The Price for Powers

Alex is shocked. "Dude. Don't. Please don't. You're better than this."

"Just trust me. I am not going Columbine on everyone here," I assure him and pull myself off the bed with some efforts. My body cries out in pain from all the bruises, but I have felt much worse before. I have been mauled to the brink of death so many times that this is merely an inconvenience. "Buy what you can from those guys and meet me on the roof. Hurry."

I head out of the infirmary afterwards.

"Hey! Hey! You can't be serious, Zander!? Zander!" Alex calls out and chases after me, but I reassure him all the same. He eventually relents and leaves to buy some handguns. Of course, it will not be that easy when dealing with those gangsters behind the school, but I am sure he will figure something out.

Alex is resourceful that way.

I watch Alex go as I recall his last moment.

"Just go Zander. I am the right choice. I have nothing left. You still do," he had told me before staying behind and went out like a man. I can still remember his smile then. It is as if he had made peace with everything that had happened. He lost everyone, and he could not stand losing his friend – me.

"Don't worry, Alex. Everything will be different this time around. I will make sure of it," I tell Alex while solemnly vowing to myself. I head to the rooftop to have a look at the surroundings.

It feels rather strange seeing so many people down in the yard. Several months from now, not a single soul could be sighted down there or in the streets. Cars would litter the road, rusting in silence along with their owners. The only sounds that could be heard are growling and prowling of restless corpses.

Dead Zone. It was called and will be called.

I cannot stop its formation, and even if I could, I should not, as that will change the destiny of so many people, including myself and Alex. I need to let it happen, so that I can reobtain my class. The Merchant Class.

That class is not combat orientated, but it is incredibly powerful. More powerful than some of the best classes available if used correctly. It is also one of the few classes that do not need to abide by the rule within the System.

"Inventory."

[#*@(*%&#(*&@(*#?@]

An inventory window appears before me, and it is emptied. Everything is gone, sacrificed to gain this second chance. A second chance to do better.

Even though I am likely classless right now, the inventory still works for some inexplicit reason. It's not taken away from me, as I had only offer up my wealth, my status, and my possessions. Therefore, my skills and abilities should still be intact.

The problem is… money.

It is the lifeblood of a Merchant, and without great amount of wealth, I will not be able to activate any of my skills or abilities. And I have learned that wealth can be found anywhere, not just in the form of paper.