Adam awoke to the sound of faint shuffling and the distant groans of the undead. It was still early, the first rays of sunlight barely peeking over the horizon. For a moment, he sat still, his hand gripping his rifle as his eyes adjusted to the dim light of the secured office floor.
"Commander, perimeter is clear," Captain reported, standing at the window with Scout. The two soldiers had taken the first watch, their vigilance a comforting presence in the otherwise bleak world.
Adam nodded. "Good. Let's keep it that way."
As he stood and stretched, a notification blinked into his vision.
> "Weekly Reward: Claimed! Reward: +500 gold, +50 XP, and 1 Random Item."
Adam blinked in surprise. The system hadn't mentioned a weekly reward before, but he wasn't about to complain.
"System, show me the random item," Adam said aloud.
A new icon appeared, glowing faintly before transforming into a description:
> "Reward: 10x Packaged MREs (Meals Ready-to-Eat)."
He couldn't help but grin. Food was always a high priority, and the MREs would sustain his squad for days. Adam added the rations to their supplies, grateful for the system's timely assistance.
"This is exactly what we needed," Adam muttered, stowing the MREs safely.
---
As the squad prepared for the day, Adam took stock of their situation. With the food from the weekly reward, their immediate survival needs were met. The barricades were holding firm, and morale seemed steady among the soldiers.
"Captain," Adam said, turning to his second-in-command. "What's the status of the team?"
"All soldiers are operational. Defensive positions are secure, and fallback points have been established on the second floor," Captain replied.
"Good. We'll hold this position for now and assess our next move."
---
The morning passed uneventfully, the quiet only broken by the occasional distant groans of zombies. Adam used the time to plan their next steps. The system had been generous so far, but their survival depended on careful resource management and tactical decisions.
> "Gold: 6250. XP: 260/300."
By the afternoon, the streets began to stir. Scout reported increased movement in the nearby streets, and the groans of zombies had grown louder. Adam joined the soldiers at the windows, his grip tightening on his rifle.
"Commander, we've got a group forming," Scout said, pointing to a cluster of zombies shambling down the street.
Adam counted at least ten of them, their jerky movements unsettling even from a distance. He weighed his options carefully.
"Do we engage or wait?" Captain asked.
Adam frowned, his mind racing. Every fight brought risks, but the gold and experience points were essential for their survival.
"We'll take them out," Adam decided. "But we'll do it from a defensive position. Let them come to us."
---
The squad prepared for the assault, positioning themselves at the barricaded windows. Adam crouched near a window on the second floor, his rifle ready.
The first zombie reached the building, its decayed hands clawing at the barricade. A soldier fired, the bullet punching through the creature's skull and sending it crumpling to the ground.
"Focus your shots. Don't waste ammo," Adam ordered, his voice calm but firm.
The zombies came in waves, their grotesque forms falling one by one under the squad's precise fire. Adam picked his targets carefully, his Basic Shooting Skill guiding each shot.
> "Gold collected: +400. XP gained: +70."
"Gold collected: +350. XP gained: +50."
The notifications appeared briefly, the system handling the resource collection automatically. Adam's gold total climbed to 7000, and his XP reached 330/300, triggering another notification:
> "Level Up! Current Level: 3. Skill Points Earned: +2."
Adam felt a subtle surge of energy. He called up the interface and noted the new skill points.
"Two skill points," he murmured. "Let's see where these can go."
He brought up the skill tree, considering his options. The system had provided him with the Basic Shooting Skill, which could be upgraded. Alternatively, new skills could be unlocked for various tactical or combat purposes.
Adam decided to hold off on spending the points for now. Each choice mattered, and he wanted to weigh his options carefully.
---
As the last zombie fell, silence returned to the streets. The squad lowered their weapons, their expressions calm and focused.
"Good work, everyone," Adam said, stepping back from the window.
Captain approached, his tone professional. "No injuries reported. Barricades held."
Adam nodded. "Let's rest and regroup. The worst might still be ahead."
He glanced at the system interface, his thoughts turning to the challenges yet to come. With each passing day, they grew stronger, but the apocalypse showed no signs of letting up.
"Tomorrow," Adam said quietly, his voice filled with determination. "We'll keep pushing forward."