On May 11th 2023
10 am, NSA, Undisclosed location
The systems were flashing with red alert and glaring sound of bells alerting every NSA agent of a world-ending threat event. After sometime, high ranking NSA officers and Military was conducting a closed-door meeting for an entire day led by the President of USA. Simultaneously, this scene was happening all around the world.
RAW, INDIA
MOSSAD, ISRAEL
KGB, RUSSIA
MI6, ENGLAND
MSS, CHINA
10 pm, Boys dormitory, IIT Kharagpur, India
When these high-ranking meeting was ongoing in USA, on other side of planet, Adithya Raveendran, a young man around 20-25 age with black hair, brown eyes, chocolate colored skin and a lean body was stargazing on the rooftop of his dormitory. Then he observed a meteor passing by in the sky and he trailed its path with his eyes thinking whether to make a wish. Suddenly, it changed its trajectory and deviated as it took a sharp turn towards earth. But as it neared to the surface, he observed that it was coming straight at him. Noticing the meteor's trajectory and speed, he understood that he couldn't escape outside of the radius of the meteor's impact. He stared at the oncoming meteor with a smile laced with a tinge of sadness and longing on his face as he thought about his family 'Dad, Mom, Sis, I am sorry for going ahead of you. Riya, I love you but I am sorry I couldn't fulfill my promise to you to give a queen's life. Please don't be sad and live a fulfilling life even if it's not with me' and he slowly closed his eyes accepting his fate.
AT 10 am, On May 12th 2023
All the armed forces of developed countries on earth started to move towards a small island in Pacific Ocean. At the same time in the headquarters of the certain international terrorist organization, a middle-aged man was monitoring the surveillance system with a devilish grin on his face. Suddenly, the monitor gave a silent alarm informing him about intruders, as a mischievous and playful smile appeared on his face.
After several minutes he heard footsteps of people coming towards him. As the intruders opened the door and saw the man sitting on the chair with a dead man's trigger on his hand, they raised the gun and said
"Hands up, you are under arrest." A RAW agent said
The man slowly rotated his chair and faced them with his thumb pressing on the dead man's trigger. His face was half burned and had a huge scar extending from his left eye all the way to his shoulder. Seeing his disfigured face, they all shuddered and thought about all the horrible things he must have gone through. After a moment of pause, they regained their senses and asked
"Where are the bioweapons, Patrick?" A CIA agent asked
"They have all reached their destinations. Just waiting on the time for it to explode." Patrick said with a sinister smile.
Hearing this all of them was scared and scrambled to take their phones and called their superior. Seeing this, he got up and walked to the door
"Where are you going, Patrick?" a KGB agent asked as they entered the room
"Oh, we have all the bigwigs here now CIA, MI6, RAW, MSS, KGB and MOSSAD. I am flattered. Now it's time for final and spectacular blast." he said with sarcasm
Then he turned slowly with the thumb slowing releasing from the dead man's trigger switch in his hand with a sinister smile plastered to his face.
"Well, to answer your question I am leaving or we all are dying together." he said as he gave an ultimatum with a devilish grin.
Suddenly, a bullet whizzed past and hit his chest and as he fell down, simultaneously releasing his thumb from trigger. Seeing this, the RAW agent standing in front jumped forward and caught the switch before the place exploded as he cursed the one that shot. Taking the situation in control, they moved to the monitor and verified his past activities. They got the information of 7 packages be delivered around the globe. After taking the details, they all went to the different locations to secure the packages.
Each one of agents managed to secure one package and successfully isolated the bioweapon from detonating in the atmosphere. But to their dismay, one of them failed to identify the last package and the time of detonation had already passed as they couldn't stop the timer once it's started. As every package exploded on time, releasing the virus strain into air containers they were put except for the seventh one. Hearing that, one of them failed to isolate the seventh package their faces were written with desperation, horror and trepidation as failure in mission essentially meant the world as they know it were coming to an end.
10am, Boy's dormitory, IIT Kharagpur, India
In the rooftop of a dormitory, the young man slowly woke up with a heavy headache and was shocked to see that he didn't die or any crash site was near him. Then to his shock he saw a translucent screen of light blue screen and heard a female voice saying
{
Scanning the host, Scanning the planet.
World ending in five hours, World undergoing its evolution.
Host is a genius and ardent seeker of knowledge.
All the conditions have been fulfilled.
Cosmic Library system attached to host.
System initializing
1%...25%...75%...100%
Welcome host. I am the All-knowing Cosmic library system.
}
"What is happening to me? Am I going crazy?" He screamed in his mind
[
Don't panic host. You are not going crazy. You should calm down. I am Cosmic library system.
