[ PROLOGUE: BACK... TO THE PAST? ]
[ "I will not... succumb!" ]
[ "Fuck all of you!" ]
A dark haired, green-eyed boy could be seen standing amidst hellfire, dead bodies, and crowd of monsters. As he tries his best to fight back.
This warrior is Elias, and he is the only survivor of their failed expedition to reclaim back one of the monsters infested city. For the survival of the remaining citizens.
All went to shit, and now he could be seen holding his makeshift pistol. Channeling all of his focus and strength, aiming it at the group of monsters.
[ "You monsters...!" ]
[ "Die!!" ]
The landscape which is filled with debris, ash and stench of the dead, is hard to even breath in. But to Elias who's practically a mercenary, who kills monsters to survive, it wasn't a problem to him.
What he does worry though is that, the monsters which is surrounding him for all sides could be seen ever moving closer to where he is standing on.
Worrying him more, as he knows that if he doesn't try to find a way out. Then he would die, just like the people around him. So with all of his might, he tries to fend off the horde of nightmares— both the intelligent variants, and savage types.
The former includes monsters like Mimicks, Skeletons, and even Animal Beast to name a few. While the latter includes foot soldiers like Goblins, Zombies, and even Ogres.
[ "Get... the shit off me...!!" ]
Disteacted, he felt a small monster— a Gnome, which quickly munched at his leg causing his pants to tear, as the teeth of the said monster made him bleed.
[ BANG ]
So using his pistol's bullet, he made the monster regret all of its life choices that led it to here. By shooting it in the middle of the forehead, killing it in an instant.
Kicking the monster into the crowd, he was able to delay some of them by 0.5 seconds. Which is better than none.
Though it did have the uninteded effect of annoying some of the intelligent monsters, as they bare their teeth at him.
About to shoot at the nearest monster that is about to grab at him— an amalgamation of flesh made into one.
Elias was able to quickly find out that, he in fact couldn't. As his pistol couldn't release a single bullet out of it. Not due to it being faulty, but due to it not having any ammo.
Realizing that he couldn't fight anymore, not with a bleeding leg and without a weapon. Elias begrudgingly accepted the fact that he will die, right here, right now.
He doesn't want to die, but everyday knows that he would die eventually. And that it wouldn't be a peaceful death. He knows, it's just that he didn't know it'll be today.
Horrified by the concept of death, he then grit his teeth as he wishes that someone would listen to his plea and help. But before that could happen, he needs to survive.
[ "I don't want it...!" ]
[ "I'm not dying!" ]
Pushing his body as far back as he could on the wall, he tries his best to minimize the sides in which the monsters would be able to get close to him. As he then throws his empty, now useless pistol at them.
That being futile in the retrospect, as hundreds or-so of monsters crowds him.
Trampling him to pieces no matter what he does to resist. It doesn't matter whatever type of monster, or their size, they wanted a piece of him— a human.
He widens his eyes in a panic, as he felt a tearing feeling on his legs. Then his arms, then overall his body. Agonizing as it felt like time slowed down for him.
[ "N-no! Somebody, help!" ]
[ "-omebody, help!" ]
The monsters that could copy voices, and any sounds. The Mimicks, grotesque monsters that flies in the air, as ball of flesh with a mouth, could be heard mimicking his voice as a sign of mockery.
[ "P-please no, I don't want to die y-!" ]
The last sensation that he could feel wasn't his pain receptors giving signal to the brain. No, the last sensation he felt was horror. As he watches first-hand his detached body fly in the air, looking down at his own body.
Screaming inside, he could feel the want to scream. But no matter what he does, he couldn't. Finally losing the glint of his eyes, as he then died.
...
Feeling numb for a bit, the pain in which Elias was feeling all-over him... surprisingly, it all disappeared like it was never there. Instead though, he felt his consciousness returning to him, as his vision then slowly takes in the lights.
