Harsh Reality
"Hmm? What does it mean to be exempt from paying taxes?" Kai pondered, his curiosity piqued as he finally grasped the concept of taxes, being exempt from paying taxes upon reaching Rank 5 means the system of taxes exists. He wished to know more. However, to his surprise, the system merely assured him that he would soon understand the intricacies without delving into the specifics.
Kai held his frustration in check and decided to eat because of his stomach rumbling but shockingly enough, every single food disappeared, and the fridge was empty.
Reality hit him and previously something he had overlooked dawned upon Kai.
The electricity is gone, the cell phones have stopped working, the internet is dead, and they are back in the Stone Age.
Humans are truly remarkable beings, capable of adapting to any circumstance that comes their way.
With an unyielding determination, Kai had made a solemn vow to not only survive but to achieve his dreams amidst the chaos that now surrounded him. He understood that the path ahead would be treacherous and fraught with dangers, but he refused to let the circumstances dictate his fate.
Armed with resilience and a burning desire to succeed, Kai set his sights on a future where he would rise above the chaos and carve his destiny. The harsh reality of the world only served to fuel his determination, propelling him towards his dreams with unwavering resolve.
''Ah I should go out to search for something to eat but first, let's change into something ordinary.'' Kai decided to go hunt for something to eat after changing into some tattered clothes just to be cautious.
Outside the atmosphere was thick with an overbearing darkness, as if a veil of ink had been draped across the sky.
Flashes of fiery red lightning streaked through the layers of clouds, accompanied by the resounding boom of thunder.
The sound reverberated like the anguished cry of a deity, echoing across the mortal realm.
A torrent of blood-like rain cascaded down upon the lifeless world, grieving its existence.
Beneath the crimson deluge, a district lay battered and defeated, devoid of any signs of life. The remnants of a once vibrant district now stood as decimated walls and shattered buildings. Lifeless bodies, tinged with a sickly green hue, lay strewn amidst pools of gore. The silence remained unbroken, a haunting reminder of the bustling streets that had long been abandoned.
The remnants of the once bustling cityscape were now a grotesque amalgamation of shredded paper, mangled flesh, and dirt, forming a repulsive paste that defied description.
Not far in the distance, an overturned car lay trapped in the mud, on the verge of crumbling into oblivion. Attached to its axle, a rabbit doll, once innocent and white, now stained a sinister shade of red. Its lifeless gaze held a chilling animosity as it swayed in the wind, overlooking the blood-soaked cobblestones.
Nestled beside the abandoned vehicle, a young man named Kai lay motionless, his tattered garments a testament to his struggles. A sack made of animal hide hung from his waist, a grim symbol of survival in this desolate wasteland.
His eyes, mere slits, betrayed his exhaustion as the icy wind pierced through the holes in his clothing, relentlessly stealing away his warmth. Raindrops splashed against his face, jolting him back to consciousness. With a blink, his cold, ice blue hawk-like eyes fixated on a scene just a stone's throw away.
Approximately twenty meters distant, a vulture feasted upon the decaying flesh of a stray dog, its gaze shifting nervously as it devoured its gruesome meal.
In this treacherous ruin, any sudden movement could send the vulture soaring to safety. Kai, however, remained patient, his instincts honed like a seasoned hunter.
His opportunity presented itself sooner than expected, as the vulture plunged its head deep into the dog's chest cavity, oblivious to its surroundings.
'Now!' He mumbled under his breath.
Kai's demeanor turned icy, and he swiftly sprung into action like an unleashed arrow, hurtling toward the vulture. Simultaneously, he extracted an iron skewer from his bag, its tip shimmering with an icy gleam.
Perhaps it was the glint of the skewer or the chilling aura exuding from the young man, but the vulture sensed danger looming. In a panic, it flapped its wings and took flight.
However, it was no match for Kai's swiftness.
His face remained devoid of any emotion as he propelled the black skewer through the air, leaving behind a dark streak in its wake.
SPLAT!
The skewer punctured the vulture's head, shattering its skull and snuffing out its life in an instant. The force of the impact sent the vulture hurtling through the air until it collided with a nearby vendor stall.
The stuffed rabbit within the stall swayed back and forth, drenched in the vulture's blood.
Maintaining his calm composure, Kai swiftly returned to the car, retrieving both the lifeless vulture and the skewer.
Having completed his task, Kai walked away without casting a glance behind him.
As the wind picked up, the blood-soaked rabbit appeared to observe the departing young man.
The rain, intensified by the wind, mercilessly pelted Kai and his tattered attire, adding to the coldness that surrounded him.
Despite the chilling shivers cascading through his body, Kai pressed on, his feet refusing to halt even for a moment as he raced toward his home. The pursuit of the vulture had consumed more time than he had anticipated. Casting a glance around, he was confronted by sights that twisted his stomach with unease.
Ahead, the streets were littered with lifeless bodies, their once vibrant forms now engulfed in a sickly greenish-black hue. Their contorted faces bore unmistakable marks of anger and despair as if their very presence sought to infect the minds of those who witnessed them.
Yet, Kai's expression hardened, betraying a familiarity borne out of repeated encounters. Ever since the arrival of the apocalypse, the Reset, the sight of corpses no longer elicited a second thought from him.
In the face of overwhelming forces, humans may indeed appear weak and helpless. However, history has shown time and again that they possess an innate ability to adapt and overcome even the most formidable challenges. This is the harsh reality that Kai had come to accept.