David looked around, trying to gauge how long he had been out. It had been a while at a guess.

  A moment later Sarah and Katie, who had been sitting quietly on the ground nearby, bounced to their feet catching his attention.

  So, he hadn’t been left alone. That was good. Though where had the others gone.

  There were a few other people around, some clearly interacting with the Obelisk as he had been and others tending to the nearby survivors.

  David saw a woman being helped to her feet by someone who was speaking to her in a calm voice, explaining what was going on.

  He just took a moment to look out over the group, hundreds of people lying side by side in neat rows with people going along the rows with sponges, checking pulses and generally trying to administer first aid.

  David saw Dr. Chen directing activity from an area where people were on cots with space to move around them. Given the increased number of attendants, he guessed these were the ones doing worst.

  There was something off with this. It took him a moment but then he realized that there was no sign that skills were being used. Did none of them have Mark’s skill?

  Before he could go to ask Sarah spoke.

  “David, come on. The others went to a secluded spot we know nearby where they could work on a few things before bed. Coming?”

  David nodded, noting that Katie and Sarah were both tense. As they started walking Katie spoke softly.

  “Don’t look now, NO don’t look.” David had automatically started rubber necking and stopped after the admonishment.

  “There is someone following us. Young guy, wearing a Green T-shirt with a Minecraft logo. We need to shake him.”

  David nodded. “Where is he?”

  “Behind us, should be just coming round the Obelisk now…” Katie was still taking quietly while Sarah walked a little in front scanning people.

  “How do you know he is following?”

  “He arrived while all of you were communing with the Obelisk. Sort of hung back but kept us in sight. I don’t know if he realized we spotted him.”

  “How old is he?”

  “He’s a kid, maybe Charlie’s age, probably younger.”

  David thought then spoke. “Hang on, I’ll get rid of him.”

  Suddenly he whirled round. Spotting the kid and making eye contact he started striding rapidly towards him with a serious expression on his face.

  The kid froze. Then he backed up half a step. There was panic in his eyes and David started moving towards him quickly, not running but striding in that way that told people you had serious business with someone. He let his expression darken as he remembered the sound of guns cocking at his back.

  The kid wavered for half a second, then turned and started walking back the way they had just come. After a moment he looked over his shoulder and David deliberately accelerated as though he wanted to catch up.

  The boy broke into a run and dashed for the edge of the Park. David paused to see if he would slow and look again. He didn’t moving rapidly away.

  When David returned to Sarah and Katie they both looked at him but it was Sarah who spoke.

  “Well, that was fun! Are you sure we wanted to get rid of him? We knew he was there and now he knows we knew.”

  David sighed.

  “Honestly, I have no idea. I figured that it was better to get rid of the tail then go meet the others at the secluded spot instead of leading someone who I presume Micky sent to wherever we are going.”

  Sarah nodded.

  “Fair point.”

  They quickly left the park, then the safe zone itself. When David gave them a questioning look Sarah simply said.

  “My idea. While you were doing you, I was circulating and talking and listening with people who were here all day. Somone mentioned that nothing hostile has been seen within several blocks of the barrier. After this I figure the biggest danger to us is human rather than monster.”

  Davied nodded and joined the girls in keeping a wary eye out. He could still hear the barrier though the sound faded with each step they took.

  They found the others after Sarah led them through a gap made by loose boards into the fenced yard behind an old business, clearly shuttered years ago. Perhaps a victim of lockdown or changing economic times.

  With the unnatural quiet of the apocalypse and the late hour this secluded spot was perfect given its combination of security and privacy.

  There were a few plastic crates and various bits of crap around that had been used to create adapted tables and chairs as well as signs that people had set fires here in the past.

  To David’s surprise the others weren’t talking, they were throwing stones at Camila and Carl. Both were dodging with apparent ease despite real effort being put into it by Mark and Charlie especially. Billy was talking softly to Bessie.

  It was clear that both were fast, he wasn’t sure, but he felt significantly faster than he had realized. When Bessie lunged in nipping at Carl and he pivoted dodging the dog, David was sure.

  The stat focused boost he hadn’t taken was awesome.

  Seeing him Charlie called a halt.

  “Awesome! Awesome. David’s here let’s pause and hear what he got then get back to it.”

  Both Camila and Carl were grinning. This impromptu training exercise seemed to have agreed with them.

  As the group clustered around Billy, who was giving Bessie belly rubs and telling her she was the best girl they quickly moved fill each other in.

  Camila and Carl shared they had picked the half-step evolution based on their title. They quickly explained that this set the ten resources and attributes they had picked making them more efficient.

