Korig was in full attack mode, his focus unwavering as he battled against the onslaught of zombies.
He struck down the last of the zombie horde that seemed to threaten him.
The rest of them still ran around other survivers, biting into their flesh and ripping intestines apart.
Lily and David managed to catch up to Korig in the midst of the chaotic mess.
But as they reached him, his expression softened, a mixture of relief and joy crossing his face.
Without a second thought, all three of them embraced tightly, the weight of survival mingling with the overwhelming camaraderie that had formed between them.
"Thank goodness you're okay," Lily murmured, her voice laced with gratitude and emotion.
David nodded in agreement, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Yeah, we owe you one for sure."
Korig's eyes met theirs, a sense of unity forming among them as they held onto each other in the midst of the turmoil.
"I'm just glad you both made it," he replied, his voice tinged with relief.
But their moment of respite was brief.
The Lich still loomed in the distance, a chilling presence that seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment.
Its command over the undead was relentless, its power seemingly boundless.
And as they hugged each other, a stark realization settled over them, the battle was far from over.
The horde of zombies continued to pour in, a relentless tide that threatened to overwhelm them.
The Lich's influence extended beyond the parking lot, its dark magic calling forth the undead from the mall's interior to bolster its forces.
"We can't stay here," David said urgently, breaking the embrace.
"The longer we're out in the open, the more vulnerable we are."
Korig's gaze shifted from David to Lily, his determination unwavering.
"He's right. We need a plan, and we need it now."
Lily nodded, her eyes flitting between the Lich and her companions.
"But what can we do? We're up against something... supernatural."
Korig's grip on the crowbar tightened, his mind racing.
"We need to find a way to weaken the Lich, to break its hold on the zombies."
"If we can do that, we might have a chance."
"But how?" David asked, his voice tinged with frustration.
Korig's eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation.
"If I remember it right, the Lich must have a source of power, something that anchors it to this world."
"If we can sever that connection, we might be able to weaken it."
Lily's gaze shifted to the Lich, her expression thoughtful.
"And how do we find this source? How do we even get close to it?"
Korig's lips twisted into a determined smile.
"We have to get to the source, whatever it is."
"We have to disrupt the Lich's control over the undead."
"It won't be easy, but if we want to survive, we have to try."
As they exchanged glances, the weight of their predicament settled upon them once more.
The horrors continued to take place arround them.
The odds were stacked against them, the situation dire, but the fire of determination burned bright within each of them.
They had faced horrors beyond imagination, but they had also discovered newfound strength within themselves.
With a shared nod, they stepped back from each other, the bond between them unbroken.
The time for celebration would come later, after they had faced the challenge ahead and emerged victorious.
As the Lich's influence continued to spread and the undead pressed closer, they steeled themselves for what lay ahead, a battle against darkness, against the supernatural, and against the odds.
Taking cover behind a cluster of cars in a dimly lit corner of the parking lot, the three of them huddled together, their breaths ragged from the intensity of the battle.
David cautiously peeked from their vantage point, keeping an eye on the Lich's movements, while Korig's mind raced, his thoughts weaving a strategy amidst the chaos.
"We need a plan," Korig said, his voice low but resolute.
"If I've observed correctly, the Lich might have hidden its source of power, its phylactery, somewhere close, maybe even within itself."
David's brows furrowed as he glanced back at the Lich.
"Phylactery? Hidden? You mean like that skull necklace around its neck?"
Korig nodded, his eyes focusing on the skull necklace.
"Exactly. If that's the source of its power, destroying it might weaken the Lich and its control over the undead."
David's gaze locked onto the necklace, a mix of surprise and realization crossing his features.
"I hadn't even noticed that before."
Korig's attention shifted momentarily to the system screen in front of him.
With 40 minutes left on the countdown, time was ticking, and their objective was clear, to weaken the Lich and survive.
But a bonus objective remained, the completion of which promised to bolster their strength further.
As he contemplated their situation, Korig's eyes returned to David and Lily.
"Listen, guys. This is crazy, but I think I've figured something out."
"Look at your screens. You can see the objectives and the timer, right?"
Lily and David both nodded, their attention now fully focused on Korig's words.
"It's like a system, just like in the novels we read," Korig continued.
"We can actually gain increased stats by taking on the zombies."
"It's how I leveled up earlier. And with stronger stats, we'll have a better chance against the Lich."
The idea was daunting, yet intriguing.
The concept of gaining experience and leveling up was something straight out of the stories they loved.
Korig's gaze shifted back to his system screen, where the countdown reminded them of the urgency of their situation.
"We have about 40 minutes left," he said.
"And I need to defeat around 60 more zombies to complete the bonus objective."
"If we stick together and aggro a horde of zombies, I can take them down and we can get some serious stat boosts before we face the Lich."
Lily looked thoughtful, her gaze alternating between Korig and David.
"So you're saying we grind against these zombies to level up before the final boss fight?"
Korig nodded, a spark of determination in his eyes.
"Exactly. The Lich isn't moving from its place. It's an opportunity for us to gain points, to level up."
"We'll be stronger, more prepared when we take on the Lich."
David clenched his steel pipe, his expression resolute.
"It's a crazy plan, but it just might work. And honestly, anything is better than being sitting ducks out here."
"I don't think we'll have enough energy to survive another 40 minutes like this"
"We have to take action!"
Lily's grip on the hammer tightened, her resolve firming.
"Let's do it then."
"Let's take down as many zombies as we can, grind those stats, and then face the Lich head on."
With their decision made, a sense of unity settled over them.
They were taking control of their own fate, embracing the system that had thrust them into this nightmarish scenario.
As the Lich continued to preside over the battlefield, they knew that they had a chance, a chance to become stronger, to defy the odds, and to emerge victorious.
Korig's eyes locked onto the Lich in the distance, his heart racing with anticipation.
The battle was far from over, but now, armed with a plan and a determination to level up, they had a fighting chance against the supernatural forces that sought to consume their world.
"Let's do this guys"
"We are gonna survive!"
...