The Past

"I was 19 at that time, just starting college. I had always been what some would call a 'nerd,' excelling in studies and literature but lacking physical prowess," Liam said with a slight sigh, reflecting on his past.

He continued, "Because of my academic achievements and somewhat appealing appearance, despite my skinny frame, I garnered attention from girls. However, it seemed that most of them were merely interested in taking advantage of me, not seeking genuine relationships. I contented myself with the idea that after college, I'd secure a respectable corporate job, inherit my father's business, and perhaps win the heart of the girl I admired. However, life had other plans in store for me."

Liam's tone turned somber as he continued his narrative. "Unfortunately, not everyone appreciated the attention I received from girls. Some of the guys in college grew jealous and subjected me to bullying."

Pausing for a moment, a distant look entered his eyes, and he resumed, "Yet amidst all this, there was one girl I genuinely liked. Unlike the others, she possessed a unique charm, although her academic performance lagged behind. One day, as I sat nursing my wounds after a brutal attack, she approached me with kindness, offering a handkerchief and gently tending to a cut on my cheek."

"At first, I hesitated to trust her, but over time, I discovered her sincerity and caring nature. I developed feelings for her, but the fear of rejection and the thought of jeopardizing our friendship held me back. Regrettably, I never mustered the courage to confess my emotions. And to this day, I carry the weight and regret of that decision. During the world collision, I lost her," Liam's voice trailed off, laden with sorrow and regret.

"Like any ordinary day, we sat on the rooftop discussing an assignment when everything changed. The sky darkened abruptly, as if plunged into midnight. Thunder roared with unprecedented force, wreaking havoc on everything in its path. Electronics malfunctioned, their circuits fried by an intense electromagnetic pulse, while others exploded, claiming lives in a rain of sparks. It was a true apocalypse unfolding before our eyes.

The darkness soon dissipated, but the once blue sky transformed into an eerie shade of crimson. And there, we witnessed the presence of an additional moon, unnaturally close to our planet. It was one of the two new moons that emerged, but instead of wonder, it brought catastrophic doom.

The onslaught began with earthquakes shaking the very foundations of the earth. The ground split open, revealing massive structures that had lain dormant beneath. A thick, bluish wind, tinged with rust, swept across the land, carrying toxic gases and debris, dealing death to anyone present before it.

In that moment, I could only imagine the horrors faced by those living in coastal regions and beneath tectonic plates. The land crumbled into the sea, unleashing monstrous tsunamis that swallowed entire cities. The world reshaped itself in front of our eyes, reducing once-thriving cities to rubble. The air became thick with the stench of destruction and death, and the echoes of people's screams resonated through the chaos."

"And then, in the midst of this calamity, I rushed, grasping her hand, and we escaped the collapsing building. Providentially, we managed to reach the emergency exit of the college, which had been rarely used until then, but happened to be unlocked due to a recent inspection. As we stepped out, the building crumbled, claiming the lives of many students.

In the distance, I spotted monsters and other creatures closing in on us. One of my teachers guided us to the underground storage room in the gym, which miraculously remained intact. Only 21 of us survived that day, as all others fell victim to the onslaught, some even succumbing to the hands of the monsters.

For two days, we huddled in the gym storeroom, surviving solely on water from a large tank but with no food or other supplies to sustain us. Some teachers ventured outside to fulfill their responsibilities, but their return was a horror to behold. Only 2 teachers came back; one with crushed hands, the other barely clinging to life, covered in blood, managing to salvage a few loaves of bread before passing away without any medical attention. The survivor explained that they had gained something akin to a system by defeating a goblin, acquiring valuable drops from them. Unfortunately, other teachers who had obtained this power fell prey to an ambush.

Naively, I believed that possessing such a system would make everything easier, as I had read about in novels and other stories. I thought that displaying bravery might win my crush's heart. Despite her attempts to dissuade me, I ventured out with a bokken I found in the gym and encountered a goblin. My attempt to confront it proved futile, as a troll suddenly appeared, crushing the goblin with its immense strength. Fear gripped me, rendering me motionless.

The troll attacked me with its claws.

In a desperate bid to protect me, my crush intervened without my knowledge that she had followed me. When She pulled me back except for a wound I was alright, but tragically, she fell prey to the troll's grasp. Before my very eyes, I witnessed the horrifying spectacle as it devoured her crushing her body by squeezing her with its hands.

A teacher rushed to my aid, pulling me inside, but after that, I don't remember much. I became a lifeless shell, robbed of my soul, having witnessed my first love being snatched away in a brutal, gory manner." As Liam recounted his harrowing experience, his voice cracked with sorrow.

As Liam shared his traumatic journey, Stuart listened intently, struck by both shock and compassion. The weight of Liam's words and the raw emotions behind them were palpable. Liam's eyes welled with tears, and his voice trembled as he continued.

"Without any proper treatment or medicine, my wound worsened, becoming infected and festering. Several days later, a group of hunters rescued us, transporting us to a stronghold that would eventually become Lumding City. There, they provided us with the bare necessities for survival, including food, but nothing more. A healer examined my wound and declared it too late for a conventional potion to work, as it was already tainted with monster miasma. They informed me that acquiring a potion would require a significant sum of system coins, but I had neither power nor currency after the collision."

Stuart's expression turned solemn as he tried to comprehend the magnitude of Liam's suffering. He admired Liam's strength in enduring such hardships and felt deep sympathy for the pain he had endured.

Liam pressed on, "In the aftermath of the apocalypse, money lost its value, and system coins became the primary currency. The hunters couldn't afford charity, and I understood that. Their provision of basic necessities was already a considerable help. So, in order to save up enough for my much-needed potion, I willingly volunteered as a porter and joined a group of dungeon divers. At the same time, I held onto a glimmer of hope, relentlessly searching for any sign of my family, though as the days turned into years, hope began to wane."

Stuart nodded, attempting to grasp the depth of despair and desperation Liam had faced on his long, arduous journey. He struggled to find the right words to console his friend, aware that no words could fully heal the wounds of the past.

Liam's voice quivered as he continued, "For years, I took on various odd jobs, striving to save every precious coin, but often finding myself losing what little I had just to survive. I bought weak potions to alleviate the pain, carrying the weight of each passing day. Even now, the desire to live burns within me. I yearn for a life free from suffering and this lingering wound. I dream of forming a family and finding true happiness."

With a choked voice, Liam managed to say, "I'm sorry for burdening you with all this. Sometimes, the memories become unbearable."

Stuart shook his head gently, his compassion evident. "No need to apologize, Liam. I can't begin to comprehend the depth of your experiences, but please know that I'm here for you. We all are."

As they sat in silence, Liam's tears flowed freely, and Stuart offered unwavering support, assuring him that he was not alone in this daunting journey.