Apocalypse Baby

Alex stood rooted in place, his breath caught in his throat as more people blinked into existence around him.

Each new arrival felt like a drumbeat against his nerves, tightening his chest further.

His entire body was tense, every muscle coiled as if preparing for a fight.

Why am I so on edge?

Alex wondered, his hands balling into fists.

He'd faced the Cockatrice King, battled swarms of deadly monsters, and stared death in the face more times than he could count. And yet here he was, shaken to his core, his heart pounding like a war drum.

Two normal humans shouldn't have been enough to rattle him like this.

Another soft whoosh broke the silence. A new figure appeared just a few feet away, swaying slightly as they adjusted to the strange surroundings. Alex's eyes darted toward the newcomer, scanning their face with a mix of hope and dread.

And then… nothing.

No more sounds. No more arrivals.

Alex held his breath for a few agonizing seconds, his eyes scanning the space around him. The air was still, quiet as if the tutorial had paused its relentless summons.

"Is that it?" Alex murmured under his breath, his voice barely audible.

His nerves refused to settle, the tension in his chest still lingering. He didn't trust it. Not yet.

A soft ding echoed in his ears, and Alex's heart skipped a beat. It was a system notification.

Judging by the way everyone suddenly froze, their eyes flickering toward the invisible screens in front of them, it wasn't just his notification—it was a general announcement.

[Welcome to the Tutorial]

The words hovered in Alex's vision, stark and simple, but they carried a weight that made him exhale sharply. Relief washed over him like a tidal wave, loosening the knot of tension in his chest.

It seemed they weren't coming after all. Not yet.

Alex took a moment to glance around, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. He did a quick headcount—twenty people in total.

Some of them were familiar faces, people he had worked closely with back at the office. Others were more distant acquaintances, employees he barely knew beyond a nod in the hallway.

Twenty of them, Alex thought. And still not the two I was worried about.

Just as he began to process the situation, another notification popped into view.

Ding!

[You have earned the title: 'Denizens of the New World.']

Alex blinked in surprise.

"A title?" he muttered, his curiosity piqued.

He quickly opened his stat window to check out the details of the title.

[Ding! You have earned the title: Denizens of the New World.]

[Title Effect: You have successfully completed the introduction and entered the tutorial as a trainee of the new world. +3 to all stats.]

Alex raised an eyebrow. So it wasn't anything special, he thought, his excitement fading slightly. Judging by the reactions of the others around him, it was clear they had received the same title.

"Figures," Alex muttered to himself, brushing it off. He'd been hoping for something unique, something that would set him apart even more.

But a generic bonus to stats? Useful, sure, but nothing groundbreaking.

As Alex closed the notification window, he noticed someone approaching him.

A tall, sharp-featured man with a shrewd look in his eyes strode over.

At first glance, you'd think he was calm and confident, maybe even boisterous. But Alex knew better.

"Alex!" the man exclaimed, his voice overly loud, as though trying to draw attention. "You good, man? Did you see that rabbit too? Creepiest thing I've ever seen—honestly, I almost peed my pants!"

Alex winced as the man's words came at him like a machine gun. He barely had time to react as the barrage of chatter continued.

The man's personality was the exact opposite of Alex's—extroverted, overly friendly, and naturally charismatic. People were drawn to him like moths to a flame, but Alex found his energy overwhelming.

This was someone Alex knew well. Back at work, he had been one of the few who treated Alex with decency, even speaking to him like a normal person. But he had never once stood up for Alex when the bullies came for him. Not once.

Jonah was the only one who had ever been remotely nice to Alex at work. He'd treated Alex with some decency, speaking to him when most others wouldn't. But he had never once stood up for Alex when the bullies came for him.

This left Alex conflicted. Was Jonah genuinely unaware of my situation, or was he just acting clueless?

The thought stung more than Alex wanted to admit. It made him feel weak—pathetic, even. He had silently relied on Jonah to step in and help, rather than standing up for himself or simply asking for support. That dependence, combined with Nathan's inaction, gnawed at him.

