章 20: The Incredible Kivu 2

ZImo wasted no time, rushing forward into the flood of Beasts that were coming towards him, dodging their attempts to grab him as he decapitated and struck at their weaknesses. This knife was sharp, but so was his vision, and he was able to use it effectively. Soon enough he had taken down a ton of them, and in all that time, his grin had spread all over his face.

The rush of victory was intoxicating. Zimo turned to Kivu, his grin widening as he saw her tearing through her prey with a savage efficiency that was both terrifying and mesmerizing. She had shadows and darkness rising out from everywhere around her, slicing through the Deadspanw in their surroundings and when that happened, she looked at Zimo, as if a Master was showing off to the student.

Yeah, Yeah... ZImo was not at that level yet. But he was going to get there Very soon. And it was way too interesting to see that kind of thing.

As Deadspawn after Deadspawn emerged from the back of the convenience store, she slashed through them with an efficiency that almost terrified him. At one point, as Zimo was just about to turn his hand into a [Night Slash] that was soon going to land in the ace of one of the Deadspawn in his surroundings, he managed to see her using the tendrils of darkness turning them into blades that spun around her like a tornado, ber body melding with the shadows and appearing and disappearing at certain points having destroyed everything in her path.

"You're enjoying this," he said, shaking his head as he slashed the head of a Deadspawn with a [Night Slash] thereafter leaping backwards. His movements were a bit more awkward. He needed to learn to get into the flow for sure. But as soon as he did that he would understand.

But still, seeing her move so gracefully as if she was melding with the shadows, moving with grace, he admired her. She seemed so free… Maybe he could learn something from her movements.

Kivu glanced at him, a smirk—an actual smirk—curling her lips as she ripped the head off her victim, crunching at it and making it release the blue crystal which she swallowed up. She laughed, it was way too funny.

Was that a look of approval? Or was it something else? Whatever it was it was way too interesting. Zimo had already taken down possibly 20 of these, but she had started after him and she must have taken down probably 70. It was incredible how she was using her shadows to grab at the crystals in their brains, and then taking them and bringing them to her only to munch down at them.

Feeling another level up, Zimo chuckled. She was incredible. He had to use this newfound Strength to help both of them along. Zimo sped forward, leaning down and slashing at a Deadspawn and then decapitating it almost immediately. And then he leapt up, slashing at a few that were all around him. His mind was working much faster now, allowing his body to move quicker, and he was loving every second.

A few minutes later, the store fell silent once the last of the Deadspawn were dealt with. Zimo wiped his blade clean on a scrap of cloth, his thoughts racing as he looked at the messed-up scene all around him. He had gotten scratched a few times, but never anything that truly hurt him. His defences, and strength, everything had been enhanced. He was powerful now. And as he gazed at his hand that was covered in black blood, he smirked. He was only going to get more powerful.

Meanwhile, Kivu was eating all the Crystals she could, going ahead and devouring them up, and when she did that she was going about the process extra carefully until in the next moment, Zimo felt that warmth again, go all over his body as his Stats Became much better.

|————————————

|| Kivu || Skills |

—————

Name: Kivu (Unknown)

Level: 8

Resonance: 99%

States:

—————>

Health, Well-Being and Satiety: 67% ++

Energy, Stamina and Vitality: 81% ++

Mentality, Decision-Making and Focus: 69% -

Mana, Casting and Magical Power: 78% -

<—————

Physical Stats:

—————>

Dexterity (Agility, Flexibility) → 77 (+8) → 85

Strength (Speed, Power) → 60 (+8) → 68

Constitution (Endurance, Health) → 59 (+8) → 67

Intelligence (Memory, Reasoning) → 45 (+8) → 53

Charisma (Charm, Persuasion) → 78 (+8) → 86

Wisdom (Intuition, Adaptability) → 46 (+8) → 54

Spirit (Mental State, Character) → 50 (+8) → 58

<—————

Magical Stats:

—————>

Mana (Magical Energy Pool) → 80(10 * 8)

Arcane Knowledge (Magical Talent) → [Unknown]

Mystic Control (Magical Energy Control) → [Unknown]

Elemental Affinity (Connection to Elements) → Evil (S Rank), Darkness (S Rank)

<—————

————————————|

Kivu levelled up again. Wonderful. It was only going to be a bit time more before he too levelled up to get to level 8. He might as well leave her to the cleanup.

