6

He wasn't very fast or strong, but it didn't really matter when the cops switched it up to help him take down as many zombies as possible. Those four held back zombies. Only allowing one to head his direction at a time. Switching to batons, and tripping up the zombies to slow them down even further instead of trying to kill them. Giving the awakened time to kill them on their own. 

I had to admit the tactic was pretty effective. Once the awakened system holders gained enough experience then they'd have a better shot without needing the extra help. Plus some of those cops had to be awakened as well. Anyone that survived to the second awakening was highly likely to select a class in a year. I wondered if the secondary awakening would allow those of us that already had a class to select a secondary class. 

I refocused on the important information in front of me for a second. If people were already dying then there was a good chance they'd start calling for volunteers soon. A notification flashed across the top of my screen. Prompting a scoff, and a laugh from me. It was a text with a link.

The nation is in crisis. Are you willing to do your part? Click here to volunteer to challenge the dungeon crisis. 

I didn't need to read anymore. It was only a matter of time before that call to volunteer turned into a mandatory draft. That is if the government lasts long enough to enforce something like that. Sure I could avoid it all, and run to the hills. Pretend it wasn't my problem. 

But....

What good would that do me? I'd decided that in this world of unknown chaos that I wanted to live. I was done being a worthless menial worker who could be replaced easily without a second thought. This was the first time I'd been given a chance to be more. Sure there were strings attached, and if my negative mindset was right, there was just as much hell before me as there was behind me. 

If there was one thing I knew how to do that was work. It didn't matter that I wouldn't be the best warrior or the strongest mage. I would do the one thing I knew best, and that was chip away at the work that lay before me until there was nothing left. A new challenge would be waiting once I was done so there wasn't much point in overthinking it right now. I gave my boss a gentle apologetic I quit type text, and I went downstairs to take care of the rabbits before getting in my car. 

It didn't take me long to research where we were supposed to go if we planned on volunteering. It was going to be a long drive, and maps was telling me about all sorts of delays, and accidents already before I'd even gotten on the road. People had lost their minds, and I wasn't exactly happy I was getting on the road with so many nuts with my tiny little bug. Sure it wasn't as if it was the best maintained vehicle. The interior had suffered quite a bit over the last few years simply because my dark mood made it so I really didn't care as long as the car ran, and drove, but I kind of regretted putting off cleaning it again since the garbage in the front seat was almost in the passenger seat. 

Thankfully the car was a stick so none of that mess ended up under my feet. I confirmed the address again just to be sure before turning on maps, and heading out. I'd have to get some fuel at some point, but all the gas stations on the freeway would probably be loaded with all the panicking hoarders that liked to collect supplies they might not even need. Just like the covid toilet paper mess all over again. I decided to go by one of the lesser known local gas stations instead of one of the ones by the freeway. 

I would still get my employee discount, and it wouldn't be the first place people thought of so I decided to make the casino part of my trip. Most of the people that headed for the casino were more focused on gambling then they were gas so I should be able to fuel up without getting completely fucked over. I wish I could say that I was an adventurous driver who liked to race the clock, but the truth was I was borderline obsessed with going the speed limit. I would go the speed limit or slightly under at all times. Which explained why I was getting passed so much right now. 

I ignored it. I wasn't a racecar driver, and acting like I was would only get me killed in such a small pathetic vehicle. Getting angry at them wasn't really worth it either. The chances of me seeing them again was fairly low so I just told them to fuck off under my breath, and flipped off a few of the more reckless ones, but other then that I let it go. I was taking the backroad route anyway so there really weren't many cars for me to worry about. 

I dismissed a few calls from my boss as I drove the fifteen minutes to work. Just like I thought it would be the gas station was mostly empty as usual. There were only two other cars at the pump, and neither were in my way. The parking lot was fuller then I'd ever seen it. The world might be ending, but at least the casino would make a profit. 

I was nervous so I made random notes to myself as I fueled my little car up. Gas prices as well as the prices for basic necessities were going to explode so this would probably be the last cheap tank of gas I'd get for a while. I checked my oil. Noted it was low, and that I would need to fix that sooner rather then later before getting back in my car, and pulling out just like it was any other day. My boss had called my phone two more times while I was fueling up my car, and I was glad I didn't answer.