Chapter 31: Mysterious Skeleton
Chapter 31: Mysterious Skeleton
Ophelia, with her ethereal presence, almost haunting in this desolate world, nodded slowly. "My mission is to obtain as many evolution points as possible to evolve further," she replied, her voice carrying a hint of mystery.
A small smile tugged at Zorvax's lips. "Good. I'm glad you understand," he said, nodding in approval. Their journey was fraught with dangers, and he was relieved to have someone with a clear sense of purpose by his side.
As they continued to walk, the faint, shuffling sounds of approaching level-one zombies reached their ears. A small group of these undead creatures, their flesh rotting and eyes vacant, was slowly closing in on them, their unsteady gait signaling their hunger for the living.
Zorvax turned to Ophelia, his expression determined. "Now, let's see what you're capable of. Test your new abilities."
Ophelia nodded and stepped in front of the approaching zombies, her every move graceful and deliberate. She raised her pale hands, which seemed to glow with an otherworldly light, and summoned fire with a flick of her fingers. The flames erupted around the zombies, and their pitiful moans turned to agonized screams as the inferno consumed them.
Ophelia's power flowed from her effortlessly, and she raised her hands once more, summoning the wind to whip the flames higher. The fire created a blazing wall that trapped the zombies within its searing grip.
The zombies struggled and flailed within the fiery tempest, but they were powerless against Ophelia's magic. The flames danced and crackled, their fierce heat unmistakable. After a long burning, Ophelia summoned water, and it rushed in like a cool, soothing balm, dousing the flames and leaving the zombies smoldering and lifeless.
Zorvax watched the display of her abilities with a sense of satisfaction. "Not bad," he commented, a glimmer of pride in his eyes as the burning land turned into a smoky wasteland suitable for them to continue their journey.
Ophelia turned to him, her eyes shimmering with newfound purpose. "I will keep honing my abilities and obtaining evolution points to become stronger," she vowed, her voice resolute.
Meanwhile, In a distant corner of the desolate, unforgiving landscape, two men, Alpha and Beta, trudged wearily back to their point of origin. Their faces bore the unmistakable weight of disappointment, etched with lines of frustration. They had embarked on a quest, a mission of some significance, but it had culminated in a fruitless return. A sense of hopelessness lingered in the air, casting a pall over their tired figures.
As they stood there, pondering their next steps, a man with glasses, his face adorned with a prominent '3' tattoo, strode towards them. His aura exuded a commanding presence, and he examined Alpha and Beta with a scrutinous eye, searching for answers in their expressions.
"It's indeed a rare sight to see you come back empty-handed," remarked the man with glasses, his voice carrying a trace of intrigue.
Alpha exchanged a brief, resigned glance with Beta before responding. His voice tinged with disappointment. "The object we were tasked to find, it's vanished," he confessed.
Gamma, the man with glasses, displayed a subtle but undeniable sense of surprise upon hearing this news. "Impossible," he blurted out, "That object was secured within the strongest room, safeguarded by the most impenetrable door."
Furrowing his brows, Gamma couldn't help but voice his bewilderment. "Was the door's security system breached? How could such a thing come to pass?" he mused aloud.
Alpha shook his head, attempting to clarify, "No, it wasn't a security breach. The door was obliterated."
Gamma's eyes widened in disbelief, his disbelief palpable. "Obliterated? That door was designed to withstand even the force of a tank's impact. It's meant to be utterly impenetrable," he contested.
Alpha's mounting frustration manifested in his animated response. "I assure you, it was utterly decimated," he emphasized.
Gamma delved into deep thought, his eyes distant as he contemplated the implications of this unforeseen development. After a moment of introspection, he voiced a newfound realization, "It appears there may be an awakener of level two or perhaps even a level two zombie lurking among us now."
Alpha's eyes widened in disbelief, and he exclaimed, "That's impossible! We, ourselves, are only at level 1.5."
The revelation left the three of them in a state of perplexity, each man wearing an expression of disbelief and uncertainty. The desolate landscape around them stretched on endlessly, mirroring the mysteries and uncertainties of the post-apocalyptic world.
Gamma nodded, emphasizing the fact that the door was, indeed, destroyed. "The most probable explanation is that a level two zombie or awakener did this. They're stronger and more resourceful, and they might have taken what was inside."
Alpha pondered this for a moment, his brows furrowing as he considered the implications. "But what's the point of taking a skeleton?" he asked, clearly puzzled.
Gamma shrugged. "I don't know," he admitted, "but at least we're now aware that there's a possibility of level two zombies and awakeners out there."
They both understood the importance of becoming stronger in this unforgiving world. The realization that there were higher levels of beings out there encouraged them to strive for growth.
Gamma spoke again, his tone somewhat reassuring. "Fortunately, the skeleton isn't of utmost importance."
Alpha, not entirely convinced, pressed for more information. "Why do we need to get that skeleton, then?" he inquired.
Gamma shook his head, his uncertainty evident. "I don't know," he confessed, "but what I do know is that the skeleton is from a person of a long-forgotten past."
The desolate landscape stretched before them, carrying secrets from a world now obscured by history and catastrophe.