After stepping off the train and familiarizing myself with this new world, I made my way to my apartment in a neighborhood in Atlanta—close to the coffee shop I used to frequent, according to my memories. This apartment will be my base of operations, the place where I strategize and plan ahead of time.
Glancing at the clock in the corner, I noted the time 7:45 AM. Only 15 minutes remain until 8:00 AM—when the next system announcement will be made, marking the beginning of the disaster. At that moment, monsters will start to spawn randomly throughout the city. Later, at 1:00 PM, a mutant will emerge.
Each passing day, the mutants will become stronger—far more dangerous than the day before. That's why I need to act early, hunt them down, and claim their loot. I must become the city's guardian. And once I have enough power, I'll start to take control of the city itself to prepare for even greater future threats.
To grow stronger, I also need to recruit subordinates. People will soon start killing one another, driven by panic and desperation. As for me, I'll begin by hunting criminals—easier targets who won't be missed. At the same time, I need to ensure the population remains stable or even grows if possible.
And to do all that… I need to invest in my stats.
Status...
Cost per Stat Point: 1,000 coins
Name: Alex Dawn
Age: 21
Coins: 5,000
Current Stats:
Strength: 15
Speed: 9
Stamina: 10
Perception: 20
Vitality: 18
Items: None
Skill: Dual Swordsmanship (SSS)
Skill Description:
Dual Swordsmanship (SSS) – The pinnacle of twin-blade combat. A swordsman at this level can wield two blades in perfect harmony, each moving like an extension of their body. This style focuses on speed, offense, fluidity, and adaptability, enabling the user to unleash relentless flurries of attacks, defend from multiple angles, and overwhelm opponents with unpredictable ferocity.
For now, I'll use all my coins to boost my stats. With 5,000 coins, that gives me 5 points. I'll allocate all of them to Speed—mobility is everything in the early stages.
Ding!
Stats successfully updated.
Updated Stats:
Strength: 15
Speed: 14
Stamina: 10
Perception: 20
Vitality: 18
Coins: 0
I felt it immediately—my bones tightening, muscles responding faster, movement becoming sharper. My body is evolving. All my core stats are now in double digits. Not bad. With stats like these, I'm already overpowered in the early game. I need to take advantage of this head start.
Dungeons will only begin appearing at night. But I still don't have any gear to protect myself from the mist. That deadly fog creeps in after dark, poisoning anyone caught outside without proper equipment. It's one of the main reasons why people don't explore at night—alongside the roaming monsters and mutants.
The only saving grace is the system's assignment of certain areas—homes, rooms, hotels—as Safe Zones. However, even those are subject to change under certain conditions. I've got no time to waste.
The city I currently reside in is called Eagle City, one of the most bustling and influential cities in the Dawn Region. In this world, everything is united under one global government. Although cities may compete economically and politically, the world itself has been divided into vast territories known as Regions.
The Dawn Region is one of the largest—comparable in size to Asia from my previous life—and is home to nearly one billion people. It's one of the top regions globally, not just in terms of landmass, but in power and development as well. Eagle City is located in the northern zone of the Dawn Region, which also includes the East, West, South, and the Central Zone—where the wealthiest and most powerful figures reside.
As for Eagle City itself, it's considered a giant in the northern part of the region. It's one of the top-tier cities here, though even so, it's nothing compared to the Central Zone—not even a fraction. Still, that doesn't matter. This city will be my starting point—my stage for rising to power.
Interestingly, I recall that the main protagonist of this world's story—the MC—is located in the Star Region, which is four regions away from here. The Dawn Region borders four other regions, and due to its central position, any potential conflict or alliance could spiral into something much larger. But that's a problem for the future.
For now, my eyes are set on Eagle City. With a population of 80 million, it's a true metropolis. That number, however, will drastically decrease soon once the chaos begins. But this city won't disappoint me—because this is where my rise begins.