Daryl stumbled slightly, his hand gripping his spear for support as his eyes darted around. His breathing was shallow, his body clearly reacting to the surge of System energy that had just integrated into him. Sam watched carefully, ready to step in if something went wrong.
“You good?” Sam asked, his tone cautious.
Daryl nodded, though he looked pale.
“Yeah… I think so. It’s just… weird. Like there’s this… hum inside me now.”
“That’s the mana,” Sam explained.
“You’re feeling it for the first time. Don’t fight it. Let it settle. The System will probably give you some kind of prompt or something soon.”
Daryl’s eyes widened slightly, and he let out a breathless laugh.
“Oh, man. It’s doing it. I can see it. There’s text in front of me.”
“Yeah, it does that, kind of tripy to be honest.”
Sam said with a smirk.
“What’s it say?”
Daryl blinked a few times, reading the glowing words in front of him.
Skill Unlocked: Mana Light
You have gained the ability to generate a controlled light source using mana. This skill can be used to illuminate dark areas and signal allies.
“Mana Light?” Daryl repeated, frowning. “That’s it? I thought I’d get, I don’t know, fireballs or something.”
Sam chuckled. “It’ was my first skill too.”
Daryl hesitated, then nodded. He tightened his grip on the spear and focused, his brow furrowing as he concentrated on the hum of mana coursing through him. Slowly, a faint light began to glow in his free hand, small at first, then growing into a steady, soft sphere of golden light.
“Hey, not bad,” Sam said, leaning closer. “You’re a natural. I just about passed out the first time”
Daryl grinned, holding the light aloft. “Alright, I guess this could be useful. Not flashy, but at least I won’t trip over anything in the dark.”
Another prompt appeared in front of him. His expression shifted, his eyes narrowing as he read.
Skill Unlocked: Analyze Weakness
You can briefly scan an enemy or object to identify structural vulnerabilities or key weaknesses. Cooldown: 30 seconds.
“Analyze Weakness,” Daryl muttered.
He looked at Sam, his brow furrowing. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Sam raised an eyebrow. “Huh.. That actually sounds pretty helpful.. A lot better than a fireball if you ask me.”
Daryl tilted his head, skeptical. “You think?”
“Definitely” Sam said. “Trust me, being able to spot a weakness in the middle of a fight? That’s huge. Would have been helpful a few times”
The barrier shimmered ominously, and a low rumble echoed through the air. The HUD pulsed in Sam’s vision.
New Objective: Survive the Incoming Wave.
Warning: Increased difficulty due to multiple participants.
Sam tightened his grip on the Impaler Staff, his jaw clenching. “Well, looks like we’re about to get a chance to see what you’ve got.”
Daryl groaned, raising the spear defensively. “Great…..”
“Yup” Sam said, his voice steady. “Lets see what happens”
The ground began to vibrate faintly, and from the treeline, shapes began to emerge. Rugged creatures, larger and more heavily armored than the ones they’d fought before, advanced in unison. Each one carried crude weapons, and their glowing eyes locked onto the two men like predators zeroing in on prey.
Sam glanced at Daryl. “You ready?”
“absolutely not,” Daryl admitted, though he tightened his grip on the spear. “But let’s do this anyway.”
The low rumble grew louder, and the faint vibration in the ground turned into a rhythmic thudding. Sam and Daryl turned toward the treeline as shapes began to emerge from the shadows. The evolved rugglemites stepped forward. These creatures were larger, their armor thicker, and their movements more coordinated than anything Sam had seen before.
Sam’s grip on the Impaler Staff tightened. “Looks like they’re testing us again.”
Daryl let out a shaky breath, raising his spear.
“Same plan as before? Line up and kill?”
“Yeah,” Sam said, though his gut told him this wasn’t going to go as smoothly. “Or something like that.”
The creatures reached the edge of the barrier and stopped, their glowing eyes fixed on Sam and Daryl. For a moment, it was eerily quiet; just the hum of the barrier and the faint crackle of mana in the air. Then one of the creatures stepped forward, raising its crude weapon and slamming it against the shimmering wall. The barrier rippled violently, a faint crack spreading outward from the impact point. Sam’s eyes widened, and his HUD pulsed with a warning.
