Sibling's Sorrow
***
February 07, 2029
Yet another two-day interval since Lucas had invoked his claw to confront the Level 7 zombies. Thankfully, his fingernail had regenerated to its normal state as if by magic after the skill's use. Nevertheless, Lucas still held an aversion to deploying it unless circumstances left him no alternative, such as when a zombie's gnashing teeth had been perilously close to rending his arm.
Over the course of three days, including today, they had diligently explored the immediate vicinity, but the supply of easily discoverable zombies had dwindled. The prospect of encountering new ones seemed to necessitate a more extensive foray from their current abode.
The clock indicated 1:43 p.m. Lucas and Lucy had ventured inside a nearby building to evaluate its potential. A cursory survey of the windows had indicated an absence of surviving tarantulas.
Upon inspection, the interior revealed charred arachnid remains and scattered bones. The origin of these bones—whether from humans or animals—was unclear.
"Is this all there is?" Lucy queried.
"Seems that way," Lucas concurred.
They salvaged the available seasonings from the domicile, all of which showed no signs of imminent expiration. Today marked their departure from this location, having both reached level 20 earlier in the day.
Level 20 felt akin to a significant milestone; an auditory prompt had even designated Lucas as a Tier 1 mutated human. However, the transformation was not as dramatic as expected. While the changes were evident, they resembled a game patch update—noticeable yet not earth-shattering. As for Lucy, she was poised to breach level 20, just shy of a hundred experience points remaining.
"Opening system!"
---
Name: Lucas Tharla
Age: 16 years old
Race: Human Tier 1
Gender: Male
Class: God of Fire and Heat
Subclass: None
Subclass: None
Subclass: None
Level: 20 (10/5000)
Stats:
Agi: 20
Str: 40
Int: 30
Vit: 30
Unallocated Stat Points: 0
Skills:
[Clawing Fang: Manifest a temporary long claw for 30 seconds. (2 uses/day) Grade 1!]
Unallocated Skill Points: 20
Coins: 5000
Achievements Completed: 6 ᐁ
[Silver] Class Change in One Week.
[Silver] Sixty-Eight to Discover the Class Change Building.
[Gold] Eliminate One Level 2 and Nine Level 1 Zombies in Two Days.
[Platinum] Eliminate Four Level 2 and Forty Level 1 Zombies in Four Days.
[Platinum] Eliminate One Level 3 and Ten Level 2 Zombies in Five Days.
[Mithril] First to Clear a Level 8 Dungeon.
Items: 7 ᐁ
Basic Dagger [Common]
Appraisal Magnifier [Uncommon]
Steel Jian [Rare]
Inventory Pouch (97/100) [Epic]
Fire Ring [Heroic]
Hurricane Ring [Heroic]
Fire Robe [Legendary]
---
Emerging from the former tarantula-infested building, they gazed upon the street strewn with corpses. Notably absent were the meandering zombies, casting a temporary calm over the desolate scene.
"How does it feel to be a Tier 1 human?" Lucy jestingly inquired as they strode forward, the glint of their steel swords catching the sunlight. Navigation was relatively straightforward, thanks to the still-functional compass, which remained operational as an offline app.
Lucas chuckled in response. "Not much different, to be honest. Aside from having twice the strength of an average adult man."
"Actually," Lucy corrected, "we both have that strength enhancement now."
Ironically, despite their connection to godly figures and elemental abilities, neither of them could freely employ their powers, as these abilities were granted solely through system items.
"We could be like gladiator mages," Lucas quipped, twirling his hand theatrically to emphasize the point.
As summer's heat bore down upon them, the afternoon sun illuminated their journey, causing both of them to perspire the longer they walked. Unlike the rainy days of January, the current date—eight days into February—ushered in a sweltering heat.
After a couple of hours of relentless walking, Lucy's face lit up with recognition as they approached a building a short distance away.
"Lucas, that building—I know it! It's near my house!"
"Your house?" Lucas echoed in surprise. Their journey hadn't been aimless; rather, they were moving towards predetermined landmarks. Lucy's upbringing had kept her in a sheltered environment, while Lucas, before the apocalypse, seldom needed to navigate the city extensively, instead opting to acquire necessities with his car.
