Luke wondered why he was being lectured by a mini elf, but he soon forgot about that. Considering what he heard, it seemed that the universe was divided into many parts, and those parts were being controlled by individuals that had god-like powers.
"So, you two are working from some entities of this world?" Luke asked.
"No, we aren't from this world, we don't serve the beings of this world," the dark replied. "I am from a species of another world, we would like to have more people like you around. One that can live by their own rules."
"I am the same, but I am from a group of beings that believes that if we manage to help individuals like you protect other beings, we can form an alliance to solve this situation," the elf added. "As mentioned before, you can exert a lot of influence in this world. The fact that you survived until now and killed so many zombies so fast proves that."
"I see… so both of you want to use me for your own ends," Luke nodded to himself. "I guess that makes it easy for me. I don't need the help of beings like you."
"It is not like you wouldn't gain anything from it," The dark elf said. "I have the knowledge and the skills to spread your influence even more than you can ever dream. I won't demand anything from you, but you would need to act according to your interests all the time."
"Please, don't listen to her," The elf said. "What is the point of doing what you want while others are suffering? You can't live in a world alone where you are the only one satisfied in the end."
"What a load of bullshit, you can't say that you are truly satisfied with yourself unless you can do whatever you want," The dark elf said. "Living in a group is for weaklings, those who have power must strive to obtain more and do as they see fit with their lives."
"Mind your tongue, you little corrupted creature," The elf said. "How can you say that to a human from a species who managed to accomplish this much by working together? It is obvious that working together with others is the best option. Besides, all this problem started because a few individuals obtained too much power."
Another argument started, and Luke wondered what the problem between those two was… Putting their ideologies aside, Luke didn't trust those who seemed too friendly on their first meeting. Their promises to help him also seemed too suspicious, even though they apparently weren't hiding anything. In any case, he left the refectory and left those two behind. For some reason, Luke didn't find any zombies between the refectory and the exit of that part of the campus. However, he saw many of them on the other side of the street, where the girls' dormitory was located.
"... Maybe this is my golden chance to make Amanda to fall for me," Luke thought. "Although she was pretty full of herself, she is one of those who stays on the weekend in the dormitory to study."
Luke realized that beyond being stupid, it was also pretty pathetic for him to think along those lines. Why go that far for a girl who said no to him without even considering his feelings for a single second? He realized that he would do the same in her position if someone completely unknown confessed to him… still…
"You have the power to help them if you want," the elf said. "Now more than ever, you will need friends to rely on. Those who feel indebted to you will certainly become good allies."
"Such nonsense… there isn't anyone trying to leave that dormitory, they will be the only dead weight," the dark elf said. "Besides, even if they don't help, they will gain a part of your experience and gold coins if you decide to stay with them."
"... Are you still following me?" Luke asked. "I don't need you to attract the monsters toward me."
"The monsters won't be able to see us, until you decide to accept our help," the elf replied. "We aren't from this world, so our existence needs to be connected with someone for us to be able to exert any influence."
That seemed interesting, but again, Luke didn't have time for that, he could hear strange grunts in the distance, and they seemed too loud to be from zombies. When Luke left the campus and turned to the right side, he saw a car turning the corner and then approaching while zigzagging… that wasn't a good sign.
"Oh, shit…" Luke said.
Luke retreated as fast as possible, and he did the right thing because the car hit the power pole right in front of the campus. The whole thing fell down, and the car went on fire. In the blink of an eye, the vehicle exploded, but Luke reacted on time to take refuge behind the walls of the dormitory.
"That made too much noise… shit," Luke got up and then decided to hurry up and leave.
Before he could do that, though, Luke saw a zombie coming out from the car… a zombie on fire. That was weird… video game logic says that they were weak to fire. As if things weren't bad enough, the zombies in the girl's dormitory were moving toward the car as well.
Facing too many enemies before reaching the supermarket wasn't a good idea. Still, Luke wouldn't be able to leave before killing the fire zombie. Luke realized that killing it would be more difficult than he had imagined when he saw the creature drooling fire…
"Fuck me…" Luke muttered.
"You should have put more points into SPE like I told you," the elf said.
Luke had ignored that and put once again three points into strength and two into focus. Regardless, Luke already knew what to do. He equipped a knife and then used Weapon Augmentation. However, the zombie spat a fireball that melted the knife.
"I am really fucked…" Luke muttered.
While Luke was considering what to do, he noticed that the fire on the monster's mouth had decreased… It couldn't use that fireball again! At least for a while. Luke decided to conserve his mana and then held his short sword tightly. As expected, the zombie didn't open its mouth, but when Luke got close, the creature suddenly began to run toward him.
