Mission 001.5

Sebastian

I was actually dying like the system said. If I tried to leave this forsaken city, I'd actually lose my life. I didn't know which was worse; knowing that I was stuck with the apocalypse again or dying for the second time. 

I didn't want either. But I wanted to live.

“Seven, six…”

I didn't want to die again. But I couldn't even save myself if I tried to. My body refused to listen to me anymore. And it was as if no one saw me struggling. 

I suddenly felt someone grab my hand and pull me away from the gates making me nearly choke as air suddenly rushed into my lungs. I could breathe again. 

I had an odd sense of deja vu as I patted my chest with my free hand, blinking back the tears that filled my eyes.

“Heart rate returning to normal. Oxygen levels are balanced. Do not breach the borders again. You have thirty minutes left to complete your first mission." The system’s flat voice echoed in my head, and I let out a sigh, turning to thank whoever just saved me.

My eyes widened when I recognized him at once. The stranger who had bumped into me earlier and called me “princess”. The annoyingly handsome figure. 

I didn't know how to tell him “thank you” since I still hated his audacity but to my surprise, he simply let go of my hands and walked away without a word. 

He knew I was dying. He saved me. Did he also know about the apocalypse?

I was about to call out to him when I saw that he was already gone. How did he disappear so fast? And why did he somewhat feel familiar?

“Am I really going to die if I leave?” I asked in frustration and the screen appeared in front of me again.

“If you breach the borders, you will be terminated.” It responded and I scoffed. I was stuck here with the apocalypse against my will.

Just then, I felt something drop on my head and I flinched as a dead bird fell to the ground. That was my sign to return home so that I could hide till the timer was over and avoid getting killed.

The journey back was awful as I stumbled twice and nearly hit my head against sharp objects. It was like stones flew, targeting me specifically. Worse, there was nowhere to hide. 

The timer read twenty minutes left and when I saw I was almost at my apartment, I heaved out a sigh of relief. I rejoiced too soon however.

Making my way down the next corner, a ferocious dog stood in front of me, teeth big and wide open with drool dropping out of its mouth. The moment it saw me, it stepped closer while I stepped backwards.

It was definitely after me.

It suddenly barked loudly and no one needed to tell me to run as I turned towards the opposite direction and ran for my life. It chased after me right after and all I could do was run like a maniac.

“I don't want a second chance anymore.” I cried out as I kept running, stumbling a few times but getting on my feet almost immediately.

It followed me no matter where I turned, and I couldn't distract it or hide because Sloradath was so plain. I would only be hiding in plain sight.

“Two minutes left.” Buis' voice echoed in my head as my legs burned but the dog didn't slow down. Not once. 

The next two minutes felt like two hours and when I finally heard a loud ding, my legs turned to jelly as I collapsed to the ground. I immediately sat up in case the dog was still after me but then I saw that it had disappeared.

“What the fuck?” I asked in confusion, coughing as I kept trying to suck oxygen into my lungs. 

“Congratulations, you have completed your very first mission. Your stats level has been unlocked. From now on, when you complete a mission, you will be rewarded.” 

The screen appeared and I scoffed, looking at the stats in front of me.

Strength - 0

Endurance - 0

Intelligence - 0

Speed - 0

Other stats levels are locked till certain missions are completed.

“I ran for twenty minutes and nearly died ten times! I don't get a reward for this?” I asked in despair, sitting up.

“This was to test if you are viable to survive. And you passed. Take a look around.” It replied and I got up, realizing I had no idea where I was.

But on second glance, I actually knew where this was.

“The nuclear plant.” I muttered with raised brows, walking towards the large building in front of me. “You brought me here on purpose?”

Of course, I recognized this place like the back of my hand. I used to work here a month ago until I quit. Staring at it like this made me feel a bit of nostalgia. But now it was empty.

“You need a base. This is spacious enough.” The system replied but it eventually made me frown because this place was prone to getting infected.

“But—”

“The plant is the safest place. No more questions.” 

“Wow, real classy, Buis. You keep reading my mind. How about a little privacy?” I muttered in displeasure as I walked into the dark building. 

The screen lit up, casting a glow over the place and making it easier to see where I was going.

Buis was right, this place was spacious enough to house over a thousand people. Not to mention other buildings up the stairs and the space in the basement too.

“Your second mission is to fill the base up with supplies and clean the place up. Alone.” Buis said and I couldn't help but scoff in disbelief.

“I can't clean this whole building on my own, I'm not a robot—”

“You have twelve hours to complete this task. Otherwise, you'll be terminated.”

This was becoming more of a threat than an assistance.

The screen changed as well, the mission written on it.

“Mission 002. Gather food supplies worth ten thousand dollars. You must spend ten thousand dollars. Clean the whole plant building. Failure to do so will result in termination of specimen. Time left: 12:00:00. Mission is involuntary.”

“Ten thousand dollars? Do you think I'm a money-making machine or something?” I asked in despair but my expression suddenly changed when the screen switched to the tools section.

“Your first tool is the black card. You cannot use it to get anything apart from what the mission asks of you. Breach of order will have you—”

“Terminated, I got it.” I muttered in annoyance, running my hand through my hair. “How do I get it then?” I asked stupidly, but suddenly gasped when the screen opened a small portal, and a card fell out.

What in the world? How did that happen?

“How?” I asked in bewilderment as I picked up the card that had my name on it.

“No questions.”

“Right. Got it, sorry.”

I was about to get ready when the screen suddenly glitched and the mission changed into something else, making me frown. A new mission?

“You have a new mission alert instead, Sebastian. Mission 001.5” The system said and I raised my brows as I leaned in to read the message on the screen.

“001.5? Out of nowhere?” I asked as I took in the words in front of me.

“Mission 001.5. Rescue the two missing boys from The Core. Surviving is mandatory. Failure will not be accepted. Time left: 24:00:00. Mission is involuntary.”

The missing boys on the news earlier?