Lucas's eyes shot open. He gasped for air, his chest rising and falling as if he'd been drowning. He pushed himself up to a sitting position, his palms scraping against rough asphalt.
"Where… where am I?" he mumbled, squinting against the glare of a dim, overcast sky.
He was in the middle of a street, one that he was very familiar with it. With crumble buildings, torn cars and even wild vegetation.
Lucas's heart pounded as recognition struck him like a hammer. He knew this street. The tilted lamppost on the corner, the graffiti scrawled across the convenience store's shattered window—it was all straight out of Endless Apocalypse, the game he'd spent countless hours playing.
"This… this can't be real," he muttered, scrambling to his feet. He brushed the dirt off his jeans and realized something strange: his clothes weren't his own. He was wearing a worn-out jacket, boots, and cargo pants that looked like they belonged to one of the NPCs in the game.
Before he could process it further, a cold, robotic voice echoed in his mind:
"System initializing… stand by…"
Lucas froze, his eyes darting around. "What the hell was that?"
The voice continued, emotionless and clinical:
"Host: Lucas Maxwell. Species: Human. Age: 21. World: Terra. Reconfiguration complete."
Lucas staggered back, clutching his head. "Who's there? What's going on?"
The voice paused, and then, to his surprise, it changed. It became softer, higher-pitched, like a young girl speaking directly into his mind.
"Hello, Lucas!" the new voice chimed cheerfully. "I am your system!"
Lucas blinked, completely dumbfounded. "My… what?"
"Your system! Think of me as your guide and companion in this world." Her tone was upbeat, almost bubbly.
Lucas rubbed his temples, trying to calm the storm of confusion in his head. "Okay… slow down. What do you mean, 'this world'? And why do you sound like a kid?"
The voice giggled. "Because this form is meant to make you feel at ease! And as for the world…" Her tone shifted, becoming more serious. "You are no longer in the world you know. You are now in Noxara, a post-apocalyptic realm plagued by chaos, danger, and opportunity. You have been granted a second chance here."
Lucas's stomach turned. "Noxara"? You mean… like the game?"
"Exactly!" the system chirped. "But this is no game, Lucas. This is real."
Lucas took a shaky step back, his breath quickening. His mind raced as he pieced it together—the familiar street, the clothes, the system in his head. Somehow, he wasn't just playing Endless Apocalypse anymore. He was inside it.
"This can't be happening," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "I'm not some hero. I'm just… me."
"You're more than that now," the system replied. "But be warned: survival here will not be easy. You are starting from zero, just like everyone else. Do your best, Lucas, or you may not survive at all."
Lucas's knees nearly gave out, but he forced himself to stay upright. "Wait, what do you mean, 'starting from zero'? Can't you give me weapons or something?"
The system hesitated. "I am not allowed and I'm still in the first phase. I need to grow up with you as you further advance in the game, as for now, you need to survive for the next 24 Hours and get to safetly".
As the system spoke, a distant sound broke through the eerie quiet of the street—a low, guttural growl. Lucas turned his head slowly, dread pooling in his stomach.
A figure emerged from the shadows. Its skin was gray, its jaw hanging unnaturally, and its lifeless eyes locked onto him.
It was a zombie.
The system's voice sounded in his head again, this time urgent. "Lucas, combat mode activating. Your first challenge begins now!"
Lucas stared at the approaching creature, panic and disbelief warring in his mind. "You've got to be kidding me…"
The zombie snarled, lunging forward. Lucas clenched his fists, his instincts screaming at him to run. But a part of him, the gamer in him, remembered every tutorial, every fight from Endless Apocalypse.
Lucas's heart raced as the zombie lumbered closer, its guttural snarls sending chills down his spine. He glanced around desperately, searching for anything he could use as a weapon. That's when he noticed it—a small crater in the middle of the street, like something heavy had crashed there.
In the center of the crater was a crowbar, half-buried in the cracked asphalt.
"That'll do," he muttered, taking a cautious step backward to keep some distance from the zombie.
The creature lunged at him, swiping with its decayed, claw-like hands. Lucas barely managed to dodge, his reflexes fueled by adrenaline. He grabbed a broken piece of debris from the ground and hurled it at the zombie's face. The makeshift projectile smacked the creature's head, briefly stunning it.
Not wasting a second, Lucas lunged toward the crater, sliding on his knees as he reached for the crowbar. His fingers closed around the cold, rusted metal, and he yanked it free with a grunt.
Standing up, he turned to face the zombie, gripping the crowbar tightly in both hands. "Alright, let's fight, you motherfucker," he growled. His lips curled into a determined smirk. "Just like in the old days. You're just a level 1 zombie. You shouldn't be too much of a challenge for me."
The zombie snarled and charged again, but this time Lucas was ready. He swung the crowbar with all his strength, the sharp clang echoing through the deserted street as it connected with the side of the zombie's skull. The creature staggered but didn't go down.
Lucas adjusted his stance, remembering how he'd fought countless zombies like this in Endless Apocalypse. He feinted to the left, then delivered a crushing blow to the zombie's kneecap, bringing it to the ground.
"Not so tough now, are you?" he muttered, sweat dripping down his brow.
The zombie clawed at him from the ground, its milky-white eyes filled with rage. Lucas took a deep breath, raised the crowbar high, and brought it down with a sickening crunch. The creature went still, its body lying dead for real.
Lucas stood there for a moment, his chest heaving as the reality of what he'd just done sank in. He'd fought a zombie—and won.
Before he could process his victory, the cheerful voice of the system chimed in his mind:
"Congratulations, Lucas! You've defeated your first enemy!"
He blinked, startled by the sudden cheeriness. "Uh… thanks, I guess?"
"You've done exceptionally well!" the system continued, sounding like an overenthusiastic cheerleader. "As a reward, you've unlocked level power-ups! Would you like to enhance your physical form?"
Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Enhance my physical form? What does that even mean?"
"It means you'll be stronger, faster, and tougher!" the system explained. "Think of it as leveling up in the game. Your body adapts to the challenges of this world, making you more capable of survival!"
Lucas wiped his brow with his sleeve, still catching his breath. "Alright, fine. Do it. Anything to make sure I don't die the next time."
"Understood! Initiating physical enhancement…"
A warm sensation spread through Lucas's body, starting in his chest and radiating outward. His muscles tingled, his vision sharpened, and his reflexes felt faster, almost instinctual.
"Enhancement complete!" the system announced. "You are now stronger and more agile. Great job, Lucas! Keep it up, and you'll survive this world in no time!"
Lucas rolled his shoulders, feeling the difference immediately. His body felt lighter, his movements more fluid. "Okay, that's actually pretty cool," he admitted.
He looked down at the defeated zombie, then at the crowbar in his hand. "If this is how it's gonna be, I guess I'd better get used to it."
Also the system said, "With this new unlocked power you also helped me to unlock a new function, let me show you!"
Virtual interface activated!
NPC
Experience: 100
Main Class: N.A.
Attributes: Strength 6, Dexterity 6, Endurance 5, Intelligence 4, Mystery 1, Charm 2, Luck 1
Unassigned Stats: 0
Grade: F (Mortal)
Stamina: 36/36
Abilities: none
Skills: None
Talent points: 0
Class Talents: None
Influence: 0
Reputation: 0
Equipment: Crowbar
Looking at this bleak interface he almost cried, but he remembered that actually he's quite lucky because in the game he only had the attributes and nothing else. No abilities, no class talents, or skills.
"System, what does it mean—Class Talents, Abilities, or Skills—because when I played the game with my friends, I didn't have these?" asked Lucas in bewilderment.
"To respond back to you, Lucas: Your new abilities, class talents, and skills are incorporated to help you during your stay in this world. But I will be able to access it when we keep growing in level. I can't tell you more because you are unauthorized at the moment," the system replied.
Lucas sighed but nodded. "Fine. Guess I'll just have to figure it out as we go."