So, the training was difficult. I wasn't used to climbing up ropes or threading through tires. I especially wasn't used to doing it without the boosts that my stats gave me. I never realized just how much I had come to depend on them in the short amount of time that I had them until it was taken away. I couldn't stop to think for half-a-second because everything was moving slightly slower than they should be. My body wasn't as fast or as flexible anymore. I actually felt myself become weaker with the lack of strength.

Still, the training did me some good. It showed me that I couldn't depend on the stats to carry me through. My strength was all dependant upon GAD and his 'great mercy.' If he ever wished the stats away, well, I'd just be a gray blob.

On the brightside, I learned how to shoot. I was fortunate, or perhaps unfortunate, in the fact that most of my fights had occured at close range. It wasn't until I was taken to the firing range that I learned just how bad I was at shooting long range. The sniper rifle that I had used before was there and the scope helped immensely with long shots. Still, using an assault rifle to hit something farther away than ten feet or so with any predictability was iffy at best.

The run left me with my legs shaking and out of breath. The obstacle course was actually the easiest out of all of the training, but I still couldn't climb up that rope. It just swung from where it was tethered above me, almost like it was mocking me.

After a couple hours of training, I had successfully learned that I was not really cut out to be a soldier at all. Not without more work. I wasn't mentally prepared to be able to run a few miles with full gear on. I was getting better with my accuracy but not good enough. Finally, I wasn't even able climb up a rope. Still, if I was alive by the end of tomorrow, I would definitely be coming here to train again. The benefits of the soldier job were worth the effort, anything was worth it to become stronger in this nightmare of a world.

I was ready to leave, but I didn't quite know how. Going over to Sergeant, I asked him. With a simple chuckle, he tapped my head. The world went white once again before revealing the room that I had first entered the training space in. The second I exited, I checked the time on the wave counter. 21 hours, 44 minutes.

I went through my inventory and double checked that I had everything prepared. It was. I left the training center and mingled amongst the other tents. Occasionally I would see people walking as well. All of them looked slightly scared, the occasional noise causing multiple heads to swivel as they sought to identify the noise.

The fear in a supposedly safe town made me nervous as well. I started looking around, trying to see this danger that everyone was afraid of. I heard a scraping sound behind me, the image of the prism turtle flashing before my eyes. I whipped my head around, ready to pull out a gun from my inventory. I relaxed when I got a clear view of what had been making the noise. It was just a kid with a rock, trying to start a fire or something.

I shook my head to clear it. What was the point of being so nervous? Rather than that, I needed to relax. I wandered around the tents for a few more minutes, making the effort to not be affected by everyone else, until I finally found what I was looking for. Pulling out my tent from my inventory, I started setting it up. After a while, I climbed inside and started looking at the shop.

Finding what I wanted for 9 shards, I bought the hot pocket and a sprite. Biting into it, I swallowed before letting out a chuckle. It took the apocalypse for hot pockets to finally be cooked right. My mood kinda plummeted after that morbid thought. Deciding to splurge slightly, I bought a book called Frontier Crisis. It had some good cover art, but the plot seemed a little stereotypical. Something that I didn't have to pay too much attention to as I tried to distract myself from my flash of self-pity.

...........................

The next morning I ate some breakfast before heading back to the training center. The training was intense, but I kept a close eye on the monster wave countdown. It was there even in the virtual space, so I was able to keep track of it while attempting to climb that dang rope again. I mean, seriously? Did I really have to climb it to be called a soldier?

One interesting thing at the shooting range was that the targets were constantly switching between human and non-human targets. A bear shaped silhouette would pop up down range at the same time as a dragon would slide across the field. I would shoot a human target only for some crab-like thing but with more claws to appear underneath it. All sorts of odd little creatures would pop-up from time to time. Still, it was something I'd have to get used to.

I was in the middle of attempting to finish the 2 mile run when there was a flash of light. I was suddenly back in the room. Confused, I looked around for something that could have made me exit when a blue screen appeared in front of me.

The Mayor Gabe Kincade has requested a town meeting in thirty minutes to discuss the topic 'Monster Wave Defense.' All public facilities will be shut down until the meeting has been dismissed.

Well, that was disappointing. I checked the monster wave timer. 10 hours and 37 minutes. I suppose that this was for the best. After all, a defense plan was definitely necessary. I was still really annoyed that I couldn't continue my training though.

I stretched before heading outside. There was actually a lot of people in the hallway, a result of the forced log-off that the meeting had sparked. Some people were talking , but not many. I ignored them as I headed outside. I wasn't the best conversationalist in the best of times, let alone now. What would I talk to them about? How much pizza cost in the shop versus what I think it should cost? Yeah, that would go over like a ton of bricks. It was best not to talk.

I wasn't quite sure what to do with myself after I left, so I went back to my tent to read a little bit more. I was just about to finish one of the action scenes when another blue screen popped up in front of me, telling me that the meeting would start in 5 minutes. I suppose now would have been a good time to find out where the town meetings were held at.

Though I wasn't sure where to go, I headed towards the buildings. It seemed to be the likeliest place to hold a meeting at. When I got close, I could tell i was right. A crowd of people were in front of the HQ building while a podium was set-up in front of it.

The crowd was getting a little anxious but they didn't have to wait long. A man who I could only assume was Major Kincade walked out from the building. He was dressed in military dress uniform colored dark blue with bars of various shades on the left and right breast pocket areas. Several metallic objects were fashioned around the bars with a star-like shape on the collar.

The Major was tall with brown hair. Approaching the podium, he grasped the edges with both hands before speaking with no hesitation into the microphone. "My name is Gabe Kincade, Major of the United States Army. As all of you know, in approximately ten hours, we will come under attack due to the monster wave. I have met with several members of our staff and we have decided how to best continue.

We can currently buy a Bunker from the shop with the available funds that we have that will house up to two hundred people. Currently, we have a total of 277 civilians and 119 military members. The military will stay outside and protect the city. Various defensive measures, such as the turrets, are being placed as we speak. I would like to ask that anyone that is willing to fight to answer the call. Any that do not wish to fight should refuse"

A blue screen alerted me as to what form this 'call' took.

Congratulations, you have been offered a quest by the Mayor of Fort Hood Town! Reward: 50 Chunks. Would you like to accept this quest? Yes/No