The world was not always a place of chaos and despair. It was once thriving, with skyscrapers that pierced the clouds, and cities humming with the ceaseless pulse of human activity. But that was before the cataclysm—before the world was torn apart by forces far beyond human understanding. When the First Rift opened, no one knew what to expect. The sky seemed to fracture, revealing a vast, swirling void beyond. From that void poured out creatures of nightmares, abominations that defied the laws of nature. Civilization crumbled under the weight of this new reality. Governments fell, cities burned, and humanity was driven to the brink of extinction. But where there was despair, there was also hope. Some individuals began to awaken to a strange new power—a "System" that allowed them to access abilities far beyond human limitations. These individuals, known as the Awakened, became humanity's last hope in a world gone mad. Elijah "Joe" Cross had never imagined himself as anything special. At 25, he was just another face in the crowd—a college dropout working a dead-end job at a tech support call centre. Life had never been particularly kind to him, and he'd long since learned to lower his expectations. Eli had the kind of face you'd forget in an instant. Brown hair that was perpetually messy, hazel eyes that never quite knew where to look, and a physique that was neither imposing nor frail. He was a man of average height, standing at 5'10", with a lean build that suggested he hadn't been to a gym in years. His skin was pale from too many late nights spent in front of a computer screen, and he had the sort of nondescript look that made him easily overlookable.Despite his unassuming appearance, Eli had always been sharp, with a mind that worked faster than he let on. He was good at solving problems, which was why he ended up in tech support. But he was also a dreamer, and somewhere deep inside, he longed for a life that was more than just answering phone calls and dealing with irate customers.On what was supposed to be just another monotonous day, Eli's world changed forever. He was sitting at his desk, halfway through his shift, when it happened. One moment, he was trying to help an elderly woman reset her router, and the next, his screen flickered and went black. Before he could react, a sharp pain shot through his skull, as if someone had driven an ice pick into his brain.He gasped, clutching his head, as the world around him seemed to dissolve. When the pain subsided, he found himself standing in a void of endless darkness."Welcome, Elijah Cross," a disembodied voice echoed through the void, calm and unfeeling. "You have been selected to receive the Apocalypse System. This system will guide you, empower you, and ensure your survival in the coming cataclysm."Eli blinked, trying to make sense of what he was hearing. "What the hell is going on?" he muttered, looking around, but there was nothing—only darkness."The world you know is about to change. The First Rift has opened. In 24 hours, the apocalypse will begin."Eli's heart raced as the gravity of the situation began to sink in. An apocalypse? Rifts? What kind of nightmare had he stumbled into?"Do you accept the Apocalypse System?" the voice asked.He hesitated. Accept? Did he even have a choice? "I… I accept," Eli said, his voice shaky."Acknowledged. System integration beginning."A blinding light engulfed him, and suddenly, a cascade of information flooded his mind. It was as if his brain was being rewritten, and reprogrammed. He could feel it—knowledge, skills, and something else—something powerful, seeping into his very being."System integration complete," the voice declared. "You are now the holder of the Apocalypse System. Your path to survival begins now."Eli gasped as the void around him shattered like glass, and he found himself back at his desk. The office was exactly as he'd left it—fluorescent lights humming overhead, the steady clacking of keyboards filling the air. Had it all been a dream?No, it was real. He knew it, felt it deep in his bones. And then, in the corner of his vision, a small, translucent window appeared.
[Apocalypse System Initialized] [Welcome, Elijah Cross]He stared at the screen, blinking in disbelief. It was like something out of a video game.
[Name: Elijah Cross]
[Level: 1]
[Title: None]
[Skills: None]
[Inventory: Empty]
There were tabs for different sections—Skills, Inventory, Quests. Eli reached out with his mind, and the Inventory tab opened.
[Inventory: Empty]
"Figures," he muttered. Still, the fact that there was an Inventory at all was mind-boggling. He felt a surge of excitement mixed with terror. This was real. The world was about to end, but he had a system—a tool that could potentially make him powerful, maybe even powerful enough to survive.Suddenly, another notification popped up.
[New Quest Available: Prepare for the Apocalypse]
[Time Remaining: 23:59:00]
The countdown had begun.Eli wasted no time. He logged out of his work system, ignoring the annoyed look from his supervisor, and headed for the exit. He had less than 24 hours to prepare for the end of the world.As he made his way down the street, his mind raced. What did he need? Food, water, weapons—anything that could help him survive. But first, he needed to understand how the System worked.He ducked into an alley, leaning against the brick wall as he brought up the Skills tab.
