The Origin of the Blueprint

The chat exploded the moment that message went live.

"What the hell?! I thought these regular zombies were already the worst. Now you're telling me there are monsters bigger than buses?"

"That can't be real! The system said suppression wouldn't lift until day 30! How can things be this crazy already?!"

"I don't even know where I am—what the hell is 'Welcome Avenue'? How do I avoid it?! Someone help!"

"Guys! Kill zombies and absorb those energy cores! It's the only way to get stronger!"

"If this is how bad it is now, what the hell will the world look like after 30 days?! This is literal hell!"

Lucas Kane read through the frantic messages, a rare crease forming on his brow.

A zombie bigger than a bus?

That kind of monster...

He couldn't afford to wait anymore. He needed to upgrade—now.

Lucas opened his storage panel and pulled out the blueprint.

[Sharpened Tang Sword Blueprint]

Originally, he had planned to wait until his physique reached the Peak Human Limit before crafting the weapon. But now, that plan was out the window.

Power came first. Always.

[Crafting initiated...]

Ding! You have consumed 10x Metal Weapons and 10x Energy Cores.

Congratulations! You have acquired [Sharpened Alloy Tang Sword].

A blade materialized before him, gleaming coldly under the room's ambient light. The edge shimmered, etched with elegant, deadly-looking patterns.

He tested it with a simple swing at the corner of the wooden coffee table.

Shlick!

The cut was instantaneous. Clean. Not even a whisper of resistance.

Compared to the fire axe he'd used earlier, this was an entirely different league. With this weapon, killing zombies would be faster, safer, and quieter.

Perfect.

Just as he admired the weapon, a private message popped up.

Jassica Moore: "Are you there?"

Lucas: "I am."

Jassica: "I have a [Blueprint: Basic Water Purifier]. Could I trade it for some water? I'm desperate."

Lucas clicked open the blueprint for review.

[Basic Water Purifier Blueprint]

Requirements: 1x Standard Water Filter, 5x Energy Cores

Product: Basic Water Purifier — converts polluted water to mildly polluted water (suitable for cleaning, bathing, watering plants. Not safe for drinking.)

To others, this would seem useless. Who would waste energy cores for water you couldn't drink?

But for Lucas, it was invaluable.

He had just moved into his rooftop garden suite in Building 8 Island Complex. He needed water to irrigate the Meat Yams. Using precious purified water was unsustainable.

This purifier could bridge that gap.

Lucas: "Deal. But tell me—where did you get the blueprint?"

Jassica hesitated. "Is that... part of the trade condition?"

Lucas: "Absolutely. In fact, your intel might be more valuable than the blueprint itself."

Jassica: "Alright... you'll find out eventually anyway."

She paused, then admitted:

"I found it inside a supply crate on a university campus. I snuck out from the security post when the nearby zombies got distracted. There were several crates in the area."

Lucas's eyes narrowed.

So that's how it worked.

Despite killing countless zombies, he had never once looted a blueprint.

Victor Cross, who never fought, somehow had one.

And now Jassica, barely surviving, got one from a supply crate.

So blueprints weren't random drops—they were part of a crate system.

Lucas: "How many crates did you see?"

Jassica: "A lot. I only opened a basic one. It was wooden, labeled Level 1. But I saw others—on the sports field, at the building entrances. One of them was gold. It had a Level 3 marker. I didn't dare go near it. Too many zombies."

Lucas's heart stirred.

He had opened one Level 1 crate before and found a constitution enhancer. If what she said was true, then a Level 3 crate could contain something game-breaking.

Lucas: "I believe you."

Jassica: "Thank you... I knew you were a good person."

Lucas: "I'm not. And you shouldn't assume anyone is. Especially someone like you—alone, attractive, vulnerable. That's exactly the kind of person everyone's after."

Jassica: "I know. But I also know you're different. I can protect myself now. Look."

She sent a photo—three energy cores.

Lucas raised a brow.

Lucas: "You killed zombies?"

Jassica: "Yes! There was a military knife in the crate. I took a chance and snuck up on them. It was terrifying, but... it worked. Stealth kills are the safest."

Lucas allowed himself a small smile.

The blueprint wasn't the only thing of value.

She had courage.

And now, he had a new target.

The university campus.

And its golden supply crate.

Soon.