How was it able to dodge my attack? I know that it was my first time using Long Shot Flame Beam but is it really that easy to dodge? Was my attack pattern too simple or was that zombie just incredibly smart?

Since that zombie was able to use magic then it might have some semblance of intelligence in its body. That ambush also didn’t seem natural at all. Was it waiting for us to come back before attacking us? I need to be wary of other zombies having intelligence like that one. A smart zombie is way more dangerous than those that we’ve been fighting.

If it was Fifi fighting that zombie then she would have been able to defeat. No matter how smart it was, Fifi would have found its weakness and attacked it. I’m still far too weak.

“Rudy, are you not going to sleep?”

I look over to my side and see Lisa looking at me worriedly. I’ve been guarding the door ever since we came back. I’ve been waiting for that zombie to attack but it hasn’t attacked.

“It’s fine, I’ll keep watch for the night. I’m still worried about that zombie I fought.”

“Haah, ok. Then I’ll keep watch with you, Rudy.”

“No, you have to sleep, Lell. I can keep watch by myself.”

“Nope!”

She plops herself on the box right next to me and leans her head on the side of my arm left arm. It was already night and everyone else was resting except for us.

“Do you think our food will last, Rudy?”

“No, at most it’ll only last us only one to two days.”

“I see.”

Lisa and the others distributed the snacks out and the entire stock of food we gathered was already almost gone. Feeding 100 people with snacks from a vending machine is definitely not enough. Even if we ration everything out, it’ll only last a day or two before we run out.

“Lell, I think we should go get more food tomorrow. We should go before our body weakens due to the lack of food.”

“I agree but where are we going to go and get food.”

“Plaza 1.”

“I see. It isn’t too far away and while we’re at it we can rescue anyone there including Mako and Fifi.”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll talk with William and Gareth about this tomorrow. I’ll take first watch, you sleep first.”

“But…”

“No buts. If anything happens, I’ll wake you up.”

“Ok.”

……

“This is our plan for today. Is there anyone who objects?”

William explains to everyone in the group and no one rejects it. They all understand that our food problems were still not solved and they can’t complain if people are risking their lives for them.

William and Gareth had planned to switch out yesterday’s members with the members who protected the base but I stopped them. Those who went out with us definitely gained experience from fighting zombies so they should be stronger than yesterday. It was an unwise move to switch them out for weaker members.

“Is there a reason why you want to keep them?”

“We can’t risk our entire team being wiped out due to a lack of experience when fighting the zombies. We need those already used to fighting to go with us. This mission is going to be even harder than the one yesterday.”

“Ok, that makes sense.”

I was able to convince them without telling them about the experience system that Fifi told me. The two of them know I was hiding something but I can’t tell them about it. I still don’t fully trust them.

“Good, we’ll go when it starts to rain. It’ll at least silence our footsteps a little.”

“Ok.”

“Got it.”

Looking through the small windows at the top of the walls I could see the dark clouds. It shouldn’t be long until it begins to rain.

An hour passes by and it begins to rain. During this one hour, we were preparing for our next expedition. Everyone going had been able to secure a water-resistant jacket from the others in the basement. Besides that, I repaired the weapons of our team. This time it didn’t take as long because by mana increased again from our battles.

The barricade for the door leading outside was being taken down by the others. Our team does a last-minute check on our equipment but we were already ready to head out. Unlike yesterday, everyone in the team wasn’t as tense. They all know what to expect when heading outside of the base.

“Let’s go guys. We’ll go straight through the building in front of us and head for plaza 1.”

Everyone nodded their heads as the door leading outside was opened. William and Gareth peek there head out and signals that it is clear. Lisa says her farewell to those inside of the base before we head out. Once we were outside, the doors behind us were barred.

The ramp leading outside was clear of zombies. We slowly head up the ramp and by the time we reach the top, we were met with a shocking surprise. Around the area were countless zombies standing in the rain. There had to have been at least a hundred zombies. To make matters even worse, the cold rain was pouring us. Even large puddles were starting to slowly form.

The only saving grace was that there were only ten zombies blocking our path towards the building. Ten zombies will be difficult to face but considering the experience everyone gained, it shouldn’t be a problem.

“There are only 10 zombies in front of us and our objective is only 20 meters away. Since our objective is to reach the building then we don’t have to worry about killing the zombies. Shield squad will push back any zombie approaching us then we’ll run for the building. We can do this!!”

