Event

"You need to train a little more, Beth. You're still very weak." 

Bethany put a helpless expression on her face and felt sad to have lost so easily. "What can I do to be strong like you? No matter how hard I try, I cannot be as good as you."

Matthew put a contemplative expression on his face, thought for a moment and told Bethany, "I don't really have any secrets, Beth. I'm just training every night since it all began. If there is anything to recommend to you, it will be determination and dedication." 

After saying that, he paused for a while for Bethany to understand what he was talking about. Then, he put a clumsy expression on his face as he scratched his nose. "I know it can be hard to train, but if you want to have more strength, think about your goal while you are training and use your goal as a determination, not only in that workout but also in everything." 

"Besides, I'm also very weak. I plan to go out and talk to you every time when I train. I was a common person four days ago just like you, but if I stop training for a moment, I can die and cause you to die, too." He added.

Hearing his resolution and hard work, Bethany felt a stung in her eyes as it started to mist. She wiped the tears that were about to come down and stood up as she entered a combat stance. This time, there was a determination in her face as she faced Matthew and urged him to start training again.

"Let's go again. I will keep doing it every day until I can beat you." 

Matthew laughed, obviously feeling happy his words got through her head. He walked away to put a distance between them and said, "Good luck then. I wish this happened soon. I need someone who can protect everyone when I'm either unable to do so or dead." 

When they were both ready in a combat stance and ready to start a new practice, Tom came across the yard with a group of men.

"Matthew, Bethany, we're going to clear the horde. Will you come with us?" He said.

Matthew tucked the sword back into the inventory as he nodded toward Tom and asked Bethany, "Are you coming?"

Bethany also put away the short katana and shield. "Of course I will. If I am not, you will get stronger and I will be weaker, how could I miss this opportunity?" She replied firmly.

Matthew laughed seeing her firm determination. He then told Bethany to go up to Tom and tell him that he would catch up to them in a bit. After saying so, he ran up to the house and woke up Little Black that was sleeping in the closet of one of the bedrooms. This time, with Little Black with him, Matthew ran out of the house again and stopped in front of Tom and his group.

"I'm ready now. Sorry about that. Little Black was asleep and I went to get her. I'm sure she would be upset if she missed the action." He said while grinning.

With all the member gathered together now, the group started walking toward one of the exits toward Dallas. Matthew followed behind them while playing with Little Black, all the way he was thinking, "I hope my parents are alive and safe. I do not know if I would have the strength to continue in this world if they're not here. I have not been a good son these last few years. I hardly visited them. I was always traveling and practicing extreme sports whenever I could. I probably did it just to get away from them, though. I could not stand that constant and high expectation in me anymore. " 

Little Black might feel the change on his emotion as she rubbed her head against his face. Chuckling, Matthew seemed to understand her intention to comfort him and said in a low voice, "You know how to please others, aren't you, Little Black?" 

After a few minutes of walking, they finally reached the exit toward Dallas that they were cleaning up these past few days. Tom then turned to the group and said,

"We're here now. We will not try to attract more than we got today. We saw the result of our recklessness yesterday and I do not want to lose any more of you today. Most importantly, let's take a minute of silence for those we lost yesterday and let this be a reminder and a warning not to underestimate our enemies again. " 

After the group did a minute of silence, Tom said again, "Let's go kill some zombies. I hope today is a good day for everyone." 

Just when Tom's group was gearing up to lure some zombies out of the horde, a notice popped up in everyone's eyesight. 

* Ding *

"The higher beings decided to start an event and sent you a message. (We hope you all can enjoy the event and entertain us with what we have planned for you.)" 

[WELCOME EVENT] (24 hours left) 

KILL THE LARGEST QUANTITY OF ZOMBIES POSSIBLE AND ACQUIRE SOME SPECIAL REWARDS.