Chapter 37: Mass Progress
Rin opened the blue orb containing the skill.
*Plot….*
The blue orb burst as dark green sparks appeared before a scroll appeared.
Just like all skill scrolls, this scroll also had its unique style, design, and some mystics like dark green wisps floating around it.
Everyone got information about the skill when they focused on the scroll for a bit.
[Nether Grasp (1st Tier active skill): From the netherworld, a lurking spirit's anger manifests into a cursed grasp. Consume 20 mana points to conjure a nether hand synched to your hand.]
-Duration: 5 seconds.
-Range: 15-meter radius around the user.
Everyone read the skill information and was amazed at the description.
"Since I have three hands and I can use my floating Metacyber arm to use skill, I'll take this skill," Erix said as he felt he could use this skill better.
'Grasp, huh? Is it a control-type skill?'
"Wait. You already have three hands, so why don't I take that skill? I am at the backline, and I can use the skill to snare and support," Lena said.
The people around them were surprised and wondered if they would have a conflict now or not.
Ben and General Tark also raised their eyebrows.
'Conflict?'
However, Erix looked at everyone and said, "When you are in a team, a situation like this will occur. But there's a simple way to solve this."
Lena smiled and continued after Erix. "Since Erix here had the highest contribution in defeating that monster frog, this skill will belong to him," she said.
"Solve such matters calmly, looking at both contribution and efficiency of the loot," Rin said next. "Since Erix has a third arm that he can control and use this skill through it, this Nether Hand skill will shine more if he learns it."
Erix learned the skill while touching the skill, causing the skill to turn into motes before it entered his head and disappeared.
Afterward, Rin went to open a cyan-patterned treasure chest, and it had a claw-gauntlet weapon.
[ Bear-Claws (Uncommon-grade): A pair of bear-claw-shaped gauntlets filled with pure rage. +10 Strength. Physical damage increases by 20 while attacking with the claws. ]
This pair of gauntlets were given to a bodyguard who was good at close-range combat.
Finally, Rin opened the last cyan-patterned treasure chest, which gave them three Mortal-Order skill stones.
Erix took the skill stones and put them in his inventory.
"Brother, can you use that Nether Hand skill, please? I want to see it," said Hathor with excitement glinting in his eyes as he walked out of the crowd.
"Sure. I want to try it as well," Erix said with a smile behind his mask as he controlled his Metacyber Arm and used the Nether Hand skill through it.
Soon, everyone saw a big dark purple hand manifesting in one second above Erix. The demonic hand had four fingers and one thumb. It was two meters long from its longest middle finger to the wrist!
Erix manipulated the hand and grabbed Hathor with it.
"Stop!"
"Woah!"
Everyone was startled while Ben shouted at Erix.
"Relax," Erix said in a nonchalant voice as he put Hathor on top of the gate before the Nether Hand dispersed since five seconds had passed.
"Honey, are you hurt?!" Bertha shouted towards her son with worry before she glared at Erix. "How could you use that on normal people?!"
Erix picked his ears and ignored her before looking at the group, "Climb the watch towers and watch the show. We'll take four more of you and help you level up outside."
"Erix. You and I will take five, while others in our group can take five people. This way, we can quickly make everyone reach level 5," Rin said.
"Yep, hahaha. I was about to suggest that as well," Erix said with a nod before he turned to General Tark. "General, open the gate."
"What?! Why do you want to open the gate? You can take people out without opening the gate," General Tark replied with a frown.
"We still have one layer of barricade and cars in front of the gate. Just open the gate so people can stay back and watch it while waiting for their turn. Those two watch towers don't have enough space for all people," Erix said.
"But zombies…" Lieutenant frowned.
"Don't worry about them," Rin said as she unsheathed her sword. "All of us will be at the front line and send five crippled zombies at the back so the first five people can kill them. If all goes well, we will send more so that people who are watching can come forward and kill them."
"Just take any handy thing and use it to burst their heads," Erix said as he pointed at the gate. "There are many such things outside the gate since that frog destroyed two layers of barricades."
The people who listened to them felt hopeful and eager instead of fearful.
"I will come! Open the gate, please."
"Yeah, I also want to go out and kill zombies. We must get powerful to survive!"
"That's right! Open the gate, General Tark!"
…
After ten minutes, all preparations were done, and the gate opened.
Erix, Rin, Isabella, Lena, Serina, and five bodyguards stood at the front and started hitting Zombies' legs and arms before Erix threw them backward by grabbing them with his Metacyber Arm.
Hathor and the other four young men, who were the first five to fight, got ready with steel rods and thick wooden sticks broken off from Barricades, and cars got prepared as they saw zombies crawling towards them.
But many people who didn't see much of the outside puked at the brutal and bloody scene playing before them.
However, many were still eager and hyped.
"I'll get those three zombies first," Hathor said as he tightened his grip on the broken wooden stick with a multi-spike head and dashed forward before precisely hitting a crawling zombie's head!
Right after that, he jumped and kicked another zombie's head before bursting it.
[You have reached level 3. You have gained 6 unassigned stat points]
Hathor didn't stop and killed another one, which was a pretty high level at level 8, and also killed it with his wooden weapon since it was beaten to a pulp and its head was already slightly cracked.
[You have reached level 5…]
"I am already level 5… and two treasure chests!" Hathor shouted.
"Take those treasure chests and get back!" Erix shouted before he threw three more zombies at the back.
"Yes!" Hathor replied with a smile and also felt something familiar. 'This person's name is also Erix, and that shout reminded me of him… Don't tell me that person with the mask is my brother Erix?!'
'But his voice was a bit different... Sigh, I hope brother Erix is fine.'
Hathor wondered while walking back with his treasure chests, one white patterned (common) and one cyan patterned (uncommon).
"Damn, bro. You did good!" one of the guys than Hathor said to Hathor as he returned and slapped his shoulder.
"It's easy. Just hit them properly in the head, and they are dead," Hathor said with a laugh.
Ben was also happy and quickly told his son to open the treasure chest.
"I am going too," a middle-aged man started walking from the group standing behind the barricade layer.
"Me too!"
Erix saw more people coming and grinned. "Alright, we will send more crippled zombies back! But once you reach level 5, you will return to the base!"
"Haha, this will be over in no time since most of the zombies are above level 5," Rin said with a chuckle as she cut a few zombies with her sword.
"Indeed. These zombies are like ants to us now," Ponty said with a grin as he quickly killed fifteen zombies with the combination of his lightning baton and a skill called a lightning chain.
Seconds and minutes passed as people gradually got strong, and Erix's group also started improving in combat and efficiency.
And finally, every person in the military base reached at least level 5, and every single one of them got two or more treasure chests after two hours!
"Hell yeah! I got a Fire-related skill called Burning Fangs!"
"I got a saber… tsk, I wanted a long-range weapon."
"Want to exchange that saber with this shock wave gun?"
"Oh? A shock wave handgun? Let me see."
The base became lively and cheerful.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone