Along with the hum of machines, Maya’s breath was even and calm. I knew I should be sleeping too, but with everything racing through my head sleep seemed like an impossible task. Instead, I called up my stats, my brows furrowing a bit.

‘Level 2…’

And yet? My attribute points didn’t go up. It wasn’t as if I was complaining, and in the bigger picture that made more sense. Usually, you would gain 2 attribute points for every level, maxing out at 100, or in other words, level 50. The only way to unlock more levels was to get past the 5th trial.

Of course, I had already gotten all of my attribute points in the beginning meaning that worry about levels wasn’t really the main concern.

‘At least my level.’

I needed to get Maya to level up even by a small amount. The only part that concerned me was the fact that you can only level up by being involved in the fight. Curiosity nagged at me, after all she did get a hit in during the last fight, even if it wasn’t a lot.

Alas my curiosity would be put on the back burner for now seeing as she was currently asleep on my shoulder. Although id rather just keep a move on I realize my impatience is dangerous.

My eyes drift back to my stats, gluing to the title. There were three different name plates that a person could get, the first one being their name. Generally, youd just write your name in the username space, but it wasn’t really required. Meaning I could continue to ignore it. The other two were a lot more important.

Title, or the first alias is something you earn at the very end of the first trial. It gives you bonus stats, abilities, and even items and can only be formed through your actions and choices during said trial. You could think of it as your main class.

The second title, or Unique Alias, is a sub class of sorts. Giving you abilities and strengths that are unique to you and only you. This title is impossible to predict and can happen any time after you gain your first title.

In my past life my title was embarrassing, given to me through my stupidity. It was one of the weakest, and I never got my unique alias. Just thinking about it left a sour taste in my mouth. This time would be different, I know that. But the anxiety that came with thinking about it wasn’t something I could easily get rid of.

“Yusen?”

Her voice was rough from sleeping in an awkward position, rubbing her eyes and looking at me. Dark circles were heavy on her face. I wanted nothing more than to tell her that she could sleep longer, but.

“Morning, you slept pretty easily for someone in the middle of an apocalypse.”

I grinned at her, a frown given in reply. I watched as she stretched out her limbs and yawned big enough to pop her ribs back into place. A loud growl came from her stomach and she tapped her belly sadly.

“You wouldn’t happen to have a microwave, a fork, and a frozen dinner in your pocket, would you?”

“Sorry, I ran all out of frozen pocket dinners last week.”

“You have a fork in your pocket?”

“That’s what youre concerned about?”

A moment of silence broke, both of us looking at each other before bubbling into laughter. It was good that she was in a well enough mind to laugh, especially in a situation like this. But I relaxed too soon, her face falling into shadow slightly.

“This isn’t a dream, is it…”

I opened my mouth, closing it and then opening it again like a fish out of water. But before I was able to say something awkward and stupid, she went back to smiling.

“I know it may seem weird but… Im glad that I at least got here with you. I don’t know where I would be without you.” Her face turned determined. “Now, lets talk about what the hell’s happening on this.”

She turned to me expectantly, flipping her panel around to show me and gave me eyes filled with sparkles. I would comment on how she seems excited for a situation like this but all I did was sigh and gaze at the screen before me.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The panel was a dark shade of purple, the text on the holographic screen a soft white. There were 4 tabs, Inventory, Stats, Skills, and News. The skills were locked for now, and news was a basically empty screen with only the announcement from yesterday and a countdown of 2 days and 8 hours.

Inventory was also empty, and it could only hold items that could be counted as a part of the Esther. Food, some clothes, and utility items could also sometimes be stored in there but most of the time it held monster parts, weapons, armors, and the occasional consumables.

In the beginning I hated eating and drinking anything that was made from the Esther. The way it made you feel unnatural and drugged. It disgusted me and probably most people, though now it wasn’t something I could really be picky about. Because at the end of the day, a health potion saving your life isn’t really something you could replace by normal means.

“And what about this?”

Maya pointed to a symbol that almost looked like a sun. I felt myself frown. It was the sponsor window.

“Its where you can look at your sponsor, what they can or want to give you, and will also give you a way to contact them.”

“Should I get a sponsor?”

I wanted to say no. I wanted to save her the pain once you realize that this “divine” being wasn’t actually your friend and wanted nothing more than to see you suffer.

“Well that’s up to you. You can just choose one that sounds cool or just take what they want to give you.”

There weren’t any sponsors yet, seeing as they were in the introductory stage. But once the first trial started theyd be annoying. Treating people as game pieces, using them like puppets and dancing monkeys. I didn’t have a benevolent sponsor the first-time round, instead he simply threw me away the moment I was useless.

“Well we should get a move on. We’ve been sitting here for a while and id like to find some food.”

I stood up and offered my hand, pulling Maya up and dusting off my pants from dust and spider webs. I could only hope that most of the Void Nolls had gone up to the surface. It would be a lot easier to fight on a full stomach.

