Title: Survival Protocol Prologue: The First Mission
The air was thick with the stench of blood and smoke. Kade stumbled over the debris of what used to be a bustling street, his arms trembling under the weight of his younger sister, Lila. Her shallow breaths were the only thing keeping him moving.
Behind him, the growls of the monsters—the Wailers—echoed like a storm on his heels. Their twisted forms, all teeth and claws, were barely visible through the haze. The world had turned into a nightmare overnight, and Kade was running out of time.
"Stay with me, Lila," he muttered, his voice cracking. He pressed a hand against the gash on her leg, trying to stop the bleeding. "Just a little longer."
Lila's eyes fluttered open. "Kade… it's okay. You don't have to—"
"Don't," Kade snapped, his voice sharp with desperation. "Don't you dare give up."
Just as he reached an alleyway to catch his breath, a robotic voice rang out in his head, cold and emotionless:
[Apocalypse Survival System activated. First mission: Find shelter. Mission Completion Reward: 10 Quick healing salves for medium to heavy injuries.]
Kade froze, his heart pounding. He glanced around, expecting someone to be nearby, but the alley was empty. "What the hell…" he whispered, but the voice came again, insistent and unyielding.
[Mission active. Time remaining: 01:00:00.]
A timer appeared in the corner of his vision, counting down in bright red digits. He clenched his jaw. It didn't make sense, but sense didn't matter anymore. If there was even a chance it could save Lila, he had to try.
"Shelter," he muttered, scanning the ruins around him. Most of the buildings were gutted or on fire. The Wailers could be anywhere. He adjusted Lila in his arms, ignoring the way his muscles screamed in protest.
He set off toward an old convenience store he'd spotted earlier. The doors were smashed in, but the walls were intact, and it was better than nothing.
[Time remaining: 00:40:00.]
The voice was a constant reminder of how little time he had. Every step felt like an eternity, every shadow a potential threat. He reached the store and slipped inside, lowering Lila onto a dusty counter.
"Hang on," he said, ripping off a piece of his shirt to bandage her wound. She didn't respond, her face pale and slick with sweat.
[Mission Complete. Reward: 10 Quick healing salves delivered.]
Kade blinked as a small metal box materialized in front of him, glowing faintly. He opened it, his hands shaking, and found a row of small vials filled with a shimmering blue liquid.
"What the…" He didn't have time to question it. Grabbing one of the vials, he poured the contents onto Lila's wound. The liquid hissed on contact, and to his shock, the bleeding stopped almost instantly. Her breathing steadied.
It worked.
For the first time in hours, Kade let out a breath of relief. But it was short-lived.
[New mission: Eliminate two Wailers nearby. Mission Completion Reward: Reinforced combat knife.]
His stomach dropped as the robotic voice returned. Outside, the growls were closer now. He peeked through a crack in the wall and saw two Wailers sniffing the air, their grotesque forms illuminated by the flickering flames of a burning car.
The System wasn't going to let him rest. If he wanted to survive, if he wanted to protect Lila, he'd have to play along.
Kade tightened his grip on the metal pipe he'd been carrying, his knuckles white. He wasn't a fighter. He wasn't a hero. But right now, none of that mattered.
"Stay here," he whispered to Lila, even though she was barely conscious.
He stepped out of the store, pipe in hand, and faced the monsters.
For her, he thought. For Lila.
The Wailers turned toward him, their glowing eyes locking onto their prey. Kade raised the pipe and took a deep breath.
"Let's see if this system is worth the trouble."
And with that, he charged.