Ethan must have looked exhausted and weak due to his bloody appearance, carrying just a piece of unknown meat like a caveman, not someone would consider a deterrent when picking victims in the ruined city.
They did look like the biggest and easiest group to pick on, somewhat, in a very specific manner, lots of material - not a lot of defence. It was but a matter of time.
A group stops in the middle of their way. A group of four men, three holding knives, the leader holding a gun, of course, his confidence is so high, he didn't even point the gun, just move it around like an idiot showing off a toy.
Blocking the way the gunman took initiative, “we would like to have your rations and girls, please”
Three men and a half men, and 8 girls.
‘Seriously, we do look like the easiest target ever, aside from the many hidden weapons we carry' Ethan gave a quick back check to confirm where things went so bad for this clown to dare speak with them.
Looking at his father, Ethan asks, “Just one is fine?”
Using inspect, the gunman is the only one in at level 2, therefore he was assumed to have already killed someone, unlike his lackeys. The father-son duo quickly caught on this.
“if the other won't cause further problems” he understood immediately his son's intention and reluctantly agreed to his reasoning.
With a nod Ethan turned to the armed man, “why is it always the man with the gun? Okay take it, coming to about 6 Meter distance he suddenly throws the wolf leg to the gunman who waved the gun all over unprofessionally.
The bloody piece of meat made him recoil backwards, he was not ready for that, caught by surprise, the gunman dropped the gun due to the poor handling of it.
Using the moment of confusion, Ethan leaps over to take over the gun, his long knife drawn for whatever resistance the man might have.
Over confident by unarming the gunman he comes over and picks up the meat, that's when man jumps him by surprise with a knife.
Closing his eyes, Ethan was ready to accept the first hit, hoping that it would be a minor one he could retaliate from.
But the small blade of the knife never made it, instead, from behind a shot was fired and the man fell less than a meter from him.
Looking back, he saw John holding the handgun he gave him, smoking.
Inspecting his father he saw the level increase in real time, as his father’s face flinched.
As the three left robbers ran away, Ethan walked to his father, “It was your first time?”
The tone Ethan used was a dead give away of his distraught and regret. His actions caused his father to take a life for the first time.
Looking at his son meaningfully, he took about half a minute to digest what just happened, almost losing his son, killing a man…his next words and actions must be precise.
“It is, and I am not regretful by no mean” John said as if reading his son’s thoughts
Putting the piece of meat down, Ethan replied, “I got over confident, you saved me, thank you father” he did a small formal gesture of gratitude, had they not had a crowd he was not messy and bloodied he would have hugged him.
Answered by a strong slap to the back of his head, “fighting a giant wolf but falling for this?! Next time I'm shooting you in the leg! Get your head straight!”, he was visibly angered after processing what was most likely the system notice of defeating an enemy and leveling up.
His mom joined the fray and landed a good slap on Ethan’s back, “what were you thinking? Did you become superhuman to get killed by a street brute!?”
The group on other hand could barely hold their laughter for such a poor display and their leader getting scolded by his parents.
‘Goodbye, dignity’ Ethan moves to the body of the leader mourning his lost respect not daring to look at the laughing crowd.
Using devour, Ethan used devour on the dead leader's energy and moved on, no presents from the system this time. But overall, he now has three handguns on his person, one on his father, one with Dana and one with Rina.
Moving on he could hear the group roasting him, it was the best team activity and entertainment they had so far, so he let it be.
Ed teamed up with Max in this campaign, “the leader who kills great beasts, falls to a street thug”, “commander baby knife”, everyone laughs, even his sisters, his parents, though, just shook their heads disapprovingly, poorly hiding their amusement .
‘Humans adaptability is true freighting’ Ethan looked at the people with children that manage to make fun of a situation that ended with a robber getting shot and looted.
So they kept on walking the ruined streets, the air was still full with dust carried by the warm yet strong breeze of the winds, a feature of weather that was really rare to none existent in this area of the planet.
Some areas and passages they went through brought forth smells they knew too well by now and really wish to avoid, decay and iron…
They were victims of two more muggings attempts, but those were low level idiots with some knives, getting dual pointed by the father-son duo, they fled.
“If we can get a bit more guns we could build a small combative squad” Ethan pondered out loud.
Making him receive a dirty look from his mother, clearly she was not a big fan of this concept. Ethan kept that idea in the back of the head for whatever may come.
Braving and walking the remnants of the destroyed city, the shopping center came to sight in the distance. Looking at it from a strategic point of view: there was no really close by building now with the world expanding, the highway that surrounded the shopping center from all over gave it a bit more of a maneuvering space as a defensive structure, the high building all around it collapsed now ar maximum the third of it previous heights and the parking loot and highway surrounding it created a nice dead space for observations.
To conclude it is now a distanced and prime location to hold defense in with optional expansion if need be.
