Episode 4: Kill some more!
[Level: 10]
[Class: -] (!)
[Exp: -/2000]
[HP: 1450/1450]
[MP: 50/50
[Attributes:
Strength: 45
Agility: 5
Vitality: 31
Stamina: 19
Intelligence: 5]
[Free Attributes: 20]
[Skills:]
After settling down and arranging our new 20 members, we, the 11 members who fought laid down to the ground and started our recovery. It's only 3 PM in the afternoon and we've already fought two battles within our lives. Thankfully, after we fully checked ourselves, no bites were detected. All cleared. So, we sat to our own areas and checked our stats.
I see, level 10 is the current max and there's a "!" in my class tab. So, a class selection time? I still remember the forum I visited in the internet yesterday and MMORPGs has the same stats. The Class, we can be either a warrior, assassin, thief or whatever. I wonder what class would I get or pick? Can I pick it myself though?
Anyways, I stopped wondering and just got over it. I tapped the "!" option in my stat window and then names popped out of it, they were:
[Warrior]
[Assassin]
[Swordsman]
Only three?
I didn't pick one yet and asked the others, who got to level 10, about their class options. They got the same as mine but some has variations such as magicians and priest.
I guess, it is based on our stats? Or would it be the way we fight? Only one member got the priest class option though. It was the woman who I fought with in the front side earlier. I guess she put some attribute points in her intelligence so much than strength. But why priest though? Does she have a talent for it?
I want to make sure of my assumption so I asked her if she has knowledge of medicine before. And my conjecture was on point. She did. She was a nurse. No wonder.
Anyways, I did not ask her what she chose. I just got up and asked all the members to gather and told them what I have learned up to now. All of the new members were surprised of what we said and asked some few more questions regarding the status window. We all provided our answered to them.
All of them were murmuring within themselves. I left them and went back to my area, then, opened my status window and chose the Swordsman class. I ain't got agility for the assassin class and definitely not trained for other blunt weaponry. I got my katana and sword mastery is my forte.
I tapped the Swordsman class and a notification rang in my mind.
[DING!]
[CONGRATULATIONS FOR PICKING A CLASS!]
[SKILLS OPTION ACTIVATED!]
[SKILL POINTS OPTION ACTIVATED!]
[NEW SKILLS ADDED!]
The notification finished its announcement so I checked my status window.
[Level: 10]
[Class: Swordsman]
[Exp: 0/2000]
[HP: 1450/1450]
[MP: 50/50
[Attributes:
Strength: 45
Agility: 5
Vitality: 31
Stamina: 19
Intelligence: 5]
[Free Attributes: 20]
[Skills:
Sword Mastery (Passive) – Level 1 (1 Skill Point Required > Level 2): +5% Damage using Swords.
Vertical Slash (Active) – Level 1 (1 Skill Point Required > Level 2): Deals additional 30% damage while vertically slashing enemies using Swords. (10 minutes Duration) (1-minute Cooldown)
Horizontal Slash (Active) – Level 1 (1 Skill Point Required > Level 2): Deals additional 30% damage while horizontally slashing enemies using Swords. (10 minutes Duration) (1-minute Cooldown)
Concentrate (Active) – Level 1: (1 Skill Point Required > Level 2): +10% Mental Strength (10 minutes Duration) (1-minute Cooldown)]
[Skill Points: -]
Wow. What nice skills the system gave me! Now, how do I use these active skills? Do I shout them out loud or do I only need to think of it?
Better try with concentrate. I think of the skill concentrate and did not mention it. Concentrate!
Immediately, I felt something weird. I looked around and everything seems to be too clear! I remember that movie. I looked like that character who took an NZT. So, this is the effect of the skill? Wow, but 10 minutes. I guess, if I am out of luck or in a dire situation, I can use this to escape or kill an enemy. Nice skill!
While enjoying the effect of [Concentrate], I heard the other level 10 members uttering some joyous shouts. I guess they got their own skills then. Much better. We can kill zombies more efficiently and faster.
I smiled at them. They also looked at my side and smiled back. I turned my look from them back to my status window and added the same amount to my strength, vitality and stamina.
[Level: 10]
[Class: Swordsman]
[Exp: 0/2000]
[HP: 1750/1750]
[MP: 50/50
[Attributes:
Strength: 55
Agility: 5
Vitality: 37
Stamina: 23
Intelligence: 5]
[Free Attributes: -]
[Skills:
Sword Mastery (Passive) – Level 1 (1 Skill Point Required > Level 2): +5% Damage using Swords.
Vertical Slash (Active) – Level 1 (1 Skill Point Required > Level 2): Deals additional 30% damage while vertically slashing enemies using Swords. (10 minutes Duration) (1-minute Cooldown)
Horizontal Slash (Active) – Level 1 (1 Skill Point Required > Level 2): Deals additional 30% damage while horizontally slashing enemies using Swords. (10 minutes Duration) (1-minute Cooldown)
Concentrate (Active) – Level 1: (1 Skill Point Required > Level 2): +10% Mental Strength (10 minutes Duration) (1-minute Cooldown)]
[Skill Points: -]
We're all set now! I'm all done allocating my attribute points and checking my skills.
I need combat to be able to experience the effect of those two active skills so I asked the other 10 members if they are all set. All of us were level 10 already. Aside from the new members, the two members we left behind were already level 6 so 4 more for them to get their classes. We gathered the members again and told them our experiences with the classes and skills. I can see envy from those new members and two cooks we have so we assured them that they will also level up if they join our rescue group. I coined it. No one argued.
Now, we need to set up another formation since the two level 6 members will join and two cooks will also join. We need 4 members to be left behind. We asked four of the new 20 members on who will stay and who will join as well.
15 members, plus the 13 new members were willing to join us to go to 9th floor. Total of 28 new members for expedition. Since we're too many to be fitted in the fire exit, we need new formation. We must mix our level 10 members into the new members so we will have two 14 member squads. 6 will be on one squad and 7 for the next squad. The 6 members will be parted into 3 front members and 3 back members while the other squad members will help to kill zombies who went past the advanced members. The same will be made for the other squad.
Before we set though, we need to brief the new squad members and train them for basic fighting. I was assigned to it. I guess because I also did the same for the first time. So, 5 hours of basic training and guidance. That would be enough as we assure them that killing zombies ain't that hard. It's all mental. If they are scared, they will indeed die. We briefed them on the mental side further.
It's already 10 PM of our second day apocalypse. Time for the final run of the day. We need to get to the 9th and 10th floors since we got two squads for rescue.
Me and the other members within squad #1 has closed in towards the fire exit door. Zombies are still rampant into the night. Don't they need to sleep? Well, what could they do if they can smell life from us? They'll attack and attack until no life is present in the area. Probably why thousands of zombies were present below. Well, let's get this over with!
I looked to my sides and the two members I got nodded to me and I nodded back. I looked behind and the new members were shivering. One of my level 10 members laughed at them and joked about their reaction. Well, they were the same when our first run happened. They'll get used to it.
I nodded at them and returned my focus on the door's handles. I took off the metal bar and the fire extinguisher. Much smoother than before. No nervousness. I felt nothing. Probably, because I am already used to the situation.
I can also hold off the zombies a bit more before opening the door. I guess 55 strength do wonders. Hehe. After a few seconds of testing, I opened the door and pulled out my katana. The others pulled out their own blunt weapons. We didn't find other weapons in 7th floor so they all can rely on metal bars or long kitchen knives. Others got butcher knives as well. "First Squad go!" I shouted. The two beside me attacked the zombies along with me. The other members behind us did the same and followed us behind. "Relax and aim for the head!" one of our members shouted.
I smiled and continued to concentrate killing zombies. I also reminded them all, "Don't use your skills! Don't!" I shouted. Better conserve than be wasteful. "Okay!" the level 10 members replied at the same time. Good!
We at the front pushed the zombies down from the stairs and made space for the other members to enter the battlefield. Our back is now targeting the zombies coming from the upper stairs. Kill!!!
