Chapter 164: Outside (9)
<Author's note: The things (racism, sexism, political views, etc.) depicted or mentioned in this story do not reflect the real world and are purely coincidences. If they do, please keep in mind that they are simply for world-building and are only work of fiction. Thank you for your understanding.>
Nathan was sitting at the helicopter's cockpit with a flashlight in hand and reading the folder that he "received" from Makeda.
Unfortunately, there were some parts that were too complicated for him to understand. If he was a scientist or at least someone who had a medical background, he could understand it.
He flipped a page.
'Hmm… I already know this part.'
It was the part about the 30-point threshold regarding the stats.
He flipped another page.
'Heh~ Interesting…'
'A person has an average of 10 VIT which gives him/her between 80 -100 years of life. But with each point increase in VIT, it gives that person an additional 1 year in his/her lifespan?'
'Heh~ I have 37 (+10) VIT so that gives me an extra 37 years.'
He flipped another page.
'Another interesting topic…'
'20 VIT increases a human's natural recovery by 2. And 30 VIT by 3. So it's by 10 points…'
'So with my VIT, my natural recovery is at least 4 times faster than that of an average human…'
He flipped another page.
'It seems to be about regenerating limbs…'
'A human can regenerate lost limbs if he/she has at least 51 points in VIT?'
An image of Amir as a human dog flashed inside his head.
Tch!
He made a clicking sound with his tongue and he quickly tried to erase the image inside his head.
He flipped another page.
'This topic... I already read this earlier…'
It was about the brain and heart and how many seconds until the human dies after suffering from a physical trauma if not healed.
He flipped another page.
'Hmm… About the healing potions from the System.'
'Let's see… Hmm… Yeah, healing potions can repair broken bones and skin tissues. I already know this.'
'However, healing potions can't regenerate severed limbs or bones. It can only cover the wound. Yeah, sounds about right.'
He recalled back when he got shot with a sniper rifle on his right cheek in Haven Town. And even though he was able to heal that wound with the help of the [Small] Healing Potions, the right side of his face remained hollow and he needed Ashleigh's help to recover the lost bones on his cheek.
'Hmm… the Antidote potion of the System…'
'I have at least 13 of these with me but I never got to use them. Let's see what does it do…'
'Heh~ Cures poison, simple diseases and infections…'
He flipped another page.
'This section is a combination of healing potions and regeneration concerning inborn disabilities and deformities…'
'According to the report, healing potions and having high VIT can't erase a person's inborn disabilities and deformities…'
'If a person was born blind, he/she will remain blind….'
'If a person was born lacking one arm, he/she will remain the same…'
'If a person is born with a mental disorder, he/she will remain as a person with a mental disorder…'
He flipped another page.
'Wow… They have information about the Divine Tears. However, there's nothing about the [Artifact] Divine Blood. Interesting…'
'I'm really surprised that they were able to gather all this information.'
He flipped another page.
As he read, his eyes widened and he almost dropped the folder.
On this page was a list of known Chosen Ones in Womania with their picture and information.
There were 12 names on the page.
A few of them he even recognized.
'Ashleigh von Hiedler. 21 years old. Student at Womania Academy of Fine Arts. Skill name [Heaven's Treatment]. Allows the user to heal any wound, diseases and even repair lost limbs with the cost of 20 mana points…'
'Derek Giuntoli. 30 years old. Architect at Rossi Architects Without Borders. Skill name unknown. Allows the user to greatly increase STR and VIT but sacrifices AGI. Requires no mana and cooldown...'
'Rose Haven. 24 years old. Chief Financial Officer at Haven International Realty. Skill name unknown. Allows the user to transform the body into white crystal that boosts defense and can also alter the shape of arms and legs. Requires no mana and cooldown...'
'Harry Gamberini. 28 years old. Lawyer at Bianchi LLP. Skill name unknown. Allows the user to slow down targets within his vision. Requires no mana and cooldown…
And finally…
His eyes widened as he read the information.
'Nathan Makhad. 24 years old. Editor at The Young Progressives. Skill name unknown. Allows the user to be invisible even against thermal imaging. Loses invisibility when attacking and possibly with any physical contact. Requires no mana and cooldown...'
He gritted his teeth and thought, 'How?! Where did they get this information about me?! Was it that bitch Rose?! Was it that bimbo Ashleigh? Was it that booty warrior Derek?! Was it someone from Red Dust?! Who?!'
'Shit… shit... shit… SHIT!'
"FUCK ME SIDEWAYS!!!" he shouted and threw the folder against the helicopter's windshield.
Pah!
He facepalmed.
'Sigh… I've been so careless…'
Although Nathan wasn't exactly a very smart person, he was at least aware that the main reason why he was thriving in this zombie apocalypse was his skill [Coward's Way] which allows him to do sneak attacks.
Nathan doesn't care if you've been practicing martial arts for 50 years or 100 years. If you can't detect your enemy, let alone see where their attacking is coming from, you will get hit.
Those action movies and documentaries where a martial artist is blind, blindfolded or closing their eyes and is able to block an attack?
Complete and utter bullshit!
Nathan is Asian and martial arts is their thing!
If Nathan had a Dollar for every Asian guy he met in Muwin trying to "demonstrate" some form of martial arts to him, he would be a millionaire already.
He glanced down at the folder on the floor.
'No, I shouldn't be surprised that they have this…'
'After all the killings and destruction I've done, it would be more of a surprise if they didn't have this…'
'I can't stay here any longer, especially after knowing this…'
'I really have to leave…'
'And when I get to Muwin I should stay low and not use this power as much as possible if there are witnesses…'
All of a sudden, he started hearing roars of zombies and their heavy footsteps.
