1. Birth of a National-Power-Level Druid (The Country is Ruined)

In a ruined world where you could gain just one special power to survive the apocalypse, what would you want? Everyone's answer would probably be different. But I think the best is a production-class ability. You know that saying—it's easier to be the childhood friend of the strongest guy than to be the strongest yourself. That's exactly me.

Fighting just doesn't suit my personality. I'd rather hole up in a corner and grind away at something. So why am I suddenly pondering this? Because of what's right in front of me.

The Gift. A blessing bestowed on humanity after the apocalypse hit. They say your life in the apocalypse changes entirely depending on what Gift you get.

For example, in videos I saw before the internet cut out, there were awakeners like this: one hurling fireballs like a pirate with a donut hole blasted through his chest, or another whipping up powerful winds to blow goblins away. Get a good ability, and you can live comfortably in the apocalypse. Even if you join a survivor group, you'd be treated well.

That's why I'm praying my heart out before opening it.

"Please give me a good power. The ultimate survival ability."

Of course, I'm not the type to skimp with just lip service. I hauled out ingredients I'd been saving for a special occasion. First, the potatoes I'd painstakingly grown in the yard. Then oil that's been reused three times and smells a bit off. And finally, the last remnants of civilization's flavor—ketchup.

I loaded butane gas into the portable burner, poured the oil into a pan, sliced the homegrown potatoes to fry-size, soaked them in water to draw out some starch, then tossed them in a plastic bag with starch powder, a pinch of salt, and pepper. Shake shake. Into the boiling oil they go.

Sizzle—french fries done! Humanity's greatest food, french fries, offered to the gods. With this much effort, even a god wouldn't give me something useless.

Huuu. Deep breath. I reached out.

"Here goes...!!"

Just in case a monster could hear, I whispered the shout, then hit yes. Flash—a blinding light enveloped my body. My consciousness flickered out.

"......?"

I came to soon enough. Not out long—clock said about ten minutes. Body ached, head spun. But that's minor. What matters is what power I got.

Alright, time to cautiously call it up in my mind. Status window.

Ding—a screen popped up.

Druid? Like a nature mage? Is that even a production class? Druids vary by game, so who knows what skills it has.

Growl—stomach rumbling. Forgot to eat the fries while praying. Gotta chow down before they get cold. I stood up, but something felt off.

"?"

Eye level changed. Did becoming a Druid shrink me? I headed to the shoe cabinet mirror to check my status.

And I faced a shocking result.

"......Huh?"

The mirror showed a green-haired beauty.

Sudden body change. Happens sometimes to awakeners. Like Dragon Knights getting dragon scales, or flame mages' hair turning red. But Druid and beautiful girl—what's the connection? Green hair fits Druid, sure.

"Eh, not bad."

Voice sounds nice too. Smaller build, fairer skin, looks about ten years younger. No reason to complain—practically a free youth potion.

With that mental win, I went for the leftover fries. Body changed or not, gotta fill the belly. Carbs in, brain gets sugar, mind clears. Pure science. Next up: change clothes. These are too baggy now.

"Any that fit?"

Shrunk 20-30cm—no perfect fits. Settled for slightly big ones. Long hair to shoulders—not weird, tied it back with a rubber band like my old long-haired college days.

"...Good."

Minor stuff. What matters for an awakener: abilities and skills. Heart pounding, I opened status again.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

First thing that jumps out: EX-rank. Awakener jobs go F to S-rank. Never heard of EX-rank. Fake? I pulled out my nearly dead smartphone and opened the saved post.

Got it. Thanks, poster! Click—phone dies perfectly timed. No biggie, sunny day means solar panels made plenty. Plugged it in. Deep breath, opened skills.

"Three skills?!"

Level 1 usually gets 1-2 max. Three! EX-rank is different, huh? Reading descriptions.

"......?"

No clue from the description. Next.

"EX-rank Perk?"

Extra on the skill. Don't know the system details, but perks sound good. Next.

"Special powers, huh."

Can't tell from descriptions alone. Gotta test 'em. Time's plentiful, so prepped to head out carefully. Going out in the apocalypse needs prep—monsters or raiders anywhere. Lucky my house is in the boonies, not even on nav maps. Never seen another human. Quitting the company in a huff and fleeing to the countryside paid off unexpectedly.

No humans, but monsters visited a few times. Nearly pissed myself when a grotesque one passed by. Peeked through curtains—no monsters. Opened door, overgrown weeds parting like a path.

"Whoa, why're you moving?"

Weeds just silently made way. Not just that—as I stepped carefully, I felt the grass's vitality. Each blade alive. Is this Nature's Friend passive?

"...Bow."

Absentmindedly to the grass. Stiff weeds bowed politely.

"Better than expected?"

Control all nearby plants? Means easy weed-clearing in the front yard.

"Time to rebuild the neglected yard."

Food running low anyway. Grabbed seed potatoes from storage, strolled to yard—weeds split, smooth soil revealed.

"...Mind control works?"

Nod nod. Plants seemed to affirm. EX-rank Druid vibes. Hoed a hole, planted, covered. "...Water?"

Fetched a bucket from tank, poured gently. Sat, hands clasped, focused.

"......Nngh!!"

Nothing. How to activate? Shout the name usually.

"Rapid Growth!!!"

Power drained from body. Mana? Weird—something flows from me into soil. Soon, sprouts emerged.

"Oh."

Sprouts grew stems, leaves—full plants in seconds.

"What? All grown at once???"

Potatoes take 90-100 days. Did it in 10 seconds. Insane. No starvation worries now.

"Let's see..."

Potatoes underground—time to dig. Reached for hoe, but soil split, potatoes popping up themselves.

"...Huh?"

Auto-harvest? Wow, Druid OP!! Pre-apocalypse, I'd be a national farmer asset. Shiny potatoes—mouth watering. Mana cost high, but first time—adapt quick. Mana grows with level. Key: instant potatoes. Later levels, masses. And EX-rank "special potatoes." Fries gonna be god-tier.

"Hm hm~"

Humming home. Rustle—plants grabbed my leg. Potato stems especially.

Why? Forgot something? Turned back.

"...Huh?"

Something alien in blue sky. Red-skinned hard monster. Knew the name—famous one. Wyvern. Lone dragon-like monster. Low-flying, staring down. Vertical pupils met mine—legs buckled, body froze.

Why here? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Flashback to broadcast: [Awakeners with mana easier for monsters to detect.] [Monsters target awakeners over normals.] Survived solo cuz no mana before. Now...

"Grrr...."

Wyvern ready to strike. Stay still = dead. Can't move. What now? Head throbbed. Then soil cracked—roots and stems pushed me back.

"Whoa?!"

Before panic, yard grass conveyor-belted me away. Helping escape?

"N-not the house!!"

Wyvern'd wreck it! To the forest! Plants reacted, whisking me into dense trees. Wyvern roared, dove.

"Ugh?!"

Reflexively raised hands—plants surged, blocked. More: vines netted wyvern. Ripped easy. Can't stop it, but bought time. Thanks, plants! Body loosening.

"Haa... haa..."

Sweaty, gasping, no effort. But run—faster than plant assist.

"Hyahk...!!"

Made forest. Trees block even wyvern. Crash!! Wrong—smashed through easy.

"Aaaah!!!"

Screaming flee. Bushes part, trees sacrifice on wyvern. Touching—no time. Panic, just run. Ended quick—flying debris stabbed leg.

"Aaaagh!!"

Down. "...G-grass!!" Plants hauled me again. Thud!! Thud!! Wyvern shaking earth. Glanced—smashing nature, closing. Nose-to-nose now. Drooling like tasty prey. Desperate—grew plants to snag feet. Stuck there.

How? Kill with last strength? Escape? Mind blanking.

"...D-done for."

Squish squish—heavy on leg. Looked down: white cat staring.

"Contract with me, nyang!!"

"?"

"Use Taming quick, nyang!!!"

Talking cat. Druid power?!

"No time, nyang! Hurry, nyang!!"

Flash: EX-rank Perk – special animals seek you. Only shot. Reached, petted.

"T-Taming..."

Cat shuddered, batted hand.

"...Eh?"

Cat strolled to wyvern casually. Thud thud thud. Wyvern: "......?!!" thrashed in terror.

"Dare touch my butler, nyang? Die, nyang!!!"

Cat grew huge—wyvern-sized. Grroowl!!! Not cat hiss—deep, majestic roar. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Before me: a White Tiger.