In the well-known, bustling city port of Hong Kong, I, Jefford Cliff, had just returned to the control center after a short lunch break.
This place was usually alive with noise and movement—yet when I opened the door, it was eerily quiet, and the lights were off.
I grabbed my phone and immediately turned on its flashlight, and began scanning the surroundings.
As I moved the light across each part of the room, walking forward with the intent to activate the generator in the basement, I suddenly heard a sound—wet, grotesque munching—echoing from down below.
Hearing that, I cautiously crept forward, intending to descend into the basement.
As I got closer and closer to the source of the sound, a horrendous stench filled my nose.
But before I could move any closer, a hand covered my phone's light, and a voice whispered in my ear.
"Jefford, it's me—your senior, Marianne. Turn off the light. There's a monster inside the basement… It's devouring our co-workers."
"What!? Are you joking?" I whispered back, my voice shaking.
"No, I'm not," she said seriously, pulling out her phone. "Look—this news is going wild right now…"
She showed me an article with a photo of a zombie-like creature eating the flesh of a university girl from Wuhan College of Medicine.
I stood petrified with my limbs going numb.
So this is... Before I could finish speaking
Marianne's phone rang —and immediately, the monster in the basement noticed and roared like a beast.
"JEFFORD, RUN!" she yelled, yanking my hand and pulling me as we scrambled back upstairs.
We were panting heavily, but fear fueled our every step as we sprinted toward the exit of the control center.
Just as Marianne pushed the door open—
She was greeted by a horrendous figure with bloodshot eyes and a mouth drenched in crimson.
"MARIANNE!" I screamed in horror.
But it was too late.
The zombie tackled her to the ground and sank its teeth into her neck, causing blood to gush violently from the wound.
I froze, petrified by the sight.
My kind, respected senior—idolized by all—was being eaten alive right before my eyes.
The shock was too much to bear, but then…
Her voice.
"Jefford… get out of here. Lock the door. Please… I...—"
But before she could finish, another zombie lunged from the side and tore into her throat, silencing her forever.
With trembling hands and tears blurring my vision, I slammed the door shut—and locked it.
Then I turned around.
The port, once full of life and motion, had become deathly silent.
There was no:
No rumbling engines.
No shouting dockworkers.
No clatter of steel containers under crane hooks.
Just silence.
An eerie, suffocating silence.
Not a single human soul in sight.
I sank to the floor, my back pressed against the door where Marianne was being devoured… and I cried.
Tears flowed uncontrollably.
A few seconds later, my phone buzzed with a message from my parents.
> "Son, we're at home. We've barricaded the house. Please come here immediately—it's safer here, the military is nearby."
Reading that message helped me gather myself.
I needed to get to them.
I couldn't afford to be afraid now.
If I hesitated… they'd suffer the same tragic fate as Marianne.
With a surge of raw determination, I stood and walked cautiously out of the control center—heading for the cargo zone.
I needed to leave this place… and reach my family.
But as I stepped into the cargo container area—
I froze.
There, in the shadows between two containers, stood the silhouette of a man.
My blood ran cold.
My limbs turned numb.
My breath caught in my throat.
My eyes locked onto something that wasn't human.
His skin resembled a corpse—gray, decaying, like he'd been buried and unearthed weeks later.
Around his neck were grotesque, tumor-like growths—carcass tissue swollen and pulsating, like cancerous sacs threatening to burst.
Worse still, the bulges had tiny holes… seeping green mist and releasing a nauseating stench.
And above that vile neck…
His mouth.
His tongue—long, slimy, and grotesque—dangled down to his knees, dripping green phlegm like acid.
I nearly threw up.
But I held it back and stepped away slowly.
With every step I took back, he took two forward.
My heart pounded.
My instincts screamed for me to run, but I forced myself to observe.
Wait… the way he moved.
He was weak… unstable.
The sound of squelching rot echoed from his joints—his limbs barely holding together.
If I had to guess...
He's slow… but that tongue is dangerous.
He can strike from a distance.
Then running wouldn't help.
Screw it—I'll risk everything!
Without warning, I charged straight at him.
He didn't expect it.
I tackled him and slammed him into the ground, pummeling his head with all my might.
One blow.
Two blows.
Three!
"YOU'RE FRAGILE!" I roared in my mind. "You're dead now, you filthy monster!"
Just as I raised my fist for a finishing strike—
His tongue lashed out, coiling around my legs.
In an instant, I was yanked into the air and slammed against a cargo container with bone-breaking force.
Agonizing pain surged through me.
If not for years of gym training, I'd be dead.
But even so—my body wouldn't move.
I was broken.
The monster crept closer.
I was going to die.
