Venturing Out

Standing up, I went to the Nyxara cat's corpse to dismantle it. Low-level zombie corpses weren't worth it, but a unique monster was another matter.

Holding the knife and approaching the Nyxara cat's corpse, it was time to dismantle it. The corpses of low-level zombies were not worth it, but a unique monster was another matter.

"I should try not to make the same mistakes as those protagonists from the light novels."

While saying so, I started to cut its corpse, trying to find something different from normal. Luckily, from my one year and a little in university as a medical student, I knew a bit about dissection.

Even then, it took a lot more effort than I thought, and being careful not to damage anything inside also took time.

"Just the head remains," I said disappointingly as I continued my dissection. Finally, something different came out. A golden crystal roughly the size of a small pebble emerged.

"Is my theory about the core thing correct?" Saying so and happily holding the golden crystal in my hand. I noticed how other than being cold to the touch, nothing seemed special. But knowing it came from a unique monster, there was no way it wasn't something precious.

Keeping it in my pocket for now and setting my core theory aside, I went to get my spear. Seeing how the blade of the knife had become blunt and the knife fixed at the shaft became a little loose, I decided to search her kitchen, hoping to find a better one.

...

Returning to my apartment after finding a better knife, I first changed the knife secured at the shaft, but seeing how it had become loose after my little use, I broke the closet and took some wood pieces, fitting them around the handle and tip of the shaft. Then, I tightly wrapped them again with sealing tape. 

Bringing my backpack and putting the sealing tape in it, I Left my house again, this time I went smoothly through the first floor, arriving at the ground floor. But seeing a group of more than five zombies together, instead of backing down, I ran toward them joyfully.

"Time for some slaughter, I guess," I said, taking down the first zombie with one swing.

[You have killed Lv.2 Zombie]

[You have earned 700 Experience]

Finishing the battle quickly, I glanced at the system panel, seeing just one message different.

[Your Basic Spearmanship has become Lv.2]

Feeling satisfied and starting to walk, I was surprised by how empty the street was, aside from some zombies here and there. Being midday, the contrast between before and now was stark.

But seeing how there were some burning cars, destroyed walls, and some damaged buildings, I was reminded that the world had changed. Then, looking at the level of destruction, I was surprised. It was a lot less than I thought.

Firming my resolve, I continued my way toward the closest supermarket. Meeting some zombies along the way, I took care of them easily and raised my level to 8.

Walking confidently in the street and coming close to the supermarket, I suddenly saw a big group of zombies, maybe nearing thirty in number. Deciding to put an end to my pose-out act and hide quickly behind a building, I looked more closely again. But seeing even a giant zombie among them about 3-4 meters tall, likely a mutated one, I was put in a dilemma.

Should I turn around and avoid fighting, or try to take them on? Without using my unassigned points, I was not that confident. Individually, I was not afraid even of the giant one, and I was sure I could take him on, but when it's a group fight and they gang up on me from all sides, the situation could be helpless.

Thinking and hesitating a little, I decided to see if I could fight them patch by patch. Bringing a couple of stones and throwing one at a normal zombie first to see the result, I saw it turn to the direction it was hit from and make some growling sounds. It started to walk, dragging some other zombies with it from the sound.

"It's a success," I said, relieved that the plan worked. I threw another one to keep their attention, and some other stones at the cars nearby to make more sounds and try to spread them out more.

Seeing the first group closing in, I readied my spear.

[You have killed Lv.2 Zombie]

[You have...]

Finishing the first group, I threw some stones again and started to hunt the second group.

[You have killed Lv.3 Zombie]

[You have...]

...

[You have reached Level 9]

[All attributes...]

Raising my level after finishing the second group, I looked toward the supermarket again. Seeing the zombies spread out, I went to them this time, starting with the strayed out ones first.

[You have killed...]

After killing a couple of them and seeing the giant zombie moving toward me, I turned around it, out-running it and hunting the other zombies.

[You have killed...]

[You have killed Lv.5 Zombie]

[You have earned 3200 Experience]

[You have reached Level 10]

[All attributes...]

Feeling my level rise and counting how many zombies were left aside from the giant zombie, I said, "Four. Finally, this fight is about to end." Running toward the remaining zombies and finishing them off, I said, "It's finally your turn," pointing my spear at the giant zombie.

"You know, I don't think I played this much push-pull game even with my ex-girlfriend."

Hearing his "screech" reply to my joke and feeling annoyed by how noisy it was, I started my attacks, making many cuts at his flesh. Even though they were shallow, I dodged his punch and distanced myself from him. Taking some breaths, I watched with a shudder the cracked ground where he punched.

I was sure that all it would take was one punch to send me reincarnating straight away. But seeing how slow the giant was, I was reassured. It's just a slightly more durable and slow zombie.

Continuing my spear attacks, it took a long time to finish it off.

[You have killed Lv.8 Giant Zombie]

[You have earned 7000 Experience]

[Your Basic Spearmanship has become Lv.3]

Feeling some experience of wielding the spear coming from my leveled-up skill and being exhausted from my prolonged battle, I sat down, breathing heavily as I tried to rest a little.

Thinking about the battle, I noticed how mentally demanding it was to stay on edge all the fight and try not to get even touched. But not finding any way other than learning some other skills to solve the problem, I gave up and and started reading all system messages. Seeing the difference amount of experience between the high level giant zombie and low level cat, I was reminded again how it was special. After contemplating a little I opened the status window.

[Status]

Name: Ellis Miller

Race: Human

Title: (Unique Monster Killer)

Level: 10 (EXP: 11,900/30,000)

[Attributes]

Strength: 26

Agility: 24

Stamina: 23

Vitality: 24

Mana: 58

Charm: 27

Luck: 20

Unassigned Points: 50

[Blessings: Subtle Soul Rebirth (☆☆☆)]

[Innate Talent: Evolutionary Pathways]

[Skills: (Basic Spearmanship Lv.3)