The silence of the night shattered as the creatures from the Rift descended upon the city. Eli could feel the ground trembling beneath his feet as the horrifying roars of the monsters echoed through the darkened streets. His heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline surging through his veins as he gripped the machete in his hand. The weapon felt unfamiliar yet oddly comfortable, as though the Basic Combat Training skill had already begun to shape his instincts.From his position in the fortified apartment building, Eli watched as the first wave of creatures poured into the city. These weren't just any creatures—they were abominations, twisted by the chaotic energy of the Rift. Their bodies were grotesque, a nightmarish fusion of beast and shadow, with glowing red eyes that pierced the darkness. Their claws were long and sharp, capable of tearing through flesh and bone with ease, and their fanged maws dripped with a foul-smelling ichor.Eli's breath caught in his throat as he saw them up close for the first time. But there was no time for fear—only action. He steeled himself, pushing the terror to the back of his mind as he prepared to face the monsters head-on.The first creature lunged at him, moving with a speed that belied its massive size. Eli barely had time to react, but his enhanced reflexes kicked in, allowing him to dodge to the side just in time. The creature's claws slashed through the air where he had been standing, tearing into the concrete wall behind him.Without thinking, Eli swung the machete with all his might, aiming for the creature's neck. The blade bit deep, slicing through flesh and sinew with surprising ease. The creature let out a gurgling snarl as it staggered backward, black blood oozing from the wound. But it wasn't enough to kill it.Eli cursed under his breath as the creature recovered and charged at him again. He needed to finish it off before it could overwhelm him. Drawing on the combat training embedded in his mind, he shifted his stance and aimed for the creature's legs. With a swift, precise strike, he severed one of its limbs, sending it crashing to the ground.This time, Eli didn't hesitate. He brought the machete down on the creature's head, delivering a final, killing blow. The creature convulsed, then fell still, its body dissolving into a pool of dark, viscous liquid.Eli took a moment to catch his breath, his heart still racing from the fight. He had won—barely. But as he looked around, he realized this was only the beginning. More creatures were approaching, their eyes glowing with malevolent intent."You're not done yet," he muttered to himself, tightening his grip on the machete. "Stay focused. You can do this."The next few minutes passed in a blur of blood and violence. Eli fought with everything he had, using the skills the System had granted him to stay one step ahead of the creatures. He dodged, slashed, and parried, his movements becoming more fluid and precise with each encounter. But no matter how many he killed, more kept coming.The creatures were relentless, their numbers seemingly endless. But Eli refused to back down. He couldn't afford to. If he hesitated, if he faltered for even a moment, it would be the end.As the fight dragged on, Eli began to feel the strain on his body. His muscles ached, his breath came in ragged gasps, and his vision blurred with exhaustion. But still, he fought on, driven by a fierce determination to survive.Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the last of the creatures fell to the ground, dead. Eli stood amidst the carnage, covered in blood and sweat, his chest heaving with exertion. The apartment building was a wreck, the walls and floors splattered with the remains of the monsters.But he was alive. He had survived the First Wave.As the adrenaline began to wear off, Eli collapsed onto a nearby chair, dropping the machete with a clatter. His hands were shaking, and he could feel the fatigue settling into his bones. He had pushed himself to the limit and then some. But before he could fully process what had just happened, a new notification appeared in his vision.
[Quest Complete: Survive the First Wave]
[Reward: 20 Skill Points]
[Newbie Gift Package Unlocked]
Eli blinked, wiping the sweat from his brow as he read the message. A gift package? He hadn't been expecting that. But considering what he'd just been through, he wasn't about to complain.With a thought, he opened the System menu and navigated to the Inventory tab. There, at the top of the list, was the Newbie Gift Package. It was a simple, glowing box, but he could feel the power radiating from it. Whatever was inside, it was going to be something good.He selected the package, and a new window popped up, displaying the contents.
[Newbie Gift Package]
[Contents: Basic Armor Set, Health Potions x3, Skill Scroll x1, Resource Pack x1]
Eli's eyes widened as he looked over the items. This was exactly what he needed—a set of armor, some healing potions, and a skill scroll that could potentially give him a new ability. And the resource pack? That sounded promising too.He wasted no time in equipping the armor. It wasn't anything fancy—a simple set of leather armor that covered his chest, arms, and legs. But it was sturdy and well-made, offering much-needed protection against the creatures' attacks. As he donned the armor, he felt a reassuring sense of security. He wasn't just an ordinary guy with a machete anymore—he was a warrior, ready to take on whatever the apocalypse threw at him.Next, he took out one of the health potions. It was a small vial filled with a bright red liquid that glowed faintly in the dim light. Eli uncorked the vial and downed the potion in one gulp. The effect was immediate—he could feel his wounds healing, his strength returning, and the exhaustion lifting from his body. It was as if he had been completely revitalized.Feeling reinvigorated, Eli turned his attention to the Skill Scroll. He unrolled the parchment, revealing a single line of text written in glowing, golden letters.
[Skill Scroll: Fireball (Rank 1)]
A fireball spell? That could come in handy. Eli hesitated for only a moment before using the scroll. The words on the parchment glowed brighter, then dissolved into shimmering light that flowed into his body. He felt a warm sensation in his chest as the new skill was integrated into his System. Eli grinned. A ranged attack like this could make all the difference in future battles. He couldn't wait to try it out.Finally, he opened the Resource Pack. A new notification appeared, listing the items he had received.
