Escape
...
Akoi crouched in the shadows, his breath caught in his throat as he watched the Akenten scouts move through the ruins. His mind was still reeling from the events of the past hour – the Time Rend, the zombies, his mother's death... and his awakening.
He was an Awakened now, a Level 5 with a unique talent and an upgraded skill. As he focused on the red symbol in his vision, he accessed his status window.
Name: Akoi
Age: 16
Level: 5
Exp: (40/100)
Unique Talent: Combat Sense
- Passive: +50% combat awareness and reflexes
- Active: Analyze enemy (reveals weaknesses, strengths, and intentions)
Cool down: 5 min
Skill: (1)
Survivor's Instinct (Passive)
Level: 5
- +20% survival chances in extreme situations
Akoi's eyes widened as he read the description. His unique talent, Combat Sense, was a game-changer. The passive part meant he'd be hyper-aware in fights, dodging attacks with ease and reacting faster than before. The active part let him analyze enemies – he'd know exactly how to take them down.
And Survivor's Instinct was a silent guardian, boosting his chances of making it out alive in crazy situations.
Akoi felt a surge of confidence. With these powers, he could take on the Akenten.
He spotted a narrow alleyway between two crumbling buildings – his best chance to escape. The Akenten scouts were closing in, their footsteps heavy on the rubble.
Akoi sprinted toward it, his senses on high alert. As he ran, he triggered Combat Sense's active part – he focused on an Akenten scout ahead.
[Weakness: Exposed neck]
[Skill: Heavy armor]
[Intention: Flanking]
Akoi's eyes flicked to the scout's neck, and he knew exactly how to take him down. He burst into the alleyway, his knife flashing in the dim light. The scout went down, silent.
The Akenten closed in, but Akoi was ready. With Combat Sense guiding him, he moved like a ghost, taking them out one by one.
Akoi sprinted toward the narrow alleyway between buildings 3 and 4, his breath huffing out in ragged gasps. The Akenten scouts were closing in – he counted four of them, positioned at the corners of the ruined square. Two were lurking near the crumbling fountain, one was prowling the entrance of building 3, and the last one was creeping around the corner of building 4. He had to move.
He triggered Combat Sense's active part, focusing on the nearest scout (position: building 3's entrance).
Weakness: Exposed neck.
Skill: Heavy armor.
Intention: Sneaking
"It seems these Akentens warriors were carefully handpicked and nurtured for them to have the same skill",sneered Akoi.
Akoi palmed the knife he'd grabbed from a fallen team member back at the settlement – the one with the jagged edge that his mother's friend, Lieutenant Kofi, had given him months ago. He remembered Kofi's words: "This'll gut a zombie like a fish." He burst into the alleyway, his back to the wall. The scout turned the corner, and Akoi's knife sliced up, biting into the exposed neck. The Akenten went down, silent, his body collapsing onto the rubble.
The others closed in – two from building 4's direction, their boots scraping on the debris, one from the square's center, his gun sweeping the area. Akoi moved like a ghost, Combat Sense feeding him their moves before they made them. He took down the pair from building 4 with swift strikes to the throat and chest, the knife flashing in the dim light. The last one (position: near the square's fountain) tried to flank – Akoi dodged left, his shoulder hitting the wall, and his knife ended the fight with a practiced slash.
Akoi caught his breath, scanning the area. The square was silent, the only sound the distant moans of zombies and the creaking of ruined buildings. Time to scavenge. He rifted through the ruins, grabbing:
- 2x water bottles, one half-full, the other still sealed
- 1x first-aid kit with bandages and painkillers
- Akenten tactical vest (he stripped it off a guard) with 3 spare magazines
- 1x SMG with 2 mags, the safety still on
The vest had a map – Apocalypse Hub "Epsilon-6" was 3 miles north, near the old university. Akoi studied the map, memorizing landmarks. He needed to move, the Akenten would send more scouts.
As he moved through the skeletal remains of the city, Akoi heard the distant moans of a horde. Epsilon-6 was his best shot. He set off, his senses on high alert, Survivor's Instinct humming in the back of his mind – he was surviving.
The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the ruins. Akoi navigated through the wreckage, his eyes scanning the rooftops for threats. He spotted a sniper's nest on the rooftop of building 7 – abandoned, but with a clear view of the square he'd just left. The Akenten were thorough.
Akoi picked up his pace, his heart pounding in his chest. He was getting closer to Epsilon-6, he could feel it. The ruins gave way to a cleared zone – the road was passable, but exposed. Akoi sprinted across, his SMG at the ready.
He saw it – Epsilon-6, a fortified bunker in the distance. The walls were high, the gates guarded. Akoi's heart leapt – safety, maybe answers. He took a deep breath, his eyes fixed on the hub. Time to find out if he'd made it.
...
Akoi approached the gates of Epsilon-6, his eyes widening as he took in the sight. The base was a behemoth of steel and concrete, a fortress carved into the side of a hill. The walls stretched up like giants, topped with razor wire and watchtowers manned by heavily armed guards. The gates themselves were massive, adorned with the emblem of the Apocalypse Response Initiative – a stylized 'I' with wings, symbolizing protection and rescue.
As he drew closer, Akoi saw the flow of people moving in and out of the gates. Some were survivors, their eyes hollow and weary, clutching bundles of belongings. Others were medics, moving swiftly with stretchers or carrying bags of supplies. The air was thick with the hum of generators, the chatter of survivors, and the distant thud of fortified doors closing.
