Hello and welcome, one and all...
You might be thinking of why I delete that Highschool of the Dead/Dead Rising Story (And I also know that you don't but I'll tell you, anyway) and it's because looking at it now, it is pretty stupid when you think about it.
So, instead, this OC is far more antithetical to JustyTurner's work where instead of a super soldier hero who is trying to save humanity, Silas is a self-centered anti-hero/villain protagonist who only cares about what he wants and is far more ruthless and cruel who doesn't show no mercy to his enemies although that doesn't mean he isn't devoid of redeeming qualities.
And unlike JustyTurner's work (as much as I wanted to), this isn't a harem story so there will be no lemons, no romance and no harems and it is survival, horror, drama and that's it with little fan service on the way.
Yeah, just kidding.
There's still fan service, just don't expect Silas to actually be involved into it.
All in all, this story takes vast inspirations from Darkwood, a survival horror game where you are trying to survive in a hellish part of the world itself and you are not playing as a hero who tries to do good but a survivalist who will be scared of everything and trying to survive for as long as you muster up the skill and endurance to withstand the brutal horrors of Darkwood.
Anyway, if you have anymore ideas, let me know in the comments below.
Now, on with the story.
Disclaimer: I do not own Highschool of the Dead, Dead Rising and 'Zombie apocalypse X Male reader: The last hope for humanity' by 'JustyTurner'. I also do not own Resident Evil, Left 4 Dead, Dead Space, Zom-100 and any media that deals with zombies.
Enjoy.
Character Name: Silas (Rarely uses or shares his last name, preferring to be known as "The Shade" if addressed at all).
Age: Appears to be in his late 30s, possibly early 40s. His true age is masked by his weathered appearance and the effects of his self-experimentation.
Gender: Male.
Physical Appearance:
Silas appears as a gaunt and wiry, figure giving the impression of lean strength rather than bulky muscle and his posture is often hunched, as if perpetually wary and trying to minimize his presence.
As for his clothing ensemble, he is always clad in a multi-layered ensemble of dark grey, tattered clothing. A long, once-fine wool coat is the outermost layer, ripped and patched in multiple places, its original texture worn smooth with age and grime. Beneath it are similarly distressed pants, likely of a durable material like canvas or denim, tucked into worn combat boots that have seen better days. He wears thick, fingerless gloves (often stained with unknown substances) and a dark grey scarf perpetually wrapped high around his neck and lower face, obscuring everything below his eyes.
His face is almost always entirely hidden by the scarf and the deep shadow cast by a hood pulled low over his forehead which makes reading his expressions impossible, contributing to his intimidating and mysterious aura.
The only visible feature are his eyes, and they are startling. They glow with an unnatural, piercing white luminescence in the shadows, like twin embers in the dark. This unsettling glow is not natural; it's a side effect of his experimental drugs, making them appear almost feline or reptilian and incredibly unnerving. Those who have glimpsed his face beneath the hood describe it as gaunt, almost skeletal, with stretched, discolored skin and subtle, disturbing distortions that are difficult to articulate but deeply unsettling. The glowing eyes are the least horrifying aspect of his true visage.
Personality Traits:
Silas is fundamentally and unapologetically self-centered and self-serving who's actions are almost exclusively motivated by personal survival and gain and due to this, he doesn't believe in committing acts of altruism and views it as a weakness in this new world order.
This makes him hold a profoundly cynical and pessimistic view of humanity, both before and during the apocalypse for he believes people are inherently selfish and ultimately disappointing. This cynicism extends to himself; he has no illusions about being a good person and overall, is a ruthlessly pragmatic survivor first and foremost, and he is brutally efficient in his methods. He calculates risks and rewards with chilling detachment, willing to make any necessary sacrifice – including human life – if it serves his survival. Emotions are seen as liabilities, and he suppresses them effectively.
All in all, he has little to no empathy and is capable of extreme cruelty, willing to not hesitate in inflicting pain, suffering or a combination of both if it gives him any advantage for he believes that mercy is a concept he discards as foolish sentimentality in a world where weakness is punished.
Regardless, beneath the rough exterior and brutal actions, Silas is highly intelligent, possessing a keen analytical mind and a scientific understanding that sets him apart, being observant, quick to learn, and adept at problem-solving, especially in crisis situations.
This means that despite the horrors that he has witnessed and perpetrated, Silas maintains a semblance of sanity. He's not driven by madness, but by cold, calculated logic. However, the psychological toll of his survival methods and mutations is evident, making him emotionally stunted, paranoid, and harbors a deep-seated misery.
Yet, while a cruel jerk, Silas isn't entirely irrational. He's capable of understanding logic and will cooperate if he perceives a genuine benefit, even temporarily. Agreements, to him, are conditional and based purely on self-interest, but he will honor them as long as they remain advantageous to him.
But as said before, despite his ruthlessness, Silas harbors a deep self-loathing, especially to himself as he frequently refers to himself in derogatory terms such as 'ugly bastard' or monsters' and believes even he deserves punishment for his actions. This isn't remorse in the traditional sense, but rather a cynical acceptance of his own vileness and a belief in a karmic reckoning that he expects to face eventually.
