(Author: Hello! Finally edited the first chapter a bit. It took a while because I had to remember how to make tables again and improve some of the writing. I hope you enjoy it as it might be my only science fiction-ish story as I know I can't write one without a bit of the fantasy genre element. By the way, I was actually a Cadet Lieutenant of the Bravo Company in my high school's NJROTC program. The chain of command should have changed a lot. Why did this story have zombies? Resident Evil 5 was all the rage among my PlayStation 3 buddies. Never actually played it but I did play the free demo. Releases will be random, but I will write chapters for Chronicles of the Tiger Immortal and this story (after editing the chapters already written). Enjoy.)
----------Chapter 1: No Zombie Heaven---------------
System AnnouncementWarning
You and your entire school have arrived in an alternate dimension as a result of a Cosmic Quake. Previous areas of the brain have been accessible to allow humans from their own Earth to survive in the Alternate Earth.
Unlocked: Status Screen.
"What the hell?" Aeron and Oscar cried.
"Are we in a fucking game?" Jorge cursed.
"No. We can't be. It was only a powerful earthquake. The San Andreas Fault must have finally shifted," Samantha said.
"How'd you know that?" Janet asked.
"Don't you remember? My name is Samantha Burns. In the middle school nearby, the geography teacher, Garret Burns, is my uncle," Samantha said.
"It's like Runescape! Maybe there really is a status screen. Let's check it out," Jorge said, no longer angry and eager to see his stats.
"Open status screen?" Aeron hesitated.
NameAeron AoTitleNoneLevel 0No ClassPersonal StatsStat NumbersStrength9 (9)Vitality10 (10)Agility11 (11)Stamina8 (8)Spirit14 (14)Resilience10 (10)
"This is a status screen? It does not display mana, health, or stamina points. Could it be that it goes down and rises up to the max number? It has to be. otherwise, why would there be two numbers for each stat," Aeron nodded, evaluating the status screen.
"How do we increase our stats and level?" Jorge asked. As if answering him, another ping sounded in their ears and each of them saw another system announcement.
System AnnouncementWarning
The necessary people have all viewed their status screens. Increasing levels and status points require killing the enemy. Each Earth Human will receive a choice of three kinds of training weapons: sword, axe, and staff. Kills will drop items and is advisable to use them. Choices are irreversible. Each increase in level rewards 3 stat points. Every five levels results in one skill upgrade point.
Strength: determines attack damage and physical strength. Also includes small percentage of damage ignoring armor.
Vitality: determines health. If vitality is zero, the Earth Human dies. Also determines adds minimal increase to physical defense.
Agility: determines speed and reflexes. Also increases chances of random dodge success rate.
Stamina: determines energy and recovery rate of all stats but spirit.
Spirit: determines magic attack and defense. Also determines mana capacity, effectiveness, and recovery rate.
Resilience: determines physical defense. Also increases the effectiveness and durability of armor. Slight increase to magic defense.
System AnnouncementWarning
Aeron Ao must choose training weapon. Be advised only training weapons and dropped loot will not have damage decreased by half.
Choices available
Sword, Axe, and Staff
System AnnouncementWarning
Be advised that only 5 active, loot-drop abilities can be gained before level 40.
Only 3 passive, loot-drop abilities can be gained before level 40.
No more loot-drop abilities can be added or dropped as loot upon reaching level 40.
Armor, weapons, and items are not applicable to this restriction.
Class skills, both active and passive, are not applicable to this restriction.
Skill points are used to increase the level of abilities.
"...I choose the axe," Aeron answered.
System AnnouncementChoice is Made
Aeron Ao has chosen Training Axe. Damage range: 0-5.
Only training weapons can be upgraded without use of items.
Only training items, and evolutions, never need to be maintained and will never break.
Weapon level increases with owner.
Restriction: Aeron Ao
A bright light shined and a steel axe with a smooth wooden handle floated before Aeron. Aeron grabbed it and stared at it. He waved it around and found that it felt unnaturally smooth in his hand. He noticed he was the only one that picked the axe. The rapier at his side could only do half damage. He drew it and held it in his left hand, his new axe in his dominant hand.
"What do we do? I don't see any of the adults," Janet cried.