[ "AHHH!" ]
Feeling the cool breeze hit him, he then stood up abruptly. Screaming, ready for a fight, to fend off the bugs that crawled all-over his body. But to his surprise, there seems to be no monsters at all.
[ "Christ that scared me." ]
[ "Is he, perhaps is he... drunk?" ]
[ "Damn it, now my drink spilled." ]
Instead what surroundings him are teenagers, all of which are doing their thing. Wearing a classroom uniform which Elias knows by the color scheme.
[ "W-what...?" ]
So in dismay, he looked down at himself and could see himself wearing the exact same uniform. Plus a dark-green tie which he ever-so loves— as it was expensive.
It was mandatory dress code when he was but a highschool student, to be more precise when he was a senior highschool student— both grade 11 and 12.
He bought it personally using his own money, 500₱, which was worth 6 days of his school allowance. But he shouldn't be wearing this, he already graduated highschool 3-years ago... What is going on?
To perhaps answer his question, he then looked around and kept scanning for clues. Ready for a battle in case that the peaceful surroundings is actually a mirage created by some kind of monster.
As due to the ability of Elias to gather information, i.e. chismis, he was able to learn a thing or two from the other survivors. One of which is a boss-type monster that tricks a person's senses, for them to experience peace.
Peace...? Then shouldn't he be in the clouds, in Heaven, in front of the pearly gates welcomed by Peter or whoever welcomes newly arrived souls.
The last thing he would find peace in, is definitely not school— not in kindergarten, not in elementary, not in highschool either.
As he could remember every single first-hand embarrassment that he had done or done to others. Traumas in which happened to him, or grudges that others have on him without his knowledge. Or even problems.
[ "Yo, Elias. My brother from another mother, what's happenin'?" ]
[ 'Huh...?' ]
Elias heard a familiar but sonewhat weird voice of someone behind him, calling out to him actually. Before he could even take a look and turn around, he felt the said someone's touch his shoulder.
This in turn causing him to shiver all-around his body due to shock, triggering his mind but not his body to be on high alert. As a touch to the shoulder is never a good sign, always hadn't been a good sign.
[ "What gotten you so spook, my ni-" ]
[ "AHH. M-my arm, bro!" ]
About to turn and twist of the said someone's shoulder into oblivion, to dislocate it. He surprisingly couldn't do it himself even though he is channeling all the strength that his body has.
To be more precise, even though he is the one that has the upper hand. Is ready to twist and even beat up someone, he couldn't help but wonder why he feels like... the powerless one in the situation.
[ "What's...? What's your problem my guy, that hurts as all hell." ]
[ "I-I should be the one asking that...!" ]
He should be, as he never felt this kind of powerlessness since the start of the Apocalypse. Since he started killing monsters actively to make himself even more powerful, to survive.
The arms of his, which could easily cleave a low-ranked Mutated Ant in half. How could it easily be reduced to... this state?
Elias doesn't have an answer to his question at the moment, but perhaps this is the works of the said boss level monster. Truly an existence worth fearing.
Or perhaps, the place he is in, in a purgatory-like existence where lost souls go after death. Which explains the lost of strength in his body, and also the familiar yet supposed weird surroundings.
[ "Sheesh, please don't tell me you're still mad about that. Ain't my fault you left your phone unattended."
[ "I mean, I didn't want to look at your browser history. But you kno- wait, what's with that weird look?" ]
Listening closely, he could easily be annoyed by the unknown guy in front of him. But on a much closer look, he seems to know this prick... which shouldn't... be?
That shouldn't be, the guy standing in front of him is someone he knows very well since childhood. Someone that had long since passed 3 long years ago due to an incident of a Monster Breakthrough.
[ "Philip...?" ]
Perhaps Elias is in fact in some purgatory-like place where lost souls go. As the said individual in front of him, is after all someone who had long since died.
To ease his mind which is creating thousands of thousands of theories, explaining why he is here, or where "here" is to be exact. He asked.
