Decker leads us down the staircase to the ninth floor. He opens the door and peers inside of the hallway looking right then left. Once satisfied that there isn’t an immediate threat he motions us to follow as he moves onto the floor, his silver sword held before him in a laxed manor.

Watching him carry the out of place weapon makes me wonder where he got it from. And if he actually knows how to use it. Focusing on the weapon I notice that it’s a long straight blade and not a curved one like I thought before. An oval shape sits above Decker’s hand.

The sword looks old but not out of shape. The metal shines with a silver light and I can tell that it’s plenty sharp. The way Decker holds it makes me feel as if it’s an extension of him instead of a tool to be used and discarded when done.

I take my eyes off the weapon and close the door behind me, making sure to hear it click into place. Decker stands poised his eyes scanning the hall for any movement. While Angila and Andy hunch over themselves, obviously scared of what’s beyond our sight.

“You two need to get classes if you hope to protect yourselves. I think you need to kill a zombie to get the first level to get the option. So if we find two stray zombies I want you two to take them down. Joel and I will back you up. Think you can handle that?” Decker asks the other two.

Angila’s face grows pale as she weakly shakes her head. While Andy puffs his chest in mock confidence.

“Of course I can.” Andy says.

I stare at him unsure if his bravado is real or if he’s trying to show off. With that set the group heads off exploring the floor. The ninth floor is laid out in a similar fashion to the ones I’ve already cleared. Empty cubicle set up in the open spaces of the floor. While the walled off spaces keep most of their doors closed.

As we round a corner that will take us to the other side of the floor Decker raises his hand for us to halt. Then he closes his eyes and tilts his head as if he’s listening to something.

“There’s three just ahead of us. Take it easy and try to isolate one of them.” Decker says.

His eyes lock with mine at his last words. Understanding his meaning he motions for us to move forwards. In the open space of the break area stand three zombies all at level one.

I conjure three Rifle Rounds, but before the mana even leaves my body Decker is already moving. He becomes a blur as he leaps towards the closets of the zombies. His silver sword raised above his head.

Faster than my eyes can follow the sword appears inches above the ground spraying blood along the floor. Looking at the zombie I see part of it’s skull missing. The blue light above it’s head flashes black then disappears.

The three spiraling bullets form just as the zombie’s body starts to sag. My jaw drops open at the speed displayed before me. It was inhuman how fast he reacted. Before I can collect myself he’s already moving onto the next zombie.

His sword glides through the air just above the ground then disappears. Blood sprays into the air and appears in a line on the ceiling as the left arm of the zombie falls to the ground. Then the right followed by another spray of blood.

Decker then takes a step back analyzing his opponent. The sword hovering just in front of him.

My focus on the beautiful quick fluid movements of Decker is broken as a hoarse moan rings out across the floor. The last zombie starts making its way towards Decker. Arms waving out before it as it hobbles forward.

Wanting to prove myself to the badass man in front of me, I send out the three mana bullets at this single zombie. It’s head explodes in a spray of blood. It’s name tag flashes black and I turn my attention to Decker.

He’s managed to make his way behind the zombie who is now kneeling on the ground. Decker holds it by its neck as it snaps it’s jaw open and closed.

Zombie

Level: 1

HP: 3/10

Examing the name tag above it’s head leaves me pondering the anatomy of the zombie. In most media zombies can only be killed by destroying the brains. That’s why I’ve only been attacking them there. But if I can drop my health, supposedly to zero, just by cutting myself could you kill a zombie by dealing enough damage to its body?

“Angila come here.” Decker says

His words break me from my inner thoughts as I watch Angila shakily walk forwards. Her fear is obvious in every hesitant step she takes.

“Don’t worry it can’t hurt you. Just hit it in the head a few times.” Decker says

His words soften from his usual tone as he tries to calm her down. The frown present on his face before disappears as he looks at her. At his words Angila seems to relax a little as she quickens her hesitant steps.

Once standing before the snapping zombie Angila raises the blade above her head. There the weapon hovers in the air. Her arm visibly shakes as she stares down at the thing.

“I can't, I just can’t.” She says

She drops her arm as her shoulder starts shaking.

“What if they’re not actually dead? What if we can cure them or something?” She asks.

Decker sighs as I ponder her words myself. Why haven’t I thought about that? Why haven’t I hesitated to kill these monsters? I know I started fighting them out of self defense but then I started hunting them. Predator or not, some could definitely argue that what I’ve done is wrong.

Zombie

Level: 1

HP: 2/10

Decker’s sword appears through the zombies chest before I even registered movement. The sword drips with dark red blood. The zombie continues the clacking of it’s teeth even as the sword in it’s chest starts moving back and forth. I imagine having a sword jiggled around inside of you would be an excruciating painful experience but the zombie seems unbothered by the forign metal.

Angila screams at the sight stumbling backwards.

“I know it’s scary but even if this was something that could be cured there is nothing living about these things. You can’t bring back the dead. These monsters are the husks of our friends, family and fellow humans. Do you really think they would be happy knowing that their bodies were being used like this? Knowing that they’re eating their friends, family, and fellow humans? We need to free them from these cursed bodies. To relieve them from the pain of whatever existence has consumed them.” Decker says.

Angila’s scream fades as she falls to her knees before the scene. Her shoulders are still bobbing with sobs.

“I won’t make you attack this poor soul. But I won’t let him suffer and I can’t let him hurt or torture anyone else with this curse. But I will ask you again, will you free him from this curse?” He asks.

