1 – Enter The Apocalypse

The crash of thunder wakes me violently from my sleep. I sit up from the couch I find myself on and look around the unfamiliar room.  

'The fuck...?'

I don't recognize anything. Well, I know what everything is: The flat-screen TV mounted on the wall, the broken toaster sitting in front of me on a dirty coffee table, the appliances and names of items all are there, but I can't associate myself with anything in the room. It was like I got drunk and crashed at a stranger's house and now have no idea where I am. It went deeper than that though, I realized as dread welled up inside me. 

'Who am I?'

Oh, fucking hell. Don't tell me this is a lame Isekai amnesia story!!! I read so many of those...they can be so cringy if not done right.

'Wait...how do I know I read manga if I have amnesia...?'

This is when true panic sets in. I can remember things I read, watched, felt, and experienced, but I remember nothing about me in any of them. It is like I have been watching a poorly edited and not very interesting movie for years and years. The memories are there, but I am not in them. 

I start to look at my body, hoping beyond hope to find a nametag. To put it plainly, I am fat. I wear a red t-shirt with the Fl*sh superhero logo on it. It is stretched and...*Sniff* Jesus...it smells awful. Like I poured spoiled milk all over it and thought, "This is fine."

I look down further and see the bulge of my stomach push out over my hips and crotch. beyond that is a ratty pair of gray sweat pants with several small holes and suspicious stains all over them as well as one stain that is clearly mustard. I continue down and see that I am wearing long white socks with gray checkered slippers. 

'I am assuming I was a shut-in...but it is too early to make conclusions yet. How am I so fat? I remember watching hours of workout tapes and videos...did I just watch them and never do anything with them? Am I an idiot?'

While I am pondering this very important question, a blue box pops in front of my face. 

"Shit!" I yell and nearly fall off the couch. Gotta admit I wasn't expecting a game popup box. So I really have been Iseaki'd...Oh well, no use dwelling on it. Not like I can do anything about it now. Better to move forward.

'Hold up. Apocalypse? I thought this was supposed to be a fantasy world? Did I get a bad end already?'

"Hello, Guru...When you say apocalypse..."

"Well...That's reassuring. Can you tell me who I am, where I am, and why I am here?"

"I...chose to be here?"

"Hmm...Can I ask you questions along the way?"

"Thanks. So I only have you with me for this tutorial?"

"I see...Ok... Where to start..." I say while running a chubby hand through my greasy hair.

"Noted, but I need some more information before we get started...Say, can I have a notepad and a pencil or pen to take some notes? It will help me organize my thoughts and form better questions to ask."

A notepad and a freshly sharpened #2 yellow pencil pop into existence on the coffee table in front of me.

'At least this Goddess seems amenable.'

I pick up the paper and pencil and flip it open to the first page. Blank blue lines on white paper greet me. I look at the pencil and realize an issue.

"I don't suppose I could ask for a small pencil sharpener, could I?"

"Understandable. Sorry for the hassle." I say with a wave of my bulbous hand.

I take a moment to organize my thoughts and jot down several questions I have. Looking at the list and nodding, I start at the top.

"Alright Guru, I have my thoughts in order now. Ready for some questions?"

"I could wait an hour or two for you if you need a break?" I offer.

"That was not my intention...but alright, let's get started. First, you say this is the apocalypse and I am in Fountain Colorado. Is this my world or another dimension's version of my world?"

"Does that date hold any significance or is that just a convenient date to start?"

"Alright," I say and smile to myself. I open the notebook to the back page and start a new list titled, "Important Things To Remember." I add the date with a question mark at the end. That should be enough for me. I am used to shorthand notes...though I cannot specifically remember why. Probably the college and all those study groups I see in my memories.

"And what is today's date? You said Jan 1st, 2020 was the start date, but you didn't say that was today's date."

"Oh wow...30 years into the apocalypse. Why was this date chosen?"

"And what difficulty did I chose?"

"Hmm...I am guessing we will cover those during the tutorial, yes?"

"Ok, let's move on for now then." I say and quickly write "Difficulties?" into the margins of the first page. If we do not cover it, I will circle back to ask later. I make quick notes of the answer to my first question and then mark a check next to it to show it has been answered. 

"Next, you have mentioned a Goddess. Can you tell me anything about her?"

'Well, that is a lot to digest. I can make some assumptions based on what Guru said, but I might as well ask clarifying questions while I have the chance.'

Just then, another very important question comes to mind. Something that could fundamentally change my approach moving forward.

"I will come back to Goddess Merseria in just a second, but first, does this tutorial have a time limit? Will I trigger any events by waiting here talking with you? Also, am I safe here to talk to you, or do I need to move quickly?"

This was fantastic news! I have a free encyclopedia right in front of me for as long as I like and have all the time in the world to use it. I will take my time with this and make sure I am moving carefully. I have memories of games I must have played and I know that choosing a difficulty like this will mean I am almost assured to die. This was not the time to act rashly. Slow and steady keeps Desmond alive.

'Hmm...I still have some concerns, however.'

"Thanks, Guru! How about hunger, thirst, and bodily needs such as sleeping and using the bathroom?"

"I would rather say that I am going to use all the tools at my disposal."

"Oh...a relationship system, huh? This is for diplomacy and interpersonal relationships, I am guessing?"

"Am I also correct in assuming that she will be watching me and is taking some form of entertainment from this?"

I smirk at the blue window and look up to the ceiling. I give a quick wave and then say, "I am not sure why I chose to accept this, but I did and that is all I need to know. Thank you for allowing me this tutorial section and for the paper and pencil, Goddess Merseria. I surely would have died in seconds if not for it. I truly appreciate it."

"I will do my best," I promise with a bow to no one. "Okay, Guru, I am ready to continue. My next question is why I was chosen for this?"

Again, this went to the back of the notepad.

'Might mean something or it might not. Best to jot it down for now.'

"Alright, then how did I lose my memories of myself. Was that part of the process?"

"I see... And I am betting asking you anything else about myself will result in an 'I cannot answer that question,' right?"

"Alright! We have our first goal!" This got its own page in the notepad. He left several pages in the back blank in case he needed to expand the important information section, then made two new sections for goals and quests, with 20 pages between them for the future. 

"Going back to Goddess Merseria, you mentioned she was the Goddess of transition. I am assuming that means I died in my original world?"

"Ok, what about her harboring lost and tortured souls, can you tell me anything about that?"

"Fair enough. Next, what is the name of this world?"

"Makes sense. What major changes have taken place between this world and the one I came from?"

"Can you tell me any other monsters or creatures that might be enemies?"

"Alright, I know a dead end when I see one." Another section of the notepad was segmented out for an 'Enemies' entry.

"Next question, why Fountain Colorado? As far as I remember from the geography, I lived in Ohio."

'To the back of the notebook with you!'

"You mentioned a weapon I bartered with Goddess Merseria for, yet I am not able to see it now. Am I correct in assuming I will get it during the tutorial?"

"Great! That works just fine. I will get it before my first combat, yes?"

"From the way you are speaking...texting?... You are an actual person, aren't you? Maybe another God or Goddess? Or a servant of Goddess Merseria?"

Another section of the notebook was made for 'People of interest.' There, the Goddess Merseria and Guru were the first entries.

"Please let me know if any of the following will not be explained during the tutorial: Food, water, rest, power, armor, buildings, construction, crafting, looting, travel restrictions, nearby towns or cities....hmm anything else? Oh! And an explanation of the relationship system."

I look through my list and reach the end. Two left.

"You mentioned I will respawn in the tutorial, is there a life or respawn system outside of the tutorial?"

"Thanks again Guru, just one more question before we get started on the tutorial...How many people are currently on Nightmare Mode?"

'Sounds like I am destined to die...better take this very, very carefully then.'