Isekai Murim In The Apocalypse

As he attempted to decipher the meanings behind the interface, Aziel noticed a few other elements within its design. At the top, five highlighted tabs stood out:

[Cultivation Techniques] (0) [Martial Art Techniques] (0) [Shop] [Quests] (0) [Mail] (1)

Curious about their contents, Aziel decided to examine each tab individually. By simply thinking of the tab he wanted to explore, the screen shifted accordingly.

[Cultivation Techniques]

[You do not have any Cultivation Techniques.]

Aziel studied the first tab, his expression filled with mild disappointment. Without a word, he proceeded to the next.

[Martial Art Techniques]

[You do not own any Martial Art Techniques.]

As expected, the outcome mirrored the first tab. Unfazed, he moved on to the others.

[Shop]

[This section is locked.]

A single line of text greeted him. It piqued his curiosity—what would be available once it was unlocked? However, there was no indication of how to access it.

[Quests]

[You do not have any quests available.]

This, too, was unsurprising. He had already completed his only quest, though he had hoped for a hidden surprise quest. Given the odds of obtaining a ticket home through quest completion, Aziel knew he needed as many as possible.

With a deep breath, he turned to the final tab, hesitating. It was the only one marked with an icon—likely an unread message directed at him. What could it possibly contain?

[Mail]

[Congratulations! You have successfully crossed through the dimensional gates and traveled to another world. Welcome to the world of Murim!]

'Another world…? World of Murim…?'

Slowly, Aziel tore his gaze away from the interface, surveying his surroundings. Having grown up in the ruins of an apocalyptic world, the sheer foreignness of this place struck him deeply.

'So… this really is another world? Those gates actually brought me here? That explains a lot… but at the same time, it raises so many questions. How is this even possible?'

"Maybe it works like the portals where the monsters in my world originated. A gateway to another world…" he muttered to himself, attempting to make sense of it.

Before he could dwell on it further, a sudden notification flashed before his eyes.

[Please allocate your stat points.]

Aziel shifted his focus back to the original tab, examining the stat allocation section.

[Strength: 2] (+)

[Agility: 3] (+)

[Stamina: 2] (+)

[Sense: 2] (+)

[Qi: 0] (+)

[Stat Points Available: 4]

'So I just distribute them like this…?'

He tapped the plus signs beside the stats he deemed most beneficial.

(-) [Strength: 3] (+)

(-) [Agility: 5] (+)

[Stamina: 2] (+)

[Sense: 2] (+)

[Qi: 0] (+)

[Stat Points Available: 1]

Two points into agility, one into strength—if his understanding was correct, this would make him faster and stronger. That left him with a single remaining stat point, which he reserved for the option that intrigued him most: Qi.

As soon as he attempted to allocate the point, an unexpected notification blocked his action.

[Unable to allocate a stat point to Qi.]

[You have not yet awakened your Dantian.]

'Dantian? Another term I know nothing about. What is that, and how do I unlock it?'

The system remained silent, providing no hints. With a sigh, Aziel placed his last stat point into strength.

[All stat points allocated. Confirm your selection?] (Y/N)

'Confirm.'

[Selection Confirmed.]

[Strength: 4]

[Agility: 5]

[Stamina: 2]

[Sense: 2]

[Qi: 0]

A surge of energy rushed through his body. His muscles tensed, his limbs felt lighter, and his reflexes sharpened. The euphoria lasted only seconds before fading, but the difference was undeniable.

Aziel glanced down at himself in surprise. The pouches he carried suddenly felt lighter. Testing his new agility, he took a step forward—his speed far exceeding what he had ever managed in this weakened body.

'I really got stronger… But what's the point of growing stronger in another world, in a body that isn't even my own?' he murmured, his gaze turning cold.

Pushing the thought aside, he scanned his surroundings.

"That old man is waiting for me, but I need to complete quests and find a way back. If there aren't any available, I'll just create some," he resolved before approaching a nearby stranger.

The first person he encountered was a man working at a stall, selling red lanterns while puffing on a long, slender wooden pipe.

"Excuse me, do you need help with anything?" Aziel asked.

The man eyed him with mild confusion before exhaling a plume of smoke. "Huh? You looking for money, kid? I ain't got any jobs for you."

"Nah, I don't need money. I'm just bored. Give me something to do."

The vendor mulled it over. "Hmm… In that case, bring me some customers. I need more sales."

Aziel grinned in anticipation. He had received a request—surely, a quest notification would follow.

So he waited.

And waited.

But no quest notification appeared.

"You just gonna stand there, or—"

"Give me another task. I can't do that one," Aziel interrupted.

The vendor scoffed. "Then I got nothin'. Ask someone else."

With a sigh, Aziel did just that. For the next ten minutes, he wandered through the town, offering assistance to anyone who might need it. All in pursuit of a single quest.

But it was all in vain.

Not a single person triggered a quest.

At some point, he began to suspect the interface was toying with him.