Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Decisions

Staring back at me in this darkness, was a screen floating in the air, asking about rewards…  Is this a game?  Is this connected to that voice I heard when waking up?

 

I had so many questions, but being alone in a forest, there was no hope for me to find answers right now.  I just want to go back home to my family.  This game is twisted.  Making someone survive, against what, killers? If accepting the reward for surviving moves me to the next stage, does that mean the difficulty will increase?

This decision should not be taken lightly.  But wait, what did that voice say, "the people of my era in history are gone…", and "they can be brought back", does that mean something happened to Earth?  The two fighting me earlier were human, but thinking about it now, their clothes had a roughness that didn't fit with hunters I knew from Earth.  The man swinging the sword was completely out of place too, as I doubt that is a ew trend for hunting.  Then, there was the archer who jumped several meters into the sky, and I can’t forget the large monster looking creature that attacked, which appeared like a panther covered in the skin of an elephant.  

This is reaching the realm of fantasy.  Does that mean there is magic in this world? 

Looking back at the screen, my eyes staring, as my mouth blurts out, “What are Conversion Points?”   

—

[Conversion Points]

The secret to revival of the ancients.  Collect these points to save their souls from the Sea of Feelings and bring them back to the world.   

Warning: This miracle will be witnessed.

Would you like to convert now? (2 available)

(Yes) (No)

—

Now the screen is showing me something about ancients, as if it may be some ally who would help me survive.  But if what the voice mentioned is accurate, that would make me and the people of my era the ‘ancients’.  What concerns me is the warning, which must be similar to why I was attacked immediately upon waking up.  If the people of this world are hostile to ancients, I must find out why.

In any case, I don’t think surviving alone is possible, but with no idea how this conversion works, it may cause innocent people to get hurt.  Looks like I’ll be forced to attempt this conversion at least once to see what is possible, perhaps it would let me see my family.  My family… I miss my daughter and wife so much, but there is no way I could bring them into this world as it stands now.  

“Yes, convert,” I commanded.

The screen disappeared in flash and twinkling stars began appearing as my vision went blank and the feeling of pressure built up into my mind.  Immediately, flashes of people's memories began flooding into me.

“Johnny, you did not finish your school work!-” …

“Grandma, I love you so much, the doctor says you only have a few days, but I don’t want to see you go!-” …

“I just got a promotion at work, we have to celebrate!-” …

“How could you cheat on me!  We have been together for years!  My mother was right about you!-” …

Moments of joy and sorrow, love and loss, success and failure.  The hopes and dreams of many were sent through me like a rollercoaster.  I started thinking how these people are living normal lives, which did not fit in a world of survival.  A world where being hunted, with failure to survive meaning death, just does not fit with the everyday lives of people on Earth.

Thoughts of my family began to spread within me, with my longing to see my daughter and wife.

Just then, the rollercoaster of feelings changed course, and I saw myself from a low angle.

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“Daddy, I colored this picture of you and me!” the voice of my daughter excitedly spoke out.  I remembered this moment from a few months back.  My heart was fluttering with emotion, my tears ready to burst, I knew this was the memories of my daughter.  She got caught up in this mess just like everyone else.  

There would be no peace for her here, until more could be found out about this world.  I love her so much.  The memories kept piling on as it showed the moments of her soccer days and birthday parties, and many other happy events. 

I must survive.  Strong willed people can survive.  I must strengthen my own resolve and find a way to safely bring them back.  But, I cannot do that right now.  Right now, we need strong people who can help me.  Perhaps, soldiers or policemen, people with strong wills to survive may flourish.  

The rollercoaster of feelings froze as if time had stopped, and I was thrust back into the darkness with a screen at my face.

 

—

[Selection Process]

Please provide three (3) keywords to begin conversion.

The keywords will be used to select from the Sea of Feelings. 

—

 

My mind was still racing from the emotions that flooded my thoughts.  I was curious about the name ‘Sea of Feelings’, and now having experienced it first hand, there was no doubt the name was fitting.  

Calming myself down, and staring at the screen again.  

“Soldier, kill, live,” I whispered.  

Without warning, the screen changed.

—

[Success]

Would you like to receive your reward?

(Yes) (No)
—

The screen is once again asking me to take the rewards.  I was just brainstorming for the selection process, when the screen accepted my ramblings immediately.   A few more moments would have been better to fully flesh out the requirements I needed.  Now it seems I’m forced to accept whatever comes out, giving me an itchy feeling something is intentionally forcing my hand here.  

I do not like this game, this system, nor this world.  To show me the Sea of Feelings and the emotions of all those people, even my own daughter.  It has the makings of a sick person at the helm, playing with my life.  I will survive, but I will survive on my own terms.

“No!” I shouted towards the screen.

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