Liam slowed his steps the moment she turned into the alley.
Bad idea.
He knew it instantly.
The streetlights didn't reach that deep. The world inside collapsed into shadows and dull gray shapes. His pulse picked up, louder than it should've been.
Still… he followed.
Not close. Never close. Just enough to keep her in sight as he slid along the damp brick wall.
He didn't even have a reason.
Curiosity?
Maybe.
Or maybe something in his gut was already screaming that this mattered.
She stopped.
Three figures stood at the far end of the alley.
Hoodies. Masks. Gloves.
Not subtle.
The tallest one stepped forward, a woman's purse swinging lazily from his hand.
Her purse.
"You're late," he said, voice muffled.
The girl didn't flinch.
"If you're going to complain," she snapped, "maybe don't steal my damn purse first."
The air shifted.
The tall guy raised the bag slightly, and a faint blue glow curled around his fingers. Frost. Thin, creeping, unnatural.
Liam's eyes widened.
Awakened…
"Relax," the man said, dragging the word out.
The girl paused.
Just for a second.
Then her gaze sharpened into something dangerous.
"If you damage that purse," she said quietly, "I'll kill you right here."
No bluff in her voice.
The tall one tilted his head. "Did you bring the money?"
She reached into her jacket, pulled out a thick plastic bundle of cash, and threw it straight at the skinny one.
He fumbled it, barely caught it.
"Count it."
The alley went quiet except for the sound of bills flipping.
Liam barely breathed.
Thirty seconds.
"That's all of it."
The tall one tossed the purse back.
She caught it instantly, too fast, too precise, and clutched it tight.
The moment her fingers closed around it, the three men turned and ran.
Fast.
Gone.
She stood there, frozen for a second.
Then she ripped the zipper open, checked inside, and exhaled, long, shaky.
Relief.
But it didn't last.
Her head snapped up.
And everything changed.
A violent red aura exploded out from her body.
Heat slammed into Liam's skin.
The ground beneath her feet glowed. The walls burned red like fresh blood. The air itself warped, thick and suffocating.
His stomach dropped.
No way…
He knew her.
Pyra.
Top of the class. First to awaken. The one who crushed every trial like it meant nothing.
In his last life, she became something else entirely.
The Red Dragon Witch.
And right now,
She raised both hands.
Fire sparked between her palms. Small at first.
Then it swelled.
And swelled.
Until it roared into a blazing sphere the size of a basketball, white-hot at its core.
She threw it.
The alley lit up like a second sun.
The explosion hit a second later.
The sound punched the air out of his lungs. Light blinded him even through half-shut eyes.
Smoke rolled through the alley.
Thick. Black.
When it cleared,
Nothing.
No bodies.
No blood.
No marks.
Just clean pavement.
Like they'd never existed.
She lowered her hands slowly.
Then turned.
Her eyes locked onto the crates he was hiding behind.
"I know you were there," she said.
Calm.
Cold.
"Come out."
Liam swallowed and stepped out, hands half-raised. "Alright. Easy."
Her gaze ran over him.
Sharp. Measuring.
"I recognize that uniform. Ark Academy."
"Yeah."
A small nod.
"And you're the one who always finishes last."
He winced. "Yeah… not exactly my proudest trait."
Flames curled around her hand.
Alive.
"If you tell anyone what you saw," she said softly, "I'll find you."
The temperature rose again.
"I'll make you regret it."
He raised both hands higher. "I won't. I swear."
His eyes flicked to the purse.
She was gripping it hard enough her knuckles had turned white.
Whatever was inside,
It mattered.
A lot.
She turned and walked away without another word.
Liam didn't move until she disappeared.
Then he exhaled.
Slow.
Shaky.
She's already that strong…
Ten years before everything went to hell, and she was already on that level.
His jaw tightened.
He wasn't.
Not even close.
Even with the System.
His gaze hardened.
Then I'll fix that.
Even if it meant using that ridiculous requirement.
He grimaced.
Making women like him for SP…
Yeah.
Still sounded insane.
But Olivia's face flashed in his mind.
Her smile.
Her death.
His fist clenched.
"I don't have the luxury to care," he muttered.
He pulled out his phone.
8:00 PM.
"Shit."
He turned and headed back, then veered off toward the back of the dorm.
Into the trees.
Darker.
Quieter.
Deeper.
He walked for nearly thirty minutes before stopping.
The air in front of him twisted.
Subtle at first.
Then thicker.
Heavier.
Like reality itself was folding.
"There you are…"
A dungeon gate.
Just like last time.
Hidden. Ignored.
Until it was too late.
Until it exploded and killed dozens.
His stomach twisted.
This is where it starts.
He opened the system shop.
Scrolled fast.
Found it.
Skill: Ki Strike (F+)
Boosts attack lethality by 50%.
Cost: 3 SP.
"Good enough."
He bought it instantly.
The gate pulsed.
He stepped forward,
, and entered.
A notification flashed.
[Dungeon: Shadow Garden]
Rank: F+
Objective: Eliminate all ghouls (Level 2)
Reward: Skill Upgrade Book
He looked up.
Dead forest.
Gray trees.
Purple sky.
No wind.
No sound.
Then,
Something grabbed his ankle.
"Fuck!"
He yanked back hard.
A rotting hand clawed out of the ground.
He activated Ki Strike, felt the surge run through his arm, and slammed his dagger down.
Crunch.
The hand split apart.
More movement.
The ground cracked.
One ghoul.
Two.
Five.
Clawing their way out.
He didn't wait.
He lunged, drove his blade into the first skull again and again until,
Ding. +15 EXP
Another one lunged.
Claws tore his shirt.
"Shit, !"
He twisted, stabbed, pulled back, stabbed again.
Filthy nails scraped past his skin.
Too close.
Way too close.
He kept moving.
No rhythm. No grace.
Just survival.
Strike.
Step back.
Strike again.
His lungs burned.
Arms screamed.
One dropped.
Then another.
Then,
The last one collapsed.
Silence.
Ding. Dungeon Cleared.
Level Up → Level 2
The world snapped.
He was back in the forest.
Breathing hard.
Hands shaking.
"That… was way too close."
Level 1 stats.
Against Level 2 monsters.
Of course it felt like hell.
Another notification.
Reward: Skill Upgrade Book
(Upgrade any active skill Rank E or below.)
He grabbed it and shoved it under his torn shirt.
"…Worth it."
Barely.
He turned back toward the dorm, legs heavy.
Mind spinning.
Everything was already moving faster than last time.
Pyra awakening early.
Dungeon spawning early.
That wasn't good.
That meant,
The future was changing.
He reached his room, stumbled inside, and collapsed face-first onto the bed.
Gone in seconds.
No dreams.
Just exhaustion.
And the quiet, growing certainty,
He was already running out of time.