The rain outside wasn't just water falling from the sky; it was the literal definition of bad luck liquefied. Heavy, cold, and bone-chilling. The Jakarta sky tonight seemed to be vomiting, spewing all its frustration onto the cracked asphalt.Amidst the storm, a figure ran frantically, splashing through puddles in the Cosmo Mart parking lot. His fake sneakers were soaked, producing a pathetic squishing sound every time his feet hit the paving blocks.That was Elian. And he was five minutes late.*Ding-dong!*The automatic glass door slid open. A blast of overly cold air conditioning immediately slapped Elian's wet face. He stepped inside, shivering, water dripping heavily from the tip of his hoodie onto the freshly mopped white ceramic floor."Excellent. Absolutely excellent, Elian," a heavy, sarcastic voice greeted him from behind the cashier counter.Elian looked up, wiping the rain from his eyes. Standing there was Mr. Hendra, the store manager whose dedication to this convenience

The crunch of breaking bone sounded crisp amidst the roar of the rain, followed by a stifled scream from behind the iron door. Elian had just done something reckless: he released his grip on the mop handle, letting the door open slightly, then kicked the iron door panel shut with all his might.Bang!The pale fingers of the red-eyed creature, which had been clutching the edge of the door, were caught in the iron hinge. Three fingers severed instantly, rolling onto the warehouse floor like rotten sausages dropped from a grill. Black blood splattered, staining Elian's sneakers."Die, you bastard!" Elian cursed, his breath ragged.He quickly grabbed the large padlock hanging on the iron shelf next to the door and hooked it into the latch hole. Elian's hands were shaking violently; the key almost fell twice, but finally, a click sounded. The door was locked.From outside, an angry howl that did not originate from human vocal cords was heard. The iron door shook violently, slammed by a har

Elian stood in the doorway of Cosmo Mart, though it was no longer recognizable as a door. The aluminum frame was bent, the automatic glass was reduced to crystal shards on the floor, and the sound sensor—which usually emitted a friendly "Ding-dong"—now let out a screeching, buzzing "Kreeet-zzt" like a dying robot.The rain still poured down his back, but strangely, Elian felt warm. Not a comfortable warmth like a blanket, but a tingling heat, as if his blood had been replaced by an energy drink mixed with gunpowder.He stared at his palm. Thin smoke still curled up, smelling of ozone. In his retina, the transparent blue dialogue box still hovered, refusing to disappear even though he blinked repeatedly.[User Status]Name: ElianRace: Human (Awakened)Class: Intern Cashier (Tier 1)Level: 1 (10/100 XP)HP: 95/100Mana: 40/50Stamina: 70/100Elian snorted, a small, cynical laugh escaping him."Intern Cashier? Are you serious, System?" Elian muttered, speaking to the empty air. "I just

The analog clock above the cashier counter read two in the morning. Its loud ticking competed with the sound of raindrops seeping through tiny cracks in the store's leaky roof.On the tiled floor of Aisle Two, right in front of the snack shelf that Rico had half-looted, four people sat in a circle like campfire participants who had run out of wood. There was no campfire here, only the constant hum of the store's white fluorescent lights and a stack of instant noodle boxes forming a barrier between them and the hell outside."This bread tastes like a dish sponge," Rico complained, chewing a slice of white bread that had been flattened when Mr. Bambang accidentally stepped on it earlier. He stared at the bread sadly. "And the jam is gone. Just my luck, just my luck.""Be grateful, Rico. Out there, people are probably eating their friends," Elian replied coldly. He sat leaning against the beverage chiller, his eyes half-closed, but his ears fully alert. His trusty iron pipe lay across hi

The pungent smell of antiseptic immediately hit Elian's nose the moment he stepped past the shattered glass of the front door of the "Kimia Farma" pharmacy. Inside, the atmosphere was silent, a stark contrast to the chaos on the highway. The medicine shelves, usually neatly organized by ailment, were now a mess, as if struck by a whirlwind. Broken cough syrup bottles littered the floor, colorful pills scattered like spilled candy, and torn baby diaper boxes were everywhere."Damn, is this a pharmacy or a shipwreck?" Rico whispered, stepping over a collapsed glass display case. He was still wearing his ridiculous "Gossip Armor," but his face was alert. The wrench in his right hand was gripped tightly."Focus, Ric. We only look for the essentials," Elian instructed. He felt much more confident after leveling up. His body felt light, his hearing was sharper, and the flow of Mana in his chest felt warm and stable.Elian activated his system vision. Although he didn't have a specific skill