As Ethan emerged from the confines of his room, his gaze swept across the lit hallway before him.
Yet, before he could fully assess his surroundings, four pairs of vacant eyes snapped to him, their gaze sharp and predatory.
Only moments before, Ethan had been emboldened by the defeat of a lone zombie, his confidence unwavering.
But now, a creeping chill slithered down his spine, a stark reminder of the danger that loomed before him.
Despite the unsettling fear that gnawed at him, he refused to retreat.
With steely resolve, he squared his shoulders and took a determined step forward.
The zombies staggered toward him with unsettling determination, their movements akin to ants converging on a sugar trail.
Ethan, however, was no fool. He knew better than to entertain the delusion of confronting four of these monstrosities in direct combat.
Without hesitation, he activated his Wind Manipulation.
His mana surged in response to his focused thoughts, a tangible force at his command.
Extending his hand with precision, he willed the air to bend to his will.
A small, concentrated sphere of wind materialized in an instant, its edges sharp with intent.
Without pause, it shot forward, a silent projectile aimed at one of the approaching zombies.
As the sphere collided with the zombie's skull, it detonated with a small forceful explosion, the echo of impact reverberating through the hall.
Ethan had no time to think.
The remaining three zombies were already upon him.
Their grotesque hands reached out with chilling precision, aiming to seize him, to trap him in place.
But Ethan, fueled by instinct, threw himself to the side in a frantic roll.
His body crashed against the unforgiving floor, but he didn't allow himself a moment's pause. He couldn't afford it.
With urgency propelling him, he sprang to his feet, his movements rough but determined.
Without hesitation, his blade, honed by desperation, drove into the skull of the nearest zombie.
A sickening splatter of blood and shattered bone marked the creature's end as it collapsed, lifeless.
Ethan raised his hand once more, and another wind sphere materialized.
Without hesitation, he sent it hurtling toward the nearest zombie.
The impact was immediate, its head exploded in a grotesque shower of blood and bone, the viscera splattering across Ethan's face.
The final zombie lunged at him, its maw gaping wide, eager to tear into him.
But Ethan was faster.
His knife, steady in his grasp, struck with precision.
The blade sliced cleanly through the creature's mouth, emerging from the back of its skull.
Green blood oozed down the blade, trickling over his palm as the zombie's lifeless body hit the ground with a heavy thud.
As Ethan panted, a sudden wave of sensation washed over him.
His body thrummed with an unexpected surge of energy, as though every fiber of his being had been momentarily revitalized.
[You have killed a Normal Zombie. Stamina +1. Points +1]
[You have killed a Normal Zombie. Strength +1. Points +1]
[You have killed a Normal Zombie. Stamina +1. Points +1]
[You have killed a Normal Zombie. Agility +1. Points +1]
The notifications flickered before his eyes, each one a cold reminder of his victories.
A strange sense of exhilaration bubbled within him.
'This feeling... it's almost intoxicating. No wonder some people lose themselves to power'
Ethan leaned back against the wall, letting the brief moments of respite consume him as he caught his breath.
'Status'
The familiar interface materialized before his eyes:
[Name: Ethan Cross
Age: 21
Race: Human
Health: 10
Strength: 9
Agility: 8
Stamina: 12
Mana: 70 (90)
Points: 5
Ability: Air Manipulation
Shop: Automatically activates when the user gathers ten points]
'So, the wind spheres cost 10 mana each'
Ethan mused, noting the cost as he processed the details.
With a quiet exhale, he pushed himself to his feet.
Since he was still on his floor, he decided to return to his room.
A brief moment of calm was needed, time to wash off the blood that clung to his skin and change into fresh clothes.
A few minutes later, Ethan stepped out of his room, his movements purposeful as he made his way toward the elevator.
The moment the doors slid open, he pressed the garage button without hesitation.
The doors closed with a soft hum.
"Thank God it's still working"
He murmured under his breath, a fleeting moment of relief washing over him.
His destination was clear, he was heading to the garage to retrieve his car.
"Just five more points, and the system shop will activate"
He thought, a small flicker of anticipation lighting his mind.
With a practiced motion, he slung his bag from his shoulder and pulled out his second knife.
