We had moved to Moscow with my family, seeking safety and the hope of a new beginning by staying with my older brother. The big city had initially intimidated me, but being together here was better. In tough times, we needed to support each other; being alone—especially in the midst of chaos like this—was not an option.
The first thing I did was find a new gym and sign up quickly. Sports had always given me strength and discipline. I wanted to shake off what I had experienced yesterday, the fears and the unease building inside me, through training. In Moscow's cold and harsh weather, sweating was a way to cleanse both my body and mind.
As I stepped through the gym doors, I felt a spark of hope again. I was going to start a new chapter here. But there was still that strange uneasiness within me—as if this city, this life, was asking me to wait a bit longer. Because I knew, the darkness hadn't truly left me yet.
When I looked at my phone screen, it was already past 5:00 PM. My mind was exhausted from lack of sleep, but my heart was restless. My textbooks were open in front of me, but the words between the lines drifted like meaningless symbols before my eyes. No matter how hard I tried, it wasn't working. My thoughts were scattered. Even if I forced myself, I couldn't memorize a single sentence. We had moved to Moscow to stay with my brother—it was better to be together—and I had quickly signed up for a new gym right afterward.
"This isn't going to work," I said to myself. The pressure inside me was building. My future, my family, what I had lived through… all of it had come together, weaving a web in my mind. But strangely, I was calm. Maybe it was the effect of my "Cold-blooded" skill—I wasn't sure. It was as if a veil had been laid over my emotions. I should've cried, but I didn't. I should've panicked, but I couldn't.
So I stood up. The room felt too small. I went to the gym. It was still one of the rare places that allowed me to breathe. Every punch I landed on the punching bag seemed to cleanse a bit more of the burden in my mind. My muscles were burning, sweat was dripping off my body—but this pain… at least it was familiar. It was real. It was genuine.
Hours had passed without me noticing. Then, suddenly, a system screen appeared in front of me:
Name: Riven AltaraiAge: 19Height/Weight: 185 cm / 75 kgTitle: RunnerSkills: Cold-blooded, PerseveranceFatigue: 90% – Rest is recommended
Strength: 13 – Determines the damage dealt in melee attacks like punches and swords. Affects your ability to lift heavy objects.Speed: 13 – Determines how fast you run, your ability to dodge attacks, and your attack speed.Endurance: 15 – Determines how many hits you can take, your stamina duration, and overall resilience.Magic: 0 – Your ability to use magic, deal magic damage, and interact with magical systems.Intelligence: 9 – Affects strategic thinking, understanding of knowledge, and compatibility with some spells.Luck: 7 – Affects chance of critical hits, rare item drops, and random survival events.
Lumen: 500
As I studied the screen, I could feel more clearly that something had changed. My body had grown stronger. My muscles were more toned, my reflexes sharper, my breathing more controlled. The kind of progress I would normally achieve in three months had happened in a single day. It was impossible in the real world… but it felt like the real world no longer existed.
I still hadn't touched the Magic stat. As curious as I was… I wasn't ready. I knew nothing about magic—it could be dangerous. I only knew vague things, like fire, but how could I use it without knowing how? I decided to save it for later—for now.
The hour was approaching. I knew I would return again. This system was something you couldn't refuse. I was already a part of it. Between 00:00 and 01:00… that was the time of return. I went home, took a hot shower. A short evening chat with my mom and dad… as if everything was normal. But inside, there was a storm.
Then I lay down in bed. I knew I would sleep. But where I would wake up… it wouldn't be this world.
And that's exactly what happened.
When I opened my eyes… I was there again.
I was in my brother's house. The cold and gloomy air of the city felt like a heavy blanket over me. What I had lived through yesterday kept circling in my mind; was it real, or was I still dreaming—I didn't know. After all that fear and destruction, I wasn't sure how normal my feelings were, or how I should cope.
But one thing was certain: my parents' tears… their pain, fear, and helplessness sank deep into me. Rather than break me, it strengthened me. Seeing them like that reminded me that I needed to stay safe—no matter the cost.
I wished I could be with my brother; his presence would've calmed some of my inner fear. But I knew he was fighting his own battle. He had returned to the military, had used emergency leave just to be with me. Which meant he was struggling with dangers and unknowns just as much as I was.
