I gather my senses. I focus only on the surroundings of the building we are in. And after stretching a little, I sit back down.
-Will we get out of this alive? -Watson asks quietly.
-If we're careful. There's a chance. I can't say whether it's high or low. -I reply realistically, seeing no need to lie.
The zombies that were near our building headed toward the small camp on the outskirts of Area 4.
"Thanks, Ryan, for creating the perfect camouflage. Someday I'll repay you," I think sarcastically, considering how hilarious it all turned out to be.
••••
Several hours passed, and the various noisy sounds coming from the small camp stopped.
The clouds are dispersing.
-Dan. If a stage 2 evolved zombie approaches, we'll be in trouble. -Watson tells me.
-Damn. You're right. We've been lucky, or there are so many cores in the small camp that they turned their attention there. -I say as I look at the backpack Watson has been carrying the whole way.
"It's a lot of money. I'm not giving it up easily," I think, looking at the window. It will be dark soon.
-Don't worry. I'll keep watch during the night. Just sleep. I need you to be ready. Tomorrow we'll have to run if the trucks show up. And if an evolved zombie tries to get close to our money, I'll take care of it. -I say sincerely. I plan to eat and fuck when I get back. Some zombies aren't going to ruin my fun.
It's 12:13 a.m., and laughter can be heard between the small camp on the outskirts of Area 4 and our building.
"What terrible luck! I would have preferred an evolved zombie approaching with its horde. If that thing comes, the chances of me enjoying my money are slim," I think to myself, and then I say to Watson:
"Run with the backpacks to the trucks. Whatever happens, don't let them take them from you. I'll be back."
I draw Scarlet Rose. It hasn't been long, but she has helped me a lot.
Watson seems to want to ask what's going on, but the laughter heard near the building where we are answers him.
I stretch a little more. And then I start down the stairs.
"Yes, the Smiling son of a bitch chose us," I think as I approach the exit of the building.
"If you're not born lucky, you have to go out and find it or die trying. Because a life without luck is shit," I think, and then I ask the system, "How many fear points do I have?"
[Fear points available: 2.93]
"Sell me two health pills."
Two writhing larvae appear in my hand. I put them in my pants pocket and leave the building.
Laughter!
••••
"Damn, I haven't felt this way since the days when I was an athlete or when I fought with troublemakers who tried to humiliate me. Those were the days," I stop rambling in my thoughts and look at the Smiling One, who is wearing an elegant blue and black dress with a black wide-brimmed hat.
"Yes, she's a woman, Smiling One. Or so it seems with those two big breasts. The important thing is to know if she's the fighting type or the magical type..." As I had sharpened my senses before leaving the building, I jump shortly after the Smiling One does and start running towards the deepest part of area 4, under the light of the two moons.
I only run using my endurance, trying to save my fear for the moments when I need it most.
I jump again, this time using a little fear, and as I fall, I continue running using my endurance.
I heard a crack behind me. It must have been caused by the black claws on the Smiler's fingertips.
"A killer fighter," I think to myself as I scan my surroundings to make sure there are no evolved zombies heading toward the building where Watson keeps our backpacks with money.
I jump again, and not far away, I hear the clash between two groups.
I run toward the conflict. When I arrive, I see a group of aspirants surrounded by a group of zombies.
The group is made up of members of the Black Star guild.
-Smiley! -I shout as I join the seven.
-Who the hell...?
Bang!
Screams!
The eyes of the guy with the shaved head and dark skin who tried to ask me something are now on the nails of the Smiling One, who devours the eyes I pluck out one by one, as if they were marshmallows.
One of the aspiring hunters in the group pees herself when she sees the scene, and her black pants get wet.
-Wow, you really wet yourself. -I say sarcastically, since it's better for the six of them to be angry than to remain scared.
The Smiling One tore apart the zombies around him with his black nails, from which a cutting energy emanated.
The eyeless guy who was swinging his sword erratically was dragged away by the Smiling One, who began to rip the skin off his face in front of us.
Screams!
There are still zombies attacking the group. I destroy some zombies with my fists. A warrior with his sword and another with an axe destroy other zombies. Behind us are three sorceresses and a sturdy guy who is 1.65 meters tall and carrying a bag.
The magicians cast simple ice or fire spells, nothing surprising, I guess because they are all D-rank or lower.
The fireballs and icicles hold back the zombies approaching in the distance, while the warriors hold back the zombies nearby.
-Don't use up all your mysterious energy!That thing is still there! -says the warrior with the sword.
We can hear the crunching sounds every time the Smiling One bites off a finger of the aspiring hunter in her hands.
The mage who had wet herself falls to her knees, terrified.