Just want to firstly disclaim my use for the works 'The Gamer'. It is a manhwa written by Author : Sung Sang-Young. I hold no owner ship of 'The Gamer' and am not making any money from this work of fiction. I'd like to also disclaim the works of Dying light.
I was sitting on a chair located in the room on the first floor where they guy sells you things. There were two guards posted outside and the shopkeeper was doing his own thing. I am currently waiting for someone to come fetch me. This will give me ample time to come up with a plan.
My cover story is that I am simply here to trade Antizen. Should I come up with an alias? Not only that but what do I trade for? I have ample supplies of food and water and enough arms and ammo to wage a civil war. I can't just give it to them because it would be too suspicious. So I'll trade for something of use.
I thought about meeting with Kyle ASAP to give him the data and ask for a ride out of here but I don't want to leave yet. I have no idea where I will wind up next so I need to stay here for the time being to work on my skills and grind some levels.
"Hey new guy!"
"Huh?" I was broken out of my musings by someone calling to me. I look up to see the shopkeeper watching me.
"Yes you new guy. Heard you are here to trade. Interested in looking at my wares?"
"Sure I guess." I answer with a shrug. "That's if it's alright with the guards." I say while looking at the two men stationed at the door.
They look at each other before one of them answered me. "We need to find out if you can be trusted first. Until we get word back, you can't trade any Antizen for supplies."
"Antizen you say?" Questioned the shopkeeper in interest.
"I have other things I could trade with." I say while putting my hand in a pocket and withdrawing a roll of bills before showing it to him.
"Fine by me." He says before looking at the other guard. He nods in conformation
"Splended!" Chirps the shopkeeper. "Come have a look see stranger, you won't be disappointed."
It can't hurt to try. I remember they sell more then weapons or supplies.
I stand up before making my way to the little counter "So... Whatcha got?"
"Here's a list of items we got on stock." Just as he hands me the list one of the guards interrupts.
"No weapons by the way." He warns me.
"Right, right. Of course!" I say while waving my hand in front of me.
I take a look at the list. There were a number of weapons of course but there was also things like supplies, sundries smokes and alcohol. There was something that caught my interest however.
230v Blue print
All purpose Toxic shocker Blueprint
Throwing Stars Blueprint
"How much are these? I want the lot." I ask him while pointing out the Blueprints.
"Good choice lad." He says with a nod while giving me an appraising look. "Any one can swing around a weapon. The professionals Jury rig or even create their own masterpieces. These are designed to slay zombies dead" He chuckles at that.
Crafting is a key component within Dying light. Since I am here I could trade for designs or even lessons by the people who make em. Then there are all the ones scattered around the city. If I learnt anything from video games, it's that crafting is bloody OP.
"All up it will cost you... This much." He says after tallying it up and showing me the price.
"That's managable." I agree with a nod. The price all up is $9680. I have over $100.000 within my inventory already. Not including the price of the items and gear I have.
I hand over the money and he gives me the Blueprints. "Nice doing bussiness with you."
Ding!
Do you want to learn how to make
230v?
The Blueprint is basically adding electrical damage to a weapon. I say no to all three notices. I can do it later.
Just as I stashed em away, a guard came in to the room. "I'm here to lead you Brecken. Doctor Zere has verified that the Antizen you provided is the real deal. This way sir." He says before leaving the room
"Sir, huh?" I mutter while following him out.
He leads me to the elevator before pushing a floor button. I hum to the elevator music during the wait. All in all, it was pretty productive time spent in the waiting room. Guess my task while I'm here is to grind my crafting skill up. Wonder if I can pull a Skyrim and just craft the same thing over and over? Something to test when I get the time.
Just as we were near the room, a guard quickly rushed out and bumped into me. He gives a quick apology before stopping after he got a look at me. He gives me a once over before looking at the guy accompanying me
"Is this the guy who brought the Antizen?" He questions a bit too loud. The exclamation seems to catch alot of attention from the people within ear shot
"This is him. Did Brecken send you to fetch him?" He replies.
"Yeah. You can head in." He says while pointing at door. "He's ready to see you."
