September 28, 2025.
The day civilization fell.
In an instance, chaos ensued. And so did the emergence of this system interface just in front of my face.
***
Quest: Survive the outbreak
Time Remaining: 2:59
Reward: 2.4% increase in strength.
Penalty: Death
***
As I was working on the program that team leader asked me to troubleshoot, my ring vibrated violently and so did everyone else's phone. At first, we thought it was just weather alert that happen frequently but...
A System interface appeared in front of me. I yelp in surprise but held my mouth to avoid causing unnecessary ruckus.
Sweating, I unlocked my phone and expanded the alert notice, trying to ignore the system interface right in front of me.
****
Emergency: This is not a drill. All citizen, proceed to the nearest shelter, avoid contact with individuals with unusual behavior. Quarantine if feasible.
However, do not attempt to subdue!
****
The emergency notice repeated numerous times and so did the vibration of phone. I put the phone down the desk within my cubicle, and starts examining the Interface in front of me.
***
Quest: Survive the outbreak
Time Remaining: 2:59
Reward: 2.4% increase in strength.
Penalty: Death
***
A quest, ridiculous. Survive the outbreak in limited time, reward is boost of strength and penalty is death? Goddamn, someone just did a horrible prank, and yeah, I mean that literally. Horrible.
If someone's gotta do this, at least make it believable.
I sigh. Our team leader rush towards us, finally.
However,
"Change of plans, I'm leaving and so anyone of you unless you wanna die in this godforsaken place."
He hurriedly reach for his keys, forgetting the rest of his stuff while we, the rest of the member, remain confused.
"What the fuck did just happen?" One of my colleague, Frank, remarks. He was agitated by the TL's arrogant behavior.
"I think we should moving, this may not be actually a drill." The bitch, Helen, spoke with concern, her face has clear sign of fear.
Well, damn. Didn't the notice emphasize that it's not a drill?
"Yeah. I think we should all leave." Hanz, one of our leading colleague voice his thought, seemingly worried by the growing tense of the situation.
"Nah, we gotta need to wait for the confirmation. This may just be a horrible prank by the company." However, Frank insisted to stay.
I agree with him too. But can't be that no info leaked prior to this event. Company is bad at keeping this kind of thing from spreading. Especially grand.
"I'm staying here." My remaining time is within a minute. So there's no harm following the rules.
"Me too." Frank voted.
"I wanna go." Perez voted.
"I wanna go too." Helen voted.
"Yeah, think leaving is better than staying here." Hanz voted.
Does that mean we have to leave? It'll be bad if this is not real since the company play bad jokes, but it's dangerous to go if this is real.
"Guess we're the ones staying here, Gerald. My man." Frank reached for a high five and so I did gave him one. While the rest of my colleague packed their things and head for the door.
"Wha, wait. I thought it's a democratic voting?" I asked.
"What? Yeah, we won. That's why we're leaving." Hanz replied.
"Then, what are we doing here Frank? We should move too!"
"W-, what do you mean shithead? I voted to stay, so I stay."
"Then I'm going to them, ain't no way we're keeping us thin with the current situation." 30 seconds.
"What?! You fu—," an explosion came from the outside, followed by collective screamings of high pitch tone. I ran to the window to see the cause of it.
And pure chaos envelop the entire avenue streets.
Frantic cars near hitting countless of people, some even got hit but it remains unfaltered. The explosion that just occurred caused a scene from the building, but ultimately, no visible people tried contacting for someone. They just run around.
Then, a truck came from the highway, clearly with unusual behavior as it sways aroundz trying to balance its movement, but alas, its cargo is perhaps too heavy for the driver to keep it steady.
Zzzsssttt
Craaaank
Baang
And so it crashed. The truck went through the pavement and hit the stone barrier, however, it didn't keep it from moving forward.
"What the fuck." Frank's tone tremble as his eyes widen in horror.
Shit. Blood spatters around as it hit groups of people, trying to flee from the scene. Some of those who survive, or barely to say the least, didn't even try to rest but instead move to somwhere... no, it's trying to pursue someone.
Then, a helicopter came to view from atop. A media helicopter.
"Quick, open the tv." Hanz, who was just preparing to leave, was suddenly at our side, ordering Perez to open the tv and change the channel to the helicopter's broadcast.
"—As we can see, the situation grew dire as seconds pass. With the Central Plaza engulfed in confusion... wait, wait. Go, direct the camera there. Oh my, God. Oh my, God. The truck! It's going to hit the people—" the camera span towards the truck, hitting the people.
It's the coverage.
Shit. What the hell is happening...
***
Quest Completed!
You have received a reward: 2.4% strength
***
A reward menu.
Then again, another one appears.
***
Quest: Kill one zombie.
Remaining Time: 00:30
Reward: Airborne Immunity
Penalty: Death
***
Another one, huh? I still can't get myself to understand this.
Bam
Someone banged the door.
Bam
Then another one.
Bam bam bam
Clinggg
Then the door's glass shatters. It was the team leader, but he feels... different. His veins are visibly enlarged, possibly rupturing. His face is slightly distorted, blood stain in his nose, his eyes are foggy.
He got a bite mark in his shoulder. Deep. And certainly, bloodied.
"I told you to get out... why didn't you get out?!" He shouts in anger, and readied himself to rush. His voice a bit unusual, but so is his physiology. His stance is asymmetric. His hand movement act like it doesn't know where to proceed, and there's this ticking sound in his idle voice.
Is he...
"A fucking zombie." It was Hanz that named him.
"A zombie?"
Then came Helen's ear-piercing scream. This made tl to focus on Helen. "Shut the fuck up!"
Then, he rushed towards her. But without wasting much time, my impulsive, idiotic mind decided to fuck and save her. I went ahead and grab her hand, pulling strongly from her place, to which I was surprised of the sheer force I had when I pulled her.
Amidst that, I grab tl with my other hand and push him towards the window glass. The force was too strong, enough to shatter the glass causing the tl to fall to his death.
***
Quest Completed!
You have received a reward: Airborne Immunity
***
Airborne Immunity. What does that mean?
"Goddamn, that was fucking cool! Where'd you learned that, fool?"
"Yeah, never knew you had it in you."
Cough
Hanz coughed, Cough, then he coughed blood.
"What's happening to me." And he collapsed.
Cough cough
Cough cough
Cough
Followed by the other three.
"Oh damn... why ain't you coughing, dumbass? That's literally cheating." Frank jest, but the joke is far too off as blood drip from his nose.
Oh... it's airborne.