[Kroondal, 30km away from Rustenburg City]
A purple cloud showed up out of the blue and disappeared, in its place was a man in a black military uniform. The moment he came to his senses he quickly in the direction of a tree that was 40m away from him to take cover from god knows what was watching him. He climbed the tree after making sure that there wasn't some giant next or snake there, once looked around he only saw dilapidated houses and cars from all directions with forestry slowly claiming what was once human civilization what amazed him was how advanced the cars looked to be as they didn't have wheels, these where magnetic levitation (maglev) cars, in his reality, there still hasn't been such a thing and he knew he'd die before even laying his eyes upon one – let alone driving it. When he looked again at his southeast, there was what remained intact, a two-storey manor house.
When he kept looking his eyes went dark as if he had just closed, but he knew that he did not. "what the fuck was that?'' he asked himself, he rubbed his eyes as he heard Aiden's voice
**Due to your intense focus on your eyes, you have been granted the skill – Inspect, which will help you in your journeys**
After understanding how to use it, he climbed down the tree heading in the direction of the big manor house he saw, he couldn't tell how big it was, but he knew it was big. Probably a hospital or something as he thought. What he needed now most was a base of operations and he knew that the manor would do just nice as it was big and would still be of use in the future when he established himself in the wasteland. After walking for 200m he met his first zombie. He didn't want it to alert the others so he quickly slashed its head with a dagger before it could even realize who was there, it was swiftly dealt with by a mere slash that it didn't see coming. It may be an E Rank zombie, but it was still a zombie and could turn him into one of them. He split open the chest looking for the Aether crystal, but he did not find it.
"Hmm, maybe the weaker ones don't, have it? Or not every monster possesses one? Aiden can you tell me why this zombie doesn't have a crystal?"
**All mutated beasts carry an aether crystal, the crystal is the very reason they can move and live after such mutations, the stronger the beast, the more potent and purer the aether crystal will be. You can find the crystal in the brains of every beast**
Corbin cracked the corroded head and picked the brains with his dagger not daring to stick his hand inside, after a few seconds, he found the small stone the size of a thumbnail and put it into his pocket. He continued with his journey for 4km only slashing E RANK beasts, from zombies to four-legged abominations that could not be described. The manor was finally closer, at least he was at the main entrance, it seemed that the manor was like a game farm. The fencing stretched into opposite directions, from what he could guess by what he saw when he was atop the tree, he could guess that the farm was as big as 4 square km. He was very satisfied and directly jumped the giant gate while ignoring the electric fencing warning signs as they seemed to have stopped long ago.
What he didn't know was that the electric fence stopped working a month ago when the owner turned into a zombie 4 months ago. The owner was a man in his 50s who went out to search for food but came with a limb missing, he donated, I mean lost his arm to a C rank beast. He was lucky to survive with only an arm missing. When he got to his farm he turned into a zombie before he could even kill himself, he was a man who had lived alone for 1 year since the outbreak as his family was abroad for holidays when the outbreak took place. He only wanted to die in his house.
"Damn, how long do I have to walk... my legs are killing me, why haven't I met anyone yet? I know this place is far from civilization but surely there's still a lot of humans since only been a year after the outbreak" He sat down and decided to fill his stomach with some biscuits and juice. After his 1-hour break, he looked at the universal clock in his status and it told him that it was only 14h45, he left his reality at 10h00, which meant that both time zones were parallel to each other. He walked another 400m and finally reached the manor, it lay on the outskirts of an abandoned city, a relic of the past before the outbreak. The once elegant manor has now been taken by nature, with vines crawling up the walls and cracks forming in the stone. The windows were boarded up to keep out intruders. He opened the door and was hit by the smell of something rotten. On the chair, he saw a tied-up zombie, dead. It had starved to death. While other zombies don't need food to survive as they're essentially dead, and their bodies are sustained by the virus itself. This meant that they could live forever, but here was reality. The zombies here needed flesh or brains for sustenance, though it's not for nutrition but to feed the virus in their bodies.
On the table next to the unfortunate zombie was a paper that looked to be a letter after Corbin took a closer look and read.
"To the next survivor.
If you're reading this, then I'm gone. The virus has taken me, but it hasn't destroyed my humanity. Before I succumb to the madness, I wanted to leave you a message. Take care of my family, should they ever return to this place. They were my everything, and I would've given my life to keep them safe. As for this manor, it has served me well but it's know yours. Use it to survive and protect others. This world may have gone to hell, but there is still good left. Protect it.
Remember, we're all human, even if some of us have lost our way.
Sincerely
John" Corbin shed a tear reading the letter, he folded it and put it directly into his pocket.
