Chapter 10 - The Safe Zone

"Less than half the planet is left?"

[ Correct. Most of humanity has grown complacent since their creation, and as such many died very quickly. Out of 3 billion, the System has only 120 million users remaining. ]

The corners of my mouth curve upwards into an awkward, twisted grin. "We're so screwed."

[ Humanity currently has a high chance for surviving the initial invasion sequence. Special Class Inheritors around the globe boast a 90.43% survival rate. ]

"That's high. Special Class… You mean the people with Classes like Gluttony?"

[ Correct. ]

"Huh," I grunt, organizing my thoughts mentally. If what I was understanding from the system was right, then something was really strong with these Special Classes, especially if almost all of us were alive. So, my best chance of survival would probably be finding a select few more of these Special Classes. 'And it wouldn't hurt to nick a few Stats from them, right?'

[ Please note: Your overall region, West North America, only has 5 Special Classes, including you. You may not leave your current region unless unlocked, or in special cases such as Quests. ]

'Right. I think the current region it said was the LA area. So there will probably be some kind of expansion quest, then.'

[ Correct. ]

I grit my teeth. "Get out of my head! Plus, you gotta stop that if I'm gonna be going to a Safe Zone with other people. They might think I'm plotting something with all these screens popping up."

[ Unfortunately, the Evolving System cannot "get out of your head," as it is fused to your soul. Also, you have no need for worry. While other users can see menus like Inventory and Status, they cannot see System Messages such as this unless toggled on for a specific user. ]

'I don't know if that makes me feel better or worse,' I think, sighing lightly.

[ Your vitals and mental state indicate worse. The System apologizes for the user's inconvenience. ]

"You can feel sorry?"

[ No. While scanning for data for its creation, the System found that line was often used when complaints were submitted to creators. ]

"Of course," I rub my tense eyebrows, but it doesn't help much. "I'm going to get some rest. It would probably be safest to go to one of the higher floors for something like that, right?"

[ Correct. Monsters are extremely unlikely to roam the buildings, or higher than the second floor, likely due to the fear of labyrinths and towers. ]

"… You throw way too much information at me at once," I mutter as I walk to the staircase.

[ The System apologizes for the user's inconvenience. ]

"You— Goddammit!!"

— — — — —

Fwooop!

[ The First Quest has been completed. The user will be transported at the timer's end: 4:59, 4:58… ]

I blink my eyes open groggily. "That was a quick thirty minutes."

[ You have been asleep for 12 and a half hours. ]

"What?!"

I sit straight upright. 'I was only supposed to sleep a bit!'

I roll over, tumbling off the edge of the conference table I was laying on. I grab the inside-out tunic sprawled out on the floor, flipping it around and sliding it on. My sword was still wrapped in my dirty work shirt, so I just had to tie it around my waist. The last thing I had to do was pull my odd new shoes on, carefully reaching around the horns that were sprouting from them.

Finally, I was all set, pulling out a bag of chips to snack on as I watch the timer tick. 'I wonder what it means by "transported." Is some huge carriage gonna appear and fly me over there?'

I chuckle at my sarcastic thought as the timer ticks closer to zero. 'Guess I'll see soon.'

[ 0:04, 0:03, 0:02, 0:01, 0:00. ]

[ Teleporting user to Sofi Stadium. ]

"Wh—

— — — — —

My body shone with bright white and dark colors before dissolving completely into nothingness, before quickly reassembling itself just as it was a moment ago. My consciousness took all of this information at once, and it felt like my brain was getting overloaded. I immediately feel disoriented as the world spins around me for a few seconds, but the feeling gradually fades.

"— at?!"

My throat feels a bit hoarse from yelling out over several miles, but it seemed I was still better off than some of the others who had just been "transported." Several were fittingly teleported near the walls of the field, and were vomiting violently — sometimes in projectile form.

Before anyone can look too closely at other people, I pull up my equipment menu, something I hadn't really used yet, and drag a small box with a picture of one of my hoodies over my torso. Thankfully, it works, and the plain gray hoodie materializes over my chest and arms quickly. 'This is actually kind of cool,' I think as I scroll to the footwear section, picking out a pair of trainers that wouldn't stand out like a certain pair of horned boots would.

I close the menu and flip the hood onto my head, observing everyone closely. 'I'll limit myself to five, and then try to figure out why we're all being brought here.'

