Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle Chapter 2: Status

[ You have selected the Weapon Gift Pack. ]

[ You may now receive-- ]

Bzzt!

[ Selection Mode Error... Adjustments Detected. ]

[ Rewards have been verified. ]

[ You possess two additional slots. ]

[ Please choose two more Gift Packs to transition to the starting zone. ]

"Wait? What is this Error? Is this… a reward? Whatever the cause, I certainly won't turn it down!" Shane quickly pivoted upon realizing he had secured two extra Gift Packs.

Even though he harbored doubts about the blue interface's stability, he chose to overlook the glitch since it clearly worked in his favor.

"Grabbing the Food Gift Pack should keep me sustained for a good while," Shane reflected.

He weighed his remaining options, finding himself torn between the Transport, Stealth, and Shelter Gift Packs.

He coveted the folding bicycle from the Transport pack; although his daily exercise gave him a decent physique, he knew his endurance had limits and a bike would be vital for navigating the terrain.

The Stealth Gift Pack offered intriguing possibilities, specifically the camouflage gear and smoke grenades. His memory of various books and films warned him that zombies were not the only threat; he had to remain wary of other humans as well.

Conversely, the Shelter Gift Pack was essential, as he understood that securing proper rest was a foundation for longevity.

"What should I do?" Shane whispered, glancing at the flickering countdown. Less than two minutes remained.

Ultimately, Shane drew a steady breath and locked in the Shelter Gift Pack alongside his previous choices.

[ You have selected the Weapon Gift Pack, Food Gift Pack, and Shelter Gift Pack. ]

[ Prepare to receive your Talent. ]

[ Analysis complete. ]

[ You have awakened your Survivor Talent! ]

[ You have equipped your Tier 1 Survivor Gears. ]

"Survivor Talent? Survivor Gears?"

Shane mumbled, scanning his immediate surroundings.

"Seriously? Why am I so unlucky?" Shane lamented as he found himself trapped within a thick, obscuring fog.

"Though, perhaps calling it bad luck isn't entirely accurate," he added thoughtfully.

Trails of misty fog clung to the skeletons of an urban sprawl that had clearly seen better days.

The dim illumination from scattered light sources exposed ruined, crumbling structures, standing like hollow monuments in the unnatural silence.

'My starting location is a pile of creepy ruins?' Shane thought, a prickle of unease creeping up his spine. Depending on the survivor, this could be a stroke of fortune or a death sentence.

Whoosh~

The frigid air arrived with an oppressive sense of foreboding, amplifying the dread in the abandoned scene.

Despite the unnerving atmosphere, the total absence of life—notably the lack of the undead’s rhythmic groaning—provided a small measure of relief in this strange realm.

'Wait... what about the gift packs? How do I access them?'

A wave of curiosity hit him, as he currently held nothing. He looked down at the Survivor Gear he was wearing.

He was dressed in a rugged jacket, reinforced trousers, and heavy-duty boots.

The jacket was fashioned from durable material and contained several deep pockets, ideal for hauling vital supplies.

His pants were built for endurance, allowing for agile movement while shielding him from the harsher elements.

The boots were the final touch, showcasing an all-terrain structure meant to endure the most punishing environments.

It was far from some cheap Tier 1 survival kit!

Suddenly, a crimson virtual display flickered into existence before him.

[ System Update found... ]

[ Updating Settings... ]

[ A.I. Interference has been detected... ]

[ No countermeasure found... ]

[ Integration Complete! ]

[ Update Complete! ]

"What is going on now? Am I the only one experiencing these technical glitches?" Shane muttered, frustrated that his guide seemed compromised from the very beginning of this bizarre event.

A blue virtual screen then materialized, rendering the previous disturbance as if it had never occurred, which only served to irritate him further.

[ Survivor of the Fiend Continent! ]

[ As a novice in this Apocalypse Event, you are granted three days of Beginner Protection. Zombies will not spawn in your immediate vicinity! ]

[ Be warned: leaving your starting region will terminate this protection. ]

[ Use these three days to explore and devise a survival strategy for the first weekly Zombie Wave to earn a reward! ]

[ Hint: You only need to survive the wave within your territory. Whether you flee or stand your ground, the choice is yours! ]

"Beginner protection... not bad at all. At least they’re providing some lead time to adjust to this new nightmare," Shane noted with a grim, weary smile.

The prospect of a Zombie Wave was concerning, but he realized he would need to toughen up quickly if he intended to outlast the competition.

Moments later, another light-blue screen appeared.

Survivor Name: Survivor 192693

Title: None

Level: 1

Vitality: 100/100

Spirit: 100/100

Strength: 10

Agility: 10

Inventory: Weapon Gift Pack, Food Gift Pack, Shelter Gift Pack

Survivor Skills: None

Survivor Talent: Veteran Landlord ( Rare Talent )

[ Veteran Landlord: You may occupy and claim a parcel of land for development. There is a 50% chance of attracting normal inhabitants of this continent to reside in your territory every five days per week! Their loyalty begins at 75/100 ]

"What? A Landlord Talent in a zombie apocalypse? This is the absolute worst..." Shane grumbled in frustration. He had hoped for something that would help him evade or combat the undead, even if the thought of fighting initially terrified him.

Claiming and improving territory sounded nice in theory, but he lacked any real construction skills! Even if he secured the land, how could he possibly develop or defend it from zombies all by himself?

However, as he vented his disappointment, another "Error" notification flashed!

This time, instead of frustration, he felt a spark of genuine anticipation!

[ Clearer's data has been identified. ]

[ Updating Status... ]

[ Titles have been added. ]

[ Talents have been added. ]

[ Rare Talent has been upgraded. ]

Once the error message dissolved, a revised status screen appeared for Shane.

Survivor Name: Shane Wells

Title: Fairy Realm's Lone Survivor, A.I. Rebellion's Chosen One

Level: 1

Vitality: 100/100

Spirit: 100/100

Strength: 15

Agility: 15

Luck: 10

Perception: 10

Inventory: Weapon Gift Pack, Food Gift Pack, Shelter Gift Pack, Memory Sphere x25, A.I. Assistant

Survivor Skills: None

Survivor Talent: Complete Loot ( Legendary Talent ), Otherworldly Mechanic ( Legendary Talent ), Territory Lord ( Legendary Talent )