A Second Chance in a Doomed World

The New York Public Library had multiple floors, reinforced doors, and plenty of space. More importantly, few people would consider it a priority location during an apocalypse. It was perfect for laying low and strategizing his next steps.

As he drove, he checked his status screen again, his eyes locking onto his newly acquired skill—Empty Soul.

[Empty Soul]

[Rank]: Diamond

[Effect One]: Soul Protection – Shields the owner from soul attacks.

[Effect Two]: Soul Curse – Curses a target to die within seven days. (30-day cooldown, costs 5 years of life.)

The implications of this skill were terrifying. The ability to kill someone with just a curse—no battle, no bloodshed, just inevitable death. But the cost was steep. Five years of his life for each use. In an apocalypse where survival was uncertain, those years were invaluable.

"I need to be careful with this," he muttered. "One wrong use, and I might regret it."

His thoughts were interrupted as he neared the library. The streets were eerily empty, save for a few confused pedestrians wandering aimlessly, still unaware of the catastrophe about to unfold. He pulled into a side alley, parking the car out of direct sight before making his way inside.

The interior was dimly lit, vast bookshelves stretching into the darkness. Leo quickly secured the doors, barricading them with chairs and tables. It wasn't much, but it would buy him time if anyone tried to force their way in.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus.

Step Two: Power.

Leo needed to level up. His talent was locked with his current level, and while his stats had improved significantly from the apocalypse's initial boost, it wasn't enough. He needed skills, weapons, and experience.

And there was only one way to get stronger in this world which is by fighting your way through.

Glancing at his watch, It's only been 2 hours after midnight, he still has about a month before the first wave of creatures arrives. The first spawns would be low-tier monsters, weak and disoriented, perfect for hunting. 

In the previous life, a dark secret was uncovered by some individuals who shouldn't even be called human anymore. Before the monsters even began to pour into our world, a twisted method of gaining power was discovered amidst the chaos and looting in the first month of the apocalypse. 

During that time, when society was breaking down, lawlessness reigned, and looters roamed free, some criminals stumbled upon a chilling realization, killing others granted them experience, allowing them to level up and grow stronger. This gruesome discovery was made in the bloodiest of ways, as these criminals took the lives of innocent civilians, all in the name of gaining power.

The revelation led to an immediate and horrifying shift in dynamics. Criminal factions emerged, not with the aim of survival or protection, but solely focused on becoming stronger by any means necessary. These groups weren't bound by any moral code, their only law was the survival of the fittest, or rather, the most ruthless.

These factions, often organized around the strongest or most cunning leaders, began to hunt not just for resources, but for human prey. They turned cities into battlegrounds, where the weak were prey and the strong were predators. 

The more they killed, the more they leveled up, gaining abilities and strength that made them formidable even before the first wave of monsters descended upon humanity.

The streets became an arena where these criminals would clash not with anyone who crossed their path but also with each other. Small groups evolved into larger, more organized factions, some even turning into cults of violence with their own twisted ideologies. 

They saw the apocalypse not as a disaster but as an opportunity, a grand game where the only rule was to kill or be killed.

This grim evolution of humanity led to a dark age where trust was a luxury few could afford. Communities fortified themselves, not just against the incoming monsters but also against these human predators. The very fabric of society was torn apart as survival took on a new, sinister meaning.

The implications were vast and terrifying. The world was changing, and not just due to the external threat of monsters. The real horror was the transformation of humans into something else, something driven by an insatiable hunger for power. 

This was a new breed of humanity, one that was learning, adapting, and growing stronger in the darkest ways possible, all before the true test of the monster invasion even began.

But for now, Leo needed to rest. His body, though strengthened, was still adjusting to the changes. Sitting against a bookshelf, he allowed his eyes to close, forcing himself into a light sleep.

Because Tomorrow would be different. Tomorrow, he would become the monster that hunts these criminals, turning their own game against them.