Level up for All

Returning to the safety of their space, Emily and her family gathered in their room and laid out all the crystals they had collected. The distribution was strategic: Emily, Chloe, and Alex each claimed four crystals, while David, Elizabeth, and Duke each took three. The recent battle had left Emily and Alex famished, and with the joy of everyone awakening their abilities, they decided to celebrate with a communal hotpot dinner.

Considering Chloe's aversion to spicy food, Elizabeth prepared a yin-yang hotpot, a culinary harmony of flavors. One side of the pot bubbled with chili oil, redolent with spice, while the other offered a soothing chicken and mushroom broth. The aroma wafted through the air, promising warmth and nourishment. Before the feast began, each family member sipped a bowl of the chicken broth, a prelude to the meal that would fill their stomachs and their souls.

Emily took on the role of chef, preparing a variety of dipping sauces tailored to each family member's taste. Alex and David busied themselves with the meticulous task of washing and slicing the array of meats and vegetables. The selection was bountiful: tender lamb, marbled beef, succulent chicken, and flaky cod. A cornucopia of vegetables included spinach, enoki mushrooms, potatoes, kelp, and an assortment of edible fungi. They also included soft bean curd, delicate bean skin, and chewy dried bean curd. Noodles and vermicelli were added for a carb-rich conclusion to the meal. For Duke, Elizabeth crafted a bowl of salt-free shredded chicken and carrot noodles, a meal fit for their four-legged family member.

The family sat down to enjoy a meal that was as much about togetherness as it was about sustenance. Laughter and conversation flowed as freely as the broth in the hotpot, creating a warm and lively atmosphere.

Following the satisfying dinner, David and Elizabeth retired to their room to focus on absorbing the energy from the crystals. Emily entrusted Duke to Alex, hoping the bond between them would aid in enhancing Alex's abilities. She then escorted Chloe back to their room, ready to guide her daughter through the process of harnessing the crystal's power.

In the privacy of their room, Emily began to gently instruct Chloe on how to absorb and integrate the crystal energy. After Chloe had absorbed all four of her crystals, she successfully reached level three, a significant milestone in her development. Once Chloe's session was complete, Emily embarked on her own absorption, and after assimilating her crystals, she not only reached the peak of level three but also unlocked a new wind ability at the same tier. With her upgrade complete, Emily dedicated herself to her daily training regimen, with Chloe joining her side by side.

The following morning, over a breakfast that replenished their bodies after the previous day's exertions, the family observed the fruits of their labor. David and Elizabeth had both ascended to level two peak, Alex had achieved level three peak, and Duke had leveled up to level three. Their family now boasted two members at level two peak, two at level three, and two at the pinnacle of level three. This collective growth in power filled them with renewed confidence and a sense of security as they prepared to face the challenges that lay ahead.

Exiting the space, Alex navigated the vehicle cautiously towards the bustling heart of New Port City. The city center, typically teeming with life, was now expected to be densely populated with the undead. The family proceeded with heightened vigilance, their senses attuned to the potential threats lurking around every corner. Fortunately, the majority of the zombies in the city's core were of the basic level one, presenting a manageable challenge that the family could handle with relative ease.

As Alex guided the car through the city streets at a measured pace, Emily put her newly awakened wind ability to good use. With swift, precise strokes of wind blades, she decapitated the zombies that wandered into their path. Alex would then pull over, step out of the vehicle to retrieve the fallen crystals, and hand them off to Elizabeth for meticulous cleaning. Once polished, the crystals were returned to Emily for safekeeping.

Their coordinated efforts resulted in a harmonious and efficient operation, allowing their urban traversal to proceed without significant hindrance. Emily's forays into various establishments—supermarkets, shopping malls, clothing boutiques, antique shops, and jewelry stores—were swift and thorough, her large space accommodating the influx of supplies without the slightest constraint.

