Chapter 19

Even bleeding to death as I likely was, I couldn’t help but stare at all the loot before my eyes. Skills and enhancements galore were spread out before me. I greedily accepted all the loot, or at least tried to.

Alert! Equipped hunter orb - Tier F can only extract [Common] grade orbs. Please upgrade your hunter orb to a higher tier.

Loot obtained!

Mana orb essence x 12

Skill orb - Unarmed Strike [Common] x1

Skill orb - Grapple [Common] x1

Enhancement orb - Minor Strength [Common] x1

Enhancement orb - Minor Agility [Common] x1

Enhancement orb - Minor Resilience [Common] x1

Antivirus vial x1

What? Hunter orbs had tiers? What was this nonsense? I just wanted all the shiny loot before I bled out and croaked an ignominious death.

Alert! Your current level is 1. You're restricted to a maximum of two skill orbs and two enhancement orbs. Would you like to spend 15 mana orbs to upgrade to level 2?

Health potions cost 10 mana orbs at the shop, so I decided I could afford the upgrade. I needed every bit of strength I could scrounge up in my current dire straits.

Congratulations, you have reached level 2!

Equippable skill orbs increased to 3.

Equippable enhancement orbs increased to 3.

Maximum mana orb capacity increased to 75.

Alert! You have unequipped orbs and free slots available. Would you like to equip the following?

Skill orb - Unarmed Strike [Common] x1

Skill orb - Grapple [Common] x1

Enhancement orb - Minor Strength [Common] x1

Enhancement orb - Minor Agility [Common] x1

Enhancement orb - Minor Resilience [Common] x1

Upon my confirmation, a surge of energy slammed up my spine as raw power flowed unfiltered through my veins. A sensation akin to ecstasy flooded my brain while my muscles quivered in anticipation. My breathing grew steadier and my vision was no longer blurred. Even my heart began pulsing strongly once more, as opposed to the unsteady flutter that had passed for a heart beat before.

“Quite the kick, right?” Allie said, smiling down at me.

I could only nod mutely, still trying to shake off the aftereffects of the enhancement orbs. Even wounded as I was, I felt newfound strength pulsing through my muscles, aching to be released. Along with it, there was also a new awareness of my body, particularly my limbs. There was a new sense of balance and rhythm that hummed in my hands and feet, letting me feel the effects of the agility enhancement orb directly.

That was not all. In my head, new knowledge blossomed as I became familiar with several different moves that I could employ to strike at a target with my hands, feet, elbows, knees, and other body parts. Along with this unfamiliar knowledge, I was possessed of a strange self-assurance that my body could inflict serious harm even without employing any weapons. I was by no means a martial arts expert, but even these basic sets of moves would allow me to successfully engage and maybe even defeat seasoned brawlers.

Added to this new repertoire of moves and confidence, there was another packet of information that expanded within my mind. Vivid images and accompanying information imparted me with the necessary knowledge to grapple an opponent and maneuver its mass to gain an advantageous position or inflict injury and death. I gained instant familiarity with clinching maneuvers, takedowns, throws, submission holds, and other grappling techniques had been imbedded deep into my brain.

If these were the effects of mere common grade orbs, I couldn’t begin to imagine what higher grades could achieve. Was this the lure for the orb hunters? I had two uncommon orbs right in front of me, but I couldn’t touch them because of my F tier hunter orb. Since the next tier of hunter orbs were impossible to loot with my own low tier hunter orb, were challenge rewards the only way to upgrade hunter orbs?

I also noticed a change in my own information after I received the loot.

Orb User Tier F

Orb User Level: 2

Mana Orbs: 15

Skill Orbs: 3

Enhancement Orbs: 3

Special Orbs: 1

Orb Keeper Charon’s Trial of the Ark - Stage 2 is in progress.

Users 7/100

Current Objective: Find the antivirus and save yourself.

Available antivirus vials: 2/5

Congratulations! You have obtained a vial of antivirus, qualifying to enter the next stage. Protect your vial while you wait for the current stage to end.

Special Challenge - Tier C+

Slay other users to harvest their orbs: 12/15 orbs.

Note: Only orbs looted from personal kills will count toward the challenge.

Rewards: Mana orb x15, Mystery Orb x1.

“So?” Allie prompted, interrupting my examination of the menu.

“No luck here either,” I said glumly, but at least I finally had enough breath to speak. “I don’t think they expected to find any serious competition. I mean, if they managed to drive off that 8-foot tall abomination, I can understand why they felt so confident.”

