CHAPTER 09

After defeating the tiger zombie, Gary received 20 free stat points. He didn’t use them but kept them as available so he could use them all when needed.

[Name: Gary Lennon.

Title(s): Zombie Killer.

Age: 27.

Level: 20

XP: 110/200

HP: 1204/2100

STR(Strength): 759

STA(Stamina): 380

DEF(Defense): 330

SPD (Speed): 352

AGL(Agility): 301

Available stat points: 20

Energy Pot: Ghoul, Spider beast, lizard, zombie]

Though he killed more types of beasts, he didn’t absorb their energy as per Ai’s advise.

“I lost more than sixty percent of my health in the fight,” Gary thought. “After I leveled up, some of my health recovered, but it’s not much. Still, I can’t believe that even with my abnormally high strength stat, I was still overpowered by the tiger. If I hadn’t striked the spots that you told me to, I probably would have lost. The zombie’s defense was also stronger than me, how did I exactly win?”

[Simple. The thigh has joint points, and I made you strike there from the side, and the tiger zombie collapsed as a result. Next, we went after the neck as it’s one of the weakest points of any species. These are all the basics.]

Gary got back up and started walking even though his breath was still rugged. “If the survivors are all being turned into Guardians, then even Leah might have received a system. So, the seven keys will harm her if they find her.” He started scuttling. “I must find her.”

Gary’s resistance against zombies was now much higher, but the zombies were running away when they saw him. He didn’t chase them as their levels were below ten.

“I’m yet to find a single living person, except for that person that got caught and killed by the spider,” Gary thought. “Just how many people survived in this city?” He climbed up the nearest building that had ten floors. He went to the roof and looked around. The entire city was dotted with millions of trees, both small and big.

Some bird monsters were fighting in the distance. The whole city looked beyond saving.

“The city is too damn big. Where is Leah?” he couldn’t help but grind his teeth. “I must find her, but I feel powerless. What if I level up to 100 and am still not able to find her?”

[You are someone who’s going to travel the whole word to defeat the seven keys, so don’t be intimidated by this mere city!] Ai’s words greatly boosted his confidence.

“You are right. This city is nothing compared to the world,” Gary told himself. “I’m going to find Leah no matter where she is hiding in this city!”

SCREE~~!!

A ghastly loud noise pierced his ears and his very soul and paralyzed him. He couldn’t move.

A mighty huge black phoenix hovered over his head, high in the sky, and standing on it was a person who looked like a human being but was wearing clothes that looked otherworldly. He was flicking his fingers, sending dots of black light in every direction. The black lights sought the nearest living beings and turned them into different monsters, like zombies and ghouls and strange, ugly creatures. When the black lights couldn’t find any living being, they just turned into portals through which one-legged monsters and all kinds of strange monsters that Gary had never seen before began to pour out into this world.

Hordes of monsters kept pouring out.

In seconds, the phoenix flew away so fluidly yet so fast, Gary could no longer see it, but the entire city all around him was full of monsters of all kinds. Most of the streets and rooftops were filled with those.

Gary’s heart started racing like never before because he just couldn’t imagine Leah surviving a minute in this city, not after what he had just seen.

Anger embittered his heart. His gaze turned dark and cold. “What was that flying beast?” Gary clenched his fists. “I saw someone riding that beast.”

[The First Key. ‘Monster Maker’ Marut!] Ai answered. [To think the strongest key is the closest to you. Forget about defeating him first. He’s too strong for you.]

“Then what the hell am I supposed to do?” he frustratingly said.

[You can’t survive in this city anymore. There are too many monsters.] Ai blurted. [You should leave. Escape from this city. That’s the only way to survive.]

“I told you I’m not leaving this city without Leah!” Gary said. “There’s still twenty two hours left. I haven’t given up on her yet.”

[You think you can survive that long while searching around the city, traveling in the middle of the street?] Ai asked.

Gary frowned. “I have no other choice.”

A one-legged one-eyed monster entered the rooftop. After seeing Gary, its wide mouth grinned, and it licked its lips before lunging at him. It was fast.

[Watch out!] Ai yelled in worry.

Gary jumped forth and threw his fist right in its big eye, utterly destroying the eye, making the monster scream in horror. Gary swiveled and kicked it off the roof. Though it fell from ten floors high, it still didn’t die and kept screaming.

“What’s with its defense and vitality,” Gary frowned as many other monsters looked up at the rooftop. Thousands of them at the same time. “Shit.” His heart trembled.

[Yeah, you fucked up, you little shit!]