“Max, we're gonna see your family soon!” The sisters duo hyped little Max as the shopping store came in sight, He started running leaving everyone to start following his excitement.
Ethan Let that scene continue for a moment or two, letting Max lead.
Looking back everyone ran with him, the young kid’s eyes beamed with warmth, tears of excitement started forming in His eyes, getting closer to the parking lot it was time to stop and move slowly with the group.
There is the weird dungeon gate, goblins spawning around here, and the guard team might jump the bullet taking them for attackers.
So they did, moving slowly they made their appearance known, the guards stopping them, Ethan now all bloody and disheveled, he was not recognizable.
Inspecting them he saw they were all level 2, ‘the goblin training?’ he pondered
“Who are you? State your business!” a guard shouted.
“It’s me, The one who killed the big goblin, can you call Dana out?” Ethan cooperated and acted nicely towards them.
With a faint realization, probably briefed about his return, they called Dana.
To his surprise Dana showed up, holding a 1.5 meter metal bar with the 50cm knife held by multiple screws - undoubtedly a fine spear that could pack some punch.
Behind her a whole squad, 24 including the 2 guards that stood in the entrance.
“You look… like you smell very Bad” Dana teased , “come on, don't you recognize your commander?” she told the guards with a serious face on her face.
Half of Ethan's group laughed at the random girl’s jab - The joke about “Commander baby knife” solidified further.
“I don't understand,” Ethan replied dryly, his confusion showing.
“Let’s get you some water first, there is a lot to put you up to speed with. Max, Ethan and family, please, follow along” she gestures drawing an invisible line in the group with her hand wave.
“The rest of you, get in, a few organizers will naturally attend to you - Everyone, welcome to black sun fortress” Dana introduced the newcomers.
Turning to the guards Dana spoke once more, “all of you, you know what to do, we shall meet for an update soon” She Said and gestured for Ethan, his family and Max to follow.
Looking around, the transformation inside was amazing, the blood and corpses were cleaned, and all the lower area and stores became a living quarter separated by males and females, for families with children, department stores were improvised into sleeping rooms, the putrid smell of blood was switched with very mediocre air refresher - not that he can complain.
The supermarket is now a closed area, when not kept by one of the brothers, its guarded by two guards all the time. Only a selected few were allowed in, but a small amount of food That will be useless in a few days time is given freely.
With electricity out, might as well use it to boost morale instead of letting it rot and throw It.
Turned off torches were improvised in the main areas’ walls and buckets of water by it in case the fire burst out of control.
Using the multiple water heaters that were full, a rationed communal bath was introduced and established. Well, it was half a bucket for a person, but what can they do?
“Get a quick wash and we shall meet in a moment” Dana offered her tourist group - they happily complied - just walking those damn streets made them feel violated.
Twenty Minutes later they moved on once more, as Dana introduced them to this place, they clearly haven’t slept much, or at all.
The second floor is for guards or Above in role, Private or special cases, people in need, love making rooms, injured and stuff like this.
A certain option made them raise a brow, but it was very much reasonable, and far located from the living areas, so there's that.
Going to the third Floor, “this is ours” she stated.
“The high class administration floor, Rina, Rowan, their cousin - aka broken arm Jamey, Leah and her family, and two More well known people who had businesses around and made this whole transformation a possibility in the 15 hours you were away” Dana explains.
“Max, your family waits for you here, lead the way”, opening a door that was not destroyed by the goblins, a fancy shop that converted into a decent living space for a family is now in sight.
The boy sees his whole family in the middle of a heated argument, he runs to them, calming the greatest panic attack they had in their life.
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“Ethan, you brought him, thank you! Thank you so much!” Leah started crying, hugging her son, Anna, Max’s sister, also jumped in “Why didn't you two come to help dad close the office!” She harmlessly thumped her fist her little brother's head.
Guy is still incapable of moving easily, but visibly better, he stands up and holds Ethan’s hand.
“someone found a health regeneration item from a spawned goblin, Leah basically bit his head of, but I'm better thanks to it, that aside,” the grip on Ethan’s hands increases, his eyes turns as serious as one can look, “we…I am forever in your debt, let's make this place one worth living in, even if the world turns upside down!”
Looking At his family, a tear forms in his eye, “If I may?” He turns and joins the family hug.
“Time for us to leave, Leah, get ready for a meeting in an hour” Dana gives Leah a shout out, Leah Thumbs up an arm from the pile of four hugging and crying people.
moving a few stores a side, "these two stores are yours, one has three rooms, for your folks and each sister, and this one has two big rooms and a communal area” Dana explains.
“Two?” Ethan tilts his head in confusion.
“One for you and one for me, there is a communal Space, separating the rooms…It is not like we are going to share a room” she lowers her head to hide her visibly reddening cheeks.
“This is The world end, I don't care how or what, I got a room for myself, what more can I ask for” Ethan shrugs.
His sisters jump on him with harmless to ‘ouch’ grade slaps, “you are too dense!”, “that's not how you answer to this!”.
His parents looked at the scene, their eyes full of amusement and approval toward the young beauty, they kept quiet - their gaze was enough of a statement.
Dana, for the first time, although still red in the cheeks she laughs, loudly and honestly.
‘Shoo’-ing his sisters and parents, “go see your your rooms and stop with this nonsense, let's meet in an hour with everyone”
“Wait!” She stops Ethan’s family, her voice high pitched and panicked, “It is nice to meet you! Your son Ethan saved my life, saved us all here and I want to say thank you too and hope we could get along!”
Sarah bursting into laughter took her in for a big hug out of nowhere, Their collective decision about Dana is decided, “Welcome to the family!” Sarah greets.
Zoe and Lily came to her, each holding a hand, “You now need to help us make his life harder, that's the condition” Zoe prompted, Lily nodding furiously.
Knowing her story, they cooperated perfectly, causing her heart to warm up, she almost started happy crying once again, but Ethan needed to stop this before she is completely corrupted by the two sisters, “Enough, begone imps” Ethan play the part, theatrically pushing his sisters away, holding Dana hand her takes her to their new living room.
“Don’t listen to them!” He complains in a volume that is very much heard by them.
Laughing, Dana let herself getting carried away by him waving the family away.
Entering the store with Dana, letting her go in first like the impressive gentleman mom grew him up to be. He turns Dana the moment the door closes and blush, he really don’t want to get romantically involved so early but he really wanted to say this, especially with how competent and carrying she was building this space for them, “I miss you, thank you for your hard work”
She started crying like never before, overwhelmed by the last 3 minutes. Such a strong and familial connection. This scene she just took part in, was one she longed for in years, one she only saw in rom-coms. A scene from her wildest and sweetest dreams just came to be among the remnants of a destroyed world with a bunch of strangers, the absurdity, the intensity of it all was euphoric.
scared, Ethan side eyed her face and saw she was smiling and laughing between tears. With visible relife he gives her a warm hug.
After a long hug, she replies “I love them, you are all amazing”, Holding herself from getting more emotionally simulated, she takes a few breaths, and asks “How is the world outside? How was the way here?” Her warm smile dimmed, remembering Ethan coming back bloodied and slightly harmed by something.
Sitting down he talked about the people he saved and sent here - to which she replied that most of them made it safely, speaking of a mysterious and kind hearted person directing them here after saving their lives.
He is now quite a celebrity, the hero you shouldn’t piss off, or else he will break your bones. Funnily enough that is exactly what his current reputation among the survivors.
The burglars, the woman and family next door, his assumption of the world transformation affecting more easily existing elements, the fight with the wolf, the new skill, the mana core…THE MANA CORES?!
Jumping all of a sudden he gave Dana a heart attack, “where are the bodies of the dead goblins?!”
“What do you…oh…” she was quick to catch, leading him to a place in the parking lot, a pile of ashes still smoking, “we started the fire in the morning to not withdraw attention from monsters And men during the night. a goblin spawns out every hour”
Getting closer to the Pile of ash the smell was remarkable, Badly remarkable.
“What we did about…the people?” His voice’s excitement dimmed.
“The same but individually, and a lot more respectful” She added, “Some people suggested that with monsters and magic, we can’t keep corpses intact around us, speaking of ghosts and ghouls”
“Ghouls? That’s oddly specific, we have more fans of the genre I guess” He assumed with a pondering gaze.
“That’s what they claimed” Dana admits, approving his assumptions
looking at a small skull he picked up, he couldn't think of it as anything else but demonic, the teeth Were sharp, and the eyes sockets, so small and sharp.
He went to what looked like The remnants Of a goblin, with a glove he prepared for the happy occasion, he scattered the ash that was once a ribcage, in it a single piece of flesh remains intact in a somewhat Circle shape.
Picking up a piece of flesh with his hands he almost threw up, even Ethan, had his limits with first time experiences.
The weight of it was a clear sign, peeling the flesh, A small stone, a mana core was found.
Dana pondered about what Ethan told her of the evolution requirements when she saw him pull the weird stone, and succeeded. her offensive active skill could also evolve and the requirements were quite difficult.
“Ethan, my heavy strike skill can also evolve, but the requirements are weird” she read the relevant information out lot
“evolution Requirement:
Kill 50 first circle entities Using heavy strike (6/50)
Kill 5 second circle entities using heavy strike (0/0).
I think it's time to speak about the elephant in the room, circles of power? What do you think it is?” She asked Ethan.
Recalling the achievement from killing the hobgoblin he talked to her honestly.
