CHAPTER 2 :THE APOCALYPSE 2

 "Your wish is my command, Master," the woman who had been Miss Ivy, now the Blossom Queen, said, her voice a smooth, toneless melody as she knelt before Hazel.

A wave of pure elation washed over Hazel, seeing her alive, real. "Ivy!" he cried, rushing forward to embrace her. But his arms met only a cold stillness. Blossom offered no reciprocal hug, no flicker of recognition in her eyes. A chill snaked through Hazel, replacing his joy with a confusing sadness.

He stepped back, his gaze searching her face for the warmth he remembered, the gentle spark in her eyes. Instead, he found a flawless mask, an expression as blank and unreadable as polished porcelain.

"Ivy... what happened?" Hazel asked, his voice barely a whisper, edged with a growing unease.

"I am perfectly functional, Master. Please, refer to me as Blossom," she replied, her tone unwavering, devoid of any inflection.

"Do you... do you remember anything? From before?" Hazel pressed, a knot of apprehension tightening in his chest.

"Negative, my lord. My past memories appear to be inaccessible. If I am unable to fulfill the purpose for which you have reactivated me, then allow me the honor of returning to the void," Blossom stated, her hand moving with a swift, unsettling grace to the hilt of the sword at her hip.

Hazel reacted instantly, catching her wrist. "Do you... do you not want me to stop you?" he asked, his grip firm.

"Negative, my lord," Blossom repeated, her gaze fixed straight ahead, utterly detached.

Something is terribly wrong, Hazel thought, his mind racing. I need to understand what's happened to her memories, and fast.

Just then, another deafening explosion rattled the remnants of the hospital, the sound echoing the turmoil in Hazel's own mind.

He knew, with a sudden clarity, that survival in this new reality hinged on understanding the bizarre system that had sprung into existence. If I want to live through this, I need answers. Starting with this 'system'.

Focusing his will, he spoke the words aloud, "System window."

A translucent window shimmered into existence before him, displaying stark, digital text:

[Welcome, Player, to your system window.]

[Player Stats]

[Name: Hazel Willow]

[Age: 21]

[Job Class: Grim Reaper]

[EXP: 0/100]

[Level: 10]

[Souls Taken: 0/100]

[Health: 25/25]

[Strength: 20/20]

[Speed: 15/15]

[Stamina: 15/15]

[Agility: 15/15]

[Skill: Dead Summon Lv1]

[Weapon: Scythe]

Hazel's breath hitched. "It... it actually works," he murmured, a mixture of disbelief and a strange thrill coursing through him.

Driven by a sudden need for knowledge, he focused on his skill. "System, elaborate on 'Dead Summon'."

The system responded instantly: [Dead Summon Lv1]: Allows the summoning of deceased entities, including warriors and monsters, to fight alongside the player. The number of simultaneous summons increases with the skill level.

A new question formed in Hazel's mind. If it only summons warriors and monsters... then Blossom is a warrior? But how?

He shifted his attention to his weapon. "System, describe my weapon."

[Weapon: Scythe]: A weapon intrinsically linked to the Grim Reaper class. It can be wielded in various ways, including slashes and boomerang throws. The weapon possesses the potential to evolve based on the player's level and usage.

An idea sparked. If it's linked to me... "Scythe, I summon thee!" he commanded, a surge of anticipation running through him.

The ground before him shimmered, and a scythe materialized, its form sleek and menacing – a blade of pure black, edged with a razor-thin line of crimson.

Hazel reached out, his fingers closing around the smooth, cool grip. An unexpected connection, a sense of power, flowed between him and the weapon. "This is... incredible."

A newfound resolve hardened his features. "It's time to see what this new world holds."

As they stepped out of the ravaged hospital, a grotesque figure scurried into view – short, hunched, and brandishing a crude knife.

Pointed ears, green skin... if those web novels were accurate, that's a goblin, Hazel thought, a strange sense of unreality washing over him.

The goblin spotted them, emitting a high-pitched, guttural cackle, and charged with surprising speed.

"My lord," Blossom said, her emotionless gaze fixed on the creature, "shall I eliminate it?"

"No," Hazel replied, a strange mix of fear and exhilaration bubbling within him. "Let me try."

He swung the scythe, the movement surprisingly natural, the black blade whistling through the air. It cleaved through the goblin, leaving a clean, decisive cut. The creature collapsed in two pieces.

[System Notification]

[You have defeated a goblin. +2 EXP.]

Two EXP? That's... not much, Hazel mused. But it's a low-level enemy, I guess.

Descending the crumbling stairs, they were confronted by a group – five more goblins and a larger, more menacing figure wielding a crude axe.

"Blossom," Hazel instructed, his voice gaining a newfound authority, "take the smaller ones. I'll handle the leader."

Blossom moved with a swift, terrifying efficiency. "Blossom Spiral Slash!" she declared, a pink energy swirling around her blade as she decapitated the five goblins in a single, fluid motion.

Hazel faced the goblin commander, the creature's clumsy attacks easily telegraphed. He dodged its wild swings, his movements surprisingly agile.

With a swift, precise strike, Hazel brought his scythe down, severing the commander's hands.

The creature shrieked, attempting to flee, but Hazel hurled his scythe like a deadly boomerang. The black blade spun through the air, finding its mark and beheading the commander before returning to his outstretched hand.

[System Notification]

[You have defeated a goblin commander. +10 EXP.]

Still not enough to level up, Hazel noted, his mind already strategizing.

[System Notification]

[Your subordinate, Blossom Queen, has defeated five goblins. You have gained +5 EXP. Blossom Queen has gained +5 EXP.]

A realization dawned on Hazel. Half the EXP goes to me when she gets a kill. That's not efficient for her growth. From now on, she'll do most of the fighting. We need her to level up fast.

Emerging from the ruins of the hospital, the true scale of the devastation hit them. Buildings lay in rubble, smoke still rising in the distance. The world they knew was gone.

[System Notification]

[Subordinate Stats]

[Name: Blossom Queen {Ivy}]

[Age: 20]

[Job Class: Warrior]

[Level: 5]

[EXP: 5/100]

[Strength: 10]

[Speed: 10]

[Stamina: 10]

[Agility: 10]

[Skill: Blossom Spiral Slash Lv1]

[Weapon: Blossom Blade Katana]

Hazel studied Blossom's stats, a grim determination settling in his eyes. We have a long way to go. I need to get her stronger, quickly.

With a silent understanding passing between them, Hazel and the emotionless Blossom Queen turned their backs on the ruined hospital and stepped into the desolate unknown, ready to face the monstrous new world.