The sunlight peeked through the curtains, revealing a sleeping man with a beautiful yet refreshing face.
Although you could tell at first glance that the man was malnourished due to his sunken cheeks and prominent eye bags, it did not take away from the man's beauty at all.
If anything, it added to it as he appeared to be a fragile beauty, invoking a feeling of protectiveness in others. It seemed like the slightest gust of wind would break the young man in half like a twig.
That young man in question slowly opened his eyes, revealing a pair of garnet red eyes that resembled beautiful rubies. His dark black hair and his red eyes gave a breathtaking contrast to his pale white skin.
Squinting his eyes due to the harsh sunlight, Asher winced in pain when he sat up. It felt like he was hit by a truck. His whole body was in pain and looking at his body, it was bruised all over. Asher felt faint, his long black hair clinging to the sweat on his forehead.
"Where...where am I?" Asher said under his breath with some difficulty.
Asher slowly looked around the oddly familiar room. The room was bare except for the bed that he was sitting on, the dresser and the closet. The walls were painted his favorite color: black.
As he took in the familiar things, Asher tumbled out of the bed in shock. Not caring that his legs were shaking due to weakness, Asher stumbled towards his dresser.
Pain shot through his body but he endured it. Asher had an absurd thought and he couldn't wait any longer to confirm if it was indeed true.
"Could it be...?" He mumbled as he quickly picked up the phone that was on top of the dresser, and turned it on.
He carefully read the time and date. He was so stunned that the phone slipped from his grip and fell to the floor with a loud thud.
August 1st, 20xx. If this was indeed the real date, then this meant that he had been reborn. 5 years in the past to be exact. The apocalypse happened September 1st, 20XX, which meant there was a month left until Doomsday.
Asher's heart started to beat fast and swell with longing. A wave of relief of relief hit him. Kyle, James and Tristan! They were still alive!!!
Thinking about them, Asher ran towards his room door and was about to yank it open when someone beat him to it.
A handsome young man stood outside wearing a classy black suit, his slender white hands covered by clean black leather gloves. His hair, as blue as the ocean was parted to the side, and his eyes that were equally as blue stared right at him.
It was Asher's most trusted and loyal butler: Tristan. Seeing the familiar man, Asher ran towards him and embraced Tristan in a hug without thinking twice.
"Fifth Young Master?!" Tristan questioned in both shock and worry.
Tristan was only a year older than Asher. He was also the mansion's butler but he mainly served Asher, his twin brother Kyle and his older brother James, because all three boys are the same age. Tristan has been working as a butler in the Grayson estate since the three boys were 12 years old.
Hot tears streamed down Asher's face when he remembered how Tristan sacrificed himself to a horde of zombies in order to save him in his previous life.
"Fifth Young Master! What's wrong?" Tristan asked with worry when Asher pulled back from the hug, tears streaming down his sickly face.
Asher just shook his head, his emotions too strong to speak without breaking down further. Tristan understood that he did not want to speak so Tristan just simply helped him sit back down on his bed. After a few minutes, Asher finally calmed down and regained his composure back.
"Are you okay Young Master?"
"Yes. Also, Trist, I thought I told you before to drop the formalities. Just call me Ash. I need to know what happened to me. Why was I laying down in bed? Shouldn't I be at the University?" Asher questioned in confusion.
Asher faintly remembered this event from his past life, however he just needed some clarification on what exactly was going on in this time period.
Tristan's face turned red from embarrassment as he instantly said, "Young Master, I am but a lowly butler: a mere slave. How could I ever call you by your nickname? That would mean that I think of you as my equal. Young Master Asher is above me, forever and always."
"But..."
"Please, I simply can't drop the formalities and I would appreciate it if you would please stop calling me by that nickname, it is improper for a man of your status to even be considered my equal."
Asher chuckled dryly before replying, "I am nothing more than an illegitimate son, the son of a "whore" as the Greyson's call my mother."
"Don't say that-!" Tristan said before Asher cut in.
"But who was the one who forced themselves onto whom?! I can't change who my parents are. It doesn't matter if you think your status is below mine. We are friends, and friends are allowed to call each other by their names."
"Fine...Ash." Tristan let out with slight embarrassment.
Asher let out a small smile.
