The basement still smelled of iron and dust.
The neon lamp that once hung from the ceiling now flickered weakly, casting distorted shadows over a body lying motionless on the floor. The blood had dried, forming dark stains that seeped into the cracks of the concrete.
Elias stood still at the center of the room.
His hands trembled slightly—not from fear, but from the realization that all of this had truly happened. The man who had locked him up, beaten him, and treated him like livestock for years now lay dead before him.
Mr. Hargrove.
For the first time since childhood, there were no shouted orders.No lashes of cruel words.No threats.
Only silence.
Elias lowered his gaze, staring at his own hands. His skin felt unfamiliar—like it didn't belong to him anymore. Like it belonged to something else.
"A new world, huh…" he murmured.
As if answering him, a translucent blue light appeared before his eyes.
[STATUS PANEL]
Name: Elias ThornJob: ProphetLevel: 1Stats: Strength 10, Agility 10, Intelligence 15, Charisma 20, Vitality 10SP: 0FP: 50Skill: Brainwash (Cost 10 FP, no cooldown. Target becomes an Initiate-level follower.)Followers: 0
Elias stared at the panel in confusion, then touched the word Prophet.The panel trembled softly before expanding—no longer just numbers, but explanations.
[Job Information: Prophet]
Description:A Prophet is not a bearer of truth, but a creator of meaning.They stand between ruin and hope, interpreting a collapsing world through words capable of binding human hearts.
A Prophet's power does not come from physical strength, but from the faith of others. Every belief directed toward them becomes tangible energy—Faith Points—flowing like a pulse that strengthens their existence. The more followers who choose to walk behind them, the greater the power they can wield.
A Prophet is a leader who does not always walk at the front, but always stands at the center. They are not the strongest physically, yet every step they take compels others to act, to fight, and even to die in their name.
In the hands of a Prophet, faith is a weapon.
And in a world that has lost its god, a Prophet may become something far more dangerous.
Elias frowned after reading it, then tapped Faith Points.Another panel appeared.
[Faith Points (FP)]
Function:• Activates skills• Upgrades follower ranks• Locked functions
How to Obtain FP:
Killing living beings—humans or monsters
Passive generation from followers
Note:FP cannot be obtained from individuals who are not followers.
Elias swallowed.
"So…" He let out a dry chuckle. "This world really wants me to become a monster."
The panel gave no response.
Elias tapped Follower, and another panel appeared.
[Follower System]
Follower Tiers & FP Production:• Initiate — 5 FP / day• Acolyte — 10 FP / day• Devotee — 20 FP / day• Zealot — 100 FP / day• Apostle — 500 FP / day
Follower Upgrades:• Initiate → Acolyte: 100 FP• Upgrade cost doubles for each higher tier
Effects of Becoming a Follower:Targets gain one new skill appropriate to their follower tier.The higher the tier, the greater their obedience.
Elias closed his eyes for a moment.
"So their faith… gets turned into fuel," he whispered.
He tapped the final option—the one that had been bothering him the most.The last panel appeared, as if waiting.
[Skill: Brainwash]
Cost: 10 FPEffect: Forces the target to become an Initiate-level follower
Note:Loyalty is formed through coercion. Because this is not genuine faith, followers obtained through this skill do not grant recruitment FP rewards (30 FP). The target's personality remains unchanged.
Elias opened his eyes.
"So… followers created with this skill don't give recruitment rewards, but this skill still useful."
The panel slowly faded away.
The basement returned to silence.
Then—
Tap—tap—tap!Hah… hah… hah…
Rushed footsteps and labored breathing.
Elias immediately tensed. He grabbed the knife he had taken earlier from the floor. Its blade was still stained with blood.
From behind the half-collapsed door, a woman's voice trembled.
"Is—Is anyone there?"
The voice shook—but it was familiar.
"Iris?" Elias replied quietly. "It's me."
The door was pushed open slowly.
Iris Caldwell appeared first. Her black hair was a mess, her face smeared with dust, her eyes red—either from lack of sleep or from crying. Behind her, a large man cautiously peeked inside.
"Lucas?" Elias lowered the knife.
Lucas Reed stepped fully into the room. Broad shoulders, scarred hands. His gaze swept across the basement before stopping at the body on the floor.
He went silent for a long moment.
"…He's dead," Lucas finally said.
Iris covered her mouth. "Y-you… you did this?"
Elias nodded slowly. "He deserved it."
Lucas let out a long breath, then gave a short laugh. "Damn… finally."
Iris stared at Elias longer. "Your eyes…" she whispered. "They're red."
Elias reflexively touched his face. "Really?"
Iris nodded slowly.
"Awakened?" Lucas asked—half joking, half serious.
"Maybe."
A loud sound suddenly echoed from above. Like something tearing through wood.
Iris flinched. "What was that?"
"Definitely not human," Elias said quickly. "We need to move."
Lucas nodded.
"The others?" Elias asked.
Lucas exhaled. "Still inside the building. If they're alive."
Iris clenched her fists. "We can't leave them."
"Of course not," Elias said. "But we need cooperation."
Lucas stared straight at him. "You've changed."
"The world changed," Elias replied. "I'm just adapting."
As if triggered by his words, two small panels appeared in the air—one in front of Lucas, one in front of Iris.
[Do you accept becoming a follower of Elias Thorn?][Yes] [No]
Iris froze. "What… is this?"
Lucas frowned. "Follower?"
Elias sighed. "I'll be honest. If you accept, you'll become stronger. But I… will gain something in return."
"What?" Iris asked softly.
"Your loyalty," Elias answered. "Or at least your willingness to walk with me."
Lucas fell silent. He stared at the panel, then at Elias. "And if I refuse?"
"No coercion," Elias said. "You're free to leave."
"And if we accept?" Iris asked.
"We survive together."
Lucas smirked. "Sounds better than dying alone."
He pressed Yes.
The panel vanished.
Iris hesitated. "Elias… you're still the same person, right?"
Elias met her gaze. "I don't know. But I still care about you."
Iris took a long breath, then pressed Yes.
The panel disappeared.
A brief notification appeared before Elias.
[Followers Acquired: 2]
[Daily FP Generation Initialized]
[Reward for recruiting followers 60 FP]
There was no joy.
Only a heavier burden.
"Alright," Elias said. "We move now. Stay quiet. Whatever's out there… it's drawn to sound."
Lucas nodded. "I'll take point."
Iris moved closer to Elias. "Do you really think we can survive?"
Elias stared into the dark hallway ahead. "No."
"Then why keep moving?"
'Because this world gave me no choice,' Elias thought.
But what he said was only one sentence.
"Because if I stop, everything ends."
Outside the orphanage, something growled.
And for the first time, Elias did not feel alone as he stepped into the darkness.