The first one had become dull after multiple uses, its edge now ineffective for any serious combat.
With a sharp ding, the elevator reached the garage level.
However, that sound quickly drew the attention of nearby zombies.
As the doors slid open, ten grotesque figures charged toward Ethan without hesitation.
But Ethan didn't flinch.
There was no panic, no moment of indecision.
Without a second thought, he moved.
He dashed to the side, his body fluid and precise, as he unleashed a barrage of wind spheres in quick succession.
The wind sliced through the air, and with each sphere, a zombie fell.
The unmistakable sound of their skulls shattering echoed in the garage.
His mana, however, was beginning to drain at an alarming rate.
Five zombies collapsed in rapid succession, their heads exploding in showers of blood and bone.
Ethan didn't waste a single movement, his focus solely on their heads, he couldn't afford to squander mana on anything less.
'I finally have 10 points, but there's no time to access the system shop. Only 20 mana points left'
Ethan thought, his mind racing as his legs carried him forward.
His speed surged in real-time, his newly gained stats from the five fallen zombies enhancing his every stride.
His eyes darted across the garage, searching for his car.
If he could just get behind the wheel, he could mow down zombies on his way and potentially rack up more points and stats.
But when he reached his parking spot, his hopes were dashed, the car was already in ruins, a twisted wreck that was beyond repair.
He didn't waste time dwelling on it.
With a swift motion, he tossed the car key aside, the metallic clink echoing in the air.
Then, without a moment's hesitation, he ducked behind a nearby pillar, his body blending with the shadows.
A few heartbeats later, the remaining five zombies staggered past the spot where he had been standing, their movements slow and deliberate as they searched for their prey.
Ethan kept his eyes fixed on the approaching zombies from his hidden position.
As he observed them shuffle past, oblivious to his presence, he quickly shifted his focus to the system.
'Shop'
The interface appeared before him:
[Knife: 3 points
Shirt: 1 point
Toothbrush: 1 point
Long Stick: 5 points
Sword: 10 points]
The system didn't bother displaying anything that exceeded the 10 points he currently had in his balance.
Ethan scrolled through the extensive list of miscellaneous items, his mind racing as he considered his options.
Just as he was about to purchase the sword for ten points, something crossed his mind.
'Are the points I use to buy items included within the ten thousand minimum I was given?'
If they weren't, it meant he'd always need to replenish his points whenever he spent them.
'I don't have any other choice'
With no time left to deliberate, he selected the sword and in an instant, his ten points vanished.
A sleek, pure black sword materialized in his hand, its surface devoid of any design or ornamentation, just a sharp, simple blade.
[Beginner Sword: A sword crafted by a novice blacksmith.
Attack Power: 50]
A faint smile tugged at the corners of Ethan's lips.
'Now I have a real weapon'
His gaze shifted toward the zombies, who had begun wandering aimlessly, their vacant eyes scanning the empty space around them.
Using his newfound speed, Ethan closed the distance between himself and the zombies before they could even react.
His strength surged as he gripped the sword tightly, the weight of the weapon now feeling like an extension of himself.
Without hesitation, he swung.
The blade sliced through the air with ease, decapitating the first zombie in a single clean motion, like a hot knife through butter.
The remaining zombies immediately reacted, their movements frantic, but Ethan was no longer the same.
With his enhanced stats and a real weapon in hand, he moved with ease and confidence.
He stepped to the side, fluid and fast, his sword arcing through the air to strike the second zombie.
In a flash, its skull was cleaved in half, the upper portion soaring through the air before plummeting to the ground with a sickening thud.
Without missing a beat, Ethan's leg shot out, his footheel connecting with the skull of another zombie with a sickening bam.
The impact was brutal, caving in its head.
The zombie crumpled to the floor, spasming violently as if its nervous system had short-circuited.
In the same fluid motion, Ethan ducked, narrowly avoiding the deadly swipe of claws from the remaining two zombies.
He didn't hesitate.
His sword moved in a flash, slicing cleanly through their knees.
Both zombies crashed to the ground with a deafening thud, their bodies crumpling in unison.
In one seamless motion, Ethan drove the sword into their heads, finishing them off without a second thought.