[PATH 2 HAS BEEN CHOSEN!]
A breath later...
[NEW SKILLS UNLOCKED!]
Kael fought through the pain wracking his body as he continued reading the system messages before him.
[IGNITION FIST (ACTIVE): Consumes five units of ENERGI, allowing the user to ignite their arms with flames using fire laws. Each strike releases explosive heat on impact. Scales with Strength and fire law comprehension. Current Rank: Rare]
[EMBER REGENERATION (PASSIVE): Fire ENERGI circulates within the user's body like living embers, stimulating cellular regeneration. The higher the user's Vitality and fire law comprehension, the stronger the regeneration effect. Current Rank: Rare]
Kael barely finished reading the second message when he felt a heat spread from his heart throughout his body.
Soon after, a smoky light rose up from the back of his head, the scratches on his body where the stone splinters had injured him, and from the mouth of the monster who was still gnawing on what was left of his—well—left arm.
The drowsy feeling Kael had been fighting against slowly disappeared as his injuries healed at a speed visible to the eyes.
At the same time, a counter flashed before him.
[ENERGI: 23/25]
[ENERGI: 20/25]
'Shit...'
'My energy is going down.'
Despite what Kael assumed was his passive skill doing its work, he could feel that his left arm showed no sign of regeneration.
Although it didn't help that the zombie's fangs were still digging into it with fervor, reopening healing flesh.
'This bastard.'
Kael didn't hesitate. It didn't take a genius to know that he couldn't allow his energy to drop low.
"IGNITION FIST!"
With his right hand still pinned behind him, he had no choice but to use his skill on his arm still inside the creature's mouth.
The result came instantly.
He didn't need to ponder on some bullshit laws. He didn't need to create the skill himself.
The action of activating the skill was almost automatic.
Kael couldn't help but feel a bit angry at the authors of the novels he read. They made the dire situations main characters face appear non-threatening, allowing the MC to come up with any solution on the spot.
And that had almost cost him his life.
—ROAR!
A painful grunt escaped the zombie's disgusting lips as it recoiled backward, letting go of him.
Kael's eyes widened slightly at the light-golden flames that covered his half-limb. He didn't feel any unbearable heat from it. If anything, his arm felt warm.
—GRA!!
The zombie's actions quickly drew Kael's attention.
It clawed at its face in pain, its movements patting away the small ember burning at its mouth.
Kael quickly sprang into action.
His body lunged forward, the anger feeding into the adrenaline rushing through his body.
Using what was left of his arm, he threw the undead onto the ground, his body climbing on it, and his limb pressing down on its neck to restrain it.
—GRR!
The zombie's claws drew blood across his body as it tried to shove him away, but Kael gathered all the strength he could muster and remained seated like a mountain.
"IGNITION FIST!"
[ENERGI: 15/25]
His right arm, now released, drew backward as Kael clenched his fist tightly, golden flames coating his knuckle, a battle cry containing all his emotions resounding out of his bloodied mouth.
"DIE!"
His fist rocketed downward, golden fire streaking through the air as it smashed toward the zombie's head.
—FWOOSH!
But before the fist could connect, two jets of flames erupted from the zombie's feet once more, carrying them both into the air before Kael was flung aside into a closed door of the laboratory.
—BAM!
Kael collided side-first with the wooden door as a wave of pain flashed through his body. Still, he bore through the pain with gritted teeth, his eyes not leaving the zombie, who flew to the other side of the corridor.
'What the fuck?'
'What kind of apocalypse is this? Since when did zombies become so badass?!'
Countless questions passed through Kael's mind, with no one there to answer them.
Kael watched the zombie roll like a ragdoll on the ground, and he knew he had to act.
His energy was running low, not to mention he was yet to use the last activation of his Ignition Fist, golden flames still dancing on his right arm.
He quickly scrambled gracelessly onto his feet as he ran with all his strength.
He was just about to reach the entrance of the staircase, his eyes still fixed on the zombie on the other side, now rising to its feet.
Before Kael could react, a new zombie suddenly lunged at him from the side entrance, its unnaturally long tongue flickering outside as it snarled at him.
"Aah~"
Kael released a girlish cry out of fear as a new wave of panic was about to set in. But he quickly forced the emotion down, gathered himself, and threw his still-burning fist forward, his body subconsciously flying into the air, his frame poised for a superman punch.
—BANG!
—FWOOSH!
The fist connected directly with the side of the zombie's head, caving it inward as a small burst of flames erupted from the point of impact.
Blood splattered onto Kael's face, and the smell of burnt flesh drifted into his nose.
The creature's body was sent flying into the side railing of the stairs, blood splashing into the surroundings.
Its body was twisted into a strange shape as it slid slowly onto the ground, blood soon pooling beneath it.
[LV 2 ZOMBIE(COMMON) KILLED!]
[2 EXP GAINED!]
—ROAR!
The first zombie growled at him, pulling Kael out of his shock.
'I did that?'
Seeing the annoying undead lunge at him once more, Kael quickly threw aside the thought for the moment.
Encouraged by the power he just displayed, he ran toward the approaching monster, the distance between them swiftly bridged.
"IGNITION FIST!"
[ENERGI: 10/25]
He tried to simulate his previous superman punch, but this time he activated his skill on his missing limb, golden flames erupting around it and the pointed bone jutting out from its front end.
Alas, Kael was not a fighter, and his previous action was more chance and instinct driven by the circumstances than actual skill.
Before his feet could push off the ground, his body slipped as he fell helplessly and slid forward from the inertia.
Thankfully, despite his mistake, the situation still worked in his favor.
At the same time he fell, the zombie jumped at him, its body harmlessly flying above him.
Kael was safe, but the same couldn't be said for the undead.
Surprised by his sudden slip, Kael had tried to adjust himself. Of course, he failed to, but his arms still flailed around as he tried to orient himself.
And as fate would have it, the bone jutting out of his raised left arm cut directly into the zombie's chest, flames scorching flesh as the bone cut across its torso from both of their movements.
Blood, intestines, and other strange fluids poured onto Kael as both bodies passed each other.
[LV 1 ZOMBIE(ELITE) KILLED!]
[3 EXP GAINED!]
*****
AN: Thank you for reading. Vote power stones if you enjoyed the chapter😁.