Day 0 (Night)

Opening his eyes groggily Ethan looked about. His arms felt as good as new, light white scars ran down them as a testament to his fight for his life. Standing with some slight pain he noticed the goblin corpse on the floor. Blood had gotten everywhere again, congealing in sticky green pools. The last thing he remembered, getting to level two. Did it have any benefits? Who knew. He had to make it to a safe zone to get the rest of his rewards.

The window, he was healed now. Maybe he could squeeze out and onto the street. That could give him a fighting chance, rather than be stuck here with those goblins. He needed those rewards to survive. Walking over to the window and pulling up, straining himself up and he let loose a punch at the glass. Uncaring if his hand broke. The glass shattered after two punches, and Ethan's hand hurt like hell but he maybe had a way out.

Sucking in his chest as much as possible Ethan stuck his hand through the opening. Freedom was close. A banging sound echoed in the small bathroom. The goblins were trying to get back in. Struggling with everything he had the rest of his body popped out. Promptly falling from the second story window. There was a pop as his body hit the ground. His shoulder erupted with pain, like rivers of fire ran in his veins.

Growling and pushing himself off the ground he scanned the street. Nobody was even walking around, you could hear a pin drop. His heavy breathing echoed in the silence that hovered around him. Ethan needed to start moving, he knew that only a safe zone would help him now but where to find one? Without knowing the answer he set off in a random direction.

With no information he just had to make a choice at random, no use worrying over two options with so many variables in play. Trudging down the street with heavy steps that echoed in the silence. Soon a low rumble startled Ethans ears, like a whale song on land and the earth shook with each reverberation. Looking around he saw a shape seeming to crawl up out of the ground. Its dark brown carapace of matted mud dripped onto the ground. It looked like a massive rhino with mud skin, hardening with a sheen it pawed at the ground. Its eyes fixed on Ethan.

Oh fuck me. He thought before turning and sprinting as fast as he could the other way, the Rock Rhino roared and the ground shook as it blasted forwards. It was going to catch up to him quickly! Darting down in between cars as it darted past him, its footsteps falling like warhammers. Changing direction and running the other way, aiming for a turn off street to lose this creature at for good. His arm flared in pain and he cried out, tear sliding down his face as he pushed his body to its limits. His arms pumping up and down as he cleared the side street. Booking it.

Glancing behind him as he looked over the new street he had run onto. It was empty like all the others. Except the Target looked like it hadn’t closed, cars were still parked in its parking lot unlike the other stores and the lights were still on. Walking towards it slowly. Prepared for an ambush of some kind, a rumbling roar echoed down the street. Ethan froze and turned fast. The Rock Rhino zoomed forwards, accelerating quickly. He began to run towards the Target. He had no idea if he could shake the beast in the aisles or if there was something special about it. The doors opened for him, seeming to welcome him as he sprinted in. Once he could see the real inside of the store. He knew it was no Target.

Pristine white floors, no row after row of clothes or food, simply nothing. A massive tremor shook the building. The lights flickered and he looked over his shoulder. The Rhino was there, prowling at the door, now he could see fangs dripping with more mud, dark fangs at least as long as his forearm. Its powerful muscles rippled underneath its flowing coating.

Weakly Ethan smiled, he had survived sudden death twice. Walking over to what seemed to be a white chair his shoulders slumped, and he began to cry. Tears of pain, his arm beginning to throb. Tears of sadness, he had just survived a life or death encounter. “Can’t anyone help me?” he muttered under his breath. Maybe if he had someone else with him, to watch his back none of this would have happened in the first place.

“Hello earthling I am the administrator for this Safe Zone. What can I do for you today?” A voice echoed in the harsh white light. Ethans head snapped up. What he saw astounded him. A glowing robot was talking to him. It was built with sharp lines in mind. Hexagon panels covering most of its body, glowing with a deep red light that pulsed with its voice. Its head was mostly square with a single line down the middle, seemingly focused on him.

Startled he jumped and then winced in pain. “Oh, you need to get help soon. It seems that you have a fractured Humerus. You humans always are so fragile inside.” It shook its head. “Well? Do you have any Contribution Points?” it asked and leaned closer.

“Who are you? What is this place? What is that?” He asked rapid fire, pointing at the still prowling slavering beast right outside the doors. Wincing again as he pointed, he clutched his arm to his chest to try and alleviate the pain.

“Human you might not know what’s going on but you want to survive don’t you?” the robotic voice emanated from everywhere as it seemed to loom over Ethans pained body. “Tell me to heal you for one hundred points.” It boomed.

Ethan looked up, scared for his life. “Heal me for one hundred points.” he said shakily. The glowing robot extended its hand and a green light reached out towards his arm. As soon as it touched his arm it began to feel better, the pain fading away like the tide. Simple and fast. The robot retracted its hand when the pain was gone.

Looking up at it with caution in his eyes he had a new question. “Who the hell are you?” he asked, his eyes studying this completely ridiculous being in front of him. A ripple was seen under its skin as it spoke once more. “I am the administrator for this safe zone. You may call me Mogis.” it boomed. “I am a sentient Golem here to assist you while you are here in the World Ending Trials” it explained. “You planet has defaulted on its loan from ah...the Persian Empire I believe is who took the original loan. Now the Golems of Gordano have taken everything. Your world is now just an entertainment show for the universe.” It began to drop bombs that shattered Ethans entire worldview. The universe! How the hell was he going to to stop running for his life.

One thing was for sure, the universe sure was bored if they wanted to watch us struggle against them like this. He could barely kill one goblin! Looking down at him Mogis seemed to sigh. “You need contribution points to earn upgrades of various kinds to fight for entertainment.” He said shortly, as if this was the thousandth time saying it.

Frowning internally, he didn't want to fight just for some kicks and giggles. He almost died twice. “What kind of upgrades are we talking about?” he asked with a small smile. He had always loved getting better stuff in games. Maybe this would be just like it.

“The Golems of Gordano make the best tech, The Mutant Multitudes make the best organic tech, and The Collective operates beyond any kind of limits. Only the most dangerous and powerful tech ends up in their hands.” It seemed to shake disapprovingly. “They hide their influence so the other two cannot block their sale of enhancements and weapons” it droned on.

“All that’s well and good but I have a title, what do they do?” He asked and tilted his head to the side, that was the one part that confused him.

“What title?” The machine asked quickly, leaning down to give him a better look.

“The Slayer.” Ethan said almost proudly. Maybe this would help him unexpectedly.

Robotic laughter echoed in the white glow of the Safe Zone.