****
[Host Info]
Host: Aron
Lvl: 0
Exp for next level: 0/100
Rank: Awakened
Special Ability: Talent Bank
Talent Inspection: Check
Talent Switch: Turn abilities on or off
****
Aron was startled when the status screen appeared the moment the light disappeared. His heart pounded, but he quickly forced himself to calm down.
As a trader, he often read books to relax, manga, cultivation, and system novels included. Because of that, the strange screen in front of him was troubling, yet oddly familiar.
Walking through the city, he half-expected portals tearing open with monsters pouring out, or zombies like in the stories.
But reality was different.
The chaos came from bandits smashing stores and running off with goods, officers fighting to control the streets.
Aron's eyes shifted back to his screen.
Exp to level up… did that mean he had to kill to gain it?
A chill ran down his spine.
He forced his thoughts to calm. For all he knew, he was the only one awakened.
He tried again and again to figure out his talent, but besides the name Talent Bank, there was no other information.
At least Inspection worked. He had used it earlier on one of the thieves.
[Name: Bing Bong
No special abilities found]
Switch seemed clearer. It allowed him to turn abilities on or off, though what that truly meant, he had no idea.
Later, Aron entered the old apartment building that looked like it could collapse any moment. Climbing the stairs, he soon reached his door.
If his life had a novel title, it would be From Riches to Below Rags.
The apartment had been given to him by someone he least expected, Mr. White.
Aron had treated his workers well, even paid them above the norm, but he never thought any of them would step forward to help.
Yet Mr. White had, offering him his old apartment to live in until Aron could stand again.
The place was small: one room, a kitchen, a toilet. Cramped, but suitable for a bachelor.
Soon after, a shocking news spread across the world.
Mr. Scott's son saw a second notification.
"Do you have anything to prove your claim, Mr. Carter?" the reporter asked.
he smirked. Fire materialized above his hand, floating like magic.
Aron knew who Carter was, or at least, he knew his father. Years ago, the man had come crying, begging for investment.
Aron had casually dropped a billion dollars for 59% of his company. To him, it was pocket change.
That single deal had allowed the man to claw his way into becoming the richest in the city.
Now, his son stood flaunting powers on live TV.
The anchor looked at him with flirtatious eyes before continuing the report.
"The government has confirmed that many others have received a second notification.
If you are one of them, please report immediately. Even if you are a criminal, all crimes will be cleared.
You will be rewarded with ten million dollars, a house, and most importantly, training on how to control your ability. Citizens are urged to calm down and rejoice.
Humanity is ushering into a new era."
Click
Aron switched off the television. He would be lying if he said he wasn't worried.
As an analyst, he knew where this was headed. Humanity was its own worst enemy. With power came greed, and things were about to spiral into chaos.
He sighed. If only he had money, he would have stockpiled food already.
But instead, he barely scraped by with the bartending job Mr. White had helped him land.
After a shower, Aron went to bed early. Life as a poor man was miserable, and he still felt drained from the incident on the hill.
Bang!
Aron jumped from his bed. Movement echoed from his small balcony, the narrow space he used to dry clothes.
(If I'm being robbed, shouldn't it be from the front?)
He was in the third floor of the building, so it was shocking someone would risk his life climbing through the balcony to rob him.
Knife in hand, he crept closer. For a few minutes, he stood still, listening.
Finally, he mustered the courage and slid the balcony door open.
What he saw froze him.
His neighbor from the fifth floor lay in a pool of blood.
Aron rushed forward, but immediately stopped. Something was wrong.
The man wasn't dead. He was chewing something.
And in his mouth… was half of a human head. Aron recognized it instantly. It was his wife.
A chill swept through him. He tried to back away, but it was already too late.
Even with a broken body, the man pushed himself up with his arms and lunged.
Aron stumbled as the figure crashed onto him, the knife slipping from his hand.
Blood and saliva dripped from its mouth. The stench of death filled Aron's nostrils as his neighbor, no, this thing, snapped at his throat.
Aron shoved him back, holding the thing at arm's length. Fear clawed at his chest.
"Grrr… grrrr…"
Desperate, Aron fumbled for the knife, his fingers brushing cold steel.
Pain flared in his arm as the zombie pressed harder, but Aron gritted his teeth, snatched the knife, and drove it into the monster's skull again and again.
[Zombie Lvl 1 killed, +50 EXP!]