[ Slayed X1 Zombie, +10 EXP ]
[ You've leveled up! ]
[ Level 0 ---> Level 1 ]
[10 Points have been added to all physical stats, 5 Extra points have been added to CHARM due to class]
Right after slaying her tenth zombie, the following prompts appeared before Clarissa.
At the same time, a warm sensation drifted across her body and filled her with newfound strength.
She stood there for a few seconds, staring at her hands.
"I feel so different, like I've been doing strength workouts for the past six months," she said to Dorian.
"You'll feel stronger when you level up some more. When you reach my level, you will be able to win a fight against professional bodybuilders with ease," Dorian responded with a smile.
"Am I really going to be that strong??" she exclaimed, clearly excited.
Dorian nodded.
To be honest, Dorian preferred the company of Clarissa over everyone else.
Fighting alongside a lady with a beautiful face is good, but fighting with a lady who not only has a beautiful face but also a wonderful personality was even better.
"Boss, we are done with this dorm."
While he was admiring Clarissa, Brandon, Craig, and Milan walked out of the dorm they had just finished clearing and approached Dorian.
"Great job all of you," Dorian complimented while observing their character status.
Brandon has reached level 6, the same level as him, while Craig and Milan were still at level 5.
These three are currently the strongest in his group at the moment, and losing one of them would definitely affect the team.
"I'm done with this dorm as well, though it was mostly empty. There aren't as many zombies in this area as I predicted."
"Same for ours—the last two dorms we cleared, only one had more than three zombies, and the other was completely empty," Milan reported.
"That is good news, it means this area is safe, for now at least. We should go further towards the entrance of the north gate, and let us wait for the other team to finish their hunt," Dorian suggested.
The others agreed and they waited outside for about ten minutes before the other teams joined them.
"We lost one of our teammates," one of the team leaders reported.
"It was mostly his fault though—he wanted to test out a move he saw in a movie with the zombies. He lost balance while attempting it, before we could help, it was already too late, and the zombie had already attacked and bitten his neck," another replied.
"He was cool but he had foolish ideas," another commented.
The others chuckled when they heard the story, and even Dorian found it funny.
He did a quick headcount in his mind, noting that their numbers had decreased from 27 to 24.
Dorian rearranged the teams once again, he made his three strongest men the leader of one team each while he led the other one.
Each team was arranged in the best order.
Dorian briefed them once more and repeated his warnings before they disembarked on their mission.
This time, none of them dared to disregard his warning after experiencing what happened to Sampe.
After realizing that just a single injury inflicted by a zombie would set them for doom, they made up their mind to be as careful as possible to avoid getting infected.
While they strolled down, Dorian could not help but replay the first trial in his head over and over again. He was trying his best to recall any cheat the main character employed in the first trial to obtain great results and rewards, as well as the tricks he developed for various scenarios.
Dorian started reading Ethereal Descent two years ago, he completed the first volume—which entails the first trial from two years ago—and thus it was a little bit difficult recalling every tiny detail.
"Well, I'll just have to develop my own strategy and tricks. What worked for the main character might not work for me, we do not have the same level of plot armor backing us," he shrugged and made up his mind.
Nevertheless, while they proceeded towards the north gate, a group of middle-aged men could be seen entering Starmap Academy through the South entrance.
They were three in number: one was short and bald, holding a large axe with strange glowing symbols imprinted on it, with fresh zombie blood dripping down from the blade. He had a pretty ugly scar on his cheek.
Standing on both sides of the bald axe wielder were two taller, younger-looking middle-aged men, both wearing suits and thick shades.
They had no weapons equipped, but their muscular builds gave off an imposing aura.
After stepping through the gate, they halted and observed their surroundings with a cautious gaze that soon turned to admiration as the school's beautiful setting came into view—zombie corpses and blood pools aside, which they overlooked.
"This place is just as beautiful as described," the one in the middle said with a smile.
"Before all these, they wouldn't allow people like us inside, but now, where are they to stop us? Haha," he laughed.
The two men beside him chuckled.
"We would surely get some good harvests in this place, Boss Grima," one replied.
Boss Grima nodded his head.
"The ladies in Starmap Academy are not only beautiful but also elite, they would bring in a lot of benefits, hehe," he said.
"Your instinct has never been wrong, boss," the two men affirmed.
Boss Grima grinned for a few seconds before taking the first steps, and then his men followed as they strolled towards the closest building.
"Take any guy who agrees to follow, kill those who don't. As for the ladies, no matter what, do not kill them," he warned, and they nodded obediently.