‡ You have suffered blood loss -1HP ‡ ‡ Caution! Your opponent is still growing in shadow. ‡ ‡ You have been Infected by Shadow, The Infection spreads -1HP ‡

As the burning pain spread up my arm I could feel my muscles straining. I look down at my hand and see that I'm squeezing so hard that the Shatterling can't reach my finger to bite me any more. I squeeze harder and harder, as hard as I can. I feel something break. I think it was the Shatterling but I can't tell through the pain.

‡ You have defeated Lvl(3) Shatterling +105XP ‡ ‡ You unlocked Shatterling Bestiary entry +5XP ‡ + Shatterling + As the Shadow courses into our realm it seeks a host so that it may survive. + Some of the weak are found to be particularly suitable hosts. + ‡ Your wound has been cauterized. -1HP, you are no longer bleeding ‡ ‡ You have been infected by Shadow, The infection spreads -1HP ‡

I stood there staring at the tiny body I clutched in my hand. I turn my hand over and try to drop it but I can't uncurl my fingers. A wisp of smoke rises from were it was gnawing at me. Bringing my hand closer to my face I try to see whats going on. Then a squirrel runs up and bites my leg.

‡You have received a minor bite -1HP ‡ I snap. Roaring, I start Stomping. Every step is a [Stomp]. I ignore everything but the desire to destroy these insolent creatures. I run out of Stamina and I don't care. I just keep going. Stepping on these creatures, turning them to nothing. Grinding them into the ground. They would be paste for what they did. ‡ You have been Infected by Shadow, The Infection spreads -1HP ‡ ‡ You have defeated Lvl(1) Shattered Squirrels +15XP ‡ ‡ You have defeated Lvl(1) Shattered Squirrels +21XP ‡ Stew and Mike tackle me, knocking me back to my senses, and the pain. Meagan finishes off the last squirrel. ‡ You have defeated Lvl(1) Shattered Squirrels +17XP ‡ ‡ Congratulations! You gained a level ‡ ‡ +1 Attribute point(s) gained! ‡ She throws her hockey stick and runs over to me, sitting on my chest, helping Mike and Stew hold my arms. I try to talk but my teeth are clenched and won't open. Forcing myself, I manage to yell between them. "It hurts! It's in my blood!" ‡ You have been Infected by Shadow, The Infection spreads -1HP ‡ Meagan keeps telling me to relax, to let them help. The only response I can make is another yell. "Burning!"

Mike yells at me. "Did you level up? Use the points, put them in Vit! You can beat it, come on Dave."

Wait, that's right. I look at my notifications. I glanced past my Skill notifications, dismissed the damage notifications as well as the everything about defeating squirrels.

‡ Desperation Skill Unlocked ‡ I'm pretty desperate so I take a closer look. ‡ Desperation - Fuckers gonna get you, -1HP gives you 5 Stamina. Higher levels allow a better conversion rate. ‡ Useless. Although I see I wasn't hallucinating from pain, I really did do far more [Stomps] than my Stamina would allow. ‡ Congratulations! [Stomp] is now level 7, +2 Skill Point ‡ ‡ Congratulations! Desperation is now level 3, +2 Skill Point ‡ ‡ You have been Infected by Shadow, The Infection spreads -1HP ‡

I already knew that one. I tried to get more information, maybe it was just a really wierd case of dehydration. ‡ Infection of Shadow- ??? ‡ ‡ Shadow - ??? ‡ If it was easier to talk I would ask everyone if they would think less of me for crying with frustration. Instead I decide I don't care and just go ahead. ‡ The Infection has spread. The System is attempting to translate gained levels into usable format. ‡

‡ Quest: Survive ‡ ‡ Reward: You probably get to live, and maybe a Title! ‡ ‡ Failure: You could die. Or turn into a monster and hunt your friends and finally kill them. ‡

Finally! Hope of a sort. I try to tell my friends about it. "System, Fighting, Infection." I feel so tired. Meagan tries to shush me, reassure me that it will be alright. My body might be turning into a statue but I can see the worried looks everyone shares. ‡ Warning: You have less than 10% HP. Heal that shit now. ‡

That means I have only have 5 HP. I had noticed my Attribute Points from leveling, now I put all four Attribute Points into Vitality bringing my total up to 11. It's enough for another 24 HP and almost a full point in my Regen. It buys me six more minutes. Only nine minutes fewer than I need for my Regen to do something useful.

‡ Congratulations! You have surpassed the bounds of human potential. Vigorous Title Unlocked ‡ I'm shuddering as all my muscles lock up. I furiously try to think of something. Maybe my new Title will have something that will help. Equipping it I feel my heart squeeze as my Regen drops, along with losing a point off of Dex and Per. Guess Titles only help while they're equipped. How much time do I have left? I feel like screaming when my HP bar pops into my consciousness right above my empty Stamina gauge. Wouldn't have helped earlier but it wouldn't kill them to just give us a pamphlet to go with, OH! maybe they did I should give that a look,

‡ Warning: You have less than 10% HP. Heal that shit now. ‡

8 HP. My mind must have been wandering while I was slowly being consumed by what feels like lava. Two minutes. Skill Points. I have , maybe enough to finish Unaccompanied? Or should I try Vigorous, it is a Title specifically related to Vitality after all. Though the first level bonus is +1 Cha. My points would also give me more chances to get something than just the one level of Loner. I go for it. Dumping all my points into Vigorous. Vigorous- You have surpassed the bounds of human potential •Cha +1 •Health Regen +1/15min •Stamina Regen +1/sec •Stamina +10 ?

Only 5 Skill points left. Probably not enough but I dump them in. Nothing. Unless I can figure something else out I'm done. Patience must not be a skill in this System. ‡ You have been Infected by Shadow, The Infection spreads -1HP ‡ ‡ Warning: You have less than 5% HP. I liked you kid, I'll be sorry to see you go. ‡

I've got 4HP, enough for another minute. Also, what the hell? What is with that last message? I look into Meagans eyes as she tries to hold my arms, crying. Hardly know her and I made her cry. Damn my mom is right, I'm no good with girls. ‡ You have been Infected by Shadow, The Infection spreads -1HP ‡ Stupid junkie. I wish Dad had never died and left us alone, destroying us. My vision was going gray, narrowing. My breath was coming faster and faster. Something was wrong. ‡ You have been Infected by Shadow, The Infection spreads -1HP ‡ I couldn't fill the hole and she hated me for trying. It's only later that I realized nobody can fill a hole left by someone else, not really. I just wish his death hadn't left a hole big enough for both my parents in my heart. I wish I could have seen my mom and told her I love her. ‡ You have been Infected by Shadow, The Infection spreads -1HP ‡ ‡ Warning: You probably know this already but you only have 1HP ‡

Where did Meagan go? I can't see anything now. Just a pair of deep brown eyes. Deep pools of molten chocolate. I really love chocolate. I love life. Goodbye Mom. Dad. ‡ You have been Infected by Shadow, The Infection spreads -1HP ‡ ‡ Warning: Your HP is at 0, You are dead. ‡ ‡ Quest: Survive for 7 Days, Failed ‡

DAVID SMITH - VIGOROUS

ATTRIBUTES Dave Vigorous HP(Regen) 0/80 (3.2/15Min) Str 7 Int 9 Per 6 XP Human Level 4 MP(Regen) 35 (2/Min) Dex 5 Wis 5 Cha 4 8 18 Job --- Stam(Regen) 39 (3.76/Sec) Vit 11 Res 4 Lck 3 0 Skill Points Infected by Shadow