Chapter 5: First Blood

[Congratulations to player "Yazī" for successfully killing a zombie, earning 1 XP and 1 coin][Congratulations, you have advanced to Level 2 and earned 1 free attribute point][Congratulations to the player for becoming the very first person in the Apocalypse Game to kill a zombie, unlocking the exclusive global achievement: First Blood][Global announcement incoming]

Alexander clenched his fist in triumph! It had worked—he had finally secured that achievement! The achievement's bonus might not be earth-shattering, but a global announcement is every player's lifelong dream! The rewards for a global announcement are simply irresistible! In his previous life, even after rising to the status of Warlord, Alexander had never once received a global announcement reward. The challenge was legendary. And now, in the very first second of the apocalypse, he had already claimed that coveted global reward!

Suddenly, a grand yet somber voice boomed out—a voice that resonated as if coming from both the boundless sky and directly into your ears with crystal clarity. Whether you were dodging a freshly turned zombie or still scrutinizing the unexpected announcement panel, every alert and awake player in this world could hear these words:

"Global Announcement: Congratulations to player 'Yazī' for becoming the first to kill a zombie in the Apocalypse Game—boldly taking the first step and earning the one-and-only global achievement: First Blood, along with a bounty of rewards. Let all other players take note!"

At that moment, the entire world erupted in astonishment. Whether players had already embraced the apocalypse or dismissed it as a prank, everyone would remember the name "Yazī."

"Seriously? I haven't even seen a zombie yet, and someone's already killed one?" grumbled a man still checking the announcement.

"Damn it—I don't care who killed the zombie; can someone please get rid of this ugly one chasing me? I'm gonna die!" bellowed another man, desperately pursued by a zombie.

"What? Zombies? What are those, some kind of prank broadcast?" complained a boy who had been immersed in his game; he dropped his console and stormed out, only to have a zombie suddenly leap out and bite off half his face.

"Interesting…someone's even faster than me," observed a man lowering his baseball bat, eyeing the shattered head of a zombie at his feet.

"Waaa, this Yazī guy is so awesome—I wish he could protect me, your princess," daydreamed an ordinary girl in her tiny 50-square-meter apartment.

"Woof, woof, woof… woof, woof, woof…" a small dog barked. (Seriously? Why did you have to chime in?)

Meanwhile, the globally renowned Yazī himself was busy basking in his rewards:

[Global Announcement: Congratulations, player, on unlocking "First Blood"!][Reward received: 1000 Reputation Points, 1000 Coins, 3 Free Attribute Points, and an increase of 1 cubic meter to your inventory capacity.]

Yes! With these rewards, he was now leaps and bounds ahead of everyone else! Reputation is extremely useful—certain gear and items require a minimum reputation to use. Some special shops even offer discounts or bonus gifts based on your reputation.

Coins, in turn, let you purchase items from hidden stores scattered throughout the city—be they gadgets, equipment, or supply cards. Supply cards, especially, are the primary means for players to secure food and ensure their survival; they serve as a safety net for those "unlucky" souls who never get any drops from zombie kills.

And those 3 free attribute points? In the early stages (before Level 10, when you only get one point per level), that's like having a three-level head start! Plus, the extra inventory space means Alexander's carrying capacity increases tenfold!

(Note: Inventory space is only for your own items—not for living things. Whether an item "belongs" to you is entirely determined by the game system. For example, if an enemy slashes you with a knife and you catch it, you can't store it; but if you catch an arrow fired at you, you can stash it away. The system handles these scenarios with absolute fairness.)

After collecting his rewards, Alexander felt elated. He then checked his newly earned achievement: [First Blood]First Blood: An exclusive title awarded only to the very first person in the Apocalypse Game to kill a zombie.Bonus: +1 to all stats, and the first attack each day (after midnight) deals 100% increased damage.

Alexander—who had never pinned high hopes on title bonuses—was pleasantly surprised. A free 4-point stat boost? Not bad at all. And that 100% extra damage on his day's first attack might prove to be a game-changer. Without hesitation, he equipped the title. In that instant, a warm surge coursed through his body, and he could distinctly feel his vitality improve. It looked like he wouldn't need to swap titles for a long time—remember, only one title can be active at a time, and changing it triggers a one-hour cooldown to prevent abuse.

Stretching casually, Alexander's gaze fell upon a necklace glimmering with a green light among the bloodied remains of the zombie. Could it be…a dropped piece of equipment? It suddenly struck him—this was the result of his newly activated cheat: [Absolute Drop Rate]. Could it really be 100%? And on his very first drop, he got a bronze-grade piece?

"Ding: Please use the cheat system responsibly—don't forget it's there.""Sorry, sorry," he mumbled, bending down to pick up the necklace. After a quick rinse to remove the blood, he examined its stats:

[Meditative Necklace] – Bronze-Grade EquipmentWhen equipped: +1 Spirit; increases spirit recovery speed by 10%.

Modest stats, as expected from bronze gear—but even a little extra is valuable when it's free! Alexander promptly adorned the Meditative Necklace.

[Successfully equipped "Meditative Necklace". Note: Only one piece of the same type of jewelry can be active at once.]

It was a pity—his jewelry in his previous life had all been epic-grade masterpieces. But there would be future opportunities to reclaim that glory, for he had once lived through it all.