"Okay, okay… enough about my personal life. Shall we have breakfast?" Nikolas said, steering the conversation back to the present.
At peace.
That's the word that could describe how Nikolas felt. His family was as carefree as always, chatting about unimportant things and discussing the latest news on TV. The warm, familiar atmosphere of the dining room filled him with a sense of normalcy, something he knew would be in short supply in the coming days.
They sat around the table, sharing stories and laughter. His mother talked about a new recipe she wanted to try, while his father complained about the lack of security. Erick, ever the enthusiast, animatedly recounted a funny incident from school.
Nikolas listened, absorbing every moment. He smiled and laughed along, contributing to the conversation with small anecdotes of his own. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and the sight of his family enjoying a simple meal together brought him a deep sense of contentment.
After breakfast, he helped his mother clear the table and wash the dishes. She chatted away, unaware of the storm brewing in her son's mind. Nikolas nodded and responded where appropriate, but his thoughts were already shifting to the task ahead.
With the kitchen clean, he thanked his mother and excused himself. "I've got some things to take care of in my room." Nikolas said, heading down the hallway.
Entering his room, he closed the door behind him and let out a long breath. The peaceful breakfast had been a welcome respite, but now it was time to focus. The tranquility of the morning stood in stark contrast to the urgency of his thoughts.
Peaceful as it was, the future he experienced once loomed now like a shadow of death, an invisible threat to his family. Whatever the reason for his return, be it good or not, he would not waste the opportunity. Solving the mystery of his return wouldn't help save his family—at least not yet.
And so, the once Dragon King decided to push those thoughts to the back of his mind and focus on the matter at hand. But before he could start planning however, he needed to know his own assets:
He had no money, but a lot of experience in computing, hacking, and, well… one of the best accounts in a famous online MMORPG. Did that even count as a resource?
[Well, from another perspective, we have a great house to begin with. Two empty rooms and a great garden that could be used to plant something. Perhaps I can even use the abandoned house next to ours.]
The apocalypse lasted for ten years; he needed to think long-term.
Furthermore, Brazil had a small advantage over some countries: most houses had walls around them. They clearly weren't designed to protect from a zombie apocalypse, yet they helped to deter the first Spawn at least.
[Natural resources are also easier to find here... Maybe that makes up for all the disadvantages a little bit?]
[Natural resources are also easier to find here... Maybe that makes up for all the disadvantages a little bit?]
On the other hand, acquiring a gun legally in Brazil was almost impossible! The law didn't affect the big trafficking organizations, of course; that's why they were called outlaws at the end of the day.
Nikolas clearly remembered that the country would eventually enter a civil war where these organizations fought for power against the military. The world became even more chaotic, and thousands were killed in the process.
[Weapons and defenses are crucial…] he thought, pacing his room. [But first things first, I need to get in shape. This extra weight almost got me killed...]
He glanced at his old computer, dusty but still functional. [Computing skills might come in handy, too. I can use them to gather information, maybe even hack into government systems if necessary… Or am I going too far?]
Nikolas took a deep breath, trying to organize his thoughts. He had a month to prepare, and he couldn't waste a single day. After a few minutes, he was able to lay down his priorities:
>Get in Shape: Physical fitness was a priority. He needed to be strong, agile, and enduring to face the physical challenges ahead.
>Secure Supplies: Food, water, medical supplies, and other essentials needed to be stockpiled.
>Acquire Weapons: Legal or not, he needed to find a way to arm himself and his family.
>Fortify the House: Enhancing the security of their home was crucial. The walls would help, but additional measures were necessary.
>Find Allies: Trustworthy allies would be crucial for survival.
Nikolas picked up his phone and started making a list of places to visit, people to contact, and items to purchase. He needed to be efficient, systematic. The safety of his family depended on it. As he planned, he couldn't help but think back to the peaceful breakfast, the laughter and warmth.
[This is why I'm doing this,] he reminded himself. [To protect them, to keep them safe.]
*********
As he paced back and forth in his room, Nikolas reviewed the list he had made and noticed a few major problems. The first was the lack of money. Many of the items he needed were expensive, and his current funds were nowhere near sufficient. His father had some savings, but asking him for a loan was out of the question.
The scale of the supplies he needed was staggering, including costly items like a power generator and an amateur radio. His empty bank account was a significant obstacle that he had to overcome.
The amount of supplies he needed to buy was enormous and involved many expensive items like a power generator and an amateur radio. Unfortunately, his empty bank account was a huge problem.
[Why couldn't I have saved money instead of just spending it all on games?] He blamed his past self.
The second problem, albeit it may sound stupid, was troubling him the most: his lack of knowledge and friends.