"Kay!" I chirp to him before walking into the door.
"No... We can't." I hear someone say before I reach the doorway. "Do you know if he has any more Antizen on him Lena?
"Not sure Jade. But it might be possible to convince him for enough to treat the people in need." A women in scrubs says. I choose this time to interrupt their conversation by knocking on the door.
They stop before looking to me. I them a quick wave. " "Gday! Here to trade some of me Antizen. I'm even willing to give a down payment." I say in my best British accent.
They look at me oddly before a man with bandages around his head who I am assuming is Brecken responds.
"How long have you been standing there?" He questions me befuddled.
" Just got here. Heard you guys are very low, if not out of Antizen." I reply with a shrug before leaning on the door post.
"So your the guy who claims to have more Antizen to trade?" Some white sheila with her hair tied up asks me with what I think is hostility. I just got here lady! (Sheila is Australian slang for woman)
"Yeeeeeeup!" I drawl out in response. Making a popping sound at the end. I can give you attitude in return if you want Missy.
"Jade!" Breckon exclaims while giving the sheila a quick glare. "Sorry about that. As you have heard, we are in a bind at the moment. We could really use some Antizen."
"Sure!" I say with another shrug. "How much you need Doc?" I ask the woman in scrubs.
"My name is Lena and I am a medic, not a doctor. But to answer your question we will need at least eight vials to treat the people in need."
"Mmkay!" I go about my pockets pulling vials out at random until I have eight before handing them over.
The group seem to gape at me while Lena quickly checks the vials before nodding to me and ushering me out of the door way before rushing off. I watch her power walk around the corner to what I assume is the elevator before looking back to the other two who are still staring at me in disbelief. At least its good to see The Towers medic still has her head on her shoulders.
"IT WAS THAT EASY!" The sheila seems to shout at me. Breckon is kinda just looking at me before checking his bandages. Must think he is seeing things due to his concussion.
"Yeeeeeeup!" I drawl out in response to her question before leaning back against the wall while watching their reactions.
"But why? It can't possibly be that easy." She approaches me before pushing me up against the wall. "What do you want in return?" She accuses me while glaring into my goggles. I quickly put my hands up in surrender.
"Jade!" Brecken calls out before pulling her off me. She glares at me before angrily huffing and storms out of the room. I know she doesn't trust people but sheesh.
Brecken approaches me before setting a hand on my shoulder. "I'm really sorry about that." He sighs. "We have been having a really rough time lately. But as she said before. Why?" He questions me
"Why not?" I ask in response.
"Because its Antizen your giving us." He calmly says. I can tell that he is holding himself back from shaking me for answers like Jade was. " Your just giving it to us for nothing."
"No I'm not." I cut him off. He stiffens at that before I continue. " I said I was here to trade. I gave you some Antizen up front because you needed it."
He sags at that before walking over to a couch and gestures me to take a seat. I oblige before he continues. Guy looks like hes about to faint. "Then what is it you want?"
"You don't have to worry. You guys owe me nothing really. I was planning on giving you some Antizen after I heard about the shortage. I have more then enough to last myself, believe me.
*Sigh* "Alright then." He sags back while holding his head. "So..." He gestures for me to continue.
"Well." I say while bringing up a hand to tick of fingers. "I have more then enough food to last me a couple of months and I can easily go out to grab more. I have more then enough weapons to start a small war with."
"What?" He tiredly asks me. After what he saw he probably isn't surprised.
"Well as you can see what I'm wearing I am well armed. I raided a few dozen police cars, vans and even SWAT vehicles."
"Where'd you find them?" He asks while sitting up. It seems I have his full attention now.
"On the suspension bridge that was blown up, there was a police blockade. All the cars and ambulances were untouched. Not only that but there was a quarantine zone set up. It was filled to the brim with SWAT vehicles, medical supplies and even a few crates of untouched Antizen."
"Runners have told me that place was over run with hundreds of zombies. How did you manage to get them?"
"Grenades and Molotovs." I tell him. "Lots and lots of them. A few air DROPs I gathered where chock full of grenades. The bridge is basically clear now. Though there's no point of sending men there. I cleaned the place out."
He groans at that. I simply laugh at him before Lena walked back into the room looking haggered. Brecken quickly sits up before looking at her.
"How is every one?" He asks pleadinlgy to her. The poor guy is stressed the hell out.
Every one in The Tower depends on him. He is their leader. The reason they are even alive is because he is a parkour instructor. He taught the people in the tower how to get around the zombies. He might not think it, but he is the hero this tower needs.
She smiled at him. "Every one is doing fine now. The Antizen has been administered. We have enough left over for a couple of days."
Brecken seems to cheer up at that. Sagging back down in the chair in relief.
She smiles at him before turning to me. " It is thanks to you that they are still alive and well Mr..." Ah that's right! I haven't given them my name.
"Call me Kovac". I say with a quick wave. "And you are welcome."
"Is there any way we can repay you?" She asks me.
"Oh thats right!" Brecken quickly says before looking at me. "You never did say what you wanted to trade for."
"Right! So what it is I want to trade for are blueprints."
"Blueprints?" He questions me in confusion.
"Yeah! While I was in the waiting room, the trader asked me if there was anything I wanted. I purchased a few blueprint of him. I am willing to trade more Antizen for any copies of blueprints you have at the tower."
"Ah!"He exclaims while nodding.
"I'll let you both talk business."Says Lena. " If you don't need me here I have to get back to work."
"Thank you Lena" Brecken says before she leaves the room to us before continuing. " You will want to speak to Alfie in the main lobby on the first floor. Not only is he The Towers mechanic, he also dabbles in creating weapons. Those are his blueprints you likely bought."
"Do you think I could get him to teach me as well?" I'm sure to learn crafting alot faster with an instructor.
"Sure. It's the least we can do." He stands up and walks out of the room before comming back in with the guard who was sent to get me. " He can take you to see Alfie." He says while patting the man on the shoulder.
I nod at him before waving good bye. It was during the ride down the elivator that the guy spoke to me.
"So you really did have Antizen on you." He says to me. I give him a nod. He grabs my hand before shaking it. "You have not only my thanks but The Towers as well. Your a life safer."
"No prob." I reply while returning the handshake.
"Do you plan to join up? We could use a runner like you around."
"I'll have to think about it. Alot of my gear is within my homebase. I would have to relocate it all." The elevator stops on the first floor before he leads me into a room with a man sitting at a table.
He is middle aged. Wearing a green cap and jacket. He looks up from a blue print he seemed to have been working on before the guard speaks.
"Brecken sent him down here to see you" He said while gesturing to me. I greet him with a nod.
"Is he here to for a job?" He asks while giving me a look over. "He looks like he could handle himself. I do need someone up to the task."
"Sorry. He is here as your apprentice." Wait what? "It's payment for some Antizen he brought in."
Ding!
You have gained an apprentaship
Alfie is the local mechanic who works in The Tower. Managing the equipment and powersupply while also tinkering with customizable weapons.
+25% EXP to craft gains
+25% Crafting speed
+10% To crafting quality and efficiency.
- 5 levels needed for crafting recipes.
I Blink at that before Alfie spoke up, breaking me out of my revere.
"Hmm... Yes I heard about that. Word spreads fast." He says while analysing me. " You saved a lot of lives..."
"Kovac" I finish for him.
"Good to have you on board Kovac." He greets me with a firm handshake. "When can you start?"
"Now if possible. Oh before I forget" I say while turning to the guard. " Would I be able to get my gear back?"
"No problem Kovac." He responds before heading out.
He came back not long after, returning my gear. Alfie then started teaching me the basics and even helped me craft a few things like the throwing stars and electricity conducting liquid that isn't just H20 in a bottle. We kept this up for a couple of hours until it was starting to get late. He dismissed me for the day since he had a few duties needed attending to before he heads off to bed.
I was given a room to myself. I finally managed to get out of the SWAT uniform before laying down in bed to reflect on what Alfie had taught me today. Through his tutoring I had gained fourteen levels in crafting. He says I'm a natural. Though that was because of video game bullshit.
