrior, completely in tune with his instincts.
In less than a minute, six gang members were sprawled across the floor.
Auren looked at the leader. "You're next."
The leader backed up, trembling. "I—I didn't mean—"
"Touch my friends again, and you won't even see it coming."
The gang scrambled and fled.
Reo clutched his bruised shoulder. "Thanks, man."
Auren nodded, then returned to finish his lunch.
Classes resumed, and after the final lecture, the trio headed to the city fair.
The streets of Hanzora shimmered with lights, music, and the aroma of street food. While strolling, they encountered someone unexpected.
"Well, well... look who it is."
It was the beggar from Auren's first day.
He wore layers of tattered clothes, but his posture was upright and confident. His long gray hair tied back, eyes gleaming like he knew far more than he let on.
"Didn't expect to see you again so soon," he said in fluent, polished English.
Auren's friends blinked. "You know him?"
"He helped me find my house," Auren replied.
One friend whispered, "This guy… he's a legend. They say he can find anyone in Hanzora."
Auren's mind raced. He stepped forward. "Can you find someone for me?"
"Depends who," the beggar replied with a sly grin.
Auren described the old man who had warned him about the portals.
The beggar nodded slowly. "That'll cost you sixty thousand Cresin."
"Deal," Auren said without hesitation.
His friends stared. "You serious? That much?"
"I'll handle it."
They moved on toward the fairground. Lights danced across the night sky, rides spun, laughter echoed.
Among the crowd, Auren spotted a familiar figure.
"Yuna?"
She turned, smiled brightly, and ran toward him.
"Auren! You came!"
They hugged. Her eyes sparkled under the lights.
Before they could say more—
BANG!
A gunshot rang out.
Yuna's driver dropped to the ground, blood pooling beneath him. Screams erupted.
Chaos.
A masked terrorist gang stepped from the shadows, weapons drawn. Their movements were strategic, sharp, and practiced. This wasn't a random attack—it was precision.
One of them stormed up to Yuna and jammed a gun against her head.
"Stay right where you are!" the masked leader snarled.
Everyone froze.
Auren's heart pounded. His hands clenched into fists.
His instincts screamed.
He could feel something stir inside him… a pressure in his blood, a rising tide.
But he didn't move. Not yet.
The shadows around the fair grew darker. And among them—another presence watched.
Silent. Invisible.
Waiting.
To be continued.....