Shocked, Arthur ran his hand over his body checking for injuries, but he found none. For some reason he felt empowered, his strength felt inhumane, his speed supernatural.
Overall physical and mental prowess had evolved. He just felt this change, as he was about to test his newfound strength something stirred up within him.
[ Congratulations On Completing Your Walkthrough.]
[ Ultimate Evaluation : Worthy. ]
[ You Have Awakened. ]
[ Your Path To Survival Has Improved. ]
[ To Continue Select Your System Type.]
Carefully studying the holographic panel before him, he was curious enough to try touching it. But it confirmed its holographic status as his hands passed through it effortlessly.
' How do I accept the continuation.' He thought and instantly the grey panel disappeared and reappeared with purple writings.
[ Choose Your System Type ]
[ System T-01 Neo : Basic version given to all mundane walkers.]
[ System T-02 R : Basic version, but higher inventory space and lower equitable slots.]
[ System T-03 P7P : Basic version, dual skin creation, lower inventory space.]
[ System T-04 SX9 : Basic version, instant access to System Chat, later unlock for System Shop.]
[ System T-05 Vio : Basic version, instant access to System Shop, Later unlock for System Chat.]
[ System T-06 Evo: Basic version, Stats multiplyed by two, System Functionality reduced severely.]
[ System T-07 Las : Basic Version, Instant three randomized skills, System Functionality reduced severely.]
Pondering what all these meant as he wasn't a serious gamer back when the world made sense. He thought deeply about all options, he stopped at system Type 3 to reread it when a low growl sent him into panic.
[ Due to host's inability to select at this moment, The Random Selection Is Now Active ]
[ System Version,T-03 P7P, Has Been Chosen.]
Ignoring the prompt his eyes scanned the dark environment, and stopped on the emerging figure of a human. Due to the darkness, anything seven meters away could only be seen as a vague silhouette.
Arthur watched cautiously as the staggering adult figure walked closer. At first it looked like an injured adult, but soon it started feeling wrong.
There was something off Arthur felt but couldn't wrap his head around until it got closer for him to see. He froze in shock, his mind, body and soul refusing to function.
Just when he thought his torment could end, the moving, rotting corpse of his biological father walked towards him. Its expression, dark and its intent, known.
It didn't take long for him to understand his father was now a brain dead zombie. It stopped, looking at him with hollow blind eyes and Arthur stared back.
For some reason he had developed a sixth sense for sensing malevolent intent. Now it was like he was being bombarded, by the malevolence coming from this creature.
Failing to understand that wasn't his father, but the curse of the new reality. He was caught defenceless, when his zombified father launched forward with startling speeds.
Arthur got knocked backwards and he tripped on a prodding rod. The zombie was physical more powerful, whereas the only advantage Arthur had was his intelligence.
Rising from the dusty ground, he had felt the power of being strong and the power of something stronger. Just after completing his awakening.
The zombie closed the distance again, Arthur saw this. He anticipated where the attack would hit, he had a slight chance of counterattacking.
However as he pivoted to the side, avoiding the zombie while attempting to counteract. He saw the face of his father again and knew he couldn't.
The zombie skid past him, then charged at him again. But now he was slower to dodge, unwilling to attack. Memories of the moments they shared dulled his senses.
His eyes became watery as he was thrown to the ground over and over again by the last person he truly had in this world. For a moment he wanted to not evade, but that would mean his immediate death.
So for now he and his zombified father played a close game of tag. Utilizing his enhanced physiology he was able to keep his life with him.
Nevertheless he was slowly using up his stamina while the zombie seemed to have an endless supply. ' Why father, why do you attack me and I can't fight back.'
' Should I become like you and end our bloodline.' By now the area of land they had walked was slowly increasing. ' The Reeds, should I end it know father.'
Another late dodge sent the zombie's arm slamming into his abdomen, knocking the wind out of him.
He crashed into a slanted falling wall. His bones held but his nose was bled. Arthur dropped to the ground, weak to even move. When he looked up to embrace his end.
Then he remembered.
The night cleared and it was daytime. Arthur's vision was foggy but he saw his father sitting opposite him. They were in their sitting room.
Ordinary, portraying neither wealth nor poverty. The reflected light against the television shone on their faces, as silence and tension prevailed.
This was the night before the day he was to be enrolled into the Macbeth Senior High. Mr Reed cleared his throat looking into the unwilling eyes of his eldest child.
"I know you find this uninteresting as you view life, but I just want you to know. Never allow yourself to be trampled upon. Not by anyone, anything or life itself. Keep moving forward, even if…, you are the only one left."
The flashback ended, and as if time had slowly down for him, Arthur rolled out of his spot. The zombie's hand crashed into the slab creating a bang and a massive dust veil.
Trying to escape the dust veil, the zombie slammed into him from behind. Now he could swear he felt a bone snap. Tumbling forward he manage to flip to a squat but got speared to the ground almost instantly.
The zombie lay above him, his father was a hulking man while he was still alive. Now Arthur had to pay for that. Arthur held the zombie's neck pushing its head away form him.
He also used his arms to block the zombie's hands from reaching his skin. A zombie's scratch could mean death, he was taking any changes.
However as moments passed Arthur felt his arms growing weaker. Cold sweat drizzled down his face, staring directly into his father's face although rotten, his will also started weakening.
What was the point of living if the world itself has officially ended. What was the point of even existing in the first place. It was all for not. Did he survive the harrowing trial of an alien world just to come here and die to something less powerful.
His only strength was his father's advice to him, three years ago.
His eyes scanned the area for a weapon, or something which could save him. Alas! he found one but it was too far from his reach, yet he had to try.
' Come on, stretch Arthur, stretch.' He shifted closer to the conical concrete with and unnaturally sharpened tip. It was coated with dry blood but Arthur didn't notice.
He removed his hand and stretched it towards the concrete debris. Unfortunately his hand was left a few paces away from the debris. His desperation had clouded his judgement leaving him open.
The zombie fell onto him, its jaws ready to clamp down on his neck. A warm feeling emitted from his abdomen and his palms tickled for a moment.
At the last possible moment, the debris rose and shot through the zombie's temple.
The undead was sent flying just by the force of the impact. Arthur heaved heavily whipping his face drenched in zombie blood.
[ You Have Utilized Your Ability < Telekinesis > For The First Time.]
[ You have received its first five skills.]
[ Keep using your ability to unlock its maximum potential.]
Downcast Arthur sat up rolling the body away from him.
Looked over at the his father's undead corpse, a pang of dark emotions flooded his mind as he just lose his last family member to the horrors of this new world.