Chapter 2: Chapter 2: A Chosen One System

As the feeble light of dawn seeped through the tattered curtains, I roused from a restless sleep, my mind still fogged by the events of the nightmare. With a groan, I pushed myself upright, feeling the weight of exhaustion pulling at my sore limbs.

"What a terrible dream," I muttered to myself, my voice thick with weariness. "And what a mess I've landed myself in."

But as I stood up, What i saw froze me in my track's.

There, lying before me, was Mrs. Selina body. But it wasn't the Mrs. Selina I knew. Her skin was pallid, her eyes vacant, and that rotten smell ughh.

My heart hammered in my chest as panic gripped me, reality crashing down like a tidal wave. last night event wasn't some nightmare; it was all too real. Mrs. Selina was one of them, a zombie and dead by my hand.

With trembling hands, I lunged forward, slamming the door shut, as the panic was seeping within me.

"Calm down, Ace," I whispered to myself, trying to steady my racing heart. "You got this. All those hours spent watching zombie movies, it's like I was born for this."

But even as I tried to reassure myself, doubt gnawed at the edges of my mind. This wasn't a movie; it was real life, and I was in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.

Taking a deep breath, I squared my shoulders and steeled myself for my own survival. I may not have all the answers, but one thing was certain. I wasn't going down or joining the rank's of the dead without a fight.

Then, like a bolt of lightning, the memory of the strange voices from the night before rushed into me. The words "chosen one and system" echoed in my mind before i passed out, flooded me with my head with blur confusion and curiosity.

Taking a deep breath, I braced myself and spoke the words aloud, half-expecting nothing to happen at first. But to my surprise as i let out the word, ''system'' a holographic display flickered to life before me, bathing the room in an eerie blue glow.

"Welcome, Ace," a disembodied voice chimed in my head, its tone oddly soothing. "To the chosen system."

I stared at the display in front of me in disbelief, my mind racing with bunch of questions. What did this system mean for me?

Ace: "what in the!!!???....what exactly is this or you... system?"

Chosen One System: "Hello, Ace. I am the Chosen One System. I have been activated to assist you on your journey."

Ace: "Journey? What journey?"

Chosen One System: "Your journey to survive and even maybe thrive in this apocalyptic world of chaos and danger. You see, within me, you'll find a variety of options and resources to aid you in your survival."

Ace: "Sounds... intriguing. But how does it work? And why me?"

Chosen One System: "Ah, those are questions with answers best discovered along the way, Ace. As for why you, well, let's just say that fate has a funny way of choosing its hero."

As the conversation unfolded, a memory flashed in my mind—the excruciating pain of the zombie's bite, the relentless march of the infection ran through my veins. And then, the sudden, blinding light as the system intervened, deploying its last resort to save my life unbeknown to me.

Ace: "Wait... why am I not a zombie? Or dead?"

Chosen One System: "Ah, yes. The Cure Revive Potion. It was necessary to ensure your survival, Ace. But it came at a expensive cost."

Ace: "A cost?'' My voice panicked slightly ''you not gonna take my organs or anything like that are you?"

Chosen One System: " haha, haha nice one, Ace. But no, instead i drained 90% of your karma points accrued in you lifetime, leaving you with a fraction of your former balance. But fear not, Ace. With enough time and effort, you will regain what you have lost."

Despite the info of my balance been used for the potion, I felt a surge of gratitude towards the system. Without its intervention, I would have succumbed to the infection, becoming just another mindless creature roaming the street.

Then i asked: " So i can buy stuff like food? Like what kind of supplier's are we talking about here?"

System: "Like weapons, gear, vehicles, and even food. Everything you need to navigate this unforgiving world, and something else more terrifying if you choose to walk another path's."

Ace: "So, there's another path? And how do I get these... resources?"

System: "Through the currency of karma points. You can earn them by doing deed, both good and bad action. Every action and decision you make, will have consequences on your earning's and by what you choose to do when encounter these event will be judged on the merit and it will affect whether it is good or bad karma points that you will receive."

I mulled over the system's words, realizing the weight of my decisions in this new world. Every action mattered, every choice could tip the scales of fate.

Ace: "So, I need to be careful of what decision I choose?"

System: "Exactly. Your actions will shape and decide your good or bad karma earned. Good deeds earn you positive karma points, while unethical actions result in bad karma points."

A knot formed in my stomach as I considered the implications. I had to be mindful of my action, knowing that each decision carried the potential to change the course of my journey.

Ace: "Got it. And i can spend these karma points in your shop?"

System: "Yes, you can use them to buy supplier and more from my shop. The more karma points you have, the more options you'll have."

I nodded, the gears in my mind already turning as I began to strategize. Earning karma points seemed like the key to survival in this new world.

Ace: "Cool, I better start earning some karma points then."

System: "Exactly, good luck, Ace. " With determination and resourcefulness, you can overcome any obstacle that comes your way."

As I stood before the glowing interface of the shop system, a sense of gratitude washed over me. Without its intervention, I would have surely become another victim of the undead and joined their rank's.

"Thank you system," I murmured, my voice filled with awe and appreciation. "Thank you for saving my life."

The system's response was immediate, a soft hum echoing through the air as it processed my words.

"You're welcome, Ace," it replied, its tone warm and reassuring. "It is my duty to assist the Chosen One in their time of need, oh one more thing, as a newcomer of the system you will get to select two premium passive skill or premium item.'' then with a strict tone the system continue ''Choose carefully, as you cannot undue your decisions."

I took a moment to gather my thoughts, considering my options carefully while i skim through the list. I knew that my choices would have to be smart, if i was to survive in this new world.

"For my first pick," I began, hmmm... interesting my voice steady with determination, "I choose the Space Storage, a passive skills that will undoubtably be a lifesaver."

The system hummed softly in acknowledgment, and with a flash of blue light, the space storage skill got transferred to me. It was a marvel of modern technology, capable of preserving my supplies indefinitely, no matter how long, it wont spoil my suppliers.

"As for my second pick," I continued, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips upon seeing it, "I choose the item cube Fortress Castle."

As the words left my mouth, the air shimmered with energy, and before I knew it, the compact cube preview display to me showing with only a push of a button it will transform the cube into a towering luxurious castle fortress fit for royalty. With 10 bedrooms, 4 garages, 2 storage rooms, 5 bathrooms, and spacious living area complete with a massive TV and modern kitchen, it was more than I could have ever hoped for, since all my life i was used to live in a rundown apartment.

As I gazed upon my new possessions in wonder, I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. With the Chosen One System by my side, I was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, knowing that I was not completely alone or guided by mysterious power, by whatever god or being blessing me in this hell, it will for sure help me immensely onward on my unknow odyssey for survival.

"System shop," I declared, my voice ringing out in the silence of the room.

"Welcome to the System Shop, Ace," the System chimed, its voice echoing in the air. "as you can see here, you can trade your Karma Points for various items to aid you in your journey."

I nodded eagerly, my eyes scanning the menu before me. "So, what way can i earn karma point?" I asked, my voice brimming with anticipation.

The System took a brief pause before chiming in, " you can kill zombies and help other to get good karma point, and then if you decide to kill your own kind or by merit, simply bad deed's will gain you bad karma point's.

Also right now with your current Karma level, you're in the low-rank tier shop level only. But fear not, I'm keeping tabs on your overall Karma balance at all time.

Once you hit the next milestone, I'll give you the heads-up, unlocking access to some seriously powerful gear and upgrades."

I furrowed my brow, considering my options carefully. "What kind of items can I get using bad karma point?" I inquired, my curiosity piqued.

The System went silent.. then after a long pause ''telling you would ruin the fun, Ace'' My head tilted with confusion, then my eyes shifted focus on a stack of food provisions and a sleek iron spear costing all my good karma point, both of which would prove invaluable for the dangerous journey that lay ahead of me.

"Alright, I'll take those," I declared, confirming my choices with a sense of determination.

As the transactions were completed, the items materialized before me in a dazzling display of blue light. With my supplies replenished and the iron spear in my hand, I felt a surge of confidence coursing through my veins.

