System Fall

When I turned, I saw a middle-aged man who had started the tutorial with me in Times Square. The man's hair was mostly swept back, with wavy bangs hanging on the sides of his forehead. He appeared a little breathless and was carrying a heavy steel crowbar much like the one I had initially been using.

"What the hell!" one of my group members exclaimed.

"Where did he come from?" another added.

"I didn't mean to alarm you," the strange man said. "But I thought we might be able to achieve much better if we group together. Name's David, by the way."

I clicked my tongue in annoyance. "Tch, here's another straggler." The man from the girls' university group, a lanky figure in baggy pants and a crumpled hoodie, seemed to view this as another opportunity to join us and started pitching in with David.

"The more, the merrier, right?" David said. "What are you guys going to do walking around with a bunch of dolls like them if you run into trouble?" He cast a glance towards the girls, and the university students instinctively felt he was more of a danger to the women than the hypothetical trouble he was mentioning.

"Tch. What do you want?" I asked loudly, giving a single glance in their direction. This seemed to rile them up in different ways. The hoodie guy stopped leering at the girls and bared his teeth at me.

"Think you're so tough?" David gave me a cold glare, trying to intimidate me. I wasn't the least bit bothered, though I might have been in the past if the guy was actually older than me. After spending two decades in hell, I wasn’t impressed.

I’d seen real monsters.

I’d been one of them.

At least for me, the behavior of David and the hoodie guy was the least of my concerns. However, judging by how some of the students behind me were huddling, they didn't like the look of things.

And they were right to be concerned. I remembered getting on the wrong side of humans who had just had their baser instincts tested. Between "Fight" and "Flight," there were always people who enjoyed the "Fight" aspect a bit more. Having been triumphant in their violence against the Zombies, some people were still high on the victory of a fight to the death.

"I suggest you refrain from rash actions," I stated, my tone deceptively calm, as I held David's gaze. With a casual shrug, I looked away, the nonchalance of the gesture disguising the icy warning in my eyes. "It's a precarious world, and it's unwise to test fate. Uncertainly has a way of teaching the frog in the well knows nothing of the sea."

Inwardly, I was wrestling with my temper, striving to maintain my cool. Engaging in conflict was the last thing I desired - not at this juncture. I opted for a more tactful route instead.

"David, our emotions may be running high, but we can't let that interfere," I offered in a level tone, both authoritative and empathetic. “I get that your frustrated but let's remember - we're all trapped in this situation together. Survival depends on unity. Let's put aside our disagreements and focus on what's crucial right now – finding someplace safe before nightfall."

The subtle edge to my voice, the choice of my words, they all relayed an undercurrent of threat, an unstated warning. If David's recklessness posed a risk to our collective survival, he'd be facing repercussions he might not live to regret.

David sneered at me, but he seemed to consider my words. After a moment, he let out a gruff sigh and relaxed his grip on the crowbar. "Fine. But I'm keeping an eye on you."

I nodded and motioned for the others to follow me. I didn't trust David, but I was glad we had avoided a fight. I didn’t want people to see what I was really capable of. The world had turned into a battlefield, and it seemed like there was no end in sight. But I knew I had to keep moving forward, no matter what, it’s just in the meantime and even the long term it made things easier if nobody saw me take him out if I had to.

"So, where are you going?" Jason inquired, panting slightly as he tried to keep up with my brisk pace.

"The Grand Terminal Central," I replied nonchalantly, hinting that my true destination was actually something nearby.

"Really? You think any trains would be running at this point? 'Cause let me tell you buddy, they aren't," one of the guys objected. However, he quickly fell silent when I didn't respond, grumbling under his breath as he did. "In fact, we just came from over there. Got stuck inside the building when the tutorial happened, but I guess we're going back there because we haven't had enough of it."

As they continued to follow me, the group couldn't help but wonder where I was leading them and what they would find when they got there. But they still followed. Somehow, being around me was reassuring.

So, despite my silence and only responding to questions with a noncommittal hum, they walked with me. I was heading towards a dungeon that several survivors had missed the first time around, and even then, no one had managed to entirely clear it. Many regretted not finding it sooner, given some of the rewards that place had yielded.

