Chapter 2: The Overlord System
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[#/System Notification/#]
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[Congratulations! You have become the first player to obtain an ’SSS-Rank Class!’]
[• Class Assigned]:
[SSS-Class: Zombie Overlord]
[...]
[Error.]
[Error.]
[Error.]
[The current System Interface is unable to fully display information related to the assigned class.]
[Cause: Class Rank exceeds current System Authority.]
[Attempting forceful display...]
[...]
[Failed.]
[Evaluating alternative solutions...]
[...]
[Solution Found.]
[Initiating construction of a unique system interface.]
[Estimated Compatibility: 100%]
[Designated User: Ethan Graves]
[Warning.]
[This System Interface will permanently belong to Ethan Graves.]
[No other existence shall possess authority over this Interface.]
[Beginning construction...]
[1%]
[2%]
[3%]
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A voice rang in Ethan’s head, startling him. Unlike before, he wasn’t seeing a screen floating before his eyes.
"What is happening to me...?" His voice came out low—an additional layer of bass added to it.
Clearly, turning into a zombie didn’t simply change the color of his skin. While his bones and muscles became denser, his thoughts were restricted greatly.
Even now, Ethan was having a hard time navigating his thoughts. The terms he had heard mere moments ago had completely baffled his mind.
System, Players, Class—this entire game-like structure was something he had known for decades.
Heup
Exerting his strength, he slowly got up on his two feet and blankly gazed around his surroundings.
"How long have I been in this state for? No... How did I even wake up from this state...? Wasn’t the zombie virus the biggest threat to society back then? Were they finally able to create an antidote?" Just as this thought appeared, Ethan quickly dismissed it as just his wishful thinking.
His skin was dyed in a deep shade of jade green; his muscles had become refined. By simply moving his hands, he could feel an unknown strength coursing through his muscles.
"No, I’m definitely still a zombie." Concluding so, Ethan slowly began tracing his way back out of the alley.
Pushing through the thick sewage sludge, he carefully avoided the live wires. At the same time, a part of his brain began to rummage through his memories.
Global Year 2008.
It was globally recognized as the worst year in human history. With the imminent appearance of ’The Great Recession,’ the world had already fallen into turmoil.
Many countries lost their footing, and economies crashed with no hopes of survival.
"As a newly graduated student, I lost my first job within a few months thanks to that crisis. Every day, the situation worsened. Just as a glimmer of hope began to appear, another disaster descended upon Earth. Only that it was hundreds of times worse than the financial crisis..." Remembering the details, Ethan’s facial expressions grew grim.
’The Apocalypse,’ or so the world called it. Monsters one had only ever heard of in fantasy tales crawled out of giant cracks in space.
Blood and human remains spilled left and right, reducing the world’s population by a cliff. For an entire year, humans could only hide in fear.
In the second year, a change occurred, and hope was once again revived. Humans who had broken through their limits were chosen by a mysterious system as ’Players.’
Gaining inhuman abilities and immense strength, humanity began to slowly get up on its feet through their efforts.
Year 2010.
The first zombie virus carrier appeared through the spatial cracks. Before the world could react, the virus had spread globally, becoming the most serious threat to humanity.
Despite countless tests and trials, no progress was made toward a cure.
"In the end, I got caught up in a zombie tide... Can’t believe I let myself get bit by that flimsy zombified chicken..." Ethan gritted his teeth in a mix of anger and embarrassment.
"But I’m sure I lost my consciousness a few days after I was bitten... Am I in some weird before-death dreams?"
Thinking so, Ethan’s steps slowly came to a halt. He had come out of the alley. But in that instance, only a single thought rang in his mind.
"Man..." His eyes widened in utter shock, and his breath froze. "Wh-Why the hell did I even come out?"
Smiling eerily, the corners of his lips twitched uncontrollably. The sight before his eyes was that of the end of the world.
The night sky shimmered in a bright crimson hue, filled with countless stars. A crescent-shaped moon hung in the sky, looking over the world.
In front of him, many buildings had long since turned to rubble. The still-standing walls were full of cracks with moss growing all over. Wild plants and trees had started to grow all over the area, completely transforming the geography of the area.
At a distance, a tall building could be seen standing tall. It was the main tower of the city, one that Ethan didn’t recognize. Still, he could tell that the condition of that tower was similar to the buildings around him.
The changes around him were too big to happen overnight. Clearly, he had been asleep for a much greater time than he initially thought.
"Come to think of it, the system did mention something about hidden conditions being met. A condition about me devouring seven hundred thousand individuals..." Muttering so, he slowly began to lose it.
Seven hundred thousand.
Seven hundred thousand.
The number echoed through his head.
Ethan suddenly covered his face.
A chuckle escaped his throat.
Then another.
Before long, laughter echoed through the ruined streets. For a brief moment, he vented his frustration before finally calming down.
"Exactly, how many decades has it been?" He asked himself, hoping to find an answer.
Letting out a long, deep sigh, Ethan placed his hand on his forehead. "What am I even supposed to do about this...? At this point, it’s not far-fetched to assume that humanity lost."
Ding!
Just as he was lost in his thoughts, a sharp system notification rang in his ears. Right before his eyes, a system window appeared.
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[#/System Notification/#]
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[Unique System Interface Construction Progress:]
[94%]
[95%]
[96%]
[...]
[99%]
[...]
[Finalizing Core Functions...]
[Integrating Class Authority...]
[Integrating Race Authority...]
[Integrating User Identity...]
[...]
[Verifying Ownership...]
[Owner Confirmed: Ethan Graves]
[Authority Confirmed]
[Soul Signature Confirmed]
[Compatibility Confirmed]
[...]
[Warning.]
[No suitable records matching the existence known as ’Zombie Overlord’ were found.]
[Creating New Classification...]
[...]
[Classification Complete.]
[Creating New System Interface...]
[...]
[Success.]
[The Unique System Interface has been successfully created.]
[Designation:]
[The Overlord System]
[Authority Level: Absolute]
[Owner: Ethan Graves]
[Current Authorized Users: 1]
[...]
[Welcome, Ethan Graves.]
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Then after a brief pause:
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[#/The Overlord System/#]
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[Greetings, Ethan Graves.]
[You are the first conscious zombie recognized by the System.]
[You are the first undead player.]
[You are the first holder of the SSS-Class: Zombie Overlord.]
[No suitable template existed for your existence.]
[Therefore, a new System has been created.]
[The Overlord System is now online.]
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