"First of all, could you please put the cross away?" the guide spoke, his eyes never straying from Alex's tight fingers wrapped around the cross.
"That depends on what we have to talk about." Alex did not place it in his pocket. He wasn't the same person who would blindly trust whatever a stranger said just because they were stronger than him.
"I admit that it does possess some lethality, but that is primarily because of faith. Although, it does have some effect." The guide wasn't offended at being threatened and explained kindly.
"A little effect can go a long way depending on the situation," Alex said.
"If it puts you at ease, then so be it. And don't worry, I wouldn't dare to snatch it from you. The power behind that cross shows mercy to you humans, but we aren't that blessed," the guide spoke respectfully at the end.
"Why exactly did you call me here?" Alex asked.
"To ask what you plan to do next," the guide responded.
"What if I said revenge?" Alex was testing his attitude towards the system.
"Then you'll die before even finding the true system," the guide shrugged.
"If by some stupid luck I manage to actually do it, what then?" Alex pressed.
"Then I'll gladly throw you a party and dance upon its corpse. If you're wondering whether we are on the same side, then I assure you—we most definitely aren't." The guide figured out Alex's underlying question and responded honestly.
"I guessed that you don't get along with the system, but I didn't think it would be that bad." Alex raised an eyebrow.
"Now, can you tell me what you really want to do next?" the guide returned to the main topic.
"I have to save Shae Harris," Alex said seriously.
"Is it due to guilt or a means to reclaim yourself?" the guide said calmly.
"Does it really matter?" Alex chuckled in self-pity.
"It matters because I need to know whether you are prepared to put your life on the line for it." The guide looked him dead in the eyes, and Alex felt like he was being seen through.
"I need you to put your life on the line for it," the guide emphasized the need.
"Why do you care about her so much anyway?" Alex looked away and changed the subject.
He was still coming to terms with the truth, and now he felt a lack of motivation to put everything on the line to save Shae Harris.
It wasn't that he was scared of dying. He had nothing left to live for, and his will had been repeatedly crushed.
It was more the fact that he already felt dead inside, and there wasn't much left to use to fight.
Alex had just realized that he had subconsciously planned to throw his life away.
"I was created for the fulfillment of those kids' dreams. I was made for them, and so it's not surprising if I care about them a great deal," the guide patiently replied.
Alex found that he felt a little jealous of Shae Harris.
"Let me explain your situation to you. Right now, you're about to face someone on the same level as the doctor—someone you're familiar with…" the guide was interrupted by the man seated beside him.
"Seo Rina." Alex pursed his lips.
"And you have no system, which makes you just an ordinary man—meaning you have no way to resist," the guide didn't mind being interrupted.
Alex gripped the cross tightly, thinking about having to fight that crazy woman without the system.
The only result would be death… unless—Alex's gaze turned to the cross.
"That would not work without the faith to carry it. And secondly, Seo Rina is human. As I said, God loves all humans equally—even the bad," the guide shook his head immediately, discouraging his idea.
"Why don't you do it yourself if I'm so incompetent?" Alex rolled his eyes.
"I cannot. Humanity's problems can only be solved by a human," the guide shrugged.
"So that's why the system chose me—because it needed someone to kill the doctor." Alex thought about this theory immediately after hearing the guide's words.
"The system wasn't lying about the existence of an evil entity, but there's no way that you could have destroyed it. It's way out of your league."
"There's really no chance…" Alex felt a little tempted.
"You'll die before you even get close," the guide cut him off.
"So what exactly is your grand plan?" Alex snorted.
"I can return you to your state while you had the system, while the rest would be up to you," the guide offered.
"How exactly do you plan to do that?" Alex raised an eyebrow in suspicion.
"Do you want it or not?" the guide avoided the question and went straight to the point.
"I refuse." Alex shook his head.
He admitted that the system did make him incredibly strong, and he also had a lot of tools left over.
But that life wasn't completely his own. It was the life of a man who was blinded and controlled by strings.
He was tired of lying to himself, so choosing to go back to that point in time would be like living a lie all over again.
"Then what do you suggest?" the guide left it up to Alex.
Alex was lost on what he wanted.
He wanted to be a chef, but now that dream carried too much baggage.
So what exactly was he chasing right now?
Well, saving Shae Harris was one.
So how exactly could he do that?
How could he stop Seo Rina?
Alex dug deep into the memories of the last instance.
No… the last reset? Alex wasn't sure what exactly to call it.
If the system was lying about the reset and his reality…
Then what about the repeated playthroughs?
Surely that must have been part of the deception.
After all, any other truth would mean that the world had constantly been resetting.
And that sounded crazy—even to Alex.
But the major hint was the fact that all the instances had the same background.
Aristocrats. Obvious social hierarchy. Culture.
There might have been slight alterations here and there, but these three factors were always the same.
The one thing that was different, though, was the zombie apocalypse.
Each instance had different kinds of zombies.
Alex had assumed that was a result of the evil entity playing with him.
But now… he didn't know what to think.
Most importantly—when exactly was he born into the world?
Was it the first playthrough?
If so, then wouldn't that mean he was reborn each time, in a different body…
Only to die over and over again?
What about the people whose bodies he inhabited? Did that mean their lives were forcefully cut short by the joint effort of both the system and himself?
What exactly was the meaning of the fact that, in the last instance, he had the same name and his character was a chef?
Could it be that the last instance was his real home, and he had actually survived through the apocalypse…
And by some means, he was kidnapped by the system with his memories erased?
Alex thought about a lot of things, each conjecture getting crazier and crazier.
"I suggest you don't get distracted by useless thoughts. Time is wasting," the guide spoke with a slightly louder voice.
Alex flinched and turned skeptically to the man beside him.
"I cannot read minds, as there is no need for me to do so," the guide assured him.
But that didn't help him calm down at all. Instead, Alex shifted slightly away.
He summed up all his theories to one thing—the system was incredibly dangerous.
And so was anything related to it, whether ally or enemy.
"Focus. Thinking about such things is a waste of time," the guide repeated.
Alex found those words slightly hypnotic, as all extra thoughts were pushed out of his mind.
He could only focus on the main task at hand.
Which was how to beat Seo Rina.
Memories of his last playthrough flashed in his mind, and the ones with Seo Rina stood out.
He had only met her briefly, but the result was death—for both of them.
The Seo Rina he met was selfish, crazy, and a calm psychopath.
Also very decisive—once she realized she might die, she made sure to leave no hope for anyone around her.
Her main ability involved releasing silent, deadly poisons and toxins into her surroundings, preventing people from getting close.
Then boosting herself with drugs to enhance her physique, releasing explosive power.
She was so insane that she coated her whole body with toxins—just touching her could melt someone's skin down to the bones.
She was the perfect definition of a poisonous woman.
Alex thought about what he could use as a countermeasure.
He could ask for a healing buff that worked like regeneration.
He threw that idea aside.
Seo Rina was the type to struggle just enough to create an opening to flee.
And with the evil entity on her side, her poison could mutate to counter his healing.
Another idea was complete immunity to poisons, diseases, and toxins.
But Seo Rina could still rely on her drug-enhanced physique.
And judging by his memories, she might also have a strong healing ability.
The opponent was tricky from all sides, and Alex found himself at a dilemma.
Then he had a sudden spark of thought.
He hesitated—not because it was dangerous…
But because it felt too much like running away.
But from another angle…
It was perfectly suited to convey his emotions—not just to Seo Rina, but to the evil entity itself.
And if you looked at it differently…
It was almost heroic.
Alex chuckled.
"I see you've come to a conclusion," the guide spoke.
"I have." Alex sat up straight and nodded firmly.
"Then wear this VR goggles," the guide handed him a pair of white goggles.
Alex looked at him skeptically before reluctantly taking them.
He wore them and waited for that magical feeling.
Instead… everything just became blurry.
Alex turned to him and stared blankly.
Why VR goggles?
"This time it's Shae Harris' turn, and she likes games. So everything I have is game-related," the guide shrugged.
Alex nodded, seemingly accepting the absurd reason.
Then continued staring.
Why isn't it working?
"Haven't you ever played a game before? You have to reach the spawn point, then press play," the guide snorted.
"But there doesn't seem to be any button," Alex said, taking them off.
"Just say it in your mind," the guide replied.
Alex still looked doubtful, about to ask for a normal method—
But the guide snapped his fingers.
Alex vanished.
And reappeared at the hospital wreckage.
But this time—
Someone else was there.
Seo Rina.
She looked annoyed.
She had just escaped that insufferable man after pretending she needed drugs for her aunt.
He had demanded "interest" before letting her go, delaying her for an hour.
Now, all she wanted was to kill Shae Harris and collect her reward.
Only to be blocked—
By a random guy who appeared out of nowhere.
She didn't waste words.
A poisoned acupuncture needle shot toward Alex.
He dodged.
Luckily, his physique was already enhanced so dodging the needle before activating his skill was possible.
"Start," he muttered internally.
"Who are you?" Seo Rina sneered.
"An owner looking for his lost bitch," Alex said coldly.
She glared and attacked again.
The voice in her head urged her to kill him quickly.
She released silent toxins into the air.
Then rushed him.
Alex met her head-on.
In terms of fighting skill, he was superior.
But the poison that always surrounded her slowed him down.
And contact with her caused damage.
She fought ruthlessly—striking, retreating, adapting.
At first, they were even.
Then Alex began to lose ground.
His body deteriorated.
His movements slowed.
In the end—
He collapsed to his knees.
Bleeding from every opening.
Barely alive.
But still smiling.
"Heh… after all that talk, you're still beneath me," Seo Rina mocked.
"I'm ashamed I couldn't give you a better gift… but unlike a bitch, I'm human," Alex chuckled.
She scoffed and turned away.
Then—
Pain.
Sudden.
Violent.
Her body ruptured.
Blood poured out uncontrollably.
Until nothing remained but a dried husk.
Alex sneered at the husk before falling onto his back.
He had chosen a skill—
One that reflected all accumulated damage back at the attacker at a hundred fold.
It also slowed down the impact of the damage after reflection.
"I did it…" he whispered, raising a weak fist.
He smiled.
He couldn't destroy the system.
He couldn't kill the evil entity.
But he made them feel something and they certainly wouldn't forget him.
He had made the evil entity lose by tasting the pain it loved to inflict.
And sometimes—
That was enough.
Because Alex could accept one truth.
He was human.
And with that—
He died peacefully.