Fading World ( Part 1 )
"With the sudden declaration of a State of Emergency, the nation is gripped with fear and uncertainty as this unprecedented crisis unfolds. And now, we go live to the State House, where the president is moments away from addressing the country," the news anchor announced.
The hundreds of survivors huddled together in the basement of the Parliament building, their eyes fixed anxiously on the broadcast.
Jack squeezed Linzy's hand, his touch a steady warmth that helped calm her fraying nerves.
The screen shifted to the president, standing solemnly before a podium.
"Citizens of Rein," he began, his voice unwavering but grave, "today our nation has suffered a tragedy like no other. Within hours of the first portal sighting in Rein City, countless others have opened across our states, unleashing monstrous forces that have claimed millions of lives.
Reports confirm that these portals are appearing worldwide. Thousands of cities have already collapsed, and we are witnessing devastation on an unprecedented scale.
But even as other nations fall, we remain strong and resolute.
Our history as a beacon of freedom and resilience is unmatched. Our national heroes fought to protect our land and to establish the first democracy. We have the world's most formidable military, and our mages wield powers that can shake the earth. As I speak, our forces are mobilizing to contain this crisis.
We have enacted emergency plans to rescue civilians trapped in the most dangerous zones. Telecommunications networks are being reconfigured to ensure vital information reaches everyone. Major hospitals will remain operational around the clock to treat the injured, and we are fortifying these critical centers to keep them safe.
We urge all citizens to head to the nearest public outposts, including schools, police stations, stadiums, and houses of worship. Find refuge, support one another, and remain vigilant.
Take heart, my people. This is but a trial on the path we walk together, one we will overcome—just as we have countless times before."
When the president's speech ended, the broadcast returned to the anchors, their faces a mixture of awe and apprehension. Jack's gaze shifted to his System display, bracing himself to see what resources were available to him and what else he could do in the hours that lay ahead.
[
System information
Stamina Residue - 100%
Rejuvenation bars - 1/1
]
Rejuvenation required 100 points to get to the next level. With 400 points gained from killing the Dread Ghost , he decided to be a little more extravagant by taking Rejuvenation two levels higher.
Amongst all of the Talents he had , this one had proven itself to be the most important.
The second upgrade cost him 200 additional points , but it would be worth it. Surviving was better than winning.
[
System notification
Rejuvenation ; stage 1 level 1 -> stage 1 level 3
Rejuvenation bars - 4/4
]
300 points were consumed there, leaving him with a hundred left.
He took note that talents , unlike personal attributes , had stages attached to their power scaling. These stages would probably require additional materials to ascend , and he assumed that's where materials like Dread Ghost bones came into play.
It had been a small detail he failed to notice in the heat of battle against the Dread Ghost when he upgraded the Constricted Surface talent. This talent was registered by the system as a four star talent , the highest ranking in talents being five star.
Rejuvenation was a three star and Perception was a five star.
The high ranking of Perception made sense when he remembered how the talent had allowed him to manoeuvre around monsters far more powerful than he was and actually win. It was a pity that the System categorised it as already maxed out , that talent could have become a really broken ability if it had been given room for growth.
"How are we supposed to get through this?" Linzy murmured, fighting back a fresh wave of grief.
The loss of Timothy felt like a deep wound, more painful than she could handle. He'd been more than her boss; he'd been her lifeline. He had sponsored her business management studies after the Mage Association retired her when she lost her healing powers. No severance package, no place to turn to—just the streets. And yet Timothy had reached out, the one person who hadn't shut her out when she had nowhere to go.
Jack squeezed her hand. "At least the government's doing everything it can to keep us safe. If we can keep our heads down, we might just make it through this." He paused, guilt creeping into his voice. "And Linzy…I'm sorry for earlier. Asking you to turn on the sprinklers to distract that Dread Ghost—it was reckless of me to drag you into it on a hunch."
Linzy frowned, her expression hardening. "As I told Hamilton, it was my choice. Don't carry guilt that isn't yours, or I'll get mad at you, Jack."