Turning his head, Zimo caught sight of all the food around. It was great it was packaged. He was not going to let it be taken over by the black stuff. But he was still looking forward to eating something. But just as he was about to grab something, he narrowed his eyes. He had heard something... Something that came from the direction where all the Deadspawn had come from.

At the back of the store, something caught his eye. A glimmer of movement, faint but unmistakable. He approached cautiously, his grip tightening on the knife. He was so glad he wore those pants. If he was practically naked like he was before it would have been so awkward.

As he approached, he couldn't help but notice a sound… A weird sound that irked him.

"Kikikiki…" Was that a chuckle? Or maybe it was something else. A sneer, or something. Whatever it was, it chilled him, driving a shiver down his spine. He seemed to feel something, an intuition that was telling him to not go ahead. He had better stop where he was.

Zimo paused. He took a deep breath, unsure what to do… Was this a Beastly instinct? Or maybe it was intuition. Looking behind him only to see Kivu with that same incredibly emotionless look, Zimo sighed. She felt that feeling too, but it seemed she didn't care. She had that much belief in her skills and abilities. Or maybe it was something else. Maybe she thought that whatever was out there was weak.

Zimo walked ahead, and Kivu came after him, he soon got a look at the thing through the open doors to the back storage rooms. It looked like a Deadspawn but... different. Its skin was darker, its limbs longer and more muscular. It radiated a sense of malice that made Zimo's stomach twist and there was this red glowing line, like a tattoo that went everywhere on its skin. ZImo paused in place, narrowing his eyes. This was...

|————————————

|| Beast Eye: Nameless Deadspawn || Skills |

—————

Name: ?? (Deadspawn, Tier 2)

Level: 13

Resonance: --

States:

—————>

Health, Well-Being, Satiety: 92% ++

Energy, Stamina, Vitality: 80% ++

Mentality, Decision-Making, Focus: 80% --

Mana, Casting, Magical Power: 100%

<—————

Physical Stats:

—————>

Dexterity (Agility, Flexibility) → 71

Strength (Speed, Power) → 82

Constitution (Endurance, Health) → 84

Intelligence (Memory, Reasoning) → 20

Charisma (Charm, Persuasion) → 21

Wisdom (Intuition, Adaptability) → 22

Spirit (Mental State, Character) → 26

<—————

Magical Stats:

—————>

Mana (Magical Energy Pool) → 13 (1 * 13)

Arcane Knowledge (Magical Talent) → Rank 1D

Mystic Control (Magical Energy Control) → Rank 1A

Elemental Affinity (Connection to Elements) → Death(F Rank)

<—————

————————————|

|————————————

| Beast Eye: Nameless Deadspawn || Skills ||

—————

Magical Skills: {1 Skill}

—————>

>> [Whithering Blast (F Rank)]

<—————

Combat Skills: {1 Skill}

—————>

>> [Death Strike (F Rank)]

<—————

Support Skills: {2 Skills}

—————>

>> [Command (F Rank)]

<—————

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Tier 2 Deadspawn? What the hell was that? And this one had mana and skills too? He remembered there was a mission about it wasn't there? Zimo thought back to the missions and then he sighed. What an interesting thing to see. But still, there was more to understand about his situation.

"What the hell are you?" he muttered, amazed by its strength. I was qualitatively stronger than Kivu. But Zimo knew that Kivu was smarter and stronger. That meant that they had a method to go about things.

And then in the next moment, as Zimo saw it tilt its head towards him while he was about to look at the details of those Skills, it lunged. It was without warning, and its speed caught him off guard.

*Bam!!*

Before he could react, it slammed into him, sending him flying into a stack of shelves. Pain shot through his arm as it cracked against the edge.

"Damn it!" Zimo hissed, cradling his broken arm. He had just healed this arm too. Now he just had to rely on his healing rate. To make sure that nothing healed out of place, he had to make sure to put it in place and then let it stay like that.

After thinking this far, ZImo popped the arm in place, groaning as he did, all the while staring daggers at this Deadspawn that was faster and stronger than any Deadspawn he had ever seen before. This was way too incredible. He could not handle this. At least not alone.

The creature advanced, its movements calculated and predatory. Zimo scrambled to his feet, spurred on by that same feeling again. The familiar surge of warmth as his bones knitted back together so quickly it was terrifying. Okay, his healing was out of this world now. He could continue fighting.

