I stared at the holographic screen, my mind racing with questions. What was the Gamer System? How did it relate to the zombies and the towers? And what did it mean by "lower-tier zombies"?
I stared at the holographic screen, my mind racing with questions. What was the Gamer System? How did it relate to the zombies and the towers? And what did it mean by "lower-tier zombies"?
The screen flickered, displaying a menu of options.
Gamer System Menu
- Character Stats
- Skill Tree
- Inventory
- Quests
- System Settings
I hesitated for a moment before selecting "Character Stats". The screen displayed a detailed breakdown of my abilities:
Ethan's Stats
- Strength: 12
- Agility: 15
- Intelligence: 10
- Endurance: 14
- Luck: 8
I had no idea what these numbers meant or how they would affect my survival. But I was determined to learn.
Next, I selected "Skill Tree". The screen displayed a branching diagram of skills, each with its requirements and benefits.
Skill Tree
- Basic Combat Training (unlocked)
- Zombie Slaying (unlocked)
- Stealth (locked)
- Leadership (locked)
I wondered what other skills were available and how I could unlock them.
As I explored the menu, I heard a faint noise behind me. I turned to see my mom standing in the doorway, a look of confusion on her face.
"Ethan, what's going on?" she asked. "You're just standing there, staring at nothing. What's wrong?"
I hesitated, unsure how to explain the Gamer System. Only I could see it. Was I hallucinating?
"Mom, I...I think I saw something," I said, trying to play it cool. "But I'm not sure what it means."
She looked at me uncertainly, but then her expression hardened.
"We need to find your father," she said. "And figure out what's happening in this city."
I nodded, feeling a sense of determination. With the Gamer System's help, I might just have a chance to survive this apocalypse.
I glanced back at the holographic screen, which only I could see. The menu was still there, waiting for me to make my next move.
I nodded, tucking the Gamer System's menu away for now. "Let's go find Dad," I said, trying to sound confident.
My mom nodded, and together we cautiously made our way through the deserted streets. The silence was oppressive, punctuated only by the occasional creak of twisted metal or shattered glass.
As we walked, I kept an eye out for any signs of danger. But the streets seemed empty, for now.
We turned a corner, and I spotted our neighbour's house. It was still standing, but the front door was open. I felt a surge of hope. Maybe Dad was inside.
Just then, I heard the sound of footsteps behind us. I spun around, ready to defend myself, but it was Dad. He was covered in sweat and blood, his eyes tired but relieved.
"Ethan! Thank God you're safe," he exclaimed, rushing towards us.
"Where were you?" my mom asked, tears of relief streaming down her face.
"I was checking on the neighbours," Dad replied, hugging us both tightly. "I had to...take care of a few zombies."
I nodded, understanding. "I did too."
Dad looked at me with a mixture of pride and concern. "You're okay? You didn't get hurt?"
I shook my head. "I'm fine, Dad. But what's going on? What are those things?"
Dad's expression turned grim. "I don't know, but we need to get out of here. This city isn't safe."
The Gamer System's menu flickered back to life, displaying a message:
New Quest: Gather Information
Goals:
- Find a safe location to regroup
- Gather information about the zombie outbreak
- Discover the cause of the outbreak
Reward: Unknown
I pulled out my phone and tried to access the internet, but the connection was slow and spotty. I managed to load a few news articles, but they were all outdated and didn't provide any new information.
I decided to try calling Dad's friend, Officer Lee, who was a police officer. Dad had always said that Officer Lee was a reliable source of information.
I dialled the number, and after a few rings, Officer Lee answered.
"Ethan, thank God you're safe," he said, his voice tense. "I've been trying to reach your dad."
"Dad's here, he's okay," I replied. "What's going on? What's happening with the zombies?"
Officer Lee hesitated before responding. "To be honest, Ethan, we're not sure. The department is overwhelmed. We're doing our best to contain the situation, but it's spreading fast."
"Do you know anything about the towers?" I asked.
There was a pause on the other end of the line. "I'm not supposed to say this, but...I think they're connected to the outbreak. We've had reports of strange energy readings coming from the towers."
Suddenly, the line went dead. I tried calling back, but it went straight to voicemail.
The Gamer System's menu flickered back to life, displaying a message:
New Information: Tower Energy Readings
Updated Quest: Investigate the Towers
Goals:
- Gather more information about the tower energy readings
- Discover the connection between the towers and the zombie outbreak
- Find a way to stop the outbreak
Reward: Unknown
Congratulations, Ethan! You have completed the quest: Gather Information.
Rewards:
- +100 Experience Points
- +10 Strength
- +5 Agility
- Basic First-Aid Kit (Restores 20 HP)
- $100 in-game currency
Updated Stats:
-level = 1 (100/120)
- Strength: 22 (+10)
- Agility: 20 (+5)
- Intelligence: 10
- Endurance: 14
- Luck: 8
You can use the Basic First-Aid Kit to heal yourself whenever you're injured. The in-game currency can be used to purchase items or equipment from other survivors or traders.