Just as the darkness threatened to swallow Huang Wei completely, a strange, clear voice—not from outside, but resonating directly within his mind—shattered the chaos that had consumed him.
[Ding!]
The emotional storm raging inside Huang Wei suddenly subsided. His previously chaotic thoughts began to clear, though grief and panic still lingered in the corners of his mind. An alien calmness enveloped him—something unnatural considering he had just lost his friend in such a brutal way.
With blood-stained arms, Huang Wei wiped the tears streaming down his cheeks. His gaze refocused on the transparent panel now floating before him, emanating a soft blue light that contrasted sharply with the grim atmosphere of the cramped dormitory room. The metallic scent of blood mixed with the damp smell of the room created a suffocating atmosphere.
=====
[DING!]
[Congratulations! You are the first to eliminate a Level 1 Infected]
[Due to your achievement, you have gained 5 Free Points]
[Due to your achievement, you are directly promoted to Level 1]
[All your base stats increase by +1]
[As the first Evolved, you gain 3 additional Free Points]
[Due to your achievement, you have acquired Passive Skill: [Serenity] (Unique)]
[For becoming a Level 1 Evolved, you have acquired Innate Skill: [Weapon Mastery] (Unique)]
======
"What... what has happened to this world?" Huang Wei muttered, his hoarse voice breaking the silence of the room that now felt alien.
Though his mind was still in turmoil, he could think with a clarity that surprised him. Event after event spun through his mind like a replaying film—time standing still, the mysterious voice announcing the apocalypse, and Lei Jiang's transformation into a bloodthirsty monster. Every detail was etched clearly in his memory, as if his new skill had sharpened every recollection.
When his gaze fell back on his friend's corpse, waves of guilt and deep regret crashed over him. But beneath that sorrow, conviction began to grow. The Lei Jiang who had attacked him wasn't the Lei Jiang he once knew—his friend had died when the world changed, replaced by a bloodthirsty walking corpse.
Even knowing the logical reason behind his actions, the weight in his chest didn't lessen. His disappointment in himself mixed with something deeper—an old promise now broken, creating a burden that was almost unbearable. He remembered the figure who had once trusted him with something precious.
---
Taking a deep breath, Huang Wei slowly rose from the cold floor. His legs still trembled, but he forced his body to move. Muffled rumbles and screams began to drift through the window, creating a horrifying backdrop to this quiet moment.
He took a blanket from the bed—a simple white blanket with modest patterns they used for afternoon naps—and slowly covered Lei Jiang's body. His blood-stained hands trembled as he pulled the blanket's edge, covering that no-longer-familiar face.
"Forgive me, Lei Jiang," he whispered, his voice cracking with genuine sorrow. "I... I couldn't protect you." The words flowed out like a prayer, carrying an unspoken burden—memories of old promises once made to someone very dear, promises he now had to bear alone.
After paying his final respects, Huang Wei turned away from the corner where the white blanket lay spread. He didn't look back—couldn't, because every time he looked that way, shadows of a darker past haunted him too.
---
Sitting on the edge of the hard mattress, Huang Wei stared at the screen still floating before him. The panel's soft blue light became the only soothing source of illumination in the room that now felt increasingly cramped. When his hand reached up to touch the transparent surface, the screen changed to display a familiar interface—like the RPG games he used to play, but with far more realistic detail.
A three-dimensional figure appeared on screen, representing himself with surprising accuracy. Beside it, rows of information were neatly arranged in an easy-to-understand format.
---
[STATUS SYSTEM]
Name: Huang Wei
Gender: Male
Age: 20
[ATTRIBUTES]
Strength: 6 | Stamina: 6
Agility: 5 | Endurance: 7
Vitality: 6 | Mana: 0
Free Points: 8
[SKILLS]
Innate Skills: Weapon Mastery
Passive Skills: Serenity
---
His familiarity with such systems helped him quickly understand each displayed element. However, one thing made him curious—the Mana section showing zero. His finger touched the text.
[Ding!]
[Level requirement not met]
His eyebrow raised, but the increasingly loud commotion from outside reminded him of more pressing priorities. His finger moved to touch "Free Points" and then "Skills" to understand the abilities he now possessed.
[Free Points]
Points that can be freely used to increase stats except [Mana] (insufficient level)
[Innate Skills]
Skills acquired when performing [Promotion] to higher levels.
[Passive Skills]
Skills or abilities that activate automatically without user activation, usually acquired through specific events.
"So this really is like a game," he murmured while rubbing his chin, his gaze momentarily distant as he remembered the hours spent playing games as an escape from bitter reality.
Eight free points could mean the difference between life and death in this changed world. But before making decisions, he needed to understand the abilities he already possessed. His finger touched the skills section again for more detailed information.
---
[Weapon Mastery]
This skill allows the user to master all types of weapons, and the higher your level, the more you can master complex weapons.
[Serenity]
This skill provides calmness and mental clarity in dangerous situations, reducing panic and increasing user focus.
---
"So it's because of this skill that I can still think clearly," Huang Wei murmured with a bitter smile touching his lips—a mixture of relief and deep fear.
The Serenity skill indeed helped him maintain mental clarity, but there was a hidden fear that haunted him. He had already struggled enough to feel emotions normally, to not drown in the emptiness that once consumed him. Would this skill push him further into the emotional void that had once made him... almost disappoint the most precious person in his life?
But before he could think further, the chaos from outside the window began to break his concentration.
---