Lin Feng stepped out of the building without glancing back. The unmistakable smell of seared human flesh clung to his clothes, but he didn't mind. The cold night air was brisk and tasted of city: just enough hum of cars and laughter taken off into the night, living the normal little day-to-day lives everyone has. It felt as absurd as what happened in that building when everything looked so normal outside of the blood-drenched adjacent.
The bag filled with cash weighed heavily in his hands. More than he had ever held at one time. A silent laugh escaped him. All of that hustle and bustle to make ends meet, and now just a couple hours of 'work' had provided him with a small fortune.
He turned left into a side alley and disappeared into the darkness on the walk home. The streetlights cast a faint buzz above, distorting shadows on the cracked cement. It wasn't very far. An abandoned apartment outside of town, most of the tenants left each other alone. No one would care. No questions.
Once home, he locked the door behind him and tossed the money onto the cheap used table in the corner next to the bed. The apartment was empty, with basically just a bed and a chair, and a fridge that hardly kept things cold, but that was okay. He kicked off his shoes and stretched his limbs before lowering himself onto the bed.
The moment his head hit the pillow, his body finally registered just how exhausted he was. Not physically—no, physically, he was fine. But mentally? The high was fading, leaving behind a strange emptiness. It wasn't regret, not even close. Just… the lull after the storm.
His eyes trailed to the ceiling, mind replaying every little moment from earlier. The screams, the gasps, the way her body had jerked with every little push of pain. Boss Zhou's laughter, Luo Ye's fear-stricken face. The satisfaction of seeing something, someone, completely break apart.
A grin stretched across his lips.
He was home.
Lin Feng exhaled deeply, letting his body sink further into the worn-out mattress. His mind was still buzzing, but now… now there was something else. Something new.
He turned his head slightly, and there it was—hovering just beside his face like a loyal specter. A faintly glowing notification window, waiting patiently for his attention.
A smirk tugged at his lips. "Finally," he murmured. "I can actually see my system."
His fingers twitched with anticipation as he focused on the message before him.
[ Ding! System Activated. ]
[ Welcome, Host. You have been granted access to the Gamer System. ]
[ Initial Assessment Complete. ]
System Type: Gamer System
Status: Functional
Synchronization Rate: 100%
[ New Feature Unlocked: Status Window ][ New Feature Unlocked: Quest System ]
[ Due to the Host's first kill, the following rewards have been granted: ]
EXP Gained: 500
Skill Unlocked: Pain Resistance (Lv 1)
Skill Unlocked: Hunger Resistance (Lv 1)
Skill Unlocked: Drug Resistance (Lv 1)
_____________________
Lin Feng's smirk faltered for just a second as his eyes trailed down the notification.
Hunger Resistance. Drug Resistance.
His fingers curled slightly.
"Tch. Figures." He let out a low, humorless chuckle. "The last guy must've been a real mess."
His gaze darkened as he thought about it. Hunger Resistance meant the body was used to starving. Drug Resistance? Well, that was even more telling. The bastard must've been popping pills or worse, getting high enough to ignore how pathetic his life was.
"What a fucking waste of a body." Lin Feng exhaled through his nose, a mix of amusement and disdain flickering in his eyes. "Well its good now that I have taken over this body I will make better use of this body."
He scoffed, dismissing the thought as quickly as it came. Didn't matter now. This body wasn't his anymore.
He stretched his arms, cracking his neck as his grin returned. "Well, at least he left me something useful. Too bad he wasn't around to see what a real human looks like."
Lin Feng's gaze lingered on the hovering notification for a moment before he willed it away. With a thought, he called out:
"Status."
A translucent black screen appeared before his eyes.
---------------------
[ Status Window ]
Name: Lin Feng
Level: 1 (500/1000 EXP)
[ Stats ]
Mana: 0/0
Mana Recovery: 0 MP/min
Magic Resistance: 6
[ Skills ]
- Pain Resistance (Lv 1)
- Hunger Resistance (Lv 1)
-Drug Resistance (Lv 1)
[ Inventory ]
- [Newbie Package]
-----------------------------------
"Tch, no Strength, no Agility… Guess this system doesn't give a damn about throwing punches. Looks like it's all about magic in this world. Too bad I'm starting at zero."
Lin Feng stared at his status screen, eyes lingering on the glaring [Mana: 0] like a cruel joke.
A world where magic ruled, where the strong could bend the elements to their will… and he had nothing.
He let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "Fitting. Dropped into a world of power, and I'm just another weakling."
His fingers twitched. "No different from my last life. No one is born with a gun in their hand. No one starts at the top. Power has to be taken, ripped from the world by those willing to bleed for it."
He breathed out slowly. "Maybe I should just admit it. Maybe I'll have to learn to go through life without magic."
Lin Feng glanced at the blood-soaked knife still held in his grip. The way the dried red flashed like art against the steel in the shadows of the apartment was a reminder; a trophy.
Now that he had a system, it was just time to try the basics. He set his gaze on the blade, willing it into his inventory like he had seen many times in games.
Schlk!
The knife vanished in an instant, disappearing into thin air like it had never existed. Lin Feng blinked, then let out a quiet chuckle. Well, that's convenient.
He opened his inventory, and sure enough, there it was—a small icon of a bloodied knife sitting in the grid. He tapped on it mentally, and a simple description popped up.
__________
[ Bloodstained Knife ]
A standard combat knife, now soaked in dried blood. Carries the scent of blood.
___________
His grin broadened. Nice. Now I don't have to clean up my mess anymore. He says with the thought ok not needing to worry about getting rid of evidenses.
He was happily pleased with this outcome and closed the window, focusing on the box that was still sitting in his inventory..
The thought lingered for a moment, heavy like chains around his throat.
Then, his eyes drifted to his inventory. A single item sat there, a faint glow around it.
[Newbie Package – A gift for the lost. Open to receive a starting reward.]
Lin Feng smirked. "Or maybe... I just need a push in the right direction."
Without hesitation, he willed the package open.