2026-08-03 13:19:38The warehouse fell into complete silence.
Arjun's grip tightened around the rifle. The masked man stood motionless at the entrance, his black sword resting casually on his shoulder. He didn't look like someone preparing for a fight. He looked like someone who had already won. "You've got five seconds," the masked man said calmly. "Hand over the relic." "One..." "Two..." Arjun didn't move. Instead, he quietly opened his status panel. Name: Arjun Mehta Level: 3 Talent: SSS – Absolute Adaptation Skill: Eagle Eyes (F) Survival Points: 1,500 Not enough. He was still far too weak. The masked man chuckled. "So you've chosen death." The next instant— He disappeared. Arjun's pupils shrank. "Too fast!" Instinct took over. He twisted his body just as a black blade sliced through the air. Slash! The rifle in his hands split into two pieces. Cold sweat rolled down Arjun's forehead. If he had reacted a fraction of a second later... His body would have been cut in half. The masked man smiled beneath his silver mask. "Interesting." "You can actually see my movements." Arjun didn't answer. Instead, he kicked a nearby steel shelf. Thousands of bullets, canned food, and metal boxes crashed to the floor. The warehouse erupted in chaos. Using the distraction, Arjun rushed toward the emergency exit. But the masked man was already there. "Too slow." His sword flashed again. Arjun blocked it with the steel combat dagger. Clang! The impact sent him sliding several meters across the concrete floor. His palms went numb. "So this is the difference..." The masked man wasn't just stronger. He was experienced. Every movement was precise. Every strike was aimed to kill. Arjun suddenly remembered something. In his previous life, survivors often spoke about a mysterious killer known as... The Black Reaper. No one had ever seen his face. No one who fought him survived. Could this be him? Before Arjun could think further— The masked man charged again. This time, Arjun didn't retreat. He activated Eagle Eyes. The world slowed. He could clearly see the sword approaching. Left shoulder. Neck. Heart. Three possible attacks. "So that's your pattern..." At the last second, Arjun stepped sideways. The blade missed him by barely an inch. Without hesitation, he drove his dagger toward the man's ribs. The masked man blocked it effortlessly. But for the first time... He looked surprised. "You learned my attack after seeing it twice?" Arjun smiled. "No." "You taught me." The masked man's eyes narrowed. "You're dangerous." He suddenly jumped backward. Then he pulled a small black cube from his pocket. The moment it touched the floor— Crack! The cube shattered. A strange purple light spread throughout the warehouse. The temperature dropped instantly. Even breathing became difficult. Arjun felt an invisible pressure crushing his body. Ding! Warning! A Dimensional Gate Fragment has been activated. Monsters will emerge in... 00:00:30 "What?" Arjun stared at the countdown. Thirty seconds. The masked man laughed. "I never planned to kill you." "I only needed someone to activate the gate." Realization hit Arjun like lightning. "The crystal..." "It wasn't the real objective." The masked man slowly walked backward toward the tunnel. "When the monsters arrive..." "Try to stay alive." "After all..." He looked directly into Arjun's eyes. "I'll need a worthy opponent." With those words, he disappeared into the darkness. The countdown continued. 10... 9... 8... The warehouse began to shake violently. Cracks spread across the floor. A low growl echoed from beneath the concrete. Arjun slowly tightened his grip on the dagger. "This..." "The apocalypse has started." The concrete exploded. A massive claw burst out from the ground. To Be Continued...