Roar!
Roar!
Roar!
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
'Hmm… It sounds like nearby…'
Roar!
Roar!
Roar!
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
'And they're getting closer…'
He then heard someone's voice.
"MISTER!!! HELP ME!!! I'M SORRY!!!"
It was Zita's voice and it sounded like she was so afraid and about to cry.
Nathan ignored her cries and picked up the folder to continue reading.
Roar!
Roar!
Roar!
"MISTER!!! HELP ME PLEASE!!!"
This time, Zita's voice became more desperate.
Images of the things he did back in Corn Town flashed inside his head.
He closed his eyes for a moment and then cursed under his breath, "Fuck!"
He got out of the cockpit, deactivated [Coward's Way] and jumped to the rooftop of the nearest building.
***
Zita was running as fast as she could and there were tears flying from her eyes.
Behind her were 7 zombies.
Fortunately, there were no other Rank 2s other than the D2 that has been chasing her from the beginning.
"MISTER!!! HELP ME PLEASE!!! I'M SORRY!!!" she screamed once more and was almost out of breath.
And just when she was about to finally give up…
Bam!
She saw Nathan jumped from the rooftop of the 10-story apartment building to the rooftop of another building.
Bam!
After that, he jumped to the ground.
A sense of relief washed over her and she ran towards Nathan.
Nathan also ran in her direction.
When he got to her, he intercepted the zombies.
He summoned his [Grade D] Great Sword and started cutting them down.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
And finally the D2…
He swung his sword against the zombie's waist.
Whoosh!
The zombie was sliced into two and it came crashing on the ground.
He quickly rushed to where the upper torso landed and chopped off its neck.
Whoosh!
He unsummoned his sword and began extracting the [Grade C] Nucleus inside the D2's head.
He absorbed the nucleus into his [Artifact] God Spatial Finger and got up.
All of a sudden, someone hugged him by the waist.
Thud!
"Huhu… Mister… I'm sorry… Huhu… I'm so sorry… Huhu… Si'mk sreallyk ssorryk… Huhu… Spleasek sdon'tk sleavek smek… Huhu… Si'mk ssok sscaredk… Huhu…" she said as tears and snot ran down her face.
He looked at her and felt his chest tightened a little bit.
He could feel her body trembling as she bawled her eyes out.
He placed his hand on top of her head and softly caressed it.
"Si'mk sreallyk ssorryk… Huhu… Spleasek sdon'tk sthrowk smek sawayk… Huhu… Spleasek… Si'mk ssok sscaredk… Sik sreallyk samk… Huhu…"
'I can't believe I was seriously holding a grudge against a little kid. When did I become so pathetic?' he thought. "There, there. Stop crying. The zombies are all dead. You're safe now."
Zita unwrapped her arms around his waist and then grabbed the hem of his shirt which wasn't covered by his [Grade D] Back Leather Armor and wiped her tears and snot on it.
Seeing what she did, Nathan chuckled.
He waited for her to finish wiping before kneeling down in front of her.
She continued crying as she rubbed her eyes and sniffled.
"Huhu… Si'mk sreallyk ssorryk… Huhu…"
He squinted his eyes.
'She wasn't this dirty when I left her earlier. She really must've been through hell...'
"Huhu… Sik spromisek sik swon'tk sbek sbadk skidk sanymorek… Huhu… Sjustk spleasek sdon'tk sleavek smek sherek salonek… Huhu…"
'Wait, what was this kid's name again? Si-- She-- Sha…w-- Raw-- Wawaw -- No, I think it started with a z. So Zi-- Za-- Zxa-- Zab-- Zac…ku-- Za…bu-- Zahaku -- Wait, that sounded like Heiwan. Ziii…r…l..a-- Zita! Yes, Zita!' he thought. "Zita, listen to me."
"Huhu…" Zita stopped rubbing her eyes for a moment and looked at Nathan.
"You can wait here with me until the sun rises. I can't bring you back at the Government Shelter at this hour because people might mistake you for a zombie or something and accidentally kill you."
"Huhu… Mister, I don't want to go back... Huhu… I want to stay with you…"
"I'm sorry but --"
"Please, mister… Huhu… Please don't leave me. Huhu… I promise I won't be a bad kid anymore… Huhu… I promise I'll follow whatever you say… Huhu… I promise I won't get mad if you call me a kid… Huhu… Spleasek sdon'tk sleavek smek salonek… Huhu…"
'She's still in shock. Talking to her would be pointless,' he thought. "Come, let me take you back to your room so you can take a bath and rest."
"Please, mister… Huhu… Please don't leave me… Huhu… I really promise that I won't be a bad kid anymore. Huhu… I promise si'llk sfollowk swhatk syouk ssayk --"
He scooped her up in his arms and said, "Yes, yes, yes… I know. Don't worry. I promise I won't leave you. Let's just go back to your room, okay? We'll talk about this in the morning."
Zita wrapped her arms around his neck and continued crying, "Spleasek sletk smek sstayk swithk syouk, mister… Huhu… Sik --"
"Yes, yes, yes… I understand," Nathan said and rubbed her back. "Don't worry, you're safe now. No zombie is going to hurt you now that I'm here. I promise you that."
"Huhu…"
Nathan entered the apartment building with Zita in his arms.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Immortal_Shades
Immortal_Shades I haven't properly edited this chapter yet. I'll probably do some edits later.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone