Bab 5: Chapter 5: Unveiling the System
Arnold awoke early the next morning, the first light of dawn barely seeping through the trees surrounding Marcus's cabin. The week of training and preparation had taken its toll on his body, but he felt a growing sense of purpose. With Marcus now on his side, he had taken a crucial first step toward changing the future. But there was still much to do, and Arnold knew that the key to their survival would lie in fully understanding and harnessing the power of the system.
The system had been a mysterious presence in his life ever since that fateful day when he found himself back in his old room. It had granted him abilities, issued quests, and provided rewards, but Arnold knew he had barely scratched the surface of what it could offer. If he was going to survive the apocalypse and become the strongest, he needed to unlock its full potential.
After a quick breakfast, Arnold decided to focus on exploring the system more thoroughly. He excused himself from Marcus, who was busy sharpening some knives outside the cabin, and found a quiet spot inside where he could concentrate. Taking a deep breath, Arnold summoned the system screen with a thought.
The familiar blue interface materialized before his eyes, hovering in the air like a hologram. He had already seen his basic stats and the few abilities he had unlocked, but he hadn't spent much time delving deeper into its functions. Now was the time to change that.
"Status," Arnold whispered, and the system screen shifted, displaying his current stats.
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**Name**: Arnold Evans
**Level**: 1
**Strength**: 12
**Agility**: 11
**Stamina**: 10
**Intelligence**: 14
**Titles**:
*The Past Returner*
*100% Chance to get Best Rewards upon Quest Completion.*
*?%**# More *&%# (Unauthorized to View)*
**Abilities**:
- *[Shadow Boxing]*: A basic combat skill that allows the user to practice against a shadowy opponent. Increases reflexes and combat awareness.
- *[Enhanced Senses]*: Temporarily heightens the user's senses, allowing for better perception of surroundings. Duration: 10 minutes. Cooldown: 1 hour.
**Quests**:
- *None active.*
**System Points**: 50
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Arnold noticed that his stats had improved slightly since the last time he checked. The week of intense physical training had paid off, pushing his Strength, Agility, and Stamina up by a few points. But what caught his eye were the System Points. He hadn't paid much attention to them before, but now he realized they might hold the key to unlocking more of the system's abilities.
"System," Arnold asked, focusing on the points, "what can I do with these System Points?"
The screen flickered, and a new menu appeared, listing various options:
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**System Store**: Spend points to purchase items, abilities, or enhancements.
**Skill Upgrade**: Enhance existing abilities or unlock new skills.
**Status Enhancement**: Directly increase your stats using points.
**Inventory**: Access purchased items and equipment.
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Arnold felt a thrill of excitement as he read through the options. This was exactly what he needed—a way to enhance his abilities and become stronger without relying solely on physical training. He selected the *System Store* option, curious to see what was available.
The store menu opened up, revealing a list of items and abilities that could be purchased with System Points. Arnold's eyes scanned the list, noting the variety of options:
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**Items**:
- *Basic Health Potion*: 10 Points – Restores 50% of health.
- *Minor Stamina Elixir*: 15 Points – Restores 30% of stamina.
- *Basic Survival Kit*: 30 Points – Contains essential tools for survival, including a knife, matches, and a small first-aid kit.
**Abilities**:
- *[Night Vision]*: 20 Points – Allows the user to see in complete darkness.
- *[Quick Step]*: 25 Points – Temporarily increases movement speed by 20%. Duration: 5 minutes.
- *[Critical Strike]*: 40 Points – Grants a chance for attacks to deal double damage.
**Enhancements**:
- *Strength +2*: 10 Points
- *Agility +2*: 10 Points
- *Stamina +2*: 10 Points
---
Arnold realized that these items and abilities could give him a significant edge in the challenges ahead. However, with only 50 System Points at his disposal, he had to choose wisely. He knew he needed to be prepared for both combat and survival, so he began weighing his options.
The *[Night Vision]* ability caught his attention first. In the dark, it could be invaluable, especially during nighttime raids or when navigating through the city after the power grid failed. He quickly purchased it, spending 20 of his points. As soon as the transaction was complete, he felt a slight tingling in his eyes, followed by a brief moment of disorientation. When he blinked, everything seemed sharper, as if his vision had adjusted to a new level of clarity.
"Let's test this out," Arnold murmured to himself. He closed the blinds in the cabin, plunging the room into near darkness. To his amazement, his surroundings remained clear as day. He could see every detail—the texture of the wood walls, the outlines of the furniture, even the faint scuff marks on the floor. The [Night Vision] ability had worked perfectly.
Arnold deactivated the ability and turned his attention back to the System Store. He still had 30 points left, and he wanted to make sure he got the most out of them. After a moment of consideration, he decided to purchase the *[Critical Strike]* ability. It was expensive, but the potential to double his damage during combat was too good to pass up.
The system confirmed the purchase, and Arnold felt a rush of energy flow through him. The new ability settled into his consciousness, ready to be activated whenever he needed it. He could already imagine the difference it would make in a fight, especially against the stronger beasts and enemies he would inevitably face.
With only 10 points remaining, Arnold decided to spend them on a small stat boost. He selected the Strength +2 enhancement, feeling the familiar surge of power as his physical strength increased slightly. Every little bit counted, and he was determined to maximize every advantage the system offered.
Satisfied with his purchases, Arnold closed the System Store and took a moment to assess his new abilities. He had come a long way in a short amount of time, but there was still much to learn. The system was clearly more than just a tool for survival—it was a gateway to becoming something far greater.
Just as he was about to close the system interface, a notification popped up:
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**New Quest Available: Gather Allies**
*Objective*: Recruit at least two more allies to your cause before the apocalypse begins.
*Reward*: 100 System Points + ???
*Time Limit*: 28 days
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Arnold's heart skipped a beat as he read the quest description. The system was urging him to expand his group, and it was offering a substantial reward for doing so. The additional System Points alone would be valuable, but the question marks hinted at something even more intriguing—an unknown reward that could potentially change the course of his journey.
He thought about the people he knew, those who could be valuable allies in the days to come. There was Marcus, of course, but who else? There was one person who came to mind immediately—Sarah Mitchell, a skilled medic he had met briefly during the early days of the apocalypse. She had saved countless lives with her knowledge of field medicine and had earned a reputation for being both tough and compassionate. In his previous life, she had joined a survivor group, but Arnold remembered that she had often expressed frustration with their lack of organization and foresight. If he could reach her before the chaos began, he might be able to convince her to join him.
Then there was Ethan Ward, a former engineer turned weapons expert. Ethan had been instrumental in building and maintaining the defenses of one of the largest safe zones in the city. Arnold had only interacted with him a few times, but he remembered Ethan as resourceful, quick-thinking, and surprisingly calm under pressure. If Arnold could recruit Ethan, they would have a crucial edge in terms of both technology and defense.
Arnold knew he couldn't waste any time. The quest had a deadline, and he needed to find both Sarah and Ethan before things spiraled out of control. But now, with the system backing him and new abilities at his disposal, he felt more confident than ever.
He stood up, a renewed sense of determination filling him. Marcus would be his first ally, but he wouldn't be the last. With the system guiding him, Arnold was ready to gather a team strong enough to survive the apocalypse—and perhaps even more.
As he stepped outside to inform Marcus of the plan, the weight of what lay ahead didn't feel as daunting as before. He had a plan, he had abilities, and soon, he would have allies. The apocalypse was coming, but this time, Arnold Evans was ready to meet it head-on.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone