“I haven't thought of anything other than getting to my destination and then living life till things settle down.” Mathew admitted. “I never played those types of games outside when I was a child. Even then it was for a short time.”

Zack frowned. “Really? Just going to give up a free source of potentially endless power? Not saying you should go and fight, but it’s free magic! How can you be so forgetful about it?”

Mathew didn’t think of it like that. “What do you mean potentially endless?”

“I mean think about it. You are level two right? You get more points to put into your stats right?” Mathew nodded confirming that he did acquire additional points.

“Then that means you get stronger as you apply more points...hypothetically.”

“But I didn’t feel anything after applying those points.” Mathew kept where he put all his points exactly a secret. “I even put one in endurance, but I don’t feel like I can run a marathon. Are we sure these points even work how we think they do?”

Zack scratched at his face in thought. “Well I think it’s minor changes now, one point here or there won’t matter. If you put your points across evenly, then you for sure won’t feel a change. If you put all 5 in strength, you could probably tell better than 5 points into vitality or endurance. Both require a bit more dangerous form of testing.”

“Well, why do you think that?” Leo asked. “If I don’t feel stronger, then why should I apply the extra points?”

Zack shrugged. “That’s fair. I just have this feeling I am right. What harm is there in applying the points though? So far none of us have had anything happen to us. Except for you two. Which reminds me, Leo, did you level up as well?”

Leo opened his menu and looked at it for a long moment. “Yes, I did as well.”

“Then is the experience split, or did you both perform equal parts? Damn it, I need more information!” Zack complained as he wrote in his notebook.

Mathew looked at his menu then back at Zack. “So what sort of build should I go for?”

Zack looked up, “Depends. What do you want to do? Caster? Fighter? Bowman? Do you want to shoot lightning out your eyes, or perhaps shoot it out of your ass? If magic is real, and it’s anything like our world's fantasy, then you can probably do it.”

Mathew was both thrilled and afraid of the thought of magic being real. That’s when he realized something. “This means anyone can do this? All those of us who are survivors can have access to magic now?”

“Don’t see what you can and others can't.” Zack said. “I don't plan to touch magic. I am going the tank route. Become nigh unkillable.”

“That sounds impossible.” Leo said.

“Then when you fight an ass lightning wizard, I won’t protect you.” Zack said jokingly.

Mat didn’t listen to the two continue to bicker as he thought about his future. He used connections from other people to obtain the status he had. He was a really good lawyer, and his quick wits helped with that. But with monsters out there, would that even help him?

His eyes glanced at his Knives skill. “Zack, what about skills or abilities? If someone were to get one of those, how would it work? What does it do?”

Zack shrugged. “Until someone obtains one I would have no clue. It depends.”

“What about a skill related to a weapon? Let’s say a gun or sword.”

“Well, I would think such a skill just helps you become better at it. Maybe increase damage, or accuracy for ranged weapons. Increase attack speed, increase chance to land critical blows, the list just goes on to be honest.”

“Zack, how about this. I’ll share with you one of my secrets, in exchange you tell me about builds involving smart people who fight. Preferably those who fight at a distance. Then you tell Leo here about builds he is interested in. Deal?” Mathew stuck out his hand for a shake.

Zack looked at Mathew suspiciously. “If I think it’s worth it then it is a deal.”

Mathew smiled. “It’s a skill I earned from killing the undead minions.”

Both of them shook hands with their own version of greed. “What’s the skill! Come on, out with it!”

Mathew read off the [Knives] skill he has. It still shown Novice 1 as it’s rank. Zack was both disappointed and excited at the same time. “It’s very vague but this is great! Skills follow the same rank structure, but has a number next to it. My bet is it goes to a capstone before it goes up in rank.”

“Wait, why does our race not have a number next to it like Mathew’s skill?” Leo asked.

Zack shrugged. “No clue, but it confirms that you can’t increase your races’ rank through use like a skill then. Now to figure out if skills are only applicable to actions. Can you get a skill for mathematics for example?”

Mathew coughed. “And the builds?”

Zack waved a hand, “Yes, yes I will go over that with you. So you want to be a smart ranged fighter right? Also known as wizards or other spell caster types. Warlock, Priest, Sorcerer, the list goes on for a while.”

“Wizard is a good start. I don’t have any spells, how would I do that?”

“That is a problem, and once you get a spell, it should be easier to get more. We never used magic, so it’s like using a new limb I imagine. But that doesn't mean we can strategize what kind of wizard you wish to be.”

“The kind that won’t get hit preferably, but still strong enough to not be messed with by others.”

Zack nodded. “Fantasy has a slew of ideas. Elements, Enchantments, Destructive magics, Summoning, you take your pick. I say we start small and we can broaden out once we learn how magic works. Your two primary stats will be Intelligence and Wisdom. If you haven't already I would put more points into those two for now.”

“And why those two stats?” Leo asked.

“Intelligence will help him remember more spells and cast more I expect. Mat, you seem pretty smart already. Being extra smart to remember won’t harm you at all. Plus we have to worry about mana.”

Leo made a face. “Wait, mana is real now?”

“Or a similar version of it. Magic doesn't come out of nowhere. You need an energy source of some sort. Wisdom will help your judgement and perceptive capabilities. Since you are a ranged caster, being able to see your target along with aiming will be crucial.”

Mathew followed along with what he was saying. “What about that mana stuff? Which stat is related to that?”

“If I had to guess,” Zack said, “It’s Intelligence and Wisdom. As is the classic trope. The stats are broken into six attributes. Each has to represent something. Those two are the most likely to be related to magic based on terminology.”

“Okay, so what about the other four? Should I only put stats into my main two, or put any into the others? I have 5 points to apply here.”

“Depends on what kind of magic you want to do. I say just do what feels right. You know what each stat represents more or less. If I told you where to put them, then you can put the blame on me. As for a wizard, extra endurance or vitality won’t hurt. If another wizard hurled a huge ball of fire at your face, then you want to be able to survive it.”

Zack turned to Leo. “What about you?”

“Cleric or Paladin. Wisdom and Strength focus, or dexterity if my shotgun uses that instead.” Leo said with no hesitation.

“A man who knows what he wants to do. I like it.” Zack said. “You have it figured out, but if you plan to be on the front lines then you absolutely want points in Endurance and Vitality.”

Mathew silently applied his points while those two talked. He did the same as he did last time. 2 into Intelligence and Wisdom, then his 5th point into Endurance. Mathew thought he could feel something in his head this time, but couldn’t be sure. He didn’t want to fall into a placebo mindset.

Zack yawned as he was talking to Leo and looked at his phone for the time. “I think we are going to be packing up soon. You two don’t have any last minute questions or wish to share anything do you?”

Mathew shook his head, but Leo spoke up. “Be careful using guns. I don’t know if the undead minions were really strong, but it took multiple shots to take them down, and didn’t stay dead until Mathew here finished them with a knife.”

“I’ll share that with my Dad’s convoy. They will appreciate the information if it’s true. Which in turn could save their lives to not rely upon them too much.”

It was only a couple minutes later when the trucks started to start up and soon they were back on the road. Mathew fell asleep against his better judgement. He trusted the Convoy and if it wasn't for the magical monsters that could exist he wouldn’t have been worried at all. It was a dreamless sleep, but still a short one.

He was awoken to the truck lurching to the side as it avoided something in the road that was large. “Shit!” The driver cursed.

“What the fuck was that!” Leo shouted also awake. Mathew glanced back and saw Madison turned around to try and see what they just narrowly avoided.

The radio in the car beeped on. “Steven, what was that?”

“A large gray thing. Wolves I think, but bigger. Looks like we can out run them, so just keep going!”

Mathew looked at Vanessa who had her gun in her hands. “Vanessa, how much further are we?”

“Less than fifteen minutes. We are already in communication range for the base and contacted them. They expect us and will let us in with no problem.”

Mathew looked back out the window toward the woods on the side of the road. “Just what else is out there?”