100 Days Before the Apocalypse: My Survival System

Chapter 8: The Ring of the Void

The warehouse echoed with countless growls.

One pair of crimson eyes...

Became ten.

Then twenty.

Then more.

The darkness beneath the broken floor seemed alive.

Arjun slowly stepped back.

His breathing remained calm, but his mind was racing.

"This isn't a monster nest..."

"It's a Gate."

In his previous life, Gates had started appearing only after the first day of the apocalypse.

Yet one had opened three days early.

Something—or someone—was forcing the world into chaos.

A notification interrupted his thoughts.

**Ding!**

---

**Emergency Quest**

**Objective:** Survive the First Gate.

**Time Limit:** 30 Minutes

**Reward:** Rare Equipment

**Failure:** Death

---

Arjun looked at the black ring in his palm.

It was cold.

Almost unnaturally cold.

The ancient symbols carved into its surface suddenly began glowing with faint silver light.

**Ding!**

---

**Item Identified**

**Ring of the Void**

**Rank:** Unknown

**Status:** Sealed

**Effect 1:** Increases Inventory Capacity.

**Effect 2:** ???

**Effect 3:** Locked

**Warning:** Owner Binding Required.

---

"Unknown Rank?"

Even in his previous life, he'd never heard of equipment with an unknown rank.

Without hesitation, he slipped the ring onto his right hand.

The moment it touched his skin—

A sharp pain shot through his arm.

The ring tightened on its own.

A drop of blood disappeared into its surface.

The silver symbols flashed brilliantly.

**Owner Confirmed.**

Then...

Everything went silent.

Arjun suddenly felt something strange.

The surrounding mana...

He could sense it.

Tiny blue particles floated through the air like invisible dust.

"So this is what mana feels like..."

Before he could explore the sensation—

**ROAR!**

The first Shadow Wolf leaped out of the Gate.

Then another.

Then another.

Five monsters surrounded him from different directions.

Arjun exhaled slowly.

"Running isn't an option anymore."

He opened his status screen.

---

**Level:** 5

**Free Attribute Points:** 5

---

Without hesitation, he assigned them.

**Strength +2**

**Agility +2**

**Stamina +1**

A warm current flowed through his body.

His muscles tightened.

His vision sharpened.

The world seemed slightly slower.

"Better."

The wolves attacked together.

One from the front.

Two from the left.

Two from behind.

Arjun smiled faintly.

"In my last life..."

"I would've died here."

He charged forward instead of retreating.

The first wolf opened its jaws.

At the last instant—

Arjun slid beneath it.

His dagger sliced upward.

**Slash!**

The wolf collapsed before it even landed.

**+150 EXP**

The second beast lunged.

Arjun kicked a steel barrel.

It smashed directly into the monster's face.

**Bang!**

The wolf stumbled.

One clean stab ended it.

The remaining three hesitated.

They had expected prey.

Instead...

They had found a hunter.

Suddenly—

A low growl echoed from inside the Gate.

Every Shadow Wolf froze.

Then they lowered their heads.

As if welcoming their king.

Heavy footsteps approached.

Each one shook the ground.

A giant silhouette slowly emerged from the darkness.

Over four meters tall.

Its body was covered in dark crimson armor-like scales.

A long scar ran across its face.

Unlike the others...

It carried a massive bone axe.

Its glowing golden eyes stared directly at Arjun.

A new blue screen appeared.

---

**Elite Monster Detected**

**Bloodfang Alpha**

**Rank:** E

**Level:** 12

**Threat Level:** Extremely High

---

Arjun's smile disappeared.

"E-Rank..."

"This isn't a Gate."

"It's a death sentence."

The Bloodfang Alpha raised its axe...

And pointed it directly at Arjun.

Then, in a deep, raspy voice, it spoke a single word.

"Human."

Arjun's heart skipped a beat.

The monster...

Could speak.

**To Be Continued...**