Late Afternoon — Portal to the End of Days
Time Dilation: 1 Heavenly Jade hour = 1 Zombie World day
The sun dipped low over the Heavenly Jade Continent, casting long shadows across floating islands and jagged mountains. Keller Williams and Yuqi stood atop a craggy plateau, the relic-fused shield shimmering faintly as it absorbed residual energy from the last boss battle. The wind carried the scent of crushed bamboo and faint ozone from yesterday's chaotic clashes.
"Alex," Keller said, arms crossed, watching the horizon where relic shards still floated lazily, "when do we get to visit the next world? I've warmed up enough here. I'm ready for the next chaos stage."
Alex: "Narrative portal detected. Probability: high engagement. Suggested target: zombie apocalypse scenario. Companion selection: optional but recommended."
Keller's grin widened. "Optional? Yuqi, pack your bell. Looks like we're going sightseeing in the end of the world."
Yuqi raised an eyebrow, swinging the Heavenly Chime lazily. "Zombies? Seriously? You're thrilled about this?"
"Thrilled is my middle name," Keller replied. "Well, Brooklyn middle name. Chaos first, questions later."
Alex: "Portal active. Prepare for temporal-spatial displacement."
Before Keller could react further, the world around them shimmered violently. Light warped, reality rippled, and the sound of distant screams echoed faintly, growing louder as the portal expanded. Keller grabbed Yuqi's hand.
"Hold tight. It's gonna be… messy."
The portal swallowed them.
Arrival — Welcome to Hell on Earth
They landed hard on cracked asphalt. The air was thick with smoke and the stench of decay. Abandoned cars littered the streets, some overturned, some burned to charred husks. The sun hung in a sickly orange haze, filtered through ashen clouds. Distant moans carried on the wind, a constant reminder that death walked here.
Keller groaned, pushing himself up and brushing dust from his tattered clothes. "Oh… this is worse than I imagined. I was hoping for dramatic chaos, not full-on apocalypse chic."
Yuqi bounced lightly on her toes, bell jingling softly. "Worse? This is perfect for stealing plots. Look at it. Dead everywhere, survivors scrambling, chaos everywhere. I approve."
Alex: "World designation: Zombie Apocalypse. Primary protagonist: Victor Wales. Companion assistance suggested for increased survival probability."
Keller squinted down the street. A small group of survivors moved cautiously between buildings. One of them—a tall man with sharp eyes and a rugged build—adjusted a system bracelet on his wrist and surveyed the surroundings.
"That must be Victor Wales," Keller whispered. "Main protagonist. Looks like he's got his own system too. Perfect."
Yuqi's grin was predatory. "Time to crash their narrative."
Keller nodded. "Let's do it carefully. Or at least… somewhat carefully."
Early Evening — First Contact
They approached cautiously. Victor's group consisted of five survivors, each armed with makeshift weapons and tactical gear. Victor himself stepped forward, hand raised in cautious greeting. His system interface glimmered faintly on his wrist, showing stats, health, and environmental scans.
"I don't know who you are, but you better not be infected," Victor said, voice steady but wary.
Keller waved casually. "Name's Keller Williams. Brooklyn born, chaos certified. This is Yuqi. Don't worry, we're not infected—yet."
Yuqi bowed lightly, bell jingling. "Hello. We're here to help… or at least stir things up a bit."
Victor tilted his head, eyes narrowing. "You're… different. Unusual energy readings. Are you survivors from another group?"
Keller smirked. "Something like that. Think of us as… narrative intruders."
Victor's brow furrowed, system interface flashing warnings. "Narrative… intruders? Are you serious?"
Before Keller could answer, a low moan echoed from the alley. A figure stumbled forward, grotesque and decayed, eyes milky white, skin rotting from its bones.
Keller flexed, shield glowing violet-gold. "First taste of chaos?"
Yuqi leapt beside him, bell swinging in a wide arc. "Let's make it fun."
The zombie lunged. Keller absorbed the kinetic energy from its movement into his relic-fused shield, the threads of gold and violet pulsing with life. He redirected minor timeline threads, slowing the zombie's reaction and giving Victor and his survivors time to reposition.
Victor's system beeped rapidly. "Wait… what are you doing? Your aura… it's manipulating them."
Keller winked. "Told you. Chaos first, questions later."
Alex: "Observation: timeline manipulation active. Probability of protagonist cooperation increased. Suggested action: recruit and integrate into multi-entity strategy."
Victor and his team adjusted quickly. One survivor fired a crossbow, another swung a machete. Keller and Yuqi wove through the emerging horde like ghosts—Keller absorbing impacts and redirecting them as delayed blasts, Yuqi's bell strikes shattering zombie skulls with sonic precision.
Nightfall — Temporary Shelter
As night fell, the survivors found temporary safety inside a half-collapsed skyscraper. Barricades were reinforced with furniture and metal scraps. Victor's group lit a small fire in a metal drum, casting flickering shadows on the walls.
Keller looked out over the ruined city from a broken window. Shadows of undead lurked in the streets below, the hum of relic energy and timeline manipulation faint but persistent in his shield.
Victor approached, system bracelet still glowing. "Your powers… they're not like mine. My system gives stats, skills, upgrades. Yours feels… different. Like you're changing the rules."
Keller turned, grinning. "That's because I am. Absorb, flex, survive—that's the game. Your world's plot? It's just another relic to fuse."
Yuqi sat cross-legged nearby, polishing her bell. "He's not wrong. We're here to make things interesting."
One of Victor's companions—a woman with a scarred face—leaned forward. "If you can slow them down like that, why not end this? Wipe out the hordes?"
Keller shook his head. "Not how it works. I bend timelines locally, absorb energy. Big moves need bigger relics. And besides—where's the fun in ending it too soon?"
Alex: "Local system integration possible. Victor's bracelet contains absorbable narrative code. Suggestion: ally and upgrade."
Victor nodded slowly. "Fine. You help us reach the safe zone downtown, we share resources. Deal?"
Keller extended a hand. "Deal. But fair warning—chaos follows me."
Midnight — First Horde Wave
Alarms from Victor's system blared. The undead had found them. Hundreds poured into the street below, drawn by light or sound.
Keller stood at the window, shield expanding. "Showtime."
Yuqi cracked her knuckles. "Let's teach these zombies some rhythm."
Victor rallied his team. "Positions! We hold the lower floors!"
Keller absorbed the initial impacts as zombies smashed against barricades, converting the force into violet-gold pulses that delayed groups of undead. Yuqi's bell strikes created shockwaves that cleared paths. Victor's system upgraded mid-battle, his strikes gaining power from Keller's redirected energy.
The fight spilled into the streets. Keller manipulated minor timelines—freezing a zombie mid-lunge, accelerating a survivor's dodge. Relic shards from the world began reacting, floating toward his shield.
Alex: "Relic detection: [Undead Core Fragment]. Absorption recommended for zombie-specific upgrades."
Keller grabbed a glowing shard from a fallen elite zombie. His shield pulsed, integrating the energy.
New Function: [Horde Delay] – Slow undead movement in 50m radius.
Victor stared. "You just… upgraded from a zombie?"
Keller laughed. "Welcome to my world."