The mutated scavenger lunged with surprising speed, a blur of fur and snapping teeth aimed directly at the auburn-haired woman cowering against the wall. Instinct took over.
Thomas reacted without conscious thought, years of dodging errant basketballs and clumsy classmates kicking in. He sidestepped the creature's initial pounce, the fetid air from its snapping jaws brushing his cheek.
The speed and ferocity of these creatures were far beyond anything he could have imagined just hours ago.
As the scavenger scrabbled to regain its footing on the worn carpet, Thomas swung his baseball bat.
This time, emboldened by his previous, albeit terrifying, success, he aimed with more precision, putting his weight behind the blow. The bat connected with a sickening crunch against the side of the creature's head.
[Combat Log:]
[You have struck the Mutated Scavenger.]
[-18 HP.]
The scavenger yelped, a high-pitched, pain-filled sound that was almost pathetic. It stumbled sideways, its glowing red eyes momentarily losing focus.
This smaller version seemed less resilient than the hound he had faced earlier. Capitalizing on its disorientation, Thomas swung again, a brutal downward arc that landed squarely on the creature's spine.
[Combat Log:]
[You have struck the Mutated Scavenger.]
[Critical Hit!]
[-36 HP.]
The scavenger let out a final, choked whimper before collapsing onto the floor, its limbs twitching erratically. A wave of relief washed over Thomas, quickly followed by a surge of adrenaline.
He had done it. Again.
He had faced another of these nightmarish creatures and emerged victorious.
[Mutated Scavenger Eliminated.]
[+8 Experience Points.]
[Quest Completed: Rescue the Survivor.]
[Reward: 2 Evolution Points, 500 Experience Points.]
The familiar blue screen flashed before his eyes, the rewards a tangible representation of his actions. He had earned more of those precious Evolution Points.
He glanced at the woman, who was still huddled against the wall, her eyes wide with shock and gratitude.
"Are you… okay?" Thomas asked, his voice still slightly shaky.
The woman nodded mutely, tears still clinging to her eyelashes. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice hoarse. "Thank you so much. I… I thought I was done for."
As Thomas moved towards her, the blue screen reappeared, this time with a new set of options blinking beneath the quest completion notification:
[Level Up!]
[You have gained 1 level.]
[+5 Stat Points to distribute.]
Another screen overlayed his stats, prompting him to allocate the newly acquired points.
His mind raced. He had no idea what the optimal way to distribute these points was, but a gut feeling told him that increasing his physical capabilities was paramount for survival in this new world.
[Current Stats:]
[Strength: 9]
[Agility: 10]
[Stamina: 7]
[Intelligence: 14]
[Willpower: 12]
[Perception: 11]
[Vitality: 9]
[Luck: 15]
[Charm: 10]
[Available Stat Points: 5]
He mentally focused on the Strength stat and willed two points to be added. Then, feeling the need for greater speed and reflexes, he allocated two points to Agility. Finally, remembering the burning pain from the scavenger's scratch, he put the last point into Vitality.
[Stat Points Allocated.]
[New Stats:]
[Strength: 11]
[Agility: 12]
[Stamina: 7]
[Intelligence: 14]
[Willpower: 12]
[Perception: 11]
[Vitality: 10]
[Luck: 15]
[Charm: 10]
A familiar warmth spread through his body, more potent this time, reinforcing the subtle changes he had felt before. He could feel a newfound strength in his limbs, a greater sense of agility in his movements.
Even the lingering ache from the earlier scratch seemed to have lessened. This system, whatever its origin, was undeniably powerful.
"My name is Sarah," the woman said, her voice a little stronger now. She pushed herself up from the wall, her auburn hair disheveled, her eyes still wide but now holding a spark of resilience.
"Thank you again… Thomas, was it?" She had somehow overheard his muttered joke.
"Yeah, Thomas," he confirmed, offering her a small, reassuring smile. "Are there… are there more of those things around here?"
Sarah shivered. "I… I don't know. I just heard the commotion downstairs and then that thing… it just burst through my door. I tried to fight it with a kitchen knife, but it was like hitting steel."
"They're… different," Thomas said, his mind still trying to grasp the reality of the situation. "Stronger, faster… not like any animal I've ever seen."
"They came after the fog disappeared," Sarah said, her voice trembling again. "Everything was quiet for a while, and then… then the screams started. People… people changing. Others… being attacked."
"Changing?" Thomas asked, a new wave of unease washing over him. "What do you mean, changing?"
Sarah hesitated, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and something else, something… strange.
"I… I saw Mrs. Henderson from across the hall. She… her skin was all grey and tough, and her eyes… they glowed like those things. She was… she was attacking Mr. Peterson."
Thomas's blood ran cold. So, it wasn't just mutated animals. People were changing too. This apocalypse was far more complex and terrifying than he had initially imagined.
"We need to get out of here," Thomas said, his voice firm. "This building isn't safe."
"Where do we go?" Sarah asked, her voice laced with despair. "The news… there's been no news. No one knows what's happening."
Thomas looked down at his hands, a newfound sense of responsibility settling upon him.
He had a system, a way to become stronger. Maybe, just maybe, he could protect them both. He had to try.
"I don't know," he admitted, his gaze hardening with determination. "But we're not staying here to become monster food. We're going to find somewhere safe. Together." He glanced at the blue screen, a new thought forming in his mind.
He had two Evolution Points now. Perhaps it was time to see what "Evolve" actually did.
[Would you like to Evolve?]
The question hung in his vision, a gateway to an unknown future in a shattered world. He looked at Sarah, her face etched with fear and uncertainty, and a sense of purpose solidified within him. He had to become stronger. For both of them.
"Yes," he mentally commanded the system. "Evolve."
The blue screen shimmered, and a new message appeared, sending a jolt of both excitement and trepidation through him.
[Evolution Path Selection Required.]
[Available Paths:]
[Cosmic Infusion: Focuses on enhancing physical attributes and energy capacity.]
[Cosmic Adaptation: Focuses on increasing resilience and developing unique biological traits.]
[Cosmic Resonance: Focuses on manipulating external energies and developing psychic abilities.]
Thomas stared at the options, his mind racing. Which path should he choose? His decision here could very well determine his survival, and Sarah's, in this terrifying new reality.
The weight of the choice settled heavily upon him.