[ "W-what are you doing... here?" ]
[ "Huh...? Uhh- because it's a Tuesday and we have school." ]
[ "School?" ]
[ "Yah, pretty much." ]
Schools all-over the world should have stopped operating when monsters started to appear from out of nowhere. So why is there a school here? Or why even in purgatory does a school exist?!?
He doesn't know. But what he does know is that, his best friend which is always a clean freak, is now standing in front of him. The both of them wearing a school uniform.
The idiotic face of his friend, the chillax attitude of the people around. The fact that outside the window doesn't look like a nuclear apocalypse.
The mind of Elias which has always been fast realizes what's happening. As he then discarded the thought of purgatory, or afterlife. No instead, he regressed.
Regressed back in time before the Apocalypse even started, before the monsters started appearing and terrorizing humanity. Before, when humanity still have structure, and schools.
And judging from the clothes that he wears, he should be at the very least 3-4 years back. When he was either an grade 11 student, or a grade 12 student.
In realizing that he had been given second chance by the heavens, he then slowly sat back on the chair that he abruptly stood up in. Beads of tears, uncontrollable, falling from the side of his face.
[ 'I-I'm alive...' ]
He could hear the birds chirping outside, the noise of students talking to one another. And even the somewhat panicked voice of his friend trying to calm him down, worried that he might have said something to make him fall into this sorry state.
But no, that shouldn't be the case. Instead Elias is crying due to the fact, that everyone he holds dear in his heart. His mother, his sister, his best friend and the overall of humanity hadn't fallen yet.
[ "O-oh dear, bro. S-sorr-" ]
[ "N-no, I'm okay. Just... a dust, yeah, a dust abruptly entered my eye." ]
[ "Both eyes, at the same time?" ]
Trying to act that everything is okay, like his usual state before the Apocalypse. He finds it surprisingly, difficult. Which made the convincing of his best friend, that he is alright to say the least.
But after some time, words started to spitball out of his mouth. Like a skilled socialist, and not at all anti-social, he was able to convince his friend.
Albeit begrudgingly and still with a tinge bit hints of suspicion, that something is in fact wrong with his best friend.
[ "Oh, that's great. I was actually ready to slap the hell out of you, just now." ]
Elias nodded, as he as subtly as he could wipe the tears streaming down the side of his face. About to use his hand, he then realized that he has an handkerchief in his pocket, so he used that instead.
Elias only half listens to his friend talk about gossips, sports, and even this new church girl crush that he is having. Instead, his focused is instead directed at the people around him— at his classmates.
He could recognize all of them, he had after all spent either a year or two with them depending on the year. But judging from the way a particular group of girls is looking at him, then he could say year 2 probably.
How could he say that? Because due to reasons he doesn't specifically know, someone developed a hate on him specifically. The boss of the group.
As that said group at the moment could be seen looking at him, giving him either an disgusted, annoyed, or even confused look. In the case of one weird girl in the corner, all of the above.
[ "Did that weirdo hit his head, again?" ]
[ "This is why you shouldn't hang out with weirdos frequently." ]
[ "Agreed." ]
The said group of students could be heard talking weird about him, crap, or even plain lies or backstab. Elias doesn't care, which is why they continue doing so.
Both before and after the Apocalypse, he didn't like confronting others. So he never did. Instead, he is more curious on the said girl boss of the group— the lady with a bright red dyed hair, and red contact lenses.
[ 'Elizabeth?' ]
He could feel the hatred in her eyes directed at him, causing him to look away. After the incident in the school, he hadn't heard of any news about this certain lady other than that, her family and her fled to the countryside. Which is the most safe.
In this life also, he doesn't want to get entangled with her. Especially due to the fact that she's rich, influencial, and is the uncrowned queen bee of the section.
[ "Hey, uhh- bro. What year is it again?" ]
About to ask more about the year, time, and date. To have better understanding of his situation. It seems that he couldn't, as one of the students in the room— a watcher, could be heard alerting the class.
