Chapter 61: Alex’s Advancement Mission
Cain, Ron, and Alex left the university soon afterward and headed east.
Occasionally, a golden screen appeared before them.
[World Announcement: The 28st player to have successfully advanced to the 1st Echelon Rank.]
Cain glanced at the unfamiliar name beneath it before dismissing the notification.
Another appeared several minutes later.
Then another.
More people throughout the world were beginning to reach the First Echelon.
Cain did not care much about the rankings anymore. His own Advancement Mission prevented him from joining them until he killed the designated 2nd Echelon zombie, and that was not changing no matter how many people advanced before him.
Instead, most of his attention remained on his body.
Undying God Body had changed him more than he initially realized.
Nothing about his outward appearance had become exaggerated. His muscles had not suddenly swollen, and his body remained almost identical to before.
The difference revealed itself whenever he moved.
Cain had spent years training his body as an athlete, so he possessed an extremely accurate understanding of how much force each movement required.
That understanding was now outdated, especially after a massive jump of strength because of the Undying God Body.
A casual push from his foot carried him farther than expected. Accelerating required more restraint because the Strength hidden inside his legs could propel him forward before his instincts adjusted.
His Agility had risen enormously as well, preventing the increase in raw power from making him awkward. Instead, his muscles responded faster and his balance corrected itself almost immediately whenever he used too much force.
Cain flexed his fingers while walking.
Even that simple movement felt different as his body felt somehow fresh, almost excessively so.
’This really is ridiculous.’ Cain smiled faintly.
He deliberately restrained himself for now.
There would be plenty of opportunities to test his new limits later.
Most zombies wandering through the eastern streets were far below Level 20, so the three ignored them unless they blocked the road as there was no reason to waste time.
Only high-Level Unranked creatures were worth stopping for.
The first qualifying zombie appeared around ten minutes after leaving the university.
[Zombie | Level 21]
Ron killed it quickly.
They encountered another farther east, followed by two near the entrance of a damaged convenience store.
None of the battles lasted long.
By the time the fourth high-Level zombie died, Ron’s mission had progressed again.
[Advancement Mission Progress: 19/25]
Six kills remained.
Ron looked at the notification with obvious satisfaction.
Cain simply continued walking.
"Six more."
"I know."
They went deeper into the eastern district.
The density of ordinary zombies gradually decreased, giving Cain more room to extend his Sense toward the surrounding streets without constant distractions.
Before long, he detected something considerably stronger.
Cain stopped.
Ron and Alex immediately looked toward him.
"One First Echelon."
Cain focused for another moment.
"And quite a few zombies around it."
They then changed direction and followed Cain toward the source.
The road ahead opened into a large intersection surrounded by damaged shops and apartment buildings.
Fifteen zombies wandered across the area.
Every one of them was Level 20 or higher.
Standing near the center was a much larger creature whose swollen body had been covered by thick gray flesh.
[First-Echelon Zombie | Level 42]
Cain smiled in satisfaction.
"Ron, kill only six." He glanced toward Alex as he continued, "The rest are yours."
Alex lowered the greatsword from his shoulder.
Cain was already walking toward the strongest creature.
The 1st Echelon zombie noticed him immediately.
"GRAAA!"
Its body lowered slightly before it charged.
The pavement cracked beneath its feet.
The zombie reached him and swung its right arm toward his head.
Cain shifted aside in response.
The hand passed harmlessly beside him.
His sword moved almost at the same moment.
Shhk!
The blade cut through the zombie’s left knee.
Its body suddenly tilted.
The zombie tried to compensate using its remaining leg, but Cain had already moved to the opposite side.
A second slash followed.
The zombie crashed heavily onto the road.
Bang!
Alex had just buried his greatsword into the shoulder of a Level 23 zombie when the sound made him glance toward Cain.
His expression froze.
The strongest creature in the intersection had lost both legs within seconds.
The fallen zombie planted both palms against the road and attempted to launch itself forward.
Cain immediately swung his sword and cut both of its hands.
The entire confrontation had lasted only several seconds.
Cain looked down.
The Level 42 zombie had become little more than a torso lying on the road, yet it continued gnashing its teeth and twisting toward him.
"GRAAA!"
It somehow dragged itself forward several centimeters.
Cain took one step backward.
The zombie struggled after him.
He almost laughed.
"Keep trying."
Cain left it alive and turned toward the others.
Ron had already killed several of his targets.
Unlike the 1st Echelon beings, high-Level Unranked zombies were no longer threatening to him. His speed made their attacks easy to avoid, and the spear only needed to reach the brain once.
The sixth qualifying zombie soon collapsed.
[Advancement Mission Progress: 25/25]
[First requirement completed.]
[Become the target of a 1st Echelon being.]
[Successfully escape the 1st Echelon being’s pursuit without receiving assistance.]
Ron read the new instructions.
The difficult part had finally begun.
Alex’s side was louder.
His fighting style suited the Greatsword.
There was little skill behind the attacks, but there did not need to be.
Alex possessed exceptional raw Strength even before considering his Talents. The heavy blade allowed him to convert that advantage into destructive power that ordinary Unranked zombies could barely withstand.
A horizontal swing tore through one creature’s body.
Another tried approaching from the opposite side and received a downward strike that crushed its shoulder before continuing into its chest.
The remaining zombies fell quickly.
When the last one stopped moving, Alex leveled up to level 22.
[Ding! You have leveled up to Level 22.]
Alex looked at the notification in satisfaction.
Cain pointed toward the torso still dragging itself toward him.
"Finish that one."
Alex looked at the limbless 1st Echelon zombie.
"You’re giving it to me?"
"Just kill it."
Alex did not ask again as he raised the greatsword.
The zombie snapped its teeth toward him.
Alex swung downward.
Bang!
The massive blade crushed through the creature’s skull and struck the pavement beneath.
Its body finally stopped moving.
A large amount of experience immediately entered Alex.
[Ding! You have leveled up to Level 23.]
[Ding! You have leveled up to Level 24.]
[Ding! You have leveled up to Level 25.]
[You have reached the maximum Level of the Unranked stage.]
[Further Levels cannot be obtained until you complete your 1st Echelon Advancement Mission.]
Another notification followed immediately after that.
[1st Echelon Advancement Mission]
[Participate in the defeat of a 1st Echelon being.]
[You must personally deal considerable damage to the qualifying target.]
[The target must die while you remain within the battlefield.]
Alex read it carefully.
Cain glanced over his shoulder.
"That’s manageable."
The only troublesome part was the vague requirement for considerable damage.
They would simply make sure Alex contributed heavily to the next fight.
A faint blue light appeared near the 1st Echelon corpse.
Cain walked over and picked up the Blue Orb.