Warning: Barrier Integrity Compromised.
Continued attacks will reduce functionality. Repairs are not available during active waves.
“Sam…” Daryl said, his voice trembling as the creature struck again, the crack spreading further.
“So…. Thats not good right?”
Sam cursed under his breath as he scanned the line of creatures. Several of them were now battering the barrier in unison, their strikes echoing like war drums. Each blow sent visible fractures spiderwebbing across the shimmering surface.
“We don’t have time to wait them out,” Sam said, his voice sharp.
“We’ve got to start thinning them out, now.”
Daryl nodded, though his face was pale. “Alright. Let’s do this.”
Sam stepped forward, raising his hand.
“HUD, open the barrier. Just enough for one.”
The shimmering wall split open, creating a narrow gap barely large enough for a single creature to squeeze through. The nearest rugglemite immediately surged forward, its jagged axe raised high. Sam braced himself, planting the Impaler Staff and channeling what little mana he had left into it.
The creature lunged, swinging its axe in a wide arc. Sam sidestepped the blow and drove the staff forward, targeting the cracks in between the armor. The tines struck true, piercing through the creature’s armor and into its exposed chest. It screeched, clawing at the staff as it staggered back.
“Daryl, now!” Sam shouted.
Daryl stepped in, his spear glowing faintly with mana. He thrust it into the creature’s side, aiming for another weak point. The combined blows sent the rugglemite collapsing to the ground, its body dissolving into mist.
Evolved Rugglemite Defeated.
Experience Gained: 80.
“Next!” Sam called, motioning to the barrier.
But before he could issue another command, a loud crack echoed through the clearing. Both men turned to see a deep fissure running up the length of the barrier, glowing faintly as if struggling to repair itself.
“They’re breaking it faster than we can hold them off!” Daryl shouted, panic creeping into his voice.
Sam’s HUD pulsed again.
Warning: Barrier Stability Critical.
Continued damage will result in full collapse. Adjust tactics immediately.
“Daryl, use your skill!” Sam shouted.
Daryl hesitated for a fraction of a second before focusing on the nearest creature. His eyes glowed faintly as the Analyze Weakness skill activated. A shimmering overlay appeared over the creature’s form, highlighting thin cracks in its armor and a pulsing red mark at its exposed neck.
“There!” Daryl yelled, pointing. “Its neck is weak! Aim for the gap!”
Sam nodded, adjusting his stance. He thrust the Impaler Staff forward, driving it into the creature’s neck. The impact landed with a satisfying crack, and the creature collapsed, dissolving into mist.
“See?” Sam said, smirking. “Told you that skill was useful.”
Daryl didn’t have time to respond as another creature charged toward him. He raised his spear, his heart pounding, and activated Mana Light again. The glowing sphere of light flared in the creature’s face, momentarily blinding it. Seizing the opportunity, Daryl plunged his spear into the creature’s side, targeting another weak point the System had highlighted. The creature let out a guttural roar before collapsing, joining its companion in the mist.
“They’re not going to stop,” Sam said through gritted teeth. “This barrier’s going down, one way or another.”
“So what do we do?” Daryl asked, his knuckles white against the spear.
Sam scanned the line of creatures, their relentless strikes sending ripples across the barrier. The fractures were spreading, glowing faintly with each blow. He gritted his teeth, his mind racing.
“We don’t wait for them to come in anymore,” Sam said, his tone hard. “We take the fight to them.”
Daryl blinked, his expression a mix of disbelief and horror. “You want to drop the barrier? Are you insane?”
“Not the whole thing,” Sam said quickly. “But this little trickle approach isn’t going to work if they’re breaking it faster than we can kill them. We widen the gap, let in two or three at a time. It’s risky, but it’ll buy us some time to thin them out before the barrier collapses completely.”
Daryl hesitated, his gaze darting between Sam and the cracking barrier. Finally, he let out a shaky breath.
“Damnit, ok.. but if this goes sideways im totally blaming you if we die.”
