The sun shone brightly, and the streets were crowded with people. Despite the rapid approach of the police station's patrol cars, no one noticed Novak's departure.
He couldn't help but feel a twinge of emotion.
If only things could remain this way before the apocalypse erupts!
Aside from everything else, today's gains were substantial.
Even though his evolution points didn't increase much—barely scraping together a single point from absorbing the zombie virus after direct contact with its blood—he knew there were other things that mattered as well.
Evolution points were just one part of the equation.
Experience and currency were another. He had earned ten times the normal experience and currency, although in the grand scheme of things, it only amounted to ten experience points and ten copper coins. Hardly enough to make a noticeable difference in leveling up.
But the tenfold drop rate? Now, that was exciting!
He glanced at his system backpack.
This time, there were no blueprints, which wasn't surprising. Blueprint drops were notoriously rare. However, finding fully equipped items instead of blueprints? That was definitely more convenient.
One particular drop caught his eye, though it felt a bit cumbersome, even for someone as indifferent as Novak.
[Zombie Mask]
[Armor - Face and Head (Grade F)]
[Constitution +2, Strength +2]
[Wearing Requirement: Evolver]
[Note: Don't worry, this isn't a mask worn by zombies. It just looks a bit like one...]
It was a black mask. At first glance, it resembled the zipper mask worn by Kaneki Ken from the anime 'Tokyo Ghoul', complete with teeth, a red tongue, and splatters of blood across the front.
After sniffing it cautiously, Novak was relieved to find it had no peculiar odor. He casually put it on, despite the strange looks from passersby.
He didn't mind. In fact, he strolled leisurely down the street.
He hadn't intended to frighten Daphne earlier. But the woman was so full of herself, her self-assuredness grating.
Novak wasn't someone who tolerated people trying to manipulate him, but he also understood that Daphne wouldn't back down so easily from something as trivial as fear. On the contrary, it would only pique her curiosity.
After all, Daphne had the ambition to match her own strength. And witnessing Novak's overwhelming power, revealed without any effort to conceal it, must have left a lasting impression.
In modern society, laws governed everything because there were no individuals with the kind of personal power that could transcend the rules. But in the apocalyptic world to come—the Trial Field of Gods and Demons—personal strength was everything.
The world was about to undergo a massive transformation. Only those who could adapt to these changes and see the bigger picture would rise to power in the new world.
As Novak casually strolled, something in the distance caught his eye. He entered a store and bought a few things that piqued his interest.
Feeling satisfied, he walked out of the pet shop in a good mood.
It was then that he received a message from Aria.
He hadn't expected the nurse to be so resilient. Of course, Novak hadn't exerted much force when they last met. If he had, no one could have withstood it—his four-dimensional stats, especially his Constitution, were now at a level where few could even come close.
Still, it was clear that Aria was eager. After finishing her night shift, she called him, not the least bit sleepy, even after lying down for a while.
Novak took her to the Ritz-Carlton Presidential Suite, where they spent the entire afternoon together.
During their time, Novak even tested out some of the props he had picked up from the pet store. Although Aria had initially resisted, she eventually gave in under his insistence.
Unfortunately, Aria's physique didn't quite meet Novak's preferences. Though her energy and passion were impressive, her neck wasn't slender enough to fully arouse his interest.
In his mind, the golden chain and collar would have looked much better around Daphne's elegant, porcelain-like neck.
Letting the now-exhausted Aria rest, Novak treated himself to a relaxing spa massage at the Ritz-Carlton. With his eyes closed, a voice suddenly echoed in his mind:
[Evolver number 007 'Ian Bart' has applied to join Chat Group 001!]
"Hm?" Novak opened his eyes, surprised. He had thought Ian had been eaten by zombies by now. It took him a full day to finally apply to join the group!
[Ding! Evolver No. 007 'Ian Bart' has joined Chat Group 001!]
A special dialogue box appeared in front of Novak.
[Ian Bart: Boss White! Brother White! This is incredible!]
[White Emperor: What are you so excited about? Haven't you experienced enough miracles in the past few days?]
[Ian: Hehe, well, this is just unbelievable! Boss White, where are you? Can I come hang out with you?]
Novak raised an eyebrow.
[White Emperor: The apocalypse is just a few days away, and you still dare to run around? I've already told you everything you need to know. Focus on improving yourself; we'll cross paths eventually.]
[Ian: Wait...]
[White Emperor: Develop your abilities. Stay close to the nearest hospital, and if possible, practice with zombies to get used to blood and combat. Most importantly, don't die...]
Novak left it at that. He wasn't one to be stingy with advice, but he also wasn't about to babysit anyone. Setting up the group chat had been more of a casual move. He was looking for capable individuals who had awakened early, preparing for the inevitable arrival of doomsday.
His goal was to establish a reliable network for information and trade, just like the wealthy circles that thrived in modern society. Connections were key—just like in martial arts novels where various factions would gather.
That was his idea. He didn't plan on playing caretaker during the critical early days of the apocalypse. People's minds hadn't yet adapted to the new reality. It wasn't just raw talent that would ensure survival and strength—it was their mindset.
Facing the apocalypse correctly was crucial.
Doomsday was far from a game, even if the Trial Field of Gods and Demons was presented in a game-like format. In reality, it would be unimaginably cruel.
Novak had no interest in helping everyone adjust. He wanted to grow stronger himself. And who knew when people's true intentions would turn dark?
He didn't need loyal subordinates. What he needed was a functional circle of connections he could use when necessary.
And that was enough.
With this thought in mind, Novak finished his spa treatment and returned to his suite, opening the Post Bar interface again.
To his surprise, besides Ian's messages, several private messages had accumulated in the background.
As expected, Faeloria's large population means that while early awakenings are rare, there are still a few who experience them.
And once someone searched for key terms on the internet, they would inevitably be directed to him!
What Novak hadn't expected, however, was that among those messages, he found a truly remarkable person.