Alaric, after learning everyone else's class, decided to check his own. He summoned his status window, and a glowing blue screen appeared before his eyes:
---
[Name: Alaric Dawson]
[Class: ZOMBIE EMPEROR (Epic)]
[Level: 3 (0/200)]
[Skill: Zombie Control (Lv.1) – Control Limit: 3]
[Stats]
Strength: 6
Endurance: 5
Agility: 4
Intelligence: 9
Willpower: 7
[Controlled zombies inherit 50% of your stats]
[Unused stat points: 6]
---
Alaric frowned slightly. "So I do have unused stat points…"
He remembered that each time he leveled up, he was rewarded with two points distributed randomly. But this time, he could choose for himself. After thinking for a moment, he placed +3 into Agility, +2 into Endurance, and +1 into Strength. His body felt lighter, sturdier, sharper.
Closing the window, Alaric stood up and glanced out the window. The sky had already turned dark.
Just then, his little sister Emma's stomach growled loudly. Alaric turned toward his mother with a small smile.
"Mom, I'm hungry. Could you make something for us?" he asked.
His mother hesitated, looking at the others. They all shared uncertain expressions. Food was precious now—far more than before. The world outside was overrun with zombies, and every meal mattered.
Sensing their unease, Alaric quickly reassured them.
"Don't worry. Thanks to my ability, food won't be a problem. I can find a way to get us supplies."
Hearing this, everyone's morale lifted. If Alaric could truly use zombies to their advantage, at least starvation wouldn't be their downfall. Smiling faintly, his mother moved into the kitchen, Emma trailing after her to help.
Alaric's father stayed behind, turning to his son and Mason.
"Alaric, for now we have food. But we must always be cautious. Meals can't be wasted."
Mason nodded firmly in agreement. Alaric, however, leaned forward and answered confidently:
"Father, Mason—I can control them. Right now, I can send them into town, straight into the markets. They could bring food back for us."
Both his father and Mason's faces lit up at the thought. It was a relief, knowing his strange, frightening ability could become their salvation.
Alaric remembered how he discovered it earlier in the woods—when he realized he could bend zombies to his will. And even now, he could order them to search the area.
At that moment, his mother's voice rang from the kitchen.
"Dinner's ready!"
The family gathered. Mason hung back awkwardly, not sitting right away. Alaric and the others noticed.
"Mason, sit. Eat with us," they urged him.
Mason shook his head. "I… I shouldn't. I'm not your family. And yet, in this apocalypse, you're sharing your food with me…"
Alaric's father cut him off with a warm smile.
"Mason, you and Alaric grew up together. You were always here, always part of our lives. You're like a son to me. Don't be ashamed. You are family."
Mason's eyes glistened. With a trembling smile, he finally sat down, joining them. Alaric, watching the scene, couldn't help but smile as well.
After dinner, the sun fully set. Exhaustion weighed on everyone's shoulders. His parents and Emma went upstairs to the bedrooms. Mason and Alaric decided to sleep downstairs, on the couches.
The house fell into silence.
But in the middle of the night, Alaric's eyes snapped open. A chill ran through his body—his danger sense was triggered. It wasn't just instinct; it came from his controlled zombies stationed outside.
Through their senses, he felt movement.
A horde.
A dozen zombie fugires shuffled in the forest, drawing closer to the home.
A blue message flashed before him:
---
[Survive the First Night]
Reward: +100 XP
---
Alaric shot up from the couch. Mason woke instantly, alarmed.
"What's wrong?"
Alaric's eyes narrowed.
"Ten zombies. Heading straight for us."
Mason jumped to his feet, gripping his baseball bat. But Alaric gestured for silence. He didn't want to wake his family.
Without hesitation, he commanded his two controlled zombies to intercept the incoming horde. The thralls lunged, slamming into the enemy.
Another blue window appeared:
[Zombie Control available (Used: 2/3)]
[Yes / No]
Alaric chose Yes.
One of the approaching zombies froze. Its eyes glazed over, and it suddenly turned, savagely attacking the others.
Within a minute, the battle was over. Blood and silence followed. Nine corpses collapsed onto the ground.
Nine messages blinked before Alaric's eyes. He dismissed them all and opened his status window again:
---
[Name: Alaric Dawson]
[Class: ZOMBIE EMPEROR (Epic)]
[Level: 3(45/200)]
[Skill: Zombie Control (Lv.1) – Control Limit: 3]
[Stats]
Strength: 7
Endurance: 7
Agility: 7
Intelligence: 9
Willpower: 7
[Controlled zombies inherit 50% of your stats]
[Unused stat points: 0]
---
Satisfied, Alaric ordered his three controlled zombies to patrol the forest, keeping watch. Turning back, he told Mason to rest. Mason hesitated, but finally lay down again.
Alaric exhaled slowly, his mind sharpening. The first night had been survived.
But this was only the beginning.