World Apocalypse: Apocalust

Chapter 34: Chapter XXXIV - Three Makes Peas in a Pod

The three continued down the streets, dealing with the occasional walker whenever one wandered too close. Strangely enough, there were far fewer than there had been earlier. The streets that had once seemed packed with them were now eerily sparse, leaving long stretches of road almost empty.

Sage glanced around, her bow hanging loosely at her side. "So what did you get from awakening?"

Noah looked at her, momentarily caught off guard by the question. He thought back to everything that had happened since the process began—the pain, the changes, and the rewards he’d received afterward.

"Other than those rewards..." he muttered, more to himself than anyone else, "I don’t think I ever really checked."

The last few words carried just far enough for Sage to hear, drawing her attention.

"You never checked?"

Noah shook his head.

"Apparently not."

Noah raised a hand and beckoned for his status. Almost immediately, the familiar gray screen materialized before him, hovering silently in the air.

〔Status〕

Name: Noah Fowler

Level: 5 (100/1200)

Title: Pioneer

Strength: 20

Agility: 15

Constitution: 15

Intelligence: 8

Magic Power: 10

Fixed Stats:

Charisma: 14

Luck: 6

Willpower: 7

Attribute Points: 20

Talent: Advanced Spearmanship

Ability: Appraisal, Barrier, Domain, Enhanced Perception, Synthesis

Weapon: Steel-Tip Spear

The gray screen displayed row after row of information, revealing everything Noah had apparently accumulated since awakening.

Sage glanced over. Levy noticed the screen a moment later and quickly moved alongside her. Neither of them said anything at first, their eyes traveling down the list.

"Wait."

Sage looked at him.

"What’s Pioneer?"

"It gives me an extra three attribute points whenever I level up."

Levy turned toward Sage, his expression growing more incredulous by the second. His eyes moved farther down the screen.

"Twenty attribute points?" he asked. "You just have twenty of those sitting there?"

"I didn’t even know I had that many. I thought it’d be fourteen since I get seven attributes after each level. The awakening most likely has something to do with that."

Levy scoffed.

"Yeah, not the point, dude. You’re saying that as if that wouldn’t be three levels for your average Joe."

Sage looked between them before returning her attention to the screen.

"And your Strength is already at twenty."

"Yeah..."

"And you have five abilities?"

Noah counted them silently, his expression shifting as he took in the list.

"You know, that’s actually quite a bit..."

Levy stared at him.

"Five?"

"Okay, well now that you guys are putting it like that, it does seem kind of crazy."

Levy exclaimed.

"Kind of?! Shit, good thing I’m on your team."

Sage ignored them, her expression growing increasingly incredulous as she reread the abilities.

"Appraisal... Barrier... Domain... Enhanced Perception... Synthesis."

She paused.

"How did you even get all of those?"

Noah scratched his head sheepishly.

"The first four were rewards I got after awakening. Synthesis, I’m pretty sure I got during my first walk-in with the walkers. No pun intended."

Sage smiled for a brief moment before her face shifted once again.

"You’re telling me you awakened, got four new abilities, and twenty attribute points—and you never thought to check?"

Noah looked at the status screen again. When she put it like that, it did sound a little ridiculous.

"In his defense, we were going through them when we heard the scraping in your apartment... I’m pretty sure," Levy said.

"And we couldn’t exactly make time to inspect every aspect of the screen when someone decided to hold an arrow to our heads," Noah added.

Sage gave them both a flat look.

"After you broke into my apartment, by the way."

The two boys went silent, looking elsewhere.

Levy nodded once.

"Valid."

Noah nodded as well.

"Very valid."

Sage’s expression softened into the faintest smirk. "Yeah, thought so."

"But back to the point at hand," she said, glancing at the status screen again. "Are you planning to use those attribute points, or are you just going to stockpile them?"

"Stockpile."

The answer came without even a moment of hesitation.

Sage raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"

"I can handle walkers easily enough as it is, especially with Levy on my six." Noah nodded toward his friend. "I’d rather save them for when I actually need them."

Levy grinned. "See? He appreciates me."

"Don’t get carried away." Noah waved a hand dismissively before turning his attention back to Sage. "Enough about me, though. I feel like I’m being interrogated."

He gestured toward her. "You said you’re just going to go wherever the wind takes you, right? Would you wanna kick it with us then?"

She nodded.

"Why?"

"Well, would you like to stick around with us, then?" Noah asked. He glanced at Sage before quickly adding, "Only if you want to, though. No pressure."

"Yeah, I know," Sage replied matter-of-factly.

Noah blinked.

"That was quick."

"I haven’t answered yet."

"Sounded like you were about to."

"I was being sarcastic.

Sage adjusted the strap of her quiver and looked down the empty street. Abandoned cars sat crookedly along the road, their doors hanging open. Beyond them, the city stretched into the distance, silent except for the occasional distant groan.

"I don’t know," she said. "You two have a habit of breaking into apartments, attracting walkers, and making decisions that should probably get you killed."

Levy placed a hand against his chest and breathed in relief.

"Wow. And here I thought it was my charming personality."

Sage looked at him.

"Your personality is the least concerning part."

Levy slowly lowered his hand.

"That feels like an insult."

"It was."

Noah rubbed the back of his neck.

"We’re not exactly asking you to sign a contract. You can leave whenever you want."

"Then what’s the point of asking me to stay?"

"Because you’re useful," Noah said. "And because having someone who can shoot from a distance would make things easier."

Sage’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"So I’m useful."

"That’s not all I meant."

"It’s what you said."

Levy leaned toward Noah.

"You’re doing great."

"I’m aware."

Sage folded her arms against her chest. "And what exactly is your plan?"

Noah glanced down the street.

"Make the trek back to my place and finally settle down. We managed to gather supplies yesterday before night fell, and we also have some more in our bags." He gestured toward the heavy bags on their backs.

"That actually doesn’t sound half bad."

"Okay, what’s up with all these sneak disses?" Levy asked.

"Right, my bad. Habit."

She looked between them.

Levy gave her a small shrug. "He’s reckless sometimes, but I will say he usually notices when things are going to kill us."

"Usually?" Sage asked.

"I’m working on it."

For a moment, none of them spoke.

Sage’s gaze drifted toward the buildings around them. Her father was gone, her apartment was compromised, and the city she’d known had become something entirely unfamiliar. She had no destination, no safe place to return to, and no reason to believe traveling alone would improve her chances.

Noah didn’t pressure her. Levy didn’t make another joke. That, more than anything, seemed to matter.

Sage exhaled through her nose.

"Fine."

Noah’s eyebrows lifted.

"Fine?"

"I’ll stick around for now." She pointed at him. "But I make my own decisions."

"Obviously."

"And if either of you does something stupid, I’m leaving."

Levy grinned.

"Welcome to the team."

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