Adrian entered the dilapidated building, his heart pounding with a mix of exhaustion and relief.
He closed the door behind him, shutting out the eerie sounds of the undead roaming the streets.
The interior of the building was dimly lit, with faint rays of sunlight seeping through the cracks in the broken windows.
Leaning against a wall, Adrian let out a deep sigh.
The adrenaline that had fueled his escape began to dissipate, leaving him with aching muscles and a clouded mind. He needed a moment to collect his thoughts and regain his composure.
"Finally, some peace and quiet," Adrian muttered to himself.
He closed his eyes, allowing his body to relax, but his mind remained alert. He knew he couldn't let his guard down completely, even in this seemingly safe space.
Days turned into nights as Adrian hunkered down in the building, waiting for the chaos outside to calm.
He rationed the few supplies he had managed to scavenge, carefully monitoring his food and water intake.
Thankfully the building had a toilet.
Occasionally, he would peek out of the window, observing the streets below. The once-bustling city was now a desolate wasteland, overrun by hordes of undead.
As Adrian sat in the dimly lit room, a sudden flicker of light caught his attention.
He blinked, his eyes adjusting to the illumination coming from a floating panel in front of him. It hovered in the air, displaying a series of numbers and attributes.
"What in the world...?" Adrian's voice trailed off as he stared at the floating panel in awe.
The panel glowed with an ominous aura of blood.
[Name: Adrian
Age: 18
| Str-1.2(+) | Agi-1.2(+) | Int-1.1(+) | Vit-1.3(+) |
SP-100
Abilities- Peace.
Function 1- ???
Function 2- ???
Function 3- ??? ]
The panel resembled a character sheet, displaying various attributes such as Vitality, Strength, Agility, and Intelligence.
Curiosity piqued, Adrian reached out tentatively, his finger grazing the surface of the panel.
To his surprise, the numbers and attributes responded, shifting and rearranging as if in response to his touch.
A sly grin spread across Adrian's face. "Well, well, well... looks like I've stumbled upon something quite extraordinary," he murmured, his voice laced with unknown emotions.
Adrian's gaze remained fixated on the floating attribute panel, his mind buzzing with beffudlement.
As his finger traced the outline of the panel, he discovered that each attribute had a corresponding numerical value.
Vitality determined his health and endurance, Strength measured his physical power, Agility represented his speed and reflexes, and Intelligence reflected his mental prowess.
There was an additional term 'SP'.
He discovered that by gathering System Points, he could upgrade his own attributes and gain additional abilities.
The realization filled Adrian with a mixture of paranoia and solemness.
He had always believed in taking advantage of any situation that presented itself, and this was no different.
The notion of gaining power and control in this apocalyptic world was desirable but he didn't believe in free gifts.
Nonetheless he wasn't going to reject it no matter what it origins be.
As he delved deeper into the attribute panel, Adrian's eyes glimmered with excitement.
He began experimenting with the panel, tapping on different attributes and noticing the (+) sign besides them.
It didn't take him long to understand that by investing System Points, he could enhance his abilities and unlock new skills.
He looked at the System Points which stayed at a stable 100 and wondered if he should try upgrading.
The (+) signs beside the attributes was glowing with allure.
He hesitated for a moment, considering which attribute to upgrade first.
With his survival instincts kicking in, he decided to invest some System Points into Agility.
He wanted to be faster and more agile, enabling him to outmaneuver both the undead and any potential human adversaries.
This could ensure that at least he wasn't caught by the zombies.
As he allocated the System Points, the panel flickered and a surge of energy coursed through his body. He felt a tingling sensation, as if his muscles were being rejuvenated and his reflexes sharpened.
The attribute panel updated in real-time, displaying his increased Agility score.
[Name: Adrian
Age: 18
| Str-1.2(+) | Agi-1.7(+) | Int-1.1(+) | Vit-1.3(+) |
SP-0
Abilities- Peace.
Function 1- ???
Function 2- ???
Function 3- ??? ]
Excitement flickered in Adrian's eyes.
Adrian navigated through different menus and tabs, discovering an array of skills and abilities he could unlock.
There were combat skills, survival skills, and even crafting skills.
His eyes widened as he realized the potential of these abilities.
This all felt like some higher being manipulating ants for its own amusement.
He stood up, his eyes shifted to the broken window, through which he could see the desolate streets below.
The moans of the undead echoed in the distance, a constant reminder of the how the world got f*cked a few days ago.
The few dozens of battered and mangled corpses portrayed the feebleness of humans.
His eyes flickered as he took in the eerie scenery
"I'll survive."
Adrian whispered to himself, his voice laced with a chilling determination.
...
After another night of stressful sleep Adrian woke up with bloodshot eyes.
