Helping her through the vehicle maze to the spiders larder, I realize I've taken my Darkvision for granted, if I had to do this with a flashlight I'd just hunker down and wait for daylight. "I may not have answers to your questions, but we should wait to get back with the other two as they probably have the same questions"

"That's reasonable" She makes a ton of noise as she moves along, I take it stealth won't be her strong suit.

Reaching the opening of the trailer I can hear the two guys in there making noise as they try to recover, scuffing my shoes as I come around the corner I still startle them.

"Don't come any closer! I'm armed" Thomas has a piece of spider in his hands and is holding it in front of himself like a sword.

Sam adds "I think that's the guy who saved us, I can't remember much but that seems the reasonable assumption to make"

"I'm Ben, This is Karen behind me, I did cut you out of the cocoons just a few minutes ago. The spiders were bringing her back to add to the menu. We may not want to stay here too long in case more are heading here, though it's not a bad idea to kill a few and get levels."

"My names Thomas, not sure I can help much with the fighting. I never have been very good at the Kung Fu stuff and I don't feel well at all after this." Waving his arms around.

Karen comes around the corner at that moment and seeing the two new people pauses then says "Hi, I'm Karen, and I agree I'm not much of a fighter."

"Thomas, Karen, Ben......my names Sam, not sure I can hurt them but I'm willing to try. I owe the fuckers that much at least. I wonder where my car is, where are we?"

Looking at The Raven who is perched on a spider corpse staring at the small group "hey guys....this is The Raven yet to be named, he has been helping out so....ummmm....be careful if you are flinging things around." turning to the bird I add "Can you keep watch while we figure things out?". With a hop hop he takes to the high ground and adds "Kraaaaaa."

Rubbing his eyes and shaking his head "Man that's epic, did you charm a bird? I didn't see that as a class option. Man the last thing I remember I was driving down the road then I was beamed up to some kind of assembly, then skills and classes, and wait something about magic. I'm still confused. Shit I need a drink or a smoke." Sam checks his pockets "Man all my stuffs in my car. Damn it, when I got back to my car the road was a mess, I mean I was doing sixty when I was whisked away, then warped back to a road with cars everywhere all moving, I guess I'm lucky to be alive." Winding down and catching his breath.

"The last thing I remember is fangs the size of my forearm leaping at me from the back of a truck" Thomas wipes his forehead which is still sticky from the cocoon "I had just killed a frog that was trying to bite me and ran from the parking lot then darkness, Where are we now?"

Karen pipes in, Impatience in her voice "I just want to know whats going on, I've got a daughter at home, what even is a class and what even are the skills they were pointless and no help. You need to help me get to my house." Holding the side of her head, she adds "My head hurts."

Thinking aloud "Ok this will be the second time I've said this to a group but you'll need to accept that instead of the world ending we are now in a reality that acts like a video game. For example I'm Level 4 with multiple classes and I've been learning new skills as I go along. Magic is real in a way, it's called Mana Energy and you can empower actions, skills, spells, and items with it." Holding out my arm with the shield bracelet I add some Mana Energy, Thomas and Karen both gasp while Sam exclaims "Oh that's solid man. Insta shield! Just add water."

"I found this on a.....body earlier, it appears that when someone dies the stuff they bought at the system store pops out. If you kill a creature you usually get a core, like this." I withdraw a level three core and show them.

"Kraaaa...." I can almost understand the implied 'please give me the core, human'. Looking over at The Raven "I don't think it will even help you now"

"Man your talking to a bird, you know that, right?"

"I'm pretty sure everything is bigger and smarter now. The bird has been with me for a few hours and he's already smarter than most dogs i've known." Checking my surroundings, I lean against a wall "Ok then, each of you have an inventory space I assume, in there will be the stuff you got from the store. I have mine set to when I say inventory It will open, but it starts off being called 'spatial storage' just say that out loud or to yourself. The whatever seems to hear me if I sub vocalize what I mean to say.

They each say the words then they are staring into space, I had wondered what it looked like when my inventory was open. "The items should be in the space you opened up, My space resembles an old-fashioned milk crate. No idea what yours will look like, you can grab your stuff, summon it to your hand, or make then appear touching you. Your class Item is in their as well. Once you take an item out you can send it back with a thought without the inventory open. I've also discovered that I can summon Items now without having inventory open as well" From outside The Raven kraas in a warning tone. "We might have guests incoming I'll go look. "

Stepping outside the bird is looking north of our position, climbing up I keep my profile low and spot movement heading.....no.....creeping towards us.

