Happy Diwali To You All.
*****
He quietly began scrolling through the massive mission list, the glowing holographic panels reflecting in his sharp eyes. His fingers moved fast—skimming data, cross-referencing danger ratings, calculating resource costs. His mind processed information like a tactical machine, filtering for potential advantage.
Aside from the major Shian Empire cities, he found similar missions to reclaim fallen metropolises worldwide—New York, Tokyo, Berlin, Moscow, London, New Delhi… cities that once represented humanity's pride now reduced to nests of the undead.
"After I accept the mission," Ethan asked suddenly, glancing up, "is there a penalty if I fail to complete it?"
"That's a wise question," the attendant said with a soft laugh that carried both admiration and sadness. "No, there is no penalty. You may accept as many missions as you wish without risk. Only those who succeed receive the blessings of the system."
Ethan's lips curved slightly. "Then I'll take them all."
One by one, the holographic missions flared and vanished into his interface as he accepted them. His system chimed in acknowledgment.
Outside the Mission Hall, the light dimmed under an artificial sky. The building itself was a grand structure—a cathedral of data and despair. Crystal pillars pulsed faintly with blue light, each humming with residual energy, like veins of an ancient being still alive beneath the concrete. The air smelled faintly metallic, with traces of ozone and burnt circuitry—remnants of a world trying to cling to order amid the ruin.
Around him, Ethan could see other creatures wandering—faces pale. Some carried weapons; others only carried grief. The faint whisper of prayers could be heard near the hall's entrance—voices begging for lost families, for salvation, for miracles that would never come. Humanity had once ruled the stars, but now they begged for mercy from a silent sky.
He shook off the gloom. Emotions are luxuries now.
Ethan moved swiftly to explore the rest of the mysterious hub. There was the Job Change Temple, where divine light and shadow intertwined like two opposing destinies; the Equipment Shop, its glass counters glowing with faint blue luminescence; the Upgrade Hall, where runic fires danced above anvils of steel; and the Strengthening Temple, where shimmering crystals hummed with latent power.
He visited the strengthening temple next. Inside, floating monoliths projected ancient runes that flared in rhythm with the user's pulse. Ethan stepped forward and exchanged 1,000 Survival Coins. His body shuddered as the runes wrapped around him in a blinding flash, enhancing his agility. He felt his muscles coil tighter, his reflexes sharpen, his body lighter. Good investment, he thought with satisfaction.
Beyond those areas, there were sections wrapped in a mysterious, golden glow. Curious, Ethan approached one—only to feel an invisible force throw him backward. A cold message echoed in his mind:
[Your level is insufficient. You do not have permission to enter this area.]
Dusting himself off, he exhaled slowly. "Restricted zones… interesting."
After completing his exploration, Ethan made his way back to the teleportation array at the center of the plaza. A bright flash engulfed him—then darkness and motion.
When the world steadied again, he stood once more at Jiang Bridge, right outside the blood-stained red gate.
"Ethan! Are you okay?" Luke ran up immediately, worry etched across his rugged face.
Ethan gave a reassuring smile, brushing off his coat. "Relax, Luke. I'm fine. Just some system testing."
Before Luke could reply, Julia's voice rang out, full of raw emotion. "Big Brother Ethan!" She ran to him—her long auburn hair bouncing behind her, cheeks flushed, her emerald eyes shimmering with relief and tears. "I was so worried! If you didn't come out soon, I was going to go in after you!"
Ethan couldn't help a faint smile. "I'm alright, Julia. You don't have to worry so much."
Behind her, Grace and the others approached. Grace, with her calm emerald eyes and battle-worn beauty, watched him in quiet relief. The soft sunlight caught the edge of her blade and glinted across her armor, making her look almost angelic.
"This place," Ethan said, gesturing back toward the red gate, "is the Novice Village. Inside, you can change your job, take missions, buy and upgrade equipment, and even purchase supplies. Once you change jobs, you'll gain new abilities and skills. You all should take a look."
Grace nodded eagerly and walked forward, her boots echoing lightly against the ground. But as soon as she stepped near the gate—boom!—an unseen force flung her several meters backward.
Ethan frowned, rushing over. "What happened?"
Grace groaned, brushing the dust off her clothes and rubbing her arm. "The gate rejected me," she said bitterly. "It says my level is too low. I can't enter."
The others tried one after another—each met with the same fate, thrown back by the gate's invisible wall. Only Luke was able to walk through without resistance.
Ethan exhaled and crossed his arms. "So, that's the rule. Only those level 10 or higher can enter the Novice Village."
He thought back to yesterday's battle. Clearing Xing Ning Road had pushed Luke past the threshold, while the others still lagged behind. He'd taken most of the kills—especially the evolved types—so it made sense that experience distribution was unbalanced.
Luna's emerald eyes sparkled with excitement as she turned to the others. "With this," she said, her voice filled with hopeful energy, "we just need to stay here for a month, clear out the zombies, and we'll all be able to enter! Then we can finally change jobs and become a very strong, stable team!"
