It was a hell of a way to die. Murdered, by the only people I had ever trusted. It hurt, more so than the physical wounds they gave me.
Their bloody faces blurred as I began to lose consciousness.
I wanted to shout, to scream, but nothing came out. Everything faded away to a blinding white light. Is this the end? I thought to myself. No. This can't be?!
My ears rang, and my vision blurred into focus the only thing besides a blinding white light, a screen-like apparition
What?
[You have failed the game!]
[A friendly hand reaches out and grants you a
What? What's going on? I'm dead right?
[Do you accept?] It asked again, as if urgent.
What was the harm. I was dead wasn't I? "Yes?" I spoke, but no sound came out.
[Hidden quest!]
[Clear Conditions:(Become The Strongest) (Change the Future and save humanity)]
[Rewards:(Survival!)]
[Penalty:(Death!)]
[Do you accept this quest?].
[ Yes/No]
Second chance? Save Humanity ?? Hidden skill? I had so many questions, but obviously I answered yes.
More screens flooded my vision.
[System Starting..]
[calculating…]
[Healing wounds!]
[Returning to the start!]
[Removing skills and stats]
[calculating]
[Welcome to the past!]
Everything faded away and when I finally opened my eyes, I found myself in a familiar room. It was a small room, simple with a bed and a desk. Clothes were thrown about the floor, and piles of manga were next to the bed.
My childhood room?
I recalled one of the messages [Welcome back to the past!]
The past? Just how far in the past? I worriedly hurried to the bathroom, just a door over. I sighed, relieved to see that I was at least in my teens. I think.
I squished my still round face. I was quite cute as a kid. Long, dark curls encircled my face, making my light eyes pop. My scars-wich I had been quite proud of, now replaced by perfectly clear skin. I seemed to really be back.
I had an unsurprisingly weak and flabby body, but at least I was skinny. I thought I had been more built in high school, but I guess it's just been a childish notion I'd given myself.
"Jaye!" Called the stern but soft voice of my mother. "You're going to be late for school! You better be up!"
My eyes watered. I never thought I'd hear her stern voice again, and I rushed out to see her. There she was in the kitchen holding out my school bag for me. Her soft brown hair, tied up in a loose ponytail, wispy hairs flying about. She wore a white blouse and black slats, dressed for work. I took the bag from her, dropped it on the floor, and hugged her tight. Her warmness made me want to cry, but I tried to hold back tears.
She seemed surprised but hugged me back. After a long warm hug, she pushed me off. "You need to get to school, you'll be late at this rate! Go get dressed," she ordered. I reluctantly returned to my room to put my uniform on.
"Hey, mom? What's today's date?" I asked, adjusting my tie, and shoving a piece of toast in my mouth.
"It's the 12th. And when did you learn to tie a tie? Just yesterday I had to tie it for you."
"What month? And the year?"
"It's April. 2072." She replied, annoyed. "Now hurry, you're going to be late."
Right. I said my goodbyes and hurried out.
Choice High. I only went there for about a year, before the dungeon break near my home and I was forced to join a military school, as a ward of the state. I managed to make it through the school day, asking for a copy of my schedule at the front desk. No one seemed to notice anything off about me, which was great_ but I couldn't remember a single thing I learned in high school.
April 13, 20XX the day the portals appeared, and seven days before my mother died.
The Catalyst. The day that started the end of the world- or so they had all thought. Portals to another world appeared, opening to release monsters. The Netherlych. They had ravaged the cities of the world. Chaos follows its wake.
Soon, people began discovering strange powers. Some humans, after killing a beast, gained superpowers of some sort. These humans were given the name Hunters and were tasked with eradicating the Netherlych.
I needed to awaken and save my mom.
If the portals appear today, that gives me seven days to prepare for the break. First, I should Awaken. And I'll need weapons..normal ones don't even work in F-tier dungeons tho…so I'll have to clear one. But how can I do that without getting caught- or dying for that matter? Right now I'm just a kid. No skills, no weapons, not even decent physical strength… Guess I'll have to rely on the system for now. And hopefully, I won't die- No, I won't die. I have to get stronger. I can't allow a repeat of the past. I won't.
I calmed my mind and began writing everything out.
There are two ways to awaken.
1) By chance.
2) Kill a monster. Killing a monster would forcibly awaken me.
Obviously, the 2nd option was more practical. I was low on time. However, the only way to encounter a monster right now would be to enter a dungeon - which would be extremely dangerous. Or go to the association. However, that cost money, and money I didn't have.
I needed weapons. Unfortunately- the only weapons that worked on monsters were made from monsters. Or found in dungeons. A normal kitchen knife might work on a level F monster but it wouldn't be very useful.
The dungeons should all be level F, as they were all blue, meaning as long as I awakened quickly and kept my cool, I should be able to solo the dungeon. though extremely risky, I would just have to rely on my nearly 50 years of experience.
The only problem- I didn't know which portal I would be able to enter, they would all be gauded.... Wait! The portal that got Mom killed! There wasn't anyone guarding it- that's why she died in the first place. If I can find it, I can save her! And I can awaken.
During lunch, I headed to the library.
Mom was at home, so it's got to be somewhere nearby. Not in someone's house, they'd notice that. Not the park either, it's still warm..so kids would see it. So that leaves...a vacant house or building. Well, there aren't any vacant buildings in the area, so a house then?
Ah! The house at the end of the street. It's been empty for years!
_
_
_
3:47, precisely 12 minutes after class ended, while I was walking past a small eatery, they appeared. The dungeon portals. I ran home as chaos ensued. Cars crashed, people were screaming, and the military was already arriving with tanks and weaponry.
"Do not be alarmed, the government and military have control of the situation." Of course, people believed the news thinking it was some sort of Chinese weapon or something. I hurried home.
I packed a bag with some food, water, and anything that might be useful. Once I had changed out of my uniform- couldn't have anyone recognizing me after all.
The abandoned house looked far less abandoned than I had remembered. Cameras hung in front of the doors, and sensors on the windows.
Shit. I really hadn't expected that. I pulled my hood down over my face until I could barely see, and held my shirt in my mouth to cover my face as much as possible. I peered through the windows, hoping to see the familiar blue glow. There it was. A faint blue glow cast through one of the rooms.
I found a good-sized rock nearby. Picking it up with my hoodie sleeve, I threw it through the window. The alarm rang loudly, alerting the security. I ignored it, heading towards the faint glow. I stared at the bright glowing portal, nostalgia washing over me. It had been many years since I had last been in a blue portal.
The Gate was more unnerving than I remembered and gave off an unsettling vibe. Unawakened, I seemed to be more sensitive to the portal than usual. I clutched my bag tightly to me and took a deep breath before stepping through.