[ "Hey guys! Ms. Terror is coming, proper places. Proper places, everyone!" ]
Everyone stopped what they we're doing, and looked at one another. Before then panicking as they scrambled to fix the messy classroom of theirs.
Girls taking off their make-up. Boys fixing the chairs and wearing their IDs. In the case of one Elias on the other hand, he is more curious on who this said "Ms. Terror" is.
[ 'Ms. Terror...? You mean Ms. Lim? The math teacher? The favorite teacher of the class?' ]
He meant it sarcastically, as Ms. Lim, even though is beautiful even by other countries standards. She is quite... let's just say, have a way with words that can easily turn a strong willed man into a crybaby.
In the 5 years of his studying in this public school, most of which has been spent with him being on junior high. He even without having stepped into senior high yet, knew the fame of the said teacher.
So thanks to her, or to someone who just yelled out her title. Elias' theory of his being in grade 12, is all but confirmed. As this said teacher teaches math to all grade 12 students, no exception.
He watges in real-time, as the once improper and disorganized students. Classmates of his, all turned proper, as even their lazy posture both men and women turned upright without fail.
[ "Ah-ahh! Oh this is a problem. I-I haven't done the math assignment yet...!" ]
[ "My brodha I need yo bounce, I need to get myself some knowledge. Peace." ]
About to say wave bye at his best friend, he couldn't. As Philip then quickly ran to the other side of the room, to sit at his chair and glanced at his seatmate's notes.
The latter begrudgingly letting him do so, which then escalated to questioning. Before then culminating with Philip outright begging to copy his classmate's assignment.
Elias didn't seem to be worried, as he bask in the sun and scenery of the outside instead. Something which he knows would be covered by ash, smoke, and fire when the monsters starts appearing.
He counts the birds, small brown birds native to his country. Mayas. All the while playing with the dark green necktie around his neck, he do love neckties.
[ WELCOME PLAYER! ]
[ CONGRATULATIONS IN RECEIVING THE ULTIMATE SYSTEM! ]
While basking in the scenery, he couldn't believe that it'll get obstructed by a digitalized green box appearing out of nowhere. Which confused him greatly.
[ "What...?" ]
On the outside he tries to be nonchalant, to not show any expression that would be scrutinized and gossiped by his classmates. But on the inside, oh, he is shaking.
He who had been fans of novels, mangas, manhwas, and stories know exactly what is hovering in front of him. That is, his cheat code in this second try of his.
[ 'Holy shir, I really did die!' ]
[ 'I am so-so back in the past!' ]
[ 'I knew it. Reading novels and those trashy 2nd tier regression stories weren't such a waste of time after all.' ]
[ 'All those sleepless nights, all those hiding from my family members whenever it's pass bedtime, all of it wasn't in vain!' ]
[ DOWLOADING BASIC RESOURCES 2% ]
[ 'Can they see this?' ]
For the moment, he stopped. As he then looked around at his classmates which seems to be doing their own thing, scribbling things on their notebook— the assignment, or tensing up as they try to make themselves look presentable.
[ 'They can't, I have a cheat code!' ]
Students in front of him, besides him, and on his back are all busy. Not even talking amongst themselves as they busy up, not at all knowing on what's happening to Elias.
Even Philip on the other side of the room, the friend of his that doesn't study very much. Or do assignments, or anything at all related to school; could be seen tensing up, as he writes his assignment.
[ "Why is math so hard?! I can't- I can't understand a thing at all!" ]
[ DOWNLOADING LEVELING SYSTEM 23% ]
[ DOWNLOADING NAMES 33% ]
[ DOWNLOADING TITLES 47% ]
[ "She's here, ma'am is here!" ]
He could visibly see the faces of his classmates sweat in terror, fear, praying even though they don't go to church that much. As they didn't even bother breathing loudly, in fear of who's coming
[ "Good morning ma'am Lim." ] x41
[ "Oh. uhh- good morning ma'am Lim." ]
Seeing his classmates stand up to greet the teacher, standing up, even before she entered the room. Elias followed suit, as he glances at the direction of the strict-looking teacher. Holding books and her laptop.
