Points

Elmore sat down at the kitchen table, staring at the screen of his old laptop, deep in thought. The Nexus had given him 20 points to distribute, and now he was faced with the decision of how best to allocate them. Each stat had a tangible impact on his life and abilities, and this decision wasn’t something he could take lightly.

Strength was his immediate thought. He’d already noticed the benefits there, able to work on the truck more easily than before, and even wrestle with dangerous animals. But what about his endurance? His fights, like the one with the burning bear, left him gasping for breath. That stat was low, embarrassingly so—just 2 out of 20. His body gave out too quickly, and while he had survived, what about the next big threat? He wasn’t sure he could keep pushing through with endurance that low. It needed more points.

Dexterity and agility were middle-of-the-road concerns. Elmore wasn’t a particularly nimble person, but dexterity could help with everything from repairing machinery to his aim with a gun. And agility? Well, moving faster or being able to dodge when it really counted could save his life one day.

His intelligence was already high at 10, and he could feel it, whether working on the truck or finding clever ways to solve problems around the property. Did he need to boost it more? Probably not just yet but maybe.

Then there was resistance. His ability to fight off infections, poisons, and who knew what else would only become more crucial as the world changed. Creatures like the deer with metallic antlers and the fire-breathing bear were becoming more common. Resistance might keep him alive when something stronger than a bullet came his way.

Vitality at 9 was already pretty good. He was recovering faster from wounds, but was it enough to trust that? His scarring had healed surprisingly well after the fight with the deer, but boosting this stat might turn minor injuries into nothing more than momentary problem in the future.

Elmore’s mind kept spinning, weighing the pros and cons. Should he balance things out, or specialize? Focusing on one stat could give him a particular edge, but leaving other areas too weak might expose vulnerabilities he couldn't afford in this new world.

“I could push strength up to 10 or more, be a powerhouse,” he muttered to himself. “Or endurance... I could balance things out, boost my weaknesses first. That could cover more bases...”

He sighed, rubbing his temples. Spreading points evenly across the board would give him well-rounded abilities but might leave him feeling like a jack of all trades, master of none. Focusing heavily on strength or endurance would create a strong foundation, but at the cost of agility and other important factors.

“Should I be a tank? balanced survivor? Or maybe something else?” Elmore mulled over.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Spending spree

Elmore spent the next few days wrestling with the decision of how to allocate his points. He’d brought it up casually with Ash one evening while they were washing dishes, and she had offered her usual down-to-earth advice. “It’s your mind, Elmore,” she said, scrubbing a plate. “Seems like you’re already good at thinking things through. What you do with that is up to you.”

His dad wasn’t much more helpful. Sitting in the garage, tinkering with a carburetor, the old man just chuckled when Elmore mentioned his dilemma. “Well, kid, it’s your life. But you’ve always had a brain in that head of yours. Maybe you oughta lean into that.”

Their responses, while simple, began to resonate with Elmore. It wasn’t until the third day, while staring off into the horizon on his porch, that everything clicked. “I am smart,” he muttered. It wasn’t a boast, just a realization. And in this world where everything was changing so fast, maybe his greatest advantage wasn’t his physical abilities but his mind.

With that, the decision was made. He went inside, sat down at the table, and focused on his Nexus, feeling the points waiting to be spent. He closed his eyes and pushed 10 points into his intelligence stat, taking it from 10 to 20 in an instant.

The change was immediate and overwhelming.

It felt like a dam broke inside his mind, releasing a flood of thoughts, memories, and ideas all at once. It was as if the entire world opened up to him in a way he’d never experienced before. He could see patterns in the wood grain of the table, connections between seemingly unrelated events in his life, and even solutions to problems he hadn’t realized he had. His mind raced through possibilities, faster than he could keep up with. At first, it was almost terrifying, but within moments, his newfound mental capacity helped him calm the storm of thoughts. He could think more efficiently, with clarity that he hadn’t known was possible.

“Wow,” he whispered, staring down at his hands, feeling as if he could almost see the nerves vibrating beneath his skin.

But as much as the intelligence boost expanded his mind, he knew he couldn’t neglect his body. Intelligence alone wouldn’t save him in a fight, and the world was far too dangerous to be weak. He still needed to survive.

He carefully allocated the rest of his points. Three points into endurance, bringing it up from 2 to 5. He’d always been able to push through, but with this boost, he knew his stamina would be much more reliable. If another mutant bear showed up, at least he wouldn’t be on the verge of collapse after a few minutes of combat.

Strength was next. He’d already noticed how useful it had been when working on the truck, and there was no denying the practicality of raw power. Three more points went into strength, bringing it up to a solid 10. He felt the difference instantly, his muscles tightening slightly as if anticipating more work ahead.

Vitality was important too. At 9, he was already recovering faster than most, but bringing it to a full 10 would give him that extra edge in staying alive. One point there, and he felt a surge of warmth flow through his body, almost like a subtle but steady heartbeat, making him feel more resilient.

Agility needed a little love, too. Moving faster, reacting quicker—those could make all the difference in a fight or an escape. One point into agility, raising it to 5, and he could already feel his body becoming lighter, more responsive.

Lastly, dexterity. Fine motor skills had become increasingly useful, whether handling delicate tasks or aiming more accurately with his shotgun. Two points into dexterity brought it to 5, and he could already feel the benefits. His fingers felt more precise, his movements more controlled.

He sat back and exhaled deeply, feeling the profound changes in his body and mind. His thoughts were clearer, faster, and his body stronger, more balanced. This was a solid step forward.

“Alright,” he said quietly to himself, reflecting on his choices.

Boosting his intelligence had been the right call. His mind was his strongest asset, and now he could strategize, think through problems in ways he hadn’t even considered before. But he hadn’t left his body behind—endurance, strength, agility, and dexterity were all necessary for survival. He was stronger and more durable, but not overcommitted to brute force. By spreading his points carefully, he had covered his weak spots without sacrificing his strengths.

The plan was simple: with his mind sharper than ever, he could focus on growing stronger and smarter. He’d target resistance next, understanding the need to withstand the increasingly dangerous world around him. His newfound intelligence told him that adapting to challenges, both mentally and physically, would be the

key to surviving whatever came next.

Now, he was ready.