We swept through the seventh and sixth floors finding nothing out of place. Only stopping so Angila could clean the blood off of her arms.

Decker leads us through the floor having me check all the closed off spaces for any undead. Once we complete a pass of the floor everyone visibly relaxes. Decker shethes his sword and looks at me.

“So all that’s left is the fifth floor?” He asks.

“Yeah. And technically the garage, kitchen, and bike room. But those don’t let anyone through the building. Just into those areas.”

He takes a second to think over my words.

“I think it’s best if we take them sooner than later. Are you fine with that?”

“Yeah. Why do you ask?”

He looks at me over a note of concern in his expression.

“You said you’ve been fighting the zombies since nearly the start. You look exhausted.”

His words remind me of the feelings that I’ve been repressing for hours. I am exhausted after the hours of fighting and surviving. However I don’t think I’ll be able to rest knowing that these things are so close.

A slight tickle rises in the back of my mind as I imagine myself trying to take a break. It just doesn’t feel like a good idea. Despite the headache growing in my head I don’t want to stop until the whole building is clear.

“Yeah I’m fine.” I lie. “Let’s hurry up though. I worry that there might be a horde in the garage.”

He nods at my words and looks to the other two who are standing off to the side. Unsure what to do with themselves.

“Are you guys ready?”

They nod their heads and Decker leads us off the floor.

As we make our way down to the fifth floor I find myself growing to like the tall man leading the group even more. He seems so strong yet manages to be considerate and thoughtful. The two feel like they shouldn’t mix yet strangely they do in this man.

We make it to the fifth floor landing and instantly I feel as if something is off. Decker stands with the door barely cracked open. His body grows rigid.

“There’s five in the hallway.” He whispers as he closes the door.

He turns around looking at us. His eyes analyze our little group before closing in concentration. After a few seconds of silence he opens them.

“How many can you take out?” He asks me.

“In all honesty all five wouldn’t be hard especially if I get the jump on them and have some distance.”

“Then take Angila with you to the sixth floor and to the other stairwell. Then go to the landing and wait for me and Andy to distract the group. If Angila is willing, try showing her how you use your magic to take them out. But remember to try and keep one alive for Andy to level up with.”

“How will you know that we’re in position?” I ask

“I’ll give you guys five minutes. More than enough time to get over there. After that I’ll get their attention. If anything happens yell for us.”

With the plan set and no other questions Angila and I make our way up to the sixth floor. Once there I explain to her how the Rifle Round works. We stop in front of the other stairwell door and let her practice the spell for a second.

Watching her mana spin in place I realize mine glows a deeper blue and spins a lot faster. I don’t know if it’s practice or my level but I get the feeling that my magic is more efficient than hers.

With her understanding how to cast the spell we enter the stairwell and make our way to the fifth floor landing. Once there I crack open the door and watch the group of zombies. My mind races trying to come up with a way to nullify a zombie without killing it.

If I wanted to take the time I could saw through it’s limbs but I wouldn't be as quick as Decker. I could try blowing hit’s limbs off with my Cannonball but that seems wasteful. Then like glass shattering I get an idea of how to bind the zombie. It’s probably going to be just as wasteful as my Cannonball but I need to experiment and see what all I can do with my mana.

Just as my idea becomes more solid I hear a banging ringing through the hall. The zombies turn their attention to the other stairwell door and they start beating on it with a fierce intensity.

“That’s the signal.” Angila says.

I roll my eyes as I sneak out the door, slightly annoyed by her stating the obvious. Looking at her I see one Rifle Round humming in the air. Taking point I conjure three Rifle Rounds as I creep closer to the group.

I could easily take them out from this distance but I need to get close for my idea of singling one out.

“Shoot the one in the back” I whisper to Angila.

She nods and focuses on the one in the back. Her floating blue spinning ball of mana flies forwards. It punches a hole clean through the zombies head. Popping out of existence with a small explosion.

The other zombies take note of the sound and turn to it. I take the moment and charge. Sending my three Rifle Rounds into the nearest zombies. They all hit home as I race up on the last one.

Concentrating I command the mana in me to pour out in tendrils. Both my hands light up and burn hot as four tendrils of pure arctic blue mana race out. They wrap around the zombies limbs immobilizing it.

The zombie struggles against my restraints causing me to exert more mana. The health of the zombies starts slowly depleting. A health point barley every five seconds or so.

Decker walks up behind me along with Andy and Angila. They all stare in awe at the spell being performed before them.

“Impressive kid. Alright Andy it’s your turn.” Decker says.

At his praise part of my brain lights up. I rarely if ever received praise in my life. Mostly from a school teacher. As such his words embed themselves into me.

Andy walks forwards rolling his shoulders. A cocky grin on his face.

I force the zombie into an awkward bow. With its knees bent and arms dragging on the ground. Andy stands above it looking down.

