Chapter 10: Flash Step
Currently, three men were in the storage room of a minimarket. One was leaning against the wall holding a notebook in his hands as he read it attentively.
Another one was sitting cross-legged on the floor trying to enter a meditative state. The third one was attempting to control his mana as he was happy in one moment and confused in the next.
They were Dave, Adam, and Brian, respectively, each minding their own businesses. Dave looked through his notebook which he started right before the apocalypse.
It had information about different types of monsters showing their names, strengths, and weaknesses as well as information relating to different events with approximate dates of them.
The classification of zombies was also written in the copybook. There was only one type of zombies in the beginning and they can be classified as level 1 monsters. They were dull and savage.
Zombies may evolve down three paths. It could become a strength-type zombie, giant, a speed-type zombie, hunter, or a balanced-type zombie, ghoul.
Giants were extremely strong and tough, while hunters were extremely agile. Ghouls were something middle between two types. They were a stronger and faster version of ordinary zombies.
If ordinary zombies were classified as level 1, then evolved zombies were a level higher than them.
Because evolved zombies were able to grow stronger eating humans, they were classified into ranks. High-leveled survivors were especially useful for their evolution.
Rank 1 evolved zombies were between levels 1 and 10, while the rank 2 evolved zombies had levels from 11-20. The giant he had killed in the library amounted to level 3 since it increased his level by one.
'I can easily handle a middle rank 1 giant with my current strength stat, yet I'm still lacking in agility to kill a rank 1 hunter.'
As he pondered about that problem, he started writing down and grouping skills from his past life because his Regression was able to transfer them to him.
'Why didn't I remember it before? It is ideal for the initial stage. '
The sudden realization had struck Dave as he recalled a skill from his past life. It was a skill that was taught to him by one of his hunter friends.
It may be rude when it comes to the technique itself, but it was effective and practical during fights at the initial stages.
"Brian, are there any monsters around us?"
Checking his surroundings, Dave wanted to quickly try the skill but the storage was too small for it.
"There are few of them around us, but with your strength, I doubt that they will cause you any problems."
Brian had already sent several Life Pulses in an attempt to control it, so he had completely memorized the positions of all living creatures surrounding them.
"Then, I will go out for a bit. I want to try something."
With such words, Dave rushed out of the minimarket. Going slightly further from the market, Dave tried to perform the skill.
'How was it? Gather the strength of your legs and kick off from the ground.'
As he followed the instructions, Dave focused his strength on his legs and with one step, rushed forward. He saw the scenery around him blur as he appeared 5 meters away from his initial position.
He nearly stumbled in the middle but was able to keep his balance at the last moment.
[You have learned a Flash Step (LVL 1)]
[Regression is reacting towards your new skill]
[Your agility is too low to increase the level of Flash Step (LVL 1)]
When he heard consecutive system notifications, Dave was slightly surprised.
'It seems that I should add more free points in agility. I forgot that a Flash Step requires the minute difference between strength and agility stats.'
Dave thought it was already a miracle that he learned it. One more point in strength and he would have definitely failed.
In his past life, he was able to improve his Flash Step skill to level 3 and found it harder to further increase its level. Later, he even forgot about it since it wasn't helpful anymore.
The only disadvantage of the skill was that it used a lot of stamina straining the body of a user. Using it only once, Dave already felt how exhaustion crept over his body.
As he already learned the skill, Dave decided to return to the storage room. Entering the room, he saw that both Adam and Brian grew tired of their training as they were resting on the floor.
"Dave, move quicker! We've been waiting for you, so we can eat together."
When Brian finally saw Dave, he beamed with happiness. It seemed that Brian was the one who waited to eat the most.
They unpacked some of the boxes and found canned food, chocolate, and bottles of mineral water. Both Adam and Brian ate it hastily, while Dave was more reserved.
As they finished several cans of food, Adam and Brian still looked somewhat hungry, even though they ate more slowly than before.
"I'm sure, both of you rested enough. After half hour, we will go hunting, so rest as much as you can."
As both of them ate another can of food, Dave decided to stop them.
"Okay"
Both of them nodded their heads because they were itching for action. Indeed, it was much safer inside the storage room, but it was too boring being in one room for a long time and Dave understood them clearly. Previously, he was trapped inside the room for several days.
After half hour of rest, they left the storeroom and locked it with a key which they found in a staff room.
"Brian, your time to shine."
As they stood in front of the minimarket, they decided to rely on Brian's innate ability. Dave and Adam followed after him since Brian already knew their fighting abilities.
They especially targeted zombies wandering alone and took turns in killing them. They avoided the areas where zombies were too crowded and hunted zombies wandering separately on the streets.
They noticed that the numbers of zombies were much higher than before. If not for Brian and his Life Pulse, they would have already met a dangerous situation.
After 2 hours, they were tired by the hunting and decided to return to their minimarket. They had killed more than 30 zombies and were able to get another white chest.
Dave noticed that it became harder to obtain a Treasure Chest than yesterday since they had got 3 white chests killing less than 20 zombies, while they got only one from killing more than 30 of them.
It had dropped a spear which was given to Adam since he was the only one without a weapon. It was a spear with a stone head and a broken spear.
[Broken Spear
Attack: 7-10
Durability: 10
Description: The spear with a broken shaft]
Even though Adam didn't like that the spear was broken, he was delighted to have a proper weapon if it can be called one.