Some zombies went past us and good thing, the members behind didn't cower and killed zombies through their head. I can also hear "I got notifications!" from them so I told them to ignore it for now and concentrate killing zombies. They agreed and said "Yes sir!" Weird.
The killing continued. We, the squad #1 has completed the first task. Make space for the next squad. The quad #2 has entered and were all complete outside the exit door so the 7 overseeing the action we did immediately closed the door and locked it the way we locked it before.
Now, squad #2 is ready for some action as well. My squad #1 holding off the zombies from upper stairs backed off and shouted, "Switch!" After stabbing the incoming zombies, they jumped back and the other 4 level 10 members from squad #2 jumped in to kill the next wave. The members behind their back also quickly reformed following the set up we planned. Everything went smooth. Five hours of briefing didn't go to waste then.
After 5 minutes, squad one has formed again and squad two formed as well. We're all set, "Move!" all of the level 10 members shouted, including me. Slowly, we moved upwards. Killing and clearing zombies.
20 minutes passed and we're already 10 steps far from the 9th floor's fire exit door. The lights were open, thank God. We expected they were close but good thing all were open. I wonder how long will our generator can keep up.
We continued and now reached the 9th floor's exit doors, it only took 30 minutes! Fast!
Squad two went past the doors and got up a little bit to hold off zombies from above stairs. The other squad two gone towards the members to the front and became back up if zombies goes past the front squad two members.
The others monitored. We at the squad one slowly backed off and the extra members and back side members went inside the door. The zombies were in the hall ways so they kept killing them. Slowly, both squad one and squad two backed off going towards the 9th floor's fire exit door. 20 minutes passed and we successfully went inside the 9th floor's hallway and locked the door with steel bar and fire extinguisher. The zombies in the exit were blocked off.
We continued cleaning up the remaining zombies in the hallway and after 10 minutes, all zombies were killed.
I immediately asked them to rest and check status window and add their preferred attributes. Some asked what to pick so we, the level 10 members, gave them our insights but never forced them to choose their own. The new members leveled up from 0 to between 3 and 4. Well, its their first run and were not the frontliners so its understandable that they won't get enough experience from that battle.
I also leveled up by one but it appears that the zombies only gave me 40 experience points now instead of 50. I guess once I got to level 20, the experience points these zombies gave will get lesser and the higher I get, the lower they will give. I asked the others if they also got the same experience and all confirmed the same so we informed the new members about it for them to expect what will happen once they got to level 10.
[Level: 11]
[Class: Swordsman]
[Exp: 5/2150]
[HP: 1750/1750]
[MP: 50/50
[Attributes:
Strength: 55
Agility: 5
Vitality: 37
Stamina: 23
Intelligence: 5]
[Free Attributes: 10]
[Skills:
Sword Mastery (Passive) – Level 1 (1 Skill Point Required > Level 2): +5% Damage using Swords.
Vertical Slash (Active) – Level 1 (1 Skill Point Required > Level 2): Deals additional 30% damage while vertically slashing enemies using Swords. (10 minutes Duration) (1-minute Cooldown)
Horizontal Slash (Active) – Level 1 (1 Skill Point Required > Level 2): Deals additional 30% damage while horizontally slashing enemies using Swords. (10 minutes Duration) (1-minute Cooldown)
Concentrate (Active) – Level 1: (1 Skill Point Required > Level 2): +10% Mental Strength (10 minutes Duration) (1-minute Cooldown)]
[Skill Points: 1]
The new members got silent and sat back contemplating their future decisions. I got up and knocked on each door and did the same from the 7th floor. 3 minutes gone by in silence and then some doors opened up.
4 people. 2 men and 2 women. The other doors, there were 2 people and 2 children, appears to be around 8-10 years old. We greeted them and told them who we are. They nodded as they knew me. I was the one who talked to them through the balcony yesterday. After they warmed up to us, we gathered all and discussed the current situation with them and told them we're planning to clean up this building first and once everything's cleaned up, we'll check the surrounding for food and rescue others. Of course, we must clean the zombies first before doing all those.
