《Virus: Origin of Blood》


 Chapter 1. Hell is calling

    "Been a while, old man. Hope you didn''t miss me too much," Isaac muttered, settling down and leaning against the cold, gray gravestone. "I would have come sooner, but well¡­ life happened."


    He shook his head. "Three weeks¡­ It''s April already, you know. The world is coming alive again, and I¡­ I just keep going like I always did¡ªlike you asked me to. Though, I might have to change jobs again, so that''s exciting, I guess? Not sure what I''m gonna try next, but that''s fine. After all, how did you always put it?" He snapped his fingers. "Right¡­ It''s the journey that matters, not the goal."


    Isaac chuckled, picking up the bouquet of cornflowers he''d set beside him. "I even brought you some flowers this time around. You better like them, old man¡ªthey weren''t cheap. I swear, the lady at the entrance probably scammed me. Ten bucks for something so small can''t be right, but what do I know..."


    Slowly, he rose to his feet and placed the flowers by the headstone. The blue bouquet looked a little out of place in the grim setting, but maybe that was the point: to bring a touch of beauty to a place steeped in death and sadness. Or maybe not. He couldn''t bring himself to care too much about it either way.


    "In other news, your granddaughter visited me again," Isaac announced, his face scrunching into a grimace. "And when I say visited, I mean barged into my apartment and shouted at me for five minutes straight. Sometimes I really cannot believe you two are related¡­"


    A sharp whistle of wind was the only answer to his words, and he couldn''t help but sigh.


    "Honestly, I have no idea what to do about her anymore. It''s been almost a year now, yet she is still trying¡­ Maybe¡­ Maybe I should just give it up? What''s the point of fighting with her every other week? It''s just an apart¡ª"


    Isaac stopped as another blast of wind shot through the area, gently ruffling his short black hair and picking up some leaves on the way. His gaze scanned the empty graveyard as if looking for something¡ªsomeone¡ªbut there was nothing. He was just as alone as he was a minute ago.


    "What am I even saying¡­" He shook his head gently. "Why do I even care... You left me that place. It''s official, legit. Nothing she can do ''bout that. If she takes me to court? Well, it''s her loss¡­" The corner of his lips tugged up into a small smile. "Thanks, old man. Somehow, you''re still helping me."


    Yet, even with that said, Isaac stayed in his spot, his gaze glued to the grave as the distant sound of traffic washed over his ears. He should go, he really should, but he just couldn''t¡ªdidn''t want to¡ªmove. As morbid as it sounded, this graveyard was his escape, and he didn''t want to give it up just yet.


    Nothing waited for him outside it anyway¡­


    That''s sad, even by my standards.


    He snorted, looking down at his old but trusty watch. "No rest for the wicked, eh? It''s time for me¡­ Got another shift in an hour, and I still need to get some groceries. Rest well, old man. I will see you next week. Promise won''t be late this time."


    After a final glance at the blue flowers, Isaac turned on his heel and headed for the graveyard''s exit. On the way out, he nodded to the woman who had most likely scammed him out of his hard-earned money and headed back toward the city.


    Thankfully, Galt was a fairly small town, so with enough time, he could get anywhere on foot. Sure, it wasn''t the most thrilling walk, but at the very least, it gave him a decent workout. God knew he didn''t have enough time¡ªor necessary motivation¡ªto hit the local gym or go on a run.


    Maybe trying to save up for some beat-up car wouldn''t be such a bad idea, Isaac mused, fishing out his earphones and selecting a random playlist on his phone. Old man always said I should get out of this town before it suffocates me. Something to think of later¡­ First though¡ªgroceries.


    Soon enough, he reached the heart of the city and headed for the local convenience store on the corner of the street where he lived. He nodded to the elderly woman behind the counter, earning a warm smile in return.


    With practiced ease, he weaved between the shelves, grabbing an item here and there. He didn''t take too much, though¡ªjust enough for tonight. He would have to make a proper grocery run tomorrow.


    "There we go," he muttered, placing his haul on the counter and tugging out his earphones.


    "Keeping it simple, aren''t you, Isaac?" the old woman said, offering him a light grin. "You sure you don''t want anything else? We got some fresh apples this morning¡ªbest batch we''ve had in a while."


    Isaac shook his head. "Not today, Mrs. Harper. Just need something for tonight. I will be back tomorrow."


    "Good, good. You should eat more, boy, or you will turn into skin and bones," she chided, tallying up the items. "That will be 11.43. Do you want a bag to go with it?"


    He ignored her first comment. "No need. Thank you, Mrs. Harper. I will see you tomorrow."


    "Oh well¡­ Have a good day, Isaac."


    He nodded in return and headed for the exit. He still had about half an hour before his shift began. If he hurried, he might even be able to eat something before going out. Or¡­ he could show up a few minutes late. At this point, it probably didn''t matter anyway.


    Only time will tell. He laughed quietly to himself, slipping his earphones back in. Only time will tell¡­


    <hr>


    "Finally done!" Daryl exclaimed, his grin barely visible behind his thick, scruffy beard. He plopped down onto the bench next to Isaac and patted him on the back. "Rough day, eh, kid? Thank God they can''t hold us any longer... Mia would kill me if I came home late again," he added the last part in a mutter.


    Isaac smiled, putting his work clothes back in his locker. "We''ve had worse."


    The older man chuckled. "That we have. Not sure if that''s something to be proud of, though¡­ Bah! Whatever. Doesn''t matter anyway. You better tell me if you are coming with us this weekend."


    Ah, this again¡­ Isaac grimaced, quickly trying to come up with something to say. "I''m not sure yet. Let you know tomorrow, okay?"


    "You better, kid. Really, I have no ide¡ª"


    Daryl paused as the door to the locker room swung open. A short, muscular man strode in, his eyes instantly zeroing in on Isaac. "Walker! The manager wants to see you. Now."


    With his part said, the man instantly turned around and left the room. Once the door closed, Daryl scoffed. "Fucking prick. And he wonders why no one invites him when we go out."


    Isaac sighed. "It is what it is." He stood up and slung his bag over his shoulder. "Better not keep Harris waiting. See you later."


    Just as he reached for the doorknob, Daryl''s voice stopped him. "Wait up, kid! Listen, we both know why he''s calling you¡­ and while I can''t offer you a job, I know some people. I can ask around. You are a hard worker¡ªit shouldn''t be that difficult. Just give me a few days."


    A tiny smile tugged at his lips. "Thanks. I appreciate it."


    "Don''t mention it! Come by my place on Sunday. We can talk details then, and I''m sure Mia will be happy to have you over for dinner again."


    "I will be there. Thanks again, Daryl."


    <hr>


    They fired him. It wasn''t a surprise¡ªnot to him and not to anyone else, really. The signs had been everywhere: budget cuts, no more overtime, and Harris, their manager, snapping every other day. Isaac was just unlucky enough to be the first one let go. It also didn''t help that management disliked him to some degree¡ªwhich, to be fair, might have been partially his fault.


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Even though Dylan said he was a hard worker, it didn''t mean he was an easy person to work with.


    Oh well¡­


    At the very least, Isaac could now cross "warehouse worker" off the ever-growing list of jobs he had held in the few months since the old man had passed away and he had finished high school. Honestly, it was impressive how many times he had managed to switch jobs in such a short amount of time. Maybe he should apply for some kind of a record?


    That''s an angle, he thought, snorting softly as he splashed his face with cold water. He glanced up at the mirror above the sink. Blue eyes stared back at him, framed by dark bags. His hair¡ªor pretty much his entire body¡ªhad also seen better days.


    I could use a day or two of rest. Maybe Harris did me a favor¡­


    Wiping his face dry, Isaac left his tiny bathroom and maneuvered his way through the living room in the darkness. It didn''t take him long to lie down on the couch and close his eyes. Even if he didn''t feel too tired now, a moment to figure out his thoughts couldn''t hurt¡­


    In the end, he would be fine¡ªhe always was. Losing another job didn''t mean much in the long run. At this point, he had enough experience to find work in a few days; it was just another step in an all-too-familiar cycle. Besides, he still had his own apartment and a small stash of money¡ªsecurity that many could only dream of.


    And so the cycle continues. At least this time, I might have some help. Sounds nice. A tiny smile tugged at his lips. Maybe this is a sign. I could get two jobs, save up more, and get the hell out of this place.


    Deep down, he knew it would never happen. Wishes like that were for dreamers, for people with a purpose, not for him. What was the point of leaving if he had no goal, no direction? Why abandon a somewhat peaceful, steady life just to scrape by doing odd jobs in a different city?


    "Pathetic," Isaac mumbled, only to yawn a moment later. Suddenly, sleep didn''t sound so bad after all.


    Running away from your problems again, eh? Old man would be proud¡­ He sighed before letting out another yawn. Tomorrow¡­ I will think about it tomorrow¡­


    <hr>


    For the first time in a few weeks, Isaac slept well past eight in the morning. Did it mean the lingering exhaustion had disappeared? Not quite¡ªnot yet. But maybe, after a few more nights like this, it would. Of course, depending on how quickly he found another job, he might never get the chance to find out.


    Shopping and breakfast first¡ªworry about work later, he thought, throwing on some fresh black sweatpants and a hoodie. He also grabbed his worn-out backpack and headed out of his apartment. Let''s go slow for today. No hurry.


    In the back of his mind, the thoughts from last night lingered, but for now, he pushed them aside. As the old man used to say, "No use making decisions on an empty stomach," or something like that. He had said a lot of things¡ªsome wise, others¡­ not so much.


    After a quick jog down the stairs, Isaac left his apartment building and headed for the corner convenience shop again. If luck was on his side today, then he should be able to buy everything he needed for the next week there. If not¡­ well, he would get another workout trying to reach a different place.


    With music playing in his ears, he entered the store and nodded to Mrs. Harper and a man browsing through items near the counter. The older woman greeted him with her usual warm smile while the man didn''t even glance his way. Rude, but not uncommon.


    Let''s see¡­ Isaac mused, choosing to start his shopping from the freezers. What do I need again? I really should have made a list¡­


    Yet even without one, he slowly gathered everything he needed from the freezer section. He had probably forgotten something anyway and would have to return here another day, but that was pretty much the standard.


    All right, next some pa¡ª


    The thought shattered as a sudden, searing pain tore through his body. He collapsed to his knees, feeling as if someone stabbed his every organ and filled them with liquid fire. The music in his ears faded into the background as a silent scream left his lips.


    A moment later, he collapsed completely, writhing on the cool and dirty floor. Everything burned. His blood, his muscles, his insides. Worse still, it felt like his body was being torn apart and rearranged from the inside out.


    He had no idea how long he lay there, silently begging for the pain to end. Yet when it did, he almost wished it didn''t¡ªalmost. Muffled screams echoed around him, some filled with pain, others with fear. One of them, sharper and closer, came from within the shop and froze the blood in his veins.


    Mrs. Harper!


    Isaac scrambled to his feet, trying to ignore the dull ache in his body. He raced between the shelves, his heart doing a marathon of its own inside his chest. Yet, even with all that, he was too late.


    When he reached the counter, Mrs. Harper''s screams abruptly cut off, and it wasn''t the smiling woman that greeted him. No, instead, he found her bloodied corpse sprawled on the floor, her throat slit and vacant eyes staring into nothingness.


    For a second, the world stopped, and then the man standing over her body turned to face Isaac, snarling like a rabid animal.


    What the hell?!


    Bloodshot eyes and sickly yellow irises glared at him as saliva dripped from the man''s mouth. Black throbbing veins filled his entire face, spreading from the eyes. And then there were his hands, bloodied with nails so sharp and long they resembled claws.


    Isaac gulped.


    Shit.


    Just like that, the world unfroze, and he bolted back toward the shelves, the man¡ªno, the monster¡ªfollowing almost instantly, its screech filling the store. Thinking fast, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the flip knife he never left home without. He didn¡¯t expect to have to use it against a knock-off zombie, but he would take whatever advantage he could get.


    Shit, shit, shit!


    Behind him, the monster crashed into shelves, sending items clattering to the floor. Isaac darted toward the freezers, grabbing a broom that had been propped against the wall on the way. Then, he ducked behind another shelf, gripping the knife and broom handle so tightly his knuckles turned white.


    Okay, okay¡­ Deep breaths. I ain''t dying here. I can do this¡­


    Most people in his situation would think about running away, getting the hell out of the store. But Isaac couldn''t do that, not when he heard the continuous screams coming from outside. Here, he at least stood a chance, one against one¡ªthe same might not apply once he left this place. He had watched enough zombie movies to know that.


    He''s coming.


    A screech came from his right, close to his hiding spot, sending shivers down his spine. He grabbed the broom with both hands, the knife stuck between his palm and the wooden shaft.


    Now!


    With all the strength he could muster, Isaac swung the broom just as the monster rounded the corner of the shelf. The wooden handle smashed into the beast¡¯s head, dropping it to the floor like a sack of bricks, a wail leaving its lips.


    Isaac hesitated even as the blade of his knife snapped out. The next step was obvious, end the threat before it could end him. Yet, it was one thing to consider killing someone and another to commit to it.


    I''m just trying to survive. It''s self-defense. He repeated those words like a mantra inside his head. This isn''t a human anymore, just some monster.


    But was it really the truth? Just a few minutes ago, the man lying before him was browsing groceries. Maybe this was some sort of a mistake. A dream. Stuff like this didn''t happen in real life¡ªonly in fiction.


    Isaac tried to pinch his arm, but before he could do that, the man-monster moved again, its yellow eyes snapping open. It snarled, showing teeth covered in blood. The memory of Mrs. Harper''s bloodied corpse flashed in his mind.


    Do it!


    Instincts overrode hesitation. Isaac lunged forward, slapping away one of the monster''s clawed hands and driving his knife straight into its chest. The beast screeched, its eyes opening wide.


    He took it as a sign that he was doing something right.


    Again!


    He yanked the blade free and stabbed again, then again, uncaring where his strikes landed¡ªits chest, its shoulders, its neck. Blood splattered them both, covering everything in the aisle. Yet, he noticed none of that and continued riddling the monster with more holes.


    The man-turned-monster flailed at first, but soon, even that stopped. Isaac froze mid-stab, his mind finally catching up with his body. He scrambled back like struck until his back hit the freezer behind him.


    He tore his gaze away from the lifeless yellow eyes as he took in large gulps of air. The knife in his hand trembled, but he couldn''t let it go. He wouldn''t let it go.


    Get a grip! Isaac hissed inside his mind, trying to calm his racing heart. You... you did what you had to. The noises outside only prove that.


    Silence might have fallen onto the convenience store, but outside, screams and screeches still raged. Even if he was safe now, that could change in the blink of an eye if another of those monsters barged in here.


    I need¡­ I need to find out what''s happening¡­


    Isaac tried to stand up, but before he could even move his legs, the corpse in front of him flickered once and disappeared. The blood he had spilled still painted the floor, but the body was nowhere to be seen.


    What?


    He didn''t expect an answer, yet he still received one.


    Red glowing letters appeared in the air before him, forming a few sentences in the only language he knew.


    Hibernation Stage Initialization: Failure. Cause: Broken Strain Detected.


    Recalculating¡­ Activating Emergency Breakout Stage. Preparing Contamination Zones.


    Host scan in progress... Stand by¡­

 Chapter 2. Escape

    What in the hell? Isaac thought, staring at the glowing text with wide eyes. He blinked and pinched his arm, yet it didn''t go away. I must be dreaming. All of this must be a dream. No other explanation.


    Just then, a series of gunshots echoed from outside, almost making him jump. Moments later, a deafening crash followed. He quickly scrambled to his feet and ran toward the nearest window.


    "Dear God," Isaac mumbled, taking in the scene before him.


    The world outside was chaos¡ªabsolute chaos. Multiple corpses already littered the ground, drowning the streets in blood. Those who still breathed were running around in panic, desperate to escape the same yellow-eyed monsters Isaac had just fought. A few brave ones stood their ground, facing the beasts head on¡­


    ¡­only to join the dead once the humans-turned-monsters overwhelmed them with sheer numbers.


    He also didn''t have to search long for the source of the crash. Several cars had swerved off the road in the chaos, smashing into the buildings on both sides of the street. By some miracle, none of them had hit the shop he was inside.


    Yet.


    Shit! Isaac ducked low when one of the monsters looked in his direction. Heart pounding, he tried to come up with a plan, but his mind refused to cooperate. The glowing text still blocking a part of his vision also didn''t help.


    Can you just go away!? He growled, and to his surprise, it did just that. The red letters faded like they were never there. Mental commands? But what even was it? Stages? Broken Strain? Host scan?


    Isaac shook his head. Whatever the text meant wasn''t important, at least not now. There were literal zombies on steroids running outside, slaughtering the population of Galt. He had watched enough movies and TV shows to know that if he didn''t act or move soon, he would join the corpses on the ground.


    I know you sometimes might think that life isn''t worth the effort, but it really is, boy. So live. For me and especially for yourself. Don''t you ever give up.


    Those were the old man''s words¡ªone of the last he had ever said to Isaac. He had tried to live by them ever since, doing his best to keep going no matter how hard life kicked him in the ass.


    And he wasn''t about to give up today.


    I can''t stay here. No matter how convenient it might have been to have constant access to supplies, this shop was far too exposed. My apartment first; I live up the street, after all. Then¡­ then I will se¡ª


    The universe, as always, had other plans. A deafening clap of thunder split the air, shaking both the sky and the ground beneath it. Isaac grasped the nearest shelf, fighting to stay upright. He would have succeeded, too, if not for the next tremor and the bright flash of light that poured through the window, hitting him square in the eyes.


    Blinded and with his ears ringing, he crumbled to the floor like a sack of potatoes.


    It just never ends, does it? Isaac grimaced, trying to blink away the glare from his vision. At least the earthquake seemed to stop after the second tremor, though the sudden silence outside was disconcerting.


    Never mind, it''s all back, he noted as the muffled screams and other various sounds returned. Slowly, he picked himself up from the ground and took another peek through the window.


    Oh¡­


    While the chaos on the streets persisted, that wasn''t what caught Isaac''s attention now. No, that honor belonged to the vast green barrier that appeared above the entire city and stretched beyond the horizon. It was hard to tell from this angle, but it almost looked like some sort of a protection dome.


    Just how far does this thing go?


    The barrier didn''t tower too high over Galt, but as he looked north, in the direction of Sacramento, he noticed it slowly gaining altitude. His limited sight might not have allowed him to see where it ended, but this alone put things into perspective.


    At least it doesn''t block the sun, Isaac tried to reassure himself. The situation was bad enough; he didn''t need any more negativity.


    Wait! The text! It mentioned contamination zones. Is that what this is? But if it reaches all the way up to Sacramento, then¡­


    Isaac shook his head, cutting off that train of thought. So much for avoiding unnecessary negativity. He had to get a grip and focus on his own problems. It was his life on the line now. It wasn¡¯t like him to worry about strangers.


    Exit. There must be one in the back.


    He snatched the fallen broom from the floor and made his way back to the counter, his eyes fixed on the door behind it. If he were lucky, it would lead to a storage room with an exit opening onto the alley located between two rows of buildings. And if it didn''t? Well, he would have to figure out a different plan¡ªpreferably one that didn''t involve walking straight into the chaos on the streets.


    Isaac tried his best to ignore the corpse of Mrs. Harper that blocked his path, but once more, the world decided to take that decision out of his hands. Even if he wanted to look away, he couldn''t ignore the sight of black veins spreading across her pale, lifeless face.


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    "No way¡­" he muttered.


    His gaze drifted lower, stopping at her neck¡ªfreshly healed and unblemished. Even the blood was gone. If that weren''t proof enough of what was happening, nothing short of Mrs. Harper rising from the dead would convince him.


    Which just might happen if he didn¡¯t act.


    His hand tightened around his flip knife, raising it without conscious thought. Isaac didn''t force it away¡ªhe couldn''t. Even if there was a tiny chance that the woman would return as herself and not as one of the monsters, he couldn''t risk it.


    "I''m sorry," he mumbled, stabbing the dead woman right above her heart. He then yanked the blade out and plunged it in again, just to make sure.


    The effect was instantaneous. The black veins stopped in their track before receding and disappearing completely. Isaac pulled out his knife again but didn''t move from his spot, his gaze fixed on the lifeless body, waiting for something¡ªanything¡ªto happen.


    Nothing did.


    The black veins didn''t return, nor did the body flicker out of existence like the monster''s corpse did. Mrs. Harper just remained on the floor, her clothes stained with fresh blood flowing out of the new wound on her chest.


    Isaac turned away.


    "I''m so sorry."


    With this final mutter, he opened the door next to him and slipped through, closing it behind him for now. Just as he had hoped, this new room was indeed a storage¡ªa quite large one at that. Metal shelves lined the walls, all filled with boxes or packed products. He also spotted a desk and a cabinet in one of the corners, but he didn''t really care about those.


    What he cared for was the large door on the opposite side of the room.


    That should be it, Isaac thought, approaching the exit and slowly turning the key to unlock it. The lock clicked, and with the same amount of care, he slid the metal door open, but only enough to create a small gap. He wasn''t planning to go outside just yet.


    At first, the alley behind the shop appeared empty, but that also changed within seconds when a group of three sprinted past the door. They were shouting at each other, so it didn''t take long to identify them as humans.


    What chased them, however, was anything but.


    Hell no! Isaac shut the door and locked it with the key. No way in hell he was risking going out when a literal horde just ran into the alley. The three survivors were on their own. He couldn''t help them.


    It''s already a miracle that nobody has barged into the shop yet. I need to hurry.


    Isaac slipped off his backpack and went around the storage area, picking up items on the way. Dry food with a long shelf life, bottled water, and other necessities. He also grabbed a crowbar that was leaning against one of the shelves. It should serve him much better than the wooden broom.


    "What else? What else?" he whispered, his eyes darting around the room. His backpack was already full, but it didn''t matter. The storage had plenty of stuff he could use to carry more. He didn''t want to forget something and then regret it. He had no idea when he would return here, if ever.


    Can''t really think of anything else now. What''s new...


    He sighed and zipped up his bag. Time to move; he had overstayed his welcome here anyway.


    Though¡­


    Isaac reached into his other pocket and pulled out his phone. The screen lit up when he pressed the button on its side. The signal was strong, but there were no new notifications¡ªno emergency alerts, no news of an apocalypse tearing the world apart.


    Is it too early? Did the government already fall? No¡­ That can''t be it.


    Dropping the phone back into his pocket, he hoisted up his bag and approached the exit door once more. Without making a sound, he slid it open just enough to let him through.


    He peeked out and counted to five.


    Nothing.


    It''s now or never.


    With the crowbar in hand and his knife waiting in his pocket, Isaac stepped out into the open and made his way up the alleyway. Each step was slow and measured, careful to avoid making any sound. While the city was anything but quiet now, he wasn''t risking alerting any monsters waiting on the other side of the building.


    Close now, he thought, spotting the fire escape attached to his apartment building near the end of the alley. Careful...


    Isaac hugged the nearest wall and leaned out to take a look into another much smaller alley that led back to the main street. He didn''t even last a second before jerking back and pressing his back against the wall.


    Shit.


    Of course, the tiny alley wasn''t empty. Though, the situation also wasn''t that bad. There was only one monster waiting there, and it was busy clawing at a large metal trash container. It didn''t take a genius to figure out why.


    I should go. It''s distracted.


    Yet Isaac hesitated. He wasn''t that heartless. If there were two or more human-turned-monsters there, he wouldn''t have even entertained the idea of helping. But with only one?


    Quick in and out. That''s all.


    He nodded to himself, turned the corner, and crept toward the unaware creature, raising the crowbar as he closed the distance. Once only a few feet separated them, he swung with all his might.


    The crowbar smashed into the monster''s skull, cracking it like an egg. The ex-human crumbled to the ground, only a low hiss escaping its lips.


    By all means, it should have been dead, but Isaac wasn''t taking any chances.


    His knife jumped into his hand, and in one swift motion, he plunged its blade into the beast''s heart. Life instantly left its yellow eyes.


    Fast!


    Isaac didn''t even close his knife as he lifted the heavy lid of the trash container. He looked into the darkness and whispered, "Anybody here? Quick! We don''t have time."


    Instantly, a movement to his left caught his attention. He leaned back just in case, crowbar at the ready, but he didn''t need to. A man, maybe a bit older than him, crawled out, peering outside through the open lid.


    "You killed her? It?" he whispered back, a bit too loud for Isaac''s liking. His gaze darted to the monster''s corpse. "Thanks, man. Thought I was a goner for sure."


    "Quiet," Isaac hissed, giving the man a hand to help him out of the container. "Got anywhere close by to hide?"


    The older man shook his head. "I live on the outskirts. We should stick together. Strength in num¡ª"


    ¡°No,¡± Isaac cut him off. "There is a shop at the end of the alley if you go left. I left the back door to its storage room open. Hide there until things calm down."


    "But¡ª"


    "I said no." Isaac''s tone was firm. "Take it or leave it, but you''re not coming with me."


    Even if almost everyone would tell him that there was strength in numbers, Isaac disagreed. Or at least he disagreed with grouping up with people he didn''t know or trust. Better to stay alone for now and see how things progressed.


    Still, the other man scowled. "Fine, whatever. Do you at least ha¡ª"


    Whatever he wanted to say died in his throat when a growl reached both their ears. Isaac''s head snapped toward the end of the narrow alley. Three yellow-eyed ex-humans stood there, one of them already locked onto them.


    "Run!"

 Chapter 3. Trapped

    "Go left! Green metal door!" Isaac shouted as they sprinted back toward the alley he had initially come from.


    The other man just shot him a quick nod, and when the time to turn arrived, he dashed left while Isaac ran right. It was the best decision they could have made, too, as once the monsters reached the crossroads, they hesitated for a moment, glancing in both directions.


    In the end though, one of the beasts followed after the older man, while the other two stayed on Isaac''s tail. Still, at least their momentary confusion bought the two survivors a few more seconds of freedom.


    Good luck, man, he thought, throwing a quick glance over his shoulder. The other guy had all the information needed to survive. He just had to choose the right door. Now, if only I could make it out, too.


    Isaac''s eyes landed on the fire escape attached to his apartment building. The first ladder wasn''t lowered, but that wouldn''t stop him. It definitely hadn''t stopped the younger him from climbing those things back in the day. Then again, back then, he wasn''t lugging an overpacked bag on his back.


    Just gotta get the jump right, he reassured himself internally as another trash container came within reach. It wasn''t very tall, so climbing onto it only took a moment. Don''t mess it up.


    He tossed the crowbar, letting the tool clatter onto the fire escape. With another look over his shoulder at the approaching monsters, Isaac took a deep breath, got a running start, and counted his steps.


    One. Two. Three. Four. Now!


    He screamed as, with the final step, he leaped off the container. His hands flew forward and grasped the metal bottom of the fire escape. The muscles in his arms and shoulders burned from the weight they now had to support.


    That''s what I get for never hitting the gym. Isaac grimaced, struggling to pull himself up¡ªand failing miserably. Oh, come on!


    A screech echoed from behind him, and he barely had time to glance down before a searing pain shot through the bottom of his left leg. The source? One of the beasts that managed to reach his foot with its sharp fingernails.


    Shit, shit, shit! Isaac hissed, gripping the metal bar even tighter and putting all of his strength into the next pull. Somehow¡ªmaybe thanks to the adrenaline now coursing through his veins¡ªit worked, and he hurled himself onto the lowest level of the fire escape.


    "Damn it," he cursed as another jolt of pain ripped through his leg. He tried to push it to the back of his mind for the moment and stood up, grabbing the discarded crowbar on the way.


    More screeches and growls reached his ears from beneath the fire escape, but just like his injured leg, they went ignored. He had to get the hell out of the open. Those two beasts might not be able to do much alone, but if more came?


    Isaac shuddered at the thought and limped up the stairs, each step taking more effort than he would have liked. He passed all the windows leading to someone''s homes and stopped before the only one that opened onto the stairwell area.


    One way to do it, he thought, raising the crowbar. With a sharp swing, the glass shattered, raining shards around him. He paid them no mind and pushed himself through the broken window, dropping into the silent and dark corridor.


    However, the silence didn''t last for long.


    Muffled screeches soon joined the ones coming from outside, and it didn''t take long for him to figure out the source.


    Don''t think about it.


    Isaac averted his gaze from the nearest door and limped past it. Another agonizing trudge up the stairs brought him to the final floor¡ªright to the door of his apartment. He quickly snatched the keys from his pocket and unlocked it.


    Once inside, Isaac locked the door again and slid down to the floor, trying to calm his racing heart.


    It was a mistake.


    The fading adrenaline left a void, and pain came roaring back to fill it. His eyes snapped wide open as his gaze traveled down to his left leg, or rather to the two long gashes going across his calf. His sweatpants did nothing to protect the limb and instead were happy to soak in the blood dripping from the wounds.


    Thankfully, the bleeding wasn''t all that bad.


    Still hurts like hell.


    Isaac winced and, with a herculean effort, hopped toward his tiny bathroom on one leg. He flicked on the light switch and dug out a basic first aid kit from the small cabinet in the corner. He also snatched two clean towels.


    Clean the wound, disinfect it, and bandage it. Just like you''ve done a hundred times before. No biggie¡­


    Once he had soaked one of the towels under cold water, he dropped on the floor and rolled up the tattered leg of his sweatpants.


    "Could have been worse," Isaac muttered, carefully dabbing the cuts with the wet towel. Not that there was much to clean. He never really had a chance to dirty them in the first place.


    Now for the fun part, he thought, opening the antiseptic. He poured a generous amount onto the cuts and didn''t have to wait long for the burn to hit him like a speeding train.


    "Son of a¡ª" He hissed as the sharp stinging spread through his leg. Biting down on his lip, he continued, dripping more antiseptic onto the cuts. If he was doing this, he was doing it thoroughly.


    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    At least a minute went by before the stinging dulled into a weak throb. Isaac grabbed the second towel and pressed it against his leg to stem the bleeding. The roll of gauze and bandage landed in his hand next, finishing the job.


    "Not my best work, but it should do for now." He sighed, leaning against the wall and closing his eyes. With the cuts still bleeding, he would have to change the dressing soon, but for now, he bought himself some peace.


    He snorted. "Peace¡­ Right¡­¡±


    The screams, screeches, and occasional gunshots never really went away. If anything, they grew more frequent and intense by the minute. Then again, if all of Galt went silent all of a sudden, he figured he would be even more worried.


    I should secure the apartment.


    Yet, just as he was about to move, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He fished it out and unlocked the screen.


    Finally¡­


    EMERGENCY ALERT: PUBLIC SAFETY NOTICE


    The government of the United States of America has identified a highly dangerous and abnormal behavior among some individuals, which is attributed to an unidentified contagion. Citizens of the following areas¡ªNew York, Sacramento, Dallas, and Orlando¡ªare advised to adhere to the following instructions immediately.


    Stay Indoors or seek shelter in unaffected buildings. Lock and secure all doors and windows. Do not risk confrontations with affected individuals. Stay informed via official channels.


    The government and military of the United States are working hard to provide help to affected areas. Stay put and stay safe.


    Isaac gulped as the notification came to an end. "Oh¡­ Four major cities are affected¡­ Was Galt really that unlucky to be somewhat close to Sacramento? Shit¡­¡±


    As if a second wind hit him, he jumped to his feet and hobbled back into his living room. He grabbed a small dresser standing near the entrance and shoved it against the door. Next were the windows, which he quickly covered with curtains.


    His only bedroom was last, though there, he stopped by the window and took a final look outside.


    Nobody was trying to fight anymore¡ªat least here, the noises in the distance told a different story. The monsters still wandered the streets, but without anyone to face them, they moved aimlessly, as if confused. Then there were the corpses, lying in puddles of their own blood.


    Although, even with the long distance, Isaac could still make out the telltale signs of black veins snaking across some of the corpses'' faces. Guess he would be finding out soon if he had stabbed Mrs. Harper for nothing.


    "At least I''m safe... for now," he muttered, hopping back to the living room.


    There, he grabbed the discarded backpack and put it on the table in the middle of the room. He considered unpacking it but discarded that idea. Who knew when he would need to move again? Having some stuff packed from the get-go could be useful.


    Though, I will need to repack some stuff to make it perfect. Not that he had the strength to do it now. His leg deserved at least a bit of rest before he decided to abuse it again.


    His eyes strayed to the small TV standing by one of the walls. Might as well. Need more info anyway.


    Isaac dropped on the couch and grabbed the remote. He activated the device, but before it could even utter a sound, he put it on mute. Most of his neighbors should be out at this time of the day, but he wasn''t risking alerting any nearby monsters.


    "Let''s see then¡­"


    He flipped through all the useless channels before finally arriving at one with news blaring across the screen.


    "Critical Emergency: Outbreaks of unknown contagion all around the world," he read on the news ticker.


    However, his eyes quickly focused on the other stuff shown on the TV. Cities after cities from a bird''s eye view, all surrounded by the familiar green dome.


    Moscow, New York, Hamburg, Osaka, Chengdu.


    Those were only a few that flashed on the screen. Still, Isaac counted them all and breathed a sigh of relief when the list stopped at thirteen.


    Hopefully, that''s all there is. It''s been barely an hour since this mess began. They could have missed something or just didn''t mention it.


    Isaac really hoped that wasn''t the case, but predicting anything with an apocalypse right at their door was impossible. He would have better luck guessing the next lottery numbers.


    But what now? How long do¡­


    He trailed off as the image on the TV changed. It shifted from the aerial view of the cities to footage showing a group of people standing close to the edge of one of the green barriers. Someone in the crowd picked up a rock and threw it at the contamination zone.


    For a moment, Isaac just watched, his eyes wide open. Then, a short laugh left his lips.


    "We are so fucked."


    The rock never made it to the other side. The moment it touched the barrier, it ceased to exist.


    No flash of light. No explosion. Nothing. The rock simply disintegrated right in front of everyone''s eyes.


    Isaac wanted to tell himself that it was just a small rock, that humans might be able to pass through¡ªbut he wasn''t that naive. The name of the barrier said it all, and the thrown rock only confirmed everything.


    Like the glowing text declared, this was a Contamination Zone.


    Nothing in, nothing out.


    Isaac shut the TV, though not before catching the breaking news that South Korea had declared martial law. No surprise there¡ªthey had just lost access to the entirety of Jeju Island.


    So to sum it up, some of the most populated areas in the world are now fighting budget zombies, while everyone outside the barriers can''t do a damn thing to help us.


    He let out a dry chuckle.


    "This wasn''t how I imagined my Friday going¡­ That''s certainly one way to start my unemployment..."


    Not that his employment status even mattered anymore. The world was changing, and the only question now was, just how much? The glowing text mentioned something about different stages. So what was the next one?


    As if the universe heard him, new lines of red text appeared in front of his eyes.


    Phase One of the Breakout Stage initialized successfully. Phase Two will begin in 12 Hours.


    Host scan finished. Bound Interface available. Displaying now¡­


    Hold up just a damn moment, Isaac called out internally. What does it all mean?


    His questions went unanswered as more information flooded his vision.


    Name: Isaac Walker


    Origin: Locked


    Legacy: Locked


    Virus Stage: 0 - Absorption


    Virus Integrity: 92%


    To fully release your Interface, unlock your Origin, and access additional functions, slay 20 Wretched. Be one of the first five hundred inside your Contamination Zone to achieve this feat and obtain special rewards.


    Current progress: 3 out of 20 | Rewards claimed: 4 out of 500

 Chapter 4. The basics

    Isaac took a deep breath. Panicking and screaming at floating text wouldn¡¯t help him at all. He was better than that¡ªor at least life had taught him to be. Calm and composed, that was how he had to approach this. For the most part, there didn¡¯t exist a problem that couldn¡¯t be fixed with a good, carefully planned approach.


    His eyes locked onto the first two lines of text. They only confirmed that whatever was happening around the world was far beyond human comprehension for now. He also made a mental note about this ¡°Phase Two.¡± It was worrying, but a lot could happen in twelve hours.


    ¡°Host scan finished,¡± Isaac read quietly, his gaze drifting lower.


    What came next almost didn¡¯t make any sense to him. He understood his name¡ªobviously. But the rest? Origin? Legacy? None of those words meant anything to him, at least not without some additional context.


    Of course, that wasn¡¯t all. Virus Stage and Integrity came next. Isaac shivered once he read those names. He could only imagine what they meant, and none of his guesses were comforting.


    When the red text first appeared back in the shop, it mentioned something about a broken strain, and now there was this ¡°Virus¡±. One didn¡¯t have to be a genius to connect the dots between that and the monsters prowling the streets.


    I really need more context. Even my patience has a limit, he thought as he read the final lines of the text again. At least now I know what to call the transformed humans.


    Wretched.


    Not exactly a name Isaac would have chosen, but it beat referring to them as humans-turned-monsters or defaulting to calling them zombies. Although, with their behavior, the latter wasn¡¯t entirely inaccurate. The Wretched were only missing decayed bodies to fit the picture.


    Stop imagining that. He lightly slapped his cheeks. Focus!


    The Interface, or whatever this thing really was, told him to kill twenty Wretched if he wanted to unlock its other functions. Hell, it even offered a reward for being quick with it.


    Now that he thought about it, all of this almost felt like some sort of a¡­


    ¡°Game,¡± Isaac mumbled, the realization sinking in.


    He had never been much of a gamer¡ªmostly due to his lifestyle¡ªbut even he could recognize the patterns. Interface, progress, missions¡ªit all added up.


    Damn¡­


    It honestly looked like some sort of a higher being¡ªand wasn¡¯t that another can of worms waiting to spill¡ªdecided to play a sick joke on the population on Earth. Monsters, games, massive barriers. And all of that for what?


    No one knew.


    But then again, Isaac asked himself.


    Did it really matter?


    He had spent most of his life drifting from place to place until the old man finally took him in. By then, he had already grown apathetic to almost everything that happened around him. The few years with the man had fixed that part of him to some degree, but old habits die hard. So what changed now?


    Nothing¡­ and everything.


    He was still the same person as before, the same guy who went through life like he was going through the motions. No purpose, no goal, no aspirations. Living a life of complete monotony because the only person to truly give a damn about him had asked him to live and never give up. That was all he amounted to.


    Or so he thought.


    This breakout¡ªthis virus¡ªhad awoken something within him that he had felt only a couple of times in the past few years. Curiosity. For now, it was just a tiny spark, but the more his thoughts strayed back to the approaching apocalypse, the more it grew.


    And then there were the monsters, the adrenaline coursing through his veins when he faced them. He might have been scared back then, but he had also never felt more alive. If not for that feeling, that spark of curiosity, he might have left the guy trapped in the trash container to his fate.


    Did it make him a bad person? Maybe.


    Did he care? Not really.


    Isaac just wanted to feel all of that again. He wanted to find out if this was what the old man meant when he said that life was worth the effort. He had to know, and if an apocalypse caused by some godlike being helped him figure it out, then so be it.


    If only my le¡ª


    His thought was cut short when the air a foot in front of him erupted in a brief burst of fire. The tiny flame lingered only for a moment before fading and leaving behind a red envelope that slowly fell toward his lap.


    Startled but curious again, he fought the urge to jump away and instead grabbed the envelope mid-air. The soft and smooth texture felt like any other paper, even if it arrived by some mystical fire teleportation.


    Okay then¡­ Reaching inside, he removed a colorful, thin page. A pamphlet?


    He flipped the paper, his eyebrows rising slightly at the text on the other side.


    Greetings, new Hosts!


    In the name of the Overlord Conductor, we welcome you to the next Integration Cycle. Unfortunately, your starting experience has been negatively affected by the breakout of the Broken Strain. Do not worry, though. As the new hosts, all of you will have plenty of chances to grow stronger and survive the danger until the Overseer stabilizes your planet.


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Until then, fight and grow stronger! Soon, the eyes of the entire integrated universe will be on you! Good luck in the upcoming battles and stages!


    Friendly reminder: To discover the purpose of your freshly unlocked Bound Status, just call out: ¡°Interface:


    .¡± For example: ¡°Interface: Name.¡±


    The moment Isaac finished reading, the pamphlet and envelope burst into flames again, leaving nothing but ashes behind. He didn¡¯t even have the time to throw them away.


    ¡°Huh.¡± He looked down at his hands. ¡°No burns.¡±


    Noting that for the future, his thoughts returned to the words written on the pamphlet. Most of them were a bunch of nonsense and would continue to mean nothing until he got more context. But that friendly reminder at the end? That could be useful.


    ¡°One way to find out,¡± he muttered, giving the floating red text another look. ¡°What did the pamphlet call you? Right¡­ Interface: Status.¡±


    Instantly, the entire text rearranged itself, most of it disappearing completely.


    [Status - Bread and butter of every Virus Host. Managed by the Overseer, it tracks your progress and helps you learn about your growing abilities. Currently bound. Can be summoned and operated with mental commands.]


    This Overseer again. Isaac furrowed his brow. Other than that, everything sounds simple¡­ Status.


    Just like that, the old message returned. To make sure, he dismissed it with a single thought and called it back again. It worked like a charm.


    Now then. Name is obvious. Give me Origin.


    [Origin - One of the primary sources of power for every Host. It creates a link between you and one of the infinite aspects of the Mystical World. Origin grows with the Host, can advance, and may combine multiple aspects together. Additionally, it dictates the distribution of Ascension Power between attributes after each level-up.]


    Leaving me with more questions than answers but I get the general idea. Guess I will find out more once I unlock it. Isaac¡¯s gaze dropped to the next function on the list. Interface: Legacy.


    [Legacy - Unlocks at Origin level 10.]


    He frowned. Fair, if underwhelming¡­ Next then¡­ Virus Stage.


    [Virus Stage - You are now a Host of a special lifeform that will always work for your benefit. Together, you grow stronger. The Virus¡¯ main purposes are: keeping you alive, and transforming the ambient Immortal Mana into energy usable by mortals¡ªViron. Each subsequent Virus stage makes it more efficient, powerful, and unlocks additional features.


    Current Stage: Absorption - Your Virus is still developing and requires more power. Sire Strain: Overlord Chaos.]


    ¡°Okay¡­¡± Isaac mumbled. Whatever he expected, it wasn¡¯t this. Sure, it pretty much confirmed he was now hosting some alien virus, but it also hinted at so much more. His curiosity spiked once more.


    ¡°Looks like people are getting their wish for superpowers¡­ if I¡¯m understanding this right, that is.¡±


    That gave him an idea, and just like with every other function of the Interface, he sent a query about Viron. To his satisfaction, an answer arrived, even if it was quite short.


    [Viron - Special energy produced and stored by the Host¡¯s Virus. It is used for most abilities related to Origin, Virus, and Legacy.]


    Sounds about right, Isaac thought, dismissing this message. That left him with the final part of the bound status¡ªthe one that worried him the most. Interface: Virus Integrity.


    [Virus Integrity - In other words, it represents your Virus¡¯ current condition. Once it hits 0%, the Broken Strain will consume you, leading to a fate worse than death. Getting wounded will lower Integrity by a certain amount, and falling below certain thresholds will apply temporary debuffs to the Host.]


    ¡°And there it goes...¡± Isaac sighed, leaning back into the couch. The missing eight percent from his status? That was thanks to his leg¡ªno denying it now. He was lucky the Integrity hadn¡¯t dropped further.


    Fate worse than death, he thought, the images of Mrs. Harper flashing in his mind.


    Apparently, not even death could save anyone from becoming a monster. It also explained why his kill counter showed three instead of two. The poor woman had been so close to joining the horde that stabbing her in the heart counted as eliminating another Wretched.


    Isaac¡¯s gaze strayed to the nearest window.


    ¡°Might as well¡­¡±


    Ignoring the pain in his leg, he got up from the couch and hobbled over to the gap in the curtains. Not much time had passed since he last looked down on the street, but evidently, it was more than enough.


    A couple of corpses had already disappeared from the road, leaving behind only pools of dried blood. Of course, this could also mean that the bodies had vanished like the Wretched in the shop, but Isaac knew that wasn¡¯t true.


    The corpse in the distance currently rising from the dead only confirmed that. A fate worse than death, indeed.


    He stepped away from the window, wincing as a sharp spike of pain erupted from his leg. Glancing down, he frowned at the drenched bandage. Some blood even got out, dripping down his calf.


    Looks like I gotta change you faster than I expected¡­


    <hr>


    It didn¡¯t take Isaac long to return to his couch with a fresh bandage wrapped around his leg. He pretty much had to redo the entire thing, but at least he was starting to notice the effects. The bleeding became weaker, and his Virus Integrity even regained a single percent.


    Despite all of that, he didn¡¯t go out¡ªnot yet. There was no way his leg could support him properly¡ªthough it definitely showed some miraculous signs of healing when he was changing the bandage. For now, he had to give it a bit more time. In any case, he had a whole box of painkillers waiting for him once he decided to move.


