System Fall

As I regained consciousness, I could feel the cold concrete pressing against my body. Slowly opening my eyes, I found myself in Times Square—a place that had been erased from existence years ago. I blinked, wondering if I was merely dreaming.

"Hey buddy, you okay?" A disheveled-looking homeless man had approached me, trying to rouse me from my stupor.

"What's the date today?" I inquired.

The man appeared dazed for a second, and I couldn't help but wonder if he even knew the answer. "It's the third of February, man."

I observed him carefully, my gaze tinged with a sense of pity, before turning to walk away. Homelessness was something I understood all too well. After all, most people would end up looking like this man after the impending apocalypse on the fourth of February, or 4-2—a play on the Japanese number 42, which also symbolized death.

"Hey, dude!" I called out to the man who had shaken me awake. As a token of appreciation, I decided to help him out. "Take this, get yourself cleaned up and buy whatever you need. Have a good day."

Without counting, I emptied my wallet and handed a couple hundred dollars to the stunned man. I continued on my way, knowing that paper money would become worthless in a day's time. I hoped he would spend it before then. Glancing at my cracked wristwatch, I mentally prepared a plan for the day while people bustled around me.

As I turned to leave, my reflection in a nearby window stopped me in my tracks.

"Was this how I used to be?" I pondered.

I appeared lanky and almost frail, my skin untanned. My long hair fell limply over my forehead and collar. I was clad in a navy- jacket and black cargo pants.

Despite my appearance, I still had the expression of a survivor. It was the kind of hardened look one might find on war veterans or burnt-out police detectives, but it was present in the eyes of a twenty-one-year-old. I flicked my bangs to hide my gaze.

As I assessed my reflection, a message played in my mind once more.

 

[System Notification]

[System Fall Notification]

Unique Class Granted – Lone Survivor

The fickle whims of fate have favored you. As the last man standing, you have been chosen. Brace yourself, survivor, for the trials to come will be fraught with danger.

Congratulations on obtaining the unique class: Lone Survivor!

May the skills of perseverance, resilience, and adaptation guide you on your path. Remember, the power of the Lone Survivor is drawn from struggle. Embrace the hardship, for only through it will you uncover your true potential.

You will be returned to the starting point of the tutorial to begin your journey anew. As a Lone Survivor, face the odds and carve your destiny with your own hands.

Conditions: The unique class "Lone Survivor" is assigned. Your journey restarts, but this time, the echoes of your past struggles accompany you.

Passive Skills Granted:

Indomitable Will: Lone Survivors are mentally fortified against extreme stress, reducing the impact of fear, confusion, and other debilitating conditions on their performance.

 

Tenacious Vitality: They have an enhanced regenerative ability, recovering from wounds and exhaustion at an accelerated rate.

[System Fall Notification]

Title: Return to The Tutorial?

The cruel game of survival has been played, and you emerged as the Lone Survivor. Now, the cycle resets. It's time to revisit the start, bearing the knowledge and strength you've gained.

Choose to return to the Beginner Tutorial and experience the genesis of your journey anew. Your past struggles have carved you into the survivor you are today. Use this to your advantage.

Note: If you choose to return, the system will fast forward to the start of the Beginner Tutorial. The lessons learned here will serve as a steppingstone to your forthcoming trials.

Conditions: By choosing to return, your journey will commence at the Beginner Tutorial. Use this opportunity to hone your newly gained Lone Survivor abilities and brace yourself for the challenges ahead.

Now, the choice is yours. Step forward into the familiar and rise stronger than before. Will you accept this challenge, Lone Survivor?

You have gained a quest.

1. Kill the Administrator - RankSSS

Kill the god-like head Administrator, who governs and oversees the operations of System Fall, to weaken the system's control over the world and its inhabitants. To achieve this, you must gain the strength to overcome near absolute power and acquire the necessary abilities to confront and defeat the Administrator. Be prepared to face their summoned eldritch beings, lesser gods, and reality-warping powers.

 

 

I couldn't help but wonder if this was something Selene had wished for on top of my wish, exploiting the system before the [Admin] could put a stop to her actions.

"No. There's no way that bastard didn't have a failsafe against decisions that undermined his authority and control over the system," I mused. Skipping the next few hours and going straight into the tutorial would be a mistake. Especially since I could prepare relatively easily and enjoy my last few moments of peace.

Two decades had proven that while everyone else faced danger, the [Admin] remained elusive and had never revealed his true identity. This could mean one of two things: Either System Fall had been hacked and there was a loophole unknown to the [Admin], or another entity existed with power equal to that of the [Admin].

My thoughts were interrupted by the rumbling of my stomach. I glanced around, taking in the sight of coffee shops, fast food joints, and diners. Then it hit me—if this was 20 years ago, that meant...

"That pizzeria might still be around!" I realized.