The 8 new members agreed with our plan and hurriedly collected their food items, water and necessities. We asked them not to bring other things as once we cleaned up the building, they can get them personally.
Now, for the other apartments that were empty, I did the same thing when we were at the 8th floor. I climbed the balconies and entered the other apartments and opened their doors. All were indeed empty and just things were left. Appears that the occupants were outside when the zombie apocalypse happened.
Once we got all we need from this floor. We tried to recover again and waited 30 minutes until all were in good condition. I also added the attributes and skill points to my status window.
[Level: 11]
[Class: Swordsman]
[Exp: 5/2150]
[HP: 1900/1900]
[MP: 50/50
[Attributes:
Strength: 60
Agility: 5
Vitality: 40
Stamina: 25
Intelligence: 5]
[Free Attributes: -]
[Skills:
Sword Mastery (Passive) – Level 2 (1 Skill Point Required > Level 3): +10% Damage using Swords.
Vertical Slash (Active) – Level 1 (1 Skill Point Required > Level 2): Deals additional 30% damage while vertically slashing enemies using Swords. (10 minutes Duration) (1-minute Cooldown)
Horizontal Slash (Active) – Level 1 (1 Skill Point Required > Level 2): Deals additional 30% damage while horizontally slashing enemies using Swords. (10 minutes Duration) (1-minute Cooldown)
Concentrate (Active) – Level 1: (1 Skill Point Required > Level 2): +10% Mental Strength (10 minutes Duration) (1-minute Cooldown)]
[Skill Points: -]
The same partition with attributes and +1 to my mastery. Better improve my passives first. That's what I learned from that forum I saw when internet was still available.
Anyways, its already close to midnight and we all need rests. I got up after the allocated 30 minutes rest. The other members also got up and the new 8 members got up as well. We divided them to 4 for each squad. The parents and 2 children were going with squad 1 while the other 4 will be on squad two. I asked members of my squad 1 to have the 4 in the middle and never let the zombies go past them. They all nodded. The same happened with Squad 2.
Opening the doors, we immediately pushed and attacked the zombies. Same pattern and we were now the frontliners while the back side will attack while stepping back. The back liners then also locked the doors of the 9th floor so no zombies will go in. Same we did with 7th floor.
We did the same as the back liners before. Kill zombies and clean up a path way. Due to my stamina, it was easy peasy!
After 30 minutes of battle. We were back to 8th floor bringing some new members and additional food supply. I leveled up again and the others did so as well. Now aside from the 11 members who were at the level 11-12, the two previous level 6 members were already level 10 and picked their classes. No surprise, they picked offensive classes. I didn't ask much though.
The new members were now ranging from level 7-8. Not bad. So, the same attribute allocation and +1 to Sword Mastery.
[Level: 12]
[Class: Swordsman]
[Exp: 10/2450]
[HP: 2050/2050]
[MP: 50/50
[Attributes:
Strength: 65
Agility: 5
Vitality: 43
Stamina: 27
Intelligence: 5]
[Free Attributes: -]
[Skills:
Sword Mastery (Passive) – Level 3 (2 Skill Points Required > Level 4): +20% Damage using Swords.
Vertical Slash (Active) – Level 1 (1 Skill Point Required > Level 2): Deals additional 30% damage while vertically slashing enemies using Swords. (10 minutes Duration) (1-minute Cooldown)
Horizontal Slash (Active) – Level 1 (1 Skill Point Required > Level 2): Deals additional 30% damage while horizontally slashing enemies using Swords. (10 minutes Duration) (1-minute Cooldown)
Concentrate (Active) – Level 1: (1 Skill Point Required > Level 2): +10% Mental Strength (10 minutes Duration) (1-minute Cooldown)]
[Skill Points: -]
Surprising though, the skill needs 2 skill points now. So, I need to level up two more for it to upgrade. Sigh. Anyways, let's sleep. I'm fucking tired. My mind is tired. Time: 11:30 PM.