Genesis of Earth

Kael's boots clicked against the concrete floor, the sound eerily loud in the silence of the underground parking lot. The dim flickering fluorescent lights buzzed faintly above, their glow casting long, jagged shadows against the parked cars.

A faint chill lingered in the air, carrying the scent of rain-soaked asphalt, oil, and faint traces of cigarette smoke from someone who had likely been here earlier.

Kael came to a slow stop.

His brows furrowed.

Where… am I?

The sight of the apartment parking lot felt familiar—too familiar. His gaze swept over the surrounding vehicles, the dull sheen of their surfaces reflecting the sickly yellow glow of the overhead lamps.

There—at the far end of the garage, he spotted the stairwell leading to his apartment. The heavy metal door stood slightly ajar, just as it always had.

Kael's chest tightened.

He knew this place.

But something was wrong.

A strange weight pressed against his mind, a nagging sense of disconnect that sent a slow shiver down his spine.

His hands twitched.

His instincts screamed at him that something was missing—something important.

Where was I before this?

He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to grasp at the edges of his memory.

Darkness.

A cold chamber. A voice whispering to him.

A trial.

Something that mattered.

Yet—

The moment he tried to pull the memory forward, his mind recoiled violently, as if a door had slammed shut before he could step through.

Pain pulsed through his temples, and a sharp wave of nausea threatened to overtake him.

Kael stumbled slightly, catching himself against the nearest car.

Why can't I remember?

Before he could process the growing unease—

A muffled cry shattered the silence.

Kael's blood ran cold.

His head snapped toward the far end of the lot.

Through the dim haze, Kael spotted two figures near a silver sedan.

One—a man dressed in dark clothing, his back turned.

The other—a woman kneeling before him.

Her shoulders trembled.

Her hands were raised slightly, shaking.

And Kael's entire world came crashing down.

Because he knew her.

Elena.

His neighbor.

The woman who had lived just next to his apartment for the past three years.

Who had always greeted him with a warm smile when they passed in the hall.

Who had brought him soup when he was sick that one winter.

Who had once said, "You're too quiet, Kael. The world doesn't wait for people who hesitate."

His Elena.

Kael's lungs seized.

His pulse hammered against his ribs.

He had seen this before.

The flickering lights.

The trembling plea in her voice.

The glint of the gun in the man's hand.

His fingers twitched.

His legs felt like lead.

Every part of him screamed—STOP THIS. DO SOMETHING.

But he didn't move.

Just like before.

His mind fractured under the weight of it.

And then—

BANG!

The gunshot ripped through the silence.

Kael's body jerked.

Elena's head snapped back slightly before she crumpled forward, her lifeless form collapsing onto the cold pavement.

A pool of crimson spread beneath her, seeping into the cracks of the concrete.

Kael's breath hitched violently.

His hands shook.

His stomach twisted.

He wanted to move.

To reach out.

To turn back time.

But the world remained merciless.

The man with the gun turned, tucking the weapon into his jacket.

And then—without a second thought—he walked away.

Like she had meant nothing.

Kael collapsed to his knees beside her.

His fingers hovered inches away from her body, trembling.

He wanted to touch her, to shake her awake, to scream.

But she was gone.

And he had done nothing.

The world around him began to twist and fracture.

The fluorescent lights flickered erratically, distorting the edges of the parking lot like a shattered mirror.

His vision darkened.

His breath grew shallow.

This wasn't just a memory.

This was the moment that had broken him.

And then—

A voice.

Not from outside.

From within.

"Make the correct decision this time."

Kael's breath caught in his throat.

A sudden clarity struck him.

This wasn't real.

It was a test.

A trial designed to force him to relive his worst failure.

But this time—

He had a choice.

A Different Choice

Kael moved.

Faster than he had ever moved before.

His feet pounded against the pavement, his breath coming in sharp bursts.

"STOP!" he roared, his voice shaking the silence.

The man with the gun whipped around, startled.

Kael didn't hesitate.

Didn't think.

Didn't falter.

He lunged forward, slamming into the man with all his strength.

The gun went off—but the bullet missed.

Kael didn't give him a chance to recover.

His fist collided with the attacker's jaw, sending him sprawling to the ground.

Elena gasped, scrambling backward in shock.

Kael stood over the fallen man, his breath ragged.

This time—he had made the right choice.

And then—

The world vanished.

Kael stumbled forward, gasping.

The parking lot, the scent of blood, Elena's fearful eyes—

Gone.

The air was cold and still.

The faint blue glow of the chamber's runes pulsed softly around him.

He was back.

His hands were empty.

His clothes—unstained.

For a long moment, Kael simply stood there, his mind struggling to catch up.

Then, a system notification flickered before his eyes.

[Level 4 Complete.]

Kael's breath shook.

His fingers curled into fists.

The trial… had never been about survival.

It had been about his past. His regrets.

And his ability to face them.

His legs felt weak, but he didn't collapse.

Because this time—

He had changed everything.

Kael's hands twitched as he opened his status screen.

He hadn't checked his stats since the previous tutorial.

The familiar blue interface flickered before him.

Name: Kael Veran

Race: Human

Class: Mage

Level: 4

EXP : 300/800

HP: 130/130

MP: 65/65

Base Stats:

Strength: 5

Agility: 8

Stamina: 8

Intelligence: 12

Luck: 4

Free Stat Points: 2

Mana Bolt (Lv.1): A basic ranged magic attack. Deals minor damage. (Costs 5 MP per use.) Proficiency Level : 72%

Arcane Sensory (Lv.1): Allows the user to perceive mana in the surroundings. (Passive skill.) Proficiency Level : 11%

Kael's eyes widened.

He had leveled up again.

His HP and MP had increased.

But that wasn't what shocked him the most.

The two free stat points. And also he could level up his skills as he saw there proficiency going up.

Kael's breath caught slightly. He had expected some progress—but to see it laid out in front of him, a direct confirmation that he was getting stronger, that he was surviving—

It sent a strange feeling through his chest.

Not relief.

Not pride.

Something deeper.

He had struggled, fought, and almost broke under the weight of the last trial.

But he hadn't lost.

And now, the system acknowledged his growth.

Kael stared at his stats for a long moment, his mind running through the implications.

I need to save these points for future.

Kael exhaled, his fingers hovering over the interface.

He wasn't just surviving anymore.

He was evolving.