My name is Azrael Mortem and today is a day like any other. I wake up at 6:30 am, get out of bed and hit the shower. By 7:30 I''m dressed and ready to go. My little sister is still asleep in her room so I go wake her up.
I yell at her, “Alicia you''re going to be late for school, get the fuck up!!!”
She responds in a half asleep bratty scream, “Shut up retard! I''m going!”
Our language might seem a bit offensive, but that''s just the way we speak to each other. We are the type of family that always fights, but in the end we truly care about each other. The only time we spoke with respect was to our parents or in public. The rest of the time was casual cursing.
I could hear Alicia’s footsteps as she readied up for school. As her older brother it was my job to drive her to school on my way to work.
Our parents worked night shift so they slept in most mornings. After I graduated from high school I got a job with the Department of Water and Power in order to help support my family. I had wanted to continue my education, but family circumstances didn''t allow for it. My father got laid off and had to start anew at another place. His wage was much lower now and he wasn''t able to support the family.
It was 8:05 am by the time we were in the car. School started at 8:15 and we didn''t live far from it so Alicia would probably make it on time.
I drove an old white 98 Honda Civic. Dang thing is old, but reliable.
I look at Alicia as she stares out the window and say, “Put on your seat belt.”
She scowls at me and says, “Why do you care?”
I refocus on the road as I say, “Bitch I''m driving, if the cops see you I get the ticket.”
She refutes me as normal, “You already get a ticket every other week for speeding dumbass.”
To this I had no response, she was right. I was a busy guy and sometimes I pushed the limits a bit to get things done faster. It wasn''t until I almost got my license suspended that I learned to slow down.
It''s better to just stay quiet.
I dropped her off before heading to work. The freeway was packed when you were heading to downtown L.A. in the mornings, but since I went the other way it was almost empty. As I drove down the empty highway it hit me.
I suddenly felt a excruciating pain in my chest. My heart was in pain, a pain I remembered from childhood. I was feeling dizzy and nauseated. My mind was out of focus and I couldn''t control the car. My hands instinctively let go of the steering wheel and clenched my chest.
I had been born with a heart defect, something to do with the electrical signals that control my heartbeat. It made me prone to suddenly go into cardiac arrest. It happened twice so far, when I was born and at the age of three. Both times I got lucky and a good shock brought me back. My parents couldn''t afford the surgery so I didn''t get it. Since then I hadn''t had an attack, so it had been largely forgotten, until now.
God why did it have to happen now? Of all times throughout the day, why? Is this the way I end? What kills me first, the crash or my heart? Fucken damnit!... I guess I lived a good life... Wonder if there''s an afterlife?
[CRASH]
I could feel the impact, but it feels numb. Not sure if that''s because I''m already dying or the airbags helped out. My thoughts are muddled as my mind goes to blank darkness.
---(Meanwhile)---
World Found
Size: Small
Name: Earth
World Grade: Standard
Intelligent Lifeforms: 1
Species Name: Human
Population: 7+ Billion
Technological Achievement: Basic
Spiritual Achievement: Below Basic
Compatibility: High
Acceptance Confirmed
Population Extraction Start
Population Extraction Complete
Initializing Terraforming
3
2
1
Begin
…
Terraforming Complete
Quality: Excellent
Post Terraformation Processes Start:
Wildlife Reconfiguration Complete
Plant Life Reconfiguration Complete
Microbe Reconfiguration Complete
Mana Core Installation Complete
Post Terraformation Processes End
Population Reintroduction Complete
Master System Installation Initializing
3
2
1If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Begin
...
Master System Installation Complete
System Starting...
---(Back to MC)---
Cough Cough Cough Cough Cough Gasp
I was woken up by the unpleasant feeling of water going down the wrong path. What happened? Where am I? Wasn''t I supposed to be dead.
Looking around all I could see was the beach. Yes, I was on a beach. My focus then changed to the weird sensation coming from my left arms. Biting into it was a small yellow watersnake. As I grabbed it and attempted to pull it off I was shocked, no literally, l was shocked.
The feeling was there yet I felt no pain.
Little bastard was like an electric eel! It could shock me instantly. More surprising was why didn''t it hurt?
Before my thoughts got to far a notification popped up in front of me.
<table style="border-color: #03fc2c; background-color: #014f03; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" border="10" cellpadding="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
Undetected Organism Found
System Initializing
Error Found
Troubleshooting
New Living Organism
Error Found: Impossibility
Reclassification Required
System Failure
Please Wait For Resolution
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
What the hell was that? I was spammed by notifications and all of a suddenly they disappeared. They said something about a system and about revival.
Looking at the little snake dangling from my arm intent to eat me I think if my situation. My heart had stopped because of cardiac arrest. I should be dead, or maybe I already was… OF COURSE! Now it makes sense. The snake must have shocked me back to life.
That only answered one of my questions, but I still had many more. None of which could be answered.
I once again grabbed the snake, and this time I really did yank it off. Knowing that this little thing saved my life I don''t want to kill it. It''s decided, he will be my pet snake called Lightning.
Lightning attempts to struggle out of my grip, but it''s futile. I have a firm grip on him and have no wanting to let him go. He bites me a couple of times and draws a few drops of blood. It doesn''t hurt so I don''t mind. I''ll make sure to properly train him later.
Some minutes later the notifications were back.
