I woke up with my heart racing, my chest heaving as if I had run for miles. The cracked ceiling of my dorm room was exactly as it had been before... But something was out of place.
Images flashed through my mind—streets covered in dead bodies, buildings in flames, the smell of rotting flesh... And I was alone, the last human being breathing.
"Am I back…? Have I gone back in time?"
My trembling fingers reached for my phone on the table. The screen lit up my sweaty face.
March 12th - 7:48 AM.
My eyes widened.
Two weeks. Exactly two weeks until all hell broke loose.
That was when a translucent window appeared before my eyes. A panel floating in the air, like a video game hologram. Before I could react, a high-pitched, innocent voice, absurdly out of place in the middle of this nightmare, filled the air:
"Hello, master! Welcome to the Evolution System! Nyahaha~"
I almost dropped the phone. I turned my head from side to side, but the voice came from inside my mind, clear as a child's bell.
"Don't be scared, okay? You've been given a second chance! But now you have my help. I'm the System. You can call me Hikari! Or Apocalypse Loli, hehe~"
On the invisible screen, the information lined up:
🧬 [EVOLUTION SYSTEM ACTIVATED] 🧬
Name: Daniel Silva
Level: 1
Strength: 1
Speed: 1
Stamina: 1
Vitality: 10
Available Points: 0/100
Description:
"Normal humans have basic values:
1 Strength
1 Speed
1 Stamina
10 Vitality
With each level achieved, 1 attribute point will be granted for free distribution.
Some zombies may drop rare items, weapons or bonuses. Survive. Evolve. Master."
I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. It wasn't just a nightmare. I was really back—at the beginning of everything. And this time… with the System by my side.
"You remember everything, right, master? The deaths… the creatures… the chaos. But this time, you can get stronger before it all starts! It'll be fun~!"
The cheerful little voice contrasted with the gravity of the situation. But deep down, I knew… she was right.
Two weeks. I had two weeks to train, gather resources, understand the system, and prepare myself before the Apocalypse.
I wouldn't be the prey anymore.
This time, I would hunt the dead.
I was still trying to take it all in when the floating window before my eyes expanded, filling my vision with details of the system. The high-pitched voice of the girl—or AI—who called herself "Apocalypse Loli" echoed again, as if reading my mind:
"Okay, master, calm down… I'll explain it properly before you freak out, okay?"
I sighed, running my hand over my sweaty face. As absurd as it was, part of me knew it was real. I had gone back in time. I remembered the smell of death, the screams, the torn faces… And now I had an RPG system stuck to me.
"This is the Evolution System, exclusive to you, cutie!" said the little voice with a childish giggle.
The panel displayed the basic information:
🧬 [EVOLUTION SYSTEM - MAIN INTERFACE] 🧬
Name: Daniel Silva
Level: 1
Strength: 1
Speed: 1
Stamina: 1
Vitality: 10
Available Points: 0/100
Strength: Influences physical damage, the ability to carry objects, break barriers and push enemies.
Speed: Increases agility, dodge and attack speed.
Stamina: Extends the time you can exert yourself physically without fatigue, including running, fighting, or fleeing.
Vitality: Defines your maximum health and resistance to injury. A normal human has 10 Vitality. When Vitality reaches 0, you die.
[Progression System]
For each level you gain, 1 attribute point will be awarded.
The points can be freely distributed among Strength, Speed, Stamina, or Vitality.
Every 10 levels, a special bonus is unlocked.
[Items & Drops]
Some zombies have a chance to drop rare items, weapons, supplies, or bonuses.
The higher the enemy's level, the greater the chance of valuable drops.
Items have categories:
White- Common
Blue- Rare
Purple- Epic
Gold- Legendary
Black- Forbidden (restricted or high risk)
[Available Points]
Currently: 0/100.
You need to kill enemies or complete challenges to accumulate points and level up.
The interface was simple, almost intuitive, but the weight of it all made me break out in a cold sweat. I leaned back in my chair, trying to absorb the information.
"You're being too quiet, master…", said the little voice with a loud pout. "Relax, take it one step at a time. First, you need to understand that the world is no longer under the same rules."
I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. I remembered. When the Apocalypse began, humanity was crushed in a matter of days. Millions died in the first few hours. The government, the military… nothing stopped the horde. But now, with this System, I could have a real chance.
"Strength, Speed, Stamina, Vitality…" I muttered, staring at my own stats.
"That's it! Hmm
Normal years have everything at 1, except Vitality, which is 10. You start out as standard. But just imagine: adding a few points to Strength and crushing zombie heads like they were ripe fruit? Nyahaha~!"
The image was tempting… and necessary. I remembered the times I had to run away, weak, with my lungs burning, unable to protect anyone. Anger and fear burned together.
"And… how do I level up?", I asked, already knowing part of the answer, but wanting confirmation.
"By killing, obviously! Each zombie killed yields a minimum amount of experience. If you kill mutants, bosses or complete challenges, you gain more XP and maybe items. But be careful, master… It's not an easy game, huh? If you die, you're done. And without a save point."
I blinked, swallowing hard. This wasn't just a video game system. It was real life, with definitive consequences.
"Items drop from zombies?"
"Yep! Not from all of them… but there's a chance. The stronger the enemy, the cooler the drop. You can find everything from simple knives to rare firearms, genetic modifiers or… forbidden items."
"Forbidden?"
"Dangerous, mysterious… but super powerful little things. I'll tell you later, hehe~"
I sighed. Typical. AI or not, this "Apocalypse Loli" had personality. Even with her exaggerated cuteness, I could feel something cold and relentless in the depths of her voice. A reminder: the system was there to help me survive, not to protect me from everything.
I looked back at the attributes.
It was simple… and brutal. I needed to think strategically. If I focused on Strength, I could crush zombies with my hands. If I increased Speed, I would run away better. With high Stamina, I could endure long battles or escapes. And with more Vitality… I could survive bites, cuts and falls.
"What's the limit?", I asked. "How much can I level up?"
"No limits, master! Evolve as much as you can. You just need the points and… survive long enough."
The idea of becoming stronger than any ordinary human gave me a glimmer of hope. But also an internal warning: if the system existed… could others have it too?
"Only you have access, master! It's exclusive, limited edition, hehe~", the voice replied, as if it had read my thoughts again.
I stood up, feeling my body still fragile, ordinary. But not for long. There were two weeks left until the apocalypse. Fifteen days until the streets would be taken over by the dead.
Now I had a goal:
Train.
Get supplies.
Identify the first points of contagion.
Evolve.
The system was active. The data was clear. And I had something that no one else had: knowledge of the future… and the chance to change everything.
"Ready to break your zombie face, master? It'll be fun~!" Hikari said, with that sadistic tone disguised as cuteness.
I smiled at the corner of my mouth, my eyes still fixed on the panel.
"This time, no one will die... at least, no one I don't want to."
The clock read 7:50. Time was ticking. And the countdown to the end of the world had already begun.