Even though he became the strongest human at the end of the apocalypse—at least according to the system—his knowledge about the beginning of it was quite lacking, mostly because he himself was not a prominent figure at that time.
Due to his bad decisions, like neglecting his body, the Nikolas from the past suffered terribly in the first year of the apocalypse. He spent most of that time running away, alone. Until one fateful day when he found Master Yuemura.
Nikolas remembered those dark times vividly. His lack of preparedness had cost him dearly. He had been an overweight, reclusive gamer, and when the apocalypse hit, he was woefully unprepared. Food and water had been scarce, and he had struggled just to survive each day. The constant fear of zombies and other survivors made every moment a battle.
In the end, he survived by sheer luck. Even on the first day, when the Spawn happened, he had survived by luck. The first Spawn occurred at the same time for everyone in the world, and in Brazil, it happened exactly at midnight.
That night, after long hours of playing his favorite MMORPG, Nikolas went downstairs to grab a midnight snack. Just then, a zombie appeared at the top of the stairs. As it took the first step, it tripped and fell headfirst onto the floor.
The thing died without him even noticing! He only understood that something was wrong when he heard the screams.
Nikolas couldn't help but smile at the memory. Now, back in time with his family alive, he found it amusing. But this time, he would not rely on luck alone. Not anymore.
[Focus Nikolas, focus!]
Nikolas glanced around his room, determination hardening his resolve. He had a month to transform his life and prepare for the apocalypse. It wouldn't be easy, but this time, he had a chance to save his family and maybe even change the fate of the world.
[We need to survive the first Spawn… maybe I can convince my father to increase and fortify the walls?]
A one-meter-high concrete wall currently surrounded his house. It would be enough to stop the zombies for a while, but he knew that things would get worse later on.
[Maybe another meter of height and width is enough? I'll just tell him there's a new way for bandits to break into houses... by tearing down the wall or something?]
He pondered for a while and realized that, in the end, it all came down to money. And for him, the easiest way to get it right now would be by selling his RPG account or using his parents' savings.
Once he reached that conclusion, he took action. Registering his game account on an auction site, he knew there was no way his parents would lend him their savings.
The starting bid? One thousand dollars!
[I've seen worse game accounts sell for higher than that!] Nikolas knew his account was one of the best in the game. As he browsed through his maxed-out character with legendary items, he could only lament. If not for the apocalypse, he would be playing right now.
"Bye old Xx_Dragon_Lord_xX." He murmured farewell to his account. "I must do what I must do."
He needed the money quickly and was willing to accept less than its worth. The auction would last a week and after that, it would be much easier to plan things with cash in hand.
He needed the money quickly and was willing to accept less than its worth. The auction would last a week, and after that, it would be much easier to plan things with cash in hand.
Nikolas then focused on two main issues he could start solving now: his excess weight and finding his master. Training his body while seeking out his "master-to-be" was a good start.
[Master-to-be or master-that-was?] He smiled, thinking of how to address his future mentor who he had known in the past-future.
Fortunately, the dojo was nearby, just a little further down the block, somewhat isolated from the city.
He scratched his head and smiled. His master was as important to him as his family members, but this opportunity also gave him goosebumps…
Even so, today was the best day to start his plan. Time waits for no man, and Nikolas wouldn't waste a single minute!
He changed clothes and went downstairs, ready to face the new day with determination. He was no longer the same helpless person; he had a plan and the will to execute it.
***********
"Mother, I'm going out! I'll be back at night!" Nikolas called out, slipping out the door without waiting for a response. He moved slowly enough to hear Emilia's worried tone behind him.
"Regi, darling… I think there is something going on with him."
"Hm… Hope he found some good girl," Reginald laughed softly.
***********
As he stepped outside, the morning sun bathed him in light, filling him with a surge of hope. This time, things would be different, he told himself. Yet, he knew reality wasn't going to get easy on him.
He paused for a moment, looking over the quiet neighborhood. The streets were lined with familiar houses, each with its own unique character. Children played in the distance, their laughter a soothing melody that mingled with the chirping of birds. An old couple strolled hand in hand, enjoying their morning walk. Everything seemed so normal, so peaceful.
A wave of nostalgia washed over him. This was the tranquility he had taken for granted. He remembered how carefree life used to be, when his biggest worry was leveling up in his favorite MMORPG. For a moment, he wished that the apocalypse wouldn't happen. That this serene morning could last forever, untouched by the horrors he knew were coming.
But he couldn't afford to cling to such wishes. The apocalypse was inevitable, and he had to prepare. Shaking off the longing for a simpler time, Nikolas set his mind back on his mission. He had a plan, and he needed to stick to it.