In hindsight, it was likely due to the [Admin]. System Fall had started on the 4th of February, and the train station around 42nd Street hid a cleverly concealed dungeon. When we reached the station, a beautiful building with Greek-style pillars and various statues lining its roof, I halted. We stood underneath the clock, also adorned with statues, and the plaque beneath it stated, "Grand Central Terminal."

"So why are we here?" Jason asked the question that seemed to weigh heavily on everyone's minds. I continued to walk close to the wall, my fingers brushing against the bricks. New York was always so bright; with all the billboards and lights turned off, it appeared like a different city—subdued, desolate. There was no one else around, either.

I continued to walk, tapping my fingers on the wall, following the beat of a familiar song. And finally, it felt like I had hit something other than concrete; I stopped and knocked my knuckles against the building.

"Hmm, this is strange," I mumbled, feigning surprise not just for the [Admin's] sake, but also for the benefit of the others. They joined me, tapping on the wall in the same spot. A hollow, wooden sound echoed out, and I pushed against the brick. It gave way easily, revealing a hidden staircase descending into the darkness.

[System Fall Notifications]

Attention Adventurers!

Hidden Dungeon Discovered: Grand Central Station

Inside the Grand Central Station lies a mysterious hidden dungeon. Brave souls may explore its depths in search of valuable equipment, rare items, and status enhancements. However, be warned, for the monsters lurking within are considerably stronger than those found outside. Exercise caution and be prepared for formidable challenges.

All aboard the train to adventure!

The message appeared in everyone's vision, causing a mixture of excitement and apprehension among the group.

"Is this for real?"

"What do we do now?"

"Could this be some kind of secret base we can stay in?"

“Who wrote that cringe notification? Was it that smiley bastard?”

The jumble of voices made it difficult to distinguish who was saying what. I peered down into the dark, the faint sound of dripping water and the smell of damp earth filling my senses.

"Hey, are you sure we should follow him?" One of the girls whispered, trying too hard for me to not hear her.

I turned towards the group.

I was determined to grow stronger, and I refused to let anyone become a burden holding me back. Move, follow, or get out of the way , this was the situation.

"I won't force you to follow me," I declared firmly, locking eyes with my companions. "Nor will I take responsibility if anything happens to you. Each of us must make decisions based on what's best for ourselves. But none of you will be my millstone, and if you follow me and can’t keep up, I will leave you behind."

Without waiting for a response, I descended into the ominous depths of the dungeon. My footsteps echoed in the darkness, a rhythmic symphony of determination. As I ventured further, the putrid stench of blood that had saturated the streets above was replaced by the cool, musty air of the underground. Goosebumps crawled up my arms, but I welcomed the sensation.

The others trailed behind me, and as the door closed, we were enveloped not in darkness but in a pale blue light emanating from some unknown source. This place had an air of deceptive simplicity; the floor was made of granite, reminiscent of an old castle, yet heaps of sand were scattered in various places.

"This looks like it can be used as a base," Jason commented when we noticed a bunch of rusty swords lined against a wall. Both boys and girls hurried over, abandoning their odd assortment of hardware equipment, sports gear, and even a brick, to get their hands on a proper weapon.

"I think this is a naval cutlass," One of the guys remarked, examining a sword. A moment later, as he held it, the System informed him of its proper name. "Oh, it's an [18th Century Hanger Sword]."

"Does knowing the name even matter? We finally got something we can kick ass with properly," Another one of the guys in the group responded.

[Screeeeeee!]

Their argument was interrupted by a high-pitched wail as a giant bat launched itself towards the group, its glowing red eyes tracing lines in the air as it attacked.

I gave the creature a lazy look, slid my right foot back to set my stance, and swung my bat in a homerun, striking the bat squarely in the face. It exploded into a cloud of purple dust.

[You killed a Mothkin]

"We should do some pest control," I said, sticking with my trusty bat. I was too accustomed to wielding a weapon with both hands and didn't want to get careless by picking up a one-handed sword.

