The Sovereign’s Gaze
The morning after the night assault dawned cold and tense, a thin mist curling around Safe Zone Delta's battered walls. Alex woke to Riley's soft breathing, the shack's quiet a stark contrast to the chaos outside. The Overseer's Shards—three now—sat heavy in their pocket, their glow a constant reminder of the Sovereign's looming presence.
**Status:**
- **Name:** Alex Carter
- **Level:** 12
- **Class:** Undetermined
- **Stats:**
- Strength: 15
- Agility: 13
- Endurance: 15
- Intelligence: 7
- Perception: 12
- **Virus Resistance:** 90%
- **Skills:** Vital Strike II (75% increased damage to weak points)
- **Inventory:** Overseer's Shards (3), Reinforced Gloves, Steel Dagger, Machete, Compact Medkit (3 uses)
- **EXP:** 420/1600
**Active Quest: Hunt the Sovereign's Lieutenants**
- **Objective:** Collect 5 Overseer's Shards (3/5)
- **Reward:** 5000 EXP, System Evolution
- **Penalty:** Sovereign's direct intervention**
**Daily Quest: Strength Training**
- **Tasks:**
- Lift heavy objects: 0/30
- Strike a target: 0/60
- Kill 4 zombies: 0/4
- **Reward:** 50 EXP, +1 Strength
- **Penalty:** -5 Virus Resistance**
The Sovereign's activity alert from last night lingered—zombie aggression was up, and Alex felt it in the air, a pressure building like a storm. Marcus's ultimatum weighed heavier: frontline or chains. They couldn't afford to falter now.
Riley stirred, rubbing sleep from their eyes. "Alex, you look like hell. Did you even sleep?"
"Enough," Alex said, forcing a grin. "Got work to do. Stay inside today, okay?"
Riley nodded, but their worry was plain. "Be careful."
---
Outside, the safe zone was on edge. Guards doubled their patrols, and survivors whispered about the Overseers. Alex found Lena near the armory, sharpening her pipe weapon. She glanced up, tense.
"Marcus is on a warpath," she said. "He's rallying a crew to hunt whatever's stirring the zombies. Wants you with them."
"I figured," Alex said, checking their gear. "I've got a plan—hit them before they hit us. The shards point to a hotspot north, near the old train yard."
Lena frowned. "You're sure? That's a death trap—overrun months ago."
"Exactly why an Overseer might be there," Alex said. "I'll convince Marcus. We need to end this."
She gripped the shard Alex had shown her, its pulse steady. "If this Sovereign's watching, every move counts. I'm in—but we're running out of room to hide your secret."
"I know," Alex said. "One step at a time."
---
Marcus stood by the gates, barking orders to Kai, Sara, and a handful of guards. His eyes narrowed as Alex approached. "You're late. Ready to prove yourself?"
"Yeah," Alex said. "I've got a target—train yard north. Shards say it's a nest. We hit it, we might stop the next wave."
"Shards?" Marcus's voice sharpened. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Alex cursed inwardly—too late to backtrack. "Found them on the Overseers. They're... clues. Point to where the big ones hide."
Marcus studied them, mistrust etched deep. "You're full of surprises. Fine—train yard it is. But you're upfront. No dodging."
"Deal," Alex said, relieved to sidestep more questions—for now.
The crew—Marcus, Lena, Kai, Sara, and three guards—headed north, the mist thickening as they neared the train yard. Rusted tracks stretched into the distance, flanked by derelict cars and crumbling warehouses. Alex activated a shard:
**Analysis: Threat Detected**
- **Location:** Train Yard Depot
- **Composition:** 20 Grunts, 5 Runners, 2 Brutes, 1 Overseer
- **Threat Level:** Severe**
"Big group," Alex warned. "Overseer's in the depot."
Marcus grunted. "We've handled worse. Kai, scout ahead."
Kai slipped into the mist, returning with a grim nod. "Packed tight. Overseer's in the back, directing."
"Same plan," Marcus said. "Clear the small fry, then the leader. Alex, you're with me."
The crew advanced, weapons ready. Alex tackled their daily quest first, lifting chunks of debris along the tracks:
**Lift heavy objects: 30/30**
They struck a rusted car with their machete, steel ringing:
**Strike a target: 60/60**
The noise drew Grunts, and Alex cut down four with Vital Strike II:
**Grunt defeated. +20 EXP (x4)**
- **Daily Quest Complete**
- **Reward:** 50 EXP, +1 Strength**
- **EXP:** 550/1600**
- **Stats:** Strength: 16 (+1)
- **Virus Resistance:** 89% (-1% from combat)**
The system chimed as the crew engaged the horde. Grunts fell to blades and bullets, Runners darted through the chaos. Alex and Marcus took on a Brute, their combined strength toppling it:
**Brute defeated. +300 EXP**
- **EXP:** 850/1600**
The Overseer emerged from the depot, taller and leaner than the others, its claws gleaming. A psychic wave hit:
**Warning: Overseer Psychic Suppression**
- **Effect:** -2 to all stats (5 minutes)**
Alex's Strength dropped to 14, but they pressed on, dodging a Runner and slashing the Overseer's arm:
**Critical Hit! +50 EXP**
Marcus roared, axe sinking into its side, while Lena and Kai flanked the remaining Brutes. The Overseer's voice rasped in Alex's mind: "The Sovereign sees you, Lazarus child."
