Ashen skies hung over the ruins as if the world itself mourned what it had become. A sour wind swept through the cracked buildings, rattling broken glass in their frames. Nox walked in silence, boots crunching on the gravel path once carved by tanks and flames. The echo of past wars still lingered here, not in sound but in silence—too thick, too knowing.
He paused near the half-collapsed structure where an old satellite dish lay rusting beside a moss-covered bench. It used to be a community center, probably. Now, it was barely more than a skeleton. Nox reached into his pack and pulled out the sealed nutrient bar he had scavenged. He didn't need to eat it, not yet, but hunger was creeping in. His stomach grumbled. He looked at the wrapper and smiled bitterly.
"Strawberry flavor," he muttered, unwrapping it. "Haven't tasted a real strawberry in years."
As he bit into the dry bar, the interface blinked into existence in front of him. Transparent. Clean. Unnatural. The System.
[SYSTEM ONLINE]
Seed of Renewal: Initiated
Welcome, Nox Valen.
You are the current bearer of the Seed.
Primary Objective: Restore balance to the shattered realms.
Secondary Objective: Survive.
It had appeared for the first time two days ago when he had collapsed near the riverbed. At first, he thought he had hit his head. Then it spoke to him—not with a voice, but with presence. With certainty.
"System," he murmured quietly, making sure no one was around to hear him. "Open main panel."
The interface shifted.
[MAIN PANEL]
— Status
— Inventory
— Skills
— Quests
— Seed Core
The 'Seed Core' section pulsed gently, glowing with a deep amber hue. It was still locked. For now.
He tapped on Status.
[STATUS PANEL]
Name: Nox Valen
Age: 19
Level: 3
Affinity: Unknown
Class: Undetermined
Attributes:
— Strength: 12
— Agility: 10
— Vitality: 11
— Intelligence: 13
— Willpower: 15
Traits:
— Survivor's Grit (Passive): Increases resistance to mental fatigue and despair.
— Echo Touch (Locked): Requires Seed Core activation.
Nox furrowed his brow. "Still no class," he murmured. "Figures."
The System hadn't given him answers—just more questions. Who created it? Why him? And what did "balance to the shattered realms" even mean? The world was beyond broken. Nations had crumbled. Cities reduced to ashes. There was no order left to restore. Just tribes of survivors, scavengers, and the wild mutations that stalked the night.
He slid a finger through the air, pulling up the Inventory tab.
[INVENTORY]
— Rusted Short Sword [Durability: 19/30]
— Scavenged Nutrient Bar (1)
— Tattered Map (Sector 5B)
— Broken Locket
— Empty Water Flask
Storage Limit: 15 Items
He eyed the sword. It had been useful during a run-in with wild dogs yesterday. But the edge was dull, and it was barely better than a stick at this point.
Something shimmered faintly on the side of the System. A tiny notification.
New Quest Available
[QUEST: Heart of Steel]
Objective: Locate a functioning weapon forged before the Collapse.
Reward: +200 EXP, Potential Class Unlock
Time Limit: 72 Hours
"A real weapon..." Nox whispered. That would change things.
He closed the panel and let the interface dissolve back into the air. For all the power it hinted at, the System never did the fighting for him. It didn't save him from the cold. Or the hunger. Or the nightmares. It just... gave him tools. And maybe, in a world this twisted, that was enough.
A noise pulled him from his thoughts. Metal clanged nearby—sharp, intentional. He crouched, slipping behind the shattered wall. A flicker of movement passed between the buildings. Not beasts. People.
He recognized the dull gray cloaks and scavenged armor—members of the Bone Crows. Raiders. They moved in tight formation, rifles slung low, eyes scanning the ruins. Not many things made his blood run cold anymore. But the Bone Crows were something else. Organized. Sadistic. Efficient.
And they were heading toward the center of the ruin.
Nox whispered under his breath, "System, mark enemy positions."
[PINGING SURROUNDINGS...]
4 Hostile Signatures Detected.
Markers placed on visual HUD.
Four red icons appeared faintly in his vision, blinking with each step the raiders took. He gritted his teeth. This was supposed to be a silent recon—he had hoped to rest, maybe find clean water. Instead, he was now stuck between a collapsing wall and a death squad.
And yet...
There was something burning at the edge of his thoughts. A flicker of something from the Seed. As if it wanted to respond. To grow.
He opened the Seed Core tab again.
[SEED CORE]
Status: Dormant
Progress to Activation: 24%
Condition for Activation:
— "Demonstrate Resolve in the Face of Death."
He chuckled. "Of course it would be something dramatic like that."
The broken locket in his inventory pulsed for a second. He touched it instinctively. It had belonged to his sister, Mira. Long lost. Or worse.
Resolve, huh?
He stood slowly, quietly drawing his sword. Dull or not, it would have to do. Maybe this was the moment the System wanted. Not a test of skill, but of spirit.
Four enemies. One blade. No guarantee.
But this world had already taken everything from him.
If the Seed wanted resolve, then he'd give it something it would never forget.
He stepped into the open, eyes set like steel.
And the System began to hum.