It was total chaos around the globe. More than 50% of life had been corrupted.
Humans, animals, and plants — the corruption did not discriminate.
Drivers were suddenly attacked by their passengers, parents feasted on the flesh of their children, and owners were mauled by their pets. The events were bloody, endless, and merciless.
It was an apocalypse true and true. Within mere minutes, governments around the world were either dissolved or barely holding together.
Gunshots, crashes, wails, monstrous roars, screeches, and explosions filled every street.
The smell of blood, metal, and burning flesh hung in the air, choking with its putrid stench.
And the Origin Eye in the sky merely spectated, its pupils darting across the planet — observing the chaos it had unleashed, unconcerned and emotionless.
Meanwhile, back at Avalon School for the Gifted…
Boom!
The body of a fiend burst through the door of Class 12A, forcing it open before landing limp and unmoving. It was dead.
Of the 33 students, only 9 remained uncorrupted, locked in a desperate contest for survival against their mutated peers.
'The Eye noticed me… but why?' Seth wondered as he dodged a frenzied lunge from his corrupted classmate, Jim.
Who landed pathetically sprawling on the floor, Seth didn't hesitate he acted quick.
Grabbing a jagged piece of wood from his shattered desk, drove his knee into the mutant's back, fracturing bones, and rammed the wood straight through its ear.
Applying force he twisted the wood deeper into the mutant's head till it's sunk into its purchase: the brain.
Blood sprayed, accompanied by a sickening squelch and crack, as the mutant twitched and let out a mournful dying wail.
[Congratulations! You have slain a Shackled Mutated Creature]
[You grow stronger…]
[+1 Strength]
[+2 Speed]
[+1 Defense]
Seth closed his eyes, basking in the addictive rush of power surging through him.
But the silence that followed quickly pulled him back.
Opening his eyes, he saw his eight surviving classmates standing amidst the bloodied, corpse-strewn classroom.
"Look! The Eye… it's gone!" a female classmate exclaimed, pointing at the shattered window.
Everyone turned. The sky was still crimson, the clouds dark and rumbling — but indeed, the Eye had vanished.
Seth furrowed his brows, his mind racing with questions.
What was the corruption?
What was the Origin Earth was now connected to?
Regardless of the mysteries, one thing was clear: the world had changed, and this apocalypse signaled the start of a new era.
"We should stick together," Uriel said suddenly.
He was cleaning blood from his glasses with the hem of his stained shirt, his blazer nowhere to be seen.
"Are we really going to act like we didn't just slaughter our classmates?" Elaine, the vice class president with icy blue hair, asked, her brows furrowed.
Uriel remained silent, his expression cold as he fixed his glasses back on.
It was Brandon who replied, running a hand through his messy black hair.
"Hey, it was either those zombies or me. And I don't know about you, but I'm a huge fan of me."
Elaine frowned but didn't retort. Now wasn't the time for arguments. They weren't safe yet.
If the mutants in their class alone were this many and this tough… what about the rest of the school?
Of the hundreds of students, how many had been corrupted?
How many were faring as well as them?
These frightening questions gnawed at Elaine, cementing the fact that discord could not be afforded in their ranks.
She swallowed her retort, snorted, and turned her head aside.
Suddenly, the sound of encroaching footsteps rang out, freezing everyone in place.
The atmosphere grew tense as their eyes locked on the open doorway.
Seth's heart hammered against his ribs, his hair standing on end as the footsteps drew closer, each beat tightening his muscles.
A vague shadow stretched across the doorway, growing darker until its owner stepped into view with a bestial groan.
"Holy fuck… Principal Quentin. I'd bet you've seen better days," Brandon muttered dryly, tightening his grip on the metal rod in his hand.
The principal's mutated figure stood hunched in the doorway, crimson eyes scanning the students.
Drool streamed down his chin, jagged teeth bared as he let out a guttural roar, sending a foul wind rippling through the room.
Everyone tensed, ready for action when suddenly—
Squish!
A cold steel blade with a serrated edge sprouted from the mutant's throat. The principal's roar turned into a choking gurgle as blood poured down his chest.
His crimson gaze dimmed before collapsing lifelessly.
"Are you guys okay?" a worried voice called as a beautiful woman rushed into the room.
Miss Lysa.
All nine students recognized her instantly — their homeroom teacher.
Her golden hair shimmered as her eyes flashed with pity at the corpses of her students.
"I rushed here as soon as I could… it seems I was still a bit late," she lamented, clutching her hair in frustration.
Elaine and the three other girls rushed to console her, insisting it wasn't her fault.
Meanwhile, Uriel, Brandon, Victor, and Darius, the few male students remaining, worked quickly to barricade the doorway, ensuring no more mutants could waltz in unimpeded.
Seth remained silent in his corner by the window, unnoticed as always. His presence was nearly invisible — not that he cared.
His attention was fixed on the gleaming notifications before him:
[Primordial Flash Sale System Successfully Integrated!!!]
[Newbie User Detected!]
[User has been granted the 'Single-use Flash Purchase Coupon!']
[Description: A single-use coupon that allows the user to purchase a Flash Sale offer for free, without the cost of Flash Points!]
Seth's eyes gleamed as he scrolled through the notification.
'Flash Points… so that's the currency. But how do I earn them?' He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Maybe I'll earn points by completing quests, like in games," he muttered.
[Wrong! Flash Points can only be earned by surviving near-death encounters. Like now…]
Seth froze at the sudden reply.
"You can respond?" he asked aloud, but no answer came.
He frowned, about to try again, when his eyes caught the last words of the system's reply.
Near-death encounters… like now?
His pupils constricted in realization.
His gaze pierced through the transparent system screen, locking onto the shadows beyond the window.
His gut clenched, a shiver running down his spine as sweat matted his back.
"Guys… you have to see this!!!" Seth shouted, his voice dripping with horror.
As his words echoed, a sharp monstrous screech cut through the air—
Creeeeeee!!!