“Thomas was also low on mana orbs, wasn’t he? I bet they both spent most of their orbs on enhancement and skill orbs,” Allie said, but then quickly shook her head. “But what’s important now is that we have to treat your wound. Looks like Thomas also had a resilience orb too. That should help, but you’re still losing a lot of blood.”

She glanced over my shoulder at my backpack, and I could read her thoughts. “I guess I get to find out just how painful those damn bandages really are.”

Allie pursed her lips but as usual, her determination shoved away the ragged edge of panic as she got down to business. It was a grim ordeal, involving a lot of blood and awash with white-hot pain. Eventually, the tide was stemmed and I sat with my back to the wall as the water from the sprinklers above washed away the blood on the floor.

“Good job, Allie. You can now add sawbones to your already impressive resume,” I said, with only a weak cough to punctuate my dry remark.

“If you’ve got enough breath left to make bad jokes, save it for the road,” Allie replied, the corners of her mouth heroically struggling upward though the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Relax, you’ve got this,” I said encouragingly.

“You mean we,” she immediately corrected. “We’ve got this.”

I nodded with a noncommittal shrug. “Sure, yeah.”

“Don’t you dare fuck with me. Not now, Kai.”

“Hey, easy. You just blasted the last deluded bitch who wanted to ravage your hot hunk of a boyfriend to pieces not 10 minutes ago,” I said with a mock-fearful expression.

Allie glared at the mutilated corpse at her feet. “Damn straight, and don’t you forget that. You’re mine, and I’m not letting a silly thing like a knife to the chest take you from me.”

“Hey, no complaints here,” I happily agreed, or tried to, but another series of wet coughs wracked my chest.

“Easy there, buster. I just fixed you up, so no sense in you falling apart already,” Allie said in a teasing tone, but I could feel the faint trembling of her fingers as she laid them upon my shoulder. “At least we didn’t have to deal with more zombies.”

“Between the alarms blaring all over the mall and the gunfight blazing from the center of the mall, I’d say we’ve effectively slipped under the radar.”

In fact, over the past several minutes, the sounds of frantic gunfire had reached us. Judging from the direction they came from, it seemed safe to assume that the battle for the last 2 vials of the cure near Charon’s Candyland had begun in earnest. I was nothing if not relieved that we would be missing that scrap - people do tend to get crazy when their very lives are at stake.

“For now, at least,” Allie replied, blowing out a breath. “We still need that potion, so the more they kill each other, the better. But first, let’s get out of here. Here, lean on me.”

I did as she asked, rising to my feet and leaning against her shoulder. I had lost an alarming amount of blood after extracting the knife. The bandages had only proven marginally useful, as even now the gauze wrapped around my chest was quickly growing moist. Only my newly enhanced physique allowed me to speak, let alone walk. We both knew I needed a health potion from Charon’s shop if I wanted to live past the hour.

We did our best to negotiate the tricky path out through the burning wreck of the restaurant, with me leaning heavily upon Allie’s thin shoulders and stumbling forward on unsteady feet. Perhaps it was due to the noise we were making, or the worry about my wound that was plaguing our minds, but we didn’t even hear anything before we lurched into the hallway outside and came face to face with a stranger standing less than 20 feet away.

It was a middle-aged man with a balding head beaded with sweat. He breathed harshly as he unceremoniously raised the AK-47 rifle cradled in his hands in our direction. Allie’s hand twitched toward the rifle hanging from her shoulder by its strap, but a single twitch from the muzzle of the gun pointed at her head stopped her cold in her tracks.

“Wait, don’t shoot. We can offer-” Allie began slowly, spreading her hands to the sides.

“Shut up,” the man cut her off harshly, his words coming in a low and guttural growl. “You’re probably like all of them bitches. They all lied, but I knew. I knew, so I killed them. I blew their brains out, made sure they’re real dead.”

My breath caught in my throat as I realized that this man had lost all his marbles. The way his red-streaked, wide-pupiled eyes restlessly skipped from shadow to shadow while his mouth twitched with nervous tics reminded me of a rabid dog eager to unleash its unthinking fury upon the world.

“I’m gonna kill you, like I killed them all. I’ll kill you because I’m the great killer. No one kills me, no one!” the man snarled at us, his hands feverishly wrapped around his rifle.

I couldn’t help but rage at how inane this all felt, to have come so far after so many vicious struggles, only to die at the hands of a drooling madman because we’d gotten careless just one fucking time. It’d be hilarious if only it wasn’t so goddamn tragic.

My arms tensed up as I prepared to shove Allie to the floor with what little strength remained in my limbs before our assailant could open fire. If I could summon one final dash forward, I might be able to crash into the man via sheer inertia even if my chest was drilled with more holes than swiss cheese. That should buy Allie enough time to gun down this bastard.

