Harvest in Zombie Village

"Roar!"

One after another, zombies clad in tattered garments shuffled forward with unsteady steps, advancing towards Anna and Emily.

Emily took a deep breath, her hands forming a magical array. 

This was the skill [Ice Array] she had acquired as a magus, capable of inflicting 50 points of damage per second to enemies within its range, along with a 30% slow effect. 

It was perfectly suited for control.

Anna, seizing the opportunity created by Emily's slowing field, drew arrows from her quiver, launching them towards the sluggish zombies. 

One by one, the zombies were struck down, struggling briefly before falling silent in death.

However, as the magic of the arrows lodged in their foreheads faded, the zombies stirred back to life. 

Removing the arrows from their heads, they once again lumbered towards the two girls' line of attack.

Such was the mystical nature of Zombie Village; every fallen zombie would rise again.

But Emily paid no heed to this, intensifying the output of her magical array. 

Her eyes even showed traces of bloodshot excitement, a result of her blood coursing rapidly in extreme exhilaration.

It was happening! It was really happening!

If the pace of leveling up with others before could be likened to a babbling brook, then the speed of advancement by Henry's side was like the surging River.

The gate to level 17, hindered by the increasing number of fallen zombies, was being relentlessly broken through.

With a thunderous sensation, Emily felt a sudden clarity in her mind. 

She had broken through! 

The level 17 that had stalled her for two months, she had finally conquered!

And at that moment, a vivid notification emerged in her mind:

"You have awakened your second hidden skill [Frozen World]: At the cost of consuming 60% of your current MP, you can claim the lives of all hostile creatures within 100 meters with HP below 5000."

Emily paused for a moment, then couldn't help but swallow hard.

Had she just awakened some kind of divine skill?

A wave of zombies was repelled by Emily and Anna, giving the two a brief respite as no new zombies approached. 

Emily, shedding her previous aloof demeanor, enthusiastically hovered around Henry, expressing concern and warmth.

"It seems you've had a good haul, have you leveled up?" Henry asked casually.

Emily replied excitedly, "I'm now level 18, and I've even awakened my second hidden skill."

Upon hearing the effects of Emily's second hidden skill [Frozen World], Henry too was momentarily stunned. 

It was simply too powerful. 

While 5000 HP might not seem high, the ability to affect every creature within a hundred meters was extraordinary; whether it's one monster or a thousand, they could be annihilated in an instant.

"Try using this skill later, let's see how effective it is," he suggested.

Emily hesitated, "But this skill will drain 60% of my MP in an instant. If we encounter risks later, my defensive capabilities might not suffice."

"Don't worry, the overall danger level of the Zombie Village dungeon isn't that high. Even with 40% of your energy left, considering the current rate these zombies are appearing, I'm confident I can help you gain two levels," Henry reassured her.

Reassured by Henry's promise, Emily relaxed considerably.

Soon enough, the second wave of zombies arrived as expected. 

Emily and Anna first cleared out the scattered zombies around them, then waited for the majority to draw near. 

As they entered her casting range, Emily took a deep breath and used the skill [Frozen World].

Instantly, the moving zombies turned into ice sculptures, standing motionless and dumbfounded.

"Ding! You have killed 32 zombies, earning 221,000 experience points. Your level has increased to lv19."

She had leveled up again!

Emily almost leaped up in excitement, but she managed to restrain herself. 

Gaining two levels in a single day was beyond her wildest dreams. 

Based on her past experience, this progress would have taken months.

"He didn't lie to me, he really can help me level up quickly."

Emily looked at Henry, her heart filled with gratitude, and without realizing it, a hint of dependency had crept in. 

Meanwhile, Henry also reaped significant benefits, acquiring several items with extraordinary abilities.

"Congratulations on obtaining the [Death Scepter]: Wielding this item allows communication with the underworld, harnessing the power of the deceased, and commanding all corpses within a 100-meter radius to remain in an undying state."

"Congratulations on obtaining the [Elder Relic]: A mysterious artifact of power, once carried by a significant figure. Possessing this item may bring fortune."

"Congratulations on obtaining the [Dark Armor]: Wearing this item increases HP by 10,000 points, and neutral dark creatures will develop a certain level of fondness for you."

A huge windfall!

Henry looked at the rare items infused with mysterious powers in front of him, marveling at the terrifying extent of his ability to amplify gains. 

Now, with two female hidden class members in his team, his gains were at a minimum 200 times what they would normally be.

"At this rate, it won't be long before I become a high-level awakener," Henry thought.

As he was pondering, the zombies, previously frozen into ice sculptures, broke free from their control and sprang back to life!

Anna, with her bow and arrows, spoke in shock, 

"How is this possible so soon? It doesn't make sense, by my calculations, they shouldn't be able to resurrect for at least another three minutes."

The revived zombies, as if crazed, surged towards the trio.

Anna and Emily hastily used their skills to fend off the approaching zombies, but their efforts were barely effective. 

They realized more zombies were emerging from the darkness, joining the assault on the trio. 

The entire village's deceased had risen!

Henry, sensing the danger, rolled off his hammock and spoke gravely, 

"Let's go. Some sort of anomaly is occurring in this dungeon. We shouldn't linger in this misfortune; let's leave now."

The three fought as they retreated, quickly reaching the dungeon's exit. 

Just as they were about to leave, the zombies suddenly stopped in their tracks, their eyes still fiercely fixed on the trio. 

One could even see a faint dark blue flame deep within their eye sockets.

"Algado!" a grotesque zombie suddenly shouted.

Then more zombies echoed the call, chanting in unison.

"Algado!"

"Algado!"

...

The trio left the dungeon with their hearts pounding. 

Emily was still shaken. 

"What just happened? I've been to this zombie dungeon at least ten times, and it's never been this insane."

Henry furrowed his brow, trying to deduce something from the details. 

"Perhaps something triggered them. Remember the origin of this zombie tribe? They were hanged by a noble."

"Just now, they might have seen or heard something related to that noble, which is why they got so agitated."

"If I'm not mistaken, those last words they were shouting could be the name of that noble."

"Algado."

Anna sighed and said, "Such a terrible noble, to have hanged an entire village's worth of people. No wonder they harbor so much resentment."

"Which of us do you think communicated with these zombies? It must have been something we did."

"Well, it certainly wasn't me."

Henry joked, "Of course, unless the zombies thought my sleeping in the hammock was disrespectful to them, then I admit it."

Emily pondered deeply for a moment, then a realization struck her. 

"Do you think it could be because of the hidden skill I awakened?"

[Frozen World]?

Henry thought for a moment and found it quite plausible. 

"Perhaps the noble who hanged the villagers was also a hidden magus class, and your newly awakened [Frozen World] skill is of the same nature."

A character from a dungeon with a hidden magus class?

Emily couldn't recall any dungeon character like that.

"Anyway, despite some dangers, our trip to the dungeon turned out to be quite fruitful," she concluded.

"We should head back and rest for now. Let's find some time later to go out together and sell these items we don't need," Henry suggested.

"Why not go now? It's still early, and we have plenty of time," Emily asked, puzzled.

With a mischievous smile, Henry pulled Anna into his embrace and looked at Emily playfully. 

"After a great battle, I need a session of lovemaking to relieve my fatigue."