The family meandered through the city, their journey taking on an almost leisurely quality. If not for the backdrop of the apocalypse, Emily might have been reminded of a casual road trip. Amidst their aimless yet purposeful looting, Emily, Alex, and David dispatched approximately sixty to seventy zombies. As not all of the zombies had evolved, the family's efforts yielded a modest haul of over thirty crystals.

The hands of time moved inexorably towards noon, prompting Emily to roll up the car's windows and secure the doors. The family then engaged in a unique yet practical activity—preparing and cooking dumplings within the confines of the vehicle, transforming it into a makeshift kitchen for a brief respite. Over their improvised meal, Emily proposed, "I believe we can linger in this city for a few more days. The abundance of supplies is too great to ignore. We ought to amass as much as we can before we depart."

Alex concurred with her sentiment, affirming, "Indeed, a few more days here would be wise." With their lunch concluded in haste, Emily distributed the crystals they had gathered that morning amongst the family members.

In possession of the crystals, David and Elizabeth dedicated themselves to enhancing their abilities, ultimately achieving the peak of level three. Following their example, Emily and Alex took turns absorbing the energy from the crystals. Emily ascended to the peak of level four, though she found herself facing an invisible barrier that prevented her from advancing to the next tier. Chloe and Duke, too, saw their abilities escalate to level four.

Duke's persistent appeals to Emily echoed through the space, its canine voice imploring, "Mommy, next time you venture out, take me with you. I'll be a great help in the hunt, and I'll look after you." Emily's mouth twitched with a mix of amusement and exasperation, and she handed Duke a dried beef bone to quell its vocal enthusiasm. The bone was notably tough, providing Duke with a task that would keep it happily occupied and silent. As it chewed, and mumbled between chews, "I knew you loved me the most, mommy. See, Chloe? I'm definitely your favorite. Mom doesn't even give you beef bones to chew on." It appeared that Duke had started to regard Emily as his mother, a role she seemed to be accepting with a grain of humor.

Turning around, Emily noticed Chloe's eyes were rimmed with red as she gazed at her mother with a hint of jealousy. Swiftly, Emily reached into her space and pulled out a lollipop and some potato chips, treats that were usually reserved for special occasions due to their scarcity. The sight of these snacks immediately lifted Chloe's spirits, and her mood visibly improved. Emily heaved an internal sigh of relief but felt a creeping sense of exhaustion. She hadn't anticipated that Duke, their adopted canine companion, would turn out to be such a loquacious character.

Once Chloe and Duke were comforted, Alex approached Emily with a thoughtful expression. "Have you noticed that no matter how much energy we absorb after reaching level four peak, we can't seem to break through?" he asked. Emily nodded in agreement, her eyes reflecting the same concern. "I believe that level one crystals are no longer significantly beneficial for us at this stage. If we had expended all our energy battling five zombies as we did previously, we could have restored our energy with level one crystals. To achieve another breakthrough, we likely need to absorb energy from level two or level three crystals. It suggests that advancing our abilities in the future will be much more challenging."

Alex, deep in contemplation, resolved to save any future level 1 crystals specifically for energy replenishment. With plenty of time at their disposal, they opted to take a break before resuming their supply gathering efforts. The city center, a stark contrast to the tranquility of the villages they had previously traversed, was teeming with aimless zombies wandering the main streets. Emily kept a vigilant watch, using her psychic ability to deter any zombie that ventured too close to their RV. The sensation of a psychic stab to the brain was enough to make the undead creature steer clear of their vehicle. Chloe contributed by using her wood-type ability to weave protective vines around the RV, fortifying their mobile sanctuary.

After their rest, they set their sights on a nearby large shopping mall, a structure with five floors. The bottom two floors housed supermarkets and snack bars, while the top three were dedicated to appliances, clothing, and furniture. The family of four, along with Duke, descended towards the second basement level. With Duke leading the way, followed closely by Alex and Emily, they moved with caution. Emily activated her ability to scan the surrounding area, finding the absence of zombies curiously unsettling. An eerie silence hung heavy in the air, instilling a sense of unease that made her grip her weapon a little tighter.