The Anomaly

The morning sun peeked through the tattered clouds as Alexia set out again, her body aching from the previous day's events. She couldn't shake the feeling that the group she'd encountered might try to track her. Trusting strangers was a gamble she could never afford in the apocalypse.

The system's voice interrupted her thoughts.

[Host, would you like an updated route towards the military base or the anomaly?]

Alexia hesitated. The military base promised safety----or at least a semblance of order. The glowing sky, however, pulled at her curiosity. If it was connected to the infection or the system, she needed to know.

"Recalculate a route that gets me closer to the anomaly while staying away from any major threats," she instructed.

[Calculating.... Route optimized. Estimated travel time: 2 days.]

Alexia sighed. "Two days it is."

The system led her into a dense forest, its canopy filtering the sunlight into fractured patterns on the ground. It was eerily quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves. Her machete was strapped to her belt, her senses on high alert.

As she walked, the system chimed.

[New Quest: Investigate nearby sound.]

A faint rustling reached her ears, and Alexia froze. She crouched, her eyes scanning the underbush. It could be an animal---or something worse.

The system displayed a small radar in her mind, pinpointing the sound's source a few meters ahead.

Drawing her machete, she crept forward. The rustling grew louder, accompanied by muffled voices. Peeping through the foliage, she saw a small group of survivors--two men and a young boy huddled around a fire.

Alexia's tactical awareness skill flared. They weren't armed heavily, but desperation clung to them like a second skin.

The boy, no older than ten, looked up suddenly. "Someone's watching us," he whispered.

The men jumped to their feet, one wielding a makeshift spear, the other a crowbar.

Alexia cursed under her breath.

"Come out!" one of the men shouted, his voice rough. "We know you're there!"

Alexia stepped into view, keeping her machete low but ready. "I'm just passing through," she said.

The man with the spear eyed her warily. "You alone?"

"Yes."

The boy clung to the other man's leg; his wide eyes filled with fear. Alexia heart clenched at the sight, but she kept her expression neutral. 

"We don't want any trouble," the man with the crowbar said. "We're just trying to survive."

"Same here," Alexia replied. "I'll be on my way."

Before she could turn, the boy blurted, "wait!"

Alexia paused, her gaze shifting to him.

"Do you have any food? Please.... my little sister is sick. We haven't eaten in days."

She hesitated for a moment, sharing supplies meant lowering her own chance of survival, but leaving them to starve weighed heavily on her conscience. 

After a moment's hesitation, she reached into her dimensional storage using as her backpack as a decoy to reach in for some canned food. she tossed it to the man with crowbar.

"Here. It's all i can spare."

The man caught it, his face a mix of gratitude and suspicion. "Thank you."

Alexia nodded and turned to leave, but the boy's voice stopped her again.

"Miss..... where are you going?"

"Someplace safer," she said without looking back.

As darkness fell, Alexia set up camp in a small clearing, her back against a large tree. The system alerted to the presence of infected nearby, but they hadn't picked up her scent. Yet.

She reviewed her stats, noting the remaining upgrade points she hadn't spent.

"System, what's the most efficient way to use my points right now?" she asked.

[Recommendation: Allocate points to Agility, Mental Strength and Intelligence for enhanced combat readiness and decision-making under pressure.]

"Do it."

[Points allocated. Updated stats available.]

[Updated Stats]

Attributes:

Physical Strength: 12 +10 (+ system upgrade, grade c)

Agility: 18 +15

Endurance: 20

Mental Strength: 19 +15

Intelligence: 19 +10

Alexia felt the changes immediately. Her reflexes seemed sharper, her mind clearer. It was as if the system's upgrade were rewriting her body and mind, preparing her for what lay ahead.

The night passed uneventfully, but Alexia slept lightly, her machete within arm's reach.

By midday, the next day the faint glow she'd seen before appeared on the horizon, shimmering like a distant mirage. It was larger now, pulsing with a rhythm that seemed almost alive.

The system chimed:

[Warning: Energy readings indicate potential danger. Proceed with caution.]

Alexia's jaw tightened, "Noted."

As she moved closer, the forest began to change. The trees were twisted and blackened, their bark crackling like old leather. The air grew colder, and an unnatural silence blanketed the area.

She crouched low, her eyes scanning the eerie landscape. Ahead, she spotted a massive crater, it edges glowing with an ethereal blue light. The sight sent a shiver down her spine.

[Analysis: Anomaly appears to be a source of unknown energy. Caution advised.]

Alexia inched closer, her tactical awareness on high alert. She didn't notice the figure watching her from the shadows, their eyes glinting with a predatory gleam.