The scene changed into a graveyard and our bored gamer heard them first before seeing them completely.
A shroud of mist on the side cleared up to spat the ghastly appearances of the dead.
"DING!" A familiar sound echoed nearby and Clark also got a name of what he was up against.
* * *
Newly Awakened Zombies! - The shell of the dead risen anew to exact vengeance on those who still breathed life in this mortal world.
Monster Level – 1
Game System Comment: Even a single stone could kill one. But beware... for they are many.
* * *
"Exactly has an RPG immersion theme. Like the virtual reality games in Nancy's abundant stores of futuristic adventures!"
Clark exclaimed excitedly even though he knew that his body was truly transported in a physical world conjured by the magic of this dungeon.
"Let me try to see how strong these zombies are." Our bored gamer offered a hand and awaited for the nearest crawling zombies to come at him.
Alas, what got him first was something else entirely.
"BANG!" The soft earth from beneath his feet opened up to showcase a hungry zombie into the fray. A lurker deep within.
The ugly monster did not wait for any invitation and immediately bit the exposed leg of our good gamer. It tore through the expensive clothing of his jeans but no further.
There was no blood or torn muscle whatsoever. The poor zombie could not even pierce through our avid gamer's skin. In response, Clark could only shake his head in disappointment.
"Fit to be labeled level 1 monsters indeed." Our bored gamer sighed and reached for the bony head of the hapless creature. This was once a man. Now a cursed soul.
"CRACK!" The head exploded in a gory mess and rotting brain matter cascaded on the left hand of Clark.
* * *
+ 1 exp
* * *
A sound notified the passing of the monster.
"Let me end this funny show with a bang." Our bored gamer declared and stepped lightly on the misshapen ground beneath him.
"BOOM!" The entire cemetery and all its areas nearby detonated in a deafening round of destruction.
+ 1 exp
+ 1 exp
+ 1 exp
.
..
...
99 notifications of the same message rang in our bored gamer's ears before he was back again at the starting point. A world with nothing but pure white.
"Congratulations, Player!"
"You have cleared the North Polar Territory 1st Stage!"
"Experience Bar Unlocked!"
"Character Profession Unlocked!"
"Game Shop Unlocked!"
"Inventory Space Unlocked!"
"Do you want to register your name in order to get 10 game points?" The Dungeon Spirit asked.
"Sure. You can call me Lu Chen." Clark smiled in reply.
Although he could use his real name in this world but it was better to be subtle about these things. As always, he never forgot his other identity also.
What better alias could he use than his dead soulmate in the past.
"Player successfully registered!"
"DING!"
"+10 game points awarded to Player Lu Chen!"
"DING!"
"Stage Completion Rating: SSS!"
"Play Lu Chen, do you want to continue to the next stage of the dungeon or choose to exit?" The Dungeon Spirit queried.
"No. Take me back for now." Clark replied without any second thought. He already got what he wanted from here.
Although he could break the ranks and maybe gain strength later on but it would be too boring to play alone.
He would rather just wait for when everyone to catch up with his power and maybe team up with a party or two. That would be way more exciting for our bored gamer.
"FLASH!" Clark exited from the dungeon. The chill wind touched his skin but he did not shiver in the least. Our bored gamer was more focused on the diamond watch on his wrist.
He touched it with a finger and a new interface appeared before his eyes. Like a hologram atop the magical watch.
* * *
Player: Lu Chen
Level: 1
Experience: 100/500
Profession: None (player is free to choose anytime)
Attack: 100,000 points
Defense: 100,000 points
Speed: 100,000 points
Intelligence: 100,000 points
Available Stat Points: 5
Abilities: Flight
Game Shop
Game Points: 10
Inventory
* * *
"Interesting. No matter where i go, i think the universal measurement for power still remains true in all worlds and realms." Clark said after he saw his stats.
One should know that a World Traveler Realm has an average power of 100,000 points.
"But having this data on me will certainly give me only trouble in the end. I don't want to spoil my fun in this world at all." Our bored gamer smiled.
"Can you edit my character sheet for me, Nancy?" He called his handy op system cheat.
"Affirmative, host. The system can override any mundane power system in this Mortal Realm. The system is after all something that originated from a more potent power source."
Nancy replied and there was pride in her voice.
