3:15 that was the time the world ended.
At least for Nick Willson. For others the world had ended at 6 o'clock. Making for a nice wake up. Or others had a perfect end of their Monday. All in all, it couldn't be more ideal.
But no matter, it was the same for everyone as they saw their old World get destroyed and assimilated.
The Earth's crust crumbled away and was syphoned and attracted towards another planet that shouldn't be seen. As it was millions of lights years away.
Nick saw this impossible sight and couldn't even form a thought about how it was possible. But he didn't have many chances, because not long after, he lost consciousness.
*
He woke up in a damp cave with glistening stones, gems and minerals all around. Even before he could open his eyes a he could see what appeared to be an interface of sort.
[ World 3589, known by the inhabitants as Earth, has been assimilated together with Worlds 4568, 7895, 2576. On the coordinates of World 4568.]
[Starting Tutorial setting for the intelligent inhabitants.]
[Your Worlds were deemed compatible to assimilate. Based on the Universe treaty every able bodied being was transported to a low-level Dungeon to get certain resistance to Chaos energy.]
[Worry not for your loved ones, for they were transported to Logistical and Agricultural Worlds. It is now your duty to defend against the ever-approaching forces of chaos.]
[ For all that matters]
He blinked his eyes at the concurrent messages.
[Task: Survive within the Dungeon for 72 hours.
Time remaining: 71 hours 59 minutes
Rewards: Slight boost to all stats
Description: We encourage you to do so. For your own good and for ourselves. Good luck trainee we'll be expecting you fighting by our side as a soldier.]
[Task: Finding your new place in the new World
Monsters killed: 0 Score: 0
Rewards: based on completion
Description: It's a quest that will determine your standing in this new World and the ranking in the Army. Score is calculated based on factors such as resourcefulness, critical thinking in situations, adaptability and such.]
Before the Apocalypse happened, he was pondering upon sleeping. But decided against, as he was too tired to even sleep so he just ended up watching some videos.
Now he laid on the ground stumped by what was happening in front of him. He didn't remember taking anything that would make him hallucinate. Even the last meal he remembered was 5 hours ago.
It was a pizza from the restaurant down the road where he usually goes when he doesn't have time or the motivation to cook.
He pinched his arm.
"Fuck it hurts! What the hell is happening?"
[As was previously stated the trainee was transported.] Hearing the voice again he looked all around him, but found the barren walls of the Dungeon to be the sole sight to greet his eyes.
"Who are you?" He said in a much calmer voice. Trying to make heads and tails of the situation.
[This is The Everyone's Limitless Nurturing Overlay better known as Telno or System. Either will do.]
Nick took everything that was happening in. He spared no time and got back on his feet all the while checking every message.
"So, the Earth's no more?"
[That would be correct.]
"Now, all I have to do is follow these quests?"
[It would be preferable. But I'm sure you want that too.]
He fiddled with the interface a bit before finding out a window that showed a 3D space of the Dungeon with three red dots scrambling around in some of the tunnels. One of them was headed in his direction.
"This is like an RPG, isn't it?"
[You could say that.]
"That means it's an enemy. I have nothing with me here other than my clothes. How can I defeat whatever's coming here?" He said as he observed the map a bit more and found the only exit to be behind the red dot.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Nick pulled off his long-sleeved shirt and rolled it up to be used as a weapon. It was better to have a weapon than none at all.
"Fuck it. I'll give it my all." He said as from the tunnel crawled an oversized rodent.
[Wild Rat
Weaknesses: Backside of the head, most elemental attacks
-Mutated rat by the abundant chaos energy. One of the weakest monsters one can encounter in the wild and the Dungeons.
-Even with grand efforts in exterminating them, they possess sharp senses for powerful beings that enable them to scurry away.]
The rat gave Nick no time to ponder his options as it rushed at him with great vigor as if seeing a prey beneath itself. It took him as a mere snack that he was, a being on the bottom of the food chain.
Nick side stepped to the side, but had no means of counterattacking even if he wanted to. The rat started circling around him.
"Now, now don't be hasty. How about we resolve this peacefully?" Nick said and took a step back." No one has to get hurt. You know pacifism is good."
Seeing Nick retreating the rat took the chance to dash forward. Nick was already expecting such an outcome side stepped, but the rat changed its course at the last second and took Nick to the ground.
On the ground Nick tried using his shirt as a way to restrain the rat from ripping him apart. He managed to do so, but not without the rat scratching his arms in the process with its foul claws that ripped corpses before.
The rat could only try biting his face off, but it proved to be difficult when Nick controlled its front paws, allowing him to dodge most of the damage. He rolled the rat off of him and gripped the shirt with one hand. The other he used to grab onto one of the stones on the ground.
