My Afterlife System!

The dim glow of a flickering streetlamp outside cast jagged shadows across the walls of Jihwan's apartment. The silence was suffocating—the kind that made his thoughts too loud, his own breathing too sharp. Even though he had closed the Afterlife Exchange, the weight of its existence clung to him like a second skin.

A shop that rewarded death. A system that turned suffering into currency.

Jihwan exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples. His body felt… wrong. Not broken, but different. Something deep within him was unraveling, like an invisible thread had been severed. His limbs ached, his chest felt hollow, and his head throbbed with a dull, relentless pressure.

He had survived.

But at what cost?

The system had made sure he understood the truth—his first death wasn't an illusion. The Status Window had confirmed it.

[ Death Count: 1 ]

A permanent mark. An unchangeable fact.

Jihwan sat on the edge of his bed, fingers tightening around the fabric of his pants. The reality of it all still felt surreal. He had died. The system had recorded it. And now, it wanted something more from him.

A notification appeared.

[ New Quest: Pray for Your First Death ]

Objective: Reflect on the death that brought you here.

Penalty: Failure will result in increased mental anguish for 24 hours.

Reward: +5 DP

Jihwan's jaw clenched. Pray for my first death?

He didn't want to think about it. That moment had shattered everything—his sense of self, his trust in others, his belief in survival. The system had already forced him into a game of life and death. Now, it wanted him to worship his own suffering?

A quiet chuckle escaped his lips, hollow and bitter.

Ignoring the quest wasn't an option. He had seen what happened when the system enforced penalties. Increased mental anguish? He had no doubt it would break him further if he resisted.

With a slow breath, he lowered himself to the floor, crossing his legs. The hardwood was cold against his skin, grounding him in the present. He shut his eyes.

And the memories came.

The dungeon's damp air clung to his skin. The metallic scent of blood filled his nose. He could still feel the searing pain of claws tearing through his body, the warm trickle of his own life slipping away.

He had struggled. He had fought. He had reached out for help—

And no one had come.

His comrades—the ones he had trusted—had abandoned him. He could still hear the echo of their retreating footsteps. His body had collapsed onto the cold stone, breath shallow, vision blurring. The last thing he saw was the jagged ceiling of the dungeon, fading to black.

That death hadn't just taken his life. It had stolen everything.

Jihwan's fingers dug into his knees. His breathing had become uneven, his heartbeat too loud in his ears. The system had dragged him back to that moment, forcing him to drown in it—the helplessness, the betrayal, the bitter truth that he had died alone.

The cold touch of death felt closer now, almost real. Like he was slipping back into that darkness, as if he hadn't truly escaped at all.

Was this what the system wanted? To break him?

No.

His breaths steadied. His fingers relaxed. The system wouldn't win. Not like this. He forced himself to remember—he was here. Alive. Whatever twisted game this was, he would survive it. He would endure.

Seconds dragged into minutes. The weight of his death pressed against him, but he refused to let it consume him.

Then—

[ Quest Completed. ]

Reward: +5 DP

You have avoided mental deterioration—for now.

Jihwan's eyes snapped open.

His body felt heavy, his limbs weak, but his mind—his mind was clear. He had done it. He had faced that moment and survived, even if the scars lingered.

Letting out a slow breath, he ran a hand through his hair. The system had tested him, and he had endured. But deep inside, he knew—this was only the beginning.

The Afterlife System wasn't just about survival. It was about control. And it was watching him.

A cold determination settled in his chest. He would play along—for now. But he wouldn't be a pawn forever.

The system wanted him to embrace death?

Then he would find a way to use it against itself.

Tomorrow, he would decide his next move.

And this time, he would be the one in control.

The dim glow of the streetlamp seeped through the half-drawn blinds, casting jagged shadows across the walls of Jihwan's cramped apartment. The air was heavy, thick with an unnatural silence, as if the world itself was holding its breath.

Jihwan sat at the edge of his bed, exhaustion weighing him down. The dungeon, the deaths, the moment he had lost everything—it should have been in the past. But it wasn't. It lingered, pressing against the edges of his mind like a scar that refused to fade.

The System had demanded that he pray for his first death. And he had done it.

His reward: 5 DP.

His total now stood at 7. Not much. But something.

He exhaled slowly, his fingers hovering over the glowing system screen. The hum of the interface was the only sound in the room, a quiet reminder that he wasn't alone—because the System was always there. Watching.

