I slept terribly. I always sleep horribly. I was tired. I had yardwork to do. I wasn’t really looking forward to but it was something that needed to be done.

The sun was burning down from the sky unceasingly. I was exhausted. I was slowly working my way down the row.

The sky suddenly began to darken. At the same moment a blue screen popped up and obscured my vision.

[WELCOME TO THE SYSTEM]

Greetings, Gavrin Shadowalker!

You have been chosen to partake in the grand awakening. Prepare to embark on a journey of discovery, power, and adventure.

Current Status:

Level: 1

Health: 100%

Mana: 100%

Experience Points (XP): 0/100

Available Commands:

Status (View detailed character stats)

Inventory (Check your items and equipment)

Skills (Review your skills and abilities)

Quests (Current tasks and missions)

Map (View your current location and surroundings)

First Steps:

Explore Your Abilities: Use the Skills command to discover your initial abilities.

Accept Your First Quest: Type Quests to receive your first mission.

Begin Your Adventure: Explore the world around you and engage in combat to gain experience.

Important Notices:

Be cautious, as death in the system may have real consequences.

New features and abilities will unlock as you level up.

You are not alone; other participants are part of this system.

May fortune favor your journey!

I stared at the screen. I swiped my hand up and down and my hand went through it. I shivered in the sudden chill and realized the world was getting darker.

I looked up into the sky and saw clouds forming and gathering in the sky. The sun was quickly being obscured. The screen stayed in the center of my vision. I brought my gaze back down to the area around me.

I looked around for a way to type. I settled on thinking ‘help’ and reaching towards the help option. Another screen appeared before me.

[SYSTEM HELP AND ASSISTANCE]

Welcome, Gavrin! Need some guidance? You're in the right place. Here's how to navigate the system:

Understanding Your Status Screen: Your status screen is your personal dashboard. It displays your health, mana, level, experience points, and more. Access it anytime by thinking or saying Status.

Managing Inventory: Your inventory holds your items, equipment, and resources. Use the Inventory command to view and manage these items.

Learning and Using Skills: Skills are abilities you can learn and improve. Use the Skills command to see your current skills and learn about new ones you can acquire.

Quests and Missions: Quests are tasks and adventures that earn you experience points and rewards. Use the Quests command to view your current quests and their objectives.

Exploring the Map: Your journey will take you to many places. Use the Map command to see your current location and discover new areas.

Combat and Challenges: You will face various challenges, including combat with monsters. Engaging in combat will test your skills and strategy. Victory will bring rewards and experience points.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Levelling Up: As you gain experience points, you will level up. Each level brings increased strength, new abilities, and access to more of the world.

Interacting with Others: You are not alone in this world. You can interact with other characters, form alliances, or compete against them.

Customizing Your Experience: Use the Options command to customize your experience, including system notifications and display settings.

Safety and Rules: Remember, your actions have consequences. Stay safe, respect others, and adhere to the rules of the system.

Having Trouble?

For technical issues, type Support.

For a guide to the world and its lore, type Lore.

For a recap of your journey so far, type Recap.

Remember, this is your adventure. Make the most of it!

[Type or say 'Back' to return to the main screen.]

I began reading the information. Everything was very confusing. If I wasn’t mistaken, this was the start of a bog standard end of the world system thing of thingamajig.

I hoped I wasn’t about to be overrun with monsters.

I thought ‘close’ and the blue screen closed. I had much to learn to but things were happening around me and I had no idea. Why were there clouds forming? What was that buzzing noise? Wait, when was there a buzzing noise?

The edge of the garden was shattered by a sudden, violent upheaval. The ground trembled, and with a thunderous crack, giant ants burst forth, their mandibles clicking menacingly. Each ant was the size of a large dog, with glossy black exoskeletons that glistened in the light.

I was caught off-guard. I grasped the hoe in my hands more firmly. The first ant lunged towards me. Its mandibles wide open. I sidestepped swiftly, using the hoe’s long handle to keep distance between myself and the giant insect.

I swung the hoe down with all the force I could muster, aiming for the head of the ant. The blow landed with a satisfying crunch. But the ant was resilient, barely phased by the attack.

More ants emerged from the ground. I knew I couldn’t outrun them. My raced raced, adrenaline surging through my veins as I braced for a fight. I swung the hoe in wide arcs, managing to keep the ants at bay temporarily. Each strike was calculated, aiming to disable their antennae or legs, trying to impair their coordination.

An ant charged from behind. I heard the skittering and pivoted on my heel. Swinging the hoe in a sweeping motion, connecting with the ant’s side. The impact sent the creature tumbling but it quickly regained its footing.

