Dead To Begin

Level 4 – System Triggered

Neva extended her hand to help Joanne stand. “Are you alright?” she asked.

“I’m fine,” Joanne replied.

“Thank goodness.” Neva smiled.

“You seemed so brave. Weren’t you afraid of that goose? What if it had pecked you?”

“To be honest, I was scared,” Neva admitted, “but I forced myself to fight my fear so I could save you. I could never let my best friend be in trouble. That’s why I attacked the goose and faced my fear.” Neva smiled at her, and Joanne found herself staring at the pure, innocent face of the beautiful girl her age. “If you were in my place, you would’ve done the same, right?”

Joanne smiled softly and nodded.

She opened her eyes, that memory instantly rekindling her courage. Her fists clenched tightly at her sides. Her eyes burned with determination as she faced the horde of undead surging toward her, most of them already keeping Jackson and Smith occupied.

“I’ll do the same thing Neva once did. I’ll fight my fear and protect my friends. I will win and escape this!” Joanne whispered to herself.

“ROARRR!!”

Zombies swarmed toward her. Joanne sprang into motion, her fists flying as she fought against her fear. With all her strength, she battled them head-on—kicking one to her left, punching one to her right, landing a crushing blow on one directly ahead, sending it sprawling helplessly.

Jackson and Smith stared in shock, wide-eyed at Joanne’s sudden burst of strength. She had already taken down nearly half the remaining zombies by herself.

“KYAAHH!!” Joanne cried out, her voice fierce and fiery as she pushed herself further. Her breaths came heavy and ragged from the sheer effort of pummeling every zombie in sight. Jackson and Smith stood frozen, watching her.

“I will not lose! I have to protect my friends and break free from this place! No matter what I face, I’ll fight to win!” she screamed.

“U-unbelievable… she’s stronger than I imagined…” Jackson muttered, barely blinking.

Joanne scanned her surroundings again, but something felt wrong—the zombies weren’t decreasing. If anything, more seemed to appear. She unconsciously took a step back.

“Don’t let your guard down! They’re multiplying!” Smith warned, snapping Jackson back to reality. The three of them were being completely cornered, the number of zombies now doubled.

“At this rate, we’ll never make it out alive,” Jackson muttered as he backed up, his shoulders colliding with Joanne’s and Smith’s.

“There must be a way out. We just haven’t found it yet.” Smith’s voice was calm—too calm, as it had been from the very start.

“Then where is it? Where’s the exit?” Joanne demanded, her eyes darting around. But all she saw was darkness and the swarm of zombies closing in.

Jackson wracked his brain for an idea when suddenly a glowing interface appeared before his eyes, displaying a symbol shaped like a message.

“Am I hallucinating, or do you two see this too?” Jackson asked.

“You mean this screen that looks like a game system?” Joanne answered.

“So you both see it?” Smith added.

“What now…” Jackson muttered, frowning.

“It looks like… a message,” he said.

Meanwhile, elsewhere—

“They must have realized by now and entered. I’m certain they’ve already encountered the first-level enemies—the endless tide of zombies. Haven must be busy dealing with Winter and Alvin, who’ve gone further ahead,” murmured Davian Randolph, the middle-aged man Jackson had once met. He stood before a fireplace, gazing at a painting displayed among his family’s heirloom antiques.

“I hope they receive the message I sent in time,” he whispered before leaving the room.

Back inside the battlefield, Jackson, Smith, and Joanne all touched the glowing screen simultaneously. In an instant, the display shifted, revealing a message from Davian.

____________________________________

I am Davian, and I will guide you to find the way out.

Forgive me, for you received this message late.

But first, let me explain a few things you must follow and complete.

Click to choose what you want to see first:

• Read the rules

• View the mission

*The choice is yours.

____________________________________

Jackson clicked his tongue in annoyance. “That old man is wasting our time. We’re in the middle of life-and-death here, and he wants me to choose?!” he grumbled.

Without hesitation, Joanne pressed the first option and began reading.

____________________________________

• Read the Rules [√]

The rules are simple.

Just remember the following if you want to break free:

1. You must work together and help one another. Never allow yourselves to be separated—stay together.

2. Each level will have a quest you must complete. Every completed quest will reward you.

3. Collect the Kane Collection whenever you find them. Make sure you gather all of them (approx. 350 in total).

Note: Do not let Haven or his followers take them from you. Failure = Game Over. You will lose your last chance to free the one you love.

4. Only one person will win. But once that person clears the game, everyone will be freed—including your loved ones—and everything will return to normal.

*There is also a special reward for you!

____________________________________

Joanne tapped the button labeled Special Reward, and instantly, a new page appeared with the image of an item—an Owl Glasses.

____________________________________

• Owl Glasses •

By conquering your fear and awakening the courage hidden within you, you have earned this reward.

The Owl Glasses will allow you to see what cannot be seen with the naked eye.

Note: This item is valid for a single use only, and can only be used by a player under Level 1.

<< Click here to claim the item >>

____________________________________

Joanne pressed the button. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she suddenly felt the weight of the object materialize in her hands.

She pulled the glasses out, staring at them for a moment before slipping them on.

Her vision transformed instantly, granting her sight beyond the ordinary.

She scanned her surroundings, and then her face lit up.

“I see it!” Joanne shouted excitedly.