The world was ending.
He'd known it in his gut before the sirens, the screaming, and the sky bled crimson like a living wound. They'd all called him paranoid. Crazy. A walking red flag.
Now? Now, Logan Walker was the only one alive on his block. Maybe the only one alive in the whole damn city.
He stumbled back from the twitching corpse of what used to be his neighbor—a fitness-obsessed ex-marine who once mocked Logan for building a solar-powered chicken coop in his basement.
Blood-soaked Logan's gloves. It was everywhere—on his arms, in his mouth, sprayed across the cracked concrete of the cul-de-sac. His knife, a high-carbon steel blade honed obsessively over weeks, stuck out of the thing's eye socket.
It hadn't been a clean kill. Nothing about it was clean.
Logan fell to one knee, panting. His ears rang. The wind howled like a dying animal. Somewhere nearby, a car alarm wailed, then sputtered into silence.
And then—
CHIME.
A low, mechanical ding reverberated in his skull, not from outside but deep inside his mind.
You have killed your first infected. Status System Unlocked.]
"What the f—"
He didn't finish. His vision blurred. The sky shimmered. Then everything snapped into perfect clarity. His breath hitched as something clicked in his brain, like a switch flipping behind his eyes.
A faint glow hovered before him—transparent, digital, unreal. But it was there.
His hands trembled. He blinked.
And the panel remained.
[STATUS SCREEN – LOGAN WALKER]
Name: Logan WalkerTitle: Survivor of the Crimson DawnRace: Human (Awakened)Class: [Unassigned]Level: 1
Attributes
Strength: 6
Endurance: 8
Agility: 7
Perception: 9
Intelligence: 10
Willpower: 10
Charisma: 4
Primary Skills (Discovered)
Scavenging [Lv. 1] – Increases chances of locating proper supplies
Engineering [Lv. 1] – Enables repair, modification, and crafting of tech-based items
Close Combat [Lv. 1] – Improves melee accuracy and lethality
Survival Instinct [Lv. 1] – Slight evasion boost under 30% HP
Base Management [Locked] – Requires construction of a permanent shelter
Leadership [Locked] – Requires five recruited survivors
Perks
[Prepared for Doomsday]You can start with upgraded gear and reinforced supplies. Immune to panic effects in early crisis.
[Lone Wolf Instinct]Fighting solo grants perception and dodge boosts. Reduces the effectiveness of group morale boosts.
[Tinkerer's Eye]Can intuitively analyze machines, tech, and weapon quality.
Equipment Loadout(22.6 / 50 units)
High-carbon steel survival knife
Modified taser baton (2/5 charges)
Tactical backpack
EMP-shielded tablet (custom firmware)
Flashlight (crank-powered)
Emergency rations x3
Compact water purifier
Flashbang x1
Hand-forged steel spikes x2
Foldable solar panel
Leather journal
First-aid kit (Partial)
Utility gloves, crowbar, duct tape roll
Achievements
First Blood: Kill your first infectedCrimson Awakening: Survive the initial apocalyptic waveSystem Synchronicity: Unlock your personal status panelIt Wasn't Paranoia: Begin with a fortified shelter and stockpiled gear
Class Options Unlocked (Based on Behavior, Gear, & Mental Profile)
Survivalist (Rare) – Bonus to scavenging, stealth, trap crafting, and evasion
Technomancer (Hidden) – Specializes in electric weapons, drones, and automated defenses
Sentinel (Rare) – Defense-oriented; boosts health, fortifications, and zone control
Outrider (Uncommon) – Focuses on long-distance scouting, animal empathy, tracking
Warlord (Locked) – Requires an established base and followers
Choose a Starting Class, or Defer to Unlock Later.
Logan stared at the panel. His hands still shook.
"No fucking way…"
He stood, wiping blood off his blade onto his pants. The dead jogger at his feet hissed its last breath. The wind carried ash and smoke. The world was quiet again, but not still.
Logan clenched his jaw and whispered, "I knew it."
He didn't smile. He didn't cheer.
He tightened the straps on his backpack, eyes hardening like steel.
Time to move.