"Ugh!"
Shaden groaned softly as a sharp dizziness struck his head. Slowly, he opened his eyes, observing the place where he now found himself.
"We're in Central Park right now."
Leah's voice was the first he heard as he regained consciousness. Shaden tried to sit up, and a hand came to help him. It was Tery, who was sitting right beside him.
"Why did we move here? The mission was supposed to start at the downtown building," Shaden asked, confused.
From what he remembered, the third mission hadn't just ended like that. Even though it was technically finished, there should've been a follow-up mission considering how quickly they had completed it.
"We don't know. After you passed out, the downtown building suddenly collapsed. People were shocked, and some may have been buried under the debris. Even… Judy and Ely vanished."
Still holding his aching head, Shaden listened closely as Leah explained what had happened while he was unconscious.
According to Leah and Ely's account, not long after the underground back portal closed due to the insecticide smoke, a massive tremor shook the area, causing several tall buildings to collapse instantly. Many people couldn't escape in time, but the three of them survived thanks to Tery's sprinting skill.
Because of that, Shaden studied Tery closely. The woman had the same skill as him—super speed.
"Where did you get that skill?" Shaden asked curiously. He had obtained his from the very first mission he completed.
Tery scratched her head. "I'm not really sure. But I think I've had it since the beginning. I used to think it appeared because of my desperate attempt to escape from my uncle's underground lab when it was destroyed."
Shaden's eyes widened. That's right! There was something like that. Innate skills granted through a person's most powerful act when the world began to change. Like a pocket allowance from the system, helping them survive.
How could he have forgotten that? He had never even checked what innate skill he received. Up until now, he'd only relied on skills rewarded through mission completion.
Shaden opened his pocket and browsed through the list of skills he had so far. Super speed, hidden mission locator, fairy crown, mental resilience, animal language interpreter (which he got after destroying the insect nest), and...
Shaden froze. One skill he had never really noticed because he'd forgotten it even existed. Good Reader.
When Shaden tapped on that skill, the explanation revealed that he could understand someone who trusted him better than anyone else. If the skill leveled up, he'd even be able to read their thoughts or uncover the things they hid deep in their hearts.
Whoa! What kind of overpowered skill was that? Instead of feeling happy, Shaden felt like a pervert peeking into the side of people they desperately tried to hide.
"What? Why did you suddenly zone out?" Leah asked.
Shaden blinked. "You… what innate skill do you have?" he asked curiously.
Leah looked a little surprised before grinning and scratching her chin.
"My strength triples when I'm angry. I think this skill came from my deep-seated wish to punch that awful boss who always bullied me and my juniors at work."
Shaden chuckled. What a fitting skill for Leah. He then got up, feeling like he'd wasted too much time being unconscious. The sudden collapse of the buildings wasn't in the book at all, which made Shaden slightly anxious. It felt like a butterfly effect triggered when he destroyed the insect colony within just an hour, throwing the mission into chaos.
"Was there no additional mission after I passed out?" Shaden asked.
As he stood up, Leah and Tery followed.
"Ah, we forgot about that! Actually, there was one mission, but we completed it as a team. Your name was also listed and you received the reward after it was completed," said Leah.
Shaden, who was stretching, suddenly paused.
"What kind of mission could be completed that easily?"
Tery and Leah exchanged glances.
"Collecting the dead bodies trapped in the rubble."
The rubble Leah and Tery referred to came from the buildings that collapsed after the third mission ended. According to them, each surviving human group was required to gather twenty bodies buried in the ruins.
"And what happened after you collected those twenty dead people?" Shaden asked.
They were now heading back to the ruins because Shaden believed many people there were still confused and didn't know where to go. The fourth mission hadn't been announced, so people were directionless. The three clans that previously led the survivors in the downtown building had scattered after the collapse.
"No idea! Those people just vanished after we gathered them," Tery replied.
Then Leah chimed in, "Do you think the system wanted to bury them properly?"
That question made Shaden chuckle softly, which annoyed Leah.
"Sorry, Leah! But really, the system or whoever is behind this destroyed our shelter and treats humans like worthless insects. Do you really think they'd do something that kind?"
"They probably want to use the bodies for the next mission," Shaden added.
"Use the bodies? You mean like turning them into zombies to attack us?" Tery asked.
Shaden nodded. "That's the most reasonable explanation right now. But it could be something we haven't thought of yet. One thing's for sure: they're not going to bury the dead with dignity. To them, the dead are just trash. They'll sort out what can still be used and what can't be recycled."
A bitter truth. Humanity, once at the top of the food chain, surviving with such ease, having no qualms about killing lesser creatures, was now at the bottom. Mission givers and the monsters that emerged were mostly animals and small beings that humans used to slaughter without hesitation. It was as if the universe wanted to teach humans a lesson—that now, their existence was insignificant.
"So what do you plan to do by going back to the ruins? As far as I know, there's nothing left to find there. Most people have already moved west to join other groups preparing for the fourth mission. From what I heard, the people in the West are kinder than the rest because they used to be factory workers before the world collapsed."
Kinder than the rest? For some reason, Shaden found it hard to believe after everything he'd seen.
"First, we need to look for any items or supplies still usable. If possible, I need a new outfit because I'm sick of wearing this uniform all the time."
"Huh? Why?" Leah asked, surprised. "I like it when you wear that uniform. Your thoughts are so mature that I forget you're just a high school student if you wear regular clothes. This uniform can be your trademark, you know?"
Shaden raised his hand. "I refuse! If you find clothes that fit, I'll be forever grateful."
When they arrived at the city center, they saw only a handful of people sitting lifelessly. Perhaps they were the ones who had given up, waiting for death.
If Shaden didn't have the book that chronicled everything about this world, he might've been one of them. Even before the world fell apart, he was already tired of the unjust life he had to live. So now that death had become common, what was the point of trying harder?
"Shad! Look at this!"
Tery's voice pulled his attention. He walked toward her as she pointed to something.
"He must've been a victim of the collapse. His clothes look your size, so you can wear them, right?"
Then Leah appeared from behind.
"Isn't it cruel to strip a dead person like that?"
Shad turned to her. "Then feel free to take off your clothes and give them to the corpse."
"Oh, of course not. Even if it doesn't look like it, the outfit I'm wearing is branded. I bought it after saving up two months' worth of salary."
Shaden chose to ignore her. He removed the clothes Tery pointed at.
"I'll go change for a bit," he told Leah and Tery.
Shaden looked for a spot with enough cover to change. His school uniform, now discolored from blood splatters, was finally discarded. He changed into a black t-shirt and jeans that were a bit tight around the waist—but still much better than his uniform.
"Let's head West! If that place really has some goodness left, we'll find help. But remember! The chances are slim. People who remain kind after the world ends... I find that hard to believe."
Leah scoffed. "You're too pessimistic! Who knows, maybe it really is better than the rest. Look at me—I still have morals even though the world is like this."
Leah's comment made Tery laugh.
"You shoved your friend just because he got in your way during the locust fight. Morality, huh?"
Shaden could only shake his head as Leah and Tery bickered again.
The book didn't detail everything exactly since no one could predict human behavior. Still, for some reason, Shaden had a gut feeling about what lay in the West—the so-called 'better region.'
"When we get there, don't trust anyone. And don't eat any food offered to you. Please remember that!" he warned Leah and Tery, who were still arguing behind him.
**