The call dragged Arien out of sleep like a hook through water.
His eyes opened to darkness, the faint glow of the city leaking through the curtains. The phone vibrated again.
He exhaled slowly and answered.
"Master Arien ," Sophia's voice came crisp and professional, but there was a trace of excitement she failed to hide. "The villa you asked for is exactly like your description. The deal is finalised."
Arien sat up, his mind snapping awake. "Price?"
"Ten million credits. No legal complications. Ownership transfers today."
There was no hesitation.
"Send the contractor."
—
By noon, the dust of the outskirts clung to Ariens boots as he stood face to face with the contractor—a broad man with scarred hands and sharp, measuring eyes.
Why are you buying an abandoned villa he asked.
It's none of your business, Arien said.
"One million now," sliding the credit chip forward. "The rest after one week. It's not a problem, is there?
The contractor weighed the chip in his palm as if it were heavier than its value.
There is none, sir. It's okay, you can give rest later
"Deal."
—
The vehicle slowed as iron gates rose into view.
Arien stepped out.
The base stood like a relic from a forgotten war—aged concrete, weathered steel, but unmistakably solid. High walls encircled it in a near-perfect square, layered with old reinforcement scars and watchtower mounts long abandoned.
It wasn't beautiful.
It was honest.
Wind slid through broken gravel paths. Rusted floodlights leaned at odd angles. The main structure bore cracks—not weaknesses, but memories.
Arien placed a hand against the wall.
This is a little bit too old, but what can be done, it's lucky we got it properly, easily, with good structure and built like a fortress.
The System stirred.
System Notification:
Location Selection Confirmed
Base Type: Defensive Stronghold (Legacy Grade)
Evaluation: Optimal for large-scale catastrophe scenarios.
Arien took his first step inside.
The air shifted.
System Reward Triggered
Conditions Met:
– Strategic Base Secured
– Supplies Hoarded Successfully
Text unfolded before his vision.
Rewards Granted:
– Automated Security Camera Network (All Angles)
– Reinforced Interior & Exterior Walls (Defence Boost)
– Integrated Trap Systems (Manual & Auto)
– Surveillance Control Room (Fully Functional)
– Achievement Points +100
Arien let out a quiet breath.
"Whoa, that's quite the reward. I don't have to do the additional improvement he murmured.
The walls hummed faintly as systems came online—old bones reinforced with new purpose. Cameras blinked to life. Hidden mechanisms slid into place behind concrete and steel.
The base wasn't just standing anymore.
I watched it.
—
In the blink of an eye, when Arien is about to familiarise himself with his villa and its security improvement and functions, six days have passed.
Silence spread across the world like a held breath.
Then—
Sirens and signals are going to fail.
And humanity is faced with an inhumane survival era, where the only humans who can overcome the difficulty of the apocalypse are those who can only going to survive.
—
Time remaining 16 hours
Arien stood in the control room. In 16hours, the first emergency broadcasts would collapse into static. Streets will erupt into chaos, bodies falling and rising again with empty eyes.
The mutation should begin. I already messaged Sophia to come to my villa. She should be visiting any time soon.
The effect of the collar is quite good, and it doesn't seem to be visible to anyone other than the owner, and the slave doesn't seem to question his master and completely listens to any command, it's like planting a controlling cheap in inside her brain.
When he is in deep thought, Sophia calls him and says master, I am outside the villa.
Then he commands the gate open, and Sophia comes in.
Hi, master, why did you call me over to your villa? Is there any other command?
You live alone, don't you?
Yes
You will live here from now on and do the task I told you to do.
As you command, master.
She said happily like a puppy.
A few days ago, she was a complete bitch, whom I wanted to kill, but an item from the system made her disgusting traits go away.
When he is distracted, the system window pops out, which has info about the quest.
Quest - become a first-person who kills 100 zombies
Subquest - save a person and make him your subordinate
Rewards - 100 achievement points
1000 gold coins
Open hidden skill [creation]
Hidden material [ description enclosed when the reward will be given ]
Sub quest reward . ??????
What's with the quest, although it has a decent reward, and there is also saving a person and making him your subordinate, and the reward is also disclosed.
Anyway, I am going to level up.
I asked Sophia to bring some weapons. I hope she keeps that in mind.
Sophia, I asked you to bring some weapons. Did you bring it?
Yes, master, I bring what you asked.
High-quality bows, machetes, and a katana
The reason I didn't get weapons like firearms, which are shown in movies, in the real world, or in this world, is quite different. When you use a firearm, the sound it makes attracts many more, and you get trapped easily. Obviously, it has advantages, but in a world where it's not typical zombies, then it's a different thing.
The only weapon effective against them is store weapons, which is totally different from grades and levels, and the store will open when I become level one, so there is no problem.
Until then, I can always use bows, so the quest says 100 zombies, so I can not wait in the shelter for that.
Oh, how about the place where I can stay hidden and kill zombies, like a mall or supermarket or anything that is crowded although it's a little bit stupidity to go in crowded place for quest but rather quest i have to level up its real life and my life is in line in this world i have to become stronger fast or i will turn into ash in no time.
So it's better to hunt them when their mutation level and stats are low. I have to hunt as much as possible, and when I hit level 10, I can get weapons from the store and also buy skills, and I am also looking forward to the hidden skill.
So it's done, thinking Sophia gets weapons ready, we are going on a tour.
Tour with the master, what a present, I can spend time with the master.
After the timeline ends and the mutation begins.
The world is falling into chaos.
As they left the shelter with their strong vehicle and weapons
Sophia asks the master and is going to speak, but he interrupts and tells her that from now on, when we are outside or not alone, call him Arien.
As you say ma`,,, arien
What are you saying?
Umm.
Why are you preparing the shelter and weapons?
Then he was about to speak when a man was hit by their vehicle.
To be: Continued