**Chapter 1 – In a Skin That's Not Mine**
When Park Yeo-Woo opened his eyes, the sky above him was the wrong color. Yellow-brown, thick, almost sickly not the bright blue skies he was used to. The clouds hung heavy like bruises spreading across the horizon.
He didn't move at first, taking in his odd environment. The ground under his back was cracked concrete, cold and wet.
His throat burned as he pulled in shallow breaths.
Then he noticed his hands.
They were not the swollen and pale fingers that used to twitch over cheap keyboards at his old job.
These hands were strong, with clear veins and a smooth skin.
He tried flexing themto be sure they were real. Too flexible and quick. And definitely not his.
"Great," he muttered. His voice was clear and much younger,also edged with a smoothness he didn't recognize.
"Either I'm drunk again or my body has been stolen. Neither sounds good."
He pushed himself upright turning his gaze towards the city he had just found himself.
The street around him was broken and tattered. Fences bent like skeletons and the few signs that were still standing were almost completely eaten up by rust. The wind carried the stench of trash mixed with something very strong like a chemical experiment gone wrong which stung his eyes painfully.
" Where the hell am I?" He thought quietly .
Just then,his stomach growled in hunger . A hollow feeling that felt like something chewing at his ribs.
" At least my appetite is still intact" He said chuckling dryly at his predicament
He began walking a crooked path that was filled with rusty engine parts and loose screws in search of food as well as anwsers.
Then he saw in the distance. Big iron walls—black, smooth and impossibly tall. Lights glowed along the top of the gates like stars with a huge neon blue sign that said THE UNIFIED ZONE.
He snorted. "Hmm... Shiny walls in a rotting world. Sounds like the perfect fairytale."
Still, his legs moved. His growing hunger didn't leave him much choice.
The walls grew larger with every step, stretching so high they made the ground feel smaller. At the gate, there were guards watching (obviously). Black armor, rifles raised, chrome masks covering their faces.
Their stillness was worse than open hostility,the looked liked predators waiting to strike.
"Typical beginning for every horror story. Well... what's the worst that could happen?"
Yeo-Woo matched towards the gate in a confidence he couldn't even feel.
"Stop."
A loud clear voice commanded.
Immediately,He froze.
One guard stepped forward. The rifle tilted down,as he slightly aimed the barrel towards his chest.
"ID."
"I don't… have one."
"System imprint?"
"I don't know what that means," Yeo-Woo said. His mouth suddenly felt dry.
The guard tilted his head as though studying an unknown specie. Then he spoke without turning.
"We've got a Null."
The others moved at once. Boots pounded the dirt. Rough hands clamped down on Yeo-Woo's arms.
"Wait—what are you doing?" He struggled, but his body felt weaker than theirs.
"Shut up," one hissed.
They dragged him through the gate into a metal chamber lit by a single buzzing lamp. A chair waited in the center, bolted to the floor.
Beside it, a large machine vibrated loudly.
"Sit," the first guard ordered.
Yeo-Woo hesitated but before he could fully process his thoughts a fist slammed into his ribs.
Pain exploded across his chest as He collapsed forcefully into the chair.
His breath came out sharp and ragged.
The cold metal of the chair pressed against the back of his neck as the machine beeped.
Then suddenly everything went quiet as the screen flickered.
[ Results ready ]
[ID No:None]
[Special abilities: None]
[Total Points Accumulated for the United Zone:0]
[Rank: -3,566th]
[Final result: Null]
The silence stretched.
Then suddenly the first hit came. A fist cracked across his jaw. His head snapped sideways, teeth rattling.
He gasped, " Hold on,I don't even know—"
Another punch buried itself in his gut this time his breath vanished.
A strong mettaliic hand pulled him by his hair ( which he had no idea existed by the way) before throwing him harshly on the mettaliic grounds.
They immediately resumed their assault has their boots slammed into his ribs,bones and flesh alike. He curled up in a protective ball , coughing painfully has blood filled his mouth.
One of the guards spat on him. "Useless piece of trash. You are better dead than alive."
They dragged him outside the gates and further down the crooked path,then they threw him into the dirt.
His almost lifeless body hit hard against the rusty screws and metal trash they dumped him,but Yeo woo didn't make a sound until he heard the sound of fading boots.
He lay there in the filth his vision flickering has blood coated his tongue.
His body trembled in pain until he could feel his mind slowly loosing consciousness
Sharply,a low voice rang through his skull.
\[REMNET system initializing.]
His eyes shot open.
\[Echo detected: Seokga.]
A burning heat flashed through him as if another presence was forcing itself under his skin.
\[Beginning fusion.]
His back arched. His muscles locked. He opened his mouth to let out a scream but no sound came out.
Soon..his vision turned white, and he finally collapsed into nothing.
---