[You killed a slightly intelligent Lv. 1 mutated zombie.]
Mysteriously, an energy orb shot out with a blinding intensity, a radiant burst of white light. Bittu could feel a subtle warmth as it entered his body, tingling with an otherworldly energy. The orb's color transitioned from a dazzling white to a calming hue, leaving a lingering sensation.
[You have absorbed the soul power of a mutated zombie. Stamina +1]
[You have killed your first enemy. You have gained an undistributed stat. ]
[Please use it effectively as it may decide your future. ]
Right after the two messages, a green status appeared before his eyes.
[Bittu sah–
Race:Human
Class: Jocker
Bloodline: None
Strength-> G
Agility-> G
Stamina-> G -> F
Constitution-> G
Perception-> G
Spirit-> G
Unassigned stat: 1]
With the danger gone, Bittu sought to reflect. But before he could ponder his identity, location, and next steps, a new message emerged.
[You have unlocked your first skill. ]
[Congratulations, you have gotten your first skill from your class, Jocker. ]
[Class: Jocker (Unique class)
Skill 1 : Danger Intuition (passive)
Rating : Unknown (Evaluation will be done as the human Bittu continues on his journey.) Description : A skill that alerts its wielder when a decision they've made will lead to a death threat. ]
'A skill? ', he thought in slight surprise.
'Was that what this zombie was using to freeze my body? '
'It's best that I killed it earlier, if it had developed further. It would be me that died. ', he thought in relief.
While he was thinking, a pungent smell assaulted his nose. Bittu frowned when he smelt this disgusting of an odor. He moved away from this place.
He looked around to familiarize with the surrounding. Bittu's eyes scanned the surroundings, taking in the towering ancient trees that formed a verdant canopy. The leaves above whispered in the breeze, creating a soothing melody. He felt the crunch of fallen leaves beneath his shoes, grounding him of the place he was in.
He looked towards the West. There was a massive cliff, overlooking the wilderness, whereas in the East, beyond the foliage, the distant skyline of a bustling city emerged, contrasting nature with urban life.
The distant skyline of the bustling city teased his senses, promising a stark contrast between nature and urban life.
Happiness filled his eyes upon seeing the nearby city. In his current situation, going to the city was the best solution. He walked to do just that.
He started his journey towards the city while thinking.
'I feel like its crucial to know about the system to survive.'
'Hmm....I can't check anything else except my skill.'
'Let's see it then.'
'Danger Intuition.... It alerts me when a choice I decide to take will kill me.'
'.....'
'If that's the case,..... Then the appearance of the zombie in my dream... Was that this skills doing? '
'If it's true... then,'
'..... Is that not a too overpowered a skill? I will literally be unkillable because of this skill. '
'I can know what would kill me before it even does. '
'.... How can there be such a broken skill?.... No, there must be a condition or criteria for the skill to be activated.'
'.... The skill rating is unknown. Does that mean that the system doesn't know how powerful the skill is?'
'If that's the case then, could it be that the description given is not all there is to it and there's more left..... Which I have to figure out myself? '
'.... That makes sense. I need to explore this skill to know where its limits are.'
Bittu continued on his way while deep in thoughts, but didn't forget to always be alert.
'... Next.... Is the question about who I am?...and what's my name.... '
The moment this question appeared in his mind, Bittu became silent. He didn't know how he should answer that question since he had no in linking about who he was?
He couldn't think of anything, at all. No matter how hard he tried, no answer appeared in his mind. Sadness flashed in his eyes as he felt bitter about not having any ideas about himself.
'... Wait... '
Hope, even if just a little, could be seen in his eyes when he thought of something. He immediately opened his status and saw who the status belonged to.
'.....Bittu Sah... '
'... Is that my name?.... Bittu.... ', Bittu was ecstatic with excitement that at least he knew his name.
"Yes!", excitement was palpable on his face. This was the first step. Gradually, he could know who he was.
Before, he just felt like going to the city. But now, his determination shot up because of this new information; his name. He could now go to the city and find out who he was.
Since he was near this city, then he should be someone from this city, and he should be able to get his answer to his question in the city.
Without further thoughts, he increased his speed, splinting his way towards the city.
His way towards the city was unexpectedly smooth. He didn't encounter any problem at all, which was justified because he was at a place that was close to the city, hence wild animals were somewhere far.
This was also the reason no one attacked him when he was asleep, with blood all around him.