“Deal,” Sam said with a faint smirk. He stepped forward, raising his hand again. “HUD, widen the opening. Enough for three.”
The barrier shimmered, the gap growing wider. The creatures surged forward immediately, three of them breaking through with guttural roars. Their weapons gleamed in the faint light, and their movements were coordinated, as if they’d been waiting for this moment.
“Daryl, stay close!” Sam barked, raising the Impaler Staff.
The first rugglemite lunged at Sam, swinging a jagged sword. He intercepted the blow with the staff, using its reinforced tines to lock the weapon in place. With a burst of mana, he twisted the staff, disarming the creature and driving it back.
Daryl took on the second, activating Analyze Weakness as the creature advanced. His vision flickered as weak points lit up across its armor.
“Left side, under the ribs!” he shouted, darting forward to strike.
Sam adjusted his stance, thrusting his staff into the third creature’s leg. The blow sent it toppling, but the cracks in the barrier behind them deepened further, the entire structure beginning to flicker.
“This sucks” Sam muttered, pulling back and readying himself for the next wave. “Let’s hope the System’s got a backup plan, or we’re screwed.”
The battle raged on, the System’s increased difficulty testing both men at every turn. Daryl’s skills proved invaluable, his analysis allowing Sam to exploit weaknesses and end fights faster. Together, they worked as a team, each covering the other’s blind spots.
By the time the last creature dissolved into the air, both men were panting, their weapons slick with ichor. The clearing was silent again, the barrier shimmering faintly around them.
Sam turned to Daryl, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Not bad.”
Daryl laughed breathlessly, collapsing to sit on the ground. “Not bad? I feel like I just ran a marathon.”
“You’ll get used to it,” Sam said, leaning on the Impaler Staff. “Ya. I’m still getting used to that mana drain.. Its like when you need to nap really bad.. But just cant.”
Daryl stared at the glowing prompts still hovering faintly in his vision. “Ya that sounds about right. But hey, at least now I know where to hit things.”
“Exactly,” Sam said, offering a hand to pull him up. “Welcome to the grind, partner.”
Daryl groaned but took the hand, hauling himself to his feet. “If this is what survival looks like, I’m starting to miss spreadsheets.”
Sam chuckled, clapping him on the shoulder. “Trust me, you’re going to love it here. Well, maybe.”
they both headed back behind the traps, each completely forgetting of their existence and sitting down on moss covered log on the ground.
“So,” he said, glancing at Daryl, “were you an accountant or something?”
Daryl let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. “An accountant? Is that your guess?”
“Well, you’ve got that ‘numbers guy’ energy,” Sam said with a faint smirk.
“Plus, the System just gave you a skill for analyzing weaknesses. Feels like it’s leaning into what you were good at before all… this.” Sam waving his hands in an arc over his head.
Daryl chuckled softly, nodding.
“Alright, fine. You got me. I was an accountant, but not the glamorous kind. I worked at a janitorial firm. Spreadsheets, invoices, payroll…the whole boring package.”
Sam raised an eyebrow. “Janitorial firm? That’s oddly specific.”
“Yeah, well, someone’s got to keep e writhing running for the people who clean up the messes,” Daryl said, his tone half-joking.
“It wasn’t exciting, but it paid the bills. I wasn’t exactly expecting to be thrown into a death game when I signed up.”
“No kidding,” Sam muttered. He tapped the ground with the staff, his expression thoughtful.
“What about before that? Hobbies? Interests?”
Daryl hesitated, his eyes drifting toward the barrier as it flickered again. “Not much to tell. I wasn’t exactly adventurous. I liked hiking; that’s how all this started. My friends and I were out in the woods when… well, you know the rest. Other than that, I just liked reading. History, mostly.”
“History, huh?” Sam said, his tone light. “You might be the most well-rounded accountant I’ve ever met.”
Daryl smirked, though his expression remained guarded.
“Alright, my turn. What about you? What’s a guy like you doing with all this… ‘mechanical ingenuity’ the System keeps throwing at you?”
Sam shrugged, wiping sweat from his brow.
