In the meantime, as Shane and his team basked in the glow of success, celebrating their hard-fought victory over the Zombie Wave with a feast of food and ale prepared by Bart, a somber atmosphere shrouded another shelter in an abandoned city.
Despite surviving the Zombie Wave, the toll of the battle weighed heavily on the survivors within the massive arena.
Indeed, it was within the shelter owned by the renowned Drakeheart Vanguard Clan. Apparently, the aftermath of the Zombie Wave revealed a devastating truth - nearly half of the survivors had perished in the brutal battle.
The once bustling shelter now had a tense atmosphere, reminding them that this was a merciless apocalypse they were facing.
Some of them were getting treated for their wounds, the others were recuperating in a clean area, and there were also those who had already started eating after being starved for some time.
Among the survivors, Travis, the Cland Leader, found himself grappling with disappointment and disbelief.
"What's going on? I didn't get first or second place in the individual rankings! There must be something strong... Just how did someone surpass me."
Despite single-handedly dispatching over a thousand zombies and unleashing the power of his Dragon Blood Talent's Phase 2 by consuming Enhancer Potions, Travis was shocked to discover that he had only placed third in the Individual Ranking.
To be exact, he consumed 6 Enhancer Potions worth 5 Reputation Points each! He also bought a special weapon and upgraded it to Master Grade to have a better chance of reaching a higher rank. He had spent a lot of materials hoping that he would get first place in this Zombie Wave.
Unfortunately, it wasn't enough.
His clan, the Drakeheart Vanguard, fared even worse, ranking eighth in the Clan Ranking despite their valiant efforts in defending their shelter.
"Is the Shadow Strider again?" He mused. He couldn't help but think of this mysterious Survivor to get the first place.
"Just how strong is he?" Travis wryly smiled as he could only imagine how strong this Survivor was.
Travis's gaze then swept across the battered arena, noting the damage and loss that had befallen their home.
"If I want to reach Shadow Strider's level, I should do this before the others could catch up to me." Asad muttered as his decision was made. If he wanted to reach or surpass Shadow Strider, he had to gain loyal companions that would make things easier for him.
'Just wait for me, Shadow Strider... You will soon see your name in the second place...' Asad chuckled as he believed that his Legendary Talent would certainly help him to catch up.
After all, he was a Necromancer!
He was simply limited because of his terrible 220 Spirit Points, so he could only summon a few Zombie Warriors since they were worth 50 Points. However, after receiving his rewards and leveling up, he was now capable of summoning an undead worth 300 Points, a Skelatal Knight!
"I just need to be patient... I just need to buy more Spirit Enhancement Bottles. Once I get 1,000 Spirit Points... I'll be able to summon a Lich someday..."
***
At this time, within Shane's estate, everyone had already fallen asleep since they all got tired after a long battle... Furthermore, Bart's ale had taken effect on their bodies.
However, Shane was still awake in his bed, checking the Regional Chat.
Joey: "Looking to trade my Flamethrower for high-tier armor. Send me a PM if interested!"
Clavio: "Just found a cache of medical supplies. Willing to trade for food rations! Canned goods are my priority."
Find adventures at m v lem|p-yr
Borin: "Selling a set of enchanted daggers, perfect for close combat. PM for details!"
Natalie: "Any intel on the rumored hidden bunker in the Northern Wastelands? Willing to pay in Zombie Cores for accurate coordinates!"
Delara: "Huge shoutout to Serene Garden Clan for clearing the Zombie Wave without any casualties! We Rank 1! Drinks on me at the Safehouse Tavern tonight!"