The convoy came to a slow stop as the road became too congested from abandoned cars. Countless people had appeared in their homes since that first night. Cars were still turned on and moving, causing pile ups of wrecked cars.

This forced the convoy to go off road, adding at least another hour or three to the arrival time. Mathew and the others watched people raid the abandoned cars as they drove by. The guards were watching for any possible attackers.

Once they were officially off road, they kept going for an hour until they came to a stop. During the drive most people tried to get some sleep. Vanessa turned to them all as they woke up. “We will stop for a little bit. The man you want to talk to is Zack. He is in the rear SUV. Can I offer some last bit of advice to you three?”

Mathew nodded, always willing to take free advice.

“Don’t over share your menu with people you don’t trust. Zack mentioned that people could figure out which stat you lack and find a way to kill you using that weakness. Too little strength? Someone who has a way to use brute force will just demolish you. Too slow? Makes you an easy target to chase down and kill.”

Mathew didn’t even consider that possibility. He was planning on sharing his stat spread with the expert, seeing if he made a mistake in his choice, but now was hesitant. “Thanks Vanessa, see you in a bit.”

He stepped out and stretched, glancing toward the rising sun. “Been one hell of a night, hasn’t it?” Mathew asked Leo and Madison.

Leo nodded, “Hopefully it can go back to normal. I don’t want what happened to Isabell to happen to everyone else.”

“Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news,” A voice behind them said, “But it’s going to only get worse.”

Both of them turned to see a young man standing wearing a bulletproof vest. Compared to the one Mathew was wearing, it was clean and one the military would wear. He was taller than both of them, well over six feet in height. His hair was stark black and long enough that he had it pushed back behind his head to not be on his face.

“I take it you are the expert?” Mathew asked.

He smiled. “Damn right. Names Zack.

“Hey there, I’m Leo. That’s Mathew.” Leo gestured to Mat. “No offense, but how are you an expert?”

“That is because I have over ten years of experience with what we are dealing with...more or less. Maybe closer to eleven now.”

Both Leo and Mathew had a questionable expression. “That’s bull shit, what kind of lies are you telling this convoy to get protection?” Mathew asked.

Zack held up his hands, “Woah slow down. I don’t mean actual experience, just the theoretical kind. I mean, our life is now a real video game.”

That’s when the signs clicked for Mathew. Young, unkempt hair and beard, add in the obvious largeness of his body and all signs pointed to one thing. “You are a huge nerd aren't you.” Mathew asked.

Zack smiled. “A huge nerd who is going to help people in our awesome new lives!”

Leo frowned. “This isn’t a game. It’s real life. People are dying out there, how is any of this ‘fun’?”

“Mate, that little blue screen you saw last night? That is all the evidence you need that our lives are exactly like a video game. I’m still trying to learn how similar to different sources it all is, but I’ve been making some really good guesses that have all been true.”

Mathew crossed his arms. “Like?”

Zack wiggled a finger back and forth. “Nope, information costs information gentlemen. However I can start with what is going to become common knowledge soon enough as a sign of good faith.” Zac gestured to the ground and took a seat. He summoned his menu and showed it to Leo and Zack. Mathew noticed he only had the ‘Survivor’ title.

On it showed he put two points into Endurance, two into Vitality, and one into Strength. “This is your stat sheet, your menu, a numerical summarized version of who you are now. Most things are self explanatory. Name, it’s your name recognized by The System. No clue if it can change, but it does not care for legal names. Whatever name you know yourself to be, that is what it shows.”

“Next are Class and Profession. Now I have no solid evidence of how to gain either one, but it shouldn’t be complicated. Either one is rewarded at a certain level, or it’s acquired through accomplishments. Possibly Titles can even give you one. I am guessing you can choose one at a certain level threshold. If Level 100 is the max, then you can expect to receive one or both before level 5.”

“Currency is another obvious one. Either killing monsters or perhaps your profession will allow you to earn it. My dad says once they figure that out, their convoy will only use it or other trade items of worth for their services. All old world currency is useless now.”

Mathew nodded and followed along. He couldn’t see a flaw in any of the reasoning Zack had for everything so far. Of course, it was all guess work, except for professions. He had a Lawyer title, something that absolutely should be a profession, yet he didn’t have one. In his mind, that was his ticket to some good extra information that could be worth something. Including his [Knives] skill.

Leo held up a hand. “What about the grade next to our race? What does it mean to be a novice? How can I be a novice at being a human?”

Zack scratched at his head. “It’s another way to identify the ranking or power level of our race. We have a lot of works of fiction that use other forms of scaling. However there is good news to that.”

Mat and Leo looked at Zack, waiting for him to continue talking. “Which is?” Leo asked.

“That won’t be free. How to make yourself stronger isn’t information I am going to give away for free after all. What do I get out of it?”

Mathew held out a hand. “Come on Zack. You are going to keep information that can save people's lives to yourself for a few scraps of information that will be worthless in a week? What if those monsters kill us and it’s because you kept a way for us to get stronger secrets? Now more people just die because of your selfishness.”

Mathew knew exactly what he was saying, and how hypocritical he was. Leo didn’t say anything, either not having anything worthwhile to share, thought as Mathew explained, or shared his own secret thoughts.

Zack chewed on it for a moment then caved in. “Fine, you’re right. I would be a shitty person to keep something like that a secret, but I expect an equal mindset from you two,” Zack glanced at Madison who was asleep in the SUV. “or even three if she has anything.”

Leo shook his head. “I doubt she does.”

“Anyways, I think increasing your level or performing some sort of task can increase the grade of your race.”

“Like evolution?” Leo asked hesitantly.

“Kinda. Typically evolution takes centuries. It’s always thought humans came from monkeys.”

“Or from God.” Leo interrupted.

“Mate, if you think God is still real after the last day, you have other issues. Anyways, a racial evolution could mean several things. Again our works of fiction I am using as a baseline shows countless possibilities, including even changing our race.”

“How is that possible?” Mathew asked.

Zack shrugged. “Magic.”

“That’s it? Just magic?” Mathew questioned.

“Probably. It could be science or even divine intervention from another powerful entity.”

“Like God.” Leo said smiling.

Zack was going to retort, but stopped and started to think. “Actually it could be the equivalent of a God. Someone or thing so powerful it eclipses our comprehension of power to the point it might as well be a god.”

Mathew didn’t want to continue the possible debate on theology and progressed the ‘how to survive the apocalypse' lesson. “What about the stats? What do you think they mean?”

Zack scoffed. “It’s pretty self explanatory. Each one is a numerical representation of your ability for that category. I have no idea how increasing one stat works, but going with the ‘magic’ explanation again. Either from The System, or another source.”

Leo smiled to himself, knowing Zack was trying not to say a god. “Do you really think increasing Strength will make us stronger? Have you or anyone else figured out the scaling of each point?”

Zack shook his head. “We have one guy who put all five points into Strength. He seems basically the same as before, maybe a bit stronger. It’s hard to tell, and it could be a placebo effect right now. He simply assumes he is stronger and thus can lift heavier weights.”

Mathew nodded he didn't feel smarter or wiser from his increase to stats. He had a huge boost to both thanks to his title. He saw the light in his eyes again and rubbed at them. “Leo next time if my life is in danger, can you not shoot a gun in my face?”

Leo looked at him questionably. “I don’t think it’s from the gun shot at this point, Mathew. That was a couple hours ago and your eyes should be fine by now.”

Zack gasped loudly. “When did it start? How does it feel? Oh man, open your menu you idiot!”

Both Leo and Mat looked at him. “What does a light in my eyes have to do with the menu? It’s like when you look at the sun too long. Except it lasts for hours and comes and goes randomly.”

“No, I think you have a notification from The System. It’s telling you to check your menu.”

“How do you know that?” Leo asked.

Mathew didn’t think there was an issue in doing so and opened his menu after saying the word.

Name: Mathew McGoland

Race: Human [Novice]

Class: N/A

Profession: N/A

Level: 2

Universal Currency: 100

Titles: Lawyer, Survivor

Strength:

10

Vitality:

11

Dexterity:

10

Endurance:

11

Intelligence:

17

Wisdom:

17

Unallotted Stat Points: 5

Mathew noticed two things. First his titles were apparently alphabetical, not in order of acquiring them. Secondly he was Level 2 now. He glanced over at Zack then to Leo. “I uh, apparently leveled up?”

Zack fist pumped and pulled out a notepad to take notes. “How many Unallotted stat points did you get? Anything extra? How did you even gain the level? Did you two fight something last night? Monsters? People? Animals?” He was very adamant about getting answers.

“I rather not talk about it Zack.” Mathew thought it over on what to share with Zack. He seemed somewhat knowledgeable about it, although it’s all based on fantasy video games. “I received 5 new stat points, the same I received when I was in that gray void.”

Zack was writing it down. “And what did you do the last few hours to gain experience?”

Mathew glanced at Leo who reluctantly nodded. “Mat and I killed some Undead Minions in the city. Two of them.”

“Only two kills for a level? Either the experience needed is low, or those were two strong creatures. How did you kill them?”

Leo sighed. “With guns and finishing them off with a knife stab.”

“So guns work? That’s something we were worried about, my dad will be happy to hear that.” Zack said loudly.

Mathew glanced at a couple of the convoy guards who were obviously listening in and he could see a few glancing down at their own guns. “Yes they took several shots to kill, lucky neither of us were bitten or really injured. My own vest protected me a bit there.”

Zack nodded. “Then I guess I have one big question for you, Mathew. What build are you going for?”