A faint scuff... scuff echoed. Thomas was certain now. Someone was moving stealthily below his second-story window, their careful steps suggesting they knew his location. If he hadn't been perched near the window's edge, he wouldn't have caught it.
Thomas froze, every sense on high alert. The presence outside felt…wrong. A silent game of cat and mouse had begun.
Time stretched thin. Finally, a crimson blot, so dark it was almost black, materialized on the virtual map of the Crimson Cabaret's entrance. Thomas's eyes widened.
"What… what is that?" he muttered. He'd never seen a blip that color. Red signified an enemy, but this…this was something else. Infinite hostility? Pure evil?
He didn't have time to ponder. The figure was approaching the second-floor corner. Thomas trained his gun on the spot, ready to unleash a hail of bullets the moment they appeared.
But just before rounding the corner, the figure stopped. Silence descended upon the Crimson Cabaret's second floor.
"What's the play?" Thomas wondered. "Do they know I'm aiming down the sights?"
No answer came. He couldn't wait forever. With a calculated move, he nudged a pre-placed grenade with his boot. The clatter of the pin echoed, creating the illusion he was about to throw it.
The figure in the hallway reacted instantly. A tactical roll, then up in a flash, weapon trained on Thomas's position.
BRRRT!
A storm of bullets ripped through the air, chewing up the floor and punching holes in the wall. The sickening thud of rounds tearing through flesh punctuated the barrage.
The gunfire ceased. Thomas stood, a smirk playing on his lips. He casually re-clipped the grenade to his vest.
"Knew you'd jump the gun," he quipped, approaching the riddled corpse. He switched on his flashlight. A quick tug at the figure's collar revealed a strange symbol tattooed on their neck.
"A tattoo…" Thomas's expression turned grim. This wasn't one of the refugees from last night. This was a genuine cultist.
But the grimness quickly morphed into excitement. He eyed the body like a treasure chest. Cultists were known to carry high-level loot – a fact drilled into them during pre-apocalypse training.
He began to search, his eyes growing wider with each discovery.
"Holy crap, jackpot!"
[AS VAL Special Assault Rifle]
Type: Assault Rifle
Inventory Size: 5x2
Effective Range: 400m
Firing Modes: Single, Full-Auto
Rate of Fire: 900 rpm
Sighting Range: 420m
Caliber: 9x39mm
Magazine: 30-round VSS Magazine
Extras: 2 spare magazines, 90 rounds of Level 3 AP
Description: A suppressed beauty. The AS VAL whispers death, spitting out subsonic 9x39mm rounds with deadly precision. Perfect for close-quarters combat and stealth operations. The included armor-piercing rounds are a bonus, turning even moderately armored foes into Swiss cheese.
[Level 3 Armor-Piercing Rounds]
Type: 9x39mm Ammunition
Ricochet Chance: 40%
Fragmentation Chance: 20%
Bleeding Chance: 10%
Severe Bleeding Chance: 20%
Heat Generation: +45%
Misfeed Chance: Medium
Failure to Fire Chance: Very Low
Effect: Penetrates Level 3 armor, 50% chance to penetrate Level 4 armor, +7% recoil.
Description: These aren't your average bullets. Designed to defeat body armor, these rounds pack a serious punch. The increased heat and recoil are a small price to pay for the ability to punch through even tough Level 4 plates. Just be prepared for the occasional jam.
[Fragmented Mask]
Type: Facewear
Inventory Size: 2x2
Protection: Eyes, Jaw
Ricochet Chance: High
Description: A battered and scarred mask, offering rudimentary protection for the eyes and jaw. More for intimidation than actual defense, but hey, every little bit helps. The high ricochet chance might even save your life… or just deflect a bullet into your shoulder. It's a gamble.
[6B13 Assault Armor]
Type: Light Ballistic Vest
Weight: 2.8kg
Inventory Size: 3x4
Material: Aramid Fiber
Armor Level: 2 (Level 4 plates)
Protection Zones: Chest, Stomach, Back, Sides, Throat, Groin
Plate Slots: Front, Back
Plate Level: 4
Movement Speed Penalty: -1%
Turning Speed Penalty: 0%
Description: Lightweight but surprisingly effective thanks to the included Level 4 plates. This vest offers decent coverage, protecting vital areas from incoming fire. The slight movement penalty is a small price to pay for the added survivability. Just don't expect it to stop a tank.
[Military Backpack]
Capacity: 4x2 (8 slots)
Description: A standard-issue military backpack. Not the biggest, but reliable and sturdy. Enough space for the essentials, but you'll need to prioritize.
[Reinforced Military Boots]
Type: Rare Footgear
Material: Cowhide, Wool, Steel Plate
Puncture Resistance: 2
Warmth: Excellent
Movement Speed Bonus: +10%
Stealth Bonus: +15%
Description: These boots were made for walking… and sneaking. Reinforced with steel plates for puncture resistance and lined with wool for warmth, they're perfect for traversing the treacherous post-apocalyptic landscape. The added movement and stealth bonuses are just icing on the cake.
[Fireplace Blueprint]
Type: Rare Blueprint
Effect 1: Constructs a fireplace in your hideout's rest area, increasing indoor temperature by 10°C to 50°C.
Effect 2: When lit, has a 60% chance to remove one negative status effect from the survivor every 2 hours.
