[Chapter:25][Meeting the main cast.]

"It increased again."

Echo glanced at his 'Fated Ones' Quest, which needed him to change the fate of 10 people not included in the 'Unchosen Ones' Quest.

"Saving that teacher changed the count of 'Unchosen Ones' from 0 to 1, and killing someone who is fated to survive increased this Quest's count to 1.

Looking at his skills, Echo nodded in satisfaction.

'Guess I'll change my weapon.'

Thinking so, he placed his wooden long bow back in his inventory as he brought out his only firearms.

"I guess I'll have to use two thoughts just to make bullets…"

Considering his 4,000+ Intelligence granted him a whole 8 thoughts, however, it wasn't that much. Two for making light bullets for each gun, one for his main body, one for [Mental Arithmetic] which was nearing level 90, one for [Summon Skeletons], one for [Summon : Bones], one for using 'War Cry' every time it ends, and the last for shooting.

Although he couldn't 'Focus' on his currently active 'Sneak' and '2 Tomoe Sharingan', he couldn't do much about it.

"Perfect."

Finding the nearest 'zombie', Echo took aim, a dim, nearly indistinguishable white glow appearing from within the bullet chamber of 'Casull', and,

*bang!*

A loud, reverberating sound resounded within the empty streets as a 'zombie' several hundreds of metres away found itself missing a shoulder.

'I missed…then again, my skill with guns isn't high level enough to shoot from nearly four hundred metres away. I'm surprised I even hit…'

Thinking about it again, he realised it was the effect of the 'Accuracy', 'Aiming', and 'Precision' skills.

*bang!* *bang* *bang*

*boom!*

Unlike Casull, Jackal gave off a much louder 'boom' per shot. Yet, worthy of the sound, the black monstrosity ripped apart anything, even walls, that came in its sight.

((Skill [Basic Gunfighting] levelled up!))

((Skill [Gunfighting] levelled up!))

*boom!*

. . . . . .

. . . . . .

"Ahhhh!"

"Run! Run away!"

"N-no! W-wait! Don't leave me behind!"

"Asshole! Who pushed me!?"

"N-NOOOOO!"

Chaos.

Complete and utter chaos.

The young men and women, no, the young boys and girls in the school were, after all, still children. When had they seen crazed people with wounds spewing out blood like fountains pouncing on their classmates, friends, or even enemies, ripping them apart, and some even devouring them as they beg and plead and cry in pain and fear?

The moment 'they' invaded the campus, all the order and monotony of their high school lives disappeared.

And what remained, sent adrenaline pumping through their blood as they ran for their lives, leaving behind friends, crushes, anyone and everyone, wanting to survive for just one more day, for just another second.

Wanting to at least leave the school. To escape what they wished was nothing more than a nightmare.

*bang!*

And yet, like an alarm clock reminding them it was no dream, the distinct sound of a gun being fired echoed throughout the campus, somehow making its way to their ears even amongst the crazed cries and shouts for mercy. Alas, they didn't have the time to pause and ponder, as they desperately sought to escape the wretched arms of their pursues.

For they all know.

If they falter now, death isn't the scariest.

The scariest part is…

*bang!* *bang!* *bang!*

*boom!* *boom!*

Before Misuzu Ichijou and Toshimi Miki could think any further, the heads of the 'zombies' whose hands reached out to grab them burst like balloons being popped, blood and brain-matter splattering all around.

"Keep your mouths shut. You don't want their blood inside you."

A cold, emotionless voice brought them out of their shock, and as they registered the words, they instinctively retched even without any blood falling on their faces.

Looking behind them, Echo, who had recognised the two best friends who were supposed to die in episode 1, glanced at them for a moment before continuing his 'job'.

*bang!* *bang!*

Each shot made a 'zombie' fall headless before he approached the unmoving corpses, touching them with his legs and openly stuffing them into his inventory, disregarding the shock of the ones that saw him not only kill their 'former classmates' like he was picking vegetables in a market, but also make their head-less bodies vanish without a trace.

"Th-that's…"

Even the ever cheerful Toshimi found herself at a loss for words at the mystical sight before her, but then, she recalled that she seemed to have just been chased and almost caught by 'zombies' rising from the 'dead'…

"Follow if you want to live."

Echo didn't care about their thoughts. The only reason they were alive was because of his Quest. If it weren't for the generous rewards, he wouldn't even be in Japan.

On the contrary, he would have gone to China the moment he arrived in this world, the formerly most populated country on the planet being a very tempting pie for a budding Necromancer like him.

*bang!* *bang!*

As he walked around shooting every 'zombie' that came into sight, the people behind him increase, from the original two best friends to seven people whose bodies shook every time he pulled the trigger.

*bang!*

Ignoring them, Echo glanced at his Quests window.

. . . . . .

[Deader than a 'zombie']

Type : Hidden

Objective : Kill Takashi Komuro, the protagonist of the world of 'High School of the Dead'

Rewards : Perk [Protagonist] | Unlock Sub-Function [Titles]

((Report Quest?))

. . . . . .

'Report.'

The window disappears, while his 'Status' changed a little.

. . . . . .

[[Status]]

Echo Howers

Titles : [He who went against Fate] | [The Outcast] | [The Forsaken One] | [Family Man] | [Silent Prince]

Level : 209 (00.00%)

Job : [Necromancer(Lv-9/100)]

HP : 15,818/15,818 (1,581.8 per min)

MP : 321,520/321,520 (48,072 per min)

[[Stats]]

Strength : 719 (790.9)

Endurance : 719 (790.9)

Vitality : 719 (790.9)

Agility : 719 (790.9)

Intelligence : 4,019

Wisdom : 6,009

Senses : 719

Charm : 710

Stat Points : 0

[[Skills]]

[Summon : Bones(Lv-23)] (!)

