The call dragged Arien out of sleep.
His eyes opened slowly.
Dark room. Curtains half-drawn. City light bleeding through.
The phone vibrated again.
He answered.
"Master Arien."
Sophia's voice—calm, controlled… but not entirely.
There was excitement underneath.
"The villa matches your requirements. The deal is finalized."
Arien sat up.
Fully awake now.
"Price?"
"Ten million credits. No legal complications. Ownership transfers today."
A pause.
Then—
"Send the contractor."
By noon—
Dust clung to his boots as Arien stood on the outskirts of the city.
Across from him—
The contractor.
Broad shoulders. Scarred hands. Sharp eyes.
The kind of man who measured everything.
"Why buy a place like this?" the man asked.
"Abandoned. Old."
Arien didn't answer the question.
"One million now," he said, sliding the credit chip forward.
"The rest in a week."
A pause.
The contractor weighed the chip.
Then nodded.
"No problem."
"Good."
The gates came into view.
Heavy iron.
Slowly opening.
Arien stepped out of the vehicle.
And looked.
The villa stood like something left behind after a war.
Concrete.
Steel.
Time-worn—but intact.
High walls surrounded it.
Watchtower mounts.
Old reinforcements.
Not elegant.
Not modern.
But strong.
Wind moved through the empty grounds.
Loose gravel. Rusted lights.
Cracks in the walls—not weakness.
History.
Arien placed his hand against the surface.
"…Old," he murmured.
Then—
"…but reliable."
The system activated.
System Notification
Location Selection Confirmed
Base Type: Defensive Stronghold (Legacy Grade)
Evaluation: Optimal
Arien stepped inside.
The air shifted.
Reward Triggered
Conditions Met:
– Strategic Base Secured
– Supplies Acquired
Rewards:
– Security Camera Network
– Reinforced Structure
– Trap Systems
– Control Room
– +100 AP
A faint hum spread through the structure.
Cameras flickered to life.
Hidden mechanisms shifted inside the walls.
The base changed.
From empty—
To alive.
Arien exhaled quietly.
"…Good."
Time passed.
Not slowly.
Not noticeably.
Preparation consumed everything.
And then—
Six days were gone.
The world held its breath.
Time Remaining: 16 Hours
Arien stood in the control room.
Screens flickered softly.
City views.
Normal.
For now.
"In sixteen hours…"
He spoke quietly.
"…everything breaks."
He already knew the sequence.
Signals fail.
Broadcasts collapse.
Then chaos.
Sophia should arrive soon.
The collar—
Efficient.
Invisible.
Absolute.
A call came.
"Master, I'm outside."
"Come in."
The gates opened.
Sophia entered.
"Master," she said, stepping forward. "You called me?"
"You live alone?"
"Yes."
"You'll stay here."
No hesitation.
"As you command."
She accepted it easily.
Too easily.
Arien didn't react.
A few days ago—
She was someone else.
Now—
Useful.
DING.
A system window appeared.
Main Quest
Kill 100 Zombies
Sub Quest
Save one person and recruit them
Rewards:
– 100 AP
– 1000 Gold
– Hidden Skill [Creation]
– Special Material
Arien narrowed his eyes.
"…Good rewards."
Leveling was necessary.
Immediately.
He turned.
"Did you bring the weapons?"
"Yes, Master."
She placed them down.
Bows.
Machetes.
A katana.
No firearms.
Correct.
"Guns are inefficient," Arien said.
"Too much noise."
This world wasn't simple.
Sound attracted death.
"Until I unlock the system shop…" he muttered.
"This is enough."
He thought quickly.
Waiting wasn't an option.
"I need kills early," he said.
"Before mutation scales."
Crowded places.
High risk.
High reward.
"…We move now."
Sophia's expression brightened slightly.
"As you command."
The gates opened.
Their vehicle rolled out.
The city—
Still normal.
For a few more hours.
Sophia spoke—
"Master, where are we—"
"Outside," Arien cut in.
"Call me Arien."
She paused.
"…Yes… Arien."
A brief silence.
Then—
"Why are we doing this?" she asked.
Arien didn't answer immediately.
Because explaining wouldn't change anything.
Then—
A figure stumbled onto the road.
Too sudden.
Too close.
THUD.
The vehicle jolted.
Silence.
Sophia froze.
"…Arien—"
Arien's eyes narrowed.
Something—
Was wrong.
This wasn't panic.
This was—
Too early.
To be continued…