Showing Off Might

[ Player: Jason Shemrite ]

[ Serial Number: 336663996 ]

[ Rank: 0 (110/300) ]

[ STR: 11 ]

[ AGI: 12 ]

[ VIT: 11 ]

[ ERG: 32 ]

[ INT: 30 ]

[ Talent: Infinite Extraction - SSS ]

–[ Distributable Points: 6 ]

–[ Extra Talents: Semi-Enhanced Speed(E), Fireball(G), Weapon Reinforce(F), Enhanced Scent(D), Bite(F), Semi-Enhanced Endurance(E), Claw Sweep(I), Mighty Roar(F), Decipher(D), Bloodlust(E), Claw Sweep(F), Poison Claw(F), Fire Blast(E), Dash(F), Strength Up(D), Twin Thoughts(D), Kingly Aura(B), Vision Enhancement(E), Fast Recovery Speed(G), Phantom Pain(H), Curse Evil Eye(F), Charm(F), Hand of Paralysis(E), Minimized Energy Consumption(I) ]

[ Hunting Points: 60 ]

"Steady progress." Jason checked his template once again, and it was really looking up there.

He kept his Distributable Points for the time being, and saved them for a perfect opportunity later down the line.

Because right now, they were moving closer and closer to the center of the forest. Nobody knew what was behind the forest, but this was the only way they could take.

Everything was unknown.

"..."

Jason walked besides the two man, the leader and the military man. The former was called Joe, an American citizen that was a boss, or rather leader of a gang.

No wonder he was so calm, Jason thought.

His gang was also community friendly, and just sold merchandise. Or so he says. While the military man was Adolf, and obviously, he was a soldier.

He was a vice commander within a small platoon, and belonged to Ukraine. Jason would have never believed that if he never told him himself.

'He looks Russian. Or maybe I'm being racist?' He thought once again, and moved away from those thoughts, focusing on the road.

The road was important.

And before them, a few tens of meters ahead, in an open space, many humanoid beings walked here and there slowly, seemingly being burdened by their body weight.

They resembled humans, yet had half decaying bodies, and completely pale complexion. They also had mucus-like substances pouring out from their wounds, and worst cases, their mouths.

Jason gazed at them, and his Talent [Decipher(D)] kicked in. A notice appeared before him, that told him of what to do to obtain information on the targets.

[ TING!!! ]

[ Your Decipher has failed. Not enough Data has been extracted from the target ]

[ Please collect data from three to four targets before trying to Decipher them ]

"..."

He kept quiet and mentally willed the notices to move away. He then looked towards the leader to see what his next step would be, only to find out that they also stared back at him.

"..."

"..."

"...What?"

All three men exchanged gazes for a while. Jason was finding it hard to believe that two grown up men were planning on relying on a college kid.

'They gotta be insane.' Jason thought, dreading his own fate.

The stare off continued until Adolf ran out of patience. So much for a soldier. How disappointing, Jason thought.

The man was not aware of such thoughts though, and asked in irritation. "And? What information do you have?"

"Don't know. It's not like I can obtain information with just a glance. Or I wouldn't be in this situation to begin with." Jason clicked his tongue in annoyance as he whispered back.

The military bear, Adolf, was about to say something again, but the leader, Joe, raised up his hand to stop him. And he stopped. A soldier following orders of a gang leader.

How ironic. Jason snickered.

"Boy, what conditions do you need to obtain information? Touching a few of them?" Joe asked, and Jason nodded while adding, "At most ten of them."

He said, snd nobody doubted him. Especially Joe, the leader of this group. He also nodded in understanding and further inquired, "Are you a Rank 1 player?"

"..."

Jason paused, as that was a personal question. And he did not want any of his information leeking out to these guys, but the strength he showed previously was of Rank 1.

Plus, he was prepared for this. It would also let others be more wary of him, hence he nodded. "Yes. I was lucky." He added.

