4 Fragment...
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[The market]
+Entity POV+
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The entity contemplated its situation, standing before the double doors that had opened, revealing a pitch-black void beyond. It was acutely aware of the fact that Takashi had already entered this mysterious space. A sense of urgency welled up within it, a desire to convey something to the young man, but alas, it couldn't voice its thoughts in time.
As it turned its attention to the task at hand, the entity noticed that Takashi had forgotten about his purchase, a lonely item left behind at the counter beside it. Without hesitation, the entity picked up the forgotten item, understanding the importance of returning it to its owner.
Now, faced with the open double doors and the enigmatic darkness beyond, the entity hesitated. It wondered whether the doors were waiting for it to step through. This decision weighed heavily on its mind, and it pondered the significance of this moment within the confines of its endless, solitary existence.
With Takashi's forgotten purchase in hand, the entity made the decision to duck its head under the door frame and step forward. It was a momentous choice, leaving behind the confines of its long-time residence after what felt like an eternity.
As it ventured deeper into the darkness beyond the double doors, it found itself in a state of near blindness. The absence of light made it difficult to perceive anything in the surroundings.
The entity's mind was far from idle. It contemplated the mysteries surrounding its existence and this peculiar realm it found itself in. The questions that had accumulated over days of attending to visitors and completing mundane tasks continued to plague its thoughts. It had no knowledge of who had assigned these duties or the purpose behind its existence.
As it navigated through the darkness, the entity couldn't shake the feeling that it was being watched, adding another layer of intrigue and uncertainty to its already enigmatic journey.
Emerging from the darkness into what appeared to be another open door, the entity gazed at the scene before it. It could discern the slow-moving images that unfolded, like frames from a surreal film. There was Takashi, standing with his back turned, and with him was a girl, as mentioned by Takashi earlier.
With careful movements, the entity extended its hands, gripping the sides of the door frame, and mimicked the action with its opposite hands. Lowering its head once more, it pushed through the door, fully emerging on the other side.
However, its arrival was far from inconspicuous. The entity's emergence triggered a piercing scream that echoed through the surroundings.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"
Its sudden appearance was undoubtedly unsettling, especially given its non-human form.
The entity's thoughts turned to the object it had unintentionally dropped during its emergence. Realizing that the can of fuel was left behind, it extended its long arm back into the darkness of the door, groping around to locate the missing item. The situation had become a bit more complicated than it initially anticipated, but it was determined to retrieve the can before moving forward.
'Found it...' The entity managed to locate the forgotten can of fuel in the darkness.
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+POV End+
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"You forgot your item." The entity held the can at head length to show it to its recent buyer.
That made Takashi sweat drop, as it turns out that he was wrong and the creature was genuine about what it said, right? Still in doubt, though slightly.
As for Rei, her fear still lingered. She cautiously raised her head from Takashi's shoulder to take a peek at the creature.
"It doesn't seem to be a threat from the looks of it, it's alright now." Takashi's reassurance seemed to have a calming effect on Rei, and with his help, she stood up, albeit still feeling shaken by the surreal experience.
Afterward, Takashi approached the tall creature and received the fuel can; Rei watched the exchange with a mixture of curiosity and caution.
With the fuel can in hand, Takashi made his way back to where the motorcycle was parked. Rei followed closely, her eyes darting between the mysterious entity and her childhood friend. The encounter had left them both with a sense of unease.
Popping the lid of the can open, Takashi made sure to carefully pour the gasoline into the motorcycle's tank, ensuring not to spill any.
On the other hand, Rei remained fixated on the enigmatic entity, her curiosity driving her to observe its every move. She couldn't help but wonder about its origins and intentions.
As the store clerk explored its new surroundings, it stumbled upon something hidden behind an ATM. Intrigued, it moved closer to investigate, unaware of the attention it was receiving from Takashi and Rei.
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The sudden sound of metal hitting the concrete ground disrupted the tense atmosphere.
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All three of them snapped their heads in the direction of the noise, their senses on high alert, uncertain about what had caused the disturbance.
"Fuck! Shit!" A man emerged from his hiding spot, clearly terrified. He sprinted away in panic, glancing over his shoulder to ensure that the peculiar creature wasn't pursuing him.
In his frantic attempt to escape, the man inadvertently collided with an obstacle, causing him to crash onto the unforgiving pavement. As he struggled to regain his footing, his eyes widened in terror as he found himself face to face with a gruesome and decayed head, its mouth agape in a grotesque display.
"No. No. " Despair filled the man as he realized the grim fate that awaited him. The decaying corpse lunged forward and sank its teeth into the unfortunate victim's exposed neck, causing him to writhe in excruciating pain.
Feeble attempts to escape the relentless grip of the undead proved futile as the horrifying scene unfolded before Takashi, Rei, and the tall attendant.
"AAAAAAAAGGGHHH! HELGP! GAAAAA!" The man's agonized screams pierced the air as he desperately cried out for help. He exerted every ounce of remaining strength in a futile attempt to force the monstrous corpse away from him, but with each struggle, he only felt more excruciating pain.
The decaying creature clung to his flesh, its relentless grip driving the man to the brink of despair.