The zombie was the only thing that approached him. That was because it was the guard of this place had turned into a zombie himself because he could not absorb the mana in the air.
That's right–with the Earth fusing with the Eternal Nexus, mana too has arrived on earth. Those who could survive the outburst of mana could save themselves, whereas those who couldn't evolved into zombies. This applies to both humans and animals.
Bittu, unaware of these things, arrived at the periphery of the city only to be shocked by what he saw.
The city lied in ruins–a chaotic landscape of damaged skyscrapers emitting billowing smoke. Once vibrant streets were now eerily empty, filled only with remnants of abandoned vehicles and twisted metal. Groans of the undead echo through the desolation, accompanied by sporadically flickering neon signs casting eerie shadows.
*siren*
*beep*
*crash*
The bridge connecting the hill area to the city was a tense scene to experience. Its once sturdy structure beared scars of desperate attempts to escape the undead. Abandoned vehicles line its lanes, some precariously half off the edge. The air is thick with unsettling quiet, broken only by distant zombie groans.
*puff*
*scatter*
*crash*
Survivors, some barehanded and some armed with makeshift weapons, navigate the wreckage with faces etched in fear. Tattered posters flutter in the wind–remnants of a past life obliterated by the relentless march of the undead zombies. Broken windows, shattered glass, and overturned vehicles paint a picture of lives disrupted by the zombie scourge.
"... Stay... away..."
"... Ahhhahhahhnn... "
"Please, god save me.... "
"Get away..... "
But the army of the undead; the zombies, appeared to be unstoppable. They jump at anyone alive to turn them lifeless, just as themselves. They show no mercy and bite anyone they see, uncaring of their lives.
"Please help me... "
"... Stay away.... "
"..Help... Somebody help! "
"... Don't come near me... "
Bittu saw a fear stricken man cornered by four zombies. He moved backwards while shouting all over, but no one could save him because everyone was busy running away.
Bittu already saw two people coming close to him, running at the top of their speed, trying to leave the city.
"... Wwwaaaaaaa..."
"... Aahhhhnnnnn..... "
Bittu saw a zombie bite right into a woman's neck and tear it with a grip of its teeth. It was a bloody sight to see.
'No! '
'No! No! No! '
Afterwards, both the man and the woman who should have been dead got up and moved as they dragged themselves towards another person who was trying to run away.
'It can't be.. '
'Not again... '
With a pale face that appeared bloodless, Bittu saw the sight, unable to accept this situation. He was here to search for his real identify; to find himself, but it turned out that the city was in ruins.
'IT CAN'T BE.... '
'...why is this happening to me..? '
Seeing such a sight, he froze, still in his place, unable to accept the reality before him.
The ruined city sprawled before Bittu's eyes, a chaotic landscape of damaged skyscrapers emitting billowing smoke.
Looking at such a sight, Bittu's only thought was,
"...Truly...."
*crack* *shatter*
".. there's no hope for me.... "
He, who has just gotten a new motivation to live; to search for his identify found his world crumbled just like a mirror crashing with reality, seeing the city in such a state.
Since the city was in such a state, how was he to find who he was? How would he find himself? It would have been difficult learning about himself in a normal city but, at least he could. But now, in an almost destroyed city, how would he know who he was?
He could have asked the police, but are they even alive? He could have asked the government? Does that even exist now? He could have asked his family but, where would he find them or are they even alive? If they are, why did they abandon him at that place? When he wasn't himself?!
He didn't have answers to these questions. If not for already suffering all those things and have his spirit become so fragile, he could have kept himself in check and not have his world view broken. But, since he did, he could no longer stay sane.
His mind immediately went blank. The intense emotion of not being able to accept reality once again, his mind gave up and this time, no matter what the special trait tried, it could not change the outcome.
Bittu once again went mad, but this time not entirely since he had a goal. All that left within him was agony; because of all the suffering in such a short period, anger; at his situation and loneliness; since he was all alone, the basic human instincts such as his habits grinded into him by his family and the society.
As Bittu looked at the scene with his eyes that appeared bloodless and hollow because of his condition, anger and agony gradually took place inside his eyes as the blood vessels inside his eyes expanded because of the excessive anger.
'Zombies.... '
'.. Zombies...'
'.. Cause....zombies.... '
'... Kill...'
'... Zombies... Kill.... '
'.. Kill.. kill.... Killl.... Kill! "
He rushed towards the zombies that were coming towards him chasing the people, with the only intention of finishing these unsightly creatures that destroyed his world.