novelraw Chapter 13: From Chaos to Mastery
Chapter 13: From Chaos to Mastery
Unlike the first time we attempted the scenario, the time required to clear it had doubled to one hour. On top of that, the first scenario we were thrown into had been deliberately made easier, though the difficulty still remained F-rank. If it hadn’t been, none of us would have survived. Without access to the status screen, we wouldn’t have gained extraordinary powers to weather the horde.
“They’re everywhere,” I said, scanning the zombies and the flying octopuses in the distance. “Everyone, stay sharp and stick to the plan.”
Boris and Michelle nodded, entirely focused as they moved to execute the strategy I had laid out.
First, we split up to search for a defensible location nearby. Different from the panicked chaos of our first run, this time there were only three of us, and we moved with calculated precision. Within moments, we found an open garage that seemed perfect. Its narrow entrance made it easy to control the flow of enemies, and the exit door at the back provided a vital escape route in case things went south.
“This’ll work,” I said, scanning the area.
“Let me reinforce it with shelves and furniture nearby,” declared Boris as he immediately got to work, dragging heavy shelves into position to form a sturdy barricade at the entrance.
“I will also help!” Michelle exclaimed, carrying smaller pieces of furniture like desks and chairs to fill the gaps.
The garage’s layout was ideal; the narrow entrance would funnel the monsters into a choke point, while the spacious interior gave us room to maneuver. Compared to the overpass, this was undeniably a better choice.
As the barricade took shape, I inspected the back exit. The door was metal and seemed sturdy enough, but I made a mental note to keep it unobstructed. If things went south, we’d need a clear escape route.
“Not bad,” Boris said, stepping back to admire the barricade. Based on his tone, he was pretty satisfied with the barricade. And he wasn’t wrong—the structure had an almost professional look to it, more like a military barricade than something hastily thrown together. This guy sure had a hidden story to be told.
Michelle wiped the sweat from her brow and glanced nervously through the garage’s small, dirty windows. “Do you think this will hold them?”
“It’ll hold long enough,” I said, gripping the hilt of my short sword. “At the very least, it’ll give us enough of an advantage.”
No sooner had the words left my mouth than the distant groans of zombies grew louder. Despite our attempts to stay covert, the scenario wasn’t designed to let us pass unchallenged. Still, this played to our advantage; after all, our main objective was to kill as many of them as possible to fulfill the extra conditions.
Most newbie divine warriors wouldn’t realize that the extra conditions could be completed over multiple attempts by repeating the scenario and meeting the criteria each time. They would be too focused on keeping themselves alive and barely scraping by to clear the main objective. Although surviving was important, just doing that wouldn’t be enough in the long run—not if you wanted to thrive.
“Grrraaagh...”
“They’re here,” I warned, brandishing my sword.
Boris cracked his knuckles and took up position at the barricade. “Let’s give them a warm welcome.”
Michelle moved to the side, readying her bow, whereas I took up a stance near the small opening of the garage. Moments later, the first wave of creatures reached the barricade, clawing and pushing against the makeshift defenses with unnerving persistence.
[Octoferal – Lv.3]
Looks like an octopus, but don’t let appearance trick you, as it can turn you into its host. Tasty if cooked, but it will give you intense diarrhea.
[Octoferal Zombie – Lv.5]
Once a human, now transformed into a zombie controlled by the octopus-like monster on its head. Sluggish and slow, but deadly.
“Let’s beat the crap out of them!” I shouted, swinging my blade at the zombie before me. While it was clearly stronger, tougher, and faster than the ones we had faced before, the sharp edge of my short sword cut through it in a single, decisive strike.
You have hunted [Octoferal Zombie Lv.5].
You have gained 50 EXP.
You have leveled up.
Boris followed suit, slamming his fists into the nearest zombie with enough force to send it sprawling and crash into other zombies. Nearby, Michelle fired an arrow at the flying octopus, bringing it down before it could slip past the barricade.
The monsters’ relentless assaults were no match for our formation. The barricade forced them into a narrow choke point, limiting their numbers and giving us the upper hand. It was an ideal setup, and we exploited it to its fullest, cutting down one creature after another with ruthless efficiency.
You have hunted [Octoferal Zombie Lv.4].
You have gained 40 EXP.
You have hunted [Octoferal Zombie Lv.6].
You have gained 60 EXP.
You have leveled up.
You have hunted [Octoferal Lv.3].
You have gained 30 EXP.
You have hunted [Octoferal Zombie Lv.5].
You have gained 50 EXP.
The experience points gained clearly corresponded to the monsters’ levels rather than their species. Thankfully, the notification screens that popped up with every kill or level-up were small and transparent enough that they didn’t become a distraction.
As the minutes dragged on, the waves of enemies grew larger and more aggressive. Sweat dripped down my face as I drove my weapon into the skull of another zombie.
You have hunted [Octoferal Zombie Lv.4].
You have gained 40 EXP.
You have leveled up.
“They’re drawing more of their kind,” I said between breaths, scanning the barricade for signs of strain. “Be careful. We’ve still got time to go.”
“Hah! Let them come!” Boris roared, slamming another zombie to the ground with brute force. “Every level up makes me stronger. At this rate, I could probably bench-press the world record and claim the title as the strongest wrestler!”