The horrifying scene didn't go unnoticed, as the man's frantic cries for assistance drew the attention of other nearby undead. They began to converge upon the unfortunate victim, a grotesque horde of flesh-hungry monstrosities descending upon him.
"Please- AAAAAAGH!" The man's desperate pleas for help continued to fill the night; his agonizing screams and cries echoed as he endured the unimaginable pain of being torn apart by the relentless undead.
His tear-filled eyes scanned the vicinity, desperately searching for any savior who might come to his aid, but the horror of his situation only intensified as another chunk of his flesh was ruthlessly bitten.
The ones present were watching as the horror unfolded right in front of them with horrified expressions, except for the entity whose expression seemed featureless, no signs of twitching towards the scene at front.
With a sense of urgency, Takashi made a swift decision to take action. He discarded the fuel can and started up the motorcycle, revving the engine to life.
"We have to get the hell out of here! Hop in!" Takashi wasted no time, urging his childhood friend to hop onto the motorcycle, with Rei seated behind him and securely held onto him.
"We'll meet again." Takashi gave his farewell to the tall figure before he drove away, with some of the undead sluggishly following behind them.
Meanwhile, the entity heard a sound emanating from the device in his pocket. He retrieved the device, his featureless face giving away nothing as it prepared to examine the message or alert it had received.
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Loading complete.
Saving current domain...
You have entered a new domain. Would you like to set a checkpoint here?
Yes | No
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'A checkpoint? Hmm, does it mean that I can return here? But how would that work?'
The entity, curious by the prospect of setting a checkpoint, opted to do so by selecting "Yes" in response to the device's prompt. A series of loading screens followed, leading to the creation of a checkpoint in this new domain.
Upon reaching the device's main homepage, it observed three distinct applications in the center, each marked with a unique graphical icon. Additionally, there were a few smaller icons at the bottom, including those representing a wallet, inventory, and inboxes. One of these icons was distinguished by an exclamation mark, piquing the entity's curiosity. Without hesitation, it tapped on the "Task" button.
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Current Application(s):
● Appraise.
● Track.
● Task. [ ! ]
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__Task__
Daily tasks:
● Cleaning: -complete-
Objective(s):
Clean up at Aisle number 55, 47 and 45
Reward(s):
▪︎ 25 SC
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● Fill an empty part of the shelf: -complete-
Objective(s):
There is a shopping cart with the products in the storage room. Head to aisle 34 and stack up the items in the empty part of the shelf
Reward(s):
▪︎25 SC
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● Organize aisle: -complete-
Objective(s):
Aisle 67 is a mess; it needs a makeover.
Reward(s):
▪︎25 SC
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● Dummy practice: -incomplete-
Objective(s):
Head to the tier-one Dummy room. Practice your attacks on the target for 10 minutes.
Reward(s):
▪︎ 25 SC
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● Mission(s): [ ! ]
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__Mission(s)__
● Corpse Party:
Objective(s):
Kill 100 zombies under the set time limit.
Difficulty: ☆ | Easy
Reward(s):
▪︎ 500 SC
▪︎ New device Function(s).
▪︎ 25 points (STR)
▪︎ 25 points (STA)
▪︎ A new Title
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● Bonus tier 1:
Objective(s):
Kill an extra 50.
Reward(s):
▪︎ Bronze tier ability/item.
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● Bonus tier 2:
Objective(s):
Kill an extra 100.
Reward(s):
▪︎ Silver tier ability/item.
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● Bonus tier 3:
Objective(s):
Kill an extra 200.
Reward(s):
▪︎ Gold tier ability/item.
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Do you wish to accept the mission?...
Yes | No
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'A mission? This is the first time I ever received one. Does that mean only in a different world would I receive such tasks?'
Facing this unique opportunity, the entity pondered whether to accept the mission. After a brief moment, it chose to face the challenge and selected "Yes," initiating a countdown on the main screen.
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9:59
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9:58
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A raspy growl sounded in front of the store clerk.
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The worker looks ahead only to see one of the undead extending its arms to grab onto his figure. He chose to move away to create a distance between them as the corpse sluggishly approached. He turned off the device and placed it in his pocket.
Willing to test its strength, the entity raised its arm and swiftly slashed downwards.
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His sharp claws slashed at the corpse; the sound was equivalent to that of a sword slicing through the air.
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After a few seconds of that strike, a hand fell on the ground, followed by the zombie's arm. Later, more limbs fell apart, leaving their physical shape not in one but in multiple parts.
Seeing the outcome, the entity raised its hands, studying its now blood-ridden claws as the fluid dripped down from its tips.
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Another nasty growl, though this time it's not only one... but a horde.
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The screams of the two have traveled, the vibration reaching the whole district, with the girl Rei being the reason for attracting most of the undead by having the loudest of vocals.
The tall figure knows what it has to do after its quick examination. It readied its two arms, lowering them both down and hands at knee level. It walked forward and slashed upwards at the approaching duo.
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The sound of the air being sliced through once again.
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Similar results. Now aware that he has a time limit, he didn't stop. The entity continued its fierce assault on the approaching horde of zombies. Its claws moved with precision and speed, slicing through the undead with ruthless efficiency.
