The air was thick with smoke, the acrid scent of fire and destruction wafting through the city streets. Alexia moved swiftly, keeping her head low as she navigated the alleyways. She had only been out here for a few hours, but the apocalypse had already claimed its toll. Cars lay abandoned on the side of the roads, their windows shattered. Faint screams echoed in the distance, but Alexia knew better than to go towards the noise.
The world had turned upside down in the span of a single day. People were no longer people. They were monsters--- either affected by whatever disease or mutation had swept across the globe or driven to madness by the chaos.
Alexia's pulse quickened as she adjusted the machete in her hand, it's weight comforting as it swung at her side. The system's voice had become a constant companion, offering guidance as she adapted to this new world.
[Host, continue with caution. There are enemies nearby. Your first upgrade has been unlocked. Would you like to proceed?]
Without hesitation, Alexia nodded. "Yes."
A glowing screen appeared in front of her, listing the options for her first upgrade.
[Available Upgrade: Physical Strength]
Cost: 10 Upgrade Points
Effect: Increased strength and endurance
Alexia hesitated for a split second. strength. she needed it to survive in this world. she had already made her first kill, but that had only been in the beginning. The city was crawling with more of these monsters, and she needed every advantage she could get.
[Upgrade Confirmed.]
The world around her seemed to tilt as a rush of energy coursed through her body. She clenched her fists, feeling the power surging through her veins. Her vision sharpened and her senses heightened, she could hear every creak of the building behind her, every distant footstep.
"Not bad," she muttered, testing her newfound strength by pressing a hand against the wall and effortlessly pushing off it.
[Quest: First Encounter]
Objective: Survive the next enemy encounter
Reward: 15 Upgrade points, New Skill: Combat Mastery.
Alexia didn't need the system's voice to tell her that another fight was coming. She could hear the dragging footsteps approaching. She ducked behind a nearby dumpster, crouching low to stay hidden. Through the narrow gap, she saw the creature--a tall, lanky figure with glowing green eyes, its skin a sickly shade of grey. It sniffed the air like a predator, its claw scraping the pavement.
"Great. Another one of these freaks," Alexia muttered. She had been hoping for a bit of peace before the next fight, but it seemed like that was too much to ask for.
As the creature came closer, she gripped her machete tighter. Her heartbeat pounded in her chest. The fight would be different now. She had upgraded her strength. She could take this thing down.
Just as the creature turned the corner, Alexia leaped out from her hiding spot, swinging the machete with all her strength her new upgrade had given her. The blade connected with the creature's chest, slicing through the rotting flesh with ease. The thing let out a shrill screech, stumbling back, but it didn't go down.
Alexia cursed under her breath, quickly darting to the side as the creature swiped at her with its jagged claws. She dodged, her reflexed faster than before. She swung again, aiming for its head this time. The machete cut through the air, and with a satisfying thud, the creature collapsed, its head severed from its body.
[Quest Complete: First Encounter]
Reward: 15 Upgrade Points, New Skill: Combat Mastery.
Alexia stood over the fallen creature, breathing heavily. The adrenaline was wearing off, but she could feel the rush of power coursing through her. Combat Mastery. She didn't know exactly what it entailed, but she could already feel her moves becoming more fluid, more calculated. She felt more confident.
"Not bad," she said again, wiping the blood from the blade and returning it to her side.
[SYSTEM UPDATE: Dimensional Space Unlocked]
Effect: Store items for future use.
"Dimensional space?" Alexia muttered, looking around. She had no idea what that meant, but she could feel the subtle pull in the back of her mind, like there was an invisible space she could access at will. She closed her eyes, focused, and before she knew it, a glowing rectangular screen appeared in front of her.
It was filled with nothing at first, but as she thought about it, items appeared--mostly debris and supplies she had scavenged from the area. She could store them here, out of sight, and retrieve them later. The possibilities were endless.
"Perfect," She whispered, feeling the first hints of hope. She could survive this. She was learning to adapt, and with the system on her side, there was no limit to how powerful she could become.
But as the quiet settled in once more, Alexia couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She felt the weight of the apocalypse bearing down on her. This world was far from empty, and soon, she'd have to face much worse than just the infected.
The system's voice broke through her thoughts once more, its tone cold and calculating:
[New Quest Unlocked: Find Allies.]
Objective: Locate potential allies.
Reward: Unknown.
Alexia stared at the screen in front of her, knowing that whatever came out next, she was ready. She had to find allies. She had to build something bigger than just survival.
And that meant finding people----powerful people----- who could help her.
But first, she had to survive the chaos.