How To Survive A Calamity

Three more years had gone by since my transmigration into this world. I only turned eight last month.

I, Zachary Harper, now Victor Bright, had deepened my understanding and comprehension of this strange new world, and my adaptability had become even more fluid with the aid and assistance of Meta, the system.

...

[A New Quest has been issued:-

Type:- SURVIVAL

Name:- Quest To Becoming Stronger:

Description:

The {Great Calamity} is coming...Get stronger and survive.

Duration-: ...

Reward:- ...

Penalty:- Death, ??? ]

...

I took one last fleeting look at the familiar Quest notification before dismissing it and taking off.

I was already used to seeing the message, and already resolved myself for what was to come. The illusion Meta had shown me before had been etched deeply into my memories.

But in he end, it wasn't like I would panic while screaming "the end of the world is nigh" and hoard my family and resources for the apocalypse.

Quite the contrary actually.

I've lived the last few years without a care in the world.

It sounded careless, but who knew the world would be ending soon other than me?

In my perspective, if someone found out they had a limited time to live, or that the world would end, wouldn't they try to spend their last numbered days fulfilling their desires and frivolities?

Or would they toil in sweat and blood, trying desperately and inevitably to avoid or survive the already predetermined doom?

I believe it is quite obvious which option I would choose.

Yes, I have no intentions on trying to stop the Great Calamity that is to come. Why would I bother doing that in this life?

And plus, it was impossible for me to think there was a way to avert the calamity. If it at all were possible in the first place, the system quest would be something like,

"The Great Calamity is upon us...stop it."

But instead it precisely says,

" The great Calamity is upon us... Survive or die. "

...it was quite painfully clear with the choice of words.

All I could do was count my days, and live each and everyone of them like there's no tomorrow, 'cuz there really might be no tomorrow. The time duration on the Quest was still empty.

'You Only Live Once ',once again, that popular mantra from Earth fit perfectly with my circumstances.

Live in the moment. Have your bread today. Don't think, do. Live like never ever!

Those kinds things.

"Vick, are you ready yet?" A familiar voice pulled me out of my casual thoughts.

Hehe, only someone as crazy as me would think the end of the world was casual...

In any case, the voice belonged to a beautiful young girl with long brown hair and hazy brown eyes that shown like diluted gold. She had soft features, but a rather stressful and serious looking face. A similar vibe and aura always surrounded this same person.

Adrianne was my older sister in this life, the prize of our little family.

"Yes, big sis." I beamed a big and dazzling smile at her and said. Her stern expression didn't shift, and Adrianne only nodded curtly before turning to leave.

At the same time, I picked up a thick, wooden spear and followed behind her, while fasting on my arm guard.

Currently at the moment, I was preparing for a friendly, light spar against my sweet older sister.

My transmigration was into the branch of a renowned Spearsfamily, and as members, all descendants were inclined to master the spear as a weapon.

It was brutal.

I had already began my training as early as I could walk.

'if he's old enough to walk, then he's old enough to swing a spear, Milord, ' said the bast— i mean, gracious teacher.

This was just one amongst many other spars I've had against my sister over the years, although this time was a bit special.

"Take your position."

"Yes."

Adrianne simply said and I nodded with a smile while following her direction. I walked ahead of her and after putting some distance, positioned my self opposite her as her opponent.

We were holding the spar outside in one of our smaller courtyards used for training. The weather was cool and the sky was clear, while the sun hung high. It was a pleasant day in mid spring.

I turned slightly to the side at a building not too far away, specifically at one of the windows. My father, Dorian Bright Solvaine stood next to the window and overlooked the happenings from up there with serene gaze.

"Pay attention." A firm voice scolded me from the front, it was Adrianne who's strict face had become sterner.

"Yes." I turned back to her with a smile then entered a stance while positioning my speae.

Adrianne did the same but only lowered her stance just a little. Her unmoving gaze remained fixed on my figure with focus in her eyes. Even when a spring breeze blew through the courtyard and ruffled her long brown hair, there was not a single ripple in her expression.

She has no intentions on holding back for me this time too... I restrained a sigh as I thought that from judging her state.

"Begin." The command was short, Adrianne instantly kicked off the ground and lunged at me.

She covered the distance between us as quickly as it took to blink and was immediately before me, causing my carefree smile to recede only slightly.

Without offering me so much as breathing space, Adrianne unleashed a flurry of attacks with her spear.

