If this was still the normal world, the news would flock around Tokyo, Japan, scaring citizens at every corner. However, now that we were living inside an apocalyptic world filled with zombies and whatnot, exploding things should be a normal occurrence…. At least from what I rehearsed inside my brain.
"What happens if we die?" Those were the words that entered my mind as the ignition came across my face.
I wanted to thank the heavens above when I couldn't feel anything at all after becoming a zombie. Because if I did, I would have cursed every word written in the dictionary, including the ones I learned on the internet.
"Is this the part where my memories would flash before me?" Those were the words that entered my mind.
Usually, people who nearly died admitted that they witnessed their memories appearing when they thought they died. Some researchers even interviewed people who had experienced near-death situations, claiming to be an actual phenomenon.
Despite voicing my thoughts, those memories never appeared in my head.
Time moved slower inside this realm, especially after taking a hit from the gas tank. I even had a crystal view of the gargantuan's body turning into decaying bones and then ashes. It was a remarkable sight to unfold in my eyes.
"I could finally see the world apart from the living," I said, as if becoming a poet right after I died.
Heck, no, I wasn't. I should have died…. My body also turned into ashes, together with the big guy.
But that changed after the explosion happened. The fragments of skin left inside my body came together as one, twirling as if something magical would happen. Each of the dust formed my decomposing eyes, as well as my necrotic limbs and bulging cysts.
And within a few seconds, I could move my body again. My eyes also granted me to see my surroundings, which became a crater after that detonation. Basically, everything disappeared from my surroundings, except for the crisps metals and flames burning the wooden debris.
Fortunately, the city from miles away still stood strong on its ground. But I doubt there were still humans residing in that place, considering the zombies still lingering around.
However, I did not care about those trivial details. Now that I had a body, that place would be the next thing I planned to go.
But first things first…..
"WHY THE FUCK AM I FUCKING ALIVE?!" I screamed, while checking for my hands.
I did not have any time to check if the big boy zombie was still alive. There was no chance that titan could survive that blast, especially with that weak regeneration skill it had. However, by going with that logic, that implosion should be enough to kill me.
Instead of becoming ashes, I remained as an immortal zombie.
"GAH!" I shouted, as soon as my eyes glimpsed my arms.
My body drastically changed into something more horrifying than before. The skin that I had earlier became fiendish like the titan I exploded. I had legs that had even worse features than Freddy Krueger's face.
If I had to describe myself right now, I looked like an actual zombie from Hollywood films. These wounds I had given it away, especially when I should have died from that blast. Now that I was still (technically) alive, it just explained why I was a zombie.
"Should I eat brains after this….? What if I was a vegetarian? Oh, shit! That's gotta be hard! What do I need to do to be a certified zombie? Do I have to act like those zombies in movies?" I mumbled to myself, while marching back and forth from where I stood. "Do I still feel pain? Am I considered dead or alive? What if I have sex and I'm a zombie? Will I feel pleasure or numb down there?.... I'm sorry, little guy. Maybe you can't plant your seeds in this zombie life of mine."
However, everything changed when the fire nation attacked... Err, when a high-pitch sound echoed through my ears. And when I lifted my head, a mysterious box appeared at my fore.
"YOU!!!! YOU AGAIN!" I growled, while flashing the screen with my middle finger. "I ALMOST DIED BECAUSE OF YOU! BECAUSE OF YOUR STUPID TASKS!"
[Congratulations, Kawai Fukuyo! You've become a player in this world!]
After seeing those words, I tilted my head and raised question marks all over my eyes. I couldn't follow through with the peculiar box in front of me, congratulating me for becoming a player. And from what I remembered, I faithfully loved my girlfriend, especially when I saved her.
I did not play games in the name of love!
[I am not talking about that, you idiot] The box changed and displayed another set of windows in front of me. [I am talking about your quests, rewards, levelling up, and your system, fucking plebe.]
"Did this box just…."
It did not take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that this box read my thoughts like an open book. I turned and looked around, hoping to catch the culprit in this situation. However, upon looking around, there was no one there to greet me.
"Are you talking to me?" I asked.
If this box or system…. or whatever this thing called itself could look through my thoughts, it could also read through everything inside of me! It would not surprise me if this system knew everything about me, considering that it went inside my mind. I could only wish that someone was not behind this box, typing the letters like a troll on the internet.
But if you place this occurrence outside the box, no humans could do something like this…. A god only had that kind of power.
"Are you going to explain what is happening? What are you, even? What the hell is going on, especially ordering me around?" I asked, with my arms both extending to each side.
[I am your system and the system assigned to you. I granted you this system out of chance from the 4 billion people occupying Earth.]
"Why me?" I asked.
The box flipped through and changed its texts. [I do not have the power to choose. I just believe that this decision will bear fruit in the future.]
[Your power is the system that I will give you. You are a gamer, correct? You should have an idea about stats and level up... Maybe that's the reason that the world would give you this system.]
The window changed once again, with the words written inside. [I am your guide to this zombie apocalypse. I am just here to give you guidelines about your system. But I cannot give you what I don't know and what I can't give. You need to act on your own without frequently asking for my assistance. I will only grant my guidance if I deem it necessary. Until then, I will just be your inner voice inside my ears.]
"So, let me get this straight," I asked, and sat on the truck's remains. "If you're like a guide that doesn't get his... okay, its ass involved, what are you? And I still don't get what's happening. I play a lot of games. But from my perspective, this isn't normal. Zombies aren't normal, kinda. But still! What is going on with you and your systems!"
[Maybe showing you your identification card would clear your questions. ]
After saying those words, the window changed into something bigger than I had ever seen. It involved various descriptions about myself and other details found inside a game.
A holographic image stood before me, wearing the same white shirt I had for the past two years. I had six-packs of abs, which I carefully made. My body was a temple, which grew this big as a truck. Since I do push-ups every time I die, regardless of a game, this abdomen of mine made wonders out of me… And yes, I played Dark Souls, which added up the intensity.
(Author's Notes: Dark Souls is one of the hardest games you could ever play.)
It even had my hair waving outwards, with my eyes narrowed down, as if gazing at something bizarre. With those charming Asian looks, the love of my life fell for me.
According to my girlfriend, I had the looks of a model without make-up on my face. And since I had Asian blood, countless women fell in line just to date me. But those women never knew how to win my heart…. Well, my girlfriend did, since she invited me over to play Smash, which I accepted her offer.
As I glided my eyes to the side, different terms that came from various games greeted me. Those words include dexterity, strength, vitality, intelligence, and more, which made my eyes grew wide.
And when I raised my head, I could see two bars floating above me. The upper part had the colour red painted on it, with some blue bars dyed at the bottom.