It wasn’t an ideal solution, but it was the only one we had right now.

Just as I gathered myself to spring into action, the speakers above us suddenly crackled with static.

“Ahem. Attention, trial participants. After a particularly feisty gunfight, I’m delighted to report that all five vials of antivirus have been claimed. That means that those who are not in possession of a such a vial are hereby disqualified and should be dropping dead right about… now.”

The madman’s eyes widened as he heard Charon’s words. He let out a howl of unresolved resentment as he aimed his gun at us but before he could pull the trigger, the tense lines of his face suddenly went slack and he dropped to the floor like a sack of potatoes.

Allie and I exchanged one breathless glance before approaching the man. He was dead, dark blood dribbling out of his nostrils, ears, eyes, and mouth. My own head was a white haze of emotions as I struggled to comprehend that I’d been this close to dying, and had been saved by the cruel vagaries of Charon’s whim. Heedless, Charon continued speaking through the speakers.

“For those of you who remain, congratulations are in order. You are the chosen ones, the deserving contenders who shall arise from the ashes of humanity to become the champion of the trials. I bid thee my most earnest welcome to Stage 3.”

Suddenly, a monstrous howl filled the entire mall, making its walls shudder violently.

“It seems my co-host is rather anxious to get Stage 3 underway, so shall we? All you must do, oh deserving ones, is to find the exit before Pinkie finds you. To make things a tad more sporting for our resident fanged fiend, I’ve put a handy scent trail on each of the cure vials. I wish you the best of luck, prospective champions - you’ll certainly need it.”

With a final cackle, the speakers abruptly shut down. It was replaced by a blood-thirsty roar that pierced the hollow silence that followed Charon’s chilling announcement. Before I could do anything else, an all too human scream of terror and agony rang out far in the distance. It was cut off abruptly, then was soon followed by another beastial roar.

I immediately consulted with the system menu in my head.

Orb User Tier F

Orb User Level: 2

Mana Orbs: 15

Skill Orbs: 3

Enhancement Orbs: 3

Special Orbs: 1

Orb Keeper Charon’s Trial of the Ark - Stage 3 is in progress.

Users 4/100

Current Objective: Find the exit before the fanged fiend stalking your steps finds you.

Special Challenge - Tier C+

Slay other users to harvest their orbs: 12/15 orbs.

Note: Only orbs looted from personal kills will count toward the challenge.

Rewards: Mana orb x15, Mystery Orb x1.

Suddenly, Susan’s cryptic words came flooding back to me. I turned to Allie with the first honestly happy expression I’d borne after getting a knife stuck next to my heart.

“Allie, that’s it! We can make it!”

“Huh?” For once, it was Allie’s turn to look like I’d whacked her across the forehead with a soggy boot.

“When I injured Susan back there, she mentioned something about the reset at the end of the trial taking care of it. I’m not sure about the nature of the reset, but with my improved constitution, any kind of healing at the end of the trial should be able to pull me through.”

Allie peered up at me from beneath hooded eyes, not saying a word.

“What?” I blurted out, confused by her response.

After a moment, a sunny smile broke out in her expression as she nodded to me. It’s a good thing she didn’t realize she had blood smeared all over her angelic face, decidedly ruining the effect. I didn’t have the heart to point it out, and instead listened to her words.

“Nothing, just making sure I didn’t need to smack you on that thick skull of yours for trying to play the selfless hero again.”

“Hey, I wouldn’t lie to you like that!” I protested, though my words rang hollow in my own ears.

All Allie did was snort loudly in response, choosing not to grace that with an answer. Instead, she consulted with that mental map she seemed to have drawn in her head after consulting with the floor plans so many times.

“Well, there’s good news and bad news. Which do you want first?” Allie said with a nervous note to her voice as she began leading us in a familiar direction.

“Good news first. Always good news first,” I replied firmly, leaning on her shoulder as I concentrated on placing one foot in front of the other, step by step. I could really use some good news right about now.

“We’re not that far from the nearest exit. In fact, we’ve even been there before,” she said brightly. “I also completed my challenge and received the mystery orb.”

“Oh, that IS good news. What’s it do?”

Abrupt gunfire roared in the distance, followed by a hair-raising scream that died as abruptly as I assumed its source had. At least when the bloodthirsty howl followed immediately afterwards, I was expecting it this time. Not that it did me any good. It still pumped ice into my veins and sent a chill down my spine.

“Damn, is it just me or did that sound a lot closer than before?”

“Just focus on walking, Kai,” Allie said, ignoring my nervous question.

“Erm, right. So, besides the murderous fiend stalking our steps, what’s the bad news?”

Allie began panting softly as she labored under my weight. At least, I hoped it was the physical exertion. If it was fear that I could hear pumping out of her lungs in a steadily increasing tempo, then we were in much deeper trouble than I’d thought, and I’d already assumed pretty much the worst case scenario to begin with. After all, my girlfriend is as tough as they come and she doesn’t crack under stress. She just bounces right back and comes at you even faster and harder than before.

Allie hesitated for a moment before taking something out of her pocket. “Well, there’s a couple...”

“Misery loves company,” I muttered under my breath.

Allie chose to ignore that. “The first is about the mystery orb. I opened it and received this. Now, please don’t freak out, alright?”

She handed me a gleaming orb of translucent crystal that pulsed with a shimmering golden light. When I interacted with the menu in my head, information on the object I held came to me.

Alert! Class Orb Quest has been given to a party member.

Alert! Class Orb Quest received.

Superior Mage Class Orb x 1 [Rare] [Unrestricted]

Allows user to learn a mage class of their choice.

Abjurer Arcanist Diviner Elementalist Enchanter Illusionist Necromancer Summoner Transmuter

Warning! Class Orb Quest is still in progress. Please complete the quest to unlock quest rewards.

Quest Clear Condition: Eliminate all other users.

Remaining users: 3/100

My brow furrowed as I began thinking furiously with this powerful new variable introduced into the equation. After a moment of indecision as I thought about the best way to broach this delicate subject, I began to open my mouth when I heard Allie’s steely voice from beside me.

“Don’t.”

“What? I didn’t even say anything.”

“Right, and keep it that way.”

I scowled sideways at Allie, which was harder than I would have thought, what with her bearing most of my weight as we trudged forward step by agonizing step.

“Look, I’m not saying you should use it right now. But you have to admit we should consider every weapon available to us, given a worst case scenario - which I believe this certainly qualifies as.”

“Blah blah blah,” Allie said, rolling her eyes. “That’s all I’m hearing.”

“Stop that!” I cried out.

“Blah blahhh!” she mimicked, in a mournful tone that reminded me of drowned puppies and lost cats. That sounded nothing like me!

“You can be such a bitch sometimes, you know that?”

“Blah,” she admitted, a smug grin on her lips.

My chest deflated with a heavy sigh that indicated not an abject defeat, as an unlearned observer might at first suspect, but rather a tactical retreat. We’d revisit this topic shortly. I just hoped I’d still be there for the occasion.

“Whatever,” I said, doing my own eye roll. “What’s the other bad news?”

“About that. Yeah, so…” Allie trailed off, glancing at me out of the corner of her eye, gauging my response. When I impatiently urged her on, she took a deep breath and she finished in a rush. “The exit is just past The Room. You know, the one we visited before?”

“What room?” I began, but then the answer came to me, unbidden. There was only one place, one room that merited the distinction as The Room. I cursed under my breath, which was a bad idea as I had begun to run short of wind myself. It was to be expected, what with the gaping wound in the middle of my chest weeping blood with every step. Still, that didn’t prevent me from glaring at Allie as though somehow this whole mess was her fault.

Unfair, I know. Ain’t life a bitch like that sometimes?

Allie shrugged at me, a motion that unwittingly sent a spasm of burning fire coursing through the wound on my chest. That was fine, the pain was a welcome reminder that I could still feel, could still bleed, and therefore was still alive and in the game.

It wasn’t over yet.

“Well, last time we checked pretty much all the zombies in that ventilation room were hauling ass trying to get a piece of ours,” I muttered under my breath. “At least that’s something, right?”

By now, we had climbed the escalator to the third level and came within sight of the empty doorway that led into the tunnel where we’d first made Pinkie’s charming acquaintance.

It was a meeting I really wasn’t looking forward to reprising.

Another guttural howl of agony rose in the distance, encouraging me to haul my own ass, fast - as if I needed any additional motivation.

While I limped my way forward, I couldn’t help but check with the system, fully well knowing it wouldn’t do me any bit of good. In fact, when I viewed the menu, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I was scared shitless.

Orb User Tier F

Orb User Level: 2

Mana Orbs: 15

Skill Orbs: 3

Enhancement Orbs: 3

Special Orbs: 1

Orb Keeper Charon’s Trial of the Ark - Stage 3 is in progress.

Users 2/100

Current Objective: Find the exit before the fanged fiend stalking your steps finds you.