Chapter 91 - Betrayal
Time passed as the bright sky turned dark. Zach and the others had already cleared the area of any incapacitated bodies of the Undead after the former decided to camp in the place and prepare for the night since it was pretty much already late to continue their journey.
While everyone was busy installing their tents especially Helin and Liana who were cooking for their dinner, Zach could be found in a place a little far from the camp seeing him alone together with Diablo. He could be found looking at the items on the ground with a smile on his face since quite a number of them were kind of useful.
[Item: Spirit Bracelets
Item Tier: 1
Item Rating: 5 Stars
Item Classification: Ultra Rare
Item Function: When equipped, an additional + 75 stat points to Spirit.
Item Evolution Requirement: Evolution can no longer be applied.]
[Item: Shaman Job Class Scroll
Item Tier: 1
Item Rating: None
Item Classification: Ultra Rare
Item Function: A scroll that has been embedded by the experiences of a shaman. Using the scroll will transition the user's class to a shaman allowing the user to have the skills and fight like a shaman. (Note: Once you transitioned, you can no longer change your class.)]
[Item: Shaman's Cloak
Item Tier: 1
Item Rating: 5 Stars
Item Classification: Ultra Rare
Item Function: When equipped, an additional + 65 to defensive power and + 75 healing power.
Item Evolution Requirement: Evolution can no longer be applied.]
[Item: Gem of Strength
Item Tier: 1
Item Rating: None
Item Classification: Ultra Rare
Item Function: Upon crushing the gem, it will temporarily add + 15 to Strength for an hour.]
[Skill Book: Summon Undead Wolf
Skill Tier: 1
Skill Type: Active]
[Skill Book: Danger Perception
Skill Tier: 1
Skill Type: Passive]
These are the items that Zach found useful from all the items he had acquired from annihilating the horde as all other things were just items that he had already seen and knew or just too ordinary for him to use anymore since he already wearing some good ones.
"Summon Undead Wolf and Danger Perception. Both skills are good but such a shame that the two wouldn't suit me." Zach said while looking at the Skill Book that he acquired. He thought that the first one was no longer a need since he already had pets while the latter was completely useless knowing that he got the Surviving Line function of the system.
"Gem of Strength. It must have the same function as the Gem of Agility. With this, I can now also increase my strength as long as it won't pass the Tier 1 Human limit." Zach was overjoyed upon seeing such an item as it was just too good and very practical to use in any battle.
"This Shaman Job Class Scroll was very interesting. Unlike the others who were classified as Rare, this one was clearly classified as Ultra Rare. I thought the Ultra Rare Class of Job Class Scrolls would only drop from gold class monster looks that was not the case." Zach shifted his attention to the scroll in his hand which he was very interested in wondering how it was different from a Rare Job Class but since he didn't want to use it, there was no way of testing it out.
With that, Zach then just looked at the last two items which he didn't waste any time and equipped them, especially the Spirit Bracelet which further increased his Spirit to 425. On the other hand, the Shaman's Cloak, though quite ugly to look at, the function the item had was very interesting upon seeing the additional healing power.
Zach looked at his gains with interest before finally settling everything as he got up and headed back to see the others since he had only excused himself for a while giving reason the wind of nature was calling him.
Eating around the bonfire, Zach regretted heading back after being continuously praised by Yuri by saying how amazing he was and excitedly started asking about the items he was using and the one that he got from the Undead Shaman.
Ivan and the others were also curious but they were too ashamed to ask for it since it was everyone's secret even though Zach had thoroughly inspected theirs. They then just remain silent while keeping close tabs on what Zach will reply.
"If you can bring me Nikolai's family then I will each give you one Contract Pet Scroll and an Ultra Rare item." Zach said to shut them up as he could spare some of them since such a thing wasn't really granted with a 100 % success rate. He thought that as long as he can get the result he wants, it doesn't matter how much the cost he would incur.
"R-Really?" Ivan couldn't shut himself but asked after hearing such a thing since they pretty much knew from him that such an item would only drop from the silver-class monsters and hearing that he would give them each when they find the people he was looking for was quite a very tempting offer.
"Yes. I have already cleared the path for you. I won't be joining you in your journey so you can go ahead and go back to Russia. I will be waiting in Undead Battleground Shelter." Zach said as he already decided not to go back with them since it was their base they were going to and suddenly appearing there might not be good so it was better to give them an offer and let them do it while he could go ahead with his own exploration.
"You won't come back with us?" Helin asked while looking at Zach after hearing what he just said.
