Chapter 8

"Peer pressure? Really, Amy. He's a boy, they all want to show the world how big their stick is, but I expect you to be more reasonable than him." Andrea didn't agree with him either, but she knew better than to say no to an 'independent' teenager. She wasn't his mother, and she'd only antagonize him by denying him his wish, even if it sounded like a death wish.

"No, Andy. I mean, he's got a point. Why should you risk your life instead of me? I know you care a lot for me, but if something happened to you, how do you think I'd feel?" Amy said.

"That's not the point, Amy. I'm risking my life so you don't have to. You're my baby sister, I won't be able to live with myself without you." She said honestly, her eyes growing wet.

"And you think I don't feel the same about you?" Amy said softly. "But with me there to help you, you'd have a better chance at living. We can look out for each other. You know we will." Andrea hugged her sister, stroking her long blond her gently.

"Besides, I will have to deal with 'them' at some point, I'd feel more comfortable if you were there with me when it happens." She smile sweetly at her old sister, returning her hug with equal fervor.

- Xenon -

Dale did his best to convince me not to go, until he eventually sighed and wished me safety. I was grateful for his concern, but I was lying when I said all that crap before. I care about my life very much, and risking it for no reason? No thank you very much!

But that wasn't the real reason why I was going there, was it? It was too peaceful here, and I needed to face the zombies, my only source of EXP. Not to mention, my inventory was still empty, and I needed to fill it with as much food as possible. I also needed more weapons. When it concerns weapons, all I had so far was two knives and my bat. And in case I was in a tough spot, aka held hostage or being robbed, pulling a weapon out of my inventory and surprising my enemy would be insanely effective. I think.

Moving on, I started walking around the camp. It was around thirteen hours. I couldn't tell, I didn't have a watch… Oh wait, can the system do that for me? Shouldn't it have basic functions like that? And where is my map?

I just started to notice that my System was severely lacking… I thought of several feature, including a system store that could help me buy stuff with its own currency I earn through quests… Really, all my hours spent on Gamer crossovers proved to be practically useless. (Read AN at the end of the chapter.)

'Oh wait, I had a few notifications I didn't read. And they seemed pretty long too.' I was in the middle of an important discussion, so I had to ignore my notifications for a while.

< Quest Received ! >

Title: Raiding Atlanta City.

Description: You have convinced your teammates to go to Atlanta City. Use this opportunity to gain more resources and earn more experience.

*Requirements:

->Resources: None.

->Experience Gained: 0/10

*Rewards:

-> ???????

<>

'YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!' I thought excitedly, thinking of the implications while celebrating in my mind.

First, it tells me that I wasn't a slave to the system, and that it gave me free reign as long as I followed the one rule it set for me, which was good news. I am still my own master. It only gave me the quest after I decided I was going to Atlanta City. I wasn't sure if there would be any exceptions to this rule, but for the time being, I'm happy with what I've got.

Secondly, it didn't specify the rewards, and that's something I am looking forward to. The system, if I am correct, is omnipotent. I mean, it literally froze the world when I first started, not to mention dragged me from a different world into this zombie filled one. So, I suppose the rewards it could give could be anything, even objects with magical properties aren't out of the equations.

I went into the woods near the camp to isolate myself for a bit. Under normal circumstances, I would've waited for a while before going to meet the zombies. I acknowledge that I am under prepared and unqualified to face them, especially in a place as dangerous as Atlanta City. But that's assuming I would've been ready given enough time, which I wasn't sure of.

Why? It's very simple. I had no guarantee of how the system works, or what its limitations are. I am planning on training my [Empowered Strike], but that's the issue. I wasn't certain if I could level it up without facing zombies, or if I could earn more skills without putting myself in danger. And missing out on that chance would mean I'd have to wait a lot of time before it was possible again, probably a week, and I couldn't afford wasting that much time.

While this world may seem on "easy" difficulty when you factor in an 'omnipotent' system helping you, the truth is: it isn't. As of right now, I wasn't bullet proof, and I had no way to make myself as such. One bullet and it's game over. Will I reincarnate/transmigrate again if I die? I would not bet my money on that. I prefer certainty, and certainty is making sure I don't die.

- Chapter End -

Author's Note:

I am aware that adding a system store generally ruins stories, at it severally decreases the difficulty for the MC. It's the same as giving him "wishes" if he can just get things from a system store, instead of working hard for them. I don't like the idea very much.

What I had in mind is a bit different. First of all, the 'store coins' would be super difficult to get, and he only gets them through quests, IF the quests give any. Secondly, it doesn't allow you to get whatever you want. For each world you'd have a veeery limited amount of choices, because of the first factor, so he'd have to be careful, he would only make a few purchases per world. And the most important part, the one I truly care about is the ability to buy new system functions, or upgrade already existing ones. ( The inventory, The Map….). Also, the ability to buy skills that would be really difficult to unlock otherwise. (within the limits of the world, obviously.)

It doesn't really change much if there is no system store, but I'd have to 'force' his hand to get the stuff I want him to get. He can get them as a random reward from quests / achievements, or from leveling up.

I'd like to know your input on the issue.