CHAPTER 4: Upgrading to rank 1
CHAPTER 4: Upgrading to rank 1
Sam followed Garry up to the fourth floor. As they reached their destination, they saw zombies wandering aimlessly in the hallway.
One of the zombies noticed them and lunged at Garry, the others quickly following behind.
Garry recoiled in fear, stumbling backward.
Sam immediately stepped forward and swung his hammer down at the nearest zombie.
THUMP
DING! Killed Level 2 Zombie.
"You fool! Aim for their necks!" Sam barked at Garry.
Garry took a deep breath, steadied himself, and followed Sam's advice. He slashed at an incoming zombie's neck with his knife. However, his swing wasn't strong enough to fully sever the head. The undead staggered but remained standing. Panic set in as Garry saw blood oozing from the wound, his stomach churning with nausea.
"Retreat!" Sam commanded, seeing more zombies advancing toward them. He swiftly finished off the wounded zombie near Garry and followed him as they fell back.
The zombies weren't fast, but they were relentless. Their persistence made them dangerous.
Garry rushed into his room, with Sam following closely behind.
THUMP THUMP THUMP
The zombies began pounding on the door.
Garry sat on the floor, panting heavily. He glanced at Sam, who seemed eerily calm despite the carnage.
Why is he so composed after killing those zombies? Garry wondered.
What Garry didn't know was that Sam's grandfather had been a butcher. Since childhood, Sam had helped butcher livestock—he had killed many lambs and chickens with his own hands. The sight of blood and gore didn't faze him.
Sam quickly moved a table to block the door but deliberately left a small gap.
"Come fast! Hold this table! Don't let them get in," Sam instructed, his mind working on a plan.
Garry didn't hesitate. He followed Sam's command and held the table firmly against the door.
Sam climbed onto the table, positioning himself strategically. He unlatched the door just enough for the zombies to force their way through the small opening.
THUMP
The first zombie stuck its head through the gap, snarling.
Sam didn't waste a second. He brought his hammer down swiftly.
THUMP! THUMP!
More zombies followed, but with Garry supporting the table, the door never opened wide enough for them to fully enter.
DING!
DING!
DING!
Sam heard the system notification in his head but ignored it. He continued his relentless assault, smashing skulls one after another.
By the seventh kill, the door could no longer withstand the force. The hinges groaned, and cracks formed along the frame.
Sam leaped down from the table and grabbed a thick blanket, preparing for the worst.
"Get back!" he ordered.
Garry didn't question him. He stepped back as instructed, bracing for whatever Sam had planned.
With one swift motion, Sam flung the blanket over the opening just as the door gave way. The zombies, momentarily blinded and tangled in the thick fabric, thrashed wildly.
Seizing the opportunity, Sam swung his hammer at the covered zombies, using their confusion to his advantage.
"Garry, stab them through the blanket!" Sam shouted.
Garry hesitated for a second but then drove his knife into the figures beneath the cloth. The muffled snarls turned into gurgles, then silence.
When the blanket finally fell, all that remained were the lifeless bodies of the undead.
Garry collapsed onto the floor, gasping for breath. "I... I think I'm gonna be sick."
Sam wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Get used to it. We're not out of this yet."
He turned toward the hallway, listening carefully. More groans echoed in the distance.
The fight wasn't over. It had only just begun.
Garry noticed changes in his body. Killing the zombies had helped him level up twice.
How much did I level up? he wondered. This was his first time realizing he could level up at all.
After calming down, Garry stood up. He noticed four black orbs and one grey orb on the floor.
"Let's split the loot," he suggested.
Sam gathered the orbs and placed them in front of them. He pinched the four black ones.
On the floor, a long blade, a metal rod, a pair of black shoes, and a quiver of arrows materialized.
Sam took the quiver of arrows without hesitation. "Now you pick."
Garry knew there was no chance of getting his bow back now, so he settled for the shoes. He also knew Sam had no need for the metal rod.
Just wait. I'll get my bow back when my time comes.
Sam left for his room after taking the long knife. He retrieved the bow from his storage chain and carried his bags to the lower floor.
Garry glanced at Sam before heading to his own room to gather his belongings.
Meanwhile, Sam tried to recall the messages in his head:
DING! Killed Level 2 Zombie.
DING! Killed Level 2 Zombie.
DING! Leveling up.
DING! Upgrading to Rank 1.
DING! Killed Level 1 Zombie.
DING! Killed Level 2 Zombie.
DING! Killed Level 2 Zombie.
DING! Killed Level 2 Zombie.
DING! Killed Level 2 Zombie.
DING! Killed Level 1 Zombie.
DING! Killed Level 2 Zombie.
DING! Killed Level 3 Zombie.
DING! Killed Level 2 Zombie.
DING! Killed Level 2 Zombie.
DING! Killed Level 1 Zombie.
DING! Allocate the free points.