"Casp."
"Wake up Casp."
"Hmm. ?" Caspian was broken out of his short respite by a familiar voice in his ear.
He drowsily opened his eyes to find Emma lying by his side
"Emma?"
"What happened ?" he asked as he tried to sit up.
"The Zombies Casp. They seem to be gathering around the building. A lot of them." Emma whispered, like the information was confidential.
"Hmmm. Have they found their way in yet ?" Caspian wasn't surprised in the least.
"No. not yet. They are just moving about the area."
Caspian simply nodded. He already knew this would happen, since zombies hunted on heat signature.
And this massive structure will constantly draw their attention.
He had factored all this into his plan. That's why he chose to remain in the penthouse, even if he could have gone to safer locations.
"I have plans for them, don't worry," He added.
"But Emma…. Why are you inside my bed ? " Caspian, just now realizing Emma was currently lying inside his bed and under his duvet, spoke with confusion on his face.
"Of course, to wake you up, you silly goose" she replied with a knowing smile.
"Just go and continue to keep watch. Good job on the report." Caspian heaved a sigh at her obvious antics before dismissing her.
Emma hopped out of Caspian's bedroom with a wide smile on her face at getting praised by Caspian.
Caspian picked up his wristwatch from the nightstand and checked the time.
"1:30 pm. Can't believe I slept for so long."
"I think those notifications should be coming in around this time." He muttered as he stared ahead at the rising smoke and destruction visible in the distance from his bedroom floor to ceiling windows.
Exactly ten minutes after. Every living human on earth received the same notifications.
—-----------
—------
[Global Announcement!]
[The First Of Four Integrated Trials Is Currently In Effect.]
[Each Trial Will Run For Ninety Orvan Circles Before The Next Begins.]
[And All Will Test Your Mettle, Pushing You Closer Towards Evolution.]
[By The End Of All Four Trials, Planet Orvan WIll Be Deemed Ready To Participate In The 'Origin Games'.]
—-------------
[Global Leaderboard Is Now Open.]
[Generous Rewards Will Be Granted To Top Integrators Before The Commencement Of Each New Trial.]
—----------------
[Origin Store Is Now Open!]
[You Can Purchase Available Supplies From The Store Using Gold Coins.]
[Gold Coins Can Currently Be Acquired By Challenging Trial Elements Or Securing Achievements]
[Gold Coins Can Also Be Used To Improve Your Stats And Advance Your Level.]
—---------------
—------------
—---------
"Here we go again. I should probably see how people are reacting online."
"Come to think of it. I haven't had time to check out the regional chats yet." Caspian muttered before taking a quick shower and getting dressed.
He then sat in a chair before selecting the Regional Chat Option, and was immediately presented with a message.
—-----
[Use Awakener Name Or Create New Alias ?]
—------
"How about I create a new alias this time, something that reminds me of my past and accurately describes my path going forward." He reasoned before filling in an alias that resonated with him.
—---
[Alias 'Solgarde' Registered Successfully.]
[Welcome To The Regional Chat, Solgarde.]
—-------
—---------
{~~~~~~~Regional Chat [#058-34]~~~~~~~}
*BudgetBatman: "What's this now ?. Trials ?. And four Of Them?!!"
*LagLord69: "This is getting more horrifying. What exactly is this Origin System ?"
*CryMorePls: I am only just finding out our planet is apparently called Orvan. Now there's this, too."
*AllSeeingEyes: "@LagLord69, I've been wondering the same thing. Maybe some type of advanced alien race?"
*CelsetialGoddess92: "Anyone check out the origin store yet ?"
*Orion Blackridge: "Zombies must be the first trial, don't you think, guys? "
*LagLord69: "@AllSeeingEyes, It's definitely possible, since everyone's been turning into zombies, a thing of fiction. Then why not aliens ?"
*BudgetBatman: "@CelsetialGoddess92, It says i don't have any gold coin, so nothing's showing."
*TheHonoredOne41: "@Orion Blackridge, definitely. I killed one and got that gold coin they are talking about."
*Liora Ashen: "I have five gold coins, and I can purchase one bottle of water and a loaf of bread with it."
*AllSeeingEyes: "@TheHonoredOne41, You really killed one ?. I thought your talent was only E-grade."
*CelsetialGoddess92: "@BudgetBatman. Likewise. Guess I have to kill some zombies."
*ShyButterfly: "@AllSeeingEyes., I killed a lot."
*OneInchRod: "@Liora Ashen, just a bottle of water and bread?.."
*AllSeeingEyes: "@Liora Ashen, How many zombies you kill to get five gold coins ?."
*Liora Ashen: "@AllSeeingEyes, Exactly five."
