Lu Zhang tore through another zombie as Su Yao distracted them. It was getting easier and easier to kill zombies.
Even Su Yao had killed one, although it was a... messy affair to say the least.
At least they confirmed that others don't turn into zombies from the zombie's blood.
[Zombie Lv 2 killed!]
[Zombie Lv 1 killed!]
[Empty Fang Lv 1 -> Empty Fang Lv 2]
The level in Empty Fang had been sudden. Lu Zhang had just been messing around with the skill, trying to understand it's mechanics, when the level up happened.
He almost let a zombie get to his bait in his research fueled distraction.
'Was it because I was using the skill again and again, or because I was trying to understand it?'
'The former would be more convenient now, but annoying later, since games usually have the requirements for levelling up increase exponentially.'
'More importantly, not a single new crystal dropped from the zombies like the first one.'
'Until I find the next one, I won't know how rare it is to get a crystal like that.'
Lu Zhang was pulled out of his reverie as he arrived near the elevator. Signalling Su Yao to keep watch on the elevator and staircase, he slowly crep closer and closer towards the balcony overseeing the reception of the library, since they were on the second floor.
As expected, the lower floors were crawling with more zombies.
Some were even cannibalizing one another when bumping together.
The average level of a zombie on the ground floor was-
[Zombie Lv 5]
Despite this, Lu Zhang was distracted by something else.
[Wind Mantis Lv 9]
A giant green praying mantis lounged at the entrance, occasionally snapping up a zombie that wandered near it.
It's scythe-like arms and mandibles were so fast, that even with his upgraded Speed, Lu Zhang couldn't even catch more than a blur of green with their movements.
Yet, the rest of it's body didn't even move, simply resting.
'A boss monster huh?'
'In a way, being trapped in this library was lucky for us.'
'It's naturally emulating a tutorial zone of sorts, while the Wind Mantis' presence prevents other, more dangerous and less lethargic creatures from entering.'
Lu Zhang felt his heart beat a bit faster, as he looked at the grotesque mantis. At that moment, the mantis seemed to sense him somehow and looked back, it's compound eyes shining, but it disregarded his existence entirely.
'This boss... I have to kill it with my own hands.'
It wasn't just competitiveness.
He knew it would give better rewards, and that to survive in the world beyond this library, he needed more than just his current self.
'I need... to level up.'
Su Yao's frantic signal came as she gently tapped the wall, prompting Lu Zhang to look back.
The cause for her concern was revealed not long after.
A heavy thud rang out, as something began scaling the stairwell, one by one.
'A zombie?'
Lu Zhang didn't have to ponder on the origin for too long.
[Mutant discovered!]
[Blob Lv 5]
[Inspect Lv 1 -> Inspect Lv 2]
The Blob was big, bigger than any of the other zombies, and it was soon evident why.
Within it's giant, fat body that resembled its name too closely, multiple flailing zombie limbs could be seen, slowly being pulled deeper within the mass of flesh that was struggling to get up the stairs.
'Level 5... I wonder how much difference there is in our stats?'
'From how slow it is, it's Speed can't be above 3.'
'Let's level up at least once more before trying to hunt this one.'
Lu Zhang immediately began to leave, Su Yao already racing down the hallway, when the fat zombie's body began undulating strangely.
Suddenly, a chain of interlinked arms was shot out of its mouth, shooting forward quickly and grabbing Lu Zhang's ankle.
'?!'
Lu Zhang instictively swung his chair leg at the arm grabbing his leg as hard as possible.
[Empty Fan-
The chair leg shattered against the chain of arms, the energy projection of the fang dissipating into nothingness as Lu Zhang stared at the broken shards raining down around him with shock.
The arm tightened around his foot, as he looked up at the fat zombie's face, which seemed to be laughing at him through the trembling layers of fat.
'Screw you too.'
Lu Zhang cursed the zombie in his head as he was yanked backwards into the stairwell.
Right towards the Blob.
The zombies trapped within it's large body seemed to sense him, turning and writhing as they stretched out their arms, screeching and wailing in silence as they reached for him.
The grotesque chain retracted quickly, aiming to drag Lu Zhang into the mutant's maw.
Mid-air and without his weapon, Lu Zhang barely had any time to think. Despair flooded his being, its cold fingers entrenching themselves in his being.
'Is this how it ends?'
'At the hands of a Level 5 tutorial boss?'
'I suppose... there's nothing I can do.'
But that's just pathetic.
I have so much more I want to do.
So much more to see.
This new world looks so much more fun.
Fear is one of the most primal emotions a human has.
Arising from his core, a burning fear that staved off the encroaching despair.
Perhaps... he wasn't ready to give up just yet.
[I don't want to die.]
[Empty Fang]
The chain of arms was severed, tearing off at the elbow of the arm gripping him.
Lu Zhang narrowly avoided flying into the zombie's open mouth as he kicked off its head in a desperate move, his back hitting the stairway wall as he slid down just a few steps away from the mutant.
Surrounding his bloodied hand, was the familiar translucent shape of a beast's fang.
[Empty Fang Lv 2 -> Empty Fang Lv3]
It's decaying eye glared at him, as he looked back at it. Their deadlock remained for a while, the only sounds in the building being the zombies screeching and groans, with the occasional crunch and squelch.
A new, strangely out of place sound floated into Lu Zhang's ears, faint but nearby.
'Laughter? Who's laughing? The zombie?'
In his relief and focus, he didn't seem to realize, that the one laughing at him wasn't the trembling zombie.
"Haha~"
Lu Zhang's mouth was open, as he laughed softly.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Name: Lu Zhang]
[Level: 2]
[Strength: 5]
[Speed: 11]
[Intelligence: 6]
[Endurance: 5]
[Mana: 36/60]
[Skills: Inspect lv 2, Empty Fang Lv 3]
[New Function discovered!]
[Skills can be levelled up through a mix of continuous use and innate comprehension!]