The tracks were silent and dark. The smell of metal and gravel was evident. Every step I took made a soft crunch that was barely even audible but with how quiet we were trying to be it was the equivalent of fireworks.

The track split off into two direction, our trail sticking to the right. My senses seemed multiplied and I could see the faint lights of a station in the distance. The light was flickering, and when we both eventually made it there it looked like a horror scene.

‘No Void Nolls though.’

Maya grabbed the back of my shirt and I could see her try and keep her stomach down. Hunger was long forgotten as the scene before us unfolded. I could be as use to this as I am and still want to vomit. Blood coated the tiles, seeping onto the tracks. Bodies half eaten were strewn across and I forced my vision forward.

The stairs were a bit cleaner luckily, with only a few spills of red here and there. Tiles against the railings were cracked, shards of glass scattered across the floor. I felt my gut twist as we stepped on the final stair and looked into the station. There was more space up here, meaning it wasn’t a cluttered mess. But there were still bodies and blood pools everyone, giving the air a taste of iron. I swallowed thickly and looked to the waiting area.

“Be careful.”

Maya nodded and we both walked across the room, attention high. I couldn’t see out the doors from behind the booths but I had a feeling I didn’t want to. Remembering the streets from last time made me shiver. After no more humans could be found and killed, the Void Nulls would eventually start killing each other. Theyd eat each-others cores and start to evolve into higher level monsters. But until then they would be like ants, covering the roads on packs of 12-25.

“Try and break the glass quietly, ill go for the drinks.”

I spoke softly but in the dead silence it echoed. I bit my tongue and felt my heart sit on the edge of my gut. Breaking the glass would be loud and for sure alert some sort of creature. I walked over to the drink vending machine; the light inside having gone out. Looking around, I found a piece of metal that seemed to belong to a cart of some sort. It was too short to be considered a weapon but the glass wasn’t a difficult thing to break.

“Craaash!”

I snapped my head to the side, Maya locking eyes with me. Neither of us had hit the glass yet. The uneasy feeling in me grew and I scanned the area. Everything was quiet.

I looked over to Maya and nodded, slowly stepping back into the open area and peered around. I grit my teeth and felt my heart race.

“Noo! Get away!”

It was high pitched woman’s scream coming from the opposite side where the station connected with a small mall complex. Maya and I quickly changed paces and made our way over, careful not to make noise.

“God damn beasts!”

5 people were by the fountain, two adult males holding what seemed to be an old pipe and a wooden board. Several Nolls were surrounding them and I sprung into action, running forward quickly and shoving the door open. Maya was right behind me, stooping low to grab pieces of debris.

Two of the Nolls turned their attention to me but I was faster, getting close enough and hitting down hard with my fist. I felt the spine of the hound snap and pain shocked up my arm. I had forgotten the glove.

“Yusen!”

Something whizzed past me and landed on the Noll that was in preparation, making it stagger. I responded quickly and kicked it in the stomach, sending it flying back. But it wasn’t over. The other five were slowly getting closer to the men and I don’t think my hands could handle another hit to bone.

“The pipe! Give me the pipe!”

It was worth a shot, but ask a cornered rabbit for its teeth and itll turn carnivorous. The men both turned to me with wide eyes, shocked for a moment. By now, more of the pack had notices me and I held out my hand with urgency.

Luck was on my side it seemed, the shock bringing their trust and I caught the metal with one hand. I didn’t hesitate and went forward, swinging with my full body. I felt the metal collide with the skull of one and the result was like hitting an egg with a baseball bat. Black tar splattered across the floor and I turned my sights to the others.

Instead of going in to attack the rest of the hounds seemed to understand the situation and realized the odds were no longer in their favor. I let them go, watching the creatures sprint off in the other direction with haste before turning my sights to the people.

“Is everyone alright?”

I heard a sob and noticed the woman who had screamed fall to her knees. There was a child attached to her, clinging to her with desperation and a teenager who looked no older than 14 went over to her and murmured something.

“Thank you so much, Thank you.”

One of the men walked up to us, eyes wet. His hands were shaking as he took mine and thanked me. Maya walked over to us and pat me on the back, before going over to join the teenager to calm the woman.

“Really, its no big deal.” I gave a smile before looking back over to the group. “But I uh, I think it would be best if we got out of this area. Those things are bound to bring back another group.”

I wasn’t lying, Void Nolls were pack animals with pride and if they need to get more to win they will. The only reason I let them go was due to the lack of stamina. My stomach felt like a hole and I wanted nothing more than to eat.

“Right, yeah youre right lets-“

The man was cut off though, the teenage boy butting in.

“We need a doctor.”

I was about to reply but looking at the boy made me close my mouth again. I felt my eyes widen and flashes of my past life flickered before me. I knew that this kid started out somewhere over here but I didn’t think id meet him this soon.