There were 100 ways to die in the apocalyptic world. I wasn't joking; all of them were true. Amidst the chaos, as I sprinted through the ruined cityscape, my thoughts wandered to an eerie question:
What was the best way to meet your end in this nightmare?
Would it be getting devoured by zombies, much like the woman who was right behind me? Or perhaps trampled by centaurs, like the unfortunate boy separated from his parents?
As I sprinted, these dark thoughts occupied my mind. Suddenly, a gunshot shattered the air, causing my thoughts and my life to come to a screeching halt as I froze in shock.
Then, to my astonishment, I saw wrinkled fairies - a strange sight even in these chaotic times. They cackled menacingly and began hurling magic my way.
With adrenaline coursing through my veins, I miraculously dodged their mystical onslaught. My heart continued to race, and the intensity of the situation caused me to stumble.
"Shit!" I cursed, berating my out-of-shape physique.
As I lay there catching my breath amidst the crumbling cityscape and anguished screams, the earth trembled beneath me. I turned to witness a stampede of dinosaurs approaching.
"Oh no, not this one," I muttered a word, didn't have any stamina to even scream.
Not being a dinosaur enthusiast, I couldn't discern the specific type, so I simply dubbed them T-Rexes—loud and ferocious.
The relentless chaos around me was pounding against my skull, threatening to split it in two. There was no fucking way I survive this.
I was so worn out, every fiber of my being yearning for rest. A part of me actually thought about accepting the oncoming dino-stampede as my fate.
But just as I resigned myself to this grim choice, a stranger's hand yanked me aside, saving me from the dinosaur's path.
"Are you all right?" he inquired, his concern genuine.
Before I could answer, a half-lion, half-human beastly creature emerged and swiftly slew my savior.
Damn! I'm sorry to make you meet that end, sir. But seriously, you need to learn survival skills in an apocalyptic world, number one should be:
Never to aid another before securing your own safety.
Amidst this chaos, that human-beast creature fixed its evil eyes on me, looking like it meant business. It let out a loud roar and raised a huge sword to take a swing.
But I didn't waste time. I dashed forward, heading for a narrow alley, with that creature hot on my heels, making it feel like a wild chase for survival.
"Nope! I refuse to be a victim!" I said under my breath.
My legs moved fast, and I scolded myself for not keeping in shape in my previous, more comfortable life. It was a miracle I could still run like this. Must be the adrenaline kicking in.
I kept running, not knowing where to go, until I reached the dead-end of the alley. Panic washed over me as I scanned for options, and then, there it was – a massive trash bin.
I fucked! Could my body even climb that trash bin and to the wall?
In the middle of my cursed word, I heard the roar of that beast again. Yup, I have no choice anymore.
Even if I fall on this wall and have a concussion, it's better than being stabbed by a sword.
Then, I scrambled that giant trash bin, hoping my body could match the speed of my racing thoughts. Climbing a nearby wall and leaping to the other side, I landed safely.
As the enraged beast pummeled the wall in an attempt to reach me, I gathered my composure.
"Please don't let that monster go over here, I don't want to die being stabbed." I prayed.
Then, I heard a distraction—a sound, a commotion, and the beast-person's aggression shifted to another unfortunate soul.
Great, my prayer has been answered. Even though God probably laughing watching me in this pathetic state. After all, She was the one who made this apocalypse happen.
I flopped down on the grass, feeling thankful that this backyard gave me a break from the monsters. I took deep, ragged breaths, savoring this short rest. In my quiet moments, I just wished for a little peace in this crazy world.
But after only about five minutes, that weird "system" chimed in again, ruining my short moment of peace.
[You had fifteen minutes left to run to the nearest colony.]
[Run as fast as you can to save your life.]
I clenched my ears, trying to shut out the relentless warnings. "Damn it! Akh, I can't with that damned voice anymore," I muttered as I rose from the ground.
I will rather be shattered by a monster than hear that damned voice!
Slowly, I began to walk, cautiously scanning for any lurking monsters along the way. Upon reaching the gate of this house, I cast anxious glances left and right, ensuring my surroundings were secure.
The annoying system alarm had finally stopped, but the chaotic noise still echoed around me. I knew I was safe, at least for now.
With a sigh of relief, I headed toward the nearest colony. In my peripheral vision, I spotted a map and, using my mind, I enlarged it, revealing the marked location of the nearest colony.
It lay 150 meters away - a distant refuge. I didn't quite understand what the system meant by "colony," but my immediate concern was my safety, not whatever that colony was.
Once I felt my strength returning, I broke into a run, eventually finding a nearby convenience store. It appeared deserted, with no one not even a monster in sight.
The second rule of this apocalyptic world resounded in my mind like a relentless mantra: Hoard as much fresh water as you can; dehydration is your sworn enemy!
I wasted no time in securing water and quenching my parched throat, the taste of it feeling like a blessing. Snatching some snacks and stowing two large bottles of water in my bag, I set off again.
As I continued walking, I couldn't help but notice the silence that hung over this side of the city. There were no signs of life, only bloodstains as far as the eye could see.
Had everyone here met a gruesome end already?
The thought sent shivers down my spine, and I quickened my pace while remaining vigilant.
The sun was setting, painting the city with a yellowish hue. Chaos, which had been right on my heels, now sounded far away. The colony, only 50 meters ahead, was almost there.
I approached a street junction, expecting to see the colony on the horizon, but then came spine-chilling screams – the sound of many people in distress.
Fear and curiosity mixed in me, so I cautiously moved toward the source of those terrifying screams. My heart pounded as I got closer.
Peeking from behind a building's corner, what I saw sent shivers down my spine.
It wasn't something on the ground; it was in the air. With bat-like wings and menacing horns, it looked like a devil descending upon humanity.
I stood there, frozen in place, horror washing over me as the remaining survivors screamed and desperately tried to escape.
The devilish being cackled menacingly, wielding dark wind magic that tore through people as if they were made of paper.
This... Why does this keep happening? It's like reaching the finish line in a race, only for a meteor to crash down right in front of that damn finish line!
What the hell! No way, I'm gonna fight that devil. As I tried to turn away, that annoying system sound blaring again:
[You have 5 minutes left to reach the colony!]
Dear God, just look at the gruesome slaughter before my eyes. Did you actually think a human could fight that shit!?
Was this how my end would be?