In hearing the students greet her, he then finally entered the room, as she then gestured for the tensed students to sit-down. In which they all did.
The teacher, Ms. Lim, who have dark circles under her eyes could be seen smiling at the classroom. In which made Elias smile also, as it has been a long time since he noticed someone smiling so genuinely...
[ 'Oh wait.' ] In what he thought was a goodwill towards students, he then stopped. As he remembered the mannerisms of his former teacher. After smiling, she would then scrutinize everyone.
[ DOWNLOADING HUMAN DATA 98% ]
[ DOWNLOADING MONSTER DATA 99% ]
[ DOWNLOADING SYSTEM DATA 100% ]
[ ULTIMATE SYSTEM DOWNLOADED! ]
[ 'What the fuck kind of luck do I have.' ]
[ 'Who would have thought that Systems exist, and I'm the protagonist.' ]
Elias who looks presentable enough, in fullset of uniform, has his ID poking out of his chest. And of course, quiet in the corner. So he wasn't bothered by the scrutinizing that is happening around the room.
Instead he bask in the enjoyment of having a System, as the said panel then completely disappear. Showing to him the powers of the said System. Like for example:
[ EDNA P. LIM LVL. 0 ]
[ DESCRIPTION: A HUMAN TEACHER IN HER LATE 20S, BORN AND RAISED IN THE PHILIPPINES FROM A LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLD. IS THE ELDEST AND ONLY DAUGHTER OF HER PARENTS, AT THE MOMENT SHE IS THE BREADWINNER OF HER FAMILY— ULTIMATELY CAUSING HER TO BE STRESSED ALL THE TIME ]
[ "That's... that actually explains everything... Wow...!" ]
It feels like he shouldn't know about this, but does. The powers of the System feels like illegal, as he then glances at the other students in the room; their full name and brief history being displayed as well.
Ms. Lim, his teacher who's busy scrutinizing the other students, about to get to Philip due to him not wearing his ID. Instead shifted focus as she glanced at the direction of Elias who's idiotically smiling.
[ "Is there a problem, Mr. Elliot?!" ]
Elliot is his last name, Elias is his first. And aside from him, there is no one else who has that exact surname. So his smile faded when his teacher looked at him
Widening his eyes, he realized his fucked up. As Philip then says thank you at him through motion and his eyes. Which Elias likes, but not at all cared about as he turns red from the looks he is receiving.
Ready and about to fire hundreds or-so of backhanded insults, disguised as guidance for the younger generations. Ms. Lim was ready, as she smiles. Elias on the other hand, he have the perfect excuse card.
[ "Uhh- no, actually ma'am. I-I, I meant can I go to the restroom?" ]
[ "I-I need to pee." ]
The restroom excuse, but after noticing the fire in his teacher's eyes. He tensed up, as he realized that this might not just be enough. But in seeing her calm down, it seems that it was the right excuse.
[ "Explains why you look so... pale..." ]
[ "Fine then, where is your assignment?" ]
He smiled, as even though Elias is not an A grade student, or someone who is diligent at school. At the very least he does indeed do his assignments.
So after searching through his bag, with a little bit of reminiscent on the side. He then gave up his notebook, the fact that school notebooks are color coded made it easier.
So after giving his notebook to his teacher, he then went out the classroom. Not before being scolded for not taking the green pass— the restroom pass. And being asked if he has a problem in the head, or suffering under any mental illness.
[ "Get out of my sight, Mr. Elliot." ]
[ "T-thank you ma'am." ]
[ ——— ] [ ——— ] [ ——— ] [ ——— ]
[ 07/02/2025 ]
[ 07/02/2025 ]
[ AN: I have a cold. I am sick, so I wasn't able to upload chapters. So I don't know about the consistency of my uploads if it'll be one everyday or whatnot. But here's an rewrite for the Prologue, I much prefer this. ]