Caspian came down to the 55th floor using his private penthouse elevator.
He had already informed Emma and Catherine to stay indoors, as Emma was a non-awakened, and Catherine, a non combatant.
He would definitely teach them to hunt and defend themselves, but now wasn't the time.
On the 55th, Emma's apartment floor.
Caspian inspected the last two apartments.
However, they were empty.
He didn't linger and soon descended to the 54th floor.
As he stepped out of the elevator----
A 6'2ft slender male zombie, charged at him through the corridor.
Caspian, whose stats were at five---
Seventeen times, stronger, faster, and more durable than your average man---
just stared blankly at the stupid zombie rushing to its death.
To test out his new 'analyse' system tool ....
He internalized the command---
'Analyse'
instantly, a white interface popped up in his mind—--
—-----
~~~~~[White Level Corrupted]~~~~~
[Name: Null]
[Life Level: Tier One]
[Race: Corrupted Human]
[Physique: 0.9]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-
"Weak," Caspian scoffed as he stepped out of the elevator ----
The zombie, mere inches from his face.
He didn't fire his shotgun—
He didn't need to—-
He simply took a little step to the side.
The zombie, charging head first, missed it's mark by a hairs breathe---- it's jagged teeth, snapping shut to a now empty space---
A space were Caspian's neck was only a nanosecond earlier.
Caspian, with his back to the zombie, that was now almost through the open elevator----
Span the shotgun in his right hand, aimed the butt to the zombie's skull---
Then swung like a tennis backhand.
Boom.
The zombie's head was blown apart by the overwhelming force behind Caspian's swing.
Its brain matter splattered all over the elevator's inside.
Then the corpse dropped flat.
—-----
[+10,000gc]
—------
"Shit!" Caspian facepalmed in realisation.
The inside of his elevator had been sullied badly.
"Note to self--- always step away from the elevator before blowing up a zombie's skull!" He mumbled as he dragged the corpse out----
Then he went inside an apartment that the door was wide open----
probably belonged to the zombie he just dispatched.
Caspian found some cleaning supplies, then began cleaning his elevator.
Caspian was a neat freak.
He couldn't bare riding the elevator to all the remaining floors, in that condition.
By the time he was done, thirty minutes had gone by---
it was already 3:00 pm.
Aside from the occasional Cautious peeping from the other four residents on the floor---
who had been hiding from the rampaging zombie in the corridor——
Nothing else happened.
Caspian soon descended to the 53rd floor.
All floors were identical in looks----
and like the one before, Caspian dispatched two white level zombies on this floor.
And thus began his systematic descent and slaughter jamboree.
The few survivors on these floors would come out when Caspian eliminates what threatens them, and ask some fear-driven questions like ----
'Are you from the millitary ?!'
'Do you know what the hell is going on ?!'
'Can you take me with you ?!' etc.
while others chose to remain hidden inside.
Caspina knocks on every apartment----
And when there was no reply.
He breaks into said apartment.
Sometimes he finds zombies.
Sometimes the apartment's empty.
Other times, the owner was just too frghtened to answer.
And Caspian had to explain and apologize several times, that he wasn't an intruder.
Well, he technically was..... But not that kind.
He came across zombies of all kinds.
Some in their pajamas.
Some in bras and panties.
Some alone and clothed, and others naked and in the throws of love making.
Caspian put them all out of their misery.
And like that, he made it to the 23rd floor.
All zombies Caspian dispatched so far, had all been white level corrupted.
They weren't much of a challenge, he simply breezed through.
It was already 6:15 pm when Caspian arrived on the 23rd floor.
Just as he stepped out, he caught sight of a group of three shady looking men.
The leading man unlocking one of the apartment, which means he probably owns it.
The security for every apartment was top notch... needing passwords, biometric scans, and even eye scans to get in.
Unless you are a walking tank like Caspian. there is no getting in through force.
The three men turned in his direction when they heard Caspian's elevator ding.
One had a bald head, with a snake tattoo ontop.
Another was fat and short.
The third, had half his face burnt.
They all had smudges of blood on their clothes.
The leading bald man, smiled as he walked forward to Caspian---
Stopping just a few paces from him.
"Hello. You must be the penthouse owner." The man spoke, stretching out his hands for a handshake.
Though Caspian caught a slight glimpse of greed in his eyes, which he immediately masked.
It wouldn't take a genius to know Caspian owned the penthouse---
He was currently riding in it's exclusive elevator.
Caspian stared down at the man's outstretched hand----
Then he spoke inside…..
'Analyse'
—------
~~~~~[Awakened Human]~~~~~
[Name: Rocco strain]
[Life Level: Tier One]
[Affiliations: Twin Axe Gang]
[Physique: 2.2]
[Mind: 2.3]
[Innate Talent: Physique Enhancement (grade: C) ( Lv. 1)
—-------
—--------
'A C-grade awakened!.
