Eli stood on the roof of the apartment building, the cold wind biting at his face as he stared out at the distant beacon. The pulsing light was a mystery, one that the System clearly wanted him to solve. But he wasn't going to rush in blindly. The First Wave had taught him the value of preparation, and if he was going to survive what was coming, he needed to be ready.The creatures that had attacked him were only a taste of what the Rift could unleash. The fact that he'd survived was more due to the System's intervention than anything else. If he wanted to keep surviving, he had to become stronger—much stronger. And that meant using every resource at his disposal.Eli brought up the System menu, reviewing the quest he'd just received.
[Quest: Investigate the Beacon]
[Time Remaining: 72:00:00]
[Reward: ???]
He had three days to complete the quest. That gave him a bit of time to prepare, but not much. He needed to spend those two days wisely, gathering supplies, fortifying his position, and using the System to its fullest potential."All right," Eli muttered to himself. "Let's get to work."Eli descended from the roof and surveyed the apartment building. The fight with the creatures had left it in a sorry state—walls were scarred with deep gashes, and blood stained the floors. But despite the damage, it was still a solid structure, and with a bit of work, it could be turned into a secure base.He started by barricading the entrances. The front door had been ripped off its hinges during the fight, so he used some nearby furniture to block the entrance. A heavy oak table, a few chairs, and a bookshelf formed a makeshift barrier. It wasn't perfect, but it would slow down anything that tried to break in.Next, he moved to the windows. Most of them were intact, but a few had been shattered during the chaos. Eli found some plywood in one of the storage rooms and used it to cover the broken windows. He hammered the boards into place, reinforcing them with nails he found in a toolbox. The boards would make it harder for any creatures to breach the building, and they also blocked out the eerie light from the Rift, making it easier to stay focused.After securing the windows, Eli turned his attention to the stairwell. The building had three floors, and he was currently on the second. He decided to focus his efforts on fortifying the second floor, leaving the first floor as a buffer zone. He moved furniture from the lower floors to create obstacles in the stairwell, making it more difficult for anything to reach the second floor.Finally, he gathered all the supplies he could find and brought them to a central location—a small apartment in the middle of the second floor. This would be his base of operations, a place where he could rest, plan, and keep an eye on the surrounding area.By the time he finished, several hours had passed, and Eli was drenched in sweat. But the apartment building was now more secure, and he felt a little more confident about his chances of surviving whatever came next.With the building fortified, Eli turned his attention to his preparations. He had 10 Skill Points left after upgrading his Fireball and Enhanced Reflexes, and he needed to decide how to spend them.He opened the System menu and navigated to the Skills tab. There were several skills available for purchase, each with its advantages. After some consideration, he decided to invest in a new skill that would give him an edge in close combat.
[New Skill Acquired: Blade Mastery (Rank 1)]
The moment he selected the skill, Eli felt a rush of knowledge flood his mind. Techniques for wielding a blade, strategies for parrying and countering, and a deeper understanding of combat all became part of his consciousness. The machete he had used in the First Wave suddenly felt more like an extension of his body rather than a separate tool.Eli spent the rest of the day practicing with the machete. He moved through the apartment, striking at imaginary foes, and testing his new skills. The Blade Mastery skill allowed him to move with greater precision and speed, making each swing more efficient. He could already feel the difference; he was faster, more coordinated, and more confident in his abilities.As the sun began to set, Eli decided to take a break. He sat down in his makeshift base and pulled up the Sign-In System. It was time to claim his second daily reward.Eli opened the calendar and pressed the "Sign In" button for the second time. The screen flashed, and a new notification appeared.
[Sign-In Successful]
[Day 2 Reward: 150 Credits, Mana Potion x1]
He smiled as he checked his Inventory. The credits were starting to add up, and the mana potion would be useful if he needed to use his Fireball skill in quick succession. He didn't have a full grasp on how much mana he could safely use yet, so having a backup plan in the form of a potion was reassuring.With the new rewards safely stored, Eli decided to call it a night. He was exhausted from the day's work, and he needed to be well-rested for whatever challenges tomorrow would bring.He set up a few makeshift alarms using some empty cans and string, creating a rudimentary early warning system in case anything tried to sneak up on him during the night. Then he lay down on the old mattress he had dragged into the apartment and closed his eyes.Despite the danger that lurked outside, Eli fell asleep almost immediately. His body was sore, and his mind was tired, but he knew he was making progress. He was getting stronger, and with the System on his side, he had a real chance at surviving this apocalypse.Eli awoke to the faint light of dawn filtering through the boarded-up windows. He stretched, feeling the stiffness in his muscles from yesterday's exertions. Despite the soreness, he felt a renewed sense of determination. Today was the day he would finish his preparations and get ready to investigate the beacon.After a quick breakfast of canned beans and a protein bar, Eli went back to work. There was still much to do, and he wanted to make sure he was as prepared as possible before heading out into the city again.The first order of business was to check the building's rooftop. Eli climbed the stairs, making sure his barricades were still intact and pushed open the door to the roof. From here, he had a clear view of the surrounding area.The city was eerily quiet, the only sound being the distant crackle of fires that had been burning since the Rift opened. The beacon was still