Chapter One

On January 1st, 2025, the start of the new year marked a climactic moment in history. The world underwent a terrifying transformation. Monsters from fantasy realms materialized, wreaking havoc and plunging civilization into chaos.

Goblins, orcs, and any monster one could think of are ruining the lives of others. Watching from outside my window, I could see the corpse of a man killed by a blunt weapon on the head.

An orc stood over the lifeless body, the grim scene unfolding before my eyes. Despite the gruesome spectacle of my first encounter with death, I found myself surprisingly composed. Perhaps it was a testament to the jadedness of our generation. Still, I couldn't muster the same level of concern as I observed the tragedy unfold unless it directly impacted me.

"Now... What should I do?" I asked myself as I tried to make an analysis.

[Safe Zone System]

[Name: Charles Rinrey]

[Rank: Unranked]

[Bank: $153,423]

[Bounded: 2,500 square feet]

The system I unlocked happened during the apocalypse, right after monsters from another world had appeared.

Just moments before, I was leisurely seated at my computer when an earthquake shocked me from my chair, which pissed me off. Wanting to look outside, the sky suddenly turned red, and portals made of cracked space appeared, summoning monsters I never thought I would see in real life.

The system I got is a blessing. I have learned that within the territory of my house, nothing could enter unless I permitted them to do so.

A goblin had tried to break in, but after countless pointless efforts, it gave up and went to my neighbor's house. It seemed like my fortune caused misfortune for my neighbor. Despite living in this house all my life, I had never seen much of them, considering how much of a lazy bum I am.

Stepping outside for the first time in weeks, I encountered the orc fiddling with the lifeless body nearby. Even in death, it couldn't get much rest.

"Oink!!!" The orc's attention was drawn to my presence. Its excitement at the prospect of fresh prey was noticeable.

"Ugly..." I muttered under my breath, unable to resist, commenting on the creature's grotesque appearance as I examined it closely.

[Orc (Level 8 First Order)]

Trying to get to me, the orc had bumped into an invisible barrier, preventing it from moving forward. Perplexed, it resorted to wielding its wooden mace, futilely striking at the unseen obstruction. I could see the barrier preventing the orc from entering, and despite all of its effort, it remained fruitless as there was no indication of the barrier being closed to damage.

Having witnessed the goblin's relentless onslaught on the barrier surrounding my house for half an hour, I was confident in its resilience against the orc's strikes.

Realizing that even the orc couldn't dent the barrier, I knew it was time to take action. My system held another feature, a power that allowed me to shop. Since I had funds in this system, there had to be a practical use for it.

When checking on my limited options, which were random, I found that out of ten slots, five were dedicated to consumables for daily necessities. At the same time, three were allocated supplies for homing, and there was also one slot for a toy and another for a weapon.

I bought the chainsaw for 400 bucks and immediately held it as I started to turn it on. The orc was confused by the chainsaw I had in my hand, but I could tell that it was wary of it.

"VROOM! VROOM!!!" With the chainsaw turned on, I immediately put the saw on the orc's stomach.

The blood started to splatter onto me, but because of the adrenaline I was feeling, I didn't care and proceeded to kill this thing.

"KREE!!!" The orc squealed in agony as the chainsaw tore through its flesh from stomach to chest. However, my progress was abruptly halted.

The same barrier that protected me also confined me, preventing me from advancing further. Fortunately, I remained unharmed while the orc caved to its injuries, succumbing to blood loss.

[$5,420 deposited in your safe-zone wallet.]

[You have executed an Orc (Level 8 First Order).]

[You have leveled up to Level 2 First Order.]

[You have gained one skill point.]

[You have leveled up to Level 3 First Order.]

[You have gained one skill point.]

The corpse of the orc disappeared as soon as it died. I had gained a lot, and knowing I couldn't leave my safe zone meant I had little to work with.

"Yuck." Shaking myself from my stupor, I realized I was drenched in orc blood, the pungent odor making it difficult to breathe.

Making my way back to the safety of my house, I made a concerted effort not to soil the floors and walls further. Hastening to the bathroom, I wasted no time scrubbing away the filth.

"Why is it so difficult to clean off!?" I muttered in frustration, grappling with the stubborn stains of orc blood. If I had known beforehand that the blood would be so viscous, I would have used a less messy method to dispatch the orc.

After nearly an hour of vigorous scrubbing, the stench clinging to me finally dissipated. However, glancing at the stained clothes, I realized they were beyond salvaging.

It's a shame I can't use the trash can anymore, as putting it there was useless. The absence of garbage collection services rendered the trash can useless. I needed an incinerator to dispose of them properly.

With skill points still available, I considered potential upgrades. Opening the upgrade options, I found myself presented with several enticing choices.

I could enhance the shop's functionality, allowing for a wider selection of items. Alternatively, I could increase the capacity of my safe zone, allowing more individuals to seek refuge within its protective confines. Another option was to expand the boundary size of the safe zone, providing greater coverage and security.