Part Two: Meeting with the Principal
Once changed and ready, they met at the school entrance. Their weapons were still stored within the system, allowing them to avoid drawing too much attention. But before they could even step through the gate, a familiar figure was waiting for them.
Principal Mr. Lancaster stood there, arms crossed, his expression grave but determined.
— "You're going on an expedition," he stated rather than asked.
The group exchanged a look before Hayden replied nonchalantly:
— "Yeah. We're going to see what's left out there."
The Principal sighed, but a slight smile appeared on his face.
— "I wanted to talk to you before you left."
Mary raised an eyebrow.
— "You going to try to stop us?"
— "No," he replied immediately. "I've realized I no longer have a place out there. This world now belongs to those who can evolve, and I'm not one of them."
His gaze passed over each of them, measuring their determination.
— "But that doesn't mean I'm giving up my role. I still have a duty to the students who remain."
A silence followed his words. Even Hayden, who usually would've thrown in a sarcastic comment, remained silent for a moment.
Flora, always smiling but sincere, nodded.
— "You're right. Not everyone can fight, but everyone can survive in their own way."
William, hands in his pockets, added in his British accent:
— "A leader must know where to stand. It's good you found your place."
The Principal gave a small appreciative smile, then said:
— "Then make me a promise. If you find the nurse or any other doctors out there… bring them back here."
Mary spoke firmly and confidently:
— "We will."
— "Thank you. Stay safe out there," Mr. Lancaster concluded before stepping aside to let them pass.
Part Three: Heading to the Convenience Store
Once outside the school, the silence of the city fell on them like a heavy veil. The air was drier, and the persistent smell of decaying flesh lingered—though they had almost grown used to it.
The streets, once lively, were now empty. Burned-out car wrecks, looted stores, and an unsettling silence.
— "Welcome to the end of the world," Hayden remarked with a crooked smile.
Katie clenched her fists, feeling the thrill rise within her.
— "It's the perfect opportunity to see how much this world has changed."
Mary nodded.
— "We're not here to linger. We observe, we analyze, and we leave. We're not here to fight unnecessarily."
Flora raised a teasing finger:
— "And if we happen to find a nice bag of chips or snacks still intact?"
William adjusted his glasses, unfazed:
— "In that case, we take it. Junk food has never been more valuable than during the apocalypse."
The group walked cautiously toward the convenience store.
Their first exploration mission had just begun.
Stat Analysis
As they cautiously advanced toward the convenience store, a brief silence settled in. Only the echoes of their footsteps resonated across the cracked asphalt.
— "We should check our stats before going any further," Hayden suggested, his tone as laid-back as ever.
He opened his interface, followed immediately by the others. A faint blue glow lit their faces as holographic screens appeared before them.
Hayden frowned slightly at his progress.
EXP: 450/1000
Weapon Mastery: 30% (+20%)
Body Level Gauge: 15% (+10%)
Techniques:
Instant Slash
Eye of Truth
Way of the Samurai (New)
He smirked.
— "Not bad. I'm advancing faster than expected."
Katie clenched her fists in excitement.
EXP: 100/1000
Weapon Mastery: 30%
Body Level Gauge: 10%
Techniques:
Combo Rush (New)
— "30% weapon mastery right off the bat! And I unlocked a new technique."
She closed her fist and felt energy pulse through her gauntlets.
William, always calm and methodical, checked his own stats.
EXP: 50/1000
Weapon Mastery: 20%
Body Level Gauge: 10%
Techniques:
Constriction (New)
He adjusted his glasses, then said with his slight English accent:
— "Not bad for a start. But still, long way to go."
Flora looked at her stats with a beaming smile.
EXP: 50/1000
Weapon Mastery: 10%
Body Level Gauge: 10%
Techniques:
Spiral (New)
— "Ooooh, I got a technique too! Can't wait to try it out!" she exclaimed with excitement.
Finally, Mary looked at her empty screen with an impassive gaze.
EXP: 0/1000
Weapon Mastery: 0%
Body Level Gauge: 0%
Techniques:
Eye of Truth (Unique)
She raised an eyebrow, then closed her interface without any visible emotion.
— "Nothing new for me," she said simply.
Hayden shot her an amused glance, then shrugged.
— "Don't worry, Mary. We'll find a way to get you caught up."
— "That's what I'm afraid of," she replied dryly.
The group exchanged a few looks before continuing their walk, now more aware of each other's capabilities.
Encounter with the Zombies
As they moved between wrecked cars and ruined buildings, a strange sound caught their attention.
Groaning. Deep, guttural moans.
Looking up, they saw a group of about twenty zombies slowly approaching. Their decaying flesh, unrecognizable faces, and erratic movements made the scene all the more grotesque.
Flora grimaced.
— "Ugh… I'll never get used to that."
William sighed softly.
— "Bloody hell…"
Hayden, on the other hand, gave a confident smile.
— "Perfect. Katie, you're up."
Silence fell on the group.
Katie's eyes widened in surprise.
— "Huh? Me?"
— "Yep. We all need experience, and you seemed eager to try out your new move."
Mary frowned.
— "You're sending us one by one into fights?"
— "Exactly. Each group of twenty zombies, one of you handles it. After Katie, it'll be William, then Flora."
The group exchanged surprised looks, then understanding his logic, they nodded.
— "Hehe…" Katie breathed. "Time to show you what I'm made of."
She stepped forward quickly, pressing her fists into her gauntlets and activating Combo Rush.
The Fight: Katie vs. 20 Zombies
She lunged forward with impressive speed, her body in constant motion.
— "Alright, bring it on, you meatbags!"
The first zombie lunged at her, but Katie knocked its head clean off with an upward punch. The second reached for her leg, but she spun and slammed it into a car wreck with a powerful kick.
— "Wow," murmured Flora, impressed.
Katie continued her assault, chaining blows together with fluidity.
Combo Rush allowed her to launch a series of successive attacks, each hit amplifying the next.
— BAM! A skull shattered under a knee strike.
— CRACK! A chest caved in under a rapid combo.
The zombies couldn't even touch her—she was too fast, too unpredictable.
William commented, unfazed:
— "She's dancing with death."
Flora burst out laughing.
— "She loves it!"
The last zombie tried a surprise attack, but Katie spun around and drove her leg into its skull, crushing it against the pavement.
Silence returned.
Katie, panting, stood up slowly.
— "Phew! That was awesome!"
Hayden crossed his arms, satisfied.
— "Alright. Next group—William, you're up."
William raised an eyebrow, adjusted his glasses, and sighed.
— "Of course. No pressure at all."
Mary, meanwhile, crossed her arms as she watched Katie.
— "I think I get it now… You're forcing us to adapt to the system by throwing us into it headfirst."
Hayden gave a mischievous smile.
— "Exactly."
Flora giggled softly.
— "You're such a sadist, Hayden."
The group caught their breath.
This was only the beginning.