Tears trickled down as I opened my eyes. It was such a long time that I had almost forgotten the white blank space before my eyes. “Everything seem like a long dream…” mumbling out my thought.

[Welcome back, host.]

“I’m back. Do I have to go for the next mission now?”

[You may have a rest for few days if you wanted to. It might be taxing for your mind if you immediately go for your mission.]

“Can you tell me the world setting for the next one first? I think it would be better to be prepared beforehand.”

[Alright… Host, what do you think about zombies?]

“Unpleasant for the eyes. Disgusting and ugly.”

Movies, dramas, animations. Any kind of story always had their own age limit. There are family friendly story. Kids story. Then there’s PG13, PG18, R-rated story. I learned it the hard way, the reason why those stories must only be watched by certain age group.

I was five when I happened to stumble upon a movie played on a big television by the electronic shop owner. Probably as a form of advertisement. The orphanage I grew in does not allowed the kids to watch any form of entertainment. I only knew when I was old enough, it was to make the children became more obedient. I was entranced. It was so magical to see people behind the screen.

My excitement didn’t last long when suddenly a hideous looking corpse lunged on my face. The humiliation I felt as I peed my pant made me bawled my eyes as I ran. Since then, I avoid watching anything with zombies. Or participate in any Halloween event. I can’t get over the shocked and the mortification. Also the fear and shame if people were to know.

[The next world setting would be zombie apocalypse—]

“WHAT?!”

[That is the first huge reaction, host.]

“Can I not go?”

[Unfortunately, it was not a choice. Host… could it be… you were afraid?]

“I plead the fifth.”

[Do not worry, host. As long as you stick to the key person, your safety is guaranteed. Additionally, the system will gifted you with an ability. Spatial manipulation.]

“My own pocket space? How big?”

[Unlimited. That was the compensation the main system decided to give you.]

After two days of rest, well, more like two days convincing myself to take on the job, I reluctantly board into the mission. It was hell. The first thing I saw as soon as I arrived, was a corpse with one of its eyeball dangling roared as it rushing toward me. Plop. My knee went out of service. I can’t even gather the strength to scream. I really wanted to cry though.

[Host! Get into your space dimension!]

“How?!”

[You just have to think about it. Wished upon it! Like creating a crack in the middle of the sky, imagine opening the realm and entered it.]

I did as I was told. Glad to be alive! Halted, I looked up at the sky, said, “why is it like this?”

[Your space dimension resonated with your subconscious mind. Thus, the scenery that is created at first was similar to the condition of your mind. Of course, you could also changed it to your own preference on your own will.]

Dark sky brimmed with sparkling stars. With a bizarre yet stunning combination of lavish green and colorful flora. Plants, flowers, and trees that grow abundantly. Even some that I do not recognize what species it belonged to. The lake and the waterfall that glistened like gemstones. Blue water with a hint of violet, just like tanzanite. No beginning and no end.

Just as I visualized a hut comfortable enough for me to rest, it materialized into reality. “System… Can’t I just stay here? I really, really, really don’t want to see any zombie anymore…”

[But… If you don’t move, you won’t be able to meet up with Taylor.]

Taylor the mad killer. The key person for the world destruction under deviant manipulation. He was already twisted, but it gotten worse when he started to harbor an unhealthy obsession toward another key person. Bringing disaster to himself and everyone around until ultimately leading the world to meet its end.

“Can’t I just move the space?”

[No can’t do. The location for space dimension do not changed no matter how far you walk in your space. It stay at the place you used to enter your space.]

“Where’s the nearest place he would passed by?”

[The convenience store about 1 kilometer from here.]

“The zombie… don’t they have the time where they don’t move a lot? Or any weakness?”

[They’re less active in the morning. Apparently, at night when they were more active, they sense human from smell and heat, because they can’t see human in the dark. For weakness, it would be their core planted in their head. You have to destroy the core to actually kill them.]

“Had this information known by the people yet?”

[Currently, no. They’re still in the first stage of gathering survivor and learning how to survive. They were supposed to achieve this information in another three month after building a research center at the city central.]

“As I thought. I still can’t go out now. Just tell me when Taylor almost reached the convenience store, okay?”

[Host—]

“Okay, bye! I’m gonna take some nap.”

Things that made me uncomfortable would always made me uncomfortable. No way it would changed. Even if by any chance somehow, that I would be able to gather the courage to face it, actually, I take that back. I don’t see any chances at all. I keep grumbling on the same thing for three days straight, until the little panda popped up telling me he was near.

The little panda sighed. [Host, I will provide a safe route so you won’t bumped into zombies, but you have to move fast.]

“Really?” I said excitedly. Got to say, I am fortunate to have this little panda with me. “Then we have to move fast. Quick. Let’s go!”

Not a lie. It was not a lie! There was not even a single zombie on our way. The convenience store was empty. Void of living presence. Some products and goods scattered on the floor. Crunch. Someone stepped on the broken glass. Pretty sure that was not me. Aghast, I turned around, and he was there, holding an axe painted in blood.