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The sound of slashing and groans commenced as the number of death tolls began to rack up.
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Five... Eight... Sixteen... Its claws dismantled the zombies one by one. Limbs and heads were severed, bodies torn apart, and the ground became littered with the remains of the undead.
Twenty two... Forty five... Sixty seven... The entity's movements were fluid and practiced, each strike a testament to its strength and combat prowess. It knew that time was of the essence, and it had to eliminate as many zombies as possible before the countdown reached its end.
The numbers continued to rise as the entity pressed forward, undeterred by the relentless onslaught. It was a force to be reckoned with, a dark and powerful entity fighting for the goal set in this nightmarish world.
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The abrupt halt of a groan as it was pierced through.
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A swift and precise finger strike pierced the zombie's forehead. Ending the bloodbath, as that was the last of them.
The moonlight cast an eerie glow over the gruesome scene as the entity pulled its sharp, pointy finger out and decided to walk back to the gas station.
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Splat.
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Stepping over an eye, it ignores it as the remains stuck to its shoe. Its steps left a trail of red prints on the pavement, evidence of the carnage it had wrought. The entity paid no heed to the gruesome sights and sounds around it.
Arriving at a nearby bench outside the convenience store, the entity took a seat, its attire now thoroughly drenched and stained with bits of gore. Its colorful fabric clothing was now a gruesome mix of colors.
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The device dinged in its pockets.
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The entity's attention was drawn to the sound originating from the device. It paused momentarily after pulling it out, contemplating the significance of this digital message.
'Before looking over the device, I glanced towards the mass slaughter on the streets. How come I was calm in doing that? I didn't spaz out on the awful gore that I have witnessed. My psyche is perfectly intact.'
The entity proceeded to check on the device, curious about what information or task it might hold.
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__Mission(s)__
● Corpse Party: -complete-
Objective(s):
Kill 100 zombies under the time limit set.
Difficulty: ☆ | Easy
Result(s): 178/100
Reward(s):
▪︎ 500 SC
▪︎ New device Function(s).
▪︎ 25 points (STR)
▪︎ 25 points (STA)
▪︎ A new Title
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● Bonus tier 1:
Objective(s):
Kill an extra 50.
Reward(s):
▪︎ Bronze tier ability/item.
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● Bonus tier 2:
Objective(s):
Kill an extra 100.
Reward(s):
▪︎ Silver tier ability/item.
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● Bonus tier 3:
Objective(s):
Kill an extra 200.
Reward(s):
▪︎ Gold tier ability/item.
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Would you like to cash out the rewards now?
Yes | No
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The entity tapped on the button to claim its rewards. As it did, an array of rewards was displayed in the form of cards, each with its own title, description, and attributes.
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Received!
Reward(s):
▪︎ 500 SC added to your virtual wallet.
▪︎ A new function has been added: Extraction (requires a restart)
Description:
Able to extract without limits, collect things from the outside world, and store them in your inventory.
▪︎ 25 points (STR) have been applied.
▪︎ 25 points (STA) have been applied.
▪︎ A new Title has been given: Zombie Killer
Description:
Deal 50% more damage and critical damage to a zombie. Trigger an aura that would hide you from them.
▪︎ Bonus tier 1: Swiping frenzy. -complete
Description:
Your claws are now coated with a magical substance if one's blood were to come in contact with it.
It would randomly choose an attribute from that individual, and the selected attribute would have its stat points slightly reduced and given to the host; the effect is temporary.
- Can't be repeated on the same individual until the effect duration has ended.
- Can stack.
- Duration: 30 minutes for each that is stolen.
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As the figure examined its newfound abilities, it couldn't help but wonder about the nature of its existence and the source of these strange powers. The questions continued to pile up, leaving it with a growing sense of curiosity and uncertainty.
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The device dinged again with a new notification.
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Warning!
You have met the conditions.
Initiating reset...
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The entity pondered the conditions and rewards, trying to make sense of how it had met these criteria. Its memory remained fragmented, leaving it with more questions than answers. As the screen loaded new features and revealed additional conditions
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Update Complete.
Fragment tier 1 has been met.
Displaying conditions... Adding new features...
Conditions:
● Reach a total of 100 SC in sales: -complete-
Reward(s):
Unlocked virtual store and upgrades section.
● Have at least two buying customers: -complete-
Reward(s):
Unlocked Worker application.
● Visit one world: -complete-
Reward(s):
Unlocked Portable Doors.
● Complete your first world mission: -complete-
Reward(s):
Unlocked attribute application.
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Conditions have been met...
Unlocking fragment...
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Thud.
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The device fell to the ground as it slipped from the worker's hand. It remained seated, unmoving, and its breathing was stable.
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The entity vigorously inhales after what seemed an eternity for itself.
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The store clerk shook in its place as it inhaled, sweat forming on his head.
It raised both clawlike hands, eye level, inspecting them after a few seconds. The tall attendant had one of its hands wiping the blood off of the name tag, taking a closer look.
"Kazuhiro..."
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The device tinged.
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Identity fragment. -complete-
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