It was the year 2077. Through advanced technology we had nearly eradicated world hunger, disease, and resource shortages. However, war was always on the horizon.

The world was far from perfect, but it was paradise compared to now.

The Psyn-Virus was still thought to be the common cold, and had yet to earn its name.

Thinking back, it was almost funny how small it started off. Advisories to wear a mask in public were largely ignored. No one had died from it yet after all. But even after claiming the first few lives people still acted like it would never affect them.

And then almost overnight, it happened.

The news erupted. "Over 100 dead from unknown virus". "Family found dead after being diagnosed with common cold". "Hospital shutdown to prevent spread of deadly virus". "Airborne virus sweeping through cities".

Reports from around the world were making the same claims. The greatest minds were doing their best to find a cure in their respective countries. Meanwhile the bodies continued to pile up.

When the virus reached epidemic scale, the name Psyn-Virus was given. Soon, world powers united to find a cure.

However, the Psyn-Virus could not be cured in the traditional sense. Every attempt was temporary as the virus evolved and re-infected people. It seemed hopeless until a previously unknown doctor made a discovery. Dr. Languid was his name. He created a vaccine that evolved alongside the virus. Fighting it off and removing all symptoms. V4-R14-NT. Or the Variant Vaccine, as people came to know it. The only problem was that the cure was just as deadly as the virus. With a 91.8% failure rate, mass production was halted and the vaccine was sealed away.

Dr. Languid disappeared some time after that, and so did most of the vaccine the government had in storage.

The death toll reached the millions. Worldwide efforts united once more to create the Stasis Pod program. 

I was one of the lucky few who qualified but because of my age I was put on a waiting list. I was still in my 30's mind you. But the preference was for younger participants due to higher success rate calculations. 

Still, it was better than nothing, and I decided to make preparations.

While I put my affairs in order before taking the long nap, a startling series of reports came out.

It was everywhere, smartphones, TV, radio and digital billboards. "The dead have arisen".  That was the title that caught my attention. 

People who had died from the recent mutation of the Psyn-Virus virus were returning from the grave. Armies mobilized to fight the zombie outbreak, and at first found some success. To be sure they burned the bodies. But the flames of war could not outpace the virus.

Eventually all of our weapons, advanced A.I and war machines were useless against an enemy that had transcended death. Civilization was overrun in the following weeks.

I barricaded myself in my home, surviving on whatever I could ration. But by the grace of God I got the call. Seems like I out survived the lengthy waiting list and still qualified because I was only at stage 2 by then.

The medical facility sent an armored van to pick me up. I wish the windows were blocked out on the long drive to the facility because the things I saw haunt me to this day.

People had completely turned on eachother. A cough or sneeze was enough for a mob to murder someone. Anonymous claims that someone was infected were a death sentence. No one was spared. Not even children.

I shut off my heart and after a few minutes, we reached an underground facility. I was put to sleep immediately in a room full of countless others who had already shut their pods tight.

I'm still not sure exactly how much time had gone by but when we woke up, things had only gotten worse.

I remember there were 12 of us in that group. The other pods were left behind. After getting outside people began to argue. But there was this woman who took charge. She claimed to be a scientist and that she could lead us to a facility that was extremely close to creating a cure before she went into stasis.

The journey was intense. After the first day I was left behind. I wasn't surprised. I was slow and weak. On top of that the virus had progressed to stage 3. I couldn't expect a bunch of strangers to take care of me.

I all but gave up until this group came by. Called themselves the Blackguard. Claimed to have started a settlement back in the old city grounds. Even got the power grid back up in the area around the sports stadium. 

Before allowing me into the group there was one condition. The leader shoved Variant Vaccine in my hands. He explained that whenever people wearing clothes like me joined the settlement, they got sick and turned into the undead. 

The vaccine was the only thing that stopped it from happening. The success rate was already known to me but I didn't have any other options. Obviously, I survived the injection. 

Next I followed them to the settlement and have been here ever since. By my guess at least 250 years passed by in stasis. And it's been about 35 years since I moved to this settlement. In all my time here I witnessed miraculous things. Stuff straight out of a webcomic. 

Superhuman powers. The ability to control the wind. Flying, blasting, fighting. You name it. The Unturned is what they were called. Locked in an endless war with the undead. 

Had I known that these powers manifested when a person survived both being bitten by a zombie and injected with the vaccine I would have stuck my arm right in a zombie's mouth!

Not really. I barely made it with just the shot alone. Can you imagine it though? Having powers like that?

Van sat quietly as the Archiver revealed the history behind the world they awoke in. It would be a lot to process if he hadn't already experienced some of it first hand. 

"Actually I can imagine." Van made his eyes glow as brightly as possible.

The old Archiver clapped in amazement. "Tell me what your power is!" His old body found new life as he raced around the room. In a flurry , paperwork, notebooks and some drawings covered the table. 

Van looked over some of the notes. 

He wasn't called the Archiver for nothing.  There were drawings of Luke, Ash and 6 other people with various notes scribbled around them.

When Van looked up, the Archiver was quickly glancing in his direction while furiously scribbling away.

"So?" The Archiver paused for just a moment. "What element do you use?"