The glow of anticipation spread through the group. Grace had already given Luna the Plant Manipulation skill book—a precious treasure that could change her entire fighting style. Luna clutched it to her chest, imagining herself surrounded by living vines, stronger and more capable of protecting everyone. Even William, usually calm and cautious, couldn't hide his grin. The thought of growing stronger, of shedding weakness in a world that devoured the fragile, made his blood burn with determination.
But the fire of their excitement was doused in an instant.
"No," Ethan's voice cut through the air like the edge of a blade. His tone was calm but carried a weight that silenced everyone. "We're leaving the city—today."
The light in Luna's eyes dimmed. Grace turned sharply toward him, her long black hair swaying like a whip. "Why?" she demanded.
Ethan's face was serious, his gaze distant and calculating. "Because the Novice Village has been discovered," he began, his voice low and grave. "In twenty-four hours, the system will lift the restrictions on the zombies in Havenstead. Every single one of those tens of thousands of corpses on the far side of the bridge will be unleashed without limit. And worse—" his eyes narrowed, "—their evolution restraints will be lifted too. Within a day, this entire city will turn into a death zone. A graveyard crawling with enhanced variants."
His words hit like thunder.
Everyone turned to look at the other side of the red bridge. The river shimmered with a sickly hue under the faint sunlight, and beyond it—darkness moved. Waves of undead pressed against one another, their gray bodies twitching with hunger. Thousands upon thousands of them, shoulder to shoulder, forming a grotesque sea of flesh. When those monsters broke loose, they would swarm the city like locusts, leaving no safe corner untouched.
Luna clenched her fists. She didn't want to leave. Her gaze lingered on the massive red gate of the Novice Village, the portal to power and hope. She knew—deep down—that without strength, she was nothing more than prey. Yet the logic in Ethan's words was undeniable.
Strength means nothing if you're dead.
An hour passed in tense silence. Then, finally, the gate flared with light—and Luke emerged.
He looked different. The aura around him was heavier, sharper—like a predator that had tasted blood. Luna hurried toward him. "Luke! Is it true? Are the zombie restrictions really going to be lifted?"
Luke's dark eyes met hers, cold and piercing. He said nothing for a moment, only watching her, as though measuring her soul. When he finally spoke, his tone was icy. "Twenty-one hours left."
The short reply hit harder than any rebuke. He brushed past her without another word and went straight to Ethan. Luna's lips parted as if to speak, but no sound came out. Her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and frustration. "Why is he so fierce?" she murmured softly. "I didn't do anything wrong…"
Ethan heard her but didn't comment. His attention was already on the bigger picture—the ticking clock of the city's doom. "Let's move," he commanded, his deep voice echoing with authority. "We're running out of time. I'll explain what I saw inside the Novice Village on the way."
Julia, Luke, and William immediately followed. Grace gave Luna's shoulder a reassuring pat, her expression soft. "Let's go," she said gently.
"...Okay," Luna whispered, biting her lip before catching up.
---
The Volvo truck rumbled down Xing Ning Road, its engine echoing through the hollow streets. The windows of nearby buildings were shattered, and faded advertisements flapped weakly in the wind. Here and there, the remnants of humanity lingered—burned cars, collapsed shelters, a teddy bear lying in a pool of dried blood. The city was no longer a home, just a tomb with streetlights.
"Stop." Ethan's calm command came as they approached a partially looted supermarket. William hit the brakes, and the truck screeched to a halt. Ethan jumped out, his boots splashing against a puddle of dark water.
Inside the supermarket, silence reigned. The place was still littered with signs of a desperate last stand—broken glass, overturned shelves, and dried streaks of crimson marking the floor. A shopping cart lay on its side, stuffed with expired food and torn clothes. The faint stench of decay still lingered.
Ethan's expression didn't waver. He moved with methodical precision, eyes scanning the aisles. He slipped on his Storage Ring, its dark metal glimmering faintly.
He reached for a pack of instant noodles, and with a simple thought, it vanished into the ring's invisible void. Another thought—and it reappeared in his hand. A small, satisfied smile crossed his lips. "This is… convenient," he murmured.
He wasted no time after that. Within minutes, shelves were stripped clean as he systematically stored food, batteries, lighters, canned goods, and even a few bottles of water. The Storage Ring hummed faintly as it filled, every item perfectly preserved in stasis.
When he finally stepped outside, sunlight glinted off his revolver's polished barrel—his Stinger Model 2—secured at his hip. The weapon gleamed like a silver promise of survival in a world of rot.
"William," he called out, "have everyone start loading the essentials—dry food, fuel, spare clothes, medicine. We're leaving the city soon."
The team moved quickly. Julia and Grace began gathering bottled water and canned supplies. Luna, still pouting from earlier, threw herself into the task, grabbing every medical kit she could find. Even in her frustration, her soft golden hair and flushed cheeks made her beauty stand out amidst the ruin.
Ethan took a brief moment to observe them all. These people—his team—were the last flicker of human warmth in a dying age. Around them stretched the ghost of a civilization that had collapsed under its own hubris. Billboards once showing smiles and luxury now stood over corpses and rust. Humanity's pride had turned to ash.