Solo Leveling (Only I Level Up): The Red Player

The swirling gate shimmered behind Xavier as he stepped into the new dimension. His boots hit the cracked pavement with a hollow thud, and he immediately felt an odd sense of familiarity and dread. The world around him looked eerily similar to New York—skyscrapers stood tall but decayed, their glass shattered and walls cracked. Cars were abandoned in the middle of broken streets, some flipped over, others rusted beyond recognition. Vines crept up buildings, and a thick, smoky haze hung in the air, making it difficult to see too far ahead.

"This… is New York," Xavier muttered under his breath, his voice echoing faintly. "Or at least, it used to be."

The landscape was both fascinating and unsettling. Trash littered the streets, fires smoldered in the distance, and an unsettling quiet blanketed everything. Even the wind, which should've been howling through the ruins, felt muted.

Xavier took only a few cautious steps forward when he heard a faint cracking noise behind him. He spun around just in time to see the shimmering gate begin to shrink, its light dimming as it sealed itself shut.

"Wait, what? No, no, no!" he shouted, breaking into a sprint toward the gate.

His hands slammed against the intangible wall where the portal once was, a faint shimmer marking its outline. He pushed and banged on it, his heart pounding in panic.

"Come on! Open up!" Xavier yelled, his voice tinged with desperation. But the gate didn't respond.

He could still faintly see the alleyway he had left behind, the normal world just on the other side. People walked by, oblivious to his situation. He pounded on the invisible barrier, shouting for help, but no one turned toward him. His voice didn't seem to carry through.

A small gray cat wandered into the alley, walking nonchalantly toward the gate. To Xavier's surprise, it passed through the barrier as if it wasn't even there. His eyes widened.

"A separate dimension…" he murmured, the realization sinking in. "They can't see or hear me… and I can't leave."

Before he could dwell on his predicament any longer, the system screen materialized in front of him, its familiar red hue calming and infuriating all at once.

[System Alert:]

You have entered your personal dungeon.

• Escape Conditions:

1. Defeat the Dungeon Boss.

2. Find a Return Stone hidden within the dungeon.

[WARNING: Leaving the dungeon prematurely is impossible.]

Xavier's heart sank as he read the message. Slowly, he turned to face the crumbling dystopian cityscape. He let out a dry laugh, the sound empty and bitter.

"Defeat the boss? Yeah, sure… piece of cake," he muttered sarcastically, rubbing the back of his neck.

....

As he walked through the ruined streets, Xavier couldn't help but marvel at how realistic the world felt. Every detail, from the graffiti on the walls to the rusted cars, was eerily accurate. Yet, the cracks in the pavement, the overgrowth of vines, and the hollow silence reminded him that this wasn't the real New York.

"A dystopian New York," he said aloud, his voice breaking the oppressive silence. "Kinda exciting… but mostly terrifying."

The thought crossed his mind: If a dungeon break ever happened, would this be New York's fate? Shaking his head, he forced the thought away. "One problem at a time," he muttered, focusing on his immediate goal.

Just as he resolved to move forward, a sharp whistle cut through the air. His body reacted instinctively, ducking low as something whizzed past his head.

THUD!

An arrow embedded itself in the ground nearby, jagged and twisted with vines and branches.

"What the—" Xavier started, only to dive out of the way as another arrow grazed his cheek, leaving a thin, stinging cut.

Rolling behind a rusted car, he pressed his back against the frame, his breathing heavy. His mind raced.

"What the hell is shooting at me?" he muttered, peeking out briefly before ducking back as another arrow struck the car.

His eyes flicked to the system screen, where the stat Sense: 10 glowed faintly. A realization dawned on him.

"So that's why…" he murmured, an anxious grin tugging at his lips. Ever since he'd allocated points to his Sense stat, his hearing, sight, and other senses had improved drastically. It wasn't perfect—he could barely react in time—but it was enough to keep him alive.

Peeking out again, Xavier quickly scanned the area. The arrows were coming from a nearby building. Using the angle of the shots, he estimated the general location of his attackers.

Sliding underneath the broken car, he crawled to the other side, carefully keeping out of sight. From his new position, he spotted shadows moving atop a crumbling skyscraper. The sun cast their faint silhouettes, giving him just enough detail to assess them.

The figures were humanoid but smaller, hunched, and irregularly proportioned. Their movements were jerky yet precise as they aimed their bows.

"Hob Goblins," Xavier muttered under his breath, his mind racing. "Of course. Just my luck."

He ducked lower as another arrow clattered nearby. These creatures were smart enough to keep their distance, using their vantage point to rain arrows down on him. But they weren't coming down to finish the job themselves—likely too cautious or cowardly.

Xavier let out a dry laugh, his nerves frayed. "Figures the first thing I run into in this place is something that wants to kill me."

Cursing under his breath, he clutched his sides, trying to calm his breathing. His survival instincts kicked in as he assessed his situation. He'd need a plan, and fast—because sitting here waiting for them to run out of arrows wasn't an option.