On our way back to base around noon the mechanical voice sounded once again across the planet. This time too, another screen appeared and on it was what appeared to be the face of an AI. We could not determine the gender, but based on what we saw, we could tell it was an AI, and not human based on how the eyes blinked and the mouth moved.
"People of Earth, you will have one week to strengthen yourselves. At the end of this week, the shield that once protected your world from outside forces will completely dissipate. Since the planet did not appreciate peace, you will now have to fight to survive. Everyone will not make it, but you should do your best. The undead will partially disappear but the animals and plants will remain. After this week dangerous animals and plants will no longer be allowed in main cities and heavily populated regions. For this, everyone will be transported to the nearest settlement which will consist of at least 300 people. The only animals that will remain in these settlements or cities are tamed animals. In order to get stronger, the difficulty of monsters has doubled, even tripled. The amount of undead and animals have also significantly increased outside of human settlements. In one week a towel will appear that will contain monsters and creatures. The tower is a trail tower, which each region is responsible for clearing themselves. The towers will consist of 50 floors, and get harder to clear the more you level up. When clearing the towels, there are items within which can aid in your growth as well as benefit your race in the war that is to come. The towers must be cleared within 5 months, if not cleared by then, the monsters from within will attack the region that failed to clear it. Each time monsters are defeated, they will add towards a level up. You can only go to the next floor, after you have cleared the tower yourself. After all the towers have been cleared, a central tower will be opened consisting of 100 floors, also for training. When the main tower is unlocked, you will be able to interact with people from other regions, as well as communicate with them. Some people will even be able to transfer regions based on their situation at that time. If you have not yet noticed, each city is closed off and you are unable to leave. After you have reached a certain level, you will be able to visit and communicate with each other. Until then, do what you must".
Everyone remained silent after hearing the notification. It was also then that we noticed the undead around us physically going through an evolution. Their sunken eyes grew bigger, their movement started to get faster. As they started to evolve we started to realize that our original weapons have started to lose power barely working against the monsters. Those of us who used our awarded weapons from what we're calling the system were dealing much more damage to the monsters than human made weapons. It was lucky that everyone in our Humvee had awakened to at least level 1, receiving at least an E-level equipment. The weapons we've noticed can appear and disappear at will. No one knows where they are stored, but once we think we no longer need it, it will disappear. We are also unable to use another person's weapon. It's almost as if each weapon has an identification option we are unaware of.
As we drove back to base we would all get out of our vehicles to kill mobs and try to increase our levels. The animals appeared everywhere, even as we killed them. Seeming to be endless. over half of the plants have become dangerous to us, mostly vines and poisonous plants. Venus fly traps have evolved in size to kill not just insects but also anything around the size of a toddler. This ranges to anything around 8 pounds. The teeth have also become sharp enough to bite through the skin. Dangerous plants that originally did not have a habitat in our cities have seemed to magically appear along the roads and towns. Many types of bushes and shrubs have also developed sharper leaves similar to razors, thicker stems and their pollen have become dangerous for a lot of people. People allergic to pollen are especially impacted the most as the pollen has become twice as strong and potent; often causing those who show symptoms of allergy to have severe reactions like choking, and continuously coughing. A minority who have allergies struggle to breathe when exposed to the pollen, others get a crippling migraine and the minor effects are constant coughing and runny nose. I was able to concoct a form of allergy pills through my knowledge of alternative medicine and alchemy, for detective Miller and Cpl Turner, the two in our convoy who suffered from allergies.
It is not just plants that have somehow been introduced to a new environment, even animals that we have never seen before. Jaguars, panthers, leopards, vipers and other non native animals are now seen all over. The forest has somehow adopted both non invasive and invasive species, foreign species have now inhibited the forest and woods. Our rivers and lakes have embraced aquatic life it previously could not support. Regardless of its original habitat, as if they had always belonged . It seems as if nature has turned its back on humans. Animals that were once herbivores, now consider us prey. In fact it seems as if animals are only aiming for humans as food. It's like when we started to destroy nature. In our war against each other, unconcerned for nature itself, nature is now returning the favor. Perhaps that's what this is about; since we did not care enough for nature, nature will no longer protect us or co-exist with us. As we keep in contact with the base, we learned that the plants grown by humans or with the human touch, are not negatively affected. We have a greenhouse on campus where the plants don't show any signs of mutation. The plants in the wild however, have become dangerous.
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The briefings now include the top specialist from different fields. Many of the members include the top Zoologists who is also a professor, two of the top doctors, our Mayor, Commander Tatsuo and both Lt's, myself included with another top botanist. We also have a few architects and scientists. The great thing about our city is that it is mostly a place for academia. While we have the oldest and largest university on Earth, we also have many of the best research institutions and hospitals. We have been coming up with plans on how to proceed, leveling up and trying to make sense of our new world. We have also requested for everyone, including the young and old to try leveling up so everyone will stand a chance for what's to come. Everyone is now required to join in defending our base, regardless of their specialty. For children under 5, they are kept safe. Since the animals will be evolved more people are required to defend the base. Not even the higher ups are spared. For the weakened or elder or young, they take turns with others who have awakened. While many of the animals have increased to level 2 and 3, many are still level 1. The awakened have been recommended to use their awakened weapons, only on level 2 or 3, leaving the lower-level monsters to help the others evolve.
There are many types of different weapons, like arrows, swords and guns. Like mine there are also whips, poison needles, ninja stars and many other types of weapons awarded based on someone's natural ability. Some people are lucky and have received multiple weapons from the system.