To All System Users

"To all system users, for the time being, the movement of the zombies will be stopped for the announcement."

"You see the screen in front of you?" Alden asked several seniors who were still alive.

"We see it; that means we're not hallucinating, huh?"

This time, it seemed that the world had indeed changed. It felt absurd when a screen filled with writing appeared before a human.

"Hello, I am a system that will help you all survive. Currently, the entire Earth is experiencing great shocks due to the zombie invasion. All of humanity that remains must survive with the abilities you have; please check your respective Status windows to find out your strength, intelligence, dexterity, endurance, and skills that you have."

The system continues to explain what humans must do, the point of which is to survive with each other's abilities or form groups. It's just that the system also informs us that there will be a zombie wave if 100 humans gather in one place within a 200-meter radius.

It was also told that if humans managed to kill all the existing zombies or to be precise if the Earth was successfully cleared of zombie infections, then Earth would return to being a safe and normal world like before. And the system also promises that humanity will get a reward in the form of returning all properties, buildings, or anything on Earth to its original state if they really manage to win this war against the zombies.

"Just this is the first notice from me. Good luck, humans. The system will only pop up to give an announcement and will also continue hunting zombies to increase your level and abilities. All zombies will be moving again within one minute. Bye~"

And the notification ends there. Everyone who was still alive began to digest what was going on, and more or less they came to understand. The world is hit by a zombie plague, and the system helps them survive by upgrading their abilities, powers, and more. There are also levels.

"Wait, so you weren't told how to kill those zombies?" There was also no explanation about what gems were on their chests or foreheads. asked Alden in a confused tone.

Max was still silent, but his system screen was showing him something.

"For Regulus Maximillian users only, you are given privileges, or you can call it a 'cheat, by the system. Read the following guidelines as soon as you are in a safe place, and only tell people who are your 'Party Friends, because people who have been designated as Party Friends will not be able to divulge any information you disclose due to an invisible pact. Remember, only tell people who have agreed to be your party friends.'

"Max, how do we go to the parking lot to get my car and pick up our mom?" Alden asked in a worried tone. What a dutiful child he was.

The remaining time for Zombie to move back is 20 seconds, while Max and Alden are still far from the basement parking lot.

"Alden, you walk behind; let me walk in front and deal directly with the zombies that appear," Max ordered.

"Okay, but if you're tired, just let me know, okay? Let's take turns; I also want to try; I don't want to use you like that," Alden said.

Max nodded with a faint smile, his hand gripping the baseball bat tightly, and he tightened his rucksack containing his belongings. Luckily, the things his mother asked Max to bring were all in his office. Max got the iron chain from the Engineering Division, which is on the same floor as the Accounting Division, then a lighter, and only the crowbar he doesn't have.

"You have a crowbar in your car, Alden?" asked Max as he warily stepped down the stairs.

The emergency stairs leading down were quiet enough, and Max was also told by the system that the zombies couldn't open the door. Even if there are zombies in the emergency response area, there are only one or two of them.

"Yeah, do you want to make a weapon? I'll take it later; I happen to have two crowbars in the car," Alden replied.

"Please check the layout of this company for the number and whereabouts of zombies." The system again told Max without prompting.

A hologram showing the floor plan and the entire floor of the company where he stood was shown without disturbing his view ahead; Max could see two red dots one floor below. Max and Alden's whereabouts are marked by name and blue dot, so Max can easily read the chart.

And sure enough, when Max arrived on that floor, two zombies wearing staff clothes attacked him.

BUGH! DUAGHHH!!!

One zombie, one hit. Max managed to overthrow the zombie easily.

'Red Zombie level 1 killed; exp increased. You level up.'

'Retrieve the red gems that fell from the zombie's forehead or chest to strengthen yourself.'

The instruction made Max bend down to pick up the two gems that had been released from the zombie he had just killed.

'I'll take care of this gem thing later,' thought Max, remembering that the system had warned him not to trust anyone other than the people he had agreed to be his party mates with.

"Alden, do you want to be my party partner or not?" Max asked suddenly. He didn't hesitate to invite Alden because he knew that a man who was two years older than him was kind and trustworthy.

"Party mates? Can we do that?" Alden replied asked.

Max nodded and said, "You can. Do you know that now our situation is similar in the game? There is a system, and there are zombies that we can think of as monsters, and those zombies are also ones that we have to kill, right? So there is also such a thing as a party friend, Alden," Max explained clearly.

"Okay. "I want to be your party friend," Alden said with a smile.