Tristan cleared his throat with embarrassment, "Ahem! To answer your question. The reason why you are here instead of at the University is because Second Young Master Brent visited the University to take his fiancée, Miss Amy to dinner. But, when Fourth Young Master Kyle was reading a book, he accidentally knocked into Miss Amy, causing her to spill her drink on her designer clothes."
Seeing how Asher was still listening, Tristan continued without restraint, "Miss Amy was outraged. Second Young Master Brent got mad and was about to punch Fourth Young Master Kyle but you intervened and took the punch. Second Young Master Brent was furious and pushed you down the flight of stairs."
Asher's eyes darkened at the mention of Brent. Brent was 5 years older than him and was his 2nd older half brother. He was a total asshole and Amy Maxwell was a total bitch. A perfect couple made in hell. Amy was a white lotus bitch just like Rene. Amy Maxwell was the daughter of the Principal at Maxwell University.
Hearing what Tristan said, Asher recalled that when he was pushed off the stairs, he was sent to the hospital. It took him 2 months to recover and it just so happened that when Asher finally recovered, the zombie outbreak had just begun.
"So, I have been in my room recovering for an entire month already?" Asher asked, making a rough estimate.
Tristan nodded. So that means Asher needed another month to recover but by that time it will be late to make preparations for the upcoming apocalypse. Asher clenched his fist in frustration.
'What was the point of being reborn if I'm injured!!!' Asher angrily thought.
Sensing Asher's mood, Tristan held Asher's clenched fist and said, "Ash, I am always here to help."
Asher let out a small sigh.
'I'm not alone in this life. I can trust him.'
Although Asher will not tell Tristan about his rebirth, he will still ask for weird favors from his butler such as gathering supplies. He knew that Tristan would not question him about that.
Thinking about this, Asher asked for a notebook and pen. Tristian retrieved it for him. Asher wrote down what he remembered.
Scientists hypothesized that when the meteorites broke through Earth's atmosphere, and scattered across the entire Earth, the highly contagious Z-virus was already coated on the meteorites. The radioactive substances on the space rocks infected everyone on Earth but it affected everyone differently.
Asher remembered that before he died, Rene was one of the leading Scientist trying to figure out how it affected people differently and what led one in becoming a zombie or ability user in what was known as the first awakening.
The only thing Asher knew for certain was that on August 31st, 20XX, a day before the apocalypse, a vibrant Purple Moon will appear in the night sky. This will mark the beginning of the end of times.
After 12 hours of the Purple Moon appearing, people will come down with a fever. That is when the change occurs. Those who don't have a fever are regular humans. But those with fevers either change into zombies or ability users.
The Purple Moon is an important aspect of Doomsday as it was a symbol to mark the next few awakenings or better known as evolutions. During each awakening or Purple Moon Cycle, the plants, animals and zombies would mutate. Each Purple Moon Cycle lasted around 3 days.
Although zombies got the chance to mutate, hope was not at all lost for humanity. This is because when the Purple Moon is at its highest peak, ability users were able to level up five times the speed if they consumed a high level crystal core. Also, regular humans, if they eat a high level crystal core, might be blessed with a ability of their very own.
Of course, ability users and regular humans might be able to achieve this if they survive a horrible fever. If they were not strong enough, they will transform into zombies.
Speaking of fevers...Asher put down his pen and looked at Tristan.
"Tristan. Did I have a fever recently?" Asher asked.
He nodded and said, "You had a fever for the last 2 days, you finally woke up today."
It was too good to be a coincidence. Calming his pounding heart, Asher focused on his inner core. Feeling the small spark in his heart, Asher let out a gasp. His ability...it was still there!
'Wait! Something's not right!' Asher thought as he felt a stinging pain near his inner core!
Beads of sweat accumulated on his forehead. Feeling faint, he almost passed out, but was quick to trap the dark energy ball with his lightning ability. Soon, the dark energy ball was soaked up by his inner core and he felt stronger.
Looking deeper at his inner core, Asher found out that he not only had lightning abilities but darkness and space! Asher was confused but decided to probe later as he realized that Tristan had been calling his name all this time.
"Asher! Are you okay?!" Tristan shouted as he shook Asher's shoulder.
"I'm fine..." Asher gasped out, dizzy from being shaken by Tristan.
"If you say so..." Tristan said with doubt.
"Can you leave me alone for a few minutes, please?"
"Of course."
After Tristan left and closed the door, Asher picked up his pen and began to write again. He paused to remember what happened in the past before writing it down.
