BOOM!
The apartment door shook violently under a heavy impact.
A second hit shattered the old lock, and the door burst open.
A goblin stepped in.
Short. Green. Twisted.
Its yellow eyes gleamed with malice, and its crude wooden club was stained with fresh blood.
In his past life, this moment had reduced Leon to hiding in fear.
Now?
He stood calmly in front of it, holding a kitchen knife.
The goblin screeched and charged.
Leon moved.
Not backward.
Not away.
He shifted slightly—just enough.
The club missed him by inches, slamming into the wall.
And in that instant—
Leon's blade cut across the creature's throat.
Dark blood sprayed.
The goblin collapsed, twitching before going still.
[Goblin (Lv.1) defeated.]
[+10 EXP]
Leon looked down at the corpse, expressionless.
Then he extended his hand.
"Devour Essence."
The air around the body distorted.
The goblin's corpse began to collapse inward, breaking apart into faint gray strands, as if something invisible was pulling it out of existence.
In seconds—
It was gone.
[Essence successfully devoured.]
[Strength +1 (Permanent)]
[Void Energy obtained.]
Leon clenched his fist.
The power was real. Subtle—but undeniable.
And that was enough.
He grabbed an old backpack, filled it with water bottles and canned food, then stepped toward the broken doorway.
Beyond it—
Dark stairways.
A collapsing world.
A new beginning.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Victor…"
His eyes gleamed in the darkness.
"You came back too… didn't you?"
He stepped forward.
"This time… I won't be the one caught off guard."