“Mechanic, mostly. Cars, bikes, anything with an engine. Grew up working in my uncle’s shop, and it stuck. I was good with my hands, figuring out how things worked.”
“Figures,” Daryl said, nodding. “The whole ‘building traps from junk’ thing makes a lot more sense now.”
“Yeah, it’s handy,” Sam admitted. “Not exactly the skillset I thought I’d be using to survive killer squirrel monsters, but hey, it works.”
Daryl chuckled, but his tone grew more serious. “What about before? Hobbies, dreams; anything like that?”
Sam paused, staring at the ground. “Didn’t have time for much else. Always busy with work. I guess I liked tinkering with stuff, even outside the shop. Building little projects, improving things. It kept me focused.”
“Sounds like you were good at it,” Daryl said.
Sam shrugged again, though his expression softened.
“Yeah, maybe. But you know what’s funny? This place; it’s brutal, sure, but it’s also the first time I’ve felt like I was really… doing something. Like everything I know actually matters. Do you know what I mean?”
Daryl nodded slowly, his gaze distant. “I get that. Back in the real world, it was all just numbers. Here, it’s life or death. Every choice means something.”
The two men fell silent for a moment, the weight of their words hanging between them. Finally, Sam straightened, tapping his staff against the ground.
“Well,” he said, his tone lighter. “If we make it through this, I’ll teach you how to build an engine. Might be more fun than balancing spreadsheets.”
Daryl smirked, pushing himself to his feet. “And I’ll teach you how to file taxes. You’ll need to know if we ever find civilization again.”
Sam laughed, the sound breaking through the tension like sunlight through storm clouds.
“Deal. Let’s just hope we survive long enough to trade lessons.”
The barrier flickered again, its cracks glowing faintly before, surprisingly, they began to knit themselves back together. The shimmering surface grew more stable, though the occasional pulse of energy hinted that it was far from invulnerable.
Daryl sighed in relief. “Well, that’s something. At least it’s not breaking completely…yet.”
Sam nodded, glancing around the clearing. His gaze lingered on the tree line, scanning for any signs of movement, but the woods were eerily still now, as if the rugglemites had retreated to regroup.
“Looks like we’ve got a breather,” Sam said. He tapped his staff against the ground and turned, his eyes catching something he hadn’t noticed before.
“Wait… what the hell?”
Daryl followed his gaze, his brow furrowing.
“Is that… a house?”
Behind them, partially hidden by the curve of the barrier and the thick overgrowth, stood a structure. It was small and weathered, but unmistakably a house. The windows glinted faintly in the flickering light of the barrier, and a faint trail of smoke rose from a makeshift chimney.
“How did we miss that?” Daryl asked, stepping closer.
“I have no idea,” Sam said, his voice cautious.
“I’ve been all over this zone. There’s no way I wouldn’t have seen it before.. Actually where did my house go…”
The HUD pulsed faintly in Sam’s vision, drawing his attention to a new notification.
Tutorial Update: Shelter Discovered.
Shelter zones provide safe spaces for rest and recovery. Limited resources may be available inside.
Warning: Shelter zones are not guaranteed to remain secure during advanced waves.
“Let’s check it out. I could use a real place to sit down.. maybe some food too, I’m starving”
Sam followed, his grip on the staff tightening as they approached the house. The structure looked old but sturdy, the kind of place that had been built to last. The door creaked slightly as Daryl pushed it open, revealing a dim interior.
Inside, the house was small but functional. A wooden table sat in the center of the main room, surrounded by mismatched chairs. A fireplace in the corner still smoldered faintly, casting a warm glow over the space. Shelves lined the walls, stocked with jars and boxes that looked as though they hadn’t been touched in years. A narrow staircase led to a loft above.
Daryl exhaled, dropping into one of the chairs. “I don’t care if this place falls apart tomorrow. Right now, it’s heaven.”
Sam stepped further inside, scanning the room. The HUD highlighted various items, tagging them with faint descriptions.
Wooden Table: Sturdy. Can be dismantled for materials.
Jars of Dried Food: Safe for consumption. Restores health and energy.
Rusted Tools: Can be repurposed for crafting.