More of these bats descended from the roof, but the group of students faced the challenge head-on. A few still stayed behind, but I didn't mind. If anything happened to them, that was their responsibility. I charged, testing out my agility and perception by attempting to kill the Mothkin with single hits, using wide arcs and steep angles to swing my bat.

It wasn't an efficient way to kill mob monsters, but it appeared fancy and impressive. More importantly, it allowed me to observe that my reaction time was close to what it had been before I’d gone back in time. It felt almost like the [Time Dilation] skill, but it wasn’t. It was just the effect of my natural combat instincts and experience. They’d carried over. I didn’t have a [Skill].

"But I have all of my [Skill] slots empty..." I muttered as a trio of bats swooped past me, turning around to strike at my back. I executed a taekwondo back kick square in one of the bat's teeth and then brought my bat down on another's mangy head for good measure.

I ducked the swipe of the last one, bending at the waist as I leaped backward and executed a bicycle kick. The strength of the blow surprised even me, as the hapless Mothkin went flying into the roof, where it shattered into dust.

As if intimidated by me, the other Mothkin began to target the others more, giving me a wide berth. I observed the situation, leaning on my bat with both hands as if it were a cane.

The girls outperformed the guys, cutting down the creatures in multiple blows. Jason struggled as he swung his sword with little technique, relying on desperation and brute strength. However, even from him, a single blow was sometimes enough.

The battle against the mob had been intense, but soon their numbers dwindled. It felt as though we had been fighting for an hour, but in reality, it had barely been ten minutes. I noticed that the Drops were still on the floor, glittering like gemstones and casting an ethereal light throughout the dungeon. Surprisingly, no one had claimed them.

"Why isn't anyone picking up their loot?" I finally asked, puzzled by their inaction.

The group glanced at me in surprise.

"I thought you would want these, so I didn't. Besides, we gained experience points, so that's enough for us," Jason admitted sheepishly. "And well you know... you're kind of carrying us a bit and didn't want you to abandon us."

I sighed in frustration. "I don't own this place; I just found it. It’s basic rules, if you killed it, you take whatever it drops. Is that too difficult to understand?"

"Oh, thank God, I thought you were going to ask for these," Willow sighed in relief. I could have easily taken their drops from them by force, but I had no intention of lashing out at fellow humans just to gain power.

Thankfully, nothing exceptionally rare had dropped yet. I had seen firsthand how human nature and greed could rear their ugly heads the moment a valuable skill or item dropped. Friends could quickly become foes, or in more civilized cases, parties would disband, or people would duel to the death to obtain a coveted skill or specialized weapon.

In System Fall, point distribution was proportional to one's effort, so there was no such thing as a Last Hit Bonus, where the one who killed a monster obtained a significant reward.

I walked closer to Jason, inspecting the drop from his monster. It was an emerald crystal, etched with a white plus inside.

"It says it's [Hippocrates Health]," Jason informed me.

I couldn't help but be impressed. It was not a bad skill to acquire. As long as one consumed healthy food, it would grant the power of regeneration. For someone just starting out, this was a considerable advantage.

"Let thy food be thy medicine, indeed," I mused drawing a look. Others had also gained some minor skills and mana boosts, but undoubtedly, this one was the best find of the dungeon so far.

"If this is how things are when we're just starting out, I wonder what else exists in System Fall. I'm getting kind of excited, even," May said, browsing her menu. Everyone around her agreed with her sentiment, and I couldn't help but wonder if I had ever been so naive.

I watched them discuss the skills they had obtained, the guys boasting about their increased strength, while the girls noted their quicker mana growth. I wondered how long it would be before the novelty of everything wore off and the reality of System Fall set in.

The [Admin] only cared about entertainment.

If that meant keeping the participants well-fed and resourced before they were thrown to the lions, then that's exactly what the [Admin]'s System Fall would do.

Shaking off my thoughts, I began walking again. On the other side of the room was an entry gate with escalators leading down into the subway.

"Where are you going, Nick?" May called out to me.

"We're at a train station. I'm going to catch a train," I replied, my footsteps echoing through the dimly lit dungeon.