Just as the creature was about to reach him, ZImo was completely calm. Kivu was there in an instant, her massive form colliding with the creature.

*Boom!!*

"Grahh!!"

"Grrrrr!!"

The two beasts clashed, their roars filling the store as they slammed into each other with savage ferocity.

Zimo watched, his mind racing. He could not enter the battle too soon, after all his strongest arm was also injured at that moment. He was glad Kivu was so strong. And yet the more he thought about it, the more he frowned. Kivu was so strong, intuitive and able to ight, and yet she was not gaining an advantage.

Why was this the case? Maybe it had something to do with the Skills.

|————————————

| Skill: Whithering Blast (F Rank) |

—————

Description: Unleashes a wave of Necrotic Energy that Blasts at enemies draining their lifeforce and Energy. Can be activated within a radius as an area of effect ability

Skill Activation Conditions:

—> Amplified Effect in Darkness and in places full of Death Energy and apparitions like that.

—> Skill Cooldown: None

Upgrade Conditions:

—> ??

Mana Cost: 3 Mana (Minimum depending on darkness creation)

————————————|

|————————————

| Skill: Death Strike (F Rank) |

—————

Description: Channel the essence of death into a devastating blow that delivers incredible power and death to a victim

Skill Activation Conditions:

—> Must be channelled to limbs, weapons, or any part of the body and released. If unreleased they affect the body.

—> Skill Cooldown: None

Upgrade Conditions:

—> ??

Mana Cost: 3 Mana (Minimum depending on darkness creation)

————————————|

|————————————

| Skill: Command (F Rank) |

—————

Description: Control those lower in Tier to your position in your race.

Skill Activation Conditions:

—> The others have to be close to your condition

—> Skill Cooldown: None

Upgrade Conditions:

—> ??

Mana Cost: 3 Mana (Minimum depending on darkness creation)

————————————|

Okay... so it was starting to make sense now. Now that ZImo looked Closer, the Zombie had an area of effect that it released only when it was around Kivu, every time they clashed. That one action seemed to be enough to somewhat halt Kivu's momentum. ZImo figured he had to make sure to communicate this, and in that, he would see what was going to see what was going to happen in this fight.

But still. He couldn't let Kivu handle this alone. He was strong too. He had to go in there, to fight with her. And win with her. He was going to be the difference maker.

His gaze fell on a fallen shelf, its metal frame twisted but intact. An idea formed. He had lost the knife and the ability to use it momentarily, and right now, But he could use the environment.

"Kivu, keep it busy!" he shouted, rushing toward the shelf.

Kivu roared in response, her claws raking across the creature's chest as she held its attention, making it slide back before coming to a stop and pouncing forward again, releasing some disgusting sounds from its mouth that hung open in a way that was more disgusting than anything he might have ever seen.

Meanwhile, Zimo grabbed the shelf, lifting it with a grunt of effort. This would have taken five men to carry. Now he could do it all by himself. He charged, using the metal frame as a battering ram, and at the right moment, he slammed it into the creature with all his might sending it flying back to the wall.

The impact sent the creature crashing into the wall, and Kivu seeing that went ahead and slashed at it, sending it flying to the right. Zimo was not one to let go of an advantage like this, and what he did was go ahead and slam into it again, with the same shelf and thereafter he held it there.

Kivu came back to that position slashing at its face and neck, leaving its head hanging lopsided. But it was still alive and with that ability, it screeched and sent out a last-ditch strike with every inch of its ability, a [Withering Blast] and another [Death Strike], sending Kivu flying backwards.

Zimo was a bit horrified, but he gritted his teeth and flew forward, going ahead to the creature that he was sure was exhausted of mana by now. He grabbed its head and then decapitated it with the only thing he had left. And that was his weapon. He soon was done with the Beast, and it was there completely dead.

