Apple of Vitality
1053 Words
[Mortal-Rank Skill Book (Lvl 1) – Small Fireball]
[Description: Releases a small fireball to attack enemies. A basic offensive spell commonly practiced by mage-class professions. Before upgrading to Level 2, can only be used once every 3 days.]
[Sell Value: 100 System Coins]
Raiden studied the book, turning it over in his hands. The skill was fire-based, which didn't suit his combat style. He relied on close-quarters swordsmanship, not magic.
"This skill is not suited for me," Raiden muttered.
Mira and Kade approached, curiosity on their faces.
"What is that?" Kade asked.
Raiden raised the skill book. "It's a Level 1 Mortal-Rank Skill Book. Small Fireball. Which one of you wants it?"
Mira looked at the book, then shook her head. "Let Kade have it. I don't need it. I'm better with the sword."
Kade's eyes widened. "Are you sure? This seems valuable."
"Take it," Raiden said, holding it out. "You'll make better use of it than me."
Kade accepted the book carefully, like it might explode in his hands. "Thanks, man. I owe you one."
"Don't worry about it." Raiden placed the five System Coins in his inventory and stood. "Let's keep moving."
They'd only taken a few steps toward the dormitory when more movement caught their attention.
Zombies wandering in from the surrounding neighborhood were drawn by the sounds of combat.
Raiden counted them quickly. "Twelve more."
"Charge!" Mira shouted, already breaking into a run.
If they didn't break through this group, they wouldn't reach the dormitory entrance. And who knew how many more zombies would show up if they waited.
Mira's speed was impressive. She took long strides, quickly pulling ahead of Kade. Her agility stat was clearly high.
But Raiden was faster.
He surged forward like a god of war, overtaking both Mira and Kade in seconds. His sword was already raised as he closed the distance to the zombie group.
The first zombie barely had time to react before Raiden's blade came down like a guillotine. The head separated cleanly from the body and flew through the air, trailing foul black blood.
[You have killed a Level 2 Spirit Circle Zombie and acquired its mana]
"Your swordsmanship is amazing!" Mira called out as she and Kade caught up.
Raiden didn't have time to respond. He was already moving to the next target.
A female zombie lunged at him, mouth open in a silent scream. Raiden sidestepped and brought the pommel of his sword around in a brutal strike. The metal handle smashed into the zombie's temple with a sickening crunch, snapping its head to the side at an unnatural angle.
The creature collapsed.
[You have killed a Level 3 Spirit Circle Zombie and acquired its mana]
Mira arrived beside him, her sword flashing out like a striking snake. The blade caved in a zombie's skull with surgical precision.
Kade fired twice from behind them, dropping two more zombies.
The trio worked together seamlessly. Within moments, eight of the twelve zombies lay dead on the ground.
The remaining four turned and shambled after them, but the group was already moving, breaking through the blockade and rushing toward the dormitory.
"Hurry!" Mira urged, glancing back at the pursuing zombies.
More were coming. The noise had drawn them from all directions. If they got surrounded here in the open, they were dead.
"Wait," Raiden said suddenly, stopping.
"What are you doing?!" Kade shouted. "We need to move!"
But Raiden had spotted something. Near one of the corpses they'd just killed, a small object glowed faintly.
[Apple of Vitality detected]
He bent down and snatched it up, shoving it into his inventory without looking.
[Apple of Vitality acquired]
"Now we can go!" Raiden sprinted after Mira and Kade.
They broke through the zombie wave, cutting down six more wandering zombies along the way, and finally reached the dormitory entrance.
But they weren't safe yet.
Ten zombies stood in front of the building, clustered near the entrance. They were all female students, and their uniforms were torn and bloodied.
The zombies turned as one when they heard footsteps.
"What a pity," Kade said quietly, looking at the group of young women. Their faces, once full of life and youth, were now twisted and ruined. Chunks of flesh missing. Eyes vacant and dead. "They were supposed to have their whole lives ahead of them. Now they're just... this."
Raiden didn't share Kade's sentimentality. He'd already accepted the harsh reality that these weren't people anymore. They were threats. And threats needed to be eliminated.
He moved forward without hesitation, sword raised.
The first zombie came at him with outstretched arms. Raiden's blade flashed in a perfect horizontal arc, separating the head from the shoulders. The head flew several meters before hitting the ground.
[You have killed a Level 3 Spirit Circle Zombie and acquired its mana]
Mira burst into motion like a whirlwind, diving straight into the group of zombies. Her sword moved with incredible speed, striking like a viper. She smashed the pommel into one zombie's temple, caving in the skull. The creature dropped instantly.
Another zombie grabbed at her from behind. Mira spun, her blade cutting a clean arc through the air. The zombie's head tilted at an impossible angle, nearly severed, before it collapsed.
Raiden penetrated deeper into the group, his movements efficient and brutal. He ducked under a clumsy swipe, then drove his sword up through a zombie's jaw and into its brain. He yanked the blade free and spun, slashing across two zombies at once. Both heads rolled free.
[You have killed a Level 2 Spirit Circle Zombie and acquired its mana]
[You have killed a Level 4 Spirit Circle Zombie and acquired its mana]
[You have killed a Level 3 Spirit Circle Zombie and acquired its mana]
Kade provided cover fire, picking off zombies that got too close to either Mira or Raiden. His rifle cracked three times, and three zombies dropped with destroyed skulls.
Within thirty seconds, all ten zombies lay dead at their feet.
Raiden stood among the corpses, chest heaving slightly. Blood dripped from his sword blade, pooling on the ground.
The entrance to the girls' dormitory was clear.
"Let's go," Raiden said, already moving toward the doors. "We don't have much time before more show up."
Mira and Kade followed, stepping carefully over the bodies.
- Writer
