Scrape… scrape…
The faint sound echoed again. Thomas was certain now. Someone was moving stealthily below his window, their slow, deliberate steps suggesting they knew he was nearby. If he hadn't been standing near the window, he wouldn't have heard a thing.
He held his breath, every muscle tense. The presence outside felt…wrong. They were locked in a silent standoff.
Then, a dark red dot appeared on his mental map at the cabaret entrance. Thomas's eyes widened. What the hell is that?
He'd never seen a dot that color before. Red indicated an enemy. But this…this was almost black. What did it represent? Immense hostility? Pure evil?
The mysterious figure reached the second-floor landing. Thomas aimed his PM at the corner. As soon as they showed themselves…
But the figure stopped. Silence descended upon the second floor.
Do they know I'm aiming at them? There was no way to tell. He couldn't wait forever.
He nudged a grenade he'd placed on the floor earlier, the sound of the pin rattling echoing slightly in the quiet room. It sounded like he was preparing to throw it.
The figure in the hallway reacted instantly, diving around the corner and firing a hail of bullets at Thomas's position.
Rat-a-tat-tat-tat!
The bullets chewed through the floor, the staccato bursts punctuated by the sickening thud of rounds impacting flesh. Then, silence. The magazine was empty.
Thomas stood up, a smirk playing on his lips. He picked up the grenade and put it back in his rig. Knew you'd fall for that.
He approached the riddled body, switching on his flashlight. He froze, pulling back the figure's collar. A dark sigil was tattooed on their neck.
A cultist. Not like the refugees from last night. This was the real deal. Then, a grin spread across his face. He looked at the body like a treasure chest waiting to be opened. Cultists were known to carry high-tier loot.
He began searching the body, his eyes growing wider with each item he uncovered. Holy mother of…
AS VAL Special Assault Rifle
Type: Assault Rifle
Size: 5x2
Effective Range: 400m
Firing Mode: Single, Full-Auto
Rate of Fire: 900
Sighting Range: 420
Caliber: 9x39mm
Magazine: 30-round VSS magazine
(Included: 2 spare magazines, 90 rounds of AP 3 ammunition)
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AP 3 Ammunition
Type: 9x39mm
Ricochet Chance: 40%
Fragmentation Chance: 20%
Bleeding Chance: 10%
Heavy Bleeding Chance: 20%
Heat: +45%
Misfire Chance: Medium
Jam Chance: Very Low
Effect: Penetrates Level 3 armor, 50% chance to penetrate Level 4 armor. +7% recoil.
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Fragmented Mask
Type: Face
Size: 2x2
Protection: Eyes, Jaw
Ricochet Chance: High
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6B13 Assault Armor
Type: Light body armor
Weight: 2.8kg
Size: 3x4
Material: Aramid
Armor Level: 2
Protection Zones: Chest, Stomach, Back, Sides, Throat, Groin
Plate Slots: Front, Back
Plate Level: 4
Movement Speed Penalty: -1%
Turning Speed Penalty: 0%
---
Military Backpack
Capacity: 4x2 (8 slots)
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Reinforced Military Boots
Type: Rare Foot Armor
Material: Leather, Wool, Steel Plate
Puncture Resistance: 2
Warmth: Excellent
Movement Speed Bonus: +10%
Silent Movement Bonus: +15%
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Fireplace Blueprint
Type: Rare Blueprint
Effect 1: Constructs a fireplace in the shelter's rest area, increasing indoor temperature by 10-50°C.
Effect 2: When lit, 60% chance to remove one negative status effect from the survivor every 2 hours.
Construction Requirements: Ventilation Level 1, 30,000 Apocalypse Coins, Stone x30, Bolts x10, Nuts x10
Construction Time: 1 hour
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. And he had the whole set.
The boots and the fireplace blueprint were especially valuable, essential for surviving the upcoming blizzard. The fireplace wasn't a standard shelter facility, but the blueprint allowed him to construct one. This was the true value of eliminating a cultist. With the fireplace, his chances of surviving the first event had jumped to at least 40%.
He quickly equipped the boots, armor, assault rifle, and mask, his gear undergoing a complete overhaul. The AP 3 ammunition significantly boosted his offensive capabilities, rendering anything below Level 4 armor practically useless.