Michelle gave a firm nod, switching to her axe and dagger to stab and cleave through an approaching zombie with ease. “I’ve got this side covered.”
Right now, the one with the highest stats was Boris, with Michelle close behind after changing her initial class. By comparison, I was technically the weakest, even after leveling up a couple of times. Despite the temptation, I resisted assigning my unspent attribute points. There hadn’t been a pressing situation so far, and I wanted to see how far I could push myself without relying on them.
After all, the higher a stat was, the harder it became to improve through training or combat alone. And without knowing what kind of situations I’d be thrown into next, it was impossible to predict which stat I’d need the most until I was already in it.
We kept slaughtering zombies left and right, stacking up dead bodies at the choke point. The growing mound of corpses made it even harder for the enemies to push through, giving us some respite. And it wasn’t long before my efforts bore fruit.
Your Dexterity has increased by 1.
Your Stamina has increased by 1.
You have acquired a skill: [Basic Swordsmanship Lv.1].
“Sweet.”
By this time, I’d killed about twenty or so zombies and flying octopuses combined, though it was still far from my target of one hundred.
However, as fatigue set in, my vision began to disorientate, flickering in and out. It appeared that the curse of the enchanted coat had gone into full swing in the heat of the moment. Still, I didn’t remove the coat. This was exactly what I had anticipated. The disorientation was necessary in order to unlock the Mental Tolerance skill I needed. If I backed away with just this much discomfort, then how was I supposed to reclaim my throne?
Nevertheless, there was less than forty-five minutes remaining. If I kept this up, I’d be cutting it too close and might not fulfill the conditions in time. A change of strategy was necessary.
“Boris, Michelle, let’s move to the second step of the plan,” I said decisively.
Boris let out a booming laugh, cracking his knuckles as he stepped forward. “Finally needing the big guns, eh? Very well, lad. Let’s see this plan of yours in action. But if you’re not fast enough, I’ll make my own adjustments!”
Michelle gave a quick nod. “Okay.”
The count for the extra conditions in the first scenario wasn’t shared among us, meaning we had to be strategic to accomplish the hardest one. The plan we’d devised required Boris and Michelle to draw the enemies in, injure them just enough, and hold them off so I could deliver the finishing blow. This way, I could achieve the one-hundred-kill extra condition in one hour without expending too much energy.
They moved into position as I steadied my stance, gripping my sword tightly. The cursed coat’s disorienting effects threatened to cloud my focus, but I forced my mind to remain sharp. Grotesque monsters soon funneled into the choke point, but we were prepared.
Boris charged ahead, slamming his massive fist into a zombie’s chest with enough force to send it staggering backward. Instead of delivering the final blow as he usually did, he pivoted to strike another, his booming laugh echoing above the chaos. “Come on, you wretched beasts! Is this all you’ve got?”
On the other side, Michelle swung her axe with precision, slicing into another zombie’s leg to hobble it, then quickly stepped back to avoid its flailing arms as it collapsed to the ground.
With the creatures sufficiently disoriented and weakened, I sprang into action. Darting forward, I swung my blade in quick, decisive arcs, slicing through their necks with deadly precision. Severed heads fell to the ground as I moved seamlessly between targets.
You have hunted [Octoferal Zombie Lv.6].
You have gained 60 EXP.
You have hunted [Octoferal Zombie Lv.3].
You have gained 30 EXP.
You have hunted [Octoferal Zombie Lv.5].
You have gained 50 EXP.
You have leveled up.
By this time, I’d reached level seventeen, nearing the maximum for my current rank. Once I hit the level cap, I’d need to undergo a class advancement before I could level up again.
“Now that’s more like it!” Boris exclaimed. “Keep it up, lad. We’ve still got a lot to go!”
With Boris’s encouragement ringing in my ears, I pushed through the growing fatigue that weighed on my limbs. Each swing of my blade cut through another zombie or flying octopus. The motions felt almost automatic now, my body adapting to the rhythm of combat. My strikes grew sharper, my movements more precise—it was as if the battlefield itself was honing me.
You have hunted [Octoferal Zombie Lv.4].
You have gained 40 EXP.
You have hunted [Octoferal Lv.2].
You have gained 20 EXP.
You have hunted [Octoferal Zombie Lv.3].
You have gained 30 EXP.
…
You have leveled up.
You have reached the level cap for your current rank (Aleph [1]).
10% of all subsequent EXP will be stored and awarded upon advancement.
Our experience in redoing this scenario was worlds apart from the first time we attempted it, almost with flying colors. Clearing the third extra condition felt more than within reach. In fact, I was almost three-quarters of the way there.
Michelle wiped the sweat from her brow; clear signs of exhaustion had built up on her face. “I’m almost at my limit. How much longer do we have?”
I glanced at the faint blue screen of the timer hovering in the corner of my vision. “About fifteen minutes,” I said. “Stay focused. We’ve got this!”
As soon as the words left my mouth, a deafening, menacing roar echoed from outside, sending a chill down my spine. I flinched instinctively, gripping my weapon tightly as the sound reverberated through the garage.
A strong enemy had appeared.