    Until then, Isaac settled for looking at the news on the TV and browsing the Internet on his phone. To no one¡¯s surprise, the entire web was a mess. He had already seen multiple pictures and recordings taken by people within other Contamination Zones. Hell, he even found footage coming from Sacramento.


    And wasn¡¯t that a sight straight out of hell¡ªcarpets of corpses, swarming hordes of Wretched, and people throwing themselves out of windows.


    Aside from scenes straight from nightmares, there were thousands upon thousands of posts scattered everywhere, talking about the apocalypse. Most were clueless ramblings, but he managed to find a few threads where other Hosts were describing the Interface. Few people believed them, and their posts were often lost in the flood of traffic, but still, the information was out there.


    We are all wasting time, Isaac admitted, glancing at the progress counter floating next to him.


    Current progress: 3 out of 20 | Rewards claimed: 42 out of 500


    Despite all the government alerts and every news channel screaming at people to stay safe, there would always be those who didn¡¯t listen. Some had likely already died, but forty-two inside this Contamination Zone had succeeded, with more on the way. Now that the Hosts knew of the possible power-ups and rewards, some wouldn¡¯t be able to resist.


    And that included Isaac, even if his reasons were slightly more complicated.


    Clear the building first. I will worry about what¡¯s after later. He nodded to himself and swallowed the painkiller resting in his palm. Now then, I have a crowbar, but I could use a better knife.


    Yet before he could even get up, his phone vibrated again. At first, he thought it was just another alert, but no¡ªthe screen showed an incoming call.


    ¡°Daryl?¡± Isaac arched an eyebrow but still accepted the call and put the phone next to his ear. ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°Oh, thank God! You¡¯re alive, kid.¡±

 Chapter 5. Waking up

    ¡°Daryl,¡± Isaac repeated, a hint of surprise in his voice. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to hear from you so soon¡­ or at all, if I¡¯m being honest.¡±


    The man on the other side of the line laughed, though the sound carried clear relief. ¡°You ain¡¯t the first one to tell me that today, kid. Though, you¡¯re still only the fifth one to answer since I began calling everyone on my contact list¡­¡±


    Isaac winced. If there was one thing he remembered, it was that Daryl knew a lot of people in Galt. It wouldn¡¯t surprise him if he had half of the town in his contacts. Although, to be fair, depending on how the man had him listed, he might have been one of the first people called.


    He didn¡¯t ask, though; there were more pressing matters to worry about. ¡°How is it going on your side?¡± he said instead.


    ¡°I should be the one asking that, kid. You¡¯re trapped in the middle of the city, right?¡±


    A frown crept onto Isaac¡¯s face as he nodded. ¡°Pretty much. I¡¯m bunkering inside my apartment for now.¡±


    ¡°Damn it,¡± Daryl cursed. ¡°One of the guys I called told me how bad it is over there. Everybody is scared to go out with so many mo¡ª¡°


    ¡°Hold up,¡± Isaac cut in, still trying to keep his voice low. ¡°Are you saying there are fewer Wretched where you live?¡±


    A heavy sigh came from the other side. ¡°That¡¯s right. A couple of people around the neighborhood still transformed, but it¡¯s manageable, if quite rough on those who have already lost someone close¡­ It also helped that not many people were out when the virus hit.¡±


    ¡°Right...¡± Isaac muttered. Even if it was early when he went shopping, this part of the city was anything but empty when he went out. He had passed at least a dozen people on the way and saw a bunch more, be it in the distance or driving down the streets.


    ¡°How is your family?¡± he asked after a moment.


    ¡°Good, very good. We were damn lucky,¡± the older man said, relief obvious in his voice. ¡°Mia didn¡¯t have work today, and Laura has been sick for the past two days, so no school for her. God¡­ I never thought I would be happy that my kid is sick, yet here we are.¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡±¡ªIsaac¡¯s eyes widened just a bit¡ª¡°the schools.¡±


    By the time the virus hit, they all had to be full of students. So many people, so many bodies in one place. It was a recipe for disaster in a setting like this.


    ¡°Ah yes, the schools¡­¡± Daryl muttered. ¡°No one is answering the phone over there¡ªnot the students, not the principal¡¯s office. That¡¯s one of the reasons why I¡¯m calling everyone. We need to find out what¡¯s happening.¡±


    Isaac closed his eyes, exhaling slowly. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be of much help to you then. I¡¯m kinda in a pickle myself.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, kid. Like I said, that¡¯s only one of the reasons why I¡¯m calling¡ªwell, other than just to check on ya. The schools are an issue, a big one, but I¡¯m not about to ask you to risk your life going there. The other parents here and I will somehow handle it.¡±


    ¡°Good luck then. You guys will need it.¡±


    Daryl chuckled, though the sound was hollow. ¡°Don¡¯t I know it¡­ Listen, about the other reasons¡­ I just wanted to let people know that the outskirts are mostly safe. I know it¡¯s probably impossible for you to move right now, but if you ever get a chance to make a run for it without risking your life? Head to my place. We will be setting up a camp around here for all survivors.¡±


    A small, faint smile tugged at Isaac¡¯s lips. For the most part, he didn¡¯t believe in selfless kindness, but people like the old man, Daryl, and even Mrs. Harper, sometimes made him question that belief. Not for long, though¡ªhumanity¡¯s worse side always reared its ugly face sooner or later.


    Still¡­


    ¡°Thanks, I will remember that.¡±


    ¡°You better,¡± Daryl said firmly. ¡°And don¡¯t give up, kid. Maybe try to find other survivors close to you. Times like these are always easier with more people around. Oh, and remember to charge your phone. We will be busy trying to reach the schools for now, but later, we will try to come for ya all trapped in the city. Until then, stay safe.¡±


    ¡°You too,¡± Isaac answered and let out a heavy sigh when the call disconnected.


    It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t believe Daryl¡¯s promise. He just doubted they would reach the area near his apartment anytime soon. Galt had a population of over twenty thousand, and if even half of that had turned into monsters¡­ Well, it wasn¡¯t a pretty thought.


    Unless the power-up and rewards from fully unlocking the Interface are something out of this world. That¡­ that could turn the odds back in our favor.


    Once more, a flicker of something ignited within Isaac at the idea of facing the Wretched. It was subtle, like a faint, burning sensation in his blood that didn¡¯t hurt at all.


    He wanted more of that.


    Without even realizing it, he stood up, the pain in his leg almost forgotten. He looked toward the door leading to his bedroom and nodded. He couldn¡¯t stay here any longer, but first, he had to prepare.


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    <hr>


    Current progress: 3 out of 20 | Rewards claimed: 61 out of 500


    Almost twenty more than the last time I looked, Isaac thought as he stopped in front of his barricaded front door. Doesn¡¯t matter. I won¡¯t be left behind anymore.


    It took him some time to dig through his closet to find proper clothes for fighting monsters, but in the end, he found something suitable. His lower half was now clad in two pairs of pants¡ªone snug and the other loose and baggy. It wasn¡¯t the most comfortable fit, but it didn¡¯t restrict his movement and just might save his legs from further serious injuries.


    For the upper body, he threw on a thick, long-sleeved shirt and a leather jacket that the old man had bought him over a year ago. He considered putting on another shirt or two, but even though it was only April, it was still California. Sweating like a pig wouldn¡¯t do him any favors.


    Isaac took a deep breath and nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s do it then.¡±


    For the time being, he put away the crowbar, a metal broom handle he found in his bathroom, and the long kitchen knife he had spent five minutes sharpening. He then pushed the small dresser blocking the door aside and unlocked it.


    The entire staircase was just as silent as before¡ªsave for the occasional muffled screeches echoing off the walls. Isaac put his weaponry on the dresser and heaved it up, taking the furniture with him into the corridor.


    Many would ask why he was dragging a heavy block of wood with him, but he had an idea¡ªan idea that would hopefully work.


    Guess I will find out soon, he thought, placing the dresser close to the door of his first neighbor in a way so it blocked the path toward his own apartment. With that done, he hopped over it and knocked¡ªhard.


    A second passed, five, ten, twenty. Still nothing.


    Isaac clicked his tongue. Makes sense. Ms. Yang is rarely home at this time of the day.


    Nonetheless, he grabbed the door¡¯s handle and twisted it. Not even a budge. As expected, with the woman gone, the door was locked. He felt stupid for even trying to open it.


    Next then.


    He repeated the process for the other two apartments on his floor, ending up with more silence in return. A tiny part of him worried that everyone had been out when the virus hit, but another part suspected his neighbors might simply be ignoring him. He only really knew a handful of people in the building; the rest were just familiar faces in passing.


    That¡¯s what I get for avoiding most social interactions, Isaac thought as he dragged the dresser to the floor below.


    Four apartments waited for him there. The first was as quiet as the others, but the second¡­


    The moment he knocked, it began¡ªa low hiss followed by a sharp screech. It took only a few seconds for the monster on the other side to slam against the door. Thankfully, it didn¡¯t know how to open it.


    Here we go.


    With another deep breath, Isaac twisted the handle. He didn¡¯t wait to see if the door even opened and jumped over the dresser next to him. Still, the loud screech behind him told him all he needed to know.


    Landing on the other side of the dresser, he snatched the crowbar and swung it with all his might as he spun around to face the incoming beast.


    The Wretched¡ªalready in the process of reaching over the dresser¡ªhad no time to defend itself as the metal tool slammed into its neck. The impact sent it right into the staircase railing, a pained hiss leaving its lips as it collapsed.


    Isaac wasted no time. He leaped over the barricade again and plunged the sharpened kitchen knife into the Wretched¡¯s heart. It stilled, the yellow glow fading from its eyes.


    Not bad.


    A small grin tugged at his lips. The burning in his veins also returned for a moment, giving him another taste of the weird but comforting feeling.


    If only it lasted longer.


    Soon, he promised himself, slipping into the now-open apartment and checking every room just in case. The layout was almost the same as his own, so it didn¡¯t take long to confirm that the place was indeed empty. Though, the Wretched¡¯s corpse still managed to disappear in the meantime.


    Job done, Isaac dragged the dresser toward the next door. There, he didn¡¯t even need to knock. His short fight must have alerted the entire floor¡ªthe screeches coming from the other side were obvious.


    More than one. He frowned. If he remembered correctly, this apartment belonged to a middle-aged pair. Need a different plan.


    Despite not knowing if the door was even unlocked, he positioned the dresser almost right in front of it, leaving just enough space for it to open slightly. If he could leave the Wretched trapped inside while still being able to hit them¡­


    I doubt the dresser is gonna hold for long, though.


    Even then, Isaac didn¡¯t back down. He grabbed the crowbar, hid behind the dresser, and tugged the door handle.


    It opened.


    Instantly, the door slammed into the dresser but didn¡¯t do much more. Screeches filled the entire staircase, forcing Isaac to act as a bald head slipped out of the small gap in the entrance.


    Down you go, he growled, hitting the back of the monster¡¯s head with the wedge end of the crowbar. It crumbled to the ground, still alive but at least stunned for the moment.


    Isaac didn¡¯t get the chance to celebrate his success.


    The second Wretched slammed into the door again, forcing the dresser back and widening the gap. With nothing left to block it, the creature stepped over its fallen comrade and stumbled into the hallway.


    Yet, it still hadn¡¯t spotted Isaac, who used the monster¡¯s momentary confusion and rushed it with the metal broom handle. He didn¡¯t swing it, though; no, instead, with the gathered momentum, he slammed into the Wretched and used the handle to shove it over the railing.


    Still, he didn¡¯t wait for the inevitable thump of its fall. He spun on his heel, replacing his current weapon with the kitchen knife. The first Wretched was still groaning on the ground near the door.


    Without hesitation, he kicked it in the head, flipped it over, and stabbed it in the heart.


    Current progress: 6 out of 20 | Rewards claimed: 99 out of 500


    Both dead, he fought back a large grin as he yanked the knife out and entered the open apartment. As expected, there was no one else inside.


    He was tempted to search the place for more stuff he could use as a weapon, but for the time being, he had enough. Maybe if he knew that someone around here was hiding a firearm, he would reconsider. As it was, he couldn¡¯t waste any more precious time.


    Fourteen left.

 Chapter 6. Clean up and a stone

    To Isaac¡¯s utter disappointment, the sweet adrenaline pumping through his veins slowly vanished when he knocked on the next door. Silence answered his call, and the light grin slipped off his face. Still, a voice in the back of his mind tried to tell him he should be happy¡ªafter all, this meant his neighbors could still be alive.


    I¡¯m going mad, or this Virus is affecting me more than the Interface described, he mused, scratching his head. Either way, something is changing.


    In the span of a single morning, he had gone from avoiding conflict at all costs to actively seeking it out. The constant adrenaline rush in quick succession also couldn¡¯t be normal or healthy, for that matter. Then again, biology wasn¡¯t exactly his area of expertise; it definitely wasn¡¯t back in school.


    Yet, from what little he remembered reading here and there, wasn¡¯t adrenaline supposed to be just a survival tool for humans in critical moments? So why did it feel like something more? As if his own blood was singing to him, begging him for more, carving more.


    More of what? Conflict, blood, death, it really could be any of those, and quite frankly, Isaac was willing to give it just that. It was his plan from the start, wasn¡¯t it? To chase the thrill of facing the Wretched, to feel more of it.


    Maybe then, this call of blood would lead him to the source.


    Or to a mental institution, Isaac thought with a snort, stepping away from the final door on this floor.


    He was ready to grab his dresser and go down another floor, but then the broken window at the end of the hallway caught his attention. Even if he didn¡¯t plan to go outside just yet, a quick look couldn¡¯t hurt. He was a bit curious if the Wretched that had chased him were still out there.


    With a nod, he picked up the discarded crowbar and approached the window. Carefully avoiding the jagged glass around the frame, he climbed out onto the fire escape.


    Huh. He hummed, looking left and right. Empty¡­ that¡¯s a surprise.


    His gaze strayed more toward the left side of the alley, where the other man he had saved ran off. He couldn¡¯t spot any blood or signs of fighting on the way, but then again, his eyes could only see so much from this distance. For all he knew, that guy could be now walking among the hordes on the streets.


    Or he is hiding inside the shop. Isaac shrugged, climbing back through the window. Maybe once he had to go out, he would check if the man was still alive. Until then, he had other stuff to take care of.


    Second floor, here I come.


    He grunted, heaving up the dresser and continuing down the stairs. His left leg burned, but he didn¡¯t stop or look at it. He could handle a little pain. He only hoped his body could withstand a bit more blood loss.


    He didn¡¯t feel dizzy, so that had to be a good sign, right?


    Isaac shook his head and placed the dresser near the first door. Then, he repeated the same process from the last two floors.


    Yank the handle, jump behind the cover, and get ready to swing.


    It was all for nothing. The first apartment door wouldn¡¯t open, and there were no sounds from the other side. The same went for the second and third doors on this floor. Although, Isaac could have sworn he had heard a whisper or something else coming from behind one of them.


    That¡¯s disapp¡ª He stopped himself before he could finish that thought. He really should stop wishing death on his neighbors¡ªeven if they refused to open the door and talk to him. He had only himself to blame for that.


    ¡°Maybe you then?¡± he muttered, setting up before the final door. Crowbar in hand, he knocked hard.


    Multiple screeches erupted from within the apartment. A moment later, a force slammed into the door, shaking it slightly but not doing much else. Isaac smiled.


    Finally.


    As the Wretched continued to pound on the door, he moved the dresser, placing it the same way he did when he last faced multiple monsters. He then took a position behind it, put a hand on the doorknob, and twisted it.


    The door didn¡¯t click.


    Frowning, Isaac tried again, only to get the same result. The door didn¡¯t budge, not even with the Wretched attacking it from the other side. Not even a third attempt changed that.


    All right. Now that¡¯s disappointing¡­


    A sigh left his lips as his mind already raced with ideas. Brute-forcing it open wouldn¡¯t do. Aside from a low chance of success, he would only tire himself out and waste time this way. Another part of him considered finishing out his phone and finding a guide on how to pick locks.


    He discarded that idea as quickly as it came. He had trusted the Internet only once in the past, and it had the old man laughing at him for almost a week straight. Never again¡­


    Isaac cast one final, pitiful glance at the door and turned away. Nothing he could do here for now.


    First floor it is then¡­


    Another trudge down the stairs placed him in front of the final three apartments in this building. There was also a large storage room at the far end of the hallway, but he could check that out later. He doubted there was anything interesting there aside from a few bikes.


    Useless, he thought, placing the dresser in front of the first door. With more space than on the other floors, his standard tactic wouldn¡¯t work, but he could still use the large block of wood as an obstacle. Other than that, everything depended on how many Wretched were inside the apartments.


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Isaac raised his hand to knock on the first door but paused as a glint of movement caught his eye. His arm fell as his gaze darted toward the source.


    There!


    It was a small, oval gem lying almost beneath the stairs leading to the upper floors. It didn¡¯t glow, and its dark violet surface wasn¡¯t static. To Isaac, it looked as if there was some kind of black mist moving inside the object.


    And then there was the blood scattered around it.


    Is this where the Wretched fell? Isaac looked up. It sure would make sense. But what are you?


    He nudged the gem with his crowbar to no effect. The dark mist within continued to move, but that was all that happened.


    Interface, Overseer? Anybody?


    No response.


    Isaac¡¯s shoulders dropped. ¡°Wonderful,¡± he mumbled, reaching out with his hand. In hindsight, he really should have grabbed some gloves from his apartment. Not that he could have predicted a Wretched leaving something behind.


    Too late now, he thought just as his finger brushed the gem¡ªor tried to.


    As if sensing a living and breathing creature close, the alien rock dissolved into a puddle of goo that jumped onto his extended hand. Isaac¡¯s eyes snapped wide open as he yanked his arm back and shook it wildly.


    The goo didn¡¯t fall off.


    Instead, it sank into his skin within a few seconds, leaving Isaac shivering as he felt the alien substance moving across his body toward the middle of his chest. There it settled and vanished, taking away the uncomfortable sensation with it.


    He gasped, his heart pounding like a drum. What in the¡­


    Familiar red letters materialized in front of his eyes.


    Well done, you have absorbed an Inferior Virality Gem. Your Virus has grown in strength.


    Current progress: 9 out of 20 | Rewards claimed: 159 out of 500


    ¡°What?¡± Isaac muttered. ¡°But I haven¡¯t killed anything since then¡­¡±


    Only the Interface didn¡¯t care about that. Somehow, for reasons beyond his comprehension, the tiny gem counted as three whole killed Wretched. He had no idea how that made any sense considering it was left behind by one of them.


    Before he could dwell on it, the pounding from the floor above snapped him back to the present. He had assumed that the Wretched there would get bored after some time, but apparently, their desire to get out only grew stronger.


    Another loud slam filled the entire staircase. Isaac¡¯s eyes darted to the dresser in the middle of the hallway, then back to the stairs.


    Maybe just in case.


    Not wasting a second, Isaac pushed the heavy furniture all the way back to the stairs, blocking the path. It wouldn¡¯t do much in the long run, but even a few extra seconds could be game-changing if the Wretched managed to escape.


    Now for you¡­


    Crowbar in hand, Isaac turned his attention to the middle apartment. The scraping of the dresser against the floor made more than enough noise to alert anyone alive on this floor. That included the lone Wretched behind the second door. At least, he hoped it was a single monster¡ªits screeching was particularly quiet.


    One, two, three!


    The door slid open with a click, and the growling became louder. Isaac didn¡¯t step back or ready his weapon. Instead, he waited.


    Then, as soon as the Wretched¡¯s arm came into view, he slammed the door shut with every ounce of strength offered by his body and the familiar blood rush settling in his veins. The beast hissed in pain, losing its footing and collapsing in the middle of the doorway.


    For good measure, Isaac slammed the door again before turning the corner and finishing the job.


    Ten left to go.


    For a moment, he waited for the body to vanish, hoping for another gem, but a resounding crash followed by a loud thump cut that short. He barely had a second¡ªa startled squeak being his only warning¡ªto throw himself to the side as a Wretched crashed to the ground right next to him.


    Another burst of adrenaline flooded his veins as screeches joined the pained wail of the beast lying next to him. He jumped into action, guided by the thrum of his blood.


    He flipped the disoriented Wretched onto its back and drove his knife between its ribs. The beast stilled, and he yanked the blade out before bolting toward the crowbar lying close to the only open door.


    The moment the tool landed in his hand, two more Wretched turned the corner on the staircase, both heading toward his makeshift barrier. Isaac¡¯s mind barely paid attention to how one of the monsters was only about two-thirds the size of the other.


    By the time the Wretched reached the dresser, the crowbar was already mid-swing, slamming into the taller¡¯s jaw only a second later. It stumbled, crashing headfirst into the piece of furniture. Unfortunately, the smaller monster wasn¡¯t affected.


    Even with its shorter frame, it managed to reach Isaac¡¯s extended arm with its sharp fingernails. They tore through the leather jacket and shirt but, thankfully, only nicked the flesh beneath. It still stung, though.


    He hissed, jerking his arm and entire body back. As much as he would have liked to hit the taller monster again, there was no way he could do that with the other one already swiping at him again.


    However, at least the pain in his arm faded as his blood sang louder.


    Focus!


    Isaac swung the crowbar again once the smaller Wretched attempted to climb the dresser. He aimed for the head, but an arm came just in time to block it. The beast screeched as its bones snapped.


    Bad move.


    His free hand balled into a fist and whacked the Wretched right in the face. It staggered back, collapsing onto the stairs. And just in time, too, as the taller monster was finally showing signs of waking up.


    I don¡¯t think so.


    Grabbing the knife he had discarded earlier, Isaac plunged it into the back of the monster¡¯s neck. A gurgle escaped its throat, so he stabbed it two more times for good measure.


    This time, it didn¡¯t let out a single sound.


    One left.


    The smaller Wretched still lay on the stairs, its yellow eyes wide as it stared at him. For a moment, as Isaac climbed over the dresser, he thought that maybe it was scared, but then its gaze darkened, and the beast lunged forward with one working arm.


    He blocked the incoming swipe with the crowbar and drove his foot into the beast¡¯s chest. Once it fell, a knife between the ribs finished the job.


    Current progress: 13 out of 20 | Rewards claimed: 196 out of 500


    ¡°Holy shit,¡± Isaac muttered between deep breaths.


    The rest of the world slowly returned into focus, the distant sounds of violence registering in his ears once more. The adrenaline rush¡ªand the song of his blood¡ªalso vanished without a warning. Without it, he stumbled, barely staying upright thanks to the railing next to him.


    Then, the pain hit.


    ¡°Fuck!¡± Isaac hissed. He could hardly feel the cut on his arm, but his leg? That one burned almost as bad as it did back when the Wretched slashed him. ¡°Why the hell did I have to kick it?¡±


    He tugged his pants up, exposing the drenched bandage. At least the blood didn¡¯t leak out yet, so that was nice. Still, he should probably change the dressing soon and maybe take another painkiller¡ªnot that it seemed to help.


    But first¡­ I gotta climb all the way back to my apartment.


    ¡°Great¡­¡±

 Chapter 7. No rest for the wicked

    Despite his decision to return to his apartment for the time being, Isaac didn¡¯t get up right away. Taking a minute¡ªor five¡ªto rest couldn¡¯t hurt. His leg, as well as the rest of his body, deserved a little breather. Besides, he wanted to stick around until the three new corpses disappeared. Maybe if he were lucky, they would leave another gem for him.


    Spoiler: they didn¡¯t.


    They just vanished after about a minute and left him alone in the empty staircase. Even the distant noises coming from the broken window on the third floor had quieted. He hadn¡¯t heard any new screams in a while, only some muffled screeches and the occasional gunshot.


    Things are calming down. Everybody who survived the initial rush is probably hiding or¡­ well, is dead.


    Isaac sighed, unwrapping the drenched bandage. It did nothing at this point, so he figured it was better to let the cuts breathe. At least the bleeding had almost stopped, though the persistent pain in his leg made it clear he had a long way to full recovery.


    At least Virus Integrity didn¡¯t suffer too much, he noted while rolling up his pants to keep the fabric from covering the injury.


    Virus Integrity: 89%


    Three percent, he could live with that. Still, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder if the drop was all due to the fresh injury on his arm, or if his leg contributed too. Honestly, he wasn¡¯t sure which option he preferred. Four percent for a cut this tiny was kind of a lot.


    No way to test it unless I¡¯m willing to let a Wretched slice me into pieces. Isaac grimaced at the thought. He would have to find a different way to learn more about this stuff, for example, by talking to other survivors.


    Gonna have to go out for that.


    He considered calling Daryl so the two of them could compare their notes¡ªboth about the Interface and the Wretched¡ªbut quickly discarded that idea. For all he knew, the older man was already on his way to one of the schools in the city. No point in distracting him from a far more important task.


    Internet it is then, he thought, reaching into his pocket. His hand came up empty. Right¡­ I left it upstairs to charge. Time to move then.


    With a groan, he grabbed the railing for support and pulled himself up to his feet. Pain shot through his left leg, forcing him to lean more on his right.


    ¡°Guess I¡¯m hopping back to my apartment,¡± he muttered, leaning down to snatch the discarded crowbar. The tool had served him well; no reason to leave it behind now.


    And so, Isaac began his climb back to the fourth floor, one limping step at a time. He could have probably gone faster, but he saw no point in hurrying. The less strain he put on his injury, the better.


    By the time he reached the third floor, the pain once more faded to a dull throb. Either he was getting used to it, or his body was healing faster than it should.


    Or both. He snorted, taking the first step onto the stairs leading to the final floor. Yet, before he could move any further, the soft click of a lock behind him made him freeze. He turned on his heel, the crowbar raised just in case.


    He didn''t need to worry.


    The last door on this floor creaked open, and a young blond woman peeked through the gap.


    ¡°Mr. Walker, please wait,¡± she whisper-shouted, her wide eyes fixed on Isaac. She stepped fully into the doorway but didn¡¯t move a foot further. He could also see her hands trembling even as she gripped the doorknob.


    Unsure of what to do, he just raised an eyebrow and lowered the bloodied crowbar. ¡°Yes?¡±


    The woman gulped. ¡°I heard the noises. That was you, right? You killed those who turned.¡± Her eyes drifted to the blood splattered over his clothes, as if daring him to deny it.


    Isaac saw no point in lying and nodded. ¡°I did. What of it?¡±


    ¡°Is there¡±¡ªshe grimaced¡ª¡°is there anyone else left alive beside us?¡±


    He frowned, recalling the faint noises behind some of the doors. ¡°Probably,¡± he said with a shrug. ¡°Nobody answered when I knocked, though.¡± He glanced at the stairs behind him and then back at the woman. ¡°Is that all?¡±


    He really wasn¡¯t trying to be rude or make this conversation even more awkward than it already was, but he wanted to get back to his apartment as fast as he could. His leg needed rest, and his phone was waiting. He didn¡¯t have time for useless small talk.


    ¡°No!¡± The woman shouted, taking a step forward. ¡°I¡­ You¡¯re planning to fight more of them, to go out.¡± Isaac nodded again, even if it wasn¡¯t a question. ¡°Could you then please help me? My husband¡­ he was at work when it all happened. I can¡¯t reach his phone. I fear¡­¡±


    So that¡¯s what this is about, he thought, narrowing his eyes. He opened his mouth to tell her he couldn¡¯t help, but the woman spoke again, cutting him short.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°I know what I¡¯m asking for; trust me, I do,¡± she said, her voice trembling. ¡°I would have gone to check on him myself, but I can¡¯t. I can¡¯t leave them.¡±


    As she said that, the woman looked behind her. At her nod, a mop of long brown hair appeared in the doorway, attached to a child no older than five. The small girl glanced at Isaac for a moment before hiding again.


    Suddenly, everything clicked in his head. This was Carol Jackson, mother of two. This young girl and an even younger boy. He didn¡¯t know them well, but the old man had mentioned them a few times before he passed. Then, there were the occasional meetings in the hallways.


    And of course she had to mention kids. He grimaced. There wasn¡¯t much he cared about these days¡ªif anything¡ªbut kids had always been a soft spot for him. Not a big one, but there was a reason why the news about the schools almost affected him more than the sight of monsters on the streets.


    Still¡­


    ¡°Where does he work?¡± Isaac asked, fishing for information. He wouldn¡¯t go out of his way just to find the woman¡¯s husband, but if it was somewhere on the way to Daryl¡¯s neighborhood, then he might reconsider.


    Hearing his words, Mrs. Jackson looked like he had already agreed to help her. ¡°Pioneer Savings Bank. It¡¯s close, very close¡ªbarely two streets away.¡±


    Isaac bit his tongue. That wasn¡¯t perfect, but it wasn¡¯t terrible, either. He had no illusion that he could make it to Daryl¡¯s house in a straight line, so going a bit to the side to check the bank wasn¡¯t out of the question. Then again, everything depended on the Wretched he would encounter on the way. For all he knew, the bank could be swarming with them.


    He looked up to meet the woman¡¯s hopeful gaze and sighed. ¡°Mrs. Jackson, listen, I can¡¯t make any promises. This is my life on the line. But!¡± he added before she could say anything. ¡°But I will see what I can do. Remember, though, no promises.¡±


    The woman opened her mouth, only to close it again. After a pause, she nodded, smiling weakly. ¡°I suppose that¡¯s more than I should have hoped for. Thank you, Mr. Walker. If there¡¯s anything you need, just say so.¡±


    That got him thinking. ¡°Weapons,¡± he muttered. ¡°Anything I could use as a weapon. Kitchen knives and a crowbar won¡¯t last me for long.¡±


    Mrs. Jackson perked up, her eyes lighting up. ¡°Please wait a moment. I will be right back.¡±


    Before he could even say anything, the door clicked shut, leaving him alone on the staircase. Isaac groaned and eased himself down onto the steps, letting his leg rest. He also summoned the Interface counter.


    Current progress: 13 out of 20 | Rewards claimed: 224 out of 500


    He clicked his tongue. Even though he only needed seven more kills to complete the task, the rewards were being claimed faster and faster. He was lucky he only had to compete with the survivors in his Contamination Zone. If this were a global race, he would have already lost. There were people out there equipped much better for an apocalypse than him¡ªpeople with combat training, weapons¡­ guns.


    I still have a good chance. That¡¯s all that matters, he thought, staring blankly ahead. If only Mrs. Jackson could hurry up¡­ I still gotta dress those cuts again.


    Thankfully, as if summoned by his thoughts, the door opened, and the woman stepped out, this time approaching him.


    ¡°There you go, Mr. Walker,¡± she said, holding out a leather sheath with a wooden handle sticking out. ¡°Brandon bought this a few years back, and it¡¯s been gathering dust since then. I hope it helps.¡±


    Isaac took the offered item and unsheathed it, revealing a long hunting knife. Not bad, he commented internally, studying the blade in his hand. This was leagues better than a random knife he had grabbed from the kitchen.


    He glanced up and gave her a small nod. ¡°Thank you. It will definitely help.¡±


    With that said, he rose to his feet, feeling almost none of the earlier pain. He turned to leave, but before he could do that, Mrs. Jackson stopped him again.


    ¡°Wait¡ªlet¡¯s exchange numbers,¡± she said hurriedly.


    How he had forgotten about that, Isaac didn¡¯t know. After all, how else was he supposed to contact her if he found her husband? He resisted the urge to drive his head into the wall.


    Priorities, Isaac. Priorities.


    After the exchange, he made his way back to his apartment. Once inside, he quickly applied a new dressing to his leg and gathered his phone from the bedroom. A fast check of the main Internet forums confirmed that sacrificing a few extra minutes on research had been worth it.


    While there was nothing about fully unlocked Interfaces¡ªaside from speculative guesses¡ªa few people had shared their experiences of fighting the Wretched. According to them, the only reliable ways to kill the monsters were to either decapitate them, stab their heart or brain, or let them bleed out.


    That gave Isaac a few ideas that he confirmed with another search of the net.


    I just have to sharpen you to perfection. Isaac grinned, unsheathing his new knife.


    He had a plan¡ªa plan that just might get him into the first five hundred without even leaving his apartment building.


    <hr>


    Current progress: 13 out of 20 | Rewards claimed: 339 out of 500


    Twenty minutes. That was how long it had taken for over a hundred rewards to be claimed. It should have worried him, but it didn¡¯t, not when he had used all this time to set up the next part of his plan.


    Looks good. Isaac nodded to himself, scanning his creation from top to bottom.


    It was a barricade cobbled together from salvaged furniture he had taken from every open apartment in the building. At first, he had just dragged it all down to the lobby that housed the exit to the street. Then, once he had gathered enough stuff, he began building.


    A shelf there, a dresser next to it, and some heavy boxes to fill them all and add weight. A few chairs propped up for support, and a desk topping it all off¡ªalso loaded with boxes to keep it stable.


    That was how Isaac created a barricade with a hole in the middle. There was no way around it, and once he opened the door behind his creation, the Wretched would have to go through it to reach him. No way to swarm him with sheer numbers¡­ or so he hoped.


    In any case, even if the barrier collapsed, it should still buy him enough time to escape and close the second door in the lobby. What would happen after?


    Well, that was a problem for the future.


    Let¡¯s do this. Isaac¡¯s lips tugged upward, already hearing the now-familiar song of his blood.


    He spared another look at his weapon stash¡ªa few broom handles, his crowbar, and broken chair legs¡ªbefore climbing into the hole and putting a hand on the handle of the entrance door. After a count to three, he twisted it open and pushed.


    ¡°Come.¡±

 Chapter 8. Taken

    The first Wretched¡ªa former older man¡ªstumbled through the now-open door, barely giving him enough time to crawl back through the hole and grab a weapon. It screeched, alerting a couple more monsters on the street behind it, and crashed lightly into the makeshift barrier.


    It didn''t fall.


    Isaac used this short opportunity to grab the crowbar and hide next to the opening. If he wanted this plan to work, they had to come to him. His lethal weapons didn''t really have enough reach.


    Thankfully, the Wretched didn''t take long to recover and climbed into the hole. As soon as the top of its head appeared on Isaac''s side, he counted to three and swung the crowbar with all his strength. The creature let out a strangled squeal as the blow sent it sprawling onto the dresser that made the base of the barricade.


    Wasting no time, Isaac unsheathed the hunting knife, pulled the Wretched''s head up by its hair, and plunged the blade into one of its eyes. He expected resistance¡ªmaybe for the knife to get stuck¡ªbut for once, the Internet hadn''t lied. The bone behind the eye crumbled under the force of his strike.


    The monster stilled, its arms falling limp at its sides.


    One down, Isaac thought, as the adrenaline coursing within his veins intensified, the song of blood growing louder. It begged him for more, and he was happy to oblige. More Wretched were already approaching anyway.


    Quick!


    He grabbed the corpse by the collar and dragged it onto his side and out of the hole. Even if it would disappear in a moment, he didn''t want it to block the only path for the Wretched to reach him. Who knew what they would do if they couldn''t come through it.


    To Isaac''s relief, he didn''t have to find out just yet. The next three Wretched followed the pattern of the first one, giving him more than enough time to stab them through the eyes before the next one came.


    The same, however, could not be said for what came after.


    Three more Wretched barreled through the entrance. The narrow doorway stopped one of them from coming through right away, but the other two simply screeched at each other as they slid inside. When they reached the barricade''s opening, neither was willing to go second.


    They hissed and wailed as they slammed into his creation. The entire construction shook, and Isaac knew he had to do something if he didn''t want this whole thing to go down like a house of cards.


    Just as the duo attempted to climb through together in a tangled mess of limbs, he snatched the nearest broom handle and stuck it into the opening. The Wretched on the left squeaked as it lost its grip and tumbled backward, losing the hold on its kin.


    That solved one problem, only to create another.


    The Wretched on the right, now free of its burden, lunged forward, reaching the end of the hole in the blink of an eye. Isaac cursed, dropped the broom, and ducked just in time to avoid a swipe of the beast''s hand.


    Thanks to his new position, he grabbed the crowbar lying on the floor and raised it just in time to block another incoming strike. The Wretched let out a surprised grunt, but he didn''t give it time to realize what had just happened. He drove his fist into its cheek, then followed up with a stab to the neck.


    The beast gurgled and stumbled out of the hole, only to fall to the ground. He stomped on its neck, cutting off any more potential sounds or movement from his eighteenth kill.


    Two to go, he thought, just as a shiver went down his spine, warning him about the next incoming monster. It was already back in the window, ready to step onto his side.


    Isaac didn''t let that happen, and in a single move, he grabbed the crowbar and swung it up right into the Wretched''s chin. The impact sent it staggering backward, its head cracking against the edge of the desk above. Still, that wasn''t enough to kill it.


    Before the beast could fall, he took it by the neck and yanked it forward. A knife to the temple finished the job.


    One more.


    His gaze snapped to the last Wretched¡ªthe one that had been left behind. It must have fallen again when he shoved the second monster back because only now did it manage to scramble into the opening in the barricade.


    Isaac didn''t give it the opportunity to reach his side. More Wretched were already closing in on the entrance, and he had to somehow close the door after this kill. Time was the essence.


    And so, with the crowbar in one hand and the knife in the other, he lunged at his final enemy. The battle-worn tool struck its head before it could even lash out, and the blade followed right after, plunging straight into its right eye.


    The Wretched stilled, and the Interface''s red text returned, changing its numbers for the last time.


    Current progress: 20 out of 20 | Rewards claimed: 403 out of 500


    Isaac grinned wide as the blood in his veins burned hotter than ever. It should have been uncomfortable, maybe even deadly, yet it wasn''t¡ªhe loved it. That final kill only intensified this sensation.


    Focus up! He scolded himself. Still got a job to finish. Gotta close those doors.


    He nodded and reached out to push the corpse out of the way. However, his hand never made contact.


    The world around him shifted.


    Darkness swallowed his vision.


    He blinked once, then twice, but nothing changed. The lobby of his apartment building was gone, replaced by a void¡ªa void in which he could still move.


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    Solid ground remained beneath his feet, and even if it was disorienting, every single part of his body still responded to his command. Hell, he still had the crowbar and knife gripped tight in his hands.


    What''s going on? Isaac gulped as the comforting thrum of his blood vanished, taking away his strength. Silence, complete silence, surrounded him, and for the first time in his life, he hated it. Interface?! What''s happening? I finished the task!


    For a moment, he thought he had done something wrong, that he somehow failed, and this was the punishment, but then the world around him changed. It began with the sudden flicker of four tiny blue flames, each hovering at his sides. They then floated away from him, their fire exploding outward and blinding him.


    Isaac squeezed his eyes shut, shielding himself from the glare. When it faded, he hesitantly opened them again.


    The void was gone, replaced by a vast hexagonal chamber with walls constructed from ancient stone bricks, all illuminated by the same four floating flames. There were no doors, no windows, no way out for him. Yet, the room wasn''t empty either.


    Weapon racks lined five of the six walls, each filled with an array of blades, bows, and even crossbows. They, too, looked ancient, with rust lining up their metal parts. Still, as Isaac glanced at one of the swords, he doubted its edge was any less sharp than that of his knife.


    "I don''t understand," he muttered, turning to the final part of this chamber¡ªa large block of cut stone that reached all the way to his waist. Just like the weapon racks, it wasn''t empty.


    Bread and water? Isaac wondered, grabbing the tall glass full of clear liquid.


    He gave it a sniff. No scent, not that it meant much. It could be a poison for all he knew. He repeated the action with the loaf of bread lying on a large ceramic plate.


    This time, the smell was strong, familiar. He remembered it well from his visits to the local bakery. Still, he didn''t try to take a bite. He wasn''t hungry anyway.


    But wh¡ª


    Before he could finish that thought, the red text made another return¡ªthis one much longer.


    Well done, Host. You have succeeded in obtaining enough power for your Virus to advance to the next stage, ranking among the first five hundred within your Contamination Zone. Your Interface is now unbound, and the process of awakening your Origin has begun.


    In the meantime, it''s recommended that you get familiar with your unbound Interface and prepare for the incoming trial. The opportunity to claim your Pioneer reward lies ahead and will arrive shortly after your Origin awakens.


    Time until release: 10 Hours, 3 minutes.


    "It lied to us," Isaac muttered as he read the message for the third time. It might have mentioned the opportunity to still claim the rewards, but the wording made it clear¡ªit wouldn''t be easy.


    "Ten hours¡­"


    That was how much time remained until Phase 2 of the Breakout began. It almost seemed like the Interface, the Overseer, or whoever the hell controlled this mess, didn''t want those who awakened early to be there when the next stage arrived.


    For some reason, Isaac couldn''t decide if he was more mad by the clear manipulations or because he couldn''t fight anymore Wretched for at least ten hours. Probably the latter¡ªhis priorities had shifted a lot since he woke up today.


    And what about you? He wondered, reaching into his pocket and grabbing the phone sitting there. The device ignited with a click of the button, but a quick glance at the top of the screen confirmed his worries.


    No signal. Obviously.


    Pocketing his phone, Isaac slid down to the cold ground and leaned against the table of stone. With ten hours on the clock, he might as well get some rest. Well, that, and he should check out this whole unbound Interface.


    All right then. Status, come here.


    Name: Isaac Walker


    Origin: Awakening


    Legacy: Locked


    Virus Stage: I - Attachment (Phase 1)


    Virus Integrity: 94%


    Power: Feeble - Tier I


    Agility: Feeble - Tier I


    Toughness: Feeble - Tier I


    Regeneration: Feeble - Tier IV


    Insight: Feeble - Tier I


    Isaac quirked an eyebrow. Attachment and attributes. But feeble? Really?


    Although, the high tier¡ªor low, depending on how it really worked¡ªnext to his regeneration was interesting. Still, he should probably start with the next stage. It sounded the most important out of all the new stuff.


    Interface: Attachment.


    [Attachment Phase 1 - The first Virus stage, where it is now actively working to strengthen your being. Protection against Broken Strain slightly enhanced. Viron production online (Temporarily unavailable for the time of Origin Awakening). Sire Strain: Overlord Chaos.]


    This again, Isaac narrowed his eyes at the final part of the notification. Other than that, there still wasn''t much to look out for¡ªat least until this mysterious Viron came back online. What is a sire strain? Who is this Overlord?


    Yet, no matter what command he gave the Interface, it refused to answer.


    He sighed. "Fine then. I will find out on my own. For now, Power."


    [Power - Relates only to the power of your body. Affects strength, stamina, and, to a lesser degree, speed and durability.]


    "Sounds simple enough," he muttered. "What about Agility?"


    [Agility - Crucial attribute affecting your speed, reaction time, and overall dexterity.]


    Easy enough again. Toughness?


    [Toughness - Enhances your overall durability and raises the resistance of your Virus to damage, thus slowing down the decrease of its Integrity.]


    Now, that sounds important, and finally something that isn''t almost obvious at first glance. Makes me wonder if it can make me bulletproof one day. He shrugged. Hopefully, I will find out sooner or later¡­ Next.


    [Regeneration - Affects the speed of your healing as well as recovery of Virus Integrity and stamina.]


    Another important one. And it looks like the higher tier, the better, Isaac noted, glancing at the cut on his arm.


    At this point, it should still be red and raw, but that wasn''t true. The wound had already scabbed over and was well on its way to full recovery. All of this also explained why his leg didn''t hurt anymore.


    "So I got enhanced regeneration from the get-go for some reason. Nice."


    [Insight - Your awareness of the world. Further improves reaction time. Some call it the hidden 6th sense.]


    "That''s¡­" he muttered, hesitating for a moment. "Different."


    Isaac understood most of what the Interface meant, but the part about the hidden sixth sense? Now, that gave him a pause. In his opinion, it could mean anything. Fiction had used that name for a lot of stuff. Really, he could only wait and see how it developed over time.


    And that''s everything¡­ for now, he added as an afterthought, glancing at the Origin in his status. Once that finished awakening, he was pretty sure there would be more to read. It seemed like Interface preferred to feed him information slowly instead of overwhelming all new hosts.


    Isaac smiled lightly.


    "This leaves¡­ weapons. Now to see if any of you are actually usable¡­ or if I will just end up killing myself trying to use you."

 Chapter 9. Calm before the storm

    "What are those idiots doing there again?" Rakin muttered, squinting at the exploding stars in the faraway space. "I swear, if I get another complaint from Xina, I will kill them both. Even I have my limit¡­"


    Shaking his head, he looked away from the vast window. With a wave of his hand, the entire wall shifted back to its usual metallic red, sealing off the access to the outside world.


    At least they haven''t destroyed anything yet, he thought, heading back to his desk. Though, at this rate, it''s only a matter of time. Those two really put too much weight on my title¡­


    Rakin dropped onto his luxurious armchair, sinking into the soft leather. At least he could still count on some things in his life to remain reliable.


