"Step one: Planning."
Out the window, Atlanta was blissfully unaware. Cars moved in long lines. Dogs barked. News tickers reported isolated crime.
All lies. All temporary.
He had one target: the National Guard Depot, fifteen miles west. It wasn't a miracle — it was a machine. An Oshkosh HEMTT sat there, waiting for someone willing to plan, prepare, and take it.
Move silently through the city.
Scout the city.
Food, tools, weapons, fuel.
Efficiency, preparation, and caution. That was his mantra.
[Objective Added]
Target: Atlanta National Guard Depot
Goal: Scout the Oshkosh HEMTT
Purpose: Convert into Mobile Base / Workshop
Status: Planning Phase
He double-checked his pack. Water. Food. Knife. Gloves. Flashlight. Every piece of gear stored in the System, ready to be recalled.
"Step Two: Prepare the Body."
Before leaving, Zephyr started simple body exercises: push-ups, squats, lunges, stretches.
The System hummed silently as it tracked. Each rep counted toward growth.
[Training Session Complete]
Skill gained: Physical Conditioning Lv.1
[Physical Abilities Slightly Increased.]
Small gains. But in seven days, small gains compounded.
If I survive this week, I'll be stronger than anyone else walking the city.
"Step Three: Scouting."
He peeked out the window. The streets were mostly quiet, but he already noted supply points:
Hardware stores for tools and rope.
Pharmacies for medical supplies.
Gas stations for fuel and portable generators.
Every store was a potential cache. Every cache was survival.
He pulled on his jacket, and slung his backpack over his shoulders.
One step at a time. One house at a time. One mile at a time.
Outside, Atlanta didn't notice him.
But he noticed everything.
The hum of his mind, the weight of experience, the quiet pulse of the System in his skull — everything aligned for what was coming.
Seven days.
(To be continued…)