The wooden beam, still clutched in Alex’s trembling hands, felt heavier than before, yet also strangely lighter, as if his muscles had suddenly forgotten their limits. The Grey Abomination, its multi-faceted eyes wide with a mix of pain and alien fury, staggered back, its form flickering like a faulty projection. It let out another ear-splitting shriek, a sound that grated against Alex’s very soul, but before it could recover, Verwel moved.
The terrier mix, no longer the fluffy, clumsy pet, was a blur of silver and shadow. His paws, now tipped with elongated, obsidian claws, raked across the Abomination’s already damaged torso. A sickening, wet tear echoed in the confined hallway as the creature’s shimmering grey flesh ripped, exposing a deeper, pulsating void beneath. The Abomination spasmed, its twitching appendages flailing wildly, and then, with a final, gurgling sigh, it dissolved. Not into blood or gore, but into a swirling vortex of the same grey energy that had consumed the city, leaving behind only a faint, acrid scent and a small, glowing shard.
Alex stared, his jaw slack. "Holy... Verwel. You... you did that."
Verwel, panting softly, nudged the glowing shard with his nose.
[Threat Neutralized: Grey Abomination (Corrupted Human)]
[Experience Gained: 50 XP]
[Item Dropped: Grey Shard (Minor)]
The blue screen flickered again, displaying the new notifications. Alex felt a faint warmth spread through him, a subtle strengthening. He glanced at his own stats:
[Alex Mercer]
[Level: 1 (40/100 XP)]
[Class: Unbound Survivor (Initial)]
[Strength: 5]
[Dexterity: 6]
[Constitution: 7]
[Intelligence: 8]
[Wisdom: 7]
[Charisma: 4]
[Skills: Basic Analysis (Passive)]
[Abilities: None (Yet)]
[Energy: 10/10]
"Forty out of a hundred, huh?" Alex muttered, a strange mix of terror and exhilaration bubbling within him. "So, I kill things, I get stronger. Just like a video game. Except... this is real." He bent down, carefully picking up the Grey Shard. It felt cool and smooth, pulsing with a faint, internal light.
[Item: Grey Shard (Minor)]
[Description: A fragment of crystallized Grey energy. Contains residual essence of a corrupted entity. Can be consumed for minor Energy restoration or used in crafting (unknown recipes).]
"Energy restoration?" Alex mused, eyeing the shard. His own energy was at 10/10, so he didn't need it yet. "Crafting? What am I going to craft, a grey-infused frying pan?" He almost laughed, but the sound caught in his throat. This was insane. His dog was a shadow-clawed beast, the world was a ruin, and he had a glowing menu in his face.
Verwel nudged his hand again, then let out a low, insistent whine, looking towards the gaping hole where the outer wall had been. The sounds of the ravaged city were louder now â€" more distant shrieks, the rumble of further collapses, and a chilling, high-pitched wail that sent shivers down Alex's spine.
"Right, boy," Alex said, his voice firmer now. "We can't stay here. This place is coming down." He slung his backpack tighter over his shoulder, the frying pan still clutched in his other hand. "We need to find... somewhere safe. Or at least, somewhere not actively falling apart."
Stepping out of the apartment, the scale of the devastation hit him with renewed force. The hallway was choked with debris, and beyond the shattered windows, the city was a nightmare landscape. Skyscrapers leaned against each other like drunken giants, their glass facades shattered into glittering dust. The streets below were choked with overturned cars, their metal twisted into grotesque sculptures. And everywhere, the oppressive, swirling grey mist seemed to cling to everything, making the air heavy and visibility poor.
"Okay, Verwel, new plan," Alex said, mostly to himself, but Verwel’s ears twitched, listening. "We need to get out of the city center. Find some high ground, maybe. Or just... a place where things aren't actively trying to eat us."
As they navigated the treacherous debris-strewn hallway, Alex kept his eyes peeled, his newly acquired Basic Analysis skill subtly working in the background. He noticed faint, shimmering outlines around certain objects â€" discarded electronics, a fallen backpack, even a cracked water pipe. He focused on a discarded first-aid kit near a collapsed wall.