At that moment, I made a promise to myself. No matter what, I would survive. For my family, for my brother, and most importantly, for myself.
And yet…
Something caught in my throat. My stomach burned. I couldn't hold it in.
I vomited.
On my knees, emptying my insides. I thought I was ready for this—but… who could truly be ready? I had fought three monsters to the death last night. I had killed them. I had done it to survive. My body had made it out alive, but part of my soul was still trapped in that place.
But this time, it was different.
A new feeling had started to quietly grow inside my fear: determination.
I hadn't come here randomly. This system was calling me. Maybe there was meaning in this darkness. Maybe I could help my family, myself, someone. Or maybe… I just wanted to survive. More than anyone. More than anything.
I slowly stood up. The night breeze from the broken window hit my face. The house was quiet—but the outside wouldn't be.
I was tired. I was scared. But this time… I was ready.
Welcome to the second night in the Seal of the Night.
And then… much earlier than I expected, the message I feared appeared. I wasn't as calm as I was the first day; storms were raging inside me. I swallowed my fear that had clutched my throat; this time, there was no system message. No mission screen or any notification appeared. A doubt crept into me—was the mission hidden? Or was this a glitch? But it couldn't be a mistake. I couldn't just sit idly and wait. After the life-or-death battle with the goblins last night, I had grown stronger. If they attacked again, I wouldn't stop. Even if I wanted to die, dying wasn't easy anymore; the burden my parents left on my shoulders was heavy. I had to be strong—for them.
When I got home, the two swords my brother had left came to mind. Since he was a soldier, he always carried weapons, and they were high quality. He was nearly ten centimeters taller than me—195 cm—and with his athletic frame, he was a former Muay Thai champion. Whenever he stood before me, I always felt his strength and discipline. He had given me one of the swords too. "Take care of yourself, Riven," he had said. Now it was my turn. I had to protect myself.
[System Message]New Equipment Acquired: Twin Opposite BladesType: OffensiveClass: BAttribute: Spirit of FireStatus: Sealed (Missing Component)
The moment I held the swords, the cold touch of the metal thrilled me. They were bright, elegant, and powerful. Especially the "Spirit of Fire" attribute—they suddenly lit up with red and orange flames dancing along their surface. The flames moved as if they had a will of their own, lighting up the surroundings. Even though fear made me want to drop them, I didn't feel any pain in that moment. It was as if the power of the fire was protecting me, giving me strength in direct contrast to the fear trying to freeze me.
I picked them up slowly—they felt almost sacred in my hands, heavy with meaning. The word "Sealed" caught my eye. It didn't take long for me to realize that these swords hadn't yet revealed their full power. There was a hidden potential locked inside. The name said it all—there was a seal, and unless it was lifted, the sword wouldn't reach its full power.
I thought of my brother's sword. It symbolized his strength, perseverance, and determination. And a question formed in my mind: the sword was called "Twin Opposites." If one held the Spirit of Fire, then the other must hold the Spirit of Ice. Heat and cold, life and death—opposites. I imagined the other sword left at my brother's place, covered in frost, holding a calm and quiet power.
These swords weren't just weapons. They were gateways into my family's past, their struggles, and my destiny. The weight I felt wasn't just from the metal—it came from the pain, loss, and battles we had all endured.
The moment the sword caught fire, it felt like a fire had also ignited in my heart. Now, it wasn't just about survival. It was about changing, fighting, and protecting with this power. And most importantly, with these swords—I was no longer alone.
I held the sword in my right hand. I needed a shield for defense, but there was nothing usable in the house. Then I remembered the "market" feature the system had mentioned before. "Market?" I wondered aloud. Would something really appear if I asked? As soon as I thought it, a glowing screen popped up in front of me.
On the screen, it read: "Basic Shield."Type: DefensivePrice: 150 LumenThe shield in front of me was much more basic than I expected, but I had no other choice. I bought it without hesitation. Because when it comes to survival, you can't run from what must be done. As soon as I bought the shield, I looked out the window. The street was empty. The silence was suffocating. But this silence was more terrifying than usual. Because at least movement meant life. Now, this dead silence was the sign of an approaching storm.