Kade hid behind the cover of some trees just outside the safe zone. He was having second thoughts about entering Chicago.

He had been on the edge of changing his decision multiple times on the way here. The more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea of getting into a Class F Rift Zone and demolishing all the cannon fodder inside to get a precious level up and an instant heal.

It was highly dangerous. Even a lucky hit would be enough to kill him, and he disliked the idea of dying to a goblin even more than dying to the cold. Still, there was nothing to say entering the safe zone would be safe.

The only thing a safe zone protected from were monsters. It did nothing to stop humans from killing each other.

Kade wasn’t naïve. People needed little to turn on one another, and in a situation like this, where the world as they knew it ended, there would be even less of a barrier to turn to murder.

The rankings were public. While it might not be widely known yet, the system openly revealed that points could also be used as currency. The knowledge would spread soon.

He asked a question that he had been holding off on for the entire trip. “If someone kills me, what would happen to my points?”

Regardless of the method of your death, everything returns to us.

Kade paused at the answer. “You know that sounds creepy as hell.” He didn’t get a response.

At the very least, that confirmed that this wouldn’t be some kind of free-for-all where murder was rewarded. It made sense since the system would find that counterproductive to what it wanted from Earth.

However, Kade didn’t underestimate humanity’s penchant for greed, as a few individuals were enough to ruin everything, despite the majority having a good moral compass.

He did not doubt that some sort of power struggle would happen, and that was why he was worried. He was a target for people with an ambition to hold power. Being targeted for good or bad was something he found extremely undesirable in his current state.

Kade grew angry at his indecision.

I’m already here. I might as well just enter.

He saw Finn directing some newcomers into what he assumed would be their positions during an attack. He had purposefully chosen to enter the safe zone at the familiar spot with the group he somewhat knew.

Kade straightened his body as much as he could before putting on an unbothered expression. Just because a soft breeze could kill him didn’t mean he had to broadcast that to everyone else.

He could feel his broken bones rub against each other as he walked as normally as he could towards the group.

“Kade!” Finn’s face lit up and a smile. “We all saw the jump! And it only took a day! It kicked the ones that were still on the fence into gear. Your friend, Matt, went with the others into a Rift Zone. Let me—“ His eyes widened in horror as he took in Kade’s condition. “H—How are you still walking?!”

Kade understood that the jump Finn was talking about was his ranking points. “Those points were well-earned. And I’m not sure what you mean. I can walk just fine.”

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“You have a bone sticking out of your leg!”

He blinked in surprise and looked down. Nothing was interesting at the front. He looked at the back of his legs, and there it was. A broken bone sticking out the back of his leg.

He had no idea.

Kade forced a chuckle. “So there is. It looks like I need a healer. Find one for me. Tell them I will pay a few hundred points for their help.”

Walking around the city and trying to find a [Healer] was not part of his plans.

Finn nodded rapidly, reluctant to stop staring at the bone protruding out the back of his leg, but ripped himself away and barked orders to the gaping crowd. “Go to the inner city and find the best healer you can. Tell them it’s for Kade Beckett.”

It felt strange for Kade to hear his name uttered as if it would change the quality of the people who would come forward. He knew it would since it was hard not to know his name at this point, but he still wasn’t used to it.

It feels good, though.

“I don’t know how you can still smile with your current condition,” Finn said with amazement. “I’ve noticed some changes with the people who’ve experienced a Rift Zone, but you’re unique.”

Kade knew he was just being buttered up, but he didn’t think there was anything wrong in luxuriating under constant praise.

“When you have your arms ripped apart and are constantly under threat, a minor injury like mine isn’t anything to stress over. Anyway, I need to rest. Take me to a secured room. I’ll wait for the healer there.”

Finn didn’t ask questions and escorted him into the safe zone.

***

“Can I get you something else? Drinks, food, a book… women? … Men?”

Kade turned to stare at Finn with a raised eyebrow. He had noticed how word spread quickly that he was in the ‘care’ of Finn’s group, perhaps to gain some prestige. Finn’s attempt to be as accommodating as possible didn’t shock him.

Still, Kade didn’t expect the last two options. A closer look at Finn made him realize those were just to probe where his limits were.

That someone as morally upright as Finn—who risked his own life to save others—immediately devolved into using people as commodities conflicted him. That was his mistake.

Kade should’ve realized that a world without rules would encourage most to cater to people in power to further their goals. He disliked that, but it wasn’t something to worry about at the moment.

“… I appreciate the offer, but I need none of that. Just let me rest and tell me when the healer gets here.”

“Of course,” Finn nodded and left quickly.

After the door shut, Kade slumped while holding onto his [Soulrend]. Acting like he was uninjured depleted his stamina like he was in an hours-long fight.

He limped to the bed and sat down with a relieved groan before looking around the room.

Finn had brought him to a nearby hotel that the group had turned into a sort of resting spot. Kade didn’t mind it, since all he wanted was to be in a place out of sight while heavily injured.

The offer popped up in his mind again.

Kade shook his head as he chuckled. He was all for letting adults do whatever the hell they want. He had witnessed worse things during his childhood, so it’s not like he would take personal offense.

Still, he had needed no one else to pull girls for him. Nor did he ever have to pay. He intended to keep it that way.

Of course, if not for Finn’s offer, he would’ve never even thought about such a thing. Not when there are so many better things to do.

Like clearing Rift Zones.

Speaking of Rift Zones.

“System, how strong was the corrupted lifeform in the Rift Zone I just left?”

We estimate it should be of equal strength to the Molten Orcling.

Kade felt some satisfaction after hearing that. It was always in the back of his mind that if the system hadn’t forcibly pulled him out of the Rift Zone, he would have had significant difficulty in surviving since he assumed the corrupted life form was the strongest thing in the Rift Zone.

That truly meant the only thing he had been saved from was the patriarch, and he could easily accept that.

The patriarch was practically a god.

Still, Kade regretted that he never found out anything about the abandoned city in the Rift Zone. He supposed he couldn’t resolve everything.

He closed his eyes to rest for the first time in days. He wouldn’t sleep until he was healed, but he would allow his brain to shut off and have a well-deserved reset.