I decided to save my planning and scheming for later. There were places I needed to visit before they were lost forever. Time was of the essence, and I had a small window of opportunity to make the most of it.

*****

This was New York, a dazzling metropolis, famed for Broadway, staged tourist photos, a unique style of pizza, and the world's priciest grilled cheese. Night had fallen as I finally arrived in Times Square.

I strolled among the unsuspecting crowd, dressed in my most durable attire—a black jacket, denim jeans, steel-toed boots, and a duffel bag slung over my shoulder. The time read 11:59 PM.

Reflecting on my actions, given what I knew would soon occur, my past self might have deemed this course of action suicidal. Appearing in an area with some of the highest casualty rates in the West when chaos descended hardly seemed wise, but...

"But I'm done with merely surviving," I vowed. The greater the risk, the greater the reward. I was determined to put that principle to the test. I wanted a better outcome.

As the clock struck midnight, the sky overhead was illuminated by shooting stars—tiny and insignificant compared to the events unfolding worldwide. The ground trembled, and every billboard blinked out.

"What the hell's happening?" some questioned. Confused chatter erupted, though many continued to walk, oblivious to the phenomenon.

The billboards flickered back to life, displaying a message I'd previously only seen in recordings of the historic event.

[System Fall Notification]

Title: The Inevitable Downfall Beckons! Part I

My dear inhabitants of Earth, a warm greeting to you all. I am your humble Administrator, tasked with the orchestration of our upcoming grand event. As the delicate hands of time continue their relentless march, we find ourselves at the precipice of an era-defining shift - an upheaval of staggering proportions.

The impending descent of the System Fall is nigh, a spectacle drenched in a cascade of cosmic fire and brimstone. A breathtaking ballet of destruction and rebirth, a dance of the divine and mortal, where the ordinary will cease to exist.

Please do remain patient during this brief interim. The world as you know it will soon be transformed, brushed with strokes of chaos, and splattered with the vivid hues of survival, struggle, and death.

I assure you, it shall be an event of unmissable spectacle. But fear not, for as your administrator, I will assigning you managers to assist through the upcoming turmoil with the utmost grace and tact.

So, let's sit back, fasten our seatbelts, and await the exhilarating show that is the System Fall. I can hardly wait to welcome you all to the new world order.

Till then, do enjoy the calm before the storm..

"What kind of joke is this?" a voice in the crowd demanded. "Did the emergency broadcast system get hacked or something?"

I took a deep breath as the message continued.

[System Fall Notification]

Title: The Inevitable Downfall Beckons! Part II

Ah, the hushed whispers of trepidation and the fervent exclamations of disbelief reach my ears. My dear Earthlings, your concerns are not unfounded. I see your hearts aflutter with anxiety, your minds filled with fear and complaints. The massive shift that's about to occur, the coming of a new order, it's indeed a lot to process.

Fear not, dear inhabitants, your struggles have not fallen on deaf ears. I more than any as the administrator understand the enormity of the transition you face, the magnitude of the transformation that awaits. Thus, in the spirit of facilitating your journey towards the extraordinary, I am bestowing upon you a grace period. The tutorial I spoke of to help you navigate this imminent upheaval. Consider it your baptism into the spectacular fire of System Fall.

Before the rollercoaster of challenges truly begins, before the good times unfurl in all their chaotic glory, let me introduce you to your initial guide. He is your manager, a beacon in the storm that awaits, a shepherd to navigate the impending wilderness of the new world. His guidance will be your first foothold, a spark of knowledge in the enveloping darkness.

Now, I’ll let the manager take the reins from here. Listen well to his words, dear Earthlings, for they will be your lifeline in the tumult that's about to ensue. Brace yourselves, the real journey begins soon.

Until then, savor the sweetness of your final moments in familiarity, for soon, you shall taste the bitter wine of the unknown.

 

“And there it was. “ I muttered, feeling my blood pressure go up. Even knowing it was coming didn’t change the feelings the end of the world brought with it. I closed my eyes, letting the noise and explosions pass over me. Even then, the darkness behind my eyelids flashed red as the billboards burst into brilliant flares of light.

"[Ahem. The [Admin] sent me]," an echo resounded, followed by the sound of someone adjusting a microphone. "[Am I audible to all of you?]"

A smiley face materialized in the air, producing a youthful tone. Simultaneously, the crowd turned to gaze at it as it floated in the center of the square. It seemed so innocuous and playful.

My eyes narrowed.

"[I am called Zagrid! I'm a bot and your new manager! The tutorial is about to start. I suggest you start-]"

Suddenly, someone hurled a beer bottle at Zagrid. The bottle shattered upon impact. The bot spun around, its dot-like eyes turning laser-red. Without hesitation, it locked onto the source—a smirking man now clutching a brick. [Ah, such a lively crowd we have here! I see one of you has found a unique use for a beverage container. Now, allow me to introduce you to the concept of consequences in this new world order.]

