Trapped

'Fuck!! Jason you've gone and done it now.' He thought, bitter and in regret.

His heart was being torn apart as he was considering whether to escape by himself, or stay with these people.

But staying was sure death, yet he was blaming himself they were in this situation. Hence he found the decision a hard one to make.

'What now?' He thought, also going through all his Talents, and what he could use through his soroundings, but to no avail. '...Is this really it? The end of my journey? Fuck, but it just only begun!!'

He thought and thought, but to no avail. He was so focused, he did not feel the little girl within his embrace nudging at him.

His focus was on the noises his enhanced senses could pick up from far away, of multiple Zombies rushing towards them at full speed.

Woosh~ Woosh~

Woosh~ Woosh~

They were like arrows flying through the air, piecing through the wind with barely any resistance on their bodies.

'Shit. Time is ticking. Time is ticking. There's not enough time. Jason, think!!' He thought, and grit his teeth in anxiety.

And that continued, until he felt someone pinch his arm, making him angry. His mental state was unstable, but his high INT made him hold back all the rage he had.

"What?" He said, but his voice was cold and full of killing intent, which he was still unaware of. The woman withim his embrace flinched back, and so did the young girl in her embrace.

But she was at least bold enough to mutter with a whisper, "Bi,Big brother... I, I think I, can help..." She stuttered, fear apparent within her voice and her eyes.

"What?" Jason asked, this time around, his voice full of shock. He then hurriedly checked the little girl's Template, and realized she was actually a favored.

One of the eight lucky fellows to obtain a Level C Talent within this Game Sever. And it was an overpowered ability that was a godsend for their current situation.

Saving this girl was Fate. He thought.

[ Player: Beatrice Linux ]

[ Serial Number: 332853894 ]

[ Rank: 0 (157/300) ]

[ STR: 5 ]

[ AGI: 6 ]

[ VIT: 12 ]

[ ERG: 7 ]

[ INT: 8 ]

[ Talent: Divine Protection - C ]

[ Hunting Points: 73 ]

[ Divine Protection (Level C) - Call upon a barrier using Divine energy, that is absolutely indestructible by anything below Tier 10. Lasts for 10 minutes. Cool down time lasts for 24 hours. (Cool down decreases, while duration increases per Rank up) ]

'An angel? Fuck, this girl is an angel. A life saver.' Jason thought, while he read through her profile, and then went through everyone's Talents, finding nothing better than Beatrice's Talent.

But he did see other descent Talents, from four other people. The lucky woman, the leader Joe, the vice Adolf and the young boy who hid from others.

[ Name: Anabella Kiles ]

[ Sonic Speed (Level D) - Can run or react at the speed of sound for a full 10 seconds (1 ERG/sec). Every Rank up, the duration doubles and the energy requirement decreases by 10% ]

[ Name: Joe Greystone ]

[ Earth Manipulation (Level C) - Can manipulate earth to your liking. Change, forge or create earth based constructs at will. The higher the rank, the larger the effect and range ]

[ Name: Adolf ??? ]

[ Rapid Shots (Level D) - Manifest a gun that has been loaded with a thousand bullets everyday, each bullet can deal 200% more damage than other bullets ]

[ Name: Roy Armstrong ]

[ Eye of Truth (Level E) - Can discern truth or lie from words or actions or intentions. The eyes of truths can also see through anything of a Talent courier lower than a Level C ]

'Not bad, I won't lie.' He thought as he went through their Talents, and had to admit, not even one was below Level E. And this team actually had two Level C Talents. That was a plus point.

But moments later, he felt the Zombies getting closer to them, and hurriedly said to Beatrice, "Immediately enact your barrier. Hurry."

"Ye,yes!!" The little girl meekly responded, frightened at the current situation.

She placed her hands before her chest, and began praying in a whisper-like tone. Moments later, a transparent barrier appeared around her, and when she spread her arms apart, it expanded to cover everyone paralyzed.

