7. Main Quest (1)

The next day arrived faster than expected. It seemed to me that every day has been a long one every since I returned. It was going to a normal day like usual that's what I hoped it was going to be. I left out for my part time job since my schedule is always during the morning.

There are not many people that take up the morning shifts compared to the night shifts. Morning shifts are beneficial to me since no one will bother me during the night.

I changed into my work uniform and did my job as usual. There wasn't anything different from the usual day of work. As soon as my shift was over, I changed back to my usual outfit and started to go home.

Before I was about to leave, I heard a voice.

"If you're free, would you mind going for lunch with me?"

Those words were said by senior at work. Someone as the same age as me, the girl named Haruka. She was popular within the store for being cheering and interacting with people. We didn't interact much in our past life since I had to quit this job sooner or later due to other circumstances.

"Sorry. But, I already have plans" I replied with a slight smile expressing my remorse and left the place. I started walking back to my place.

This world works on a single principle. Only the Strongest will survive. But, here being the strongest doesn't just mean, in terms of physical strength but in various other factors.

Having strengths that others don't have, taking advantage over them. That's how this world works. The Survival of the Fittest. Only the one that adapts to their environment to the fastest will survive longer and the ones who can't will perish sooner or later. Without knowing that, one is making a fool of themselves for the rest of their life.

This was one of the reasons that many people couldn't adapt to the new lifestyle set forth after the First World Eruption. There was a major shift in economy and jobs throughout in various sectors.

For me, acting in front of others is my way of a form of end. It's easier to interact with them instead of showing your true colors. Regardless of what you do normally, it will make you harder to get accepted. Acting to match their interests makes it easier to blend it and less of a hassle to deal with them.

Within ten minutes of walking back, I got home. The sun was shining brightly. I guess this could be considered as pseudo work-out. I got into my room and drank a bottle of ice-cold water to quench my thirst.

The main reason I didn't hang out with Senior is because I did have plans. But, it wasn't with a person but instead it's with the Main Quest. I'm sure I would love to take a break with everything that is happening since I returned but I rather get the things out of my way as soon as possible.

I wanted to tackle and just see what exactly this Main Quest is about. Mainly, it was of course my curiosity and partly due to the penalty being death. The Spatia didn't exist before the First World Eruption, and now being a Transcendent. Since, it's my first time seeing something like this, I have no idea to what to expect.

Going into a place in which you know nothing about is dangerous in whatever way you think. You don't know what's ahead and what you will encounter in an unknown place.

I thought for a while and decided to attempt it since there's a time limit. I thought deeply about the main quest and as expected the screen popped up again prompting me whether I choose to accept it or not.

++

[Main Quest #1 – Survive]

Category: Main

Difficulty: F

Time left till 1st Attempt: 27 days

Failure: Death

Attempts Left: ­­∞

Would you like to attempt this quest: [Y / N?]

++

I hesitated for a moment, but firmed my resolved and decided to press the Y button to attempt the quest. Better safe to start early than to worry when there's not too much life is left.

++

Main Quest Initiated

Area Generated

An attempt has been used.

Remaining Attempts Left: ­­∞

Spawning Area Gate to Warp Player

++

Just as I accepted the Main Quest, the Area Gate had spawned in front of me as the Spatia had mentioned. As I stepped closer to the Area gate, I could see that it was a shimmering portal of swirling colors of blue. The center of the gate was a deep blue, like the ocean on a clear day, surrounded by a halo of bright, pulsating light that shifted and changed in hue.

It was the same as I remembered in the days when I used to enter Areas for my job in my past life. They were both similar. It's as if the Spatia is the reason that we can enter the Areas in the first place.

As I approached the Area Gate, I could feel a pull, a gravitational force that drew me towards it, letting me know to enter. I knew that once I stepped through the portal, I would be transported to a place full of danger and a world that I would have no idea about. With a deep breath, I steeled my resolve that I would get this done and stepped into the shimmering vortex, ready to face whatever lay on the other side.

The moment I entered the Area Gate, I felt a sudden jolt and the vortex turned from a calm blue to a fiery red. The colors around me intensified, and I could feel a surge of heat and energy pulsing through the portal.

I had a moment of panic, wondering if I had made a mistake about accepting the Main Quest again .I could see several messages being sent to me through the Spatia.

++

Transcendent Detected.

Modification of the Area has been Completed.

Restoring Default System Functionality.

++

The screen displayed those messages too fast. Sooner or later, I was in an area. I was surrounded by white walls in all directions.

The room had a white wall cubic pattern anywhere I look. It was a bit creepy and eerie. The design being exactly 1 unit of division of cubes throughout the room. There were no doors or windows, and the only light came from something small in the center of the room in front of me.

It was truly bizarre. I would have never expected such a place to exist in this world. This place was symmetric in all possible directions creating an endless effect of void.

I slowly went to the center of the room which had something glowing. There I saw a blue stone emitting the light. There wasn't anything in this room outside of this blue stone that is blinding my eyes with its light. I slowed touched the blue stone that was emitting the light.

++

Detection of Transcendent has been Completed.

Initiating Program.

++

The moment I touched it, the system had sent me those message. I wondered what exactly I stumbled across. The message from the system made me feel uneasy. What program is being initiated and how exactly is it tied to the main quest.

I looked around as if there were any changes to the room. But there were no changes, or so I thought I was safe. Something was being materialized into existence the moment I had those thoughts.

The thing that materialized in front of me was a Zombie. It was holding a knife as if it was going to stab me. But, it wasn't moving towards to me immediately.

I felt a shiver run down my back as I saw the zombie materialize in front of me. It eyes were glazed over and its skin was sickly greenish grey color, like it's been dead for many years.

For a moment, I stood frozen, thinking what I was supposed to do in this situation. The zombie seemed like it was waiting for something as it was hesitating to make its move.

After a tense moment of silence, the zombie suddenly lunged forward attempting me to stab me. I quickly dodged to the side, avoiding it's attack.

I needed to find a way to counterattack to survive. The zombie's movements were getting sluggish after the attack it had just performed but it seemed like it still had enough steam to keep going.

I quickly dodged the second plunge and stole the knife the zombie was holding and kicked it afar with everything I got. The zombie got up quite quickly and charged toward me immediately. I gave it my all and lunged forward, stabbing the the stolen knife into the zombie's chest with all my strength.

The zombie died with a painful groan and disintegrated into ashes. The zombie didn't drop anything unlike the monsters of those in Areas. Taking a moment to catch my break, I sat on the ever so white floor. Feeling a sense of relief of escaping the deathbed, I wondered what's to come next since this place wasn't normal in any way possible.

I heard something behind me and I turned around and there were not one but instead five zombies in front of me. I, no longer had any stamina left after escaping the clutches of one, but now I had to encounter five of them. How exactly will I escape from this situation?