I realized brute force alone wouldn’t work. I needed to be strategic. I began using the garden’s layout to my advantage, maneuvering around the raised beds and plants, creating obstacles for the ants. The tactical movement allowed me to isolate them, dealing with one ant at a time.

My breathing was heavy, my muscles aching, but my determination did not waver. With each swing of the hoe, I felt more attuned to this bizarre reality, understanding that this was now a world where danger lurked in even the most peaceful settings.

Finally, after what seemed like hours but were only minutes, the onslaught began to diminish. The few ants, perhaps finally recognizing my threat retreated back into the ground. Panting, I stood there victorious, though battered and bruised.

As I caught my breath, my gaze fell upon the hoe in my hands. It was no longer just a gardening tool; it had become a weapon of survival in this new and dangerous world. I realized this was just the beginning. The world had changed, and so had I. I needed to prepare for what was to come. To learn more about this system and the powers I could wield.

I glanced towards the horizon, knowing that this encounter with the giant ants was merely the first of many challenges I would face in this transformed world.

Before I could catch my breath, the sky split open. The sky was a menacing shade of charcoal, swirling with ominous dark clouds that seemed to roil with a life of their own. I looked up just in time to see the first jagged streak of lightning tear through the sky.

This was no ordinary storm. Each bolt of lightning seemed to possess an uncanny intelligence, targeting anything imbued with technology. The air crackled with electricity, heavy with the scent of ozone. I watched in disbelief as cars along the street exploded one by one, their electrical systems overwhelmed by the ferocious energy from above.

“Heavenly Tribulation.” Came to my mind unbidden. I had never seen it before, but I knew what it was.

A particular massive bolt split the sky, aiming straight for my house. My eyes widened in horror as I realized its target: the computers inside. The lightning struck with a sound like the world breaking, and the house shuddered violently under the impact. Windows shattered, sending glass flying like deadly rain. The smell of burning electrical components and smoldering wood filled the air.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I realized how lucky I was. My ear buds had died earlier in the morning, and I had my phone inside charging.

I saw a person walking down the street with a phone up next to her head. She disappeared in a flash of light.

I was thrown to the ground by the sheer force of the blast. I struggled to my feet, ears ringing, heart pounding in my chest. The house, was now a smoldering ruin, with flames licking the walls and the roof threatening to collapse.

All the houses I could see were in the same sad condition.

It was clear that this was no normal storm; it was as if the lightning was cleansing the world of its technological advancements, a brutal reversion forced upon humanity by the whims of this new magical system. People ran screaming from their homes, dodging falling debris and avoiding the still dangerous electrical appliances that littered the streets.

I knew I had to move quickly. I grabbed whatever essentials I could salvage from the wreckage of my home, my mind racing. The world as I knew it was changing, morphing into something unrecognizable, where the rules of nature and technology were being rewritten.

As the world around me descended into chaos, I let out a sharp whistle. A familiar call to my two loyal companions. From the turmoil, two shapes emerged: a sleek black Labrador and a robust husky mix, their eyes fixed upon me amidst the pandemonium. Thor was my black lab and Loki was the husky.

Thor, with his glossy coat and alert eyes, bounded towards me with unwavering loyalty. Thor was known for his intelligence and friendly demeanor, stayed close to me, a beacon of familiarity in the midst of the unknown.

Loki, the husky mix, was a striking blend of strength and agility, followed closely. Her thick fur coat a testament to her mixed heritage, bristled slightly as she navigated the chaotic landscape. This dog, with her piercing gaze and resilient nature, exuded a sense of calm assurance.

I knelt down, welcoming both dogs with open arms. They nuzzled into me, their presence a comforting reminder of the bond we shared. I knew that in this new world, where uncertainty reigned, these dogs were more than just pets; they were my companions, my protectors and a part of my family.

As we stood amidst the ruins of our once peaceful home, I felt a surge of resolve. With each dog at my side, I knew I wasn’t facing this altered reality alone. Together, we were a team, ready to navigate the dangers and the wonders of this transformed world.

With a final glance at the smoldering remains of my house, I set off, my dogs flanking me. The road ahead was uncertain, filled with danger but I had confidence.

My first order of business was to get away from other houses. I wasn’t exactly sure what was going on, but I needed some space. Being around people during the end of the world was the most dangerous thing I could think of. Also, probably the monsters. And the lightning. I wasn’t sure what caused it to fall but it was clear anything looking technical seemed to be destroyed. I wondered if that extended to guns and stuff.

I wasn’t a prepper and so didn’t own one. I figured I would find out pretty quick like. I lived in a small town and it would be obvious what happened pretty soon. Someone would be out and about soon.