Whispers of Alliance

Sweat slicked Zephyr's body as he lay sprawled on the floor, teeth clenched against the searing pain coursing through him. His muscles sputtered and twitched for an agonizing three minutes before the firestorm finally subsided. Blinking open eyes, he gasped at the complete absence of agony. Even the blistered palms and near-shredded shoulder felt whole, healthy as if the wounds had never been. He felt..., reformed.

Slowly, he pushed himself up, his limbs shaky as his body recalibrated to its newfound strength. The physical boost wasn't dramatic. But noticeable. Heat throbbed beneath his skin, and sweat continued to bead on his brow.

Just then, a sharp chime echoed in his head.

Ding!

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[Low-Grade Physical Enhancement Reached Maximum Potential!]

[Low-Grade Immune Enhancement Upgraded!]

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[ Status Window ]

Vitality: 35/110

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System screens held no surprise for Zephyr now. He understood their language – stats fluctuating with his body's changes. Thresholds had risen, strength boosted, but a glaring number mocked him: 35 remaining points. His body, even enhanced, was far from ideal. The lingering aftereffects of his previous power surge gnawed at him.

A rumbling in his gut cut through his introspection. The physical metamorphosis demanded more. Fast food wouldn't suffice. He needed protein, carbs, and appropriate fuel. His eyes darted to the central counter, a suggestion forming. "Should I get the rewards?"

Joining the Legion to pledge for the Fortress of the Divine Light meant immediate prizes. It would be his ticket to getting decent meals and a place to rest, to restore himself to a fit condition faster. He believed focusing on personal growth, on becoming the best warrior he could be, was the wiser path. Only then, clad in the cutting-edge armor designed to combat the coming horrors, could he truly make a difference.

"How may I help you, sir?" inquired Sebastian, a silver-haired NPC who manned the central counter. The Legion Union offered three distinct services: vaccines and serums at the right counter, Legion registration in the middle, and quest selection on the left.

"I want to register as a Legion member for the Fortress of the Divine Light."

Sebastian, a smile gracing his features, replied, "An excellent choice. And your name, sir?"

"Zephyr Quinn."

"One moment." Sebastian scanned Zephyr's face and physique, capturing DNA and fingerprints. "Complete," he declared a moment later.

"Welcome to the Legion Union, Sir Quinn. This," Sebastian extended a technologically advanced bracelet featuring a state-of-the-art screen, "is your Ex-communicator."

Zephyr secured it on his left forearm. A quick beep signaled activation, and the screen flickered to life.

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[ Zephyr Quinn ]

Inbox: None

Balance: 100 Shards

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Sebastian continued, "As our first recruit of the day, you receive a bonus of 100 Shards. Your Ex-communicator will provide quest details and confirmations after you pick it up at that counter. Remember, your primary duty is to defend the Fortress of the Divine Light against any threat. Prioritize responding to our official notifications or messages regarding potential emergencies. Thank you. Anything else I can assist you with?"

"Nothing. Thanks for the service." Zephyr replied. He went towards the door, leaving the Legion Union. He wasn't interested in taking on any simple quests while his body wasn't in shape yet. He wanted to recover first and then earn the budget. So he could purchase one of the ten Basic Exo-skeleton Armors thereon.

Outside the door, Da-Mi's voice sliced through the air, "I'm sorry, sir. You're Korean, right? Do you understand what I'm saying?" Her eyes darted to the gleaming Ex-communicator on Zephyr's left forearm.

Zephyr paused, a silent question in his tilt. Da-Mi flustered, switching to English. But he cut her off, raising a hand. "I understand Korean. So, skip the pleasantries."

Da-Mi's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

Without a preamble, Zephyr stated, "Pen and paper. I'll write down the Apexian language and characters you need for communication inside. When we meet again, 10 Shards each, Five of you. Deal?"

Da-Mi's eyes widened. It was uncanny how Zephyr guessed her thoughts. Yet, the offer held undeniable appeal. "But I can't read Apexian. And I'm not tied to the others. Parc Jae-Jung and I came together. My name's Kim Da-Mi."