    And speaking of, shouldn''t Nar¡ª


    The sudden hiss of his office door sliding open cut off the thought.


    Rakin looked up and grinned.


    His main assistant strode in, the very picture of immaculate perfection. Her dark blue skin glowed under the room''s soft lighting, while feathery silver hair fell over her shoulders in perfect waves. Not even her attire left room for criticism¡ªa pristine black suit mostly hidden by a robe clearer than the sky outside.


    Exactly what he¡ªand only he¡ªexpected from his right hand. Everyone else still couldn''t fathom how someone so different from him, from his faction, had become his assistant. If only they knew¡­


    "Narin, my dear," Rakin exclaimed, spreading his arms. "For a moment there, I thought you forgot about our meeting."


    The woman arched a single silver eyebrow as she took a seat across from him. "I''m right on time, sir. Just like I always am. Do I need to get you a new clock?"


    "No, no, you don''t," he waved her off. "What do you have for me today? Are all the reports in?"


    Narin nodded. "I have just returned from Overlord Conductor''s territory. The next Integration has officially begun."


    "Excellent. We have waited long enough." Rakin smiled, lacing his fingers together. "Also, what have I told you about using our titles when we are alone?"


    "To not use them."


    "So what will you do?" he prodded.


    "Keep using them. It would be disrespectful not to do so," she answered with the straightest face in the whole universe.


    Of course you will¡­ Rakin groaned and swore, "One day, I will get you, Narin."


    "Keep telling yourself that, sir. Whatever helps you sleep at night," the woman said, her golden eyes glinting. "Now, would you like to hear the bid and situational report? Or shall I leave you to your brooding?"


    And you dare to talk about respect¡­ If only my Wraiths could see you now, Rakin lamented internally, while keeping the emotions from showing on his face. "Very well, go on. How many planets did we get this time?"


    "Sixty-four. And you, sir, have won the bid for the nine of them. I''m sure you have felt the connection forming."


    "I did," he muttered, frowning. "Nine¡­ That''s not much. How many went to the upstarts?"


    A bracelet on Narin''s left wrist flashed lightly, and she hummed, scanning a small note that appeared in her hand. "Fifteen, which, all things considered, isn''t that much."


    A small grin tugged at his lips. "Breakout then. Wonderful. Tell me there is more than one."


    "There is," Narin said, also allowing herself a small smile. "Three, to be exact. The Overseer had listed them as Earth, Eldoria, and Oblivis. Overlord Conductor has yet to release information about their population but shall do so within a day. For now, all we know is that the Overseer has already deployed Contamination Zones there and prepared the usual rewards for the Pioneers."


    Three. Been a while since we had more than two. We must have gone overboard with our bids, Rakin hummed, tapping his fingers on the desk. What if we spice things up a bit? The Overseer''s ideas are always so dull. I''m sure Viktor will agree¡­


    "Sir? Please stop. I know this look." Narin''s voice cut through his thoughts, sharp and knowing. "Last time someone interfered with the Breakout stages, we lost two planets. The entire tournament had to be rearranged. I don''t think I need to remind you how the Overseer reacted."


    He held back a grimace. Yes, he remembered well what happened that day. There was a reason why he and the other Overlords were still winning fewer bids than usual. Still, his new idea was far from the sheer stupidity they had pulled back then.


    "Don''t worry, my dear." He offered her what he hoped was a comforting smile. "I have no plans to interfere with the planets directly. I just thought about spicing things up a bit for the Pioneers. You know, better rewards for a higher risk. I''m sure the Overseer won''t have anything against that."


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    Narin held his gaze for a moment before sighing. "Very well, sir. Do you wish for me to contact Overlord Conductor?"


    Rakin shook his head. "No need. I haven''t talked to Viktor in a while. I might as well use this opportunity to visit him and discuss some matters I have been delaying for a while."


    "As you wish, sir. Shall I at least prepare the bonus rewards?"


    He snapped his fingers. "Now that''s a good idea. You do that, my dear. You can never know if the Overseer will be generous enough to provide them on its own. Oh! Also, please inform the old crow of what''s happening. He might as well start the broadcast early, or at least get some bonus footage."


    "Consider it done, sir." The note in her hand disappeared, only to be replaced by a much larger paper. "Here I also have the full situational report¡­ along with a summary," she added.


    You know me so well.


    Rakin grinned. "Thank you! What would I ever do without you?"


    "I ask myself the same question every morning," Narin muttered before clearing her throat, eyes scanning the report. "The Broken Realm has expanded again¡ªby approximately six percent this time. We''re unsure what it consumed just yet, but again, this information should be available tomorrow or, in the worst case, the day after. Other than that, Overlord Jailer has asked for the support of your Wraiths for a few days."


    He clicked his tongue. "Of course she did. If I didn''t know any better, I would say she is trying to steal them from me."


    "They are effective."


    "As are her generals," Rakin grumbled. "But fine, I have been holding them back for too long anyway. At least everybody will be sleeping well for a few days."


    Narin glanced toward the wall housing his windows, her eyes glowing. It didn''t take a genius to guess what she was really looking at.


    "Hopefully," she said, rising from her seat. "Though I doubt that." She smoothed out her robe. "I''ll be leaving now, sir. Please remember you have to be present at the Prime Arena tonight. Other than that, I wish you a good day."


    Rakin flashed her another grin. "You too, Narin. You too. I will see you tonight."


    The woman nodded and approached the exit, the door sliding open as she did. With one final look at him, she stepped outside, leaving him alone in the large office.


    The grin fell off Rakin''s face as he leaned back into his armchair. All in all, this Integration was shaping up well. The low number of successful bids was concerning, but he would take it in exchange for three Breakouts. Those planets were always the most interesting to watch¡ªalways produced hosts with the highest potential.


    Once he finished his business with Viktor, he would need to meditate and study the new links now connected to him. Better to conduct proper reconnaissance before the broadcast and the following tournaments began. It would be a pity if someone with decent potential slipped past his radar because he neglected his duties.


    After all, despite his title, he had plans¡ªmany, many plans. Some of these were already in motion, while others waited for the right time or necessary resources. And with the new Integration upon them, it was the perfect time to advance his moving shadows.


    Show me what you can do, my dear new hosts. Impress me, and I shall give you the world. This universe has stagnated for long enough.


    Rakin jumped to his feet and also headed for the door. There was still much to be done. Thankfully, he had been at this for ages. Even if this Integration failed to bring new opportunities, there would always be the next one¡ªand the ones after that.


    Chaos he might be, but patience had always been his greatest strength.


    <hr>


    Deep in the godforsaken stone chamber, lost in the middle of who-knows-where, Isaac was hard at work, testing weapon after weapon left behind by the Interface. Despite his initial worries¡ªand the obvious rust¡ªnone of the blades crumbled in his hands. Even after attempting to cut into the chamber walls, there were no visible signs of damage on the weapons.


    But why are they so light?


    That was the part he couldn''t understand. Everything he had seen during his quite short life, suggested that swords, or even pole arms, should be heavy. He couldn''t have been more wrong.


    Despite his somewhat meager strength, he had no issue swinging any of the blades left and right. Sure, some weapons required a two-handed grip, but only for control, not due to weight.


    Can''t be more than five or six pounds, Isaac mused as he placed a rusty longsword on the stone table. Out of all the normal blades, it felt the most comfortable to wield. Now, he just had to find a scabbard. He had seen some below the racks.


    "That makes two," he muttered, glancing at the other weapon on the table.


    It was a very simple polearm¡ªa long, sharp metal blade with a pointy tip attached to a sturdy wooden shaft. Isaac had no idea how to use it properly, or what it was even called, but he could see it being useful during whatever the Interface prepared for him. At the very least, he could always throw it.


    Now for range.


    His gaze went back to the weapon racks, or more specifically, to those holding bows and crossbows. The former was out of the question. He would sooner hurt himself than make an accurate shot with those.


    But a crossbow? Now, that had potential. Not much, but maybe with enough luck, he wouldn''t kill himself. Besides, he still had plenty of time to get some experience.


    Another plus of crossbows was that unlike the rest of the equipment in the chamber, those looked somewhat modern. That alone should make them easier to use than a bow. Or so he hoped.


    And so, for the next hour or so, he tested different crossbows, learning how to reload and fire them. His accuracy was far from perfect¡ªor even decent¡ªbut with enough practice, he might at least hit a stationary target. Though, given his low agility and abysmal success rate, he didn''t hold out much hope.


    "A break it is then." Isaac sighed, dropping the crossbow on the table and grabbing the glass filled with water.


    He gave the liquid a dubious look before taking a sip. At first, he had planned to leave the offering alone, but after an hour inside the chamber, the Interface had provided him with another message, stating that the food was safe.


    Not that he believed it at face value. However, he also couldn''t go too long without drinking and eating. Swinging different blades for hours to no end was exhausting. He had already shed the jacket and one pair of pants, and still felt like a pig from all the sweat drenching his body.


    Maybe I should take one of the daggers, Isaac wondered before shaking his head. Nah, the knife will do, even if using it makes me feel like I did something wrong¡­ Not my fault that the Interface snatched me off the face of Earth before I could have gone to the bank.


    Hopefully, Mrs. Jackson would understand¡­ or not. In the end, he didn''t promise her anything and could always help her out once he returned.


    "Three more hours. Better get back to wor¡ªugh!"


    Pain unlike any other erupted straight from his heart, spreading into his veins like wildfire. Isaac collapsed to his knees, just barely registering the red text now floating in front of him.


    Origin awakening successful. Brace yourself, Host.

 Chapter 10. Crimson

    Unlike back in the convenience shop, this time around, Isaac stood his ground against the pain, gripping the stone table so tightly his fingers nearly snapped. His knees buckled, his muscles screamed in protest, but his mind refused to yield. Deep within, he still heard the familiar song of his blood, fighting alongside him, helping him to process the pain.


    And so, he closed his eyes, focused on this feeling, and let it consume him.


    For seconds, minutes, or maybe even hours, Isaac weathered the inferno spreading through his body, claiming his every cell. Yet, the stronger it grew, so did his endurance as the blood sang louder and louder. Sometimes, it even managed to drown out the pain, giving him a brief respite. Without those, he might have gone mad.


    Thankfully, at some point, even the fire burning him from within had to give. Bit by bit, it backed off, leaving behind not a dull void or aching exhaustion, but something more¡ªsomething he couldn''t quite put into words.


    The sensation came from the center of his chest, yet Isaac somehow knew nothing inside his body changed there¡ªwell, almost nothing. It was a connection, a link, an extension of himself¡ªlike a limb¡ªexcept one he couldn''t even control. The mystery just sat there, waiting and echoing with the same comforting song that helped him with the pain.


    Although, it didn''t stick around for long, and as the last bits of pain left his body, so too did the song. The connection, however, remained, lying in wait, now just pulsing in the beat of his own heart.


    Isaac gasped, trying to stop hyper-focusing on this new connection¡ªorgan¡­ whatever.


    What is this¡­ What did you do to me?


    Yet that wasn''t the end of the surprises. As his eyes opened and he regained full control of his body, it didn''t take him long to realize that something more inside his body had changed. Just like with the mysterious connection, he didn''t quite know how to describe it, but one thing was obvious.


    Isaac had never felt more alive.


    His entire body was brimming with some unknown energy, coursing through his skin, veins, bones, and even organs. He stepped away from the stone table, and the energy moved with him as if supporting his every motion. To put it simply, there wasn''t a part of himself he couldn''t feel.


    It was quite overwhelming, if he had to be honest. Not in a bad way, though, just confusing¡ªsomething he would have to get used to.


    Is this¡­ Is this that Viron the Interface mentioned? Isaac mused, trying to reach the new energy with his thoughts.


    Of course, that didn''t work. Not that it stopped him from trying again and again.


    Maybe if he kept at it, he would have figured something out¡ªor just gotten lost in the thrill of chasing the unknown¡ªbut the red text flashing before his eyes yanked him back to reality. He blinked, shaking off the daze, and mentally tried to push the overwhelming energy out of his head.


    Somehow, it worked.


    Linking successful. Congratulations! You have awakened the Origin of Blood. Viron production is back online. More Interface notifications are ready and waiting for your command.


    His Origin¡ªblood. It should have surprised him, but it really didn''t. With the song pushing him forward during every struggle, and now the constant echo of his heartbeat, this outcome was quite obvious. Or it would have been if he understood more about Origins.


    Isaac grimaced as a sudden headache surged through his skull. He instinctively knew the cause¡ªthe waiting notifications of red text pressing against his mind. Still, he didn''t give the command to release them just yet.


    Surroundings and timer first.


    He rubbed his eyes as he scanned the area around him. Not much¡ªif anything¡ªseemed to change since his episode began. The only noticeable difference was the dimming of the four blue flames. A few more hours, and they would vanish completely.


    Which means this had to take longer than a few minutes. He thought, summoning the timer first. The pain in his head intensified at that, but he would have to deal with it for a minute longer.


    Time until release: 29 minutes.


    "Oh¡­" Isaac muttered, his eyes growing wide. The last time he checked the timer, he still had over three hours left. "I need to hurry."


    Without any further delay, he called on the first notification held back by his headache. To his surprise, it was just his status, not a full one, though.


    Name: Isaac Walker


    Origin: Blood | LVL. 1


    Legacy: Locked


    Virus Stage: I - Attachment (Phase 1)


    Virus Integrity: 100%


    There it is. His gaze drifted past the new Origin. Wait what? Hundred percent? How?


    Isaac quickly glanced at the cut on his arm and then the ones on his leg. Nothing. Well, nothing aside from fresh, somewhat pink skin. Whatever wounds he had, they healed during his hours-long suffering.


    That''s nice, he thought, summoning the onslaught of the waiting notification.


    Connection with Origin of Blood established. You may now level up through many different actions to obtain Ascension Power needed to advance your attributes. Please familiarize yourself with the following information.


    [Blood - You now embody one of the ancient Origins of Life and Death. It will now assist you in all your future struggles. Blood calls for blood. Regeneration attribute efficiency greatly enhanced.


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Ascension Power distribution: Power: Peak | Agility: Normal | Toughness: Low | Regeneration: Enhanced Peak | Insight: Normal]


    Your Origin has managed to awaken with three starting abilities: Symphony of Blood, Sacrifice, and Blood Draw. Check your status to learn more about them.


    There was something more waiting in the back of his mind, but Isaac stopped the flow of the red text at this point. His headache had already faded, so he might as well take a moment to process what the Interface had given him until now.


    The part about levels he remembered. Although, it would be nice to know what exactly those ''many different actions'' mentioned were. Not that he couldn''t figure that out on his own. No reason to worry.


    Guess now I know why I healed so fast, Isaac mused, looking through the description of his Origin. Life and Death, though? Sounds important. And the distribution¡­ Let''s try this. Interface: Enhanced Peak.


    Nothing. The Interface stayed silent.


    He furrowed his brow and tried again with the other attributes. Still nothing. Either the Interface wasn''t ready to tell him yet, or¡ªmore likely¡ªhe had to figure it out on his own.


    Fine by me. He shrugged and dismissed the notifications he had already processed. There was still the one about his three new abilities, but he ignored it for now. He had to check the status again for them anyway, and the headache was slowly returning.


    Whatever the final message from the Interface was, it had to be important.


    Beware, Host! Only thirty minutes are left until your trial for the Integration rewards will begin. Once the timer falls to zero, you will be released into a small Quarantine dimension filled with enemies claimed by the Broken Strain. Defeat the boss and claim its key to complete the trial. To help you in your future struggles, you have been granted the basic Analyze skill.


    Warning! Acceptable modifications to the trial detected. Applying¡­ Success! To all Hosts: Obtain the key by any means necessary. Potential bonus rewards established. Good Luck. May the best Virus win.


    Isaac stared at the message, silent for a moment. Then, slowly, a small smile tugged at his lips.


    "So that''s how it is," he whispered. "Very well."


    He should have been angry, mad really, at the final part of the notification. Someone powerful was playing with him and all the hosts, who did their best to awaken early. His earlier comparison to this being similar to a game was becoming more and more real.


    And yet, Isaac barely felt a speck of anger inside him as his smile grew wider. So the Interface¡ªor whoever the hell did this¡ªscrewed them all over again. Nothing they could do about it anyway now, so why bother complaining? The trial was coming, and they had to survive by any means necessary, just as the message said.


    And he definitely would. After all, he wasn''t planning to die here, not when he was just starting to come alive.


    "Bring it on," Isaac muttered, dismissing the message.


    The beginning of a familiar song¡ªno, not a song, a symphony¡ªentered his veins, his blood, repeating the same notes over and over. It wanted to play more, but for now, it was just happy to wait for the next stage to come.


    I see.


    [Symphony of Blood | Grade: Superior | Tier I]


    A strong pseudo-passive Origin ability. Awakens the blood during times of struggle and battle to assist its host. Slightly enhances the user''s perception and battle prowess. Heightens pain tolerance.


    Thank you for helping me even before the awakening, Isaac called out even though no one was listening. Now, at least, he had a name for the force that had assisted him during every battle, during every second of struggle back in Galt.


    And there''s more, he thought, summoning the descriptions of his two next Origin skills.


    [Sacrifice | Grade: Normal | Tier I]


    An active Origin ability. You may now use some of the blood coursing through your veins to enhance the next Origin-related ability. Beware: Your blood isn''t limitless.


    [Blood Draw | Grade: Normal | Tier I]


    An active Origin ability. By drawing onto the power of your Origin with Viron, you may now unleash waves of deadly blood. Best used when armed.


    Isaac grinned. "Short and simple. I like it." His brow then furrowed. "But how the hell do I use any of you?"


    Symphony of Blood wasn''t a problem. It should activate on its own when needed. For now, that should do. But the other two? The interface definitely didn''t give him any guidance on how to activate them. Was he supposed to work it out on his own, or was there something he was missing?


    He glanced at the ever-present timer. Twenty-four minutes. That''s¡­ not good. Maybe that Analyze skill?


    [Analyze | Grade: N/A]


    A very basic scouting ability provided by the Interface. Can be used to assess some of the threats by comparing them to the host''s power level. Also useful for analyzing new items. Activated with a mental command.


    So in short, very useful but won''t help with my problem. Got it. Isaac summed up and glanced at the sword lying on the table. Might as well test it out. Analyze.


    It seemed that, for once, he had done something right as a second later, brand new text appeared before him. This time, it was blue for some reason.


    [Simple Longsword | Grade: Inferior]


    An ancient longsword modified by the Overseer to remain sharp and in one piece for the duration of the Pioneer trial.


    "Huh." Isaac blinked. "Not what I expected, but okay."


    Just to make sure the ability was working correctly, he used it on a few more items in the room. Weapons or the leftover food? No problem. But when given anything else to work with¡ªlike the blue flames, for example¡ªit didn''t even activate.


    Whatever. Got to figure out those two skills in twenty minutes. Or at least that Blood Draw. Sacrifice can wait.


    And so, just like the ability said, Isaac grabbed the longsword and got to work. It mentioned Viron and Origin, so that was what he began with, and to his surprise, it worked out better than he expected.


    While he couldn''t control the new energy coursing through his body¡ªthat was far beyond him for now¡ªcalling his Origin for help turned out to be quite simple. All it took was a mind focused on the new ability and a phantom hand reaching out toward the pulsing link.


    However, his revelation didn''t arrive in the form of some instant knowledge download or something similar. No, what happened next was quite a unique experience.


    As if guided by an unseen hand, Isaac adjusted his stance, spreading his legs just a bit. At the same time, Viron stirred within his body, first reaching toward the Origin, then flowing into his hands, and spreading over the longsword waiting there.


    A crimson, liquid-like mass bled out from his fingers and crawled over the blade until no metal remained visible. Then, Isaac struck.


    The moment his blade started to move, so did the energy. It surged outward, exploding in a wave of blood that followed the arc of his swing. Its reach, however, was far beyond the weapon''s length, almost reaching the wall a few feet away from him.


    And then, as quickly as it began, it was over. His swing came to an end, and the blood upon his blade faded, the lingering trail vanishing a second later. Now, he simply stood there, sword still extended, and the room as quiet as ever.


    "Wow," Isaac muttered as he lowered the blade. His eyes locked onto the wall ahead, and at that moment, he realized how wrong he had been. "No way¡­"


    Stepping forward, he reached out, letting his hand glide over a few bricks. His fingers sunk into a cut, short and shallow, but still a cut nonetheless. One that definitely wasn''t here before.


    Isaac laughed.

 Chapter 11. Alive

    Once his brief moment of madness passed, Isaac absently returned to the stone table, his mind racing a hundred miles per hour. Blood Draw was powerful¡ªthere was no doubt about that. However, now that the excitement of wielding a supernatural power had faded, he noticed a faint emptiness where Viron had once flowed freely.


    The loss wasn¡¯t that noticeable, but some of the energy had definitely disappeared when he used the skill. Which, in hindsight, wasn¡¯t surprising. As the law of equivalent exchange said¡ªif it still even applied¡ªsomething could not come from nothing. Humans got tired from physical effort, and now, their Viron reserves would go down the more abilities they used.


    What worried Isaac was his inability to gauge how much energy he had left before he ran out of juice. Sure, he could feel it coursing through his entire body, but no matter how hard he focused on it, he had no idea if what he had left was a lot or not. For all he knew, two or three more Blood Draws could drain him dry.


    Of course, with time and experience, those problems would most likely go away, but until that happened, he had to be careful. As it was, his active Origin abilities were his trump cards. Anything that didn¡¯t outright threaten his life would have to be dealt without them.


    At least for the time of the trial.


    Isaac nodded to himself.


    It all depends on what the Interface throws at me, anyway. One thing¡¯s for sure¡ªI need to act fast if I want to get that key. Something about this modified trial feels off. That additional warning only confirmed it.


    With his thoughts settled, Isaac used the final few minutes on the timer to properly arm himself. The sheathed sword went on the left side of his waist while the knife rested on the right. The crossbow came next, and even though there was no holster for the weapon itself, there was one for its bolts that went around his chest.


    Then came the polearm. Unlike the others, there was no easy way to carry it. Just like with the crossbow, he would have to hold the long weapon and drop it whenever he had to switch. Not the best setup, but his only other option was to leave something behind.


    Isaac refused to do that.


    Let the show begin, he thought, gulping down the last of the water in his glass. He grabbed the polearm in his left hand while keeping the crossbow ready in his right.


    Time until release: 11 seconds.


    A small smile crept onto his face as the echo of his Origin grew louder with each passing second. His heart joined in, pounding in sync. And then, the moment the timer hit zero¡­


    Silence.


    Good luck, Hosts. Find and use the key, or become a part of the Broken Realm forever.


    A second after those words appeared before him, the single empty wall in the chamber groaned. The ground shook as the stone bricks separated, slowly revealing a dimly lit hallway beyond them. The walls were much like those in his current chamber¡ªonly now, they were covered with wet moss.


    Isaac took a deep breath and stepped out, only to yelp when the wall behind him slammed shut. Unlike its opening, it closed within the blink of an eye.


    No going back, I guess. He turned away from the now-closed exit and scanned the hallway ahead. All he could see was a turn in the distance, barely illuminated by the torches hanging on the walls every dozen feet or so.


    ¡°Into the rabbit hole we go,¡± Isaac muttered, taking his first step into the unknown. His light footfalls echoed through the corridor, and he quickly adjusted his steps, doing his best to move more quietly. No need to announce his presence to whatever lurked ahead.


    Nothing so far, he thought as he reached the first turn and took a peek around the corner. The sight there quickly made him jerk back.


    Never mind!


    While the hallway there definitely didn¡¯t change, it also wasn¡¯t empty. He had only gotten a brief glimpse, but if he had to describe what he saw, shell-less yellow snails would be an accurate choice of words. And they weren¡¯t small either; each was at least the size of a large dog.


    Let¡¯s try this, Analyze.


    He took another quick peek and activated the skill on one of the two giant snails.


    Potential Threat: Low


    That was all the Interface gave him, and honestly, Isaac was just glad it even worked. A low-threat rating might not have meant much, but it put things into perspective. After all, the skill assessed danger based on how his own strength compared to the analyzed creature.


    He looked down at his weapons.


    Snails should be slow by design, but at the same time, he doubted a crossbow bolt would do much damage to them. The polearm could work, but again, with the limited space in the hallway and his lack of experience using it, he should probably just settle for the sword.


    Or I can just stab the first one with the spear and then quickly swap. Isaac hummed. Yeah, let¡¯s go with that.


    With the decision made, he leaned the crossbow against the wall and grasped the polearm with both hands. His Origin, as if sensing the incoming fight, woke up and activated Symphony of Blood. The song settled in his veins, weak for now, but ready to escalate.


    One, two, three!


    At once, Isaac turned the corner and charged the nearest snail that perked up its upper tentacles at the sudden noise. It raised its head off the ground and opened its tiny mouth. There was a glow coming from within.


    Uh, oh!


    The snail reared back and lurched forward, spitting a blob of yellow mass toward him. Isaac, with a nudge from his passive ability, leaned to the side, letting the sizzling projectile fly past him.


    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    The glow gathered inside the creature¡¯s mouth again, but it was too slow this time.


    Isaac closed the remaining distance between them and plunged the polearm into its soft tissue. The snail let out a warbling wail as the glow of its next projectile died out. However, that was far from the end of the fight.


    The second snail, finally alerted by its kin¡¯s scream for help, also turned toward the battle and charged up its first shot. Isaac released his hold over the spear and dropped low before the yellow mass could take off his head.


    Blood pumping, he unsheathed the sword and jumped over the injured creature¡ªfor now, it wasn¡¯t a threat anyway.


    Another yellow blob flew at him, but this time, Isaac saw it coming from a mile away. He just swerved to the side and placed the sword low, winding it up for a swing as the snail came within reach.


    Now!


    He swung with all his might. The blade carved deep into the snail¡¯s body, slicing through it like a hot knife through butter. The creature barely made a sound as it split into two uneven parts.


    [Deepearth Snail (LVL. 1) slain.]


    Ignoring the notification, Isaac spun on his heel, already running toward the first snail with his spear stuck in its head. The beast simply trashed on the floor and could do nothing when he also cut its body in two.


    [Deepearth Snail (LVL. 1) slain.]


    Just like that, the Symphony left his body and mind, leaving a hollow silence behind. He swallowed and took a few deep breaths to calm his racing heart.


    ¡°Not bad,¡± he muttered, sheathing his sword. He grasped the polearm and yanked it free from the corpse.


    Yellow blood dripped off its blade, but thankfully, it didn¡¯t cause any damage. The same, however, couldn¡¯t be said about the floor where the sizzling blobs had fallen. The liquid had eaten through the stone like acid, and Isaac thanked whoever was listening that none of it had hit him.


    Was close though.


    He grimaced as he retrieved his crossbow and returned to the two corpses. Within a minute, both snails faded away, but not without leaving something behind.


    Another one?


    Isaac squinted as he reached toward the familiar violet gem. Unlike last time, it didn¡¯t dissolve when his fingers brushed against its cool surface. Curious, he activated Analyze.


    [Inferior Virality Gem | Grade: Inferior]


    A tiny gem that holds a piece of a defeated Virus. Generally used as an easy and quick way to strengthen one¡¯s Virus and advance its stage. Has plenty of other uses.


    Sounds simple enough, but then again¡­ He furrowed his brow. How do I use it now? Any help on that front Interface?


    Like most of the time, he received no answer.


    ¡°Fine then¡­¡±


    Isaac could only see two possible options here. One, he had to somehow crush the gem to absorb the Virus within, or two, he had to reach out toward it with his Viron. Well, there was probably another way, but for now, this was the limit of his imagination.


    I can probably crush it, but if it doesn¡¯t work¡­ He shook his head. Yeah, let¡¯s try Viron first. Only one attempt, though; I can¡¯t waste more time here.


    With a nod to himself, Isaac closed his hand around the gem and once more tried to reach out toward the energy racing through his body. This time, however, instead of just trying to push it around with his thoughts, he attempted to move it like another limb. He also recalled the sensation of using Blood Draw and let that experience guide him.


    His eyes drifted shut as he lost himself in the feeling of the mythical energy. It still refused to come under his command, to stop its frenzied movement, but somehow, it still changed flow and moved toward the special rock in his hand.


    Isaac opened his eyes.


    The gem was gone, and in its place stood another notification.


    You have absorbed an Inferior Virality Gem. Your Virus has grown stronger.


    He quickly checked his status, but nothing had changed there. It still showed the same stage and phase. For a brief moment, he wondered just how many of those he would need to change that.


    Not now, he dismissed the thought. I still have to find the key.


    And so, with weapons in hand, Isaac resumed his slow trek down the hallway. It didn¡¯t take long to come upon another turn¡ªthis time, a crossroads leading in two different directions.


    He refused to ponder on the choices and stepped into the right corridor.


    It was the wrong choice.


    After peeking around another corner, Isaac had to once more snap back when he spotted another overgrown snail waiting for him there. Alone, it wouldn¡¯t have been an issue. Unfortunately, this one had a brand new companion.


    A spider.


    It wasn¡¯t as large as the snail, but he had no doubts it could move much faster than its sluggish friend.


    Crossbow it is.


    He loaded a bolt into the chamber and leaned out just enough to get the large spider in his sights. It clung to the wall near the snail, unmoving.


    Please don¡¯t miss, Isaac begged and pulled the trigger.


    The bolt missed and clattered to the ground, useless.


    Shit.


    He ducked back, but it was too late¡ªthe sharp clicking from the spider confirmed as much. It was time to improvise. He wasn¡¯t risking another shot.


    Dropping the crossbow, he unsheathed the sword and took a few steps away from the wall. He raised the blade high and waited as the spider¡¯s skitter got louder and louder.


    Die!


    The moment the arachnid rounded the corner, still glued to the wall, Isaac swung. Blade met flesh, separating two legs from the spider¡¯s body. It hissed and lost its footing, dropping to the ground like a fly.


    Another swing, another leg severed.


    A final thrust ended the beast forever.


    [Deepearth Spider (LVL. 1) slain.]


    Not done yet.


    Isaac snatched the discarded polearm with his free hand and rounded the corner. The snail was already slowly slithering in his direction, but the moment it spotted him, it raised its upper body and spat a familiar yellow blob at him.


    He dodged to the side and surged forward, driving the spear into the beast¡¯s open mouth. It let out a sharp, pained wail, but unfortunately for the beast, Isaac wasn¡¯t done yet.


    As the Symphony of Blood rang louder and louder in his veins, he spun around and used the momentum to slice clean through the snail with his sword. The creature stilled, its two uneven parts dropping to the ground.


    [Deepearth Snail (LVL. 2) slain.]


    You have leveled up! You are now level 2. Distribution of Ascension Power in progress. All attributes, except Toughness, have advanced a tier.


    Power¡ªpure, unfiltered power¡ªflooded his body, and Isaac quickly amended one of his previous statements. This was the moment that made him feel more alive than ever. His muscles thrummed with newfound strength, his senses sharpened just a bit, and even the air around him felt slightly different.


    He tightened the grip on his sword, letting out a slow breath as the sudden power surge came to an end. The infinite strength might have faded, but even now, he felt stronger, lighter, and simply better than before. It wasn¡¯t hard to understand why after he read the Interface¡¯s final message.


    ¡°A level-up, hmm?¡± Isaac whispered, a smile once more returning to his face. ¡°I will remember this.¡±


    His gaze swept the area just in time to watch the snail¡¯s body vanish. It didn¡¯t leave behind another game, but that was fine¡ªhe had already spotted something else that caught his interest in this dead-end corridor.


    A small wooden chest.

 Chapter 12. Way out

    Isaac frowned, his eyes fixed on the chest. There is no way that¡¯s where the key is, right? It said I have to defeat a boss to get it.


    To be honest, he would be a little disappointed if this was the end of the road. Even if he wanted to get the hell out of this trial in one piece, he had expected more¡ªespecially after the additional warning. A simple chest wasn¡¯t exactly what he had in mind.


    Maybe the boss will appear once I get closer or open it? A trap?


    That definitely sounded more like something the Interface would do. Isaac nodded to himself and backed off to retrieve his crossbow and check on the other corpse. As expected, it also didn¡¯t leave anything behind, so he just loaded another bolt and returned to the other corridor.


    His steps were slow and measured as he approached the chest again. If anything moved, it would get a bolt right to its face, and afterward¡­ Well, that remained to be seen. At this point, he felt confident in his ability to quickly draw his sword and maybe even activate his Origin skill if needed.


    Though¡­ I¡¯m starting to think that might not be necessary, Isaac noted as the distance between him and the chest grew smaller and smaller.


    Ten feet.


    Five feet.


    One and¡­ nothing happened.


    Isaac hummed and gently nudged the chest with the crossbow. Once more, nothing sudden occurred. For some reason, his stupid imagination had half-convinced him the small wooden box would explode or try to eat him.


    I need help¡­


    Shaking his head, he crouched down and unlatched the claps on the chest. They clicked open, and the lid groaned as he lifted it. What waited inside definitely wasn¡¯t a bomb or something that would kill him¡ªor so he hoped.


    There were only two items there, one resting atop the other. The first object Isaac recognized instantly. After all, he had used one of those gems just a few minutes ago. The stuff hidden beneath it, however, was a small surprise.


    ¡°Gloves?¡± he muttered, fishing out the dark brown article of clothing. They were fingerless and quite sturdy to the touch. ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­ Analyze.¡±


    [Trainee Gloves | Grade: Standard]


    A pair of fingerless gloves made out of high-quality leather. They may or may not protect you from some cuts.


    Okay. I will take that. Better than nothing.


    Isaac shrugged and slid on the gloves. They were a bit rough against his skin, but it was nothing he couldn¡¯t get used to with time. Next, he grabbed the new Inferior Virality Gem and again tried to nudge his Viron in its direction. It took about a minute, but in the end, he received the same Interface message as before.


    No changes to his status, though.


    Got to go with the other path, then.


    And so, after picking up his discarded weapons, Isaac returned to the crossroads and, this time, chose the left hallway. Similar to the other one, at first, it was empty, but that quickly changed when he arrived at another turn.


    All right, now that¡¯s overkill, Interface, he commented after taking a peek around the corner. Two slugs or a slug and a spider? Manageable. But five of the former and three of the latter? Now, that just might be an issue.


    He couldn¡¯t take them all out at once, that was for sure. Either he found a way to separate the two species, or he could kiss the rest of the trial goodbye. Avoiding five flying acid blobs alone would be a nightmare, but add to that three fast-moving spiders?


    Yeah, no. He stood no chance against that. Not even the silent song in his blood tried to convince him otherwise.


    Glad we agree against outright suicide. Isaac snorted, taking a look around him. There wasn¡¯t much to work with, but there was always the classic trick¡ªthrow a rock and hope for the best. It always worked in games and movies, so why not try it in real life.


    Worst case, I will just have to handle the three spiders at the same time. That sounds doable¡­ maybe.


    The arachnids still showed up as a low threat, and with his recent level-up, the fight should be easier. Unless, of course, the three beasts were also at a higher level than the ones from before.


    Either way, he had to do something.


    As such, Isaac grabbed a small rock from the ground and hurled it at the wall on the other side of the corridor. The pebble clattered loudly, and within moments, clicking sounds answered him.


    Crossbow in hand, he backed off from the corner leading to the other hallway. The skittering grew louder.


    Fire! Isaac shouted internally just as the first arachnid entered his sight. It stopped there for a second, its multiple yellow eyes locking onto him. It clicked its fangs, hissed¡ªthen crumbled to the ground as a bolt punched clean through its head.


    [Deepearth Spider (LVL. 1) slain.]


    He tossed the crossbow aside and unsheathed his sword when the other two spiders rounded the bend. Those, however, didn¡¯t stop and instantly rushed at him¡ªone from the floor, the other from the wall. The latter was faster.


    In a blink, the wall-crawler closed the distance between them and launched itself at him. This time around, Isaac didn¡¯t dodge. He simply pivoted and swung his blade to meet the incoming monster.


    Steel met mutated chitin, and unfortunately for the spider, the latter lost the battle. The blade cut deep, spilling pale blood.


    Stolen novel; please report.


    [Deepearth Spider (LVL. 1) slain.]


    Yet, it didn¡¯t cleave the beast in two like Isaac had hoped. Which posed quite a problem with the final arachnid almost at his feet¡ªespecially when his sword was still stuck in the other monster.


    ¡°Shit,¡± he cursed and promptly hurled the impaled spider¡ªsword and all¡ªat the charging one. The beast squeaked as the weight of the metal and its kin almost crushed it. He used this distraction to take out his knife.


    Faster!


    Fueled by the loud Symphony ringing in his veins, Isaac lunged forward and drove the short blade into the spider¡¯s head before it could recover. That did the job.


    [Deepearth Spider (LVL. 1) slain.]


    Not done yet.


    The song didn¡¯t stop. Quite the opposite¡ªit rang louder when his ears caught the unmistakable sound of something soft sliding across the floor.


    They are coming.


    Isaac ripped the knife free, put it back in the sheath, and sprinted for the polearm. Even when the weapon landed in his hand, he continued onward as he called upon his Origin. The connection answered instantly, and Viron moved across his body, surging toward the weapon in his hand.


    The moment he rounded the bend, three of the slugs were almost in his face. He didn¡¯t even give them a chance to react to his sudden appearance and swung the polearm in a wide arc.


    Blood erupted from the weapon and, just like back in the chamber, followed the path of his swing in a crimson wave. It cleaved through everything in its way. The three beasts stood no chance and died on the spot, their bodies separated in two.


    As the energy faded, the Symphony in his veins quieted a bit. However, at the same time, another familiar surge of power entered his body. It was more than enough to give him the push to move even faster.


    Isaac grinned and twirled out of the way of a flying acid. He then jumped over the corpse in his way and brought down the blade of the polearm upon the fourth slug¡¯s head.


    The blade sunk deep into its flesh but didn¡¯t kill it.


    That should do, Isaac decided, letting go of the spear and ducking under another spit from the final unharmed slug. His hand found the knife again¡ªhis last weapon. It would have to be enough.


    Before the last slug could charge up another shot, he pounced and stabbed it right below its upper left tentacle. He yanked the blade free and stabbed again. His next attempt, though, was met with the slug smashing into his chest.


    Isaac gasped as he stumbled back, leaving the knife stuck in the monster¡¯s flesh. That thing had to be much heavier than he expected if it managed to punch the air out of his lungs.


    Not important now. Focus!


    The slug was midway through charging another attack when Isaac recovered and shot forward. He grimaced as his left fist smashed against the side of its head. Still, he continued despite the momentary pain and delivered another strike with the freshly liberated knife.


    This time, the monster couldn¡¯t fight back and fell to the ground, dead.


    Yet the Symphony still played.


    Isaac exhaled, taking slow steps toward the last living slug¡ªthe one with his polearm still embedded in its skull. A few more stabs finished the job.


    Silence returned to his veins.


    ¡°That was¡­ interesting.¡± Isaac chuckled breathlessly as he finally glanced at the Interface notifications. There were quite a few of them waiting.


    [Deepearth Slug x3 slain.]


    You have leveled up! You are now level 3. Distribution of Ascension Power in progress. Power and Toughness have advanced a tier.


    [Deepearth Slug x2 slain.]


    Symphony of Blood and Blood Draw have advanced a tier.


    Now, that¡¯s a lovely sight. He smiled and went around the battlefield to collect his weapons. The spiders had also already disappeared and left behind a single gem for him. He instantly consumed it and waited for the other bodies to vanish.


    Which they did after a couple of seconds, gifting him yet another Inferior Virality Gem.


    Congratulations! Your Virus has entered the second Phase of development.


    True to the Interface¡¯s words, after Isaac consumed the second gem, the Attachment stage of his Virus changed to Phase 2. Neither he nor his Viron felt any different, but maybe the changes were just too subtle to be noticeable¡ªor there just weren¡¯t any.


    No point in overthinking it. Time to move.


    He had already spotted a lever waiting at the end of this overly long corridor. As there were no other crossroads, that was his only option.


    And so, fully armed once more, Isaac made his way down the hallway¡ªor at least he tried to.


    The moment he passed the area where the monsters were initially resting, his boot landed on a rock¡ªa rock that sank under his weight. A sharp crack echoed from somewhere ahead. Instinct screamed at him, and he flung himself to the side.


    Yet, he was still too late.


    An arrow sliced through the air, nicking him in the left shoulder. It tore through his clothes and cut the flesh beneath.


    Traps¡­ great, he groaned as the rain of arrows above him continued for another few seconds. Pressing a hand to the stinging wound, he silently begged whatever entity who might be listening that the arrows weren¡¯t poisoned. That would fit the image of this place far too well.


    Thankfully, after the arrows stopped flying and he climbed back to his feet, he felt nothing but mild pain from the wound. Even stranger, despite the cut¡¯s length and width, it barely bled. Hell, it almost looked like it was already healing.


    There is no way that¡¯s normal, even with my Regeneration at Tier five. Just how much does my Origin enhance it?


    Isaac once more had to stop his mind from suggesting cutting himself open to test that. Just another small cut. For science! He quickly shut that thought down. Now was not the time for that.


    ¡°Right¡­ traps,¡± he grimaced, scanning the rest of the corridor leading toward the lever. To him, it looked no different from the section behind him. If there were more traps, he had to find a different way to identify them.


    First, another good old rock test, he thought, throwing a couple of stones at the floor before him. Some bounced farther than others, but none triggered anything. Of course it didn¡¯t work¡­ Well, good thing I brought the spear then.


    And so, Isaac slowly proceeded forward, using the long polearm to test every part of the floor ahead of him. He was halfway to the lever when something finally happened.


    A stone sank.


    The ground shook.


    Instincts kicked in, and Isaac jumped back just in time to avoid falling to his death. The entire part of the floor ahead crumbled and fell into an endless darkness.


    ¡°Yeah, fuck that,¡± Isaac muttered, averting his gaze from the void beneath. At least the hole wasn¡¯t too wide. He should be able to jump over it without much effort.


    First though. He grabbed the polearm again and extended it to the other side. Let¡¯s see if I don¡¯t die after the jump.


    The stones didn¡¯t move, so with one quick leap, Isaac landed on the other side of the hole and walked the rest of the way to the lever. By some miracle, nothing tried to kill him during the final part of this trip.


    ¡°There we go.¡±


    He pulled the lever, and just like back in the large chamber, the wall before him groaned before sliding open. Stronger, but still quite dim lighting hit him in the face. Nonetheless, he didn¡¯t avert his gaze. Instead, his eyes only widened at the sight before him.


    ¡°Oh wow¡­¡±

 Chapter 13. Quarantine Dimension

    So that¡¯s the true part of the trial, Isaac mused, his gaze sweeping over the area. That makes much more sense¡­


    What he had stepped into wasn¡¯t another narrow hallway or a dark chamber¡ªit was a forest. No, not a forest; a jungle described this place far better.


    Every tree was tall and wide, with canopies full of vibrant, multicolored leaves hiding the scenery beyond. Their roots were another matter, long and powerful, weaving in and out of the earth in a tangled mess.


    There was much more flora here, too. Bushes, big and small, blooming with flowers that Isaac had never seen before. Glowing mushrooms that nestled between the enormous roots. And finally, wild grasses and vines of every shade¡ªsome as bright as the trees, others deep green¡ªfilled the gaps where the earth should be empty.


    Yet, the best, or maybe worst of all, was that none of this registered in his mind first. No, that honor belonged to the tall dome of intertwined roots sealing the entire trial area. It even claimed the brick entrance once he stepped outside.


    Isaac searched for gaps, hoping to glimpse something beyond, but the roots were woven too tightly. Everything was sealed shut, and if not for the patches of bright, glowing moss clinging to the dome, this place would have been even darker than the hallways. Yet somehow, those tiny plants offered almost as much light as a setting sun.


    Explains why all the monsters back there were called Deepearth¡­


    Shaking his head, he dismissed those thoughts. He was standing in the open in an unknown territory. It was so not the time to get distracted by the alien beauty and weirdness of this place.


    Though he wouldn¡¯t lie, he was kinda curious if his Blood Draw could cut through the roots shielding this place. At the same time, something told him it was a bad, bad idea. For all he knew, the barrier hid an endless void, waiting to consume anyone foolish enough to tear through it. The Interface called this a Quarantine Dimension, after all.


    Focus!


    Once more, Isaac pushed those useless thoughts into the depths of his mind. With so much happening lately, he was getting distracted too easily. Not a good sign, especially not now.


    The key must be somewhere here¡­ but where?


    The dark corridors had led him out into a tiny clearing just before the forest¡¯s edge. He could only see what was above him¡ªroots¡ªon his sides¡ªroots again, while the trees and other flora hid everything ahead.


