章 16: Chapter 16: Concretespire Safe Zone

"...Status."

[Name: Zero | Race: Undead (Zombie– Upgradeable)

Lv. 9

Vitality: 5

Strength: 8 (+20%)

Intelligence: 3 (Limited Growth)

Agility: 7

Mana: 1

Status Points: 0 (+1 Each Level Up) ]

[Skills: Skill Absorption Lv. N/A, Speech Lv. 1, Enhanced Hearing Lv. 3, Enhanced Strength Lv. 2, Summon Flames Lv. 1, Hardened Claws Lv. 2, Minor Regeneration Lv. 1, Freezing Howl Lv. 1]

Zero stared at the words that popped out in front of him; his eyes, trying their best to discern what they all could mean. He remembered Zeni uttering the word 'Status' before, and the same set of windows also popped out.

But what exactly are they? They seem different from the usual words that appear in front of him. Status? Based on the images and thoughts that were appearing in his mind, a 'status' is some sort of… like a human's position in life?

What does that have to do with the words that–

"Zero?"

"..." Zero's thoughts then all disappeared as he heard someone calling to him from behind; he looked, only to see Sandie slightly limping towards him; her leg, which previously had a metal spike embedded in it, now seemingly fully healed.

"Are you okay?" Sandie muttered as she moved beside Zero as they continued to walk; her bountifully sized breasts, moving with every hop.

[The Readers of Fate are once again raising their eyebrows repeatedly.]

Hector, Anna, and the other slayers of the group were also walking along with them… as Zero decided to go back to the city with the Wind Mafia; and right now, with the sun having just settled, they were back in Zero's home. The trees, now once again replaced by abandoned buildings.

Wind Mafia, that's what they call their team. Zero had initially thought that there were only four of them due to Anna's group, but it would seem there were even more of them back in the gated community where the Giant Hornet entered.

They called it the Concretespire Safe Zone– as it turns out, there were more than thousands of them, humans, inside. Zero had already guessed that there were many of them behind the wall when he saw it, but to think there were actually that many humans… and so near his home.

He had also come to know that this home of his is what is typically known as a Beginner's area for the slayers. He and his kind… they were considered to be one of the weakest monsters individually.

Somehow, Zero already knew that from the way the humans just kill them left to right. But what about him?

He was a zombie that was able to kill a beast that Anna and the others couldn't… was he still considered the weakest?

"Zero… are you okay?" As Zero once again was lost in his own thoughts, Sandie could not help but walk a few steps ahead of him as she stared at his pale blue eyes.

"That's enough, Sandie. Men don't like clingy and easy women."

"A… Anna!"

"Or maybe he's not just interested in you," Anna then let out a small chuckle as she too, walked in front of Zero, "So, what is it? What's your deal? Or maybe you're not just interested in women in general?"

"In… terested?" Zero just tilted his head, making sure his hood does not get blown away by the wind again, "No…

…I am very interested in you."

"...What?" Anna almost tripped to the ground and choked at her own breath at the same time as soon as she heard Zero's words; her eyes slowly moved towards Sandie, only to see her glaring at her like she wanted to kill her.

"N… Not me, her," Anna quickly said as she pointed at Sandie.

"..." Zero turned his eyes towards Sandie, causing her to switch the frown on her face into a smile,

"Yes," Zero then breathed out, "I am also very interested in her."

"...What are you, a fuckboy?" Anna then rolled her eyes as she hastened her steps, "I'm warning you now, Sandie– scarred men have a lot of baggage in them."

"D… don't mind Anna," Sandie then once again leaned closer to Zero, "Her mouth could use a little fixing, but she's like our older sister, in a way. She takes care of us."

"Hm," Zero nodded, not even knowing what Sandie meant.

"A… anyway, what are you doing once we get back to the Safe Zone?"

"...I don't know."

"You're going to have to sell your materials, maybe… I can go with you?"

"..."

"Come on, you saved us. That's the least I can do!"

"..." Zero only answered with a nod. But that seems that was all he needed as Sandie once again started telling him stories about the Wind Mafia, and how she, Anna, Gab, and Isa were already friends before they joined the slayer team.

She said many other things, but nothing else seemed to be registering in Zero's mind anymore. Very soon, however, they reached the gate of Concretespire.

"..." And now that he was staring at this monstrosity of an infrastructure, he was starting to think that the decision to join them may have been the wrong one. But Sandie and the others have seen his face, and they didn't really do anything.

Zeni the Shopkeeper also mentioned his face slowly becoming normal. There… shouldn't be any problem for him if he enters, right?

"..." Zero, however, took a step back as soon as the small gate in front of them opened up. He was, however, unable to leave as the rest of the members of the Wind Mafia were behind him– alas, the only thing he could really do now was follow those in front and step forward.

He watched as the leader of the Wind Mafia, Hector, talked to the people that were guarding the gate before stepping forward. Some, however, just walked right through without saying anything.

So… it should be alright for him to do the same? He thought as it was finally his turn to step forward.

"ID."

"..."

"Sir, your ID!"

"!!!"

Zero's nails quickly grew as one of the guards blocked his path. It was a good thing he was able to stop himself from tearing the guard's face– if not, then he would probably meet his end here with all the people watching him.

"...ID?" Zero then turned to look at the guard.

"...Yes?" The guard squinted his eyes as he took a peek at Zero's face, "Your Slayer ID."

"I… don't have an ID."

[Some of the Readers of Fate are starting to get nervous.]

"You… don't have an ID?" The guard then looked at his comrades, gesturing to them to come near, "Did you lose it… or you didn't have one in the first place?"

"..." Zero could only look at his surroundings as more and more people started to crowd around him.

"Sir, you are aware that it's illegal to be out there without a license?" The guard then said as he looked at Zero from head to toe, "Can you take off your hood?"

"..."

"I am not going to ask again, sir. Please take off your hood so we can identify–"

"I don't think that's necessary."

And before Zero could do anything drastic, Hector suddenly returned to the gates and placed his hand on the guard's shoulders, "He's with us, Bran. He saved some of my folks so cut him some slack."

"..." The guard looked back and forth between Hector and Zero, but shaking his head and letting out a loud sigh,

"Well, why the fuck didn't you say so? Go, go!"

And with that, Hector pushed Zero inside. Zero, of course, was a little hesitant in passing through the gates. But alas, he was already here and the only thing he could really do was move forward.

The gate didn't immediately lead to the inside of the Safe Zone but was sort of like a short tunnel that had even more guards stationed inside. Very soon, however, Zero's pale blue eyes were bombarded by light.

He had seen it from afar before, but looking at it this close… was a different view altogether.

Everything was moving, even the lights seemed like they would jump to his face anytime soon.

There were people, just walking and running everywhere that which made Zero somewhat confused…

…and lost.

He didn't belong here.

This place is filled with nothing but life… it was no place for someone– for something like him.

"..." Zero turned around, but alas, the gates were closed. Where…

…Where is he even supposed to go?

"!!!"

Zero took a step back as several humans suddenly walked in front of him… only for him to bump into another human. There… there were so many.

So many people.

There was so much life…