Akoi felt a mix of awe and trepidation. This was a sanctuary, a beacon of hope in a world gone mad. He joined the queue, his eyes scanning the crowds. People huddled in groups, some laughing, others crying. Medics tended to the wounded, while guards patrolled the perimeter, their eyes scanning the ruins beyond the walls.
At the gates, Akoi presented himself to the guards. "Name and status?" one of them barked, his hand on his rifle.
"Akoi. Awakened, Level 5," Akoi replied, his voice firm.
The guard's expression shifted, his eyes narrowing. "ID?"
Akoi focused on his symbol, pulling up his status window. The guard scanned it, his expression softening. "Welcome, Akoi. You got in just in time – Epsilon-6 is a hub for Awakened. Med-check, food, and debriefing are mandatory. Weapons check at the armory."
Akoi nodded, following the flow. Inside, the base was a hive of activity. He saw:
- A medical bay with rows of beds, medics working on survivors
- A cafeteria with long tables, people eating in silence or talking in hushed tones.
Akoi felt a sense of belonging, of being part of something bigger. He was led to a debriefing room, a harried-looking woman with a clipboard greeting him. "Akoi, Awakened. Welcome to Epsilon-6. We'll get you sorted."
As he sat, Akoi took in the sights – people rebuilding, strategizing, fighting to hold on. He felt a spark of determination. He was here. He was safe. And he would fight.
Akoi stepped out of the debriefing room, his eyes widening as he took in the bustling activity of Epsilon-6. The hub was a self-contained ecosystem, providing everything survivors needed to stay alive.
Nearby, shops and services catered to survivors:
- *Mako's Gear*: Traded junk for useful stuff – Akoi spotted a decent rifle with a scope.
- *Doc Lee's Clinic*: Treated wounds, sold meds, and upgraded gear (like adding toxin sensors to knives).
- *Epsilon Market*: Traded resources for food, ammo, or info.
Akoi saw people he recognized – other Awakened, like him, some with crazy skills. They nodded in greeting, sizing him up.
He spotted a *Comms Station*: Posted messages to other hubs, checked for updates on the Akenten, the Rends... and rumors of a "Reset Point" – a place where time itself could be rewoven.
Akoi felt a spark of curiosity. Reset Point? Could it undo the apocalypse? He needed more info.
As he explored, Akoi's stomach growled. He headed to the cafeteria – hot food, real coffee. People talked in hushed tones about the Akenten, about Rends... about surviving.
Akoi grabbed a tray, joining a table with other survivors. "Mind if I join?"
A gruff voice replied, "Pull up a chair. I'm Jax. You new?"
Akoi nodded, introducing himself. Jax was a scavenger, had tips on good routes.
The conversation flowed – about missions, gear, and Epsilon-6's rules: _"Don't trust outsiders, don't mess with the hub's ops."_
After Akoi was done with his meal he continued his tour around the hub.
He spotted a bulletin board with mission listings:
- *Time Rend Clearance*: High-priority Rends in the area, rewards in credits.
- *Scout & Retrieve*: Find resources in abandoned buildings, rewards in credits.
- *Delivery Services*: Transport goods between hubs, earn credits.
Each mission had a reputation requirement – Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Akoi checked his status: _Reputation: Neutral (0/100 Bronze)_.
He begun to go through the available mission and Akoi's eyes lingered on a mission:
_"Clear Rend-563 (Level 3), 2 miles west. Reward: 500 credits, 2x medical kits."_ He needed gear, and this was a solid payday. But after the checking the reputation he gave up and continued looking the the available missions.
He needed to complete missions to boost his rep. A simple scout mission caught his eye:
_"Scout building 7, report back. Reward: 50 credits. Req: Bronze rep."_
Akoi approached the Mission Desk. "I'll take that scout mission."
The agent nodded. "Building 7, clear of Rends. Report back with findings. 50 credits on completion."
Akoi nodded, accepting the mission. He headed to Mako's Gear, browsing for gear. He spotted a decent knife with a toxin coating – useful for stealth.
He realized a problem now he had no credits all he had was two bottles of water and a first aid kit the Akenten vest and the smg had confiscated by the bunker . Who only gave him 30 credits, which was not enough to get him the knife more so after he spent some on food.
He had 15 credits left, but the toxin-coated knife at Mako's Gear cost – 50 credits. He needed it for the mission.
He approached the Mission Desk again. "Need work. Fast."
The agent nodded. "Chores pay 10 credits each. Cleaning latrines, sorting supplies..."
Akoi nodded. "I'll do three chores."
The agent smiled. "Done. 30 credits, paid on completion."
Akoi worked hard, scrubbing toilets and hauling crates. As he finished, he spotted a bulletin:
- *Courier Run*: Deliver message to Epsilon-4 (20 credits, 1-hour trip).
Akoi grabbed it. "I'll do it."
The agent nodded. "Message is on a chip. Bring proof of delivery."
Akoi sprinted to Epsilon-4, delivered the message, and got 20 credits. Added to his chore pay, he had 65 credits.
He rushed to Mako's Gear. "Toxin knife, please."
Mako smiled. "50 credits, deal."
Akoi handed over the credits, strapping the knife to his belt. Ready.
He headed out, night falling. Building 7 awaited. Time to scout.
As he slipped into the shadows, Akoi felt a thrill. He was an Awakened, on a mission.
*End of Chapter*