The room fell silent again.
But this time…
Blaine wasn't the same.
The faint green interface still hovered in front of him.
Cold.
Unemotional.
Waiting.
[Strength: 1]
"Weak…"
He muttered the word under his breath, not with frustration—but with acceptance.
Because it was the truth.
A new world.
A new body.
A new rule.
Strength decides everything.
Blaine exhaled slowly and closed the interface with a thought.
It disappeared instantly.
"So it responds to intent…"
Good.
That made things easier.
He turned toward the door.
Old.
Worn.
Slightly broken at the edges.
Without hesitation, he pushed it open.
Creaaak…
The sound echoed through a narrow hallway outside.
Dim lights flickered above.
The air was heavier here.
And colder.
Blaine stepped out.
The hallway stretched left and right, filled with closed doors—each one identical to the room he had just left.
Some slightly open.
Most shut tight.
A strange feeling crept in.
This place…
felt wrong.
Then—
A sound.
Thud.
Blaine's eyes shifted instantly.
Another sound followed.
Closer this time.
Thud… thud…
Heavy footsteps.
Slow.
Dragging.
Not normal.
Blaine's body tensed slightly.
Instinct took over.
Danger.
He moved quietly toward the corner of the hallway, peeking just enough to see.
And then—
He saw it.
A figure.
Tall.
Unstable.
Moving in an unnatural way.
Its body looked… wrong.
Twisted.
Its skin pale, almost gray.
Its movements stiff, like something struggling to control its own limbs.
Its head jerked slightly—
Then stopped.
Silence.
Blaine didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
Then—
The figure turned.
Its eyes…
locked onto him.
"…"
For a brief second, nothing happened.
Then suddenly—
It rushed forward.
Fast.
Far too fast.
"—!"
Blaine reacted instantly.
He stepped back, barely avoiding the creature's grasp as it slammed into the wall beside him.
BANG!
The impact cracked the surface.
"Not human…"
There was no hesitation in his eyes.
Only calculation.
The creature turned again, letting out a low, distorted sound.
And attacked.
This time—
Blaine didn't retreat.
He stepped forward.
And threw a punch.
Thud.
His fist landed cleanly against the creature's chest.
But—
It barely reacted.
"…"
Too weak.
The creature grabbed his arm instantly.
Its grip—
tight.
Blaine's eyes sharpened.
This wasn't a fight he could win with strength alone.
Not yet.
He twisted his body sharply, using momentum instead of power to break free.
Then he stepped back again, creating distance.
His breathing remained steady.
No panic.
No fear.
Only one thought.
Adapt.
The creature charged again.
But this time—
Blaine moved first.
He sidestepped.
And slammed his elbow into its neck.
Crack.
The creature staggered.
A small opening—
Blaine didn't hesitate.
He grabbed a broken piece of metal from the ground—
And drove it forward.
Stab.
The object pierced through the creature's throat.
It froze.
For a moment—
Everything went still.
Then—
It collapsed.
Silence returned.
Blaine stood there, unmoving.
His chest rose and fell slowly.
Then—
A familiar sound echoed again.
[Target Eliminated]
His eyes flickered slightly.
[Absorption Detected]
[Strength +1]
The green interface appeared once more.
[Strength: 2]
"…"
Blaine looked at his hand.
The difference…
was small.
But real.
A faint smile appeared.
Not out of joy.
But understanding.
So this was how it worked.
Fight.
Survive.
Grow stronger.
Simple.
He looked down at the lifeless body.
No hesitation.
No regret.
Only clarity.
This world doesn't reward kindness.
He turned away.
And walked deeper into the hallway.
Because now—
He knew exactly what he needed to do.
Get stronger.
No matter the cost.