57 Day 56: The Scum Is A Survivor (1/2)

He's in a 'room' where millions of words are swirling around but he doesn't care. He's busy talking with the voice of the system.

”Yes.” The voice answered. ”He is the 'problem' we are facing.” It said. ”But, I can assure you. He's just any other character.” It explained.

”... then what happened to the original Ci Sheng?” he asked. ”It changed back to his original character.” He said, remembered when Ci Sheng woke up on his lap and got embarrassed. ”What happened to 'Ci Sheng', the one you have problem with?” he asked. ”Who is he?” he added.

”... just another character.” The voice answered.

He pressed his lips tight. ”And?” he asked.

”...” the voice fell silent. After a while, it sighed. ”Might as well tell you. You're the only one who took notice of this matter...” it muttered, then sighed again. ”He's a character who 'escaped' from his story.” It told him.

”'escaped'?” he asked.

”Yes.” The voice answered.

He waited for the voice to explain more. Sensing that the voice won't tell him further, he sighed. ”Alright.” He said. ”I won't press you. But, tell me – ” he said, his face serious. ” – will I see him again?” he asked.

”Yes.” The voice answered. ”But...”

”'but'?” he asked.

But, the voice didn't say anymore.

He sighed. ”Alright. Where will you send me next?” he asked as he browsed the stories on the system's data.

As an answer, the swirling words inside the 'room' flew towards him and wrapped him. He saw his body disintegrate until none of him left.

He's transported to the next world.

”Mnn...” he groaned and slowly opened his eyes when he felt something heavy is on top of him. Realizing, his eyes opened wide and tried to move his body but he cried when he felt an inexplicable pain on his leg.

”Hey! We've found a survivor here!” a voice called out.

”Get a stretcher!”

”Move the boulder on top of him - !”

”A miracle he survived - !”

He slowly turned. He squinted his eyes when the sun's ray hit his eyes. After his eyes adjusted with the light, he saw a couple of rescuers looking at him. The crane lifted the boulder that's on top of him.

He sighed, relieved, when the heaviness was gone.

”Everybody, move him carefully! His bones might have been - !”

He winced in pain when they lifted him and transferred him to a stretcher.

”Bro. You're the very definition of a 'survivor'.” One of the rescuers told him.

He moved his head. ”Why?” he asked, weak.

The rescuer's eyes went wide, shocked. ”Oh! You still can speak, too!” he said, happy.

”This country was hit by a 10.5 earthquake.” Another one answered.

He turned to him. The rescuer's face is blank.

”All of us should be called 'survivors'.” He turned to him. ”What's a miracle is that this country is still intact after being shook miles below the ground.” He said.

The other rescuers nodded, agreeing to him.

”But, this guy is really lucky.” One said again. ”Not only was he drowned after the tsunami, he was also squashed by the debris that fell.” He said, then turned to him. ”Bro. Are you a cat for having nine lives?” he asked and laughed.

He just grimaced. They immediately took him to the hospital.

He Yin, 27 years old. An office worker. His character is just as simple as it could be. The story he's in right now is entitled, The Disastrous Country.

Yes, a lame title. He Yin thought. The country is plagued with constant disasters. The north of the country is in constant cold because of heavy snowstorms. The south of the country, where he is now, just suffered tsunami and earthquake instantaneously. The leader of the country doesn't know which part of the country – east or west, will be plagued next.

Right now, the country is enjoying a momentary peace from natural disasters.

And so He Yin is in a survival story. But, even though he's in the hospital right now, he already made contact with the protagonist.

Unexpectedly, it wasn't Sheng. The story's protagonist is Bao Tian, the lively rescuer he met earlier and the first one who saw him.

And right now, that said rescuer is walking towards his bed.

”Yo, brother!” Bao Tian called, smiling brightly, as he waved at him. He brought down the recovery flowers on his bedside table.

”For my funeral?” he asked, looking at the flowers.

”Aia. 'course not!” Bao Tian said and laughed. ”Hey, bro. I'm Bao Tian. Your name is He Yin, right?” he asked.

He just nodded.

Bao Tian smiled. ”I'm the leader of the Fourscapes Team.” He said. ”Land, water, mountains or desert... name it, you got it.” he said and smiled again.

An overfriendly protagonist. He Yin thought. He just nodded. ”So. What do you want from me?” he asked.

”I think you have a high luck with you.” Bao Tian answered. ”I want you in my team.” He said, serious.

He Yin mentally grimaced. I don't have luck aside from 'bad luck'. He thought. I just 'survived' from the tsunami and earthquake mainly because 'I' died once. He thought, referring to the original cannon fodder He Yin who really died.

The system already explained to him that in order for him that he could only occupy a dead character's body. This really always leave a bad taste on his mouth.

”Even if I want to, but I don't have a proper training.” He Yin told Bao Tian.

”Don't mind! Don't mind!” Bao Tian said, waving his hands. ”We'll give you plenty of trainings!” he said and smiled. ”What's important right now is that we, the rescuers, needs more people. Not only because we're shorthanded but also because we, the south citizens, should help not only our fellow south citizens but also the citizens of the other parts of the country.” He explained.

A typical protagonist. He Yin thought. ”In short...” He said, his face serious.

Bao Tian nodded. ”Yes.” He said. ”We're really shorthanded.” He said and lowered his red, embarrassed face.

He Yin sighed.

After a few days of recuperating, He Yin was fetched by Bao Tian from the hospital.

He Yin tied the laces of his spiked boot that was given to him by Bao Tian together with the other parts of the uniform.

”Where are we going right now?” he asked after he zipped up the neon plastic jacket. He's done changing.

Bao Tian, outside the room, answered. ”The border of the south and east.” He answered. He turned when He Yin opened the door and went out. He smiled and patted Hei Yin's shoulder. ”Looking good, man!” he said and laughed.

He Yin grimaced.

Bao Tian chuckled. ”Sad to say but the training will happen after we went to the border.” He told him as they walked.

”Why?” He Yin asked.

Bao Tian turned to him. ”The instructor for the training... he got caught up with the disaster.” He answered, then stopped when they reached outside. ”He's still missing.” He added.

”Eh...?” He Yin said, then nodded. ”So... why is the van shaking?” he asked and pointed the black van that's shaking.

After a second, screaming people went out and ran away from the van.

”Oh. I still haven't told you.” Bao Tian said and patted He Yin's shoulder. ”The instructor that's missing... he's our supervisor's little brother. So – ” he said and grimaced when the door of the van flew away.

Bao Tian pulled He Yin, the door narrowly missing He Yin's head. The door that flew hit the hospital's wall.

A man yelling 'idiots' nonstop went out of the van.

”Useless idiots!” he said, frowning. ”Just one person and you can't see him?!” he roared at the scared people who are scurrying behind the van.

”But, sir...” one said, looking at the man, scared witless. ”We think Instructor Song is in the east right now.” he said.