Max sat in the darkness of the sewer, his back pressed against the cold, damp wall. His breathing was steadying, but the adrenaline was still coursing through his veins. The city above was a nightmare, but down here? It was eerily quiet. The only sounds were the distant echoes of water dripping and the faint groans of walkers far above.
He gripped his new **hunting knife**, the weight of it reassuring in his hand. His mind replayed the events of the past hour—the walkers emerging at night, the desperate search for supplies, the frantic escape into this underground tunnel. *I barely made it,* he thought, shaking his head.
His gaze fell on the **Starter Supply Pack** the system had rewarded him for completing his first quest. He unzipped it and took inventory:
- A **flashlight**, slightly worn but still working.
- A **basic first-aid kit**, with bandages, antiseptic, and painkillers.
- The **hunting knife**, already in his grip.
The sight of the supplies calmed him slightly. He wasn't defenseless anymore. The knife was sharp, well-balanced—a weapon he could actually use.
The flashlight was another lifesaver. He flicked it on, the dim yellow glow pushing back the overwhelming darkness of the tunnel. The walls around him were slick with moisture, coated in grime, with pipes running along the ceiling. The air was thick with the stench of decay and stagnant water.
---
His **status window** appeared in the corner of his vision, another notification appearing.
---
**New Quest: Escape the Sewers**
- *Objective:* Find a safe exit from the underground tunnels before daylight. Avoid unnecessary combat.
- *Reward:* +1 Stat Point
---
Max exhaled. *Figures.* The system wasn't going to let him sit here and rest. It was always pushing him forward. Still, he wasn't about to argue with the reward. A **stat point** was valuable, considering they were the only way he could improve his base attributes outside of leveling up.
*I need to move.*
He stood, testing his footing on the slick ground. His body ached from the night's events, but there was no time to dwell on exhaustion. He needed to find a way out before morning. The city might be overrun at night, but once daylight came, he'd have a better chance of moving undetected.
Shining the flashlight down the tunnel, he saw two paths ahead—one leading into deeper darkness, the other sloping slightly upward. He chose the upward path, hoping it would lead him closer to the surface.
---
As he walked, he stayed on high alert, knife in one hand, flashlight in the other. The tunnel walls were lined with old pipes, some rusted and leaking. The water pooled at his feet, cold and murky, making each step slow and cautious.
Then, a sound.
A faint **scraping noise** echoed from further down the tunnel. Max immediately shut off the flashlight and pressed himself against the wall, gripping his knife tightly. He listened.
A low, guttural groan.
*Walkers.*
He squinted into the darkness, but without the flashlight, he could barely see a few feet ahead. His instincts screamed at him to turn back, but he didn't have that option. He had to find an exit.
Taking a deep breath, he crouched low and moved forward as quietly as possible. The air was thick with the smell of rot. As he rounded a bend, the dim outline of a **walker** came into view. It was hunched over, its body partially submerged in the filthy water, gnawing on something unrecognizable.
Max gritted his teeth. He couldn't risk making noise. **Stealth was his best option.**
Carefully, he sidestepped along the wall, keeping his movements slow and deliberate. The walker didn't seem to notice him, too focused on whatever it was eating. His heart pounded, but he remained steady. **One step. Then another.**
Then, **a loud splash** echoed through the tunnel.
His foot had slipped into a deeper part of the water.
The walker's head snapped up, its lifeless eyes locking onto him. It let out a **rasping growl**, pushing itself up with slow, jerky movements.
"Shit."
Max had no choice. He **lunged forward**, knife in hand. The walker reached for him with bony, decayed fingers, but he was faster. He **drove the knife into its skull**, the blade slicing through rotted flesh and bone. The walker spasmed before collapsing into the water with a sickening splash.
Max pulled his knife free, wiping the dark, coagulated blood onto his pants. His breathing was ragged, but he was alive. That was all that mattered.
---
**Quest Update: Continue toward the surface.**
---
He flicked the flashlight back on and moved faster now, his nerves on edge. The tunnel ahead sloped upward, and in the distance, he spotted **a metal ladder leading up to a grate.**
Relief flooded him.
Max climbed quickly, gripping the rungs with trembling hands. When he reached the top, he pressed against the grate and pushed. It didn't budge. He gritted his teeth, bracing himself, and **shoved harder.**
With a groan of metal, the grate finally gave way.
Cool, early morning air rushed in as he **emerged onto the streets of the ruined city.** The sky was still dark, but hints of dawn were beginning to creep over the horizon. The streets were **empty**, the walkers having retreated from the open areas now that daylight was approaching.
Max let out a slow breath, pulling himself up and closing the grate behind him. He was out.
---
**Quest Completed: Escape the Sewers**
*Reward: +1 Stat Point*
---
A small notification appeared in his vision, and he felt a subtle shift in his body—a faint energy coursing through him. He had earned a stat point.
Max opened his **status window** and inspected his stats.
---
**[AVAILABLE STAT POINT: 1]**
---
He considered his options. Every point mattered. Right now, he needed **strength** to survive encounters, **agility** to move quickly, and **endurance** to last longer in a fight.
After a moment of thought, he **assigned the point to Agility.**
---
**+1 Agility Added**
---
His body felt lighter, his reflexes just a fraction sharper. It wasn't a massive change, but every improvement counted.
He looked around, taking in his surroundings. The city was still a ghost town, but now that morning was approaching, he had to move before the streets got active again.