"Thank you, System," I said gratefully, a smile spreading across my face. "With your help, I'll be ready for whatever comes my way."

Suddenly a scream pierced my ear's, my instincts kicked into overdrive. Clutching the iron spear tightly, I dashed out of my building and across the road, eyes scanning for any signs of danger.

Arriving at the backyard of the house where the scream came from, I moved stealthily, mindful of the zombies banging at the backdoor. With a silent prayer, I lunged forward, driving the spear into the first zombie's skull. But to my surprise, it didn't go down easy.

As I struggled against the undead, I realized something crucial—I needed karma points not just for others, but for myself too. Each successful encounter could mean survival for me as well as those I helped.

With this in mind, I fought harder, knowing that every life I saved could earn me precious karma points. And as the last zombie fell, I felt a sense of accomplishment.

As I approached the bedroom door, my grip tightened on the iron spear, my heart racing with anticipation. The sight of the man zombie banging desperately on the door sent a shiver down my spine, but I knew I had to act.

With cautious steps, I moved closer, trying to keep my breathing steady despite the adrenaline coursing through my veins. But just as I raised the spear to strike, the zombie's head whipped around with alarming speed, its lifeless eyes fixing on me.

For a moment, we stood locked in a silent standoff, the tension palpable in the air. Then, with a guttural growl, the zombie lunged at me, catching me off guard.

Reacting on instinct, I dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding its outstretched arms. But in my haste, I stumbled, my foot catching on a loose floorboard, sending me crashing to the ground.

Panic surged through me as the zombie closed in, its decaying hands reaching for me with an urgency that sent a chill down my spine. Frantically, I scrambled to regain my footing, the iron spear slipping from my grasp in the chaos.

With a surge of desperation, I reached out, searching for anything I could use to defend myself. My fingers closed around a nearby broomstick, the wood rough and splintered beneath my touch.

As the zombie loomed over me, its putrid breath washing over me in fetid waves, I knew I had to act fast. With a shaky hand, I swung the broomstick with all the strength I could muster, aiming for its head.

But the blow glanced off the zombie's skull with a sickening thud, barely fazing it. With a guttural snarl, it lurched forward, its cold fingers closing around my throat.

Panic surged through me as I struggled against its grip, the world narrowing to a single, desperate struggle for survival. But even as darkness threatened to overwhelm me, a flicker of determination burned within.

Summoning every ounce of strength left in me, I pushed back against the zombie with all my might, pushing myself to break free from its grasp. And with one final, desperate effort, I managed to wrench myself free, scrambling to safety as the zombie stumbled backward.

As I collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, I knew that I had narrowly escaped the jaws of death. But as I looked up at the retreating figure of the zombie, I knew that the battle was far from over.

With trembling hands, I pushed myself up from the ground, my heart still pounding in my chest. The close call with the zombie had left me shaken, but I knew I couldn't afford to dwell on my fear. There were still people out there who needed my help, and I couldn't let them down.

Grimacing, I retrieved the iron spear from where it had fallen, the weight of it reassuring in my hands. Despite the setback, I was determined to press on, to face whatever challenges lay ahead with a goal to survive and get stronger to reach my family.

As I cautiously approached the bedroom door once more, I could hear the faint sounds of something coming from within. As pushed open the door, steeling myself for whatever awaited me on the other side. Then to my surprise, the room was kind of empty at first glance, but as i walked to middle of the room, in the corner of my eye i spotted a lone figure huddled in fear by the corner. As I approached, I could see that it was a young female, her eyes wide with fear as she cowered away from me, poor soul she must have gone through hell to be in this state.

"It's okay, it's alright now," I said gently, trying to reassure her. "I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here to help."

She flinched at my words, but something in her eyes told me that she wanted to believe me. Slowly, cautiously, she reached out a trembling hand, and I knew that I had to do whatever it took to keep her safe.

With a determined nod, I extended a hand to her, offering her a lifeline in the darkness. And as she took it, I knew that together, we would face whatever challenges lay ahead, united in our quest for survival.