]
Aditya calmed himself down and started assessing himself. After confirming that he has not gone become mentally ill, he asked
"System, what are you? And what do you mean by world ending?"
[
Host, that is, in 5 hours this world will undergo an apocalypse.
]
"What type of apocalypse?"
[
It is a zombie apocalypse. A devastating Virus will be released on the planet which will turn the dead into living, that is, every sentient being will turn into creatures only capable of murdering in about five hours.
]
"So, will every creature on this planet be infected with this virus."
[
No, host.
]
"Then what do you mean by that every creature is infected by virus and dead turning into living?"
[
If you are curious, you should explore the details and seek the knowledge yourself.
]
"Okay. Then why have you attached to me if could not to help me and only give me half details."
[
Host, I am not here to coddle you. I will only guide me. How much further you go that depends on you.
]
"Well, all my hopes of stepping into heaven with one single step have been thwarted with that." Adithya said with a disappointed sigh to which the system snickered with a laugh and he continued to say
"Okay, then show me my status."
{
Aditya Raveendran
Species: Normal human/ mortal
Strength: 9
Agility: 8
Intelligence: 20
Mana: NA
Library shop locked
Stat points: 0
}
"What is a strength of peak human?"
[
It is 20, host.
]
Hearing that, I thought 'So, in intelligence I am in the ranks of a peak human.' And then continue to ask
"Do I get a newbie gift pack?"
{
Do you want to open your newbie pack?
Yes/no
}
"Yes."
{
Gift pack opened
Omniscient eye
Peak body training manual (Remark: At least train yourself up fast before being cannon fodder for other people. Heh)
}
I sighed at smug remark of the system with frustration and heard a mechanical sound 'DING' when the blue translucent screen appeared.
{
Do you want to equip omniscient eye and implant the manual into your body?
Yes/No
}
"Yes"
{
Inserting omniscient eye into the ocular system. Please be ready.
3
2
1…
}
Aditya started to scream from pain of tearing his eyes as he knelt down and clutched his eyes. After several minutes, the burning pain in the eyes stopped. A screen lit up in his mind which said
{
Implanting the manual into the brain stem. Please be ready.
3
2
1…
}
Before he could utter a word, a head splitting pain assaulted his brain as he fell on the ground clutching his head. After a moment, the pain eased as he started taking large breaths in to calm himself.
{
Omniscient eye--level 1
You can see for 100 meters in all directions and see information about things(living/non-living).
}
Then the screen lit up again in his mind as he saw a translucent screen before him
{
Daily missions:
Run for 10 km
0/365
Reward: 10 SP
Do 100 pushups
0/365
Reward: 10 SP
Do 100 pullups
0/365
Reward: 10 SP
Do the peak body stance daily for an hour.
0/365
Reward: Peak body
Failure
Removal of system
}
"Oh, great, more work. System, what is use of stat points."
[
SP can be used to buy things from the shop or upgrade any equipment you have.
]
"Okay. System, do you have a name?"
[
Cosmic library system, host.
]
"That's sad and long name, system. Well, I will name you. Since, you have sound of a female. From now on, I will call you Marie. And Marie, call me Adhi." As soon as Adithya said the screen lit up in his mind as it said
{
Hidden achievement unlocked 'Considering system as a companion and naming it.'
Reward:10 SP
}
After understanding the functions of the system, I took my phone out and dialed my father's number to inform him of the impending doom.
Ring Ring
"Hello, son" I heard a gruff voice from the other side of the phone.
"Hi, dad" Adithya replied
"Don't have you class now? Did you have breakfast?" Raveendran, his father, asked in a gruff voice but laced with caring of father in his voice.
"I didn't go to class today, dad. Yes, I had breakfast." I replied with a soft smile and then paused for a moment as I was thinking how to convince and convey him about seriousness of the impending apocalypse.
"Why are you not speaking? Is there some problem?" Raveendran asked worriedly
"Dad, do you trust me?" Adithya asked in a serious tone.
"Yes, son. I trust you." Raveendran said with a resolute tone.
"Then do as I say. Earth is going to be struck with an apocalypse in five hours." Adithya said gravely and then paused a moment to let the weight of the information sink in his mind, then he continued to say
"Dad, I want you to acquire food and water as much as possible and if possible, some weapons and go to our cabin in the woods. Take Riya's family with you too."
"How do you know, son?" Raveendran asked in severe and solemn tone.
"It's complicated, dad. I will explain the details when I meet you. Please dad, promise me you will do what I said." Adithya asked in an urgent and serious tone.
