as much as I wanted to avoid high population areas for the moment it seems like ill have to make a trip today.

I'm quickly running out of food, and am on my last bottle of water.

its been about a week since the start of this apocalypse and so far I have yet to see anything living other than myself. I really didn't notice until the fourth day when I noticed myself become a little more accepting of the whole situation I found myself in.

of course this introduced its own set of problems, when I originally left my house my target was the Canadian border I knew what I was bringing with me for supplies would not last that far but I figured I could either resupply at a town along the way or hunt animals I may find in the woods.

given that I haven't seen anything that even moved since I made it to a more rural area number two is out of the question.

that leaves resupplying at a town as my only option, however, given that out in the wilderness where I would expect to find all manner of wildlife I found no living creatures I am worried that those animals may have congregated in the towns and cities for some reason.

taking a look at my status something else was confusing me.

Status: Name: Jake Voidle

Life-force: 70

Ambient Life-force: 2300

Titles:

Rare, sub:Variant: Tutorial, Going Against the Odds - Expand

Affinity: Star Magic, Space Magic

Abilities:

Common: Mental Resistance Lvl.1 - Expand

Rare, sub:Unique: Discoverers Mind Lvl.2 - Expand

Legendary, Unique, Blessing: Astral Empowerment - Expand

Stats: Strength: 12 Intelligence: 13 (13.65) Endurance: 12 Wisdom: 16 Dexterity: 16 Charisma: 8 Hidden Stats: (must be discovered to add points) Willpower: 19 (21.85)

While I gained stats from my first day of walking I gained no extra stats since then, physical or magical. but I figured that would be a mystery for another time.

looking up at the sky to open my mental map I figured that stopping in the town of Van Zandt would be my best bet, it was relatively close to my current location and it was a small town of probably had a population of no more than 3000 people.

orienting myself in its direction I started walking.

sometime earlier in the week I had slowed down my pace considerably, my original exodus from Mill Creek was out of worry of how other people would react in an unknown situation and the portal in Seattle, thinking on it now heading to the woods may have been a big mistake if what I was experiencing matched up to what I had read previously in fiction.

but without the looming threat of those two elements hanging over me I started to really consider my current plan of action. it was stupid.

Canada promised me no real change from my current situation, all I was doing was wasting valuable research time walking. with this thought, I made up my mind that after securing supplies I would set up a base of sorts nearby and seriously crackdown on my research of magic and abilities.

taking another glance at my status screen out of idle boredom I noticed that Astral Empowerment was once again glowing. taking a glance in my bag I still had food and water enough to last me at least another day so I could take a break to get another Empowerment.

finding a convenient tree a bit off the path I braced myself and clicked on the ability.

Do you wish to activate Astral Empowerment?

YES - NO

hitting yes I felt the familiar wave of enlightenment sweep over me, being prepared for it this time I was able to analyze the feeling slightly and noticed a striking similarity between it and the pulling feeling star power gave me, looking internally with my mind I could see a stream of the same iridescent white energy from star power flowing into my chest.

this revelation startled me so much I wasn't prepared when the pain associated with using the ability hit me, clutching my head I rolled over onto my side to wait it out. about 10 seconds later I was able to open my eyes to take a look at what I got for an empowerment.

Empowerment Gained!

Seeker: when used this empowerment sends a mental pulse from your location to seek metals and other natural ingredients in your surroundings. (cost:250 ambient Life-force, more life-force can be infused for a greater range)

looking at the new empowerment I was slightly disappointed that it gave me no buffs to my fighting power but I still could see a lot of use for the empowerment if I ever wanted to try my hand at crafting. in fact this empowerment alone could be a literal goldmine if I could find someone to trade with that needed metals.

I got up and started to walk again. I was only about 2 miles out from where I could expect to find some evidence of the town so I was being much more cautious now.

about 30 minutes later I came across a broken-down truck in the middle of the road, I figured it was probably abandoned when technology failed. quietly walking towards the truck I did a quick scan of my surroundings checking for anything moving. when I felt it was safe I walked up and opened one of the truck doors. looking inside I found nothing really of note. unfortunately, it seemed like the original owner took everything with them when they left it because there was nothing of use left inside.

leaving the truck behind I continued walking towards the town.

the first building I came across was an old beatdown farmhouse, following a similar procedure as with the truck I carefully scanned my surroundings before approaching the house, easing open the unlocked backdoor I was met with a scene that clearly indicated someone had left in a hurry. cabinets were left wide open in the kitchen glancing into what I assumed was a bedroom I saw clothes all over the bed with drawers hanging open. glancing down at my own slightly tattered clothing I took the opportunity to grab some clothing that might fit me.

I'm 17 and all the clothing was clearly for a large man in at least his 30s so finding anything was a surprising challenge but I ended up stuffing a shirt with some beer logo on the front that looked like it would fit and a pair of elastic sweatpants into my backpack. looking through the kitchen I, unfortunately, found no food but I did find a bottle of water under the table in what I could only assume was a dining room.

the house had no upstairs or basement which was somewhat surprising to me so with much caution I opened up the front door and continued my food acquisition mission.

walking a bit farther I noticed something off about my surroundings but couldn't quite put my finger on it, shrugging I decided I would continue with even more caution than usual.

continuing to walk I nearly tripped into a massive hole in the ground. stabilizing myself I took a closer look at the hole I nearly fell into and my eyes widened when I saw what was at the bottom.

an alarming amount of blue screens popped up into my vision all at once.

You have discovered an ARK portal!

Attention all survivees!

it has been one full week since the induction of your race into the Cosmic Trials!

at this time all creatures collected from your world have been upgraded and infused with life-force!

therefore we will now be releasing them at random places in the world, Happy Survival!

Along with the reintroduction of creatures to the world, town claims have been introduced!

towns can be established around items or locations of great power and allow for groups of individuals to upgrade them to increase their chances of survival!

Creatures will not be released in town claims.

Would you like to claim this ARK as a town?

towns require artifacts of high energy to power them, this may be the only time you will ever find one!

YES - NO

error, hidden title Lone Wolf prevents the claiming of towns

offering an alternative... assessing personality...

Would you like to accept the Ability "Otherworld Workshop"

YES - NO

staring at the prompts I felt just as lost as the first day of the apocalypse.

at least I had answered my question about why I had not seen any wildlife till then, and some other things also started to make sense. these portals were called ARK's I could only assume that was in reference to Noah's Ark from the bible, if that was the case then instead of the creatures I had seen on the television moving away from the portal, they were probably moving towards it. the portals were meant to gather the wildlife so they could be infused.

bringing my mind back to the present I looked at the final prompt, at first I was confused at why I wouldn't be allowed to claim the portal as a town but thinking on it I really was a Lone Wolf like the hidden title name said. since the first day of this apocalypse, I had been deliberately staying out of towns fearing other people's reactions to the situation.

looking at the second part of the prompt I considered for a second and ultimately decided to accept the ability, more abilities meant I would be more powerful and I wanted to be as powerful as I possibly could.

clicking the yes button I was unsurprised when I felt a searing pain in my head. crumpling to the ground I mentally sighed in exasperation and passed out on the cold ground.