Dead Trouble

Ahh... It felt good to wake up in a new place. The birds were chirping, the sun was shining, and my belly felt full. What could be better?

Um, I do feel like I'm forgetting something, though. Surely it isn't important?

I looked over at the clock sitting next to my bed.

Fuck! I'm late! Gamma, why didn't you wake me up?! Don't you have an alarm function or something?

[What am I, a glorified smartphone? Really, Mars.]

You're worse than a smartphone if you can't even do something so simple!

I threw on my uniform which had been prepared in my room for me and washed my face quickly.

[Fine, you're right. I do have an alarm function. Ready?]

"Ow! Shit! Stop stop stop!"

A blaring noise rung through my head making me dizzy. I pressed my hand over my ears and cursed.

[Well, since you insisted, I'll wake you up with that every morning from now on, bright and early. No take-backs.]

This fucking machine... I grumbled and finished quickly getting ready before rushing out the door. The halls were empty since everyone was in their classes already. Dammit... I was fifteen minutes late on my second day. Embarrassing.

Finally, I managed to make it. Room 143, my Practical Combat- CQC class. The same went for those with abilities, but for the attending level 0 students, practical combat classes were pretty much half the curriculum. In this semester I'd spend a large portion of my day learning martial arts.

Weapons, vehicles, and search and rescue training were part of the curriculum as well, but I wouldn't start to learn all that until the second semester.

Um... hold on a second. I stopped as I placed my hand on the door. I shouldn't be in the fucking level 0 wing! I should be with the ability users! I placed my hand on my chin. I couldn't really make it known that I had an ability, though, since I couldn't explain where it was from... um...

Fuck, Gamma, what's your take?

[Well, Mars, you're going to need a steady supply of human meat. Maybe pretending to be weak isn't so bad, after all. You can make it appear as though you're an ordinary, highly skilled combatant, and solely feed on ability users.]

Well, that's not a bad idea, but what about the fame? The glory?! How the hell am I supposed to get rich by being an ordinary combatant?

[I would say to buy a lottery ticket, but you unfortunately used up all your luck when I found you.]

Can it, robot. For now, I guess I would follow Gamma's advice and take the normal classes, I suppose... hold on. Actually, is this really so bad? Couldn't I just be an elite amongst the ordinary? I opened the door and walked casually into the classroom as I pondered on it.

"Excuse me, boy. Can I help you?"

I was greeted by what looked like a small amphitheater, in the center of which was a buff old man.

"I'm in this class?"

He narrowed his eyes and gestured for me to walk over. The seats surrounding us were about a third filled with students.

"Name?"

He asked.

"Mars Valentine!"

I stuck up my thumb as I responded. 

"Can I sit now?"

He looked at me with a strange expression on his face.

"Bit of a weird name. Were your parents hippies or something?"

Hey, what the hell! This is teacher-student harassment!

[He's not wrong, you know. It's a really weird name... especially that last name...]

"Yeah, well my parents were immigrants or something! Are we done, old man?"

He turned to the class.

"Well, since it's our first day of class, I think it's best to start with a demonstration. Mr. Valentine here should suffice. Take this as a lesson to not be late,"

He shouted towards them, before turning back to me, entering a battle stance.

"Now, I will demonstrate the most basic military boxing moves you'll learn in the first month here. Watch how I focus my attacks on his pressure points and joints. Mr. Valentine, feel free to attack or counterattack however you please."

He started to bounce lightly on the balls of his feet.

"Hey, what the hell is this all about?! Staff violence! I'm being threatened!"

I shouted to the student body too, but nobody replied. Actually, some of those bastards chuckled.

"Fine, old man. I'll kick your ass."

I entered a battle stance too, one much more zombie-like than his. I crouched low to the ground with my hands to either side as I sized up my teacher.

Through his guard, I could sense his weak points. It was like an invisible thread guiding me to my attacks. I could see the gaps. I charged towards him headfirst, my tongue sticking out. Man, getting in a fight always seems to get me hungry these days...

His face turned sour as he shifted from an offensive stance to a defensive one. I jumped in the air and extended my claws, slashing at his arm. It actually left a decent gash.

"Stop!"

He looked at me. as I retreated onto the ground, skating backwards.

"Mr. Valentine, this is the course for those without abilities. What are you doing here?"

Huh? Wait a second, was the ability-less class taught by an ability-less teacher?

"I don't have an ability! If you felt like I was kicking your ass, then it's just because you're trash, oldie!"

I put one arm on my waist and pointed the other to his face. I almost blew my own cover! Fuck!

Before he could say anything else, the double doors to the classroom swung open, four figures standing in the entrance. Everyone in the classroom rose and saluted. Looking around, I gave a loose salute as I hunched over a bit as well.

Looking at the people in the doorway, I tried to see if I recognized them. Two randoms in a military uniform... One guy with a bunch of stars on his chest... and... Kaiden?! The kid from the bus?!

The guy with all the stars on his suit walked down the stairs and towards the center of the amphitheater, stopping right in front of me.

"Mars Valentine,"

He spoke, his voice authoritative and proud.

"You're coming with me. We have a lot of questions for you."

[Gulp.]

Put a lid on it.

Mars' status:

[Name: Mars Valentine]

[Level: 4]

[Race: Zombie]

[Mutation Points: 2]

[Skill Points: 1]

[Skills:

Immortality (MAX):

*PASSIVE*

Bearer is effectively immortal so long as brain remains intact. Bearer will not age and all injuries will be healed rapidly.

NOTE: If bearer does not consume human flesh regularly, the effects of {Immortality (MAX} will be diminished, reducing healing capabilities of the skill.

Pain Tolerance(LVL 1):

*PASSIVE*

Increases bearer's tolerance to pain.

Mana Drain (LVL 1):

*PASSIVE*

Through consuming human flesh, bearer can harvest the mana within it and increase his capabilities with mana-required skills as well as increase his physical capabilities.

Charged Fingers (LVL 1):

*ACTIVE*

Electricity will run between the bearers fingers, electrifying anything touched by them.]

[Energy Absorption (LVL 1):

*PASSIVE*

Allows the bearer's body to absorb the raw energy floating around in the air and earth, allowing cells to generate MIATP (Mana-Influenced Adenosine Triphosphate), effectively allowing the bearer's cells to generate mana on their own as long as there is an abundance of magic energy freely flowing throughout the area in which the bearer occupies.]

[Mutations:

Hunting Claws: Allows the bearer to grow retractable claws under his nails. 4 inches long and as sharp. 0.1 mm wide edges.

Condensed Muscles: +1 Strength. Causes bearers muscles to remain more compact while becoming stronger.]

[Ability: N/A]

[Curses:

Zombified:

Bearer has been affected by a strange and ancient pathogen. No longer requires sleep. Buffs to all stats. After going long enough without eating, bearer will turn into an insatiable killing machine, out to consume human flesh.

G.A.M.M.A.: The incredible and powerful system known as G.A.M.M.A. has granted pity on the pathetic bearer and granted him new life as a zombie. G.A.M.M.A. is amazing, beautiful, and all around the greatest creation the universe has produced.]

[Capabilities:

Strength: 10(+1)

Agility: 7(+1)

Endurance: 5(+1)

Intelligence: 8(+1)

Mana: 7

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