Chapter 7: Undeads

Jack's heart swelled with a newfound sense of purpose and hope. For someone whose life had been fraught with turmoil and belittlement due to his identity, this transformation represented an opportunity to rise above his past and attain the strength he had long yearned for. He would never allow himself to be looked down upon again.

In a world where he had been relegated to the shadows, where books had been his sole companions, Jack had found himself thrust into an existence far removed from the realm of his beloved literature. He was no longer a passive observer; he was now a participant in a thrilling and perilous adventure.

However, the euphoria of his newfound abilities was short-lived when the distant groans grew louder, announcing the approach of an impending threat. His eyes fixated on the already-opened door leading to a dimly lit passageway, from which the unsettling sounds emanated.

Instinctively, Jack knew that something was approaching, something that threatened to disrupt his newfound sense of empowerment. With limited options, he acted swiftly, reclaiming the pole that was deeply embedded in the zombie's skull.

As Jack gripped the pole with the sharp end in both hands, he watched with growing apprehension as three desiccated corpses emerged from the passageway and shuffled into the room.

[Warning!!!, Undeads detected]

[Race: Zombie]

[Ability: Longer claw]

The system's notification caught Jack by surprise as it highlighted the abilities of these new zombies, a feature he hadn't encountered before. Unlike the previous zombie he had vanquished, these creatures possessed an ability marked by longer claws.

'The system said that these three zombies have abilities, which are longer claws. But the other zombie I fought also had claws, so what could be the difference?' Jack contemplated, awaiting an answer to this intriguing question.

His query was swiftly answered as the three zombies came into closer view. Each one's long, black claws extended menacingly, longer than those of the previous zombie, making them appear even more lethal.

When the zombies first emerged, they moved lethargically, their movements sluggish and lifeless. Their vacant white eyes stared into nothingness, a stark reminder of their lifeless existence. However, upon spotting Jack, their demeanor shifted dramatically. A surge of energy flowed through them, and they became animated, their elongated claws extending menacingly. The undead horde moved toward Jack with a newfound determination and purpose.

These actions left Jack with a single, perplexing question: Why did these zombies attack him on sight? After all, he was an undead, akin to their kind. The undead were typically mindless creatures driven by instinct, their feeble intelligence overpowered by their insatiable hunger for flesh.

The zombies approached Jack at a relentless pace, showing no regard for the lifeless bodies strewn across the floor. Their callous disregard for the dead was evident as they trampled over the corpses, crushing them beneath their feet. These three undead were locked onto their target: Jack.

'Damn it, I don't know if I can take them all on. There are three of them, and I'm just one. The odds aren't in my favor,' Jack thought, a sense of urgency creeping over him. The imminent clash required a rapid decision.

As the first zombie closed in, it swung its claw at Jack, who instinctively moved backward to evade the attack. Jack noticed a peculiar phenomenon—he seemed to move automatically, as if his body had developed a newfound awareness to protect itself from harm.

The zombie attempted another strike with its other claw, but Jack once again shifted his position with swift precision, narrowly evading the deadly attack.

'I won't let myself get hit by this thing,' Jack resolved, determined to protect himself from harm.

Despite his efforts, the last zombie's claw grazed his shoulder, a superficial wound that immediately began to heal. It was a testament to Jack's newfound undead nature, a trait that set him apart from the living.

With no time to waste, Jack thrust the pole forward, impaling the zombie in the abdomen. The sharp end pierced through the creature's stomach, emerging on the other side. However, this attack proved futile, as the relentless zombie pressed forward, displaying no signs of pain or distress.

Realizing the futility of his current tactic, Jack kicked the zombie in the stomach, forcing the pole to exit its body. He used the momentum of the kick to distance himself from the persistent adversary.

'This zombie is relentless. It didn't even flinch when the pole went through it. What should I do now?' Jack pondered, his thoughts racing to formulate a new strategy.

Ding!!

[The best way to kill a zombie is to deliver a certain amount of damage to the head.]

The system's notification offered a straightforward solution to Jack's predicament. In the world of literature he had left behind, tales of zombies often revolved around a singular vulnerability—the head. It was a recurring theme he had encountered in countless novels and stories.

'Of course, just like in those stories I once read, the key to stopping them is to damage the head,' Jack realized, a sense of understanding washing over him.

The two remaining zombies approached, and Jack couldn't help but notice a semblance of coordination in their actions. Despite their minimal intelligence, they seemed to be working together to achieve a common goal: to eliminate Jack.

One of the zombies swung its arm, attempting to claw Jack's face, but his well-honed reflexes enabled him to evade the attack with grace. In a split second, another claw came from the right, aimed at his head, but Jack once again sidestepped with remarkable agility.

With his pole now severed into two shorter pieces, Jack stood poised for the next move. He used one of the shorter poles to deflect the zombie's attack, preventing it from reaching his face.

In the midst of this tense standoff, Jack felt the weight of the odds stacked against him. Despite his recently acquired powers and knowledge of the zombies' weakness, the situation remained precarious. There were two undead adversaries left to contend with, and he had only a limited set of resources at his disposal.

The pole he wielded for defense was cut in half during the exchange. With grim determination, Jack used one of the shorter pieces to thrust it into the zombie's abdomen. Anticipating that this strike would not be enough to incapacitate the creature, he swiftly followed up by jabbing the other half of the pole into the zombie's head.

[Zombie killed]

[100 Exp received]

[200/200 Exp]

The first of the two zombies lay lifeless on the floor, a victorious outcome for Jack. However, the remaining zombie showed no concern for its fallen comrade and continued to advance relentlessly.

***

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