Chapter 38 Treasure?
Upon hearing her, Lori and Rio also noticed this anomaly. Rio frowned. "Did someone take it away when we weren't looking?"
Lori also raised her brows. If it was really true, that would be too much to bear. They, or to be precise, Luke, did all the work, so the fruits should also be his.
However, before they could continue to run their minds on the matter, Luke shook his head. "No one took it."
"Then did you collect them? But didn't you say you directly went for us after killing them off?" Lori asked.
"The thing is, if you don't pick up your loot within a certain period, it disappears." Luke told them. "Now, let's go. Stay right behind and don't make any noise. It's better if we don't attract any—"
Growl!
A guttural growl interrupted him before he could finish speaking. Everyone immediately looked ahead and saw a 6 feet tall, muscular zombie looking at them hungrily.
"Fuck!" Luke immediately cursed when he saw it.
Although he was just a slave in his past life, he had seen many things. Just a look at it and he knew it wasn't a normal zombie but a zombie which had evolved to the first order.
From what he knew, everyone from level 1 to level 10 was unranked. It was only after one reached level 11 that they could be considered stepping into the first stage of real power: the first order.
Although humans, who possessed system's help and skills, didn't experience any change in their power, the same wasn't true for For example, when a zombie or a beast evolved to the first order, their psyche would undergo a change and they would gain the zombies and beasts.
For example, when a zombie or a beast evolved to the first order, their psyche would undergo a change and they would gain the intelligence comparable to a young human child.
How terrifying the zombies and beasts that were already physically superior to humans would become when they gain human-like intelligence?
In his past life, a somewhat skilled human could barely match a first order zombie of the same level, unlike now where he alone could slay multiple zombies without exerting himself too much.
This was also the reason human population dwindled to dangerously low levels. If it wasn't for human 'monsters' such as Alice, the war goddess and others, humanity could have been wiped out of the face of the planet within a year, if not months after the big change.
Rio grabbed his wife's and son's hand tightly when he saw Luke's reaction. He knew the zombie in front was bad news and they might even lose their lives in a while if Luke wasn't confident in handling it.
"S-sir Luke, you c-can handle it, right?" He asked, trying to suppress the anxiety and fear building up within him. He didn't fear losing his life, but he wanted his wife and son to be safe.
Lori also grabbed Julia's hands tightly as she looked at Luke.
Luke pondered for a moment before nodding. "Although it's way stronger than the other zombies we've encountered so far, I can still kill it. So, don't worry, but stay alert and watch out for other zombies, alright?"
"Yes, sir Luke." Rio sighed in relief when he heard Luke could handle it.
Luke didn't say it just to ease their worries, nor was he overestimating himself and underestimating the first order zombie in front of him. He was just confident in his [Mana enhancement] skill.
After using it a few times in fights, his mastery had increased a little and he could now use 20 mana points in a single attack.
How terrifying would an attack enhanced by 20 mana points would be? Luke didn't know.
But what he did know was that he could easily kill this zombie if nothing went wrong. After all, he had killed Derek, who was almost as strong as him, in one strike which was enhanced by only 10 mana points. Although this zombie was surely stronger than Derek, it wouldn't be by much.
Grrr!
The zombie growled hungrily and started running in their direction.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Its every step created a loud thudding noise which put an invisible pressure on them.
Fortunately, Luke was standing tall in front of them, which gave them relief. If he wasn't here, they might have broken down due to fear before it even came near them. Even now, apart from Lori and the curious Kean, everyone else was nervous.
continue their journey back since it was getting darker by the minute and travelling at night would certainly be several times more dangerous.
Luke, of course, knew all this. In fact, he knew it better than them.
However, how could he leave a treasure that might be able to help him become stronger to be the zombie food? How foolish would he have to be to do that?
Sure, it would be dangerous at night, however, the treasure was When the zombie was only ten meters away from the group, Luke gripped his sword tightly and used [Mana enhancement] to infuse 15 mana points in it, covering it with a bright halo.
Thud!
Just when he used [Mana enhancement], the zombie suddenly stopped in its tracks and looked at him warily.
'Hm? It can sense danger already?' Luke thought in surprise when he saw it stop.
Although zombies gain intelligence at first order, their sense of danger and instincts don't develop much until they cross level 25.
However, this zombie, which should have evolved not too long ago, seemed to possess a perception of danger comparable to the peak first order or perhaps even 2nd orders zombies.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up. 'It must have eaten some magic plant or fruit to evolve.'
Luke became excited when he realised this and his gaze become fiery as he looked at the zombie.
'I can't kill it. I need to follow it and find whatever helped it evolve.' He decided, and the said to Lori and others, "You guys return to that building and stay alert. I'll be back in a while."
"Okay." Even though they didn't understand why he wanted them to retreat, they obeyed his order and returned to the building.
Lori, Julia and Rio had a confused expression on their faces as they looked at him and the zombie, which clearly seemed to be afraid of him.
Since it was afraid of him, it meant Luke was stronger than it and could easily kill it.
But...
He wasn't attacking and just standing there?
Logically, he should be hurrying to finish it off so they could worth the risk.
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