I had not only learnt all the crafting recipes without absorbing the blue prints but with him instructing me I learnt them even thought I did not have the crafting levels for them. Instruction while crafting seems to be the reason. Not only that but with the proper set up and tools, my crafting speed was even faster and efficient then before. The gear I made was even of higher quality.
It also appeared that crafting something over and over does give experience. Though the higher my craft level is compared to the item, the less EXP I gain. If its ten levels below my crafting level, then I gain no EXP. I had helped him craft some supplies for runners. I even had a look at the grappling hook design he is working on. All in all, today was a good day. I had stored my gear in my inventory for a singlet and boxers before calling it a night. I just have to remember to give Brecken some vials tomorrow. I'll have to leave for a bit to make it look like I'm fetching some.
Kyle had spent several hours scouring the inside of the compound for any signs of what had happened, any Antizen or even hints as to where Rias was. Inside he came across a lot of Rias's men who appeared to have been blown apart. There was body pieces every where. Looking around, he could not find any weapons or gear the men would have likely had on them.
They all seemed to be surrounding an elevator completely filled with bullet holes. Likely an ambush for someone or something. There was no body however. He had looked inside the elevator to see what floors where available. There was only the second floor and third floor available along with the underground parking lot. He had already scoured the second and third floor but there was nothing of interest.
He hopped inside the elevator before hitting the car park button to check the only floor within the compound he has yet to access. The elevator creaked dangerously before stopping on the bottom floor. The explosion that killed all those men or simply the gunfire likely damaged it. It is too risky to take it again. If he can't find another way up he will try climbing the maintenance hatch instead.
The parking lot fared no better. He found corpses of men shot dead with missing gear. Not only that but it was surprising sparse. This would be the perfect place to stockpile supplies but there seemed to be non. It seems his suspicions about a raid is becoming more likely. But where did they go and how did they get it all out in such a quick amount of time?
He had reached the second level of the underground parking garage only to come across what seemed like a giant hole in the ground. It seems relatively new so what ever happened down here caused it. Going to what appears to be the final level he found more men then the first two he passed. It wasn't that what had shocked him but the chard corpses and scrap heaps of blown up vehicles.
He was caught off by some one tackling him to the ground. The guy was dressed in Rias's signature uniform. He quickly kicked him off before pulling a hatchet off his back and swinging it at the offender.
The man let out a scream of agony as his swing lopped of an arm. He didn't wait how ever and quickly decapitated him before facing another person not too far from him.
"Wait! I'm unarmed. Don't attack!" He pleaded while holding his arms above his head. Looking at the man, Kyle could see he definitely was not armed.
"What happened here?" He questioned the man while pointing his rainbow hatchet at him.
"I-I don't know. We both woke up not long ago. Every one was dead, we waited down here in case who or what even did this came back."
"I'm looking for Rias, have you seen him?"
"He's dead. We found him with his head chopped off." He answered while pointing to the end of the room.
Kyle made his way past the man only for the him to try and attack him. Kyle had expected this however and quickly dispatched the man by cutting him down the middle. Shaking his head, he continued to where he pointed and came across the guy who held him up earlier today. His neck was twisted at a ninety degree angle.
He searched the man for anything of value and of course not finding anything. He stepped over the corpse to enter the room at the end of the hall. Inside was a flipped over table along with a corpse lying on the floor in a puddle of dry blood. He was about to make his way over to the body before he kicked something across the room. He looked at the object only to see that it was a severed head. He quickly made his way over to the head only to find out that yes, it is indeed Rias's head.
He inspected his body, looking for any signs of the data only to come up empty.
"This isn't good. He doesn't have it on him. It was likely taken along with the rest of the supplies." He will need to contact the GRE to inform them that Rias is dead and the data is missing. That's not even the worst part. There is no Antizen to be found.
"Just my luck." He curses before making his way out of the building. It was getting pretty late in the after noon now by the looks of it. He has an hour to get back to The Tower. He climbs up on the train compartment once again to contact the GRE.
"Kyle speaking."
"Report!"