<table style="border-color: #00fa08; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; background-color: #015400" border="10" cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
CONGRATULATIONS!!! The system has found a resolution.
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="border-color: #04ff00; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; background-color: #045200" border="10" cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center">You were DEAD when the SYSTEM INITIALIZED so you were not considered part of HUMANITY. Being REVIVED without connection to the SYSTEM means you were turned into an UNDEAD; however, since an UNDEAD cannot be LIVING, you did not fit into any known CLASSIFICATION. The SYSTEM has resolved this by adding a new SPECIES of which you are the only SPECIMEN. This SPECIES was made by mixing the best traits of HUMAN and UNDEAD (ZOMBIE subspecies). You are now a DEADMAN.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="border-color: #04fc00; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; background-color: #005701" border="10" cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center">
DEADMAN
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Species Description: A DEADMAN is a unique variant subspecies of both human and zombie origin. Only one specimen currently exists. Like other undeads a DEADMAN has infinite stamina, no health regeneration and can acquire an undead class. Like humans a DEADMAN has the ability to acquire a human class, use mana and use the SYSTEM. A DEADMAN’S weakness is his head as he cannot die without its destruction. Although, without health regeneration a DEADMAN can heal by eating live or recently deceased organisms of flesh. A DEADMAN also has numbed senses and cannot feel pain. As long as a DEADMAN feeds and is not killed it can live indefinitely. As part of two species it also gains stat bonuses from both every level it increases.
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Wow this was a lot to take in. I was no longer considered human. The immortality and bonuses seemed cool, but the feeding creeped me out. As I finished reading the description it disappeared and in front of me was my stat chart. It looked like that of an RPG game.
<table style="border-color: #00fc26; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; background-color: #01590e" border="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center">Name</td>
<td style="text-align: center">
Azrael Mortem
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center">Level</td>
<td style="text-align: center">
1(0/100)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center">Species</td>
<td style="text-align: center">
Deadman
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center">Age</td>
<td style="text-align: center">
27
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center">Classes</td>
<td style="text-align: center">
None
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center">Main Stats</td>
<td style="text-align: center">
Health (100)
H.Regen (N/A)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center"></td>
<td style="text-align: center">
Stamina (Infinite)
S.Regen (N/A)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center"></td>
<td style="text-align: center">
Mana (50)
M.Regen (10 per hour)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center">Extra Stats</td>
<td style="text-align: center">
Strength 0x2[undead bonus] =(0)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center"></td>
<td style="text-align: center">
Endurance 0x2[undead bonus] = (0)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center"></td>
<td style="text-align: center">
Vitality = 0
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center"></td>
<td style="text-align: center">
Durability = 0
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center"></td>
<td style="text-align: center">
Agility = 0
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center"></td>
<td style="text-align: center">
Dexterity 0x0.5[undead debuff] = 0
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center"></td>
<td style="text-align: center">
Mentality = 0
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center"></td>
<td style="text-align: center">
Perception = 0
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center"></td>
<td style="text-align: center">
Intelligence = 0
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center"></td>
<td style="text-align: center">
Wisdom 10x0.5[undead debuff] = 0
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center">Passive Skills</td>
<td style="text-align: center">
Numbed Nerves -lvl.N/A: Less feeling of touch.
M.Cost(0)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center"></td>
<td style="text-align: center">
Pain Immunity -lvl.N/A: Cannot feel pain.
M.Cost(0)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center"></td>
<td style="text-align: center">
Unaging -lvl.N/A: Cannot age.
M.Cost(0)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center"></td>
<td style="text-align: center">
Consumer of Flesh -lvl.1(0/100): Eating live or recently deceased flesh heal injuries, regenerates body parts and refills health. Level increases efficiency and speed.
M.Cost(0)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center"></td>
<td style="text-align: center">
Ambient Sustenance -lvl.N/A: Like undeads all you need for sustenance is ambient mana.
M.Cost(0)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center">Active Skills</td>
<td style="text-align: center">
Death Status -lvl.1(0/100): Stop all metabolic function and enter a dead like state. Movement during this state doubles mana cost. Level reduces cost.
M.Cost(10/min)
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center">Note: Extra stats do not represent your pre-system abilities. Undead bonuses bonuses/debuffs are already affecting you.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Once again, as I finished going over my info a new pop up appeared. These things are starting to get really annoying.
<table style="border-color: #04ff00; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; background-color: #015707" border="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center">
Humans and Deadman your world has been chosen to participate in a trial by the SYSTEM. Your world has been terraformed and it is time for a new era. An era where humanity is pushed to the limits of what is possible. Your world will face multiple challenges that must be overcome for the survival of your species. If you are able to survive the 10 year trial humanity will reach a new realm beyond your imagination. Your first challenge will start in 7 days. The system recommends you all learn to use your strength during this time or else you will not survive. Your actions these next 7 days will dictate what classes you are offered; however, you must choose one by the end or else automatic failure and elimination will occur. This is not a time for the weak, the future belongs to the strong.
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Oh God, did they literally add Deadman to the notification? I hope I''m the only one who got it or else there may be issues. Some people are going to wonder what that is. No use worrying about it I guess, I should be on my way. The jungle seems a bit too risky so I think the beach is better.
Holding my Lightning in my hand I decide to walk along the beach in search of civilization.