— Where Carl Tries to Make a Plan and Regrets Having a Brain —
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Location: Eastern Samar State University Grounds
Time: 9:32 AM
Mood: Strategizing with a side of Panic-Flavored Energy Drink
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The world was quiet in the wrong kind of way.
No birds. No breeze. Just the far-off murmur of students…
Just after the aftershocks stopped and the crying slowed, most of the students were escorted to the gymnasium - emergency shelter protocol, apparently. Carl made some excuse about needing the restroom and slipped away unnoticed.
Not that anyone was paying attention. Half the faculty were panicking, and the other half looked like they were two minutes from joining the students in sobbing under desks.
Carl crouched in the janitor supply room just outside the main building. It smelled like old mops and despair, but at least it was quiet.
He let the door click shut, the quiet snick of the latch sounding oddly final.
Then he sank down beside a grimy plastic shelf, chest tight with anticipation.
And now, finally, he could do what he'd been dying to do since the quake hit.
"…Alright. System," he whispered, eyes narrowing. "Just what the actual hell is going on?"
[Finally asking the important questions. Took you long enough.]
Carl scowled at the air.
"Yeah, yeah. Just gimmie the breakdown already…
[Query recognized. Initializing Situation Overview…]
Carl crossed his arms, tension grinding his jaw.
[Situation Summary:
– Tutorial Complete
– Main Game Initialized
– Global Dungeon Emergence Confirmed
– Estimated Dungeon Ranks: F to D+
– Monster types: Unknown, varies per location
– Awakening Event: 0.1% human activation rate
– AI Support: Disabled (for normal humans, not you, you lucky freak)
– Earth Designation: "New Trial Zone"
– Primary Objective: Survive. Adapt. Overcome. Or die trying. Preferably the first option.]
Carl swallowed. He then leaned back, shoulders slumped against a mop bucket.
"Trial zone," he repeated. "So… Earth's a playground now?"
[Incorrect. Earth is now a test chamber. Less fun, more death. And you, Carl Reyes, are a beta tester without a manual. If you fail, you die horribly. No pressure. ]
"Of course. Of freaking course." he muttered. "Then Who's behind this? Why Earth? Why me?"
[Data insufficient. Entity responsible: Unknown.
[Selection: Classified.]
[Fun fact: You are one of two known Unique Variables worldwide. The other one is probably doing something productive.]
Carl blinked.
"Two…? There's someone else?"
[Yes. But they're not you. So let's focus on your underwhelming stats, shall we?]
He exhaled slowly resisting the urge to throw something. Preferably the system itself. Out a window. Off a cliff…
He then brought up his Status Screen.
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Status:
[Name: Carl Reyes]
[Title: Lost One]
[Level: 3]
[HP: 120/120]
[MP: 90/90]
[Strength: 12]
[Agility: 11]
[Intelligence: 15]
[Endurance: 10]
[Luck: 2]
[Abilities: Appraisal - F (NEW), Sprinting - F, Basic Adaptability - E]
[System Credits: 0]
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"Still Level 3," he muttered. "All because of two kills. One deranged wolf, one injured panther."
[Correction: Duskfang Panther. Rank: D+. You survived by miracle, instinct, and sheer plot armor.]
"Yeah, and I still have the claw marks on my soul."
Carl closed the screen and leaned forward, elbows on knees. Somewhat worried and curious about the other unique variable like him…
He tried to piece together everything like a chessboard - except half the pieces were missing and the other half were on fire.
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Borongan was safe. For now. No dungeons, no monsters. Which also meant no EXP.
And no EXP meant no progress.
Which meant when—not if—danger arrived, he'd be woefully unprepared.
The System chimed in.
[Recommended actions:
1. Scout for potential dungeon points.
2. Gather supplies.
3. Avoid encounters beyond your skill level.
4. Do not lick any glowing objects.]
"…You say that like it's happened before."
[It might. Humans are disappointingly curious.]
He straight up ignored the system and leaned back, thinking. He'd gained Appraisal in the tutorial. That could be useful. It let him analyze monsters and objects… probably even other people, if he leveled it up. And Sprinting—well, running away was already his number one skill in life. No complaints there.
He tried Appraisal on the mop.
[Old Mop – Rank: F-
Description: Smells like expired disinfectant and bad decisions.]
Carl grunted. "Helpful."
But the bigger issue was this: he hadn't gained a single experience point since getting back. No enemies. No encounters. No chances to train, fight, or adapt. Just people. Civilians. And the worst kind of monster: academic expectations.
[Reminder: You are currently in a non-hostile zone. Borongan has no active dungeons within city limits.]
"Right. So I'm stranded in the tutorial afterparty, and everyone else is about to get eaten by goblins."
[Correct. Your options are:
A) Wait and do nothing.
B) Risk exposure and actively hunt monsters.
C) Cry in a janitor's closet.]
"…Why do you always make C sound so appealing?"
[Because it fits your skillset.]
Carl rubbed his face. He needed a plan. A real one. He couldn't afford to wait for Borongan to become dangerous. He had the System. He had knowledge. If he played this right, he could prepare before things escalated.
That meant gear. Training. Scouting. Maybe even finding an early dungeon before the rest of the world caught on. He could stay ahead of the curve.
If he could just level up.
But that was the wall. The ceiling. The grind.
Carl stood and paced in the tight space. His mind worked in loops - every idea led to a dead end.
He could wait for Borongan to become unsafe… but that was gambling with his family's safety. And his own.
No. He needed to take control. Get stronger. Fast.
"I need monsters," he muttered. "I need to level up."
[Good news, mediocre human.]
Carl paused.
A soft ding echoed through his skull.
[Return Option – Cooldown Complete.]
[You may now access the Tutorial Dungeon.]
Carl froze.
His mouth dropped open. "No way."
Memories of the endless gray skies, the cracked tutorial plains, and the monsters he'd barely survived flashed through his mind.
He'd almost died there.
But he'd also grown there.
Carl smacked his forehead. "Oh my god. I completely forgot I could go back!"
[Yes. Excellent memory. Truly astounding. Shall I schedule your next brain reboot?]
Carl grinned.
He didn't care. He was already bringing up the menu.
A soft pulse of light flickered in his vision. The Return option glowed gently—waiting.
"Alright, finally… a way forward." He muttered. The tutorial dungeon might be limited, but it had monsters. Fights. Opportunities to grow. He could grind there. Train. Prepare for the hell Earth was turning into.
And best of all? No witnesses.
No one would know what he was doing.
No one would see how far ahead he planned to be.
He wasn't the strongest. He wasn't the smartest.
But he had something no one else here did: a head start.
And he was going to use it.
"I'm going back."
[Initializing Return… Stand by for tutorial-level trauma. Again.]
The world shifted.
The supply closet shimmered like a heat mirage—colors warping, sounds muffled—and Carl braced himself.
No turning back now.
[Now Transporting…]
[Try not to embarrass yourself this time.]
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To be continued.