"We heard screams and we all heard the announcement. We have to get the fuck out of here before those enemies do show up," Jorge said. Although he was a little mean, Samantha liked Janet. He couldn't help being a little jealous.
"I found the teachers," Aeron said darkly, all his classmates covering their mouths in horror as a student was flung outside another room. Slowly, a decayed corpse came out. It looked like the Spanish teacher, Mrs. Dave; but she was dead!
"Oh shit. She's a zombie. A real life zombie," Jorge gasped.
"Run," Oscar shouted, dragging Melissa behind him as he carried a steel sword with a simple black cross guard.
"Go ahead," Aeron said. "We'll see each other again. I have to save my step brother."
"Good luck. Be sure to give her head a few extra whacks. Never did like her Spanish class," Jorge said. "She made me join the advanced placement class, AP Spanish, because I was a native speaker."
Aeron did not follow them as he proceeded to zombie. He had to get to his NJROTC locker at the end of the hall, a special bonus for being a student at the officer rank at school. The school promoted the NJROTC and Police Academy program and always gave the higher ranks a permanent locker as they reached the rank. Even though others might have a new locker every year, they don't.
Inside his locker was two very important objects. One: the Ao Clan medallion his father had before he died when Aeron was seven. The other: the keys to his motorcycle. He tossed aside his guitar case and emptied his backpack except for food. He had to kill her before grabbing his guitar and find his brother.
"Sorry, Mrs. Dave. I have to kill you now," Aeron growled as the zombie chomped on the student before looking at him. The student already had bite and claw marks. Aeron guessed that you only became a zombie if you were killed by one.
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The zombie shrieked as it ran at him. Aeron though of her as a sparring partner in one of his fencing classes. He pointed his rapier at her and flicked his wrist as he lunged forward. His eyes widened as the sword seemed to do no damage as the point of the blunt sword pierced her chest two inches deep. Snarling, he pulled his sword and stabbed her in the thigh area above the knee. He jumped back as she still flailed her arms at him, not even feeling the pain in her leg.
He saw that she was a level 3 zombie and cried out as he blocked a swing, his body slammed against the lockers. He grunted as he felt his left arm numb a little. His legs wobbled as his feet touched the floor and jumped back as she lunged at him. He watched as he hands made an inch deep dent on two different lockers. He looked to his right and saw the dead student rise to his feet, as if an invisible hand pulled his chest off the ground and made him upright.
The zombie teacher howled as it turned to him. Gritting his teeth, he slashed his axe onto her shoulder. She made no noise as a squelching sound resounded and red brown blood sprayed onto him. He stabbed his sword through her arm and pushed it with both hands as he let go of his axe. He watched as the arm attached to the locker. The zombie shrieked at him, but Aeron retrieved his axe and hacked at her head. Her body trembled, but she still lived. It was only until he hacked at her twice that she died.
Quickly, he pulled his rapier and saw only half the blade as the blade broke after so much damage from the zombie as it blocked the strike and prevented its arm from moving. Shouting, Aeron threw the broken rapier at the student zombie, the zombie much slower and weaker as it was only level 1. As its body drew back from the force, Aeron leaped high and hacked at its head, the blade sinking halfway into the head.
System AnnouncementAeron Ao has been promoted to level 1.
3 stat points are awarded.
Stats cannot be added during battle.
System AnnouncementCongratulations
You are the first Earth Human to kill a zombie, and live.
As the first person to kill a zombie, you are awarded a storage ring.
Capacity is 4 foot length, 4 foot wide, and 4 foot high square storage space.
Time does not move for items in ring.
Item tier: 5
Restriction: Aeron Ao.
Aeron saw a white ring made of wood, with the image of a training axe on the ring, appear on his right index finger. He was ecstatic as he tested it on his guitar, seeing it disappear. He saw no items near the student zombie and walked over to the zombie Spanish teacher, his eyes widening as he saw a white cube, a small button a little deep beneath the surface. He picked up the cube and pressed the button.
