Amidst the rubble of a ravaged city, a young man named Ryder stirred. His eyes snapped open, and he sat up, gasping for air. A piercing headache coursed through his mind, but he felt... different. A newfound energy coursed through his veins, and his senses heightened.
As he stood, a holographic interface materialized before him. The words "System Online" flashed across the screen.
[System Notification:
Welcome, Kyle You have been awakened to the Realm of Survival. Your stats are as follows:
- Level: 1
- Exp: 0/150
- Strength: 10
- Agility: 12
- Intelligence: 8
- Health: 100
Affinity: N/A
Unique skill: Skill forge (Ex)
Skills:
- Combat Instincts (Passive)
- Enhanced Senses (Passive)]
"What the hell..." Kyle muttered, staring at the holographic blue messages floating before his eyes. One moment, he was in his room, engrossed in a webnovel; the next, he was transported to a world on the brink of destruction.
"W-wait, don't tell me..." Kyle's voice trailed off as memories of earlier system messages flooded back. The eerie similarities between the messages and the world's dire situation sent a shiver down his spine.
And then it clicked.
"I'm inside 'Rise of the Battle God'?" Kyle's eyes widened in disbelief, recalling the webnovel he'd been reading.
"Rise of the Battle God," a novel Kyle had devoured, had become his harsh reality. The System, an omnipotent entity, had integrated itself into Earth, unleashing catastrophic changes. Half of humanity had succumbed to a zombie-like fate, while the remaining half fought for survival against hordes of undead and terrifying mutated monsters.
This unforgiving world was now known as the Realm of Survival, and Kyle, our unfortunate protagonist, had transmigrated into its midst.
"Tsk, full profile stats," Kyle called out, and a new window popped up.
[Character Profile]
Name: Kyle
Race: Human
Title: Extra
[Attributes]
Strength: 10
Agility: 12
Vitality: 10
Stamina: 7
Intelligence: 8
Skill(s):
-Combat instinct (passive)
-Enhanced senses (passive)
Affinity: N/A
Unique Skill: Skill Forge
[Status]
Health: 100/100
Energy: 80/100
Level: 1
Exp: 150
-----
"This..." Kyle muttered, his face falling in disappointment. But as his eyes landed on his Unique Skill, a wide grin spread across his face. Skill Forge was one of the rarest and most convenient abilities he could have in this desperate situation.
Just as Kyle's optimism surged, a menacing growl echoed through the air. He turned to see a horde of zombies shambling towards him with an unnerving hunger in their eyes. To Kyle, however, their sluggish pace seemed almost laughable.
"I'd have liked to level up, but fighting barehanded is suicidal, and I don't have enough battle experience," Kyle thought to himself as he swiftly turned tail and ran in the opposite direction.
Just as he fled, two notifications echoed in his mind:
[Ding! You have unlocked skill: Quick Thinking]
[Duration: Passive]
[Effect: Increases reaction time and decision-making speed in critical situations]
[Ding! You have unlocked skill: Sprinting]
[Duration: Passive (Endurance-dependent)]
[Effect: increases movement speed by 5%]
Kyle's eyes lit up as he realized the System was rewarding his survival instincts. "Not bad for a fleeing start," he muttered, pumping his legs faster to outpace the shambling horde.
After more than ten minutes of frantic running, Kyle finally stopped in front of a dilapidated store. His eyes blazed with determination as he pushed open the creaky door, only to be greeted by an unsettling cold breeze. The eerie silence was amplified by the lack of electricity, casting an ominous shadow over the abandoned building.
[Ding! Warning: Trespassing]
You have entered a marked territory. The subjects of this territory will hunt you relentlessly. Escape is impossible until the boss monster is defeated.
[Ding! Battle Quest Activated]
Quest Details: "Territorial cleansing"
Objective: Annihilate all subjects of this territory and eliminate their leader.
Rewards:
- Random Equipment
- +5 to all stats
- New Skill
Punishment:
- Death
Kyle's heart sank, but his resolve hardened. "I guess running away wasn't actually the best choice," he mumbled, eyes scanning the darkened store for signs of danger. The System's notification echoed in his mind, a constant reminder of the deadly challenge ahead.
"I can't see anything..." Kyle complained, squinting his eyes in a futile attempt to pierce the darkness. Suddenly, a notification echoed in his mind:
[Ding! You have unlocked skill: Night Vision]
[Duration: Passive]
[Effect: Enhances visual acuity in low-light environments]
Kyle's eyes widened as his surroundings transformed. The dimly lit store now resembled a moonlit landscape, with every detail starkly visible. Shelves, broken appliances, and scattered debris came into sharp focus.
"That's awfully covinient," Kyle whispered, his gaze scanning the store for potential tools or weapons.
He spotted a baseball bat leaning against a shelf, its wooden surface worn but sturdy. Kyle hastened towards it, grasping the bat firmly in his hands.
"Time to even the odds," he muttered, readying himself for the impending battle.