No one dared to move.
No one dared to disturb the figure standing above the heap of corpses.
It was as if an emperor was surveying his spoils, basking in the glory of his victory. The mangled bodies and countless shattered skulls were like trophies scattered around him—a silent testament to his power.
The vast basement plaza was now eerily empty, yet not a single soul dared to speak. No one wanted to interrupt Novak, who stood alone in the center of it all.
'One hundred and sixty-seven zombies.'
Daphne's hands, tucked inside her coat pockets, trembled. She had been keeping an almost exact count of every zombie Novak killed, and the final number she tallied was terrifying.
Now, that man stood still, surrounded by the carnage.
The others, standing behind the safety of the reinforced glass, could feel no real sense of security. It was like they were subjects gazing up at their ruler's back, overwhelmed by his sheer presence.
But Novak wasn't paying attention to their thoughts. He was focused on the changes happening within him.
The level-up itself wasn't surprising. Before reaching the tenth level, each upgrade awarded a meager two free attribute points—nothing extravagant. After the tenth level, however, the number of attribute points and their distribution would increase, depending on the rank of the job you attained.
Occupation and talent, without a doubt, were key factors that determined the potential of any evolving individual.
Without hesitation, Novak allocated his two free attribute points—one to Agility, and the other to Constitution. Then, he turned his attention to his title.
In his previous life, even this title's advanced form hadn't impressed him too much. After all, Novak had once raised it to an even higher level.
'[Zombie Hunter (Level E): All attributes +5. When facing zombie creatures, chance of a fatal blow +5%.]'
'(Note: Killing more than 2,000 zombies will evolve this title into the E-level title 'Zombie Slayer'.)'
Despite that, there was no denying how useful this title was in the early days of the apocalypse.
Novak exhaled slowly and glanced at the attribute list he hadn't bothered with for a while:
——
[Yie Novak (Forerunner) (Zombie Hunter)]
[Evolutionary Number 001]
[Talent: Virus King (SSS)]
[Level: 2 (135/1000)]
[Strength: 30 (+1.5)]
[Agility: 33 (+1.5)]
[Constitution: 33 (+1.5)]
[Spirit: 31 (+1.5)]
[Charm: ???]
[Luck: ???]
[Currency: 31 silver coins and 70 copper coins]
——
'Powerful.'
Before the apocalypse even fully descended, his overall attributes had already surpassed an average man's by sixfold. Six times the attribute points translated into overwhelming superiority—enough to rival the strength of any skill.
However, a glance at his experience points made Novak sigh.
After reaching level 2, the experience gained from killing regular zombies had decreased to just one-tenth of what it once was—now only 0.1 Experience Points per kill. Even with the tenfold experience bonus from the pre-apocalypse period, that still only amounted to 1 point per kill.
Add in the 10% Experience bonus granted to pioneers like him, and it felt like a drop in the ocean.
But that was expected. The strength of an evolved being wasn't measured by level alone. Novak, with his level 2 attributes, already boasted a power that defied logic.
Still, the greatest reward before the apocalypse officially began was the tenfold drop rate. Novak's system backpack, now almost full, was proof of that.
Many of the items inside might not hold much value to him, as they were low-level equipment. However, for other evolving individuals, the stat boosts from these items would be vital.
But for Novak, these were of little concern. There were far more important things.
Turning back toward the tempered glass wall, Novak stomped sharply. He controlled his strength just enough so that his shoes remained intact, but the layer of blood that coated his body vaporized into mist, dissipating around him.
As he walked out of the glass enclosure, he ignored the shocked expressions of those watching him. Pausing for a moment, he casually asked:
"Is there somewhere I can take a shower?"
Daphne snapped out of her daze and responded quickly.
"Yes! I'll arrange it right away!"
At that moment, Daphne's obedience was almost instinctual. She couldn't help it. After witnessing such terrifying power firsthand, it was impossible not to feel overwhelmed by Novak's dominating presence.
"Oh, and one more thing."
Novak halted, glancing at Nicole, who was still frozen in shock.
"Have someone collect the claws of these zombies. I want thirty undamaged ones before I leave."
"Y-Yes!"
This time, the glamorous bodyguard was noticeably more compliant. Authority and respect can only truly be earned through bloodshed.
With a slight smirk, Novak followed Daphne to the top floor of the Red Building, to the office that clearly belonged to her.
As the warm water washed away the filth from his body, Novak glanced at the steady stream from the showerhead and commented:
"After the chaos hits De M-anila, controlling the water supply will be critical. You know better than I do when and how to handle it."
"Yes…" Daphne murmured in agreement.
"And tomorrow, when we find more zombies, you and Dane will each kill one with your own hands."
"...Yes."
There was an unspoken rule during the apocalypse: under the influence of the Cosmic Will, anyone who killed a zombie before the apocalypse officially began would greatly increase their chances of evolving when the time came. Even those with minor genetic defects would be recognized as exceptional candidates.
Though Daphne and Dane had both become evolvers in Novak's previous life, it was better to be safe than sorry. He also had plans for his little nurse—he'd make sure to arrange something for her as well.
For now, though, Novak let the hot water relax the tense muscles that had fought so viciously. Finally, he opened his system to take stock of the loot in his backpack.