[Resource Pack Contents: 500 Credits, 10 Iron Ingots, 5 Mana Crystals]
Credits? He hadn't seen anything in the System about a currency before, but he assumed it would be useful at some point. The iron ingots and mana crystals were materials he could probably use to craft or upgrade equipment later on.With his new gear and resources in hand, Eli felt more confident than ever. He had survived the First Wave, and now he was stronger, better equipped, and more prepared for whatever came next.But as he looked out over the ruined city, he knew that this was just the beginning. The apocalypse was far from over, and the real challenges were yet to come.Eli was about to start cleaning up and planning his next move when another notification appeared in his vision. This one was different, though—it wasn't a quest or a reward. It was a simple message.
[Sign-In System Activated]
Eli frowned, puzzled. "Sign-In System?" he muttered. What was that supposed to mean?Before he could figure it out, a new window popped up, displaying a calendar. Today's date was highlighted in bright green, and beneath it was a single button that read "Sign In."Curiosity getting the better of him, Eli pressed the button. The calendar flashed, and a new notification appeared.
[Sign-In Successful]
[Day 1 Reward: 100 Credits, Stamina Potion x1]
Eli's eyes widened. "No way…" he whispered. This was like one of those mobile games where you could get daily rewards just for logging in. Except this wasn't a game—this was real life. And if he could get resources just by signing in every day, that could give him a huge advantage.He quickly checked his Inventory, and sure enough, the new items were there—a small bag of credits and a vial of blue liquid labeled "Stamina Potion." The potion would come in handy if he ever needed to push his body to the limit again, and the credits were always welcome.As he processed this new development, another thought occurred to him. If the rewards for signing in were this useful on the first day, what would the rewards be like after a week? A month?Eli's mind raced with possibilities. The Sign-In System could be his ticket to becoming truly powerful—if he used it wisely.With the immediate threat dealt with and his new resources in hand, Eli took a moment to assess his situation. He was in better shape than he'd been just a few hours ago, but the city was still crawling with monsters, and the apocalypse had only just begun.He brought up the System menu and checked his status.
[Name: Elijah Cross]
[Level: 1]
[Title: None]
[Skills: Basic Combat Training, Enhanced Reflexes, Fireball (Rank 1)]
[Inventory: 3 Health Potions, 1 Stamina Potion, 500 Credits, 10 Iron Ingots, 5 Mana Crystals]
[Sign-In Reward: 100 Credits]
[Skill Points Available: 20]
He had 20 Skill Points from completing the First Wave quest, and he needed to decide how to spend them. There were still plenty of skills he could unlock, and each one would bring him closer to becoming the kind of survivor he needed to be.But before he made any decisions, Eli decided to explore the System a bit more. There were other tabs he hadn't looked at yet, including one labeled "Upgrades." He selected it, and a new window appeared, listing various enhancements he could apply to his skills and abilities.
[Available Upgrades]
[Fireball: Rank Up (Cost: 10 SP)]
[Basic Combat Training: Rank Up (Cost: 10 SP)]
[Enhanced Reflexes: Rank Up (Cost: 10 SP)]
Eli considered his options. Upgrading his Fireball skill would make it more powerful, possibly giving him a stronger attack or reducing the mana cost. Upgrading his combat training or reflexes would improve his overall fighting capabilities. All of these upgrades were tempting, but he needed to choose wisely.After a moment of deliberation, Eli decided to upgrade his Fireball and Enhanced Reflexes. The next wave of monsters could be even more dangerous, and having a stronger ranged attack combined with heightened reflexes could give him the edge he needed.He selected the upgrades, and once again, a warm sensation spread through his body as the changes took effect.
[Fireball: Rank 2]
[Enhanced Reflexes: Rank 2]
Eli clenched his fists, feeling the power coursing through him. He could sense the improvement in his abilities—the Fireball spell was stronger, and his reflexes were sharper than ever. He was getting closer to becoming the kind of person who could not only survive in this new world but thrive in it.With his immediate needs taken care of, Eli decided to take a closer look at the city. The apartment building he was in offered a decent view of the surrounding area, so he climbed to the roof and surveyed the landscape.The sight that greeted him was both awe-inspiring and terrifying. The Rift hung ominously in the sky, a swirling vortex of darkness that seemed to pulse with malevolent energy. From this vantage point, he could see the full extent of the devastation. Fires burned throughout the city, and the streets were littered with the corpses of both humans and monsters. The once-bustling metropolis had been transformed into a warzone.But amidst the chaos, Eli spotted something that caught his attention—a faint, glowing light in the distance. It was far away, on the other side of the city, but it was unmistakable. It was a beacon, pulsing with a steady, rhythmic glow.Eli's eyes narrowed as he focused on the light. It was too regular, too controlled to be a natural phenomenon. Could it be another survivor? Or perhaps something more?His mind raced with possibilities. Whatever it was, it was important. And it was something he needed to investigate.But before he could make any plans, another notification appeared.
[New Quest Available: Investigate the Beacon]
[Time Remaining: 72:00:00]
[Reward: ???]
Eli's heart skipped a beat. The System wanted him to investigate the beacon, and the reward was unknown—likely something significant. But the quest came with a time limit, and he would need to prepare before he could venture out into the city again.He closed the notification and turned his attention back to the task at hand. The first wave had been just a taste of what was to come, and he needed to be ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.With his upgraded skills, new resources, and the Sign-In System at his disposal, Eli was determined to survive—and to uncover the secrets of this new, terrifying world.But as he stared at the distant beacon, a sense of foreboding settled over him. The apocalypse was far from over, and the real fight was only just beginning.