The Talent who Divides and Conquers Time

Name: Lucas Anthony G. Imperial
Age: 30
Occupation: Data Analyst

It was supposed to be his last day at work after resignation but then the end the catastrophe happened. The first act details his escape from the catastrophe and how he utilized his power to survive.

Power: Wander Rank 1
UNIQUE . A GRADE
The ability to explore timelines.

- User can wander in and explore [two] timelines simultaneously.
- Can only wander in timelines for the next [minute].
- Wander can not be used while using Wander.
- Wanderer can proceed with a chosen timeline or go back and choose a different path from the timelines simulated.

Advantage: Lucky Rank 3
Starting Stat: INT+1, AWA+1

And I always thought nothing bad happens on a Tuesday but then why am I hiding under a desk right now. It was even supposed to be my last day here in this hell hole, I had plans for tomorrow and for the week. Now the only plan I should be making is how I'd survive this.

I was at the copying room when it started so I don't know what happened. I was on my way out when I saw and heard the people sceaming. They were running away from what seem to be a dog. When I tried to look closer I saw that it had six eyes and a horn, a whole arm stuck in its fangs, it was drenched in blood and it wasn't alone. There were others with it.

Quietly, I returned back to the copying room, shut the light off, and hid under a desk. I took out my phone but when I opened it the screen was white. It won't turn off or restart. I couldn't even take the battery out as if it was stuck.

Stay quiet. It will pass, the beasts will pass, security will deal with it. I don't know how much time passed but I fell asleep. It was dark and quiet when I woke up. I was sure what happened was not a dream. I checked my phone, it was still white, only this time there's an envelope icon. A message?

I clicked on the icon...

CONGRATULATIONS
YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN

An ad? I thought my phone's broken but then the next message showed itself.

Name: Lucas
Age: 30
Class: None

Awareness +1
Intellect +1

[POWER]
[ADVANTAGE]
[SKILL]
[MAGIC]
[DISADVANTAGE]
...

It got my name right. It felt familiar. I read about this before, about the apocalypse, game systems, and superpowers. Entertaining the idea that this is my present reality, I clicked on the screen. It revealed more when I clicked on the words in brackets.

[POWER] WANDER
UNIQUE . A GRADE
The ability to explore and simulate timelines.

. User can simulate and explore up to [two] possible timelines simultaneously, for a maximum duration of [1 minute] each.
. After exploring the timelines, the user can choose to either remain in the present timeline or travel to one of the simulated timelines.
. Once the user has traveled to a simulated timeline, they cannot use Wander again until they return to the present timeline.
. The user retains all knowledge and memories acquired during their exploration of the simulated timelines.
. The user cannot change the course of events in the simulated timelines, but they can use their knowledge to make different choices in the present timeline.

[ADVANTAGE]

SAGE MAGIC CONTROL
- Adjust the power and effect of most spells.

[SKILL] Insight Lvl 1

[MAGIC] [available slots 1/1]

Starting Magic:
Restore - as long as time can mend it, it can be restored.
Slow - slow down the target.
Shackle - immobilize target.

[DISADVANTAGE]

ONE TRICK MAGE
- Number of Magic Slots will not increase by any means.
- Number of Magic Equipment equal to number of Magic slots.
- Changing equipped spell requires double the time.

...

It really is a game system but if it is how do I actually use this power? It is a useful ability, how do I test it? I asked myself, should I just say "WANDER" out loud?

... it didn't work.

I guess the method of activating this power is different. I relaxed myself and closed my eyes and in my I head I saw the icon of that which looks like a clock. I focused on it and when I opened my eyes. Nothing seem to have happened. It might be childish to put my hope on an ad, perhaps my minds just making up this game system to cope on the situation. I got up and peeked outside the copy room. It was quiet so I thought there was no one. As quiet as I could I walked towards the pantry and there I saw them. Three green skinned ugly small humanoid creatures with sharp fangs and eyes that glow red.

They jumped on me, I closed my eyes and when I opened them I was back under the desk where I was. That was when I realized what it meant to 'Wander'.

I got up immediately as not to waste the next minute of this ability and tried another way out. There are goblins in the pantry and I don't know if taking the elevator would be a good idea, perhaps I should check the stairs, but then I believe the monsters came from that way. Compared to wolves and other uncertainties dealing with those goblins in the pantry should be easier.

I picked up scissors for weapon and attempted to deal with the monsters in the pantry. I tossed a pen inside the pantry as to catch the attention of the trio. Hopefully that would trick them, if I could ambush and kill one, it would probably be easier to deal with the other two. True enough the goblin did get tricked into going outside of the pantry and with a stab on its head the goblin still tried to wave it arms as it groans but eventually the monster died. Everything would be alright if only the scissors did not get stuck in the goblin's head. I tried to take it out but then another goblin attacked me then...

That was the second wandering, the second premonition. The obvious path to move forward is to go back to the present. I tried using [WANDER] again but that didn't work. Instinctively I understood that I had to wait another minute to use it again. The power I have has a cooldown of one minute. I decided to wait for a minute to test it out again. There's no point in rushing things, I was safe here the whole time I was knocked out, I'll be safe in the copy room if I stayed in the copy room. I could just keep using my powers to test how I'd deal with those goblins.

I need more information. I can only trust that this power of mine will keep me safe and allow me to turn the situation around. I needed to gather information. For the next two attempts I tried to charge in the pantry, I know where the knives are but got overwhelmed by the actions of the three. Getting wounded in that simulation, I do remember how much it hurts but it doesn't affect my body. I didn't die but it did hurt a lot. I convinced myself that as long as it is in the simulation and not in reality it won't kill me. Reckless, yes, but charging in and fighting directly was the first plan. Understanding how the goblins fought and how to kill them. That was how I plan to deal with the goblins.

I used the first simulation in Wander just to confront the goblins and the second simulation as an attempt to scout the building, just running around to check on survivors, on other monsters, on the condition of the building and other things. I've worked in this place for almost 7 years yet apart from the place where I am involved in I still can not say that I know the layout of this building.

Data from the simulations slowly built the picture, the situation I am in. And yes, this floor, this office I am in is the safest place I can be in for now. The other floors have more monsters and stronger beings in them, specifically when at one try I tried to jump off the building. I caught a glimpse of it, a large snake like being was lurking on the ground floor. It was the size of two trucks.

There are no other survivors in the building or at least at the floors I was able to check but apart from the floor I was in where there are only three goblin like beings, the other floors have more of them. I should lock the way in and out of this floor.

There's food in the pantry and if I take too long I might have nothing left. The thought worries me but there was no point in rushing.

Three hours, more than 500 simulations, I got up and even with my knees trembling I believed that the information I gathered from simulations was enough. I started counting in my head. The next sixty seconds determines my fate.