Next in the tunnel was heard the sound of rock hitting on bone, while a screeching with the occasional curse could be heard. The sound travelling through the silent tunnels, warning anyone of what's happening here.
In the last roar of rage everything returned to quiet.
[Achievement unlocked: First Kill
-A first step is needed to be taken. A first blood to be drawn. A first kill to be made.
Rewards: Title First Kill]
Nick heaved a breath of relief when the system confirmed the rat's death. With that the rat disintegrated into energy and what appeared was a dagger, he stashed it away.
"What was that?"
[A conversion or rather purification of all that chaos energy. It is guided by the system and chosen by luck from a pool of possible items.]
He moved the system interface in front of him with a move of his hands and saw his status and on the right side of it a representation of his body. It had a holographic style, green with a tint of yellow represented his current health.
[Name: Nick Willson
Race: Human (Bronze)
Visible Title: -
Titles: First Kill
Main:
Body: 4(Bronze)
Mind: 5 (Bronze)
Skills:
Weapon prowess: 0
---Improvised weapon: 2%
Affinities: 0
---Fire:0%]
[First Kill
-A proof of one's will to thrive.
Reward: one chance to learn a common skill of one's choice.]
Nick sighed as he looked upon the screens." What's with this Improvised weapon and fire? You know what, what does everything mean, system?"
[First of all, I would advise the trainee to move on as the Wild Rat has screeched and alerted its pack to the trainer's location.]
"Okay, geez I'm moving." He said and started travelling through the paths where there were no enemies.
[Body- Represents the overall strength, agility, endurance, reflexes.]
"That's self-explanatory."
[Do you wish me to continue or no? I'm sure that would let you better experience this World.]
"It's okay you can continue."
[Nah.]
"What do you mean nah? Aren't you like supposed to do your job."
[Not with that attitude. I require that you realize your mistakes and beg for my forgiveness.]
Hearing that he stopped in his tracks and took a chance to breath in and out lest he did something rash.
"I'm better than this. There is no need to get angry over something like this. Even against my benefactor." He whispered before clasping his hands in a prayer gesture. " O great system, pardon this ignorant mortal of his previous transgressions for he did mean no harm, but an astute observation."
[Your offense is pardoned drama queen.
Mind- Represents your ability to grasp concepts and such. It is basically a representation of your intelligence. It also dictates how much Mana you can store and affect.]
A group of red dots was quickly approaching his position, from different directions.
"Okay, stop with the monologue. I seem to have quite the problem here. Any ideas?"
[Fight. Kill the Wild Rat that is closer to you and escape that way. Besides that, the skill takes some time to be learned. So that option is out for now.]
"Great, do you know anything other than fighting?"
For a while there was heard the steps from Nick rushing down to one of the rats.
He rushed down and before the rat could do anything it was already tackled on the ground. He brought the dagger to its neck and plunged it inside.
The death was quick as it could be. No additional nonsense. It dropped a couple of coins on the ground. Nick pocketed them before continuing.
[Well, you're the one to speak. You're getting better at it.]
"As if that's my fault."
[I don’t know man. Seems that way to me. You know you can just do the quest about survival. Are you sure you're literate?]
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure I am. Besides It's better to do both of the quests if I want to at least be something."
[Whatever man you see the tunnel to your right go down there. A waterfall is there, you can get rid of the scents so that the Wild Rats will stop chasing you.]
"I don't think I will. I'm starting to like this feeling. Besides there's only a one dot heading this way."
[It's up to you. Don't forget I warned you.]
Nick taking this opportunity ripped his shirt to shreds and used it as a bandage.
Not long after sounds were heard coming from the tunnel.
A lot of sounds.
He stood there stupefied as what appeared before him could be described as a sea of rats. 20 rats were grouped beside each other and crawling over each other. Their eyes red, from the scent of the invader of their realm.
Nobody had to tell Nick anything for him to turn tail and run, just like the rats. And so began a cat and mouse game.
[You should have listened to me. This wouldn't have happened.]
"You should have listened. Well, fuck you! It appeared as a red dot. One red dot on the map."
[You could have zoomed on it too see.]
"Thanks for telling me now. Next time I'll prefer a bit off lotion before I'm fucked over." He said and started breathing heavily. He had remembered his weekly meetings at his therapist and what she would have said. Everything had become much clearer in that moment.
"I've decided. I'm going to become the calmest person there is! In any circumstances!"
[By getting angry by the slightest of inconveniences? I'm sure you're on the right path. Just the other end of it.]
"What do you know? The path to the absolute calmness begins with the ultimate rage."
Nick ran and ran with the rats fast on his heels he had some close calls in turns in the tunnels. But he reached a cavern where there was a pool of water.
He wasted no time plunging into it.