Town Under: A Post-Apocalyptic LitRPG (The System Apocalypse: Australia Book 1) Read online

  He hesitated. “It acts similar, but I don’t think that’s what it was.”

  Almost at the exit, I felt like a lifetime had passed since we left the ecology lab. I glanced out the corner of my vision, noticing yet again that there was something flashing there and realized it wanted me to make choices for myself. But I needed more information and time to go over them, so I didn’t screw this up. For some reason, I didn’t think I was going to be able to respec in this apocalypse.

  I refused to make uninformed choices if the information was available to me. Whatever this screen in my vision shit was had the potential to be really scary and dangerous for my kids. And it would be just plain irresponsible of me to rush any decision that could impact my children’s survivability.

  Survivability. We needed to survive this. And while a quick choice on my behalf might help us in the short term, I didn’t plan on dying any time soon. Important decisions were going to have to wait.

  Shit.

  I wished Mason wasn’t traveling for work again. Maybe if he’d had the kids this weekend. . . Taking a breath, I shook my thoughts away from my ex-husband. Right now, I had to analyze what was happening.

  Had the apocalypse really come? I tried to push open the entry doors and groaned. They were controlled by electricity. Shit.

  “You two, around the corner. Wisp, stay with your brother.” It probably added to the gravity of the situation that Wisp didn’t even argue as I lowered her to the ground.

  Glass fucking doors weren’t going to stop me. I walked over to one of the displays. This month was for ecological awareness and highlighted the dangers of construction close to protected habitats. There were several bricks scattered around it. I remember thinking it was a bit gimmicky, but now I had never been so glad of a promotional tactic in my life. Hefting one of the bricks in my hand, I took aim, heralding back to that one season I played softball, and heaved the block right at the glass next to the doors.

  The noise would have woken the dead if any had been around. Oh no, had I jinxed myself now? Were zombies going to appear too?

  Breathe, Kira. Just breathe.

  Shit.

  I get it, brain—things are confusing. But I needed to get myself together and stop with the panicking. As the last of the glass clattered down, I turned and beckoned the kids. Wisp was properly awake now, her pale face scared but determined. She clung to my hand, gripping it like I was a lifeline.

  “We have thirty-five minutes left, Mum. We have to get your Class chosen. We have to pick our Perks.”

  Jackson was just quietly urging, but it was all I could do to not snap at him. I knew I had to, even if the whole concept sounded absurd. Since when did the entire world turn into a bloody computer game?

  Twenty-five minutes ago, my helpful brain offered.

  We stepped onto the path outside the science building. The wrongness of the air and of the bush around us hit me immediately. I could feel something, the same way I could tell a bushfire was coming before the smell reached me. Only this was different; this was more dangerous, altering, devastating.

  We needed to get to the car as soon as possible, which meant cutting through the campus and around to Park Road.

  “Any guesses?” I asked the question quietly to buy time, and Jackson obliged with an answer.

  “I don’t know. I’ve never seen a game like this, and frankly, if it can insert itself into our minds, I have to think it’s not just a game. I have to think we’ve been taken over by aliens.” His expression didn’t change or twitch.

  He was dead serious, and I knew deep down he was also right. Maybe. The idea of aliens was insane. Then again, so was the idea of a game System world. Either way, this was outside of any game visuals I’d ever seen.

  I nodded, not trusting myself to speak and still be strong enough for my kids right now. Half an hour left of this System initiation. Maybe I could get us back home and we could all just sit down in the safety of our own four walls and figure this out.

  We wove among the buildings, along the paths, the breeze blowing the gum leaves in such a way I could smell the scent strongly. If I strained my ears, I swore I could hear the teeth of the koalas as they chewed their food, but that was just my overactive imagination.

  All of the buildings held soft blue glows, even down to the fountain close to the quad where the students preferred to eat on sunny summer days. There were koi in there, but I wasn’t particularly interested in taking a peek. No one else was here this late. I hadn’t even glimpsed Steve or Jane. They’d usually be on rounds about now.

  A shadow passed us on the path we were taking. Rodent-like yet larger than it had any right to be. My breath tried to stick in my throat, and the look Jackson shot me told me I hadn’t been seeing things.

  I’d always loved the campus for its place in the middle of the bush, yet as we neared the carpark and more creatures began to slither or creep close to us, I wished I’d taken that job at the uni in the city instead.

  Chapter Two:

  Flying Bugs

  15 Minutes Post-System Onset

  Adrenaline faltered as we rounded the bend, and I could see our car sitting there in the carpark. Wind whipped the trees above us, and I felt like we might just make it to safety so we could figure this all out. At least things would have been okay if a massively mutated flying cockroach hadn’t chosen that damned moment to sit on my head and hang its mandibles into my eyes.

  There was no part of me that wanted to scare my children, but there was equally no part of me in enough control of my faculties not to scream like a banshee as I shook my head trying to dislodge it.

  Have you ever seen a cockroach? Their legs have tiny hairs on them, but this one was about the size of a small cat, on my head, and about to make me throw up with panic. Jackson yet again came to my rescue, knocking it off with the backpack he was carrying. I saw his eyes in the moonlight, wide and scared, but he did it anyway. It was what I needed to buck up. It fell to the ground, and I stomped on it. My boots squished its tail end with a sickening crunch; white innards exploded outwards and luckily missed my boots.

  The squeal it let out hurt my ears it was so high pitched, and I hoped to whatever god this System had brought with it that it wasn’t calling a flock of the flying fuckers. I hit it over and over and over again with the tent bag. Those metal rods were the only thing I could think of that would do enough damage to kill it as dead as I could. Cockroaches have to be torn apart. They can and have survived nuclear fallout.

  Flying cockroaches are nutters. I hate them. I never wanted to speak of this pet-sized creature again, but I had yet another horrid feeling that this was just the first of many.

  Experience Gained +183 XP

  You have gained Experience. The Experience will be stored until you have chosen your Class and it can be applied. Please do so shortly as experience gained will decay.

  Great job with that cockroach. It’s amazing how much harder they are to kill when they can fight back.

  Note: Due to high Level difficulty in Dungeon Continent: Australia, all kills within the first 24 hours will receive bonus experience.

  We stood there, panting as the thing twitched in death throes, looking around fearfully for the next attacker. Wisp clung to my jacket, hiding behind me and the wave of fear that swept over us all, making me gag. This was real, and I had no idea how to deal with it.

  “Hey, my brilliant son. What did you learn from all those games? What do we do now?” I asked, not liking having to depend on my son. “What are the things we have to pick and figure out in this game interface?”

  We were at the car, the car which luckily was unlocked, because apparently no electronics were working at all. And lo and behold, my few-years-old car mostly consisted of electronic improvements. Focusing on that was all that kept hand steady and the scream in my throat from escaping it. My son looked at me and nodded, and I noticed his hands were shaking.

  Here, in this deserted carpark where we’d been attacked by
a monstrous insect, my little boy had saved me. I pulled him into a hug, gripping Wisp around into it too.

  “We’ve got this. We just need to stick together and we can figure this out.” I had to say it just to help myself believe if nothing else.

  Their eyes told me they knew I’d keep them safe. They were my kids, and we’d been through a lot already in their short lives. Divorce, while pretty amicable, had still been hard on them. After we got through this onset, maybe I could figure out how to find Mason. We’d kept the kids mostly upbeat, and they loved their dad time when he was in town. I’d be damned if I’d let a stupid apocalypse stop us now.

  “Ask it for options. Speak to or think quietly at the game. It’s all there, all ready for you to use. But look through your options. Don’t take the first thing it offers to you. Give it directions and be firm. I think it takes things very literally.” He squared his jaw like it had almost caught him off guard.