He was grateful for his past experience with shooter games and his knowledge of ambush tactics. He'd tricked the cultist, and it had saved his life. One shot from that AS VAL would have likely pierced his Level 2 vest. He needed to be even more cautious in this city.
He was about to head for the third floor when he noticed something lying in the corner near the stairs. A notebook.
What's this?
He picked up the notebook. A symbol depicting a large eye stared back at him. The pages were filled with strange symbols, unlike any language he knew.
Cultist's Notebook
Description: A notebook containing important information for cultists. Requires specific knowledge or a decryption USB drive to decipher.
Interesting. Another unexpected find. The notebook likely contained valuable intel. He tucked it into his backpack, hoping to decipher it later.
Having already cleared the second floor, he ascended to the third. The looting was uneventful. The rooms were ransacked, some containing abandoned luggage, but nothing of significant value. In the last room, however, he found two interesting items:
Commemorative Coin
Type: Valuable Item
Description: A coin commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Sparrow City war victory. Some people are collecting these.
---
Keycard Wallet
Capacity: 4x4 (16 slots)
A container for keys and loose change.
So, he was in Sparrow City. The keycard wallet was useful. Each key occupied a backpack slot, but the wallet held multiple keys while only taking up one slot. He transferred his five keys and the commemorative coin into the wallet.
After clearing the entire cabaret, he returned to the first-floor kitchen. Two hours had passed. Inspired by the keycard wallet, he realized he could nest containers within his backpack. He retrieved the loot he'd stashed in the freezer, consolidating the smaller items and grenades into spare backpacks and rigs, nesting them within his main backpack.
In the end, he couldn't carry everything. He had two Level 2 vests, two submachine guns, and four knives left over. He opened the Zone Chat.
Thomas: High-tier loot for sale! Limited quantities! First come, first served!
Thomas: [Image of submachine gun] x2. Each with a magazine and 30 rounds. Trading for rare materials, blueprints, or special items.
Thomas: [Image of Level 2 vest] x2. Double your survival chances! Prioritizing shelter upgrade materials. DM me your offers!
Thomas: [Image of knives] x4. Don't miss out! Prioritizing cotton, stone, wood. DM me your offers!
Four messages in quick succession. The scrolling chat stopped momentarily, then erupted.
Holy crap! Did he raid a rebel armory?
I'm still hiding from refugees, and this guy's running a gun store!
I heard explosions and gunfire earlier. Was that him? Did he wipe out a whole squad?
Why did I almost die to a refugee, and this guy has all this gear?
I'm starving and afraid to go outside, and this guy's selling weapons!
Wasn't he selling stuff last night too? The apocalypse arms dealer!
DM'd you, Pro! Check it out!
Disbelief, shock, envy, resentment… The chat was a whirlwind of emotions. The private messages flooded in, the notification chime a constant buzz. He muted it, then started sifting through the offers, keeping an eye on his mental map.
Most offers for the submachine guns were jokes or lowball attempts. He blocked the worst offenders. Among the remaining messages, a few items caught his eye:
Camouflage Coating Sticker
Type: Rare Item
Effect: Applies a camouflage coating to the shelter door, automatically adapting to the surrounding environment. -60% chance of detection.
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Ventilation Duct Modification Blueprint – Safety Model
Type: Rare Blueprint
Effect 1: Modifies the ventilation system, increasing airflow by 40% and exhaust rate by 30%.
Construction Requirements: Ventilation Level 1, 10,000 Apocalypse Coins, Heat-Resistant Coating x1, Exhaust Fan x1
Construction Time: 2 hours
He chose these two items. The camouflage coating would significantly improve his shelter's security. The ventilation blueprint was a specialized upgrade, improving air circulation, which would be crucial when he used the fireplace. He was impressed. Someone had managed to acquire these rare items on day two.
He contacted the sellers, quickly finalizing the trades. One of them was Ben Walker, the player he'd traded with yesterday. Walker was amazed by Thomas's acquisition rate. Thomas, in turn, made a mental note to keep an eye on Walker. He was clearly resourceful.
Maybe a long-term partnership could be beneficial, he mused.
He continued reviewing the remaining offers, but soon realized something was amiss…