Understanding her orders we all creep towards the building while being careful not to make any loud splashes on the wet ground. The first zombie in our way was close to the library ramp so it didn’t take long for us to reach it. The Shield squad was ready to attack the oblivious zombie.

“Wait, don’t attack.”

Something was weird. Even though we’re all behind the zombie, it hadn’t noticed our presence. It should have heard our footsteps but it continues to stare vacantly into the sky.

“What’s wrong, Jude.”

“Let’s not attack it. I feel like these zombies are distracted by the rain.”

“Alright, let’s proceed then.”

Everyone listens to Lisa’s orders and we don’t attack the zombie. We continue to silently walk behind the zombie. Even if we know the zombie didn’t sense us, we still walked out of its view just in case.

The remaining nine zombies in our path were the same as the first one. We were able to easily bypass every single one of them. It only took ten minutes or so for us to reach the building.

The automatic doors open and we all enter. It was weird that the automatic doors were working but the lights in this room weren’t. It was pitch black and the only source of light came from the door we entered from and the exit 30 or so meters away.

If I’m remembering correctly then the layout of this first floor was relatively simple. To the left were elevators and to the right, there should be a lounge area for students to study. There were also hallways on both side leading to classrooms and a staircase should be right next to the lounge area. But in our current situation, we can’t see any of that.

“Let’s proceed carefully. Shield squad, use your Spearheaded Leg Mk.3 to prod the area in front of you.”

“Yes.”

After Lisa was done giving orders, we all silently proceed forward. This room was dark and was giving memories of the dark corridor in the prison. It was eerie and there was an odd scent in the air, but it wasn't the smell of blood. It smells more like dust.

We were halfway through the room but I feel like it was oddly getting colder. Getting out of the rain should have made it less cold but it was getting worse the more we walk. It was so cold it feels like we’re walking inside a giant freezer.

“I-is me or is it getting colder.”

“I’m freezing.”

“Quiet.”

I wasn’t the only one who was feeling the immense cold. It wasn’t my imagination. I can barely see it but everyone’s bodies were shaking. Is this just because our clothes are wet?

“Waaa...hic...hic...waaaa.”

“Is that someone crying?”

“This place is giving me the creeps.”

“I got goosebumps.”

This is weird. This is weird. This is totally not normal. Those cries were distant but I definitely heard them. It sounds like the cries of a little girl.

I can feel my heart racing.

“Mister, you’re so warm.”

My heart skipped a beat, a voice that didn’t belong to anyone in the team suddenly spoke. It sounded like a little girl. My right hand was freezing but it also felt like it was burning. It was coming from a small hand that was on top of mine.

Looking over, this hand belonged to the little girl standing right next to me. She was wearing a white dress and looks like any regular child, but she wasn’t. Her body was translucent and most importantly, her empty eye sockets were staring straight at me.

“Double Exploding Fire Blast.”

“KEKEKEKEKE, YOU’RE SO WARM!!!!”

My attack didn’t do any damage at all. She absorbed all of it.

“What the fuck!?”

“Shit!?”

“A girl!?”

Everyone was surprised but I didn’t have time to think about them. The little girl was reaching her other hand towards me. Every single cell in my body was warning me to not let her touch me.

“Give it to me, Mister! Give me your warmth!!!!”

“Shit, everyone run.”

I use Fire Blast to send my body flying upwards and I kick off the wall so the girl couldn’t touch me.

“Jude!!”

“Run, I’ll catch up.”

“But…”

“GO!!!”

I land on the ground as I yell towards Lisa. The rest of the members were able to convince her to leave.

I should have landed in the area with tables and chairs, but there wasn’t any. I finally figure out where that dusty smell was coming from. All around me were dried up husks of humans bodies. It was like someone had sucked the life out of them.

“Mister, I’m cold. Don’t leave me.”

Her eyeless sockets were staring straight towards me. It was terrifying but I can’t let fear take over me. I still haven’t saved Mako or Fifi yet.

The entire room was absolutely cold but my body was heating up. My heart was pumping blood to resist the cold. The steam rising from me was my body’s way of resisting this little girl.

“It’s cold!!! It’s cold!!! It’s cold!!! It’s cold!!! It’s cold!!! It’s cold!!! It’s cold!!! It’s cold!!! It’s cold!!!”

The little ghost girl was screaming as she hugs herself for warmth. I can’t stay here.

My immediate choice was to run for the stairs in this building. If I remember correctly it should be right next to this lounge area.

“DON’T LEAVE ME!!!!!!”