"Luck is also a part of your strength." Joe said, then added, "Boy, I want you to join us." His tone was straightforward and direct.

And so was Jason's reply, "Why?"

"Together, we can collect more Energy Essence and Hunting Points." Joe said. "This game is all about survival, and banding together to prosper within whatever we come against."

"It's like an extreme version of teaching us about being dependent of one another. And I believe we should do such a thing." He concluded, looking at Jason intently.

"..."

Jason thought about it, and carefully considered everything. Joining teams would be against his agenda, but tackling this world by himself would also be a problem.

Of course, he believed in himself, and knew what he was capable of. He could survive alone, but what would that add up to, if he survived by himself?

'What's the use of becoming the only one alive? I mean... I bet I wouldn't be able to stay sane... But teaming up with others is a bit too...'

He thought, and was really conflicted at what to choose, until Adolf ruined everything. "You either agree, or go collect information from those guys by yourself."

Jason frowned at him. He did not understand the hate this man had for him, and just asked back, his tone lower than normal, "Is that a threat, big guy?"

Adolf snickered, his gun now pointing at Jason. "It might as well be now." He said, a smile of disdain on his face.

"..."

Jason kept quiet and turned to look at Joe, who did not say anything. He kept quiet as if agreeing to whatever Adolf was saying.

'It's like that... huh.' Jason thought, and immediately banished the thought of joining this team. It would be out of his agenda.

"Alright. I'll go." He said, and the leader looked up at him in surprise. The zombies before them were in the tens, or maybe even toppling above a hundred.

He thought the kid would not agree due to pressure, yet he was surprised. But he should have expected this.

After all, Jason was calm even under gun point, and most of Rank 1 players would be arrogant and overestimate their power.

'Is he one of those type as well...? What a pity.' Joe thought, as even he would not want such a person within his team at all. It was similar to carrying a ticking time bomb.

Adolf was also surprised, yet happy at that fact. Of course, he disliked the kid, but did not hate him. He would still try his level best to help.

Especially after the boy realized that he was not that much of a big shot.

'You should get humbled, brat.' He thought and watched as Jason left their hiding spot.

He approached the zombies from a different direction, in case he implicated the others. '...Man, I feel like I let pride get the better of me.'

He also thought of running, but he always felt the gun pointing at him. And Jason was sure that, Adolf had a Talent related to his gun, and it was not low ranked either.

"..."

He cleared his thoughts of all those irrelevant topics. He then moved closer to the targets. They were a lot of them.

[ Information Unavailable... ]

[ Information Unavailable... ]

[ Information Unavailable... ]

[ Information... ]

[ Information... ]

...

A total of one hundred and forty four of these notifications appeared within his vision. He was surprised that he could not obtain information out of these guys.

'Now that's strange.' He thought with a frown on his face.

He then checked the latest notification, that explained the reason why he could not obtain any information.

[ Targets more than a single Rank higher than you. Information Unavailable ]

'More than a Rank? Does that mean these guys are Rank 2? And also at the Level of the Great Lion? Am I even surviving this?' Jason thought in bitterness.

Yet a part of him was telling him to go ahead and charge forward. It was not arrogance, or foolishness, but confidence. He felt like he could easily kill a Rank 2 if he gave it his all.

"..."

And he went ahead to prove that feeling right. He took a single step, then dashed forward at full speed. His single step shattered the floor, and propelled him forward like a canon ball.

He was so fast, he crossed a large distance in just an instant, and appeared before the first Rank 2 Zombie.

It's appearance was repulsive and disgusting. 'Drop dead!!' He thought, all his rage gathered within his axe.

And at that moment, he activated a lot of his Talents. He was really going all out in this case.

[ You have activated the Level E Talent, Semi-Enhanced Speed - Your Speed has increased by two times ]

[ You have activated the Level F Talent, Weapon Reinforce - Your weapon's effects have been enhanced by 75% ]