"Shut up," Alex snarled, driving the Steel Dagger into its chest. It screeched, psychic grip fading, and Marcus finished it with a brutal chop:
**Overseer defeated. +400 EXP**
- **Quest Update: Hunt the Sovereign's Lieutenants**
- **Progress:** 4/5 Shards**
- **Level Up! Level 13 Reached**
- **EXP:** 300/1800**
**Stats:**
- Strength: 17 (+1)
- Agility: 14 (+1)
- Endurance: 16 (+1)
- Intelligence: 7
- Perception: 13 (+1)
The fourth shard dropped, its glow intense. Alex grabbed it, the crew panting around them. The train yard fell silent, the horde vanquished.
Marcus wiped his axe, staring at Alex. "Another shard, huh? You're collecting these things like trophies."
"They're useful," Alex said, pocketing it. "Help us find the next one."
"Useful," Marcus echoed, voice cold. "We'll see."
---
Back at the safe zone, Alex locked themselves in the shack, Riley out helping with repairs. They merged the four shards' Commune effect, bracing for the flood:
A vast underground complex—Project Lazarus's heart. Scientists argued, "The Sovereign's awake—it's rewriting the protocol!" Overseers lined up, red eyes flickering, as a massive figure rose from a chamber, its voice booming: "Four lieutenants fallen. The child grows. Bring them to me."
Alex snapped back, shards dim. The system updated:
**System Insight: Sovereign's Call**
- **Data:** The Sovereign seeks to reclaim Project Lazarus's subjects—system users like you. One shard remains to locate its lair.
Their bite mark burned, Virus Resistance steady at 89%. The Sovereign knew them—wanted them. Fear twisted with defiance. They wouldn't be its pawn.
Lena knocked, slipping inside. "Marcus is losing it. He's talking quarantine—says you're drawing the Overseers."
"He's half-right," Alex admitted, showing her the shards. "Four down. One more, and we find the Sovereign."
Lena's eyes widened. "This is insane, Alex. If it's calling you—"
"I'll end it," Alex said. "But I need you to keep him off me."
She nodded, grim. "I'll try. But he's close to snapping."
---
That night, Alex took watch again, the fifth shard their goal. A roar—louder, closer—shook the air. The system flared:
**Emergency Quest: Face the Sovereign's Vanguard**
- **Objective:** Defeat the enhanced Overseer (0/1)
- **Reward:** 1500 EXP, Final Overseer's Shard
- **Penalty:** Sovereign's immediate approach**
A massive Overseer strode into view, twice the size of the others, its body armored with bone plates, flanked by two Brutes. Marcus joined Alex on the wall, face dark.
"That's no normal one," he said. "You brought this, didn't you?"
"No," Alex lied, drawing their weapons. "But I'll end it."
They leapt down, the crew rallying behind. The Overseer's psychic wave hit harder:
**Warning: Enhanced Psychic Suppression**
- **Effect:** -4 to all stats (10 minutes)**
Strength dropped to 13, Agility to 10—still deadly. Alex dodged a Brute's swing, slashing its neck:
**Brute defeated. +300 EXP**
The enhanced Overseer roared, "Submit, Lazarus child!" Its claws slashed, grazing Alex:
**Virus Resistance: 88% (-1% from contact)**
Marcus and Lena attacked its flanks, but it shrugged them off. Alex used the Compact Medkit, restoring 5%:
**Virus Resistance: 93%**
With renewed vigor, they climbed a wrecked car, leaping onto the Overseer's back. Vital Strike II drove the machete through its armored skull:
**Enhanced Overseer defeated. +600 EXP**
- **Quest Complete**
- **Reward:** 1500 EXP, Final Overseer's Shard**
- **Level Up! Level 14 Reached**
- **EXP:** 400/2000**
**Stats:**
- Strength: 18 (+1)
- Agility: 15 (+1)
- Endurance: 17 (+1)
- Intelligence: 7
- Perception: 14 (+1)
The final shard glowed, completing the set. Marcus grabbed Alex's arm, furious. "No more lies! What are you?"
The ground trembled—a deep, resonant voice echoed from the west: "Come, child of Lazarus."
The Sovereign was here.