    Isaac grimaced as he glanced down at his weapons. The sword and knife would do, but the crossbow and polearm? The former might be useful, but the latter? That one would be even harder to use here than in the hallways.


    Still, he didn¡¯t want to part with anything.


    This is gonna bite me in the ass, he thought, stepping into the thick undergrowth. He stuck out the polearm, using it to push aside branches and other annoyances in the way. At the same time, he kept his movements slow to avoid the web of roots covering the ground.


    So much for going fast.


    Yet, despite this thought going through his head, Isaac didn¡¯t speed up. The last thing he wanted was to trip over a root and faceplant into the forest floor. Even if he hadn¡¯t seen any monsters for now, he would bet they would show up if he lowered his guard.


    For the next two minutes, that logic held. Afterward?


    Not so much.


    It happened just as he was pushing aside another branch. Two brown bulges on the trees ahead of him shifted, morphing into dark green, child-sized figures. Before he could react, they launched themselves at him, tiny claws outstretched.


    Isaac cursed and swung the polearm¡¯s shaft in a wide arc. That stopped the gremlin-like creatures for only a second before they pounced again, wide toothy grins on their faces.


    He swung again and again, fighting to keep the monsters at bay while struggling to find his footing among the tangled roots. A moment later, he realized it was all for naught.


    A sudden pain exploded out of his back as multiple sharp points stabbed into his flesh. None sank too deep, but it still hurt. Not even the burst of Symphony of Blood could stop him from feeling some of that.


    Worse, before he could fully recover, the something on his back bit into his shoulder¡ªhard.


    Isaac hissed and, on instinct, threw the polearm at the two gremlins in front of him. With his hands now free, he reached over his shoulder, grabbed something fleshy, and tore it off his back.


    Pain erupted over his body, but he just gritted his teeth, drew his knife, and stabbed the writhing creature¡ªanother gremlin¡ªstraight through the eye. It stilled instantly.


    [Deepearth Gremlin (LVL. 2) slain.]


    Yet, there was no time for celebration. The other two monsters had long since recovered, and one even pounced on his leg, already sinking its claws into his flesh.


    ¡°Motherfu¡ª¡± Isaac growled as he yanked out the knife and drove it into the skull of the annoyance clinging to his leg. Another notification blinked in his vision, but he ignored it and flung the corpse in his other hand at the final gremlin.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    The tiny creature dodged, but it didn¡¯t matter. Once it jumped to reach him, he snatched it mid-air by one of its overly large ears and slammed it against the tree next to him. The creature squeaked, so he did it again and again until it stopped moving.


    [Deepearth Gremlin x2 slain.]


    You have obtained a new skill, Pain Tolerance.


    Isaac coughed, leaning against the nearest tree as the song in his veins returned to slumber. He had survived, but for the first time since the incident in the alley behind the shop, he hadn¡¯t escaped unscathed.


    Even worse, he hated how easily those things had caught him off guard, all thanks to their damned camouflage. A wave of raw, unfiltered anger flooded his entire body¡ªyet another emotion he hadn¡¯t felt much in the last few years.


    How bad is it, Interface?


    Virus Integrity: 71%


    Isaac breathed a sigh of relief even as most of his upper back and half of his right leg burned. With so much damage, he had expected the number to be much worse, but maybe he shouldn¡¯t have worried. Hell, his regeneration had already restored one percent of Integrity even though he could still feel the wounds bleeding.


    At least all of this netted me a new skill.


    [Pain Tolerance | Grade: Inferior | Tier II]


    Passive ability that slightly increases your tolerance for pain.


    I will take it. Tier two already, too. Isaac chuckled wryly, dismissing the description.


    He glanced around just in time to see the three bodies vanish, leaving behind a single violet gem. With a groan, he pushed himself off the tree and snatched it off the ground.


    One absorption later, he collected his knife and crossbow. The spear, despite its potential, had to be left behind. This terrain just wasn¡¯t made for weapons like this.


    I can¡¯t keep going in blind.


    If not for the ambush, Isaac wouldn¡¯t mind this slow but careful exploration of the forest. Now though? The longer he stayed here without finding anything, the more traps he would likely have to survive.


    He glanced upward, scanning the foliage.


    Too small. Too thick. Not enough branches¡­ His eyes landed on a towering tree. This one.


    With a nod to himself, Isaac sheathed his knife, set down his crossbow, and jumped. Another spike of pain shot through his body as he grasped the lowest branch. Still, he ignored it and, with some effort, pulled himself up.


    Now, do it again.


    Grimacing, he obeyed his own order, slowly climbing the massive tree. Before long, he reached the tallest point the branches allowed him. There, he finally allowed himself to take in the view.


    The first thing he noticed was that he hadn¡¯t understood just how large this place was before. One could probably stitch together half a dozen football stadiums and still fit them inside here.


    ¡°And I still can¡¯t even see all of it,¡± he muttered, his gaze still glued to the land ahead.


    Despite his high position, some parts of the forest were still hidden behind other massive trees. Luckily for him, that didn¡¯t matter. He had already found what he needed¡ªor what he hoped he needed.


    Three separate areas stood out. One was relatively close, others not so much. Each, however, had a wider-than-usual gap between the trees, and two even possessed some sort of stone ruins that climbed above the canopy. Isaac couldn¡¯t tell what they were, but if those weren¡¯t potential locations for the boss, he didn¡¯t know what they would be.


    Target acquired.


    After a quick descent from the tree, he grabbed the crossbow with his left hand and unsheathed the knife with the other. Even if he missed the shot, he could always throw the weapon and rely on the short blade for the rest. The sword would only come out if necessary.


    And so, with his eyes scanning every tree for familiar bulges, Isaac made his way toward the first point of interest. Only a single gremlin tried to stop him, but without any friends, it died before even landing a single scratch on him.


    Soon, the first clearing appeared between the few final trees and bushes. He slowed, swapping the knife for his sword, then crouched behind a thick fallen trunk. For now, he also put aside the crossbow.


    Is it really empty?


    Isaac frowned, his gaze jumping over the clearing¡ªor, better said, ruins.


    Maybe ages ago, this place had been something grand, but now, overgrowth consumed what little remained. A fallen wall here, remnants of an arch there, and broken stone flooring scattered across the ground. The only structure still standing was a shrine-like building in the center, towering high above some surrounding trees.


    This must have been what Isaac saw from above.


    Got to at least check it out. Maybe there is another chest hidden here.


    Decision made, he stepped out of the foliage and entered the small clearing. At first, nothing happened. But the moment he reached the shrine, a blue barrier surged up around the ruins. A notification followed.


    Survive for two minutes to receive a reward.


    Time remaining: 1:59


    Isaac tensed, tightening his grip on the sword. His blood stirred, starting its symphony¡ªjust in time too.


    A gray worm with a gaping mouth full of razor-sharp teeth suddenly burst out of the ground a few feet away and shot straight for his head. Isaac dove to the side, letting the creature sail past him and then dive back into the earth.


    Shit.


    He barely managed to get back to his feet before two more worms jumped out, heading for him just like the other. This time, he just stepped out of their way and activated Analyze.


    Potential Threat: Low


    So my sword should be able to cut them. Got it.


    Yet before he could even think of taking a swing at any of the worms, five more joined the fray. Thankfully, only three targeted him. The other two just soared over the ruins before burrowing into the ground again.


    Time remaining: 1:34


    Seconds ticked by as Isaac danced between the growing number of worms. It was hard to get the count right, but he could swear there were at least ten of them here.


    Got to start killing those little shits. He growled, ducking under one monster. He then spun away from another¡ªonly for a third to burst from the ground a foot away from him, forcing him to jump away again.


    This, however, brought him right into the path of the next monster.


    Isaac swore and brought his sword up just in time to stop it from tearing a hole through his chest. He didn¡¯t get a chance to do much more, though, as a second later, more worms erupted around him in a circle, their gaping maws all aimed at him.


    They all went for him at the same time.


    Oh, you¡¯ve gotta be kidding me!


    Time remaining: 1:12

 Chapter 14. Alone, or not?

    Time remaining: 1:12


    Surrounded and outnumbered almost ten to one with no way out, Isaac let his thoughts and worries fade away. The Symphony filled the emptiness, pushing him to move before it was too late. He had, at best, two or three seconds before the circle of worms skewered him alive.


    Follow the echo.


    He released the sword, his free hand already reaching for the knife at his waist. At the same time, Viron stirred all across his body, rushing into his Origin and then to his arms. Yet, that still wasn''t all.


    Just as his fingers closed around the knife and crimson liquid spilled onto the blade, he felt something else happening. The blood dripping from his back and leg vanished, answering his Origin''s independent call. It transformed into power, raw and wild, that rushed straight into his hands.


    The liquid on his knife darkened, bubbling and writhing as it fought to escape. Isaac didn''t see the reason to hold it back any longer.


    Sacrificial Blood Draw.


    Continuing the motion of his draw, he swung. Blood exploded from the blade, extending outward until it carved through the first worm in its path. Still, it was far from over.


    Isaac didn''t stop on a single short swing¡ªafter all, they were coming at him from each side. Instead, he spun, dragging the wave of blood with him. It tore through everything in its way, swallowing the worms whole. It wasn''t until he finished the full rotation that the power left his veins.


    [Deepearth Worm x9 slain.]


    You have leveled up! You are now level 4. Distribution of Ascension Power in progress. All attributes, except Toughness, have advanced a tier. Regeneration has ascended to the next grade (Developed).


    Sacrifice and Blood Draw have advanced a tier.


    Even as the revitalizing energy of a level-up surged through his body, Isaac stumbled when a wave of exhaustion hit him at the same time. He gasped for breath, fighting off the sudden dizziness and blur in his vision. The trial was still active, he couldn''t get distracted now.


    It was good that he realized that, too, as a moment later, another worm burst out of the ground next to him. Still half-dazed, he leaned away from its lunge and weakly stabbed with the knife still in his grip.


    His aim, however, was way off. He just barely nicked the monster on its side. Still, he counted it as a win considering how weak his body felt at this second.


    Time remaining: 0:54


    Another monster jumped out, and this time, Isaac just settled for dodging. No point in trying to attack when half of his body responded with a delay. And so, the fight devolved into a half-drunk dance against the few remaining worms.


    It wasn''t until the timer dipped below thirty seconds that the dizziness finally faded. Without hesitation, he lunged for his fallen sword and swung at the nearest airborne worm.


    [Deepearth Worm (LVL. 1) slain.]


    Two more worms erupted from the ground, but Isaac merely pivoted and brought down the blade in a downward slash at the closest monster. It didn''t even let out a sound as it fell, its body cleaved into two uneven parts.


    [Deepearth Worm (LVL. 2) slain.]


    The second monster returned beneath the ground, upturning the earth. Isaac tried to track its path while keeping an eye out for any more flying worms. Only there weren''t any. Despite the blood thrumming inside his veins, the silence almost returned to the ruins.


    I see¡­


    He took a deep breath, smiled, and swung the sword just as the ground next to him exploded. Steel met brown flesh, slicing clean through the hide and spilling the crimson liquid hiding beneath it. The worm died before it could fully emerge.


    The Symphony faded.


    Well done, Host! You have slain all the monsters within this area before the time ran out. You may claim your rewards now and continue searching for the key.


    A bright flash of light flickered near the towering shrine as the notification disappeared. Isaac turned his gaze toward it, and his smile widened when he spotted a familiar chest sitting there.


    Despite his exhaustion, he dragged his feet toward it and crouched down. The clasps clicked open, and his eyebrows rose slightly as he lifted the lid.


    "That''s new," he mumbled, reaching out for a rectangular blue stone tablet inside. The entire thing was covered in symbols that could as well be a child''s random doodles.


    Analyze.


    [Virus Blueprint | Grade: Normal]


    A special blueprint that teaches a Host''s Virus how to use a certain ability. This blueprint contains knowledge about one of the three basic filtration skills¡ªPotency.


    Huh. Another skill. Thanks, I guess. Should be a much better reward than a pair of gloves, Isaac mused just before a frown crossed his face. But again? How do I use it? No way I''m reading what''s written here. A child would have better luck deciphering these scribbles.


    That left him with only one option¡ªthe same method he used for the Virality Gems. Hopefully, it would work.


    Nodding to himself, Isaac closed his eyes for a moment and reached out to his Viron. Like always, the energy refused to come under his command, but at this point, it at least listened to some of his suggestions.


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    The moment it touched the tablet, the symbols lit up in a brilliant golden glow. Bit by bit, the light spread over the object, consuming it whole. Then, with a soft crack, the tablet shattered into countless tiny particles, each sinking into his skin.


    A notification arrived next.


    You have obtained a new skill, Viron: Potency.


    [Viron: Potency | Grade: Normal | Tier I]


    A part of a basic filtering technique. It slightly enhances the base power of Viron produced by processing the Immortal Mana.


    The change was minimal, barely noticeable, but Isaac still felt as the energy inside his body became a bit wilder, faster. As much as he appreciated the upgrade, he just hoped it didn''t make controlling Viron even harder than it already was.


    Anyway¡­ what else do we have?


    He reached into the chest again and removed the second and final item there¡ªa small vial full of strange blue liquid. He gave it a shake. No reaction.


    Analyze it is.


    [Restoration Potion (V) | Grade: Inferior]


    A weak Viron restoration potion. It will enhance the recovery of Viron for a short period of time.


    Without hesitation, Isaac uncorked the vial and downed it in one gulp. Even if he still had no idea just how much Viron he had left, he was definitely missing some after the two uses of Blood Draw. There was no point in keeping the potion in his pocket when it could be the reason why he survived the next fight.


    That''s pretty good, he admitted, smacking his lips. He couldn''t quite place the taste¡ªfruity, definitely sweet, maybe even a bit too sweet. That said, he couldn''t tell whether it actually worked. Viron''s inner workings were still a mystery to him.


    "Maybe there is some kind of control skill I can get later o¡ª"


    The words died in his mouth as an explosion¡ªa muffled one that barely reached him but still an explosion¡ªsounded in the distance. Though, that might have been the wrong way to describe it. In Isaac''s opinion, it sounded more like a weak crack of thunder. The following wail was also quite familiar. He had heard it during his first encounter with the gremlins.


    And all of it came from the direction of one of the three places he found from the top of the tree.


    Isaac furrowed his brow. Were some monsters fighting there? Did they set off a trap and mauled themselves so bad that their scream reached even him? No, that didn''t add up, at least not with what he already knew.


    This was a trial made for them, the Hosts. They were the ones supposed to fight the monsters and fall into the traps prepared here. The slugs and spiders back in the hallways definitely didn''t try to kill each other. Nor had they triggered the traps that were just a few feet away from them.


    A pit settled deep in Isaac''s stomach as another possibility crossed his mind. It would make sense. The modification to the trial, the final order, and the warning.


    Obtain the key by any means necessary. Find and use the key, or become a part of the Broken Realm forever.


    "I''m not alone here," he muttered, the realization sinking in. "I''m against another host¡­ or hosts."


    The idea sounded insane, even to him, but all the signs were there. Sure, he could be wrong, and maybe those were just some gremlins activating a trap in the distance. Yet, he couldn''t ignore the possibility of facing another host, it would be stupid to do so.


    You want us to fight, don''t you, Interface? Maybe even kill each other like those are some twisted Hunger Games. Isaac chuckled wryly, sitting down on the chest. But why? Why force us to fight other people? What''s the point?


    Of course, the mysterious entity didn''t answer. Not that he expected it to. Besides, there was nothing he could do about it anyway. If he was right and another human was here, he just had to be faster than them and live with the consequences. And if he encountered them¡­


    Well, he would cross that bridge later.


    "Time to go¡­"


    A quick glance at his Virus Integrity confirmed he was well on his way to full recovery¡ªit had already reached eighty-two percent. The wounds on his back and leg still stung a bit, but they no longer bled. By the time he reached the next place, all the cuts should be scabbed over.


    Isaac stood up and moved back into the forest, but not before collecting and absorbing two more Virality Gems left behind by the worms.


    I ain''t getting trapped here.


    <hr>


    The trip toward the next clearing was almost too easy in his eyes. He still had to fight off two separate gremlin ambushes, but with his recent level-ups and growing experience, the little creatures only managed to land a single scratch on him. They were just too weak and slow to do much more.


    It probably helped that none of the monsters were above level two.


    No levels for me, though, he noted, yanking his knife out of a gremlin''s eye. He wiped the blade clean, sheathed it, and picked up his bloodied sword. Once the single corpse disappeared without leaving anything behind, he moved again, pushing the bushes out of the way.


    He was close now, or at least should be close.


    Yep, there it is.


    A smirk tugged at Isaac''s lips as another set of ruins came into view. He slipped between the last few bushes and ducked behind a thick tree. He had expected this place to be just an empty clearing, but it appeared that none of the buildings here were tall enough to push past the trees like in the other two places.


    Like in the last ruins he visited, there were some collapsed walls here and there, but in his opinion, none of that was important. No, the real point of interest was the vast structure at the center. It took most of the clearing and, unlike everything else, barely showed any signs of damage.


    But where''s the entrance?


    From this side, all he could see were gray stone walls covered in overgrowth. So either he had arrived from the wrong direction, or the entrance was hidden somewhere else.


    Better circle the area first before I jump to conclusions.


    With a nod, Isaac continued sneaking along the ruins'' border, keeping himself hidden in the overgrowth. He had to travel to the far side before finally spotting a dark opening in the building. Two gremlins stood guard on its sides.


    If that''s not the boss room, I might be in trouble¡­ Let''s go.


    Sword in hand, he stood up from behind his cover and vaulted over it. However, just before he could step out in the open, a faint crackle reached his ears. His blood screamed, and he quickly tried to turn around.


    Too late.


    An arrow, sizzling with bright blue lightning, entered his left shoulder. It didn''t stay there though, and punched clean through his flesh before bursting out on the other side.


    Isaac only had a moment to jump behind a tree before another arrow came flying at him. "Shit," he hissed as he tried to move his left arm. Not much success there. At least his skills already worked to help him through the pain.


    What the hell was that?!


    He stole a quick peek, looking for the attacker. Nothing on the ground.


    Another crackling arrow descended, this one slamming into his cover with a heavy thunk. Isaac hid again and then checked on the other side. This time, he looked higher, scanning the tree branches in the distance.


    There!


    He snapped back behind the tree just as another arrow streaked toward him. But he had seen enough, the image of a human-like creature with dark red skin fresh on his mind. It also had a standard wooden bow in hand and wore clothing that fit a medieval setting more than what he was used to.


    Analyze didn''t work¡­


    Is that the boss?

 Chapter 15. First Blood

    Is that the boss?


    It very well could be, but Isaac had his doubts. What was the point of the ruins scattered across the forest if the boss was just running around alone? Were they just distractions to throw him off track?


    It was certainly a possibility, but not something he wanted to believe. Then again, this could be just one of the modifications to the trial the Interface had mentioned.


    Either way, I have to deal with it.


    Isaac scanned his surroundings, searching for anything that could help him escape this mess. Even if the archer had him pinned now, there had to be a way to gain some advantage. He briefly cursed himself for leaving the crossbow back in the other ruins before dismissing that thought. It wasn¡¯t like his aim was anywhere near as good as the monster¡¯s hunting him.


    Not gonna lie, a gun would solve this problem real quick.


    Just to check, he peeked around the tree again, only to snap back when the whistle of another arrow reached his ears. The archer was still out there, to the surprise of no one. Although¡­ the angle was different.


    The monster had moved.


    Isaac clenched his jaw.


    Can¡¯t fight like this. I need to lure it out in the open, he concluded, his eyes flicking back to the ruins. Going inside wasn¡¯t an option, not with the two gremlins guarding the entrance. But the rest of the area was fair game. There was plenty of space here for him to hide.


    The real problem was getting there without adding another hole to his body. With how accurate the archer was and his left arm hanging almost limp at his side, his options were quite limited.


    At least it¡¯s my arm and not a leg.


    Isaac shook his head and settled his gaze on one of the final few trees in his path toward the ruins. He had to focus and move fast. There was no room for another mistake here. He had lucked out that the first arrow didn¡¯t go through his heart or head.


    First, bait out a shot.


    For just a short moment, he leaned out of his cover. Another crackle of lightning answered this action, which was all he needed to act.


    Before the next arrow could even arrive at his position, he darted out from the other side of the tree and rushed for his next cover. He ignored the heavy thunk sounding behind him and threw his body forward.


    Another arrow slammed into the trunk of his new hiding spot.


    A grin tugged at his lips, and without wasting another moment, he leaned out again. As expected, no arrow came flying at him this time around. The archer would have to be stupid to fall for the same trick two times in a row.


    Still, that simply meant Isaac had to change his tactic a bit.


    What will you do now?


    He sprinted away from his cover but didn¡¯t follow a straight path. Instead, he used a low-hanging branch to pivot, twisting his body into a sharp one-eighty turn. Just in time, too, as a second later, an arrow struck the ground where he should have been.


    Isaac¡¯s grin only widened as he rushed back into the trees, weaving in and out, going left and right. His blood sang louder and louder with each step as he kept going. Not even the edge of the forest and the arrows slamming into the dirt behind him stopped him. He continued onward, diving behind the nearest half-collapsed wall.


    No more arrows came at him after that, and he used this moment to sneak around the ruins until there was a good distance between him and the forest. If the archer wanted to fire at him again, it would have to come out or at least climb one of the trees on the edge.


    Your move, friend. I¡¯m still injured, so what¡¯s it gonna be?


    Isaac didn¡¯t have to wait long for an answer.


    Within a minute, he spotted the archer perched on a branch overlooking the ruins. The monster still hadn¡¯t spotted him, which, while good news at first, also wasn¡¯t what he really wanted. If the boss just left, all of this effort would have been for nothing.


    As such, he snatched a rock from the ground and flung it in the archer¡¯s direction. The reaction was instant.


    The creature¡¯s large eyes snapped in his direction, its bow following the same movement. Isaac ducked again, but not without throwing another rock.


    ¡°Come on, take the bait,¡± he muttered, peering through a gap in the crumbling bricks.


    To his pleasant surprise, the archer dropped from the tree, stepping into the ruins with its bow raised, an arrow already nocked. Isaac threw another rock, and the projectile went flying.


    Now!


    Sword drawn, he vaulted over his cover and charged the scowling monster. It noticed him instantly and pulled another arrow from the quiver on its back.


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    The Symphony in his veins hit a high note, and the world around him slowed down in turn.


    The arrow went flying.


    Isaac swung his blade to meet the projectile head-on. It didn¡¯t cut the arrow in two like he had seen happen in some movies, but it was enough to knock it off course. Enough to create the opening he needed.


    He made the final step toward his enemy and slashed with all the force his one-handed grip could muster. The creature¡¯s eyes grew wide as it raised its bow in hopes of saving itself.


    Steel met wood, and somehow, the latter held.


    What?


    That single thought barely had time to register before a foot slammed into Isaac¡¯s chest, driving the air from his lungs. He stumbled back, almost losing the grip on his sword.


    Meanwhile, the archer threw away its bow and unsheathed a short sword from its waist. He barely managed to raise his blade to block a swipe that came at him within a second of the draw.


    Fast!


    Isaac cursed as he disengaged, taking a step back to gather his breath. His gaze flicked up, locking onto the creature¡¯s green eyes¡ª


    Wait¡­ Green?


    The archer didn¡¯t give him time to ponder that thought and lunged. A weak parry stopped the first probing strike, but after it came another.


    And another.


    The creature moved like a serpent, spinning its blade like an extension of its body. Isaac only managed to match the onslaught thanks to the growing Symphony in his veins.


    Yet, just then, a flicker of blue lightning across the archer¡¯s body caught his attention. Its strikes turned sharper, faster, heavier, forcing him to lose even more ground.


    Shit! A skill?


    Isaac cursed as he struggled to parry another swing. He braced himself for the next strike, but it never came. It was a feint.


    The archer pivoted and slashed his exposed chest. Its blade ripped through his clothes and cut the flesh beneath. Thankfully, the blow didn¡¯t have enough strength to blow past the ribs in its way.


    Isaac hissed, staggering back, his breath coming out ragged. His pain tolerance might be high, but this was pushing the limit, even with the Symphony growing louder with each second.


    Gotta do something. I can¡¯t just defend forever, or I¡¯m done. The guy obviously is better with a blade than I am.


    It wasn¡¯t even a hard pill to swallow. This might be the boss¡ªthe final challenge of the trial. And it just so happened to be skilled in both swordplay and archery, plus it had some kind of lightning-enhanced ability.


    I need to land a Blood Draw. But how? I doubt it is just gonna stand there and let me hit it. The guy¡¯s too fast.


    Isaac growled, gritting his teeth as another flurry of attacks came at him. One slash slipped past his guard again, but this time, it only grazed his cheek. He had managed to lean out before it could take off his head.


    The fingers around his blade tightened. If only his left arm was fully functional¡­


    Wait! Maybe that¡¯s it.


    A plan formed in his mind, a small smile replacing the frown on his face. The archer scowled harder seeing it. All the better.


    When the next swing came, Isaac took it head-on, locking their blades together. Normally, he would have tried to disengage afterward¡ªwith only one hand on the sword, he had no chance of winning the battle of strength.


    Yet, just as the archer didn¡¯t break the bind, neither did he. The creature pushed against him, and he allowed it to. This was exactly what he wanted.


    Now!


    His left hand, the one hanging uselessly at his side, shot forward like a snake. Weak fingers clamped around the archer¡¯s wrist and yanked with as much force as they had left, throwing the creature off balance.


    At the same time, Isaac¡¯s Origin thrummed, spilling crimson liquid onto his sword.


    The creature could do nothing to defend itself as it lost control over its blade, breaking the ongoing stalemate. Seizing the moment, Isaac followed through with his swing, bringing his weapon down at the creature¡¯s head.


    It shouldn¡¯t have been enough¡ªhis blade moved far too slow to do any real damage. However, the strength of the swing didn¡¯t matter here. The Blood Draw did.


    As his blade connected with the side of the archer¡¯s skull, crimson energy exploded from the weapon. Flesh and bone parted under the power of his blood.


    The archer dropped instantly, its body hitting the ground as half its head and one arm separated from the rest.


    Dead on the spot.


    Just like that, Symphony of Blood faded from his veins, dragging the pain it had kept at bay back to the forefront of his mind. Isaac coughed and dropped to his knees as his chest burned. The constant stinging from his healing shoulder also returned, but at this point, he could handle it.


    This sucks¡­ He grimaced. However, before he could dwell on it, a familiar wave of strength washed over his body, and with it arrived the notifications¡ªa lot of them.


    [Salirian (LVL. 3) slain.]


    You have leveled up! You are now level 5. Distribution of Ascension Power in progress. Toughness has advanced a tier. Your Origin has awakened a new ability: Blood Dagger.


    Pain Tolerance and Symphony of Blood have advanced a tier.


    All of this wasn¡¯t anything special¡ªbar the new skill. Isaac had already expected a level-up soon. What caught his attention, though, was the low level of the creature he had just killed. This was the boss, after all, right? With skills like that, it should have had a higher level.


    Then why?


    The next notification explained everything. And froze the blood in his veins.


    Well done, Isaac Walker, you have slain the other Host sharing this trial. You are now the only active Host inside this dimension. Please obtain the key from the boss within the next 5 hours to earn your freedom.


    Isaac¡¯s stomach twisted as he read this notification again and again. Yet, no matter how many times he looked, the words didn¡¯t change. He had just killed another host. Not a monster. Not another Broken Strain abomination.


    A living, thinking being.


    A being that wasn¡¯t human.


    A cold pit settled in his gut as he couldn¡¯t even decide which of those news shocked him more. He should have felt worse. There was guilt, sure, but not much of it. It felt almost as if his mind didn¡¯t care. As if it didn¡¯t want to care about a creature that tried to kill him.


    Isaac couldn¡¯t even disagree.


    I did what I had to do to survive.


    But those green eyes. Not yellow, but green¡­


    He shook his head. It didn¡¯t matter. He had only killed a person who tried to kill him. Could he have handled it differently? Maybe, but again, it didn¡¯t matter now. He survived, while this Salirian died. Only one of them could have come out of this trial alive anyway.


    Sorry, pal. Bad luck.

 Chapter 16. Time out

    Isaac crouched next to the Salirian''s corpse, his gaze sweeping over the alien''s remains from head to toe. Now that the shock of killing another Host was fading, he could finally focus on the other important issue with this entire mess.


    This wasn''t a human but an honest-to-god alien.


    Even though he had accepted that his life had somehow become a playground for some powerful¡ªor maybe even omniscient¡ªentity, he had assumed only Earth was affected. Which, in hindsight, was quite a reasonable conclusion. Even if people loved talking about aliens, no one really expected to get real proof of their existence¡ªat least not in their lifetime.


    Yet here he was, staring at the warm corpse of a brand-new species.


    Isaac snorted. Of course the first meeting between a human and extraterrestrial had to end in violence and death on one side.


    It''s like some self-fulfilling prophecy.


    Shaking his head, he reached for the body, intending to turn it over. Yet, just as his hand brushed against the Salirian''s clothes, another Interface notification popped up right in front of him.


    Host! As the winner of the duel inside this Quarantine Dimension, you have the opportunity to absorb the remnants of your opponent''s Virus. In the future, this process might not always be available unless you meet certain conditions.


    Do you wish to proceed?


    Isaac blinked. This he hadn''t expected. The corpse hadn''t disappeared like the other monsters, but that was easy enough to explain. This though? The short-term benefit might be nice, but his mind instantly went to all the possible consequences of offers like this.


    Don''t tell me people will have another reason to start killing each other¡­


    The only saving grace of this notification was the mention of those ''certain conditions.'' If not for that, he could only imagine the total chaos he would return to after finishing this trial. Though, considering how messed up some people were¡ªand wasn''t he a hypocrite for even thinking that?¡ªthe mere possibility of absorbing other hosts might still cause tons of trouble.


    Then again, it really depends on what those conditions are¡­ Interface, you willing to help out this once?


    To his surprise, the first part of the message before him shifted a bit.


    At the current stage, absorption is only possible if the following conditions are met: The defeated Host is of a different species. Their Sire is different from yours. Your Virus stage is equal to or lower than the absorption target.


    "Huh¡­" Isaac muttered, still half-surprised that his query had worked.


    Though, honestly, this might have happened only because he killed the other Host. For some weird reason, he doubted the Interface would be this helpful just to anyone.


    Still, I got what I wanted, he mused, reading the notification again. It definitely put some of his worries to rest. Then again, the mention of Sires created even more questions in his mind. He still had no idea what that really meant.


    One step at a time, Isaac. One step at a time. For now, let''s see what will happen if I do this¡­


    With a single nudge of his mind, he accepted the Interface''s prompt to absorb the Virus.


    Bright light instantly washed over the corpse before him, covering every single part of the alien, even the separated arm and head. Then, with a loud crack, the body shattered into countless motes of light that rushed into Isaac''s body.


    All that remained of the alien were its clothes and weapons.


    Absorption successful. Your Virus has grown in strength and entered the third Phase of development.


    This time, Isaac felt the change right away. His Viron spiked, thrashing wildly all around his body. The gaps left behind by his previous use of Blood Draw filled out within seconds. More than that, for the first time since gaining this new energy, he finally had some inkling of just how much of it coursed through his form.


    A lot more than he had expected, that was for sure. He should be able to use at least six Blood Draws before coming close to running out.


    I am slowly getting the hang of this, he thought as Viron settled¡ªstill wild, but much calmer than a moment ago. It still refused to listen to him, but at least now, he could push it around a little without much of a fight.


    Another notification had also arrived as the rush ended.


    Viron: Potency has advanced a tier.


    Good progress. And I still have to kill the boss. Isaac smiled and reached for the items left behind by the Salirian.


    The clothes, while appearing ancient, were surprisingly well-made. He still put them to the side. Analyze didn''t work on them, so they couldn''t be anything special. Besides, even if riddled with minor cuts, he liked what he was already wearing.


    Another potion? He raised an eyebrow as he fished out a vial of brown liquid from the alien''s leather pouch. Analyze.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    [Energy Potion (P) | Grade: Inferior]


    A weak energy potion that speeds up the body''s processing power, thus providing a small temporary boost to the Host''s physical capabilities. Beware: Repetitive use may lead to rapid exhaustion and even sudden unconsciousness.


    A magic stimulant? Lucky that guy never had a chance to use it.


    With that, Isaac pocketed the vial and slumped down against a half-collapsed wall. The alien possessed nothing else of use to him. Though, he should take the short sword once he decided to head for the boss. A backup blade could be useful.


    For now though, he still needed some rest.


    His left arm, while functional at this point, hurt like hell to move¡ªthe closing hole in his shoulder made sure of that. And then there was the cut on his chest, soaking all his clothes with a constant supply of fresh blood. At least, the injuries on his leg and back had mostly healed.


    My Virus Integrity also isn''t doing too bad, all things considered.


    Virus Integrity: 63%


    With the injuries the Salirian had given him, he had worried this percentage would be much lower. But, apparently, wounds gained from other Hosts weren''t as dangerous as those from Broken Strain monsters. Or well, at least not dangerous to Virus Integrity.


    If not for his Origin, he would have probably bled out long ago.


    "Blood," he whispered, placing his fingers against the cut on his chest. The crimson liquid slowly spilled onto his palm. "So that guy had lightning¡­ or something related. Hmm¡­¡±


    Back when he first checked the definition of Origin, the Interface mentioned the infinite aspects of the Mystical World. He still had no idea what that was, but aspects? That, he was beginning to understand. Still, he couldn''t help but wonder just what counted as one.


    If they''re supposed to be infinite. Can alcohol also be one? Or plastic? He chuckled, wincing as the action shot a spike of pain through his chest. Right, no sudden movements¡­


    Either way, Isaac couldn''t wait to return to Earth. According to his phone, it was the middle of the night back home. By now, more people must have unlocked their Origin. Or maybe not. He had no idea how it all worked for Hosts who weren''t part of these messed-up trials.


    Look at me, all it took was the world ending to get excited about something. If you can see me now, old man, I''m sure you''re having a good laugh.


    He shook his head, a weak smile stretching across his face. At the very least, he could be certain the old man would be happy with how quickly he adapted to the new order. After that? He would probably start worrying about the rest of the family.


    Shit. Elaine¡­


    Isaac and the old man''s granddaughter had never really gotten along despite his final caretaker''s best effort to make them co-exist. And once the man passed, the situation between them only took a turn for the worse. The contents of the will certainly hadn¡¯t helped mend their relationship.


    Damn¡­ Isaac let out a heavy sigh. I''m gonna have to check on her once I return, aren''t I?


    He wanted to feel annoyed¡ªhis go-to emotion when the woman came up¡ªbut he couldn''t. Not after everything the old man had done for him. Checking in on his last blood relative was the least he could do in return.


    That was all he planned to do, though. If Elaine were alive and safe, she could take care of herself. It wasn¡¯t like she would accept help even when offered, at least not from him.


    Right. I will deal with that later¡­ I still have the boss left, and checking out the final ruins might also be a good idea. He nodded to himself. First though, what''s this new skill I got?


    [Blood Dagger | Grade: Normal | Tier I]


    An active Origin ability. You may now summon small, sharp blood constructs and fire them at your enemies.


    Another simple one, Isaac hummed and reached for his Origin.


    The connection answered and moved Viron across his body. Instinctively, he raised his hand, palm up, and watched as a small cloud of crimson miasma gathered above it. Slowly, it shifted, taking the shape of a simple spike-like blade.


    Isaac lowered his hand, yet the blood dagger remained afloat, waiting for his command. He obliged and nudged the weak link inside his mind that definitely wasn''t there before he activated this skill.


    In response, the crimson blade shot forward and sank into a wall a few feet away. A second later, it faded out of sight, leaving behind a deep hole in the stone brick it hit.


    There''s my range ability. No bows or crossbows needed.


    Even better, Blood Dagger barely drained his Viron. Isaac paid close attention when the energy moved, and it was nowhere near the amount he had used for Blood Draw. Which, to be fair, made sense. The difference in power between the two skills should be obvious to anyone with working eyes.


    Still useful, though. Especially if I can figure out how to summon multiple daggers at once.


    A task for later. For now, he had to wait for the bleeding to stop. Afterward, the third ruins, and the boss awaited.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    It took over an hour before Isaac could move without being in constant pain. Sure, the raw cut on his chest was far from healed, but at the very least, it no longer made him squirm with every breath he took. The same applied to the hole in his shoulder. As long as he didn''t make any sudden movements with his arm, it was fine.


    His Virus Integrity had also returned to the mid-seventies.


    As such, Isaac left the safety of the ruins and stepped back into the forest. For a brief moment, he considered just going inside the large building next to him, but if it was really the boss''s liar, it could wait. There were still four hours on the timer, after all.


    With how fast his regeneration worked, he should be almost fully recovered after another hour or two.


    And so, he traveled toward the final ruins, killing every Deepearth Gremlin on the way. The creatures stood no chance, not when almost all of them were still level one. By now, he had only encountered one at level three, and even that monster had died from a quick Blood Dagger to the head.


    In the end though, his short trip was all for nothing. No monsters, no loot¡ªjust a single empty chest. Obviously, the other Host had already looted this place on the way. It was also probably where the explosion happened. He had found some scorch marks at the edge of the ruins.


    And so, slightly disappointed, Isaac returned to the only unexplored ruins. He stopped just at the edge of the forest, right where he had a clear sight of the entrance and the two gremlins guarding it.


    Blood Dagger.


    Instantly, two crimson clouds appeared at his sides, quickly condensing into familiar blade-like constructs. With a mental nudge, they shot toward the two gremlins like a bullet, plunging right into their skulls.


    The monsters crumbled to the ground.


    [Deepearth Gremlins x2 slain.]


    Blood Dagger has advanced a tier.


    That''s tier three already. Isaac grinned, leaving his cover and approaching the two fallen gremlins. Still no level, though. Boss it is then.


    Drawing his longsword, he stepped into the dark entrance.

 Chapter 17. Blood vs Strength

    The moment Isaac made his final step into the ancient building, the entire place moved. The ground beneath his feet shook while the walls around him trembled, flinging tiny pieces of debris in all directions. Worst of all, a deep, echoing thud sounded behind him as a massive slab of stone slammed into the floor, sealing the entrance off.


    He clicked his tongue, scanning the short, dimly lit corridor ahead. In hindsight, maybe he should have expected something like this to happen. The last ruins trapped him inside a barrier, so why not take away his way out again. No Interface notification though.


    Well then, only one way forward now¡­


    Slowly and without making much of a sound, Isaac crossed the short hallway, following the light of the single flickering torch. He stopped on the other end, right before another massive slab of stone that once more blocked the path forward.


    This time, however, the ruins offered him a choice¡ªa familiar lever attached to the wall.


    His hand reached out, ready to pull the wooden handle, only to pull back at the last second.


    Not yet.


    If the boss, or any other monster, was waiting on the other side, Isaac wanted to be ready. He didn''t fancy going in with only his sword drawn when he had other options now.


    He reached out to his Origin, while also focusing on the feeling of his blood. Of how the crimson liquid coated his hands not that long ago. And how it now waited at the edges of his half-healed wounds.


    The process was easier than expected. Then again, maybe he shouldn''t be surprised. After all, the last few hours exposed him to more blood than all the years of his short life.


    Now then¡­


    A smirk tugged at his lips as his Origin grasped hold of the blood within his veins.


    Let''s start with this, Sacrificial Blood Dagger.


    Still, Isaac winced as he felt some of his blood being ripped out by the Viron surging through his body. He didn''t stumble, though, and instead watched as two much larger clouds of crimson miasma swirled into the shape of long, deadly blades.


    Unlike the standard daggers he could summon, those two pulsed in the rhythm of his own heart. Blood also dripped from their edges, each droplet tapping against the stone floor and echoing through the corridor.


    Then, there was the link between his new creations and his mind¡ªmuch stronger and easier to reach. Isaac would bet he could now command the blades to do much more than just shoot forward.


    Guess I will find out soon enough.


    With the two long daggers floating at his side, he once more reached for the lever. There was no hesitation in his movement this time around. After a quick and sharp yank, the entire building trembled again as the stone slab before him parted in two.


    At first, all he could see on the other side was darkness.


    Then, one by one, torches flared to life along the walls, revealing a massive chamber reminiscent of the one he had initially landed in at the beginning of this trial. There were no weapon racks or stone tables here, though. Instead, right in the middle, lay a creature, one he had grown all too familiar with during his stay inside this Quarantine Dimension.


    A gremlin.


    A very, very large gremlin with muscles that went beyond even the best bodybuilders back on Earth.


    Potential Threat: Moderate


    That''s new.


    The results of Analyze, however, didn''t stop Isaac from acting. He wasn''t one of those people who would wait for their enemy to recover to give them a fair chance at winning. No, with the massive beast just waking up, it would be stupid to just stand here and watch.


    And so, with a mental command, the Sacrificial Blood Daggers shot forward, curving around the chamber. Then, just as the gremlin lifted its head off the ground, the blades struck from opposite sides, sinking deep into its thick skull.


    The beast let out a guttural growl that shook the chambers'' walls and almost burst Isaac''s eardrums.


    Yet, even with all that, even with two blades in its head, the gremlin didn''t fall. Instead, it moved even faster.


    Not good, Isaac cursed internally, calling on two more normal Blood Daggers while also charging forward. At this point, the beast was almost on its feet, its crouched form already towering over him.


    Once more, he called onto his Origin.


    Crimson liquid spilled over his blade.


    Just as the beast finished standing up and locked its yellow gaze onto the charging human, Isaac struck. His sword slashed across its exposed chest, Blood Draw exploding outward with the motion. At the same time, his two fresh daggers flew right for the monster''s eyes.


    But somehow, despite its size, the monster raised its arms just in time to defend.


    Thick, corded muscles met the torrent of blood head-on.


    Neither side won the clash.


    Even as flesh parted under the slicing power of Isaac''s Origin, the beast''s arms held firm, stopping most of the potential damage. All it lost were a few fingers. His Blood Draw failed to even reach the bones beneath its thick muscles.


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    One thing his charge did succeed at, though, was enraging the beast.


    It roared again, in pain and rage, as it lashed out with its fists.


    Isaac, unsuspecting of such a response after all the power he put in his previous attack, barely had the time to duck under the first swing. The next one, he could do nothing about.


    The gremlin''s open palm slammed into his side, sending him tumbling across the chamber.


    Fuck!


    He groaned even as Symphony of Blood fought to get rid of the sudden pain. Not that the skill could do much about it. He was pretty sure he had heard a few bones crack on impact.


    Still, he couldn''t just lay there. The gremlin was coming, fast.


    Gritting his teeth, he rolled away just as the beast slammed into his position. His body screamed in protest, but he ignored it as best as he could and raced for the sword he dropped in the middle of the chamber.


    At the same time, his hand dove into his pocket, fishing out the miraculously unbroken vial of brown liquid.


    He downed it in one gulp.


    A surge of raw energy went down his body, sweeping over his battered muscles and shattered bones, numbing the pain by just a tiny bit. His heartbeat quickened, and the world around him slowed, the potion''s effects combining with the rising tempo of Symphony of Blood.


    Isaac took a deep breath, grasping his sword with one hand. With the other, he unsheathed his knife.


    Round two.


    The gremlin came at him again, bloody fists swinging. Isaac shuffled out of the way and slashed the overextended limbs. The beast roared and tried to retaliate with a backhand slap.


    He ducked again and stepped in, slicing its chest first with his knife and then the sword as he pivoted out of the way of another swing. More and more blood coated the monster''s body.


    Isaac didn''t even smile.


    He just moved in the rhythm of the Symphony playing in his veins, ignoring everything else around him. All that mattered to him was the gremlin in front of him. Even the pain faded into the background, letting him dance around the beast faster than ever before.


    His technique with the sword was abysmal, nothing close to what the alien displayed, but it didn''t matter.


    His newfound speed and strength more than compensated for his lack of skill. Just yesterday, he would have never been able to move like this, weaving in and out of battle, swinging a sword like a maniac.


    But now? The potion and all the level-ups were paying dividends.


    Yet, Isaac knew he could not go on like this forever. His body still had its limits, and after a few hours of almost constant fighting and almost a whole day of no sleep, he was slowly reaching them. If not for his enhanced regeneration attribute, he would have collapsed long ago.


    I have to use it again, he decided, reaching out to his Origin.


    Another pinch of blood vanished from his veins, nearly making him stumble straight into the gremlin''s swing. Thankfully, its injuries made it slower and sloppier, giving him enough time to recover. He leaned out of the way, only feeling the kiss of wind on his cheek instead of that of the beast''s large hand.


