Progress
Bob hoped he had enough XP to purchase his next level, so he opened his stats.
[Name: Bob
Level: 10
Class: Warrior
Age: 21
Race: Human
Supporter: None
Mutations: [Hizceyl IT54 (Improved eyesight)][Hebkou V3 (Night vision)][Giorgio G53 (Consume mana)]
Titles: [Psycho] [First Blood] [Warrior] [Mutant]
HP: 210
MP: 13
Strength: 30
Agility: 30
Intelligence: 13
Vitality: 21
Bonus points: 2
Skills: [Inventory lvl:1] [Eyes of God lvl:1] [Whispering Forest lvl:1] [Low-level Weapon Mastery lvl:1] [Charge lvl:6] [Echo Blade lvl:1]
XP: 11,305
Coins: 70,910
Inventory slots enabled: 1/5
Next level: 8000 XP]
Without hesitation, Bob upgraded his level.
[Level 10 -> Level 11]
[Strength increased by 1 Agility increased by 1 Vitality increased by 1]
[You have gained 1 bonus point]
Bob now had 3 bonus points, which he decided to invest in Intelligence.
[Intelligence increased by 3]
Without wasting any time, Bob threw himself back into training. He loved the feeling of progress, and seeing tangible improvements motivated him even further.
He trained diligently all day, gaining another 560 XP.
[Due to excessive use of Low-level Weapon Mastery, it has naturally leveled up]
Bob was flooded with even more dopamine upon seeing his progress.
Feeling energized, he made his way to the tunnel entrance to wait for the next raid.
-- --
Meanwhile, 80% of the survivors residing in the station had joined Night Sun. Recent events had also driven the percentage of people at level 5+ to an impressive 35%.
New rules were also introduced: every member, except the Elite, General, and Leader, had to pay a a week tax of 5% of their coins. Of the collected coins, 50% would go to the Leader, 30% to the General, and 20% to the Elite. While this decision initially angered many, Condor convinced them it was for the future of their faction, and most eventually stopped protesting.
Condor decided to create another position: Commander. With so many members in Night Sun, Rod could no longer manage them all alone. Commanders would serve under the General, relay orders, and issue commands themselves if deemed necessary.
The faction expanded rapidly, with many members obtaining mutations from the raids. Nearly one in four people had at least one mutation. However, this number likely wouldn't rise much further, as many people were unwilling to risk looking like mutants. Bob himself hadn't acquired any new mutations because he never paid attention to loot during raids—his focus was entirely on the fight.
-- --
As Bob walked through the station, he noticed many people with mutations. Seeing them solidified his decision never to inject himself with an unknown mutation again; the risks were simply too great.
He observed one man who had short blades instead of fingers, which prevented him from wielding a sword. If Bob had received such a mutation, his combat effectiveness would have drastically decreased. The blades were too short to inflict deep wounds, and Bob had seen many similar disadvantageous mutations.
When people saw Bob approaching, many bowed to him as usual. He had become an idol to many—a symbol of the strength they aspired to achieve. Bob might have been only a few levels ahead of them, but his battlefield performance far exceeded their capabilities.
Bob arrived at the tunnel entrance and saw Condor, Rod, and three commanders.
Condor appeared more fatigued than usual. Mages naturally gain 1 point in Vitality every 5 levels, so Condor's physical condition was only slightly better than an average human. Based on what Bob knew about Condor, he likely hadn't invested many bonus points into Vitality, as mages fight from a distance where Vitality isn't as crucial—something Condor understood well.
Both Condor and Rod had traded their regular attire for more imposing gear. Condor wore a red cape, while Rod was clad in armor.
When Bob reached them, they greeted him warmly. He then shook hands with the new commanders.
Condor congratulated Bob on reaching level 11 and briefed him on recent updates. Bob's mood lifted slightly at the news that he'd be receiving coins with minimal effort.
Condor then brought out a box containing about 20 mutations and told Bob he could take some if he wished.
Although Bob wouldn't inject an unknown mutation, he figured keeping one might be useful—he could potentially find a way to identify its properties. Plus, it was a good opportunity to finally use Eyes of God.
Bob scanned the mutations. Most were Common, a few were Uncommon, and to his delight, one was Rare.
Seeing Bob take only one, Condor encouraged him to grab more, acknowledging Bob's significant contributions to Night Sun. However, Bob replied that one was enough.
Of course, Bob would've taken them all if he had enough storage space.
Suddenly, fast and heavy footsteps echoed from the tunnel—the unmistakable signal of an incoming raid.
As usual, Bob plunged into the center of the battle. Night Sun soldiers initiated the attack, clearing the way so they wouldn't obstruct Bob.
The monsters were slightly stronger than those in the second raid, but Bob still dispatched them with precision, killing each one in a single strike.
Within an hour, all the monsters were annihilated, and the survivors returned to the Safe Zone with satisfaction.
[+5000 XP]
[+20,000 coins]
Bob, as usual, headed back to his Green Zone.
Before he could settle in, Condor stopped by to inform him that he'd secured a much larger Green Zone for him.
Bob was pleased. His previous zone had been extremely small—barely enough space to lie down. A larger area would not only improve his training but also provide much-needed comfort.
Condor led Bob to the new zone, situated in a busy part of the station. This didn't bother Bob, as he was used to people staring. The space could accommodate up to nine survivors, but Bob would have it all to himself. The zone was roughly six times larger than his previous one. In one corner stood a 'bed' seemingly made of scraps of fabric, but even that was a vast improvement over sleeping on hard concrete.
Bob thanked Condor, said his farewells, and stepped into his new Green Zone.