Chapter 5 - F-rank

*Echoing voice*

"Hey, son?"

"Hey, let me sleep."

There was suddenly a strong cold feeling on his face, which woke him up.

"Ah! Which bastard destroyed my s-sleep!?"

His father was sitting in front of him with a cold aura besides him that scared the shit out of James.

"Fa-Father? Um, why are you staring me like that?" He tried to move his hand, but it was numb and tied to the chair legs.

"Wait, wait! Why am I tied up!?" questioned James with a doubtful expression on his face.

His father replied him positively with that creepy smile of his, "Son, did you get bitten anywhere?"

James was shocked to hear this question.

"Huh! What are you talking about!? If I was bitten would I come back home?"

"Son, are you sure!?"

James shouted out loud, "Yes, I am fine."

There was a pause in his father's speech, and he finally untied the ropes. Then, he knocked on the door, "He is fine, everyone can come inside."

His mother ran towards him in a hurry and asked whether he felt any discomfort anywhere.

"No, mom! I am fine."

The neighbor was stood at the door and they both smiled at each other.

After explaining everything that happened in the store except the F-rank zombie, he laid down on the floor with everyone for a sleep.

Inside the Library space...

"System, Show me my status."

*Ding*

"Name: James Smith

Experience Points: 560

Spiritual Energy Strands: 16

Rank: None

Skills: Spiritual Devour (SSS), Three Style Boxing (E),

Spot(F)

Strength: 3

Defense: 5

Agility: 3

Spirit: 10

Intelligence: 7"

*Ding*

"Congratulations, Host. You have gained the F-rank skill 'Spot' after clearing the low rank nest.

Description- It can show the weak spots of the target. It will not react towards the targets that higher than the host."

He was feeling worth it after learning a new skill.

"What are the uses of those spiritual energy strands? "

"Host, You can use it to enhance skills, objects, and even your stats."

"Then use them to enhance the skill 'Three Style Boxing'."

"Host, your body will shatter if the skill is enhanced again. It is preferred that you reach the stats of at least an F-rank. To reach the F-rank, all your stats should be 10."

"Fine! Enhance my stats."

*Ding*

"Strength: 3-->10

Spiritual Energy Strands: 16-->9

Defense: 5-->10

Spiritual Energy Strands: 9-->4

Agility: 3-->7

Spiritual Energy Strands: 0"

"Host, You don't have enough Spiritual Energy Strands to reach F-rank. Hunt more zombies. You will be unconscious because of the modifications of the stats for a while."

The system panel vanished, and he fell unconscious right away. Early morning, he woke up and found out that his body was sweating again. He washed up and was called upon by his father the moment he came out from his room.

"Hey, son! The military personnel have created a shelter to secure the civilians." His father went on about the details that he heard from the radio.

He came to a conclusion that James would go out to scout the surroundings and secure a safe route to the shelter.

It was the perfect excuse and opportunity for James, so he agreed without any ifs and buts. His father was happy from his decision.

He gave him his bag while pushing him outside the house and closed the door in front of his face.

For a moment, James felt homeless and helpless because of his father's enthusiasm, but he didn't mind much as he knew that his father believed in him.

He gripped his bat tightly and went on with his killing spree again with the help of his newly acquired skill 'Spot'. He was able to kill the normal zombies in a single hit, but there were no ranked zombies he could find to test his strength.

"System, will I fall unconscious again if I enhance my stats now?"

"Host, you will not fall unconscious after you reach F-rank as long as you don't enhance too many starts at the same time."

"Then, can I enhance the skill 'Spot'?"

"Yes, Host. You can enhance it."

"Then enhance it to the limit of my body."

*Ding*

"The skill 'Spot' F-rank has absorbed Thirty Four Spiritual Energy Strands and evolved E-rank"

The skill 'Spot' was not a combat skill, but it would show the weak spots of the body with red dots. It evolved to the D-rank and stopped evolving further due to the body limitations. He never got tired, and he accumulated a lot of Experience Points.

"Name: James Smith

Experience Points: 830

Spiritual Energy Strands: 43

Rank: None

Skills: Spiritual Devour (SSS), Three Style Boxing (E),Spot(F)

Zombies Killed: 47-->83

Strength: 10

Defense: 10

Agility: 7

Spirit: 10

Intelligence: 7"

James cleared almost every zombie in his neighborhood from apartments to houses, and he returned home before the sunset. He gave all the resources he could carry and went to sleep quickly.

"Host, You have accumulated enough Spiritual Energy Strands to reach F-rank. Would you like to commence the advancement."

James smiled and replied, "Yes"

*Ding*

"Agility: 7-->10

Spiritual Energy Strands: 43-->40

Intelligence: 7-->10

Spiritual Energy Strands: 40-->37"

*Ding*

"You have fulfilled the requirements of acquiring the F-rank. Your body will temporarily be unconscious for the adjustments."

The system vanished again and he fell unconscious. He woke up and there were a lot of system alerts.

*Ding*

"Congratulations, Host. You have reached the F-rank."

*Ding*

"Congratulations, Host. You can now take any F-rank skill once a month from the library."

*Ding*

"Congratulations, Host. You can now exchange the Experience Points in the system shop."

*Ding*

"The skill 'Spiritual Devour' can now extract skills once a month. The skill should not exceed the rank of host's."

*Ding*

"The skill 'Spot' can now show the status window of people around the host."

"System, Will I get more rewards after reaching higher ranks?"

"Yes, Host."

"Okay. Open me the library."

There was a huge mountain of books organized. These books were in different columns from combat, defense, support and more.

*Ding*

"There are a total of 3 million skills, including all ranks. There are a total of 1 million F-rank skills. Host should choose among these."

He was dumbfounded after hearing the amount of total skills.

"System, can I give these skills to others?" asked James with a hope hung on his face.

"Yes, Host. You can."

"Then find me a skill relating to construction, please. " He said without any second thoughts.

*Ding*

"Skill: The Dwarf's Successor

Rank: F-rank (Evolvable)

Description: The one who is worthy of this skill will start everything from scratch. The potential to reach a high rank depends on the willpower and knowledge of the worthy one. "

"What does this description mean? "

"Host. The description will be more accurate when its rank improves. Do you want to take this skill? "

"Yes"

The system vanished and there was a book in his hands that couldn't be opened. He took it for his mother, who was a construction manager.

"Mom, I got this from a zombie after I killed it. I think it will suit you well."

"How do I open it?"

"You need to place it on your head."

She didn't hesitate and placed the skill book at her head. The skill book disappeared.

*Ding*

"Name: Emily Smiths

Rank: None

Skill: The Dwarf's Successor

Rank: F(Evolvable) -->A(Evolvable)

Description: The successor has surpassed the limits of an expert, which resulted in the skill to rank up instantly."

James was shocked from his mother's skill, instantly ranking up.