The Worlds
In the tumultuous year of 2500, a laboratory room in South Korea bore witness to an intriguing scene. There, an elderly man was engrossed in investigating a captivating technological.
"Listen, come forth, you inexplicable smartphone," he whispered, chuckling gleefully.
However, emptiness crept upon him, filling the old man's heart with profound sadness. A long sigh resonated throughout the room.
"But what does it matter? This world is no longer ours, dominated by unexplainable creatures, including metamorphosed zombies. The remaining humans can now be counted on one's fingers."
"In the past, I kept this smartphone before the change occurred. I hung it on the time machine," the man said as he carefully placed the device down. Pressing the digits "2025," he uttered,
"May the redeemer of this phone be capable of altering the universe." A smile formed on the old man's face, and his fingers sprang into action.
"Ring." The phone vanished, disappearing without a trace.
Now, in a cozy coffee shop in South Korea, a young man named Kim Min-ho sat quietly, savoring the pleasure of a cup of black coffee. He had reached the age of twenty, a mix of English and South Korean heritage. Kim Min-ho's father hailed from Korea, while his mother had English roots. His face radiated the harmonious blend of Korean and English blood, but his wavy hair bore the gift of blondness from his mother.
Currently, Kim Min-ho resided in his homeland, navigating the final waves of campus life.
"Ah, darn it, why was my thesis rejected again?" he murmured, finishing his coffee.
"It seems I must win over the sympathy of the examiners with a mouthful of rice," Kim Min-ho muttered sarcastically.
Unexpectedly, a phone fell and struck Kim Min-ho's head.
"Collision!"
"For what reason does someone dare to throw a phone at me?" Kim Min-ho exclaimed angrily, his sharp gaze scanning the room. However, everyone glanced his way for a moment before quickly diverting their eyes.
"If no one claims it, I'll just take this phone," muttered Kim Min-ho, cursing under his breath as he stared at the phone lying near his feet.
"Hey, Kim Min-ho, let me examine the phone that just smacked your head," a café waiter greeted.
"Just take it," replied Kim Min-ho, extending the phone to the familiar waiter.
"Where's the phone?" asked the waiter.
"Damn it, it's in my hand!" Kim Min-ho retorted, annoyed.
"Don't patronize me, your hands are empty," the waiter retorted with a peculiar gaze.
"Don't you see this phone in my hand?" Kim Min-ho asked, bringing the phone closer to the waiter's face.
"Huh, your joke isn't amusing. I have work to do." Leaving Kim Min-ho with a sense of disgust, the waiter departed to an unknown destination.
Watching the café waitress walk away, Kim Min-Ho was captivated. "Oh, I didn't expect her footsteps to be so gentle," Kim Min-Ho murmured with a sigh, accidentally tossing his smartphone. However, before long, the phone magically returned to his grasp. "Aigoo," Kim Min-Ho exclaimed.
Everyone in the café looked at Kim Min-Ho strangely. "Hehe, forgive me. I was surprised by the unexpected victory," Kim Min-Ho laughed, concealing the hidden secret.
A mysterious vibration enveloped Kim Min-Ho's body as he held the smartphone that pierced his heart, and suddenly a message appeared. Kim Min-Ho stood still for a moment, but with courage, he read the message. "Congratulations, you have been chosen to possess an extraordinary smartphone from the future. Through this device, you can enhance your physical strength, speed, purchase tools and dishes, and fulfill all sorts of needs." Kim Min-Ho was entranced by the uplifting message.
"Pling." The sound of a message once again drew Kim Min-Ho's attention.
"The world will change within an hour, as the zombie virus spreads and creatures undergo metamorphosis."
"Hahaha, I must be going mad," Kim Min-Ho read the message while laughing as if lost in a fit of crazy laughter.
Kim Min-Ho stood still for a moment, then shouted, "I have to go back!" Kim Min-Ho felt that he wasn't crazy, and the smartphone he held was real. He rode his motorcycle and headed towards his home.
On the way, Kim Min-Ho suddenly stopped his motorbike in front of a stall. "If that message is true, I need to buy supplies for survival," Kim Min-Ho glanced at the smartphone hidden in his pants pocket and then walked into the stall.
"Ah, welcome, Kim Min-Ho." A 25-year-old cashier woman smiled as she greeted Kim Min-Ho. Kim Min-Ho gazed at the girl who smiled at him and whispered softly.
"Hae-Won, can you leave for a moment?" "What's going on?" Hae-Won, the cashier, asked with curiosity.