[Item: Basic First-Aid Kit]
[Description: Contains bandages, antiseptic wipes, and pain relievers. Useful for minor injuries.]
"Huh. Handy," Alex murmured, picking it up and tucking it into his backpack. The System was practical, at least. It wasn't just about fighting; it was about survival.
They reached the stairwell, or what was left of it. The concrete steps were cracked, and parts of the railing had melted into slag. A chilling wind whistled through the gaps, carrying the faint, metallic tang of the grey energy.
"Think this is stable, boy?" Alex asked, testing a step with his foot. It groaned ominously.
Verwel let out a series of short, sharp barks, his silver eyes fixed on something above them. Alex followed his gaze. Perched precariously on the remains of the floor above, a cluster of smaller, insect-like creatures scuttled. They were also grey, their chitinous bodies reflecting the eerie light, and they chittered with a disturbing hunger.
[Threat Detected: Grey Skitterers (Corrupted Insects)]
[Level: 1]
[Danger: Low (in numbers, Moderate)]
"Great. More friends," Alex sighed, but there was a new edge to his voice, less fear, more grim acceptance. He had a System now. He had Verwel. He wasn't entirely helpless. "Okay, Verwel, stay sharp. We're going down. Slowly."
As they began their descent, the Skitterers began to drop, their tiny bodies hitting the ground with soft clicks. Alex swung the frying pan, batting one away. It dissolved into grey mist just like the Abomination, but no XP notification appeared.
"Huh. Guess they're too weak for XP," he grumbled. "Just annoying."
Suddenly, a larger Skitterer, almost the size of his fist, landed on his arm. Its tiny legs scrabbled against his skin, and he felt a burning sensation.
[Warning: Minor Corruption Detected. HP -1.]
Alex yelped, slapping it away. He looked at his stats. His HP was indeed 9/10. "Alright, that's enough of that!"
He focused on the feeling of power that had surged through him when the System activated. It was a faint hum, a potential waiting to be unleashed. He remembered the "Energy" stat. Could he do something with it?
[Hint: Activating certain abilities consumes Energy. Focus your intent.]
Intent? Alex thought, looking at the scuttling Skitterers. He needed something to keep them away, something more than a frying pan. He imagined a burst of force, a protective barrier. He focused on the hum of energy within him.
A faint, shimmering aura, almost imperceptible, flickered around his hand. It felt like static electricity, but stronger. He extended his hand towards a cluster of Skitterers.
[Skill Acquired: Energy Push (Active)]
[Energy Push: Expends 2 Energy. Releases a localized burst of force, pushing back minor threats.]
"No way," Alex breathed, but he didn't hesitate. "Energy Push!"
A visible ripple of force erupted from his palm, slamming into the Skitterers. They were flung backward, hitting the cracked wall with tiny, wet splats, dissolving into grey mist.
[Energy: 8/10]
"It worked!" Alex exclaimed, a genuine grin breaking through the grime on his face. "Okay, this... this is actually pretty cool."
Verwel barked, a sound of approval, then began to sniff at the base of the stairwell. His silver eyes glowed intently.
"What is it, boy?" Alex asked, his newfound confidence making him less hesitant. He followed Verwel, using Basic Analysis on the crumbling concrete.
[Anomaly Detected: Faint Grey Remnant Signature]
[Description: A residual trace of the cataclysmic energy. Indicates a higher concentration of Grey Abominations or a source of the Grey Remnant nearby.]
Alex's grin faded. "Higher concentration, huh? Or a source?" He looked at Verwel, then back at the dark, uncertain path ahead. The System was a tool, but the world was still a death trap. He had power now, but he was still just Alex, trying to survive. And the Grey Remnant was just beginning to show its true face.
"Alright, Verwel," Alex said, a determined glint in his eyes. "Let's see what else this new world has in store for us." He gripped the frying pan tighter, his newly awakened abilities a faint, reassuring hum in his mind. The path out of the city was perilous, but now, he had a chance.