Chapter 1: An Unexpected Reality
Consciousness returned to Jayden Mendoza slowly and painfully. When he blinked, the first thing he noticed was the thick scent of pine and damp earth filling his lungs. The last thing he remembered was rewatching his favorite show, The Walking Dead, in his apartment. A moment of dizziness, a strange, bright light emanating from the screen… and then here. He was lying in the shade of tall pine trees on Georgia's famous red earth.
"What the hell…" he muttered, slowly sitting up. The clothes he wore weren't his own. He wore a dark gray tactical duffel bag—light, flexible, and surprisingly comfortable. At his side lay a bow on his back, a dozen arrows in a quiver, a sturdy machete sheathed at his waist, and a set of throwing knives gleaming in a sheath strapped to his calf.
At that very moment, a translucent blue screen appeared in the center of his vision.
[Welcome to the System, Player!]
[A Starter Pack has been provided to help you adjust to your new universe.]
[Items Acquired:]
Tactical Sportswear (Equipped)
Composite Bow and Carbon Arrow Set (12)
Machete
Throwing Knife Set (3)
Glock 19 and Spare Magazine (15+15)
[Skills Acquired (Basic Level 1):]
Basic Archery
Basic Melee
Basic Cold Weapons
Basic Hunting
Basic Parkour
Basic Throwing Knife
Basic Firearms
[Consider saying "Status" to see your status. The same applies to quests, inventory, and skills.]
Jayden's jaw dropped. This... this was impossible. It was "The Gamer" system from the fantasy web novels he read. His mind raced as he tried to rationalize what had happened. Was it a dream? A vivid hallucination?
"The situation," he whispered hesitantly.
A new screen appeared instantly.
[Name: Jayden Mendoza]
[Level: 1]
[Hit Points (HP): 100/100]
[Stamina (STA): 100/100]
[STATISTICS]
Strength (STR): 10
Agility (AGI): 10
Stamina (END): 10
Perception (PER): 10
Intelligence (INT): 10
[Assignable Points: 0]
This was real. As unbelievable as it was, this was his new reality. And if the skills in his starter pack and his location were any indication, he knew exactly which reality he was in.
That distant sound left no room for doubt. A slow, guttural, inhuman groan. Jayden instinctively grasped his machete. The leather hilt felt strangely natural in his palm. It was as if he'd been carrying this weapon for years. It must have been thanks to his [Basic Cold Weapons] skill.
He cautiously moved in the direction of the sound. When he emerged from the trees, he came face to face with a familiar nightmare. A figure with graying skin, eyes vacant and bloodshot, walking slowly and striding forward. A "walker." Just like in the show.
When the walker spotted Jayden, his groan turned into a rasping, hungry sound, and he moved toward him. Jayden's heart hammered in his chest, but he didn't panic. A corner of his mind was calm and analytical. Again, a blessing from the system. The machete was heavy in his hand, but manageable. He adjusted his pace, waiting for the walker to come at him. Just as the creature was about to lunge at him, Jayden dodged and swung the machete with all his might.
The metal made a sickening, wet sound as it sliced through rotting bone and flesh. The walker's head tore from his shoulders and fell to the ground, while his body remained upright for a moment, collapsing like a lifeless sack.
[Walker killed! +10 EXP]
[Basic Cold Weapons skill experience gained! 5%]
[Basic Melee skill experience gained! 3%]
Jayden took a deep breath as he stared at the corpse and the bloody machete in his hand. This world was cruel. But he had an advantage. He had a better chance of survival than anyone else. The first thing he had to do now was find a safe place. He tried to remember the first season of the series. Outside of Atlanta... A forested area... If the timeline was correct, there should be a quarry camp somewhere nearby.
He saw a faint plume of smoke seeping through the trees on the horizon. The sign of a campfire. He started walking in that direction, hopeful. He was taking his first steps in this new, cruel world.