It had only been two days, and already I felt like I'd slipped into a depressing routine. Hunt to eat. Eat to hunt.I ate my breakfast reluctantly, knowing exactly how the day would go: head out, find Kobolds, kill them, come back—then do it all over again.

  I wanted to understand more about what was happening, and why, but I also knew that sitting around and pondering things would only lead to despair and depression, and I had never been one to wallow.

  Before heading out, I chose to expand my Home Base. The shard enlarged the home base to include most of the apartment below—everything except a small section of the bedroom.

  With my fears and doubts pushed aside, I stepped outside. Focus was the only thing that would keep me alive.

  Just as I was about to open the front door, it hit me—I hadn’t assigned my stat points. I spent the next five minutes silently berating myself. I needed to stay focused; anything less, and I’d end up dead.

  In the end I decided to put five to Mana. That would help me with more spells, and I figured another big spell will use 5 Mana.

  The rest, I assigned based on instinct. I’d had to use my staff more than once to finish off Kobolds when they got too close or when my spells failed—so Strength got a point. Dexterity helped with both spell speed and, more importantly, running away—so that earned a point too.

  Perception helps with me seeing the Kobolds before they see me, and Wisdom… Obviously.

  I pushed the door open and stepped outside. The stat improvements weren’t dramatic at first, but if I paid attention, they were there. My vision was noticeably sharper—and my other senses felt heightened too.

  The strength and endurance were still lacking but I was ultimately a wizard, not a warrior.

  I checked my Mini-Map and found nothing. No red dots nearby. I began walking down the street and and maybe because I no longer felt the urgent need to sanction basic necessities, I finally began to really look around.

  I’d seen the shops before, but only because of the Kobolds going in and out. Now, curiosity took over. I wandered into a clothing store. The first thing I noticed was how many shelves and racks were completely empty.

  It wasn’t looting, and it wasn’t a supply issue. As I walked around, it quickly became clear: all the clothes made from natural fabrics—like linen or cotton—were still there. But anything made from synthetic materials? Completely gone.

  Even the shoes left were more natural ones from leather or linen.

  After checking my Mini Map for Kobolds, I left the clothing store and headed into a grocery store a bit farther down the street. It was completely empty. The shelves had been stripped bare. Here and there were plates or random non-edible items, but no food—not a single thing.

  I was baffled.

  I wonder if the food in my pantry is still there… I never checked

  Checking my Mini Map again, I found a few red dots but at the edge of the Map. Sighing deeply, I left the store and began walking towards the Kobolds. I want to have at least one spare food and water package in my inventory.

  It’d give me some breathing room—just in case there was a day I couldn’t hunt Kobolds. The dots on my Mini Map were getting closer… or more accurately, I was getting closer to them.

  Two Normal Kobolds were standing in front of a store, just about to go inside. I checked my Map again, to make sure I would not receive unwelcome guests.

  I waited outside. As soon as they stepped out, I stunned one and cut it down with a practiced Mana Slash. The second barely twitched before my follow-up slash ended it too.

  It became far too easy to kill.

  I looted them both and got my usual food and water packages, along with some upgrade shards—and even another Enhancement Shard.

  As there were no red dots nearby, I walked over to another store. I realized something when I was waiting for the Kobolds to exit the store.

  The doors were open. All of them—every store on the block. I stepped inside and closed one behind me.Right in front of me, it swung open again.My eyes must’ve nearly popped out of my head.I closed it once more… and again, it opened.

  Okay then…

  I looked around the store. It was a bookstore, and a surprising number of books remained. The ones left did not have laminated covers or glossy pages. It helped that a fair number of the books were vintage.

  I checked my mini-map—and yeah, I checked it a lot—and spotted a single, slightly larger red dot. A Level 2 Kobold was heading my way.

  They dropped better loot, so I decided to set up an ambush and let it come to me. It took a while; the thing stopped at nearly every store along the street. But eventually, it got close enough.

  One last glance at the map—yes, again—just to be sure. Level 2 Kobolds were faster, stronger, and way more dangerous. I had to move quickly.

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  I cast my Stun Spell, but it shrugged it off with ease. I followed up with a Mana Slash, but because it was already in motion, the spell only glanced across its shoulder.

  One of its claws slashed across my leg. The wounds weren’t deep, but blood was already flowing, and the Kobold was too close for spells. I moved to the side, and as it tried to slash at me again it stumbled. I used the opportunity to slam my staff across its back.

