"So, Mr. Dilbert. How about I tell you a story? A story of a distant, yet oh-so-close world. A story about monsters and beasts, about death and more death, about gods, and devils, and about a world that is soon to face its end." I spoke.
"You don't strike me as a man who is speaking fiction or preaching a religion, I suppose your story has something for me to hear, but if I only have one hour, you better start telling," John said.
I smiled, "I always liked your straightforwardness."
"You talk as if we have met before," John said.
"Oh, we did, and we worked together, a lot, sadly, things didn't end as we all wanted," I said reminiscing for a moment about a past long gone. Yet a future is yet to come.
John didn't speak and waited for me to finish.
"The world as you know it, will end in about three years," My words spoken, however, John didn't seem too perturbed by them.
"I suppose that someone with your background would be more than capable of knowing that things aren't going too well, right?" I said.
John nodded.
"This makes things much easier. In a sense, I came from the future, though it's slightly wrong to say that, more like I got reverted back to my younger years."
"In one week from now, the first integration will happen, and shit will hit the fan. People will die, by great and grave numbers. And not me, you, the army, or anyone can do anything about it. The economy will take the biggest hit it ever had, and markets will break." I said.
"Monsters will start appearing, people, will die. And a great many will starve to death. A few lucky and elite people will remain however, and will rebuild, they'll try to sustain life for as long as they could. And companies such as yours, somehow will manage to offset this first Integration and will become one of the pillars that will support the imminent breaking of the world."
"Your words, seem certain," John said.
"You had a hunch something will happen, so why not believe me?" I asked.
"It's not just believing. What you're saying is absurdly incredible. I need proof." He said.
"Mishaa," I said, and immediately a blue screen appeared in front of me.
"Showcase status screen," I said.
Then I displayed the status screen to John.
He frowned then said, "With today's technology something like this is easy to make."
"Sword," I said and the sword from my inventory manifested in my hand.
"Party Trick." He said.
I frowned.
"You seem not too keen on believing me," I said.
"I'm a rational man, if I were to believe anything anyone says to me, I'd be out of business a long time ago."
Though I could show him a skill, the only one I have is too volatile and might end up eating him.
"Right then, how about I make you better," I said
"You mean cure me?"
"You're not sick," I said.
"That's not what everyone is saying," John said.
"You're suffering Mana Deficiency. Without my intervention, you would one day wake up. Because you're lucky enough that your Mana Deficiency happened close to the integration. When Mishaaa fully integrates with the world, the Mana Gates will open up, and you'll wake up a bit later down the timeline, but you'll wake up when the world is already destroyed, and your only daughter will be long dead." I said as I stood up.
My last words made him immediately change his expression.
"Are you threatening me?"
"No, but in my last life, your daughter died due to an inside job. Someone, apparently from your company got her, and when you woke up, you were devastated. You can sleep if you want. I won't stop you, I managed the last time, and I'll figure something this time. It would have been better with your help, but it seems that you're not believing me either way."
"Because what you're saying is nothing but absurdities!" he said.
"I told you before, what I'm about to tell you will not be easy to digest, it is basically telling you that all you worked for your entire life is meaningless, no one likes to hear that, but it is the hard cold truth. Either way, you have about half an hour, I'll leave you and your daughter to talk. But before I go," I said and pulled a small glass vial with a green glistening liquid inside it.
I placed it next to his bed and said.
"This is a magic potion, it will rebuild your muscles, refill your energy reserves and stop the Mana Deficiency from putting you back to sleep," I said.
"That could be poison," he said.
"Why should I try and poison a man who will die anyway?" I said.
"You said I'll wake up from the coma later, aren't you being contradictive!" he said.
"Yes, you'll wake up, but only because in my past life, I happened to arrive to this very hospital and found you asleep and about to get mauled by zombies and saved your ass. That's how we got to know each other. Maybe this time I won't. The choice is yours." I said. I then stood up and left the room.
"He wants to see you," I said to Vivian, and then I left.
I didn't know what they talked about or what she wanted to ask him. But I did all I could. Sadly Mishaaa isn't allowing me to use any of my old abilities, perhaps I'll need to re-venture in the same dangerous places and re-learn all of that. Before I'm able to use all my skills.
However, with this newfound power I have, I'm probably going to pick a different Job this time.
Being a Swordmaster had its perks, but it was far too close in far too many occasions. I might not survive this time if I were to underestimate my opponents due to my former knowledge. I'll still need to train and practice, and also, I need to get my hand on a few dungeons before some very wicked people manage to get their hands on them first.
This will be a very dangerous journey because I'll basically be offending some of the very nasty gods that will be coming to this world soon after.
I headed out to the nearest coffee shop and had a shot of espresso to wake me up. I needed to start working on some things. Mainly figure out a way to get some crafting done with my materials. I have to make an armor set from the Gray Rat I killed last time, and I don't have much time left.
As I was figuring out ways on how to make such a thing. I received a call.
"Hello."
"Lucas…" Vivian spoke.
"Yes."
"He fell asleep again. And no matter how many flowers I place, he didn't wake up."
I sighed inwardly.
"It was his own decision, I gave him something to wake him up, but he probably didn't take it."
"Something?" she wondered, then I heard her rummaging through objects.
"There is a vial here, it's empty though. Is that poison or something."
"You rich people and your conspiracy theory minds, no of course it's not poison! Also, can you check his eyes, see if they're reacting to light. His pupils should contract if exposed to light." I said.
"One moment, I'll use my phone's flashlight." She said.
Soon after, "They're reacting."
I smiled.
"Good, he drank it. Tomorrow, he'll wake up. Don't worry about it, go and rest. Your dad is healed up." I said
"Really?" she questioned, a bit of worry in the tone of her voice.
"Yeah, don't worry about it. He'll wake up in the morning feeling better than ever. And once he's ready, he can call me then. We have much to talk about."
"Okay, I hope what you're saying is true. I'll trust you since you kept your word the first time."
"Don't worry about it. You should also rest up. You've been through a lot today."
"Thank you… for everything."
"Don't thank me yet, I still haven't really earned it. All in due time." I said then hung up.
Good. With Dilbert, all good and dandy, the next phase should be far easier to deal with. Especially with his support.
As much as I want to gather my old team, I can't do it now. They need to get introduced to the true terror of the upcoming world. And getting to them right now will probably creep them out.
Especially her. She is still with her current ass of a boyfriend. But once everything clears up for her, then it'll be my time. I won't let what happened last time happen again.