The World Begins A New

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. Memories of my family entered my mind. Are they safe, where were they at?

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?

I should take caution with my decision. But wait, what did that voice say, "the people of my era in history had vanished", 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 doubted that is a new trend. Then, there was the archer who jumped several meters into the air, and I can’t forget the 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 towards the screen, my eyes staring at the words, 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 one day it would let me find my family. My family… I miss my daughter and wife, it aches my heart, but there is no way I could bring them into this world of survival.

“Yes, convert,” I commanded.

The screen disappeared in a flash and twinkling stars appeared, as my vision went blank and pressure built up into my mind. Flashes of people's memories flooded 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.

Longing to see and hug my daughter and wife, watching them smile and laugh during our dinner time.

The rollercoaster of feelings jolted, changing course, and I saw myself sitting down from a low angle.

“Daddy, I colored this picture of you and me!” the voice of my daughter excitedly spoke out showing her artwork. I remembered this moment from a few months back. My heart was fluttering, tears ready to burst. I knew these were 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. My love for her is endless. 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. The strong willed survive. I must strengthen my resolve and find a way to safely bring them back. But, I cannot do that. Right now, we need strong people who can help me. Perhaps, soldiers or hunters who lived in the wilderness, people with resourcefulness and survival instincts.

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 lost, still racing from the torrent of emotions that flooded into me. 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 my breathing down, I stared at the screen again.

“Soldier, kill, live,” I whispered.

Without warning, the screen changed.

—

[Success]

Would you like to receive your reward?

(Yes) (No)

—

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. The screen is once again asking me to take the rewards. I’m forced to accept whatever ancients come out, giving me an itchy feeling something is intentionally forcing my hand here.

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

“No!” I shouted towards the screen.