CHAPTER 74: INTERACTIONS WITH THE NIGHT PART 33

The jumpers hissed and spread out, their claws clicking on the ground. Luck felt sweat slide down his cheek.

"Stay back," he barked. "All of you. I can handle these pests alone."

Fernando lifted his bow but set it down again after hearing him.

"Boss, are you sure?" he called out.

Luck nodded. "Just watch and learn. I’ll show you why I’m the top dog around here."

The monsters started to circle him.

One jumped first. he stepped to the side and swung his sword, cutting its ribs. Black blood splashed the wall.

Another came from behind. Luck ducked low and kicked its leg. Bone cracked, and the jumper fell screaming.

He ended it with a clean cut to the neck.

’Wow, that was easy,’

He seriously underestimated how much stronger he became after mastering Ki.

It was like a sports car with good aerodynamics getting an engine swap—and the twist was that it now had a V12 under the hood.

With that upgrade, everything went BROOOOM!

crack!

crack!

crack!

The last Jumper began to move in an erratic way.

It twisted as its bones stretched and cracked. The usual blue-gray skin turned dark red while a thick black mist hissed around it.

"ARGGGG"

The monster’s roar shattered glass ten yards away.

Veins bulged under its skin, every fiber writhing and spasming in frantic rebellion against its own anatomy.

It’s limbs snapped in three places only to heal instantly—bones lengthened.

Jaw unhinged with a rubbery click, teeth multiplying row after row in a cascade of obsidian knives.

’I knew this. This was the part when the monster evolved into a boss and get a second health bar.’

For some reason, he still didn’t believe he would lose to it.

"Come on, show me what you’ve got. I need to see if you’re worth the sweat, or if I’m just wasting my time on a wannabe boss monster."

SWOOOSH!

The creature’s first leap was a blur, so fast the air itself lagged behind the body.

Even Luck’s fast reflexes couldn’t keep up with the it.

Instinct made him dodged sideways as sharp claws ripped the air on his original spot.

thud!

He landed hard on one knee, dirt scraping his skin.

Ignoring the sting in his muscles, he lifted his gaze and caught the monster twisting above, its limbs coiling

It shot straight at him.

Luck lifted his sword just in time.

Metal smashed against claws, sending sparks flying.

The force rattled through his arms. His chest tightened as he lost his breath.

clang!

The next hit pushed him back four steps before he could stop himself.

He tried to take in some air, but the Jumper rushed at him again.

It swung its claws over and over, each hit faster and wilder.

Luck blocked as many strikes as he could, but the sound of claws scraping his blade was almost too loud to think.

His boots slid back across the ground. He felt like he was going to fall.

’Breathe in. Breathe out.’

He needed to stay clear-headed. As his heart pounded harder, everything started to slow down.

The creature’s arms moved in a way he could read.

Shifting his feet, he bent his knees, ready to meet the next strike.

A claw came down toward his face, but he angled his sword so it slid off the side instead of landing clean.

Another swipe tore in from the left. He caught it on the flat of his blade and stepped aside, just in time to avoid the next swing.

More black mist poured from the cracks in its skin as it pulled its arm back for another attack.

But he was ready.

He stepped forward with all his strength and swung his sword hard.

The blade sliced clean through the Jumper’s arm, and the severed limb dropped to the ground with a heavy thud.

Thick, dark blood followed, splashing across the ground in wide arcs.

The zombie rocked back, struggling to stay up. Its one good arm clawed at the ground. It made a low, broken noise, almost like a growl.

Luck stood tall. Sweat ran down his back, but he didn’t let it distract him.

He lifted his sword and flicked it to the side to shake off the blood.

"Get up," he taunted.

The Jumper twitched, then lunged again, its movement jerky but fast.

Before it could land a hit, Luck swung his blade again.

The blade cut through the remaining arm in a single motion, sending it to the ground.

Without giving the creature a chance to recoil, he swung his sword horizontally. The edge bit into its neck, and the head dropped off, rolling into the dirt where it came to a stop.

It was over.

The evolved Jumper wasn’t weak at all and could have wiped out everyone in the base.

Luck was simply too strong.

"Alright, everyone, focus on killing the remaining hordes. Remember, don’t use guns unless you have to!"

Hearing his voice, the people in the base found new energy.

Watching their boss handle the monsters so easily made them feel fearless.

Their aim improved as they drew their arrows, and the long spears they had crafted worked well to push down any zombies trying to climb the wall.

Soon, only fifty zombies still pressed against the wall. Their claws scraped at the barricades, and low groans rose over the yard.

Luck didn’t wait any longer. He gripped his sword tighter and jumped down from the ledge.

His boots hit the ground with a dull thud.

He moved fast, cutting through the first row before they could lunge. Each swing dropped another body.

When the last corpse hit the ground, silence settled over the street.

Blood dripped from his blade, pooling at his feet.

He stood among the bodies, calm and steady, as if what he had done was nothing to be proud of. Just another tuesday.

No one dared to say a word. Not even the new members.

They all stared at him, like a god of death had walked among them.

Now they understood why everyone put their faith in him without question.

’My god, I’m so awesome right now. I must be the blessed child of the universe,’

It was a bold claim, especially since he ended up with the most infuriating system imaginable.

.

.

.

Inside the wall, survivors moved through the wreckage, picking up torn cloth and broken planks

A few worked to drag the bodies of the dead monsters away from the shelters.

Luck stepped over a shattered crate and made his way toward Rick’s section.

People there were trying to prop up a collapsed tent.

When they spotted him, they stopped what they were doing. One by one, they lowered their heads.

"Thank you for saving my son," Lor said as she stepped forward and bowed her head lower than the rest.

"What you did... I don’t know how we could ever repay you."

They looked at him now with real appreciation, but not all of them shared it.

Shane, standing off to the side, kept his arms crossed and his eyes narrowed.

He didn’t seem to like that someone else was getting more attention than him.