[No System + Smart protagonist + Classic heroic fantasy]
(The story takes a little while to get going. There are hints that will pay off, so I hope you’ll be patient. Thank you!)
My name is Zhang Chao. I was born in July 2031, in a world where logic is scrambled and cause and effect have been twisted.
In the era I live in, humanity is no longer the ruler of the world. We are an endangered species, plain and simple.
I’ve been running for my life since the day I was born.
At first, I was in someone’s arms as they ran for their life with me.
When I got a little bigger, I rode in a stroller while they pushed me to safety.
As I slowly learned to walk and run, someone had to drag me along as we fled. That was the most painful time of my life. I really couldn’t run fast enough or keep up. So often, I wanted to break free of the hand pulling me forward and tell them to leave me behind.
Later, I grew up. I could run fast and far, and make sure I wasn’t the last unlucky one whenever we fled.
This road to survival stretches on without end. I don’t know how much longer I can keep running, or where I’ll end up.
Because the things hunting us aren’t human or animal. They’re beings I can’t understand or fight back against.
Some call them “They,” and say they’re gods, not to be looked upon, only worshipped.
Some call them “the Unspeakable,” and say they’re demons, not to be named, only forgotten.
Others call them Buddhas, Immortals, ghosts, demons...
I don’t know. I have no idea, and I don’t want to care what they are. I’m just an ordinary person. I only want to survive.
There’s not enough time, and I have little ink left. It seems I can only write this much.
Written by Zhang Chao, 2025