“I think it is like tiers, the limits of each circle Are the creature levels. Killing the level 10 hobgoblin I got an achievement for killing a creature one circle of power higher than me.
I can only assume level 10 is the beginning of the second” He stops and reorganize his thoughts better
“When I…defeat humans the system regards them as ‘classless humans’ but I never saw ‘classless’ tag on a creature’s name, it might be humans’ thing. There is also this concept of gaining basic class or profession after a short tutorial phase in games” Ethan crossed his arms and hoped she got the gist of it, and that he is even right with his guesses, maybe she will offer some perspective he missed.
“The resemblance of the system to that of a game is too absurd, childish even, are you sure it’s safe to base this knowledge on games and stories?” she asks skeptically.
“That's because you are relating it to games and sticking modern humans concepts to it, you see ‘game’ as childish but can you argue the efficiency and interest it adds? Imagine it was just brutal death fights all over, this whole universe would've been maddened. I'm sure there is a higher cause. Also with everything so organised, numerically valued and categorised, this is not a random choice, If this was a bet I would bet 85% percent on my assumption” he shrugged, what else can he do but accept his fate.
“If that is true, I'm having a massive beef with the gods” she states fearlessly.
“You and few tens of millions of humans, not including possible other races” Ethan laugh it off, tightening his gloves he turn to the pile of smelly ashes
[Ding! Mind increased by1!]
“Changed my mind, I am going all in on this bet…I'm going to continue, please, make people avoid coming to see this, my reputation is bad enough even without seeing me tearing apart burnt goblin corpses” he sighs exasperated.
“You are underestimating your reputation” she replies, ‘this meeting is gonna be fun’.
Hour later, Ethan holds a small supermarket bag with 17 small and uneven sized Stones, adding the wolf’s core - 18 in total.
Just as he was about to try the skill upgrade, Dana came to call him to the meeting.
He decided to share the process with her, she might as well be there for the worst case scenario, who knows what would happen.
“I am about to upgrade my skill, can we be 3 minutes late?” Ethan asks
“We are not running anywhere, entertain me” she answers, her eyes bright with curiosity.
He uses mental commands and arrives at the wanted system page.
[Ding!
Type: Passive skill
Name: Danger sense
Grade: Common
Evolution requirement: 15 first circle cores (15\15)
Evolution requirement met, Evolve?]
‘Yes!’ he calls mentally, if an inner voice could break, he would sound like a 12yo that got jump scared.
The 15 cores he organized in front of him started to dissipate and visible deep purple mist floated into his chest.
An intense wave of heat washed all over him, after half a minute the mist completely absorbed and he felt nothing different.
3 seconds later, a system prompt.
[Ding!
Skill upgraded
Type: Passive skill
Name: danger sense
Grade: uncommon
Description: dangerous moments and ill intentions toward the user triggers the user awareness
Buff: sixth sense that alarms the user from dangerous experiences and ill intentions directed towards him]
‘Nice, Status!’
[Ding!
Name: Ethan Tesher
Class: None
Level: 6
Race: Human
Stats:
Strength: 16 (+2 + 0.5%)
Constitution: 8 (+2 + 0.5%)
Agility:14 (+2 + 0.5%)
Mind: 11(+2 + 0.5%)
Charisma: 9 (+2 + 0.5%)
Free point: 0
Skills:
- spirit of a warrior (uncommon) - passive
This is a skill that increases the efficiency of any living being wielding a weapon
Buff: Efficiency is increased when wielding , training , or studying a weapon
- danger sense (uncommon) - passive
dangerous moments and ill intentions toward the user triggers the user awareness
Buff: sixth sense that alarms the user from dangerous experiences and ill intentions directed towards
Bloodlines:
- a spark of unknown origin (rare)
A bloodline originating from ???, with the potential to ???, capable of ??? beyond limits.
Talent 1: guided by ???
Allows the user to use the ??? of the ??? to guide the user to a preferred and optimal outcome, based on duration and amount of guidance it receives, there shall be a weakening period after use.
Talent 2: Devour
Consume external energies, tames them and makes them one with ???.
Talent 3: ???
???
Achievements:
- Bloody start - rare:
Killing an enemy at the first minute of the world awakening.
Buff: +2 to all stats.
- Outer circle I - rare:
Killing an enemy from one circle of power higher than yours.
Buff: 0.5% to all base stats]
‘Amazing!’ He looks proudly on his status page.
The shine of her new spear pulls his attention, and he comments for the first time, “by the way this bad boy, did you build it?”
“No, one of the survivors who saw the old one get wrecked by the hobgoblin said he has good hands for it and offered a quick fix with a random metal bar that was once a handrail, impressive, right?” She presented her spear like it’s her new favorite toy showing a quick 360 with both arms to show off.
“It really is, now stab me with it” Ethan asked all of a sudden catching her by surprise.