Van was hesitant at first. But the Archiver explained that this was going to be a requirement if he ever joined the Blackguard.

"The Blackguard are the people who saved you right?" Van recalled.

"Yes." The Archiver shifted back into storyteller mode.

The Blackguard are the backbone of this society. They started and have always protected this settlement. Within their ranks are some of the strongest Unturned I have ever seen. Their Commander is the one who found me all those years ago.

Let's see, there are 6 officers not including the Commander. The Captain and Lieutenant are almost always away on missions. The other 4 hold important offices and duties like keeping the Day Guard and Night Guard running. 

Day Guard are like the police, and Night Guard keep watch over the settlement boundaries for undead or nomads. All guards, including the Chief guards, report to the Blackguard.

Van felt that he could trust the Archiver, and started to help the old man create a superpower profile. 

It was nice being able to talk to someone from his time. It also made explaining the System ability extremely simple. A quick reference to a popular show called "Solo Level Up" was all that he needed to say.

Van pulled up his status and read off his skills. 

[SKILLS

Survival (¾) Expert- Use of techniques to sustain life in any environment. Passive.

Sprint (²/⁴) Adept- Run with a burst of speed. Toggle. Cost: 1 SP Per Second.

Athletics (¾) Expert- Move with precision and efficiency. Passive

Danger Sense (¾) Expert- Perceive threats and enemies within a wide range. Passive.

Scan (¾) Expert- Highlight valuables, clues and detected enemies. Toggle. Cost: 1 EP Per Minute]

Grit (¼) Novice- Allows conversion of SP to be used in place of HP when taking damage. Toggle. Cost: 1 to 1.

Sneak (²/⁴) Adept- Move silently and stealthily. Toggle. Cost: 1 SP per second.

Focus (¾) Expert- Gain extreme perception and slow down time to 1/10 normal speed. Toggle. Cost: 60 SP per second.

Tracking (²/⁴) Adept- See a scanned targets trail. Scan must be active. Active. Cost: 5 SP per scanned target.

Willpower(¾) Expert- Possess a strong mind that can resist fear and illusion. Passive.

Force (¾)Expert- Charge up your strength to deliver a powerful strike. Active. Cost: 10 SP.

Melee (¾)Expert- Improved close range weaponry efficiency. Passive.

Resolve (¼)Novice- Allows conversion of HP to be used in place of SP when insufficient. Toggle. Cost: 1 to 1.

Persuade (¼)Novice- Bring others to your point of reasoning with words. Passive. ]

But the Archiver chose to omit most of the information given. He reasoned that most people nowadays wouldn't understand the video game reference. Instead he listed off things like enhanced senses, and agility.

Next came the explanation of Van's abilities. But when he opened his Variant window, he noticed a new icon and message.

[VARIANT

Element: Light

Abilities:  Lux [x1] available. Please select an ability to unlock (*) 

System (lvl max) 

Resistances:

Physical 11%

Infection 100% ]

Van pressed the icon next to the word unlock. Nothing happened. He then tried tapping it again. Still nothing. He tried again. And again.

*ahem*

Van looked past his screen at the concerned face of the Archiver.

He must have looked like a psychopath as he frantically tapped every word in the message, including abilities. Van decided to skip it for now.

As for the system, Van had the unique ability to gain levels and track his skills. The Archiver noted that this was just a manifestation of his Variant. All Unturned absorbed ectoplasmic energy from defeated foes and used some form of cultivation to enhance themselves afterwards. Meditation was a common practice amongst all Unturned.

A few strokes of the pen later and the Archiver was finished. He held up the profile for Van to inspect.

"Cool huh?" The Archiver beamed with pride.

Name: Vander "Van" Evans

Variant: Combat

Element: Light

Gender: Male

Age: 22

Height: 6'1

Weight: 212 lbs

Powers: Enhanced strength, enhanced agility, enhanced senses, glowing eyes.

Van's look of admiration was all the response he needed. Even though he was more excited about his new parameters than the art work.

Vy won't recognize me when she wakes up!

Van continued the questions, as the Archiver packed away his papers.

"So is there a cure? Other than the Variant vaccine I mean. Like a real cure."

"That, young man, is one of the few mysteries that elude me." The Archiver fell back into his chair.

" If not for the Blackguard I would have certainly died searching for a cure with that other group. I never did find out if they were successful. I sincerely hope that you one day find what you are seeking. It's my belief that joining the Blackguard would be the key to finding the answers you seek."

Van was still as he absorbed all the knowledge he received. The room fell silent as the Archiver finished clearing the table. 

A shiver ran down his spine.

*Bam*

*Bam*

*Bam*

The knocking on the door was so hard that it burst open. Guards brandishing their weapons rushed into the room. When Van was surrounded the Chief stepped in.

" Van, you are under arrest for murder on settlement grounds." 

The Chief held out a pair of handcuffs. 

"And the suspected murder of 54 other people outside of settlement grounds."

*click*

*clack*

The guards lifted Van from the chair. The Archiver was arguing in the back of the room with a pair of guards.

The Chief walked out front as he continued.

"If found guilty, the punishment is death."