Eishi stared blankly at the ceiling.
Last night's events overwhelmed his mind. First was Shizuka-sensei, followed by Utaha. Finally, even Yukino took the initiative to 'surrender'. Things did not end there. He still had to reward Mahiru.
His overflowing hot blood was doused after tonight.
He blinked several times before letting out a foolish smile.
'Nine! Nine buffs!'
Eishi clicked on the system menu. Prompts after prompts jumped in front of him.
[Successfully bound SSS rated Confidante. First-time reward: Soul Destroyer (Fifth Rank), Spatial Backpack Storage +100,000 cubic meters.]
[SSS rated Bond 'Dao Heart' has been unlocked.]
[Successfully bound SSS rated Confidante. First-time reward: Seven Star Severing Art (Fifth Rank), Spatial Backpack Storage +100,000 cubic meters.]
[SSS rated Bond 'Elemental Lord' has been unlocked.]
[Successfully bound SSS rated Confidante. First-time reward: Quantum Network, Spatial Backpack Storage +100,000 cubic meters.]
[SSS rated Bond 'Absolute Shield' has been unlocked.]
The first thing he saw was the glaring 'fifth rank'.
'The rules should have been two major realms above… or is it not?'
Every successful binding nets a reward two stages above Eishi's current one. He was baffled to see a 'fifth rank' atop them all.
'So three stages above is the limit. I just need to get lucky…'
The thought of taking advantage of this mechanism came numerous times. He could have 'bound' the others once he is in a higher stage. However, he feared that something unexpected might happen.
The more cards they have now, the better. Hence, Eishi went on a binding spree, leaving only two empty slots.
His eyes scrolled through the Buffs he unlocked.
[Dao Heart]
Base Effect: Overall comprehension increases to 300%.
Group Effect: Overall comprehension increases to 200%. Resistance to mental attacks increases by 100%.
[Elemental Lord]
Base Effect: Effects of elemental-based talents increase to 200%.
Group Effect: Resistance to all elemental-based talents increases to 300%.
[Absolute Shield]
Base Effect: Increases defensive ability (comprehensive) to 300%.
Group Effect: Once a day, a killing blow can be blocked regardless of power.
'Holy…'
The first one belonged to the likes of [Martial Master] and [Study Expert]. It is a development-type buff that increases the illusory comprehension. The second one is the same, but to these "elemental-based talents".
It was the third one that shocked him.
'Killing blow, once a day, no level limit…'
This was the answer he was waiting for. He was worried that he and the girls would be in danger. There is no direct answer to it except to increase their strength. The [Absolute Shield] buff is the insurance he needed.
As for the "defensive ability" it gave, Eishi felt it was quite tasteless. He is bound to avoid every strike made by the enemy. This skill was for tanks, not an assassin like him.
He first got up, careful that Mahiru might wake up. He summoned forth the first-time rewards.
In an instant, a menacing blood-red guardless katana, a thick hardcover book, and a mini satellite dish appeared on the floor.
[Soul Destroyer (Fifth Rank)]
Details: A sword born for destruction. Every lethal strike can harm the essence of the soul.
[Seven Star Severing Art (Fifth Rank)]
Details: A sword technique derived from classical martial arts. It has seven forms, each one stronger than the former.
[Quantum Network]
Details: A special network dish capable of serving as a network station within its radius of 10,000 kilometers.
'Another sword…'
Putting aside the overpowered sword, he explored the other two items. The satellite dish has an on-and-off switch along with a compartment. Inside was a set of circuits Eishi did not understand.
Finally, the 'technique' was the same as the 'Origin Swallowing Method'. However, it is many times more useful compared to it.
The former detailed how to 'level up' through slow progress and absorb fruits/crystals faster. Eishi only has the use for the absorption part.
The 'sword technique' was different. It is a legitimate technique that can be used in battles.
Twenty minutes later, he closed the book.
'I… that's it..?'
Seven swords, seven forms. Each form is stronger than the former, though it is also more difficult to learn.
Through the 1,200% comprehension boost, Eishi learned up to the second form. He sifted through the sword technique. Twenty more minutes later, he had learned up to the third form.
