"You…really don't remember anything? I-I mean you must have some vague memories of the route you took from mall to our neighborhood because you almost traveled a kilometer of distance to reach here? It's even hard to believe that you didn't encounter any zombie!?" Alita asked with a shocked expression on her face.
"Yes, I know that's hard to believe, but my memories are not wrong about what happened." Jasmine had tears welled up in her eyes because she remembered her teammates after remembering about that strange zombie.
James, sitting on the opposite side of the table, was silent with a blank expression. If anyone looked at his face, they would be easily able to notice a strange expression that had countless trace of anger, terror, pity, disbelief, and helplessness.
Everyone was busy with their own thoughts, especially his parents and neighbor. They had only seen the zombies that were transformed from humans, let alone the mention of ranked zombies. It would only break their spirit after seeing one because they were still not able to digest Jasmine's information.
Meanwhile, James had only one thought.
'Impossible! Impossible! There's no way it has already appeared.! If it really has, then we have to take the first strike or..!?'
The room was silent all of a sudden until James' father broke it.
"Son, what do you think of this situation? I mean, have you encountered any of those kind while you were out there hunting?"
James was taken aback by the question, and he made a clear, calm face with serious eyes before he spoke.
"Father… Yes! But it was not able to control others."
Hearing his answer, everyone was shocked to hear that he spoke of something that they had only thought of as a possibility, even not in their deepest thoughts. The word 'control others' made a deep wound prick open in Jasmine's heart. She couldn't stop but start crying immediately.
She lost her only family in the hands of someone's selfishness, but had somehow survived her doom. Furthermore, she was in guilt of not being able to avenge them or know what had happened to them.
James didn't hesitate and continued, "Jasmine, we're leaving for the mall tomorrow. I will bring everything useful from the shop right now." He stood up and left for the shop immediately without hearing anyone's response.
"Hey, system."
"Yes, host."
"Why is the world going crazy so early? You know the reason behind this, right?"
"Host, you are not strong enough. You need to be at least an S-rank for knowing the reason behind these series of events."
"…" James remained silent.
After having his short exchange of words from the system, James went into the shop from the previous. There were only few zombies that were roaming around in the vicinity. Before he could dash forward to kill them, system interrupted him.
"Host, You need to use your awakened ability, or you will only fall behind."
Hearing the system mention his awakened ability, James was dumbfounded and facepalmed himself. He took a note of his surrounding after clearing the shop off its goods and forced out the thought of practicing his ability there.
After reaching his house carrying almost all the available goods and clothes James entered his room.
"System, tell me how to use my talents." James said while sitting in a meditating position.
"Host, it is preferred to practice outside the house."
"..." James didn't say anything before leaving his house.
"Host, pick up an object."
James immediately picked up some small pieces of metal fallen from cars.
"Host, think about the kind of rune you want to print on this piece of metal."
"System, just what ...am I supposed to think about?" James with a pale face.