The cold wind whipped against his face as he darted down an alley choked with weeds and abandoned trash bins. He didn't know where he was going—just away from the voices, the danger, the unknown.
He slid behind a dumpster and finally stopped to breathe.
That's when it hit.
A sharp, static pulse surged through his skull, like a lightning bolt detonating behind his eyes. He clutched his head and dropped to one knee.
[SYSTEM BOOTING…]
[Welcome, Host. Initializing Survivor Protocol.]
"What the hell—?"
[Synchronization complete. New Body: Confirmed.]
[World: The Last of Us — Custom Survival Scenario.]
A blue, translucent interface popped into his vision. Like a HUD from a video game. It hovered there, unreadable to the world around him.
[You have been granted the Survivor System.]
[Main Objectives: Survive. Build bonds. Protect. Thrive.]
He squinted as more text scrolled down.
Perks Unlocked:
• Adaptive Reflexes (Lv.1): You react 25% faster in life-threatening situations.
• Bond Mechanic (Locked): Forge relationships to unlock unique abilities and upgrades.
• Harem Protocol (Pending): Minimum bond level with 2+ companions required to activate.
"…Harem Protocol?" he muttered.
[Note: Emotional connections increase bond levels. Physical intimacy may grant stat boosts.]
He stared at the interface. This was insane. A system? In The Last of Us? And some kind of… romance mechanic?
"Alright," he muttered, running a hand through his short, dark hair. "Not what I expected when I died. But sure. Screw it. Let's roll with it."
He closed the interface with a blink just as he heard another sound.
A grunt. Female. Close.
He looked up just in time to see her stumble into the alley—torn jeans, a rifle slung over her shoulder, dark curly hair tied back in a bandana. She looked like she'd been in a fight.
She spotted him instantly.
"Whoa—easy!" he said, hands up.
She raised the rifle halfway. "You following me?"
"No! I just—look, I'm not infected, alright?"
She squinted at him. Then tilted her head. "You're not FEDRA. Or Fireflies. You look like hell."
He chuckled. "Yeah, well, first day on the job."
Something in his tone made her lips twitch. Just a little.
She stepped closer, cautiously. Her eyes scanned him head to toe.
"…Name?"
He hesitated.
Then something clicked.
[Input Host Name:]
"Zane," he said. "Zane Walker."
She lowered the rifle. "Ava," she replied. "Don't do anything stupid, Zane."
[New Character Detected: Ava - Survivor Class]
[Bond Level: 1 - Stranger]
[Quest Updated: Survive the Night with Ava]
Zane blinked. The interface faded again. He looked at her, really looked.
Scar on her cheek. Eyes like thunderclouds. She'd killed before. But she wasn't heartless.
He offered a weak smile. "So… got a place to crash?"
She rolled her eyes, but there was a faint smile there too.
"Follow me, smartass."
As they slipped into the dark together, the system chimed quietly in the back of his mind.