  As soon as it hit the ground, I backed away quickly. Once I was far enough, I released another Mana Slash. It was trying to rise, so the spell caught it across the throat.

  It gurgled, blood spilling from its mouth—but it kept coming. I braced for another strike, but before I could act, it collapsed.

  I sagged down to the ground, before getting a health potion out of my inventory. The trusted tin of salve appeared in front of me. I would have been dead a few times over if not for this miracle magical item.

  I just sat there for a bit. I knew I had precious little time, but I just needed to breath, just a little.

  I looted the Kobold and received a nice surprise, a Spell+ Token. If the name was accurate, I would be getting a new spell. I just had to wait for a safer place to use it.

  I had enough food and water to last through the next day, but I decided to keep hunting a few more normal Kobolds. I still needed forty XP to level up—that meant eight normal Kobolds or four Level 2s.

  Something told me the monsters’ levels were tied directly to mine. Level 2 Kobolds hadn’t shown up until I hit Level 2 myself. And honestly, I was still having a hard enough time with them—I definitely wasn’t ready for a Level 3.

  The plan was simple: take out two more normal Kobolds, then shift focus to Level 2s. I needed to build up my skills if I wanted to survive whatever came next.

  The Mini Map led me to two Kobolds wandering alone. Taking them down was easy But that’s when it hit me—two normal Kobolds didn’t come close to matching one Level 2, not in strength, challenge, or risk. Not even close. The real ratio felt more like five to one.

  Along with the usual drops, I received two Transformation Shards. I knew what transformation meant... but how that applied in this new world was still a mystery.

  Although it was not yet late in the day, I decided to return to Home Base. I was eager to use the Spell+ Token. I could always use another Spell.

  I reached my Apartment without incident. I decided to first see what I get from the Token before taking a shower and eating.

  The token is much like the others with a staff and a plus sign. As my hand touched the token a message appeared, as always.

  I hesitated then. I did receive a bonus with the points, but chance is all about Luck and my Luck was changed to Mana. After some back and forth, I decided on chance.

  I rolled and it landed on ten.

  For better or for worse I now had a Mana Shield Spell. I called the description up and read it over carefully.

  It was a good spell, even a great spell. I just had to practise with the other spells and make sure my Mana did not run out. I was limited to my Mana Regeneration and Mana Pool.

  I pulled out the Expansion Shard first. The apartment below was nearly fully claimed, so I couldn’t help but wonder where the expansion would go next.

  The green glow spread, briefly overlapping the last unclaimed corner downstairs—then, with a soft snap, it jumped to the apartment next door.

  I paused.

  I knew the apartment next door was occupied. I had seen the man who lived there. I even greeted him a time or two. If his apartment was unclaimed, did that mean that he was dead.

  I closed my eyes and answered.

  Yes.

  I moved the area to be claimed and …

  Set

  I walked to my living room. The layout moved to accommodate a door to the apartment next door. My front door moved a bit, and the staircase moved as well.

  With a lot of apprehension, I opened the door. The apartment’s layout was different from mine, but it was clear I’d entered through what used to be the kitchen. The door had replaced where the fridge should’ve been—but like in my place, all the appliances were gone.

  There was furniture, but something about it felt… off. It took a while of walking through the space before I realized what was wrong.

  Everything personal was gone. No photos, no clothes—nothing to say someone had lived here. It wasn’t his home anymore. It was just a furnished apartment.

  A chill ran down my spine. Deep down, I knew the man who lived here was dead. And worst of all… I couldn’t even remember his name.

  I returned to my apartment as quickly as possible, unsettled and needing to shake the feeling that had crept over me. Something about that empty, lifeless apartment next door clung to me—like the air had soaked into my skin.

  I headed straight for the shower, hoping the water would wash away the chill that wasn’t just on the surface. My shirt had a few small rips, but nothing bad enough to waste a Repair Token.

  After cleaning up, I ate something—just going through the motions. It wasn’t until then that I remembered the new type of shard I’d received.

  I pulled it from my inventory.

  I shrugged and placed the shard against my shirt.

  I touched the shard to my bedding.

  I shrugged and put the shard back in my inventory. I did not feel like testing the shard further. I had the Enhancement shards but wanted to wait for another one to get the enhancements that cost 2 shards.

  I planned on sanctioning a few more things the next morning.

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  first Royal Road chapter of each pair. The second one won’t have pictures. If you want to see all the art together (or earlier), it’s on Patreon with the combined chapters!