[Summon Skeleton(Lv-23)] (!)

[Premonition(Lv-8)] (!)

[Killing Intent(Lv-27)] (!)

[Bloodlust(Lv-27)] (!)

[Murderous Aura(Lv-27)] (!)

[Strategic Combat(Lv-80)] (!)

[Breathing(Lv-89)] (!)

[Intermediate Archery(Lv-24)] (!)

[Bow Mastery(Lv-Max)] (!)

[Aiming(Lv-88)] (!)

[Accuracy(Lv-79)] (!)

[Reload(Lv-73)] (!)

[Precision(Lv-69)] (!)

[2 Tomoe Sharingan(Lv-68)] (!)

[Stealth(Lv-Max)]

[Sneak(Lv-68)] (!)

[Mental Arithmetic(Lv-93)] (!)

[Gun Mastery(Lv-21)] (!)

[Basic Gunfighting(Lv-38)] (!)

[Magic Sphere : Light(Lv-19)] (!)

[Magic Barrier : Light(Lv-27)] (!)

[Magic Constructs : Light(Lv-27)] (!)

[War Cry(Lv-31)] (!)

[[Perk]]

[Protagonist] (!)

. . . . . .

A new perk, several levels in several skills…and a new sub-function?

And the first few titles made his eyes dim for a moment, memories he would rather forget resurfacing within his mind.

. . . . . .

[He who went against Fate]

Type : Title

Description : A title received for going against predestined Fate. Fate based skills, abilities, etc… won't have any effect on you.

. . . . . .

. . . . . .

[The Outcast]

Type : Title

Description : A title received for falling out of favour of your Universe. In return for having the 'Party' Function permanently locked, all EXP increased by 500%.

. . . . . .

. . . . . .

[The Forsaken One]

Type : Title

Description : A title received for being abandoned by all. When not in a party, increase damage done by 50% and decrease damage received by 50%.

. . . . . .

. . . . . .

[Family Man]

Type : Title

Description : A title received for caring about your family more than most / any would. If your family is in 'Fatal Danger' without your presence, they will enter an 'Invulnerable' state till you arrive. When you arrive, the 'Invulnerable' state is lifted while your stats increase by 100% till the danger and / or its cause are eliminated.

. . . . . .

. . . . . .

[Silent Prince]

Type : Title

Description : A title received from the girls in Kuoh Academy. Charm against the opposite sex increases by 50%. When silent, your charm against the opposite sex further increases by 50%.

. . . . . .

"…"

He had to admit, although he didn't like the first three titles, them being a constant reminder of his past, of his 'failure', the effects were truly useful.

And he especially liked the 'Family Man' title.

'Combined with 'Protective Love', they should be safe. For the most part.'

Well, he didn't think they would ever be harmed, but in case they are…

((Skill [Premonition] levelled up!))

"…"

Echo paused for a brief moment. Glancing at the prompt which appeared before him, his eyes went cold.

"…"

Without a word, he continued walking and shooting and grabbing every body he comes across and placing them in his Inventory. But his thoughts at the moment were…

Looking at his status, he opened the descriptions of his new perk.

. . . . . .

[Protagonist]

Type : Perk

Description : Perk gained from being favoured by Fate. Your existential weight is such that Fate and Destiny cave in around you. Your luck is phenomenal, and even the rules of reality would be rearranged to suit your needs and wants. Each aspect of the perk is unique, depending on the World which favours you.

Plot Armour(I) — Greatly increased Luck

Hail Mary(I) — When faced with the impossible, you have a high chance of succeeding

Note : Obtaining the Perk again can add new aspects while upgrading similar ones.

. . . . . .

His eyes flashed as he thought of a brown haired pervert he kidnapped and imprisoned in an abandoned garage a few hours before the 'World Travel'.

But then he frowned at the image of the pervert jerking off, his chalk piece out open while he could barely use two fingers to rub himself, his room messy with all kinds of hentai and porn magazines lying everywhere…

He knocked him unconscious, rolled him in a blanket, and used 'Stealth' and 'Sneak' to bring him away since physical contact is needed for 'Void Fade' and he didn't want to touch the guy.

'Would I get another Perk if I kill him?'

Something to decide after he goes back.

Shaking his head, Echo glanced at his Skills which seemed to be levelling up at a highly alarming rate.

'The bonus from 'Titles' is different from those from Perks and Skill, so the effect is multiplied again…'

Which meant 135 times the EXP. Of course, that would change after he leaves this world, but still, a permanent 27x Skill EXP bonus was quite good.

And since the bonus is for 'all EXP'…

'My stars should go up too.'

If he sticks to his previous schedule, then his stats would increase by around 350 in Strength, Endurance, Vitality, Agility, Senses, and Charm, and a whole 2,100 in Intelligence and Wisdom.

Every day.

Before he could ponder any further, however,

"Kyaaaaaa!"

"…"

"???"

Echo blinked as he felt genuinely dumbfounded.

'Who even shouts like that?'

The answer, of course, is a certain pink haired 'genius' who was currently drilling a 'zombie's' head into a brain soup.

"…"

He looked at the scene blankly, the girl in question lying on her back as she closed her eyes and kept screaming while drilling the 'zombie's' head, surrounded by several people, a purple haired beauty with a bloodied wooden sword in hand, a blonde haired buxom lady carrying a heavy-looking bag, a plump boy holding something which looked like a modified nail-gun, an orange haired girl holding the long, wooden shaft of a broom with one end broken to resemble a spear and having a fair amount of blood dripping down it…

"…idiots.", Echo voiced out as he took aim.

*bang!*