"Aagh!"
"What's going on ?"
A young man with curly long black hair and green eyes, woke up disoriented from a giant mattress in a lavish bedroom.
"I died, right ?"
"Isn't this my penthouse bedroom ?" Caspian uttered in disbelief.
Bzzz…
He felt a soft buzz by his side and looked to see a mobile phone.
"My old phone—shouldn't these have stopped working ?"
But then his eyes went wide when he saw the date.
"Aug—26—2026. One month before the Apocalypse ?"
"I have gone one year back in time." The realization left Caspian frozen in shock.
Then his right fist suddenly tightened as his expression darkened.
"I don't know how this happened–"
"However, Elizabeth, Tristan, and the Albus's—---- I'll make you all pay. I swear it."
Caspian went from the bedroom to the living room, where the news was on loudspeakers—
"The 'Albus's' just finalized a long-term military contract with the government of Newhaven, due to commence anytime..." came a reporter's voice on the TV screen.
"They are too powerful now. I wait. And when the world goes to hell—I strike." Caspian muttered coolly before turning off the TV.
"One month to go—gotta make some preparations."
Caspian took the elevator down to the lobby with a gym bag in hand. And was met with a blast from the past.
"Good Morning, Mr Shade!" came the voice of the receptionist. A brunette with brown eyes.
'What was her name again ?' Caspian tried to recall, but couldn't.
"Morning," he finally responded casually, as he made for the exit.
"Mr Shade, can I perhaps help with anything when I am done with work ?" She probed from behind. Gently heaving her chest.
Caspian halted his motion. Then answered without turning.
"Sure".
He then exited the building.
The receptionist blushed and smiled brightly as she dreamed up fantasies.
Outside. Caspian hailed a taxi that got him to the gym.
The previous Caspian would have rejected the receptionist's advances as usual, since he was completely smitten with Elizabeth.
However, this Capian is a different breed altogether.
After paying for a one-month intense training, he got straight to lifting and exercising.
The plan was to kill 100,000 zombies as soon as the apocalypse began—when the zombies are still weak.
Then use the acquired gold coins to increase his talent level.
He needs to be physically strong for that—unlike last time.
When his talent had just been level-0, Elisabeth and the 'Albus's' manipulated and used him for his unique talent.
Before finally disposing of him in the most gruesome way.
One of Caspian's biggest regrets was not having had the chance to upgrade his talent.
Instead, he had loyally served as a dog to the same people who, it turns out, had even murdered his parents.
"Well, not anymore—they shall all pay." Caspian declared through gritted teeth as he heaved a couple of hundred-kilogram weights off his back.
8:30 pm.
Caspian had a nice shower and arrived back at the skyscraper.
When he got out of the private elevator to his penthouse floor, he saw the receptionist leaning by his door.
She noticed him approach and beamed a wide smile."You kept me waiting."
Caspian said nothing and simply went up to her, took her by the waist, as their lips met in a sensual kiss.
He unlocked his door and pulled her in. It was a long and wild evening.
2:15 am.
Ding dong.
Caspian was jolted awake by someone at the door—looking at the time, he had a feeling of deja vu.
He got dressed and opened the door.
Immediately, Caspian's heart sank as a painful memory resurfaced at seeing this person.
"Hey, loverboy, I lost my keycard. Mind if I stay the night ?"
At his door was a young girl with golden locks and green eyes—Emma Witherspoon.
The girl he killed.