"I… I just wanted one more chance…"
My voice cracked.
"I'll do my best… I'll fix everything…"
"I… I should've been better… to my family… to myself…"
Tears welled up.
I shut my eyes.
Seconds passed.
No pain.
I opened them—
The monster lay in a pool of blood, its head caved in.
A massive sword pierced through its skull.
Beside the corpse stood a tall figure with angelic wings—radiant and powerful.
"Ahhh… Who are you?... Are you here to save me?" I asked, trembling.
The man nodded and stepped forward, voice calm and weighty with authority.
"I'm here to offer you a contract… and one more chance."
"But first, let me grant you the System I created—a system with limitless potential."
He touched my forehead.
I felt something foreign pierce into my mind.
Like a chip of pure knowledge, it slid into my brain.
"Now that I've given this to you… Remember one thing."
"You must protect all living beings from the corrupted—the monsters you humans call zombies or the undead."
"That is your mission."
"We shall meet again."
And just like that, he vanished.
In his place, a glowing book dropped.
His memoirs.
I reached for it—
And a searing pain stabbed through my head.
A vision struck me:
A ruined city.
Monsters swarmed like locusts.
But warriors stood tall, glowing with power.
In the center, a man lay dying, shielded by a powerful healer.
Then—
A shadowy assassin appeared behind the healer…
…and severed her head in a flash.
He turned—
And stared straight at me.
His killing intent pierced even the vision.
Then—darkness.
"AHHH!"
I jolted awake.
Panting hard, I looked around.
A small room… blood everywhere.
But the scent wasn't rotten.
It was fresh.
Before I could react—
A screen appeared before me.
> Greetings, The Chosen One.
I am the Ultimate System, and I will be with you until the day you fall…
Or until all corrupted monsters are extinguished.
Initializing system briefing…
Energy from slain corrupted monsters will be converted into experience.
Stronger monsters yield greater energy.
The Ultimate System has Levels: 0–1000.
You are currently Level 0.
But since the Creator granted it to you directly, yours surpasses all other system types.
Wait… there are other systems?
> Yes.
But I am bound from revealing anything about:
—The Creator
—The origin of the corrupted
—Other systems
—Any dangerous truths
Fine. Then let's start with the profession selection.
> Preparing selection…
Top 3 professions based on compatibility:
1. Storeman
– Endless storage space
– Multiply real materials with mana
– Combine similar materials into higher grades
2. Close Combat Warrior
– Doubles all stats in melee combat (Upgradeable)
3. Great Fort Warrior
– Builds magical forts with guns, cannons, and soldier summons (Upgradeable)
Wait… I can choose from all these?
> No. You shall be granted all three, Master.
What?! If I train properly… I'll be unstoppable!
> Yes. But early on, you are weaker than most system users. Avoid conflict.
Understood. Begin assimilation.
> Initiating Class Assimilation…
1%... 11%... 24%... 72%... 100% ✅
Assimilation complete.
Good. Let's test storage.
I pointed at a knife.
It glowed—and disappeared.
> Knife stored successfully in Endless Storage Domain.
Nice.
Just then—
The door burst open.
A girl—bloodied, barely conscious—collapsed into my arms.
"Hey! Are you okay? Where are you hurt?" I asked in panic.
"No… I'm done for," she whispered. "Take what I have… I was bitten…"
She showed me her leg.
Infected.
I clenched my fists.
> ⚠️ New System Mission:
Prevent her from turning—at all costs.
Time Limit: 40 minutes
Reward:
2 Sharp Daggers (Poison-embeddable)
—Attack: 45 per dagger
—Passive: +0.25 attack speed
—Poison type is changeable via materials
That's a huge boost if I can get that!
System—show me my status!
> Jefford Cliff (Master)
HP: 2300 / 2300
Mana: 1000 / 1000
Mana Regen: 1 MP/sec
Class:
Storeman
Close Combat Warrior
Fort Warrior
Attack Points: 10
Attack Speed: 2/sec
Others: Not unlocked
Only 10 attack…
I need that reward.
System—scan the girl!
> Ella Mai
HP: 125 / 2600
Mana: 135 / 35,000
Mana Regen: 100 MP/sec
Class: Healer
Healing/Attack: 250
Others: Locked
She's… the same healer from my vision!:
The tall, beautiful girl with black long hair and eyes, along with a splendid body.
> ⚠️ Warning:
Ella Mai's HP is dropping.
Use her passive skill to remove the virus now—or she will turn.
I grit my teeth.
This is my first mission.
I WILL NOT FAIL THIS TIME !
I WILL NOT LET SOMEONE DIE INFRONT OF ME EVER AGAIN !