Sam smirked. “Looks like we’ve got more than a place to sit. There’s food, tools, and… yeah, this is better than I expected.”
Daryl perked up at the mention of food. “You’re saying we can actually eat something? Please tell me it’s not glowing or moving.”
Sam chuckled, grabbing a jar from the shelf. He unscrewed the lid, revealing dried strips of what looked like jerky. “Looks fine to me. System says it’s safe.”
Daryl grabbed a piece, sniffing it cautiously before taking a bite. His eyes widened.
“Not bad. I mean, it’s not gourmet, but after everything we’ve been through, it’s like a five-star meal.”
Sam sat down across from him, setting his staff against the wall. He chewed thoughtfully on a piece of jerky, letting the quiet warmth of the house sink in.
“This place is weird,” Daryl said after a moment, leaning back in his chair.
“I mean, a random house in the middle of all this? Feels too good to be true.”
“Yeah,” Sam said, his gaze drifting to the glowing barrier outside the window.
“But we take what we can get. No telling how long we’ll get to stay here.”
Daryl nodded, his expression softening. “At least we’ve got a roof over our heads tonight. That’s more than I expected after everything happened.”
Sam smirked. “Same here.”
The two men sat in silence for a moment, the faint crackle of the fire the only sound in the room. Sam leaned back, letting the tension seep out of his body for the first time in what felt like days. His eyes wandered to the wooden ceiling beams, noting how the flickering firelight played across their rough-hewn surfaces.
“This place…” Sam started, his voice low. “It’s weird. A house just appearing like this. Feels too… I don’t know, intentional.”
Daryl raised an eyebrow. “You think the System put it here?”
Sam shrugged, still staring at the ceiling.
“Probably.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not going to complain,” Daryl said, leaning back in his chair.
“Roof, fire, food that doesn’t glow or squirm; this is paradise compared to out there.”
Sam smiled faintly, but his mind was still racing.
“You ever think about what’s next?”
Daryl frowned. “Next?”
“Yeah,” Sam said, sitting up straighter.
“Once we survive this tutorial, if we survive, what happens? Does it just… end? Or is there more?”
Daryl let out a long breath, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Honestly? I haven’t thought that far ahead. Feels like a waste of energy when just making it through the day is hard enough.”
Sam nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful.
“Yeah, I get that.”
Daryl tilted his head, watching him.
“You? Got some big plan for after all this?”
Sam chuckled dryly. “Not die.”
“Sounds like a solid strategy,” Daryl said with a grin.
As Sam began to let his guard down, his HUD pulsed faintly, drawing his attention. The flickering text that appeared in his vision shattered the fragile peace.
Warning: Countdown Initiated.
Time Remaining: 48:00:00
Event Triggered by Unauthorized Activation.
Prepare for significant escalation in hostile activity. Utilize the time to rest, recover, and gather resources.
Sam’s smirk vanished, his jaw tightening as he stared at the warning. His stomach churned as he reread the words, the implications sinking in like lead. Before he could say anything, Daryl’s voice broke the silence, low and laced with concern.
“Uh, Sam? Tell me you see that too.”
Daryl blinked rapidly and shook his head.
“Please tell me I’m hallucinating, because I just saw a countdown.”
“You’re not,” Sam said grimly. “Forty-eight hours.”
Daryl straightened, gripping the spear tightly.
“What happens in forty-eight hours?”
“Nothing good,” Sam admitted, his voice heavy.
“At least it’s giving us time.. So thats something I guess.”
Daryl rubbed his forehead, pacing near the table.
“Okay, great. So now we’re on a timer for… what? Some big bad monster to show up and finish what those rugglemites started?”
“Probably,” Sam said, standing and grabbing the Impaler Staff. He glanced at the HUD again, willing the prompt to give more details, but none came.
Daryl stared at him, his expression torn between panic and determination. Finally, he nodded, his shoulders squaring.
“Alright. Two days then.”
Sam turned back to the fire, the flickering flames reflected in his eyes.
“No wasting time,” he echoed, his voice low.
“Two days. Let’s hope it’s enough.”
The countdown had begun.