Chapter 4- School Of The Undead (Part 2)
Making his way around the building, Jack came across another monster who had just finished killing another victim. It stared up at him as it quickly lunged forward, not caring about where it lands. However, with a single stare, Jack made it stop in its place.
Activating Mind Manipulation, he could feel the link between him and the Undead form. He could tell that he was controlling it and that it was consuming some of his Aether constantly.
'I want to try something.' He thought. 'I know it says I can control it… But to what extent?'
"Slap yourself." He muttered calmly. Then, as if the monster heard him, it raised its hand and then slapped itself in the face with rigid and slow movements.
'Hm, that works.'
"Jump." He said. And the monster jumped on command.
'Ok, so simple actions are fine.' He mused. 'What about…'
"Speak to me in perfect English."
That was when, surprisingly, the monster didn't obey the command. Instead, it just parted its mouth open and only grunted.
'Hm, so I guess you can only make the target do what it's capable of. Anything beyond its scope of abilities is impossible.' He mused.
"Good to know. Now for the final thing…" He mused. "Kill yourself."
Upon uttering those commands, the monster lifted its hand up and aimed it at its head. Then, without hesitation, it shoved its fingers into its eyes, bursting them open. Then, it pulled and repeated it again and again. The blood exploded everywhere around it.
After several brutal stabs, the monster was finally able to pierce through and dig into its brain… Dying on the spot.
[You have killed a Level 1 Undead.]
[You have gained +10 Experience Points.]
[You have gained +1 in Health.]
"Hmm, fair enough. A bit more gruesome than I expected but I guess it makes sense since it doesn't have any other way of reaching into its brain." He said as he started walking again, passing the dead monster.
'I have gained valuable knowledge from this. The ability is certainly very strong. But, it also consumes a lot of Aether from my body and doesn't last very long.' He mused.
Reaching the end of the path, he crouched and checked the area. The entire courtyard was filled with these monsters who were still on the chase for victims. Jack could hear all the screams coming from the inside of the building as these creatures barged in through the gates.
'The front and back doors are all unsafe now. Nobody can really escape.'
Jack could see the results of fools who tried to escape through the main gates.
'Now, I can either try to make it out of here, or go inside to check the situation.' He mused. 'There are many survivors still inside. Also, I can possibly kill a few more monsters and gain more valuable power. I will certainly need that.'
Besides, the number of monsters outside was huge. Easily dozens and dozens of them moving about aimlessly. Jack was far too weak to fight through.
"I can't break through that… At least not yet." He mused.
So, his next step became clear quickly. Trying to infiltrate the building again. Looking up to the side, Jack saw one of the downpipes not that far away from where he was.
'I can climb that and get through the second floor's open window.'
However, since the entire place was filled with monsters, he had to be quick or he might end up in grave danger.
Waiting for a few seconds for the right opportunity, he eventually saw it. The monsters looked away for a second.
So, he ran out toward the downpipe and started climbing. A second later, the monsters heard the noise and looked up. Seeing Jack, they all went crazy as they rushed toward him like a swarm of flies.
Their grunts and cries shook the entire school. Slamming against the wall, they made the pipe shake subtly as Jack kept climbing.
*BANG*
The cluster of Undead merged together, slamming into one another in a chaotic mess as they tried to climb over one another. The downpipe was pressed and hit several times, each time getting looser and looser from the strong hits.
'Just a bit more, come on.' Looking down, Jack saw several monsters already reaching up over everyone else as they climbed after him.
The downpipe shook again after another hit, and the screws grew very loose until…
*CLING*
One part of the pipe fell, and along with it, the rest shook violently, swaying left and right while Jack was hanging on with all the power he had. His legs slipped as he fell down several inches.
However, he kept his calm as he quickly regained his balance, holding onto the pipe tightly. Looking down, a monster stretched its hand and grabbed his leg.
Quickly, he activated Mind Manipulation.
"Let go." He said, and the monster quickly released his leg. The boy quickly continued climbing as the monsters got closer.
Eventually, he reached the edge of the window and, with a swift movement, leaped into it, slamming into the edge painfully. His fingers held onto the edge as he climbed. Meanwhile, the monsters grew even more crazed, chasing after him.
Many leaped to catch him, while others continued trying to ascend the pipe. The boy clenched his teeth and got over the edge before he rolled inside and quickly closed the window shut.
*BANG*
A second later, several monsters slammed into the closed window as they started falling to the ground one after the other.
"Hah… Hah… Hah… That was closer than I wanted it to be." He mused as he leaned against the wall to catch his breath. Jack's heart was pumping fast, and the adrenaline was coursing through his veins endlessly.
That… That was it. The feeling he has been looking for. The sensation of thrill in every cell of his very being. The feeling of being alive.
"Hahaha…" Jack laughed subtly. He couldn't hold his happiness back. "This has no right being this entertaining…"
Even though people were dying and the world was potentially facing a disaster unlike anything that had happened before. However, Jack could only find himself glad it happened. He finally could feel what he had missed his entire life.
'Fighting these things and getting stronger is so much fun. I can't get enough of it.' He licked his lips. Then, he stood up and looked around him. 'I want more.'
He was inside an empty, chaotic classroom. Signs of blood were on the walls and the furniture, but no real corpses or monsters. Although Jack could hear the noises outside, he was safe for now.
'Most people probably ran to the highest floor or to the rooftop after they realized that the exit doors were filled with monsters now.
Slowly, Jack made his way to the classroom door and peeked outside. Surprisingly, there weren't any monsters around in the hallway.
'Hm, interesting.' He frowned as he stepped out. 'I will head to the rooftop to check the situation.'
Moving quickly and sneakily, he tried to make it to the stairs that led to the higher floors. However, right when he took the turn, the boy was met with something that made him freeze.
"Raaaaaa…" A deep, terrifying growl welcomed him as he saw a uniquely large Undead feasting on a corpse yet. The monster slowly looked up and then at him, only for him to realize who it was.
'PE teacher, Mr Faran.' He mused. Mr Faran was his PE teacher and an ex-bodybuilder and martial artist. He was an outstandingly strong man when he was still alive, and it seemed at first glance that all that power only grew after he turned into an undead.
Jack felt a sense of danger from the man that he didn't feel from any other Undead so far. He could tell easily that he was way stronger than them…
'Shit…' Jack cursed as he looked behind him. 'This thing doesn't look easy to kill at all.'
"Raaaa…"
It growled again, taking a step toward him. Then, with a third, louder growl, it stomped forward and ran toward him.
Jack didn't waste a single second as he turned around and ran in the opposite path. However, within three steps… He realized.
'It's way faster than me!'
"Raaaaa…"
In a split second, it closed the distance and slammed its fists down. Jack leaped forward, barely dodging the hit that would've broken his back instantly. Rolling on the ground, he came to a stop on his legs before he dashed again.
However, the monster was already ahead of him as it closed the distance again and tried to grab him. The boy quickly spun around, facing it as he activated Mind Manipulation again.
"Stop." He said coldly with his eyes wide open. The monster froze instantly. So, Jack used that opportunity and tried to stab it in the head and end it quickly.
Except… At that moment, Jack had forgotten a rather small and yet incredibly important detail.
His ability worked wonderfully against weaker or equal enemies in power to him. Against stronger enemies, however… It was far from effective.