"Nice shot, Finch!" Damien exclaimed, his eyes wide with admiration.
Although the Second Rank Evolution Skill, Tempest Archery was quite powerful. He was still surprised by the force and accuracy of Finch's attack, even without utilizing a bow and arrow.
Damien looked at the broken-down door in the entrance to the 2nd floor of the cafeteria. "Lets pack a few things and then we'll leave this place together."
Finch nodded. They quickly grabbed their backpack and stowed large bottles of water and, some snacks within the cafeteria. Damien also emptied a few bottles of water. He filled them up with blood from the recently killed zombies and also pierced a little hole on the corks.
Looking around for one last time, they headed towards the exit. He had nothing else of use there.
As they walked down the stairs of the cafeteria, Damien had the nerves in his body tense and his muscles bulged slightly due to the tension.
Because today was Wednesday, the school was currently filled with staffs and, both day and boarding students. Most of them were currently in the central area where the learning block was located.
Finch, who was following behind him step by step suddenly asked, "Have you used the free status points you got?"
Damien did not look back and replied while he shook his head , "No. If i use them casually now, i might regret it later. Right now, I don't know which attribute could save my life in times of need and a sudden impulse might be my only hope."
Finch was silent for a moment before nodding in understanding .
Suddenly, five male and female zombies appeared at the end of the staircase, crawling towards them with trembling steps. Although these creatures gave a feeling that they might fall at any time, their steps never missed and they held steady as they walked slowly but surely.
The duo, almost immediately became anxious at the appearance of the threats but, Damien quickly used his skill to forcibly calm himself. He knew that losing control over his emotions at such a crucial moment could be the cause of his death.
The Sanguine Art was quite efficient in this aspect as it quickly calmed his mind. He mobilized the primal energy within his body and then executed the Sanguine Arts.
Tiny threads of blood flowed out of the hole on one of the bottles. They congealed into five blood arrows and shot towards the approaching zombies, piercing through their heads and spilling blood in the process.
'Although these blood arrows are extremely sharp and sturdy, they cost four primal energy points per each. I'll have to figure out a way to reduce the cost output and also the blood condensing time.' Damien thought to himself a they walked towards the corpses.
[You have acquired Primal Energy of Level 2 Normal Zombie.]
[ You have acquired Primal Energy of Level 3 Normal Zombie. You get Strength + 2,]
[You have acquired Primal Energy of Level 4 Normal Zombie. Stamina + 1, Strength + 2]
[ You have acquired Primal Energy of Level 3 Normal Zombie. You get Dexterity + 1]
[You have acquired Primal Energy of Level 2 Normal Zombie.]
Damien looked through the corpses with furrowed brows and said, "There's no skill reward this time around. Even the acquired attribute points are being reduced and also, there's no extra status point."
Finch stood passively with a contemplative look on his face. "Yeah... It seems like the more we kill monsters at the same level, the less likely we are to receive any skill rewards. Also, the cause of fewer attribute points should be associated with the former. I think the status points will be given only after leveling up or advancing to the next level."
"If that's the case, then it's reasonable," Damien nodded in understanding. And they slowly made their way downstairs.
Upon reaching the first floor, the duo witnessed an appalling scene. The first floor was filled with glass shards, and broken wooden frames from the windows and furniture. The ground was dyed red with blood and pieces of human and zombie remains, both large and small. A scene of utter carnage.
"Bleh!"
"Ugh!"
They couldn't hold it in anymore, puking on sighting the gory scene.
"W...What in heavens name did this?" Finch in an almost but audible whisper, fearful of attracting the monster. He continued, "What do we do now Damien?" Shuddering from fear of the unknown creature.
Damien, also pale from fright quickly activated the Sanguine Arts and calming his reeling emotions. He didn't answer immediately but moved few steps forward to scan the first floor.
After observing the the floor for a while and not finding the creature responsible for the massacre, Damien heaved a sigh of relief and beckons Finch over.
"There's no monster within this floor. I think it should have left the cafeteria... Or maybe it's currently in the ground floor. Either way, we have to be careful and pay attention to our surroundings. We currently only have knowledge about the undead zombies nothing more. We don't know if there're other mutated creatures within the school premises." Damien said in a suppressed voice.
After hearing Damien's words, Finch nodded and slowly calmed down. "You're right."
They carefully advanced through to the exit of the first floor, avoiding the pieces of body remains sprawled on the floor. The school cafeteria, a two storey building constructed to accommodate the large capacity of both day and boarding students.
As they advanced through the dinning area to the pathway of the service counter and the staircase leading to the ground floor, the duo couldn't help but become tense and heighten their senses to observe.
The path all the way from the first floor to the service counter was filled with bits and pieces of body remains, both human and zombies. It was as if the creature responsible for the massacre didn't discriminate between the both.
Finch arranged his glasses as he observed the pathway. "We should be at the staircase after that tur..."
"Shhhh"
Suddenly Damien hushed him and whispered, "Can you hear that?"
"What?" Finch asked, uncertain. But as he listened carefully, he could faintly hear rapid and eerie clicking sounds. Although subtle at first, it was becoming more obvious.
"Click-click-click"
The eerie sounds got increasingly louder as they advanced. Suddenly, ten meters away from them a tall figure appeared from the turn blocking their path.