As we stepped into the lecture hall, I saw the survivors—students and faculty who had managed to escape the initial chaos. Some nursed injuries, others monitored the windows and secondary exits. All looked exhausted but determined.

  "We cleared the zombies from this floor," a young man said, his hands glowing faintly with what looked like crackling energy. "Used it to level up as much as possible. Safety in numbers, you know?"

  Aurora nodded, her attention already shifting to their defenses, assessing strengths and weaknesses with her tactical eye. "Smart. We're heading to a more secure location in Queens. My grandmother's place is fortified."

  Mills and several others exchanged looks. "How are you planning to get there? The streets are..." She trailed off, the implication clear.

  "One step at a time," I said, opening my stat screen to allocate my new points. "But first, let's compare notes. The more we understand about this System, the better our chances."

  As the survivors gathered around us, I couldn't help but notice that several of them bore bite marks and other injuries—yet all remained human, their eyes clear, their minds intact. The pattern held true. The System had chosen them, and in doing so, had granted them immunity to the transformation that had claimed so many others.

  The survivors gathered around us in a loose semicircle, their expressions a mixture of wariness and hope. Professor Mills had rigged up a few emergency lights, casting the lecture hall in a dim, bluish glow that made everyone look ghostly. Outside, dusk was falling, and with it came the eerie silence of a city no longer driven by human rhythms.

  "So, what classes did you all receive?" I asked, taking a seat on one of the intact desks.

  A thin young man with glasses—I vaguely recognized him from the Physics department—cleared his throat. "I'm a Lunar Archivist. One star." He adjusted his glasses nervously. "Mostly knowledge-based abilities. I can analyze artifacts and structures created by the System."

  "Two-star Engineer," said another student, a woman with her arm in a makeshift sling. "I can repair and modify equipment with lunar energy."

  One by one, they shared their classes. Lunar Messenger. System Scout. Barrier Technician. All useful in their own way, but limited. The highest among them was Professor Mills herself—a three-star Tactical Coordinator who could enhance nearby allies' stats by small percentages.

  "What about you two?" Mills asked, her analytical gaze moving between Aurora and me.

  "Four-star Lunar Knight," Aurora replied, her sword materializing briefly as if to demonstrate, silver light washing over the gathered survivors.

  A collective murmur rippled through the group. Some leaned forward with newfound interest, others drew back slightly, as if suddenly aware they were in the presence of something beyond their understanding.

  "Four stars?" The Archivist's eyes widened behind his glasses. "I didn't think—that's incredibly rare. The probability distribution would suggest—"

  "Five-star Astral Equationist," I cut in, not wanting to leave Aurora alone in the spotlight.

  The room fell completely silent. Even the distant sounds of the city seemed to fade away as everyone stared at me.

  "Five..." Mills whispered, her voice trailing off.

  "Stars," finished the Archivist, looking at me like I'd just grown a second head. "That's... statistically improbable. My analysis suggests five-star classes appear in less than 0.01% of the population."

  "Two of you, in the same place," said the Engineer, shaking her head in disbelief. "The odds are astronomical."

  Aurora shot me a look, the corner of her mouth quirking slightly. "Astronomical. Fitting for an astrophysics major."

  I managed a weak smile in return, but the weight of everyone's stares made the joke fall flat. Their reaction confirmed what we'd suspected—our classes weren't just powerful; they were exceptional.

  "Have you unlocked many skills?" asked a young man who'd introduced himself as a System Scout.

  "Skills seem to unlock at five-level intervals," I explained, pulling up my skill interface. "At level five, I gained Density Manipulation to complement my initial Gravity Anomaly ability. Just hit level seven, so I'm still two levels away from my next skill."

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  "Same pattern for me," Aurora nodded. "Started with Lunar Blade, then unlocked Lunar Shield at level five. At level eight, I'm close to discovering something new."

  Mills tilted her head, studying us with renewed interest. "And your stats? How have they progressed?"

  I glanced at Aurora, who nodded slightly. Might as well be transparent with potential allies.

  I pulled up my stat screen, displaying it for the group to see:

  Nathaniel Moretti

  Level: 7

  Main Class: Astral Equationist (★★★★★)

  Stats:

  STR: 14

  AGI: 13

  CI: 25

  CON: 13

  INT: 20

  Available Points: 25

  The Archivist let out a low whistle. "Your baseline stats are already higher than most of us after leveling up several times."

  "The star rating seems to influence starting stats," I confirmed. "And speaking of points, I should allocate these."

  I studied my screen, considering my options carefully. With 25 points to distribute, I could significantly enhance my capabilities. After our encounters so far, the pattern was clear—my class thrived on Intelligence and Cosmic Insight, but I couldn't neglect my physical stats entirely.

