📖 Chapter 1: Death… and a New Beginning
"Am I… dead?"
That was the first thought that crossed my mind.
Darkness was everywhere. A darkness so deep that I couldn't even feel my own hands. No sound, no wind… just a strange, haunting silence.
The last thing I remembered—
The screeching sound of a sudden brake…
People screaming…
And my body flying through the air…
Then, everything went black.
"Maybe this is what death feels like…" I thought to myself.
But something was off.
If I'm dead… how am I still able to think?
Suddenly—
A sound echoed.
A faint light shimmered in front of me… and slowly, it formed into a glowing blue screen. I was in total shock.
"What… is this?"
Words began to appear on the screen:
**[Welcome to my world]** **[Emotion System Activated]**
My heart began to pound—or at least, it felt like it.
"System…? Is this some kind of game?"
I reached out my hand to try and touch the screen… and as soon as I did, new options flashed before my eyes:
* **[Fear = Attack Power]**
* **[Respect = Defense]**
* **[Love = Healing]**
* **[Hate = Rage Mode]**
My breathing quickened. I thought—*"Is this some kind of joke?"* But deep down, I felt it… this was all real.
"You mean… I can get stronger through people's emotions?"
The moment the thought crossed my mind, the screen replied instantly. I fell silent for a few seconds. If this was true… then it meant I wasn't normal anymore.
Suddenly—
I felt a powerful force pulling me downward. The darkness began to shift, and everything started spinning before my eyes.
"What's happening—?!"
**THUD!**
I slammed hard against the ground.
"Ahhh!"
This time, the pain was real. I was alive.
I slowly opened my eyes… and what I saw took my breath away. This wasn't my world. Massive trees surrounded me… a strange wind was blowing… and from somewhere in the distance, I heard the terrifying cry of a beast.
"Where… am I?"
I tried to stand up, but my body felt incredibly weak.
Then—
A sound came from behind me. I turned around slowly… and my eyes widened in horror.
A monster stood before me. Its eyes were blood-red, its teeth were razor-sharp, and it was twice my size.
"M-Monster…?"
My entire body began to tremble. "This can't be real…"
The monster began to inch toward me. My heart was beating so fast I thought it would burst.
"I'm going to die…"
As soon as that thought hit me, the screen reappeared:
**[Fear Detected]** **[Attack Power Increased +5]**
I looked at the screen in shock.
"Power… from fear?"
The monster was right in front of me now. It raised its massive hand—ready to strike. For a split second, I thought—*"This is the end."*
But in that moment… I didn't close my eyes. I realized: if fear gives me power, then I will be afraid. I need to be even more terrified.
My body was shaking uncontrollably. My heart rate was off the charts.
And then—
The screen flashed:
**[Fear Level Rising]** **[Attack Power Increased +10]** **[Attack Power Increased +20]** I opened my eyes. This time, something inside me had shifted.
"Now… it's my turn."
The monster attacked—but this time, I didn't flinch. I thrust my hand forward and delivered a single punch.
**BOOM!** The monster was sent flying through the air, crashing into the ground far away. Silence returned to the woods. I stood there, stunned.
"Did I… did I just do that?"
I looked at my hands. They were shaking, but a strange energy was coursing through them.
**DING!** The screen appeared once more:
**[First Kill Completed]** **[Welcome to the New World]** A slow smile crept across my face.
"Looks like… the story has only just begun."
🔥 **END OF CHAPTER 1**