The room was tense, the muffled groans of the infected outside serving as a grim reminder of their fragile sanctuary. Dan lay pale and motionless on the cot, his breathing shallow but steady. Mia knelt beside him, her usually fierce expression softened by a mix of concern and determination.
Though she had never imagined herself in a situation like this, her years behind the bar had given her steady hands and a calm mind under pressure. More surprisingly, a brief medical course she had taken before the apocalypse now proved invaluable.
Mia gently checked Dan's pulse, then carefully wiped the sweat from his brow with a damp cloth. She tore strips from an old shirt to create makeshift bandages for the bruises and abrasions Dan had sustained during the fight.
"Hang in there, Dan," she whispered softly. "You're stronger than you think."
Jade sat nearby, her green eyes wide and full of worry, every muscle in her body tense as if ready to spring into action. She barely dared to breathe, glancing anxiously at Dan, then at the door, clearly afraid something might break through at any moment.
Eli, unable to tear his eyes from the door, kept casting quick, nervous glances toward it, fingers twitching near his hammer. The silence in the room was thick with unease, each second stretching painfully as they waited.
Hours passed slowly. Mia remained by Dan's side, her hands never still — checking his breathing, adjusting his position, and occasionally whispering encouraging words.
Then, after what felt like an eternity, Dan's eyelids fluttered. His gaze cleared, and he blinked up at Mia.
"Welcome back," Mia smiled gently.
Dan tried to speak but was too weak. He managed a faint nod, the weight of exhaustion still heavy in his eyes.
As Dan's eyes fully opened and he gave a faint nod, Jade couldn't hold back any longer. Tears welled up in her green eyes, and without hesitation, she wrapped her arms tightly around him in a fierce, trembling hug.
"Don't scare me like that again," she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion.
Dan, still weak but comforted by the embrace, managed a small smile, feeling the warmth and strength in her hold.
Mia looked on with a soft smile, while Eli gave a relieved nod, both silently grateful that their leader was awake again.
Dan's voice was soft but firm as he spoke, "Alright, everyone… relax. Get some rest while you can."
Jade stayed wrapped in his embrace, her head resting gently against his chest. The comfort between them was quiet but unspoken—a shared refuge from the chaos outside.
Slowly, they both drifted back to sleep, the exhaustion finally catching up.
Eli, after a few restless moments of glancing toward the door, finally leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes, allowing himself to rest.
Meanwhile, Mia remained alert, sitting near the barricade. She quietly prepared a small meal—simple, nourishing food to keep their strength up.
The room was filled with soft sounds: the quiet chopping of ingredients, the occasional sighs of those resting, and the ever-present tension of the world beyond the barricades. But for now, there was peace.
Dan eventually stirred awake, the warmth of Jade resting lightly on him grounding him in the moment. Carefully, he shifted just enough so as not to disturb her peaceful sleep.
Quietly, he opened his stats window, the familiar interface glowing softly in his vision. His recent battle had left its mark: he had killed 10 of the 23 zombies so far, and gained 900 exp
Daniel Hunter
Age: 18
Level: 6
XP: 900/3200
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Class: ???
Health: 10/10
Strength: 11/12
Agility: 12/12
Endurance: 10/10
Intelligence: 12/12
Unspent points: 0
Skills: Adrenaline Surge
Dan blinked, recalling the desperate burst of strength and speed that had saved Jade earlier. Curious about the details of the new skill, he quickly accessed the system's skill menu and requested specifics on Adrenaline Surge.
A crisp notification appeared:
Skill: Adrenaline Surge
Type: Active Buff
Effect: Temporarily boosts Strength and Agility by +5 each during moments of extreme stress or danger.
Duration: 5 minutes
Cooldown: 1 day
Overdraw: Causes severe fatigue immediately after the effect ends, temporarily reducing stamina and health regeneration.
Notes: Use with caution; overuse may lead to fainting or collapse.
Dan frowned slightly at the warning but nodded to himself. This explained everything and as he read, realization dawned on him — he had unknowingly kept the adrenaline surge active for nearly 10 minutes, double the skill's intended duration. The system never warned him because he hadn't deactivated it manually, and that prolonged use was what had caused his sudden collapse earlier. Suddenly his eyes widened as he noticed an unexpected update beneath the skill description:
System Notification:
Skill: Adrenaline Surge — Level Up Detected
Analysis: User maintained active buff status for 10 minutes, exceeding standard duration parameter (5 minutes) by 100%.
Resulting modifications:
Buff duration increased from 5 to 7 minutes (+40%)Cooldown period decreased from 24 hours to 18 hours (-25%)
Caution: Extended activation resulted in overdraw condition, inducing system fatigue state. User experienced collapse due to physiological overload. Recommend strict adherence to cooldown timers to prevent adverse effects.
Dan's eyes fluttered open again, the weight of Jade still resting gently on him. She stirred beside him, blinking sleepily before she fully woke. Her green eyes met his, hesitant but warm.
"Hey," Dan whispered softly, careful not to startle her.
Jade smiled faintly, brushing a strand of fiery red hair from her face. "You're awake. I was worried…"
Dan shifted slightly, pulling her closer in a gentle embrace. "I'm okay now. Thanks to you... and Mia."
Jade's cheeks flushed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm just glad you made it back."
A quiet moment passed between them, the tension easing as they shared the simple comfort of proximity. Then Mia cleared her throat, grinning mischievously as she leaned against the doorframe.
"Well, well, look at you two. Getting all cozy while I'm slaving away making breakfast. Should I be jealous, or do I get a spot next to Dan too?" She smirked, arms crossed.
Dan shot her a tired grin. "Jealous? You're just mad you didn't get the heroic rescue."
Jade playfully rolled her eyes. "Yeah, Mia, you were busy saving our stomachs, not our lives."
Mia laughed, stepping forward with the plate of eggs and toast. "Hey, saving lives and keeping the team fed — I'm basically a superhero."
Eli, sitting slumped against the wall by the door, rubbed his eyes and yawned. Then, with a teasing smirk, he added, "Yeah, and here I thought I was the tough guy with the hammer. Now I'm just the guy jealous of Dan's cuddling skills."
Dan smiled teasingly, still holding Jade close. "There's always room for one more."
Eli, sitting slumped against the wall by the door, rubbed his eyes and yawned. "no thanks. Im not gay dude" He glanced over at Mia, who burst out laughing.
"Not a chance," Mia teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
Eli grumbled under his breath, folding his arms but clearly amused. "Figures."
Jade gave a small smile, her worry easing just a bit as the lightheartedness filled the room.
Jade giggled quietly, the tension in her shoulders loosening as she looked up at Dan. "You're terrible," she teased.
Dan smiled down at her. "Maybe, he started it tho"
"So," Mia said, sitting down nearby, "what's the plan now? We can't stay holed up forever."
Eli rubbed his hands together, his serious side kicking back in. "First, we fortify the place more. Then we figure out where to go next."
Jade nodded, her gaze steady. "Whatever happens, we stick together."
Dan squeezed her hand gently. "Always."
Mia smiled warmly at them. "Good. Because between the four of us, we've got a better shot than anyone else."
Eli grinned, raising an imaginary glass. "To surviving — and maybe a little less cuddling."
They all laughed, the sound a small beacon of hope in the quiet room.