After completing the initial draws, Guna's personal panel appeared before his eyes.
Name: Guna
[Constitution]: 11 (Constitution is a composite index of Strength, Agility, and Stamina; the average for adult males is 10)
[Spirit]: 9 (Spirit is a composite index of Senses, Willpower, and Energy; the average for adult males is 10)
[Bound Vehicle]: Dilapidated Van
[Talent]: Daily Intelligence (SSS-rank) (Hidden) (Unique)
"This... this is the perfect start, isn't it?"
Guna's eyes widened as he stared at the glowing words—SSS-rank, Hidden, Unique. He had been hoping for a B-rank or maybe even an A-rank talent, but never in his wildest dreams did he expect to hit the jackpot.
"Unique" meant he was the only one in this entire world who possessed this ability. His hands trembled slightly. Unlike brute strength or flashy supernatural powers, intelligence-based abilities might not shine in a direct fight, but in a survival game where strategy, foresight, and resourcefulness were everything, information was king.
He grinned. "It's settled. This is my ace."
[All novice configurations have been distributed!]
[Players, please begin your journey of survival!]
[Friendly reminder: A treasure chest has spawned near each player's starting location. Don't forget to search for it!]
Guna's ears perked up at the word "treasure chest."
His heartbeat steadied. Calm returned to his mind as he got out of the van and scanned the tall grass. If what the system said was true, there should be something valuable hidden nearby.
[Ding!]
[Today's Intelligence triggered! Do you wish to receive it?]
The sudden prompt startled him. Already? So fast?
He hesitated. Accepting the intelligence right away was tempting, but he recalled the system's reminder—there was already a treasure chest guaranteed nearby. If the daily intelligence pointed to the same thing, it would be wasted. He exhaled slowly and clicked "No."
Instead, he continued searching the grass carefully. Sure enough, not far away, nestled in the weeds, was a wooden box emitting a faint glow.
"There you are."
Excitement surged through him, but his instincts held him back. The chest was only seven or eight meters away from a staggering zombie. One careless move and he'd attract its attention.
Bending low, Guna slowed his steps, holding his breath as he crept forward. Step by careful step, he reached the chest and lifted the lid.
Light burst forth, and several items materialized in front of him.
[Obtained Gold x1, Parts x3, Leather x2]
[Obtained "Glock 17" x1]
His eyes lit up. A gun!
He reached out and picked up the pistol, feeling the cold, heavy weight in his hand. It was his first time touching a real firearm. The sense of security it gave him was like nothing else.
[Pistol] Glock 17
Magazine: 20/40 (Auto-reload)
Durability: 100%
Modification Device: None
Evaluation: A firearm sufficient for self-defense in normal situations. Its performance is relatively mediocre but reliable in all aspects, making it a lethal weapon for close to medium range.
Sixty rounds of ammunition, too. Perfect.
His gaze flicked back to the nearby zombie. The corners of his lips curved slightly. "Let's see what you can do."
He mimicked the action he'd seen countless times in movies, pulling the slide back with a satisfying clack. The metallic sound carried through the air.
The zombie immediately snapped its head toward him and let out a guttural roar before charging forward.
Its speed wasn't absurdly fast, but it wasn't slow either. Just fast enough to make his pulse race.
Guna steadied his breath, raised the pistol, and aimed.
Bang!
The first shot cracked through the air. He missed the head, only grazing the shoulder. The zombie howled louder, entering a berserk frenzy as its pace quickened.
"Damn it—"
He backpedaled quickly, pulling the trigger again. Bang! Bang! Bang! Three consecutive shots rang out. At first, his hands shook, but he quickly adapted to the recoil. His aim steadied. Just as the zombie lunged within four meters, his final bullet punched through its forehead.
The creature collapsed with a heavy thud.
[Successfully killed a zombie! Gold +0.1!]
"Haa... haaa..."
Sweat beaded on Guna's forehead. For someone who had never held a gun before, this first kill was nerve-wracking, but exhilarating at the same time.
Still, the system's reward made him frown. Only 0.1 gold for a zombie kill? That meant ten zombies for a single gold coin. It was far too little.
He tucked the pistol into his waistband and crouched over the corpse, poking at it a few times. Disgust overwhelmed him, and he quickly gave up. No supplies, just rotting flesh. He gagged and backed off.
"Forget it. Better to search elsewhere."
He glanced at the time displayed in the corner of his interface. Only four hours remained until nightfall. He still had no idea what the first night would bring, but he knew he had to be ready.
Opening the regional chat, he noticed most players had also found their starter treasure chests. Some bragged about food, others about tools or weapons. One lucky player had even obtained an M4A1 with Infinite Bullets. The chat exploded in envy.
"Infinite bullets... and a rifle, no less."
Guna felt a twinge of jealousy. To never worry about ammo—it was a dream. Still, he comforted himself. With his intelligence talent, he was bound to gain bigger advantages later.
He was about to continue exploring when a horrifying sound reached his ears. His blood ran cold.
A wave of guttural growls. The ground trembled with approaching footsteps.
Guna's face drained of color. "No way—!"
He cursed, spun on his heel, and sprinted back to the van. He slammed the door shut, turned the key, and stomped on the accelerator.
The ancient engine coughed and roared to life, belching smoke as the tires lurched forward.
Vroom! The van crawled forward, but the uneven grassy terrain slowed it down. Behind him, seven or eight zombies burst into view, their twisted figures charging straight at him.
"Shit, they're fast!"
Clang! Bang! Smack! The van shuddered violently as the horde slammed against it, clawing at the metal, pounding on the windows.
Their distorted faces pressed against the glass, jaws gnashing. Guna's scalp prickled. He gritted his teeth and shifted gears, pressing harder on the pedal. The van rumbled forward, slowly gaining speed.
The zombies roared and slammed harder. He felt the vehicle shake with each hit. But after several kilometers of relentless driving, the horde finally thinned and disappeared behind him.
Panting, he stopped to check the damage.
The van's doors were dented, its hood smeared with blood, and—most terrifying of all—the driver's side window was cracked.
His vehicle's durability dropped from 15% to 14%.
"Damn it!"
His fists clenched. The iron doors could take hits, but the windows were fragile. If a window shattered, he'd be trapped inside—a feast waiting to be torn apart.
Just as his frustration peaked, glowing text appeared in front of him.
[Car Window]
Upgrade Path ①: [Shooting Port] Convert the car window into a firing port, allowing safe attacks from inside. All windows except the windshield will be sealed. (Requires: Gold x5, Parts x2, Steel Sheets x5)
Upgrade Path ②: [Tempered Glass] Reinforce the car window with tempered glass, blocking strong attacks without obstructing view. (Requires: Gold x3, Parts x1)
[Note: All upgrades can be refunded anytime, returning 80% of materials.]
Guna's eyes narrowed. At least the system wasn't leaving him defenseless. Now he had choices to make...