Chapter 57 Foraging

Chapter 57 Foraging

Anna woke up in the shelter with the warm rays of sunshine gently caressing her face. She stretched her arms and yawned, her first thought being of Lucky. As she opened her eyes, she immediately scanned the room for her beloved dog. Lucky was like family to her, and she always made sure to look after him. 'It felt warmer nowadays...' Anna thought as she walked to the door and opened it. There, she saw Lucky waiting for her outside, wagging his tail. He was her dog and her best friend.

"Come here, Lucky!"

Anna hugged him and petted him for a moment. Lucky even licked her face and barked happily. Anna laughed and talked to her dog, "Good morning, Lucky. Are you ready for today's adventure?"

Today was a special day as she had been tasked with gathering herbs and other materials in the forest behind the Manor. Knight Gene would accompany her, and of course, Lucky would be by her side. Lucky had a unique ability with a Tracking spell that allowed him to smell the scent of Zombies or other Survivors, making Anna feel confident and secure. Well, this was also the reason why Shane allowed them to work on this task.

She quickly cleaned herself by taking some water from the wooden container that Shane had made before.

Currently, they have five big wooden water containers that Shane fills from time to time. There was a wooden lid on it, and Anna confirmed that it was filled to the brim. With these containers, they don't have to request water from him every time they need some water.

She quickly got ready and confirmed she had all the necessary equipment. With her Nail Bat in hand, a fully loaded revolver on her waist, a backpack on her back, and wearing a comfortable Scavenger Shirt and Pants, she was ready for the adventure ahead.

She walked out of the church and saw Gene waiting for her by the gate. 'Shane mentioned that he had excellent swordsmanship skill... I hope it is true.' Anna mused as she observed the man. Gene looked handsome and strong with his equipment. However, she couldn't help but think that his armor was a bit uncomfortable and may not be the best for tasks requiring mobility. Nonetheless, since they were dealing with zombies, it did make sense to have a shin guard, leather armor, arm guard, and even a pauldron to protect himself from being bitten.

After giving Gene a gentle nod, Anna turned her attention to Shane, who had prepared hot bread and a cup of water for her. After having a quick meal, Anna was prepared to go.

"We're going now!" Anna called out to Shane, waving her hand to confirm that they were prepared. Shane also waved his hand and reminded them to be careful. He wasn't too worried at all. 'Did he scout the area already confirmed there are no dangerous zombies?' She mused.

With Lucky eagerly leading the way, they set off into the forest, with Gene walking close by, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings.

***

They may not have found the common herbs or plants they were looking for, but they were lucky enough to find some precious ones that were probably being sold in an expensive price in Shane's Survivor Store.

Soon, Anna carefully collected Blue Sage, known for its healing properties and ability to soothe pain. The vibrant purple flowers of the Nightshade plant were also gathered, which were used to create poisons and antidotes. "Oohh... Aren't we lucky this time? Did the previous lord of the Manor plant all these rare herbs here?" Anna couldn't help but feel shocked as she realized that there were too many precious herbs not too far from the Manor. It wasn't even very hidden and was only blocked by trees and rocks.

At this time, she also found some Red Root, a powerful herb used to increase stamina and energy, and added it to her collection. There were quite a few of them and ready to be collected.

Her bag was already getting filled to the brim with all these precious herbs! 'Shane will definitely be surprised... These things are worth 5 to 10 Zombie Cores in his store last time!' Anna thought as she also came across a rare patch of Ghost Fern, a plant known for its ability to conceal one's presence once consumed. It was a valuable herb for stealthy maneuvers.

As they continued their search, the peaceful atmosphere was suddenly shattered by the unmistakable groans of Runner and Walker Zombies!

"I'll handle it!

Gene's instincts immediately kicked in, and with lightning speed, he drew his sword, the glint of steel catching the sunlight as he swiftly engaged the undead creatures.

Anna's heart raced as she watched in awe as Gene charged forward without fear! His skillful swordplay was a sight to behold. She realized that Gene was indeed an expert with the sword!

As the zombies charged at them, roaring and snarling, Gene met them head-on, slashing and blocking with his sword and small shield!

His movements were precise, and his strikes were powerful and deadly, like a warrior. He cut down the Runners with ease, slicing their throats and limbs. He bashed the Walkers with force, breaking their skulls and ribs. Anna could not help but put down her revolver as she realized that Gene was a one-man army. At the very least, he was an unstoppable force in front of low-tier Zombies!

Nonetheless, a few more Walker Zombies appeared!

Lucky, sensing the impending danger, positioned himself in front of Anna, barking fiercely and ready to leap into action. Anna, though prepared to assist if needed, knew she was in capable hands with Gene. She watched as he moved with a controlled ferocity.

The sound of swords clashing against decaying flesh echoed through the forest as Gene dispatched the zombies in a few minutes!