The dimly lit dormitory room stood still as the night drew on, the faint rustling of the wind outside mixing with the soft hum of the building’s old ventilation system. Yanluo’s thoughts, however, were anything but still. His recent awakening had thrown him into a new world, one filled with systems, powers, and strange rules that seemed to bend reality itself. But in the end, it all came down to one thing: control.

  He placed his hands behind his head and stared at the ceiling, his mind wandering back to the system window that he had carefully hidden with the Customizer skill. It’s not enough to just survive… I need power. And the only way to get it is by exploiting this system.

  Yanluo’s previous life had taught him that survival was the first step. But survival alone wouldn’t be enough to exact the revenge he sought. The SSR-ranked Seeker System had limitless potential, but it would take time to unlock that potential. The weakness? His lack of offensive skills. He could gather information, and even track enemies —but he couldn’t fight yet.

  The faint sound of knocking echoed through the door, and Yanluo immediately sat up, eyes narrowing. The hallway beyond was eerily quiet, the silence thick with an unsettling tension. Not again. Who could it be this time?

  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Moving cautiously to the side window near the door, he glanced through the glass. There was no one in sight. A chill rushed down his spine.

  "Heh... playing tricks, are we?"

  He activated the Seeker System window.

  [System Detected: Evolve Skill Available – One-Time Use]

  [Do you wish to use Evolve on Info Getter?]

  "Let’s stir things up a bit."

  [Skill Evolution in Progress...]

  [New Skill Unlocked: Omni-Scan Lv.max]

  Scans all individuals within 20 meters, revealing their full system windows, ranks, skills, and weaknesses. Passive and instantaneous. Auto-refreshes every 5 minutes [no cooldown].

  As the skill kicked in, he sensed it—someone lurking right outside his door, cloaked in stealth.

  "Let’s see what kind of vermin are hiding behind their masks."

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  [Seeker System - Activating Omni-Scan]

  A sudden sharpness surged through his senses as the new skill activated. His vision shifted slightly, the world outside his room becoming sharper, more defined. His mind sifted through the available data, honing in on the figure standing just outside his door.

  It’s him, Yanluo thought as he recognized the presence.

  [Omni-Scan: Kwon Chen]

  Rank: S

  Skills:

  Skills: Silent Step, Backstab

  [Weakness]: Overconfidence. Kwon Chen relies heavily on his physical strength, leaving him vulnerable to manipulation and skill-based attacks.]

  Yanluo’s lips curled into a faint grin as he saw Kwon Chen’s name flash across the window. Kwon Chen, huh? Thank god.

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  At least now, he knew what he was dealing with. This was someone he could hurt, but not someone he could kill—not yet, anyway. The faint relief in Yanluo’s chest was almost imperceptible, but it was there. Kwon Chen’s presence would be a problem, but not an insurmountable one.

  The door creaked open with a slow, deliberate motion. Kwon Chen stood in the doorway, his trademark sneer curling up the side of his lips. Behind him, a couple of his lackeys loitered, waiting for something to unfold. They had been watching the fight from earlier, no doubt hoping for a repeat performance.

  “Did you think you’d get away, Yanluo?” Kwon Chen’s voice was low, filled with venom. “You might’ve embarrassed me today, but I’ll make sure you never forget who runs this place.”

  Yanluo didn’t move. He stood there, calm, his eyes meeting Kwon Chen’s with a look of quiet disdain.

  “I don’t need to run anything. I just need to outlast you,” Yanluo said, his voice steady and cold.

  Kwon Chen’s eyes narrowed. He was never one to tolerate insults, especially not from someone he considered beneath him. Without another word, he lunged forward, his fist cutting through the air like a hammer. His first strike was aimed at Yanluo’s face, a powerful punch meant to knock him out cold. But Yanluo didn’t flinch. He stood his ground, watching as Kwon Chen’s fist came closer.

  There was no point in dodging. No point in trying to fight back—Yanluo didn’t have any offensive skills yet. No real fighting abilities to match Kwon Chen’s strength. But that was fine. Because even though he couldn’t win this fight, Yanluo knew something Kwon Chen didn’t: he had all the time in the world to get stronger.

  Yanluo’s body slammed against the wall with the force of the punch, his ribs creaking with the impact. Pain exploded through him, but he didn’t let it show. His head spun briefly, but he gritted his teeth, his eyes still locked on Kwon Chen. The bully was relentless, pounding him with a flurry of strikes that seemed to come from all directions. The blows felt like they were coming from every angle—his face, his chest, his abdomen.

  It was brutal. But it didn’t matter.

  With each strike, Yanluo’s mind worked, calculating, strategizing. He couldn’t fight back now, but he could learn. He could wait. Every punch, every bruise, was another piece of information.

  Kwon Chen’s fists continued to rain down, and with each blow, Yanluo grew calmer. He wasn’t scared. He was planning. Every action had a consequence, and every defeat would only bring him closer to victory.

  “You think you can just take it all, huh?” Kwon Chen spat as he slammed his fist into Yanluo’s chest again. “How pathetic. You don’t even fight back. You’re weak.”

  Yanluo’s lips curled upward in a faint smirk as he coughed up blood.

  “No, you’re the one who’s pathetic,” he replied softly. “You think strength alone is enough to win? Keep thinking that. Keep believing it. I’ll destroy you later.”

  Kwon Chen’s eyes flickered with confusion, but he didn’t stop. Not yet. The fight continued for what felt like an eternity, Yanluo taking each hit without resistance. It was painful—painful in a way he had grown familiar with, but this time it felt different. This time, it wasn’t the pain that mattered. It was the future. The plan.

  Kwon Chen continued his brutal assault, but Yanluo’s mind was elsewhere.

  [Seeker System - Skills Available: Check for Upgrade]

  His thoughts flickered back to the Seeker System. The potential that lay within him, waiting to be unlocked. He had already purchased the Customizer skill, a crucial tool to keep his true system hidden from the world. But now, it was time to think about offense. His lack of combat skills was a huge disadvantage—one that could prove fatal if not addressed soon.

  But tonight wasn’t the time for that. Tonight was for observation. Tonight was for survival.

  The beating continued until finally, Kwon Chen seemed to tire. The lackeys, still standing in the doorway, exchanged looks. They clearly expected more, but they had already seen enough.

  “Don’t think this is over,” Kwon Chen spat, his breath heavy. “I’ll finish this properly later. Once the Cube starts, there’ll be no rules. No escaping.”

  He turned and walked out, his lackeys trailing behind him, leaving Yanluo to bleed on the floor.

  Yanluo’s body ached from head to toe, but despite the pain, he felt a strange sense of relief. He could hurt Kwon Chen, and that was enough. The world was full of people like him—strong, brash, and overconfident. But that overconfidence was their downfall. And when the time came, Yanluo would be waiting.

  As the door clicked shut, Yanluo let out a long breath. The pain didn’t bother him—it was a reminder of the game he was playing. He had to stay patient. The Cube was just two days away, and he was going to make sure he was ready.