visible, a steady pulse of light in the distance. But there was something else—movement. Far off, near the edge of the city, he could see groups of creatures gathering. They were much larger than the ones he had fought during the First Wave, and they moved with a purpose that made Eli uneasy."Looks like they're planning something," Eli muttered. He knew he didn't have much time before they started moving closer to his position. Whatever was drawing them to the city was powerful, and he would need to be ready to face them.He returned to his base and did a quick inventory of his supplies. He had food and water to last him a few more days, the health and mana potions from his sign-ins, and his trusty machete. The leather armor from the Newbie Gift Package was still in good condition, and his skills were all ranked up. But he needed more if he was going to survive the next wave.Eli decided to explore the rest of the building, hoping to find any useful items he might have missed. He searched every room, every closet, every drawer. Most of what he found was junk—old clothes, broken furniture, useless knick-knacks—but in one of the apartments on the third floor, he struck gold.It was a small cache of weapons, hidden in a locked closet. Eli had to break the lock to get it open, but when he did, he found a treasure trove of tools: a hunting knife, a small crossbow with a few bolts, and a set of throwing knives. There was also a box of ammunition, though unfortunately, no gun to go with it.Eli grinned as he added the new weapons to his Inventory. The crossbow, in particular, would be useful for taking out targets at a distance, and the throwing knives would give him more versatility in combat. The hunting knife was a bit shorter than his machete but sharper and easier to handle in tight spaces.With his new arsenal in hand, Eli spent the rest of the day practicing. He set up targets on the roof, using old bottles and cans, and honed his aim with the crossbow and throwing knives. By the time the sun began to set, he was hitting his marks with consistent accuracy.As the day drew to a close, Eli returned to his base and checked the Sign-In System. It was time for his third daily reward.He pressed the "Sign In" button, and a new notification appeared.
[Sign-In Successful]
[Day 3 Reward: 200 Credits, Skill Upgrade Stone x1]
Eli's eyes widened as he read the description of the Skill Upgrade Stone. This was no ordinary reward—it was something that could push his abilities even further.
[Skill Upgrade Stone: A rare item that can be used to upgrade any skill to the next rank. Warning: Use with caution, as the upgrade is permanent and may have unforeseen effects.]
Eli felt a surge of excitement. With this stone, he could upgrade one of his existing skills without using any Skill Points. It was a powerful tool, and he knew he had to choose wisely.
He considered his options.
[Fireball] [Enhanced Reflexes] and [Blade Mastery] were all viable candidates for the upgrade. Each one would give him a significant boost in combat, but he needed to think about the long-term consequences. The description of the stone mentioned "unforeseen effects," which could mean anything from additional power to increased mana cost or even a completely new ability.
After a moment of deliberation, Eli made his decision. He selected Blade Mastery.
The machete had become his most reliable weapon, and upgrading his blade skills would make him even more formidable in close combat. He needed to be able to handle himself when the creatures got up close, and the machete was his best option for that.
With a deep breath, Eli activated the Skill Upgrade Stone. The stone in his hand glowed with a soft, blue light before disintegrating into dust. That same light then enveloped him, sending a warm, tingling sensation through his body. It wasn't painful, but he could feel the change taking place deep within him.
[Blade Mastery: Rank 2 (Upgraded)]
The System notified him of the successful upgrade, but there was more to it. A secondary notification appeared, detailing the unforeseen effect of the upgrade.
[Unforeseen Effect: Phantom Edge]
[Phantom Edge: A passive ability that allows the user to generate a phantom blade during combat. This blade mimics the user's movements, effectively doubling their attack speed. Note: The Phantom Edge consumes a small amount of stamina with each use.]
Eli's heart raced as he absorbed the information. The Phantom Edge was a game-changer. With this new ability, he could deliver two strikes with every swing, doubling his offensive potential in close combat. The small stamina cost was a fair trade-off for the increased power it offered.
He couldn't wait to test it out. Grabbing his machete, Eli moved to the center of the room and began practicing his strikes. At first, it felt no different than before, but as he focused, he noticed a faint shimmer beside his blade. The Phantom Edge had appeared—a translucent, ghostly blade that mirrored his movements perfectly.
Eli swung the machete in a wide arc, and the Phantom Edge followed suit, cutting through the air with a silent swish. The feeling was exhilarating. He tried a series of rapid slashes, and each time, the phantom blade struck in tandem with his own, effectively doubling the number of attacks he could unleash in a short period.
He spent the next hour practicing with the Phantom Edge, learning how to control it and manage his stamina. The ability was powerful, but it required precision and focus. He would need to use it strategically in battle to avoid exhausting himself too quickly.
As he finished his training, Eli felt a deep sense of satisfaction. He was stronger than ever, and with the System's help, he was steadily becoming the warrior he needed to be. The beacon quest still loomed on the horizon, and the creatures gathering at the edge of the city were a constant reminder of the dangers he faced. But now, he felt ready—ready to take on whatever the apocalypse threw at him.
He glanced out the window, where the beacon's light continued to pulse in the distance. Tomorrow, he would set out to investigate it, armed with his upgraded skills and newfound abilities. But for now, he would rest and prepare for the challenges ahead.
With one last look at the beacon, Eli lay down on his makeshift bed and closed his eyes. The calm before the storm was almost over, and soon, he would step into the heart of the apocalypse, ready to face whatever awaited him.