Dai Zen folded his arms with a frown as the assembled Evolveds argued heatedly around a makeshift planning table in the middle of the terrace.
It was well into the night. The stars rose in the dark sky like jewels encrusted in ebony, while on the horizon, the sun had melted with subtle symmetry behind the buildings.
"As I have said repeatedly, we must put wide seas between us and this place before dawn." Fang Mo exclaimed louder than usual, completely forgetting Wu Xiuying's hierarchy as the leader.
"This idea of rushing into the shadows would only lead to disaster." Wu Xiuying raised her voice to cut off the clamor, her golden eyes resting on Fang Mo like daggers: "The Safe Zone is over one hundred and fifty kilometers; although its exact location is unknown, it is assumed to be near Beijing University. We would be an easy game for the hordes of night creatures long before we reach its gates if we were to set out at this prostrate hour."
"But if we delay, their numbers will outnumber anything we can contain!" Fang Mo pointed northward: "If we delay moving deeper into the area, the escape route will be forever lost to us."
Lian, the rugged man of stout build, broke the prevailing silence in a snarl: "Beyond our reach will be the remains of our mutilated bodies if such folly is carried out!" His fists crashed against the concrete surface with a torrent's force.
"But-"
"Fang Mo." Wu Xiuying's voice, though devoid of any emotion, clearly conveyed the weight and coldness of a glacier: "I thought I made it clear to you who's in charge here. A viable survival plan was called for, not reckless ideas that will dash whatever hope we have left."
She took a moment to contemplate those present, pausing briefly at Dai Zen before continuing: "We will set out in the sunlight, our lives assured."
Silence fell, heavy, the willingness to follow Wu Xiuying's orders apparent in the gazes of the Evolveds there. Fang Mo's eyes, however, burned with resentment.
Dai Zen's eyes strayed to Fang Mo's sullen face; couldn't this man just shut up? His gaze was constantly rolling around like an enraged beast. Every time he opened his mouth to spit out words, Dai Zen wondered if any brain was left inside his skull to think before he spoke. Or maybe there was only ever room for anger.
"Finally, the excess of charged emotions had subsided." Hua Mei's sigh whispered a release of breath as her eyes narrowed into a beautiful crescent, smiling towards Dai Zen and Wu Xiuying: "I'm glad you have managed this field so well~."
Although Dai Zen intervened little, his judgment was wisely judged between Wu Xiuying, Hua Mei, and Lian.
"It remains to decide our departure from this place." Wu Xiuying continued: "We must devise a plan to leave the High School grounds unseen."
Hua Mei's eyes widened, and she nodded vehemently: "That will be a big problem to solve, surely. I have seen all the vehicles on the roads lying unusable now. The only thing that could help would be the school bus; however, we don't know if any survivors took it with them."
Dai Zen, who had stood on the sidelines until then, interjected: "You will have to be the quickest and most agile to head for the bus while the rest offer resistance if necessary."
Wu Xiuying nodded, sharing his judgment: "Are there any Evolved with enough Agility to go in search of the bus?" She swept her gaze over those present, fixing her golden eyes on Dai Zen.
To her, he happened to be the most powerful of them all at the end of the day; every time he was near, she felt a tingle as if he were a wild beast.
"The Strength also influences the speed of movement depending on how it is used." The Fairy's voice echoed in his ear.
Watching her strut freely around him with her tinkling voice without attracting anyone's attention, Dai Zen had come to a simple conclusion; somehow, the little Fairy possessed a particular method of hiding herself from others other than him.
"I have invested my Stat points in Agility." Fang Mo raised his arm: "I possess 19 points in said Stat, plus I have gained Skill which increases my speed." He said with patent pride, and Lian and Hua Mei's gaze widened in surprise and shock.
Those 19 points almost doubled the Agility of a human before the apocalypse!
"Then settled it is-"
"Wait." Dai Zen's indifferent, curt voice interjected, causing gazes to fall on him: "Strength also influences speed. Therefore, I'll go."
"Huh, you say you're stronger than everyone and surpass my speed?" Fang Mo sneered with a laugh loaded with irritating and contemptuous scorn.
Dai Zen rolled his eyes, indifferent to the rage boiling inside the man. Even without counting his Strength, his Agility Stat, thanks to the Item
"Despite what you think, I possess a greater advantage in speed." Dai Zen looked at him indifferently, not caring about the hatred in the man's gaze.
Then, suddenly...
—Kriiik!—
An atrocious scream shook the night sky, followed by screeching and the hurried flapping of wings.
The survivors on the terrace screamed in horror as they saw a horde of hideous bat-like creatures descending upon them like a curse.
Hairy creatures with glowing blood-red eyes, with claws that could tear them apart on the spot. Terror paralyzed them for an instant, blinding them.
"Come on; we must protect them!" Wu Xiuying turned and broke into a run, her golden hair waving behind her like a flaming flag.
Hua Mei, Lian, and Fang Mo took a second to react before swallowing hard and following in her footsteps.
Hua Mei's face was pale as she kept behind the others: "Gu-guys, I'll stay behind you in case you get hurt. It's the only thing I can do with my healing Skill."
Dai Zen nodded to the woman; without further ado, he broke into a run, disappearing into the darkness like a shadow, ruffling the Evolveds' hair.
How had he gained so much power in such a short time? Only Mu Xiuying remained unmoved by Dai Zen's demonstration, following in his footsteps.
Dai Zen leaped into the night sky, unsheathing his sword. The crimson-eyed bat fell upon him with shrieks, sending out waves that stunned him momentarily. Before his sight could fully clear, Dai Zen slashed forward and cleaved it in half.
Blood fell from the sky like crimson rain.
[You have obtained the Existential Record of Blood-Sucking Bat Level 8]
<+3 Agility>
<+3 Vitality>
<+3 Magic Power>
<+2 Resistance>
<+2 Mana>
"Oh, Mana?" Dai Zen's eyes glowed while he smiled.
What he craved most was the energy of Mana, the primary source of the skills.
When his feet touched the ground again, he felt some disturbances at his side. Directing his gaze there, his crimson eyes widened slightly at what lay before him.
There stood Wu Xiuying; she shone like a golden sun as she summoned her magic in all its splendorous light.
Wu Xiuying's flames were no ordinary flames—they were golden flames!
With a nonchalant gesture, Wu Xiuying scattered tennis ball-sized spheres of fire between those dark wings.
The monsters shrieked and writhed, engulfed in the flames that devoured their flesh at an astonishing speed. In vain, they tried to flee from the scorching golden magic!
***
[Dai Zen - Hybrid - Badly Evolved]
Level: 8
Trait: Nullity [Unique]
Evolution: First Rank
Class: No Class
Title: Untitled
[Stats]
Strength: 29 (+30)
Vitality: 18
Resistance: 32
Agility: 21 (+25)
Magic Power: 18
Mana: 72
[Available Stats Points: 24]
[Skills]
—Darkness Manipulation | First Rank Skill | Level 7