Glenn Rhee vanished down the protesting rungs of the ancient fire escape, a lone figure swallowed by the walker-infested abyss of Atlanta. On the rooftop of Harrison's Department Store, an agonizing silence descended, broken only by the distant, ever-present moans of the dead city and Merle Dixon's occasional, bitter chuckle from where he was cuffed to the ventilation pipe. Every eye was either strained towards the streets below or fixed on the walkie-talkie in Shane's hand, which now represented their only link to Glenn and, by extension, to Rick Grimes.
Ethan found a relatively secluded spot near a ventilation unit. He needed to allocate the 5 Attribute Points (AP) he'd gained from reaching Level 3. His current stats were Strength: 6, Agility: 8, Endurance: 5, and Perception: 9.
"System, allocate AP," he thought, focusing on his most critical survival attributes.
As he accessed the allocation interface, a new notification appeared:
[System notice: Host has reached a new stage of integration with this world's core physiological parameters. Raw attributes are approaching a soft threshold. Significant increases beyond this threshold may yield diminishing returns or encounter biological resistance without specialized catalysts or adaptation periods. Current estimated soft cap for individual core attributes at Host's level: 9-10.]
[Recommendation: Distribute points strategically. Excess potential directed towards a capped attribute may be automatically converted by the System into related sub-skills or passive enhancements to optimize Host development and prevent energy wastage.]
A soft cap. Interesting. That meant he couldn't just pump one stat indefinitely, at least not easily. He considered his 5 AP. Agility and Perception were key.
He decided to push Agility first. "Allocate +2 AP to Agility."
[Allocating +1 AP to Agility... Agility increased from 8 to 9 (Soft Cap Approached).]
[Allocating next +1 AP to Agility... Agility has reached current soft cap (9). This AP cannot further increase raw Agility at this stage. Converting excess Agility potential...]
A faint warmth spread through his legs, a new lightness.
[New Minor Skill Acquired: Featherfoot (Passive, Level 1) – Reduces noise generated by Host's footsteps by an additional small margin. Synergizes with 'Basic Stealth Movement'.]
So, 2 AP used, Agility capped at 9 for now, and a new stealth-related skill. Not bad. He had 3 AP left. His Perception was already at 9.
"Allocate +1 AP to Perception."
[Perception is at current soft cap (9). This AP cannot further increase raw Perception. Converting excess Perception potential...]
A prickling sensation, a sharpening of his peripheral awareness.
[New Minor Skill Acquired: Danger Sense (Rudimentary, Level 1) – Provides a faint, instinctual 'prickling' sensation when unperceived hostile intent or immediate environmental hazards are within close proximity. Accuracy currently low, relies on Host interpretation and Perception attribute.]
Another skill from just 1 AP due to hitting the cap. This was an efficient trade-off. 2 AP remaining.
"Allocate +1 AP to Strength, +1 AP to Endurance."
[Attributes Updated. Strength increased from 6 to 7. Endurance increased from 5 to 6.]
The familiar warmth of enhancement flowed through him. His final stats for now were set.
The wait was agonizing. Lori, back at the quarry camp and hearing updates from Dale via their radio link, would be a wreck. On the rooftop, Shane paced. Merle taunted. Dale (via radio from the camp) would have been trying to raise Glenn, each attempt met with static.
As the hour mark Shane had allotted passed, despair began to set in.
"He's gone," Shane said flatly. "Kid's dead. Rick too."
Just as a heavy silence fell, the walkie-talkie in Shane's hand crackled. Glenn's voice, faint and breathless: "...Shane? Dale? I… I got him! Rick's alive! With me! But we're… pinned… Harrison's… west side… loading docks… Walkers… too many… need… help…" The signal dissolved.
A wave of disbelief, then exultant shouts. Rick was alive!
"West side loading docks?" Shane was already at the parapet.
Ethan, his System processing, said, "If we create a major disturbance on the east side from up here, fire some of those rifles we found, it could draw the walkers, give Rick and Glenn a window to get to the service alley we used."
[System tactical suggestion: Auditory lure from eastern rooftop has moderate probability of diverting walker attention. Sustained gunfire will attract all walkers in multi-block radius.]
"It's a gamble, wastes ammo," Shane grunted.
"Rick and Glenn will die if we don't!" came Lori's desperate voice, clearly relayed by Dale from the camp's radio to the rooftop team's walkie.
"She's right," Ethan affirmed. "It's their only chance."
Shane made the call. "Andrea, Morales, rifles! Give 'em a damn fireworks show on Peachtree!"
As they scrambled to the eastern edge, Glenn's voice, clearer but panicked, burst from the radio again: "Guys! Change of plan! Can't make loading docks – too many shifted! We're falling back to the service alley! The one we used! But the door… it's barricaded from your side! Walkers pouring into the alley behind us! You gotta open that door, NOW! We're trapped!"
The diversion plan was instantly obsolete. Rick and Glenn were at their own barricaded entry point, with the horde at their heels.
Ethan Miller - Status (End of Chapter 13)
* Level: 3
* Experience (EXP): 100/300 (towards Level 4)
* Battle Points (BP): 96
* Attribute Points (AP) Unspent: 0
* Core Attributes:
* Strength: 7
* Agility: 9 (Soft Capped)
* Endurance: 6
* Perception: 9 (Soft Capped)
* Learned Skills:
* Basic First Aid (Active, Level 1)
* Basic Stealth Movement (Passive, Level 1)
* Featherfoot (Passive, Level 1) - New
* Danger Sense (Rudimentary, Level 1) - New
* Inventory Highlights (Conceptual - not all items listed):
* Survivor's Machete
* Filtered Water Bottle (partially full)
* High-Energy Ration Bars (some remaining)
* Basic First-Aid Kit (partially used)
* Climbing Gloves (Enhanced Grip)