The two of them finally arrived at the old laboratory room in this school which was a little neglected. Because there is already a laboratory building being built, the laboratory is only intended to be used as a storage area. And also used for some students to skip a lesson.
Barry recalled the painful memory he experienced here. He was bullied several times in this room. Because this room is far from anywhere, no one can hear an act of violence taking place here.
The memory made Barry clench his fists. In his mind there were several things he wanted to do to his bullies. When the world has become like this, then there is nothing left for him to hold back.
The girl entered the room first and checked everything. Barry was a bit regretful because he let his memory take over so he didn't be alert to his surroundings. Luckily the girl acted swiftly.
"It's clear. There are no zombies here," the girl said.
Now Barry remembers who she really is. Her name is Elaine Delaire. She was a third year student, one year above him.
Her parents are owners of large businesses who are very successful and have quite a lot of power. She is one of the elite students at this school. Someone Barry used to be impossible to get close to.
She had long black hair that was shiny and slightly stained with blood now. Her face is oval, her eyes are big and clear. But her face and eyes almost always look cold. Even among the elite group of students, she is difficult to approach.
Her uniform, drenched in a mixture of blood and sweat, clung to her form, accentuating the contours of her alluring body. The wet spot on her chest allowed Barry to see a slight flash of her bra.
"What are you looking at?" Elaine asked with sharp eyes. She clearly noticed that Barry was staring at her chest.
But Barry wasn't someone who was too obsessed with something like that. He, as a normal teenage boy, obviously felt a little provoked when he saw Elaine's body. However, he immediately ignored that because right now none of that was important.
"I thought you were hurt," Barry replied. "It turns out you're fine. That's good. Let's hide first then start discussing what we're going to do next."
Barry went to the back of the lab to hide. Elaine followed him.
"What really happened?" Elaine asked.
"You've seen what really happened. Have you ever read web novels?" Barry asked.
Elaine shook her head. "No. That's boring."
Barry snorted and looked at her with a flat look. Then he said. "Anyway, it seems that a strange source of power has just entered our world. People who can't adapt that power immediately turn into zombies."
Elaine frowned at him. "How do you know about that?"
"From the novels I read. And, its just my assumptions. I can't be too sure about that either."
"What?" Elaine looked at him with a strange look as if what Barry had just said was something that didn't make sense.
"It doesn't matter how I know about it." Barry hurriedly dismissed that. "What skills do you have?"
Elaine narrowed her eyes suspiciously as she looked at Barry. "Why don't you show me what you have first?"
'She's not stupid.' Barry thought.
Barry thought it would be very good for him if he could find out in advance about the skills acquired by other people. That way he will have a slight advantage over them.
However, he realized that Elaine was not stupid. Her father started his business from a young age with his own hard work manipulating people and using all means to make his business grow to the size it is now. Elaine will definitely inherit her father's traits.
'I guess I can't trick her easily.'
"Okay, I'll tell you what I know and what my skills are. But in return you also have to be honest with me. We can't move alone if we don't work together, you understand?" Barry said.
Elaine stared at him for a few seconds. Then nodded slowly once.
"I have the skill to manipulate my body weight," Barry said.
Elaine frowned. "That's it?"
Barry nodded. "What about you? Lightning Manipulation?"
"How do you know?"
"I saw you burn a zombie and almost fried my head with it."
"O-Oh, right. Yeah, it looks like I got the power to manipulate lightning."
Barry nodded in understanding. Elaine told him the truth, but he didn't. Barry didn't feel bad about it. He didn't completely lie though. Gravity Manipulation can also allow him to manipulate his body weight.
"Do you understand the status screen?" Barry asked.
Elaine nodded but her face looked doubtful. "Do you mean status window? Like the ones in the game?"
"So you play games? That's good. Yeah, just think of it as you see in the game. That status window or status screen contains all the information about you, instead of your character in the game."
Elaine was silent, thinking about Barry's words carefully. Then she asked. "How do you see it?"
"Just concentrate and focus your mind to see that."
Elaine started doing so, and then her status screen started to appear in her vision. That unusual sight surprised her.
"T-This is almost exactly like what's in the game!" Elaine exclaimed, looking excited. "I'm now at Level 2 and I have some attribute points to use."
Barry looked at her. "Your attributes sure are quite impressive, right?"
"I'm not sure. I have 17 Strength, 12 Agility, and 10 Defense. The only one that is good enough is my Magic Power. I have 30 of those."
Hearing that, Barry widened his eyes. 'She got 30 Magic Power?!'
No wonder she looks fine even though she just fought that Level 7 normal zombie. Her other attributes are also better than his.
'This girl is stronger than me. Its really a good thing I meet her.'
"How about you?" Elaine asked.
Because he said to work together and trust each other, Barry also said his status. This time he choose to say the truth.
"I'm in Level 3. My three attributes are at 10 but I have 20 Luck and 13 Magic Power."
Elaine nodded in understanding. Then she smiled. "This is pretty exciting, isn't it? We have a status window like in the game."
"Uh, yeah. But… There's death and destruction all around us," Barry said.
"Yeah, you're right. But, we can look for exp to defend us from all that destruction and death. So, we're not hopeless. As long as there is still hope, we will be able to survive."
Barry didn't know what to feel. That optimistic nature seems good but… doesn't she look too optimistic?
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