"Drip... drip..."
The faint sound of water trickling down filled Eric Walker's ears. He splashed cold water on his face from the supermarket restroom sink, trying to stay alert. His tired eyes, red from exhaustion, reflected back at him in the mirror.
"Just another day in this dull world," Eric muttered.
Sharp cheekbones, messy dark hair, and a determined jawline — Eric had the look of someone who had been through tough times. But his bloodshot eyes betrayed him. He was overworked, just trying to make ends meet in a city that never gave back.
"I've only been working as a clerk for a week, but this place feels like a trap." He yawned, letting the fatigue hit him.
Eric had just graduated from college, lucky enough to land a job at a small grocery store. The boss seemed friendly at first, but it didn't take long for the long hours and underpayment to set in. There was no future in this job, but for now, it was the only thing keeping him going.
With a sigh, Eric glanced at his watch. 7:03 AM.
"It's too quiet. Where's everyone?" Eric thought. The supermarket should have been bustling by now.
Shrugging it off, he walked out of the restroom into the empty aisles. The flickering fluorescent lights cast strange shadows across the shelves. He was about to grab his coat when a strange sound echoed through the store.
Ding!
[Welcome, Eric Walker. You have activated the Survival System.]
Eric froze, his heart skipping a beat. The voice was too real, almost like it had come from inside his head.
"What the...?"
[Host: Eric Walker]
[Occupation: Grocery Clerk (Level 0)]
[Attributes: Strength: 10 | Agility: 8 | Intelligence: 6]
[Skills: None]
[Newbie Gift Pack Available]
Eric blinked. He had heard about this in books, movies even, but in real life? He rubbed his eyes, convinced he was hallucinating from lack of sleep.
"No way," Eric muttered. "This has to be a joke."
He glanced at the shelves of food in front of him, but instead of the usual rows of canned goods and cereals, what caught his attention was outside the window.
The streets were in chaos.
Cars were overturned, the asphalt stained with fresh blood. People — or things that were once people — staggered down the streets, dragging themselves toward anyone they could find. The apocalypse had begun.
Eric quickly shut the supermarket door, heart racing. His mind raced. What was happening? The city had been normal yesterday. But now…
Ding!
[Congratulations, Host! You have been gifted the Beginner's Pack.]
[Would you like to open it?]
He didn't hesitate this time. "Yes."
Ding!
[Opening Newbie Pack...]
[+10 Strength, +5 Agility, +10 Survival Points]
Eric could feel the surge of energy running through his body. His mind was sharper, his reflexes faster. But as the benefits of the system sank in, a new realization hit him.
It was the end of the world, and his real journey was just beginning.
Outside, the sound of glass shattering echoed through the store as one of the creatures crashed through a window.
Eric clenched his fists.
He wasn't just a clerk anymore.