Chapter 10: Mistake

Underestimating a monster was the biggest taboo anyone could commit. Every [Player] worth their salt would take even the weakest of the monsters, a mutated rabbit, seriously while hunting. Even an unarmed civilian could kill a mutated rabbit if they tried. In the higher schools for player-aspirants, the teachers would metaphorically drill this rule into their students’ skulls until it became their second nature.

Teo had never gone to high school and, therefore, never had formal training. He didn’t have the mental conditioning that [Players] go through. Too busy looking at what was in front of him, Teo ignored the real danger. The level two zombie was still there— very much alive. He assumed that since it was immobile and wounded, the monster won’t be any threat to him.

Teo crept up on the nearest zombie while being mindful of his steps. He didn’t want to rattle these violent corpses. When he was close enough, the glorified stick lashed out with all the force Teo could muster in his arms.

Dulled edge crashed against the unsuspecting zombie’s skull, making it cave in with an audible crunch. The monster crumpled onto the floor, spraying blue pus out of its nose and mouth in a curved arc on the smooth stone floorings. Its brain matter seemed to have imploded inside and was continuously leaking out from the ears, nose, and eyes.

**Critical Strike**

You’ll deal 10x damage.

You killed Zombie Lv 1 x1

+20 EXP

+10 Tutorial coins

Quest progress: 48/50

Teo ignored the system message as he whipped the sword in a downward arc, splattering the pus sticking on the wood to the ground. He didn’t want those poisonous grime clinging to his precious weapon.

His eyes trailed to the monsters in front of him.

This little scuffle had attracted all other zombies’ attention. They began moving in his direction— with stretched-out arms and erratic steps. Teo grimaced at their sheer number as he stepped back a little. Even though he was backtracking, Teo made sure to maintain a distance where his sword could reach them. He didn’t use any skills since the need hadn’t appeared. He was unwilling to waste his limited resources.

Teo pulled his right hand, which was holding the sword, back before thrusting at another zombie that was unlucky enough to step into his stick’s range. Not a moment later, it followed in its predecessor’s footsteps and dropped to the ground after giving Teo all the rewards it worth.

Piece of cake.

These easy kills fed Teo’s confidence which was on the verge of transforming into recklessness.

He fixed his sight on another zombie, a smile tugging his lips. He was full of vigor and motivation. One more left before I can finish the first quest. He hadn’t forgotten his priorities, however.

Teo stamped his right foot on the ground and pushed himself towards the zombies. It was a split-second decision which was the opposite of what he had been doing until now. Teo swiped his sword in a horizontal arc, hitting two zombies consecutively in a gory display of his overwhelming strength that had reached a staggering fourteen points.

It was a double-critical strike.

They both dropped to the ground at the same time, making a few zombies behind them to fall like dominos.

You’ve killed zombie Lv 1 x2

+40 EXP

+20 Tutorial Coins.

**Congratulations**

You’ve completed Quest 1 and cleared the first floor.

You have obtained an Iron grade Reward Box.

Floor 2 has opened for you.

Clear condition: Kill 100 skeletons or defeat the skeleton knight

Teo’s mind was abuzz with chimes from system notifications. However, he couldn’t divert his attention at the moment. The zombies were upon him, ready to rim him apart. Their razor-sharp teeth dripping with poisonous pus were threatening to infect him from just a mere touch.

Yet, Teo was smiling.

He licked his dry lips and ducked under a zombie’s scratching attempt before slamming the butt of his sword against its chest. He knew it would not kill the corpse, but he wasn’t trying to kill it either. The struck zombie was pushed back by Teo’s strength and crashed against a few zombies standing behind it.

The sword whipped again and broke a few more skulls. Experience points and tutorial coins began rolling in with every kill. Teo felt envigorated when he saw the rapidly filling EXP gauge and rapidly changing number on his wallet.

“Hahaha! Yes! Die! Die!!” Teo’s smile turned into maniac laughter. His moves became even more reckless. He threw caution to the wind and threw himself at the zombies, hacking and slashing his way into the horde.

During one such mad swing, the sword stabbed into a zombie’s mouth. It clamped its jaws shut, trapping the stick in its mouth.

“Tch!” Teo clicked his tongue and let go of the sword because the zombies were mobbing on him. He had already killed about four or five zombies in just half a minute into the battle. His efficiency had improved due to managing to land critical strikes every few hits.

Teo had planned to slug a few zombies in the face with his fist after letting go of the sword. However, as soon as he let the handle go, the zombies suddenly became vigorous. They moved in unison and lunged at him all at once.

“What the?”

Caught off-guard, Teo tried his best to fend off the deranged corpses. His hands whipped around erratically and he managed to throw a few zombies off him. But, even more took their place. Without the weapon, Teo lost his range advantage. Now, he would have to get close to the monsters himself.

Teo found himself getting overwhelmed by their sheer number. Zombies can’t feel pain— or anything at all. His punches and kicks were doing nothing more than lightly pushing them off him.

“Shit!! Arrgh!” He screamed in slight pain as one of the zombies sunk its teeth into its left thigh. The shark-like tooth dug into his thighs, easily broke his skin, and spilled his precious blood. “Gahh! Get off me!” Teo screamed, delivering a knuckle punch to the zombie closest to his fist. He kicked his leg and pushed away the one that had bitten him.

Burning pain spread throughout his thighs.

You are bitten by a level 1 zombie.

Zombification poison has no effect on you.

You have taken damage.

-20 HP

“Fuck this shit!!” The system message reminded him of his dire situation. He thanked his lucky stars for the effects of the potion. It saved him big time just now. “I was saving it for that level 2 zombie, but…”

Teo grunted loudly as he activated [Willpower Aura]. The mana in his [DanTian] stirred like a sleeping tiger that was about to wake up. A familiar warm feeling filled his entire being, soothing all his pain. It reminded Teo of the energy that golden sapling exhaled back then.

And then, strength filled him. His muscles expanded and his heart began to pump blood furiously. A thin golden aura wrapped around him like a bubble. Teo felt like he could take on the whole world.

[Willpower Aura is in effect.]

STR -> 45

AGI -> 42

DEF -> 44

VIT -> 54

MAG -> 40

He swiped his hand, throwing off all the zombies clinging to him. His now forty-five-point strength exploded as he picked up the undeads and threw them like objects. He clenched his fist and threw a punch at an unsuspecting corpse; its head exploded in a shower of purple mist.

Wow! Wait, it is not the time to admire my power.

With all the zombies thrown off him, Teo turned around and got ready to make a beeline towards the entrance. He was sure his above forty points in agility would aid him in escaping the calamity.

Unfortunately, Teo miscalculated a little bit.

After taking his first step, Teo promptly crashed against the wall next to the hole. He couldn’t control his own speed and reflexes, resulting in this accident. The wall couldn’t endure the force and broke down with a loud bang.

Warning! You are out of mana.

Teo felt weakness and soreness, unlike anything before, ravaging his body. He was left gasping for breath as [Willpower Aura] lost its effect after he ran out of mana. Soft groans left his lips as the aftereffects were too much for him to handle silently.

Behind him, the zombies were gathering again. They were steadily heading in his direction.

Laying half-hazard among the rubble while his body spasmed, Teo squinted his eyes at a strange figure in the far back of the remaining zombies. It looked no different from the zombies surrounding it, but two distinitcive differences made it stand out among the rest.

One, it had a purple gem on its forehead. And the second was its missing lower half. This zombie didn’t have anything below its waist.

So that’s why it was semi-immobile.

The level two zombie finally revealed itself.