The town of Silent Hill was a town where people lived, and did what people do best.
Saloons, general stores, and livery stables lined the dusty main street, while the sounds of horseshoes on cobblestone and the occasional gunfight filled the air.
But there was one thing that set this town apart from others: its strategic placement at the foot of a hill, atop which lay a cemetery.
Demon hunters, individuals who had made pacts with certain... creatures, were known to frequent Silent Hill.
These hunters would often gather at the local saloon, sharing tales of their adventures and the supernatural entities they had... dealt with.
But unbeknownst to them on this particular day, something would happen that would change their lives forever.
At the top of the hill, in the cemetery, a coffin lid creaked open. A pale, decaying hand grasped the edge of the coffin, and a zombie pulled himself up, this zombie was Haro Ki.
Just a day ago, Haro Ki was an ordinary young man, living an ordinary life.
He worked at a mundane office job, rented a small apartment, and spent his evenings watching TV or browsing the internet.
But all of that changed when he was hit by a truck and well, he died.
His final memory was of pain and darkness, and then...
Nothing.
And then, there was light. A bright, piercing light, and words written on a screen floating above his eyes: "Please enter your name to receive your starting package."
Haro Ki stared at the screen, confused, as his gaze shifted between the words and his own decaying body. He tried to speak, but his words were reduced to a hoarse groan.His mind reeled, trying to comprehend what was happening.
He had already entered his name, and the screen now displayed:
[Haro Ki]
[Species: Zombie (Undead)]
[Attributes: Strength 8, Agility 6, Intelligence 4, Endurance 7]
[Skills: Brawling 2, Intimidation 1, Perception 3]
[Abilities: Dark Regeneration, Enhanced Durability]
[Equipment: Tattered Cloth (0+0 DEF), Nail-studded Club (4+1 ATK)]
[Starter Package: Recovered (30 XP)]
[Basic Attack Technique (10 XP)]
[Basic Melee Protection (5 XP)]
[Cure Potions x 2 (15 XP each)"]
As I read the screen, I felt a sense of dread creeping over me. I was a zombie, and in a world that was no longer my own. But this screen offered me a chance to rise above my circumstances, to make a new path and find a way to reclaim his humanity.
Looking toward the village below, I could see the streetlamps and lights in people's homes, starting to think about my past life there is no point dwelling on the past I'm here now and I have grow strong enough to survive in this world.
But for now, I am just a zombie, standing on a hill, with a coffin as my only companion. I took a step forward, my stiff limbs swaying like a puppet on strings. The screen beeped again, displaying a new message:
[Daily Quest: Eliminate 5 Lifeforms (Unclaimed Reward: 50 XP, Increased Health Regeneration by 15% for the next 3 days)]
my eyes narrowed, his mind working to comprehend the true nature of this quest. Was he being asked to kill? And what lay beyond the boundaries of this small town?
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the town of Silent Hill, I took another stiff step forward, my eyes scanning the village below.
The dusty main street seemed frozen in time, the saloons and general stores bathed in the golden light of setting sun.
I could see the residents of the town, demon hunters, shopkeepers, and ordinary folk, going about their daily routines, completely unaware of the undead creature watching them from the hill above.
I felt a strange sense of longing as I gazed down at the village. Memories of my past life, the life before the accident, began to surface. I remembered the feel of warm sunlight on my skin, the taste of food, the sound of laughter.
My stomach growled, a sudden pang of hunger reminding me that I was now a creature driven by different needs.
I looked down at my decaying body, and the tattered cloth that hung from my shoulders. My nail-studded club, an ugly but functional tool, seemed an embarrassment among the finer implements of the demon hunters below.
But it was all I had, and I knew it would have to suffice. . . for now.
As the screen beeped again, I turned my attention back to the Daily Quest. Eliminate 5 Lifeforms.
Simple, almost morbidly so. What kind of world was this, where the goal was to kill or be killed? I thought back to my old life, where the goal was to earn a paycheck, find a nice partner, and maybe, one day, start a family.
How far I had fallen.
But that was the past. I had to focus on the present, on survival. I looked around the cemetery, taking in the crumbling headstones and the long-forgotten names.
Were there more of me? Others like me, risen from the dead, trying to find a way to survive in this strange new world?
The sound of crickets filled the air, their gentle chirping a stark contrast to the macabre scene unfolding before me. I took another step forward, my stiff limbs creaking as I moved.
I was just a zombie, but I had a purpose now. And with each step, I felt a sense of determination growing within me.
I began to make my way down the hill, my eyes scanning the village for signs of movement.
Where would I find these Lifeforms? Were they animals, or something more... sinister? And what lay beyond the boundaries of this town? Were there cities, other survivors, or was this isolated village my only hope for finding answers?
As I entered the village, I noticed a small, furry creature scurrying through the shadows. A rat, perhaps? Or a stray cat? I hesitated for a moment, unsure if this was the right target for my Daily Quest. But the screen beeped again, reminding me of the reward. 50 XP, increased health regeneration. I needed that.
With a stiff, stiff-legged gait, I began to stalk my prey.