Abyssal Ascent

Jinhyeok sat on the rooftop of a half-collapsed building, watching the ruined city below. Fires still smoldered in the distance, and the occasional shriek of an unseen monster echoed through the streets.

It had been six hours since the system's announcement.

> [Survivor Announcement]

First Wave Complete.

Remaining Survivors: 102.

Second Wave Begins in 24 Hours.

That meant he had 18 hours left to prepare.

The problem was, he didn't know what was coming next.

Jinhyeok's fingers absentmindedly tapped against the iron pipe he had taken from the burly man he killed. It was heavy, slightly rusted, but far more durable than his small dagger.

His emerald eyes flicked to his status screen.

> Name: Kang Jinhyeok

Level: 3

Strength: E+

Agility: D+

Skills:

Fanged Crawler's Reflexes (E)

Minor Swordsmanship (F+)

Ravager's Agility (D-)

Predator's Instincts (D)

Brute Force (E+)

Swift Hands (E+)

Not bad for someone who had started at Level 1 barely a day ago.

But not enough.

He needed to level up before the second wave arrived.

Jinhyeok's gaze swept across the cityscape. The first wave had brought monsters, and then a culling among survivors.

Which meant…

The second wave would be even worse.

He let out a slow breath. "No choice, then."

He had to keep hunting.

---

[The Hunting Grounds]

Jinhyeok moved through the city's ruins, his steps silent despite the rubble.

Thanks to Predator's Instincts, his senses had sharpened. The creaking of shifting debris, the distant growls of lurking creatures, the scent of blood in the air—he could feel them all.

His first target came quickly.

A Ravager—a gaunt, humanoid creature with jagged limbs and blackened, peeling skin. Its red, hungry eyes locked onto him the moment he stepped into its territory.

> [Abyssal Ravager – D-Rank]

Jinhyeok grinned.

"I was hoping for a warm-up."

The Ravager lunged, claws gleaming in the dim light.

Jinhyeok dodged, his body twisting out of the way with Ravager's Agility. He felt the rush of air as the claws barely missed him.

Then—he counterattacked.

With Brute Force, he swung the iron pipe.

CRACK!

The impact shattered the Ravager's ribs, sending it sprawling back.

But it wasn't dead yet.

The creature shrieked, its body already beginning to mend itself.

Jinhyeok didn't let it.

He surged forward, swinging the pipe downward.

SPLAT.

The Ravager's skull caved in.

> You have slain an Abyssal Ravager!

Gaining experience…

Jinhyeok let out a slow breath, wiping sweat from his brow.

Not bad. But he still needed more.

He moved deeper into the ruins.

---

[Predator Among Prey]

Time passed in a blur of battle.

Jinhyeok hunted relentlessly, taking down three more Ravagers and even a Fanged Crawler, a monstrous, centipede-like creature that had nearly ripped his arm off before he caved its skull in.

> Level Up!

Level: 3 → 4

New Skill Acquired: [Tenacity (F+)]

Jinhyeok exhaled, flexing his fingers.

Tenacity. A skill that increased his endurance and resistance to pain.

Not flashy, but useful.

His body ached, but he felt stronger than ever.

Still, he needed one more kill before he could rest.

Then, he heard it.

A deep, guttural growl.

Jinhyeok turned.

And his breath caught in his throat.

---

[Boss Monster: Abyssal Howler]

A towering figure stepped out from the shadows.

Its body was hulking, covered in matted, jet-black fur. Its head was wolf-like, but with too many eyes, each one glowing a sickly yellow.

> [Abyssal Howler – C-Rank]

Jinhyeok's fingers instinctively tightened around his weapon.

This… was different.

The Howler wasn't just some mindless beast.

It was a predator.

And it was hunting him.

The creature lowered its stance. A heartbeat later—

It charged.

Jinhyeok's instincts screamed.

He jumped to the side, narrowly avoiding the Howler's clawed swipe. The ground where he had stood was instantly ripped apart, stone and debris flying into the air.

"Shit."

This thing was fast for its size.

And worse—he could feel it watching him. Studying him.

This wasn't just a mindless beast. It was a killer.

Jinhyeok had only seconds to react before it lunged again.

He couldn't dodge forever.

He had to attack.

But how?

His iron pipe wouldn't be enough to kill something like this.

Which meant—

He had to use his head.

Jinhyeok's gaze flicked to the ruined buildings around them.

His mind worked in overdrive.

Then—he grinned.

"I'll take my chances."

Jinhyeok ran.

---

[The Fall of the Hunter]

The Howler chased after him, its massive frame bulldozing through the streets.

Jinhyeok led it carefully, dodging between ruins, drawing it toward a half-collapsed building.

Just a little more…

The creature was right behind him.

He reached the building's base—

And suddenly stopped.

The Howler, unable to halt in time, lunged forward.

That was when Jinhyeok moved.

Brute Force.

He swung his iron pipe with all his strength—not at the creature—

But at the weakened support beam of the ruined building.

CRASH!

The entire structure collapsed.

The Howler let out a deafening howl as tons of rubble came crashing down on it.

A massive dust cloud filled the street.

Jinhyeok stood there, panting.

Then—

> You have slain an Abyssal Howler!

Gaining experience…

Level Up!

Level: 4 → 5

New Skill Acquired: [Survivor's Adaptability (E-)]

Jinhyeok grinned.

He had won.

But as the dust settled, his grin faded.

Because in the distance—

He could hear more howls.

And the second wave was still coming.

---

[To Be Continued…]