Chapter 3: The City's Silent Stalker
Atlanta's skyline rose like a ghost in the hot, humid air. The closer he got to the city, the stronger the stench of decay, and the buzzing of flies became a constant hum. Jayden avoided the main roads, choosing instead to take in side streets and abandoned backyards. His eyes were constantly on the move, his Perception (PER) stat keeping him alert for the slightest sound or movement.
The system's mini-map appeared at the edge of his field of vision. It was a simple diagram of the surrounding streets and buildings. Red dots marked the locations of walkers, giving him an incredible tactical advantage.
His first target was a small pharmacy near the city center. Dale was running out of blood pressure medication, and several people in the camp had shown signs of infection. Finding antibiotics was crucial.
When he turned into an alley, he encountered two walkers. They hadn't noticed him; they were clawing at a dumpster. Jayden quickly leaned against the wall of a building, retrieved his bow from his back, and loaded an arrow.
[Basic Archery] cleared his mind. He held his breath, felt the tension of the bow, and released the arrow. The arrow tore through the air with a quiet whine and struck the first walker's temple. The creature collapsed instantly.
[Critical Hit! Walker killed! +25 EXP]
[Basic Archery skill experience gained! 8%]
The second walker turned at the sound, but Jayden had already prepared a second arrow. This arrow also found its mark, and the second walker fell silently. Jayden approached the corpses to retrieve his arrows. This world required sparing resources.
As they moved further into the city, the obstacles became more complex. At one point, a street was completely blocked by abandoned cars. Jumping over them was risky; a walker could emerge from a car at any moment. Jayden glanced at the buildings. An apartment building's fire escape looked rusty but sturdy.
"Time for parkour," he muttered to himself.
He secured his backpack and began climbing the fire escape. His [Basic Parkour] skill showed him the best footholds and the safest steps. The climb, though it burned his muscles, was surprisingly easy. By the time he reached the roof, the entire city lay at his feet.
[Basic Parkour skill experience gained! 12%]
Jumping from rooftop to rooftop was much safer and faster than navigating the streets. The gaps were sometimes frighteningly wide, but Jayden trusted his instincts and the skill the system gave him. Each successful jump, each climb, drained his Stamina (STA) but also refilled his skill bar.
When he reached the roof of the building where the pharmacy was located, he glanced down. About five walkers were loitering in front of the pharmacy. Entering through the front door would have been suicidal. Jayden noticed a skylight overlooking the back of the pharmacy. It was locked, but the glass looked fragile enough to break.
He carefully tapped the glass with the hilt of his machete. The glass shattered and spilled out with a louder sound than he'd expected. The walkers below immediately raised their heads and began groaning.
"Damn."
Jayden wasted no time, jumping through the window and landing in the pharmacy's storage area. He cushioned his landing with a roll.
[Basic Parkour skill leveled up! Level 1 -> Level 2]
[Your Agility (AGI) permanently increased by +1!]
When he stood up, he immediately felt the increase in his Agility. His body felt lighter, his movements more fluid. This tangible sense of improvement proved all the risks were worth it.
The warehouse was dark and quiet. The door led to the main section of the pharmacy. Looking through the glass, he saw walkers, drawn by the sound of breaking glass, pounding on the front door and windows. He was safe for now.
He quickly began searching the shelves. Medical terminology was foreign to him, but thanks to his [Intelligence: 10] ability, he could quickly read and understand labels. Antibiotics, painkillers, bandages, antiseptics… He stuffed everything he could find into his backpack. He breathed a sigh of relief when he found Dale's blood pressure medication.
Just as he was finished, he heard a scratching sound coming from the back of the warehouse. The back door… Walkers had surrounded the building. He couldn't get out the front door, and it was closed. He was trapped.