The morning sun peeks in, waking me up, and I see the peaceful face of Xander sleeping beside me. I consider staying in bed for a while longer but quickly dismiss the idea. We have too much to do today. I slip out from under the covers as quietly as possible and make my way downstairs.
"RINA, how is the situation at our rescue location?"
[Increased zombie activity through the night, as expected. The outer walls are visibly damaged but still intact.]
Grabbing some supplies from yesterday, I start making some Molotov cocktails. Recycled bottles with high proof alcohol, using cloth for a wick. Simple bombs with explosive results. A total of 10 get made. Five for Xander and five for me, this will help reduce the horde numbers.
Just as I'm finishing up, the sleepy Xander comes into the kitchen.
"Morning. You look very peaceful on this apocalyptic morning." He smiles at my comment and then makes his way over, wrapping his arms around me.
"You tease. It would have been more peaceful if you didn't ditch me in bed, but when I opened my eyes you weren't there."
My eyes roll.
"As much as I would love to laze around all day in bed with you, we have important things to do today." Xander sighs and lets me go.
"I know, I know. That idiot surrounded by zombies."
A thought pops up and I can't help but think out loud.
"Why that house though? They must be attracted to it for a reason. It's the biggest horde in the suburbs."
The questions hangs in the air. Neither of us can think of an answer. The only thing we can do is ask the person when we see them.
I hand Xander half of the bombs and grab a large kitchen knife from one of the drawers to be a secondary weapon alongside my axe. Long-range combat will be left to Xander while I focus on close combat. He tried to argue but that only earned him a scolding.
"After the explosives go off I'm going to need cover fire. There is more than one mutated zombie, they are huge and look extra strong. Who knows what other mutations are close by. I need to get in, grab the target, and get out. Please just listen and watch my back."
We leave after I get a nod in agreement.
Just like yesterday, we exit through the window on the second floor after disposing of nearby strays. I level up after two take-downs, earning a skill fragment and basic crystals from each. Xander kills four and three in total are decapitated by me. One of the crystals is immediately used to obtain the [Brawler] skill and it is upgraded with the fragment without a second thought.
[Brawler (Lv. 2): Deal an extra 20% damage when fighting in close combat.]
The other two crystals get put into strength which raises the stat to 21, leaving the rest at 17 after the level up. My HP is now 300 and my stamina is 200. Enough for an extended battle.
It takes time to get to our destination and we have to deal with increasing numbers of enemies as we get closer. We encounter groups with three to five enemies each. My experience ticks up and hits 1250/1600 by the time the target's house is in view.
Xander places a hand on my shoulder and stops me before we get too close.
There are roughly 50 enemies, two brutes on the ground and one perched on the roof are the only advanced troops I see but I know there could be more. The numbers have increased since yesterday.
The look in his eyes when he sees the overwhelming number of zombies is fear.
"You're going to fight those monsters?"
I look him in the eye and keep my tone serious.
"I have to. They're a danger to us too. What happens when they get what they want here and decide to come for us?"
Xander lowers his head and looks away. I can tell how worried he is but he can't say anything anymore. Removing his hand, he gets into position.
The athlete is perched in the bed of a truck that broke down on the road and I hide behind some bushes on the property's periphery. Once I'm all set I throw the first Molotov into a group of basic zombies. The explosion signals Xander to start doing the same. One by one, a total of ten cocktails set the horde ablaze. The ordinary enemies either explode or slowly melt under the destructive power of the flames, but it only serves to irritate the large brutes.
I race out of my hiding place, axe in one hand and knife in the other, dashing straight towards the first enemy. The brute on the roof has descended down and all three are visibly angry with my intrusion. Amid the flames, arrows start to rain down and eliminate the few basic troops that avoided the earlier bombing devastation. My only focus is the brutes. My body is agile as it dodges and weaves around the obstacles in my path.
As soon as I get close enough I slide beneath a set of legs and lash out in both directions. This leaves an inch deep gash in the calves of the centre zombie. The damage isn't much but it slows their movement. I twist my body and raise it to a kneeling position, this steadies my posture and readies me to move again.
A roar escapes my opponent and the three turn around at high speed to try to catch me. I launch myself up to get out of range but one of their arms catches me in the stomach. It feels like being hit with a tree trunk as I'm sent flying into the side of the building. I hit so hard that spider cracks form where I landed. Luckily nothing is broken. I hear Xander shout my name, concern laced in his voice.
"Ama!"
His yelling draws the attention of the three brutes and I silently curse the stupid jock.
Pulling myself together, I wind up and throw the axe with all my might. The aim accuracy is increased through [Marksmanship] even though it isn't a ranged weapon. The fact that I threw it means it counts. With the extra buff, the axe strikes the head of it's target and embeds itself deep. The large body collapses and leaves only two brutes left alive.
