I blinked, squinting at the bright sunlight streaming from a sky that seemed too blue, too perfect. I shouldn't be here. The last thing I remembered was... dying.
Or at least, I thought I did.
There was no warm afterlife, no glowing tunnel. Just nothing. Until now.
I looked around. The ruins of a once-thriving city surrounded me. The skeletons of steel and concrete buildings towered overhead, covered in vines and wild growth.
Where was I? How did I get here?
More importantly, why was I alive?
Before I could figure anything out, a rush of information slammed into my mind.
It wasn't painful, but it definitely wasn't pleasant.
In an instant, I knew where I was: the Wildlands. Specifically, Zurich, A dangerous place, crawling with monsters, long abandoned by people.
And that wasn't even the craziest part. My new life came with a twist.
[Ding! Ultra survival system activated!]
The voice sounded both robotic and human, like something from a sci-fi movie. I flinched at the sudden sound.
[You have been reincarnated into a new world. Your mission is to survive, grow stronger, and complete tasks to earn rewards. Use these rewards to travel to other worlds, where greater challenges and opportunities await.]
[And upon reaching the apex, you'll be granted a divine throne.]
Wait, what? I could jump between worlds? This wasn't your usual reincarnation. The system wasn't done yet.
[Beginning level analysis. Calculating...]
[Host: Zen Mu.]
[Life Form: Earth Human (Reincarnated).]
[Current Strength: Below Average.]
[Status: Apprentice Warrior, Rank 1. No mental capabilities detected.]
[Inventory: None.]
[Skills: None.]
[Items: None.]
Below average? Rude. But at least it was honest. I had nothing, no tools, no powers, no skills.
Just me, standing in the middle of a wasteland full of creatures that probably wanted to eat me. Great start.
I rubbed my temples, trying to process everything. My name was Zen Mu, just like in my previous life on earth, and apparently, I was stuck in some wild land in another world. Just my luck.
[Warning: You are currently in a high-risk zone. The probability of survival at your current level is low.]
'Yeah, no kidding.'
[System Task: Survive for one day.]
[Reward: Basic Survival Pack.]
Finally, some good news. A survival pack sounded way better than dying out here.
I got up, brushed the dirt off, and stared out at the overgrown streets.
Far-off howls and roars echoed through the ruined city. I needed to find shelter. Fast.
I picked a direction where the noises were quieter and started walking.
The heat weighed on me, sweat trickling down my back as I navigated the cracked roads and broken debris. Weeds and strange plants burst from every gap, reclaiming this lost world.
"Why couldn't I have reincarnated somewhere nicer? A beach, maybe, or a forest with cute animals? Nope, I get stuck in the apocalypse," I muttered.
The silence was unnerving. All I could hear was the crunch of rubble under my boots.
I kept my distance from the shadows. They felt too quiet, like something was lurking, watching.
After an hour of wandering, I found a half-collapsed building.
The walls were still standing, though the top floors had crumbled. It looked like a decent spot to hole up for the night.
I ducked inside, leaning against the cool wall. My heart was pounding, my breath coming fast.
This would do.
[Task Progress: 6 hours remaining.]
The timer in my vision mocked me, reminding me how fragile I was.
A sound broke through the silence, something dragging across the ground.
My heart skipped a beat as I turned toward the noise.
A creature, something between a boar and a wolf, came into view.
Its red eyes gleamed, its fur matted and dirty, and its tusks caught the light filtering through the cracks in the walls.
[Enemy detected: Wild Boarhound.]
[Threat level: Moderate.]
Moderate? Not exactly comforting.
I backed up, hoping it hadn't noticed me.
Of course, it did. The thing sniffed the air, its eyes locking onto mine.
There was no escape.
If I fought, I'd die. If I ran, it would catch me.
And then I remembered.
[System prompt: Open the Beginner's Gift Pack?]
[Yes / No]
Yes! Absolutely yes!
A flash of light appeared, and a small box materialized at my feet. I tore it open.
[Congratulations! You've received: Novice Sword, Basic Armor, and Instant Health Potion.]
I grabbed the sword without hesitation. It was light but sharp enough. I didn't need fancy skills, just the will to survive.
The Boarhound charged, tusks aimed straight for me. I barely rolled out of the way in time.
Its tusks gouged the concrete where I had just been standing.
I slashed at its side, feeling the blade sink into flesh. The creature howled in pain, but it wasn't done.
I stepped back, catching my breath.
This was my first real fight ever.
It lunged again.
This time, I was ready. I sidestepped and brought the sword down on its neck.
A sickening crack followed as the blade cut deep. The Boarhound crumpled, its red eyes fading.
I stood there, panting, covered in sweat and filth.
[Congratulations! You have completed the task: Survive for one day.]
[Reward: Basic Survival Pack.]
Exhaustion hit me like a wave. I dropped the sword and sank to the ground.
One day down, a lifetime to go.
...
A/N: This is my first time writing in 1st Person POV, so, there might be few awkward mistakes, but hope you enjoy.