[Mutated Jewel Wasp | Level 20]
[Weakness - Fire]
As Xavier's gaze zeroed in on the large shadow flying in the sky, his first skill, Predation Sense, automatically activated, giving him a brief introduction to the creature as well as its weakness.
His eyes narrowed automatically. Fire… he didn't know how to start a fire.
More than that, this wasn't even what concerned him the most. The monster's name was wasp.
Since when did wasps become so big?
The others at the front also noticed the flying monster in the sky, following Xavier's gaze. However, they soon turned their eyes forward again. For now, their immediate priority was getting out of this prison.
They couldn't concern themselves with anything else.
After a moment of thought, Xavier also didn't pay attention to the threat above and focused ahead, scanning the walls to see if any zombies were trying to climb upward.
Howl! Howl!
Monstrous howls filled with bloodlust and hunger echoed. Tens of wolves tore through the advancing horde, their giant fangs sharp as steel, ripping through zombie bodies and any surviving prisoners or officers like vegetables. Blood splashed in every direction.
"Puke!"
Millie, who happened to witness this gory scene, threw up, unable to handle such a level of carnage.
Xavier's condition wasn't much different. His level of discomfort had already reached its peak, but for some strange reason, he was able to remain calm.
At first, this surprised even him, but upon careful thought, it started to make sense.
From the very start, Xavier had always been a calm and logical individual. However, after awakening the legendary class, his emotions had been further subdued, making him more composed and rational, ready to face any situation to the best of his abilities.
Just at that time, another incredibly loud wolf howl rang out, this time from behind them.
"Fuck! They've finally found us…"
Aron's eyes narrowed dangerously as he noticed two slender wolves charging toward them from behind.
Xavier reacted at the same time, his entire body tensing. As he was the furthest back, he was the first to face the attack.
[Frost Wolf Tribe Scout | Level 10]
A faint red mark symbol flashed on its underbelly, most likely the weak point.
"So fast…"
Xavier inwardly exclaimed.
He had barely blinked once when the wolves were already ready to pounce on him. Thankfully, this time he wasn't completely unprepared. Xavier's thoughts moved like lightning, analyzing every aspect of the enemy before him.
Compared to the giant wolf he had faced earlier, these two wolves had slender builds. Their fur was white as snow, and although they moved at incredible speed, their feet barely made any sound. This was probably why Xavier had completely failed to notice their presence until they chose to reveal themselves.
Jackie's eyes sharpened. Without delay, she shouted in a pained voice, "Run!"
These two wolves' speed vastly exceeded theirs. Fighting wasn't an option. While Xavier distracted them, it was better to use this chance to escape.
The others shared the same thought. Samuel and Risa were already running, but maybe because of their earlier intimate activities or because the situation was finally taking its toll, they looked incredibly haggard. Samuel huffed and puffed like a dog.
Risa's posture was also stiff.
Aron watched this scene and couldn't stop himself from cursing these fucking morons.
Suddenly, he paused briefly, his hands glowing with a faint blue light.
"Ice Arrow…"
Aron's mana reserves were already drained from blocking the stairs. His face was deathly pale as he tried to mobilize his last remaining reserve.
Xavier noticed Samuel's actions and frowned, thinking this bastard was trying to block his path again.
Although he could understand the reasoning, Xavier still felt a spark of anger rise in his heart.
Just then, clear ice crystals appeared on the legs of the two pouncing wolves.
Aron didn't stay to admire his handiwork. He ran as fast as possible to catch up with the others.
All of this—from the wolves' first appearance to Aron casting ice arrows—happened in the blink of an eye.
Xavier was left alone to face the wolves.
Maybe it was adrenaline or something else, but Xavier's heart chilled slightly. His gaze sharpened. The wolves' movements in his perception suddenly seemed to slow down, so slow that he could even count the number of teeth in their wide-open mouths.
Space flickered near his right hand, and the Wolf Iron Sword appeared in his grasp.
This time, sensing the severity of the situation, Xavier decided to ditch the iron bar.
He couldn't afford to be careless.
"Grrr!"
Taking advantage of the moment, Xavier thrust the large steel sword directly into the mouth of the first level ten scout wolf. His entire body shook as if he had placed his hand inside a meat grinder.
The monster clamped its jaws shut forcefully, trying to break the sword.
"No, you are not."
Xavier snorted and punched the wolf's head with his left hand. A punch powered by his full thirty-four points of strength smashed into the wolf's skull like a sledgehammer. He even heard the faint sound of bones cracking.
"Oww!"
The wolf let out a pained whimper. Xavier used this opening to free his sword. However, before he could finish it off, the second wolf leaped into the air, its mouth wide open, releasing a faint blue glow similar to Aron's ice arrow spell.
"Damn…"
Xavier's expression darkened. This was bad.
Trusting his instincts, he threw his body to the side and rolled across the ground.
Bang! Bang!
The spot where he had stood moments ago was completely destroyed by a shower of extremely sharp ice bullets. A faint hole was blasted through the roof surface, exposing the ground below.
"Fuck…!"
Xavier's expression fell. If he had been even a step slower, his body would have been shredded to pieces.
Realizing the severity of the situation, Xavier tightened his grip on the Wolf Iron Sword.