"Shit… not a running zombie…" Luke said and then clenched his teeth.
When the enemy tried to attack his face, Luke swung his sword and blocked the claws. Although his strength increased and he could barely feel the sword's weight, he only cut the arms a little bit… The creature could can use long-ranged attacks, but it was also pretty durable.
"Only the head, huh…" Luke muttered.
Instead of attacking again, the zombie opened its mouth, and Luke felt shivers all over his body. However, he still dashed forward and lowered his stance to attack the creature's neck from below. Luke hit the enemy and forced it to raise its mouth upward just before the fireball could come out. The fireball was shot, but it didn't hit anything… In the meantime, Luke had the chance to make the enemy fall, and once that happened, he used his weight to put extra power on his attack and pierce the monster's brain.
You obtained 03 experience points.
You obtained 03 gold coins.
"Not the most efficient enemy to…" Luke said and then noticed that the other zombies were approaching. "Shit."
Luke prepared to fight them, but then he noticed that the fire zombie had dropped something… a skill book. Luke smiled when he noticed that, after all, he didn't think that only three experience points and gold coins had been enough.
Congratulations! You have learned the skill Fire Resistance.
It decreases the amount of damage caused by fire attacks and spells by one percent.
Luke frowned when he saw the description. One percent seemed too little. However, he soon noticed that he couldn't underestimate those effects.
LV 03 -37%
HP: 21/24
MP: 13/16
SP: 08/12
STR: 10
SPE: 04
INT: 06
END: 04
RES: 06
FOC: 05
Free points: 00
Gold Coins: 24
Active Skills: Weapon Augmentation Lv 01
Spells:
Passive: Fire Resistance Lv 01
"That zombie wounded me with its flames…" Luke said, and then he noticed that the zombies got too close while he was thinking. "At least let me think in peace, damn it!"
Three zombies tried to surround Luke, but he suddenly stepped forward and surprised them before swinging his short sword. His strength reached a level where he managed to behead two zombies, but the next one endured the strike, and the sword got stuck in its neck. However, before it could touch Luke, he kicked it, making the monster fall and him retrieve his sword.
Before Luke could finish that one, the two remaining approached. Using a full swing would leave Luke wide open to have his leg attacked by the fallen zombie, so he stopped backward and then used a knife and Weapon Augmentation. The head of one of the zombies exploded, and the other approached Luke only to have both arms cut off. Soon after, Luke finished the job, and only one zombie was left. Naturally, it didn't cause him any trouble.
You obtained 05 experience points.
You obtained 05 gold coins.
"As expected," the Dark elf said.
"Impressive," the elf said.
Luke wondered why everything was too quiet… It was because those two stayed silent during the fight. They could have helped, but then Luke recalled something about them not being from this world, and thus, they can't exert their influence.
There was no loot to get, so Luke resumed his plans of leaving the campus. This time, he wasn't interrupted by zombies, but as soon as he crossed the first block, he saw some cars moving away in the distance while being chased by some type of four-legged creature that was as big as the cars.
"What the fuck is that…" Luke said, visibly shocked.
"That is one of the reasons I looked for humans like you," the elf said. "Zombies aren't the only thing you have to be wary of. They are just the first and they aren't nearly at their strongest point."
"Don't talk as if you can do something against them, you people are all just support type creatures," the dark elf said. "I on the other hand can help you fight even against that. Naturally, you will become stronger much faster."
"My head hurts… Why do you two have to argue all the damn time?" Luke asked while he facepalmed. "Look, I won't participate in any shady ritual that will force me to obey all your orders, and I won't follow anyone's ideals. I will do what I think it will be for the best… considering the situation. I don't want to be egotistical because I want to find a way to reach my parents, but I don't want to go around trying to save people that I don't know. Why should I risk my neck for strangers?"
"Well, to be honest, you don't have to," the elf said. "It is just that you would be able to receive more of my power if your way of thinking and acting were more aligned with me."
"Same here," the dark elf said. "It would be more convenient for me if you were to become more self centered, but since you are able to see both of us, you can walk between the two paths."
"That seems to be too good to be true…" Luke frowned. "Besides, what would I gain and what would you gain in this trade?"
"As I said before, my presence would increase your health and stamina regeneration," the elf said. "You also would manage to make physical skills level up faster."
"With me, it would be the opposite," the dark elf said. "Still, I have a better offer for you."
"You wouldn't…" the elf said.
"I would," the dark elf smiled mischievously. "If you accept to marry me, you will gain the power of my species instantly. You wouldn't have to do anything shady either to keep that power. Just had to sleep with me on a daily basis."