Luckily, there was still electricity.
For now.
The city grid was still functioning, but it was only a matter of time before the power stations were abandoned or overrun.
I need to prepare for when it goes out.
He splashed cold water onto his face, forcing himself to stay alert. His body was sore, and bruises lined his ribs from his fight with the Mawbeast, but thanks to the Medium Health Injection, the pain was manageable. He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his damp hair.
Two days. That's all it took for the world to collapse.
After drying off, Advik Bhardwaj walked out of the bathroom and into the main living area of his rented house. His weapons were laid out neatly on the dining table: his MP5, Glock 17, and tactical knife, all cleaned and reloaded. He had made a promise to himself—never be unarmed, never be unprepared.
He grabbed a protein bar from his remaining supplies and chewed on it absentmindedly as he opened his system interface.
[User: Advik Bhardwaj]
[Level: 8]
[Experience Points: 18,234/23,521]
[Blood Coins: 277,600]
[Inventory: You have one reward that you haven't opened yet.]
Reading the line in his inventory, he opened it. There was a glowing box. And it's are daily reward box.
He tapped onto it, and the icon of the box was enlarged and a notification prompt appeared.
[Do you want to open the daily reward box? Yes or No]
Advik Bhardwaj selected "Yes", and immediately after, the mystery box began to glow, emitting a faint hum as it hovered slightly above the system interface. His eyes narrowed in anticipation, watching as the box slowly unraveled itself, its golden light fading to reveal a new notification.
[Congratulations! You have received: Experience Pointes & Blood Coins Capsule (x1)]
Advik Bhardwaj blinked. Experience Pointes & Blood Coins Capsule? He had never seen this item before. He tapped on it to reveal its description.
[Experience Pointes & Blood Coins Capsule]
Effect: Quintuple all experience points and blood coins gained from kills for the next six hours.
Duration: 24 hours
Description: A rare system booster designed to maximize rewards in battle.]
Advik Bhardwaj's lips curled into a smirk. This is huge.
Normally, a single zombie kill would grant him 50 Blood Coins and 20 Experience Points—with this capsule, that would skyrocket to 250 Blood Coins and 100 Experience Points per kill.
If he went on a rampage, he could earn enough to level up twice, maybe even three times before the buff expired.
"This…" Advik Bhardwaj muttered, gripping his chin thoughtfully. "This is exactly what I need."
With the Mawbeast proving that stronger, mutated zombies existed, he knew that the normal undead weren't the only threats anymore. His firepower was non-solid, but if things kept escalating.
To do so—he needed firepower.
One thing he noticed is the MP5. Although it has a satisfying rate of fire, it's power was lacking. If it was humans, the MP5 would have been enough, but if it's against zombies that are resilient, one that won't die even if you exhausted your full magazine on its body, so long its brain is unharmed.
Advik Bhardwaj activated his system and browsed through the shop's assault rifle section, scrolling past an array of firearms. Each weapon came with detailed specifications and stats displayed on the system screen. He stopped at the first option, his eyes narrowing as he read through the description.
[M4 Carbine]
Type: Assault Rifle
Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
Magazine Capacity: 30 rounds
Weight: 6.5 lbs (2.9 kg)
Damage: Medium
Rate of Fire: High
Effective Range: 500 meters
Accuracy: Medium
Cost: 3,000 Blood Coins
Blood Coins
The M4 Carbine was a reliable, lightweight option. Its 5.56mm rounds were standard and widely available in the shop, making resupply easier. However, Advik Bhardwaj hesitated. The damage rating was listed as "Medium," and given his experience with zombies, he wasn't sure if it would have the stopping power he needed. The M4's high rate of fire was appealing, but if it couldn't consistently put down zombies with headshots, it would be more of a liability than an asset.
[HK 416]
Type: Assault Rifle
Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
Magazine Capacity: 30 rounds
Weight: 7.9 lbs (3.58 kg)
Damage: Medium-High
Rate of Fire: High
Effective Range: 600 meters
Accuracy: High
Cost: 4,000 Blood Coins
Blood Coins
The HK 416 caught his attention immediately. It was heavier than the M4 but offered higher damage and accuracy. Its piston-driven operating system made it more reliable, especially in harsh conditions. However, the increased weight was a downside. Zombies lunged unpredictably, and he needed a weapon he could handle swiftly without getting bogged down. Still, it was a strong contender.
[FN FAL]
[Type: Battle Rifle
Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
Magazine Capacity: 20 rounds
Weight: 9.4 lbs (4.3 kg)
Damage: High
Rate of Fire: Medium
Effective Range: 800 meters
Accuracy: High
Cost: 4,500 Blood Coins]
Blood Coins]
The FN FAL was a powerhouse. Its 7.62mm rounds offered significantly higher damage than the 5.56mm rifles, meaning it could take down zombies with fewer shots, even if the head wasn't hit directly. However, the trade-off was clear: it was heavier and had a smaller magazine capacity. Its rate of fire was also slower, which could be an issue in close-quarters combat against a fast-moving horde.
[FN SCAR-L]
[Type: Assault Rifle
Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
Magazine Capacity: 30 rounds
Weight: 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg)
Damage: Medium-High
Rate of Fire: Medium-High
Effective Range: 600 meters
Accuracy: High
Cost: 5,000 Blood Coins]
The FN SCAR-L struck a balance between the M4 and the FN FAL. It had better damage and accuracy than the M4, with a manageable weight and high reliability. However, its cost was higher, which made Advik Bhardwaj hesitate. While he had enough Blood Coins to afford it, he had to be mindful of other purchases he might need later.
[Heckler & Koch G36C]
[Type: Compact-Assault Rifle
Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
Magazine Capacity: 30 rounds
Weight: 6.6 lbs (3 kg)
Damage: Medium
Rate of Fire: High
Effective Range: 400 meters
Accuracy: Medium-High
Cost: 5,500 Blood Coins]