"Gabe, this one done yet?" Jimus popped from under a Mercedes Benz he's checking before we return it to the owner tomorrow.
"Yes, any problem with it?" It's only been five minutes since I sat on the bench munching on a pizza crust and my black coffee.
"No. It's perfectly placed together."
We've been lucky this week for having our schedules full, but it also drains us too much that we barely have time to take a break.
Thanks to this garage that Pops build with the money he won from the lottery. I may have been too young to remember it happening but it still helped so much with our livelihood.
Well, if we don't get that many customers here, I'll only have to upload another vlog again on my channel so we'll have some anyway.
I can't help that I'm getting too famous, right? One can't walk around the city having such a handsome face, tall, good build, ragged street style and sexy voice all in one body. It's not everyday I bless people's eyes with my unrivaled charm.
"Gabe?" Jimus called.
My sight suddenly blurred. Even my eyes are getting heavy now. Maybe all the fixing around has finally caught up to me.
"Gabe? Gabe!" He called, albeit I'm too sleepy to even utter a word.
And with that, I'm down.
.
.
.
Everything is dark.
Not even a noise from a cricket can be heard, nor a drop of water anywhere.
It's plain darkness.
A spotlight suddenly appeared. Below it sits what looks like a fancy golden crown. And it seems there's some stage where it stood.
A voice suddenly sounded loudly.
"Now, who wants to be the King?! Please write your name first to participate on the contest!"
In a blink of an eye, The clear sky on my sight appeared with the confetti raining on my face.
The sudden crowd filled the empty, dark space beside me.
It appears there's a contest and this crowd is waiting for it.
How did I get here anyway? And where is this?
The last thing I remember is falling asleep due to exhaustion. Where am I?
But that aside, I can't let that crown fall on someone else's hand. Whatever it is, I have to participate!
I hurried to the stage to write my name on the list. There's already ten participants listed here.
"I can't wait to beat more of them!" Alright, I'm all pumped up!
We were directed to a large pool after the last line has been tied. The swimming trunks they've given me fit so well despite my big build. I fixed my cap and it's bulging a bit since I braided my hair up before putting my goggles on. Hopefully, water won't enter and wet my hair.
"Swimming huh? So easy!"the guy beside me mutters.
Easy huh? Let's see you beat me then!
The whistle was blown.
I haven't practiced my breathing lately but I'm confident with my body. Carefully but swiftly, I made my way in the water and rose fastly on the other side. From what I remember from a brief instruction earlier, there will be five tests to finish to win the crown.
The second test will be bicycle riding.
Who put these tests together anyway? They suck at arranging the events!
I only hurried to the changing room ahead and put on the shirt, pants and rubber shoes. After which I pull out my cap and discover the ends of my hair wet.
Who rides bicycles on a sports competition with these clothing?
(Sigh)
I rushed out to grab a bicycle when I see one of my competitors already riding ahead with only the shirt on and his wet trunks.
I full speed ahead to catch up to him.
"Hey psycho, you'll be trembling in cold later on if you act dumb like that." I told him, but he ignored me and still went on.
.
As I have guessed, the streets are getting colder by the minute as I get closer to the marked finish line. I undo my braid and just let the band on so the wind would at least dry the tips. Good thing they put a tape on the way to the line so we won't lose our way.
I got on the finish line and left the bike. It's running time. With a distance of only 5 kilometers, I focused on breathing and running while I cannot sense any of my competitors. I sprinted on the last half kilometer and got to the finish line. What awaits but a red carpet laid down to welcome us for the fourth sport.
Although tired, my mind can't help but think of the golden crown. Just it sitting on my head means I'm the best one suitable for it.
The fourth sport is weightlifting.
We only have to lift all the weights scattered on the way to the finish line.
Will you look at that?
There's too many of them starting from a tiny piece of screw.
The weight becomes heavier as one goes nearer.
.
I'm now in my 200 kilos weight.
"Urgh.....AAARGGHH!" I managed to lift it finally.
I look behind me and see no one.
FINALLY!!
