Henry let out a slow breath, shoulders rising and falling.
"So now… level five is the goal," he muttered. The words carried more frustration than determination. Each new requirement from the system felt less like guidance and more like betrayal.
A faint groan broke the silence.
"Graaa…"
Henry froze. His bow was already half-raised as he turned, scanning the darkness. Night pressed in heavily, and the shadows swallowed everything. For several heartbeats, there was only silence.
Then he saw them. Two figures, dragging their feet forward. Their movements were sluggish. He could escape easily if he chose to, but his fingers tightened around his weapon. Running wouldn't give him experience. Fighting would. And he needed to level.
As they stepped closer, the moonlight revealed their forms. Their bodies were wrapped in filthy white sheets, hanging loosely like burial cloths.
"Zombies," Henry whispered, taking an involuntary step back. His inspect skill failed because it was too dark and he couldn't see clearly.
Another sound came from behind him.
"Graaa…"
He turned sharply. Three more emerged, staggering toward him. Five in total.
Henry gritted his teeth, whispering under his breath. "Headshots only. No mistakes."
He dashed toward the first two before fear could catch up to him.
The closest zombie stretched its arms out, letting out a shrill groan. Henry loosed his arrow.
*Whew*
The shot whistled through the night and struck cleanly. The zombie's head snapped back, the body falling with a lifeless thud.
[You've just killed an Undead]
[+10 Experience Points]
[Weapon Cool down time: 19]
"Shit.." Henry whispered and pulled his slingshot, he aimed.
*Whew*
The rock hit straight through the forehead, bursting out the back. The zombie collapsed instantly.
[You've just killed an Undead ]
[+10 Experience Points]
The three remaining zombies dragged themselves closer. They were slower now, only a few meters away.
"Two rocks" He pulled out his slingshot, placing two rocks into the pouch.
The stones flew. Both hit their marks, drilling through decayed skulls. Two bodies fell at once.
[You've just killed an Undead +10 Experience Points]
[You've just killed an Undead +10 Experience Points]
[You have leveled up]
[Level 4 Rewards]
+5 HP
+7 Stat Points
Whisperfang upgraded: Cooldown removed, -2 stamina after five shots.
The last zombie stumbled forward and tripped over its fallen comrade, sprawling flat onto the dirt. Henry walked up calmly, aimed the sling, and let a rock fly straight into its head.
[You've just killed an Undead +10 Experience Points]
The chime of notifications echoed in his mind. Henry allowed himself a small smile.
"Easier than I thought."
He checked his rewards once again.
[+5 HP]
[+7 Stat Points]
[Whisperfang upgraded]
His stats updated.
[Status]
[Name: Henry]
[Race: Goblin]
[Class: Marksman]
[SP: 0]
[Level: 4]
[EXP: 50/400]
[Evolution Crystals: 10/10]
[HP: 30/30]
[Strength: 15]
[Agility: 14]
[Stamina: 15]
[Vitality: 13]
[Skills: Inspect Lv.2, Bouncing Arrows]
"Not bad," Henry muttered. He collected the crystal floating above the last corpse and stored it his investory "I'll save these until l evolve." He pushed forward.
A few steps later, he stopped dead in his tracks. The trees gave way to open ground, and what stretched before him made his stomach tighten. Gravestones. Dozens of them. Between them, more figures shuffled, their pale bodies moving aimlessly.
A memory surfaced. Felix had tried to warn him about the Undead Sanctuary. He had never finished his words, the orc chief had cut him off.
Henry narrowed his eyes.
"So this is the Sanctuary… which means the human settlement should be close."
___________
Lexia City.
The School of Lexia stood tall, a jewel of polished stone and glass in the bustling city. Its courtyard rang with the voices of students, young faces filled with laughter and chatter.
Inside class 2-B, the noise was almost overwhelming. Groups of boys and girls gossiped freely, the room buzzing with life. Yet, in the very front seat, one girl sat quietly, her presence still enough to draw every eye.
Her hair was long and black, flowing like silk. Her skin pale, lips soft, eyes a deep blue. She had the kind of beauty that demanded attention, but her expression carried only sorrow. A book rested on her desk, its pages damp with falling tears.
Its title: How to Let Go of Someone You Loved.
"Nuela has been like that ever since her best friend died," one student whispered.
Even with her sadness, she kept reading, tears dripping silently onto the page.
The door slid open. Five boys entered the room. The lively chatter died at once. Jack and his gang had arrived.
Jack was halfway to his seat when Nuela reached out, grabbing his wrist. She pulled him close, forcing him to bend down so her words were for him alone.
"You're the reason Henry is dead. You chased him. I saw the gun in your hand. You tried to shoot him, and he ran into the truck because of you. I've already made a statement to the police. If anything happens to me, they'll hold you responsible. I'll make your life miserable, the way you made his."
She let go of his arm, smiling faintly.
Jack's body stiffened. A shiver ran down his spine. His expression flattened, and without a word, he walked out of the classroom. His gang followed, exchanging uneasy looks.
"What's wrong with him?" one of them muttered as they left.
Outside in the corridor, Jack's face had grown cold. The hallway was busy with students, but he walked straight through, his gang trailing after him until they reached the empty restroom corridor.
"She saw us," Jack hissed. "Nuela saw everything. If she talks, we're finished. We'll rot in prison for Henry's death."
The words hit the others like ice, their jaws dropping as dread crept through their bodies.
AN: Hello dear readers if you're enjoying the story so far and want to continue seeing more chapters then please help me out with some power stone, great comment/ review.