Back inside I find the three of them playing with their stuff. Thomas has a Vape Pen and a pair of fancy shoes he's putting on, Sam on the other hand has equipped a pair of Driving Gloves and is currently flashing playing cards across the way and sticking them into the steel sides of the trailer. Wow, that's cool. Karen meanwhile has her cell phone in her hand and is trying to make a phone call.

Collecting my thoughts I say to the group "Ok, three spiders on their way, two of which are dragging victims. I can take them or if you want to level you can help. I can also try to form a party with you and see what that does." Collecting his cards from the wall Sam adds "I'm in, I'll try my cards and skills" Karen just start repeating "no...no....no....no.. not again." Looking at me then Sam, Thomas says "I think you guys and the birds have it fine, I wouldn't be much help. Add me to the party if you want though."

"I think we have two minutes, Sam get ready to go. Let me check out the party tab."

On the menu screen I scroll over to the newest one for party. The screen is divided into 4 pieces now, the top is the tabs section with all of my various options sectioned off, the next spot down is my current party of me and the bird after each name our stats are listed, hit points, conditions, enhancements, Mana Energy, and stamina. Below this section is a list of available people to add to the party with names, classes, levels, and their distance from where I am standing. The last section is blank at the moment.

Concentrating on the add members section I'm able to send out an invite to each of the people here, as they accept, their name shifts to the party section, and their stats begin to fill in. Easy enough, the system really is simple to maneuver through once you get used to it.

"Party made, Sam It looks like you're level one so keep your distance, these spiders haven't been below level three yet. When you use your cards try and focus on enhancing them with your Mana Energy that's how I got my Dark Fire Skill. The Raven and I will ambush them, then you join in....ah damn....can you see in the dark?"

"No, I didn't want to say anything but it's dark as shit in here, only Karen's cell phone allows us to see."

"Hmmmmm. I need to get into position but try this while you wait. Remove and put back an item several times from your inventory, while you do it concentrate on your Mana Sense and Mana Energy if you can follow the trail of Energy back to your core you can then attempt to add Mana Energy to stuff.......try and 'see' in the dark, I managed to learn Darkvision that way." Before they can respond I slip out onto the darkness, seeing my way just fine.

Climbing up next to the bird I scope out the approaching troops, they look the same as the previous spiders. Two of them were dragging bundles, I couldn't tell if it was people or animals from here. I point at a minivan near the edge of the road "let's move there and we can hit them as they pass." In response The Raven flies over and perches on the roof rack then goes still and fades into the dark.

It takes me a moment to get into position, I make sure the pike is ready to go and there's a clear path for Sam to join us if he can see. From back in the trailer I'd heard an exclamation of surprise so maybe he figured something out.

The clack clack clack of pointed spider talons alerts me to pay attention again, also a slight scraping sound reminiscent of a tarp being pulled along a gravel surface. The three creatures pass our position, as the last one moves past I send my Mana Energy into the Pike and with a fast jab I impale it through the spikey black body, the tip of the pike carves its way through the bulbous back end with only a soft crack and a squishing sound. I shout "NOW!" The Raven swoops down and instead of grabbing the next spider his wings form a wedge and the bird slashes through all four legs on the right side, with an ear piercing wail the spider releases it's bundle and crouches defensively, dark ichor leaking from the jagged wounds in its side.

Movement from the area my party is cowering, Sam stands up, in his hand his cards are ready to go. His timing is perfect the lead spider had turned around to attack us leaving it's large shiny rear open to attack. With tiny flares of energy I can just make out the cards flying from Sam to the spider but the impact is visible. Each card hits the carapace and either carves off a chunk or disappears inside.

Bringing my focus back to the one i'm fighting I use my high Strength Attribute and push the tip of the pike into the cement trapping the spider like a pinned insect, then I flip open my pocket sword and attack the middle spider who's near death and missing half its legs, another dive bomb from The Raven and the lead spider is done as well, somehow it's in two pieces. Leaving just the last one speared into the ground, Sam walks up and with his skill sends a card at each eye with precision, the damage from each popping eye to much for it to handle, ending the fight.

"That's a nice skill you have, Sam"

"One of my party tricks, usually I'm cutting celery or sticking cards into walls. These cards are part of my Class Skill and Item, they do a decent bit of damage. Watch this." With a flourish he waves his hands and the remaining cards disappear, then all the cards in the spiders disappear "easy clean-up." It says the pack regenerates and cleans itself upon return to spatial storage."