Shaking the thoughts away, Alex observed Jonah more closely. Unlike the sharp suit Jonah had worn to work, here he was dressed in sturdy armor, just like the others who had been summoned.

So, we all start with gear now? Alex wondered, narrowing his eyes as he scanned the group. His gaze swept over the crowd, pausing when he caught someone staring directly at him.

It was a woman—her face familiar, though her name escaped him. Alex furrowed his brow, piecing together where he'd seen her before. The floor below us, he recalled. She worked in the department beneath his.

Their only interaction had been brief—a polite conversation during an elevator ride when they'd been the only two inside.

He remembered her being nice, maybe even a bit friendly, but he hadn't paid much attention to her back then. His heart had been entirely consumed by Katie at the time.

Now, though, with nothing else to distract him, Alex found himself looking at her more closely. Her features were striking—far more than he'd noticed before. She's... beautiful, Alex realized, the thought surprising him.

For a moment, he held her gaze, but as the weight of the stare grew heavier, he quickly turned his eyes elsewhere, his face heating slightly.

"Hey, Nancy!" Jonah called out, his voice cutting through the tense atmosphere.

Nancy turned her head, her expression softening as she replied warmly, "Hi, Jonah."

Her gaze, however, quickly shifted back to Alex, lingering on him. Alex noticed and tensed up slightly, unsure of what she wanted to say.

"You okay?" Nancy asked, her tone gentle yet curious. "You seem a little... tense."

Alex hesitated, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. "Yeah, well, who wouldn't be? The situation we're in isn't exactly... normal."

Nancy nodded a small smile on her lips.

"You're right about that. I mean, I'd just stepped into the office when my head suddenly felt like it was going to explode. The next thing I knew, I was in a white room talking to a rabbit. And then... I appeared here."

Jonah chimed in, gesturing around.

"Same here. It was so weird—one second, I was at my desk, and the next, I'm face-to-face with some rabbit thing. I'm guessing it's the same for everyone here."

Nancy turned back to Alex, her gaze steady. "What about you, Alex? Was it the same for you?"

Alex gave a small nod, trying to avoid looking too stiff. "Yeah. It's the same," he replied simply.

His response felt awkward, and he knew it. He wasn't trying to come off as distant, but the words just didn't flow naturally.

Maybe it's because I've spent days talking to beasts, Alex thought, and suddenly having to interact with people feels...off.

Alex shifted uncomfortably, noticing the way Nancy's eyes lingered on him, her expression curious, almost suspicious. It wasn't the kind of look you gave just anyone—it was like she was trying to piece something together about him.

"Is that so... then why do you look like you just got into a fight with a bull?" Nancy asked, her tone light but her words pointed.

"Huh?" Alex blinked, confused.

She gestured subtly toward him. "I mean, look at you."

Alex glanced down and immediately saw what she meant. His clothes were a mess—torn and dusty, with faint streaks of dried blood across his shirt. In comparison, everyone else looked pristine, decked out in gleaming armor that seemed like it had been plucked straight out of a fantasy game.

"There's blood on your clothes, too," Nancy added, tilting her head slightly. Her sharp observation made Alex feel a little self-conscious.

He scratched the back of his neck, letting out a nervous chuckle. "Well... uh, my landing wasn't exactly soft," he explained. "I pretty much crashed into the ground. Must've hurt myself a little in the process."

"Is that so..." Nancy murmured, her tone unreadable.

Jonah, however, jumped in, flashing his usual easygoing grin. "Man, Alex, you're always so... different. It's like you're from another world or something."

Alex narrowed his eyes slightly, unsure how to take the comment. What the hell does that even mean? Is that supposed to be a compliment... or an insult? He didn't like overthinking things, but Jonah's words stuck in his head.

Before he could respond, Alex's attention was pulled elsewhere.

Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted movement—someone was making their way toward him, their steps deliberate.

His stomach dropped as he recognized who it was.
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Thompson.

And he looked like he was coming to pick a fight.