007 - The Hallway

So the day passed with a bit more cuddling and kissing then the previous couple days but still some more serious activities as well. I got to level 4 off the vestiges of the original zombies and some new ones that wandered in. I added the point to my stats in the best way I thought possible.

INT: 18 -> 20

END: 10 -> 12

STR: 10 -> 11

Pretty balanced right?

I didn't need that trash charisma though. Power is its own charisma in a way. That's the thought I fell asleep to at least.

...

Being shaken awake I woke up leaning against the wall and with someone leaned up against my shoulder.

'Oh yeah, I forgot. I have a girlfriend now.'

For you traditional folks out there saying you should court a maiden and definitely not tempt sexual 'demons' by sleeping near each other. I'm definitely just as traditionalist as you, okay maybe a little less if you're a hardcore, tradition above all, Gramps or jealous asshole. Plus it's the apocalypse, so yeah, fuck some traditions.

"You're up for watch duty."

Putting away the useless thoughts on tradition and how the apocalypse affects relationships for later I acknowledged the guy and carefully laid Slyvie's head down onto my bundled up supplies and sweatshirt.

"Be right there."

Looking around it was still dark, but the moon was already coming down from its apex and was well on its way to taking its leave with the coming dawn. Probably around 3 or 4 in the morning. Yet here I was, getting up before the sun to make sure everyone can live another day. I mean I guess it's fine, I never usually slept much anyway but that was to wake up late and stay up later.

Not that any of that mattered.

"So how's the watch been tonight?" I asked curiously. Obviously nothing bad enough happened for everyone to be alerted but maybe something interesting had happened nonetheless.

"Just some bumps on the door, some groans too"

"Nice. Okay, well I'm ready for my watch now so you're relieved of your duties. Get some rest."

With that I left to my watch. Alone tonight it seemed. Inefficient and quite frankly a useless risk but well, I guess I just wasn't ready to be the 'jerk' of a leader. Besides, nothing that bad had happened so far, nobody died, we weren't starving or dehydrated (albeit temporarily), and we were leveling up calmly and steadily.

...

An hour went by in relative peace.

Then two.

Of course it couldn't last.

*BOOM!*

With the thunderous noise the windows all shattered across the floor, and with them a system announcement.

I struggled to come out of my temporary shock and open that message. All the while trying to calm everyone that was just woken up from.

*Natural strengthening of monsters has commenced. Mana levels have reached satisfactory levels for passive absorption. Raid bosses will now appear. Increased variants will now appear. Tutorial mode forcefully shut down regardless of level. Due to increased self-sufficiency of earth's new ecosystems, overarching system will now become completely unbiased and more passive. Permanently.*

'Well there's some more fucking shit to deal with. At least it probably...'

*Warning! A Raid boss has almost finished evolving in your immediate area! Those not strong enough to survive are suggested to leave immediately!*

'... can't...'

*Warning! Meteor Shower event starting in three days! Please prepare!*

'... get worse. Well maybe the meteor shower will be relatively safe. Hopefully.'

As soon as I was able to finish my thought a roaring sound was heard. Like all the lions in a pride where trying to intimidate one another. A huge, thunderous roar that reverberated in my very being, making my legs feel closer to jelly than the limbs I was used to standing on. Thousands of shrieks from zombies were heard in reply, cacophonies of ravens, tapping of bones on bone.

'Well that was a short warning for the arrival of FUCKING RAID BOSSES!'

"We need to go! Now!" Someone yelled. Nobody needed that advice though, already everyone was jostling each other at the door to get out, pulling people back to try and be the first ones out. There was no order, or calmness. It seemed that everyone had truly been shook by the roars of monsters. Haste, calculated moves, and a bit of roughness were all that got me through the small mob, and just like that I was suddenly out there. In the hallway, out of the safety of our little room. My legs were a bit shaky, after affects of the roar most likely. Or at least that's what I told myself.

'Oh crap! Sylvie!'

Before diving back into the crowd I hesitated. Shameful but pragmatic thoughts flowed through my mind. 'Do you really need her? Isn't she just a new toy to play with? It's gonna happen eventually, just like everyone else she'll be gone.' The crowd was now slowly making it out into the hall way but I still took another second to forcefully suppress the thoughts, and entered back in to the classroom to see Sylvie still sleeping on my hoodie and by our stuff.

'How the hell do you sleep through that! Nevermind, Just focus on getting her up, getting out of here, making sure we got all our stuff.'

Even my more logical side was happy we came back to get Sylvie. I forgot my only weapon after all. So after shaking her awake to which I got a good amount of annoyed grumbles, I quickly grabbed the rest of our things which was literally only a lunch tin and two empty backpacks save for some paper and pencils, along with my 'sickle' and hoodie.

"What are you doing babe?" Was the question I got while doing this. To which all I could respond with is,

"Running."

She finally understood something more serious was happening when she heard my tone. Taking one of the backpacks she grabbed whatever I missed and we dashed. Dashed into an empty hallway, the group having abandoned us while running for their lives. Then to the nearest stairway, hoping the group was in front of us or at least dragged away the zombies. We made it most of the way down and out onto the ground floor when something by the exit caught my eye.

'You have to be kidding me right now god! A FUCKING SKELETON IS SITTING IN FRONT OF THE FUCKING DOOR!'

And it was, looking unbothered and exactly like the one from the biology room. The only difference being:

<<Skeleton lvl.6>>