While Mia carefully patched up Eli's wounds, Dan turned his attention back to the survivors from the 7th floor. They looked worn out — faces pale, eyes hollow — but alive. He'd just heard their story, and it wasn't about infected monsters. It was about people… the ones who hurt them instead.
First to speak was Simon, a thin kid with glasses that kept slipping down his nose. His voice was soft, almost shaky. "They locked us up in that storage closet. No food, no water. Just cold, dark silence for two days."
Beside him, another boy — nerdy and awkward — fiddled nervously with his sleeve. "I'm Max. They beat anyone who tried to talk or even breathe too loud. I got shoved into a locker once. Twice. I lost track."
A girl named Emma, arms wrapped tightly around herself, added quietly, "They acted like we didn't even exist... like we were nothing."
Dan felt a fire burning in his chest. This was barely two days into everything falling apart, and people were already showing their worst side. His fists clenched tighter as the anger bubbled up.
Simon's timid way of speaking and nervous energy reminded Dan of John — his quiet, bookish friend who'd always been underestimated but never broken.
Then, his eyes settled on Caleb — the last survivor from the abusers. Caleb avoided Dan's stare, looking pale and clearly uncomfortable.
Dan spoke low, steady, and cold. "You're the only one left from the group that did this."
Caleb swallowed hard, voice cracking. "I didn't want any of it… I was just scared, trying to keep some kind of order."
Dan's voice hardened. "Order? You starved and beat them. "That's your idea of order?"
Caleb looked down, trembling. "I was just trying to survive. I didn't want things to get worse."
Simon adjusted his glasses, voice shaking but firm. "You lost us. You tore everything apart."
Max nodded, eyes wide but fierce. "You'll have to face what you did."
Emma's voice was quiet but filled with hurt. "We didn't survive the infected… we survived people like you."
Dan didn't look away. "This isn't over. There will be consequences."
He turned back to the group and placed a reassuring hand on Emma's shoulder. "You're safe now. No one's going to hurt you anymore."
Upon further questioning, Dan learned the names of the other girls who'd endured the ordeal. There was Emma, the quiet one who hugged herself tightly as if holding onto any shred of comfort she could find. Then came Lily, her voice barely above a whisper but steady, the one who tried to keep the group's spirits from breaking. And finally, Sara, eyes darted nervously but held a fierce spark of determination despite everything.
Dan leaned against the wall, exhaustion tugging at his limbs as his mind wrestled with everything he'd just learnt. He looked up at Jade, Mia, and Eli, who had gathered close by.
"How are you all holding up?" he asked quietly, voice rough but steady.
Eli: Ive had worse
Jade's sharp green eyes softened as she stepped forward. "You need to rest, Dan. You pushed yourself too hard back there. You can't protect us if you're out of strength."
Mia nodded in agreement, wiping a smudge of dirt from her forehead. "We'll watch your back for a while. Just take a moment for yourself."
Dan gave a tired smile, then suddenly a system chime echoed in his mind.
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: [Building Cleared: Congratulations! +2 Level Ups granted to all party members.] [First Building Cleared: Bonus +1 Level Up awarded.]
loading...
[Achievement Unlocked: First to completely clear a large building of infected.] [Reward: +1 Level Up granted.]
Dan blinked, momentarily stunned as the glow from the notifications filled the room.
Jade raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. "Looks like even the system thinks you deserve a break."
Dan shook his head with a tired chuckle. "Yeah… maybe now I can finally rest."
...
System Notification:"Congratulations, Dan Hunter! You are the first player to reach Level 10. As a reward, you have received a legendary weapon."
Dan looked down as a sleek, glowing sword materialised at his side. Asking the system to give a description of the sword.
[system]
[Legendary Sword: Windpiercer]
+10 Agility while wielding
+5 Strength boost
Skill: Gale Slash — Dan unleashes a swift, arcing slash that sends a sharp gust of wind cutting through multiple enemies in front of him, dealing high damage and briefly slowing their movement.
Eli: eyes wide "Wait, Dan, where did that sword come from? When did you get that?"
Dan grins, feeling newfound strength while holding the sword. The system gave it to me for hitting level 10. Apparently, I'm the first to reach it."
Eli: surprised "The system actually gives out stuff like that? I thought it was just… stats and levels."
Jade: "Yeah, same here. Guess there's a lot we don't know about this whole system thing."
Dan cleared his throat, looking at Jade, Mia, and Eli. "I just got a class mission," he said, voice steady but serious. "It's to successfully eliminate a Hunter."
Jade's eyes widened immediately. "The one from the roof? That thing was terrifying."
She bit her lip, worry creeping in. "Are you sure you can handle that?"
Dan gave a small, confident smile. "With all the level-ups We have gotten and this new sword, It will be different this time. We will be ready."
Daniel Hunter
Age: 18
Level: 10
XP: 0/3200
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Class: ???
Health: 10/10
Strength: 11/12 (+5)
Agility: 12/12 (+10)
Endurance: 10/10
Intelligence: 12/12
Unspent points: 4
Skills: Adrenaline Surge