    Just then, blood, almost as dark as night, spilled onto his sword, angry and restless, begging to be released.


    Isaac held it in and advanced.


    A sidestep here, dash forward there, and the gremlin''s chest littered with dozens of cuts once more stood before him. He lunged, plunging his sword right into the beast''s thick hide.


    Sacrificial Blood Draw followed.


    As there was no swinging motion to the skill, the blood exploded at the tip of the blade, surging forward like a spear. It blasted the flesh in its way to bits, leaving a gaping hole behind.


    The gremlin howled, stumbling back and falling on its rump.


    It never got the chance to rise again.


    With another Blood Draw forming alongside his knife, Isaac jumped after the beast and drove the blade right into its eyes. His skill erupted, blowing up the gremlin''s skull apart in a shower of gore.


    [Mutated Deepearth Gremlin (LVL. 5) slain.]


    More notifications arrived after that one, rushing in alongside the familiar power rush of a level-up. Isaac, however, ignored them all and let himself drop to the ground, rolling onto his back.


    As always, with the fight coming to an end, the pain held back by the Symphony of Blood came rushing back. A wave of exhaustion followed, dulling all of his senses. The potion must have worn off, too.


    Wonderful.


    Isaac groaned, squeezing his eyes shut. There wasn''t a single part of his body that didn''t hurt. He could only pray that his regeneration would soon fix the worst of it. And if it couldn''t?


    Well, he wasn''t planning to go anywhere anytime soon.


    Is it a bad time to take a nap?


    <hr>


    He didn''t take a nap despite his best effort. Although the old man had always joked that Isaac could fall asleep even on gravel while sitting up, that ability apparently didn''t extend to his current situation. Who would have thought that having a good part of his body broken and then forcibly rearranged by his regeneration would make sleeping difficult?


    Well, Isaac did.


    And so, he lay there, sprawled on the cool stone floor for over thirty minutes¡ªhe counted¡ªbefore the worst of the pain faded. He still had the desire to double over and vomit, but at least now he could breathe without feeling like one of his ribs was trying to pierce his lung.


    He still had no idea how his regeneration had fixed that one so quickly. He wasn''t complaining, though.


    All right then, let''s see what you have for me, Interface.


    Isaac dragged himself next to the gremlin''s corpse¡ªwhich still hadn''t disappeared for some reason¡ªand leaned against it. Then he summoned the notifications, one after another.


    You have leveled up! You are now level 6. Distribution of Ascension Power in progress. All attributes, except Toughness, have advanced a tier.


    Pain Tolerance, Sacrifice, and Blood Draw have advanced a tier.


    Isaac cracked a smile. Even though he paid for it with more pain, seeing the proof of his progress was getting addicting. And he had no plans of fighting against it, at least not now.


    Next.


    Congratulations, Host! You have successfully slain the boss of this Quarantine Dimension. You are the third Human to complete this trial. As only one among them to slay another Host, you may release the exit key and your rewards manually.


    Do you wish to proceed?


    Isaac''s eyebrows shot up.


    Only the third human to finish?


    That didn''t fill him with much hope. Sure, the others could still be out there, fighting, but considering how his trial went, he had doubts. Hell, he had only survived thanks to his fast regeneration.


    Others might not be so lucky, depending on what Origin they received.


    And then there are the alien Hosts. Some of them definitely know how to fight with more primitive weapons. Damn¡­


    Isaac sighed, shoving those thoughts out of his head. He wasn''t one to worry about what-ifs anyway, so why start now? The other humans in those trials had to survive on their own.


    And if they didn''t?


    That was an issue for another day.


    For now, I got rewards to claim. Go on, Interface.


    Proceeding¡­ Performance rating in progress¡­


    "What?"

 Chapter 18. Root of War

    The short, glowing red text hung right in front of Isaac as if mocking him. A minute passed, then two, yet it was still there. Giving it another command did nothing. Neither did trying to dismiss it. The Interface really needed to work on the wording of its messages.


    There was no mention of any performance ratings beforehand. Then again, maybe at this point, he should start expecting stuff like this from the mysterious entity. It hadn''t warned him about any trials at the beginning, too, yet here he was.


    Still, what is it? Some kind of big corpo where we need performance reviews now?


    Isaac snorted and reached into his pocket, hoping to check the time back on Earth on his phone. The device landed in his hand, but it was far from what he remembered it to be.


    The smartphone''s screen could as well not be there anymore, given how many cracks it had. It looked like someone took a hammer and released their pent-up anger on the device. Which, to be fair, wasn''t far from the truth. The gremlin certainly hadn''t held back when it hit him that one time.


    The tumble across the entire chamber probably hadn''t helped either.


    A sigh left his lips as he put the crushed device back into his pocket. He really should have left it somewhere safe before facing the boss. It was a miracle it had even survived his fight with the other Host.


    I hope Mrs. Jackson won''t mind me borrowing her phone¡­ if she''s still out there.


    By the time he returned, it should be almost the next morning. A lot could have happened in that time.


    Phase two of the Breakout was already in progress, that much he remembered, but beyond that, he was going in completely blind. For all he knew, the entire human race could have been wiped out during the time he was gone.


    Isaac smiled wryly. Now, that''s an interesting conclusion.


    Before he could give the idea any more thought, the notification in front of him finally changed. The red letters rearranged, but what they showed now was even more questionable than the previous message.


    Performance review has been finished successfully. You have been awarded the following rating: Entertaining!


    Isaac stared blankly at the message before him. If he had any lingering doubts that someone had turned his life into a game, they were gone now. He had expected a rating similar to how his abilities and items were graded, not whatever this was.


    "Entertaining," he read aloud, chuckling.


    He wasn''t even angry or mad. If anything, he was amused. Of all the words to describe him, that one certainly wouldn''t have made the list. He would take it, though.


    After all, despite the injuries and chaos, this entire trial had been like an awakening from a long slumber. He fought not just to survive but also because it made him feel more¡ªmade him feel alive.


    So yeah, in some weird, twisted way that ignored all the possible human deaths, he was grateful for this so-called end of the world. If not for it, he would already be searching for a new job, jump-starting the endless cycle of his old life.


    I guess I was entertained too, even if I don''t like how someone is pretty much manipulating the entire world. Not much to be done about that, though. Maybe one day¡­


    Nodding to himself, he dismissed the notification before him. Another one quickly took its place.


    Highest tier of bonus rewards awarded. Well done, Host! We wish you luck on your journey as one of the Pioneers of Earth. Please leave this dimension before it collapses.


    Time remaining: 2 Hours.


    Isaac barely had the time to read the message before the gremlin''s body behind him vanished in a flash of light. He winced as he lost his support, his back hitting the cold ground with a dull thud.


    Not nice¡­


    Slowly, as not to aggravate his wounds any further, he turned around and faced the spot where the gremlin''s body used to lay. In its place sat three objects. Two of them were familiar. The last one, not so much.


    The first was a chest, a much larger one than the ones he had already looted. Unlike the others, this one looked far more refined, reinforced with metal fittings and with symbols carved into the wood.


    The second item, though, was just another Inferior Virality Gem.


    Isaac consumed it on the spot and shifted his gaze to the third object.


    In his honest opinion, it wasn''t much different from a Rubik''s Cube, only this one was much more glowy and less colorful. The size and shape, however, certainly matched well enough.


    Analyze.


    [Quarantine Exit Key | Grade: N/A]


    An Overseer-made item capable of transporting Hosts out of the linked Quarantine Dimension. Can be activated with a touch of Viron. Destroys itself upon use.


    So that''s my way out. Got it.


    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    For now, though, Isaac left the key alone and turned his attention to the large chest. He made quick work of the latches and pulled the lid up. Three more objects waited for him inside.


    He reached out for the only one he recognized. It was another skill blueprint; however, instead of giving him a certain skill, it would instead teach his Virus one random utility ability. He used it anyway.


    You have obtained a new skill: Stealth.


    [Stealth | Grade: Normal | Max Tier]


    A passive ability that teaches your Virus how to make your body less noticeable to all senses. Reduces the chances of being detected by Viron sensing skills. Can be deactivated with a mental command.


    You can do that?


    Isaac''s eyebrows lifted in a mild surprise. Pain tolerance was one thing, but here the Virus would be manipulating his body all the time so he could sneak around better. He had no idea how that was even supposed to work.


    Then again, that wasn''t saying much. He had no clue how most of his skills functioned.


    Max Tier too. Can I upgrade it somehow? Interface?


    No answer came this time around. Isaac shrugged and moved on to the next item¡ªa black fruit the size of an orange. Aside from its abnormal size, the thing looked almost like a strawberry, with dark red spots scattered over its surface.


    Analyze activated once more.


    [Inferior Ascension Fruit | Grade: Normal]


    A special Overseer-made fruit that holds within itself a small charge of unattuned Ascension Power. Upon consumption, it distributes this power as per the Host''s Origin. Works best on the three first attribute grades.


    Isaac hummed as he picked up the fruit by its stem. Even with just this and the blueprint, all the pain in this Quarantine Dimension had been worth it. Until now, he had assumed there was only one way to advance attributes¡ªthrough levels.


    Apparently not.


    And I was getting hungry too, he thought, taking the first bite of the fruit.


    Ignoring the sudden surge of power that went down his body, Isaac wasn''t sure how to describe the taste of this little thing. Sweet, definitely, but also quite dry. It had nothing on real strawberries, but he wasn''t complaining¡ªnot when it gave him another notification once he ate the whole thing.


    All attributes have advanced a tier. Power had ascended to the next grade (Developed).


    Isaac couldn''t stop the grin that spread over his face. This was even better than a level-up. Which wasn''t really a surprise. This fruit was meant to work best for the three first attribute grades, and most of his stats were in the lowest one. Besides, he doubted those things were common.


    "That just leaves you," he muttered, reaching for the large triangular prism sitting inside the chest.


    At his touch, the black liquid within moved, attaching itself to the prism''s walls. It almost looked like it wanted to reach him through the opaque surface, hoping to finally escape its prison.


    What are you?


    [Root of War (Sealed) | Grade: Eternal]


    A sealed piece of the Root of War, a half-alive material created by a high-grade Host. When unsealed, it will combine with the nearest Host, forming a beneficial symbiotic relationship. The Host shall gain access to a weapon with 100% compatibility, while the Root gains access to its partner''s Origin and growing strength.


    Isaac blinked, then blinked again.


    Oh¡­ So that''s the grand prize¡­


    Even ignoring the item''s grade¡ªEternal sounded like a big deal¡ªthe sheer amount of information in its description almost made his brain freeze. Half-alive material. Symbiotic relationship. A weapon¡­


    Root of War.


    The name alone sounded ominous.


    Isaac traced a single finger along the prism, and the black liquid followed its path. Now that it had seen¡ªsensed?¡ªhim, the Root of War didn''t want to be left alone. When he removed his hand, the entire prison shook in protest as the liquid repeatedly smashed into the walls.


    Ah, why the hell not? I already have one new passenger inside my body. What''s one more?


    With a shrug, he snatched a rock off the ground and slammed it against the prism. To his surprise, a web of cracks spread from the point of impact. The Root of War must have noticed that, too, as its attempts to get out became even faster.


    Isaac slammed the rock again.


    The prism shattered.


    That was all the Root of War needed.


    It lunged out of its prison and pounced onto Isaac''s right hand. The liquid sank into his skin, flowing up his arm like living ink. At the same time, he also felt a small tendril reaching out to the connection with his Origin.


    Isaac did nothing to stop it and gasped as the Root''s tendril found its place inside the link.


    A moment later, dark crimson lines erupted on the skin of his arm. Like a serpent, they coiled around his entire limb. Only when the living tattoo reached all the way to his shoulder did it stop moving.


    Isaac looked down at the center of his palm, where the crimson spiral began.


    He could feel it, almost like it was just another limb. He gave it a nudge with a bit of Viron.


    Immediately, the crimson drained from the tattoo, leaving behind only its black outline as blood spilled over his hand. In a matter of seconds, the liquid formed into a slightly curved sword, one just a bit shorter than the longsword he had been using.


    Unlike his other blades, however, this one possessed only a single sharp serrated edge, perfect for tearing things apart.


    Isaac''s gaze went lower, away from the dark crimson blade to the subtle black guard and matching hilt. There was nothing particularly special about those parts of the sword, yet as he wrapped his fingers around the handle, it felt right, as if it had always belonged in his grasp.


    The grip was perfect, just like the rest of the blade.


    A faint shudder ran through the weapon, almost like it could sense his thoughts. And considering their new bond, maybe it could.


    To make it even more interesting, Analyze activated on its own, directed right at the blade.


    [Root of Blood | Grade: Unique]


    A Root of War bonded to the Host, Isaac Walker. By connecting to the Origin of Blood, it has created the perfect weapon for its partner. Together, they shall grow stronger.


    Origin skills used with the Root of Blood are slightly enhanced.


    Current forms: Sword.


    Even your name changed, huh? Isaac smiled. Root of Blood. I like it¡­ Now, how do I ret¡ª


    Before he could even finish that thought, the blade dissolved into a cloud of blood and rushed back into his skin. The tattoo on his arm pulsed, regaining its crimson color.


    He snorted.


    That works. Thanks.


    The tattoo thrummed in response.


    Right, you''re alive, or half-alive, whatever¡­ This will take a while to get used to.

 Chapter 19. One of few

    Time remaining: 6 minutes, 17 seconds.


    Isaac rolled his shoulders, joints popping as he continued stretching. Every single motion still sent a spark of pain through his entire chest, but at the very least, he should be able to fight whatever came his way by now. It also helped that every single visible injury on his body had already closed for the most part. Only some scabs and fresh pink skin remained at this point.


    Another hour or two should fix what was left of the internal damage, too¡­ or so he hoped.


    Unfortunately, that would have to happen back on Earth. As much as he wanted to heal up before returning home, not even his advanced regeneration could fix this much damage in only two hours.


    However, at least Virus Integrity was back at a full hundred after almost falling below fifty.


    Well, as much as I have enjoyed my time here. Isaac yawned, picking up the Quarantine Exit Key. It¡¯s time for me to go. My bed is waiting for me¡­ if it¡¯s still even there¡­


    And that was another issue. Ever since he had killed the boss and checked the rewards, he was starting to realize just how tired he was. He couldn¡¯t go a minute without yawning and had to actively fight his body to keep his eyes open.


    Really, at this point, he must have been going on for almost twenty-four hours without an ounce of sleep. Sure, he had considered taking a nap here, but who knew if he would wake up before the timer ran out. Getting trapped in this place wasn¡¯t an option.


    So, first priority after getting home? Go to sleep for at least a few hours. Of course, first, he would have to make sure the world wouldn¡¯t end in the meantime, but those were tiny, unimportant details.


    Isaac snorted, stifling another yawn. Right¡­


    As the timer reached the last four minutes, he glanced at the cube in his hand and nudged a tiny bit of Viron toward it. For once, the energy didn¡¯t fight him and dove right into the object.


    Its glow intensified just as another notification appeared before him.


    Dimensional Key activated. In thirty seconds, you shall be transported back to your last known location on Earth. In a situation where that position is compromised and unsafe to the Host, you will be moved to a different nearby location that doesn¡¯t endanger your life.


    Countdown: 23 seconds¡­


    So, it has a built-in safety function. Good to know.


    Even if he wasn¡¯t really worried, it would be a shame if the device transported him into a wall, a pile of ruins, or a large group of monsters. The latter he might survive. The other two? Probably not.


    Ten seconds¡­


    In the blink of an eye, Isaac switched the cube to his left hand while summoning the Root of Blood to his right. Even if the Interface told him he should be good on arrival, he preferred to be safe than sorry.


    Three. Two. One¡­


    A kaleidoscope of colors exploded from the cube, consuming the world around him in a rush of blinding light. The force nearly knocked him off his feet, but just as quickly as it had appeared, the light vanished, leaving him in near-total darkness.


    Isaac took a deep breath, and the familiar smell of his apartment building¡¯s staircase filled his nostrils.


    Home sweet home¡­


    Even in the darkness of the lobby he landed in, he still spotted his makeshift barricade. It was in a much worse shape than he had left it in, but the fact it still stood had to be a good sign.


    Let¡¯s get some light in here.


    He felt around the wall next to him, searching for the light switch he knew should be there. It didn¡¯t take long to find, but as he did, he noticed something strange¡ªthere were far more cracks in the wall than he remembered. Not that he ever really paid attention to the state of the lobby, but so many irregularities would have been hard to miss.


    Whatever. Maybe I¡¯m just imagining things.


    He shrugged and flicked the switch.


    Nothing happened.


    He tried again and again.


    Still nothing.


    That can¡¯t be good.


    Yet before he could even think of possible reasons why the light was not working, a bunch of red text appeared before him. Isaac paused and carefully read everything the Interface offered. Maybe it would have some answers he desperately needed after his time away from Earth.


    Pioneer, welcome back to Earth! Your planet entered the Second Phase of the Breakout stage a few hours ago. A task has been issued to all Hosts inside every Contamination Zone. Become the main contributor toward its completion to earn better rewards. This task will run for the entire length of Phase 2.


    Phase Two Task:


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    Eliminate at least 70% of Wretched inside your Contamination Zone to disable the barrier at the end of this phase. Every Host shall receive rewards based on their contribution. Failing to complete this task during the Second Phase will result in the loss of any potential rewards. However, contamination barriers may still be disabled later on. Good Luck, Hosts!


    Current progress: 13% | Your contribution ranking: 938th | Time left: 66h:52m:2s


    ¡°What?¡± Isaac muttered, his gaze locked onto the notification.


    If someone saw him, they would have probably assumed that he was surprised by the new task. They would have been wrong¡ªat least partially.


    What truly caught him off guard was his ranking. He had been gone for over half a day since he had killed the first twenty Wretched. Yet somehow, only a bit over nine hundred people outperformed him in all that time? He would understand if his kills from the Quarantine Dimension counted, but this?


    This was a joke. And not a funny one.


    Either humanity¡¯s numbers had dropped to terrifying levels, or everyone was just hiding, waiting for someone else to save them from the big bad monsters.


    Honestly, Isaac couldn¡¯t decide which option was worse.


    Dear god, just what is happening out there?


    For a brief moment, Isaac even considered running outside and slaughtering the Wretched that most likely waited there. However, after having to stifle another yawn, that idea died right away. As much as his blood boiled at the thought of more fighting, he needed some rest.


    Besides, even without a window in sight, it wasn¡¯t hard to tell it was still nighttime¡ªor, at the very least, early morning. No gunshots, no screams. Just some muffled hisses and screeches that reached him through the closed door behind the barricade. He doubted it would be so quiet during the daytime.


    Still, why the hell aren¡¯t the lights working? Isaac wondered internally as he stepped out of the lobby and into the stairwell. His hand found another light switch, but just like the last one, it did nothing besides filling the entire building with a soft clicking noise.


    He clicked his tongue and started up the stairs, his left hand tracing the cracks on the walls while his right gripped the Root of Blood. It wasn¡¯t until he came upon the broken window on the third floor that he stopped. Taking a peek, he confirmed that it was still dark outside. Though dawn couldn¡¯t be too far off¡ªhe could make out some vague shapes in the darkness.


    What worried him more was the lack of any light in the distance. No flashes of neons, no active street lamps, nothing. It was like the entire city had lost power while he was away.


    There goes my idea to check the news¡­ At least I have one more option.


    With that thought in mind, Isaac approached the final door on this floor, dismissed the Root of Blood, and knocked.


    ¡°Mrs. Jackson!¡± he whisper-shouted. ¡°It¡¯s me, Isaac Walker. Please open up.¡±


    For a moment, no sound answered his call. The woman and her kids could be long gone from here for all he knew. Thankfully, just as he was about to knock again, the lock clicked, and the door slid open.


    Isaac squinted as a bright light hit him right in the face.


    ¡°Good Lord.¡± He heard a familiar voice whisper. ¡°Mr. Walker, what happened to you?¡±


    As the woman finally lowered the flashlight, letting him see again, Isaac offered her a weak smile.


    ¡°The Interface happened... It snatched me off the face of Earth after I killed the twenty Wretched. I just got back a few minutes ago.¡±


    Mrs. Jackson gasped, her eyes growing wide. ¡°You are one of the Pioneers mentioned in the last message!¡±


    He blinked. ¡°What? What message? You mean the one about the next task?¡±


    ¡°No, no, no.¡± She shook her head frantically. ¡°That came before the night. I am talking about the notification from about an hour ago. It announced the fate of everyone who finished in the top five hundred of their Contamination Zones.¡±


    She must have noticed the confusion on his face because her expression softened. ¡°You don¡¯t know¡­ Oh dear¡­¡±


    Isaac, only growing more confused by the second, frowned. ¡°I¡ª¡°


    Mrs. Jackson cut him off, stepping aside and opening the door wider. ¡°Come inside, Mr. Walker. I fear this may take a while. Just¡­ please keep your voice down. The kids are sleeping.¡±


    He nodded, trying to fight back another yawn.


    He failed.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± he said after a moment, ignoring the woman¡¯s pitting gaze as he stepped into the dimly lit corridor of her apartment. ¡°And¡­ I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t help with your husband.¡±


    ¡°Ah, please don¡¯t worry about that,¡± she said quickly. ¡°Brandon is fine. He called me from a different number a few hours after you left. He is still at the bank with a couple more survivors.¡±


    That¡¯s good. One less problem for me. And at least two kids didn¡¯t lose their father. Good for them.


    Mrs. Jackson led him into the living room and gestured for him to sit on the couch. Isaac gladly did just that, his gaze jumping between the different candles lighting up the room. Now he had the final proof that the power was out.


    ¡°Something to eat? Drink, Mr. Walker?¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s not a problem, then yes, please. And just Isaac is fine.¡±


    The woman smiled. ¡°Isaac, it is. Call me Carol, then. I will be back in a moment.¡±


    Once she disappeared behind another door, Isaac sank into the soft couch, closing his eyes. His breathing slowed down, and before he noticed it, someone was shaking him awake.


    ¡°Mr. Walker? Isaac?¡±


    His eyes snapped open, his blood coming alive. Yet before any of his skills could activate, his gaze fell on Carol, her face full of concern. He relaxed, letting out a sigh.


    ¡°Sorry, I haven¡¯t slept in a while.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± She smiled and motioned to the plate and glass on the table before him. ¡°Please eat. It¡¯s not much, but it¡¯s all I could put together this fast.¡±


    ¡°Thank you again,¡± he muttered and took a sip from the glass.


    Orange juice. Normally, not his favorite, but right now, it might as well have been ambrosia. He gulped half of it in one go and snatched one of the four sandwiches from the plate. Again, it wasn¡¯t anything special, but he couldn¡¯t get enough after the first bite.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t rush, Isaac,¡± Carol chided gently. ¡°Take your time. I will try to explain what happened when you and the others were gone.¡±


    Isaac gave her another grateful nod and slowed down his chewing a bit. She was right, the food wouldn¡¯t run away.


    ¡°Let me begin with the message I mentioned earlier¡­ It came out of nowhere and woke me up. I thought maybe the next phase was beginning early, but I was wrong, it was much worse¡­¡±


    Isaac stopped mid-bite, his gaze on the woman.


    ¡°It spoke about the end of the Pioneer Trials that apparently you and the others had to go through,¡± she continued. ¡°It didn¡¯t tell us what they were or what happened inside them. All we learned... was that out of the almost ten thousand participants, only six of you survived.¡±


    Isaac froze, the words hitting him like a sledgehammer. He gulped and placed the unfinished sandwich back on the plate.


    ¡°Six?¡± he uttered.


    Carol nodded, refusing to meet his gaze.


    Oh¡­

 Chapter 20. Phase Two

    His exhaustion momentarily forgotten, Isaac rose from the couch and approached the nearest window. He pushed the curtain to the side and peered into the darkness beyond. All he could see were glowing yellow eyes on the street below and some vague shapes of the buildings around them.


    Damn¡­


    He wasn¡¯t even sure why Carol¡¯s words affected him so much. Before returning to Earth, he had already agreed that the trial was worth it, at least for him. Yet, now that he knew how many deaths it caused, he wasn¡¯t so sure anymore. Then again, another part of him wondered what were ten thousand dead compared to the millions or maybe even billions that had already succumbed to the Broken Strain.


    The answer to that question wasn¡¯t hard to find.


    All the Hosts who participated in the trials were fighters, people who didn¡¯t wait around for someone to save them but instead went out to look for trouble themselves. Those were the people who, if given the chance and enough time, would be able to stand above the others and maybe even lead humanity in this new age.


    But now, there were only six of them left.


    Including Isaac.


    He grimaced.


    Hopefully, no one gets the idea to put me on some weird pedestal just because I survived. God knows people love to latch onto individuals who, in their opinion, achieved the impossible¡­


    Isaac definitely didn¡¯t want that, not now, maybe not ever. Not even twenty-four hours had passed since, for the first time in his life, he was beginning to find himself. The last thing he needed was for people to project their weird expectations onto him. Not like he would be able to live up to them anyway.


    Maybe I¡¯m just overreacting. Wouldn¡¯t be a first...


    ¡°Isaac? Mr. Walker?¡± Carol¡¯s voice brought him back to reality.


    He exhaled, massaging his brow. ¡°Sorry. Was just a bit surprised¡­¡± Turning around, he met the woman¡¯s concerned gaze. ¡°Did the notification say anything else? Anything beyond how many of us survived?¡±


    Carol shook her head. ¡°No. I tried asking, just like the pamphlet taught us, but it didn¡¯t answer.¡±


    So the Interface just decided to lower everyone¡¯s morale and moved on?


    Isaac wasn¡¯t even surprised about that. It pretty much fitted the entity¡¯s usual behavior. Still, he simply couldn¡¯t see the point. Why do this? Why break everyone¡¯s spirit when they were already struggling? Was this just to mess with them?


    ¡°No¡­ that can¡¯t be it,¡± he muttered under his breath as he returned to the couch.


    Unfortunately, Carol must have heard him. ¡°What was that?¡± she asked. ¡°I didn¡¯t catch it.¡±


    Isaac waved her off and reached for another sandwich. ¡°Nothing, ignore me.¡±


    The woman narrowed her eyes at him but nodded anyway after a moment. ¡°In that case, did the Interface tell you what happened when the second phase started? Aside from the new task, that is.¡±


    ¡°Not really,¡± he admitted. ¡°Though it¡¯s pretty obvious the power is out for some reason. That related?¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately.¡± Carol grimaced. ¡°After the five hundred of you left, not much happened for the rest of phase one. All we got was another alert from the government. Standard stuff. Stay inside, help is coming soon.¡±


    Isaac mirrored her expression.


    Right, like that will ever happen. At least not until the barriers are down.


    ¡°Then, last evening, when there was only a minute left before phase two began, things went to hell,¡± the woman continued softly. ¡°At first it was just some light shaking, but it quickly escalated to a minor earthquake. Our building survived, but I definitely heard something collapsing somewhere in the city.¡±


    ¡°That explains the cracks in the walls,¡± he mumbled, looking up. ¡°That¡¯s when the power went out?¡±


    Carol nodded. ¡°And I lost the signal on my phone. All in the span of that single minute. Afterward, it all stopped, and the notification about stage two arrived.¡±


    Isaac clicked his tongue. Here went the idea of borrowing a phone to call Daryl. He could only assume what the man imagined had happened to him after radio silence for the whole day.


    That¡¯s if he wasn¡¯t one of the five hundred, too.


    He ignored that stray thought and refocused on the woman in front of him. She was far from done speaking.


    ¡°It announced that about a thousand more Contamination Zones had been created when phase two began. There was also something about ¡®reinforcement and rearrangement.¡¯ Not sure what it really means...¡±


    Once more, Isaac stopped mid-bite as his mind caught up with the words leaving Carol¡¯s mouth.


    A thousand? How did it go from only thirteen to a four-digit number in the span of twelve hours? And the other thing? He had a weird inkling that he had read something similar before in some science fiction book.


    ¡°What else did it say?¡± he prodded, hungry for more information.


    Carol sighed. ¡°Not much. It mentioned the new task. But you already know about that. Oh! It also said that from now we only have to kill ten Wretched to unlock our Origin. That¡¯s it.¡±


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°Better than nothing¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I thought too.¡± The woman smiled weakly. ¡°I just hope Brandon can get here tomorrow safely. Maybe the new conditions will help.¡±


    Isaac perked up. ¡°You two agreed to meet here?¡±


    She nodded. ¡°He and the others in his group. I told him they could use this building as a temporary safe house and go from there. Not everyone lives so close to the bank. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± he answered right away. ¡°Once I rest, I will be heading out anyway. A friend of mine also has¡­¡± He trailed off, considering his words. ¡°Well, had a group in the suburbs. I want to check if anyone is still there.¡±


    Then there is Elaine but that¡¯s another issue, he added in the safety of his mind.


    ¡°You¡¯re going alone?¡± Carol asked, incredulous. ¡°You should wait a bit. Once Brandon and the others get here and settle in, I¡¯m sure some would be willing to go with you.¡±


    As much as Isaac wanted to outright refuse, he settled for a milder response. There was no point in antagonizing her, and he had no interest in explaining himself.


    ¡°We will see. For now, I really need to get some shut-eye. It¡¯s been a long, long day...¡±


    Carol looked like she wanted to say something but just nodded instead. Without another word, they made their way to the exit. There, the woman handed him a flashlight.


    ¡°Take it,¡± she said. ¡°I have another one.¡±


    Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, Isaac accepted the device and flipped the switch. A small beam of light cut through the darkness. Carol then opened the door, allowing him to step outside.


    ¡°Before I go,¡± he paused in the doorway, ¡°I just have one more question if you don¡¯t mind.¡±


    The woman gestured for him to go on.


    ¡°Your kids¡­ do they have access to the Interface too?¡±


    Carol hesitated only for a moment before shaking her head. ¡°Not really. Only a timer, a very long one. Ella wrote it down for me, and after I checked, it will reach zero in about five years. And considering she is five¡­¡±


    ¡°Then it means all children are defenseless until they turn ten¡­¡± Isaac sighed and stepped onto the staircase. ¡°Thank you again, Carol, for the food and information. If anything happens, just knock on my door. I¡¯m usually a light sleeper.¡±


    ¡°I will remember that. Rest well.¡±


    With that, the door closed, leaving him alone in the darkened staircase. He shrugged and aimed the flashlight at the path ahead. His apartment was waiting, and with a proper source of light, it didn¡¯t take him long to reach it.


    Opening the unlocked door, he stepped into the all-familiar space. Aside from a few new cracks in the walls here and there, nothing changed.


    ¡°Clean up first,¡± he muttered, stripping off his clothes piece by piece on the way to the bathroom.


    Left only in his underwear, he stopped in front of the sink and the mirror above it. The sight that greeted him nearly made him flinch.


    Wow¡­ Suddenly I have way more respect for Carol than before. I would have run if someone showed up at my door looking like this¡­


    To put it simply, his entire face was covered in filth¡ªa mix of dirt, dried blood, and who knew what else. His hair was even a bigger mess than usual, sticky and clumped together in multiple spots.


    The rest of his body wasn¡¯t fairing much better. Although¡­


    I don¡¯t remember having this many muscles¡­


    Before the Virus, he hadn¡¯t been particularly fit¡ªjust an average guy who had never worked out a day in his life. Now though, there was some noticeable definition to his muscles. Lean, nothing extreme, but still something no one should gain overnight.


    Weird as hell, but I guess my attributes have to go somewhere. Just don¡¯t make me into some kind of massive bodybuilder, okay Virus?


    Obviously, nobody replied, so Isaac just turned the faucet control and relaxed when cool water splashed onto his hands. The power might be out, but at least he could still enjoy a small comfort like this.


    Let¡¯s wash up.


    Some time later, Isaac left the bathroom, his hair still damp from the thorough scrubbing. He got most of the filth off his body, but it wasn¡¯t an easy or short task without any hot water. Still worth it. He had forgotten how good it felt not to be covered in layers of dried blood.


    My bed. Oh, how I¡¯ve missed you, he thought as he sank into the soft mattress. He threw the blanket over his body and closed his eyes. Sleep came to him within seconds.


    <hr>


    ¡°Mr. Walker! Isaac!¡±


    Isaac¡¯s eyes snapped open as the loud shouting and banging on the door jolted him awake. Despite the lingering fog of exhaustion, his body moved on instinct. He jumped out of bed and threw on a fresh change of clothes suitable for another day of fighting.


    Once his mind finally caught up with his body, it noticed the sunlight coming through the gaps in the curtains. Still, he ignored that fact for now and settled for opening his front door.


    ¡°Carol,¡± he greeted with a yawn. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    The woman stared at him like he had grown a second head. ¡°You haven¡¯t heard?¡±


    Isaac frowned. ¡°Heard wha¡ª¡°


    Gunfire. Screams. Pained, inhuman screeches. The sounds erupted from beyond the building¡¯s walls, close¡ªmaybe a street or two away. Nothing like what he usually heard before his disappearance.


    ¡°This,¡± Carol said, crossing her arms. ¡°You mentioned you were a light sleeper. I thought you would be up by now.¡±


    He stifled another yawn, rubbing his face. ¡°Apparently, I was tired. Very tired. Still really am, but that can wait. What¡¯s going on? Have you seen anything, or is it just those noises?¡±


    Carol grimaced. ¡°I think you should look out of your window first.¡±


    His frown deepening, Isaac allowed the woman to step inside while he headed for the nearest window. What waited for him on the other side definitely wasn¡¯t on his bingo card for today.


    Wretched, easily over a hundred of them filled the street below. There was barely any space left for them to move, yet he had already spotted more and more coming from parallel streets. He also noticed the countless cracks running along the building walls and roads, but in the face of the horde right at his doorstep, this was nothing.


    Isaac glanced at the woman next to him. ¡°Were there this many here yesterday?¡±


    Carol shook her head. ¡°No! And that¡¯s the problem. The fighting we are hearing? That¡¯s coming from the direction of the bank. If that¡¯s Brandon and his group¡­¡±


    ¡°They have no chance getting past those things,¡± he finished for her.


    Carol nodded grimly.


    ¡°Right,¡± he muttered. ¡°I will see what I can do. Just give me a five to get ready.¡±


    The woman had no problem recognizing what his words were and, after giving him a grateful nod, left his apartment.


    Meanwhile, Isaac headed for his kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water and a box of cereal. It wasn¡¯t much, but it would have to do.


    There is no way they are all here by coincidence. He reasoned, leaning against the counter as he chewed on the dry food. Either the Interface somehow guided them to my position, or they felt my arrival despite my stealth skill.


    Once more, Isaac couldn¡¯t decide which option sounded worse.


    Though, in the end, he wasn¡¯t even worried. Despite the abrupt wake-up call, the Symphony of Blood was already awake, humming a low tune. Just like him, it couldn¡¯t wait to deal with the annoyances waiting on the streets.


    The tattoo on his arm also thrummed.


    Soon. Have patience.

 Chapter 21. Weak no more

    Isaac laced up a spare pair of his work shoes and threw on a thick hoodie he found in the back of his wardrobe. The dark fabric had long since faded to a pale green, but with his jacket now covered in cuts and tears, this was the best he could do. The fingerless gloves he received in the trial went on next, and with that, he was ready to go out.


    Now, if only I had gotten more than three hours of sleep, he thought, fighting back a yawn. Hopefully, some fighting will wake me up.


    The crimson tattoo on his arm shivered again at that, making Isaac snort. He still wasn¡¯t sure how he felt about having a half-sentient weapon bound to his body, but he had to admit that its constant bloodlust was amusing. Even more so when his Symphony of Blood answered the Root¡¯s call with its own eerie tune.


    The apple doesn¡¯t fall far from the tree, eh?


    Shaking his head, he ran through a few quick stretches, testing for any lingering pain. There was none. Whatever the gremlin¡¯s slap did to his insides was fixed by his regeneration during his short sleep.


    The corner of his lips lifted slightly.


    With that, Isaac cast one more glance around his living room and approached the exit. Yet, just as his hand brushed the knob, a thought struck him. When was the last time he had checked his full status? Notifications of his progression were all nice and good, but maybe he had missed something in the heat of the trial.


    All right then. He pulled his hand away from the door. Give me the status, Interface.


    Name: Isaac Walker


    Origin: Blood | LVL. 6


    Legacy: Locked


    Virus Stage: I - Attachment (Phase 3)


    Virus Integrity: 100%


    Power: Developed - Tier I


    Agility: Feeble - Tier V


    Toughness: Feeble - Tier IV


    Regeneration: Developed - Tier III


    Insight: Feeble - Tier V


    Never mind, all¡¯s good.


    Still, even as he thought that, his gaze never left the only locked part of his status. He even called up its description again, but just like the last time, it still showed the same thing. Legacy wouldn¡¯t unlock without reaching level ten in his Origin. There was no way around that.


    ¡°Only a couple more then,¡± he muttered, dismissing the status and opening the door before him.


    With almost no windows to allow the rays of the morning sun inside, the staircase was still mostly dark. That said, Isaac left the flashlight behind and made his way down to the third floor. To his surprise, a little girl was sitting next to the open door to Carol¡¯s apartment.


    She turned to him and ducked into her oversized hoodie.


    He slowed his approach and crouched a few feet away from the girl. ¡°Ella, right?¡± he asked softly, getting a small nod from her. ¡°Does your mother know you¡¯re here?¡± Another nod. ¡°And where is she?¡±


    At this, Ella raised her hand and pointed her finger toward the broken window at the end of the hallway. Isaac stifled a frown and instead offered the girl a smile.


    ¡°Thank you, Ella,¡± he said, standing up. ¡°You stay here. Your mom will come soon.¡±


    This time, he got no answer from the young child. She just closed her eyes and retreated into her hood.


    That¡¯s odd, he thought, walking toward the broken window. Why would she go out there? I told her to give me a few minutes. No reason for her to take unnecessary risks when it¡¯s obvious her kid is scared. And that¡¯s only one of them¡­


    Nonetheless, it wasn¡¯t his place to question Carol¡¯s choices. Maybe with her husband so close, she just wanted to get outside to hear better what was happening there. He was in no place to judge her.


    Let¡¯s see.


    Careful to avoid the sticking-out shards of glass, he climbed through the window, his eyes instantly finding Carol. She was crouched at the edge of the fire escape, watching the dozen or so Wretched wandering the alley behind their apartment building.


    Honestly less than I expected, he commented internally as he crept toward the woman. Not wanting to startle her, he whispered, ¡°Carol.¡±


    She still flinched at his voice but at least didn¡¯t scream.


    ¡°Isaac,¡± she murmured, barely audible. ¡°They are getting closer. You can hear it too, right?¡±


    He nodded. It was hard to miss the noises of constant fighting in the distance. He wouldn¡¯t even be surprised if the Hosts out there also encountered a horde similar to the one waiting in front of this building. The thing that got him, though, was the sheer number of gunshots he had been hearing since he woke up.


    Where did they get all this ammo?


    ¡°You should go back inside,¡± he said after a moment. ¡°I will handle things from here.¡±


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Of course, Carol didn¡¯t give in that easily. ¡°Do you have a plan? There are too many of them¡­¡±


    Isaac shrugged. ¡°Like I said, I will handle it. Trust me when I say that my trial was far worse than this.¡±


    Especially considering the threat of those things, he added in the safety of his mind as he activated Analyze on yet another Wretched.


    Potential Threat: Very Low


    Even the gremlins were stronger. So, despite the big number advantage on the Wretched¡¯s side, he wasn¡¯t too worried. He should be fine if he didn¡¯t let them overrun him.


    ¡°What about a weapon?¡± Carol pressed. ¡°You plan to fight them with your hands? That¡¯s suicide.¡±


    Isaac shook his head, and instead of answering with words, he summoned the Root of Blood into his hand. The woman¡¯s eyes widened as she backed off a step.


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± she muttered. ¡°What¡­ what is that?¡±


    ¡°A gift from the Interface for finishing the trial. And let¡¯s leave it at that, okay?¡±


    Carol nodded without a word, her eyes still on the crimson blade. The initial flicker of fear in her eyes had already faded, replaced by pure curiosity. He couldn¡¯t even blame her for it. Though, the way the Root was preening under the attention was slightly weird.


    Yeah, enough of that, he thought, dismissing the sword.


    Carol blinked as if breaking free from a trance. She let out an awkward laugh and slowly backed toward the window.


    ¡°Take care, Mr. Walker,¡± she whispered just before she could step back into the building. ¡°And if it¡¯s possible¡­ please bring my husband home.¡±


    Isaac nodded, and just like that, Carol left him alone on the fire escape, the screeching of Wretched from below filling in the silence. He took a deep breath and resummoned the Root of Blood.


    Time to get to work.


    First, he began by descending to the lowest possible level of the fire escape. There, still unnoticed, he took the count of all the monsters waiting in the alley.


    Sixteen. Could be worse.


    Without another thought, he nudged his Viron.


    The energy instantly dived toward his Origin and then out of his body, creating three clouds of crimson miasma that soon formed into daggers. Isaac¡¯s eyes then locked onto the possible targets, and with a sharp yank, the blades shot toward the chosen Wretched.


    A moment later, three bodies dropped to the ground, with disintegrating blood daggers sticking out of their skulls.


    [Wretched x3 slain.]


    Isaac summoned another salvo of blades, and in return, three more Wretched joined their kin on the dirty alley floor. However, before he could call on more daggers, two monsters sitting below the fire escape finally took notice of him.


    Their low screech alerted every remaining Wretched in the area.


    Isaac clicked his tongue but didn¡¯t stop his Viron from forming three more blades. On instinct, they sailed for the running Wretched, hitting two more in the head while the final one missed by an inch.


    Need to work on hitting moving targets.


    Yet, those kills still brought the number of Wretched down to eight. Sure, more were probably already coming with all the noise the monsters were making, but he would still take those odds.


    The Symphony of Blood roared to life in his veins.


    He stepped forward and vaulted over the fire escape¡¯s railing.


    The Wretched below had no chance to react as Isaac dropped on it like a meteor. Its head hit the ground, cracking open like an egg.


    [Wretched (LVL. 1) slain.]


    So that¡¯s why your threat potential is so low¡­


    He spun around and swung his sword at another Wretched waiting there. To his surprise, the Root of Blood cleaved right through the beast¡¯s neck, flesh and bone alike. Its headless body fell to the ground, and the weapon in his hand thrummed as it tasted the blood of its first kill.


    No worries. More are coming.


    The final six rushed in from the far end of the alley. Isaac didn¡¯t wait around and faced them head-on. Blood Daggers took down two of them before they even clashed, while the Root carved through another the moment they did.


    The remaining trio tried to reach him with their claws, but he parried with his blade, shearing off a few fingers in the process. Their pained screeches echoed in his ears as his blood sang.


    Weak, he growled, chopping off an overextended arm before finishing the beast with a Blood Dagger to the heart. Even though he mostly used them for range attacks, he found out they were also quite good off-hand weapons.


    Still, he should probably slow down with his skill usage. The daggers didn¡¯t drain much Viron, but even with his abyssal sensing ability, he could already feel a small dip in his reserves.


    As such, he just leaned out of the way of a lunge and sliced the final Wretched across its back. A stab into the neck finished its pitiful life.


    The usual kill notification came as the beast fell, but Isaac ignored it and instead focused on the distant screeches coming from both ends of the alley. The horde had heard him, and at least a part of it was coming for him.


    Good.


    Within a few seconds, more Wretched entered the alley, about a dozen from each direction. The Symphony in his veins moved onto its next song¡ªa stronger and louder one.


    Isaac headed its call and ran toward the nearest group, Blood Draw gathering on his blade.


    Die!


    The wave of blood that exploded from the Root cleaved through the entire front line and even a couple Wretched behind it. Their screeches were cut short just like their lives as they dropped to the ground, dead.


    Still, Isaac didn¡¯t stop.


    Jumping over the fresh corpse in his way, he descended upon the remnants of the small group like a hungry hound. Bolstered by the Symphony and his improved attributes, the beasts could barely fight back as he sliced and diced them apart.


    Even when they found an opening in his assault and managed to land a small cut on his body, Isaac barely felt it. At this point, those transformed former humans were far too weak to harm someone like him. Especially when the blade in his hands cut better than any man-made weapon in existence.


    Then there was also the other thing the Root offered him¡ªguidance.


    It was subtle¡ªa nudge here, a quiet whisper there¡ªbut for someone who had zero experience in sword fighting, it was like a holy grail. With each second he fought, his steps grew a bit more confident, his cuts sharper, requiring less effort than before.


    All of this was far from enough to make him a match for someone like the Host he faced during the trial, but Isaac would still take it. Any improvement to his combat abilities was a win.


    And done.