  As both had full spreads of stamina and health-based abilities Charlie had proposed this brutal version of dodgeball to test things out.

  It had become clear very quickly that they had gains in both sustain and performance.

  Billy surprisingly added the next significant piece of information.

  “You know I’ve been training skills near constantly since we woke up.” He paused to look at Bessie.

  “Well, we got to talking and young Charlie asked me about that some more while we waited for you guys. I told him that training was really quick at first but that it got slower recently. Also that it seems to work best when you train the skill you picked as the one extra experience goes to.”

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  Charlie couldn’t restrain himself “I hadn’t noticed, which was dumb of me. Though to be fair most of my XP came from big fights and I was always training my default before that…”

  David asked, exasperated. “Notice what?”

  Billy made a go ahead gesture, happy to let Charlie take over.

  “So we naturally accumulate experience over time even if we don’t do anything. That experience flows into our overflow once we fill up. That’s not the big thing though – if we actively train that skill the experience flows straight into it, it doesn’t even fill our buffer and I -think- it might even be more efficient.”

  “I wish this wretched system came with a proper introduction and a rulebook. I understand the Herald broke the connection to all these ‘Lords and Ladies’ who should have been doing this but really!”

  Charlie and the others nodded. Testing hadn’t apparently reached the point of confirming Charlie’s hypothesis but Billy did drop one more valuable insight.

  “So, I been noticing how training slowed down. Only after Charlie asked about it did I start checking regularly to see if I could help him understand. When we came out here something changed... It’s faster here than in the safe zone!”

  Charlie nodded eagerly. “I think something weird is going on. You remember way back when it was just us? The safe zone said it had increased ambient mana and mana absorption was accelerated. After Billy told me this I checked. It doesn’t say that anymore when you query the Obelisk. I guess because the zone has grown so much…”

  David Shook his head.

  “The safe zone is under strain. The System is diverting resources to the survivors…”

  He went on to tell them everything he had learned. Especially about scaling and the skills that would help the most against guns. He told them what he had figured out about the Herald and warned them the being was truly Alien. He concluded on a solemn note.

  “The Herald isn’t our friend, even though it appears to be interested in me and my bloodline. It’s willing to sacrifice people, eager even if it advances either the System with a capital S or its goals.”

  He paused. Then continued.

  “In fact, that is an important consideration. The System with capitals is how it refers to the higher order structures. Things like the Obelisks while our personal systems seem smaller, components of the whole and less important. That feels important.”

  Charlie nodded.

  “Dude, those were some premium insights. It’s kinda fucked up that safe zones are falling. It makes me worry about round here. Still, that’s not our biggest problem. We gotta stop shooting from the hip Man. We need to figure out our skills and builds and get in front of those jackasses.”

  Carl jumped in at that point.

  “I agree with the wonder kid. Y’all may be familiar with this stuff from video games and whatnot but I’ve learned enough stuff over the years to know that practice makes perfect.”

  He continued “We need to practice and we need to figure out a plan so that some jackass with a gun isn’t the end of the line.”

  David nodded. “I think there is a divide in the road coming too. One you need to worry about Carl…”

  Seeing the others looking questioningly he explained.

  “Our systems are progressing fast. We are getting more power. Charlie is a good example of offensive power. He isn’t that far away from being just more effective than a gun.

  Katie on the other hand is the defensive example. She is already harder to kill than a person with tactical gear. Her Iron Skin plus her Regenerate is a combination that means that she will likely become the first one of us who is functionally immune to pistols. Hell, I’m not even sure if anything less than a headshot or emptying a whole magazine into her would slow her down right now.”

  Carl slowly nodded. Charlie looked excited. Mark jumped in.

  “We are not experimenting with this! Nobody is going to find out if we survive getting shot.”

  “No, I’m not saying that. What I’m saying is that pre system weapons are being outscaled. How long will it be before Katie can walk through a hail of gunfire like Supergirl? Don’t get me wrong I’m not suggesting that just that we ALL need to work on getting that sort of defense and a corresponding offense.”

  David continued. “So, what’s the fastest way to get that strong? Do we hole up and practice or go out and fight?”

  Camila and Billy responded at the same time.

  “We can’t abandon people because we might be stronger if we practice in safety like scared little perra’s”

  “I progressed faster heading out with you all than staying in the safe zone.”

  Charlie spoke softly. “So we want to try and convince the Militia or Watch or whatever they are to not go and kill stuff with us when we rescue more people so we can get ahead of them?”

