The roar of victory ended.

“While we are at it, let’s kill all the remaining zombies around here.” Clarris said with great enthusiasm.

While still holding her small revolver, she grinned thinking of killing more of these damnable zombies.

The other seemed to agree with her as they nodded their heads up and down.

Seeing their excitement, Marlin agreed and told them to prepare.

“Aren’t you all getting ahead of yourselves?” Nile said to them.

Hearing this, everyone was suddenly embarrassed. Especially Clarris.

After killing some low-levelled zombies. The group seems to have gone over the top of their head.

“Sor- sorry!”

Everyone apologized immediately. They are good people, Nile knew of that. They will apologize if they are wrong.

They did not harbor any wrong intention. They are genuinely kind people, Nile could tell.

After hearing the broadcast, they became cautious. But after the experience of killing low-levelled zombie’s easily. They forgot about the warning of the broadcaster and instead want to go and kill some more.

Nile gives them a small lecture. Which, surprisingly, they attentively listen to.

Being reprimanded by someone younger than them, they felt embarrassed. But hearing Nile’s lecture, they felt glad and etched his advice deep inside their memory.

Be cautious. Be wary. That is where Nile’s lecture ultimately leads to.

After the small lecture, Nile told them to collect the dead Apocalypse Virus inside the dead zombie’s head.

They have the urge to puke at first, but they gradually get over it and become proficient.

Nile did not become apathetic towards the free Apocalypse Points. But he thought that he should not be greedy and let the others collect their rewards.

‘I’m not in need of Apocalypse Points that badly for now anyway,’ Nile thought while shrugging his shoulders.

As they could not absorb the Apocalypse Virus that quickly, Nile let them store it in the empty bottles.

Using his ‘Bolo’ Anthony cracks a zombie’s head like a coconut. Using his hands, he then scoops down the greenish liquid substance inside the zombie’s head and stores it inside the bottle.

It filled the bottle full.

“This is the last one?” Anthony asked the others.

“It seems to be the case.” Marlin nodded and looked at everyone.

Everyone nodded their head for confirmation.

They filled up a total of 13 bottles that could store 320 ml each.

As the sun was already setting in the west. They left the site of the battle and returned home at the base.

…

They ate a ‘sumptuous’ dinner. More sumptuous than the lunch earlier.

After the ‘sumptuous’ dinner, they sat down and meditated.

As Marlin, Romulo, Hector and Clarris are already half-step Level One°, they poured and spread some Apocalypse Virus on their palm while meditating.

Let the greenish liquid substance rest in your palm and slowly think of absorbing it. That is what the broadcaster had said.

After two hours of meditating, Marlin is the first to wake up.

The liquid on his palm earlier had already been absorbed or evaporated. He could feel that he is a lot stronger now. He estimated that after a week or two, he would successfully ‘level up’ into the so-called Level One° Human. He felt elated.

After the meditation and absorption, the other half-step Level One° human could also feel when they would eventually ‘Level Up’.

Everyone gradually woke up, they compared their results. Marlin was the fastest of all of them. He could feel that he would ‘Level Up’ after a week or two if he continued his pace of absorption. The others would take up to two or more weeks to ‘Level Up’.

Those who are not yet a half-step Level One° Human will become one within 1 week of meditation.

After the comparison, everyone could feel the smugness that Marlin produced around him. He felt proud of himself.

If only Marlin knew that Nile only started his ‘absorption’ a day ago. What would he feel then?

Nile did not break Marlin’s fantasy.

They give Nile a room for him to sleep.

They slept and except for Nile, they had their own dream.

In the dream, they are the protagonist of their own life.

Getting stronger while killing the zombies.

…

Morning came and everyone woke up.

They meditated for an hour before they ate their breakfast.

After eating their breakfast, they left the base. Nile accompanied them.

They arrived at the Barangay Hall a while later.

With Nile’s cleaning from before and with the battle from yesterday. The zombie’s around this area are already sparse.

The group killed the remaining zombies around. Adding the dead Apocalypse Virus to their collection.

They did not encounter any Level One° zombies along the way. There’s no Level One° zombie inside the Barangay Hall either.

Their journey is a bit bland.

They shifted the relief-goods that were inside the Barangay Hall towards their base.

They could make the Barangay Hall as their base now that there is no longer a Level One° zombie inside and around it, but they instantly abandoned this idea.

The Barangay Hall is quite big for their current numbers, maybe in the future they will move, but not for now.

As most of them are workers, they are quite familiar around the Barangay Hall. They gathered everything that is still usable.

It was already noon when they were done scavenging.

They returned to their base and ate lunch together.

…

After eating, they talk and laugh with each other. They are already familiar with each other. They treat each other as brothers and sisters, as a family.

After a while, Nile felt that it was already time.

He stood up and bowed his body.

“Everyone, thank you for the care you’ve given me.” He bowed his body at a 90-degree angle.

For Nile, who was both an orphan in his previous world and here, he was easily moved by these familial feelings. He felt glad that he was able to experience these things from them, even though their meeting was just a short one. 

He felt glad that he met them this early. He felt glad that they were the first survivors he met. If not, who knows if Nile will ever feel this kind of feeling?

Everyone immediately stood up an inch closer towards him.

“Aiyaa, Aiyaa! What are you saying? It is only natural. Besides, we are the one who is supposed to thank you. Without you, we may have already died yesterday by the hands of the powerful Level One° zombie.” Marlin said while patting Nile’s arch back.

“Yes, Cap is right. Thank you!” Clarris seconded, while she also bent her body at a 90-degree angle.

“Thank you Nile”

“Thank you, Kiddo!”

“Thank you, bro!”

“Thank you, brother Nile!”

Everyone followed suit and bowed their bodies at a 90-degree angle, while expressing their heartfelt sentiments.

Nile did not stop them. He only stood up after a minute or so.

“I apologize to everyone, but I must leave.” Nile said with an apologetic look. He lowered his head. He did not want to bring them along. It will be dangerous and they will just hold him back.

He may have felt close to them but he will not abandon his thought of getting stronger. Only after becoming strong could he make everyone and himself feel safe.

Right now, they are yet to become a Level One° Human.

He could not wait for them to ‘Level Up’ either as that would stagnate his own growth.

The zombie’s side is getting stronger. After a month, he estimated that all the hibernating zombie’s will already become half-step Level One°.

“Why are you so sulky? We already knew!” Everyone around him laughed.

They already knew that Nile would eventually leave. From the start, the purpose of Nile meeting them was only because he wanted to gather information for the strong zombies in this area. They already felt glad that Nile stayed for a day because of them.

Seeing everyone’s light expression. Nile nodded his head. He explained his reason for leaving, and the reason why he did not want to bring them. Of course, he omitted the part of them holding him back.

“Only when all of you are already Level One° must you leave this area. After becoming Level One° move towards a bigger area and continue getting stronger. But remember to always be careful. We only have one life after all.” Nile said to everyone.

Everyone nodded their heads in understanding and they gave Nile a tight hug each.

Clarris handed him a backpack full of food supplies and water. He estimated that this will last him for a week.

Nile did not stand on ceremony and took the backpack from Clarris hands. Clarris tiptoed and gave him a kiss on his cheek. He felt a little embarrassed but got over it immediately.

The men gave him a light punch and a tight hug, while the women gave him a hug with a peck on his cheek.

Nile picked up his sledgehammer that was under the table and bade a farewell to everyone.

Everyone waves their hand, bidding Nile a farewell.

They will eventually meet again in the near future.

But right now, everyone had the same thought, including Nile.

“Become Stronger!”