"I sense an aura that the zombie virus often shown on screens will strike the real world," Kim Min-Ho whispered.
"Huff, you watch zombie movies too often, Kim Min-Ho," Hae-Won tried to suppress her laughter.
"It's up to you whether you believe it or not," Kim Min-Ho sighed, then searched for a reason to continue his shopping, buying food supplies like rice, instant noodles, bread, bottled water, and more.
Hae-Won was surprised to see how much Kim Min-Ho bought. "Don't look at me like that, I trust my instincts," Kim Min-Ho replied. Hae-Won shook her head, then began to pack the items purchased by Kim Min-Ho.
"The total is 300,000 won," Hae-Won said. Kim Min-Ho then handed the money to Hae-Won.
Kim Min-Ho took his shopping items and said, "Hope to see you again, Hae-Won." Kim Min-Ho left the stall and walked towards his motorbike. "I'm lucky I'm not obsessed with zombie movies like him, or I would feel paranoid too," Hae-Won shook her head.
A few minutes later, Kim Min-Ho arrived at his home. "Mom, Dad, I'm back!" Kim Min-Ho shouted.
"Kim Min-Ho, aren't your mother and father visiting your grandmother out of town?" a woman in her thirties came out holding a broom.
"I forgot they were both not at home," Kim Min-Ho slapped his forehead. Kim Min-Ho took out his personal smartphone and sent a message to his parents. "Dad, Mom, take care of yourselves, the zombie virus will appear in 30 minutes." Kim Min-Ho saw his message sent, then sighed.
"Eonni Na-Yeon, don't you want to contact your family?" Kim Min-Ho looked at the woman in her thirties holding the broom.
"No, Kim Min-Ho, I called my mother a while ago," Na-Yeon, the woman called, laughed.
Kim Min-Ho glanced at the woman in her thirties who worked as a housemaid and murmured softly. "She is a widow whose husband died because his wife couldn't give him offspring. She then chose to work outside the city to forget about her late husband."
"Don't you want to get married again, Eonni Na-Yeon? In my opinion, you are still very charming," Kim Min-Ho looked at Na-Yeon who was sweeping.
"Hehe, thank you for the compliment, Kim Min-Ho. I have no intention of getting married again," Na-Yeon smiled.
"That's up to you, Eonni," Kim Min-Ho placed his shopping items in the kitchen.
"Is he planning to have a feast?" Na-Yeon muttered to herself as she saw the handful of groceries Kim Min-Ho bought.
After placing the shopping items in the kitchen, Kim Min-Ho began locking all the windows tightly. "Kim Min-Ho, why are you closing all the windows?" Na-Yeon asked in confusion.
"In a little while, the zombie virus that we often see on screens will appear in the real world. We need to be prepared," Kim Min-Ho replied seriously.
Na-Yeon was startled by Kim Min-Ho's answer and whispered softly, "This must be because of watching zombie movies too often." Na-Yeon knew how much Kim Min-Ho enjoyed watching those films.
Kim Min-Ho saw his personal smartphone vibrate and saw his mother was calling.
"Kim Min-Ho, are you okay? There's no way there are zombies in the real world. I want you to stop watching zombie movies from now on and focus on finishing your thesis," Kim Min-Ho's mother shouted when Kim Min-Ho answered the call.
"Uh, but I'm not lying, Mom," Kim Min-Ho was confused about how to explain.
"I don't want to hear it, you have to stop watching zombie movies," Kim Min-Ho's mother said and hung up the call.
"Hehe," Na-Yeon's laughter rang out, stealing the spotlight from her mother's reprimand towards Kim Min-Ho.
Kim Min-Ho's gaze fixed on Na-Yeon, her laughter echoing, and unexpectedly, he whispered, "Mom, eat until you're full. Can you prepare some fried eggs?"
"Just a moment," Na-Yeon chuckled and walked away, stepping far beyond Kim Min-Ho.
"Ah, how the world ignores me," Kim Min-Ho grumbled, his doubt reflected in his demeanor.
Kim Min-Ho stared at the grip of his newly acquired cellphone, opening an app that captured his attention. "Eh," simultaneously, Kim Min-Ho was taken aback by what was displayed.
======================
Name: Kim Min-Ho
Age: 23 years old
Level: 1
Experience: 0/10
Strength: 4
Agility: 5
Vitality: 3
Stamina: 4
Reflexes: 3
Points: 0
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"Ah, is this really me? Why so low?" Kim Min-Ho suddenly jerked in disbelief, his gaze fixated on the line of numbers and letters displayed before him.