Michael's Perspective

I was just another college student at Manila University, living with my aunt after my father's early death. Between my studies and my passion for gaming, life felt routine—until that day.

As I walked home, the ground began to tremble violently. My phone slipped from my hand, crashing against the pavement as a nearby building shook and collapsed. I barely had time to react before everything went black.

When I awoke, the scene was apocalyptic. Giant rats—mutated, grotesque, and far larger than any creature I'd ever seen—were attacking people in the streets. The air was thick with dust and panic. I quickly crawled behind a nearby car, my heart pounding in my chest.

I reached for my phone, relieved to find it miraculously intact. On its screen, a new app icon stood out amid the chaos. Cultivate to be a God? I read aloud, bewildered.

"There's no time for this," I muttered, attempting to make a call. The signal was dead. Frustration surged through me. What should I do? I wondered aloud.

Focus, I thought, slapping my cheeks to snap out of the panic. Panicking won't help. I needed to find a safe place and plan my next steps.

Suddenly, a massive explosion shook the area, and the giant rats turned, heading toward the source of the blast. This is my chance.

I dashed toward a nearby 7-Eleven, heart racing. Inside, I grabbed essentials: chocolate bars, instant noodles, and bottled water. As I was about to leave, I noticed an axe displayed prominently. It seemed like a useful tool in this new, dangerous world, so I took it.

Third-Person View

Michael stepped outside, clutching the axe and his supplies. The streets were eerily quiet compared to the chaos moments before. He found a small, abandoned office building and entered, locking the door behind him. He took a moment to catch his breath, gulping down water from one of the bottles he'd grabbed.

Sitting against the wall, he examined his phone again. The mysterious app still intrigued him. He tapped on it, his curiosity piqued. The screen displayed a character that looked strikingly like him and bore his name. Below, various slots and attributes were listed:

Health: 100

Strength: 4

Agility: 3

Intelligence: 7

Michael stared at the numbers. Are these my stats? he wondered. He scrolled further and found a quest list:

Push-ups: 100

Sit-ups: 100

Squats: 100

Run 1 km

A mix of awe and confusion washed over him. Is this some sort of system? He pondered the implications. The quest seemed daunting, but it might be his way to adapt and survive in this new world.

He resolved to start with the exercises, unsure of their purpose but recognizing that he needed to prepare for whatever lay ahead. As he set his phone down and began the push-ups, he glanced around the makeshift shelter, bracing himself for the unknown challenges to come.