Avi slumped halfway onto the gym floor, the cold, unyielding surface digging into his weary muscles. He wiped his brow with the back of his hand, sweat streaming down his face as the remnants of another grueling training session weighed heavily on his body. His breath came in shallow gasps, the distant echo of shouts and clangs from sparring players filling the cavernous space around him.
The gymnasium was now a monument to necessity and resilience compared to its mundane image before the system. It stretched endlessly in all directions, a gargantuan structure of steel beams and reinforced glass. Its high ceilings loomed like a protective canopy, shielding them from the chaos outside. Rows of makeshift tents lined the far corners, some haphazardly patched with cloth and tape, others neatly arranged with a soldier's precision. In the center stood the main meeting tent, its proud blue tarp rippling gently in the faint breeze from the ventilation fans. It was a hub of activity, where strategies were forged, disputes settled, and hope kindled. Around it, clusters of players bustled—some immersed in crafting, others engaged in animated discussions or trading tips on combat techniques.
A thought blindsided Avi, as unwelcome as a sucker punch.
"You still haven't unlocked any upgrades aside from the Comrade System, idiot."
He groaned, rolling onto his back and staring at the fluorescent lights overhead. The Comrade System was a useful upgrade, sure—it allowed players to send messages and pin point their current location in their friend's system—but it wasn't enough. The menu in his mind displayed a tantalizing array of locked upgrades, each one a beacon of untapped potential. Yet there he was, sitting on a treasure trove of possibilities, too drained to take the plunge.
"I need to fix that," he muttered, dragging himself upright. His limbs protested, sore from hours of relentless sparring. He tapped into the system interface, the translucent blue screen materializing before him. The faint hum of its activation was oddly comforting, a reminder of the strange yet reliable structure the system provided in their chaotic new reality.
His SP—system points earned from battles and the previous wave—will surely took a nose dive after unlocking all the the other system functions. 1012 SP, the display read, a number that seemed simultaneously empowering and restricting. He'd have to spend wisely.
"Alright," he muttered under his breath. "Time to see what's left in the store."
His fingers flicked through the interface, the ethereal menu flickering in response. He skimmed past familiar options while checking what he's already done in the past hours: Comrade System, unlocked. Combat Skills, half-checked; his attempts at mastering dagger arts had been hampered by his erratic |Battle Instinct| trait, which activated only under duress. The next options made him pause—Dimensional Inventory and System Store.
[Dimensional Inventory]. His eyes lingered on the label. The description was succinct yet alluring: a personal, pocket-sized dimension for storing items. No more lugging around supplies like a glorified pack mule. The price tag: 400 SP. He hesitated, then exhaled sharply. "Worth it," he decided, tapping the confirmation.
A chime echoed softly in his mind, the sound oddly melodious.
[Dimensional Inventory Unlocked.]
He smiled faintly. "Finally. No more stuffing everything into a backpack like some overworked courier."
Curious, he opened the new feature. A small, grid-like interface appeared, gleaming with potential. With a simple thought, he imagined storing the random objects scattered around him—a water bottle, a scrap of cloth—and watched as they vanished into the void of the inventory. The system worked seamlessly, as if the items had simply ceased to exist in the physical plane.
The next that was unlocked with 200 SP was the [System Store]. He flicked to the tab, scanning its contents. Materials, tools, and resources scrolled past his vision, each neatly categorized. He zeroed in on the section marked Metals. Among the mundane listings of iron and steel, a single name caught his attention:
Arkanite Ore.
Unlike the others, this listing bore no description, just a price: 200 SP for 500 grams. The name alone resonated with something deep in him, an instinctive pull that defied explanation. It felt important. Special.
"Alright," he murmured, his finger hovering over the Buy button. He hesitated for the briefest moment before committing. The SP deduction stung, but the screen flashed its confirmation.
[Arkanite Ore Acquired.]
The ore materialized in his inventory, its shimmering, unrefined surface radiating an otherworldly glow. Avi didn't know what it could do, but Caleb, their resident craftsman, would. The man's skill with materials bordered on genius.
Satisfied, Avi made a few more purchases—basic iron and steel, along with some food supplies. His SP balance now sat at a paltry 162, but he consoled himself with the knowledge that these investments would pay dividends in survival. With a final glance at the screen, he stood, groaning as his stiff legs protested the movement.
The gym's atmosphere was alive with purpose. Players sparred in makeshift arenas marked with tape, their yells mingling with the sharp clang of practice weapons. A group near the far wall was constructing barricades out of scavenged materials, their hands moving with a frantic urgency. The air smelled faintly of sweat, steel, and the savory aroma wafting from the pantry area.