*RockHard69: "@Liora Ashen, You morron. Scavenge for supplies and use the gold coins to increase your physique and mind stats. You can raise both of your stats by one using two gold coins for the first time."
*BudgetBatman: "@RockHard69, I still haven't heard from you. I sent my address in the chat yesterday."
*OneInchRod: "@ShyButterfly, STFU and stop lying, you attention seeker."
*RockHard69: "@BudgetBatman, aren't you a dude ?. Sorry, but this daddy don't roll like that. You do you though, no discriminate."
—-----------
—-----
"A few familiar Aliases are in the chat."
"Most soon-to-be powerhouses."
"And one in particular stands out."
"An enigma who at some point during these trials began topping the Leaderboard, and little to nothing is known about her, even up to the year I died."
"So many powerhouses are actually from Newhaven ?. That's good to know."
"Now I'd better start clearing this entire skyscraper and gathering up the immense amount of gold I need for that contract."
"Time is of the essence. Considering how weak I currently am, and the fact that I can't increase my strength past a certain point, else I risk ruining my entire plan."
"I need to get a move on and start taking care of these weak zombies before the actual threats start showing up."
"My past life fighting experience, and these shotguns can only take me so far."
—----------
—-----------
Elsewhere.
On an expansive street with ruined stalls, burnt buildings, and vehicles.
A swarm of zombies can be seen crowding a shoplet by the roadside.
Roars, grunts, and scratches at the metallic burglary-proof metal surrounding the shoplet echo through the streets.
Inside, a young man with ink black hair and golden eyes can be seen crouched up in a corner, slopping noodles from a cup.
"You guys be patient, okay? My food will soon run out. Then you can have me." The young man spoke dejectedly as he cast a glance at the few remaining cups of noodles in the corner.
As he finished eating, he moved a little ahead in the cramped space and reached for an audio recorder, then pressed a button as the green light came on.
"If anyone finds this recording, please make an effort to get it to the ones I care about."
"My name is Gaius Julius Caesar."
"Yeah, I know how it sounds, but you can blame my silly parents."
"My grandpa was Ceaser, my father Julius, and he in turn named me Gaius. I bet he thought himself a comedian while giving me such a ridiculous name.
"But I love him still, and I miss them all."
"Our address is at 59th jokane. Oldport."
"I have nine siblings. Four sisters and three brothers."
"I came out here to Newhaven to chase my dreams, but it seems I would soon be consumed by zombies instead."
"I had a passion for journalism, but the city didn't care for my passions. So I ended up opening a clothes boutique, which also serves as my makeshift home."
"It's been a couple of terrible years. I burnt through my savings, and now i can't even afford the phone bill to check on my family with all that's going on."
"I should have been a goner with all the zombies swarming to this location, were it not for the anti-burglary metal railings I had installed when my shop was broken into last year."
"Now, I'm stuck in here with dwindling supplies of ramen and water."
"Judging by what I had gleaned the last time, and the increasing pressure being placed on this small shack. I can safely assume that the number of zombies currently surrounding my little shop should be in the hundreds."
"The authorities are no help since the police station a few blocks ahead has been ravaged by zombies as well."
"It's not like I have nothing, though. I do have a talent, one of a very high grade. But this talent of mine is more like a death sentence." Gaius heaved a sigh as he called forth his status window.
—------
—---
~~~~~[Status Window]~~~~~
[Name: Gais Julius Ceaser]
[Age: 23]
[Life Level: Tier One]
[Race: Human]
[Affiliations: None]
[BloodLine: Human]
[Physique: 0.2] (Humans have 0.3 on Avr.)
[Mind: 0.3] (Humans have 0.4 on Avr.)
[Soul: 10.5] (Humans have 0.2 on Avr.)
[Innate Talent: Explosion (grade: SSS) ( Lv. 1)
___Lv 1
~You Explode : {Charging ~ 15%}
~[Increase Talent Level ~ 10,000gc]~
]
[0gc]
—---
____
"Now what the hell kind of talent is this ?"
"I explode ?"
"So when I activate my talent, I just die?"
"The charging kept going up, it was only at fourteen percent some hours back, but i have zero intention of using such a self-mutilating talent."
Raaahhhrrrgggh!
"Yeah, yeah, calm down, guys, I'm not going anywhere, what's the rush ?"
"Anyways, if anyone finds the recording and is capable enough, please get it to my family and let them know I love them and missed them all till the moment of my passing."
Gaius took in a deep breathe and let it out softly to steady himself.
Then he turned off the recorder before stowing it under his makeshift bed.
"Awrite. Let's see if anyone else on this chat shares a similar predicament."
—--------
{~~~~~~~Regional Chat [#058-34]~~~~~~~}
*CelsetialGoddess92: "Anyone else has a useless talent ?"