Startling Ambush

***

"Yep, that's the entire list of skills."

"I—never mind. How could you get such a comprehensive list from a free class while I had to spend my coins to buy mine and only got two additional skills?"

"Yeah, that's why I keep telling you that you're wasting your class slot. Seriously, what's a caterpillar going to do? Offer emotional support when you're infected?"

Walking behind them, Meri can't help but snicker, holding her younger brother's hand. Although they claimed to have met only a few weeks ago, their friendship seems remarkably close. The four of them navigate through narrow passageways and winding paths to avoid the zombies that roam the open spaces. Meri is leading the way, as she is familiar with this area due to living here. Their living conditions might not have been chosen out of comfort; nevertheless, their cramped dwelling has inadvertently prolonged their lives by allowing them to escape zombies more easily.

It dawns on her that she didn't know she possessed a skill called absolute presence at all. Were it not for meeting Lucas and Lucy, she and her brother might have perished without ever realizing the potential within her. A sense of uniqueness washes over her. She may have grown up feeling useless, hopping from one job to another just to support her sibling, but discovering this hidden skill provides a newfound sense of assurance.

"The gentleman's name is Lucas Tharla, and the lady's name is Lucy Lyons." The names hold a certain air of nobility, especially Lucy's. While Lucas has shared that he grew up in poverty on the outskirts of the city, he maintains an impressive level of respect.

"Sir has led a difficult life, yet he's so well-mannered." Of course, she understands that both of them are not wizards or exceptional beings; they're just ordinary humans like her. But for some reason, referring to them in such terms feels natural and right. It seems to flow more smoothly.

It's not as if they argue every few seconds. Currently, they walk together, Lucas and Lucy ahead, and she follows with her brother trailing behind.

"I want to reach that level too." Gazing at her brother, she can't help but feel concerned. He's quite thin and delicate-looking now. He had always been on the small side even before the apocalypse, but the current lack of food has made him even more gaunt than before.

"An eight-year-old shouldn't look like this. What can I possibly do?" She's not certain about Lucas, but Lucy is kind-hearted. She never hesitates to share food with her brother. However, there's a dilemma. Receiving something for free is a relief, but it often comes with unspoken obligations. It would be impolite and unfair for her to simply depend on them for sustenance and shelter without offering something in return.

Even the narrowest pathways have branching connections, and at an unexpected intersection, an unusual event occurs.

"Ah! A zombie."

"Lucy, protect the child!"

From both sides of the small intersection, zombies emerged, causing Lucas and Lucy to split off, each fending off the approaching threats. She stands in the center of the path, her feelings of uselessness, vulnerability, and fear returning. She doesn't want to experience these emotions again.

As they engage the surrounding zombies, she glimpses a figure leaping from the top of a nearby building. "Cale, move to the back," she urges, positioning herself between her brother and the approaching undead. It seems that Lucas and Lucy haven't noticed this new threat yet, but she can't cry out for help—it would only attract more zombies.

Clutching the dagger Lucas had given her, she readies herself as the zombie charges toward her. "Absolute presence!" she calls upon her skill, cloaking herself from view.

The zombies rush forward, their claws extended like elongated nails, drool dripping as if their saliva knows no end. In just a few breaths, the zombies completely miss her, despite her lack of movement. It's as if they can't perceive her existence at all.

"Phew… that was risky," she exhales in relief. Though the zombie can clearly see her, it appears to lack any awareness of her presence. It's almost as if her scent has been amplified elsewhere, as though she occupies every corner of space while simultaneously being nowhere.

Frantically, Meri scans her surroundings, her determination to protect her brother intensifying as she struggles to fend off the zombie that has fixated on him. It seems she's practically invisible to it.

With the zombie seemingly oblivious to her existence, Meri seizes the dagger Lucas had given her and thrusts it into the creature's chest, leaving behind a trail of greenish blood.

Desperation grips her as she steals a glance at Lucas. He appears to be employing his abilities, slashing through the zombies as if chopping onions. Meanwhile, Meri takes the dagger and slashes at the zombie that has stumbled back slightly. She then quickly stabs it again, avoiding arousing the zombie's suspicion. The creature remains preoccupied with finding her, its senses failing to pinpoint her location.

Unaware of the unseen struggle occurring nearby, Lucy and Lucas remain occupied with the zombies surrounding them. In the narrow confines of the path, they're unable to fully grasp the onslaught from above, behind, and ahead. The only certainty they hold is that the center of the crossroad remains safe. Yet, they're unaware that a zombie lurks in that very spot, and Meri is currently locked in a fierce battle to manage the threat.

Her peril went unnoticed by the others, the rapid sequence of events unfolding too swiftly for anyone to react. She found herself alone in this danger, the sole guardian of her brother, who was just a hesitation away from potential demise. Perhaps the others' familiarity with danger dulled their awareness, but no one seemed to recognize her plight as more zombies poured forth from the building nearby.

Urgently pulling her brother to safety, Meri fought desperately against the approaching zombie horde. Her lack of magical abilities, unlike Lucy and Lucas, put her at a distinct disadvantage. She understood that her brother's life was hanging in the balance, and she committed every ounce of her strength to safeguard him.

The ghastly sight before her was both horrifying and repulsive—the outstretched claws, the dripping saliva, and the vile green blood. This close encounter was a far cry from their usual strategy of hiding from the undead. She heard the faint chime of notification sounds in her mind; a signal of the zombie's demise due to its grievous injuries. It was her first solo kill, and though others might consider it insignificant, it held a special significance to her—a small victory worth celebrating.

With her brother tightly held in one arm and her dagger in the other, she slashed wildly in every direction, hoping to fend off the relentless onslaught. She yearned for a more suitable weapon, aware that a dagger was ill-equipped for battling such overwhelming numbers.

"Stay behind me, don't move," she whispered anxiously to her brother, fearing the attraction of more zombies. Gently consoling him, she requested his obedience and cooperation in this dire situation.

"Whoosh! Whoosh!" The dagger cut through the air, landing calculated strikes on the surrounding zombies. Her absolute presence ability shielded her from their notice, but her brother seemed to be the focus of their attention.

Shielding him with her body had always been her instinctual defense, but this time, it wasn't a viable strategy in the open space. Lacking martial training or athletic prowess, she found herself in an unenviable position. With every swing of the dagger, the effort became more exhausting, her arm aching from the repeated strikes.

She had dabbled in football in her past, but that had little relevance in this dire situation. Her leg served as an inadequate shield, a barrier between her brother and the encroaching undead. The zombies were falling, but at a slower pace than Lucy and Lucas's swift dispatching. About half of the zombies, she faced were down, a modest achievement considering her current abilities. She harbored hopes that her skills would improve over time.

As she pressed on, a determination to persevere ignited within her. Her actions paid off incrementally as zombies fell in her wake. Though her progress was slower than her companions', it was a start—a testament to her courage and resourcefulness. She resolved to put forth even greater effort, her thoughts resolute as the sound of a level-up notification echoed in her mind.