[Killed an Brute: + 150 EXP]
[Obtained an advanced DNA crystal]
Finally, an advanced crystal.
Unfortunately there is no time to be happy. I'm still in the midst of battle. With no more arrows in hand, Xander has done all he can. My speed helps me retrieve my axe but I feel pain as I move about. That hit earlier is going to leave some bad bruises.
The two remaining brutes see me on top of their ally and let out enraged cries. They put their hands together and smash down with terrifying strength.
I manage to jump out of the way before they crush me and the body below explodes from the force of the impact. Rotten flesh gets launched in all directions and the putrid smell grows stronger. Disgusting.
Xander is still in the truck and looks my way so I yell in his direction.
"You've done all you can here. Find someplace to hide and don't get in the way. I can't protect you and fight both of them right now."
He sighs at my words, he knows they're true.
My focus returns to the brutes that have regained their footing and I have no time to watch Xander retreat. The two enemies stomp towards me. Their big bodies make them slow and easy to out maneuver. Luring them closer to the house, I jump and grab the edge of the veranda roof, pulling myself up to the second floor.
The height gives me an advantage and when they are within 10 meters, I pick one and launch my body with knife in hand. The axe sits on the roof, left behind in exchange for launching this attack and the risk is worth it.
Both my hands grip tight as the blade plunges into eye of the brute, causing it to stumble and roar. Pulling the blade out causes me to fall on the grass below and I waste no time in causing more damage to the stunned prey.
The remaining target is uninjured, but crashed into the house. The veranda roof is partially collapsed the front door is now blocked with debris. Its big body stuck and unable to move for the time being.
As the second brute falls dead I make my way to the last one. The axe fell to the ground with the destruction and is now in arms reach. Bending down, I avoid the incoming punch and grab my weapon. An arched swing severs the beasts arm as I follow through, rolling with the momentum. As soon as I get to my feet, I jump with all my might and chuck the axe horizontally at the brutes head. It spins at high speed and leaves the head only half attached to the body.
The notification comes that it is dead.
Three brutes, three advanced crystals.
A quick look shows my health took a hit and my stamina is close to empty. My breathing is heavy after the long battle, but I still climb up the crashed corpse and make my way to the window with the message.
I think of knocking but decide to just smash the window instead. Inside the room are endless gadgets. VR headsets, a gaming desktop, and countless handheld devices.
An irritated voice comes from the shadows.
"Hey, hey! Red, why are you breaking shit? Geez, I would of let you in. So impatient."
I glare in the direction of the voice and see a man with brown hair and golden eyes. Headphones are draped around his neck and a gaming device is in his hand.
He quickly makes his way over to a laptop and types on the keyboard as I let out a huff.
"You should be thanking me for saving your ass! I don't know how you attracted so many zombies but they were a day or two from crashing in here at most. And my name isn't Red you disrespectful techie."
He rolls his eyes and prepares to retort when a long tongue wraps around my leg. A quick tugs lands me on my back as the creature tries to pull me away. I lodge the axe in the floor to avoid being dragged out the window and swing at the slimy organ with the knife.
It takes a couple slashes before it pulls back. Its skinny figure climbs in on all fours, there are no eyes and its tongue waves about despite the injury.
It leaps to me I feel its claws pierce my sides. The only luck being they aren't long enough to do internal damage.
The creature opens its jaw and clamps onto my arm as I block it from harming my face. The other hand grips the knife tight and plunges it over and over again into the beasts head until I hear the heavenly ding of a notification.
[Killed a Licker: + 150 EXP]
[Obtained advanced DNA crystal]
My wounds are feel like they are on fire and I can barely breath, but I force myself up. Looking at the survivor, I speak.
"You really think you can survive those mutated guys alone? Be my guest. Try it. You wouldn't last five seconds, Gamer Boy. Now pack the essentials."
His golden eyes show anger and he can't hold it back as he vents.
"Gamer Boy? Look here, Cadet Kelly, this house was hooked up with a state of the art alarm system and reinforced walls. It would have been fine if you didn't come in here like Rambo!"
My body moves on its own as I shove him against the wall.
"A single mutated brute was enough to dent your pathetic reinforced wall. I killed three just to get in here and your security system was probably sending out ultrasonic sound frequencies which caused the sound sensitive zombies to flock here in the first place. If I didn't come, you would be dead before the army arrived. That is if the army got here at all. So shut up and pack the essentials, or you can stay here and die at the hands of those monsters. Your call."
Without another word, I climb out the window the send one of my drones to locate Xander.