Kyle, his older twin brother was the first to die. He died on the second day of the apocalypse at the University. Maxwell University was a University for the rich and powerful. Mainly all the students lived on campus in their dorms including Asher and his brothers.
Asher remembers recovering completely a few hours after the apocalypse began. He remembered dashing to the school to save Kyle and James. Asher knew that the two men were in trouble because they had called him.
About a month after the apocalypse began, the power went out including cell service. Kyle, James and Asher were all in the same classes as they all had the same major which was business.
When Asher got to the classroom, Kyle had already turned into a zombie and his childhood best friend, Royce had killed him right when he turned.
Knowing Kyle was dead, Asher grabbed James who was still in shock. At the same time, Asher urged Royce to follow, but he was in shock also from killing Kyle. Asher was about to grab his hand just like he did with James but Royce pointed a dagger in Asher's direction.
Royce refused to leave the dead body of Kyle so Asher took James and ran back home. When two men were about to enter the Greyson mansion gates, a zombie was reaching out for Asher. With no weapon, Asher thought he was a goner until James pushed him away. To save Asher, James was eaten.
1 year into the apocalypse, during a C Rank mission, Asher and his team mates were surrounded by a horde of zombies. Tristian sacrificed himself as bait so that the team could escape. But it was all for nothing.
Asher did not want to leave him to be eaten, but his teammates dragged him away. But just as they thought they were safe, another horde of zombies appeared. Asher's teammates were all eaten before him. That night, Asher had to witness multiple deaths, all because of him.
'Was I just plain lucky or simply cursed?' Asher thought.
Asher was frozen in fear that night. Seeing his team mates go down one by one made Asher give up on life. Asher thought he was going to die, but a certain young man with piercing blue eyes and ice abilities saved him.
'I'll protect them this time.' Asher vowed when he finished writing.
Asher did not forget to write his kill list. Asher wanted revenge and that is what he will get no matter what. He put aside the paper and pen. He laid down on his bed and closed his eyes to think about his next course of action.
In his previous life, Asher lived in the Military Base Located in City E with the Greyson Family and their sub-coordinates. City E was 4 cities down from City A where the strongest ability user was rumored to live in.
Surviving in the apocalypse for five years, Asher knew the rumors were true, after all, Asher witnessed it all first hand.
The number 1 big shot in the apocalypse: Caspian Winters. Caspian was as ruthless as he was cunning. His reputation was so big that everyone from all City A to City Z knew about him and his cruel ways.
Being the General of the military and the second in command of City A base, he was feared just as he was worshiped. He has piercing blue eyes that seemed to peer through your soul, sharp eyebrows that resembled swords and an insanely gorgeous face that was framed by straight midnight black hair.
Armed with a strong and sexy body, a rare, super powerful ability which was ice and speed enhancement, he looked like Ares, the God of War. General Winters, the God amongst Gods, saved Asher countless times in his previous life during tough missions that he was forced to partake in by the Greyson's.
The cold blooded man was also the grandson of City A's leader, Ansel Winters. Ansel Winters, the leader of both City A base and the retired General of the military. His only living descendants were his two grandsons: Caspian and Jemerson.
Caspian was a god-like existence in the end of times. His reputation even exceeded that of the Holy Saintess, Rene. As such, Caspian was labeled as the Ice Emperor. Before Asher's death, he recalled that Caspian was able to succeed his grandfather as the next leader of City A's base which was dubbed as Empire.
Empire was a military base located in City A formed by Ansel Winters, 1 year after the end of the world. Inside of Empire, it was just like before the end. People laughing and having fun, not fighting over food or having to resort to stealing or bribing. People never starved in the Empire base. The Empire base was Utopia.
To top it all off, Caspian was also the 1st son and heir to the Winters Corporation. The Winters Corporation was the only one that could rival the Greyson family both in terms of power and wealth. The Winter Corporation and the Greyson family were rivals for generations.
Both the Winters Corporation and the Greyson family started off as a military family, gradually extending their power but during the last 3 decades or so, the Greyson family was losing their military strength and power so it turned towards the business industry.
The Winters Corporation, wanting to spark old rivalry, also turned towards business, but are much more deeply connected to their military roots than the Greyson's.
Asher decided that when he gets the chance, he will join forces with the Winters family to exact his revenge. He vows to take down the Greyson family once and for all.