Yuri blinked, baffled by what the masked man had just said to him."A… player?" The word echoed in his mind like a broken record.
He wasn't sure if this man could be trusted — no, he was sure he couldn't. Despite seeming to have saved him, there was something off about him. An eerie weight in the air, heavy enough to make Yuri's instincts scream danger.And by now, Yuri had learned the hard way — trust no one too quickly.
Yuri: "Hold on… what are you talking about? 'A player'? What the hell is happening? Can someone— for god's sake— please tell me what is happening?!" he shouted, frustration cracking through his voice.
The masked man turned his head toward Yuri — silent.Then, without warning, he began to walk toward him.
Yuri stiffened, caught between fear and curiosity. The man's every step echoed like a countdown.
Then—
BAWW—!
A sudden swing! Yuri didn't even see it coming. The blow landed square across his jaw, sending a spray of blood from his mouth.
"GHA—!" he choked, stumbling back, eyes wide.
Yuri: "WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"
The masked man's reply came calm, almost indifferent.Masked Man: "Relax. Just look—"
Yuri froze. Then it hit him — literally. He raised a trembling hand to his lips… nothing.No pain. No bleeding. No wound at all.
He stared, stunned.
Masked Man: "As I thought. You've killed a Shifter before, haven't you?"
The words punched through Yuri harder than the man's fist. A memory flickered —Mrs. Fins.The "kill."
Yuri: pulling himself together, "What do you mean? How is that even relevant? Tell me!"
A sharp KNOCK followed — and everything went black.
The masked man caught Yuri's limp body before it hit the ground.Masked Man: "Geez. Can't keep his mouth shut. Forced my hand," he muttered.
When Yuri's eyes fluttered open again, his mind felt fogged, his body heavy. Slowly, he sat up, blinking through the haze.He was on a wide platform — cold, smooth stone under his palms. All around him stretched other floating platforms, scattered at varying heights. Beneath them… nothing but an endless abyss of swirling mist.
And before him sat a man.
He had long, dark hair tied back in a bun, and wore a black shirt and baggy pants that seemed woven from shadow itself. His face was sharp, almost regal — and his marble-green eyes gleamed like a predator watching its prey.
He lounged on a stone throne, staring down at Yuri.
Yuri's throat tightened. Words stumbled out before he could think.Yuri: "W–who… where am I? Who are you?"
The man sighed, almost theatrically, and rolled his eyes.Man: "Sorry. Guess I haven't properly introduced myself, have I? Well then— call me Zeek."
Yuri: "Uh— okay then, Zeek… May I ask again who you are, and how the hell we got here?"
Zeek: "Oh, that's right. I was transformed last, wasn't I?"
Yuri blinked in confusion.Zeek raised his hand to his face and muttered something under his breath.
Then—
A demonic skull burst from the shadows behind him, jaws snapping down over his head before igniting in black fire.
The flames roared, then vanished as quickly as they came.In their place stood Zeek — cloaked in living shadow, a horned mask concealing his face, darkness rippling around him like a storm.
Yuri stumbled back, heart hammering.Yuri: "W–what was that?! What are you?!"
Zeek: "Calm down." He dusted his hands, the embers fading into nothing. "You still don't realize, do you? Kinda pathetic."
Yuri: tilting his head, "What… I don't understand."
Zeek leaned forward, his tone dropping to something almost philosophical.Zeek: "The world you once knew… where you're born, live, and die with your ABCs in between — it's gone. And more than likely, it's never coming back."
Yuri: "What are you talking about…?"
Zeek: "That world ended in one night — one endless night. What came after was chaos. A hell to some, salvation to others. No laws. No control. No taxes."He gave a hollow chuckle. "Sounds like heaven, right? Until you see the monsters, the realms, the levels… and worst of all — the System."
Yuri's eyes widened, disbelief twisting his face.Yuri: "W–what system?"
Zeek: "Finally catching on. Too bad I don't have all the answers." He leaned back. "All we truly know is that it's a game — a sick, sadistic game."
Yuri: "A… game? What do you mean?"
Zeek: "Exactly what it sounds like. Whoever — or whatever — caused this, they turned half the world's population into nightmare-born monsters. But it's not all bad, I guess. Kill them, and the System rewards you — with skills, power, even abilities straight out of movies, comics, and manga."
He gestured toward Yuri.Zeek: "You've only unlocked basic skills — healing minor injuries, detecting low-level Shifters. That's how you knew your 'friend' wasn't actually much of a friend. And how you healed so fast after I punched you."
Yuri stared, trying to process everything. Zeek's expression remained unbothered — as if this was just another Thursday.
Yuri: "Why do you seem so calm about all this?!"
Zeek paused, gaze drifting into the empty horizon of their floating realm.Zeek: "Why…?" He thought for a moment. "I've never really considered that. If I had to guess… maybe because…" He trailed off, exhaled, then looked back at Yuri.
Yuri: "Because—?"
Zeek: "Hard to say."
Yuri: "That's it?! The world's gone, people are dying, monsters are running wild — and that's all you can say?!" He clenched his fists. "Where even are we right now?!"
Zeek: "Calm down. It's a lot to take in. This realm is low-level — not as real as it looks. Could shatter easily under a mid-level skill. I never caught its real name, but I call it…"He spread his hand toward the mist.Zeek: "The Palace of Pillars."
Yuri: "P–Palace of—" He ruffled his hair, frustration spilling over. "You know what? Forget it. So this is it, huh? Never imagined this is how I'd go out… but I guess I never really imagined going out at all."His voice softened. "I just hope… she's safe from all this."
Zeek's tone shifted, almost gentle.Zeek: "It doesn't have to end, you know."
Yuri looked up.
Zeek: "You seem about my age, right? There are survivors out there — people who refuse to give up. Who won't let this hellish system bring them to their knees. On the very first day, a message appeared: 'Be the last remaining, and you shall receive a reward.' We don't know what that reward is — maybe it's our world back. Maybe it's just a lie."He stood, eyes burning with conviction. "But if there's even a chance — the smallest chance — then we fight. We use the System's own power against it."
A spark flickered in Yuri's chest. A fire he hadn't felt in a long time.
Zeek: "Join us, Yuri. Let's bring the world back."
And in that moment, Yuri remembered his best trait —the one thing that kept him alive this long.
To see the bright side of any situation.