And at this moment, the first Tier 4 Zombie Lord to reach them struck the transparent barrier, and kept knocking heavily on it as it to shatter it into pieces.

'...It won't break, will it?' Everyone thought with bated breathes.

Luckily, the barrier dud not break, and also cut of external sound as well. Jason sighed in relief and once his Paralysis was off, he put the two down and also sat down.

He had time to breathe, but only for ten minutes. In the meantime, he had to find a solution to their problem, and definitely a way to get away from the coming threat.

A Zombie above Tier 6...

'What can I do?' He thought, and went through his Template once again. Either than Ranking Up, there was nothing else he could do, hence he decided to just do it.

He had no other choice here.

[ You have spent 300 Energy units to promote yourself to the next rank ]

[ You are now Rank 1 ]

[ All your statistic index have increased by one point each ]

[ Your ERG and INT has further increased by five points each ]

[ Your STR has increased by two points ]

[ Your AGI has increased by two points ]

[ Your VIT has increased by one point ]

[ You have been rejuvenated ]

[ You have entered a new league, your Talents have been refined ]

[ All Low-tier Talents have been increased by one Level each ]

"This..." Jason went through everything and could not hide the joy within his face. His stats increased, yes, but the refinement was the best part.

Most of his Talents had increased in Level and effects, and that was of course a major good point to the current situation.

Another important point was that his stamina was back to max. That was the second most important point here. And he obtains free points by Ranking Up, which was a surprise to him.

'It's really just like a game. Leveling up restores all stats and stuff... Pity unlike a game, we can't revive ourselves here.' He thought.

And the next important point was that, he could actually Rank Up again!!

[ Rank: 1 (668/600) ]

He willed for another promotion to his Rank, and it occurred, more stats being added unto his already monstrous stats.

[ You have spent 600 Energy units to promote yourself to the next rank ]

[ You are now Rank 2 ]

[ All your statistic index have increased by two points each ]

[ Your ERG and INT has further increased by five points each ]

[ Your STR has increased by four points ]

[ Your AGI has increased by four points ]

[ Your VIT has increased by two point ]

[ You have been rejuvenated ]

Jason realized that no refinement occurred, which means that Ranking Up had nothing to do with that. And deduced that he had to go to the next 'League'.

'I wonder what that even means.' He thought in silence. As for how, he was still yet unaware.

He immediately called up his Template, and it was truly a sight to behold.

[ Player: Jason Shemrite ]

[ Serial Number: 336663996 ]

[ Rank: 2 (68/900) ]

[ STR: 20 ]

[ AGI: 22 ]

[ VIT: 17 ]

[ ERG: 56 ]

[ INT: 49 ]

[ Talent: Infinite Extraction - SSS ]

–[ Distributable Points: 0 ]

–[ Extra Talents: Semi-Enhanced Speed(E), Fireball(G -> F), Weapon Reinforce(F), Enhanced Scent(D), Bite(F), Semi-Enhanced Endurance(E), Claw Sweep(I -> H), 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 -> F), Phantom Pain(H -> G), Curse Evil Eye(F), Charm(F), Hand of Paralysis(E), Minimized Energy Consumption(I -> H), Madness Screech(D), Undying Resolve(E) ]

[ Hunting Points: 645 ]

Five Talents had just experienced a Rank Up, which was a godsend. 'Though still weak, they not as weak as before...' Or so he thought.

Now, he could last for almost a minute within his powerful combat state, and could deal even more damage than before.

Plus, he had no intention to hide away his Talents for now, and would absolutely go all out. His life was greater than any secrecy right now.

As for his statistics, they were quite high.

The average stats for these things at Rank 2 ranged from 12 to 20, which was more or less just like his, but he was not worried.

"Bi,Big brother..." At this time, he was once again nudged, and this time, he was now able to discern who called him.

His guardian little angel.

"Yes dear." Jason responded with a smile, and the little girl, still afraid, pointed with a trembling finger at the barrier.

He frowned and turned to look, only for his expression to turn pale in fright as well.

"...Fuck."

They were sorounded.