NOVEL NEXT Chapter 220: Tremble
Approaching the two Hunter Zombies, Shane observed the aftermath of the battle.
Similar to Shinja's previous encounter, the creatures met their demise through decapitation, which shows that Shinja had truly learned how to effectively eliminate them with his formidable skills.
As he surveyed the scene, he could somewhat understand how the battle started and ended. Well, he knew about Shinja's skills, as they had been shown to him before, so he was able to make a decent guess.
Just a while ago, he had looted the Hunter Zombie using the Timepiece that multiplies his loot by five. Thanks to that, he had gained a decent amount of items.
It was unfortunate that he could not use the Timepiece again, but he was still happy since these two were still high-tier Zombies.
[ You have earned 55 Experience Points. ] x2
[ You have earned 3 Reputation Points. ]
[ Loots obtained: Item Upgrade Crystal x2, Zombie Core x5, 500mL Water, Unknown Meat ( Safe ) x5, 100mL Hunter Zombie Blood, Spirit Enhancement Bottle x2, Shadowcloak x1, Silent Strider Boots x1, Hunter's Heart Amulet x1, Great Hunter Bow x1 ]
Shane was already wearing the Silent Strider Boots, which have Ghost Walk and Nimble Escape Skills. As for the Shadowcloak, he had actually decided not to wear this item since his Armor and Tunic would lose their effects.
His Shadowmeld Tunic and Enchanted Chitin Plate were both from the Crypt Crawler Zombies. The armor plate provides him 5 Points regeneration per minute while the tunic provides him jumping boost, evasion, and stealth aside from its Shadowmeld effect.
These skills were a lot more useful during the Zombie Wave.
Nonetheless, if he decided to leave this stronghold to explore the world, he would probably use the Shadowcloak from the Hunter Zombie instead.
After looting these zombies, Shane checked the others' condition.
During this time, he confirmed that Max still had plenty of bullets for his Machine Gun, the members of the Eclipse Revenant only needed the Spirit Enhancement Potions, the elves just needed more arrows with their Great Hunter Bow, and the other fighters had no injuries whatsoever aside from having some muscle pains that Anna could easily cure with her set of medicines.
Soon, everyone returned to their positions.
As the third horde of the Zombie Wave approached the Springriver Manor, everyone already felt composed, and they were no longer feeling nervous.
Gene and Lucas stood vigilant atop their respective watchtowers, their eyes scanning the horizon for the signs of the impending threat.
In the distance, the unmistakable silhouettes of Runner and Jumper Zombies emerged, their movements were familiar, and it seemed that they would have the same set of zombies but with a larger number.
"Here they come…" Gene muttered as he looked at the zombies with his binoculars.
Once again, amidst the ranks of the Runner and Jumper Zombies, a group of hulking Spitter Zombies lumbered forward, their bloated forms struggling to keep pace with their more agile counterparts.
However, their presence was terrifying than ever as they leaked acid all over the place.
The grotesque sight of their bloated bodies oozing with toxic bile added a certain horror to the unfolding scene…
"There are no high-tier Zombies in sight…" Lucas reported.
As the defenders of the Springriver Manor braced themselves for the inevitable clash, a few of them started praying, hoping for their success.
With weapons at the ready and tactics in place, the defenders stood united against the zombies…
Soon, the third zombie wave clashed against the barrier of the castle.
***
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the tired defenders of Shane's shelter, a sense of impending dread settled over the makeshift fortress.
Everyone was exhausted physically and mentally after long hours of battle. The 15 to 20 minutes break that they could sometimes have were not enough at all.
Five hours had slipped by since the third harrowing clash with the undead, leaving a mere five hours remaining until the end of the relentless Zombie Wave.
With each passing moment, the defenders grew increasingly aware of the dwindling resources at their disposal.
The absence of Power Cores to fuel their barrier generators, the Aegis Force, and the Bulwark Beacon left them vulnerable to the relentless onslaught of the undead.
The looming threat of the next Zombie Hordes bore down upon them like a heavy weight, their defenses teetering on the brink of collapse.
Amidst the grim atmosphere of impending doom, Alexa, their steadfast chef, emerged with a steaming pot of instant noodles—a humble reprieve amidst the chaos that surrounded them.
Nonetheless, these noodles were not underestimated because they came from the Survivor Store.
The savory aroma wafted through the air, offering a brief respite from the harshness of battle as everyone gathered to partake in the nourishing meal that promised to replenish their stamina and rejuvenate their weary bodies.
"We haven't used the last set of traps in place… We should be fine even without the barrier this time… We can also repair the traps once we clear the next horde quickly." Lady Seraph said as she knew about the arranged traps that Blacksmith Leo and Engr. Eliot had arranged.
"I hope we'll just face those Jumper and Runner Zombies again… Zombie Wolves were okay too." Thalion agreed…"
"Haa! Those Cave Dwellers were too tough! Their skin were like made of alligator's leather! I think my sword has become dull already." Eldric commented.
As they savored the comforting warmth of the noodles, small talks related to the zombies they faced filled the air, a fleeting moment of normality in the midst of chaos.
Stories were shared, laughter rang out, and a sense of unity blossomed among those who stood shoulder to shoulder against the tides of darkness.
Well, this was their only moment of respite and now that the barrier was gone, it was possible to have casualties soon. It wouldn't be surprising if some of them died before the end of the Zombie Wave.
Nonetheless, Shane already confirmed that Lily and Elsa's team had rested enough and they would soon join the defense. Because of that, Shane felt more confident that they would be able to clear this Zombie Wave.
However, tranquility was short-lived as the earth began to tremble beneath their feet, a foreboding sign of the approaching horror.
Gene and Lucas were already perched high in the watchtower and relayed a chilling report that sent a shiver down the spines of all who heard it.