Aron wiped the blood from his mouth with his sleeve.
The blob zombie exploded a few meters away from the truck, but the shockwave still rattled his insides.
He raised his head toward the zombies, weariness in his eyes, only for them to narrow instantly.
The hulking zombie that had thrown the blob was nowhere to be found, leaving only three hulking zombies leading the charge behind the truck. None of the other zombies dared to move ahead of them.
What chilled him was the sight of those three hulking zombies reaching behind their backs. Each one with the same fat zombie clinging to them like a backpack.
Aron's face tightened. Did I come this far just to die? If those zombies threw those blobs even a meter close, it would surely kill them all, including the driver. There's no escape. Even Jumping from the truck would only mean a cruel and painful death. Dying in the explosion almost seemed easier.
(What more do you want from me, world? Always giving me hope, only to rip it away in the cruelest ways. You gave me a brother I never had, only to send him back as my assassin. You gave me parents, yet branded me their shame, I'd rather you left me an orphan. Love, only for betrayal. Money, only to watch it vanish into poverty. And now, even in this apocalypse, you dangled hope of rising above… only to corner me here. I don't ask for much. Just let me have my way for once. At least… at least let me die after having my revenge. At least let me die in peace.)
Aron knelt at the back of the truck, unwillingness burning in his eyes.
At that moment, the three hulking zombies hurled their blob zombies straight toward them.
Aron, still kneeling, simply stared as the three blobs as they flew closer, already right above their heads.
Just then, someone hugged him from behind. Aron didn't even turn to look. His eyes stayed fixed on the incoming fat abominations.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The explosions shook the world.
But something shocking happened. Instead of death, Aron was completely unscathed. The blasts struck the truck, shoving its back down and lifting the front as though it might flip. Yet the vehicle landed back on its wheels and sped forward. The driver's laughter only grew louder.
The shockwaves swept over the zombies, killing some and flinging others away.
The arms around Aron loosened. He turned and saw Rose, eyes closed, unconscious. A complicated look flashed across his face. He knew she was the one who had stopped the explosions from killing them.
--
[Claimable Ability Detected: FortiSphere]
Aron didn't waste a second. And claimed it instantly. The cost was 500 exp.
****
[Host Info]
Host: Aron
Level: 4
Exp for next level: 520/1600
Rank: Awakened
Special Ability: Talent Bank
Mana: 200
Active:
Stealth – You cannot be seen, heard, or detected by ordinary means. Consumes 2 mana per second.
FortiSphere – A dome no force can destroy, shatter, or bypass. Encloses a 1-meter radius. Consumes 50 mana per second.
Passive:
Immunity – Unaffected by all viruses or mortal diseases.
Talent Inspection: Check
Talent Switch: On/Off
****
Reading the description, Aron drew in a cold breath. Isn't this too strong? If it works as written, then as long as the shield was active, nothing could touch him. But the Energy cost, '50 per second' was frightening. The shield could only be used as a last resort. Judging from the time Rose had activated it, she must have had only 100 Energy.
Aron's heart quickened. His Energy had increased by a hundred. Does that mean my mana grows each time I copy a talent?
He looked back at the zombie horde. They had regained their footing and were back in hot pursuit of the truck. But the hulking zombies were nowhere to be seen, which made Aron finally breath easier. Twice today, he had been a step from death.
He picked Rose up and slung her on his back. She was so light it felt like lifting a leaf.
The truck thundered past the district he and Rose had originally planned to reach. Aron shook his head.
Then his pupils shrank.
Impossible.
Rose's FortiSphere only covered a meter radius, meaning it could only shield what was directly around her. But the truck, supposedly taking the full blast, was completely unscathed. Not even a scratch on the back glass. Not a single dent. It was beyond strange.
At the front, the man puffed his cigarette and laughed like nothing in the world mattered.
Aron looked down the road. The zombies ahead had long vanished, and the truck roared on at full speed. From time to time, he glanced back at the horde to make sure no danger pressed too close.
Three minutes passed like that.
When suddenly Aron's face tightened. Not because of the zombies, because of the way the truck was heading. Up ahead was a river bridge, the border between Zone C and Zone B. Beyond it stretched the highway into Zone B.
But just before the checkpoint stood a filling station. With the stampede of zombies following behind, there was a hundred percent chance of an explosion.
Even with FortiSphere, at 50 Mana per second, he could only last four seconds. Nowhere near enough.
Aron sighed.
(I don't know why I feel so damn tired…)