The sudden appearance of the blue window felt like a massive omen to the young Sayoon. Outside, people were screaming as monsters emerged without warning, and the chaos reached even Sayoon's home, close to the gate explosion zone.
The creatures shattered windows, indiscriminately slaughtering and devouring anyone in sight. Their grotesque teeth tore through flesh, and Sayoon's family was no exception.
Amid the panic, his parents shoved him into a closet. "Stay still. No matter what, don't make a sound." Their last act was turning their backs to him as the glass shattered, trying and failing to fight off the monsters.
Sayoon squeezed his eyes shut. The only thing he could discern was the sound of something being eaten.
Terrified, his palms slick with sweat, he obeyed. He didn't cry. Didn't move. Endured the cramped darkness for hours until silence finally fell.
When he finally dared to peek out, the floor was drenched in blood.
His parents were gone. Only splatters of red remained, evidence of a desperate struggle.
Everything had happened too fast.
The monsters. His parents' deaths.
It was so abrupt that it didn't feel real. He just stared, numb, at the crimson stains.
Then the system window appeared.
'What… is this?'
At first, he thought he was hallucinating. He rubbed his eyes, waved his hand to dismiss the blue screen. But it remained, stubbornly seared into his vision. Worse, whenever he tried ignoring it, it dinged obnoxiously, as if reading his mind and demanding acknowledgment.
Confusion twisted into fear.
How could he not be afraid? A game-like window floating before him, calling him "Humanity's Evil," urging destruction?
He wondered if he'd lost his mind.
Clamping his eyes shut, he curled up, hands over his ears, trying to block it all out.
He didn't want to see. Didn't want to hear.
The knock came the next morning, after a night spent muttering "hallucination" like a mantra.
At first, he thought it was the monsters. But then a familiar voice called outthe neighbor from next door.
Trembling, Sayoon forced himself up, legs weak from hours of crouching. He stumbled to the door and opened it.
The man looked haggard, like he'd been through his own battle. Though they weren't close, the sight of a familiar face made Sa-yoon's eyes burn.
The neighbor hesitated before asking about his parents.
Sayoon couldn't answer. He just shook, tears spilling over.
The man's expression darkened. Then, cautiously, he stepped inside and froze at the carnage.
Shattered glass. Bloodstains. Deep claw marks.
Without a word, he pulled Sayoon into a hug, covering his eyes even though he'd already seen everything.
After a moment, he offered his hand.
"There's a shelter nearby. Come with me."
Sayoon, young and alone, had no reason to refuse.
As they left, he kept glancing at the blue window hovering beside him. He decided to ignore it.
Whatever was happening the gates, the monsters, this system, he didn't want to face it.
But the problem arose the moment they reached the shelter.
Ding!
< The True Evil of Humanity is not swayed by sentiment. Eliminate your closest ally. (b ᵔ▽ᵔ)b>
[First Test – The First Step to Becoming True Evil]
'Kill the man who showed you kindness. Prove your villainy.'
Reward: 100 Karma
Sayoon stiffened.
…Huh?
Until now, the system had only declared him "Humanity's Evil." This was the first time it had given him a direct order. And an unthinkable one.
The neighbor urged him forward, oblivious to the window still trailing Sayoon like a cursed tag.
Inside, the shelter was packed with survivors.
Sayoon asked around, desperate did anyone else see this? Hear the dings?
No one did.
Maybe he was insane.
But then, news spread.
Interviews with Awakened Ones, people who had received blue windows.
With shaky hands, Sayoon played one of the recovered broadcasts.
An injured man spoke urgently, battle raging behind him:
"If you see a blue window that says, 'You have been selected as Humanity's Hope. Stand against destruction and save the world,' follow its instructions. It will give you the power to fight the monsters."
Sayoon's breath caught.
That phrase… it was almost identical to his.
Only a few words differed.
< You have been selected as Humanity's Evil! Oppose the saviors and lead Planet 9180, "Earth," to destruction. (b ᵔ▽ᵔ)b>
This wasn't insanity.
It was real.
The realization was staggering, but it changed nothing.
The Awakened were told to grow stronger and fight monsters. But Sayoon? His system wanted him to kill the kind man who had brought him here.
He couldn't.
The neighbor had no obligation to him, yet he'd protected him, even now shielding him from the shelter's growing unrest.
As supplies dwindled, people grew violent. Fights broke out. The neighbor, worried Sayoon would be influenced, kept him separated, often venturing outside with soldiers to scavenge food.
"No matter what,"
he told Sa-yoon…
"never lose your humanity."
His kindness was a lifeline.
For a week, Sayoon ignored the system.
Then
Ding!
< The True Evil of Humanity is not swayed by sentiment. Eliminate your closest ally. (b ᵔ▽ᵔ)b>
[First Test – The First Step to Becoming True Evil]
'Kill the man who showed you kindness. Prove your villainy.'
Reward: 100 Karma
Failure: Enforcement
Time until enforcement: 24:00:00
The window had changed.
Now, it had a timer.
And the word enforcement.