The Serpent's Ambush

After a long rest, Jose finally awoke at 1 pm, marking the second day of the apocalypse. Many buildings lay in ruins, remnants of once bustling churches, schools, and offices. Fortunately, the building where they had taken shelter remained untouched by the giants' havoc. The duo finalized their stats and items. Ryan, now a focused fire mage, had heavily distributed his physical points into his brain. Together, they strategized their teamwork for the challenges ahead.

The skill was worth 2k gold, leaving Jose with some remaining funds. With it, he purchased a new Great Axe called "Bloody Hacker." Unlike the boss monster's axe, this one was more manageable for him, being lighter and more wieldy. Its attack could be boosted whenever it was covered in blood, making it perfect for Jose's combat style. Ryan decided to keep his gold for emergency potions. After their adjustments, the two survivors finally exited the building. Their plan was to grind levels and gold in a nearby forested area, preparing themselves to face the giants in the city-wide quest.

The duo carefully traversed the city streets, staying vigilant to avoid attracting the attention of lurking monsters. They swiftly dispatched any low-level threats they encountered, using their combined skills to overcome the obstacles in their path.

With each encounter, Jose and Ryan refined their combat techniques and adapted their strategies. They learned to exploit the weaknesses of their foes, employing smoke magic to obscure their movements and confusion spells to sow chaos among their enemies. Together, they formed a formidable team, complementing each other's strengths and weaknesses.

As they delved deeper into the city, they faced increasingly challenging adversaries. However, with every victory, they grew stronger and more adept at navigating the dangers of their hostile environment. Gold and experience flowed steadily into their pockets, earned through perseverance and skillful combat.

Their journey was perilous, but Jose and Ryan faced each challenge with courage and determination. With every step forward, they drew closer to their goal, forging a path through the chaos and uncertainty of their shattered world.

As the duo traversed the city, they encountered an unexpected menace: zombies. Unlike other foes they had faced, these undead creatures were immune to the confusion spell, lacking any semblance of rational thought. When the horde of zombies caught sight of Jose and Ryan, they charged recklessly at them.

Forced into action, Jose unleashed a thick blanket of smoke to envelop the area, obscuring their movements from the advancing horde. Meanwhile, Ryan took to the air, using his newly acquired fire magic to rain down destruction upon the zombies below. Despite their best efforts, the sheer number of undead proved overwhelming.

As Jose waded into the midst of the zombie horde, his "Bloody Hacker" axe pulsed with a crimson glow as it became coated in the blood of their enemies. The berserker rage within him ignited, enhancing his combat prowess and driving him to a frenzied onslaught. Meanwhile, Ryan faced his own challenges in the air, dodging the leaping zombies while unleashing torrents of fire upon them.

Though the battle was fierce and perilous, the duo fought with unwavering determination, their coordinated efforts keeping the zombie horde at bay.

After half an hour of relentless battle, the number of zombies began to dwindle, thanks to Jose's relentless onslaught and Ryan's strategic strikes from above. As the last of the undead fell, Jose continued to fend off any stragglers, ensuring their safety.

Meanwhile, Ryan quickly went about gathering the zombie corpses, which were worth a mere 5 coins each without weapons. Despite the modest reward, they managed to accumulate enough gold to invest in some much-needed armor. With their earnings, they purchased sturdy armor to protect themselves from the desperate attacks of their monstrous adversaries.

Ryan opted for a fire-resistant garment that offered excellent defense and aerodynamics, enhancing his agility in the air and protecting him from the flames of his own magic. Meanwhile, Jose invested in a unique leather armor that had the remarkable ability to absorb blood. Given the frequency of his battles, it was a practical choice to avoid the inconvenience of changing clothes constantly. Once saturated with blood, the armor emitted a scent reminiscent of monsters, serving as an effective camouflage and further confusing their adversaries.

As the duo ventured into the outskirts of the city, they found themselves amidst rugged mountains and dense forests, an ideal environment for hunting monsters. Their journey proved fruitful, with both survivors gaining valuable experience. Jose's level now stood at an impressive 30, while Ryan trailed slightly behind at level 21, a difference of nine levels. With Ryan's presence, Jose shifted his focus away from magic and towards enhancing his physical prowess, allocating his points accordingly. Meanwhile, Ryan continued to prioritize his magical abilities, with his brain stat now reaching an impressive 50. His Overdrive skill underwent a significant upgrade, boosting brain activity by an impressive 50%. Despite their divergent paths, Jose remained committed to strengthening his muscle and skeleton stats, ensuring his readiness for whatever challenges lay ahead.

Engaging in a relentless killing spree, Jose and Ryan confronted a wide array of monsters inhabiting the forest. From goblins and orcs to trolls, double-headed ogres, wolves, boars, and bears, they faced each foe with swift and efficient precision. With each victory, they earned a steady stream of gold, which they used to purchase a pet for added security. Opting for the Bloob pet, a unique creature capable of inflating itself to protect its master, they sought its assistance as both an alarm and a formidable guardian. However, the pet's defensive abilities came with a trade-off, as it emitted a deafening scream when attacked, alerting nearby dangers to their presence.

After three days of relentless hunting, Jose and Ryan had become intimately familiar with the forest, having memorized every nook and cranny. With only two days remaining before the end of the city-wide events, they were surprised to find that only two giants remained, with one having been taken down in the preceding days. Undeterred, they continued their hunt in the forest, accumulating vast amounts of gold and experience along the way. However, their focus was soon interrupted when they encountered a group of Double Headed Ogres. "Ryan, take the ones on the right and stall for time while I finish off these ones on the left," Jose commanded, charging at the ogres with determination. Meanwhile, Ryan soared through the air, unleashing fiery projectiles to distract the ogres. Unbeknownst to them, a colossal serpent lurked in the distance, its gaze fixed intently on the unsuspecting duo.

Unbeknownst to Ryan, a fast but stealthy serpent was slithering toward him as he battled the ogres. All Ryan heard was a loud hiss behind him, and suddenly, his entire body felt electrified with fear. With Overdrive fully maximized, everything seemed to move in slow motion. However, his body was still sluggish compared to his heightened perception. Desperately, Ryan activated his Fire Body skill to its fullest and propelled himself into the sky. Yet, the snake's momentum was incredible, following him into the air with its jaws wide open, poised to make a one-bite snack out of him.