My aim is for one person in a group, and someone who wouldn't immediately notice if a Stat immediately lowered. What made that a bit easier was being able to see screens of other people. While I can't see what was on the screen, I can simply assume that anyone who had a menu open was looking at their Stats, and steer clear of them.

The first victim was a thin guy who was wearing clothes that made him look like a medieval postal delivery person… And carrying a bag almost as big as he was. He was within a small group talking amongst themselves, a few of them still looking sickly after teleporting — including the postal man. 'Looks like I got off pretty easy, at least.'

Thankfully, it was proven to me again that I was the only one who could see Absorb in effect. I had tested using it right in front of Damion, who only asked why I was trying to high five a monster. I had managed to play it off as a habit to help me aim in a fight, but now I simply pointed at my target without lifting any of my arm — just a finger. 'Absorb.'

The black tendrils fly out, scurrying across the four feet before latching onto the man, before condensing into a line as taut as tightrope and sliding back into my hand.

[ Absorbed 2 SPE from Courier. ]

'What the hell?' I wonder as I double take to look at the man carrying a bag probably almost double his weight. I shake my head to clear my thoughts off, moving on.

The next group was about 30 feet away, huddled around each other. It seemed only one or two of them had gotten sick, but several of them definitely looked quesy. And the only one of them who didn't have a menu open was a man in a dirty wife beater and tight-fitting black pants, with a purple blazer thrown over one shoulder. He was smoking a cigarette, seemingly irritated by the people around him. 'What an easy target. Absorb.'

[ Absorbed 2 LCK from Gambler. ]

'Huh. I don't remember seeing Courier or Gambler through the list. Maybe they're Jobs?'

It wasn't like it mattered; I move on, strolling across the huge, almost crowded field. It was getting pretty full, and the stadiums were starting to fill with people teleporting in, clearly disheveled from what was probably a recently-ended battle. I pass by a trio of people sitting in the turf, one injured and one looking sick. The third, in between them, was a weasley-looking person with messy hair curling around their face. Although their eyes gave away the exhaustion they were feeling, their lips were peeled in a half-smile, revealing oddly sharp teeth. They were peering at their surroundings, even locking eyes with me. I turn my face away quickly. 'Still, if they're busy looking at me…'

[ Absorbed 1 Persistence(PER) from Extreme Survivalist. ]

[ Greed Stat Leveled Up. ]

"Tch."

I kept looking for a while, looking for a good candidate, but most people were inspecting their menus now — likely checking Stats and Skills. I was on the verge of giving up and waiting quietly when I spot a familiar figure.

'Isn't that the truck of a human that nearly killed Patricia?'

The man was of average height, with short, somewhat spiky cropped chestnut brown hair that seemed reminiscent of a military cut. His thick brows were furrowed as he frowned in my direction, whilst the young girl sitting on his shoulders happily snacked on a piece of cake, a plastic crown on her forehead.

I soon realized he WAS frowning at me as I walked past him, just barely within range. 'Guess the hood made me more noticeable, but oh well. Better them watching me than watching their Stats drop mysteriously while they can see my face less than 6 feet away.'

[ Absorbed 4 STR from Dragonscaled. ]

I rack my brain as I walk away, wondering where I've seen that word before. '… Wasn't that one of the Special Classes?'

Before I can turn to get another look, a familiar voice screams by the exit tunnel. "Noooo! He's gonna kill me! I didn't mean to come here! Why did it make me come?!"

I sigh in exasperation, moving swiftly towards the commotion and slipping through the growing crowd. "Speaking of the near-truck miss," I mutter, looking at the woman slamming on… thin air? Yet the air shimmered each time she hit it, as if it was solid.

I grab onto Patricia's arm, whipping her around. As soon as her eyes catch a glimpse under the hood, they begin to tear up. "I'm sor—"

"Patty! I found you!" I say loudly, putting on my best worried tone as I yank my hood off and pull her into a hug. "Shut the hell up," I whisper in her ear, squeezing tighter.

Slowly, her arms wrap around me. "K-Kieran," she mumbles, crying quietly. Returning my voice to normal, I pull away after a moment. "I've been looking for you! After I took care of the Brawler who tried to kill us… I wasn't sure if I'd be able to find you."

She nods, thankfully going along with it, which makes me relax slightly in relief. 'Safe!'

As if to negate my thought, a sturdy hand clamps onto my shoulder, and reflexively I shove it off and grab it, turning to see who it was.

'…Shit.'