  We didn’t have the time I wanted. But that was partially because of how I deal with things. I need plans, I need actions, and I need to follow those specific lists every step of the way until I reach a conclusion. And research. I need to research so I know that what I’m buying—or, in this case, choosing—is the best possible option for me. Only now that wasn’t possible. Direct the System, he’d said.

  “Access previously suggested Classes.” I spoke softly, and it complied.

  The blue screen, complete with that blocky Courier script that hurt my eyes, flashed in front of my vision again. I only gave the new Skills a perfunctory look before frowning and shaking my head. These had nothing to do with my current occupation. And my patience was wearing thin. First and foremost, because I didn’t want to be a surveyor, sap harvester, or whatever that option that looked suspiciously like a cook that the System offered up. Nothing in there would help me keep my kids safe. And I was a horrendous cook.

  Calibrating. Retrieving previously parsed information.

  Caution: As per Dungeon World Development Schedule 142.4.2.8, certain skill sets are recognized as having abilities sympathetic to the System. Not applying these would be a grave violation. Swipe to let us know you’re ready to choose a Class upon which your life and the lives of your offspring will depend.

  Would you like to view applicable Classes now?

  “Yes,” I snapped, feeling oddly uneasy talking to myself. I could feel the minutes ticking away. I wasn’t sure what it entailed for the System to finish the initiation period, but I didn’t want to be in the heart of this bushland when it did. If the cockroach was anything to go by, I didn’t want to see what it could do to koalas and magpies.

  The following options are open to you:

  Basic Class: Cleaner of the Land

  Due to your unique understanding of what makes the creatures and plants around us evolve, you are tasked with cleansing the environment. This ability allows you to launder Mana emissions, distilling Mana down to a System-acceptable form. However, due to high Mana contamination levels inherent to the passive abilities in this Class, you will deal damage to individuals in your presence.

  Class Abilities: +3 Intelligence per Level +1 Constitution and Willpower.

  +4 Attributes per Level - unusable in Intelligence and Charisma

  +20% Mental Resistance

  +50% Elemental Resistance

  +20% Mana Regeneration rate

  Well, that one was bullshit. Couldn’t be around my kids? Not going to happen.

  Basic Class: Pest & Pathogens Unit: Microbiologist / Plant Pathologist / Entomologist / Hydrogeologist / Molecular Biologist - Abbreviated as: Ecological Chain Specialist

  Your life’s studies have led to this path. Yay for you. You will continue to deepen your studies and understanding of the surrounding ecosystem even with its Mana-mutating wiles. Eventually, even this new Earth will help you when needed. If you make it that far.

  Class Abilities: +2 Intelligence per Level +1 Constitution, Perception, and Willpower per Level.

  +3 free Attribute points per Level

  +22% mental resistance

  +35% Elemental Resistance due to your ecological affinities. This will increase as you Level.

  Warning: Nature is powerful. Always remember that.

  Cryptic warnings were cryptic. I raised an eyebrow, wondering if this System thing could see me. It’s like it plucked my actual job description from my HR file and went with that. Still. It sounded better and didn’t appear like it would make me persona non grata like the other option. Going with what I already knew seemed like the best plan, so I chose it, gulping as I did so.

  Congratulations!

  You have chosen your Class and are Level 1. Your stored experience has been applied.

  Would you like to choose your abilities now?

  Sure.

  You may choose one (1) of the following Class-specific Skills:

  Tier One

  Earth Barricade (Level One)

  Earth Barricade allows you to command the earth beneath your feet for the purpose of defending yourself and your allies.

  Effect: 100 HP shield created, within a 3m x 2.5m region (shapeable).

  Mana Cost: 20 Mana

  Mana Attunement (Level One)

  Using your affinity for the world around you, you can tap into the earth and coax it to warn you of any incoming threats. Radius and specific information increases with Skill Level and Level of caster’s awareness. Mana Regeneration reduced by 5 Mana per second permanently. This is a passive Skill.