Although the connection between her and the Elder God who created her was already cut but that did not mean at all that she has also forgotten where she came from.
Our bored gamer also never meddled in small things like this one. If it wasn't broken, don't fix it! Clark did not want to change Nancy in any way whatsoever.
"Very good, Nancy! Now i want you to..." Our good gamer said his specifications and looked at the result 10 seconds later.
* * *
Player: Clark Colter
Level: 1
Experience: 100/500
Profession: None (player is free to choose anytime)
Attack: 14 points
Defense: 8 points
Speed: 8 points
Intelligence: 9 points
Available Stat Points: 0
Abilities: Handsome Gamer
Game Shop
Game Points: 10
Inventory
* * *
"Hmmm... That's better. At least in this way, anyone who would like to see my stats would be easily fooled by this camouflage."
"Time to answer my old man." Clark smiled and took out a teleportation stone from his inventory. With a touch, he was gone in the next breath.
The North Pole was once again devoid of any souls whatsoever.
* * *
"I have been calling you for almost 15 minutes already! Why aren't you answering my call?! And your men! Where are they?!" A man's voice roared on the phone.
This was of course none other than our bored gamer's father. Martin Colter.
"I had some work that I needed to be done quickly, Father. They're on their way back even as we speak. Is there something wrong back home?" Clark asked innocently.
Wisely dodging all the other questions thrown at him. This was nothing but a lie of course. His bodyguards and the lot of them were all sleeping in his guest room.
Not of their own choice in fact. Our bored gamer did not want any of their interference while he was out winning his first girlfriend last night.
"After they arrive, I need you to come back here Clark! This is very urgent! I've already contacted John earlier. He's on our private jet and is on the way even as we speak.
Ride yours and i want to see you here pronto!" Martin said in the same agitated voice.
"Is this about a temple or something?" Clark asked in a whisper. Any commotion halted on the other side of the line and it took a few breaths before Martin could react to his son's words.
"What do you know about it? This temple." Martin said softly. Almost in a fearful voice. This put a smile on our bored gamer's face.
It was not everyday that he could hear his father getting this shaken. Martin was the calmest man Clark knew. But not today.
"What's this sense of mystery I get from you, Father?" Our good gamer could not help but laugh a little from his old man's plight.
"This news is all over the internet. You should see how many people are posting pictures and videos about these temples that just sprouted from the ground up without any rhyme or reason." Clark added after a breath.
"I see. First that alien fist in the skies and now this. What has this world gone to? Come back home, Clark." Martin could only lament in the end.
"I will, Father. I'll see you in a few hours." Clark promised.
* * *
Colter Residence.
Many things had happened in just a few hours, Martin was already aware that these temples brought power and opportunities unto people.
It was lucky that with enough money and influence, he entered once and got himself an ability thereafter. This was also true for his wife Michelle and his kids Luke and Denise.
He just got a call from John where the latter said that he also finished acquiring his ability.
"What is taking Clark so long?! He should have been here hours ago!" Martin heard a worried voice behind him. It was his wife.
"He'll be here any moment from now, dear. There is no need to be upset. After all, i should be the one who should feel distressed the most amongst us today." Martin smiled bitterly.
When the wheel of abilities turned for him, he got 3 trash picks.
1. Killer Fart – a fatal area of effect skill that could stun anyone who breathed its foul odor
2. Long Jump Artist – user can jump up to 6,000 feet in the air
3. Heavy Sleeper – can sleep 30 days straight without any food and water
In the end, Martin chose the third option. He thought that this was pretty practical especially with how crazy the world seemed to be lately.
The old man also did not want to accidentally murder his family or anyone else for that matter with the first pick.
Martin was afraid of heights which ended the debacle over his trash abilities completely.
"We can only face what's in front of us, dear. We'll all get through this safely." Michelle encouraged her husband.
She was luckier than most because she got to pick a photographic memory ability earlier.
"BOOM!"
"BOOM!"
"BOOM!"
A helicopter announced its presence a few minutes later and from it, went out a very handsome gamer that his family could not believe that it was the same boy that they cared for 19 years in this world so far.
"Hey, guys! It's me, Clark!" Our bored gamer greeted with a wave of his hand.
"..." Martin and Michelle stood there stunned in place. This world was certainly getting weirder and weirder by the second, the two could truly not doubt the veracity of this statement.