A bright orange light began to surface in the sky as the sun broke through the clouds on the horizon. This brilliant glow quickly spread to the town, casting it in its own golden hue. It bathed the streets and structures in a warm golden light, making the area even more peaceful and tranquil than before. Even the monsters who were currently chasing their food and attacking the town were now being consumed by the dazzling sunlight. But that warm sunlight was soon overtaken by the creeping gloom of fog and darkness that shrouded the town.
The sun kept shining in the sky, free of clouds. Yet the town below it stayed completely cloaked in darkness, only allowing for a sliver of light to shine upon it through the thin layer of fog covering the ground. The town of Ushuaia stood completely still within the murky darkness, its undead residents either wandering aimlessly through the streets or gathered around the various ruined buildings of the town's original occupants to feast. Their cries and screams could be faintly heard coming from the surrounding forests and mountains.
Some of the zombies continued to attack the town while others wandered aimlessly around their surroundings. Some were simply lying on the streets, seemingly waiting patiently for something to happen. Others were attempting to destroy the remains of the nearby buildings or simply staring blankly at nothingness.
Over by a rooftop, a few slivers of light managed to break through the thick fog covering the building.
The light shone through, hitting the face of a snoozing Zam. He stirred for a moment, rubbing his tired eyes with a groan that escaped him, before continuing to rest once more.
Nearby the sleeping boy, a floating System screen with a nearly full loading bar beeped as it updated its status. It displayed bold text that reads "100% complete."
[ALERT! ALERT!]
[Analysis has been completed! Please proceed with your next task.]
A buzzing sound began to fill the air as the system announced this fact; Zam's eyes suddenly sprang open, filled with surprise, alarm, and extreme annoyance as he glared at the screen.
The System had just notified him of the finished scan it had made of his surroundings. And though he would be appreciative of the fact he would be able to gain SOME knowledge of what was happening. He was NOT happy about being awakened so rudely and early in the morning.
Especially if he was being woken by the f***ng SYSTEM!
"Oh geez..." He sighed, leaning back in an attempt to relax and get comfortable again, but the System continued to buzz incessantly without mercy. "...Okay, okay. I'm coming!" He said, standing up from the wall he leaned on and walking over to the screen where the message came from.
"You're finished right?" He squinted at the screen, reading along with a confused frown. "What next?"
[...Data processing will be completed shortly...] The System announced once more.
Zam rolled his eyes, already annoyed by the system's annoying habit of saying the same things over and over again. He knew it wouldn't do anything useful but he found himself irritated regardless. Suddenly, the System screen glitched out of sight. Zam jumped a bit at the sudden change but otherwise ignored the disruption.
He glanced to the side and saw another part of the screen displaying a variety of data.
Complex strings of numbers were flowing across the screen, giving rise to various results that flashed across the screen every few seconds.
Zam stared hard, trying to make sense of the numbers. It didn't help that an ungodly amount of graphs popped into existence as well, adding to the confusion. Other statistics were present as well, each one of them giving away a different set of answers.
This is going to take ages... he thought, grumpily crossing his arms as he let out a sigh.
"Yo, System" He called out, not bothering to hide how tired he felt as he let out a long yawn. "I can't understand any of this info y'know? Is there like a way to explain it all in... like, English or something?" He asked, tapping his chin in thought.
Silence met his request, which left Zam raising an eyebrow. Was the damn thing broken or something? Or did it run out of battery? Can it even run out of batteries? DOES it have batteries?
'What the hell am I even talking about?' He scowled, turning away from the screen. He needed to stop thinking so much. All that mattered to him at this point was getting information and figuring out what he should do next.
"Hey, you there?" He called out once more, his voice growing louder when no response came.
"Ugh! You're not gonna answer me are you?!" His frustration grew with every passing second. The system screen faded away to static for a moment before the System chimed in again.
{Hello User Solis, I apologize for not responding to your earlier calls} The System finally responded.
{I was merely adjusting to some new data that has come to my attention. It seems a large stream of data has entered the system}
Zam rubbed the bridge of his nose as he looked back to the data, his eyes focusing intently. He still could not decipher most of the results, especially since they appeared too fast for him to comprehend.
He watched as numbers started changing, forming letters. Words began to form and slowly began to fade away, leaving only bits and pieces of information. A series of letters began to flash across the screen.
"Hmm?" Zam narrowed his eyes in concentration. He tried to decipher what he could, but it just kept moving too fast for him to follow. His eye twitched and his brows furrowed. He was becoming frustrated again.
"Can you slow down? Maybe... y'know... GIVE ME A CHANCE TO READ THE DATA" He said, emphasizing each word, clearly exasperated at this point.
