Chapter 3: The First Night
Alex tightened his grip on the machete, the weapon trembling slightly in his sweaty hands. From the hallway beyond his broken door, the sounds of groaning and shuffling footsteps grew louder. Shadows flickered across the dim light spilling from his apartment, twisted shapes moving closer.
"Survive until dawn," Alex muttered under his breath, repeating the system's cold words. "Easier said than done."
The interface flickered in front of him again.
New Mission: Defend your shelter.
Objective: Eliminate incoming threats. Survive for 6 hours.
Reward: System Upgrade (Inventory Function). Penalty: Death.
"Why is the penalty always death?" Alex hissed, wiping the sweat from his brow.
The first infected stumbled into the doorway. It was a man this time, or at least, it had been. His tattered suit was soaked in blood, and half his face was missing, as though something had taken a massive bite out of it.
Alex's heart pounded in his chest.
"Okay, okay… Headshots. Go for the head."
The infected snarled and lunged toward him. Alex swung the machete with all his strength, but his angle was sloppy, the blade glancing off the man's shoulder. The creature barely reacted, clawing at him with unnatural speed.
Alex staggered back, cursing.
"Stay down, dammit!" he shouted, adjusting his grip. This time, he swung horizontally, aiming for the head. The machete connected with a sickening crunch, slicing into the man's skull. Blood sprayed everywhere as the infected collapsed in a twitching heap.
Panting, Alex stumbled back and leaned against the wall. His arms felt like jelly.
Enemy Eliminated: +5 System Points.
"Points?" Alex muttered, glancing at the interface. Sure enough, a small number at the corner of the screen now read:
[System Points: 15]
"Great. Too bad I have no idea how to use them."
More groans echoed down the hallway. Alex peeked outside and nearly dropped his weapon. There were at least six more infected shambling toward his apartment.
"Of course there's more…"
System Tip: Resource Management
The system's voice chimed in his head.
Tip: Use consumables strategically. The Adrenaline Booster can temporarily enhance strength, speed, and stamina. Duration: 3 minutes.
Alex's eyes darted to the small vial he'd received in the Starter Pack. He fumbled for it, unscrewing the cap. The glowing liquid inside pulsed faintly, almost alive.
"Three minutes…" he muttered. "Guess I don't have a choice."
He tipped the vial back and swallowed its contents in one gulp. The effect was immediate.
A surge of heat exploded in his chest, spreading to every part of his body. His muscles tensed, his vision sharpened, and the tremble in his hands vanished. The machete suddenly felt lighter, almost like an extension of his arm.
"Let's do this."