The Prolog

THREE DAYS AGO.

Clyde rubbed his eyes with both hands. When he looked at the corner of his monitor, it was already six in the morning.

Clyde raised his glasses and yawned.

"Today it seems I didn't sleep again."

Just like yesterday, Clyde was playing games until he lost track of time.

He was online from night till morning. He did it all, for one thing, to drive away loneliness.

Clyde hastily showered and put on his uniform. Then he went to school with mixed feelings.

Going to school was not something he was happy to do every day. Clyde is not good at socializing and making friends.

His gloomy appearance also made him shunned.

Clyde was smart. Because of that, the students in his class would be friendly to Clyde when they needed someone to copy the homework from.

From then on, Clyde no longer wanted to show his intelligence.

Being bullied also became his daily life. Clyde was no longer fighting back and let the bullies do what they wanted.

Clyde wasn't too eager to do anything in this world anymore. His life is not something to be proud of.

When he walked to the bus station, Clyde always passed by a large river.

The river seemed to split the Aschea city area into two.

Every time he passed by the river, Clyde saw the current and asked himself, should he jump now?

However, Clyde hadn't done that yet.

The river current was too strong, or maybe he didn't want to die just yet.

Clyde didn't know which was the right reason. But one thing is obvious, he didn't do it today.

"Not today," Clyde muttered.

Then he continued. When he got home, while eating cup noodles, he turned on the computer and played the game he played lately.

'The Day Comes' was an apocalyptic-type game that he had been playing for over a year.

In this game, Clyde must survive a zombie outbreak. A classic theme that never goes out of style.

Unfortunately, the game wasn't popular at all.

The Day Comes is a game with pixel graphics. According to Clyde, it makes this game fun. But it seems that most people in this world don't think so.

Clyde also read several apocalyptic web novels with almost the same themes.

Fighting monsters, surviving in some kind of magic apocalypse or Virus, etc.

The Day Comes, the game he played, is created by the same developer who created many more games. However, all of them are not so popular.

In essence, all of it is about the destruction of the world.

Suddenly when he died in the game, an incoming email notification appeared. Clyde frowned and raised his glasses.

The email comes from the developer of the game he often plays. Clyde opened the email.

[ "Dear Player, The Ender would like you to complete the following survey for further development." ]

Clyde shrugged his shoulders and immediately filled out the survey because his in-game character was dead. The Ender is the Developer of those games.

[ "Do you like apocalyptic scenarios?" ]

"Yes." Clyde sighed because this question was so useless. If he doesn't like it why is he playing their games?

[ "Please select one of the following options." ]

After that, choice after choice appeared. No more questions.

[ 1. It is alright if the apocalyptic scenario happens. ]

[ 2. No, it's not alright! ]

Clyde went straight to number 1 without a second thought. If this is for the next development of course he wants this game to continue making apocalyptic games.

[ 1. The world needs to be reset. ]

[2. The world is fine and does not need to be reset. ]

Clyde snorted. "Number 1, of course."

[ "Last question." ]

"Oh, is it over?" Clyde was surprised. It turned out that this survey did not contain as many questions as he thought.

[ 1. You want to go through the apocalyptic scenario with the hardcore mode difficulty. ]

[ 2. You want to go through the apocalyptic scenario with the easy mode difficulty. ]

Clyde immediately chose option number 2 without thinking. He doesn't like to take things too hard.

Real life is hard enough. Why would he want to add more difficulty to a game?

[ "Thank you for filling out the survey. In the next development, you will be given the advantage when it started. Sincerely, The Ender." ]

"Oh, do I get some bonus pack?"

After that, the survey ended. Clyde closed the email and continued playing his game.

~~~

PRESENT DAY.

Clyde was still not sure if the survey he was filling out at that time would affect what was happening to him now. But it seems like a possibility.

The bus just stopped. All passengers got off the bus. Some immediately ran away.

But Clyde just stood quietly. After all, if the apocalypse had started, where could they run to?

The girl next to him didn't wither. Her face tensed and she looked back and forth like a confused person.

[ ATTENTION! ]

[ The Prolog will start now! ]

The voice accompanied by red text echoed in everyone's head. A big commotion ensued.

Clyde was quite confident. Judging from his stats and the Resource Bag he had, Clyde was pretty sure he could survive better than the others.

[ THE PROLOG "UNDERGROUND MONSTER" BEGINS NOW! ]

[ PROLOG: UNDERGROUND MONSTERS. ]

[ DIFFICULTY: C. ]

[ OBJECTIVE: SURVIVE ATTACKS FROM MONSTERS APPEARING FROM UNDERGROUND. ]

Suddenly, the ground shook like an earthquake on a small scale.

After that, the ground started to crack and from within the cracks, black and skinny hands appeared.

Black and skinny bodies crawled up. They were monsters with ant heads but walked on two legs. Their bodies are as big as humans.

"SKREEE!!!"

The monsters gave off a disturbing screech when they saw humans.

The girl who saw the scene covered her mouth with both hands.

Her eyes opened wide in horror as the monsters from deep in the ground began to tear apart the unlucky people.

Suddenly, Clyde got a notification for himself.

[ Private Attribute Effect: Difficulty changed to D. ]

Clyde smiled. "Nice."

A monster crawled from the crack behind the girl. She didn't notice because she was too deep in fear.

The monster raised its hand and then pointed its claws at the girl's head.

Clyde who saw it can not remain silent.

He ran towards the monster and then dealt a punch to its stomach.

*BUAGHHH!*

The monster was blown away after being hit by Clyde's punch and crashed into a trash can.

Clyde grabbed the girl's hand and led her to hide in an alley.

"Hide!" Clyde said.

~~~