Avi's gaze lingered on a few familiar faces. Ryan, Mia, and Sophia were hard at work, practicing their respective skills. He gave them a brief wave but didn't stop to chat. His focus was on Caleb, who stood near the far end of the gym, deep in conversation with Alex.
As Avi approached, Alex's sharp eyes caught his movement. "Avi, you're late," Alex called, his tone matter-of-fact. "You still need to pay your protection fee."
Avi rolled his eyes, fishing out the required SP and handing it over. "Here. Don't blow it all on emergency coffee or whatever it is you do with your free time."
Alex smirked, processing the transfer with a practiced motion before waving him off.
"What's up, Avi?" Caleb asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Got a job for you," Avi replied, pulling the Arkanite Ore from his inventory. The moment he held it up, the glow caught Caleb's attention, and his expression shifted from casual to impressed.
"Where did you find this?" Caleb asked, his voice softer now, almost reverent. He extended his hand toward the ore as if he could feel its essence without touching it.
"I found it in the store," Avi said, keeping his tone even. "I need you to make me some daggers. Think you can handle it?"
Caleb's scanning ability activated, and his gaze sharpened, glowing faintly for a moment. "This…" he muttered, his voice trailing off. "I've never seen this kind of ore before on Earth. My scanning skill is practically shouting at me that this stuff's high quality."
Avi raised an eyebrow but stayed silent. Caleb glanced back up at him, his initial awe fading into a confident grin. "Yeah, I can work with this," he said. "This ore is incredible—sturdy, flexible, and something tells me it has a hidden property or two. But I'll need 20 SP to craft it into something usable. Daggers, right?"
Avi tapped his foot, feigning impatience. "Fine," he said. "But you're getting paid after you're done. Think you can handle that?"
Caleb smirked and gave him a thumbs-up. "Deal."
Avi stared at him for a moment before activating his Clairvoyance ability. The glowing interface revealed Caleb's stats, confirming what Avi had suspected: Caleb's Material Scan skill was specialized, and his Blacksmithing passive made him a natural for crafting high-quality weapons.
"Alright, Caleb," Avi said, tucking his hands into his pockets. "You've got yourself a deal. Get to work, and don't screw it up. I'll check back later."
"Don't worry, Avi. You'll get your daggers—and then some." Caleb's confidence was infectious, and as Avi turned to leave, he felt a flicker of something unfamiliar: trust.
With that, Avi turned and walked off. As he made his way back to the others, he couldn't help but take in the gym's atmosphere. The air buzzed with energy—a strange mix of intense focus and casual camaraderie. Players huddled in groups, exchanging tips and comparing notes as they refined their skills. Others worked tirelessly on crafting, their tools clinking rhythmically. The gym, once a haven for survivors, had transformed into a bustling hub of activity.
Since the first wave, their numbers had grown. Survivors who had been wandering aimlessly through the school had slowly trickled into the gym, seeking safety in numbers. Some looked like they had barely made it out of their battles, their faces marked with exhaustion and wariness.
When Avi finally reached his friends, he found them deep in conversation. Ryan, Mia, and Sophia were sitting on the bleachers, leaning toward each other as they shared observations about their abilities.
Ryan looked up from their discussion, his expression curious. "Avi, you got any new upgrades?"
Avi leaned against a nearby wall, crossing his arms. "Well, I unlocked the Dimensional Inventory and the System Store. Got some materials to upgrade my daggers with Caleb. He's gonna make me some solid weapons if this Arkanite Ore is as good as it sounds."
Everyone perked up at that, their curiosity evident.
Sophia raised an eyebrow. "How'd you manage to open the Dimensional Inventory and the store?"
"Trade secret," Avi said with a smirk. "But let's just say I pulled a few strings, bribed the system gods, and maybe sold a tiny piece of my soul. You know, the usual. Either way, these upgrades are gonna keep us alive—unless you all want me to solo the next fight while you cheer from the sidelines. I'm fine being the MVP."
They laughed, the tension easing for a moment. They spent the next few minutes brainstorming how to improve their skills before the next battle. Ryan was focused on refining his raw strength, Mia on mastering her healing techniques, and Sophia on enhancing her shield magic.
Avi listened, his mind half on their conversation and half on the battles ahead. This next fight? It was going to be intense.
But, for now, he could rest easy knowing he had a slightly better shot at surviving it.
[27:08:16]