After making sure that there were no zombies hidden in their room, there wasn't anything else to do. The defense of the apartment was already at it's best and it wasn't as if they knew how to make actual traps. The internet might have some tutorial but sadly they can no longer access the internet.
The tv was only showing a static background with the words "We'll be right back" in the middle of the screen so they discussed their plans from now on.
"I think it's best if we try to stockpile long-lasting food, based on the news we've seen so far, well they aren't good news. Before the zombies came, food was already one of the problems we have every day, especially now that we can no longer produce food."
Eliza didn't hesitate to say what others might deny, now that there were zombies, farmers and fishermen are either a zombie now or the government is trying their best to keep them within their grasp.
"Yeah and we're not sure if the evolved animals like the rats before are safe to eat."
They considered eating the evolved animals if the other animals evolved like the rat but they didn't know the effects of eating one, perhaps the animals were inedible. Only when push comes to shove would they ever consider eating them. In the first place, they weren't confident enough to face one, the rat that they managed to kill before was injured already.
"All of our problems could be solved if we were strong enough."
Riku said helplessly, it sounds like something a battle junkie it was however what they needed. If they were strong enough only then could they freely gather supplies. With enough strength, they wouldn't be helpless against the evolved creatures.
Riku and Eliza have killed more than ten zombies each already but they still haven't leveled up.
"Let's just call it quits for today."
Riku said as he walked towards the window. The scene of a city surrounded by mountains with lush trees would've been a majestic view if only the city wasn't filled with fire and the scent of rotting bodies.
Somewhere in the city, an unusual scene can be seen in one of the houses. Two men were singing while two other women were cooking as another man helped them who suddenly asked the two singing.
"Hey we're running out of food, when are we gonna hunt for more."
"It can't be helped, it's getting harder and harder to find food." One of the men depressingly said as he stopped singing.
"We'll try to hunt tomorrow maybe we'll catch something." The other man said as he went to a cabinet that was slightly shaking,
"I'll also need to add more to my collection." He said as he slid his finger on the cheeks of the woman tied in the closet. The tied woman started to struggle harder, she was crying, a yellow liquid can be seen flowing down her legs. Her struggling, however, seemed to just make the man happier as he licked his lips.
"I told you, you'll be mine no matter what. You have a lot of friends here to talk to, you don't need anyone else but me." He smiled as the other guy brought a tied woman who was gagged and helplessly crying. As she saw the skulls near the cabinet she tried to struggle harder.
"Look you're new friend is already excited! Tomorrow, I'll find you more friends." The man smiled.
Morning has come, Riku and Eliza were eating their breakfast when an earthquake occurred. They hid under the table and waited for it to stop but it didn't stop, rather it felt like there was a slight pause before they continue, they looked outside to see what was going on but what they saw made them almost pee their pants. A monster that was at least 20m tall was walking outside, the world shook every time it took a step as if the world itself was afraid of the behemoth. It has black skin and four arms, only the back of the head could be seen as it was walking away from the apartment.
They didn't know where it came from and they didn't care, just looking at that creature caused them to imagine their death, the pressure of its presence was just that horrifying.
Eliza's legs gave up and she could only sit on the floor, her body was shaking so much. Riku seemed to be in a much better state as he was still standing but if you look closely he was shaking just as much as Eliza, he was gripping so hard on the window ledge.
"We are just too weak, why should we even bother fighting, just how are we supposed to fight that." He thought.
There are two kinds of people, those who are initially determined to be the best but they end up giving up when they see someone who is seemingly peerless, then there are those who's determination becomes even stronger and they do their best to conquer the peerless.
Riku's will at this moment was being tested if he manages to overcome this psychological hurdle he'll be someone who has the potential to stand at the top of the world. Riku, however, was failing the test horribly at that. His mind was just about to break when Eliza held his cheeks. She was holding back her tears and with resoluteness she said.
"Riku, yes we are weak at this moment but we have something they don't have, we have a goal and it is this goal that will make us work harder than anyone. We'll fall but we'll never stop standing. This is something we humans have in common, only those who try will ever have a taste of success. We are capable of surviving, especially now that we have the System."
Eliza was confident, she didn't fear death what she feared dying was before she's able to give her very best. The time with the rat wasn't her frozen in fear but rather a disappointment, a disappointment that she had to be saved and disappointment in being unable to even help in any way. When she got the System, her goals just became bigger she initially just wanted to survive but now all she wanted was to live freely in this world and she thought it was just about time.
Riku couldn't help but get envious.