My Afterlife System!

Jihwan stood motionless, his body still trembling from the battle. Around him, the ruins of Death's Mansion collapsed, dissolving into nothingness like ash in the wind. The oppressive aura that had clung to his very soul was finally fading.

For the first time since entering this cursed domain—there was silence.

The suffocating dark had lifted—leaving behind an eerie, hollow silence.

He looked down at his hands, dark energy pulsing beneath his skin like a second heartbeat. The power that had once been barely enough to fend off minor creatures had sharpened, deepened, transformed.

He clenched his fists.

He had survived.

Then, the system's message appeared.

> [ You Have Successfully Completed the Quest. ]

[ You Can Exit Now. ]

[ Initializing Teleportation … ]

A sudden force gripped his body. Shadows coiled around him, pulling at his very being. It was weightless yet suffocating—like being dragged through the abyss itself.

The world distorted.

Light flashed.

In the blink of an eye—he was back.

Jihwan found himself standing in the middle of his apartment. His breathing was steady, but his heartbeat thundered in his ears.

The dim city glow leaked through the window, casting faint shadows along the room's familiar walls. The distant hum of traffic and muffled voices filled the air. The world was normal.

Yet, something was wrong.

He scanned the room—the same messy desk, the same worn-out couch, the same dull wallpaper. But it no longer felt familiar. It was as if he had stepped into a life that no longer belonged to him.

His fingers twitched. Dark energy flickered at his fingertips.

Before, wielding this power had felt unnatural—foreign. As if he were borrowing something that wasn't his.

Now?

It belonged to him.

Jihwan took slow steps toward the window. His reflection stared back at him—but it wasn't the same face he remembered.

His eyes…

They had changed.

No longer hesitant. No longer uncertain.

Colder. Sharper.

The weak hunter who had barely survived dungeons before was gone.

He exhaled, his breath fogging against the glass. His mind replayed every moment—the abyss swallowing Death's Mansion, the system's final words, the power surging through his veins.

If such a place existed…

Then there had to be more.

More trials awaited. Stronger enemies. Greater power.

The system had chosen him for a reason.

His grip tightened. He had been thrown into this world without a choice—forced to fight just to survive. But now…

He would take control.

Jihwan turned away from the window, his path clear.

If the system demanded strength, then he would become something no one could challenge.

He had defied Death itself.

Now, it was time to see what lay beyond it.

Jihwan sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the flickering screen of his phone. The normal world felt… distant. Almost unreal.

His fingers twitched, dark energy still humming beneath his skin. It was faint—a lingering echo of the power he had wielded in Death's Mansion. He flexed his hand, feeling the difference.

The system had changed him.

Not just his body. His mind.

The weak hunter who had barely scraped by before? Gone.

[ System Message ]

> [ You Have Successfully Completed the Death's Mansion Trial. ]

[ Your Status Has Been Updated. ]

[ New Quests Are Available. ]

Jihwan's gaze sharpened.

New quests?

With a flick of his hand, he summoned his status window.

[ Status Window ]

[ Name ] Yoo Jihwan

[ Level ] 10

[ HP ] 500/500

[ Dark Energy ] 1500/1500

[ Strength ] 30

[ Agility ] 40

[ Vitality ] 25

[ Intelligence ] 35

[ Skills ] Silent Throw, Shadow Walk, Death's Shroud, Abyss Command

[ Title ] Heir of the Abyss

[ DP ] 80

Jihwan exhaled slowly.

His stats had skyrocketed.

Before the mansion, he had been barely scraping by. Now—his strength, agility, and intelligence had doubled. Even his dark energy capacity was massive.

But the most interesting part was his new title.

[ Title: Heir of the Abyss ]

> → You are the one who conquered Death's Mansion.

→ Dark Energy skills increased by 50%.

→ All lower dark creatures will submit to your command.

Jihwan tapped his knee, deep in thought.

Lower dark creatures will submit to me?

That meant… he could control monsters now.

If this was only the beginning, how far could he really go?

His gaze flicked to the DP counter—75 points.

[ Afterlife Exchange Available ]

> → Spend DP to increase stats, buy skills, or acquire rare items.

Jihwan smirked.

Now, this was interesting.

He wasn't just a hunter anymore. He was something beyond that.

And he would climb higher than anyone.

[ New Quest Unlocked ]

> [ A Mysterious Rift Has Appeared ]

→ A strange anomaly has been detected nearby. Investigate the source.

→ Reward: ???

Jihwan's eyes narrowed.

The system wasn't letting him rest.

Good.

He welcomed the challenge.