The clock struck 5:15 PM, October 11th, 2025, when Klaus — his steel sword gleaming under the dying light — made a decision that would echo through his fate.
The quest "Ascension to Power" burned in his mind, and he knew his performance could determine the rank of his future class — something that might grant him an edge in this apocalyptic world.
With his Luck maxed out and his sword mastery beginning to bloom, he refused to rest.
"I'll hunt until I drop… or until I level up," he muttered, his eyes burning with a determination that outshone exhaustion.
The streets of São Paulo — now a battlefield beneath a darkened sky — crawled with the undead.
Rifts continued to open, spilling endless waves of shambling corpses. Their guttural moans mingled with the distant sounds of explosions and sirens.
Klaus tightened his grip on the sword, feeling its balanced weight, and advanced like a predator among prey.
He activated Player Appraisal to identify his targets: most were Level 1–3 zombies, with a few Level 4s scattered around.
"Perfect for farming XP," he thought as his first strike cut through the air.
The battle erupted with savage ferocity.
Klaus swung his blade in a fluid motion, decapitating two Level 1 zombies in a single strike.
"10 XP each, 16 Vital Essence," the System chimed as the energy of Essence Devourer flowed through his body, sealing minor wounds.
Three Level 2 zombies surrounded him. With a roar, Klaus activated Vital Absorption, channeling the stolen life energy into his next attack.
His blade tore through decaying flesh like paper, reducing the monsters to pieces within seconds.
"15 XP each, 36 Essence," echoed the notification as his inner core pulsed with stored energy.
The pace was relentless.
During the first hour alone, Klaus slaughtered nearly 60 zombies, moving like a war machine.
Each swing grew sharper, his sword mastery climbing steadily.
He faced groups of five, ten — sometimes more — dodging with agility and countering with brutal precision.
A Level 3 zombie lunged at him; Klaus spun, slicing through its neck.
"15 XP, 12 Essence."
Another pack of four fell to a whirlwind of lateral slashes — black blood splattering across his face.
"60 XP, 48 Essence."
His core reached 120 units of Pure Essence, and he converted 100 into 1 Evolution Point (EP), saving it for later.
By 6:15 PM, the System flashed:
[Congratulations! You have leveled up to Level 5!]
[Attributes Increased: +1 to all (Strength: 14, Agility: 14, Vitality: 14, Intelligence: 14, Dexterity: 14, Luck: 20)]
[Free Point: +1]
[XP to Next Level: 60/130]
He allocated the point to Vitality, feeling his body harden and his endurance sharpen.
Now, every ounce of absorbed energy reinforced his strikes with faint bursts of ethereal power.
"This is getting easier," he growled, decapitating five more zombies in a blur of motion.
The massacre continued for hours.
By 7:15 PM, he had slain 120 zombies, reaching Level 6 (XP: 70/140).
At 8:15 PM, after 180 kills, he advanced to Level 7 (XP: 90/150).
By 9:15 PM, the 240th zombie fell, and Klaus hit Level 8 (XP: 110/160).
Each level-up granted new strength and another free point, which he alternated between Strength and Agility — turning him into a swift, lethal force.
His stored Essence reached 720 units, and he converted 200 into 2 Evolution Points, determined to enhance his skills.
First, he evolved Player Appraisal to Rank E.
[Skill Evolved: Player Appraisal (Rank E)]
[Now reveals basic attributes and weaknesses with higher accuracy. Usable on targets up to 5 levels above the user.]
Testing it on a Level 5 zombie, he saw detailed stats:
"Vitality: 30 — Weakness: Head."
Satisfied, he used his second point to evolve Weapon Mastery: Sword to Level 2.
[Skill Evolved: Weapon Mastery – Sword (Level 2)]
[Base Damage +10%, Attack Speed +5%.]
The sword seemed to dance in his hands now, every movement faster, more fluid, more deadly.
By 10:15 PM, after 300 kills, Klaus reached Level 9 (XP: 130/170).
The streets were littered with corpses, and fatigue began to gnaw at him — but the life energy coursing through his veins kept him standing.
Then, two random chests materialized amid the carnage, glowing faintly.
He opened the first to find five items:
2 × Strength Potions (Rank F, +5% STR for 1 hour)
1 × Agility Potion (Rank F, +5% AGI for 1 hour)
1 × Survival Ration (Restores 10% Vitality)
1 × Leather Outfit (Rank E, +5% Defense).
The second chest contained four more:
1 × Intelligence Potion (Rank F, +5% INT for 1 hour)
and — shimmering with silver and gold —
1 × Flask of Celestial Dragon Blood (Rank S).
[Item Description: Flask of Celestial Dragon Blood]
[Effect: Upon consumption, transforms the user into a Celestial Dragon Hatchling, unlocking racial abilities. Recommended to use in a safe location.]
Klaus hesitated, his gaze locked on the radiant vial.
"I'll save this for later," he decided. Transformation during battle could be dangerous — but the potential power was undeniable.
At 10:30 PM, exhausted yet unyielding, a new notification appeared as he wiped blood from his sword —
the "Ascension to Power" quest had updated.
[Progress: Level 9 | 300/50 monsters defeated]
[New Objective: Reach Level 10 and defeat 50 additional monsters within the remaining 48 hours.]
[Reward Updated: 500 XP, 1x Random Class (Rank depends on performance). Exceptional performance may yield Rank A or higher.]
Klaus grinned — his body trembling from fatigue, yet his mind razor-sharp.
"If I keep this up… I might earn a high-rank class," he thought.
He had already exceeded the initial kill requirement by far.
He rested for thirty minutes, eating the Survival Ration and drinking a Strength Potion.
Renewed, he resumed the hunt at 11:00 PM, slaying another 60 zombies in the final hour.
The System flared once more:
[Congratulations! You have leveled up to Level 10!]
[Attributes Increased: +1 to all (Strength: 15, Agility: 15, Vitality: 15, Intelligence: 15, Dexterity: 15, Luck: 20)]
[Free Point: +1]
[XP to Next Level: 30/180]
As the night deepened, Klaus stood among the sea of corpses — his blade dripping black blood, his breath heavy but steady.
He had survived the endless slaughter.
And the System, ever watchful, was far from done with him.
The apocalypse demanded monsters.
And Klaus had become one of them.