    He grinned as the last of the Wretched in this group fell. A surge of strength rushed through his body, signaling another level-up. He ignored it for now and turned to face the small party coming at him from the other side of the alley.


    To his surprise, the Wretched there were no longer running. Instead, they came to a halt a good distance away from where their kin were slaughtered like pigs. Their yellow eyes flickered between him and the butchered remains of the other beasts.


    Hate still burned in their gaze. But now, there was something more there.


    Fear.

 Chapter 22. Massacre

    Isaac''s grin grew wider as the realization settled in¡ªthe Wretched were afraid of him. He had been wondering how in the hell the hosts were supposed to complete the Phase Two task in such a short time, but now he was beginning to understand.


    He was just a level six¡ªseven now¡ªsurvivor, yet he had no issue slaughtering the Wretched in dozens. Sure, he had survived the trial and received a very powerful weapon as a reward, but as long as other Hosts unlocked their Origin, they should still be able to face a few of those beasts at the same time.


    Thus, with their combined effort and the obvious weakness of the Wretched, the task should be quite simple to complete.


    Yeah, I can see it now, Isaac mused, taking a single step toward the group in front of him.


    In response, they all stepped back even as more and more monsters spilled into the alley, slowly surrounding him.


    So much for not getting overrun.


    A low chuckle escaped him, making some of the monsters flinch. At the same time, the corpses around him started to vanish, a few even leaving him an Inferior Virality Gem as a gift. He didn''t move to pick them up, not now.


    It was the right call, too, as a moment later, a couple more Wretched arrived in the alley. Unaware of the massacre that just happened here, they pushed past their frozen kin and charged right at Isaac.


    They dropped to the ground a few seconds later, spilling fresh blood over the alley.


    The other beasts recoiled further, some even looking over their shoulder, maybe considering escape. Isaac never gave them a chance to act on that thought.


    With a yank on the blood flowing in his veins, two unnaturally long daggers materialized at his sides. A third one formed in his left hand, its crimson surface pulsing in the rhythm of his heart.


    "Go¡­"


    At his whisper, the two floating daggers shot toward the surrounding crowd. The first two Wretched in their way died on the spot, but it was far from over. Fueled by the sacrifice of his own blood, the blades pivoted mid-flight and cut through the beasts like a scythe through wheat.


    By the time their power ran out, at least ten Wretched had fallen.


    Those who survived took a few more steps back.


    Isaac pounced in turn, the dagger and Root of Blood in his hands.


    Whatever remained of the Wretched''s will to fight was shattered as Blood Draw cleaved through another dozen within a second. The rest panicked, breaking formation and stumbling over each other as they tried to escape as far as possible from him.


    Some of them fell in the chaos, while others even turned on their own kin in a frenzy. Only those at the very back had a chance to survive. Too bad that death was coming for them anyway.


    Every single sound that didn''t matter faded out of his ears as Isaac hacked and slashed everything in his path. Symphony of Blood in his veins played a loud tune, helping him navigate the carnage he wrought. At the same time, the Root thrummed as it bathed in the endless supply of blood¡ªits guidance still active.


    Some of the braver Wretched abandoned their dreams of escape and faced him, swinging at him with their sharpened claws. Isaac cleaved through them, too, not even pausing when they landed a hit or two.


    Instead, he gathered the blood dripping from his fresh wounds and poured it into his next attack.


    Sacrificial Blood Draw erupted from the Root, and unlike any other, it didn''t stop on a single swing. Isaac slashed again, and the blood followed¡ªweaker but still strong enough to end all the Wretched that tried to get him from behind.


    [Wretched x21 slain.]


    Afterward, no beast tried to face him anymore. They all ran, uncaring if their escape killed one of their kin. What mattered to them was survival¡ªsurvival that wasn''t earned easily.


    Yet, before Isaac could give chase, loud shouting pierced the veil of Symphony of Blood. He removed his sword from another corpse and paused, his gaze snapping toward the smaller alleyway that led back to the street.


    Right, the other survivors.


    The rush of battle¡ªthe sheer thrill of cutting through endless waves of enemies¡ªhad nearly made him forget why he had ventured out in the first place. Still, going by all the shouting, he definitely made the job easier for the approaching group of Hosts.


    Isaac threw one final look at the Wretched escaping toward the opposite ends of the alley and shrugged. They could run. He or someone else would get them one day anyway. For now, there had to be more of those beasts on the street.


    But first¡­


    His eyes landed on the scattered violet gems littering the ground.


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    Gems.


    It didn''t even take him half a minute to collect them all and throw them into his pocket.


    Now, let''s see what''s going on there.


    Without much of a hurry, Isaac jogged into the narrow alley where he had saved that one guy in the beginning. He spotted some Wretched running near its end, but none even spared him a glance. Similar to the beasts he had just fought, these, too, were in full panic mode.


    Reaching the alley¡¯s end, he stopped and peeked onto the street.


    Huh¡­ That''s a lot more people than I expected¡­


    With all the fighting going on, it was hard to get an exact count, but at least twenty people had to be out there. Most fought in smaller groups, using whatever makeshift weapons they found to bring down the Wretched together. Some, though, wielded a gun or the power of their Origin.


    Isaac ignored the former and focused on those who had already awakened.


    The first one he noticed was a young woman with short whips made of crystal clear water wrapped around her hands. Every single strike of those things had the Wretched falling to the ground, screeching in pain. Another brought them down for good.


    His gaze then strayed to two more hosts that seemed to be wielding the same Origin.


    Their swords¡ªand where they had even gotten them was anybody''s guess¡ªwere wretched in fire, while their free hands held small flames. He had yet to see what those were for, but he could always ask later.


    Right now, there was only one thing on his mind.


    To join the battle.


    Blood Dagger.


    The three new blades instantly flew at the nearest Wretched, killing them in a single strike. A heartbeat later, another dagger materialized in Isaac''s left hand, and with that, he left the alley, charging at the closest cluster of monsters.


    Symphony of Blood once more played louder as he danced between the endless bodies running around him. Some tried to defend themselves from the Root of Blood coming for their heads, but the blade didn''t care for any obstacles and sliced through them, too.


    Before long, Isaac slipped into the same rhythm he had found in the alley, cutting everything apart in his path. In the distance, he heard some surprised yells but paid them no mind. All that mattered was the army of Wretched still coming for him. It was so much easier when they didn''t try to escape.


    Blood Draw.


    The wave of crimson met the charge of a small group, slicing them all in two uneven parts. A salvo of Blood Daggers followed, bringing down a few beasts coming from behind. Those who remained close by, he greeted with a blade to the neck, staining more and more of the street in fresh blood.


    As a couple more Wretched blocked his path, Isaac pulled more Viron from his body.


    Only there was almost nothing remaining there. Emptiness answered his call, forcing him to face the beasts with just his sword and the final Blood Dagger gripped in his off-hand.


    So that''s how it feels to run out of energy. He grimaced, chopping off a Wretched''s arm and then finishing it with a dagger to the neck. Not the best time to find out, but I guess it could have been worse.


    At least Symphony of Blood remained active, so he couldn''t really complain. The enhanced battle prowess the skill offered, combined with his ever-growing attributes, still made the couple of Wretched before him a non-threat. Maybe if there were no other fighters close by, he would be worried, but as it stood, even without his active skills, he should be more than fine.


    And he was.


    Once again, Isaac lost himself in the battle, his focus only on the monsters in his way and the sword he now gripped with both hands. The Root''s gentle lessons followed his every move, while the Symphony offered him an eerie tune in the background as he cleaved through endless bodies like some personification of death.


    Before long, the Wretched started running again.


    This time, Isaac didn¡¯t give chase. He simply watched them flee, standing amidst a sea of corpses. Symphony of Blood also vanished, and for the first time since the battle began, he felt the sweat covering most of his body, and how his chest rose and fell in ragged breaths.


    His heart wasn''t any better, pounding so fast that he worried it might escape his ribcage.


    Isaac let out a tired chuckle.


    Yeah, he would need to work on controlling himself. Getting consumed by the battle might have made him more efficient, but his body could only go so far before it ran out of power. Then again, maybe this wouldn''t be an issue if he had gotten a few more hours of sleep.


    A thought for another day¡­


    He rolled his aching shoulders and turned his attention to the other Hosts just finishing the remaining Wretched on the street. Some were already eyeing him warily, their bodies tense, ready to spring into action at a moment''s notice.


    Isaac did his best to hide his exhaustion and stared back, Root of Blood hanging loosely at his side.


    It wasn''t until the last of the Wretched fell that the large group gathered a safe distance away from him. The trio standing at the front exchanged a few muttered words before an older man with a graying beard stepped forward.


    "Friendly?!" the man shouted, the rifle in his arms just an inch away from being aimed at Isaac.


    Weird question to ask. Even if I wasn''t, do you think I''d tell you with those odds? Isaac commented in his head. On the outside, he just nodded. "Aren''t we all?"


    "You never know, laddie," the man answered, his thick accent shining through. "Thanks for the assist. Got a name? I''m Tyler."


    "Isaac Walker. Looking for one, Brandon Jackson. He with you?"


    The older guy didn''t have to answer as, at that moment, another much younger man from the trio stepped out. His face seemed familiar, and once he spoke up, it was obvious why.


    "That''s me. You''re the neighbor my wife mentioned yesterday, right? Did she send you?"


    Isaac nodded. "You could say that. She is waiting inside with your kids. You''re all welcome to come inside, too. Just stay away from the last apartment on the last floor."


    "That was the plan. Thanks again, kid," Tyler answered this time.


    He then looked over his shoulder and nodded at the final part of the trio¡ªthe young woman who he had seen using the water whips. She, among a few others, instantly moved toward the vanishing corpses, gathering the few Virality gems lying around.


    Good idea, Isaac thought, and ignoring the curious gazes from the rest of the group, also went around the street to collect the gems left behind by the Wretched he had killed.


    Of course, it didn''t take long for someone to approach him.


    And so it begins¡­

 Chapter 23. Progress

    ¡°That was damn fine fighting, kid,¡± Tyler praised, stopping a few feet away from him. ¡°Honestly, when we saw the horde outside Brandon¡¯s place, we were tearing our hair out, trying to figure out how to handle them. Then, they all started moving and running, and the problem solved itself. That was you, wasn¡¯t it?¡±


    Issac grimaced. This was exactly what he wanted to avoid. The questions, attention, and other people recognizing just how strong he already was. Of course, unless he was willing to hide his strength¡ªhe wasn¡¯t¡ªhe had to deal with it. Better start early¡­


    ¡°Yeah. I told Mrs. Jackson I would help, so I did,¡± he answered, snatching another gem and putting it in his pocket. At this point, he had to have at least ten of them.


    ¡°Incredible¡­¡± Tyler muttered. ¡°A few of us have unlocked their Origin while the others are waiting for the awakening to end, but I doubt anyone here could have taken down as many as you did. That sword of yours, too. Neat thing even if Analyze doesn¡¯t work on it. Any chance you know where we can get something similar?¡±


    This was the moment where Issac could lie and dodge the question about the trial or just get it over with. In the end, it wasn¡¯t even much of a choice. Carol already knew the truth, and without a doubt, she would tell her husband everything. It wouldn¡¯t take long for the older man to find out, too.


    ¡°The Pioneer trial,¡± he said.


    The footsteps behind him halted. When he glanced over his shoulder, he found Tyler frozen in shock. It might have been amusing if not for the words that followed.


    ¡°Bloody hell!¡± Tyler cursed, catching up to him. ¡°You are one of the Hosts the notification mentioned! That explains so much, but now I¡¯ve got even more questions¡­ To think one of the Pioneers is from Galt¡­ What happened in those trials, kid? You gotta tell us.¡±


    Issac stopped after grabbing the final gem. ¡°No,¡± he answered firmly. ¡°I don¡¯t have to tell you anything. What happened, happened. That¡¯s it. If you want to know more, find another Pioneer.¡±


    Tyler¡¯s eyes widened as he raised his hands in surrender. ¡°Ah, no need to get all worked up, lad. Forgive me if I overstepped. You know how it is. The Interface doesn¡¯t tell us much, so I just jumped at the chance to learn something new. No hard feelings?¡±


    Issac glanced at the extended hand and sighed. ¡°No hard feelings,¡± he repeated, accepting the handshake.


    The older man grinned. ¡°So the trial is a big no-no. Got it. What about your Origin, then? That wave of red liquid that cut through the Wretched like through paper? I¡¯d kill to have that.¡±


    Ah, might as well¡­


    ¡°Blood. It¡¯s blood,¡± he answered. ¡°What about you?¡±


    Tyler raised his left hand, a streak of blue sparking across his fingers for a second. ¡°Lightning. Got two skills for it. Pretty handy overall¡ªat least when I¡¯m not using this.¡± He patted the rifle slung across his chest.


    That piqued Issac¡¯s curiosity. If the man was so intent on asking questions, then he might as well learn something in return. They were waiting for the others to dismantle his makeshift barricade in the lobby anyway.


    ¡°Where did you even get it? There is no weapon store between the bank and here.¡±


    ¡°Ah... There was a police car that crashed near the bank,¡± Tyler replied. ¡°All our guns come from it and the poor sods trapped inside. Really, what the world¡¯s come to¡­¡±


    Issac didn¡¯t comment, settling to watch as the last of his barrier was pushed out of the way. He walked inside right after, ignoring the looks he was getting. Tyler was right on his heels.


    ¡°Listen, kid,¡± the man called out as they climbed the first flight of stairs. ¡°I need to help everyone settle in first, but I would like to talk again later. Hope you don¡¯t mind? There is much we can learn from each other.¡±


    I doubt that.


    Still, he saw no reason to antagonize the guy. Even if he was a chatterbox full of questions, he had backed off when told to. Isaac could respect that¡ªeven if the whole ¡®kid¡¯ thing was starting to wear thin. He had given his name for a reason.


    ¡°We will see,¡± he said without really answering. ¡°If you need something, ask Carol¡ªthat is Mr. Jackson¡¯s wife.¡±


    ¡°Right.¡± Tyler smiled. ¡°We will do that. And thanks again for the assist out there. You really saved us a lot of trouble.¡±


    Issac only nodded and continued to climb up while the other man returned downstairs. On the way, he passed Carol and her husband, the two holding each other like they hadn¡¯t seen one another in years. Still, the woman spotted him and offered him a grateful smile.


    He did his best to return it and continued onward.


    ¡°Home sweet home,¡± he muttered after shutting the door of his apartment and locking it with a key.


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    Without a second thought, he shed his bloodied hoodie and marched straight to the bathroom to wash his face. Once done with that, he dropped on the couch in his living room and reached for the Viron in his body.


    Still almost empty¡­


    Issac clicked his tongue before removing the Inferior Virality Gems from his pocket. There were exactly twelve of them. Overall, not a bad haul from creatures that died from a single swing of his sword.


    First though, I ignored you for long enough, he thought, and with a simple command, summoned all the Interface messages that had been waiting ever since the fighting began.


    The kill notification arrived first, and after he added them all up, he counted over a hundred monsters killed just by him. Together with the other Hosts, they had most likely reduced the Wretched population by at least two hundred.


    Not bad¡­ Not bad at all.


    You have leveled up! You are now level 7. Distribution of Ascension Power in Progress. No attribute has advanced a tier.


    Issac blinked. That was new. He definitely remembered the feeling of power surging through his body, yet nothing advanced? And here he was, getting excited about more of his attributes moving to the next grade.


    ¡°Oh well, next time it is¡­¡± he muttered, calling on the next notification.


    Blood Dagger and Viron: Potency have advanced a tier. Blood Draw has reached its maximum tier.


    That was fast.


    Not even a day had passed since he obtained Blood Draw, yet it had already come so far. He remembered how much effort it took to push his Viron and activate the skill at first. Now, the skill came alive with just a thought; not even the new energy within his body tried to stop its formation.


    There has to be a way to improve it further, right?


    He summoned the skill¡¯s description.


    [Blood Draw | Grade: Normal | Max Tier]


    An active Origin ability. By drawing onto the power of your Origin with Viron, you may now unleash waves of deadly blood. Best used when armed. Ready to evolve to a higher grade.


    There it is. Evolution. But how? And why doesn''t Stealth have it? He furrowed his brow. Maybe like this? Interface: Skill evolution.


    To his surprise, the call for help worked, and a quite lengthy Interface message materialized in front of him.


    [Skill evolution is a process that some skills may undergo to advance to the next grade. This can happen in several ways. The first is through simple training. Consistent use over time allows most skills to evolve naturally. Another method involves Origin artifacts, which temporarily strengthen your connection to your Origin, accelerating the evolution process. Lastly, skills may evolve when your Origin awakens them after a level-up. The higher your proficiency, the greater the chance of advancement.


    Skills that do not have an evolution mentioned in their description may still advance to the next grade. In such cases, an ability merge or an advanced skill blueprint is usually required.]


    ¡°Huh,¡± Issac hummed. ¡°That¡¯s helpful. Very helpful¡­¡±


    Then again, for now, all he could do was keep using Blood Draw and hope for the best. He had no access to any Origin artifacts, and he doubted he would be leveling up any time soon¡ªat least not today. Almost every Wretched had been level one. Not the best source for gathering Ascension Power for someone at level seven.


    The sheer amount of monsters he had killed today only proved that.


    Though the Interface mentioned other ways of leveling up¡­ Now, if only I knew what they were. Maybe simply advancing my other Origin skills will work?


    That was a possibility¡ªone he would try to test once he took another nap and got something to eat. For now, he didn¡¯t have enough Viron in his body to use more than a single Blood Dagger anyway.


    ¡°Before that¡±¡ªhe glanced at the gems in front of him¡ª¡°it¡¯s your turn.¡±


    With a nudge to the remnants of his power, Issac consumed the objects one by one. Each gave him a bit of Viron back, slowly refilling his reserves¡ªnot by much, but still better than nothing. Then, once he reached the tenth gem, a shiver ran down his spine. His veins pulsed, glowing faintly beneath his skin.


    It lasted only a few seconds, but by the time it was over, he was covered in a fresh layer of sweat. At the very least, the Interface didn¡¯t leave him waiting for answers.


    Congratulations, Host! Your Virus has now entered the maturity phase of its current stage. Soon, it might be ready to advance.


    Curious, Issac grabbed one of the remaining gems and nudged his Viron toward it.


    Once more, his veins lit up like a Christmas tree for a brief moment. Consuming the final gem earned the same reaction. He shrugged and pulled up a small part of his status.


    Virus Stage: I - Attachment (Matured)


    He also checked the description of the current stage but found nothing new there. Disappointing, but not unexpected. Until the Virus advanced to the next stage, he probably wouldn¡¯t learn anything new.


    Food and a nap it is, then¡­


    <hr>


    For the second time today, a loud banging on his door awoke Issac from his slumber. He rubbed his eyes and slowly slipped off his couch. He took a peek through the peephole in his door and sighed when he spotted Carol waiting on the other side.


    ¡°Yes?¡± he asked once the door slid open.


    Carol took one look at him and grimaced. ¡°I woke you up again, didn¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Issac offered her a weak smile. ¡°I feel much better anyway. Maybe it¡¯s for the best that I don¡¯t sleep through the entire day.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been four hours. It¡¯s almost two.¡±


    ¡°That explains it,¡± he muttered. He had run on less sleep in the past. ¡°It should do for now¡­¡± He met her gaze. ¡°So what¡¯s going on? More Wretched?¡±


    Carol shook her head. ¡°No, no. Brandon and Tyler asked me to get you. They are planning their next move and thought you would like to be a part of the conversation.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± He ran a hand through his hair. ¡°All right then. I will be there¡ª¡°


    ¡°In five,¡± Carol finished with a small smile. ¡°I will let them know. The door is open.¡±


    Issac nodded and returned to his apartment once the woman left. Even if he didn¡¯t care much for his appearance at this point, he should at least find some clothes that weren¡¯t covered from head to toe in blood.


    Not gonna lie, I could use a skill for cleaning¡­

 Chapter 24. New friends?

    Current progress: 16% | Your contribution ranking: 4th | Time left: 57h:43m:2s


    This didn''t take long.


    Isaac snorted as he threw on a fresh hoodie, his gaze flickering to his new contribution rank. From a thousand¡ªor whatever rank he was after waking up¡ªto fourth place was quite the jump. Then again, with how many Wretched he had killed on the streets, he was slightly surprised he wasn''t first yet.


    Though maybe he shouldn''t be. With the size of this Contamination Zone, there ought to be some people out there who had found ways to kill those monsters fast. Military personnel, hardcore survivalists, or maybe someone who had spent their entire life preparing for an apocalypse. There were plenty of possibilities.


    "Like another Pioneer," he muttered, even if he didn''t believe those words.


    The Breakout had begun with thirteen Contamination Zones. The odds of more than one Pioneer emerging from his own zone were slim. Not an outright impossibility but still not something Isaac would bet on.


    Besides, the more critical issue was the current progress listed in the message. In the span of almost ten hours, it had only moved up by three percent. Not a good prognosis for the future, if he had to be honest.


    Hopefully, it''s just a slow start. Most people are probably waiting for their Origin to awaken or are still in hiding. He reasoned. With each hour, more Hosts should join the fighting¡ªat least in theory.


    The reality could be much different. For one, nobody had any idea just how many people turned into Wretched. If, for example, only ten or twenty percent of the population survived, completing the Phase Two task would be much harder than expected.


    That said, even if this horrible scenario were true, all it would take to complete the task was for everybody left alive to kill the necessary amount of Wretched to awaken.


    Of course, Isaac wasn''t naive enough to believe that could be the solution. Not everyone was a fighter willing to put their life on the line. And then there were also the children to consider, too.


    That was why the world needed outliers like him and the others at the top of the ranking. It was their job to pick up the slack and make up for those who couldn''t fight.


    And honestly? Isaac didn''t even mind that as long as people didn''t expect him to save them from every danger in the future.


    I''m getting ahead of myself. He chuckled, shaking his head. Even if my ranking is high now, that might change in a few hours. Who knows, maybe a few days from now, I will be just another host¡ªPioneer or not.


    Yet, a quiet voice in the back of his mind told him he wouldn''t allow that to happen. Not when this entire apocalypse had finally made him feel more alive. Fading into the background, as he had always done before, wasn''t an option. This new era could be his time to thrive.


    "We will see¡­" he mumbled.


    With that, Isaac left his bedroom and headed for the exit. The moment he left his apartment, muffled voices filled his ears, echoing across the entire staircase. Seemed like the others had managed to settle in just fine.


    He quickly made his way to the third floor and approached Carol''s apartment. As she said, the door was open, but he still knocked before entering.


    Soon, a familiar face appeared in the corridor and gestured for him to move into the living room. There, a small crowd was already waiting for him.


    "Ah, lad, there ya are," Tyler exclaimed, rising from the couch to greet him. "Thanks for joining us. Carol and Brandon, you already know." He gestured toward the married couple before motioning to the final person in the room. "And this is Marie. She''s probably the best at killing those bloody things here¡ªright after you, of course."


    The young woman¡ªthe water whip wielder from before¡ªoffered Isaac a quick nod and a small smile. He returned it and turned his attention back to Tyler.


    "So what''s this about?" he asked.


    The older man snorted. "A better question would be, what isn''t this about¡­ Sit down, lad. We might be here a while, so better get comfortable."


    Isaac shrugged and did just that, waiting for Tyler to continue. The man nodded.


    "Well then, to begin with, you should know that after you went to rest and we settled in, our group had been working on clearing the buildings on this street. We found a couple more people hiding and secured some supplies. Unfortunately, that''s about all we accomplished in those few hours."


    "That''s still good," Isaac pointed out. "I just slept in that time after all."


    His comment earned a chuckle from a few in the room while Tyler grinned.


    "Aye, fair enough. But now that you''re up and we got most of the basic stuff out of the way, I figured it might be a good time to get moving for real. Galt may be small, but if we clear it out today, we can still make a difference by moving on to the nearby towns tomorrow."


    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    Isaac''s eyebrows shot up, and next to him, Marie shared a similar expression. At least someone else here wasn''t cued into the plans before this meeting.


    "Today?" he repeated, more than a bit skeptical. "You got what? Twenty, thirty people? Even assuming that only half of Galt turned¡ªwhich we all know isn''t true¡ªthat¡¯s still about fifteen thousand Wretched for us to kill. Sounds damn near impossible."


    "You''re right," Brandon, Carol''s husband, took over. "As we are, we stand no chance. But we are finding more survivors with every building cleared. Then there are the other groups we keep hearing in other parts of the city. If we can all unite and plan accordingly, we could have Galt cleared by tomorrow morning. You alone showed us how much one awakened Host with a higher level is worth."


    "It could work," a soft and quiet voice beside him agreed.


    Marie flinched as suddenly everyone turned to look at her. Still, she continued, "I''m only level three, and the Wretched practically can''t touch me anymore. Exhaustion might be a problem, though¡­"


    Tyler nodded. "Aye, good point, lass. That''s why working in groups and conserving your energy is key. Getting some better weapons, both melee and range, would be ideal too. Good thing I have a plan for that, too."


    Of course you do. Isaac stifled a snort and instead looked between the different people in the room. Most eyes were already on him as if everybody was waiting for his blessing. And maybe they were¡­


    "All right, I will bite. What''s the plan?"


    Despite his age, Tyler grinned like a child, excitement shining in his eyes. It seemed like there were more people who had no issue with the world ending. That, or they were all slowly going mad.


    "Wonderful!" the oldest among them exclaimed. "My idea is simple but has a few parts to it. First, most of us will continue clearing the area close to this place. We have to do it anyway, so why stop? Second, a handful of the awakened¡ªthose with at least a level or two¡ªwill head to Norton''s. You know what I mean, right?"


    Isaac nodded. He had lived in Galt for far too long not to know about one of its two gun stores. Norton''s was the closest to their current location.


    "Good." Tyler grinned again. "There are a couple more shops, mostly sports ones, that I would like us to loot, but those can wait. Anyway, third. Other groups. We need to make contact fast. The sooner we can coordinate, the better. This is also where I would like to ask for your help, lad."


    Isaac opened his mouth to speak, but before he could let out a single sound, Brandon beat him to it.


    "Carol mentioned you were planning to check on a friend who might be leading another group," he said. "If it''s not too much of a problem, would you mind taking a person or two with you to help establish contact? We found some portable radios that should make the communication easy."


    Isaac held back a sigh. So much for staying alone, he thought, yet despite that, he didn''t disagree. In the end, they all shared one goal¡ªto complete the Second Phase task.


    Thus, he nodded. "I will do it as long as the person coming with me is already awakened and had some time to test their Origin. "


    "Easily done," Tyler said. "I even have someone in mind, but maybe Marie would like to go too? With you and Isaac in a group, the trip should be quick."


    The woman shrugged, running a hand through her short blonde hair. "Sure."


    "That''s what I like to hear!" the man beamed. "Well then, that about covers it. You two," he said, looking at Isaac and Marie. "Go prepare, eat, gear up, take a shite, whatever. Just be down by the entrance in ten minutes."


    This time, Isaac snorted, almost letting out a full laugh when he caught the Jacksons'' exasperated expressions. Next to him, Marie shook her head and followed him out of the apartment.


    At the entrance, they shared another glance and, without a word, went in separate directions. Ten minutes wasn''t much, but it should be enough to get another bite to eat and heed another part of Tyler''s advice.


    And then we are fighting again.


    His tattoo shivered.


    <hr>


    "There you two are!" an unfamiliar voice, belonging to a tall and muscular guy greeted them the moment Isaac and Marie stepped onto the street. The slightly older man was dressed in a simple tank top and shorts, with no visible weapon¡ªjust a small bag slung over his shoulder.


    "Come on, kiddies, we''ve got a job to do."


    Isaac glanced at Marie and caught her rolling her eyes. Good, so he wasn''t the only one already annoyed with the guy.


    "And you are?" he asked.


    "James Harmon, at your service." The man gave them a mock bow. "Little Marie here, I already know, so you must be Isaac. Tyler told me you know where another group might be camped out."


    Damn. Don''t tell me it is one of those guys¡­ Still, Isaac squashed his building annoyance and nodded. "That I do. What about the radios?"


    James snapped his fingers. "Right! Got ''em right here," he said, patting his bag. "Two of them. One for us, the other for whoever''s leading that new group. Now, you done with your questions? We are wasting daylight."


    Isaac sighed. "Sure, follow me."


    Of course, it would have been far too easy if that was the end of their conversation.


    "No, no, no. That''s not how this is gonna go," James said, raising a hand to stop them. "You tell me where we''re going, and I''ll lead. Trust me, kid, I''m better at the front."


    As he spoke, every inch of his tanned skin darkened to a metallic gray. At the same time, his right hand transformed into a long blade of even darker color. "See?" He grinned.


    Now, Isaac wasn''t quick to anger, but somehow, this guy managed to get under his skin with just a few sentences. Narrowing his eyes, he summoned Root of Blood into his hand¡ªbut didn''t raise it.


    "Listen," he said slowly, as if talking to a child. "I don''t give a shit who you are or what you can do. I was the one Tyler asked to bring you along. So stop posturing and acting like you''re in charge, or you''re staying here for all I care."


    For a moment, nobody moved. Even Marie only watched from the sides, looking more bored than anything.


    Finally, James let out a chuckle, grinning wide. "So the kid got some bite. Got it, boss! Lead the way."


    With that, the man stepped aside, letting Isaac pass. Soon, though, Marie joined his side.


    "Was that really necessary?" she whispered.


    He only spared her a glance. Maybe to her, this whole argument sounded stupid. After all, in the grand scheme of things, it didn''t really matter who led the way.


    But to him? It did matter, more than he was willing to admit. He had spent too much of his life letting people walk over him. Now that the universe had given him another chance, he wasn''t about to let that continue.


    And so, his answer was simple enough.


    "Yes."

 Chapter 25. Through the city

    Despite James¡¯ earlier attitude, Isaac quickly learned that the guy wasn¡¯t all that bad. At the very least, he knew how to handle himself in a fight. With the ability to make his skin as hard as steel and transform his arms into blades, the beasts couldn¡¯t even land a single scratch on him.


    He was slow, though, which became obvious when an entire street filled with Wretched charged at them. Isaac, with Marie supporting from the back, did just fine with only Symphony of Blood active. James, however, got overrun real fast when a dozen or so monsters pounced at him at once.


    At least he had the decency to apologize afterward, nodding in gratitude when they pulled him out of the pile of bodies. From there, things progressed much smoother.


    ¡°We could take the alleys,¡± Marie suggested quietly as they eyed another street full of monsters from behind one of the many crashed cars.


    Isaac hummed. ¡°Maybe¡­ How are you on Viron?¡±


    ¡°Still close to full¡ªI think,¡± James whispered. ¡°My skills only really use energy when I activate them or take damage. Other than that, I¡¯m good, boss. We can take ¡®em.¡±


    Of course you would say that. Not that I disagree, he thought and glanced at his second teammate.


    Marie shrugged. ¡°I can fight, but if we try to clean up every street on the way, I will run out sooner rather than later.¡±


    Isaac nodded. ¡°Alley it is, then. Might as well use them while we still can. We¡¯re gonna need to fight anyway once we get out of the main part of the city.¡±


    Not even James had a witty remark for that, and they slipped away from the street and into the narrow alley beside it. It wasn¡¯t much different than the one behind his apartment building¡ªfilled with trash containers, old boxes, and other useless junk.


    And, of course, there were the Wretched.


    Blood Dagger.


    Four crimson blades materialized at his side and shot at the nearest beasts. Next to him, Marie¡¯s whips flared to life while James charged ahead, one of his arms transformed into a long blade.


    Isaac didn¡¯t join him this time and just continued summoning more blades. Even if Symphony refused to advance to the next tier, Blood Dagger grew stronger just as fast, if not quicker, than Blood Draw. Soon, it should reach its final tier, too.


    A shiver ran down his tattooed arm, almost making him chuckle. The Root of Blood definitely didn¡¯t enjoy being left out for a fight.


    I told you, be patient.


    Before long, the alley was clear, and any other Wretched that noticed them refused to approach. One glance at the vanishing corpses was enough to have them running in the other direction.


    This is getting far too easy, Isaac mused as he sent another salvo of Blood Daggers toward some Wretched standing on the street connected to the alley. The nearby beasts instantly turned in his direction, but when their gaze fell on Root of Blood in his hand, the dagger floating above him, and at the two other Hosts standing next to him, they ran.


    James snorted. ¡°Maybe we don¡¯t need the alleys after all. ¡±


    Even Marie snickered at that. ¡°Maybe¡­¡±


    Isaac rolled his eyes, a little amused himself.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    <hr>


    Blood Dagger has reached its maximum tier.


    You have leveled up! You are now level 8. Distribution of Ascension Power in Progress. Power and Regeneration have advanced a tier.


    There it is. Advancing skills does help.


    Isaac grinned, leaning out of the way of a charging Wretched and slicing it across the back. The creature screeched as it collapsed, and before it could recover, a dagger to the skull silenced it for good.


    He looked around, but no more monsters came at him. Most had already run away, while the few remaining were putting on their final show against Marie and James. Still, he sent a couple more daggers there, speeding up the battle.


    ¡°Thanks, boss!¡± James mock saluted again as he stabbed the final Wretched in the heart. Once he allowed it to drop, he and Marie canceled their skills and stepped beside Isaac.


    ¡°The gems are barely dropping anymore,¡± the woman commented, watching the bodies around them vanish.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ I noticed,¡± Isaac said, following her gaze. ¡°There might be a daily limit, or we just got lucky in the beginning?¡±


    James huffed. ¡°Not me, boss¡­ I killed at least fifty Wretched since this mess began and only got four gems for my effort. I counted!¡±


    Marie crossed her arms. ¡°Maybe if you weren¡¯t so annoying, your karma would be better.¡±


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡°As if! That¡¯s part of my charm. Besides karma? Girl, I don¡¯t believe in such bullshit.¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡± She raised a challenging eyebrow. ¡°Then maybe you should start. Seeing how shitty your luck is, being a better person might help.¡±


    Isaac stayed quiet, watching their back-and-forth with mild amusement. He would never admit it, but when it wasn¡¯t him that James annoyed, it was pretty entertaining to witness him get under someone else¡¯s skin.


    And to think that not even an hour ago, she was telling me to ignore him. Yet here we are¡­


    From what he noticed, Marie seemed like a quiet and calm person¡ªa bit like himself¡ªso for her composure to crack this fast? It was quite impressive. Hell, they were still going at it in the middle of the street while every Wretched in the area was running for their lives.


    Isaac hummed to himself. Maybe James wasn¡¯t entirely wrong about his charm.


    Either way, it¡¯s time to end this. He cleared his throat. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Come on, we¡¯re getting close. Let¡¯s get this over with.¡±


    And that was indeed the truth. They had long since left the main part of the city behind, and now only single-family homes surrounded them on either side. They hadn¡¯t encountered any groups yet, but the distant gunfire echoing all around was hard to miss.


    ¡°Roger, Roger, boss!¡± James exclaimed while Marie just shook her head.


    With that, they were off again, taking out the last few stragglers in their way.


    Every now and then, they caught movement in the windows of the houses they passed. Marie suggested investigating, but with their target so close, Isaac shot down that idea for now. If the people there survived this long, they could wait a bit longer.


    ¡°Oi! You two,¡± James whisper-shouted after they cleared another street. ¡°You hear that?¡±


    Isaac paused, furrowing his brow as he tried to understand what the man meant. Then, his ears picked up some muffled sounds¡ªpeople talking, some angry shouts. He shared a glance with the others, and they all nodded at once.


    Without a word, they veered off the street and slipped into the backyard of a random house. A hop over the fence later had them landing behind another home. The noises intensified, so they quickly moved along the building¡¯s walls and peaked on the street on its other side.


    Bingo.


    At the far end of the road, free of any Wretched, cars stood parked next to each other, forming a makeshift barricade. Just beyond it stretched a small camp filled with tents and people moving about. Some carried weapons, while others rushed all around, their arms full of supplies.


    Then there was the small group standing in front of the cars¡ªthe source of the noises they all heard. Though at this distance, the rest of the camp wasn¡¯t much quieter. Isaac was also fairly certain he could hear some strange humming of a machine somewhere in the background.


    ¡°That¡¯s the group you mentioned, boss?¡± James whispered once they backed off. ¡°They sure are doing better than us. A lot more of them, too.¡±


    ¡°Most likely,¡± Isaac answered just as quietly. ¡°The address checks out even if I¡¯m not sure which house is his with all those tents¡­ Maybe if they didn¡¯t all look the same¡­¡±


    ¡°Why are we hiding then?¡± Marie added a cent of her own, her brow furrowed.


    ¡°Girl¡¯s got a point, ¡± James agreed and casually stepped out into the open.


    Isaac shrugged and followed right behind. The sudden appearance of three strangers instantly got the attention of a few people in the camp. Though, for the most part, they only spared them a short glance before returning to whatever they were doing.


    Right, they probably have new people coming in every few minutes.


    And so, unbothered by the curious stares, Isaac and his team approached the group next to the cars. Thankfully, a woman with a mop of dirty black hair spared him the trouble of beginning the conversation.


    ¡°Welcome to our little survivor camp. Name¡¯s Sadie,¡± she greeted, flashing them a friendly grin. ¡°You three are new, right? I don¡¯t know everyone here, but I¡¯d remember a group like yours.¡± She pointed her baseball bat at James¡¯ formerly white tank top. ¡°Just how many did ya kill to get here?¡±


    ¡°A lot,¡± Isaac answered before the older man could say something dumb. ¡°I¡¯m looking for Daryl West. Know where he might be?¡±


    Sadie frowned, glancing at the others in her group. When they just shrugged at her, she turned back and smiled. ¡°Sure.¡± She gestured to the nearest house on her left. ¡°You should find him inside. Though I doubt they will have time for ya. The bosses are busy organizing this whole mess.¡±


    Isaac waved her off. ¡°We will manage.¡±


    ¡°Your choice.¡± Sadie shrugged. ¡°Just don¡¯t cause any trouble, or we will have to come for ya.¡±


    ¡°We will be good, my lady. No worries,¡± James promised, a roguish grin on his face.


    The woman rolled her eyes. ¡°Yea, yea. Now go. Stop wasting my time.¡±


    Isaac almost gave in to the urge to point out that she and her group weren¡¯t doing anything productive. However, the moment he noticed James opening his mouth again, he just settled on dragging the man forward.


    ¡°Your charm, hmm?¡± Marie muttered once they were out of earshot.


    ¡°It takes time to work. One sentence ain¡¯t enough,¡± James shot back. ¡°Just look at you two. Grumpy here looked like he wanted to kill me when we met today. Now we are best of friends. Right, bossman?¡±


    Isaac sighed. ¡°No comment.¡±


    James clutched his chest dramatically. ¡°You wound me.¡±


    ¡°You will live, idiot. Now act your age. People are watching,¡± Marie hissed.


    True to her words, thanks to James¡¯ antics, people were looking at them as if the trio had lost their minds.


    ¡°Both of you, be quiet, please,¡± Isaac said. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡±


    The door to Daryl¡¯s house was wide open. An elderly woman standing nearby narrowed her eyes at them when they passed but didn¡¯t try to stop them. And so, they entered the hallway and moved toward the voices coming from somewhere in the building.


    They were about to enter the living room¡ªthe source of the noises¡ªwhen Isaac collided with someone coming the other way. The person gasped when she looked up at him.


    ¡°Isaac?¡±


    He glanced down at the person he caught at the last second¡ªa short woman, a bit on the chubbier side, with waves of long brown hair framing her friendly face. She stared up at him with wide green eyes, and before he could step back, she pulled him into a tight embrace.


    ¡°My dear God¡­ You¡¯re alive!¡± She exclaimed once she released him but still kept a firm grip on his forearms. ¡°After Daryl couldn¡¯t reach you yesterday, we feared the worst. Oh, I¡¯m so glad we were wrong.¡±


    Isaac, still slightly disoriented from the sudden physical contact, offered the woman a small smile. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you too, Mrs. West.¡±


    She huffed. ¡°It¡¯s Mia, dear. How many times do I have to tell you? Ah, whatever! Doesn¡¯t matter. Come!¡±


    Before he could protest, she tugged at his arm and dragged him into the living room.


    ¡°Daryl, dear! Come here quick. Look who I found!¡±

 Chapter 26. Old friends

    At Mia''s call, the small crowd inside the living room fell silent as all eyes turned to the woman. Isaac, still being dragged inside by the arm, barely had time to look up and scan the room for any familiar faces. In the end, he found only one.


    "No way¡­ Kid, you''re alive!" Daryl exclaimed as he pushed past the others. "Where the hell have you been?! We''ve been calling you for the whole night before the signal vanished."


    Isaac managed a weak smile. "It''s a long story."


    The man snorted. "Oh, I''m sure it is. Come ''ere, boy!"


    For the second time that day, Isaac found himself pulled into an embrace, though this one was more of a bear hug than anything else. It also didn''t last quite as long, and the moment they separated, Daryl turned to the others in the room, who were quietly watching the exchange.


    "Give us a moment, eh? I will call you all back in a few. For now, just focus on what we talked about."


    The group nodded and left without as much as a word, though one of the older men patted Daryl on the shoulder when he passed them. Soon, the room emptied of strangers, leaving only the Wests, Isaac and his team remaining. Though the latter was just standing awkwardly in the back. Not even James had anything to say, it seemed.


    "All right, come on, kid, sit down, you and your friends," Daryl said, gesturing to the couches around a large coffee table. He then turned to his wife. "Dear, if you could please¡ª"


    The woman waved him off, already walking toward an archway that connected this room to the kitchen. "Way ahead of you. Just give me a minute or two before you start sharing stories."


    Daryl chuckled. "As you wish, dear."


    And so, as the woman disappeared into the other room, the rest of them moved to sit down. Isaac, meanwhile, took this moment to look around.


    He had been here before, but that was when the world wasn''t threatened by an apocalypse. The place had always been tidy and well-organized, but now it was a mess. Boxes and plastic crates were piled in the corners, and the coffee table was covered in¡ª


    "A map?" he muttered, scanning the perfect satellite image of almost all of Galt. This neighborhood was circled with a blue marker, while dozens, if not more, houses were crossed out with a red one.


    "You wouldn''t believe what some people have hanging on their walls," Daryl said, shaking his head. "We found it in one of the houses. Mighty useful, if I do say so. Helps us track what we''ve already cleared out."


    Yeah, I can see that, Isaac mused. You definitely made more progress than the group back home. No surprise there, though¡­


    "What about those black markers, sir? Oh, and I''m Marie. This big idiot is James."


    Despite their male teammate''s sudden shout of protest, Isaac only focused on Daryl and how he grimaced at this question. He had a bad feeling about this.


    "Pleasure to meet you, young lady," the man said, his tone somber. "As for your question¡­ Those are the schools in the area."


    Isaac closed his eyes for a moment. "How bad is it?"


    Daryl sighed, his eyes glued to the map. "Very bad. The high school," he gestured toward the black marker at the edge of the city, "was the only one with survivors. Thankfully, a lot of them. The elementary and middle schools, though¡­ It''s a mess. A hellish mess."


    "But you cleared them?" Isaac pressed.


    The man shook his head. "No¡­ We couldn''t."


    Before he could ask why, Mia returned from the kitchen, carrying a tray full of refreshments. The broad smile on her face vanished when she took a single look at everyone around the table.


    "What happened?" she asked, placing down the tray. "What did you tell them?"


    Daryl only gestured to the map. It didn''t take long for Mia to catch up. "Oh dear¡­ How far did you get?"


    "That you couldn''t clear the elementary and middle schools," James spoke up for the first time since they stepped inside. Marie shot him a look, but he just shrugged it off. "What? We''re all curious."


    Mia sighed as she took a seat next to her husband. "It''s a hard subject for everyone here. We were lucky that our Laura stayed home yesterday, but others¡­ We thought we could storm the schools and save the kids there. It worked for the High School. Not so much for the other two... Dear?"


    Daryl lifted his head, wiping his eyes. "Like I told you on the phone, Isaac. Once we realized what was happening, I gathered every volunteer I could find and went straight for the schools. With over thirty people at my back, it wasn''t hard to get there. But when we arrived?" He squeezed his eyes shut. "We couldn''t even go in¡­ And the noises¡­ Dear God, the noises¡­"


    Mia patted her husband''s back before looking at the trio. "The Interface gave them a warning when they got close¡ªsomething about a Quarantine Site. A place where the Broken Strain corrupted the Immortal Mana so much that it''s harmful to anyone nearby. Even standing at the edge slowly lowered their Virus Integrity. Some parents rushed inside anyway, but¡­ they never returned."