"Okay, I promise" Raveendran promised him to ease his worries.
"Okay, there's not much time left. Don't dawdle and go fast." Adithya said urging him
"Hmm." Raveendran hummed in a soft tone as he hung up the phone to prepare for the disaster.
As soon as the phone was hung up, Adithya's phone started ringing. He looked at the phone to see who was calling and he attended the call with a loving smile as he said
"Hey, babe, I was about to call you."
"Adi, do you trust me?" Riya, his girlfriend asked as soon as he picked up the phone and Adithya thought in bewilderment 'Isn't this question I asked my father just now. Did she also receive a system? Oh no, is my dreams of becoming protagonist like in those cliched novels have all been dashed' as he groaned in disappointment when he heard her voice calling him
"Adi, can you hear me?"
"Yes, Riya. I trust you." Adithya replied in a soft, resolute tone
"Hmm, then listen to me carefully. An apocalypse is about to be struck on our planet in about five hours. Even though I know and trust you can survive any battle ahead of you. I need you to be extra careful. Let's rendezvous at your family's cabin in woods." Riya said grimly laced with a kind, tender tone.
"Okay, I understand. Babe, you should also be careful." Adithya also advised in an affectionate tone
"One more thing, if you can help and protect your friends, Tarun and Gaurav, you should do it. Friends who we can trust will be less in the future." Riya said soberly.
"Okay, I understand. Take care." Adithya said affectionately
"Bye, be careful." Riya said in a warm, caring tone
After the call, I got up and went out to shopping. After more than 3 hours of shopping I got back to dormitory and parked my van in obscure place far from any prying eyes filled with food and other necessities.
After making the preparations, I saw a timer in the corner of my eyes counting down to time of imminent apocalypse.
[1:20:59]
So, I started to do the mission given by the system.
After more than an hour of hectic workout, I got a system message of completing the missions.
{
Daily mission completed
Reward 40 SP
}
[00:05:02]
Seeing the timer, he called his dad and asked
"Dad, have you and Riya's family reached there?"
"Yes, son." Raveendran replied in firm tone
"Good. I will try to reach you in about a month. Stay safe." Adithya said with a sigh of relief and then he continued to say
"Okay, bye. I need to get to my friends."
"Bye, be careful." Raveendran advised him.
Adithya hanged up the phone as he walked towards the campus to find his friends while the timer counted down.
[
00:00:03
00:00:02
00:00:01
]
Everyone living being on the planet simultaneously heard a mechanical sound in their mind as it said
{
The Earth Celestial system is coming online as the native citizens have created their own apocalypse because of their stupidity. So, to increase the chances of the natives to survive this impending disaster, the earth celestial system is awakening and delaying the apocalypse for an hour. Use the time given to increase the chances of survival. Best of luck.
Hibernation till: 00:59:57
}
Every inhabitants of the planet were dumbstruck as they stood in shock when mechanical sound echoed in their head and saw a timer counting down in the corner of their eyes. After coming out stupor, everyone logged into different social media to see whether they have gone mad. But the message in the social media only made them panic more. Some sharp and intelligent, swiftly made plans to secure resources while others were cursing, complaining and hoping for the military to protect them.
The government all over the world sent soldiers to calm down mass from rioting and robbing. While this was happening, Adithya was walking in the campus amidst the chaos searching for his friends. Finally, after spotting, he grabbed them and walked towards the dormitory. After packing some clothes, he led them towards the van and drove away from the campus avoiding the busy streets and military or police.
As time ticked down, the citizen and government grew tense. As the time approached the last few seconds, silence hung in every city, town, village or homes where some were worried about their future while others excited about their future.
[
00:00:03
00:00:02
00:00:01
00:00:00
]
Everyone drew their breath in, tensed as they a mechanical sound.
{
Earth celestial system initializing
Scanning the inhabitants…
.
.
.
Scan success
Introducing celestial energy into the planet and its inhabitants.
.
.
.
Success
Hi, inhabitants of earth
I am your world system. Due to action of certain people in this world, now this world is facing its destruction. To save the lives of 7 billion people and earth, the world system has been activated. After its activation, it has saved the inhabitants from their premature death due to lack of awareness. But I also have limitations to my capabilities. So, I gave one-hour head start and hope everyone has used it to their advantage. Zombies will start to swarm this world now. For everyone's safety I have given everybody beginner's gift pack. So, everybody get ready for battle as your life and your planet's life depends on your capabilities. To make all inhabitants equal, all technological capabilities that took tilt the battle have been disabled. It is a beginning of new era folks. Strive to reach the top. All the best
}