As he got up he went to the window and gazed outside. The sea-blue sky filled with fleeting clouds gave off a sense serenity, the warm rays of the sun pierced through the clouds.
The sky was exceptionally bright.
Seeing this Adrian couldn't help but whisper "How... beautiful..." He grasped the window sills and looked down.
The streets were bathed by blood, organs could be seen sprawled everywhere. Kids with half bitten faces, their expressions before death was similar.
Tears and Terror.
The adults were no different.
Along with the occasional moans of the undead that rang together in symphony it created a creepy melody.
"How beautiful..." He whispered once again. It was as if the scene before him was taken out of a mystical painting.
He wasn't calling the corpses or the undead beautiful. But the situation itself seemed to be at such a contrast that the contradiction was immense.
It painted a depiction of Heaven and Hell all together.
Adrian wished to take a photo but smiled bitterly remembering his phone was unresponsive.
Shaking his head Adrian started arranging his things. His supplies were depleting and he also needed to find a way to gain SP points.
Adrian stretched his hands and legs before marveling how light his body felt. It was as if gravity had given up on him.
Esctatic he doned his bag and left the building whole finishing the last water bottle he had.
There wasn't a lack of water in an abandoned city.
...
Adrian carefully walked around the edges of the streets taking shortcuts along the way.
The smell of blood and corpses lingered in the air causing his nose to scrunch up.
Forcibly bearing the bad smell he took the same route as last time to the convinience store.
As he made his way towards the store, Adrian's attention was caught by a group of three men in the distance.
They moved with a sense of purpose, each wielding a different weapon—a steel pipe, a bat, and a butcher knife.
Their appearances and mannerisms revealed a distinct hierarchy among them.
...
Inside the convenience store, the three men moved with a certain swagger, their weapons at the ready. The leader, wielding the steel pipe, took the lead.
"Keep your eyes peeled, boys," he said, his voice low and commanding. "We don't want any surprises."
The man with the bat nodded, his fingers tapping anxiously against the wooden surface. "Yeah, Boss. This place could have some good loot."
The one with the butcher knife remained silent, his piercing gaze scanning the surroundings, his every movement calculated and deliberate.
As they ventured further into the store, their steps echoing through the empty aisles, the leader noticed a shelf stocked with canned goods. "Jackpot," he muttered, a grin forming on his face.
Their voices carried through the barren store, filling the air with a mix of anticipation and excitement. They felt invincible, empowered by the chaos that surrounded them.
But as they moved deeper into the store, a shadowy figure watched them from afar, concealed behind a toppled shelf.
Adrian's eyes narrowed as he listened to their conversation.
The leader's confidence oozed through his every word, while the man with the bat seemed restless, his impatience palpable.
The one with the butcher knife remained an enigma, a silent observer taking in every detail.
The leader approached a counter, his gaze fixated on a row of energy bars.
He picked up a few and examined them before tossing them into a worn-out backpack slung over his shoulder. "Never know when we'll need some quick energy," he chuckled.
The man with the bat, his fingers still drumming against the wooden surface, glanced around nervously. "Hey, Boss, you think anyone else is here?"
The leader paused, his eyes narrowing. "Possibly," he replied. "But if they're smart, they'll stay out of our way."
Suddenly, the man with the steel pipe froze, his gaze fixed on something beyond the counter. The others followed his line of sight and saw the zombie inching its way towards them, its rotting limbs dragging along the floor.
The man with the steel pipe smirked, tightening his grip. "Looks like we've got company, boys. Time to have some fun."
Without hesitation, he swung the steel pipe with a forceful blow, crashing it against the zombie's skull. The impact reverberated through the store, and the zombie crumpled to the ground, motionless.
His companions erupted into laughter, their adrenaline-fueled amusement filling the air. "Nice one, Boss! That's how you handle those dead bastards!"
Adrian watched from his hiding spot, his eyes widening with surprise.
The man with the steel pipe dropped to a crouch, using the improvised weapon to dig into the zombie's remains. His hands emerged clutching a glowing blue marble.
The leader's eyes gleamed with triumph as he slipped the marble into his pocket. "Another one for the collection," he chuckled, his voice filled with a mix of greed and satisfaction.
The three men gathered their plundered supplies, shouldered their weapons, and made their way out of the convenience store, leaving Adrian deep in thought.
Adrian's mind whirred with possibilities.
The man with the steel pipe possessed more than just brute strength and survival skills. Adrian had also tried to kill a zombie but his attacks barely damaged the ferocious zombie.
Thankfully his agility allowed him to retreat as he pleased.
Not to mention the man with the steel pipe also had an understanding of the value of these mysterious blue marbles.
The look on his face said it all.
Adrian's eyes flickered as several fleeting thoughts occupied his mind.
"Hmm..."