"But, Linzy…this is life and death, and you're just a—"
"Just a human, yeah. You don't have to keep reminding me," she cut in, her tone sharp.
Jack's eyes softened. "I just don't want to lose more people than I already have."
Linzy took in his words, reading between the lines. It was Jack's awkward way of telling her that he cared. She knew what he was trying to say—that in a world of supernatural monsters, she was at a disadvantage.
Only his bravery had kept her alive, and she knew he worried about the next fight, knowing she had no powers to protect herself. Swallowing her pride, Linzy pulled him into a tight embrace.
"Neither do I, Jack. Neither do I."
Across the room, Cynthia and Hamilton watched the two in silence. Cynthia turned her attention back to Hamilton, her voice taking on a gentle, scolding note.
"If you don't eat, the medicine won't help you, you know," she said, pressing a ration pack into his hands.
"But these are your rations," Hamilton protested, glancing down at the food she'd handed him.
"I already ate while you were still knocked out. Besides, there's not nearly as much food going around now as there was last night, and you need the nutrients." She crossed her arms firmly. "Now take it, and don't argue with me unless you want another lecture," she added, her voice kind yet unyielding, like a mother caring for her child.
Hamilton sighed.
There was a warmth in Cynthia's tone that he wasn't used to. She was usually calm and soft-spoken, but now she radiated an unexpected strength.
After a few rounds of reluctant back-and-forth, he gave in, taking the food with a sigh. Later, he would learn that Cynthia had stayed up all night watching over him as he recovered, making sure he didn't get worse.
It filled him with a pang of guilt; he'd always thought of himself as her protector, yet here she was taking care of him.
Meanwhile, Linzy turned to Jack. "So…any more sightings of that mysterious blue woman?"
Jack hesitated, looking around to make sure no one else was listening. "Not since the military moved us to the Parliament bunkers. She gave me a warning, though, before she went silent."
Linzy raised an eyebrow, feeling a chill run down her spine. "A warning?"
Jack nodded. "She said she had an ominous feeling about this place, like there was someone else nearby with a System like mine."
Linzy's face paled, and a shadow of apprehension clouded her features. "You could have told me sooner, Jack."
"I didn't want to worry everyone. Look at Hamilton and Cynthia—they're just now getting a moment of peace. Telling them would only make them anxious about something that might not even be real."
Linzy's eyes softened. "Jack, your heart is in the right place. That's one of the reasons I care about you so much. But you have to understand—your safety matters to me, too."
"And what if I'm the only target?" Jack said, glancing away. "Dragging you all into this would just put you in harm's way." He swallowed, guilt still gnawing at him for involving Linzy in the Dread Ghost fight.
Linzy opened her mouth to argue, but just then, two soldiers appeared to announce that lunch was ready. A long line was already forming, and from the sparse breakfast experience, Linzy knew those at the back of the line might not get anything at all.
"We'll finish this talk later," she said, squeezing his arm. "For now, stay here and focus on recovering."
She headed off quickly, and Cynthia caught up to her, both of them weaving through the crowd to get to the mess hall before supplies ran out.
Jack stayed behind, watching Hamilton with a smirk of pity. Hamilton sat there looking as if he'd just come out of a serious lecture, wearing a mixture of exhaustion and quiet gratitude that softened his usual stoic expression.
[
System Information
Talent Description;
Bag of Domicile
- Stores anything in virtual space.
- Refinement rank - 1
Next refinement rank benefit - perpetual preservation.
]
Though he had no use for the bag at the moment , he guessed it would come in handy in the future. With the ever increasing food shortage , it would be nice to have a private stash of his own to share with his friends.
" Bossman , Aiko no longer feels the evil presence of another System user. Aiko can now talk with Bossman without fear of discovery ," the girl vibrantly chimed like a fresh bell in his head.
Jack sighed with a smile. He still believed Aiko had gotten all worked up for nothing , " Can we talk about the System Aiko ?"
" Yes yes of course ! This is Aiko's duty and she will spare no decorum in fulfilling it,"
" Thanks for the enthusiasm , I guess ," he laughed , " Tell me ,why did you say that I was chosen?"