"This letter, left behind by a lost soul, reveals the humanity that lingers beneath the ravages of the virus. It's a reminder that the world was once different and that we must fight to protect what goodness remains. I may be a traveler, but I swear on my honor to protect this manor and his family. I will make sure that his legacy lives on. Rest in peace, J. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten."
**You have received the title "The Messiah", The title reflects on your commitment to preserving the best of humanity in a world overrun by the dead. The title grants you all stats increased by 40%**
The title conveys his sense of purpose and honor, as he takes on the role of a guardian and protector. The boost in stats also increased his leadership abilities as well, allowing him to rally other survivors to his cause and stand against the forces of darkness.
Back to reality, Corbin went from room to room searching for any dangers and he found none. The walls of the manor are reinforced with a layer of nanocarbon material, making them impervious to conventional weapons and most physical damage. There was also the mansion's AI system programmed with advanced recycling and resource management algorithms, allowing it to maximize the use of every resource available. In the basement was a crystal power generator that could keep the house running, after throwing in a few crystals. The generator started running and the lights went up. This power also supplied the manor fencing with power.
After the AI bots cleaned the manor, Corbin went to what looked like a control room and opened all feeds of the camera system. He was shocked when he saw humans for the first time, yes, these weren't zombies but humans. Only 2 of them had guns while others held machetes on the sides. There were 2 of them, a man and a woman while behind them a few meters away was a group of people who were at least 100. Once they reached the manor gate, they hit the hail button hoping to get a response as they needed shelter after a long day of battling mutated beasts.
[5 days earlier]
"How long do we have to walk? It's been five days already and your so-called Messiah is nowhere in sight, you have doomed us all Saskia. We are only in our hundreds now we lost almost half our initial group, this is all your fault!" The man speaking was Kraven who was now losing all hope of survival, even an honorable man would turn to a madman once he is starved and left outside in the protective walls. 'damn, if I had stayed when the Governor of Rustenburg chased these heretics out, but I couldn't just let them go on their own' thought Kraven,
Kraven is a C-rank Etherwalker who was a mercenary before the apocalypse, hired by the ruthless Governor of a large city in the wasteland. Disgusted by the Governor's brutality and unwillingness to protect the innocent, he left his service and joined forces with the seer, who he believed could lead them to a better future. Kraven was an Etherwalker. These were the individuals who had learned to walk the path of etheric energy, mastering a power that few others have even glimpsed. There were only four ranks recorded from weakest D to strongest S-rank. The level of the user's power is not fixed. With continued use, training, and exposure to cosmic energy, an Etherwalker can advance through the ranks. Each rank requires a very significant investment of time and effort, but reaching the highest levels is possible with dedication and sacrifice. Aether crystals are used by everyone in the wasteland as both a source of fuel and a way to enhance their abilities.
"Kraven, you were with me when we first saw the Messiah in the flames. Remember what we saw and have faith. Our destiny lies with him" This was Saskia, she is a woman who has been deeply affected by the apocalypse, but she has emerged from the chaos with an unshakeable resolve and a unique set of skills. The Seer: Saskia's ability to interpret dreams, omens, and patterns in nature has led her to believe that she is a seer, destined to lead her people towards salvation. She has embraced this role and takes her visions seriously, often using them to guide her decision-making and inspire her followers. Despite her spiritual beliefs, Saskia is also a pragmatic and intelligent survivor.
[Present]
"To the Messiah of the Wastes, I am Saskia, a humble seer guided by the spirits to see your protection. In my visions, I saw a magnificent fortress rising from the ashes of the world, and you, a figure of strength and compassion, standing at its gates. I believe that our destinies are entwined, and I beg for your mercy" After sensing a long silence, she could feel that the Messiah was listening, and she continued "My companions and high are weary, but we still have much to offer. We know the land, the creatures that dwell within it, and the secrets of the old world. Grant us a place within your walls, and we will pledge our lives to your cause, for you are the light in this world of darkness. I await your response with trembling hands and bated breath."
Corbin opened the gates and let them in, there were 112 of them from the original 420, after they reached the entry of the manor, Corbin gaze settled on Sakia, her eyes held a fathomless depth as if she could see into the hidden corners of his soul. He felt a string of curiosity, minded with wariness. Who was this seer who spoke with so much conviction of his destiny as the Messiah? Could he trust her guidance, or would she lead him astray? And yet, there was something undeniable in her presence. A strength that came not from physical might but from a deep connection to the spirits that moved in this shattered world.
As they stood there, the silence stretching between them, Corbin could sense the weight of Saskia's gaze upon him. Her words hung in the air, pregnant with meaning and portent.
"You are the messiah," she had said. "You will lead us to salvation."
For a moment, he felt the tug of destiny, pulling him toward her and the path she had laid out. But then, a voice of caution whispered in his mind, urging him to proceed with care. The journey ahead would be perilous, and he could not afford to be swayed by hope or fear alone.