"I searched the entire compartment. All the supplies and even the gear on the guards are gone. The is no signs or bodies of people not associated with Rias. There were at least a hundred men in the underground parking lot either shot dead, blown up or burned to a crisp."
"What of Rias? Was there any sign of his whereabouts?"
"Dead" He says before sighing. " I found him underground with his head cut off. Not only was the data no where in the building it wasn't on his person. So he either didn't have it on him or who ever raided the place had taken it."
"..."
"You there?"
"This is problematic. The drive has critical information that can be used to combat the virus."
"If this drive can 'Save' the world then why are you keeping it a secret. Couldn't you send in more operatives to retrieve it?"
"Were not paying to to be insubordinate Krane. Get, this DONE!"
Kyle was gripping the communicator dangerously hard after hearing her rebuttal before taking a calming breath.
" That wasn't the only thing though. I received no Antizen. If the people at The Tower don't get any soon, they will die. Could you drop a few crates within the vicinity?"
"That won't be possible"
"Why not?" Kyle was holding himself back from screaming at her.
"It is no longer politically advantageous of us any more to drop any more Antizen."
Kyle gaped at that. Trying and failing to come up with a response. " Wha- wh- What the fuck kind of humanitarian organisation are you guys? These people need help and your worried about being politically fucking advantageous!"
"You forget who you are talking to Krane. Creating the Antizen and distributing it costs money. The Ministry Of Defence thinks it is a lost cause so they have stopped the funding. The Ministry is only giving you one week retrieve the data."
"A week until what?
"There is no way to stop the spread of the virus without the drive. If you do not have it by the deadline, The Ministry has the go ahead to bomb the city."
"Do the lives of these people mean nothing to you? Of course the fuck not. This hole thing is nothing more then a means to look good in front of the populas. All you care about is money and power.
"Krane th-"
"I'll find you the fucking data! But before I even hand it over to you ass holes, I plan to have a good long look at it. Your obviously hiding something from me and I intend to find out what."
Krane quickly hung up and deposited the communicator in his pocket before he does something stupid like destroy it. He was beyond furious. The only reason he even came to this city was because he wanted to help. But now he finds out it was all simply business and politics. He was not in the mood to call Brecken at the moment. He will likely throw it away in frustration. He decided to take out his anger on some of the infected before heading back to the tower.
I told Alfie that I was heading out in the morning. Informed him that I had to go get some more Antizen as payment for the blueprints and lessons. He waved me off and told me to come back around 2 pm for more lessons. This gives me plenty of time to work on my own things.
I was thinking a lot about how things would progress with the main antagonist dead. He was the reason behind most of the story progression in the game. Now that he is dead and gone I'm not sure what could happen. For example, Dr Zere as I have learnt his name, is still alive and well. He hasn't created the cure yet so there is no reason for Kyle to head into the city to see the guy he is working with.
There was also that tower filled with volatiles. Tahir was the one to locate the explosives that was used to destroy it. I'm going to have to take care of that myself if I don't want Jade's brother to get himself killed. Then off course there was the event in the game where he had to contact the outside world to keep the place from being blown up.
I have no known means to reach sector zero at the moment so I need to plan a way to take out the volatile tower. I can worry about the other things later. I have no C4 myself but I do remember where the dynamite is. I can use the car batteries and a few electronics I have stashed in my inventory to rig up some timed explosives. But I can worry about that later. It seems I have someone following me at the moment. Can't go using powers till I lose who ever it is or confront them.
Kyle had decided to sleep within one of the safe houses for the night before heading to The Tower first thing in the morning. He was too conflicted with emotion at the moment to really talk to any one. He had spent some time killing zombies before heading to the nearest safe house and calling it a night.
It is morning now how ever and he is currently riding the elevator to meet with Brecken to give him the bad news. There was something he noticed during his trip in The Tower to see Brecken though. Every one was in good spirits. Did something happen while he was gone?
He nodded to the guard before heading into the room to see Brecken talking with Rahim.
"Hey Brecken." Kyle said with a air of depression about him.
Brecken looked over to him and smiled. Kyle grimaced at that, Brecken must think must think he managed to get some Antizen.