His grin falters for a second as he watches the zombie bite and snap. The zombie tries to lunge and bite Andy but my magic holds firm.

“You can do this.” Decker says placing a hand on Andy’s back.

“Of course I can.” He says then laughs.

He raises the bat above his head. His arms shake as he does so. Then he yells out as if he’s facing down an army of warriors. The bat smashes into the zombies head dropping it’s health by a few points.

Zombie

Level: 1

HP: 6/10

He isn’t done as he raises the bat again and brings it down with another over the top battle cry.

Zombie

Level: 1

HP: 4/10

And again.

Zombie

Level: 1

HP: 2/10

Then a fourth and final time. With it the blue light flashes black and disappears. Andy shouts out with glee as he pumps his fists in the air.

“Did you level up?” Decker asks.

I draw my mana back feeling more exhausted than before. Looking at my pool I realize that between the Rifle Rounds and restraining the zombie I’ve wasted about half of my mana reserve. Sighing I commit myself to no more flashy spells.

“Yeah and I got a complete message.” Andy says. “Oh. Now it’s giving me the choice of Warrior and Mage. What do you think, Decker?”

Decker takes a second thinking over the two options. I can almost see the gears turning in his head.

“For now pick Warrior. I know it’s not as flashy as a Mage but I think it’ll benefit you more.”

“Yes sir.”

Andy’s voice comes out almost disappointed. He focuses on a spot before him and then shivers as if someone poured ice over him. It only lasts a second before he stops.

“Do you feel like a knob has been placed in your head?” Decker asks him.

“It feels more like a lever but yeah. When I flip it up you all slow down. When I flip it down you all speed up.”

“Interesting. Alright guys, rest up. We’ll be taking on the bike room next.”

Decker turns his attention to me.

“That was an fascinating spectacle. What do you call that?”

Taking a moment to think it over I come up with a name for the spell.

“Mana Chains.”

He smiles and walks over to me.

“So what else can you do with your mana?”

“Honestly I’m not confident. I’ve come up with everything you’ve seen so far but there’s countless applications of magic as far as I can tell.” I answer.

The magic this new world seems to support is vast and can be used in so many ways. I also believe I haven’t even scratched the surface of what it can do. While casting fireballs and manipulating shadows is off the table, part of me feels like it won’t be forever. Something in my mind tickles whenever I think about what mana can do. Examining my mana I can tell that it has so much potential than what I’ve been using it for.

“There’s more you’re not telling me.” He says, eyeing me.

Fear races through me as I imagine him getting angry.

“It’s alright I’m not mad, just curious. If you don’t want to tell me that’s fine.” He says

“No it’s not that I don’t want to tell you. I’m just not sure what it is exactly. I feel as if the mana in me has so much more potential, like I’m not using it right or something. I don’t know.”

He ponders my words and then shakes his head.

“That’s okay. I feel the same way about this dial in me. Like when I slow things down it feels as if I’m stronger and faster. But I think there’s more to it then that. Like maybe I can push it further or something but I don’t know. The world has changed so much in such a short amount of time. It feels like we’re left to play catch up.”

I agree with him. Life has been turned upside down and on it’s head. Zombies now roam the streets. I can manipulate an energy inside of me that was never there before. And the floating screens.

So many questions and so little answers. It feels like I’m a toddler again figuring out the world through trial and error.

I get ready to try and voice my similar feelings to Decker but before I can he turns around.

“Is everyone ready to clear the bike room?” He asks.

“We all agree and make our way to the staircase that I first took to get into the lobby. We make our way down following our familiar pattern of Decker leading us and me pulling up the rear.

As Decker rounds the last corner to the landing for the lobby he freezes in place. Followed by Angila and then Andy. Leaving me too far up to see what’s spooked them.

“Is everything okay?” I whisper.

“Did you do this?” Decker asks.

He looks back up at me. Awe, shock, and fear all dance in his expression. Angila’s face grows pale as Andy’s mouth falls open.

I force my way down and see what has them all in shock. The bodies of the horde I had to fight lie in piles on the landing. Dozens upon dozen lie dead at our feet. Looking at the carnage I realize just how stupid it was for me to take on that horde on my own.

“Yeah. And just to let you guys know there’s even more in the lobby.”

The three look at me in shock. Angila and Andy stare with fear and shock in their eyes. As if they’re scared of what I can do. Decker on the other hand smiles with glee.

“If I knew a mage could do this on their own I would have had Andy choose that class.” He says.

He starts walking over the bodies into the lobby. Angila hesitates but follows after him. She follows close behind him like a puppy scared to be left alone. Andy waits a little longer and mumbles something under his breath before following out into the lobby.

I follow the three slightly worried about what they think of me. I want Decker to like me. The others I couldn’t care less about but for some reason I care about what Decler thinks of me.

We make it to the lobby and stop as Decker stares into the bike room. Her parts of the door open slightly and listens.

I ready my mana for battle and take my baton off my belt.