The third wave of power, the most intense yet, reverberated through Thiago's body, an electric current of energy that left him vibrating, every nerve and muscle fiber heightened to its peak. He felt his senses expand: the distant growl of the city outside, once an indistinct chorus of terror, now seemed to fragment into individual sounds—the cracking of bones, the shuffling of feet, the wet gurgling of infected throats. The vibrations in the ground, once subtle, were now palpable, almost as if he could feel the staggering footsteps of the infected approaching, even through several floors of concrete. The mana in his body pulsed with incredible force, an underground river of energy waiting to be unleashed, a promise of abilities yet undiscovered. He was becoming stronger, faster, more lethal, a survival machine forged in a future he was determined to rewrite.
Thiago's face remained impassive, a mask of control he had honed over twenty years of hell. But in his mind, a whirlwind of thoughts and calculations swirled at dizzying speed. The System's voice, soundless but clear as a crystal-clear thought, echoed again:Level reached! Thiago is now Level 3. Thiago has gained 8 attribute points to distribute.
Twenty-four points. A total of eight points per level, and he had climbed three times. Twenty-four opportunities to shape his destiny, to optimize his chances of survival and those of his family. He knew each point was crucial, each decision a turning point. His eyes swept the suite, the artificial gloom created by the heavy curtains, the family sleeping or trying to sleep, their faces illuminated by the dim light of the lamp, a fragile oasis amidst the chaos unfolding outside. They trusted him. And he would not fail.
What would be the best distribution? The question hung in his mind, heavy as lead. He had lived through twenty years of apocalypse, and every one of his attributes had been tested to the limit.
Strength:Essential for hand-to-hand combat, carrying heavy supplies, breaking down doors, or removing obstacles. Greater strength would mean more powerful blows with the katana and more carrying capacity for the long journeys ahead. He decided to allocate4 points here.
Skill:Crucial. For precise aim with firearms, dodging attacks, stealth, and agility in ruined urban environments. Reaction speed was vital against the faster zombies and mutant beasts. He allocated4 points here.
Constitution (Resistance):The basis of everything. Resistance to disease, injury, exhaustion. In the future, resistance was the difference between living and dying from a simple infection or a wound that wouldn't heal. He allocated3 points here.
Intelligence:To plan strategies, understand the Plague's evolution, decipher security systems, and optimize escape routes. His IT expertise was already an asset, but enhanced intelligence would be key to overcoming more complex challenges. He decided not to allocate extra points here, relying on his base and bonuses.
Wisdom (Perception and Intuition):To detect hidden threats, to read the environment, to anticipate enemy movements. In the apocalypse, intuition was a sixth sense, a hunch that saved lives. He allocated3 points here.
Charisma (Leadership):To motivate the group, to maintain cohesion, to make difficult decisions that would affect everyone. His leadership would be tested to the limit. He allocated1 point here.
Personal Charisma:Less relevant in direct combat, but important for social interactions with other survivors and negotiations. He allocated1 point here.
Where:The key to magical abilities. In the future, he had seen the power of elemental mages, how they could manipulate fire, ice, and healing. He knew that Mana was the fuel for these abilities, and that Fire Magic Expertise, for example, would determine the intensity and range of a spell. He allocated8 pointshere, prioritizing its magical potential.
He felt a slight dizziness as the points relocated in his mind, a sensation that his very being was being rewritten, optimized. The System confirmed the distribution, and a new mental window opened, displaying his updated status:
Basic Information:
Name: Thiago.
Age: 21.
Location: New York, USA (Summer).
Recent Past: University student, studying IT.
Current Context: Reborn with memories of 20 years of apocalypse.
Level: 3.
Attributes (Total / Future Experience Bonus):
Strength: 8 / 3
Skill: 9 / 3
Constitution (Stamina): 8 / 3
Intelligence: 5 / 3
Wisdom: 8 / 3
Charisma (Leadership): 6 / 3
Personal Charisma: 3 / 3
Mana: 8 / 0
Attribute Points to Distribute: 0
Skills:
Information Technology (IT).
Notions of Urban Survival.
A surge of power, the culmination of his three levels and the strategic distribution of his 24 attribute points, coursed through Thiago's body. It wasn't just a sensation, but a fusion of his will with the System itself. His muscles felt denser, every fiber pulsing with renewed strength. His reflexes sharpened, the speed of his mind matching his movements. Mana, once an empty potential, now pulsed with vibrant energy, a subterranean river of power waiting to be unleashed, ready for the abilities the System offered. His senses expanded, allowing him to hear distant growls more clearly, feel the vibrations of the ground, almost as if he could predict the movements of the infected. He was becoming stronger, faster, more lethal—no longer an ordinary human, but something more, a honed warrior, forged by experience and choice.