It didn't stop there. His mind could not stop thinking about its stance, points, and flaws. Like a sword fanatic in martial arts novels, Eishi's mind began to automatically improve the technique.
By the time he snapped out of it, more than an hour passed.
"...Damn."
The renewed three forms of the [Seven Star Severing Art] has its power increased by 50% and its difficulty reduced by 40%. Eishi removed numerous redundancies and created an optimal version of the technique.
He looked back and saw Mahiru still asleep. Everything that they did early this morning flashed in his mind.
'I have to get that spirit boost talent…'
*****
It was the tenth day since the apocalypse. The survivors until now went through a lot of unspeakable experiences. The search for food, the dangers of mutated zombies, and the treacherous espers were all a pain in the head.
"Have you seen it? The fortress near the rich district."
"What of it?"
"People say that someone's living there."
The smoke of cigarettes filled the room. Several men puffed cigarette air, not minding the dead-tired women crouching on the table.
"Didn't someone attempt to break in? Look what it got him."
Eishi's "fortress" was spotted by keen observers. Almost everyone wanted to break in and claim it as theirs. Unfortunately for them, the 10,000 watts steel-plated electric walls are no joke. Several people attempted to climb, only for them to turn into toasted corpses.
Even espers tried to break in, but to no avail. They got shot down with guns, deterring most who had any designs about them.
"Rumors say that a group of beautiful girls came out of it."
'Then?"
"They saw them clearing out zombies one by one. All of them are espers."
Seeing the lewd and greedy look on the man, another one took the initiative to strike at his head.
"Choose your fucking targets better. All beautiful girls squad and clearing zombies means they have espers, dumbass. Do you think the three of us can take them down?"
"Why not?"
"Stupid idiot."
"A-aniki…"
The most intelligent one in the room stared at the crudest one with exasperation.
"Let's go find those fruits first. Or even register in the city hall. I heard they have guns and espers over there. There's no shortage of danger now…"
Thinking about the trails of blood-red in the night sky that he saw, the man shivered.
Click.
Click.
Suddenly, a faint clicking noise emerged.
"Did you hear that?"
"Ah?"
Click.
Click.
Click.
…
The crudest one, who did not hear anything, was jolted silent. The number of clicking sounds increased to the point they heard it everywhere.
"What…"
A huge insect stomped on the glass window.
It was merely the prelude. More bug-like insects the size of a human palm crawled into the window.
The three men were terrified. They did not even have the time to put up their pants when what they feared came.
Crack-!
Shatter-!
"A-ah..!"
The screams of the six people were buried under the endless swarm of black tide…
*****
It has been ten days since the apocalypse began. Eishi's life did not change; it became more luxurious. The system's material returns ensured he can indefinitely provide power to the entire villa. The biting cold outside meant nothing to his entire villa's systems of heaters.
He chose to stay in the green yard instead.
In his left hand are spirit-type fruits. He kept crushing them before absorbing their power. His life level did not see any visible increase, mainly because of the fruit's lower rank. Only second rank and above fruits contain energy that can penetrate his skin and muscles.
In his right hand was the second-order mutated zombie crystal. He absorbed one per minute.
Once he absorbed one hundred, changes occurred in his panel.
[Eishi Hiraoka]
Innate Talent: Time Dominator (SSS, Second-order)
Non-exclusive Talent: Spatial Backpack (1,510,000 Cubic Meters), Constitution Boost (S, Second-order), Weak Electricity (A, First-order), Spirit Boost (B, Second-order)
Life Level: Second-order, Two-star
Strength: 329 > 369 (428 > 480)
Agility: 323 > 363 (1,066 > 1,198)
Constitution: 625 > 665 (2,063 > 2,195)
Spirit: 720 > 835 (936 > 1,086)
"Second-order…"
Eishi disregarded the stickiness in his palm. He kept on crushing these fruits, going as far as to crush five at once.
The combat drills led by Saeko were paused. They accompanied Haruno in managing those two-dozen survivors.
Since he was active, they brought most of the power: Shizuka-sensei and Mahiru. The rest remained in the villa. Saya, Utaha, and Yukino focused on consuming the endless supplies of fruits that Eishi gave.