Three black coins, with the head of a dragon on one side, dropped into his hand. He guessed it was the currency of the Alternate Earth, due to the first system announcement saying he had to survive on Alternate Earth, and stored it in his storage ring. He noticed that items of the same kind did not take up more space than a single unit. He grinned as he knew he could store all the coins and not worry about them being stolen. He stared at the black books that dropped and touched it.
System AnnouncementYou have found a Skill Book.
Skill tier 4: Healing.
Uses mana to heal wounds and restore vitality.
Consumption is 15MP.
Each spirit increases MP by 5.
Current maximum cast possible: 4.
System AnnouncementCongratulations
As the first person to kill a zombie teacher, you have shown that not even zombies of people you know will make you waver. Skill book awarded for being coldhearted and successful.
Unfortunately, you have not shown enough to be awarded a title. Only 3 title can be equipped and can be only replaced with new titles by discarding one of the equipped titles.
Skill tier 5: Summon: Blood Golem.
A golem that becomes stronger by consuming the blood of its victims. Testament of its victories is evident through the blood diamonds that grows on its back, wrists and ankles.
Level is the same as the owner.
Can be re-summoned if destroyed.
Consumption is all current spirit per summoning.
Kills by the blood golem do not increase Aeron's experience.
This skill cannot be upgraded.
System AnnouncementAeron Ao has opened the skill book(s).
Do you wish to learn Healing?
Yes/No
Do you wish to learn Summon: Blood Golem?
Yes/No
"I want to learn both," Aeron grinned. Healing was a major skill for his arsenal. He would be able to solo areas, like in a video game, as he could heal himself. As he was obviously in a dangerous area, he accepted the blood golem as it would be able to tank.
As two orbs of black light entered his body, the skill books disappeared. He immediately cast Summon: Blood Golem and felt his body grow weaker as a five foot high golem appeared. Its body was completely made of a strange rock, almost like it was made of meteorites. Currently, no blood diamonds were on its body. It silently followed him as he wore his backpack and ran to his locker. He retrieved his medallion and put it on his neck before placing a helmet on his head, putting the visor down to conceal his face.
He took off his heavy black jacket and the shirt straighteners, letting his long-sleeved, white polo fall over his belt. He looked over some of the dead bodies and found a pair of shoes that fit. Whatever snacks he could find, he put them in his backpack. He found that he was unable to touch the training weapons, his hand going through them as if it didn't exist. He tried to store all the water bottles he found, but discovered he could only stack water bottles of the same size and from the same company. He collected the water bottles and was able to stack ten of the same kind, only keeping two others in the outside pockets of his backpack.
He checked his cellphone and found no signal. he could not even access the internet. He tossed it aside as he killed another zombie. As he was about to leave down the stairs, he saw a student bleeding to death. He had multiple bite wounds and a dead zombie lay beside him, a sword sticking from the chest. The boy smiled, coughing blood as Aeron walked to him.
"Turns out you only turn into a zombie freak if you get killed by one. Lucky me right," the boy laughed. "Heard what you did back there. Good stuff. Shrieking zombies either meant they were killing someone or someone killed them. I don't want to die, but I don't want to die a zombie. Kill me man. Please. I don't zombies go to heaven."
"I can't kill you," Aeron said, shaking his head.
"For fuck's sake, you killed a zombie! You killed someone, even if that person was already dead! You're already a killer. I'm not asking you to be a murderer. I'm actually asking you to do it. If not you, then tell that cool golem to kill me. You're pretty lucky, you know that. Magic and golems were the dream," the boy laughed, spitting more blood. "Do it! Do it now! I can feel the blood in me turn! It hurts so much!"
Aeron closed his eyes and turned away as he said two words, "Kill him."
"Thank you," the boy said as the blood golem walked down the stairs. Aeron could hear bones break and blood splash as the blood golem slammed his fist onto the boy's skull. Aeron looked back and saw a headless boy, his bones caved inward as his empty neck spewed blood like a fountain. Aeron tossed the rapier's scabbard, cleaned the axe, and fit the axe on his hip as he made a small loop hole for it.
"I have to find my brother," Aeron said, doing the sign of the cross before heading down the stairs and exiting the building. He didn't even notice some zombies, at the end of the hall, that did not even look human as some had horns growing from the head, dull grey skin, crimson eyes, and a great white shark-shaped teeth.