But while he is known for his generally brutal nature, Silas displays a peculiar code of conduct based on reciprocity. If someone shows him genuine kindness or helps him without expecting anything in return, he is surprisingly willing to reciprocate. He might offer protection, share resources, or even offer a rare, gruff word of thanks. This is not altruism, but rather a pragmatic acknowledgment that kindness, when freely given, can be a valuable (and rare) commodity. However, trust is fleeting in this world, and his "kindness" is always conditional and easily withdrawn if violated.
Lastly, Silas has a profound contempt for stupidity and incompetence, especially when it endangers survival. He is frustrated by people who make irrational decisions, prioritize fleeting pleasures over long-term safety, or fail to grasp the harsh realities of the apocalypse. He sees such individuals as liabilities and often treats them with open disdain or even eliminates them if they become a burden.
Background:
Before Silas becomes a hardened survivor in a zombie apocalypse, he was once a scientist, specifically a biochemist or pharmacologist, working in a research lab. He was driven by a hunger for knowledge and a desire to push the boundaries of human biology, even if it meant skirting ethical lines. It's strongly implied that his research focused on enhancing human capabilities, possibly through genetic manipulation or advanced pharmaceuticals.
But when the zombie apocalypse erupted, Silas didn't seek to join groups or help others. He retreated into his lab, driven by a desperate need to survive and a twisted scientific curiosity. He used his knowledge to develop a potent cocktail of drugs, which he named "Vitae" (Latin for "life"). This was intended to be a survival tool, a way to enhance his senses, strength, and resilience in a world gone mad.
And the Vitae actually worked, but comes with a terrible cost as displayed by side effects where it has granted him superhuman strength, durability, night vision (hence the glowing eyes), and accelerated healing. However, it also fundamentally altered his biology, turning him into a horrifying, mutated cannibal. The drug heightened his metabolism to an extreme degree, requiring vast amounts of protein and energy to sustain his enhanced form. This led to the gruesome necessity of consuming fresh meat, specifically human flesh, to survive.
His monstrous transformation forced Silas further into the shadows. He embraced the darkness, both literally and figuratively, adopting the moniker 'The Shade'. He shed any semblance of his former life, becoming solely focused on survival through any means necessary. His past as a scientist is a closely guarded secret, hinted at only by his unusual knowledge and the chilling effectiveness of his methods. He prefers to remain an enigma, an unsettling presence in the ruined world.
Skills Abilities:
Silas possesses an exceptional scientific intellect, particularly in chemistry and biology. He created Vitae, a testament to his advanced knowledge and ruthless ingenuity. He understands the human body on a deep level and can apply his scientific principles to survival strategies in a brutal world.
Due to being such a master chemist, he is capable of synthesizing complex compounds and medications even in rudimentary conditions. He might create other substances for various purposes, from stimulants and sedatives to poisons and deterrents.
Finally, years of surviving in the apocalypse have honed his survival instincts, making him adept at scavenging, finding shelter, barricading locations, and navigating dangerous environments, both urban and wilderness. He is also highly observant and attuned to his surroundings, constantly assessing threats and opportunities.
As for the Vitae itself, it grants Silas a level superhuman strength, allowing him to lift incredibly heavy objects and overpower most people, his durability where he can withstand blows and injuries that would incapacitate a normal human, the glowing white eyes are a direct result of his enhanced night vision, making him able to see clearly in near-total darkness, giving him a significant advantage in nighttime environments and enclosed spaces and a remarkable regenerative abilities where wounds that would be fatal to others heal rapidly. However, this healing is fueled by his heightened metabolism and necessitates the consumption of fresh meat, especially human flesh, to sustain itself.
However, for all his enhanced physical abilities, Silas is not a skilled fighter in the traditional sense. His movements are often described as clumsy and brutish. He lacks finesse and precision in combat. Similarly, he is a poor marksman, relying on brute force and intimidation rather than accurate ranged attacks. He compensates for these weaknesses with his raw strength, durability, and unsettling presence.
Motivations:
His primary and overriding motivation is to survive, day by day, regardless of the cost which means that he is intensely paranoid about being captured or discovered, particularly by groups who might want to exploit his abilities or his scientific knowledge where he prefers to remain isolated and hidden.
But buried deep beneath his layers of cynicism and ruthlessness, there might be a flicker of a desire for something more than just survival. Perhaps a twisted form of redemption, or a morbid satisfaction in proving his scientific theories, even in a ruined world. However, this is buried so deeply that even Silas might not consciously acknowledge it.
In a Narrative:
Silas "The Shade" is not a protagonist in the traditional sense. He is an anti-hero, perhaps even a villain, viewed through a lens of grim realism. He represents the dark side of survival, the lengths to which some will go when pushed to the brink. He is a force of nature in the apocalypse, a terrifying figure to be avoided, but also a grimly fascinating example of human adaptation and degradation in the face of unimaginable horror. He would serve as a compelling antagonist, a reluctant ally, or a haunting example of what the apocalypse can turn a person into.
Well, here is as far as Character Profile, making it far more coherent and less inclined towards being a bullet point then whatever I have done.
Anyway, if you have anymore ideas and see anything wrong with it, let me know in the comments below.
As always...
Ciao...