And one who has pushed both stats to two.' Caspian was mildly impressed.
Since the apocalypse had only just started.
However, on the outside, he wore a simple smile and shook the gang leader's hand.
"You must be from apartment 23B. Nice to meet you."
He returned the man's greeting, mentioning the apartment he came from.
"Nice to meet you too. I can see you've been busy."
Rocco spoke as he stared meaningfully at the shotgun Caspian held.
"Yeah. just keeping the building safe. " Caspian replied simply, as he pulled back his hand.
They both held eye contact for almost a minute.
Blue eyes to brown eyes, as the tension stretched.
Then the bald man spoke first.
"Well, don't let me keep you. Have a good one." Rocco uttered as Caspian stepped back in his elevator, heading for the lower floors.
He wasn't naive to think the bald man would simply bid him farewell----
He also wasn't that much bothered.
There were unspoken words between the both of them.
And if the man were wise, he would remain in his lane.
Caspian soon discovered the remainder floors were already clear of zombies.
He was certain the group he met were responsible.
Now, except for the zombies roaming the streets around the building----
The building was now safe.
Well... safe from zombies at least.
As he got into his penthouse corridor, Caspian pulled up his status window to check his gains.
—---
~~~~~[Status Window]~~~~~
[Name: Caspian Shade]
[Age: 21]
[Life Level: Tier One]
[Race: Human]
[Affiliations: None]
[BloodLine: Human]
[Physique: 5.5] (Humans have 0.3 on Avr.)
[Mind: 5.6] (Humans have 0.4 on Avr.)
[Soul: ????] (Humans have 0.2 on Avr.)
[Innate Talent: Gold Mine (grade: ????) ( Lv. 2)
___Lv 2
~10000X Gold Multiplier: {You Receive 10000X The Value For Every Gold Coin You Earn}
~Miner's Contract: {~~~}
~[Increase Talent Level ~ 10,000,000,000gc]~
]
{System Tools} [
[Inventory (Tier 1) 2/20]
[Analyse (Tier 1)]
]
[730,386gc]
—---
-----
"What an absurd talent!" Caspian blurted out in astonishment.
"I guess I can now splurge on some necessities in preparation," he mumbled excitedly, as he got back in his apartment.
The time was 7:15 pm.
—----------
Inside Apartment 23B
---
"Boss. Why did you let him leave?"
"He looked like he would have tons of gold coins on him!"
The short fat man, voiced in dissatisfaction from the corner of the room.
"Fool. You dare question me ?" Rocco yelled at the fat man from a very large seat, as he smoked a tobacco.
"No, Boss, I never dare….. It's just that, if we had just killed him and…"
"What do you know, you fool!" Rocco bellowed as he cut him off.
"For one, he's dressed like he's been planning for this disaster for a while.…
Two...he had a fucking shotgun. And who knows how many other weapon he might be hiding ?..."
"But we also have guns." The fat man mumbled.
"Let me finish, you idiot."
"Three.... It's the eyes.
His eyes were like a dead man's!
No fear, no hesitation. Not even a single flicker of emotion."
"That young man is dangerous!"Rocco finished with a solemn tone, and the room got quiet at the weight of his words.
Ever since they discovered killing someone would allow them inherit all their gold coins----
His twin axe gang, in addition to hunting down zombies----
Also hunted people who looked like they might have some coins.
They had strength in numbers, and a few of them were also awakened.
However, his survival instinct flared up to the maximum when he encountered that young man.
Ricco had always been a cautious man, and he would never initiate a battle he wasn't sure he could win.
"So, Boss, are you saying we let him go ?" the slender gang member, with a burnt face, spoke up this time----
As he licked the sharp edge of the small axe in his right hand.
"Of course not!. That guy is definitely swimming in gold coins!
What about the penthouse he's currently occupying…. Does he deserve that ?
Why would I let him go ?" Rocco erupted in a sanctimonious rant.
He was a careful man, but also an ambitious one.
That's how he built up his gang into what it is today.
Even though he found the young man unnerving----he was only one man.
Rocco had the numbers.
All he had to do was plan.
The two henchmen were smiling in satisfaction at their leader's manliness.
"We'll just take things carefully.
He's on the penthouse floor, and won't be going anywhere soon."
"Still, send Garo and MightyKong, let them go monitor the lobby and garage, just in case."
"Sure thing, Boss." The slender man responded and walked out of the room, still licking his short axe.
Rocco was smiling with confidence. He desired both the gold the young man had, and his penthouse.
All the apartments on the 23rd floor are already occupied by his gang members.
He will allow the other residents remain in the building, so he can systematically use them to grind gold coins....
They can call it payment for protection and maintenance fees.
But he had to have the penthouse floor.
A king deserves a befitting palace.