{Of course.} The System replied, and Zam sighed. After taking a deep breath, he sat back down onto his butt with a thud, putting his head into his hands as he waited impatiently for the system to process and organize whatever information it had collected.
'Jeez, it's kinda foggy...' The teen thought as he looked around the rooftop with curiosity, he then gave a quick glance over to the railing that surrounded the edges, looking out to the covered city. 'It's never been this foggy this early in the morning... weird...' He thought as he gave a quick yawn.
'I'm too groggy for this crap...' Zam exasperatedly thought to himself as he rubbed his eyes with one hand, his fingers slipping between his eyelids as he blinked away the tired haze that had settled upon his mind when he woke up.
'I haven't had anything to eat either... Damnit I hope my stomach doesn't decide to revolt at some point' He mumbled to himself.
After waiting only a minute The System chimed again, bringing Zam back out of his thoughts.
{User Solis, data analysis has concluded. Please inform me of which way you would prefer to receive the information gathered} The System explained.
"...Err... Do you mean I choose to read it or...?" Zam muttered, blinking his eyes at the empty space in front of him, waiting for the System to respond.
{That is correct} The System answered after a short pause. {You can either see it for yourself on the screens like the ones you've already seen or I can simply read it out for you in a resumed manner}
Zam sighed heavily, scratching the side of his head as he pondered upon what the System was planning to reveal.
"How about we skip that whole complex bit and read it quickly... I'm hungry and really wanna eat breakfast now..." He complained, sounding very much annoyed. Clearly having his priorities straight...
{Understood} The System responded. The screen filled with data disappeared as it began to fully explain the situation.
{I am fully aware that the complex workings of the system are somewhat unfamiliar to you. However, since you have yet to properly awaken after your resting phase, and you still lack an understanding of the system, it is only natural that you have difficulty understanding how it works. It is therefore not surprising for you to find yourself struggling here. So do not feel frustrated if some data gathered seems too obscure to you.} The System started explaining calmly.
Zam stared forward with a serious expression, listening carefully to the words that were spoken. The System was right; it wasn't easy for him. Even though he had slept for a full 8 hours, and even then it was a restless one at that, but besides that... Zam really had little to no understanding of the system attached to him. Save for some basic functions like the inventory and the shop, Zam was at a complete blank when it came to the inner or more complex functions of the System...
"..." He took in a deep breath, and exhaled it in a resigned fashion. "Alright, alright..." He grumbled to himself.
It wouldn't do him any good to complain about something had no control over, but the problem was that he felt helpless against the world the system had shoved him into. This was not a new feeling in his life... he had felt something like it before... just in a much smaller caliber... But it was definitely unwelcome nonetheless. And he didn't care for it.
In an effort to relieve some stress he spoke. "Let's do this already... lay it on me System..."
{As you wish User Solis} The System chirped as a new screen appeared in front of his face, this time a blank one with no text or data {As I begin to explain, simplified sheets of data will appear to aid you with understanding.}
Zam blinked once at the screen, surprised at how simple and straightforward it was being. He then simply nodded, silently urging the System onward.
{Hmm... very well...} The System continued to explain. {First, I'll explain the situation we find ourselves in} Zam gave a hum of agreement, crossing his legs and resting against the cold metal railing. He rested his head against his knees.
{As you surmised already, at the time you should have been teleported to the Tutorial Dungeon a system error occurred...} The System paused a moment, and Zam could practically picture it tilting its head curiously.
{And how I also informed you that we currently find ourselves IN the Tutorial Dungeon...} The System ended, sounding confused with its own statement.
"Yes... I'm sensing a 'but' coming up..." Zam replied flatly, hoping to encourage the System to continue.
The System ignored Zam's comment, pausing to consider it for a moment. {But... That is impossible as we find ourselves in your own world... Clearly tampered with, but your world nonetheless...} Zam remained silent, letting the System speak.
{What I had originally believed to be only an error within the system... turned out to be much more complex...}
"In what way?" Zam queried as he sat up straighter, leaning forward onto his elbows so he could focus more on the conversation.
{Sabotage...} A cold chill ran down Zam's spine the moment those three words left the system's ...mouth?
He felt like the air around him became suddenly colder, like a chill breeze blew past him, causing him to shiver slightly. Similar to when The System first spoke to him in the alleyway.
"By... whom?" The question left his lips hesitantly, the uneasiness that had washed over him moments ago returning with full force.
The System paused and gave a soft buzz of static. {I'm sorry... User Solis... It appears that I cannot tell you more than this...}
{The data retaining to that has been... restricted}
Zam let out a heavy sigh and ran a hand through his hair, pulling on a piece of it and messing it all up. He looked ahead for a brief moment, trying to figure out what the hell to do.
