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Chapter 1: Outbreak
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The day it all began felt like any other. The sun rose above Matsuda High, casting a warm glow on the manicured lawns and cleanly swept paths that wound through the campus. From his spot on the rooftop, Kaito Sakamura could see everything—the students chatting in clusters, some rushing to finish homework, others laughing without a care in the world. He had come up here to escape the monotony of homeroom, as he often did, figuring he'd squeeze in one last cigarette before the teachers took roll.
Then a faint scream broke through the early morning calm.
He squinted, searching for the source, and spotted a group near the main gate. From up here, he couldn't make out details, but something about the way they were huddled caught his attention. Then he saw a flash of movement—someone darting forward, lunging, like a wild animal.
A second later, another scream pierced the air, louder this time. It was like an alarm bell, sharp and primal, sending a chill down Kaito's spine. He straightened, his cigarette hanging forgotten from his lips.
The doors to the rooftop creaked open, and Kaito spun around. It was his classmate, Hana Nishimura, her face drained of color, eyes wide with terror.
"Kaito," she gasped, struggling to catch her breath. "You… you have to get downstairs. People are attacking each other—like they're insane."
Kaito frowned. Hana wasn't one to exaggerate, so if she was this scared, then something serious was happening. Before he could process her words, a metallic chime echoed in his mind.
A faint message appeared in his vision:
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[SYSTEM ACTIVATED]
Welcome, Kaito Sakamura. Survival Protocol Initiated.
Level 1 – New Player
Attributes:
Strength: 3 - Physical Power (Influences melee damage, carrying capacity, and ability to break objects)
Agility: 4 - Speed and Reflexes (Affects movement speed, dodge ability, and attack accuracy)
Endurance: 3 - Stamina and Resistance (Determines health points, pain resistance, and resilience to injuries)
Perception: 3 - Awareness (Enhances sensory range, reaction to sounds, and ability to detect hidden threats)
Intelligence: 4 - Mental Clarity (Affects critical thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to strategize in combat)
Willpower: 3 - Mental Resilience (Boosts resistance to fear, panic effects, and mind-affecting conditions)
Skills:
Observe: Level 1 (Analyze weak points and entity status)
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Kaito blinked, glancing around. Hana looked at him, concerned. "Kaito, what's wrong?"
He shook his head. "Nothing… Just follow me."
The descent through the empty halls felt surreal. As they reached the second floor, a figure stumbled around the corner—Mr. Yamada, the biology teacher. But there was something wrong. His skin was an unnatural shade, and his eyes were vacant, like he wasn't seeing anything at all.
Hana clutched his arm. "What's wrong with him?"
Kaito glanced at the floating "Observe" button by Mr. Yamada's head and activated it.
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[NAME: Jun Yamada]
STATUS: Hostile Entity
LEVEL: 2
STATS:
Strength: 5
Agility: 3
Endurance: 6
Perception: 1
Intelligence: 1
Willpower: 0
Weakness: Cranium (Critical Hit Spot)
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Without hesitating, Kaito pulled out his pocket knife. "Stay back," he warned Hana. He braced himself, feeling a surge of energy from somewhere deep inside. With a quick slash, he struck Mr. Yamada across the temple, and the teacher collapsed with a thud.
Just then, a new notification appeared in his vision.
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[SYSTEM UPDATE]
Congratulations! You have earned the title: "First Slayer"
Title Effect: +1 to all stats for being the first to kill an infected.
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He felt an immediate surge of strength, as though his body had just powered up.
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Kaito's Stats (Updated - First Slayer Title Bonus)
Level: 1
Attributes:
Strength: 4 - (Increased melee power and carry capacity)
Agility: 5 - (Enhanced movement and attack speed, greater dodge potential)
Endurance: 4 - (Increased health and stamina, reduces incoming damage)
Perception: 4 - (Improved awareness, detects hidden entities faster)
Intelligence: 5 - (Greater analytical and strategic thinking)
Willpower: 4 - (Stronger resistance to fear, quicker recovery from shock)
Skills:
Observe: Level 1 (Analyze weak points and entity status)
Title: First Slayer (+1 to all stats)
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A rush of understanding flowed through Kaito's mind as he noticed slight differences in how he felt with each stat. Each attribute pulsed with its own influence, like new layers of ability he hadn't experienced before:
Strength: He felt the power in his muscles, making his pocket knife strikes feel almost instinctively stronger. He knew he could lift heavier objects and handle close combat more confidently.
Agility: Every motion was quicker. His footwork was lighter, helping him dodge and react faster—a crucial asset for survival.
Endurance: His breathing felt steady even under pressure. His endurance allowed him to shake off minor injuries, and he could tell he would last longer in a fight or a sprint.
Perception: His senses heightened; sounds and movements felt sharper. He could pick up faint footsteps from across the hall, and his peripheral awareness expanded, giving him a near-instinctual ability to detect danger.
Intelligence: Every move felt deliberate. He could size up threats, think through escape routes, and analyze weaknesses with clearer focus. The Observe skill seemed sharper and gave him extra insights during critical moments.
Willpower: Even as they moved through the nightmare unfolding around them, he felt an unexpected steadiness. Fear would no longer paralyze him; his mind was equipped to handle the horrors and stress around him.
As they turned a corner, another notification popped up:
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[LEVEL UP!]
All Stats +1
Bonus Point Available!
Kaito decided to put his bonus point into Strength, needing more physical power to fend off infected attackers.
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Kaito's Stats (Level 2 - Allocated Bonus Point)
Level: 2
Attributes:
Strength: 6 - (Further boosts melee impact, object handling, and resistance to physical strain)
Agility: 6 - (Enhances dodge speed, swift attack response, and movement)
Endurance: 5 - (Boosts health and stamina reserves, fortifies against minor injuries)
Perception: 5 - (Increased sensory range and detection, notices hidden threats faster)
Intelligence: 6 - (Advanced reasoning in combat and survival tactics, optimized use of resources)
Willpower: 5 - (Bolstered resistance to mental strain, stabilizes emotions during high tension)
Skills:
Observe: Level 1 (Analyze weak points and entity status)
Agility Boost I: Passive (+2 to Agility)
Title: First Slayer (+1 to all stats)
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The system, like an unseen guide, was making him stronger with each encounter. He quickly realized the value of leveling up; each stat boost felt like new armor, layers of defense and skill building within him. Every step they took, Kaito felt the influences, like gears aligning to make him more prepared, more ready for what was coming.
"Come on, Hana," he said, guiding her through the dark hallways. "I don't know how, but I think… I'm getting stronger."
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