Ren Hector opened his eyes to the sound of something wet breathing.

  The sky above him pulsed like bruised skin. Each slow exhale of wind carried weight, thick and damp, tinted a deep red that reminded him of raw steak left out too long. Veins sprawled across what might have been the ceiling, or maybe the sky itself. He couldn't tell anymore. The light here was a feverish blend of pink and rust, casting everything in a sickly glow.

  He sat up slowly, pressing one hand to the floor beneath him. It yielded under his weight, warm and slick like raw liver. The texture made his stomach turn. He jerked his hand back, wiping it against his pants.

  The alley stretched out around him, narrow and uneven. Its walls were made of fibrous meat, layered like muscle tissue and flexing gently with each ambient breath. Steam drifted through the air, carrying the heavy scent of iron mixed with something more acidic. Battery acid and decaying blood, maybe. He'd smelled enough of both in the ER to recognize them.

  Ren swallowed hard, his throat dry. "Oh god," he whispered. "What is this place?"

  A familiar chime rang in his ears.

  [System Binding: COMPLETE]

  [Class Acquired: Doctor of the Ruin Gospel]

  [Welcome, Host.]

  His vision blurred slightly as the translucent screen floated into view. Even in a place like this, the UI looked almost comically clean. Like a hospital brochure plastered on a butcher's wall.

  [System Type: Doctor of the Ruin Gospel]

  [Core Function: Provide healing through fear-induced procedures. You gain strength through dread.]

  Ren's hands started shaking. "Wait, what? No, that's not... that can't be right."

  [Explanation: The Doctor of the Ruin Gospel System was designed for a divine healer. However, due to emergency awakening protocols and a corrupted narrative field, your class has been adapted to fit local genre parameters: Eldritch Horror.]

  Stolen novel; please report.

  [The more fear your patients feel while being treated, the more Fear Points you earn.]

  [Fear Points are used as currency to unlock skills, traits, system upgrades, and eldritch items.]

  Ren rubbed his face with both hands, his breath coming faster. "This is insane. This is completely insane. I'm supposed to... what? Scare people while I heal them?"

  [Correct.]

  [Fear is a purifying reagent. The deeper the patient's terror, the higher the Fear Point yield. Pain is optional. Fear is not.]

  "Jesus Christ." His voice cracked slightly. "That's not medicine. That's torture."

  [Welcome to the Gospel.]

  Ren stared at the screen, his chest tight. The interface hung there, waiting. Another prompt slid across his vision.

  [Beginner Pack Available. Open Now?]

  He let out a shaky breath. "I don't... I don't have a choice, do I?"

  Silence.

  "Right. Of course not." He wiped his palms on his pants again. "Just open it."

  The pack unfurled with a noise like tearing muscle. Four panels hovered before him, each displaying a gift.

  SKILL: Arm of Tentacle (A-Rank)

  Four tentacles sprout from the upper back. Can be used for locomotion, subduing patients, or surgical assistance. Each limb is prehensile, responsive to mental commands, and capable of lifting 30x host body weight.

  SKILL: Whisper of Anatomy (A-Rank)

  A mouth appears on the host's palms, ringed with sharp fangs and lined with thousands of microscopic tongues. Used for invasive diagnosis. Can detect internal anomalies, stitch tissue from the inside, and perform autonomous field surgery. Detachable for remote operation.

  ITEM: Outer God Surgical Set (EX-Rank)

  Appears mundane. Cuts through all known matter regardless of resistance or composition. Cannot rust, bend, or dull. Bound to host. Includes: Scalpel, Forceps, Bone Saw, Retractor, Spirit Thread.

  ITEM: Awakening Anesthesia (A-Rank)

  Infinite use consumable. Makes subjects conscious instantly but completely numb to pain. Induces full sensory awareness while blocking all motor feedback. Designed for maximum psychological discomfort during treatment. Works on all lifeforms below Myth class. Pain-free. Absorbed via injection or proximity contact.

  The items shimmered, then vanished into his inventory. Ren felt them settle into his body, like they were waiting in some pocket of reality just behind his spine.

  He stared at where the descriptions had been, his breathing uneven.

  "Tentacles," he said hoarsely. "It's giving me tentacles."

  His hands curled into fists at his sides, nails digging into his palms.