  "I'll put 10 points into Cosmic Insight," I said, watching the number rise from 25 to 35. "Another 10 into Intelligence," raising it from 20 to 30. "Then 2 into Constitution, 2 into Agility, and 1 into Strength for balance."

  My updated stats appeared:

  Nathaniel Moretti

  Level: 7

  Main Class: Astral Equationist (★★★★★)

  Stats:

  STR: 15

  AGI: 15

  CI: 35

  CON: 15

  INT: 30

  "That's... impressive," Mills said quietly. "Your mental stats are beyond anything I've seen."

  Aurora displayed her own screen next:

  Aurora Reyes

  Level: 8

  Main Class: Lunar Knight (★★★★)

  Stats:

  STR: 25

  AGI: 27

  CON: 21

  INT: 12

  Available Points: 20

  "I've accumulated 20 points since we started," she explained. "Time to put them to use."

  She distributed her points with a fighter's precision: "8 points into Strength," she said as the number climbed from 25 to 33. "Another 8 into Agility," pushing it from 27 to 35. "And 4 into Constitution for endurance," raising it from 21 to 25.

  Aurora Reyes

  Level: 8

  Main Class: Lunar Knight (★★★★)

  Stats:

  STR: 33

  AGI: 35

  CON: 25

  INT: 12

  The Scout stared in shock. "Your physical stats are... you're literally superhuman now."

  Aurora flexed her fingers, a faint silver glow emanating from them. "It feels different. Like my body is lighter, stronger."

  "Your stats are nearly four times what mine are," whispered the Engineer, looking back and forth between her own screen and Aurora's. "And I'm level 4 already."

  "The class disparity is designed into the System," I said, remembering our earlier conversation. "Five-star classes start stronger and seem to grow faster than others. It's... not exactly fair."

  "Nothing about this is fair," Mills pointed out grimly. "The real question is: why? Why create a system that so dramatically favors some over others?"

  The room fell silent as the implications settled over everyone. The System hadn't just changed the world—it had created an entirely new hierarchy, one where your assigned class determined your potential, your strength, your very survival.

  "I have a theory," the Archivist said hesitantly. "Based on what we've observed so far. The System seems to be... selecting. Those who received no class became zombies. Those who received weak classes..." He trailed off, glancing nervously around the room.

  "Will struggle more," I finished for him, trying to soften the blow. "But working together increases everyone's chances."

  Aurora stood, her movement drawing all eyes. The blue gleam in her irises seemed more pronounced in the dim light. "Whatever the System's purpose, we need to focus on survival. We can philosophize about fairness once we're safe."

  "She's right," Mills agreed. "Your grandmother's fortified home in Queens—how far is it?"

  "About four miles from campus," Aurora replied. "Under normal circumstances, a straight shot through the park and across the bridge."

  "And under these circumstances?" asked the Scout, a knowing edge to his voice.

  Aurora's expression hardened. "A gauntlet. Streets filled with zombies, possibly military checkpoints if they're still functioning, and who knows what else the System has in store."

  I stood up beside her, feeling the weight of my new stats settling into my body. My mind felt clearer, sharper, as if I could see connections that had previously been hidden. The phantom sensation of my quill tingled between my fingers, ready to be called forth.

  "Which is why we need to prepare," I said. "Rest tonight, gather supplies, and move at first light tomorrow. Anyone who wants to join us is welcome, but understand—it won't be easy."

  The survivors exchanged glances, unspoken questions passing between them. It was Mills who finally responded.

  "Most of us will come. Safety in numbers, even with the power disparity. Besides," she added with a thin smile, "having two high-star classes as escorts substantially improves our survival odds."

  "Then we should organize watches," Aurora said, immediately switching to tactical planning. "Four two-hour shifts through the night. I'll take first watch with—"

  "Me," I said, moving to stand beside her. "My Density Manipulation can create barriers if needed."

  As the group dispersed to prepare for the night, the Archivist approached us, his voice low enough that only Aurora and I could hear.

  "There's something else you should know," he whispered, glancing around nervously. "I've been analyzing the System's patterns using my class abilities. There's a... consistency to the zombie transformations. They're not random."

  Aurora's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

  "The System is converting specific types of people," he continued. "Those with certain personality traits or maybe neural patterns. I can't pinpoint the exact criteria yet, but it's deliberate. Engineered."

  I felt a chill run down my spine despite my enhanced Constitution. "You're saying the apocalypse is... selective?"

  He nodded grimly. "And there's more. The System appears to be... watching. Evaluating. As if this whole scenario is some kind of test."

  Before he could elaborate, a crash echoed from somewhere in the building below us. The conversation immediately halted as everyone froze, listening.