"Krrkk!!" As the creature died, Zimo saw how its tattoos glowed ever so gentler and then it began dying out, and Zimo smirked. What an amazing thing he was seeing. The silence that followed was deafening. But then when a glowing light flashed in his vision, Zimo smirked.

|————————————

|| Universal Tamer System || Stats | Skills | Beasts | Missions | Store |

—————

Congratulations! You have completed your mission: [Kill a Tier 2 Deadspawn] You have received the following:

—> Level +1 +1 -> 9

—> BC + 300BC -> 410BC

Congratulations! You have Levelled up! You have received the following:

—> BC + (8 + 9) * 10BC -> 580BC

————————————|

|————————————

| Universal Tamer System || Stats || Skills | Beasts | Missions | Store |

—————

Name: Zimo Banks (Human)

BC (Beast Coins): 580BC

Level: 9

States:

—————>

Health, Well-Being and Satiety: 89% ++

Energy, Stamina and Vitality: 96% ++

Mentality, Decision-Making and Focus: 73% ++

Mana, Casting and Magical Power: 80%

<—————

Physical Stats:

—————>

Dexterity (Agility, Flexibility) → 19 (+1 +1 +1) (+43) → 65

Strength (Speed, Power) → 15 (+1 +1 +1) (+34) → 52

Constitution (Endurance, Health) → 13 (+1 +1 +1) (+33) → 49

Intelligence (Memory, Reasoning) → 21 (+1 +1 +1) (+26) → 50

Charisma (Charm, Persuasion) → 19 (+1 +1 +1) (+43) → 66

Wisdom (Intuition, Adaptability) → 24 (+1 +1 +1) (+27) → 54

Spirit (Mental State, Character) → 25 (+1 +1 +1) (+29) → 57

<—————

Magical Stats:

—————>

Mana (Magical Energy Pool) → 27 (3 * 9) + 40 → 67

Arcane Knowledge (Magical Talent) → Rank 2B

Mystic Control (Magical Energy Control) → Rank 3F

Elemental Affinity (Connection to Elements) → Darkness(S Rank), Evil(S Rank), Fire(B Rank)

<—————

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ZImo smirked. Well, so that was a Tier 2 DeadSpawn, huh...

A Tier 2 DeadSpawn… How interesting… And it was pretty powerful too. Was Tier 2 that strong? What were DeadSpawn anyway?

Zimo collapsed onto the floor, breathing hard. Kivu padded over to him, her fur matted with black blood but her eyes sharp and unyielding. She seemed to be somewhat injured, and yet her shadowy exterior was shielding that from view. Zimo smirked.

"We make a good team," Zimo said between gasps.

Kivu huffed, nudging his shoulder with her snout. He groaned in pain. She did that on purpose, damn it.

Zimo laughed weakly, his adrenaline fading. "Yeah, yeah. I'll try not to get thrown into shelves next time." It was healing though. Zimo knew that it might take maybe a few hours since he could see how the Potions were pretty much worn out by now. He would have to set it properly to make sure it healed right though.

He stared at the creature's corpse, a sense of unease settling over him. Whatever it was, it wasn't like the others. Stronger. Smarter. Zimo was starting to realise the nature of this world. Everything could level up here.

Everything could be more than it was. That was an indication that Zimo was always going to be facing creatures that were more powerful than him. He needed to make sure that he kept up with everything, to make sure that he was going to be at the forefront.

These powerful beings were here only a bit less than half a day after the beginning of this apocalypse, and he had a feeling there were more out there.

"Well," he said, pushing himself to his feet. "Guess we'll find out soon enough." Turning to Kivu, Zimo had a smile on his face. "You hungry?"

Kivu looked at him with an incredulous look only for a moment before huffing in exasperation as she headed over and then scratched the Beast's head open, and then taking out a crystal. But this crystal's glow was brighter and stronger. It was also darker in colour.

After taking that Crystal out, she put it in her mouth and then experienced another Level up, and Zimo smirked. Wonderful. The stronger she was the stronger he was going to be, and as long as that was true, he would have her eat as many of these things as possible.

Zimo turned his attention to Kivu only to see her radiating a blackness from everywhere in her body. He looked at her his eyes narrowing.

"Kivu?!" Zimo said, but that did not stop her from spreading the darkness that made her up everywhere around to the extent where he couldn't see anything anymore. And when he finally saw his surroundings as the darkness cleared up revealing Kivu, standing there alone, his eyes went wide...

What the hell had just happened?

Everything had been taken away, cleaned away as if there had been nothing in there, to begin with. Even the Deadspawn bodies had been taken away, and the shelves, and even the broken glass. Everything was gone.

Zimo turned to Kivu, who looked at him with that same gaze as before, mysterious and unfathomable. ZImo stared at her, and then he smirked. Kivu... what are you?

"Did you just swallow the entire store?" Kivu turned to him rolling her eyes and nudging him to get up.

Wait wait… She swallowed the store. What was Zimo going to eat?