It had been two days since the heavy snow started.
Usually, this would be considered normal. But the concerning thing was .. it was summer.
If the situation were reversed, everyone would've called it global warming. But now?
Everyone was confused.
Scientists hadn't predicted an ice age — of all things — to begin now. Not by a long shot
Even that would be fine... if there was electricity to power up heaters.
But now?
Nothing.
And yet, there was one thing everyone knew.
What?
That something big was about to happen.
How did they know?
Because there had been a countdown of sorts running inside their minds.
Yes, inside their minds!!
It was like one of those system novels Sam used to read.
You couldn't see it physically — but you knew it was there.
The timer was close to completion.
> [ 00:01:39 ]
Only a few minutes remained.
The world stood still, bracing itself for what was to come.
An alien invasion?
A meteor hitting the planet?
A second Big Bang?
Planet-wide Isekai?
A bald guy sneezing the Earth itself into oblivion?
No one knew.
The streets were empty, to say the least.
At first, no one had been bothered. But after continuous snow, and now this eerie mental countdown... even the bravest hearts beat like war drums.
Even the most fearless now had heartbeats clocking over 180 bpm.
---
Sam, in particular, was very excited
It would be best if there's a Isekai. His long
awaited dream being a king can finally be succeed.
Granted, there's no guarantee he'll get special powers. Maybe he would die a fodder. But the prospect of happening something was more excitable than happening nothing.
[ 00 : 00 : 03 HOURS REMAINING ]
[ 00 : 00 : 02 HOURS REMAINING ]
[ 00 : 00 : 01 HOURS REMAINING ]
…...
> [ STARTING SYSTEM INTEGRATING..... ]
[ YOUR PLANET HAS BEEN INFECTED WITH A VIRUS THAT WILL TURN EVERY LIFEFORM EXCEPT HUMANS INTO KILLING MACHINES. THEIR POWERS WON'T BE MATCHED BY YOUR DEADLIEST WEAPONS. HOWEVER, YOU WON'T BE LEFT POWERLESS. TO DEFEND YOURSELVES, YOU'LL BE GIVEN POWERS OF YOUR OWN. UNIQUE TO EACH INDIVIDUAL. USE THEM AND RECLAIM YOUR PLANET. OTHERWISE, DIE ALONGSIDE EVERYONE ELSE. ]
...…
Well, that was… quite direct.
No explanation for why it happened. No how.
Sam could sense lazy writing from a mile away.
( A/N : my plans are beyond your understanding fool. Also I'm taking away your 4th wall breaking ability so you won't cringe the readers to death )
> [ ALSO, NOT ALL OF YOU WILL BE GIVEN POWERS. ONLY A FEW WILL BE SELECTED. THE ONES SELECTED WILL BE KNOWN AS "AWAKENERS". THOSE WHO DO NOT GET POWERS WILL NEED TO AWAKEN THEM ON THEIR OWN. IT COULD BE THROUGH PHYSICAL TRAUMA, EMOTIONAL TRAGEDY, OR KILLING A FELLOW AWAKENER. THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS — AND SO ARE YOUR POWERS. USE THEM. ]
So that's how it is, huh?
Sam wondered if he'd awaken or not.
Then, a few seconds later, the ground seemed to shake under unknown pressure.
The city didn't fall in hours.
It fell in minutes.
Sirens wailed.
Buildings cracked.
Screams poured through shattered windows like fog.
Blood soaked the streets in thin streams, winding between car tires and broken glass.
And in the middle of it all…
Sam just watched.
He saw people being turned into zombies, running into houses and apartments.
He didn't flinch — not at the family torn to pieces two blocks behind.
Not even at the hospital where doctors started killing the very patients they were meant to save.
He just watched.
---
> [SYSTEM CALIBRATING…]
[AWAKENING: "CONQUEROR'S GENOME (SSS RANK)" – INITIATION]
The world is ending… but your blood remembers to survive.
(Skill Unlocked): CELLULAR OVERDRIVE (Lv.1) (Time Limit: 20 seconds) (Cost: 10 EXP)
(Skill Description): Activating this skill enters the user into a Fight & Flight state. Strength +50%. Agility +30%. Enhanced perception and vision.
Skill will be upgraded with experience. However, only time duration will increase. Effects remain the same.
---
Sam was surprised to see such a ranking system tied to him.
He wasn't being humble or self-deprecating, but usually these kinds of powers were reserved for special people.
At least, in stories.
Well… regardless.
He would use it — and become someone people fear.
No more hiding. No more pretending to be someone else.
He would do what he wanted.
And to achieve that?
He needed more power.
Upgraded skills.
For that — he needed EXP.
And where to find EXP?
He didn't need to go far.
The whole world in front of him was a farm.
He just needed to kill anything that was convertible to EXP.
---
He stepped outside his home.
He saw two zombie-like beings, dressed in tattered human clothes, banging on his neighbors' door.
They ignored Sam — for now.
Which made sense.
That house had a family of four inside.
Sam lived alone.
So... zombies can sense humans, huh?
Sam made a mental note.
He gripped the metal rod he used for pull-ups. He had to move quickly.
He couldn't use his skill yet. He didn't have EXP.
He also couldn't get too close — just because they ignored him didn't mean they wouldn't kill him.
For a mindless being, any unknown threat is top priority to eliminate. Even more than food
Then again… that's true for intelligent beings too.
Sam crouched behind the right side of the entry point and threw a stone toward the opposite side.
He just wanted to lure the zombies out.
But something was off.
It seemed they knew he was there.
They definitely smelled me, Sam thought.
They were coming toward him — not the noise.
He could hear them. Probably thanks to his Awakening.
Still, it was within his calculations. It's not like a million-year-old trick would work every time.
They were close now.
And Sam had a brilliant idea. One that worked every time.
HIT THEM REALLY, REALLY HARD.
He planted his right toe slightly behind him — using it as a base. His left foot stepped forward, preparing to pivot.
He had already judged their height and posture. He knew where to strike.
The head.
The moment their silhouettes crossed the boundary wall…
Sam swung the metal rod like a baseball bat — and slammed it into the first zombie's eyes.
The second zombie behind it rushed at him, but Sam jammed the rod into its chest and shoved it backwards.
It fell on its back.
Sam turned his attention to the first one, screeching in pain. It was still twitching, still rising.
He swung again. Same technique. Same precision.
This time, the zombie was motionless.
But the second zombie had gotten up — arms outstretched, rushing him.
Sam ducked at the last second, grabbed its feet, and flung it upward and behind him.
It wasn't without a cost.
A deep wound now marred his right shoulder, bleeding fast.
But there was no time for caution.
He grabbed the metal rod, ran over, and cracked it into the back of the zombie's skull.
When the bone gave way, Sam thrust the rod into its brain.
Then, he turned to the first zombie, still twitching.
And repeated the process.
---
> [System Notification]
Congratulations! You have killed 2 Low-Tier Zombies.
Rewards:
+40 EXP
Stats Menu Unlocked
---
[Warning!!]
Virus detected… Initiating internal elimination sequence…
Elimination complete.
[Notice]
The virus has been eliminated. Due to your unique ability, you are now immune.
---
The virus was gone.
But the pain and bleeding were still very real.
Sam grabbed the hem of his blood-soaked shirt and tore it away. With a few swift movements, he wrapped a strip of cloth tightly around the wound, tying it off with a firm knot.
It wasn't perfect.
But it would hold — for now.
Because the apocalypse was…
far from over.