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    "That''s why we had to leave those places alone," Daryl whispered, once more taking over the explanation. "So many young lives lost, and we can''t even put them to rest. Even now that some of us have awakened and gained a level or two, it''s still not enough to survive that place. A minute and the integrity falls under fifty percent."


    Isaac grimaced, quickly stealing a peek at his teammates. At this point, Marie didn''t look much better than Daryl, a few tears sliding down her cheek. James, though, sat still like a rock, his face vacant of any emotions.


    "Did¡­" Isaac began, knowing he had to say something. Letting everyone drown in grief wouldn''t help. "Did the Interface say something else about those Quarantine Sites?"


    "Barely," Daryl answered after a moment. "The Wretched inside will be slightly stronger. And to get rid of it, every single infected has to be killed. How we''re supposed to do that, I have no idea."


    "What about luring them out? Away from the site?" Marie suggested, wiping her tears.


    Daryl shook her head. "We tried that already. Not a single one stepped outside the buildings. All we could hear were the shrieks and screeches coming from within."


    Damn it.


    "Enough about that already," Mia declared firmly. "What happened in those schools is horrible, but we can''t do anything about it now. One day, we might find a solution, but for now, please let''s change the subject¡­ Isaac! Tell us why you weren''t answering your phone yesterday."


    There it is¡­ Feeling all the eyes on him again, he shrugged. "The Pioneer Trials."


    Cue the shocked gasps from the Wests.


    "This means¡­" Daryl whispered, trailing off. "We had two of ours disappear when they killed their twentieth Wretched, but they never returned. But you did, kid." He chuckled as if he couldn''t believe himself. "You did. You''re one of the six they mentioned!"


    "What happened there, Isaac?" Mia asked once she recovered from the shock. "What did you have to do there that only six of you have returned? Thousands went, and yet¡­"


    Do I tell them? He asked himself, looking between the people in the room.


    He had ignored Tyler because, quite simply, he didn''t know the man and didn''t care enough to explain himself. But here? The Wests were good people who had always treated him well. As for his temporary teammates? They weren''t so bad.


    "I can''t talk for the others who took the trial, but I¡­"


    And so he proceeded to explain his arrival in the large chamber filled with weapons and then his trek through the dark hallways. It wasn''t until he reached the part where another Host attacked him in the forest that he hesitated.


    "I wasn''t alone there," he finally admitted. "And I''m not talking about monsters."


    It took James to say what everybody was probably thinking. "They put you against another Host? That''s fucked up, boss."


    Isaac kept his face expressionless. "I didn''t know it was another Host at that time. Even if they didn''t look like a gremlin, they definitely weren''t human. It wasn''t until I¡­ well¡­ until it was over that the Interface told me who I just defeated. A Salirian, another host."


    "Oh my," Mia muttered, placing her hand over her mouth.


    "Aliens are real," James said under his breath. "Cool, I guess."


    Marie instantly shot him a glare at that and punched his shoulder.


    "Are you fine, kid?" Daryl asked, ignoring everyone else. "I know you said it wasn''t a human, but still¡­"


    Isaac shrugged weakly. "I''m good, really. What happened, happened¡­ Besides, it was self-defense. I wasn''t the one who attacked first."


    The older man nodded. "True that. Just remember, Mia and I are here for you if you want to talk. It doesn''t need to be today, tomorrow, or even a week from now. Keep it in mind, please."


    "I will."


    "Good, good." Daryl smiled under his scruffy beard. "Now, that had to be the end of the trial, right? With the other Host gone?"


    Isaac frowned. "No. There was still a boss waiting for me in the final ruins. A massive gremlin, if you will believe it. Almost caved my chest in, but in the end, I won. Then the Interface gave me my rewards, some time to recover, and then I returned right where I left on Earth."


    "So, to put it simply, you are built different, boss?" James quipped. "If only you and five others managed to make it out, that has to mean something."


    "Maybe." Isaac shrugged. "I could have died plenty of times during the trials, but my regeneration always stitched me back together. If not for that, I most likely wouldn''t be here."


    "Just how high is it, kid?" Daryl asked, his brow furrowed. "We have a guy with us that already has regeneration at tier five of Feeble, but he heals nowhere near as fast as you describe."


    Oh¡­


    "Now? Developed four. Back then, it had to be like two or three tiers lower."


    The older man whistled. "Then either the difference between the grades is huge, or that Origin of yours is quite something else. Hell, most awakened get something simpler. Fire, wind, water, and the like. You know what I mean. There are some outliers with stuff like sound, glass, or even wood, but no Blood."


    "Good to know," Isaac muttered. "And what about you?"


    Daryl grinned and raised a single hand. Above his palm formed a long shard of sharpened rock. "Origin of Stone," he said. "And my lovely wife here has fire. They might not be as rare as your Blood, kid, but trust me, they are still mighty useful."


    "I don''t doubt that."


    "You better not." Daryl chuckled. "Anyway¡­ Now that we got the worst out of the way, tell me, what are you three doing here? I''m happy to see you, kid, but that''s quite the walk from where you live. It''s risky, even for someone like you."


    "About that, sir," Marie spoke up before anybody else could. "We came here with Isaac as representatives of another group. Our leader thought it would be best if we all coordinate if we want to clear the city fast."


    "Oh? Do tell, young lady."


    Marie glanced at James. "The radios, quick."


    That got their third teammate moving. He quickly fished out the two devices and offered one to Daryl.


    "They are already set up with the right channel. You just gotta turn it on," he explained. "Tyler, our leader of sorts, also has one. He will explain everything better than we can."


    Daryl looked up. "Isaac?"


    Put on the spot again, Isaac nodded. "It''s legit. They asked me to lead them here, and their plan isn''t half bad."


    Daryl hummed, flipping the switch at the bottom of the device. "Well... Let''s hear it then¡­"

 Chapter 27. Quarantine

    ¡°What¡¯s got you thinking so hard, kid?¡± Daryl asked as he sat beside Isaac on the porch steps behind the house.


    ¡°Bunch of stuff,¡± Isaac answered, his eyes still fixed on the sky. ¡°Now that you and Tyler are working together, we¡¯ll have to move out soon. And as much as I love fighting, some thoughts just won¡¯t leave my head.¡±


    Daryl hummed. ¡°Do tell then. Maybe I can help.¡±


    Finally, Isaac turned to face the man and shrugged as he did. ¡°It¡¯s nothing special, really. Just all the stuff about those Quarantine Sites you told us about. And then there is Elaine¡­¡±


    ¡°Elaine?¡± Daryl furrowed his brow. ¡°First time I¡¯ve heard that name from you. I take it¡¯s someone important?¡±


    ¡°You could say that,¡± he reluctantly agreed. ¡°Remember that last caretaker of mine I mentioned a few times?¡± The man nodded. ¡°Elaine is his granddaughter. She is only a bit older than me and is the old man¡¯s last remaining family. After everything he had done for me, I figured I could at least check up on her.¡±


    ¡°I sense a but.¡±


    Isaac clicked his tongue. ¡°We never really got along, so even if I find her and offer help, she will most likely refuse. Besides, I don¡¯t even know where she lives¡­ She inherited a house from her parents. I think it¡¯s somewhere in those parts of the city, but where exactly? No idea.¡±


    Silence settled between the two of them for a moment.


    ¡°Hmmm. I could ask around, kid,¡± Daryl offered. ¡°There are over four hundred people here now. Somebody ought to know something. Just give me her full name, and I will take care of it.¡±


    Isaac hesitated only for a moment. ¡°Thanks a lot. And it¡¯s Elaine Blake. She is twenty, or maybe twenty-one now. About a head shorter than me, slim, with long black hair. That¡¯s pretty much all I got.¡±


    Daryl snorted. ¡°You sure? No eye color? Bust size?¡±


    Isaac flipped him off. ¡°Screw you. I don¡¯t know a lot of people, so I at least try to remember the ones I do. Even if I don¡¯t like them¡­¡±


    ¡°Sure, sure, kid. Whatever you say.¡± Daryl laughed, standing up. ¡°I will leave you to your thoughts then. If you need anything, I¡¯m inside.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, just go,¡± he grumbled, turning away from the man. Another fading chuckle was his only answer.


    For a couple of minutes, he just sat there, not even thinking, just simply resting and staring into the empty sky hidden behind the Contamination barrier. Of course, his peace had to be broken sooner rather than later.


    ¡°There you are, boss,¡± James called out as he and Marie slid out of the house and stopped before him. ¡°We¡¯ve been looking for ya.¡±


    ¡°And now you¡¯ve found me.¡± Issac patted the stairs next to him. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    Marie took the offered seat before speaking. ¡°We did a few rounds around the camp¡­ They are definitely doing better than us for now. Mrs. West told us they even have a small stash full of firearms. And they won¡¯t be running out of food for at least a few days, too.¡±


    ¡°They have a working generator too. Well, two of them,¡± James chimed in, still hovering over them.


    Isaac nodded. ¡°Anything else?¡±


    ¡°Not really,¡± Marie shrugged, leaning back to lay flat on the porch. ¡°Most people here aren¡¯t fighters, that¡¯s for sure. There are quite a few kids, too. Mostly teenagers, though.¡±


    They all winced at that.


    ¡°Boss,¡± James spoke up, quieter than usual. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking.¡± Marie sat up at that, shooting him a doubtful look. He ignored it. ¡°And well¡­ Maybe we could try clearing out those schools? I know the Quarantine might stop us, but come on! Marie and I are already level four, and you¡¯re what? Six? Seven?¡±


    ¡°Eight.¡±


    ¡°Exactly!¡± James exclaimed. ¡°We have to at least try. Nobody else is gonna do it. You heard that old guy. They are terrified of those places.¡±


    ¡°For good reason,¡± Marie muttered, but her words went ignored.


    ¡°Come on, bossman. Let¡¯s just check out those schools. If we can¡¯t handle it, we will turn back.¡±


    Isaac sighed, massaging his brow. ¡°And what about your group? Shouldn¡¯t you two go back? Our job is done. Soon enough, we¡¯ll all be needed elsewhere.¡±


    ¡°Tyler told us we can stay here for the time being,¡± James said. ¡°Besides, wouldn¡¯t it be a shame to split us now? We worked so well together, didn¡¯t we? What do you say, boss? One last job before we go our separate ways.¡±


    Marie snorted. ¡°You say that like we¡¯ll never see each other again. You plan on going somewhere soon?¡±


    The man shrugged. ¡°You never know where we might be needed next. So boss? What¡¯s the verdict? Just know I might go anyway.¡±


    ¡°Really now?¡± Isaac rolled his eyes. ¡°But fine, we can go. If that¡¯s what you both want. Marie?¡±


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    ¡°As long as we retreat if it¡¯s too dangerous, I don¡¯t mind,¡± she said.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s get ready,¡± Isaac announced, rising to his feet. ¡°Wait for me by the barriers. I will talk with Daryl. Don¡¯t want them sending out a search party.¡±


    <hr>


    At first, Daryl wasn¡¯t happy to hear about their plan, but in the end, there wasn¡¯t much he could do to stop them. The schools had to be cleared out, and if they somehow succeeded where others failed, everyone would be grateful. The children there had to be put to rest. On that, everyone agreed.


    And so, after wishing him good luck, Daryl let him go. Afterward, Isaac rejoined his teammates, and together, they jogged through the almost empty streets all the way until they reached the campus of the elementary school.


    The air got heavier the closer they got. Soon, when only a street separated them from one of the two school buildings, an Interface notification appeared before them. At the same time, they all did their best to ignore the muffled screeches and high-pitched wails echoing from within.


    Warning! You¡¯re approaching a regulated Quarantine Site. The Immortal Mana in this area has been corrupted by the Broken Strain and is more harmful to certain Hosts. All monsters within this area are slightly enhanced.


    To destroy this Quarantine Site, kill all the infected within.


    Current progress: o%


    ¡°Just like the Wests described,¡± Marie whispered, rubbing her arm. ¡°I¡¯m feeling sick just standing near it.¡±


    ¡°And Virus Integrity?¡± Isaac asked.


    ¡°Nothing yet,¡± she said. James nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Let¡¯s move, then. Slowly. The moment it starts to drop for any of you, back off.¡±


    ¡°You got it, boss,¡± James said, his skin adapting its new metallic gray hue.


    Isaac meanwhile summoned Root of Blood, while keeping his Virus Integrity displayed next to him.


    With him on the front, they took the first step onto the street, moving slowly, just like he had ordered. It wasn¡¯t until they all reached the sidewalk on the other side that Marie stopped.


    ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± she called out, taking a couple of steps back. ¡°It¡¯s already falling.¡±


    Isaac clicked his tongue while keeping an eye on his own Integrity. ¡°James?¡±


    ¡°Still good, but I can feel my Viron very slowly draining away,¡± the older man answered, his gaze on his metallic skin. ¡°Means I¡¯m constantly taking damage. I should be good for a while.¡±


    Isaac narrowed his eyes. ¡°You sure?¡±


    ¡°Definitely, boss. I¡¯m not planning to die here. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°Then go,¡± Marie said. ¡°I will keep watch out here. And remember, I can heal you a bit if anything happens.¡±


    Right.


    The two men shared a look, and when the older one nodded, they moved forward again. Although, the silence didn¡¯t last long.


    ¡°Boss? What about you? All good?¡±


    Isaac glanced at his Integrity again. Once more, it dropped to ninety-nine percent only to return back to a hundred a second later. His Origin was proving its worth again.


    ¡°I heal faster than it can damage me.¡±


    ¡°Neat,¡± James muttered just as they reached the entrance to the school. ¡°Let¡¯s do it, bossman.¡±


    Isaac nodded. ¡°Stay behind me at first, and the moment you see a Wretched, Analyze it. If their threat is higher than low, we¡¯re turning around right away, got it?¡±


    ¡°Aye, aye, captain.¡±


    Shaking his head, he pushed the swinging doors open and slipped inside the dark hallway beyond it. The distant screeches became louder, the wails growing in intensity. However, among all of those sounds, there was something else¡ªa quiet, inhumane crying.


    A shiver traveled down his spine as he instinctively raised his sword. Next to him, James transformed both of his hands into blades.


    Let¡¯s do it.


    And so, without hesitation, he stomped hard on the floor, the thud echoing through the entire hallway. Silence fell upon the building.


    Three, two, one.


    Like clockwork, screams erupted a moment later, accompanied by the noises of an entire horde approaching. The classroom doors on both sides of the hallways snapped open, allowing child-sized Wretched to spill out. They didn¡¯t attack, though. No, they stayed a safe distance away, their glowing yellow eyes lighting up the area.


    ¡°Low threat,¡± James muttered.


    But Isaac barely heard him. His focus was elsewhere¡ªon something, or rather, someone else.


    At the far end of the hallway, close to the stairs leading to the next floor, two quite unique monsters appeared. They stuck to the walls, using their long claws to defy gravity. Even though they shared some features with the other Wretched, their bodies were emaciated, and their limbs twisted at impossible angles. It looked almost like someone tried to combine a spider and a human into one creature.


    Analyze.


    Potential Threat: Low


    Could have been worse.


    With a tug on his Viron, five Blood Daggers materialized at his side and instantly shot toward the two unique beasts. One jumped on the ceiling, avoiding the salvo, but the other wasn¡¯t so lucky.


    [Crawling Wretched (LVL. 4) slain.]


    The horde moved, charging right at them.


    ¡°Leave the wall walkers to me!¡± Isaac shouted, sending more daggers into the crowd. Five more corpses dropped to the ground, making the monsters behind them stumble.


    ¡°Got it! Good luck, boss!¡±


    Isaac grinned as Symphony of Blood came alive. He met the charge head-on, slicing through the first two small Wretched with a single swing. Four more replaced them, only to be put down by a wave of fresh blood that spilled over the crowd and cut over ten of them in two.


    The remaining Crawler also didn¡¯t wait long to approach.


    Just as the first wave of Blood Draw ended, it pushed itself off the ceiling and pounced at him. It extended its arms and claws, all while grinning wide, showing a row of bloodied teeth.


    I think not.


    Using his superior speed and reaction time, Isaac sidestepped and reached out with his free hand. His fingers closed around the beast¡¯s extended wrist, and without wasting a second, he threw it toward an approaching group of Wretched. A salvo of Blood Daggers followed, finishing all the monsters in one strike.


    ¡°Boss! A little help!¡±


    At James¡¯ sudden shout, Isaac darted toward his teammate and cut through the pile of Wretched that once more tried to bury him alive. The man¡¯s Origin of Steel might have made him into a tank, but he sure moved slow. The narrow hallways probably didn¡¯t help either.


    ¡°Thanks!¡±


    With the crisis averted, they moved forward together, fighting side by side to avoid similar situations. It limited the use of Blood Draw to some extent, but maybe that was for the best. Even if the Wretched here moved a bit faster than the ones outside, they still posed no threat to him.


    Current progress: 24%

 Chapter 28. One down

    The moment they stepped out of the school building, Marie jumped to her feet. However, before she could approach them, she frowned, her eyes narrowing at the two of them.


    "Why does it look like James here just ran an entire marathon while you just rode a bike next to him?" she asked.


    It was a fair question. James looked like he had just crawled out of a warzone, dragging his feet as his chest heaved. In contrast, Isaac simply strolled beside him, looking almost relaxed. If not for the mix of sweat and blood smeared across his skin, no one would have guessed he had just cleared over half of the Quarantine Site.


    Current Progress: 67%


    "Bossman''s regeneration is so fucking bullshit," James mumbled, collapsing onto the pavement the second they stepped out of the Quarantine''s reach. "Also, screw whoever designed this building. Who the hell makes doorways and hallways that narrow inside a school?"


    "It''s an elementary school," Marie pointed out.


    "Whatever," James waved her off. "Now, can I get a heal?"


    The woman rolled her eyes as she crouched beside him. "A please wouldn''t hurt, but fine. Stay still, you oaf."


    James grumbled something under his breath but did as was told. In return, crystal-clear water enveloped Marie''s hands. Slowly, she traced a path across the older man''s arms, sliding over every little cut or bruise. The wounds didn''t miraculously close right away, but the water cleaned them and lingered in the open skin, stitching it together over time.


    Healing Touch.


    According to Marie, it was one of the two abilities she had received upon awakening. It didn''t really heal on its own. Instead, it just assisted the body in recovery with some simple steps. Isaac thought it was a bit amusing that an ability created to heal didn''t even beat his own base regeneration. Especially considering just how much Viron one use took.


    "Much better." James sighed, lying flat on the ground. "Thanks, Ari."


    Marie scoffed. "And just for that, you''re not getting another heal today. What did I say about giving me nicknames?"


    The man shrugged weakly. "Eh, you will get used to them sooner or later. Just look at the boss. He doesn''t care that I no longer call him by name."


    "I wonder why¡­" she muttered, rolling her eyes. She then looked up at Isaac. "What now? With this dumbass out of commission, you''re on your own¡­ Do we come back later?"


    Isaac shook his head, feeling Root of Blood thrumming in his hand. "No. Two-thirds are already cleared. I can take care of the rest on my own. Shouldn''t take too long. Just look after the big guy, and please try to contact Daryl or Tyler. I want to know where they want us next."


    "Hopefully in bed," James muttered. "I can hear it calling me."


    Ignoring him, Marie nodded. "Will do. Be careful, Isaac."


    He smiled slightly. "I will."


    With that, he turned on his heel and marched right back into the Quarantine Site. He passed the cleared-out building and headed for the smaller one nearby. Unlike the first, this one had only two floors.


    Let''s do it.


    His smile widened into a grin. Symphony of Blood returned, and once he pushed past the entrance door and into another narrow hallway, the Wretched came almost instantly. Alone and in a bit of a hurry, he didn''t hold back this time.


    A tug at his veins ripped out a small chunk of his blood. It rushed out alongside Viron, forming five massive clouds of miasma. Within a second, they shifted into the perfect image of a dagger¡ªeach longer than his forearm. They glowed with a faint crimson light, illuminating the dark corridor.


    Kill¡­ Sacrificial Blood Dagger.


    Just like that, the blades rushed forward, tearing through every Wretched in their path. Two crawlers jumped out of the way of their charge, but it was all for nothing. Isaac closed the remaining distance between them in a few steps and swung the Root.


    It cleaved right through the first beast. Yet before it could touch the second, the Wretched used the corpse of its kin like a monkey bar and slipped past the attack. Within a second, it grabbed Isaac''s leg, claws slicing through his skin and the flesh.


    He hissed in pain, but instead of panicking, he kicked the beast with his other leg. It let go, though not without cutting even deeper into his flesh.


    Shit, great start¡­


    Virus Integrity: 82%


    The Blood Daggers wreaking havoc through the enemy ranks had already vanished, giving the rest of the horde easy access to him. Isaac cursed again and put most of his weight on his healthy leg.


    Don''t hesitate. Don''t give up.


    Another chunk of blood rushed out with Viron, enveloping the Root in fresh crimson liquid. He waited a second, two, three, and then swung.


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    A wave of Sacrificial Blood Draw ripped through every Wretched coming at him, even carving deep gouges into the walls. However, that was far from the end, and as another group of beasts appeared behind the one he had just killed, he knew what to do.


    He swung again, still drawing on the power from the previous attack.


    Another crimson wave followed the path of his motion¡ªa bit weaker and shorter but just as deadly. More Wretched died, yet they still kept coming.


    Isaac swung one last time.


    The final remnants of Sacrificial Blood Draw answered his call. The wave was shallow and thin, barely visible at this point. That said, thanks to the power of the Root and his sacrifice, it still cut deep into the few remaining Wretched brave enough to attack him.


    The other beasts, waiting at the end of the hallway, turned tail and fled to the second floor. Isaac let them go and leaned against the wall as he took in large gulps of air. Two sacrificial skills in a row were still a bit too much.


    At least it ranked up. I call it worth¡­


    Sacrifice has advanced a tier.


    Too bad his shin was once again bleeding all over his leg. He didn''t expect that crawler to move so fast. A mistake on his part, one that could have cost him his life if not for his other skills. He was getting overconfident with all the Wretched he had been killing lately.


    Stupid¡­ Should have kept using the daggers before rushing in. I''m not invincible because I heal faster¡­ at least not yet.


    He sighed, looking down at his mangled leg. If not for the lack of bite marks, it could have been mistaken for a wound from a rabid dog. Either way, it stung like hell, and standing on it was a big no-no.


    A short break it is, he thought, sliding down to the floor among the sea of butchered bodies. Just in case, he summoned a salvo of Blood Daggers to hover above him. He doubted the Wretched would return, but like always, it was better to be safe than sorry.


    <hr>


    Where are you hiding? Isaac mused as he limped through the empty second floor of the school building. He had already killed every single Wretched he found here, yet the Interface refused to mark this area as cleared. Something was still out there.


    Current Progress: 99%


    He had already checked every classroom and even the teacher''s lounge. At this point, he was beginning to think that either the Interface was messing with him or they had missed a Wretched in the other building. Isaac hoped that wasn''t the case. His leg still hurt¡ªespecially with the Symphony inactive¡ªand he had enough of walking.


    All right, it''s either this or the other building, he thought, placing his hand on the knob of a door that led to god knew where.


    With a twist, the lock clicked open¡ª


    And a screeching body pounced at him.


    Isaac jerked to the side, allowing the tiny creature to land on the floor. Its large yellow eyes, burning with hate, turned on him. Grimacing, he sent three daggers flying toward it.


    The child-turned-monster died instantly.


    Sorry¡­


    Well done, Hosts. You have managed to neutralize this Quarantine Site. Purging in progress. Your reward shall arrive soon. Level progression will be distributed between all contributors.


    You have leveled up! You are now level 9. Distribution of Ascension Power in progress. Toughness has advanced a tier. Agility and Insight have ascended to the next grade (Developed).


    Your Origin has awakened a new ability: Bloodbank. Blood Draw has evolved to the next grade, growing in strength.


    Okay¡­ That''s a lot more than I expected. Not that I thought I would level up already¡­ Level progression, hmm?


    In the end, though, the universe didn''t give him a chance to ponder that, as a moment later, a flash of light consumed the space where the last Wretched corpse used to be. It faded soon, revealing a small wooden chest in its place.


    "This is getting better and better," Isaac muttered, crouching to unlatch the clasps.


    What awaited him inside wasn''t anything special, but he still couldn''t help but feel pleased. The Interface decided to reward him with exactly five items. Four bigger than average Virality Gems¡ªa quick Analyze confirmed they were of Normal grade instead of Inferior. And lastly, another Blueprint that he couldn''t use as it taught a skill he already had, Viron: Potency.


    Whatever, Marie and James can decide who gets it.


    Just like that, he pocketed all the items, making the chest disappear. Without another thought, he headed for the stairs and summoned the information about his new skills.


    Blood Draw first.


    [Blood Draw | Grade: Superior | Tier I]


    An active Origin ability. By drawing onto the power of your Origin with Viron, you may now unleash consecutive waves of deadly blood. Best used when armed.


    Isaac blinked. Aside from the new grade and one added word to its description, the ability barely changed. He wasn''t going to lie, he expected more. Though, getting to use Blood Draw consecutively without sacrificing extra blood was still nice.


    "Let''s see," he muttered, stopping in the middle of the hallway and drawing the Root.


    With just a nudge of his Viron, Blood Draw came alive a bit faster than before, spreading over his blade. Not wasting another moment, he swung once, then twice, unleashing waves of crimson one after another.


    At first glance, they looked darker and maybe even a bit thicker. But what stood out most was how the ability felt when activated. The initial release carried more weight than before¡ªnot quite on the level of Sacrificial Blood Draw, but definitely stronger.


    Even better, the following strikes retained more power than they used to.


    Never mind, then. Pretty nice improvement.


    Dismissing the Root, Isaac summoned the description of his brand-new ability. What he didn''t expect was for that action to send a spike of pain through his chest, right next to his heart.


    He gasped, stumbling and falling to his knees.


    [Bloodbank | Grade: Unique | Max Tier]


    An ability that creates a brand-new mystic organ right next to the Host''s heart. From now on, it will store excess blood, slowly enhancing its potency. This blood may then be used for other abilities requiring sacrifice or be reabsorbed to replenish lost blood and slightly enhance regeneration. This ability cannot advance to a higher grade and will instead grow stronger with its user over time.


    Even as the description floated before him, Isaac ignored it. Something new had settled inside his body¡ªsomething he couldn''t quite feel but instinctively knew was there, connected to his heart. The thing even mirrored its rhythmical beating.


    That wasn''t nice, he hissed, his teeth clenched. What the hell are you?


    His gaze traveled back to the description, and once he read it, everything started to make sense. Then again, a warning would have been welcome before the Interface decided to mess with his body again.


    Still¡­


    At least the pain was worth¡­

 Chapter 29. Truths and reasons

    ¡°And so the prodigal son returns!¡± James called out the moment he spotted Isaac.


    Next to him, Marie sighed. ¡°Do you even know what that means?¡±


    The other man shrugged. ¡°No! But it sure does sound cool. How did it go? I got my notification and even a level. Gotta say, pretty, pretty nice.¡±


    Isaac chuckled quietly as he dropped next to the duo. Without even asking for it, Marie shifted closer, activating Healing Touch on his injured leg. A wave of cold swept over the wound, dulling the pain and leaving behind a strange numbness.


    He glanced at the woman and offered her a nod. ¡°Thanks.¡±


    She smiled, sitting down next to him. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it¡­ boss.¡±


    Isaac rolled his eyes while James barked out a laugh. ¡°Ha! And she tells me to stop with the nicknames,¡± the older man said. ¡°You can¡¯t complain now, girl. But hey, fair deal. I will come up with a few options for you, and you get to pick. What do you say?¡±


    Marie¡¯s shoulders slumped. ¡°Mistakes were made.¡±


    That only earned another laugh from James.


    ¡°All right, enough banter,¡± Isaac said, reaching into his pockets. ¡°I got something for you. The Interface left us a nice gift for clearing out the Quarantine.¡±


    With that said, he pulled out the four Virality Gems and the skill blueprint.


    ¡°Holy¡­¡± James muttered, his gaze not leaving the items. ¡°Boss, you sure you wanna share all this? I mean, I get the gems, but this is a brand-new skill we are talking about.¡±


    Isaac shrugged. ¡°Already have it thanks to the Pioneer Trial. Got a feeling those are quite common. So¡­ feel free.¡±


    Marie, however, shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t take any of this. I didn¡¯t do anything to earn it. You two should just share.¡±


    James scoffed. ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid, Ari. Maybe you didn¡¯t kill anything here, but you definitely took down more Wretched than me on the way to the camp. Besides, you¡¯re the only one among us that can heal.¡±


    Silence fell upon them once he finished speaking. It lasted so long that the man even glanced between his two teammates, frowning. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Nothing. Absolutely nothing,¡± Marie said. ¡°Just a bit surprised¡­ Didn¡¯t expect this from you. But fine!¡± she added before James could say anything. She also grabbed one of the Virality Gems. ¡°That¡¯s all I¡¯m taking.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good,¡± the older man grinned. ¡°What do you think, boss?¡±


    Isaac eyed the remaining items. He could admit he was kind of selfish¡ªeveryone was, really¡ªbut here, James also deserved his fair share. He had been there with him for most of the fighting.


    As such, he just grabbed two of the gems and pushed the other items toward the man.


    ¡°Huh,¡± James¡¯ eyebrows shot up. ¡°You sure? I¡¯m good with just the blueprint. It¡¯s more valuable than the gems anyway.¡±


    Isaac gave him a firm look. ¡°Take it before I change my mind. Besides, weren¡¯t you the one complaining about not getting enough gems?¡±


    Next to them, Marie nodded. ¡°He¡¯s right. Take it and stop being noble. I¡¯m getting a whiplash¡­¡±


    James snorted. ¡°Fine, fine! If that¡¯s what the council decrees, I gotta obey. Thank you for your generous gifts, my Lord, my Lady.¡±


    ¡°And he¡¯s back,¡± Marie groaned. ¡°Thank god.¡±


    Isaac chuckled as he took his first gem and allowed his Viron to consume it. Like always, it turned into liquid and sunk into his skin. Yet, before he could do the same to the second item, he felt something shift inside him¡ªa sudden heat that erupted all over his body.


    It didn¡¯t hurt, though, and thankfully, the Interface was quick to explain what was happening.


    Congratulations, Host! Your Virus has reached the peak of its current stage and is ready to advance. Do you wish to begin the process now? In the meantime, you will still be able to use your abilities, but Viron production will become slower until completion.


    Yes, go on, Isaac answered without a shred of hesitance. He saw no point in delaying this if it didn¡¯t harm him. With Marie and James next to him, they should be able to handle any Wretched coming their way.


    Beginning Virus advancement. Time to completion: 2 hours.


    The flow of Viron in his body instantly slowed, becoming almost sluggish. Isaac nudged it to move faster, and it did, not fighting him even a bit.


    Huh¡­


    Shrugging, he dismissed the Interface messages and pocketed the other gem. He could try using it now but didn¡¯t want to waste it. A shame he didn¡¯t have any inferior gem on him. That he wouldn¡¯t mind losing.


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    Maybe we can get one on the way back, he thought and refocused on the duo before him. ¡°Did you contact Daryl or Tyler?¡±


    Marie perked up, nodding. ¡°Daryl. Told us to wait for you to return and then call him back.¡±


    ¡°Old man sounded surprised when we told him over sixty percent of the Quarantine was already cleared out,¡± James added. ¡°Took him a good minute to figure out what to say next.¡±


    Isaac hummed. ¡°Give me the radio, please.¡±


    Marie moved at that, unhooking the device from her waist and handing it over. ¡°Just turn it on. We switched it to a different channel so only Daryl can hear us.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± he muttered, flipping the switch and putting the radio closer to his mouth. ¡°Daryl, you hear me?¡±


    A moment later, a familiar voice came out of the device. ¡°Loud and clear, kid. I hear you three have made some progress on clearing the Quarantine Site. You have no idea how glad I am.¡±


    ¡°About that,¡± Isaac said. ¡°We¡¯re done. The elementary school is cleared. The Quarantine should disappear soon, too.¡±


    ¡°What? You¡¯re kidding, right? That¡¯s¡­¡±


    No more words came from the radio.


    He frowned. ¡°Daryl?¡±


    ¡°¡­Sorry, kid,¡± the man muttered, his voice heavy even with the consonant static. ¡°Had to tell Mia. It¡¯s just¡­ I didn¡¯t expect this to happen so fast¡­ I admit, when your team called, I didn¡¯t believe it, but now¡­ Are you sure, Isaac? One hundred percent sure?¡±


    Isaac smiled. ¡°Make it two hundred. The school is empty. The Interface confirmed it.¡±


    ¡°I..¡± Daryl began only to trail off. After a loud cough, he started anew. ¡°You three¡­ In the name of all the parents who lost their everything yesterday, I thank you. This won¡¯t bring their children back, but¡­. it¡¯s a far better fate than letting them walk those halls forever.¡±


    The trio looked between each other, all sharing the same genuine but sad smile.


    ¡°We are happy to help,¡± Isaac said. ¡°Once we recover, we will take care of the middle school, too.¡±


    A weak chuckle echoed from the device. ¡°So be it. Stay safe out there. Talk more once you return. For now, switch to the old channel.¡±


    ¡°Got it. We will be at the camp in ten or so minutes.¡±


    Just like that, Isaac disabled the device and handed it back to Marie. Together, they hauled James to his feet and started toward the camp. It wasn¡¯t until they were halfway there that someone spoke up.


    ¡°James,¡± Marie called out. ¡°I know that clearing the school was the right choice, but¡­ why were you so set on it?¡±


    James¡¯ usual grin faded. ¡°You noticed, huh? Well¡­ neither of you probably know this, but I¡¯m not from here. I came to Galt a few days ago to visit Tyler and help him with some stuff. The rest of my family is in LA... including my two much younger sisters. ¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Marie muttered. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry.¡±


    James shrugged weakly, clenching his fists. ¡°Not your fault, Ari. I don¡¯t even know if LA was hit by the Second Phase. But if it was¡­ I just hope someone out there is willing to make the hard call like we did here.¡±


    ¡°They could be fine,¡± Isaac offered, feeling like he had to say something.


    ¡°They could,¡± James agreed. ¡°And I hope they are. But if they aren¡¯t? I want to be ready for the worst¡­ No, I have to be ready for the worst. What¡¯s happening now? I bet that¡¯s just the beginning, and it will only get worse. The odds just aren¡¯t in our favor.¡±


    Isaac looked down, keeping his eyes on his feet. What the older man said was true. The ongoing apocalypse would probably only get worse. And yet¡­ he still didn¡¯t mind it, still didn¡¯t really care. The fact that it made him feel alive didn¡¯t change. Hell, for him, every single moment spent fighting only affirmed that this was what he was missing from his life.


    Still¡­


    He couldn¡¯t deny that people were suffering. Millions¡ªprobably more¡ªhad lost their families. Their lives had been uprooted without a warning. And unlike Isaac, who had needed something like this to happen, most people had been happy. Content.


    And now?


    Now, everything they had built was gone. Turned to ashes.


    You can¡¯t have everything. Life ain¡¯t fair, kid. Sometimes you need to let go to finally see what mattered all along.


    More words from the old man, his final caretaker, flooded his mind. But how did they apply to this? To this messed up new era?


    He had no idea. But he would figure it out. Sooner or later.


    Isaac exhaled. ¡°Once the barrier falls,¡± he said, quiet at first. ¡°And if we all are still alive. I can help you get to LA.¡±


    James¡¯ head snapped to him. ¡°You would do that? Really?¡±


    Isaac shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t see why not. I have nothing holding me here anyway. Besides, I can always return if Daryl or someone else needs me.¡±


    A slow, grateful smile spread across James¡¯ face. ¡°Thanks, man. Really. I will keep that in mind.¡±


    ¡°You know, I was wrong about you two,¡± Marie said out of nowhere. ¡°Serves me right for judging people off the bat. Grandma would be so proud¡­¡±


    That earned a laugh from James as he threw an arm over the woman¡¯s shoulder. ¡°See? I told ya? My charm works. You just gotta give it time.¡±


    Marie pushed him away. ¡°Never mind. Forget I ever said anything.¡±


    ¡°Too late now, my lovely Ari! Now that I know you love me, you ain¡¯t getting away from me.¡±


    The woman scoffed, effortlessly fighting off James, who was trying to hug her. ¡°Get away from me, you oaf. I swear, I should have never opened my mouth. Isaac? A little help?¡±


    But Isaac just shrugged. ¡°Don¡¯t involve me in this. Your mess, not mine.¡±


    ¡°I hate you both.¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°Not a lot of people left, huh?¡± James muttered as they neared the camp. There were still plenty of survivors walking around, but nowhere near as many as before.


    ¡°With how many groups we passed on the way, are you really surprised?¡± Marie asked.


    ¡°No, I guess not.¡±


    Isaac, who had mostly tuned them out for the trip back, spoke up. ¡°You two want to come with me to talk to Daryl, or¡­¡±


    ¡°We will leave you to it, boss,¡± James answered, looking down at his blood-covered arms. ¡°I gotta find a place to clean up. Oh, and maybe grab a bite.¡±


    ¡°Same,¡± Marie chimed in. ¡°If you need us, tell Daryl to contact us through the radio.¡±


    Isaac sighed. ¡°Will do.¡±


    James shot him a quick salute. ¡°Have fun, man. We will find you something to eat, too.¡±


    And just like that, they separated the moment they reached the camp¡¯s barricade. Most people on the way to Daryl¡¯s house ignored him, but there were some who offered him a nod and a grateful smile. He did his best to return them before stepping into a familiar corridor.


    He headed straight for the living room, where¡ªthankfully¡ªonly Daryl was present. He was hunched over Galt¡¯s map, the portable radio in hand, its speaker crackling with some indistinct chatter.


    Isaac cleared his throat, and Daryl looked up.


    ¡°Kid! You¡¯re back!¡±

 Chapter 30. Memories of the past

    ¡°Come on, sit down,¡± Daryl said with a grin, motioning to the couches. ¡°We got a lot to talk about. But first, where¡¯s your team?¡±


    Isaac shrugged as he dropped onto the soft cushions. ¡°Somewhere in the camp. Went to clean up and find something to eat.¡±


    ¡°Could have done that here, ya know? I got a bathroom and a kitchen in my house,¡± Daryl countered. ¡°I think they just didn¡¯t want to talk to the little old me and dumped all the responsibility on you, kid.¡±


    ¡°Maybe. Not like I particularly care.¡±


    ¡°Of course you don¡¯t,¡± the older man muttered. ¡°But whatever. I¡¯m sure they will show sooner or later. Or, like the good leader you apparently are, you can pass along everything I tell you to them.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, sure.¡±


    Daryl narrowed his eyes at him before sighing. ¡°Right¡­ I would thank you again for clearing out the school, but I¡¯m pretty sure you don¡¯t want that, so let¡¯s move on to another subject. Besides, once Mia gets here, you will have your hands full anyway.¡±


    Isaac¡¯s eyes widened a bit. Even if Mrs. West was the less emotional one of the couple, she was also quite unpredictable. He could expect another hug, that was certain, but he wouldn¡¯t put it past the woman to come up with something more to thank all three of them. If she didn¡¯t cause a scene, it would be a miracle.


    We better hurry up. He cleared his throat. ¡°What do you have for me?¡±


    Daryl chuckled. ¡°Less than you probably expect. You three were only gone for an hour, after all¡­ That said, Tyler and I are putting our plans into motion. I¡¯m sure you have noticed that a lot of people are missing from the camp.¡±


    Isaac nodded. ¡°Yeah. We even passed a few smaller groups.¡±


    ¡°Their task is to clean up the rest of this part of the city,¡± Daryl explained, pointing to the large green circle on the map. It encompassed the entire northern suburbs¡ªwhich made up about a third of the entire city.


    ¡°Not much is left from what I see,¡± Isaac commented, noting all the crossed-out houses in that area. ¡°If they hurry, it should be done in an hour.¡±


    Daryl nodded. ¡°That¡¯s the plan, though two hours is a more realistic timeline. We want everyone to stay safe. Besides, most of the teams you saw are heading here,¡± he said, pointing to the middle of the city. ¡°They will meet up with Tyler¡¯s growing group and go from there.¡±


    Isaac hummed as he located his own home on the map. His gaze then flicked to another building already crossed with a red mark. ¡°The gun store¡¯s already looted?¡±


    ¡°Among others. Tyler might have fewer people with him, but they sure as hell ain¡¯t lacking weapons at this point. I would even say they have more than us. That¡¯s why those willing to fight are going there in the first place.¡±


    Not bad for a bit over an hour, he thought. Maybe we can really clean up Galt before tomorrow.


    Then again, it was already four in the evening. They had maybe another four or five hours before it got completely dark. Some might be willing to fight even then, but most would have to rest after a long day like this.


    Isaac included.


    He took a deep breath. ¡°Where do you need me and the others? Marie and James might not be on my level, but they can easily take on over a dozen Wretched on their own. Put them in a team, and that number doubles.¡±


    Daryl raised his hands. ¡°Not so fast, kid. There¡¯s other stuff we have to talk about first. Remember what I promised?¡±


    Isaac¡¯s eyebrows rose a bit. ¡°You found her already?¡±


    ¡°Not a hard task when she was here even before you. I just had to ask a few people, and that¡¯s it,¡± the man explained as he stood up from the couch. ¡°Give me a second.¡± With that, he walked to the entrance to the corridor and leaned out. ¡°Carl! Can you please ask Ms. Blake to join us?¡±


    A muffled shout answered that call, and Daryl nodded before returning to his seat. ¡°Here we go,¡± he said, grinning at Isaac. ¡°One Miss Elaine Blake will be here in a moment. You must be thrilled to have a friend like me, eh?¡±


    ¡°I guess. Thanks,¡± Isaac muttered. ¡°Though, you could have just told me where to find her. I bet she will be delighted to find out you called her just to see me¡­¡±


    Daryl chuckled. ¡°It will be fine. I swear you must be exaggerating how bad things are between you two.¡±


    ¡°I wish¡­¡±


    ¡°Well!¡± The man clapped his hands. ¡°No better time than now to start fresh. The world is ending, and monsters are walking on the streets. What¡¯s the point of holding onto old grudges?¡±


    Isaac subtly rolled his eyes. If it were that simple, every conflict would be solved in hours¡ªif not minutes. Unfortunately, that wasn¡¯t how the real world worked. Or how people worked.


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    ¡°Anyway¡­¡± Daryl said, probably noticing Isaac¡¯s reluctance. ¡°Before Ms. Blake arrives, tell me how is your rank looking? With how many Wretched you three took down, you all should be somewhat high.¡±


    Huh.


    Isaac blinked. He had forgotten about the ranking system, thanks to everything that had been going on.


    Let¡¯s see.


    Current progress: 21% | Your contribution ranking: 2nd | Time left: 55h:35m:17s


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± he muttered, looking up. ¡°I¡¯m second.¡±


    Daryl¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°Well¡­ I guess I shouldn¡¯t be surprised. To be honest, I¡¯m more curious about what the person in the first place had to do to still stay higher than you. How many did you kill alone already? Half a thousand? More?¡±


    ¡°Doubt it¡¯s that many already.¡± Isaac shook his head. ¡°At best, maybe around three hundred. And I¡¯m really not surprised that someone''s ahead of me. Assuming they aren¡¯t another Pioneer, they had a head start. The Interface counts all Wretched killed from Phase One, too. I was gone for most of that.¡±


    Daryl pursed his lips. ¡°Fair enough. I¡¯m sure you will pass them soon anyway. Unless you plan to procrastinate a bit?¡±


    Isaac snorted. ¡°Nah. Once we are done he¡ª¡°


    ¡°Sir,¡± a young voice cut him off as a young man appeared in the doorway. ¡°I brought Ms. Blake.¡±


    Daryl stood up and approached the newcomer. ¡°Thanks, Carl. Come on, let¡¯s allow the lady inside while we search for my wife.¡± The older man then cast a glance over his shoulder and shot a wink at Isaac. ¡°Good luck, kid.¡±


    In turn, Isaac slumped in his seat and waited for the inevitable to happen. Not that he had any right to complain. He asked for this.


    ¡°You!¡±


    He looked up at the accusing hiss, and here she was, Elaine Blake in all her glory.


    Sure, she didn¡¯t look as well put together as she always did, but it still didn¡¯t take away much from her natural appearance. Long, wavy black hair framed her delicate features, and even now, disheveled and irritated, she was still a beautiful woman only a few years older than him.


