The sky overhead was a smog-choked mess of grey, casting a sallow light over the skeletal ruins. Twisted metal jutted from buildings like broken ribs. Ash fell like snow. Aidan Cross trudged across a half-collapsed overpass, boots crunching over scattered glass and bone fragments, his steel pipe gripped tightly in one blood-slicked hand.
He was exhausted, but alive.
[HP: 82/120][Stamina: 41/100][Pain Tolerance Threshold Breached – Recovery Slowed]
"Still ticking," Aidan muttered through gritted teeth. His ribs ached with every breath. The regenerating pain was like being stitched together from the inside out—without anesthetic.
[Reminder: You currently owe the system 100,500 Coins. This debt accrues interest at a rate of 0.1% per hour. We appreciate your cooperation.]
"Appreciate my ass," he muttered.
[Noted. Your hostility has been logged for motivational analysis.]
He ignored it. Focused instead on the alley ahead, where something moved.
A low groan echoed. Then a second.
Four figures stumbled into view—pale, twisted things with torn skin and broken claws. Their eyes burned with feral hunger. Carrion husks. Low-tier undead, but deadly in groups.
[Hostile Group Identified: 4x Carrion Husks – Drop Rate: 15 Coins each | Crystal Fragment Drop Chance: 6%][EXP Per Kill: 8 | Total EXP: 32 if eliminated]
He adjusted his grip. The steel pipe felt heavier now. Slick with blood. Slightly bent.
"I really need a weapon upgrade."
The first husk lunged. Aidan sidestepped and swung. The pipe struck bone—hard—but the jolt up his arm told him the weapon was already losing integrity.
[CRITICAL HIT – Skull Fractured | Enemy Neutralized]
[+8 EXP | EXP: 42/100][+15 Coins]
The others closed in fast. He fought with grit and precision now, dodging instead of brute-forcing, stabbing the jagged edge of the pipe into skulls and joints.
The last one shrieked as he stomped it down and drove the pipe through its neck. The weapon gave a metallic crack.
[+24 EXP | EXP: 66/100][+45 Coins]
[Item Condition Critical – Steel Pipe Damaged Beyond Repair]
"Figures," Aidan grunted, letting the bent, bloodied pipe fall from his hand with a clatter. "Guess I'm back to fists."
Something gleamed in the blood. He bent down and plucked up a small, sharp shard.
[Crystal Fragment Acquired – System Analyzing...]
[Basic Ability Crystal Fragment – Usable Material][Stored: 1/5 | Combine to form: Tier I Random Skill Crystal]
He slipped the shard into his dimensional inventory—a cold void that flickered open at his will.
[Inventory – 5 Slots Available]
Crystal Fragment x1
Rusted Canteen
Sling-Pack
Empty
Empty
The system chimed again, voice smug.
[Survival Probability: Slightly Improved. As a reward, you've been granted a one-time Mystery Box.]
He blinked. "Wait, seriously?"
[Correct. The system is feeling generous. Coin cost waived. You may now open the box. Results may vary.]
[Opening Mystery Box...]
A flash of light seared the air—and in its place lay a wrapped bundle. Aidan grabbed it and tore the cloth away.
A long, black-bladed sword gleamed in the dead light. Not ornate—but sharp, balanced, and forged for killing.
[Item Acquired – Carbon-Forged Tactical Blade (C-Rank)]Type: One-Handed Long BladeDurability: High | Weight: Light | Bonus: Slight boost to critical chance (2%)
[Automatically stored in inventory slot.]
"Now we're talking," Aidan said, giving the blade a slow test swing. It sliced clean through a hanging strand of barbed wire.
[Weapon Equipped – Carbon-Forged Tactical Blade]
He pulled up the trade screen.
[Trade Menu – Key Listings]
Health Potions [Unavailable]
Reinforced Leather Armor (D-Rank): 800 Coins
Mystery Loot Crate – 1,000 Coins
Storage Slot Upgrade: 300 Coins
Ability Crystal Combine: 5 Fragments = 1 Tier I Skill Crystal
The interface shifted again.
[System Update – Title System Unlocked][New Title Earned: "Survivor of the Ruin Streets"]Effect: Slightly increased resistance to blunt trauma (5%)
Aidan smirked. "Guess I'm earning those scars for something."
[Your pain has value. Welcome to the Crimson Ledger.]
The status window unfurled before him.
[Status Window – Aidan Cross]
Level: 1
EXP: 66 / 100
HP: 82 / 120
Stamina: 41 / 100
Debt: 100,500 Coins
Titles:Survivor of the Ruin Streets
Passive Skills:
Undying Regeneration
Crystal Focus
Active Skills:
Critical Hit [Lv. 1 – 1% Chance]
Inventory Slots: 5 / 5
Equipped Weapon: Carbon-Forged Tactical Blade (C-Rank)
Crystal Fragments: 1
He looked up at the broken skyline, blade sheathed across his back.
No home. No allies. A world ruled by monsters and systems that bled you for every drop of strength.
But he was alive.
And with every enemy he cut down, every debt he repaid—he'd carve out his place in this world.
One bloody coin at a time.