February 20, 202512:05 PM
The countdown continued.
00:04:30
Across the world, another black window suddenly appeared in front of every human being.
Floating silently in the air.
New white text slowly formed across its surface.
[CLASS SELECTION AVAILABLE]
Choose a class to begin your survival.
More lines appeared beneath it.
AVAILABLE CLASSES
WarriorStarter Weapon: Basic SwordSkill: NoneBonus: +2 Strength
ArcherStarter Weapon: Basic BowSkill: NoneBonus: +1 Strength, +1 Speed
TankStarter Weapon: Basic Spear / Axe (varies depending on physical prowess)Skill: NoneBonus: +1 Strength, +1 Endurance
AssassinStarter Weapon: Basic DaggerSkill: NoneBonus: +2 Speed
Your class will determine your starter equipment and base abilities.
Choose wisely.
Confusion instantly spread across the planet.
"Classes?"
"Is this some kind of game?!"
"What do we do?!"
Across cities, towns, and villages worldwide, billions of people stared helplessly at the floating window.
The countdown continued.
00:04:21
Chennai, India
Inside the campus of Chennai Institute of Medical Sciences, panic had already taken over.
Students rushed through the corridors in confusion.
Some ran toward the edges of the transparent barrier surrounding the city.
They threw objects at it.
Chairs.
Metal rods.
Even rocks.
Nothing worked.
The invisible wall didn't move an inch.
Suddenly, another notification appeared before everyone.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
CURRENT BARRIER RADIUS: 1 KM
Humans are currently restricted within this zone.
After each completed stage, the barrier will expand.
Expansion Pattern:1 KM → 4 KM → 8 KM → 16 KM → …
Explore. Survive. Advance.
The message disappeared.
Fear spread through the crowd.
"So… we're trapped?" someone whispered.
"Inside a one-kilometer cage?"
No one had an answer.
Some students began grouping together.
If something was coming when the timer ended, they didn't want to face it alone.
Others desperately tried to find a way outside the barrier.
But the transparent wall stood firm.
Unbreakable.
Amid the chaos stood one student who had a bigger problem than the rest.
Aarav.
Amid the chaos stood Aarav, his slightly messy black hair falling over his forehead as he stared at the floating system window.
His white lab coat hung loosely over his lean, athletic frame, the sleeves rolled up from a long morning in the dissection hall.
His sharp jawline tightened as he read the system message again.
His heart pounded violently as he opened his bag slightly.
Inside it lay the weapon that had appeared moments ago.
A gun.
The cold metal reflected faintly in Aarav's dark eyes.
Heavy.
Real.
"This… can't be happening," he whispered.
Two familiar voices called out.
"Aarav!"
Rohan and Pranav rushed toward him.
"Did you see the class window?" Rohan asked breathlessly.
"Everyone's choosing already!"
Pranav nodded nervously.
"This whole thing feels insane."
Aarav looked around carefully.
Then he pulled them aside.
"Listen… don't panic."
The two exchanged confused looks.
"What?" Rohan asked.
Aarav opened his bag just enough for them to see inside.
Both of them froze.
Pranav's eyes widened.
"WHAT THE—"
Aarav quickly covered his mouth.
"Shhh!"
Rohan stared at the weapon in disbelief.
"Where did you get that?!"
"It appeared," Aarav whispered. "After I pressed yes on the system message."
Silence fell between them.
"That means…" Pranav said slowly.
"You were one of the chosen ones." Rohan said in disbelief
"I don't know," Aarav replied nervously.
"But listen carefully."
"We can't tell anyone about this." said Aarav.
Rohan frowned.
"Why not?"
"Because the moment people see a gun," Aarav said quietly, "panic will get worse."
Pranav nodded.
"And someone might try to steal it."
The three stood silently for a moment.
Then Rohan looked at the floating window.
"So… what class are you picking?"
Aarav turned toward the system interface.
Four options floated before him.
Warrior.
Archer.
Tank.
Assassin.
He thought carefully.
He wasn't physically strong.
He wasn't built like a fighter.
But speed…
Speed meant survival.
His finger slowly moved.
He selected Assassin.
The system window flickered.
CLASS CONFIRMED
Assassin
Starter Weapon: Basic Dagger
Bonus: +2 Speed
Another message appeared.
Analyzing Individual Attributes…
For several seconds the system remained silent.
Then numbers began appearing.
Name: AaravClass: Assassin
Starter Equipment: Basic Dagger, Basic PistolSkill: None
Bonuses:+2 Mana+2 Speed
Stats
Strength — 2Dexterity — 4 (+2)Mana — 5 (+2)Endurance — 2Stamina — 2
Aarav stared at the window in disbelief.
"Basic pistol…?"
The system had recognized the gun.
Rohan leaned closer.
"You're kidding…"
Pranav whispered,
"That thing actually counts as your weapon."
Aarav slowly closed the stat window.
But the countdown was nearly over.
00:00:15
Across the campus, students tightened their grip on their new weapons.
Some held swords.
Others clutched daggers.
A few gripped bows nervously.
Fear hung heavy in the air.
00:00:08
Someone started praying.
00:00:05
The ground trembled faintly.
00:00:03
The air grew strangely cold.
Sweat ran down Aarav's temple as he tightened his grip on the pistol hidden in his bag.
00:00:01
The timer reached zero.
12:10 PM
A new message appeared before every human being on Earth.
STAGE 1 — BEGIN