    Now, if only she could get rid of that permanent scowl¡­


    Isaac sighed. ¡°Elaine. I would say it¡¯s good to see you, but you look as bitter as ever. Maybe try smiling once in a while, hmm?¡±


    The woman crossed her arms. ¡°Apparently, you¡¯re the one who wanted me here, so don¡¯t expect me to be nice all of the sudden. What do you want, Isaac?¡±


    He exhaled, pushing back his already growing irritation. ¡°To check up on you? Like it or not, the old man would have wanted us to at least help each other in times like these.¡±


    Elaine scoffed. ¡°Oh, come on! You expect me to believe that crap? Grandpa is gone, Isaac. You don¡¯t need to pretend we mean anything to each other. So get to it already. Laugh at me! Tell me that you finally won, Mr. Pioneer.¡±


    Isaac jumped to his feet, his eyes narrowing. ¡°What the hell is that supposed to mean? Why would I do that?!¡±


    ¡°Please! Like you don¡¯t know.¡± Her voice was sharp, biting. ¡°You were nothing before this entire Breakout! Just drifting, like some drone without a purpose.¡± She shook her head. ¡°But now? Now I¡¯ve lost everything while you¡¯re one of the six. The Pioneer. Galt¡¯s strongest. How?! Is this what Grandpa somehow saw in you? Why did he choose to take you in?¡±


    By the end of her rant, Elaine dropped on the couch next to her, burying her face in her hands. ¡°It¡¯s not fair,¡± she muttered. ¡°It¡¯s just so un-fucking fair¡­¡±


    Isaac also sank back into his seat, shutting his eyes for a moment and counting to ten in his head. She wasn¡¯t wrong. He was almost nothing before all this. And yet, the old man still had taken him in¡ªdespite already having a granddaughter who had lost her parents not that long before.


    That had always been the root of the issue, hadn¡¯t it? Why they could never get along.


    Elaine wanted the only family she had left in Galt to be by her side. Isaac, meanwhile, didn¡¯t want to give up on one of the only adults who ever cared for him. The old man had done his best to mediate, but not even he had the power to control two stubborn children.


    He rubbed his brow and looked at Elaine again. ¡°Feeling better now?¡±


    She shrugged.


    ¡°Then I don¡¯t know what you want me to say. If you expect an apology for ¡®taking the old man away from you,¡¯ you¡¯re not getting one. But¡­ maybe it¡¯s finally time to move on. Go our separate ways. I stop bothering you. You stop bothering me.¡±


    Elaine raised her head, wiping the few stray tears from her eyes. ¡°Is that what you want? Really? After all the shit we gave each other?¡±


    Isaac shrugged weakly. ¡°Got any better ideas? Because I don¡¯t. And to be honest, I¡¯m so done with this shit. We have more important things to focus on now. The world is ending, if you haven¡¯t noticed.¡±


    She let out a short, bitter laugh. ¡°Right¡­¡±


    Nobody spoke after that for quite some time. For the first time in a while, they managed to exist in the same room without jumping at each other¡¯s throats. That was more progress than they had made since they first met. A miracle, or maybe a sign that things really were changing.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Elaine broke the silence as she stood up. ¡°You are right. Grandpa would hate it if we just abandoned each other during the end of the world. But I¡­ I don¡¯t know what I want to do yet. I need some time to think. Until then, I will stay away.¡±


    Isaac nodded. ¡°So be it. And Elaine¡­ despite everything, I¡¯m glad you are alive.¡±


    The woman paused just next to the entrance to the corridor, her voice quiet but firm. ¡°Likewise, Isaac. Likewise¡­¡±


    And just like that, she was gone.


    He groaned.


    What a mess¡­


    <hr>


    Isaac cut sideways, cleaving through two Wretched blocking his path. A salvo of five Blood Daggers followed, bringing down the ones coming at him from the sides. Once they fell, he scanned the area.


    Left. Right.


    Nothing.


    Another street cleaned up. He had lost count which one it was at this point. It was definitely in double digits now, probably above twenty. Maybe someone else in his group was keeping track.


    He turned to the only person in his new team that he recognized. ¡°James, tell the others to take a break or start on the houses. I need at least a five.¡±


    The older man, who had also just finished his final Wretched, threw him a mock salute. ¡°You got it, boss!¡±


    Just like that, James turned on his heel and walked to the group of over twenty trailing behind them. They weren¡¯t the strongest bunch, but they did their part¡ªpicking off stragglers and helping clear buildings. Without them, they wouldn¡¯t have accomplished half as much as they did in the last hour and a half.


    Now, though, it¡¯s time for you.


    Virus advancement. Time to completion: 2 minutes, 23 seconds.

 Chapter 31. Shifts

    As the timer continued its countdown, Isaac dropped onto the hood of a crashed car. Not the most comfortable seat, but it was better than sitting on the cold, bloodstained pavement. Then again, he couldn¡¯t really complain about the last part. He was already covered in blood from head to toe anyway.


    I will run out of clothes at this rate. Maybe I should join the looting of some stores¡­ Or just ask Daryl to get me some change. He nodded. Yeah, much better idea.


    Last minute.


    Isaac tilted his head back, eyes locking onto the sky. Their time was running out. The Sun was well on its way toward the west. Give it another hour or two, and it should be completely dark. That definitely wasn¡¯t enough time to clear the remaining part of the city.


    Tyler and Daryl better have a plan for this, he thought, averting his gaze from the clear sky.


    He probably should have asked if the leaders had anything prepared for the night, but it had slipped his mind. To be honest, after the conversation with Elaine, all he wanted to do was fight something. Daryl had been happy to oblige, even if the man looked like he was holding himself back from saying something.


    Isaac could guess quite well what that ¡®something¡¯ was.


    Either way, just like he had hoped, killing some¡ªeasily over a hundred¡ªWretched helped to clear his mind. Helped to clear out a small part of the city too. Now, he could focus on what was important.


    Like the Virus advancement.


    Shit!


    Similar to when the Breakout began, the moment the timer hit zero, Isaac¡¯s body filled up with liquid fire. He slid down the hood, clutching his chest as his heart pounded like it was trying to break free. His muscles spasmed and writhed, yet he held the pain in, refusing to collapse to the ground¡ªnot so close to other survivors.


    Thankfully, after a couple more seconds, the pain began to fade. His eyes fluttered open, and he released a shaky breath as his muscles finally relaxed. His legs still felt wobbly, but at least he was standing. Quickly, he leaned against the car next to him and took a few deep breaths.


    So that¡¯s how it¡¯s always gonna go? Wonderful¡­


    Yet, he couldn¡¯t deny that despite all the agony, he felt better than before, stronger. Not by much, but after so many recent improvements to his body, he was starting to notice even the smallest changes.


    Then there was also his Viron.


    It still ran wild like before, tearing across his body like an angry river. However, there was definitely more of it now. Like always, it was hard to say just how much more, but Isaac was pretty sure something major happened to his new energy.


    The incoming Interface notification pretty much confirmed that.


    Congratulations, Host! Your Virus has advanced to the Replication stage. Viron potency, production rate, and storage capacity have been slightly enhanced. Your resistance to the Broken Strain has also risen. Additionally, from now on, your Virus will passively improve the effectiveness of all your attributes by 5%.


    Isaac smiled. ¡°Worth the pain, after all. Seems like it always is, really¡­¡±


    Pushing himself off the car, he raised his hand and waved James over. It didn¡¯t take the man long to jog toward him.


    ¡°All good, boss?¡± he asked, arching an eyebrow. ¡°Saw you drop for a moment there.¡±


    Isaac grimaced. So he wasn¡¯t as sneaky as he had thought. ¡°Just what we talked about. Hurts like hell, so spread the word. Would be a shame to lose more people because they were trying to fight Wretched during their advancement.¡±


    James snorted. ¡°Doubt we will have to worry about that anytime soon. Even with that gem you gave me, I¡¯m still only at phase three. Most of the others are most likely still at the first or the second one.¡±


    ¡°True enough¡­ Let¡¯s get moving, then. The streets won¡¯t clean themselves.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m right behind ya!¡± the man exclaimed with a grin.


    <hr>


    Blood Dagger.


    Viron surged out, its enhanced wildness forcing it to move faster than before. Miasma coalesced at his side, shifting into long crimson blades¡ªstronger, sharper than they had been before the Virus¡¯ advancement. The way they tore through the Wretched without stopping only proved that.


    It wasn¡¯t quite the power nor the level of control of a Sacrificial Blood Dagger, but the improvement was more than noticeable. The same went for Blood Draw, but for now, Isaac stopped himself from using that skill too often. It worked well, very well even. He just had a small issue with controlling the power output, and with other people fighting around him, that wasn¡¯t good.


    The last thing he wanted was to kill someone by accident.


    Gonna need to work on that later.


    He grinned as he cleaved through another Wretched. The daggers at his side shot forward right after, nailing a couple more monsters to the wall nearby. Before he could finish them, though, metal spikes erupted from the wall, impaling the beasts through their skulls.


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    He glanced to his left just in time to see James shoot him a wink. The man then yanked his transformed hand out of the ground and charged another nearby Wretched.


    Isaac huffed.


    Kill stealer.


    The Root of Blood in his hand shivered, sending something akin to an angry growl across his arm. The corner of his lips curled up. So he wasn¡¯t the only one annoyed.


    Good.


    With the Symphony playing in his veins, he charged ahead, passing all the fighters on the way and heading for the Wretched trying to escape. Dagger after dagger materialized at his side, each leaving it a second later.


    Should be good here.


    Crimson liquid spilled over the Root, and Isaac let it free, slicing through the surrounding Wretched with waves of blood, one after another. By the third one, the skill¡¯s power ran out. Not that he needed it anymore.


    There were no more monsters around him left.


    Isaac clicked his tongue, watching the few remaining groups of Wretched escape. They didn¡¯t get far. Elements of all kinds descended upon them, killing them before they could round the corner of the street.


    Fire, lightning, stone, crystals, and even some ash. Those were only a few of the Origins that the people in his group wielded, and they all did their job as well as any other. Some, of course, didn¡¯t have any long-range capabilities and tried to chase after the runners, but Isaac¡¯s raised hand stopped them.


    ¡°Enough!¡± he shouted. ¡°Gather the gems, then we head back.¡±


    Most listened right away, turning around and starting the search for the gems hidden across the street. Others, though, looked skeptical, like they thought they could still keep going. They weren¡¯t even wrong, but that was not the issue here.


    Sighing, Isaac nodded at James, who was standing a few feet away from him.


    The man nodded and clapped his hands loudly. ¡°You heard him! Start looting and prepare for the walk back. It¡¯s too late for us to continue.¡±


    That got the remaining crowd to move.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Isaac said.


    James shrugged. ¡°Just doing my job as your second in command.¡±


    ¡°They should have made you the leader of the party. God knows I¡¯m not made for this. Would much rather go out alone.¡±


    The older man chuckled. ¡°Know what you mean. Having this many people around has its perks, but man, I much preferred it when it was just you, me, and Ari.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Isaac muttered, glancing at the darkening sky. ¡°Go help the others, make sure everyone is alright. I got to contact Daryl or Tyler.¡±


    ¡°Will do. Don¡¯t take long, boss.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± he said under his breath and unclipped the portable radio from his waist. Yet just as he was about to activate it, the earth beneath his feet shook.


    It began with a weak vibration, barely strong enough to notice. Then, within seconds, the full force of the earthquake hit, almost knocking him off his feet. The streets cracked, buildings groaned, and debris rained down from above.


    Not good!


    Just barely keeping balance, he rushed toward his group, trying to get his voice past their screams. ¡°Get away from the buildings, now!¡±


    James¡¯ voice joined his, echoing his order. Somehow, even as a store next to them crumbled in front of their eyes, they quickly got everyone to the middle of the street, away from any potential danger.


    The falling lampposts became the next threat, but with their enhanced reflexes and physical abilities, dodging wasn¡¯t too difficult. Still, Isaac had to slice through one mid-fall to pull an older man out of harm¡¯s way.


    This continued for a good minute, maybe less. More buildings around them collapsed, sending thick clouds of dust billowing into the streets. Car alarms blared across the entire city, with occasional screams joining the symphony. All the while, their group huddled together, with James and Isaac hovering near, looking out for anything that could harm them.


    ¡°Holy shit!¡± James cursed as the shaking stopped. ¡°What the fuck? That was much worse than the last one.¡±


    Isaac ignored him for the time being, his eyes on their group. ¡°Everyone alright? Are we missing anybody?¡±


    Still scared and barely able to stand up, the survivors looked at each other, most shaking their heads. Just to be sure, Isaac did a quick headcount and nodded.


    Seems about right. Still¡­


    ¡°James!¡± he shouted, snapping the man out of his daze. ¡°Get a grip and make sure everybody¡¯s fine. I must contact the others. Maybe they need help elsewhere.¡±


    James nodded without a word, and Isaac took it as a sign to walk away a bit. He waved the dust out of his face and activated the radio. Instantly, a chaotic flood of voices erupted from the speaker.


    Tyler, Dylan, he heard them all, but there were so many more people trying to speak¡ªmost likely other team leaders like Isaac. For a moment, he feared he would have to somehow step in and calm everybody. Thankfully, a sharp, commanding female voice did that for him.


    ¡°Shut up, everyone!¡± Mrs. Cooper, an ex-military and someone who also gathered quite a large group in the southern part of Galt, shouted. ¡°Stop squabbling like little children and focus! First, Daryl, Tyler, your camps still standing?¡±


    It took a moment for either of them to answer.


    ¡°For the most part, yes,¡± Daryl said. ¡°Some tents went down, and I wouldn¡¯t trust any of the houses nearby, but we should be fine.¡±


    ¡°What he said,¡± Tyler added.


    ¡°Good. We¡¯re putting all our plans on hold for now,¡± Cooper ordered. ¡°Take care of the injured, fix the camps, and get everyone out of the buildings. We¡¯re all sleeping outside tonight. As for those who are still out hunting, return to your camps. Understood?¡±


    A collective but scattered ¡®yes¡¯ answered her call.


    ¡°Very well. Keep your radios on, but only use this channel for crucial information. We will talk again in an hour. Until then, stay safe.¡±


    Silence.


    Isaac sighed and lowered the device, hooking it back to his pants. This wasn¡¯t how he expected the day to end, but at least no one had reported casualties yet. Maybe, just maybe, their plans to clean up the city wouldn¡¯t get delayed too much. Only a bit over two days remained on the timer now, and the progress went up by just three percent since he last looked.


    Current progress: 24% | Your contribution ranking: 2nd | Time left: 51h:58m:32s


    His math might not be the best, but he doubted this pace was good enough to complete the Second Phase task on time.


    Either way, we have to go back for now.


    With that thought in mind, Isaac returned to his group and relayed the orders to everyone. Unlike before, when some still wanted to fight, now no one even bothered to complain.


    The earthquake had shaken everyone, literally and mentally.


    Maybe we¡¯re at least a bit lucky, and the Middle School collapsed, too. That should make clearing it much faster¡­ or not¡­ If they get stuck in the ruins¡­ Yeah, no.


    Isaac shook his head, and with him at the front, the group set off toward the camp.


    I could use another nap¡­

 Chapter 32. Almost there

    "Catch!"


    Isaac turned around at the shout, just in time to snag the bottle of water Marie had tossed his way. Across the tent, James cursed as his bottle slipped through his fingers and flew somewhere behind him.


    "Thanks." He nodded, ignoring the older man''s weird gymnastics as he searched for the fallen water. "Everything good outside? They are being pretty loud."


    Marie shrugged as she dropped on her own mattress in the corner. "Still getting ready to move out. I''m honestly surprised they got so many volunteers to fight during nighttime. You would think they are at least a bit scared."


    "They probably are," Isaac said, lying down and closing his eyes. "But fear can be a good motivator too."


    "Speaking from experience?"


    He shook his head lightly. "Not really. Just something someone I used to know said to me a few times."


    "Ah¡­" Marie muttered. "I guess¡ª"


    "There you are!" James exclaimed for no reason.


    Isaac''s eyes snapped open to the sight of the older man holding the bottle of water up in triumph. He shared a look with Marie, and they both rolled their eyes. At this point, they were growing used to the antics of their third teammate.


    "Anyway, what were we talking about?" James asked, looking between the two of them.


    "Nothing really," Marie answered. "Just the group going out at night."


    The man snapped his fingers. "Oh! You two think they will actually get anything done? I mean, we talked with Daryl, and their plan doesn''t sound that bad, but still¡­ feels a bit too risky if you ask me."


    Isaac gave a thoughtful hum. While he doubted the about hundred or so people would achieve much in the next few hours, as long as they cleared out the few remaining streets, it should be enough. With the few cars they managed to get working, light also shouldn''t be a problem, so there was always that. Besides, Tyler and Mrs. Cooper themselves planned to join this little expedition.


    He said as much to the other two.


    "Sounds reasonable," Marie agreed. "The rest can be dealt with in the morning. Maybe by noon, the city will be cleared for the most part."


    "Not that there is much of it left," James noted.


    They all grimaced.


    Their journey back to the camp alone showed just how much Galt suffered from the short earthquake. At least every second building now lay in ruins, while the streets were either cracked beyond recognition or covered in enough debris that no car would be able to pass through. That was yet another challenge for the night operation¡­


    "So¡­" James spoke, breaking the silence. "I don''t want to bring down the mood even more, but we gotta talk about the remaining school. It''s still standing, after all. Boss?"


    Isaac sighed. "The plan stays the same. We rest and hit it first thing in the morning. Marie, you sure you can go in now?"


    The woman nodded. "Either this Quarantine is weaker, or my new skill and the next phase of the Virus are enough to block it."


    "Then there you have it," he said, looking back at James. "Quick in and out, and we''re done. Afterward? We will see¡­"


    James gave a halfhearted salute before flopping onto his mattress. "Hopefully, we move on to the next town and finish this damned task before the timer runs out. I need to get to LA no matter what."


    "You will," Isaac tried to reassure.


    "Yeah¡­" the other man muttered. "And what about you two? Boss, you said you have nothing holding you here. You sure? Really no one you want to find?"


    For a brief moment, Elaine''s face appeared in his mind, but he shook it out, both literally and figuratively.


    "No," he said. "No one. I''m an orphan, and my last caretaker died a few months ago."


    "Ah¡­ Sorry to hear that¡­ And you, Ari?"


    A bit curious, Isaac glanced toward the only woman in their group. She rolled on her mattress, leaving only her back visible to them. For a moment, it seemed like this was it for the conversation, but just then, her soft whisper filled the tent.


    "My parents live in Sacramento. But¡­ but I haven''t talked to them in over four years now. Ever since my grandma died, really. No idea if I even want to search for them once we''re done here¡­"


    For a moment, silence claimed the tent.


    "Right¡­ That''s¡­" James trailed off like he had no idea what to say to that. However, it didn''t take him long to recover. "Say! How''s everyone''s contribution ranking? I''m already fifty-fourth."


    Isaac stifled a snort. Leave it to you to make the most awkward subject change ever.


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    Still, it must have worked, as Marie also answered. "Sixty-first."


    James whistled. "I say we ain''t doing half bad. If there are four or five thousand survivors in Galt alone, there must be way more in Sacramento and the surrounding areas. And yet, the three of us are still in the top hundred. Boss, you¡¯re second, right?"


    Isaac nodded even as he pulled up the counter for the second task. He was about to comment when his gaze fell on his current rank.


    "Huh¡­"


    Current progress: 26% | Your contribution ranking: 1st | Time left: 50h:54m:11s


    "I''m first," he muttered, still not believing what he was seeing.


    That got the other two to sit up, their eyes opened wide. "Hold up a second." James waved his hands. "Weren''t you still second the last you checked?" Isaac nodded again. "But you haven''t killed anything since then¡­"


    "The first place died," Marie stated, saying what everyone in the tent thought. "But how?! Even if they weren''t a Pioneer, they still should be around level seven, maybe higher, with all those Wretched killed. That¡­¡± She shook her head. "Just what did they do?"


    Silence.


    "My best guess?" Isaac spoke up. "They pushed too hard and finally bit off more than they could chew. Refused to rest. Maybe ran out of Viron? The possibilities are almost endless."


    "Or someone killed them," James chimed in, raising an eyebrow at the look he got from Marie.


    "What? Don''t tell me I am the only one thinking about it. Have you ever seen any apocalypse movie? Sure, most people will work together to survive, but some will always try to use the end of the world to their advantage. First place person probably isn''t even the only one to go out like that¡ªjust the only one we''ve noticed."


    Marie grimaced. "Great. Now, every time I go up in rank, I will wonder if I climbed naturally or if someone took out the person above me."


    James shrugged. "Sorry, Ari, but that''s the truth. Can''t deny it."


    "It''s a warning," Isaac said quietly. "Be careful around people you don''t know, and even then, keep your eyes open. We got lucky in Galt, but that won''t last. Bad apples are everywhere. At least as humans can''t absorb the Viruses of the people we killed. It would be a bloodbath otherwise."


    James'' and Marie''s attention instantly snapped to him.


    "What?" the former asked. "What do you mean by that? Absorbing?"


    Isaac let out a long breath. Until now, he had left out this little piece of information from every conversation. Even Daryl didn''t know about the possibility of absorbing other Hosts. It seemed like it was time to change that.


    And so, he quickly explained what the Interface told him after killing the Host inside the Pioneer Trial.


    "You''re right," Marie said once he finished. "It would be a bloodbath if not for those few conditions. Maybe it still will be, if killing others can earn you a level¡­"


    "Damn," James muttered, looking at something only he could see. "And those sires again¡­ I didn''t ask anybody about this before, but what do you have listed there? I have an Overlord Conductor. It was mentioned in the pamphlet."


    "Overlord Broadcast for me," Marie said.


    "And I have Overlord Chaos," Issac finished up the count. "Hmm. I kinda expected every human to have the same sire. Weird¡­¡±


    "I just want to know who or what these Overlords are." Marie crossed her arms. "We have them, the Interface, and this Overseer. How are they all related?"


    "Doubt we will find out anytime soon, so don''t worry about it too much," Isaac said, closing his eyes once more. "Get some sleep. We have another busy day ahead of us."


    "Roger that, Captain," James exclaimed. "Lights out in ten."


    Isaac chuckled as he turned on his side. With all the fighting that he did today, it didn''t take long for sleep to take him.


    <hr>


    "You good there, man?" James asked, bumping Isaac''s shoulder as they stopped in front of the Middle School. "You look pretty bored."


    Isaac frowned, averting his gaze from the large building. "You could say I''m not exactly thrilled about killing more monsters that can barely fight back, especially children. Honestly, I haven''t really struggled all that much since the Pioneer trial ended."


    James arched an eyebrow. "You sure you ain''t suicidal? Most would be happy to be strong enough not to worry about the Wretched."


    "It''s not that." He sighed. "I just hoped for more of a challenge. You know what I mean?" Seeing the older man''s confused expression, Isaac shook his head. "Never mind. Ignore me. Let''s get this over with."


    "Aye, aye!"


    Just then, Marie joined them. "Can somebody tell me again why we brought those people with us?" she asked, subtly gesturing to the group of over thirty adults standing in the distance.


    "Closure, Ari. Closure," James chided. "Honestly, how am I the only one here who gets that?"


    "It''s not that I don''t understand the need for closure. I just don''t get how they''re finding it by being here," Marie muttered, her shoulders slumping. "They aren''t going inside with us. They won''t be fighting anything. And they won''t even get to see their kids. I wouldn''t want to be anywhere near this place if it were me."


    Isaac hummed. "Maybe it''s the opposite for them? Maybe they feel like being here is the only thing they can do at this point?"


    "When you put it like that¡­" she muttered, trailing off. "Come on, guys. Let''s finish this quick and get the hell out of here. I''m feeling sick again."


    "As the lady wishes." James gave a dramatic bow. "Boss?"


    Isaac summoned Root of Blood to his hand and drew from Bloodbank. Two long daggers, dripping with fresh crimson liquid, manifested at his side. With a flick of his wrist, they floated toward his teammates, who grasped them without hesitation.


    "Damn, this feels weird," James commented as he flipped the dagger in his gray metallic hands. "It sits well but¡­"


    "Feels like I''m trying to hold air," Marie finished.


    Isaac shrugged. To him, all his daggers always felt like a normal weapon. Maybe not on the level of the Root, but quite close.


    "Remember, it''s only a test. Use them as an off-hand. Now, follow me."


    With that, the three of them stepped into the second Quarantine Site of Galt. Distant screeches filled their ears the moment they pushed the entrance doors apart. Yet, just like in the elementary school, there were no Wretched in sight for now.


    "James."


    "On it."


    The older man transformed his right hand into a blade and, without hesitation, plunged it into the small window of the classroom door next to him. Glass shattered, its falling pieces echoing through the entire hallway they found themselves in.


    Before long, the hidden horde''s wails intensified as the entire building trembled from the sudden movement all across it. Wretched spilled out of the classrooms and other nooks and crannies. Their yellow eyes fell on the trio, but unlike the last time, now the monsters acted right away.


    They turned tail and bolted toward the stairs.


    "That didn''t happen last time, right?" Marie asked, her head tilted in confusion.


    Isaac smiled wryly. "No. Let''s go¡­"

 Chapter 33. Second Awakening

    "Clear," Isaac muttered as he yanked the Root out of the final Wretched in the room.


    Muffled sounds of fighting still echoed from the other classrooms or maybe the hallway, but at this point, his teammates didn''t need his help. There couldn''t be more than a handful of Wretched left in the building. The Quarantine Site progress said as much.


    Current Progress: 95%


    Simply seeing this made Symphony of Blood back off and return to its dormant state. Not that its song ever became loud during the whole hunt for the fleeing monsters. The Wretched here, while stronger than those on the streets, were quite weaker than the ones he fought back in the other school. On top of that, there weren''t any crawler types here.


    All in all, aside from a few shallow cuts, the beasts here failed to lower his Virus Integrity by even five percent. They were just too weak and posed no real threat to him and his teammates. Though, he still tried to be careful. He had learned his lesson about fighting recklessly during the cleanup of the elementary school.


    Anyway, while the other two finish up, let''s see what you have for me, Interface, Issac thought as he hopped onto one of the tables in the classroom. He needed to wait for the surrounding bodies to disappear anyway.


    The notifications appeared before him at his call, but he quickly waved off all the ones informing him about the defeated Wretched. As much as he liked to have the confirmation of his kills, he had enough of seeing how many level two and three monsters he had defeated.


    Here you are¡­


    Symphony of Blood, Viron: Potency, and Blood Draw have advanced a tier.


    Isaac nodded. "I will take that."


    With another wave of his hand, the short notification faded, only to be replaced by another. That said, this time, it wasn''t him who summoned it.


    Good job, guys. He smiled.


    Well done, Hosts. You have managed to neutralize this Quarantine Site. Purging in progress. Your reward shall arrive soon. Level progression will be distributed between all contributors.


    You have leveled up! You are now level 10. Distribution of Ascension Power in progress. Power and Regeneration have advanced a tier. Blood Dagger has evolved to the next grade, growing in strength and efficiency.


    No matter how good those two notifications and the following rush of power made him feel, Isaac''s focus stayed solely on the next message. After all, it wasn''t every day that he unlocked the final Interface feature that he knew of.


    Congratulations! Your Origin has grown strong enough to pierce the veil of the Mystical World and establish contact with your Legacy. The process shall begin in exactly thirty seconds. Brace yourself.


    Isaac snorted. "More pain? Go on. Bring it on."


    In hindsight, maybe he should have kept his mouth shut.


    The moment the timer hit zero, his chest constricted, a gasp ripping from his throat. For the first time, the connection to his Origin erupted in pain, spreading it across his body like a raging wildfire.


    Once more, he dropped to the ground, his arms wrapped around himself as he felt his Origin shift and grow. More linking threads rushed out of it, all connecting to different parts of his body¡ªlegs, arms, shoulders, even his head.


    Yet, that still wasn''t the end.


    As the dozens or maybe even hundreds of new links settled, one more branched out from the main connection in his chest. Unlike the others, it didn''t reach for his body. Instead, it shot outward¡ªfar beyond his reach, beyond his sight.


    And just like that, the pain mostly faded, leaving him gasping on the floor.


    "Isaac?!" A voice came from somewhere next to him. "Come on, man! Say something. Open your eyes. Marie! Quick!"


    "Wha¡ª" Isaac tried to respond, only for a coughing fit to cut him off. He spat something out, leaving a sharp, metallic, salty taste in his mouth.


    Blood.


    "Oh, thank fuck, you''re alive." He heard James say. "I don''t know what the hell just happened, but stay still. You ain''t in any condition to move."


    What? What are you talking about?


    Dazed and confused, Isaac forced his eyes to open, blinking the blurriness away. Sure, he felt like hell. His whole body ached, and his throat refused to get any words out, but that didn''t mean he was dying.


    Then, his vision sharpened, and he understood.


    Oh¡­


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    Blood. It was everywhere¡ªon him, around him. His clothes, while previously dirty, now were soaked in the crimson liquid. As for his exposed skin? It was covered in fresh cuts, some smaller, some larger, barely leaving any space untouched.


    Yet, one thing became obvious right away. None of the injuries bled, almost as if his body had no more blood to give. And maybe it didn''t. Hell, even his Bloodbank was empty after all.


    Just then, in the corner of his vision, he spotted Marie rushing into the classroom, her eyes widening at the sight of him. She crouched before him, her hands filling with water.


    "What happened?!" she hissed, glancing at James. "Wretched got him?"


    "I don''t know! He was like this when I came in," James yelled back, fishing out a bottle of water from his backpack. He uncorked it and brought it to Isaac''s lips. "Drink."


    Isaac did just that, taking a few large gulps that soothed his burning throat. Once the older man took the bottle away, he let out a scratchy "Thanks."


    "Don''t speak," Marie ordered. "Save your strength, and let me do my job."


    He coughed again. "I''m¡­ I''m fine¡­"


    James scoffed. "Like hell you are. Listen to the doctor''s orders and stay still, boss."


    Isaac rolled his eyes but stopped his attempts to move. Instead, his gaze drifted to the notifications that had been hovering next to him ever since he opened his eyes.


    Pain Tolerance has reached its maximum tier and broke through to the next grade. Pain Resistance obtained.


    Legacy Web established. Your body is now ready to adapt to the inherited power your Origin is searching for. This process will finish in approximately: 4 hours.


    So that wasn''t even it?


    Isaac wanted to groan but stopped himself. No reason to worry his teammates any further. Instead, he focused on all the new information and forced the Interface to show him more.


    Will you work now? Interface: Legacy.


    [Legacy - A power inherited from one of the many creatures of the Mystical World, the only beings capable of wielding raw Immortal Mana without any side effects. Always perfectly suited to the Host, it shall allow you to temporarily transform into a brand-new form that will grow and evolve during your journey. Unlocks access to Inheritances.]


    Brand new form, you say? What, like a cat? A dog? I guess it could be interesting. No idea how it will help anyone survive though. Need to wait for this process to finish first¡­ But Inheritances? Interface?


    Yet this time, the powerful entity stayed silent. Whatever all of this meant, he would have to wait a few more hours to find out. Not that he really minded. His body wasn''t in any condition to test anything anyway.


    Legacy Web, huh? He thought, glancing at all the cuts on his arms. He then reached to his Origin and all the new threads waiting there. He wasn''t one hundred percent sure if they connected to his injuries, but it definitely felt that way.


    Is this really something every Host has to go through? Damn, Interface, you sure are a sadist¡­


    He closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. Of course, that action garnered his teammates'' attention.


    "Boss? You good?" James asked from somewhere to his right.


    Isaac simply nodded.


    "Ari, can we move him yet?"


    "I have no idea. You''re forgetting I''m not a real doctor," Marie grumbled. "He still looks like he got chewed up by a lawnmower. My skill doesn''t seem to be helping either."


    "Damn." James clicked his tongue. "We can''t stay here. The people outside might start panicking. Besides, don''t know about ya, but I don''t want to be here when the next earthquake hits."


    "I''m not a cripple," Isaac croaked, opening his eyes. "Just¡­ just help me up, and let''s go."


    His teammates looked at each other and nodded.


    "Up you go then," James muttered. He threw Isaac''s arm over his shoulders and hauled him upright. "Ari, lead the way. You have the loot, right?"


    The woman patted her backpack. "All in here. We can split it later."


    "Then let''s move."


    With that, they left the classroom, going slower than ever. Isaac tried to support his weight as well as he could, but in the end, he had to lean on James to avoid falling. His body was almost out of strength¡ªand Viron, he checked.


    By the time they reached the first floor, someone finally broke the silence.


    "So what really happened, Isaac?" Marie asked, keeping her voice low.


    "Legacy," he said, keeping most of his focus on moving his feet. "This¡­ this was the first phase of its awakening¡­ The next¡­ should finish in about four hours¡­"


    "The Interface did you in like this? Holy shit¡­" James muttered. "That''s¡­"


    "Messed up?" Marie suggested.


    James shook his head. "Worse. Fuck. And we have to go through the same shit soon? I think I preferred not knowing."


    "Too late now¡­"


    They continued down the dark school hallway. Yet, before Marie could push the exit doors open, Isaac stopped her. "Wait!" he called out. "Give me a moment."


    "Boss?"


    Ignoring James, Isaac leaned against the wall, taking a few slow, deep breaths. His body still ached all over and every step was a struggle, but he could finally feel his regeneration kicking in.


    "Just a minute or two, then we go," he said


    "But why?" James asked, furrowing his brow. "The faster we get you to the camp, the sooner you can rest."


    "Can''t go out like this... with you supporting me," Isaac explained. "People will ask questions¡­ Not our place to tell them¡­ Leave it to Daryl and the others¡­"


    Marie snorted. "And here I thought you just didn''t want them to see you at your weakest."


    He shot her a bloody grin. "That too¡­"


    She grimaced. "You know what? You''re right. You can''t go out like this. You will scare everyone to death." She glanced at James. "Let''s get him to the bathroom. Maybe, by some miracle, the water is still working."


    And so, despite Isaac''s protest, they dragged him into the nearest bathroom, where, with the help of some toilet paper and a spare bottle of water, they made him a bit more presentable. Every inch of his clothes was still covered in blood, but at least that could be explained by all the Wretched they had killed.


    Marie took a step back, inspecting her work. "Much better." She crossed her arms. "Now the question is, can you walk?"


    Isaac narrowed his eyes at her and, with only some effort, pushed himself off the toilet seat. His legs still trembled a bit, but as he took a few cautious steps forward, they didn''t give in. Even better, some of the smaller cuts on his arms had already begun to scab over.


    "I''m good to go."


    James, standing by the door, grinned. "Well then, let''s face the music."

 Chapter 34. Recovery, rewards

    "This is bad," Daryl said as he paced around the large tent. "Really, really bad. Awakening an Origin and some skills is painful enough, but this?" He gestured to Isaac. "I don''t even know what to say¡­ Are you one hundred percent sure that everyone has to go through that?"


    Isaac rubbed his brow, leaning harder into his armchair. "No. But it''s still a possibility you have to consider. The Legacy Web is created using the connection to Origin. Everyone has it, so the odds aren''t really in our favor. Unless of course, the process depends on what Origin a person has."


    "Right, right," Daryl muttered, resuming his pacing. "Yours is blood, and you regenerate fast. That could be why it went so hard on you¡­ Maybe you''re onto something, kid." He then rounded on the people standing a bit behind Isaac. "You two. How far away are you from level ten?"


    "Too far, sir," Marie answered, stepping forward. "James and I just hit level seven after finishing the Quarantine Site."


    Daryl clicked his tongue. "Crap¡­"


    "I think y''all are worrying way too much about this," James commented as he casually leaned against some stacked crates. "Just tell people to find a safe place after they feel the power rush from their tenth level and leave it at that. Sometimes not knowing is just better. I for sure would have preferred to be left in the dark."


    "If only it were that simple," Daryl mumbled, dropping onto the chair next to Isaac. "Keeping information like this away from the public can quickly turn into a mess. It might be temporary, but for now, Tyler, Cooper, and I are the leaders here. People put their trust in us. If we break it¡­"


    He trailed off, letting the unspoken words hang in the air.


    "You''re overthinking it," Isaac broke the silence. At Daryl''s look, he shrugged. "Trust or no trust, you don''t owe these people anything. You''ve already done enough by organizing them and giving them a place to sleep. Just spread the word that unlocking a Legacy can be painful, and that''s it. I see no point in causing mass panic."


    "And think of it this way, sir," Marie added. "If you tell them what happened to Isaac, you might lose dozens, if not more, fighters. They could jump to conclusions and assume the awakening process is lethal."


    "It could be," Daryl countered.


    She nodded. "Maybe. But there''s no way to know for sure yet. I think we can all agree that basing everything off Isaac''s experience isn''t smart."


    James snapped his fingers. "She''s right. Sorry boss, but you ain''t a good test subject."


    Isaac rolled his eyes. "Oh no, poor me¡­"


    Daryl, meanwhile, glanced between the three of them and chuckled. "What an interesting group you three make. Maybe there are some things to gain from the end of the world after all."


    "What can I say?" James beamed, throwing his arm over Marie''s shoulders. "Those two just couldn''t resist my charm. We''re all best buds now, eh? United by fighting and my handsome face."


    "God save me," the only woman in the tent muttered but didn''t try to push James away.


    "I see¡­" Daryl said, still chuckling. "In any case, what to do next isn''t just my decision. Once Cooper and Tyler get here, we will talk this through. I will, however, mention what you all told me; don''t worry."


    "Have fun with that," Isaac commented. "Got anything for us, though?"


    The older man scoffed. "As if I would send you anywhere in this state. Go rest for a bit, all three of you. If everything goes according to plan, we''ll be moving out soon."


    "Aye, aye, chief," James saluted. "We will make sure this one doesn''t run off."


    What am I? A child? Isaac grumbled internally as his teammates helped him up and led him out of the tent. Just you wait until I recover¡­


    <hr>


    Current progress: 33% | Your contribution ranking: 1st | Time left: 39h:32m:42s


    Not bad, Isaac thought, waving away the message and lying down on his assigned mattress. Half of the time might be almost gone, but the pace is picking up. We might have a chance after all.


    Even if seven percent wasn''t much, it was still more progress than he had expected to see during the night. As for Galt? It was only nine in the morning at this point, and with the last school cleared, the city was mostly safe now. Sure, there were still some stragglers walking around and some buildings left to be checked, but that could be fixed later.


    And all that with only a couple thousand survivors, most of whom don''t even want to fight. Looks like Tyler was right after all. With teamwork and enough willing people, anything is possible.


    He sighed and closed his eyes. Now, the big question was, what next? Where should they all go? Who should they help? And what about Galt and the people who refused to stand against the Wretched?


    Daryl and the others sure have their hands full. Now¡ª


    "Isaac, we''re back!" James'' voice filled the small tent as he and Marie stepped inside. "Brought you food too. It''s a soup. Don''t ask me what kind, though¡ªI have no idea."


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    Isaac opened his eyes and sat up, taking the offered bowl of steaming food. He glanced at the contents and arched an eyebrow at the older man. "Looks like normal chicken soup."


    "I already told him that," Marie grumbled. "He refuses to believe it."


    James crossed his arms. "Excuse me if I have standards. I mean, it wasn''t bad, but it''s got nothing on my mom''s soup."


    "Momma''s boy," Marie muttered, only to get flipped off in return.


    Isaac shook his head and took a sip.


    Still better than anything I had eaten in the last week.


    "Right, Isaac. We forgot about this with all the Legacy mess, but here''s your split from the school," Marie said, placing a brand new Blueprint and a couple of Inferior Virality Gems next to his mattress.


    Isaac paused mid-bite. "You sure? This looks more like a lion''s share, not a fair split."


    "Just take it, man. After last time, I am fine with just some gems. And Ari isn''t leaving empty-handed either."


    Marie nodded and unsheathed a short, curved dagger from her waist. It was dark as night, and despite its sharp, glinting blade, its surface seemed rough, unpolished.


    "Got this," she said. "Nothing too special, but it can cut even through steel. I tested."


    Next to him, James grimaced, his gaze on the short blade. "That she did. Now hide it before you harm someone."


    "By someone, you mean you, yes?" Marie grinned. "Don''t be scared, you big baby. I won''t cut you again."


    "For some reason, I don''t trust that at all," James muttered under his breath.


    Snorting, Isaac ignored the duo for the time being and absorbed the items they gave him. First, the gems, and then the Blueprint.


    You have obtained a new skill, Viron: Regeneration.


    [Viron: Regeneration | Grade: Normal | Tier I]


    A part of a basic filtering technique. It slightly enhances the recovery rate of Viron by your Virus.


    That''s two. One remaining. He smiled, pushing the message away.


    His teammates continued to bicker, so he just returned to his meal, opting to eat it before it got cold. It wasn''t until a couple minutes later that something interrupted the weird sense of peace.


    "Isaac, are you inside?" A voice, a very familiar voice he hadn''t expected to hear anytime soon, came from outside the tent.


    His teammates paused their ongoing banter and glanced at him.


    Hopefully, I won''t regret this, he thought and cleared his throat. "Yeah. Come in, Elaine."


    Just like that, the tent flap was pushed aside, and the woman stepped inside. She looked hesitant, her eyes darting between him and his teammates. Instead of approaching, she stayed near the exit, lacing her fingers together.


    That''s new¡­


    Isaac frowned. Elaine was always so sure of herself, always knowing what she wanted. Hell, her frequent uninvited appearances at his place had proved that well enough. So to see her like this was¡­ strange.


    Marie must have felt that something was off, too, as she grabbed James by the arm and dragged him toward the exit. "Come on, you big oaf," she said. "We need to talk with Daryl anyway."


    It was a bullshit excuse, but Isaac appreciated it nonetheless. Once the duo left, he turned to Elaine and gestured toward the garden chair close to her. She didn''t move.


    Okay then. He sighed. "Didn''t expect to see you so soon. What was that about needing time?"


    The woman grimaced. "I saw you returning to the camp. You didn''t look too good, still don''t," she said, ignoring his words.


    "Elaine¡­ Why are you here? We both know you didn''t come to just check up on me."


    "I did!" she protested, some fire returning to her eyes. "You said it yourself. It''s time to move on from our shitty past. This is me trying."


    Even if Isaac wanted to believe that, he knew this wasn''t all. "I sense a ''but'' coming."


    That took the wind out of her sails. She exhaled heavily and sank into the plastic chair. "You''re right. While I swear I really wanted to see how you were doing, I also wanted to ask you for help."


    Isaac''s eyebrows shot up. "Me?" He pointed at himself. "You want help from me?"


    Elaine scowled. "Yes! Is it really so hard to believe?" She shot to her feet. "This was a bad idea. I should have stayed away."


    Always so dramatic. He rolled his eyes and called out. "Wait. Sorry, I didn''t mean anything by that. I''m just¡­ surprised."


    "Yeah? That makes two of us," she muttered, crossing her arms and retaking her seat.


    "So?" he prompted. "What can I possibly help you with? Unless you need some Wretched killed, I probably won''t be of much use."


    "No, I can do that on my own just fine. What I need¡­ is for you to vouch for me."


    Isaac frowned. "What now? Why?"


    Elaine looked away, looking almost sheepish. "I might have overheard some stuff from Mr. West''s tent a few minutes ago. He and the other two leaders were talking about plans for today."


    "Go on¡­"


    "They want us to split into three groups. The first stays here for¡­ whatever reasons. The second, the biggest one, will move on to nearby towns. And finally, the third group will go straight to Sacramento. I need to be in that group, Isaac."


    His frown deepened. "So? Just ask Daryl. I''m sure he will let you go. I''m not seeing the problem here."


    Elaine let out an aggravated sigh. "They''re only taking the strongest in Galt. Apparently no more than ten people. I can handle myself just fine, but I''m barely at level three. They won''t take me."


    "You don''t know that," Isaac countered. "I doubt they will refuse a volunteer."


    "And if they do?" she shot back, her eyes narrowed. "You want me to go alone? I already considered that, but even I know it would be suicide. Come on, Isaac, just vouch for me. That''s all I ask for."


    He mirrored her expression. "Let''s say I do that. Why? Why do you want to go?"


    Elaine''s jaw tightened. "That''s none of your concern."


    Isaac opened his mouth to argue, only to stop himself. A week ago, he would never let her go without explaining herself, but now? Now, she was right. It was none of his concern. As long as she pulled her weight, her reason to go to Sacramento didn''t matter.


    "Fine," he said, and the woman perked up. "I will vouch for you. But only"¡ªhe held up a finger¡ª"if you ask Daryl or one of the others first. Got it?"


    Elaine nodded. "Got it."


    With that, she stood up and headed for the tent''s exit. However, before she stepped out, she looked over her shoulder and smiled at him. "Thanks, Isaac. You don''t know how much this means to me. Get well fast. I will see you soon."


    And just like that, she was gone.


    Isaac collapsed on his mattress and closed his eyes.


    I really don''t get her¡­