Chapter 5: The Next Challenge

The portal in the sky pulsed with an eerie glow, casting shifting shadows over the battered survivors. Tension rippled through the group as another system notification appeared.

[You have 10 minutes to prepare before the next challenge begins.]

A murmur spread among the remaining players. Some collapsed to their knees, exhausted. Others frantically checked their status windows, searching for any advantage they might have gained from the first trial.

Kim Sehan, however, wasted no time. He opened his status window.

[Status Window]

Name: Kim Sehan
Level: 5
Stats: (Distributed evenly, slight bias towards agility and perception)
Skills: [Basic Swordsmanship (10% Mastery)]

His stats had improved significantly, but they were still low. More importantly, his skill mastery had already begun progressing. If he wanted to keep surviving, he needed to push it even further.

Jinhyuk, standing beside him, groaned as he stretched. “I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck. Can’t we get a real break?”

Sehan glanced at him. “No. If you’re not using these ten minutes to prepare, you’ll die in the next challenge.”

Jinhyuk scowled but didn’t argue. He understood—everyone did now. This wasn’t a game. There were no second chances for the weak.

Nearby, the girl Sehan had saved earlier sat on the ground, staring at her dagger. Her hands were still trembling, but her eyes had hardened. She wasn’t broken—just shaken. She would either adapt or die.

Sehan looked away and focused on what he could control. He moved toward a section of the battlefield where weapons lay scattered, picking up a sturdier sword from a fallen player. It wasn’t much, but it was an upgrade.

[New Weapon Acquired: Worn Iron Sword]

The moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt, another chime echoed through the air.

[Time is up. The next challenge begins now.]

The ground trembled. The portal in the sky expanded, distorting reality itself. Then, creatures began pouring out.

Massive, reptilian beasts with razor-sharp claws. Their glowing red eyes locked onto the survivors as they landed, snarling.

[Second Challenge: Survive the Wave of Beasts.]

[Time Limit: 30 Minutes.]

Sehan exhaled slowly, stepping into a stance.

It was time to fight again.