"Alright... Alright... Fine." He mumbled, standing up from his spot on the ground. "Keep explaining the situation, but avoid talking about whoever sabotaged the teleport"
{Understood} The System acknowledged as it gave another mechanical buzz.
{Continuing further...} The voice began.
{It seems like what was originally supposed to be YOUR Tutorial Dungeon, User Solis, has been permanently fused into your own world. During your resting phase, I took the liberty of scanning the entire planet...}
Zam's eyes nearly bulged from their sockets as he heard the words "scan the entire planet". He was completely speechless, his mouth hanging open.
"The entire planet!?" He asked incredulously. "I-Is that why it took so long to finish the analysis?"
{Correct} The System confirmed with a robotic sounding hum. {However, the scan was mostly superficial... Information like monster levels, monster drops, and such has not been collected as it did not pertain to the situation we find ourselves in at the moment.}
{What I did manage to salvage through the scan is an understanding as to what our next move should be...} The System paused, giving a quiet hum of contemplation.
{Normally the tutorial should end once all monsters/enemies are slain and all previous steps are taken. Opening your first random item crates and familiarizing one's self with the basics of the system... Which you have already done yourself...}
{The issue here...} The System paused again, its voice becoming more cautious the longer it went on. {Is that... This... mutation... of the Tutorial Dungeon has caused an unusually high amount of monsters to appear}
Zam's heart skipped a beat at the mention of monsters.
"Zombies...?" He asked softly, dreading the answer given.
{Indeed...} The System confirmed. {The monsters from the Tutorial Dungeon have been forcibly shoved onto Earth}
A wave of despair washed over him as he slumped his shoulders, his hands running over his face for a moment.
"Then... what about the people here on Earth? We're standing in a city that should have more than a hundred tourists and residents! I noticed that there isn't anyone out in the streets or hiding around... What happened to them?"
The System hesitated for a few moments. {In normal circumstances, only the User is permitted access to the Tutorial Dungeon... But we're in a situation where everything is abnormal...}
{So you see... After the scan, I came to the conclusion... that all the Undead type monsters that are present on Earth... Have somehow replaced all normal Non-User humans...} It murmured quietly.
{But to somehow do that... It would require... No... I mustn't come to that conclusion}
"Wha-"
{At least not yet...} The System interrupted, cutting off whatever else Zam might have said in response {Our next move should be wiping out all remaining monsters within this town... That should at least raise User Solis's level high enough for a higher level scan}
"I'm sorry?!" Zam snapped irritably, glaring at the system with angry eyes "Did you not see how I was manhandled yesterday!"
{Well I apologize, User Solis, I just needed to give my thoughts on things } The System stated calmly.
{I suppose now is the best time to inform you... You were attacked by a monster of the lowest tier...}
Zam gawked, blinking owlishly at the screen with wide eyes.
"W... Wait... Wha--?!" His mouth fell open, and he shook his head vigorously as denial spread through his body. "WHAT!?" Zam yelled as he gripped the baseball bat near him.
"That was one of the weaker ones!?" Zam shrieked, his eyes widening even more. He clenched his jaw tightly shut, taking a deep breath to calm down a bit before he shouted.
"You have GOT to be joking..."
Zam closed his eyes for several moments, taking in deep calming breaths to steady himself. When he finally opened his eyes, they were glowing brightly with a mix of emotions. He clenched his fists, shaking with anger.
"So... what the hell am I supposed to do next...?" Zam inquired, his voice shaking with anger and frustration, yet the tone of his voice remained calm and determined. The System froze for a moment as it contemplated telling him.
The screen that had previously displayed the simplified data turned blank again. There was still a faint hum of static coming from somewhere. Zam turned around and saw a new screen pop up near the metal railing surrounding the roof. This time the screen wasn't blank like before. Instead, displayed a simple arrow pointing downwards towards to streets below.
Zam stood frozen for a moment before realization hit him.
Zam clenched his fists tight, feeling his rage building up inside him. A determined gleam shone in his eyes as his fists began to shake in anticipation of a fight to come. His breathing grew ragged as he stared fixedly at the arrow, clenching his hands harder. The bat in one of his hands trembled as he glared at the arrow. A growl rumbled from his throat, as he felt his blood boil with anger and hatred.
"Dammit..." He muttered under his breath, gritting his teeth. "No. way. There is no way in hell you're getting me down there" Zam declared confidently, clenching his fists tighter.
As a response, the arrow on the screen just blinked with light, like a blinker on a car. Zam sighed, turning away from the screen to stare across the rooftop.
"I told you, 'System'... there's nothing in this world you could offer me that would convince me to get down there."
{Hmmm...} The System pondered briefly before coming to a possible conclusion {That could be it...}
"What?" Zam asked as he refused to look at the arrow screen, placing the bat on his shoulder.
{How about...}