The world outside was a twisted mirror of what it had been just hours ago. What was once a bustling city was now a hellscape. Fires burned in the distance, and the sounds of chaos echoed in every direction. People screamed, some running for their lives, others getting caught by the infected and dragged into the growing mass of carnage.
Zombies—once human—tore into their victims, while monsters, twisted by the virus, rampaged freely through the streets. It was a nightmare come to life.
Jake stood frozen for a moment, the wind whipping against his face as his thoughts raced, 'What had just happened?'
One moment, he was fighting for his life, and the next, he was given a second chance. A chance to survive. To fight back. His chest was no longer burning from the zombie's bite. He looked down at his arms, his fingers flexing in disbelief. Everything was fine. The wound had healed instantly.
A sharp beep interrupted his thoughts.
{Host, please proceed to the nearby area to begin your survival journey. Zombies and monsters are the primary threats to your safety. Eliminate them to earn points for upgrades. The world is now open for your exploration.}
Jake blinked, his mind struggling to keep up with the flood of information. This... this was really happening. The world had changed, and he had been chosen for something bigger. The voice in his head was cold, clinical, but he could sense a strange undercurrent of urgency.
"Let's do as it says for now."
He pulled himself together and made his way down the street, eyes scanning his surroundings. The zombies were still scattered around, stumbling aimlessly, their grotesque figures moving unnaturally.
The mutated animals were a different story. He spotted a massive wolf, its fur black as night, its eyes glowing red with ferocity. It prowled through the wreckage of abandoned cars, sniffing the air as it stalked a survivor—who was now frozen in place, too terrified to move.
Jake's fingers twitched. He had no weapon. Nothing to defend himself with except his bare hands.
{Shop is unlocked. Use points to purchase weapons, food, and necessary survival items.}
A virtual screen appeared in his mind, displaying a list of items for sale:
{Basic Weapon:}
{Baseball Bat: 50 Points, Knife: 100 Points.. }
{Healing Items:}
{First Aid Kit: 200 Points, Med Kit: 300 Points}
{Survival Gear:}
{Rations (1 Day): 50 Points, Backpack: 100 Points}
{Abilities:}
{Strength Boost: 500 Points, Speed Boost: 500 Points, Enhanced Senses: 300 Points}
{Pease note, host has 0 points. Eliminate zombies or monsters to earn points for purchases.}
"No points!" Jake scowled. No points yet, so nothing could be bought. But the knowledge that there was a way to level up—gave him a sense of direction.
Taking a deep breath, he surveyed his surroundings again. He needed to act quickly, or he would end up like the others. A quick glance showed that the mutant wolf was about to pounce on its prey. Without hesitation, Jake bolted toward it, adrenaline surging through his veins.
His instincts kicked in as his body moved, faster than he ever thought possible. The distance between him and the wolf shortened rapidly, and just as it leaped toward the terrified survivor, Jake launched himself at it.
His fist collided with the side of the wolf's head, sending it stumbling back with a vicious growl. The impact felt almost too easy, and Jake stumbled back in surprise. He had barely made contact, but the force of his punch had sent the creature reeling. His body was stronger than it had been moments ago. His reflexes, sharper.
{Ding! Host has unlocked Basic Strength Boost due to first kill.}
Jake didn't have time to process the message.
Growl!
The wolf recovered quickly, its eyes narrowing as it turned toward him. Its snarls grew louder as it bared its fangs. Jake could feel his heart pounding in his chest, the fear beginning to creep in. He couldn't take this thing on without a weapon.
But then, something clicked. The fight-or-flight instinct kicked into overdrive, and Jake made a split-second decision. He darted toward an abandoned car nearby, using its metal frame for leverage as he scaled it. From the top of the car, he had a clear view of the wolf. It was circling, waiting for its chance to strike.
A rock. It was the only thing within reach.
Jake grabbed a large rock from the ground, feeling the weight of it in his hand. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.
"Here! Take this!" Jake hurled the rock with everything he had, watching as it flew through the air, hitting the wolf square in the face. The animal yelped, staggered back, and then froze, its glowing eyes staring at Jake with a new level of fury.
Jake didn't wait for it to recover. He launched himself from the car, landing square on the wolf's back, his hands gripping its fur as he twisted its neck. With one sharp twist, the creature's body went limp.
The world went still for a moment.
"Huff! Huff! " Jake stood over the dead wolf, panting heavily. He had done it. He had killed his first monster.
And with it came the reward.
A notification flashed in his mind.
{Ding! 50 Points Earned for killing a monster!}
Jake blinked. He'd earned points for killing the wolf. He had done it. He had survived. He had power now. And with it came the ability to grow stronger. He looked down at the wolf's body, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction. But there was no time to waste.
Jake quickly accessed the system's store again, eager to get a weapon.
{Basic Weapon:}
{Baseball Bat: 50 Points, Knife: 100 Points...}
{Healing Items:}
{First Aid Kit: 200 Points... }
{Survival Gear:}
{Rations (1 Day): 50 Points, Backpack: 100 Points}
{Ding! Baseball Bat purchased!}
Without hesitation, Jake spent his 50 points on the Baseball Bat. A basic weapon, but it would give him the edge he needed to survive.
The weapon appeared in his hand in a flash of light, and Jake felt the weight of it in his grip. The familiar feel of the wood gave him a sense of reassurance. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
"Now I can start!"
Jake turned his attention back to the city around him. He had a long way to go, and the world had become a dangerous place. The system had given him a chance to survive, and he was determined to make the most of it.
As he continued through the streets, searching for more enemies to kill and earn points, a new thought crossed his mind, 'How many others were still alive?'