  Camila responded to that. “You might have a point but we can’t risk people’s lives by only taking some folks out.”

  “We keep the information to ourselves, everyone will probably figure it out in a day or two but I’m seeing a few priorities emerging and I think the solution is to let the larger group send out different parties.”

  Carl looked at David shrewdly then waved his hand in a go on gesture.

  “We heard from that woman earlier that there are supplies we need. A group should go back to the area we cleared, literally tons of supplies and no nearby sources of zombies so less risk. Less combat.

  We know that people are hanging on, tomorrow may be our last day to effect large scale rescues. We need to hit the airport. High combat as I expect a lot of zombies but there were likely thousands of people there both arrivals and departures with the red eye flights from the west coast and everyone lining up to fly.

  Finally, we know people are going to be waking up on their own IF they make it and that means that a concerted effort to thin out the zombies and find mutants in the neighborhood and beyond will pay dividends in space as well as safety. I’m also worried about safe zones being overwhelmed. That implies that thinning out the local monsters is important.”

  Everyone was nodding along.

  Carl added a point that David was frankly surprised he hadn’t raised earlier.

  “Y’all seem committed to this community. That’s fine but I feel we need to look out for ourselves too. Means we need to make sure we are claiming gear we need and supplies for us personally in case we have to spend a few days away from folks or even head out on our own if Micky ends up in Charge.”

  The others reluctantly nodded. Mark’s next comment summarized the gloom they were all feeling.

  “After tonight everyone with half a brain is going to be doing that. It’s going to kill the community spirit here, I doubt there will be another feast like tonight.”

  Sarah added her viewpoint.

  “Heck, I’m a people person, and a do your own thing kinda gal. Even I expect someone to suggest a don’t work don’t eat policy and I might just vote for it if they do.”

  Carl nodded. Then before they could go round the houses again Camila summarized.

  “So we push for supply runs, wide ranging patrols to clear the neighborhood and lead an airport run. Now let’s get some training before we sleep unless there is something new? Thanks to David we have a wake-up time to meet…”

  Training was fun. Now they knew that setting defaults was potentially beneficial they started doing rounds of training where each person set a skill they could practice and worked on it.

  This tended to result in solo practice for Charlie as nobody wanted to tank one of his fire spells, though he often joined in on the other training by throwing stones to help the physical types dodge.

  That was good fun until David realized that being hit was the way to train Reinforce. His new skill suddenly seemed like less fun, though Camila seemed to take sadistic pleasure in beating him with a sapling she uprooted just for the purpose.

  Once it became clear that both Katie and David benefitted from this training and Charlie pointed out that Mark could train his skill by healing the damage that got through this became a major focus.

  David was run ragged and feeling the effects of the pounding he had received when he finally gave in and gasped.

  “Break, let’s take a break and see where we are.”

  Everyone had been using skills, shuttling through different focuses and time had got away from them.

  After pulling up his Status David smiled.

  His Stamina had just levelled. His Health, Recovery, Vitality, Toughness and Reinforce had all increased as well.

  While he had rotated pretty regularly Reinforce has definitely progressed the fastest and training had paid off.

  Better than that he felt as though he was more prepared. In the Chaotic rush of the apocalypse there were constant unknowns. Now, though training, experimentation and discussion they had started working out a lot of details about their systems and what worked.

  “Carl and Camila are improving their resources and attributes faster than everyone else. I’m advancing my linked skill much faster and we’re all earning XP in the overflow target at a rate that handily beats anything we have seen out of combat.”

  David’s summary came between wheezes as he lay on the gravel feeling his many aches and bruises even as Mark’s spell fixed him up. Still he was excited.

  “Look, I need my health to recover before I keep going with this… It’s also quite unpleasant.”

  Katie checked her phone and squeked “It’s already after three in the morning. I don’t know how we kept going so long… Let’s call it a night and get some sleep babe.”

  The last was aimed at Mark who slowly nodded in agreement. David thought he saw a flash of disappointment on his face but couldn’t be sure.

  “Do we need to stand watch? You know with Micky and his goons around.” Carl’s question shocked them until Billy spoke.

  “Welcome to the fear of the homeless. Bessie has us covered. Ain’t nobody going to sneak up on her and hurt us.”

  With that the group retreated towards the safe zone and the tents.

  David realized to his frustration that he hadn’t got to test his spell on people. He needed to do that soon.

  When they got back David also realized that his new tent and bedding were nowhere near the others. So he ended up sleeping on the ground -again-.

  Not the end he had imagined to a rollercoaster of a second day to the apocalypse.