The moment I look back at the finish line, I saw no crowd cheering. Not even a shadow remain where they were once. There's nothing there but the crown resting on the crimson pillow laid on the chair.
Out of the blue, a very large number of crowd came rushing in from far behind the crown.
Although, they appear a bit out of it.
So, so out of it.
They hurried like crazies with their mouth open, yellowed sharp teeth, saliva dripping like a wild rabid dog and eyes either at the back of their sockets or out of it. Seeing how some of them drag their bodies as they rush or the falling apart of some parts of them, I'm now convinced that they're indeed zombies.
Wow, don't these things only happen in movies?
I know full well I'm dreaming right now. But this sudden situation feels too realistic to me.
The cold water on the pool, the icy wind on the bicycle ride, the tiredness and sweat from running, and the heaviness of the weights.. they're too real to deny anymore.
I'm so damn tired..
"Ha.. I'm doomed." My hands are already trembling. It's only been a minute yet that I've taken a deep breath from exhaustion. I still can feel the tension in my muscles.
But..
Don't get me wrong! I never back down without a fight!
"If I have to be one of you anyway, at least I need to make sure I'm wearing that crown. So people know I'm the best and most handsome zombie they'll ever meet!"
My shirt is too wet to wear for too long so I took it off. If I become a zombie, at least I'll be the head turner!
The crowd is drawing nearer.
I took a deep breath.
Knocked my knuckles.
You think I'll back down?
You're WRONG.
My eyes only fired up to the sight of you.
I AM the PREDATOR.
I AM the HUNTER.
And I will always...
BE THE ONE ON THE TOP.
If only I have more than my fists to kiss you all...
A big thud just behind me made me turn around.
With that, I saw a hella big steel axe at my feet, almost as tall as me. The blade as long as half my size. There's nothing else I can use as a weapon around me except this ridiculously big axe.
(sigh) "You've gotta be kidding me."
ALRIGHT!
Let me see if I can even wield this. It looks pretty heavy but if I can, then I could swing it for a bit.
I picked it up from the handle and a strange sign lighted up faintly light green on the heart of the blade. Also, the axe is unseemly light.
Strange.
Why do I feel like it's hungry?
"Do you want some blood?"
Haha.
"Me too." Since I can swing it easily, then I'll just cut down everything on my way!
The crowd drew nearer, but this time,
"I'll meet you myself!" I lunged towards them with a swing from the hungry blade.
A single blow from it not only cuts those in front of me but also those behind the ones in front. The sign glows even brighter as I swing more.
Now I even notice how powerful it gets with each swing. It cuts on a larger number of crowds than before.
With all the swinging, let's try something like this..
I made my way into the middle of them and made a round spin of swing as I slam the hilt of the axe below me. A sudden shock from the ground occured as a gust of wind blow from my spot. Bodies fall around me in a shape of a massive circle.
"That's what I thought."
The sign lighted even more like it's about to burst from all that excitement.
I rushed to the neverending crowd growling at me.
.
The sun is setting down. But the crowd never seem to quell in numbers. Those new ones coming from the distance only filled in those I've already slain.
Tsk! This is getting futile.
I'm already tired as it is. My body is now only just moving automatically to slay these zombies like I'm under the influence of adrenaline or something.
How will I get the crown in peace like this?
Wait.
The crown. That's it.
My goal in the first place is to take it, not to fight the crowd.
I landed another circling blow and planted my blade on the ground. Hurriedly, I balanced myself on the hilt to get a glance where the crown is located.
Strangely enough, it's bright golden shine made it easier to find among the crowd. Maybe just about ten meters from me on the north.
"Oww, fuck!" I felt a bite on my leg while getting down the axe.
I kicked the fucker with my other leg.
Hah, that hurts.
Remember those zombie movies? When a zombie bites you, it will only be a matter of time until you turn into one of them, right?
If that is so, I gotta rush to my crown!
"Aaaahh!"
With all of my remaining strength, I swing my axe swiftly as I make my way to the direction of the crown.
When it's eventually in front of me, I made the last spin of my blade and hit the ground with everything I have left. The magnitude of the waves sent them flying. It caused a very large area to be cleared off of them zombies but borrows me only enough time to grab the crown and wear it.