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Chapter 201: The Things We Cannot Decide
The rain had stopped, but water still dripped from the library roof.Nox arrived early the next morning. Mara was already inside, checking the repaired shelves and arranging a new stack of books near the entrance.“You're early,” she said.“I wanted to finish the labels before the children arrive.”“Then I have something else for you.”She placed a small cardboard box on the table.Nox opened it. Inside were several envelopes, a handful of photographs, and a folded sheet of paper covered in handwritten names.“Someone donated these yesterday,” Mara explained. “They belonged to an old community reading group. We don't know whether the people named here want their photographs displayed or their letters kept in the library.”Nox examined the box.“Should we return them?”“We don't know who donated them or how to contact the people involved. That's why we need to be careful.”He lifted one photograph. It showed a group of children sitting beneath a large tree. Their faces were bright with
Chapter 200: The Choice to Knock
Leena returned to the library three days later.This time, she carried a small photograph.Nox was arranging returned books when Mara called him over. Leena stood near the desk, holding the photograph by its edges.“I found this while looking through an old suitcase,” she said. “I thought you might want to see it.”Nox approached.The photograph showed two children standing beside a railway platform. The younger one held a blue cloth bag. The older child stood close, one hand resting on the younger one's shoulder.“Is that you?” Nox asked.Leena nodded.“And the boy?”“My brother Daniel.”Nox looked at the photograph again. The boy's face was slightly blurred, but the expression was unmistakably cheerful.“Do you remember when it was taken?”“Not the exact date. I think it was shortly before we were separated.”Mara brought a clean folder and placed the photograph inside a protective sleeve.“Would you like us to compare it with the photographs in our records?” she asked.Leena nodded
Chapter 199: The Visitor Who Remembered the Ending
The second copy of the traveler's book arrived on the library table the next morning.Nox was helping Mara compare the pages when a familiar voice came from the entrance.“You found another one?”The woman from the previous afternoon stood by the door. This time, she carried no bag. She looked at the two copies lying side by side.Mara welcomed her inside.“You said your brother used to read this story,” Nox said. “Do you remember his name?”The woman hesitated.“Daniel.”Nox looked at the book again.Mara noticed his expression. “Do you know someone named Daniel?”“Not exactly,” Nox answered. “We've heard the name while looking through some old records.”The woman pulled out a chair.“My brother's name was Daniel Vale. We lived in the northern district when we were children. After our mother died, things became difficult. I was sent to stay with relatives, and Daniel went somewhere else.”Nox remained quiet.“Was it an assistance center?” he asked.“I think so. I was too young to und
Chapter 198: The Day the Story Changed
The argument began over a missing page.Nox noticed it while arranging the books in Story Harbor. A thin picture book lay open on the table, its pages held together by an old piece of thread. The story followed a young traveler searching for a place where the stars could be seen clearly.But halfway through, the numbers jumped from twelve to fourteen.“Someone tore out page thirteen,” Nox said.Sami looked over his shoulder. “Maybe it was the best page.”“Why would someone remove the best page?”“Maybe they wanted to keep it.”The little girl who had been listening shook her head. “Maybe it got damaged.”Nox examined the binding. The thread around that section was loose, but there were no fresh tears. The missing page had been removed a long time ago.Mara joined them. “That book has been in the library for years. We don't know its original condition.”“Can we find another copy?” Nox asked.“We can check the catalogue.”They searched the records, but the title appeared only once. Ther
Chapter 197: A Place for the Unfinished
The library’s reading corner was busier than usual.Sami had returned with two friends, and the little girl who loved the first book was sitting beside them. They had gathered around the shelf marked **Story Harbor**, arguing quietly about which story Mara should read aloud.Nox stood nearby, holding a box of donated books.“Can we read one that doesn’t have an ending?” Sami asked.Mara raised an eyebrow. “Every story in this box has an ending.”“I mean one where the ending doesn’t explain everything.”“That’s a different request.”Nox set the box down. “Maybe we can find one.”They searched the shelves together. Some books ended with a journey completed. Others ended with a door opening, a letter arriving, or a character deciding to try again. The children rejected each one for a different reason.“Too sad,” said the little girl.“Too easy,” Sami said.“That one has a dragon,” his friend pointed out.“Dragons can have unfinished stories,” Nox replied.Eventually, Mara chose a short b
Chapter 196: The Book That Came Back
The book arrived at the library in a paper bag.Nox noticed it because Mara set it apart from the morning’s donations. The cover was worn, the spine had been repaired with clear tape, and a faded label on the inside read: **Story Harbor**.“Is it one of ours?” Nox asked.“I’m not sure,” Mara said. “Someone left it at the desk before opening. No note, no name.”Nox looked at the cover. It was a collection of short stories, the kind with small drawings at the start of each chapter. He opened it carefully.A folded sheet slipped from the pages and landed on the table.Mara reached for it, then paused. “You can read it if you want. It was left with the book.”Nox unfolded the paper.*I borrowed this when I was little. I never finished it. I don’t remember who gave it to me, only that someone read the first story aloud. I found it while clearing a box. I thought it belonged here.*There was no signature.Nox read the note twice. “Maybe someone used to come here.”“Maybe,” Mara said. “But w
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