Jamie sat down after entering the secret room the old woman had asked him to come to. The room was filled with bones and zombie skin, as if the old woman had been conducting experiments on zombies.
The atmosphere was very calm, and Jamie showed no emotions or reactions after seeing that.
But, before we talk, said the old woman, tell me your name.
The old woman replied, "My name is 'Serethal.'"
Alright, now what shall we talk about, Serethal? What questions do you want me to answer?
Okay, I'll answer your questions. In return, you'll answer mine as well.
Deal, responded Jamie to Serethal.
Who are you, Jamie?
As you see, I'm a young man in the prime of life who was leading a boring life before being hit by a car, waking up to find this world turned upside down, after being in a coma for two years.
What do you mean you were hit by a car and just woke up? Are you messing with me?
What do you say, Serethal? Wasn't this world normal before a pandemic turned it into a zombie world?
The old woman started laughing. Are you sure about what you're saying? And who told you there was a pandemic in this world?
When I woke up in the hospital, as I told you, I left and met some friends who informed me about what happened to this world.
In what year are we now, old woman?
I don't know the exact year, but I think we are now more than 5000 years ahead.
What do you mean we are in 5000 years? Are you joking?
I'm not joking, Jamie. I'm speaking seriously.
But Carter told me that we are in the year 2021.
Who is this person?
He's the person I met when I woke up in this world, and he's the one who helped me adapt.
(The old woman speaks) Jamie, I want to ask you, do you see a system screen appearing in front of you, where you can know my strength?
I don't see anything, even though Jamie directed his internal strength towards his eyes, he doesn't see anything of what "Serethal" mentioned.
Jamie, is everything you told me true, that you were hit by a car and woke up in a hospital?
Yes, everything I told you is true.
The old woman began to look at Jamie for a long time without saying anything.
The old woman moved her hands in front of her face as if she could see something, but Jamie couldn't see what she was talking about.
Level: [Unknown]
Internal Strength: [Unknown]
Acquired Experience: [Unknown]
Monster Strength: [Unknown]
Agility: [Unknown]
Sword Strength: [Unknown]
Dealing with Zombies: [Unknown]
The old woman said, "Wow, what is this?"
Everything is unknown for this boy; it's impossible for him to have been born in this world. The more plausible assumption is that he is a missing person among the five emperors summoned to protect this world.
Jamie, do you know the Four Emperors, and have you met them before?
I don't know them, but I need information about those four I saw in the city. They seem powerful, and I want to understand their role in this world.
The old woman sighed. "They are the Four Emperors, guardians of this world. They have unique abilities and defend this world from the threats of the Four Lords. And you are one of them, they call you the 'Shadow Elite.'"
What do you mean I'm one of them? I'm just an ordinary human who lived a normal life before waking up in this world, and you tell me I'm one of them, awakened to protect this world. I was living in this world. How can that be?
Jamie appeared tense.
Have you seen yourself in a mirror since you woke up? I believe you haven't done that. And this body is not your body, Jamie, and you know it.
You died, Jamie, in your previous life and were transferred to this world. This world is not the world you were living in. Tell me, Jamie, when you were hit by the car, did something like a system screen appear in front of you?
Jamie's head was throbbing intensely because everything had evaporated before him. He searched for his grandfather, tried to rid himself of the monster inside him, and unraveled Carter's lies. The nightmares haunting him and the life he used to live—all had come to an end for him.
Jamie attempted to stand, but his legs wouldn't support him. The monster that lived in the forest, eating what animals ate, was weak in the face of this reality.
Old woman, or whatever your name is, can you tell me everything?
The old woman took out a pearl ball and placed it in front of her. She began looking at it and started providing him with all the information he needed.
First, before I speak, you must listen carefully. In this world, everyone possesses their own unique power, an internal energy, and a system through which they can identify the energy of their enemies or friends.
And this system consists of:
Level: Indicates the level reached.
Internal Strength: The energy within the body.
Acquired Experience: Results from wars and confrontations.
Monster Strength: Shows the strength of the summoned monster.
Agility: Body agility, speed, and collisions.
Sword Strength: Present only in a minority who fight with a sword.
Dealing with Zombies: Reveals the number of zombies killed.
Through this energy, one can shape any type of weapon or summon any monster they desire. This power is possessed by a small minority of individuals, including you, the Shadow Elite, and the Four Lords, also known as the "Black Quartet."
This world is divided into four continents, and each continent has its own system. Until now, we haven't heard or seen any of these continents interact with the other three.
The Four Lords, or the Black Quartet, are the ones who eliminated half of the population of this world. They divided the world into four continents, and until now, they continue to live among us. However, no one can face them.
The Black Quartet are the ones who summoned zombies to this once peaceful world. People were living in peace and security until they appeared. How they appeared, no one knows.
The course of human life changed from ordinary beings to zombies without any soul, bodies walking without awareness. A question you may ask, Jamie, is whether the people of this world tried to fight against these four.
Yes, they tried to resist and fight them, but in vain. However, their abilities were not sufficient to face them. Therefore, the "Shadow Elite" is summoned to fight these Four Lords. Yet, the Five Emperors are defeated, easily vanquished.
But a thousand years ago, the Five Emperors were summoned to fight against these zombies. For the first time in 5000 years, one of the "Shadow Elite" killed one of these Four Lords.
Are you now aware, Jamie, why you are very special? Because you are one of the "Shadow Elite," and that's why you must be extremely powerful.
Do you think I'm one of these Shadow Elite because I am strong, or is there something specific about us?
Yes, there is something unique about them. It is that you cannot know the extent of their power. As I told you, I cannot know the extent of your strength. Everything is unknown to me.
Jamie, there is a legend that says a person will come after a thousand years and will kill these Black Quartet. Also, some say that these Black Quartet are under the rule of a Zombie Emperor, who will be summoned when the moon is red, and six swords are gathered to fight him.
But, old woman, how do you know all this about this world?
Because, Jamie, I was one of the "Shadow Elite" summoned to this world. However, I had no desire to die in this world either, as happened to me in the real world.
So, I decided to escape from them and try to stay alive for a long time. And here you are, seeing me up close.
Jamie left the room and headed outside the old woman's hotel, his head throbbing intensely. Everything started to feel mysterious again for Jamie.
To Be Continued