Chapter Two: The First Human Battle
The air was thick with rot, smoke, and adrenaline.
Aiden stood frozen between two nightmares—
Zombies groaning behind him…
And Dara's gang closing in from the front.
His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
[QUEST TIMER: 09:42]
Nine minutes left to survive.
Dara twirled his machete, the metal screeching.
"Aiden Kuro," he said with a grin. "Always the quiet, harmless kid. Who knew you'd get some divine upgrade?"
The gang laughed behind him—five teenagers with makeshift weapons: pipes, knives, a broken hockey stick. Their eyes gleamed with envy… and hunger.
Not zombie hunger.
Human greed.
Aiden clenched his glowing fist. "I'm not giving you anything."
Dara snorted. "Who said you had a choice?"
He rushed forward—fast, faster than normal.
Aiden blinked. He awakened too!?
The System answered instantly.
[HUMAN TARGET ANALYZED]
Name: Dara Onile
System Rank: F
Ability: Adrenaline Surge – brief physical boost
Threat Level: Low-Mid
Low threats… would still kill him.
Dara swung.
Aiden barely leaned back, the blade slicing air in front of his nose.
He countered with a golden punch—
But Dara dodged, laughing.
"Come on! That all your heaven-gifted power?!"
Footsteps scraped behind Aiden.
Zombies.
A lot of them.
[DANGER: MULTIPLE HOSTILES APPROACHING]
Aiden cursed and jumped back. He needed space—he needed an opening—
The hockey-stick wielder charged him first.
This time, Aiden let instinct take over. His Heavenly Strike thrummed with warm, divine energy.
He ducked, pivoted, and—
WHAM!
The glowing fist connected with the boy's chest. The impact launched him five meters backward, crashing into a parked Keke tricycle.
Silence.
Even Dara hesitated.
"…Bro," one of the gang members whispered. "He sent Jide flying like a cartoon character."
Aiden wasn't done.
His body moved faster than he thought. He dashed left, slamming his palm into another boy's stomach—knocking the wind and the fight out of him.
Two down.
Zombies moaned louder—
Ten of them now, shuffling toward the heavenly glow.
Dara snarled. "You idiots! Take him down before the zombies get here!"
He rushed again.
But Aiden had begun to understand something:
He wasn't the weak one anymore.
He lifted his fist, letting power build—
[HEAVENLY STRIKE — CHARGED MODE ACTIVATED]
His arm blazed with light.
Dara's machete swung—
Aiden struck—
The golden impact created a shockwave, blowing dust, glass, and loose papers across the road.
Dara flew backward, landing hard on his spine, machete skidding away.
The entire street fell silent for half a heartbeat.
Then—
"AAAHH—!!"
The zombies closed in on the fallen gang members.
Aiden's eyes widened. They were too close—
Too many—
[NEW SYSTEM TIP]
Host is advised: Humans may become hostiles, but they can also become allies. Survival is easier in groups… if trust exists.
Aiden stared at Dara struggling to breathe.
He had a choice.
Leave them.
Or save them.
He gritted his teeth.
"Damn it…"
He rushed forward—golden fist swinging wide—destroying the nearest zombie aiming for Dara's throat.
Zombies turned to Aiden, drawn to the hit of heavenly light.
Dara gasped, eyes wide. "Y-You… saved me?"
Aiden didn't answer. He punched another zombie, then another, his body moving with growing confidence.
But the horde was growing.
The System chimed again.
[UNLOCKING: STARTER HEAVENLY ABILITY]
• Celestial Step (Lv. 1) — A dash infused with heavenly force. Move faster than the eye for one instant.
Aiden's eyes gleamed.
He activated it.
FWOOOM!
His body blurred like an animated afterimage, reappearing behind the horde.
He exhaled shakily. "Okay… that felt insane."
The zombies turned again—but now he was behind them.
Aiden lifted both fists.
Golden light flared.
BOOM!
A single sweeping strike shattered the zombie line.
Bodies dropped.
Silence fell.
Smoke drifted across the ruined street.
The System chimed softly.
[QUEST COMPLETE]
Reward Gained: Status Window + +10 Heavenly Energy
Bonus: +1 Skill Level (Heavenly Strike → Lv. 2)
Aiden wiped sweat from his forehead. His chest glowed gently now, the sigil calm.
Dara limped toward him.
His voice cracked. "…Thanks. I… I thought you'd leave us."
Aiden frowned. "I almost did."
Dara swallowed, guilt flickering in his eyes. "What happens now?"
Aiden looked around at the burning city, at the bodies, at the sky still split open with divine light pouring through the cracks of Heaven.
"…I don't know. But whatever this new world is…"
He stared at his glowing fist.
"I'm not dying in it."
The System whispered one more time.
[NEXT QUEST AVAILABLE]
Choose your path.
1. Seek shelter in the abandoned hospital
2. Search for surviving family
3. Investigate the Heavenly Rift
Aiden inhaled.
The world had ended.
But his story… had just begun.