Chapter 3: A New Reality

It seemed that just as Zero's eyes closed on his life, they immediately reopened in a void of darkness.

No matter where he looked around him there was nothing but darkness. Once he realized he was in a laid position, he tried to stand up but was met with the dull impact of some form of wall and the sharp pain that followed.

"Ouch!" He yelled.

Zero paused as he realized that he could speak again. Not to mention that he had managed to TRY to stand up which was more than he could do last he checked.

Wait, did I actually die? He thought. Then where the hell am I?

He reached up with his arms and found that he couldn't extend them all the way - there was only a small amount of space between him and the ceiling of whatever he was in. He reached out sideways and found the same issue on both sides.

"Hey!! Can someone hear me??" He yelled out. Zero could feel the panic start to set in as he couldn't see a single thing and was cramped in some small space.

When no response came back he decided to try pushing upwards again and found that there was the slightest of give to it. He could feel the smooth texture of wood and his heart sank at the realization.

He was in a coffin.

Without thinking, Zero reached back as far as he could and thrust his fist forward against the top of the coffin. He knew he didn't have the physical strength to break through wood, but for some reason he felt a sense of strength within him that he never had before. Especially in his previous weakened state.

"Come on!" Punch after punch lands before he heard the first splintering of wood and a trickle of dirt came down, splashing him in the face. He continued whaling on it before his fist finally burst through completely - a now shower of dirt raining down.

I've got to keep going or I'm done for! He desperately thought.

After plunging his new stronger body through the top of the coffin, he grasped upwards and clawed his way through the dirt as it threatened to consume him. Thankfully he wasn't buried that deep he realized when his hand burst through the ground's surface into open air followed by the rest of his body.

Covered in dirt, Zero rose from his grave and took a breath of fresh air. He looked down at his hands and flexed his individual fingers.

"Weird, I'm not even out of breath after that."

He looked around and saw that there were a score of other opened graves littered throughout the area. It was as if a zombie apocalypse had finally dawned upon them and he was the last to arrive at the party.

Zero found that he was in a large open area that seemed completely devoid of color - no trees, no plants, just dirt. Outside of that was a small shrine at the top of a large flight of stone stairs.

"Is this the game that that guy was talking about?" Zero questioned. "Maybe that has something to do with why I feel so…good." He couldn't explain it, but there was something pulling at him to go towards the shrine. Not like there was anything else around after all.

He made his way around the many open graves and up the flight of steps to the shrine. There was no door, so he walked straight in.

There was only a single thing inside - a large crystal sitting upon an altar that was giving off a faint red glow.

"Whoa, what is that?" Zero asked as he inched closer to the crystal.

The allure of the crystal could not be ignored - just like he sensed a new found strength in his "new" body, there was a power emanating from the crystal calling him forth. Was this what had beckoned him over to the shrine in the first place?

"Ah, you've arrived."

The sudden voice caused Zero to quickly whip around to see the hooded horned figure he spoke to back in the hospital. His long cloak still flowing in a breeze that didn't even exist. His face was still shrouded in darkness.

"It's you. Where are we?"

"Your new life, as agreed upon."

Zero let the words process. "So, I did-"

"Yes, you died. Now you have been reborn here to take place in Final System."

Before Zero could even ask where 'here' was, the last part of the person's sentence caught his attention. "Final System?" He asked.

The hooded figure seemed to glide past him rather than walk. In such a quick action that he was already behind him before he truly realized it. Zero turned around as the figure stood behind the red crystal that sat upon the altar.

"Yes. It is both the prize and namesake of the game. If you beat out the other players and survive until the end, Final System will be yours. With it you could create a new Elder Tree for your world or…whatever your heart desires."

"I could create…a new tree?" Zero couldn't quite believe it. The thing that was seen as a blessing from the almighty Gods could be recreated by just using this weapon known as Final System. What kind of power would you be gifted to be able to achieve such a feat?

"I will be your guide. If you are ready, I will explain the game to you so you may start. Afterwards, you will be on your own." The shrouded guide stated.

Zero swallowed. "I'm ready." He had no idea what he was getting into, but he did agree on it. He wanted the chance to finally prove he was better than his name.

"Good. Once you leave here, you will be allowed to travel the vastness that is this world. You will be able to build a map as you go. There is no time limit to the game or limitations as to what you can do outside of battles. All you have to do is be the last one standing in the end."

No time limit?...Zero thought. "Wait, so how long does this game last?" He asked the guide.

"That depends on the players. There have been games that have lasted a few days. And some…over a year."

"Over a year?? But I don't have that kind of time!" Zero exclaimed as he threw his arm out to the side. "Kids just like me are dying and this is the only way to save them!"

"Yes, every other player is either from your world or one similar that is also suffering from the same affliction. I suggest you not waste time then. Whether you hunt down other players as a predator or try to simply survive till the end, it's up to you how you play the game. But should you fall, there is no life after this one."

Zero had never been any form of a fighter. But at this point he truly had nothing else to lose. He thought of his neglectful family and the mass graves that the cities had to eventually build to accommodate the sharp rise in children deaths. He had a chance to turn that all around. "Ok, so what do I do first?"

He swore he could hear a hum of approval from underneath the guide's dark hood. They reached out and placed their hand on the crystal and it instantly reacted - the red glow intensified and began to swirl around the room. It came to a rest in the form of 3 spheres that hovered around Zero's body.

"You first must choose your starter system to begin the game."

Zero eyed the three rotating spheres around his body. "You're giving me a system?"

The guide nodded. "You will be able to wield a total of 3 systems if you wish, but you only start out with 1. If you wish to have more than you must defeat other players or bosses hidden throughout this world. Each system has the ability to be strengthened based on your personal preferences. Now, choose wisely as it will mean the difference between life and death in the early part of this game."

Zero couldn't help but feel a small bit of happiness - despite it all, he was still going to be able to get a system. Not only that, he would be able to choose! Just when he thought the possibility was completely dead to him.

"Here we go.." Zero said as he reached his hand inside the first sphere.