Morning, December 31, 2024, 8:33 a.m.
I finally managed to crawl out of my bed. The fear of death was still lingering in my system, causing my hands and knees to shake at times, but I could already limit its adverse effects. Well, enough to at least walk around my room.
The first thing I did, after I could move again, was go to my computer and start my stream. I don't know what's happening in the world right now or if people have spare time to even watch my stream, but I just can't stand the idea of being all alone right now.
The stream started without delay, and I quickly put on my headphones... and used my thick blanket to cover my head, as if hiding. You can't blame me, can you? After all, the crazy foreigners below just got caught by the police yesterday after they added a new hole to my floor and a bullet to my ceiling.
What? I died and returned in time. Then, do you think the future would change even if I didn't do anything? I doubt that.
Anyway, I checked my looks on the third monitor... and honestly, I looked haggard as hell. It could be because I haven't been drinking or eating anything for the past 30 or so hours, or that I haven't gotten a wink of sleep at all after that, but anyway, I look like a zombie right now.
"Hehe, I guess my viewers would just laugh it off as always."
I tapped roughly on the keyboard, going with my title, "Discussing System Abilities," to make it relevant and try to make more viewers come. As soon as I clicked start, the stream began. I stared blankly at the screen, seeing that the viewer counter was not budging from zero.
"Well... I should've expected, right?"
I shrugged, heaving a deep, heavy sigh, before moving to press the stop streaming button. Just as I was about to reach the cursor to it, the displayed counter suddenly changed with a fun tone, like a droplet of water falling to the floor.
*PLOP!*
"...!"
There's a peculiar person out there willing to watch my stream despite the current situation!
"W-Welcome to my stream!" I quickly greeted him, or her, or whatever it was. "I thought that there's nobody who would be willing to watch my stream, given the threat of monsters coming in more or less half a day."
A bunch of emojis were sent in the chat, showing that the other person was feeling tired. Then, a sudden question followed.
"What do you think of pyrokinesis ability? Ah, right, I did name the current stream relating to the system-given abilities, right? Well... pyrokinesis, in many games, is a heavily offensive-based skill, so I'm sure you'd be a great asset in fighting against the monsters!"
Rather, I feel envious that he has such a cool ability like that. Just as I was thinking that, a few more messages appeared.
"Hmmm? My abilities are pyrokinesis, dancing, and hand-to-hand combat...? Wait, one can get multiple abilities?!" That was news to me!
I only got one ability, even after I rechecked it after I died the second time. The ability that was supposed to be random still landed on the very same one. Is this thing truly random? I got the same pick twice in a row!
*PLOP!* *PLOP!* *PLOP!*
While I was fighting with my inner demons, the sound of more viewers popping in echoed. Soon enough, almost a hundred viewers were watching the stream! I felt touched, seeing how my avid viewers were still willing to watch my streams despite the approaching danger.
After that, we all discussed our different abilities, some bragging while others literally cursing their destinies after receiving "trash" skills. Heh, though nobody has a skill as amazing and as trashy as mine.
"My ability? It's not that I'm hiding it; it's just called the Curse of Infinite Rebirth."
As soon as I revealed my ability, the chat was filled with laughing emojis. Some were even telling me to stop my delusions and tell them the real ones. Seeing them not believe me, I tried to open my system panel and face it toward the camera.
"Can you guys see this? If you can, try reading what's written on the ability column."
I wasn't really sure if others would be able to see my personal status window, but silence spread in the chat for a short while. Soon enough, life came back in a flood.
"It's really real!"
"LoL, we got an immortal in our world; this apocalypse would be a cakewalk!"
"Sh*t, are you fr?!"
Various chats flooded the screen, making me unable to read any as they scrolled up too quickly to make space for the new messages. I scrolled up, read their chats one after another, and smiled.
"Well, it's real, and I've already tried it. Oh, suicide? Nah, I'm not that kind of idiot. I was shot by a gun and died."
Questions like "How did dying feel like?" or "Was it painful?" were repeatedly sent, making me feel like replying to their questions in earnest.
After that, I relayed how my ability was literally, as its name implied, a curse. The pain of death remains even after revival, as does the vivid sensation of the bullet, the feeling of losing blood rapidly, and your heart slowly stopping. I told them everything.
As I did, I could feel my shoulders becoming a little bit lighter. I guess sharing your burden does make you feel better.
As we were laughing, a single chat caught my eye.
"The monster invasion started...?"
The meaning of the chat slowly sank into my mind, making me check the time in a hurry. It was already five minutes past midnight... in short...
"The monsters!"
I quickly ran to my window, opening it slightly to peek outside. As I expected, the same big eyeball was pressed against my window. "Sh*t! It completely slipped my mind!"
I closed the curtain immediately and ran to my door. I peeked at the peephole to check the state of the hallway. "... It's clear."
After making doubly sure, I then gently opened my door and peeked my head outside, checking left... nothing unusual. To the right... A black tentacle with a mouth, armed with spiky rows of teeth, was right before my eyes.
"Ah sh—!"
A single chomp took everything above my chest. Just like that, my death was quick and easy. Should I be thankful for this ability letting me survive or curse my fate for receiving it…? I'm not sure. All I know is that, whatever the cause, dying is extremely painful.