Chapter 2: Chapter 2: The Countdown Begins
The morning light seeped through the cracks of Kale's old curtains, painting streaks of pale gold across the room. He stood by the window, his eyes fixed on the bustling city below. People moved about their lives, blissfully unaware of the catastrophe looming just three days away.
The streets were noisy with traffic, laughter, and the mundane chatter of everyday life—a life that would soon be reduced to chaos and ruin. Kale could already picture it: overturned cars, the acrid stench of smoke, and the deafening wails of sirens.
But right now, everything was normal. And normal was the enemy.
"Three days," Kale muttered, his breath fogging up the glass. "That's all I've got."
He turned away from the window, his mind racing. The Villain System hadn't just handed him a second chance—it had given him a weapon. But what good was a weapon if you didn't know how to wield it?
Ding!
New Mission: Prepare for the apocalypse.
Objective: Gather survival essentials and weapons.
Time Limit: 48 hours.
Reward: 200 Villain Points.
Kale's lips curled into a grin. "Finally, something concrete."
The first wave of the apocalypse would hit fast and hard. Most people wouldn't survive the initial chaos, let alone the horrors that followed. But Kale wasn't most people—not anymore.
He grabbed his jacket and slung the katana replica over his back. It was a poor excuse for a weapon, but it would have to do for now.
"First priority: weapons and supplies," Kale muttered, running through his mental checklist. "Second priority: information."
In his past life, he'd wasted precious hours trying to figure out what was happening. This time, he had the advantage. He knew where the first outbreaks would occur, where the safest places would be, and most importantly, who to avoid.
Asher.
The thought of the protagonist sent a jolt of anger through him, but Kale forced himself to stay calm. Rushing things would only get him killed.
"Patience," he told himself. "Play it smart."
The first stop was the local supermarket. It was still early, so the aisles were relatively empty. Kale grabbed a shopping cart and started loading it with essentials: canned food, bottled water, medical supplies, and batteries.
His movements were efficient, almost robotic. He wasn't shopping—he was preparing for war.
As he tossed a pack of instant noodles into the cart, he caught a glimpse of himself in the reflective surface of a freezer door. His dark eyes were sharp, almost predatory. The weak, timid Kale of his past life was gone.
"Excuse me, are you hoarding?"
Kale turned to see a middle-aged woman glaring at him, her arms crossed. She looked at his overloaded cart with disapproval.
For a moment, Kale considered snapping at her. But then he caught himself.
"Oh, sorry," he said, forcing a sheepish smile. "Just stocking up for a camping trip."
The woman's expression softened slightly. "Well, don't take everything. Other people need supplies too."
"Of course," Kale replied smoothly, though inwardly he was laughing.
If only she knew.
By the time he left the supermarket, his cart was overflowing. He loaded the supplies into a taxi, paying the driver extra to help him carry everything upstairs. The man grumbled but obliged.
Once everything was in his apartment, Kale stood back and surveyed his haul. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
Ding!
Mission Progress: 40% Complete.
Kale nodded in satisfaction. "Next step: weapons."
In his past life, he'd learned the hard way that improvised weapons wouldn't cut it—not against the mutated monsters that would soon roam the streets. He needed real firepower.
His mind raced through his options. Gun stores would be looted within hours of the apocalypse. Police stations? Too risky. But there was one place…
"The military surplus store," Kale muttered. It was a small shop on the outskirts of the city, run by an old veteran who had a habit of stockpiling more than he sold.
Kale grabbed his jacket and headed out again.
The store was exactly as he remembered it—cluttered, dimly lit, and reeking of gun oil. The owner, a grizzled man in his sixties, sat behind the counter, reading a newspaper. He barely looked up as Kale entered.
"What do you want?" the man grunted.
Kale didn't waste time on pleasantries. "I'm looking for something that can handle… unusual threats."
The man raised an eyebrow but didn't question him. He motioned for Kale to follow, leading him to the back room.
Kale's eyes widened as he took in the array of weapons on display: knives, machetes, crossbows, and even a few firearms. His fingers itched to grab everything, but he forced himself to focus.
He picked out a machete, a hunting knife, and a collapsible crossbow. They weren't perfect, but they were better than nothing.
As he paid for the weapons, the old man gave him a long, searching look.
"You planning for something, kid?"
Kale met his gaze, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Let's just say I like to be prepared."
The man chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, good luck with… whatever it is you're preparing for."
Back at his apartment, Kale unpacked the weapons and laid them out on the table. The machete gleamed under the dim light, its edge sharp and deadly.
He gripped the hilt, testing its weight. It wasn't much, but it felt good in his hand. Solid. Reliable.
Ding!
Mission Progress: 80% Complete.
Kale's eyes narrowed. He still needed one more thing: information.
In his past life, the first outbreaks had occurred in hospitals and densely populated areas. The virus spread rapidly, turning ordinary people into mindless, flesh-eating monsters.
But there was more to it than that. The virus wasn't natural—it was engineered. And the people behind it were far more dangerous than the zombies themselves.
Kale's jaw tightened as he remembered the shadowy figures who had pulled the strings from behind the scenes. They'd profited from the apocalypse, thriving on the chaos.
"Not this time," he muttered. "This time, I'll find you. And I'll destroy you."
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Kale sat by the window, his weapons and supplies arranged neatly around him. The city outside was bathed in the warm glow of streetlights, its people still blissfully unaware of the nightmare about to unfold.
But Kale wasn't afraid.
For the first time in his life, he felt truly in control.
Ding!
Mission Complete!
Reward: 200 Villain Points.
Kale's lips curved into a wicked grin. "Two hundred points, huh? Let's see what this system store has to offer."
With a thought, he summoned the system interface and navigated to the store. His eyes widened as he took in the list of items available.
SYSTEM STORE
Talent Upgrade Card: 1,000 PointsTalent Card: 10,000 PointsLuck Card: 10,000 PointsAvatar Body: 10,000 Points
Kale's heart raced as he scanned the items. The possibilities were endless.
"This is just the beginning," he whispered, his voice trembling with a mixture of excitement and determination. "The apocalypse doesn't stand a chance."
End of Chapter 2
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