The scout wolf, not expecting its attack to fail, looked slightly stunned.
Xavier seized the opportunity and jumped toward the injured wolf, sword raised above his head, intending to take advantage of the opening.
Whoosh!
The sword traced a clean arc through the air. Xavier felt slight resistance as it sliced through the wolf's exposed underbelly.
Puchi!
A spray of blood erupted.
[You have absorbed the Soul Record of a Level 10 Ice Wolf. +2 Strength, +4 Mana]
[Kill Streak +1]
Xavier didn't stop to celebrate. His figure flashed toward the last remaining wolf like a ghost, the blood-drenched Wolf Iron Sword slicing through the air, crimson droplets scattering everywhere.
Puchi!
Like a sharp spear, the sword pierced through the wolf's stomach and came out the other side.
Thud!
The second wolf was instantly killed.
[Kill Streak +2]
[You have absorbed the Soul Record of a Level 11 Ice Wolf. +5 Health]
Xavier looked around for loot, but sadly, this time there were no drops.
After a brief glance, he started running toward the exit.
…
"Can these zombies sense us…?"
Aron asked out loud, watching zombies pile up like a small mountain beside the watchtower walls, trying to climb upward, their behavior similar to ants.
"Huff! Huff!"
Samuel bent over with his hands on his knees, panting heavily, sweat pouring down his face.
Seizing the moment, he turned to Aron and said, "Aron, do you remember when you asked me to help you get your mother admitted to the hospital? Carry me out of this place, and I promise she'll be treated by the best doctors in the city."
Aron's face froze for a moment before quickly returning to normal.
He ignored Samuel completely and turned his gaze toward Jackie.
…
Jackie was also exhausted. She took rapid, deep breaths to calm her racing heart.
From time to time, her gaze turned backward to check on Xavier. When she saw him kill the two wolves with ease, she let out a sigh of relief, a bit of color returning to her face.
Millie, who looked relatively fine, slowly walked toward her, lightly patting her shoulder.
"Are you okay, Jackie?" Millie asked with worry clear on her face.
The concern was genuine. Millie had known Jackie since childhood and knew about her medical condition. Since she was young, Jackie had suffered from asthma. Such intense physical activity was extremely painful for her, but in this situation, there was nothing they could do.
Jackie wiped the sweat pouring down her forehead and said evenly, "I'm fine."
Just then, a panicked cry echoed.
"They're climbing up! Zombies are climbing up!"
Risa screamed hysterically, clutching Samuel's figure.
"Please, someone do something! Get these zombies away from me!"
Tears appeared at the corners of her eyes. Risa was just an ordinary young girl, and the situation was completely beyond her limits.
"Slap!"
"Fucking bitch, get away from me!"
Samuel viciously slapped Risa aside, a cold smile on his face. The tenderness from earlier was completely gone.
Risa clutched her cheek, stunned, her entire body trembling.
"Why…? You promised me…"
The words weakly escaped her mouth.
Samuel only snorted in disdain. Did this stupid bitch really think he would risk his life for her?
A disgusted frown appeared on his face.
In this short span of time, multiple zombies managed to climb onto the rooftop.
"Damn it all!"
Samuel cursed as he slowly backed away. Risa stood frozen, still trying to understand what had just happened.
The hope she had sacrificed everything for shattered completely.
"Risa, move!"
Millie suddenly shouted, seeing two bloodied zombies in orange prisoner uniforms lunging toward the girl.
Risa didn't react, seemingly still processing the betrayal.
Seeing Millie rush forward, Aron let out a helpless sigh and stepped in, mana slowly gathering around his fists.
Although he wanted those two pieces of trash gone, that didn't mean he would let Millie put herself in danger.
Two ice arrows, each more than three feet long, materialized in midair and shot toward the incoming zombies at high speed.
Puchi!
The arrows easily pierced through the zombies' rotten skulls, bursting out the other side.
"Don't waste your mana on such useless small fry," Jackie commanded in a slightly irritated voice.
There were simply too many zombies. If they wasted too much strength here, they'd be exhausted before even reaching the exit.
Aron clenched his teeth. Her words made sense. He was already completely drained.
…
Holding the bloodied Wolf Iron Sword, Xavier pushed forward, just in time to see the horde of zombies climbing upward.
"Hm…"
One look was enough to tell how terrible the situation was. If he spent too much time dealing with zombies, wolves could attack from behind. The only way out was leaving the prison as fast as possible.
Within a minute, Xavier reached the front. Jackie and Millie silently watched him move ahead, their eyes briefly lingering on the sword in his hand.
Before they could think further, the entire platform was flooded with zombies.
Xavier's figure descended among them like a grim reaper, slicing through zombie necks as if cutting vegetables.
Notifications echoed in his mind one after another.
[Mutated Zombie Killed x1]
[You have absorbed the Soul Record of Level …]
[Kill Streak - 10]
In the blink of an eye, more than ten heads rolled across the ground.
The others watched in awe. Millie's eyes practically sparkled.
So powerful.
Xavier didn't stop to acknowledge their reactions. His thoughts were clear.
If they were pinned from both sides—zombies in front and wolves behind—it would be a pincer attack.
Even though he had grown stronger after the apocalypse, that strength still wasn't enough.