Zagrid launched itself toward him like a cannonball. The spherical bot collided with his face, obliterating everything above his neck.

There were startled gasps and indignant shouts, and the bot returned to its central position, now marred with blood. "[Please do not interrupt. Any disturbances to the tutorial will be dealt with permanently]," it announced in the same cheerful voice. [This is a game of survival, and bricks, well, they won’t be enough to save you.]

That only seemed to enrage the crowd further, prompting a couple of police officers to pull out their guns and open fire.

"[I didn't really want to do this. Regrettable but necessary.]" Zagrid's voice emitted, devoid of any true emotion. The bot sprang into action, a mechanized demon released upon the unsuspecting populace. It dashed forward, a blur of unyielding metal and began its merciless elimination of “disturbances”.

Police officers, first responders, brave civilians who tried to resist, all had the ill fate of being deemed 'disturbances'—they were all subject to Zagrid's management. The speed of the bot was phenomenal, its precision chilling. It weaved through the chaotic crowd, tearing apart with blunt force and impact any form of resistance. The air filled with screams and the sounds of crushing bone and splattering gore. A once orderly intersection had become a place of carnage.

Those struck by Zagrid were left in varying states of destruction, their bodies torn asunder, limbs scattered like discarded playthings. It was a spectacle of ruthlessness, painting a blood-soaked mural on the cold city streets.

"[This is your last warning. If you interrupt again, the tutorial will start without instructions.]" Zagrid warned, “[You do not want to be chastised further]”

Pin-drop silence followed in the wake of Zagrid's carnage. "[Excellent. System Fall has finally been launched. Rejoice, humans! By dawn tomorrow, you shall begin your first full day inhabiting a brand-new world. Those who are quick to adapt will survive. Those who mistakenly cling to their old values and society shall perish.]"

Confused murmurs filled the air, with more than one frustrated individual attempting to call for help. But I knew no police, SWAT team, or military force would come to anyone’s aid. Not if they valued their lives after what had just happened. I knew the same thing was likely being repeated throughout the rest of the city, the state, and even the world.

The bodies it had ruthlessly dismembered, now lifeless husks sprawled across the asphalt, began to stir. Their twitching limbs convulsed, distortedly twisting and folding, pulling their mangled forms upright. Their eyes, devoid of life, glowed with an eerie, otherworldly light. I had a good idea what was coming.

As Zagrid finished speaking, the people it had killed began to twitch, their bodies contorting as they rose, eyes pure white. "[You guys really enjoyed action and superhero movies, didn't you? Surely some of you sensed that this world was rotting from the inside?]" the bot inquired.

"Spare me your sales pitch. You just want everyone at each other's throats, whether it's a working-class mom or a billionaire," I glared at the bot with a venomous stare.

"[Now is your chance to live the life you wanted! Defeat these Zombies for a reward!]"

Black puddles materialized on the ground, and from them emerged the Zombies.

"The Tutorial has begun. Equip yourself with any weapon and defeat the Zombies for a reward. Certain areas inflict more damage than the rest. Eliminate all the Zombies here to finish 'The First Deception by the [Admin]." Zagrid explained.

[System Fall Notification]

Title: The First Deception by the [Admin]

Objective: Eliminate the Undead Horde

Details: These are not your friends, your neighbors, or your loved ones. They are nothing more monsters to be defeated and their only goal is your death. Arm yourself with anything you can find. Make every strike count. The 'weak spots' are your key to survival. Eliminate all undead in your vicinity to complete the quest.

[Zagrid's Note]: Welcome to your new reality! This is not a test. This is not a dream. This is your life now, as harsh and as brutal as it may be. Here, the old laws of your society no longer apply. Here, you must kill or be killed. Do not be deceived by the illusion of choice. The only way to survive is to adapt, and to adapt, you must fight.

Zagrid hadn't referred to those reanimated humans as Zombies, but rather these creatures now rising, their skin decaying and movements sluggish. Suddenly, one of them lunged like a wolf pouncing on prey, sinking its teeth into a person.

Panic ensued as people attempted to flee, but their efforts proved fruitless. "What is this?" They pounded on doors and windows, yet none would open. There was no way inside any buildings or out of them.

"[Come on now, you can't just escape! Where's the fun in that? Did you not see the notification? You must fight!]" Zagrid taunted. "[Everyone, I repeat, everyone must participate in the Tutorial. And there's a bonus for whoever draws first blood!]"

I reached into my duffel bag and extracted a sturdy, heavy crowbar. Lunging forward, I swung it like a baseball bat, connecting the heavy iron with a zombie’s ribs. It crumpled to the ground unbalanced, and I proceeded to smash its head to smithereens with another blow. I would have done it initially but in my weakened, younger body, I wasn’t immediately confident I could crush its skull in one blow.