Picking A Base

As they pushed forward, the group stumbled upon another survivor—a young woman who looked to be about the same age as Laura, though she was clearly worse for wear. Her once-beautiful features were now marred by exhaustion and the grime of the apocalypse, her clothes torn and dirty. She was running frantically, pursued by a pack of creatures, their hungry eyes fixed on her every move.

Eric glanced at Laura, uncertainty flickering across his face. "Are we really going to save her?" he asked, his voice low but tense.

Laura's eyes followed the fleeing woman, noting the speed at which she moved. Despite her haggard appearance, the woman was fast—blazingly so. "Yes," she replied without hesitation. "Her agility is off the charts. She'll be an invaluable asset in the future."

Eric didn't need to hear more. If Laura said to act, then he would act. She hadn't steered him wrong yet, and her commands had always been for his own good. Without another word, he sprinted toward the creatures chasing the woman, his movements already quicker and more fluid than they had been just hours ago. The apocalypse was only four hours in, and he was already starting to adapt. There was no choice; it was either evolve or die.

The first woman they had rescued, Miara, stood back and watched with wide eyes as Eric closed in on the monsters. She was only a level three system user and couldn't even follow the blur of his movements. It hadn't been long since her own abilities had activated, but she had barely managed to do anything before the situation spiraled out of control, forcing her into hiding.

She observed in awe as Eric took on the creatures, dispatching them one by one with precise, lethal strikes. Each movement was calculated and decisive, his dagger finding vulnerable points in their flesh with ease. The monsters fell at his feet, their bodies crumpling to the ground like discarded trash.

Meanwhile, the agile woman whom they had set out to rescue had reached Laura. Laura grabbed her by the arm and pulled her to the side, letting her rest while Eric dealt with the remaining creatures. The woman's breath came in heavy gasps as she tried to collect herself, her gaze fixed on the young man who had saved her. It was like watching something out of a movie—an unarmed teenager tearing through monsters with the grace of a seasoned warrior.

Laura watched Eric fight with an approving smile. "I think I might have picked an abnormality," she murmured to herself. But she was satisfied to know that this "abnormality" was under her guidance. She would shape him into someone capable of standing beside her in the future—someone strong enough to face even the Four Cardinal Monarchs.

She remembered, though, that Eric's class wasn't supposed to be suited for close combat. He was an Elemental Mage, a class known for magic and ranged attacks, not melee fighting. Yet here he was, tearing through these creatures with nothing but a dagger and raw skill. It was like something out of a story—a protagonist with absurd stats who defied expectations. Laura sighed as she realized that she too wasn't supposed to be a close-quarters fighter. She was a Summoner, a class focused on calling forth creatures to fight on her behalf.

But in her case, it was understandable. She had honed her close-combat skills over years in her previous life, fighting for survival day after day. For Eric, it was different. He was adapting at an incredible rate—almost too fast.

As the last creature fell under Eric's blade, he walked back to the group, his breathing steady despite the strain of the fight. Laura called him over with a nod, her eyes scanning him critically. "You did well," she said. "But you still have some openings in your stance. I'll help you fix them later."

Eric nodded, accepting the critique without argument. He had come to trust Laura's judgment, and if there was something he needed to improve, he was eager to learn. "Got it," he replied.

"Good," Laura said. "Now, let's keep moving. I know a place nearby that we can use as a temporary base. It's not perfect, but it'll be safer than wandering around the streets."

As they continued down the ruined path, moving cautiously to avoid detection by any more wandering creatures, Eric turned to Laura with a question that had been nagging at him. "When do the class skills unlock?" he asked. "And what about the rewards?"

Laura glanced at him as they walked, her expression thoughtful. "The class skills will unlock automatically at the six-hour mark," she explained. "And if our performance during the second wave was good enough, the rewards will arrive then as well."

Miara's eyebrows shot up. "Rewards?" she asked, sounding both surprised and curious. "What kind of rewards are we talking about?"

Before Laura could respond, the other woman—whom they had just saved—spoke up. "And how do you know all of this?" Her tone carried a hint of suspicion as she eyed Laura warily.

Eric answered before Laura could, his voice calm and confident. "The rewards depend on our individual performance—things like leveling up, how many creatures we killed, and whether we defeated any special monsters like that Variant," he said, glancing at Miara. "As for how Laura knows so much…" He turned to the agile woman, whose name they hadn't yet learned. "There are some questions that are better left unanswered for now."

The woman looked like she was about to snap back at him, her face flushed with frustration. But then she remembered how he had effortlessly taken down those creatures just moments ago. She kept her mouth shut, deciding not to test him any further.

"By the way," Laura said, addressing the agile woman, "I didn't catch your name."

"Essei," the woman replied, her voice hesitant at first. "My name is Essei."

"Good," Laura said. "Essei and Miara, we're almost there. Stick close."

She led them toward a nine-story building with a partially collapsed roof and several shattered windows. The upper floors were ruined, but the lower levels seemed mostly intact. It was a large square structure, its faded brick exterior giving it an almost fortress-like appearance amid the surrounding chaos.

Laura pointed at it with a slight smile. "There it is," she said, her tone serious but with a hint of satisfaction. "This will be our base."

Miara and Essei exchanged uncertain glances. "Are you serious?" Miara asked. "That building looks like it could come down at any moment."

Laura shook her head. "The lower levels are solid enough, and the collapse actually works in our favor. It'll limit access points for any creatures trying to get in. Plus, it's high enough that we can see anyone—or anything—coming from a distance. It's not ideal, but it's better than nothing."

Eric studied the building with a critical eye, then nodded in agreement. "It's a good choice," he said. "And we could fortify the entrances and set up some traps."

Laura's smile widened slightly. "Exactly," she replied. "Now let's get inside and secure the place. We'll rest for a bit and then start preparing for whatever comes next."

As they entered the building, Laura's thoughts drifted back to the challenges ahead. The apocalypse was just beginning, and the real threats were still to come. But for now, she had a strong team—a team that could grow even stronger under her guidance.