First Trial.

Scarlett gritted her teeth in frustration. She sighed. "Anyway, I really need to nurture my health before the monster apocalypse starts or finding that so-called man. You said the Echo Cemetery is the only safe zone for now, so I can stay here."

{You can stay here until the next day, host.}

"Good! I feel so weak. Is there any medicine I can use to boost my health?" Scarlett asked, feeling the fatigue set in.

Loading resources available for purchase...

There are different buttons displayed, and Scarlett clicked the food option first, which displayed all the kinds of foods.

{Rice: White rice, Brown rice, Basmati rice, Jasmine rice, Saffron rice, Wild rice, Glutinous rice, Arborio rice...}

{Wheat: Bread wheat, Durum wheat, Emmer wheat, Einkorn wheat, Spelt wheat, Barley, Quinoa, Oats, Corn, Millet, Sorghum, Buckwheat, Rye....}

{Beans: Kidney beans, Black beans, Brown beans, white beans, Chickpeas, Lima beans, Pinto beans, Navy beans, Cannellini beans, Great Northern beans...}

{Lentils: Green lentils, Red lentils, Yellow lentils, Brown lentils, Beluga lentils...}

{Peas: Garden peas, Snow peas, Snap peas, Black-eyed peas, Cowpeas, Lupin, Peanut...}

{Vegetables: Root vegetables: Potatoes, Carrots, Beets, Sweet potatoes, Onions, Garlic....}

{Leafy greens: Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Collard greens, Broccoli...}

{Cruciferous vegetables: Cauliflower, Cabbage, Brussels sprouts, Bok choy....}

{Peppers: Bell peppers, Chili peppers, Jalapeños, Tomatoes...}

{Fruits: Citrus fruits: Oranges, Lemons, Limes, Grapefruits....} {Berries: Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries...} {Tropical fruits: Mangoes, Pineapples, Papayas....}

Scarlett swallowed hard at the different food items displayed. She had enough of going through the list, so she pressed the Security and Defense Tools button.

{Firearms: Handguns: Pistols, Revolvers... Rifles: Bolt-action rifles, Semi-automatic rifles, Assault rifles... Shotguns: Pump-action shotguns, Semi-automatic shotguns... Machine guns: Submachine guns, Light machine guns, Heavy machine guns... Sniper rifles}

{Non-Lethal Weapons: Baton, Pepper spray, Tasers, Stun guns, Tear gas... Personal Protective Equipment: Helmets, Bulletproof vests, Gas masks, Night vision goggles, Body armor...}

Having had enough going through the defense option, she clicked on the Construction Materials button.

{Building Materials: Wood: Lumber, Plywood, Oriented strand board (OSB)... Steel: Rebar, Steel beams, Steel pipes... Concrete: Ready-mix concrete, Concrete blocks, Precast concrete... Bricks, Glass: Windows, Doors, Mirrors}

{Insulation Materials: Fiberglass, Cellulose, Spray foam, Rock wool, Reflective insulation... Roofing Materials: Asphalt shingles, Clay tiles, Slate tiles, Metal roofing, Solar panels... Flooring Materials: Hardwood, Laminate, Tile, Carpet, Vinyl...}

{Safety Wears: Hard hats, Safety glasses, Earplugs, Respirators, Steel-toed boots... Gloves: Work gloves, Insulated gloves, Chemical-resistant gloves... High-visibility vests... Fall protection gear: Harnesses, Lanyards, Safety nets...}

{Electrical Materials: Wire: Copper wire, Aluminum wire, Electrical panels, Circuit breakers, Fuses... Lighting fixtures: LED lights, Fluorescent lights, Incandescent bulbs... Plumbing Materials: Pipes: Copper pipes, PVC pipes, PEX pipes...}

Scarlett soon gave up clicking on different buttons as her eyes began getting tired from reading. "It's enough system," she said as she massaged her forehead.

{There are spaces for all human necessities you need and can only obtain with either the copper, silver, or gold coins which you obtain after killing a monster.}

{For now, you can only rely on your elemental abilities.}

Scarlett scoffed. "Huh? That's ridiculous! Rely on elements I barely know how to use? How am I supposed to fight without familiar tools like guns or daggers? And my health, there are several drugs to boost it but I can only obtain them when I start killing monsters and obtain coins but how am I supposed to get strong enough to face monsters and obtain coins when I'm this weak?" she complained bitterly.

{Host is already feeling better. You only need enough rest, and by tomorrow, your health will be fully restored.}

Scarlett groaned. "This system is serious..." she muttered under her breath. "How am I even able to keep talking despite being in a vegetative state for months?"