For a second no words are spoken. Just the quiet sobs of Angila. I’m tempted to kill the zombie myself. Even if there’s something we can do for the people that have become zombies I refuse to be hunted by them. I’m done playing the part of prey and since that’s what they see me as I refuse to tolerate their existence.

Decker sighs and takes the sword out from the thing’s chest, bringing its health down to one. He raises the sword up over his head, ready to bring it down.

“Wait.” Angila Whispers. “I’ll do it.”

She stands to her feet.

“The world has ended. I need the tools to defend myself right?” She asks.

Decker nods his head, maintaining eye contact with her. I can almost feel the sympathy behind his eyes.

“And this is the only way to get that class thing?”

He nods again.

“As far as I know this is the only way.”

At his words she breathes out deeply. She steps forwards to the still snapping zombie and raises her bladed weapon high above her head.

With a battle cry as high pitched as a dentist drill she brings the weapon down. It crashes into the monster’s skull dropping it’s health to zero. Blood spurts from the attack landing on Angila.

The zombie’s name tag flashes black then disappears. Then the zombie’s body falls to the ground after Decker lets it’s neck go.

“I got some message that says I leveled up.” Angila says. “Wait, it's changed. Now it’s showing me the classes. Which should I pick, Warrior or Mage?”

Decker looks at me and then at Angila. He seems to think something over in his head.

“Go with mage. From what I understand the Warrior class wouldn’t suit you.” Decker says.

Angila takes a second while her hand dances in the air before her. Then as if she was struck by a bolt of lighting she falls to the ground, writing in pain. In a flash Decker is supporting her trying to console her but she just convulses.

“What’s happening to her?” He asks, looking at me.

My mouth opens and closes, at a lost for what is happening. My mind races as I think back to the process of me choosing mage. Then an idea hits me.

“I think she’s being imbued with mana or something. It was an unpleasant experience for me too.”

“Then why didn’t you say anything?”

“I forgot.”

Decker glares at me and for a second I worry that he’s going to use his lightning speed to hurt me. His gaze fills me with a sense of dissatisfaction. Dissatisfaction with myself. I feel myself avoiding his gaze in shame.

I shouldn’t have forgotten. I should have been able to warn her properly. I should be punished.

I force myself to face the facts as I look back at Decker. An apology already rests on my lips but upon seeing Decker’s eyes I freeze. His glare has shifted from disapproval to something like pity or empathy. Then he looks away with a sigh and continues to try and soothe Angila. In a few moments she stops shaking and a few moments later she sits up.

“What the fuck was that?” She asks, examining her arms.

“Do you feel like something is flowing beneath your skin?” I ask.

“Yeah. What is it?”

“Mana. Focus on it and follow it to its source. It should be like a lake in your center.”

She closes her eyes in concentration. As she does so faint blue lines glow just beneath her skin.

“It’s like there’s a fire in my chest. Is this normal?” She asks

“I’m not sure. Try pushing some into your hand.” I advise

For a second nothing happens but then the lines in her hand grow brighter and brighter.

“It’s hot.”

“I know. Try pushing it outside of your hand.”

The glow in her hand brightens. Her palm becomes a light as energy escapes it. A blue orb the size of a ping pong ball escapes her palm and floats just above her hand.

“Is this magic?” She asks.

Her eyes watching the glowing orb in amazement. Decker and Andy both fixate on the spell. The orb starts moving around as Angila grows more confident and experiments.

“Yes. I don’t know much about it yet but it can be pretty killer.”

To emphasize my words I push out five different mana balls and have them zip all around me. Leaving glowing trails of blue light. I command the orbs to slam into one another just in front of me causing a bright flash as an orb the size of basketball floats before me. I call chunks of the ball back into me letting it dissipate.

The others stare at me, mouths open. All except Decker, whose eyes turn analytical. The corner of his mouth raises after a second.

“What can you do with it?” Decker asks.

I take a second to think his question over.

“As far as I can tell it’s an energy we can manipulate. I can make these balls that I call Rifle Rounds and a single one can kill a level one zombie easily.”

To demonstrate I conjure the familiar spiraling orb. Just thinking the name I dumbed the spell causes my mana to react without my conscious guiding of it.

“Or I can coat something like my baton in it and rotate it like a chainsaw. It cuts through things well enough like that. But as far as I can tell I can’t summon fire or create portals or anything crazy. It’s just a malleable, kinda hot, energy.”

He seems to ponder my words for a second. I call my mana back inside of me not wanting to waste too much. I already feel tired enough as is. Angila continues to play with her orb.

“I see. Once we have a chance I want to talk to you more about it. But for now I think we should all continue our way down. Everyone ready?” Decker asks.

We all nod our heads. Angila lets the orb dissipate as we finish clearing the floor. As we make it to the eight floor Decker has the group stop and pulls me aside.

“We need to get Andy a class too. So if you can disarm a zombie instead of killing it then do so. If you can't, I understand, just make sure nothing sneaks up on us.” He says

I nod my head in understanding. While gazing into his eyes I realize part of me doesn’t want to disappoint him.

“Will do, sir.”

“There’s no need to call me sir. Decker is fine.”

“Alright. Decker.”

The words feel odd in my mouth but they elicit a smile from the tall man. He stands up straight and pats my shoulder.

At his smile and patting of my shoulder I feel something in me stir. The feeling is weird and unfamiliar. Words escape me as I try to describe it. After a moment I chalk it up to just something weird and push the memory of it out of my mind.

“Ready to go?”

I nod and we make our way to the seventh floor.