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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 clusters of students chatting, some rushing to finish homework, others laughing without a care in the world. He'd 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 morning calm.
Kaito squinted, searching for the source, and spotted a group near the main gate. He couldn't make out details from this distance, but something about the way the group moved—the huddling and nervous glancing—caught his attention. A flash of movement, sudden and erratic, broke from the group as someone lunged forward, almost animalistic.
A second later, another scream pierced the air, sharper this time, 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 turned to see his classmate, Hana Nishimura, standing there, her face pale, eyes wide with fear.
"Kaito," she gasped, struggling to catch her breath. "You… you have to get downstairs. People are attacking each other—like they've lost their minds."
Kaito frowned. Hana wasn't one to exaggerate, and her fear looked raw, genuine. Before he could respond, a faint metallic chime echoed in his mind, like a distant bell ringing only for him. In his vision, faint words began to materialize.
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[SYSTEM ACTIVATED]
Welcome, Kaito Sakamura. Survival Protocol Initiated.
Level 1 – New Player
Attributes:
Strength: 3
Agility: 4
Endurance: 3
Perception: 3
Intelligence: 4
Willpower: 3
Skills:
Observe: Level 1 – Analyze weak points and entity status
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Kaito blinked, the message hovering in his vision. He glanced around, half-expecting to see a projection device or prank of some kind. Hana's gaze shifted to him, her concern deepening.
"Kaito, what's wrong?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
He shook his head, suppressing the surreal experience. "Nothing… Just follow me."
As they made their way down the halls, each footstep echoed through the silence, growing heavier and more foreboding. Kaito kept an ear out for any sound, any sign that things were still normal. But the empty corridors seemed to press in on them, amplifying every creak and shuffle.
When they reached the second floor, Kaito spotted a figure stumbling around the corner—Mr. Yamada, the biology teacher. But there was something disturbingly wrong. His skin looked pale and dull, almost gray, and his eyes were wide yet vacant, with no sign of recognition. He shuffled forward, one arm dangling limply.
Hana tightened her grip on his arm. "Kaito… what's wrong with him?"
A faint Observe icon appeared near Mr. Yamada's head, pulsing faintly. Kaito hesitated, then focused on 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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Kaito's pulse quickened. The stats were cold, clear, almost clinical, giving him insight into Mr. Yamada's capabilities—or lack of them. He barely had a chance to process the information when Mr. Yamada turned toward them, his movements slow but deliberate.
Without thinking, Kaito pulled out his pocket knife. "Stay back," he whispered to Hana, bracing himself as Mr. Yamada's vacant eyes focused on him. The energy pulsing through him felt unfamiliar but powerful. He took a step forward and, with a quick slash, struck Mr. Yamada across the temple. The teacher collapsed with a heavy thud, lifeless.
A chime sounded in his vision, another message appearing.
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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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Kaito felt a surge of strength flow through him, his body seeming to pulse with energy.
As they turned a corner, a new notification appeared.
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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 if more infected appeared.
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Kaito's Stats (Level 2 - Allocated Bonus Point)
Level: 2
Attributes:
Strength: 6
Agility: 6
Endurance: 5
Perception: 5
Intelligence: 6
Willpower: 5
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's effects, like armor settling around him, made each step forward more certain, each movement guided by a new precision. Kaito knew they couldn't afford to linger.
"Come on, Hana," he said, his voice steady. He guided her forward, both of them pressing through the darkened hallways. A strange sense of calm washed over him, a feeling he couldn't fully understand but felt bound to embrace. As they moved, Kaito's path became clear: survive, grow stronger, and find a way to understand the world that had suddenly turned on its head.
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