This left the villa's remaining power to Eishi and Airi. The other Shizuka-sensei (lit. Doctor) can be neglected for now.
Just then, the phone in his pockets vibrated. Eishi paused the absorption of crystals and took it out.
Electricity had long been out throughout the city. The same went for the cellular towers. The Internet that was once bustling fell into silence.
It wasn't a problem for Eishi, however.
The [Quantum Network] satellite dish that he obtained acted as a cell tower. It enabled mobile data and calls, hence their contacts now.
The moment he answered the call, he heard gunshots and screaming from the other side.
"Those insects you mentioned are… attacking."
Saeko's voice was cut off every now and then.
Eishi rushed to the fourth floor surveillance room and saw numerous alerts. The dozens or so monitors showed the city's overall situation.
"...Holy shit."
Chills went down his spine.
A quarter of the monitors got shut down. The remaining ones showed a huge swarm of black insects sweeping through the streets.
Zombies, ruined cars, metal posts, even buildings…
Nothing was left wherever they passed.
Their activity is at the highest in four places—the landing zones of the meteorites. Unluckily, one of them is merely two kilometers away from the villa.
"The electric wall is working. What a nice call."
He glanced at the cameras pinned outside the villa's walls. Hundreds of palm-size beetles tried to crawl upwards, but to no avail. Smoke came out from their fallen bodies.
Eishi went back to the call.
"Do not risk your lives for those people. We can find new ones. Use the superpower to come back to my side if you cannot hold on."
"...noted…"
The call ended.
He left the surveillance room and went to the basement. He checked the central industrial-scale generator and saw its power depleting by half.
Eishi poured in more fuel, bringing its reserves back to the green.
"The electric wall is consuming more power."
He came out of the basement and met with Airi.
"Eishi! T-the zombies I controlled… They are fighting these terrifying bugs."
She told him the capabilities of these black beetles. Second-order zombies can deal with hundreds of them.
"Lead them closer to the rich district. Watch out for beetles that could fly."
"Um."
After giving Airi the instructions, he went to the top of the walls.
A musky and ironic smell filled his nose. Mountains of beetle corpses lay lifelessly on the ground. More terrifyingly, the other beetles are using their corpses to scale the wall.
"Shit."
Pssh-!
Pssh-!
He tested it out first with a normal M9A3. To his surprise, the bullets penetrated their pitch black shell.
'They are weaker than I expected…'
Click.
Time slowed down in his eyes. He took out a pair of synthesized M4A1 rifles and began shooting at the beetles.
One shot made their entire body explode into pieces. Several continued shots tore down a hole in the flesh mountain created from their corpses.
Eishi sprinted as he dealt with the bugs. The second-rank weapons he gained from the weapon synthesizer almost have the firepower of cannons… in a rifle form. His superhuman arms felt slightly numb after the entire ordeal.
One man fought against the zerg swarm and won.
"Their weakness… Does it lie on their type? Are there stronger ones?"
His mind was left wondering amidst the thousands of black beetles surrounding the villa.
*****
"What the hell… I thought there were only zombies!"
Nobody paid attention to Kouta's panic attack. Takashi glanced at the window. The scenery outside was filled with gunpowder and espers fighting against the insect tide. It wasn't just him.
The city hall is huge enough to house thousands of people. As the 'official' refugee camp up-to-date, they managed to attract ten thousand people. Along with them are espers—people who overcame the blood rain and awakened their superpowers.
This population resolved the city hall's need of manpower. The first thing the mayor did was to seize the city police's armory. It proved to be the correct one. Normal and mutated zombies alike could not withstand a wave of gunshots.
Japan has strict gun regulations. This resulted in a 'surplus' of hot weapons and a shortage of people who can use them.
The city hall was hesitant to arm these survivors at first, in fear of someone inciting chaos. Ultimately, they chose to do so.
It was between zombies and humans—and zombies will kill them first.
As such, the city hall of today withstood the sudden onslaught of these terrifying black beetles. Nevertheless, the losses weren't negligible.
The makeshift barricades (i.e., cars) and the hastily-built wired iron fence were taken down. Dozens of people died, with hundreds wounded.
Worse, it hasn't ended yet.
"I am going out."