  Effect: Adds an additional seismic sense to user which can detect ground-based movement. Degree of sensitivity dependent on distance and degree of earth disruption.

  Range: 200 meters

  Blood Transfer (Level One)

  Due to your devotion to understanding the world and mechanics of biological evolution, you are able to tap into the blood of your opponents and redirect that damage to heal yourself. Beneficial effects only usable on self.

  Caution: Best targeted on enemies. Self-heal only.

  Effect: Drains and transfers 5 HP per second. Target must have blood.

  Mana Cost: 5 Mana per second

  I read them, and then reread them. If my ability to comprehend English hadn’t taken a hit, then Mana Attunement was the best choice for now. While having a barricade and self-heal could be useful, I’d like to think being forewarned of danger was the better option, especially at the beginning. Choosing these options let a surreal wave of nausea wash over me. That one sensation didn’t feel like a game, even if everything else did.

  Please be aware you have 1 Small Perk, 1 Medium Perk, and 1 Large Perk to spend. Would you like to allocate Perks now?

  Jackson was kneeling down to his sister’s height. She wasn’t really short for eight, but she definitely wasn’t tall. I’d never met a kid with less fear, but I think the darkness and massive cockroach didn’t really qualify as normal.

  I quickly checked over what he’d chosen and frowned. He’d chosen something called Techzard.

  You have a penchant for all things technical, and your weird affinity with power sources has led you to seek out alternative Mana friendly methods. Be aware—Mana and power go hand in hand. Don’t let yourself be corrupted.

  +3 Intelligence, +1 Willpower, and +1Constitution

  +3 Attribute points per Level

  I shrugged. It definitely sounded like something he’d resonate with. He was done with his Class choices.

  “Almost done.” I spoke softly to try and reassure them both. Steeling myself, I attempted another request, this time in my head. Please show me something I can protect my family with. I didn’t like the high-pitched tone to my inner voice. Not even I could tell if I was begging or panicking.

  As per Dungeon World Development Schedule 18.4.7.6.8(a) (the Amendment to Family Unit Perk System), as the head of your non-colony-based familial unit with two (2) or more dependents in close proximity, you are granted one special Perk equal to one Large Perk. Perk choices will be limited to those that be
nefit the protection and on-going survival of your family as a whole.

  Attempts at contravening or amending this Perk to contravene the intent will result in additional penalties, including experience defrayment, limited Class upgrades, and potential, additional reputation amendments.

  A list so long it made my head hurt scrolled up my vision, and I narrowed my eyes. I felt like this System was a more typical teenager than my son. One of the Perks it showed, one of the ones I could actually decipher, had prerequisites I knew I wouldn’t have yet.

  “Uh. Thanks. Show me the strongest option I can use and purchase with this special Perk that will allow me to protect my kids.”

  I swear I could feel this entire System thinking. Maybe it was just my way of coping with the shitstorm that hit us, but I remained firm. The damned thing interpreted my words exactly. But I wasn’t about to look a gift System in the electrodes.

  Several things flashed up this time, much more manageable. In the end, I narrowed it down to a couple of options.

  Cost: 1 Large Perk

  Ability: Quantum Shift Shield

  The QSS allows the friendly target(s) to be placed in a secure and unreachable dimensional pocket for a duration not exceeding ten minutes.

  While active, the target(s) cannot be harmed by conventional means. Requires time to recharge once depleted. Recharge time based off Galactic-standard Mana density—1 hour 8 minutes.

  I frowned at it. It seemed pretty awesome, but did I really want to drop my eight-year-old or my thirteen-year-old in a dimensional pocket? Wasn’t there mythology suggesting that might be where vampires allegedly came from? Speaking of which, what if vampires were actually an intergalactic race?

  I mean, not that I believed in vampires, but until forty-odd minutes ago, I hadn’t thought aliens existed either.