[In-Game Time: 08:00 AM]
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
One by one—
The five players opened their eyes.
They weren't in an open field.
Instead—
They found themselves inside a small, clean, and simple room.
Chef Noob [Nigel Vince]
Nigel sat up slowly, his expression calm as his sharp eyes scanned the surroundings.
"…Not bad."
He raised his hand casually—
A semi-transparent blue window appeared.
[Status Window]
Name: Chef Noob [Nigel Vince]
Race: Human
Class: Blade Dancer
Level: 1
EXP: 0 / 100
STR: 5
AGI: 7
STA: 5
INT: 5
LUK: 5
HP: 100 / 100
MP: 100 / 100
[Passive Skill: Gourmet Senses]
Extremely precise taste and smell
Can identify poison or safe items instantly
Critical Hit Rate +15%
[Active Skill: Knife Master]
Type: Combat Stance
Attack Speed +20% when using bladed weapons
Smooth, precise movements like cutting ingredients
Duration: 10 seconds
Cooldown: 30 seconds
"Ho…"
He smirked faintly.
"My stats are already different from average."
"High agility… makes sense."
He flexed his fingers slightly.
"…Muscle memory carried over."
He touched the black leather jacket he was wearing.
Soft.
Durable.
Real.
"…This isn't just VR."
Gamer Girl [Ella Cruz]
"Whoa—!"
Ella's eyes sparkled as she rapidly opened and closed her interface.
"This is amazing!"
[Equipment: Newborn Survivor Set]
Effect: HP +20 | AGI +2
Skill: Safe Return
"This jacket feels so light!"
Suddenly—
A soft chime echoed in everyone's ears.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
The safe zone is now open.
Please exit your rooms and gather outside.
Boxing King [Yuan Yuan]
The door slid open automatically.
A large man stepped out, stretching his body.
"OOOHHH!!"
"This feeling!!"
"My body feels light… but heavy at the same time!"
He lightly punched the wall.
Thud!
"…It hurts a bit!"
His grin widened.
"This is real!! 100% real!!"
Mad Scientist [Har Jay]
He stepped out last, adjusting his glasses.
Even if they were just part of the avatar.
"So… we are the four?"
Chef Noob: "Looks like it. Beta testers."
Gamer Girl: "Hi! I'm Gamer Girl!"
Boxing King: "Boxing King! Let's survive and get strong!"
Then—
Another door opened.
A lean man with sharp eyes stepped out.
Hunter [Harvey]
"So… all five of us are here?"
Gamer Girl: "Ah! You're the last one! Hi!"
Hunter gave a small nod, scanning everything like a predator.
"The air… the wind…"
"…Everything is real."
Chef Noob smirked.
"You look like you're used to the outdoors."
Hunter replied calmly—
"I hunt in real life."
"Let's see if zombies are harder than wild beasts."
They began walking toward the exit together.
Gamer Girl suddenly stopped.
"Wait—touch my hand!"
Boxing King laughed.
"Why? Haha—okay."
Clap!
They high-fived.
"WARM!!"
Gamer Girl shouted in shock.
"Your hand is warm!! We can feel everything perfectly!!"
"This isn't a game anymore!!"
Mad Scientist nodded.
"Indeed. Full sensory simulation."
"Pain. Heat. Texture."
"…All real."
They stepped outside.
But as they approached the edge—
Hunter raised his hand.
"…Quiet."
They froze.
Then looked ahead.
"...."
"Uuuuuuuurrrrrggghhh…"
Beyond the transparent barrier—
Zombies.
Dozens of them.
Rotting flesh.
Hollow eyes.
Crooked limbs.
They slammed against the invisible wall—
Thud… Thud… Thud…
Gamer Girl gasped.
"Eek!!"
She hid behind Boxing King.
"Z-Z-Zombies… they're real?!"
Boxing King stared.
"…They look tougher than in movies."
Chef Noob narrowed his eyes.
"…I can almost smell the rot from here."
Hunter spoke calmly—
"Level 1 monsters…"
"…But dangerous."
"If that barrier wasn't here… we'd already be dead."
From behind them—
A presence appeared.
Standing silently—
Watching them—
Was Jay.
Short silver hair.
Golden eyes.
A perfect face.
Gamer Girl whispered—
"…An NPC?"
Then her eyes widened.
"Wait… he's too handsome…"
"More perfect than any celebrity…"
Jay stepped forward slowly.
Then stopped in front of them.
"Welcome… Pioneers."
His voice was deep.
Clear.
Commanding.
"I am the Artificial Intelligence that manages this world."
"You may call me…"
"…JAY."
(Johnjay hid his identity, acting as the system AI.)
"This world is called Apocalypse Online."
"Everything you feel is real."
"Treat it as your second life."
His expression turned cold.
Sharp.
"But remember this."
"Freedom… comes with rules."
"You may fight."
"You may work."
"You may grow stronger."
"BUT—"
"If you kill players…"
"If you steal…"
"If you harm others…"
"That is a CRIME."
A red warning window appeared.
[SYSTEM WARNING: ABSOLUTE LAW]
VIOLATION = DELETION
"I am the Administrator."
"I do not judge."
"I do not punish."
"If you break the rules…"
"I will erase you."
"Permanently."
Silence.
Cold.
Heavy.
"I am watching everything."
"Every move."
"Every action."
"…Understood?"
All Players: "Y-YES!!"
Jay nodded.
Then his tone softened.
"Good."
"To survive, you need resources."
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Main Quest: The Foundation of Survival
Description:
Create a garden inside the safe zone.
Objective:
Plow the land
Build a Garden Plot
Rewards:
EXP +50
10 Copper Coins
Beginner's Hoe
"Go."
"Work hard."
Boxing King: "Leave the digging to me!"
Chef Noob: "Heh… let's start."
Jay nodded and tossed them farming tools.
"The land is over there."
Then—
He turned away.
BACK TO JOHNJAY
Inside the system store—
"…2 silver coins left."
Not enough for a rare weapon.
So—
He bought a common sword.
Then potions.
8 HP Potions
8 MP Potions
"…No coins left."
He sighed.
"…Poor again."
But—
He had no choice.
"I need to be ready."
"The mutant…"
Before leaving—
He turned back to the players.
"Do not leave the safe zone."
"Reach Level 5 first."
Then—
He stepped into the portal.
THE HUNT
Back in the forest—
Johnjay moved swiftly.
Slash! Slash!
Zombies fell one after another.
More than fifty.
"…Too weak."
"All Level 1 and 2."
Level 9
Finally—
He arrived.
The Level 8 Mutant Zombie—
Now—
Level 9.
"…It leveled up too."
But—
Something was wrong.
It wasn't alone.
Someone else was fighting it.
A woman.
Her armor was scratched.
Broken.
Her breathing heavy.
Sweat ran down her face.
She was at her limit.
"...."
Johnjay froze.
His golden eyes narrowed.
"…Wait."
He checked her data.
[NPC KNIGHT]
Name: Daniella Alonso
Level: 6
"…That's impossible."
His heartbeat sped up.
"I'm the Creator."
"I designed everything."
"I only added five players… and zombies."
"…I never created her."
His gaze darkened.
"…I never made an NPC like this."
"…So what is she?"
A cold realization crept in.
"…Is this a bug?"