I was quickly forced one foot back, and on the defensive against Adrianne's aggression. I raised my spear to block the first blade, then raised it again to block the next, and the one after that.

-CLAK -CLAK -CLAK

Adrianne's blows were swift and heavy, each one seemed to weigh a pound, and forced my hands to tremble upon impact. As I continued to just barely block each of her swings with the shaft of my wooden spear, my carefree smile strained.

I marched to the side and jerked my head away from the trajectory of her spear, and when I thought my merciless sister would finally give me some space to breathe, she twirled her spear in her hands, pivoted on her front heel, and twisted her body to land a devastating kick aimed for my unguarded side.

Shit, I cursed and quickly repositioned my spear while bracing myself for impact.

Adrianne's guarded shin whiped through the air with such magnificent fluidity and crashed against the shaft of my spear I had quickly placed to guard my side and a peculiar noise resounded.

I gritted my teeth with a small grunt and resisted the impact. Adrianne's strength was far superior to mine, and despite I had managed to block her attack, I was inadvertently thrown to the side.

I fell to the ground and rolled defensively before resisting the momentum and raised my head finally.

Phew, that was one broken rib crisis averted.

I felt a trickle of sweat down my face as my smile froze.

Adrianne was already upon me, with her left heel descending for my lowered head for a dropkick. Her shadow loomed over me, her gaze was cold and vicious.

Dear, Anne, aren't I your cute little brother?!

Suppressing my inner monologue, I grabbed my spear and quickly rolled out of the way. Adrianne's heel crashed into the same spot I previously was half a second ago, and the impact actually let a groove.

How babarious!

Before I could begin to lament the marital future of my dear cute sister, she was already leading in a follow up attack again. Fortunately, this time I was ready.

Gripping my wooden spear I quickly rose to my feet and skillfully evaded her attack with a back step.

This is it.

I thought and everything slowed down before my perception.

Ever since the spar began, Adrianne had forced me entirely on the evasive or defensive, but her most recent attack had left her open to weaknesses which would take half a second to cover. But in a fight, half a second was more than enough. Especially for those with numerous experiences under their belt.

The spear was a mid ranged weapon when used in melee, but this provided a number of weakness. One would need to simply leap out of the range of the attacker, but then, they could just throw it at you. The spear was quite versatile in some manner thanks to that.

The other would be to close the distance. It was, after all, a mid-range weapon, not a close ranged one like a sword. Close in on your attacker, invade deep into their personal space, and they would be left with minimum movements to make with their weapon. Then you strike.

I had the chance to quickly refix my footing and lunge an attack at Adrianne's during this fleeting moment.

Time appeared to have stopped for me as I quickly gathered enough information and data from my surroundings and opponent.

Her footing is awkward, her posture is is slightly shifted and has a considerable number of openings. Her hair is in the way, and is that a necklace sticking out from her collar? Sigh, dear, cute big sister of mine, if this were a dogfight back on Earth, all of this would be the undoing of you, I lamented thoughtfully with a carefree silent chuckle.

You should be glad you have a kind and considerate little brother like me, treat me better.

With that intentional hesitation on my part, that fleeting moment passed and Adrianne immediately fixed her posture and footing as she flowed into another attack at me.

Watching the shaft of her spear draw an arc for me, I smiled self-mockingly and thought,

This is gonna' hurt, let's just get it over with.

Time retuned back to normal and Adrianne's spear quickly rammed into my midsection, knocking the air out of my lungs and throwing me off my feet.

I let out an embarrassing sound as my body hurled backwards through the air and skidded into a small pond nearby, rippling the surface of the water.

I lingered intentionally for a few seconds before exaggeratedly gasping and flailing my hands around.

"I-i can't swim! I can't swim! Help, I'm-i'm drowning!"

"Hmph, what a pitiful little brother I've got. The pond isn't even that deep. " Adrianne, watching my act from dry ground, said pitifully.

"Ah." I made a dumb voice of realization, then stood up.

Adrianne was right, the water only reached as far as my short knees when I stood straight.

Though, I know that.

"You're weak and clumsy, you know I won't be always there to protect you. Here." Adrianne approached the edge of the pond, said uncharacteristically softly then offered me a hand.

You're the one who put me in this state though.

I bit the down the urge to say those words, nodded sheepishly with a smile and reached for he hand. Holding on to it as she pulled me out of the pund, I smiled deeply and warmly at Adrianne then said.

"That's why I will become as strong as big sis to protect myself, and even stronger to protect you instead. I promise."

Barf, that was cringe!