"When I was shopping I looked at throwing knives and a few different designs for throwing stars, I think your cards kick both their asses." Taking a glance at the party screen I notice everyone got a level up from our scuffle. "Congrats on the level!"

"Whoa. I did." A moment later he adds "still no additional attribute points, I don't understand"

"Go let the other two know it's safe, I'll Tell you what I've figured out in a moment. Let me check the bodies in case someone's alive"

Skipping over the spider corpses I check out both bodies with Mana Sense and notice the telltale glow of system Items. A knife and a moment and five more items are in my inventory, both cocooned people are dead so I didn't bother unraveling them. Next I check the spiders for parts and find a variety of bits even adding two more carapace chunks to my collection. I noticed that similar pieces are stacking in my inventory so that's useful at least, not knowing how much room I have in my general Inventory I'll just keep adding to it until it's full.

Carrying both bodies to the trailer I add them to the ones in the back, unsure what else to do really, is a pile of dead people better than scattered around dead people, I guess it felt better to group them up.

Checking the time I see it's 9:42pm how did it get that late, smashing mutant spiders must also kill time, laughing at the thought, I Turn around the three people are staring at me in the very dim light, Karen had her cell phone light on now and Thomas has a flashlight aimed off into the trailer. The light was way too bright to my sensitive night eyes.

"My phone isn't working, I have no service" Karen has a blank look on her face as she presses send again "I need to get home to my daughter." Checking my phone I see the same thing.....no service...

"I'm only going one way and that's out of town, but back the way I came from is the some type of checkpoint. I bet they would help."

"I'm going where he's going" Sam adds "I was able to get Nightvision as a skill just like you said, like a video game everything is brighter, and I got a level. Hit points and stamina are higher but no points for my stats."

"Who's going to help me get home! I need to get home" Karen's hysteria now that the adrenaline is wearing off seems to be ramping up.

"Not me, I don't want to stay here, I don't want to go into the dark, I just.....don't know" Thomas looks lost.

"Best I can do Karen is take you back to the checkpoint, then I'm going to get back to heading West. Sam, Thomas you guys can stay with the people there or go with me. Thomas if you come with Sam and I you'll need to learn a skill to see in the dark. What's your class?"

"Don't you care about helping me get home! My daughter is alone!"

"I had crap options, I was at dance class, so I picked what I know and so I'm a Dancer, a level 2 Dancer now to be precise."

Ignoring her hysteria I answer Thomas "I can imagine a bunch of ways to upgrade or enhance that, you can advance or combine classes as you level so think of what you want to become. In regards to attributes, what I've noticed is you don't get any additional attributes at level ups, but you do get them when you advance a class, there's also an option to create a new class based on attributes and skills. Both options require class points and you get one class point per level, I haven't had time to figure out more than that. Let's move before more spiders come back." Looking at the three of them I add "once we drop Karen off we can try and find your car Sam, if you want to?"

The guys follow me out with a confused and angry Karen behind them, once clear of the cars Thomas clicks his light off. Sounding worried he says "I'll try for a dark skill......"

"Close your eyes and follow us on the road by the sound of our movement, focus on your Perception and Mana Sense while trying to find your core of Mana Energy. Some combination might work."

The walk back to the group of guards was uneventful, when we got close it was easy to tell where they were as they had more lights and more people everywhere. After counting 23 new people I gave up, a few of them were practicing with three quarter inch re-bar staves about six feet long, making loud clanging noises as they hit and blocked. Piled to either side of the road was a wide variety of slaughtered animals and insects I could make out wings, tails, and more claws than I want to count.

"Incoming, human, group of four" A voice shouts from the top of a delivery van, looking at the spot I see a sniper position surrounded by sand bags and cover with a tarp I think, a skill was blending the whole spot into obscurity, a long rifle barrel just poking out aimed generally in the direction we were heading in from.

Examining the area anew I could tell the checkpoint was ready for defense. The group of people was in a much larger area than before and surrounded by cars breaking up the approach, 1 lane was left open for vehicles to pass by, flares and LED lights were everywhere providing light and warning. The protected area from what I could see now had picnic tables, chairs, and beds set up.

A person blocked the path heading in "Stop" even holding up his hand in the universal 'stop there' gesture "are you being chased by anything, are you injured, do you need help?"

"If we were being chased stopping us here would be very bad I think." Looking around "you guys work quick, I was here a bit ago and it was just a few trucks." Waving my hands around taking in the area "If Joan's still in charge let her know Ben's back with a couple of people, can we come in?"