"If we're getting closer to your house, it means we've made our way into the inner city," Lucas observed, gazing at the structure several meters ahead. Taller than anything they'd encountered thus far—perhaps reaching five floors or more—it stood as a symbol of their gradual penetration into the city's heart.
"Lucy, hold on for a moment. I'll check it out first."
This had become their routine whenever they anticipated spending an extended period in a new location. Lucas would employ his hurricane leap skill, vaulting him into the sky to survey the surroundings, avoiding the inadvertent engagement with other potentially hostile humans.
Beneath him, an alleyway flanked the building. Lucas initiated a hurricane leap with a murmur, the wind swirling around him as he ascended into the sky. From this vantage point, he peered across the cityscape. The shopping mall, towering as tall as both he and Lucy combined, stood nearby. Lucas scanned the vicinity, his body rotating slowly as he sought out any hint of movement—an evanescent shadow, a flicker of activity, anything that might signify danger in the otherwise quiet cityscape.
Much like the oncoming rush of zombies, Lucas directed his attention northward toward the massive expanse of the mall. His gaze honed in on a group of survivors traversing the area. His ascent into the sky was swift, and as the allotted seconds passed, he descended in a graceful, spiraling motion.
"Lucas, did you spot anything up there?" Lucy inquired as he rejoined her on the ground.
"There are people in that direction. I saw them fending off zombies using small blades," Lucas reported.
"Small blades... like kitchen knives?" Lucy ventured.
Though her guess was accurate, Lucas refrained from confirming it outright, instead retrieving his pouch.
"Let's shed our cloaks. If we're going to approach them, we need to appear approachable. Wearing these cloaks won't exactly inspire trust," he suggested.
They removed their cloaks, revealing the attire they'd donned that morning after their shower. Lucy wore a denim jacket, while Lucas sported a sweater hoodie. These clothes were better suited to a post-monsoon season, as opposed to cloaks in a land that didn't experience winter.
From the pouch, Lucas extracted a frying pan—previously-stored along with the seasoning—and handed one to Lucy. He had two, in case he needed to instruct Lucy on cooking.
With their gear stowed away, Lucas ushered Lucy forward, leading the way toward the survivors he'd glimpsed earlier. The cloaks were convenient for their self-cleaning property; they ensured that the green stains of zombie blood wouldn't cling to their limited wardrobe, as laundering opportunities were scarce.
After a few minutes of walking, the distinct sounds of combat reached their ears from an adjacent alleyway. Snippets of conversation drifted to them between the clashes of metal against undead flesh.
"Are you kidding me?"
"Just cut it down!"
Bracing himself for a lull in the frustrated voices and ensuring that the zombies had been dispatched, Lucas guided Lucy out of hiding. They emerged from the alleyway, ready to interact with the survivors.
The sudden appearance of Lucas and Lucy appeared to slightly startle the two men in their vicinity, causing them to create some distance.
"Jake, look at this. We got kids here!"
"Yeah, I see it."
From where Lucas stood, he assessed the man referred to as Jake, seemingly in his twenties, as if his dubious hairstyle was anything to go by.
Lucas adopted a pitiable tone, his gaze cast upward, as he implored, "Can we stay with you, Uncle? We've been wandering for so long, trying to evade the zombies. Our parents are gone."
While he couldn't muster fake tears, Lucas made sure his plea sounded as genuine as possible.
"Hey, kid, are you infected? Did your group leave you behind? And you don't look like you've been starving," the older man scrutinized.
Though he and Lucy had consumed a hearty meal that morning before embarking on their journey, they had to maintain the facade of being siblings.
"Our parents were attacked by zombies this morning. They tried to protect us... but..."
Lucas mentally applauded Lucy's improvisation, unsure if her acting skills were up to the task. He continued her narrative, albeit without the sobbing.
"We're not infected, sir. If you'd like, you can check. We're genuinely terrified of the zombies," Lucas asserted, observing the two men. By now, a few individuals from the survivor group were making their way over.
"Alright, if you kids are uninfected, then you're welcome to join us. Come on inside," Jake conceded, motioning for Lucy and the other man to enter the building.
As they walked toward the shelter, Lucas offered an inward prayer. 'I hope this guy is trustworthy and sane.'