Chapter 10: First Unlock
Alex leaned against the blood-splattered wall, his breath ragged and sweat dripping from his forehead. He had just finished clearing the third infected from the second floor. The system's interface flickered to life in front of his eyes, its blue glow momentarily lighting up the dark hallway.
> Mission Progress: Floor 2 Cleared – 3/20 Infected.
System Points Earned: +10 SP.
Total SP: 100 SP.
He exhaled sharply, staring at the notification. 100 SP.
The faint text on the corner of his interface caught his eye again:
> SP Threshold Reached! First Unlock Available.
Activate Core System Feature? [Yes/No]
Alex's heart raced. He hadn't realized the system had deeper features locked behind SP milestones. He hesitated for only a moment before selecting [Yes].
---
System Initialization: Core Functionality Unlocked
The blue glow of the interface turned brighter, accompanied by a low hum that made the hairs on Alex's neck stand on end. Suddenly, the system spoke in a mechanical, neutral tone:
> Congratulations, Survivor. You have unlocked the first Core System Functionality: The Upgrade Terminal.
From now on, you can spend System Points (SP) to upgrade your stats, unlock skills, or craft unique items.
> Reward for First Unlock:
Skill Blueprint: Weapon Reinforcement
Bonus SP: +20 SP
The notifications vanished, replaced by a new menu within his interface:
> Upgrade Terminal [Active]:
Stats Enhancement
Skill Unlocks
Crafting Recipes
Emergency Purchases
Alex clenched his fists. "Finally. Something to even the odds."
---
Exploring the Upgrade Terminal
Alex opened the new Upgrade Terminal menu, scrolling through its options. Each one looked enticing, but he had to be strategic about where to spend his hard-earned SP.
1. Stats Enhancement
Strength: +10% melee damage (50 SP)
Agility: +10% movement speed and dodge ability (50 SP)
Perception: +10% enemy detection range (40 SP)
Stamina: +10% endurance during prolonged activity (30 SP)
2. Skill Unlocks
Weapon Reinforcement (Blueprint): Reinforce melee weapons to increase durability and damage (50 SP).
Survival Instincts (Tier 1): Sense nearby infected within a 10-meter radius (50 SP).
Adrenaline Boost: Temporary increase to speed and strength during emergencies (40 SP).
3. Crafting Recipes
Reinforced Barricade: Fortify doors and windows for better protection (40 SP).
Steel-Tipped Bolts: For crafting stronger projectiles (30 SP).
4. Emergency Purchases
Health Kit: Fully restores health (50 SP).
System Crate: Contains random loot, including weapons, supplies, or blueprints (100 SP).
---
Making the Choice
Alex had 120 SP now, thanks to the bonus from unlocking the core system. The options swirled in his head. He couldn't afford to spend it all recklessly, not with the mission on Floor 2 far from complete.
"I need to think long-term," he muttered, wiping the sweat off his brow.
After a moment of deliberation, he made his choices:
1. Weapon Reinforcement Blueprint (50 SP): His crowbar had been his lifeline so far, but he needed it to hit harder and last longer.
2. Survival Instincts (Tier 1 – 50 SP): The ability to sense infected nearby was too valuable to pass up.
> SP Spent: 100 SP.
SP Remaining: 20 SP.
The system processed his selections, and the notifications returned.
> Skill Unlocked: Weapon Reinforcement
Skill Unlocked: Survival Instincts (Tier 1)
A faint blue glow enveloped Alex's crowbar as the blueprint activated.
> Weapon Reinforcement Ready: Reinforce your melee weapon with scrap materials to increase durability and damage.
---
Testing His New Abilities
The eerie groans of infected echoed from deeper within the second floor. Alex crouched low, activating Survival Instincts for the first time. A faint ripple spread through his mind, and a translucent outline of the building appeared in his interface.
He immediately noticed three red dots moving in the eastern wing, their jerky movements betraying their undead nature.
"Three of them, clustered together," Alex muttered, gripping his crowbar. "That would've been a nasty surprise."
He checked his inventory. The crowbar's Weapon Reinforcement required basic materials to activate:
Scrap Metal x2
Duct Tape x1
He had what he needed. Opening the crafting menu, he initiated the reinforcement.
> Crafting in Progress...
Weapon Reinforced: Steel-Edged Crowbar → Reinforced Crowbar
The weapon's surface shimmered briefly, its edge now lined with jagged steel plates. It felt heavier in his hands—but in a good way.
> Reinforced Crowbar Stats:
Damage: +25%
Durability: +30%
"Perfect," Alex said, a small smile tugging at his lips.
---
Ambush Tactics
With his enhanced weapon and newfound detection skill, Alex decided to test his upgrades on the three infected ahead. He moved silently toward the eastern wing, relying on Survival Instincts to track their movements.
They were huddled near a doorway, one of them gnawing on a severed arm.
Alex crept closer, his reinforced crowbar poised. When he was within striking range, he lunged at the first infected, slamming the crowbar into its skull.
> Critical Hit! +25 SP Earned.
The other two turned, snarling as they lunged toward him. But Alex was faster now. The weight of his upgraded crowbar felt natural, almost an extension of his arm.
He sidestepped the first attack, bringing the crowbar down on the second infected's knee. The sickening crunch sent it toppling to the ground.
With a quick pivot, Alex delivered a crushing blow to its head, killing it instantly.
> Walker Eliminated: +15 SP Earned.
The last infected lunged at him wildly, but Alex ducked under its swing and drove the crowbar straight through its jaw.
> Walker Eliminated: +15 SP Earned.
He stepped back, panting as the system chimed again.
> Mission Progress: Floor 2 Cleared – 6/20 Infected.
System Points Earned: +55 SP (Current Total: 75 SP).
---
The Journey Continues
Alex leaned against the wall, a grim smile on his face. With his new abilities, clearing the rest of the floor felt achievable.
"Seventy-five SP already," he muttered. "At this rate, I'll unlock the next milestone soon."
He glanced down the darkened hallway, his crowbar resting on his shoulder. The groans of more infected echoed faintly in the distance.
"Let's see how far this system can take me."