I lay on the grass and relax. I'm finally able to catch my breath. In total I earned 44 basic and 4 advanced DNA crystals, in addition to the skill fragment I got from levelling up in the middle of battle. I want to use them immediately but I stop myself as I see Xander approach.
He runs to me and sees my injuries. As he feels my forehead his eyes change.
"You're burning up and bleeding! What the hell happened?" Tears threaten to escape as I see the pain he feels.
"Just an unexpected enemy. Small puncture marks. I'll be fine after some rest."
The doubt he has is obvious and when he sees the new guy, a fire lights and he snaps.
"Great, it's the geek. I should have known you would survive. Prof got hurt just for you, damn it Sawyer!"
The golden eyes of the boy I just saved grow darker as he sees Xander. He rolls his eyes at the athlete.
"Wonderful, the jock. Look meathead, your Teach was the one who came in like some kind of soldier."
I shoot a glare at Sawyer and lightly smack Xander on the back of his head.
"Both of you quit it!" I look softly at Xander. "Don't be weird and help me get back in one piece."
They both go quiet after my scolding and lower their heads. Men are really giant children. I throw an arm over each of their shoulders, ignore the jealous looks from Xander and the annoyed ones from Sawyer.
The trip back is slow but the drones give us the safest path. Finally, we see the base.
After an hour of walking my fever has reached a 100 F. My body is fighting the virus in my system fiercely and it feels like acid is in the veins.
Both see my state and get increasingly worried. Their voices start to sound distant and muffled.
"We need to get her up to the second floor and it will take both of us."
Xander's voice is filled with concern and fear.
"The second floor? You guys make things so difficult. She even entered through a window to help me. Seriously... strange woman."
A angry growl escapes his chest at Sawyer's comment.
"You have no idea what kind of person she is so shut your mouth!"
My head starts to pound and I can no longer hear their arguing. The darkness takes me and I fall into a deep sleep.
I don't dream as I rest. Instead, RINA pulls me into a mental space.
[Successor, your body is currently fighting the virus. Please use this time to use your gains from battle.]
The screen pops up with a whole bunch of options. The two basic skills along with countless advanced ones that are now available. With so many crystals in inventory it is a little overwhelming. I decide to get the last two basic skills first, leaving 42 basic crystals. I exchange 35 for 7 basic skill fragments and use the rest on stats.
The basic skill fragments get divided between various skills, but the one from levelling up is momentarily kept.
The advanced skills have boundless options and I continue to scroll until I find some that sound good. I have four advanced DNA crystals so I can get four advanced skills.
[Perimeter (Lv. 1): Uses scrap materials to build a security perimeter. Types Available: Wood, Aluminum]
[Nanobots (Lv. 1): Advanced nanotechnology allows for rapid regeneration of cells at 10 HP per second.]
[Weapons Expert (Lv.1): Use materials to make weapons. Types Available: Pistols, Basic Assault Rifle, Dagger]
[Bunker (Lv.1): Create a bunker with capacity of: 2]
The unrestricted skill fragment goes into the bunker and the capacity increases to 5.
With everything distributed, I finally open my status window.
Amanet Hunt: Level 6 (850/3200 EXP)
HP: 150/350
Stamina: 25/225
Energy: 300/300
Strength: 24
Agility: 22
Physique: 22
Intelligence: 22
Abilities: [Inventory (Lv. 3):Store things in a 1000 space inventory.]
[Appraisal (Lv. 2):View detailed information about items and people.]
[Marksmanship (Lv. 3):Increase shooting accuracy by 30%.]
[Security Drone (Lv. 2):Summon 2 drones to search surroundings for materials and enemies.]
[Brawler (Lv. 3):Deal an extra 30% damage when fighting in close combat.]
[Silent Steps (Lv. 2): You move without sound. Duration: 10 minutes]
[Energy Manipulation (Lv. 3): You can sense an energy in the atmosphere inaccessible to normal people. This energy can be used freely to attack, defend, and move objects. Energy Regeneration: 30 units per second.]
[Perimeter (Lv. 1): Uses scrap materials to build a security perimeter. Types Available: Wood, Aluminum]
[Nanobots (Lv. 1): Advanced nanotechnology allows for rapid regeneration of cells at 10 HP per second.]
[Weapons Expert (Lv.1): Use materials to make weapons. Types Available: Pistols, Basic Assault Rifle, Dagger]
[Bunker (Lv.2): Create a bunker with capacity of: 5]
A warm feeling spreads as new power flows into me from [Energy Manipulation]. I sit down in my mind space and meditate until I feel the energy disperse.
The entire time, my new nanobots are working hard to close up my wounds as I fight the virus. With this I can fully heal. All I can do now is wait until my body recovers and I wake up.