[Skills: None]
[Skill Points Available: 10]
"Skill Points?" Eli murmured. "How do I use them?"As if in response, another window appeared, listing available skills.
[Available Skills]
[Basic Combat Training (Cost: 5 SP)]
[Survival Instincts (Cost: 3 SP)]
[Enhanced Reflexes (Cost: 4 SP)]
He studied the list, his heart pounding. This was it—his first real step toward survival. He had 10 points, and he needed to spend them wisely.Without hesitating, he selected Basic Combat Training and Enhanced Reflexes. The moment he did, he felt a strange warmth spreading through his body, followed by a sudden clarity. His muscles tensed as if they had been honed by years of training, and his reflexes sharpened to a razor's edge."Whoa…" Eli whispered, flexing his fingers. He could feel the difference already. He wasn't some clueless office drone anymore—he was a survivor in the making.But there was no time to bask in the feeling. The clock was ticking, and he needed supplies.Eli made his way to the nearest convenience store, grabbing as much food and water as he could carry. He paid with what little cash he had on hand, then headed for the sporting goods store down the street. If he was going to survive, he needed weapons—something more reliable than his bare hands.As he stepped into the store, he noticed the unease in the air. People were on edge, whispering to each other, casting nervous glances at the news on the TV mounted on the wall. The anchor was talking about strange phenomena occurring around the world—unexplained weather patterns, bizarre sightings, and sudden, violent outbursts in cities across the globe.Eli ignored it. He knew what was coming, and he had no time to waste.He made his way to the hunting section, grabbing a sturdy machete and a compact crossbow, along with a quiver of bolts. They weren't the most advanced weapons, but they would do for now. He also picked up a survival knife, a basic first aid kit, and a sturdy backpack to carry everything.As he paid for his purchases, a new notification appeared.
[Quest Progress: Prepare for the Apocalypse (20% Complete)]
He had a long way to go.Eli spent the next few hours moving through the city, gathering supplies, and keeping an eye on the System. Now and then, he would stop in a secluded spot to check his progress. The skills he'd acquired were working wonders—his reflexes were sharper, his mind clearer, and he felt stronger, and more capable than he ever had before.But as the day wore on, the tension in the city grew. People were starting to panic—stores were being looted, fights were breaking out in the streets, and the police were quickly losing control. The world was teetering on the edge, and Eli knew it wouldn't be long before it tipped over into chaos.By the time the sun began to set, Eli had gathered enough supplies to last him a week—food, water, weapons, and a few other essentials. But as he looked at the System, he realized he was still far from ready. The apocalypse was coming, and he needed to be stronger—much stronger.He found a quiet spot in an abandoned warehouse and sat down, bringing up the System once more.
[Skill Points Available: 2]
[Available Skills: None]
He needed more points, and the only way to get them was by completing quests. But the only quest he had was the one to prepare, and that wouldn't give him enough points to get the skills he needed.As he pondered his next move, a new notification appeared.
[New Quest Available: Survive the First Wave]
[Reward: 20 Skill Points]
Eli's breath caught in his throat. The First Wave—it was coming. And if he survived, he'd be one step closer to becoming the powerful survivor he needed to be.But if he failed…No, he couldn't afford to think like that. He would survive. He had to.As the final hours of the countdown ticked away, Eli made his way to a more secure location—a small, fortified apartment building on the edge of the city. He had scouted it earlier, and it seemed like the perfect place to make his stand.He set up his supplies, secured the entrances, and took a deep breath. The sun had set, and the world outside was eerily quiet. It was as if the city itself was holding its breath, waiting for the inevitable.And then, as the clock struck midnight, it began.The First Rift tore open in the sky, a massive, swirling vortex that pulsed with malevolent energy. The ground shook as creatures began to pour out—twisted, monstrous beings that defied all logic and reason. They spread through the city like a plague, tearing through everything in their path.Eli gripped his machete tightly, his heart pounding in his chest. This was it—the moment he had been preparing for."Bring it on," he muttered, his eyes narrowing as the first of the creatures came into view. "I'm ready."And as the first wave crashed over him, Eli knew one thing for certain—this was just the beginning.