"Glad to see your safe Kyle. Any idea what happened at The Compound?" Kyle sighed at that. He should start with the good news.
"I checked the place out. It seems who ever attacked them was incredibly skilled. I found hundreds of men shot, killed, burnt alive and blown up. Not only that I found Rias. Someone cut off his head." They both seemed taken back by that bit of news. They won't like what he has to say next then.
"You're kidding!" Piped in Rahim. " I heard the place was attacked and ransacked but Rias, 'THE RIAS' is dead?" They both seemed ecstatic at that. No more warlord to worry about.
"Bad news is though guys, the place was empty of supplies and Antizen. I didn't manage to get any."
"Don't worry Kyle" responded Brecken. He was about to ask about needing Antizen before Rahim cut him off.
"Yeah I was here to report on some new guy who showed up yesterday. Gave us some Antizen to treat the people and is willing to trade some more for blueprints and some lessons."
Kyle perked up at that. At least that's one less thing to worry about. "So who is this new guy. Do you think he might be involved in the attack at The Compound?
"I had my suspicions at first but it seems he is clean" Brecken answers. "I told Jade and Rahim about what happened and sent them out to verify his story."
"What did you need to verify exactly?" Rahim answered for him
"Sis told me about a new guy who came in yesterday and just gave Ms Lenna some Antizen to treat the people with. When she came back to confront Brecken about what he wanted in return he told her what he wanted and where he got the Antizen."
"Was there a DROP we didn't get to?" Questioned Kyle knowing that can't be the case.
"No there haven't been any DROP's recently." Brecken answers him. " He told me about finding a Quarantine zone on the blown up suspended bridge. Jade and Rahim went to check it out. There were piles of zombie corpses and the bridge was as they described it, 'Painted Red'. There was a blockade and quarantine zone set up their but it was too risky."
"Then how did he kill all the zombies?" Rahim answered for him this time.
"He told Brecken that he used lots of Molotov's and grenades to kill most of them. There was a lot of burn and blown up corpses strewn about the bridge. Not only that but from what me and sis saw, the place was picked clean of any useful supplies. Including what he says were some crates of unused Antizen." Brecken nods at that before continuing for him.
"We suspect there was an out break before they could finish treating the people. There may be more places like that around the city. I sent a few runners to look for any more blockades or Quarantine zones and notify me of their locations."
"So where can I meet this new guy then?"
"He went downstairs to work with Alfie. He is teaching him his craft in payment for more Antizen."
"But why? Couldn't he ask for something better?" Puzzled Kyle
"From what we saw, he claims to have more supplies then he knows what to do with. So he decided to trade for something else instead. I can't blame him. You have seen first hand how useful Alfies innovations are on the field." Kyle had to agree with him there.
"Would be be downstairs with Alfie then?"
"He might be. But he also said he would have to gather some more of his stockpile of Antizen so he could be heading out. He is wearing a full set of tactical SWAT uniform. You can't miss him."
"Alright. See you guys later."
"Catch you later Kyle" Rahim says with a wave. "Can't wait to tell Jade that Rias is dead." He reply's with a shit eating grin.
Kyle headed down stairs to talk to Alfie about the new guy. He told him that he had just missed him. The guy named Kovac just left to gather more Antizen for The Tower. He quickly ran out side looking around to see some one in full tactical gear parkouring in the direction of Dr Zere.
He ran to catch up and decided to see where this person went. He was good that much was certain. He even seemed to have more stamina then him. He was lucky the guy stopped every now and then to slay a horde of zombies before looting their corpse so he could catch his breath. He was heading North so far. He entered a warehouse before coming to a stop and turning around.
"I know your there! You can come out now." He yelled within his exact direction.
Shit! Found out. Not only that but he knows where he is hiding exactly. No point delaying. He walked out to greet the man who was casually waiting for him in the middle of the room.
"You're Kovac I presume?"
"Who's asking?" He responds with a head tilt
"My name is Kyle Krane. Heard there was someone who gave Antizen to Brecken. I'm just here to talk."
Merry Christmas Peoples. Decided to get this out early on Xmas day.