Requirements: Level 1 Ventilation Duct, 30,000 Apocalypse Coins, 30 Stone, 10 Bolts, 10 Nuts
Construction Time: 1 hour
Description: Stay warm and cozy during the apocalypse with your very own fireplace! Not only does it provide much-needed heat, but it also has a chance to purge those pesky negative status effects. Just make sure you have proper ventilation… wouldn't want to succumb to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Thomas grinned like a Cheshire cat. An assault rifle, armor with level 4 plates, a face mask, a backpack, rare boots, and a rare blueprint! Each item was a game-changer.
The boots and the fireplace blueprint were especially crucial for surviving the impending polar vortex in six days. The fireplace wasn't a standard hideout feature, but the blueprint provided a workaround.
This was the value of a cultist. With the fireplace, his chances of surviving the first disaster had jumped to 40%.
He quickly stowed the loot, equipping the boots, armor, and rifle. He donned the mask. His entire loadout had been upgraded. The armor-piercing rounds transformed his offensive capabilities, rendering lower-level armor useless.
A shiver ran down his spine. He'd survived thanks to his gamer instincts and knowledge of cheesy tactics. One hit from the cultist's weapon would have likely pierced his level 2 armor and ended him.
The encounter reinforced his caution. He was about to head to the third floor when his gaze snagged on something lying near the stairwell.
A notebook.
"What's this?"
Thomas picked up the notebook. A large eye dominated the cover, surrounded by unfamiliar symbols.
[Cultist's Notebook]
Description: A notebook containing important information for cultists. Requires specific knowledge or a decryption device to access the contents.
Another unexpected bonus. The notebook likely held valuable intel, but he couldn't decipher it yet. He tucked it away, hoping to crack it later.
Having already cleared the second floor, he ascended to the third. The search was uneventful. Rooms were ransacked, some containing abandoned luggage, but nothing of real value.
In the last room, however, he found two interesting items.
[Commemorative Coin]
Type: Valuable Item
Description: A coin commemorating the 80th anniversary of Sparrow City's victory in the City War. Rumored to be collector's items.
[Keycard Wallet]
Container Size: 4x4 (16 slots)
Description: A container designed to hold keys or loose change.
So, he was in Sparrow City. The keycard wallet was a godsend. Keys took up precious inventory space. He transferred his five keys, freeing up several slots. He tossed the commemorative coin in as well.
Back in the first-floor kitchen, two hours having passed, Thomas reorganized his inventory. He consolidated grenades and smaller items into spare pouches and backpacks, maximizing space efficiency. He was left with two level 2 vests, two submachine guns, and four combat knives he couldn't carry.
He opened the regional chat.
[Thomas: High-tier loot for sale, limited quantity, first come, first served!]
[Thomas: «Image of Submachine Gun» x2, Two submachine guns, each with a magazine and 30 rounds. Trading for rare materials or blueprints.]
[Thomas: «Image of Level 2 Vest» x2, Two ballistic vests. Increase your survival odds! Prioritizing hideout upgrade materials. Best offer wins.]
[Thomas: «Image of Combat Knife» x4, Four combat knives. Don't miss out! Prioritizing cotton, stone, wood. Best offer wins.]
The chat, previously a flurry of messages, went momentarily silent. Then, it exploded.
[Holy crap, what?! Did someone raid an armory?!]
[Insane! I'm still playing hide-and-seek with refugees, and this guy's running a gun show!]
[I heard gunfire and explosions earlier…was that you, Legend? Did you wipe out a whole refugee group?!]
[Why do I almost get killed by refugees, and this guy has all the gear?!]
[The gap between people is insane. I'm starving and afraid to go outside, and this guy's selling weapons!]
[Wait, wasn't this the guy selling stuff last night? He restocked already? The apocalypse's arms dealer?!]
[Thomas, I sent you a private message. Let's trade!]
[….]
Disbelief, shock, envy, resentment – it was all there. Thomas, overwhelmed by the flood of messages and pinging notifications, muted the alerts and started sifting through private offers. He kept a watchful eye on his virtual map.
Most offers for the submachine guns were jokes or lowball attempts. He blocked the worst offenders. Among the remaining messages, however, were some intriguing items.
[Camouflage Coating Sticker]
Type: Rare Item
Effect: Applies a camouflage coating to your hideout door, automatically adapting to the surrounding environment. Reduces detection chance by 60%.
[Ventilation Duct Modification Blueprint - Safety Type]
Type: Rare Blueprint
Effect 1: Modifies the Ventilation Duct, increasing ventilation by 40% and exhaust rate of harmful gases by 30%.
Construction Requirements: Level 1 Ventilation Duct, 10,000 Apocalypse Coins, 1 Heat-Resistant Coating, 1 Exhaust Fan
Construction Time: 2 hours.
Thomas settled on these two. The camouflage sticker was a must-have for his subway station hideout. The ventilation blueprint was perfect for mitigating the risks of the fireplace.
He contacted the sellers and quickly finalized the trades. One of them was Ben Walker, the man who'd traded for the pistol yesterday. Thomas made a mental note to keep an eye on him. Clearly, Ben was resourceful.
With the trades complete, Thomas turned his attention back to the remaining offers, but he quickly noticed a problem…