Chapter 10 - Strange Beast.

Damien's eyes were literally sparkling. Half because of the new weapon that just fell on his lap right when he needed it and the other half was excitement, that he could make weapons like this or even more powerful in the future.

He simply couldn't wait. He was confident that one day, he would make that would make the rest in the world shiver in fear. Before he could do that, he had to get used to single weapon welding.

Swish! swish! Zwoom! Ziang!

He implemented the sword and fencing techniques his master taught him and tore through the air with each swing. He was parring and attacking the invisible opponent in front of him and was getting better with each minute. His shadow fighting ended as his spun around and give it later as he spawn around and give a lethal slice to the invisible opponent. Probably slicing him in half.

"Let's cover some ground quickly and then rest. It's already late." He encouraged as the sky was already orange and the sun was disappearing into the horizon. He knew they were tired but the sooner they left this estate, the better. They continued walking, encountering some monsters along the way to which Damien playfully disposed of. Sometimes with a swift slash beheading them quickly. But, most of the time, he playfully cut off all their limbs before putting them out of their misery. It was both funny and creepy honestly ⊙⁠﹏⁠⊙. He was like a child who had gotten an amazing toy for Christmas, who cut the them up without a care in the world. Whether it was zombies or giant dogs or giant cats or giant insects, he killed them swiftly. Most of the orange rays from the sun had already disappeared and night time had approached. So, randomly picking a house, he kicked open the fancy white house doors. Telling his family to keep watch outside the house while and he scouted the building.

Entering the silent house, whose only source of light was blinking off and on, had cracks on the walls with different furniture scattered everywhere. It was the trademark white rich modern house with a spacious living room and plenty furniture. In which most were either broken or on the floor. But, what was most abnormal was the large trail of blood leading up the reinforced glass stairs. It was terrifying. As if a severely injured person was dragged up.

Stepping further inside, he noticed the glass sliding door leading to the swimming pool area was shattered. And with that, Damien figured out what was going on here.

There was a monster upstairs!

It clearly broke through the glass door severely injured. Maybe even killed the individual or individuals, most likely a couple, because there were two trails of blood which often mixed together. The creature must have dragged them upstairs to feast without being disturbed. But the main question was, what this monster was and how strong was it.

So, in search of answers to these questions, he climbed up the glass stairs. The first floor had multiple rooms but, due to the fact that his house was almost the same as this one and the large trail of blood, he found the master's bedroom very quickly.

It was eerily silent. As the light in the hallway blinked showing the cracks on the white walls and blood stains on carpet beneath his feet.

Damien stood in front of the door with his corrosive sword in his right hand and adrenaline pumping through his veins. As the setting made it look as if he was in a horror movie. In fact, everything that had happened since the apocalypse started was like a horror movie but, this was different as the only sound he could hear apart from the blinking of lights and the blowing of wind was an eerie and disturbing crunching and munching sound. As if someone was chewing a bone.

As for the reason why he didn't just abandon this house and pick another one was..... he just felt like it.

Besides, he could become stronger and, what if after it finished it's meal it would go hunting, searching for an appetizer. And he didn't want to see any of his family members become a meat dish. So, with a nervous somewhat excited grin, he kicked open the door but, quickly closed it back instinctively. "Damn that thing's ugly." He whispered under his breath. "A licker huh. It's only been a few hours since the apocalypse and one has already appeared." He signed at how fast things were evolving. But, he needed to be faster. Way faster. He steeled his gaze and resolve because he knew it noticed him. It was obvious. So, he kicked the door open again and was introduced to a traumatizing site in front of him that could make the weak hearted faint.

A two meter tall licker. A hideous creature indeed with it's skinless body only showing red and black the decaying muscles. Flexible but compact muscles with extremely sharp teeth that were chewing on a blood covered summer bone, which was quickly smashed to pieces. An elongated black head with red eyes, having snake shaped pupil staring at him intensely as if looking at his favorite meal. As it stood up from it's squatting position revealing the pile of blood on the covered bones on the ground and on the bed. With it's long arms that reached it's knees. It was so tall that it could reach the ceiling, if not for it's hunchback.

They were having a stare down. One looking to see how it's food would react and the other looking to see the monster's reaction and attack or retreat. But abandoning all useless thoughts, both charged towards each other with a gust wind behind them as they met in the middle of the room. The licker leaped towards him from it's position on the bed, careful not to smash it's head on the ceiling. Raising it's hands, it revealed it's dagger like claws which slashed against Damien's corrosive sword, causing sparks to fly. They were equal in strength as both of them struggled to overpower each other. The licker looked down on Damien with its superior height but, Damien's gaze did not falter. He maintained the steady stream of qi to his arms and reinforcing his sword by activating it's corrosive ability. At the same time, smoke started coming out of the licker's claws causing it to leap back with caution. Looking curiously as it's previously sharp claws that's where now blunted but, quickly regenerated to their former sharpness. Meanwhile, in Damien's head, 'It's only faster than preying mantis that I fought last time.' At that time, he definitely wasn't as strong as he was now. But, before he was not nearly as fast as that preying mantis. He was just listening to his instincts and using fighting techniques to fight it. Any other normal human would have died under two swings from it's sickle arms. But this thing in front of him was infinitely much more stronger and faster. So he needed to take careful measures.

[ STATS ]

Name:- Damien Morales

Age:- 18

Job:- None

Level:- 7

Power level:- 2050

Mana:- 108/119

Qi:- 250/250

Strength:- 38

Magic power:- 40

Dexterity:- 39

Wisdom:- 32

Perception:- 31

Vitality:- 460/460

Innate ability:- Multiplication

Unassigned stat points:- 35

[ SKILLS ]

• Beast Varja Technique ( Lvl 3 )

• Axe throwing ( Lvl 2)

[ ITEMS ]

• Corrosive Sword.

[ Current Exp - 7,036/10,000exp ]