A notification flickered before his eyes.

[Status]

[Name]: Yoo Jihwan

[Rank]: E ~ ???

[Class]: Hunter ~ ???

[Death Count]: 1

[Death Points]: 7

[Dark Energy]: Low

His gaze shifted to the Afterlife Exchange, the ominous store unlocked after his first death. The name alone felt like a warning, a whisper of the future that awaited him if he chose to walk this path.

But what choice did he have?

With a deep breath, he opened the shop window.

[Afterlife Exchange]

☠ Dagger (5 DP) — A blade imbued with dark energy. Its edge never dulls, and the wounds it inflicts resist healing.

☠ Cloak (10 DP) — A cloak worn by those who have walked the path of death. Conceals the wearer's presence in dungeons.

☠ Ring (15 DP) — A ring that binds to the user upon wearing. Enhances the strength of death-related skills.

☠ ??? (Locked)

The Cursed Dagger.

It was the cheapest option, but that wasn't why Jihwan chose it. A blade that never dulled, a weapon that inflicted wounds that refused to heal—it felt like the perfect reflection of his existence now.

Without hesitation, he selected it.

[You have purchased Cursed Dagger for 5 DP.]

[New Item: Cursed Dagger]

— A dagger imbued with dark energy. Its blade never dulls, and the wounds it inflicts resist healing. Once drawn, it cannot be put away until it tastes blood.

The dagger materialized in his hand.

A strange presence filled the air. The moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt, a faint vibration ran through his palm—a pulse, as if the weapon itself was alive. The cold metal sent a shiver up his arm, a chilling contrast to his warmth.

Jihwan held it up, studying the blade.

Sleek, pitch-black, with a faint crimson sheen shifting in the dim light. The edge gleamed unnaturally. It looked… hungry.

As if in response, the blade hummed softly.

He tightened his grip, feeling the dark energy wrap around his fingers like invisible chains. This wasn't just a weapon. It was a pact.

A notification appeared.

[New Quest Unlocked: Test the Blade]

[Objective: Test the Cursed Dagger's power by striking a living creature.]

[Reward: +10 DP, Unlocks the Skill "Death's Touch."]

[Penalty: Failure will result in being unable to access the Afterlife Exchange for 48 hours.]

Jihwan exhaled.

The System wanted blood.

This wasn't just about surviving anymore. It was about proving himself. About taking another step down the path the System had carved for him.

But where would he find a target? He wasn't about to stab some random person in the streets. And he had no dungeon to enter yet.

His gaze landed on the cockroach skittering across the floor.

A bitter smirk crossed his lips.

"Does this count?" he muttered.

Crouching down, dagger in hand, he eyed the cockroach twitching, its tiny legs moving erratically as if sensing danger. It wasn't much, but it was worth a try.

The blade came down.

The moment it touched the insect—

A pulse of dark energy exploded outward.

A shockwave rippled through the air, sending a chill down his spine. The cockroach was gone. Not just dead—erased. No corpse. No blood. It had simply ceased to exist.

Jihwan stared at the empty space, breath hitching.

That… wasn't normal.

His fingers clenched around the hilt, heartbeat quickening. This dagger—it wasn't just cursed.

It consumed.

Before he could fully process what had happened, a notification rang in his ears.

[Quest Completed.]

[You have unlocked the skill "Death's Touch."]

[+10 DP earned.]

He pulled up his skill window.

[Skill: Death's Touch]

Rank: ???

— Your blade carries the power of the void. Creatures slain by it do not leave behind a corpse. Their existence is devoured by the abyss.

— If the enemy is weaker than you, they are instantly erased from existence.

— If the enemy is stronger than you, they are tormented by their worst memories, their suffering depending on the severity of their past.

Jihwan's grip tightened around the dagger.

A cold realization settled over him.

This wasn't just a weapon.

It was a curse.

And now, it was his.

His total DP had increased to 12.

A small gain. A step forward. But the weight of what he had just unlocked felt far heavier than any number.

He exhaled, slow and measured.

The System had given him power.

But at what cost?

His fingers traced the dagger's edge, and for the first time, something new stirred in his chest.

Not fear.

Not hesitation.

But the quiet, unsettling thrill of holding death in his hands.

And the knowledge that he would use it again.