Zephyr glanced at Yamato, Wei Zexian, and Meng Fen. Afterward, he met Da-Mi's gaze again, his voice calm. "You don't need to make a fuss about that. Just say what I said earlier to others. Regarding the Apexian letters, there's no need to worry. I will write down how the words are pronounced and sounded and what they mean in Hangul letters. You can translate it to English for others to see."

Da-Mi, her face serious, exchanged a quick look with Jae-Jung. They seemed to silently agree. Jae-Jung offered a pen and a scrap of white fabric instead of paper.

Zephyr shrugged, unfazed, and started scribbling. He wrote out basic phrases for the five to support conversation within the Legion Union.

Yamato, despite not understanding the context, grasped the situation with a grimace. He added a few scavenged papers, easing Zephyr's task.

Wei Zexian and Meng Fen, catching a few Apexian words, shuffled closer, realizing what was happening.

As Zephyr wrote, Da-Mi gathered the other three, relaying the bargain's terms in English. They exchanged murmured words, then nodded in agreement. The air crackled with a tentative alliance, born of survival and a shared desire to navigate this strange new world.

Zephyr slipped out without fanfare as his business concluded. He never lingered, preferring silence to awkward exchanges with strangers. His English, rusty and unreliable, made fluency a distant dream. Leaving without another word seemed the wisest course, a silent retreat before the inevitable embarrassment.

Yamato, watching Zephyr's retreating figure, voiced the question hanging heavily in the air. "Now what? The daily quota is tapped, and becoming Legion requires the AP-X Serum. No serum, no registration."

Da-Mi, ever practical, waved away the concern. "Relax. It'll reset in a few hours. We'll learn Apexian in the meantime, sharing the translation notes. That guy's scribbles are enough for basic communication."

At the same time, her mind buzzed. How did this quiet guy manage to learn so much Apexian? Zephyr was far more articulate than she'd expected. In all her hours playing Apex Online, the language had been relegated to background lore, an obscure curiosity, not a vital skill.

Meanwhile, Yamato rubbed his chin, a touch of worry furling his brow. "True. However, there is no guarantee that the daily quota will belong to us in the next five days. What if someone else cracks this language before us? We're sitting ducks if that happens. Breathing without the AR Vaccine makes our health deteriorates."

Wei Zexian, taciturn but sharp, joined the discussion. "Apexian may spread, but we'll master it faster. No one else here spoke like that guy. If there's another speaker, they understand prefixes, too. But no one arrived between us, meaning only six had grasped the early advantage. Also, seven days is enough without the AR Vaccine while in the Fortress of the Divine Light's outskirts. We have the time. Don't worry."

The five of them looked at each other and nodded. They were determined to learn the Apexians left by Zephyr in a short time. Becoming a Legion was still the main priority for these five young people.

On the other hand, Zephyr had arrived at Hall Square. He was quicker because he was no longer limp and immediately grabbed Young-Jae's duffel bag, which he then emptied. He stopped by the housing store. The place was quite far from the crowds near the Main Gate. So what he was about to do probably didn't raise any eyebrows.

"Welcome, sir. What can I do for you?" A short, pudgy NPC named Zaran greeted Zephyr with a menu. 

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[ Hall Square Housing ]

1. 1-Story House (Wood construction). Cost: 15 Shards.

2. 2-Story House (Stone and wood construction). Cost: 35 Shards.

3. 3-Story House (Concrete and stone construction). Cost: 70 Shards.

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Zephyr scanned the options, then declared, "2-story house. Take this." He pressed his Ex-communicator screen, transferring the Shards.

"Excellent choice! Transaction complete, Mr. Quinn. This key grants access to all available two-story houses. Choose well, as it binds to your first selection." Zaran handed over a sleek access card.

"Got it," Zephyr replied, pocketing the card. He spent the remaining 65 Shards on clothes, food, and drinks, leaving only 3 Shards in his depleted coffers. Everything went into his bag.

Finally, he hoisted the unconscious Jae-Ya onto his shoulder and grabbed Young-Jae's shoulder, heading towards the new home near the Legion Union.