"I won't. Also, only those who would come back will be the ones that I would give the rewards. So, you all have to come back together if you want the items that I promised." Zach replied normally while continuing to eat silently.
Hearing this, Ivan and the rest looked at Zach as they really thought that he would come with them back to Russia. Though their first meeting wasn't great, they had known that he was really a good person, but it was not the reason that they wanted him to go back with them. However, seeing that he had already decided they could just remain silent and just continue eating.
With that, the atmosphere then suddenly became awkward until all of them went back to their respective tents so they could rest for the night especially Ivan and the rest as they still had a long way to go and that they needed to be in their perfect condition knowing that their greatest protection would no longer follow them.
The next morning came, and Ivan and the rest of his squad woke up from their slumber to greet the morning however, they were not in the mood to be happy as they could no longer find Zach in the vicinity which meant that he really left them.
"Looks like he really left us. What a shame." Helin said while looking blankly at the place where Zach's tent should be.
"Well. We can't do anything about it." Yuri said while accepting the fact that they were really abandoned.
"Let's just get over with it. The important thing now is to go back. And finish the task Zach had given us. Find Nikolai's family and bring them to him." Ivan said as he already moved on. He was more eager to go back instead so he could find the people Zach wanted so he could get his hands on the Contract Pet Scroll.
"Will he really uphold his words?" Luka suddenly asked. Though he was also excited about the Contract Pet Scroll and an Ultra Rare class item, he doubts whether Zach would really do it knowing that aside from it being a very precious item, his strength alone could dominate them to submission and just kill them once they did what he asked for.
"I also wonder about that." Liana supported Luka. No matter how generous Zach is, there should be a limit to it and she doubts whether he even had that many Contract Pet Scroll and an Ultra Rare class items on his hands.
"It does not matter whether he would uphold his words or not. We will know it by then when the time comes. Finding them will be our first priority after heading home so let us not tell the others about it." Ivan then just replied. Though he also thought the same, he trusted his guts that Zach wasn't that kind of person, especially after observing him these past few days.
With that, the group then just had a simple breakfast before finally leaving the place as they started running in a particular direction. They just didn't know that Zach hadn't really left as he just hid in the tree by using Stealth while looking at them.
"It would not be fun if they were the only ones who knew the shelter I stayed in. Let's see just how amazing this Russian-filled shelter is." Zach said before jumping to the ground and started following the others on their way back home. Though he could trust Ivan, Yuri, and Helin about this, he couldn't put himself to trust Luka and Liana who haven't opened up with him for the past few days.
With that, Zach continues to follow Ivan's group day by day without being noticed. He witnessed their struggle to get back as their journey wasn't that smooth and he only watched from a distance to observe their battle prowess.
Time passed and half a month went by smoothly, Ivan and his group finally arrived at their shelter however, something was quite amiss since unlike any ordinary shelter, the shelter where Ivan and his group were resident was inside of the cave at the foot of a mountain.
While Ivan and his companions were greatly appreciated by the residents inside seeing them greeting them as if they were some kind of bigshot, Zach could be found looking at the cave which he couldn't help but feel surprised as the place was really just perfect from the outside.
Though the shelter was just a bronze-class shelter, the location was very good. Being inside of the shelter, the only thing they had to guard was the only entrance of the cave. Also, the entrance was something that wasn't even very noticeable so it pretty much meant this is a very safe place with only downside is that they couldn't see the sky unless they got out.
After carefully observing the place, Zach then just left the place as he had already seen everything and knew its location so it would no longer be a problem if some mishaps happened. He then just hoped that Luka and Liana would not do some funny things and just do what they were asked for.
Stealthily arriving at a place far from the cave, Zach then just calls on Diablo and immediately rides on his back. He looked at the cave for the last time before telling Diablo to start running after giving him the location.
Meanwhile, Ivan, Helin, and Yuri were in a kind of difficult situation after coming back to Earth. They were immediately called by the higher-ups towards a particular room in the headquarters which they could only comply but never once would they though that they would find Luka in there talking to a high-level officer.
They looked confused at first, however, after the officers started questioning and inquiring about Zach, they immediately thought that Luka very likely had betrayed them for it. They could only grit their teeth as they told the officer everything as they didn't want to die.
Ivan and his group just can't believe that one of their companions would do such a thing. They don't know if he was just doing this for the country, but they knew that it must have something to do with wanting to gain a reputation.
As if they were prisoners, they were being interrogated strictly, and only after being stripped of all the information they had on Zach did they get freed but have already given warning that the second they will plan on hiding such information would be considered as treason.