The sensation of Mana pulsing through his body was new and exciting, a promise of untapped power. But he knew Mana alone wasn't enough. He needed skills, specific expertise to channel this energy. And he knew exactly where to find them.
Shopping.The mental command was instantaneous, and the System interface transformed, revealing a vast virtual store, categories floating in his mental vision: Weapons, Armor, Consumables, Skills, and Expertise. He navigated to the "Skills" section, his eyes scanning the list.
He had the crystals. One thousand and ten crystals, to be exact. Ten Level 0 White crystals, one hundred Level 1 Pale Green crystals, and one thousand Level 2 Moss Green crystals. A fortune in the coming new world, and a valuable currency in the System.
The first thing he searched for was "Weapons Expertise." He had become a master of all weapons, but now he needed to speed up that process. The skill description appeared:Weapon Proficiency: Increases proficiency with all firearms and melee weapons. Reduces reload time and increases accuracy.The cost:100 Pale Green Level 1 Crystals.
A barely perceptible smile crossed Thiago's lips. It was exactly what he needed. Ammo economy and accuracy would be crucial. He confirmed the purchase. A green light flashed in his mind's eye, and the count of Pale Green Level 1 crystals decreased to zero. A new entry appeared in his Skills list:Weapons Expertise (Mastered).
Next, he returned to the "Skills" section. He knew he needed more than just general proficiency. He needed specialization. "Sharpshooter" and "Weapons Master." These were the skills that would transform him into an unstoppable force.
He selected "Sniper." The description unfolded:Sharpshooter: Dramatically increases accuracy with long-range firearms and reduces drift on rapid fire. Grants bonuses on headshots.The cost:500 Level 2 Moss Green crystals.
Thiago confirmed the purchase. Another green light, and the Moss Green Level 2 crystal count decreased to five hundred. A new entry appeared in his Skills:Sharpshooter (Acquired).
He then selected "Weapon Master." The description:Weapon Mastery: Increases effectiveness with all melee weapons, granting bonuses to damage, attack speed, and dismemberment chance. Increases the durability of melee weapons.The cost:500 Level 2 Moss Green crystals.
Thiago confirmed the purchase. His Moss Green Level 2 crystal count has decreased to zero. A new entry has appeared in his Skills:Weapon Master (Acquired).
He felt a new surge of power course through him, not the same as a level-up, but a sense of refinement, that his hands, his eyes, his mind were now more in sync with the weapons he wielded. The katana at his waist, the pistols and submachine guns in their holsters, felt lighter, more like natural extensions of his body.
Your crystal inventory was now:
10 White Level 0 Crystals0 Pale Green Level 1 Crystals0 Level 2 Moss Green crystals
He had spent everything he had from levels 1 and 2, but the investment would be worth it. He was stronger, more accurate, more prepared.
With his new skills and enhanced attributes, Thiago's mind turned to logistics. He had used a considerable amount of ammunition from his M4A1 rifle to take down zombies and level up, and now, several of the 200-round drums he carried were empty or nearly empty. It was time to reload them. He grabbed the empty drums from the side of his tactical vest and his backpack, feeling the light weight of the hollow metal. With agile and precise movements, enhanced by his newly acquired Weapons Mastery and heightened Dexterity, he opened one of the boxes of 5.56mm ammunition he had stockpiled. The glint of brass and the metallic smell of gunpowder filled the air. He began inserting the rounds into the drums, one by one, the soft click of each projectile falling into place. His mind, now more focused and efficient, calculated the exact number, the perfect distribution to optimize the loadout. Within minutes, the various drums were filled again, heavy and ready for action, a comforting sound of readiness.
The growl of the city outside, which had once seemed like an impatient monster lurking, was now just a background noise, a reminder of the training ground that awaited him. Thiago turned away from the window, the curtain closing again, plunging the room into darkness. The family continued to sleep, oblivious to the power transactions that had just taken place.
He glanced at the clock. The dawn dragged on, the hours slipping away like sand through his fingers. The night would be long. Dawn would bring hell. But this time, they would be ready. And Thiago, the only human to reach Level 9 in his previous life, now with new skills and abilities, was on his way to becoming the warrior they needed. Every kill, every crystal, every attribute point, every skill acquired, was a step toward salvation. The race against time had reached its climax, and the next few hours would determine the fate of them all.