Base Secured

The dim light of the late afternoon filtered through the shattered windows of the grocery store. Adam Reyes stood among the ransacked shelves, his rifle still warm from the recent skirmish. The sight of the fallen zombies outside the store's broken doors churned his stomach, but he forced himself to stay focused.

"Commander," Captain said, standing at attention beside him. "Recommend we secure a nearby building before moving further. Rest and resupply are critical for operational success."

Adam nodded. The reality of the apocalypse was beginning to sink in. Wandering the streets aimlessly was a death sentence. They needed a defensible position, a place to gather their thoughts and plan their next move.

"Alright," Adam said, his voice steadier than he felt. "Let's find somewhere secure. Scout, any suggestions?"

Scout stepped forward, pointing across the street. "There's an abandoned office building nearby. Multiple floors, reinforced doors, and limited entry points. Should be defensible."

"Good. Let's move," Adam ordered.

---

The team crossed the debris-strewn street in a tight formation, their rifles sweeping for threats. The office building was a nondescript structure, its exterior scorched but intact. A metal gate hung loosely on its hinges, creaking as they approached.

"Clear the ground floor first," Adam instructed.

The squad moved in unison, their boots barely making a sound on the cracked tiles. The lobby was eerily quiet, lit only by the dim glow of the setting sun filtering through the broken windows.

"Movement detected," Scout whispered, his rifle trained on a shadowy hallway.

Adam tensed, gripping his weapon tightly. The faint sound of shuffling and low growls echoed from the darkened corridor.

"Engage," Adam said, his voice firm.

The squad opened fire, their rifles flashing as bullets tore through the shadows. Three zombies staggered into view, their grotesque forms illuminated by the muzzle flashes. Adam's Basic Shooting Skill guided his aim, and his shots found their mark, striking the creatures in their decayed skulls.

The zombies collapsed one by one, their bodies twitching before going still.

> "Gold collected: +120."

"Experience points gained: +50 XP."

The notifications appeared briefly in Adam's vision, fading as quickly as they had come. His total resources updated seamlessly. He felt a subtle surge of satisfaction—the system handled the tedious parts, allowing him to focus on surviving.

"Nice work," Adam said, his voice steadying.

Unbeknownst to him, the soldiers' contributions were vital. Each kill they secured granted Adam 25% of the experience points while all the gold went directly to him. Their efficiency was as much a boon as the system itself.

---

With the ground floor cleared, Adam and his squad moved methodically through the building, securing each floor. They encountered more zombies—most were slow and clumsy, but a few were unnervingly quick. Each engagement left Adam's heart pounding, but the squad's precision and discipline carried them through.

> "Gold collected: +180."

"Experience points gained: +80 XP."

By the time they reached the top floor, Adam's gold total had risen to 5350, and his XP sat at 155/200.

"Building secured," Captain reported as they finished sweeping the last room.

The top floor was an open office space, its wide windows offering a view of the ruined city. Desks and chairs were scattered haphazardly, but it was quiet and defensible.

"This'll do for now," Adam said, slumping into a chair.

The soldiers remained standing, their posture rigid. Adam looked at them, feeling a pang of guilt. They might not have been entirely human, but they still moved and acted like living beings.

"Alright, everyone. Take shifts resting," Adam ordered. "We'll need to keep watch and stay alert."

The soldiers saluted, and two of them moved to secure the stairwell while the others took seats near the windows.

Adam leaned back, his rifle resting across his lap. The weight of the day pressed down on him, but there was a strange sense of accomplishment as well. They had survived their first skirmishes, gathered resources, and secured a safe zone.

The faint hum of the system's presence lingered in the back of his mind, a constant reminder that this was only the beginning.