{That's because of the water element in you. It's regulating your body temperature and preventing you from getting tired easily.}

"I see..." Scarlett nodded, though still not fully convinced. Before she could finish her thought, she called upon the water element in her mind. Instantly, water trickled from her hand, which she began drinking.

The refreshing sensation from the water soothed her. Once her thirst was quenched, she glanced around her dark surroundings. The Cemetery of Echoes was shrouded in shadows, with only faint moonlight illuminating the crumbling headstones. She shivered.

{Host, I've detected a nearby shelter, a space for the security officers at the cemetery. It's partially intact, and you can rest there for the night.}

Scarlett narrowed her eyes, searching through the darkness. Soon, she spotted the outline of the small building a few meters away, all thanks to the system's faint light. "Lead me there."

A faint blue light glowed on the floor, guiding Scarlett toward the house. She entered cautiously, finding it desolate and empty. No furniture, nothing.

Not caring, she collapsed onto the dusty floor, overwhelmed by exhaustion. Her eyes grew heavy, and she quickly fell into a deep sleep.

---

Golden sunlight filtered through the cracked window, landing on Scarlett's face, gently rousing her from sleep. The sound of birds chirping filled the air, and she stretched with a groan, feeling revitalized. Her health had significantly improved.

{Good morning, host.}

STATS:

Name: Scarlett Jerkins.

Level: 1

Spirit: 10

Physical: 10

Agility: 10

Defense: 0

Health: 90

Intelligence: 15

SKILLS:

Affinity: Water, Fire, and Earth.

Title: None.

Overall rank: S

She then stretched her muscles, feeling less stiff. "I feel great! Time to explore, and I should meet with people after all. Form a team if necessary."

"Am I truly ready?" she muttered to herself, her eyes scanning the graveyard outside. She nodded resolutely. "I don't have a choice though. If I wait too long, the man who saved me might end up getting killed once the monster apocalypse starts. It's better to just find him."

She bit her lip in frustration. The thought of him dying weighed heavily on her mind, preventing her from even having a good night's sleep. "I really have to find him and keep him alive..." she mumbled, shaking her head as if to clear away the negative thoughts.

Suddenly, she sensed the water element's presence nearby, and a gentle breeze carried the scent of fresh water.

"I think I can find water nearby," Scarlett remarked, sniffing the air.

{Correct, host. That's the only water source in the Echo Cemetery. Follow the scent.}

She followed the stream's smell, soon arriving at its edge. Kneeling, Scarlett cupped her hands and drank from the cool stream. As she did, she noticed fish swimming below the surface.

"Food!" she exclaimed, excitement tingling her spine.

{Yes, host. You can catch fish for sustenance before embarking on your mission.}

Scarlett laughed softly. "I thought I had to kill monsters to get food once the apocalypse starts. At this rate, I might live on fish alone if I don't get any monsters." She joked, using her water element to create a gentle current that guided the fish into her hands.

{Aquatic organisms are saved in specific areas. People without powers need something to survive on, after all. The fact that every food humans eat on Earth is still here but will disappear the moment the apocalypse starts, and even if you already stored enough, it's still going to disappear.}

"I see..." Scarlett nodded in understanding. She quickly caught several fish, watching them swim in the water in her hands. No wonder you kept mentioning about killing monsters to survive every now and then.

"Anyways, I want to store these," Scarlett said, anticipating the system would show her how to store the live fish.

{Living organisms cannot be stored, host. You'll have to consume whatever you catch. You can't store anything in the storage option but can purchase whatever is in the storage.}

"Damn! I caught all these fish for nothing. You could've told me sooner," she grumbled, feeling a bit dejected. She released the fish back into the stream, except for one, which she roasted using her fire element.

Even without salt or seasoning, the roasted fish filled her stomach, and she felt her energy return.

Ding!

{Health: 100%}

{Strength: 59}

{Agility: 20}

{Intelligence: 18}

{Host is fully prepared for the challenges ahead.}

Scarlett stood, determination filling her expression. "System, where are the other people at?"

{Different people are at different locations. There's no where you're not going to meet people.}

Steeling herself, Scarlett nodded. "Good! Time to meet people." She then stepped out of the cemetery into the tiled street. "Oh yes, when exactly is the apocalypse starting."

The blue clear sky soon turned bloody red, while flies filled the city, their buzzing sounds loud and disturbing. They were so much and big that Scarlett quickly covered her ears, nose and mouth. Just as it appeared suddenly, the flies dissapeared suddenly but the bloody red sky remained.

"What the heck was that?" Scarlett uttered with a puzzle expression.