Help! I am Going to Die!

Suddenly, a figure lunges toward me—with bloodshot eyes, and a sickly complexion. It shook and growled... the world as I knew it started to collapse.

What was a simple infection... became a nightmare.

My body stumbled back, avoiding the figure as it smashed into the wall with a sickening and dull thud. There wasn't any superpower or special system appearance...

I was a normal human!

"Shit! Get away, get away from me!"

I kicked the zombie's leg, backing off as I denied reality, my mind in chaos relying on pure instinct... I turned back and rushed to the glass doors.

Thud!

My hands ached when I hit the window.

These things were reinforced to resist gunshots.

A familiar place which sucked my life and desires away, but now I needed to escape.

Bang!

Terrified of the zombie, I hit the glass over and over; the pain shooting down my arms as my hands started to bleed.

"Let me in! Fuckers!"

The people inside just looked at me with their trembling eyes, no movement until...

Eh?

The brawny security guard came forward and pressed the shutter switch. 

This would not only remove all chances of me getting inside but also make it even more likely for any zombies to focus on me.

"Damn it... why? We're both humans!" I screamed a stupid and convenient phrase, knowing I would have acted the same in his position.

My heart oozed with fiery rage, pushing myself off the glass, tears likely pouring down my face as the zombie below me growled, crawling at me.

"Ah?!"

"Urrrr..."

I kicked its head, a disgusting crunch echoing out as I ran away. The lingering ache of my toes throbbed as the sound of my feet hitting the pavement faded into the distance.

My mind was blank, my body running on instinct alone.

The world around me had changed so much in such a short time.

Thanks to my active job and chasing annoying clients, I made some distance, now a few minutes from my apartment.

I sucked in the cold air, trembling as if trapped in ice.

Ragged gasps escaped my lips as my legs burned. My vision blurred, barely making out the shape of my home building.

"Shit! Shit!" I muttered under my breath, pushing myself harder to escape the terror. My pulse thundered, booming in my ears like a drum.

Behind me, the wailing cries of the dying and growls of the death following. Their shuffling feet caused me to run faster.

I barely survived, getting across the main road now a few minutes from my apartment, but the entire city became chaotic, people fighting for cars, screaming and pushing others down... looting and other acts started in the distance as smoke and fires rose.

My body shook, adrenaline keeping me going as I stumbled through the park and slammed into the small warehouse door, which led to my room with a little climbing.

A sudden sense of dread washed over me, causing me to look back. My eyes widened in fear, crawling towards me.

The half-dead was a woman he used to buy fruits from, her body jerking unnaturally as she swiped the air for him. I staggered back, tripping over the old tools and metal parts, heart pounding, before I grasped the nearest object.

A crowbar.

I held it tight, swinging it at the zombie's head. Blood splattered onto my face, the smell of iron filling my nose. I struck again, and again, each hit weaker than the last until it stopped moving.

Was this really happening? Was this the end of everything?

By the time my focus returned... a pool of vomit, and my lunch bubbled beside the minced skull.

"Damn it... I will go crazy at this rate!"

The memories of his past week flashed through his mind, thoughts about the news claiming this would be like the quarantine a few years ago.

At this time, isolation seemed cute. No one could leave their houses, and everything was 'quarantine zones' and 'social distancing'—and now this.

No longer a faceless danger or virus. No, it was a deadly threat right here. People I once knew turned into these things. No Zwoom meetings, No Netclix marathons. Just blood and death.

"Keh... what should I do?"

I stumbled into an abandoned warehouse, my lungs burning as the painful throbbing in my side caused me to slip while climbing up a stack of crates.

My head spun as I collapsed to the floor, landing with a thud, my body trembling from exhaustion. I coughed, tasting coppery blood in my mouth.

"I can't stay here..."

I pushed myself to my feet, stumbling forward, using the wall as support.

With a spinning head, the city's destruction echoed in the distance. A scream, another cry and then... nothing.

"Am I really going to die here?"

Slumped against the cold concrete wall, I sucked the air in short, sharp bursts, creating shaky breaths. Such a great way to go out alone.

Then... as if something enveloped me I could feel warmth.

Huh? What's happening.

The air itself seemed to crackle with energy.

Something... something was there, watching me.

A distant sound, low and mechanical, spoke out, though it wasn't from anyone in sight. I could hear the words growing clearer each moment, at first gibberish like listening to a foreign language for the first time.

Then I could make out the entire voice, and even the tone.

[You Have Been Chosen]

[There is an alternative path... you must not die alone!]

[You are the only hope.]

At first, he thought someone had left a strange anime ad playing, but a blue square formed in his vision, like downloading an image on slow wireless internet.

It looked pixelated and full of strange runes at first.

A system? A system? What the hell?

My entire life is just a novel for someone to enjoy on the train?!

Before I could process the current situation, my mind became deranged and doubted everything.

Until a shadow moved near the door, with little time to react, another figure appeared in sight, this one not hunched or crazed. 

She was alive, but just as desperate. 

A familiar woman, covered in blood, holding a baseball bat like a lifeline and panting with wild eyes.

How could this be?

What shocked me was the fact she smelled of smoke, and the pack of cigarettes in her grasp, crushed and empty.

It was the first time I saw the perfect ice queen in such a wretched state.

Mu Qinglan wore a black blazer, a white blouse barely sealing her forbidden weapons away, a tight pencil skirt, and black thigh-high boots.

Long black hair was tied into a ponytail, which swayed with her movements. Her usually calm and composed face, with no emotions, showed a hint of panic and fear.

"I saw you while escaping from those things..." Her lips quivered, their lovely pink colour now pale blue.

She stared at him, her gaze intense, but also pleading, "I need your help."

The moment she asked for my help, a sudden sensation of electricity jolted my mind, causing me to stagger, almost stumbling to the floor.

A large amount of information flooded my mind, but there wasn't any time to check it or analyse it fully.

The only simple information that remained was the title.

The Ruler System

A system that allowed me to designate people as my followers or subjects.

The moment Mu Qinglan spoke, an icon above her head flashed green.

I could see the word [Recruit] appear above her head. The glowing message hovered, and suddenly, a blue button appeared in mid-air.

I reached out instinctively.

[You Have Recruited Mu Qinglan (S-Tier)]

• Mu Qinglan's attributes now visible

• You have gained 1000 Ruler Experience

• You have shared Mu Qinglan's [Leadership] skill.

[S-Tier Subject recruited!]

• You can choose 1 of Mu Qinglan's special skills

• You have gained 500 Ruler Experience

[First Subject Recruited!]

• You have Gained 500 Ruler Experience

My body trembled, and a sense of warmth flooded into me like a hot stream of liquid fire. I tried to speak, but my voice cracked and broke.

[Congratulations! You have reached Rank 2]

Title: Loser -> Partner

• All Attributes increased!

• Subject Cap increased to 2

I could feel an irritating pain inside my flesh, as if something bit and tore my muscles apart before scalding them and repairing them again. My fingers twitched, and my legs shook, struggling to keep me upright.

"What happened?" Mu Qinglan asked, stepping forward, her hand reaching out to steady me.

However, the moment she touched me, a bright light blinded me, and the neon blue screen that appeared over her head caused me great shock and excitement.

Her name, stats, condition and affection bar were all displayed.

Now it really feels like a game...