There were many questions that arose inside me to which I scarcely had answers. What most caught my attention was what I had in front.
[System notification]
- [Mission]
*Participate in Nova Academy's entrance exam
[Compensation:?]
[Failure: Loss of the system]
A translucent blue window floated in front of me, I took a look at what appears to be a window of missions and read carefully.
Go or escape? That is the question ...
There are many problems in attending, but just as disadvantages also abound opportunities. One of the greatest advantages is that Nova Academy's credential works as a hunter or mercenary license, and that in a world where monsters and danger abound. "It is a gold mine" that allows you to go into dungeons and hunt monsters to increase my statistics, but of course, it is limited to low -level dungeons.
Although it could also be mercenary, but it is not efficient. On the other hand, at no time I thought about leading an ordinary life. Later, the world goes to the devil and it is better to have skills to defend itself than to wait for help that can never come. After clarifying my thoughts, I made a decision.
***
Magnetic Leviathan, a steel float of elongated and fluid structure with soft and curved edges to reduce wind resistance, floated majestically on the tracks. This masterpiece composed of magical engineering is a very common transport, used in this world to make trips in the shortest possible time. In terms of my previous world, it would be something similar to a Maglev train.
"It's a shame," remarked the stooped old man in front of me, his eyes fixed on the computer. "When will the day come that we actually win something?"
"Honey, honey!
"Oh, dear! When you come home from your trip, don't spend the whole day glued to that damn screen."
"Bah, don't exaggerate, woman! I'm just checking out the sports. You'd better go get me some beer."
The old woman stared at him intently, her gaze fiery, and with a quick movement she slapped him on the back.
"Stop avoiding the issue, old man. Besides, you remember the doctor told you not to drink alcohol."
The old man grunted softly as he settled back in his seat, his gaze downcast.
I looked on, bewildered, at the peaceful elderly couple enjoying their train ride, in an atmosphere straight out of a romantic comedy.
Ding!
For a moment, my worries slipped from my mind, leaving behind only this happy scene.
Ding!
-[Mission]
*Survive
[Reward: Random Trait]
With a faint, oppressive notification sound, the [system mission] appeared before me. My heart was racing. I stared at the mission window with wide eyes: "Survive?" Survive?! Confused, my hands trembled as I looked around, trying to understand what was happening. The air felt thick, and my mind kept racing—is this a joke? I haven't even been in this world for three days, and I'm already going to die. Fear once again flooded my mind.
The old woman who was arguing with her husband looked at me as if she could sense my gaze.
"Excuse me… young man, from the looks of it, you don't seem to be feeling well. I have some medicine in my bag—would you like to take some?"
"Hmm! You can take it, boy. Sometimes it's okay to get a little help. What good is a young man if he's more of a problem than an old man?"
The old woman smiled warmly and offered me the medicine, and the old man, who was clearly concerned about my health, even though he pretended not to be.
It was a small but selfless act of kindness that softened my heart a little, though seconds later I regained my composure and stared intently at the glass bottle.
Perhaps noticing my hesitation, the old woman waved her hand gently.
"If you feel uncomfortable, you can refuse it. When I was young, I didn't accept gifts from strangers either."
Silently, I held out my hand.
"Thank you…" The old woman gently placed the bottle in my hand.
Then I slowly analyzed the contents of the mission, and my eyes began to look increasingly different, a little sharper, because although at first glance it seems like a simple message, it hides a lot of information. It functions as a sensor to detect threats, indicating that something will happen in the next few minutes, and it also allows you to acquire abilities.
This way, I'll be able to instantly shorten the route I had planned to survive.
Although gambling with my life is a high price to pay, the rewards are also very great.
Thud…!
The train came to a sudden stop, causing the passengers to jump and some to even lose their balance. Two heavily armed men, their faces covered and their gazes intimidating, stepped out of the adjacent car. Without saying a word, they pointed their automatic weapons at the crowd, causing widespread panic.
Screams of fear and despair filled the air, as some passengers threw themselves to the floor seeking protection. One of the assailants, with a deep, authoritative voice, approached the elderly woman sitting near me and grabbed her roughly by the arm, pressing the barrel of his pistol against her temple. "Silence or I'll blow your head off!" he shouted, causing the poor woman to tremble in terror.
Silence fell over the car, broken only by the old woman's stifled sobs. Her husband, terrified, remained motionless, his gaze vacant, not daring to make the slightest movement. Slowly, he tried to approach the assailants, raising his hands in a sign of surrender, and began to stammer a few words in a desperate attempt to negotiate.
The mercenary smiled contemptuously, looked at the old man with a sneer of disdain, and, without a word, pulled the trigger.
Bang!
A loud bang shook the train car for a moment. In slow motion, I watched as the old woman's frail body collapsed to the floor, as if life had left her at that very instant. The sound of the impact was drowned out by the general murmur of the passengers, who, terrified, watched the scene. Her eyes, wide with an expression of surprise and fear, slowly began to lose their sparkle. At that moment, the light faded from her gaze, and her face, once full of life, turned into a mask of stillness and silence. The train car, which minutes earlier had been a bustling place, was now enveloped in a deathly silence.