The air was sharp with tension.
Aidan crouched low behind the skeletal remains of a derelict bus, knuckles clenched around the hilt of his blade. The polished metal shimmered faintly, catching what little light the cloud-smeared sun offered. It wasn't just a weapon anymore. It had a name now: Edgewalker. A Tier F+ longsword, curved ever so slightly at the edge—a clean, elegant killer. His pipe had long since given out, twisted and cracked from too many skulls. Edgewalker, at least, made him feel like he had a chance.
The system hadn't spoken in the last hour, not since the scan had triggered.
[System Notification: Hostile presence detected. Lifeforms approaching. Estimated arrival: 03:17 minutes]
[Auto-Debit: +4 coins earned from recent kill. Debt reduced to 99,882 coins.]
He could have delayed the payment. Could have held on to those coins and used them to buy a ration pack or bandages. But he let the system pay the debt off, even if it was a tiny dent. He didn't want to start spiraling under interest.
The dimensional storage wasn't bottomless, but it had saved his ass more than once. Tools, scavenged scraps, and crystal shards—all neatly cataloged and waiting. And now, the hum of danger.
He peered over the side of the bus wreck. The horizon shimmered.
At first, it looked like heat distortion, the kind you see over asphalt on a summer day. But then it moved—gait clumsy, heads lolling. Four of them. Maybe five.
Mutants.
Not zombies. Not quite. These were the ones who had survived the fever and mutated beyond recognition. Arms longer than they should be, one with a jaw split down the center like a flayed melon, another with four eyes blinking out of sync.
They hadn't seen him yet.
He exhaled slowly, willing the tremor in his legs to still.
[Skill Activated: CRYSTAL FOCUS (Passive) - Mental clarity heightened.]
His mind sharpened like a blade through silk. Panic bled away, replaced by calculated instinct. He had to strike first. Fast. No room for hesitation.
The first one he took down silently. A clean slice across the throat as it wandered near the bus. It didn't even scream. Just a wet gurgle and a twitch.
[+6 EXP]
[Crystal Fragment Obtained - Analyzing...]
[Auto-Debit: +3 coins from kill. Debt now: 99,879 coins.]
[Progress to Level 2: 42/100 EXP]
He ducked low again. But the gurgle must have carried—the others howled, shrieks scraping the sky as they zeroed in on the sound.
"So much for subtle."
Aidan bolted from cover, sprinting across broken concrete. The mutants barreled after him, misshapen limbs pumping. He pivoted, dragging Edgewalker in a wide arc. The second one caught the tip in its shoulder, snarling as blackish ichor sprayed.
The third leapt at him. Aidan fell backward, rolling to avoid the fanged jaws. His shoulder screamed in protest from an old bruise, but he pushed through it.
[Skill: CRITICAL HIT chance roll... Failed.]
"Damn it!" He kicked the creature in the gut, enough to stagger it, then plunged Edgewalker into its chest. Bone cracked. Muscles tore.
[+8 EXP]
[+5 coins earned. Auto-Debit Applied. Debt: 99,874 coins.]
[System Tip: Loot drop chance increases against higher-tier threats. Lesser mutants have low probability of crystal, weapon, or ore drops.]
"Yeah, I noticed," Aidan grunted, wrenching his blade free. His forearms were slick with sweat and monster blood.
The last two came together.
No room to fight them one by one.
He backed into an alley, funnelling them. Letting the narrow space choke their numbers. One tried to climb the wall and flank him. He sidestepped, slashing at its legs mid-leap.
[CRITICAL HIT Triggered - 1%]
[Devastating strike!]
The mutant's head snapped sideways as Edgewalker cleaved through skull and spine.
[+12 EXP]
[Level Up! Level 2 Reached. All base stats slightly increased.]
[New Stat Allocation Available: +5 Points]
[Debt: 99,869 coins]
The last one hesitated, then lunged. Aidan ducked, drove the sword upward through its gut. It spasmed violently, then collapsed.
Panting, Aidan stood over the bodies, blade trembling in his grip.
[System Notification: Minor weapon degradation detected. Recommend maintenance soon.]
[Crystal Fragment acquired. Analyzing... Low-grade: converted to +1 coin.]
[Debt: 99,868 coins. Interest-free payment applied.]
He looked at the corpses, their twisted forms already beginning to melt into sludge. The scent of rot was overwhelming. He wiped his blade on the edge of his shirt, then glanced at the sky.
Still no sun.
Still no hope.
But he was alive. One level stronger. One step closer.
And in this world, that was the only victory that mattered.