And that's what I did.
The last smile I can muster as I finally get the crown and sit it on my head. I'm contented now.
Who cares about these hands grabbing on my feet? The hands reaching out to my arms and my body? Or the slow motion of these abominations jumping on to me? I can feel a few painful bites here and there but..so what?
I close my eyes.
The last laugh is mine.
Only mine.
.
..
...
The ravaging of the crowd surprisingly halted.
Their growling also stopped and I feel no hands pulling me in for another bite.
Am I dead now?
No. I'm too active to be fired from life.
I open my eyes. This time, I'm somewhat floating somewhere...
.. that's a nebula?
Is this where I think it is?
Unexpectedly, small texts appeared in front of me.
YOU HAVE DISPLAYED THE OUTSTANDING QUALIFICATIONS OF THE TENACIOUS KING OF THE JUNGLE.
THE CONSTELLATION OF LEO HAS CHOSEN YOU TO BEAR THEIR GIFT. DO YOU ACCEPT?
Leo? Constellation? Oh..
Why not? I like that title of the tenacious King!
"You'll be even more surprise to know how tenacious I can get. Yes, I accept whatever gift it is."
A sign presented itself to me. The same sign that glows at the heart of the Axe's blade. Covered in a bright jade hue of a flame, it glows a while before thrusting itself on my side. The excruciating pain from my side getting burned is nothing compared to being eaten alive earlier.
"Urgh!" I endured the few seconds that passed. The pain died down in an instant and I set my eyes on my side.
A huge mark of the sign of the Leo was left glowing on my skin.
This is cool.
The moment I blinked, I'm already on the bed of my room. My Mom is sitting beside my bed, reading a book when she peeked at me from the side.
"You're awake!"she grasped my hands after the book fell from her suddenness.
"Mom?" Why is she so surprised?
"You've been sleeping for more than a day now. Jimus carried you here yesterday saying you overworked yourself! You ought to take care of yourself more, young man!" She said.
Hahaha.
"What's so funny? Take another day off for today, honey."she said, her face covered with worry.
"It's just..it's real. I'm finally back." I've been dreaming a hell of crazy things, mom. If only you've seen all the actions yourself..
or not, you'll surely pass out.
Hahaha-ouch!
My side hurts.
I quickly raised my shirt.
Holy cow..
It's real!
"You got another tattoo, son? Please tell me you're not planning to fill your skin with a lot of ink. It must've hurt a lot."
"Yes, it hurts...I only got 3 of them done, Mom. But this one is an exception." I didn't get them from a tattoo shop. I earned them on a strange dream...
But let's see if this is real or not.
I got out of the bed and get Mom behind me.
"What is it, son?"
"I don't know, Mom. I just got a feeling that I got to try something."
The thing I remember from this sign is that axe. Since it bears the mark of Leo on its blade. Will it appear if I call it?
"Axe.."
"Huh, son?"
Nothing happened.
I tried picturing it in my mind.
The axe of Leo..
I need you.
A jade light formed the shape of the axe in my memory. The light disappeared and the same axe lies in front of me. The wooden floorboards where it's laid collapse surprisingly and the axe fell down the first floor. The moment the blade hit the ground, a slash sounded and dust made us coughing.
When I peek around me, the house is already split in half. Good thing it didn't reach the roof or split our way.
"What in the world.." my Mom fell on the floor from the shock.
WOW. So it was real!
I carried my Mom and was surprised she's as light as a feather.
As I hurried down and look for my father, the debris fell one by one on top of me. I pushed them away but never thought they'll be thrown so far to hit the wall from a slight push.
I found my father with his jaw dropped looking at the terrible disaster that happened to his house.
"Father... I.."
"Are you and your Mom okay?" He checks on me and mom at my back.
"Yes, father."
"I was at the garage when I heard a noise so I went out to check And found our wall outside cut like a clay by a sharp knife!" He exclaimed.
"Actually, what happened was-" and I told him everything as we sat on the chaotic living room.
This is gonna take a long day of explanation.