Investing in My Harem in the Apocalypse Makes Me Stronger
Chapter 16: Alex’s Arrogance (1)

Chapter 16: Alex’s Arrogance (1)

Cain returned to the hospital lobby.

The survivors had finished organizing the supplies they could carry.

Doctor Carter checked the patients who had difficulty walking, while the stronger survivors prepared wheelchairs and makeshift supports.

Elara stood near the entrance with the Frostveil Sword hung at her waist.

She avoided Cain’s gaze.

Cain smiled when he noticed her red ears.

"We’re leaving."

His voice drew everyone’s attention.

"We’ve been away from the auditorium long enough."

Cain arranged the group before they moved.

The patients and noncombatants would remain in the center.

Cain took the front.

Jack and one of the javelin users guarded the right side.

Elara stood alone on the left.

Maya remained at the rear with the second javelin user.

Cain trusted Elara to defend an entire side after obtaining Fracture Sight and the Frostveil Sword.

Doctor Carter stayed near the middle where he could reach anyone who became injured.

Evelyne also remained with the patients.

Although her Healing Talent was only D-rank, it could still treat small wounds and reduce pain.

Cain stood outside the entrance.

The afternoon sky had become darker.

Smoke continued rising from several sections of the campus, and the distant sound of zombies echoed between the buildings.

"Move carefully."

Cain looked at the survivors.

"Do not leave the formation."

The group began traveling toward the auditorium.

They had only crossed the hospital courtyard when Cain noticed movement in the west.

A large group approached through a road connecting the hospital to the staff residences.

Several people at the front carried weapons.

The rest remained close together.

Cain raised one hand and his group immediately stopped.

As the group approached, Cain recognized several university professors by their clothing.

Most of the survivors behind them were female students.

There were also university workers and several older people who had probably lived inside the staff dormitory.

A middle-aged professor walked at the front.

He carried a long spear across his back.

His clothes had been torn near the shoulder, but there were no visible wounds on his body.

A line of information floated above him.

[Human | Level 17]

The professor raised his hand.

"We’re not infected."

Cain looked at the people behind him.

"How many have been bitten?"

"None."

The professor stopped several meters away.

"We check everyone before allowing them to join us."

Cain nodded.

"Good."

The professor looked toward the hospital survivors.

"You cleared the hospital?"

"The buildings have been searched."

Cain pointed toward the patients.

"We found survivors inside."

The professor studied Cain, he noticed the Blacksteel Longsword and the Windstep Boots.

"My name is Professor Victor Holt."

"Cain."

Professor Holt looked toward Jack and Elara.

"Are you leading this group?"

"For now."

Cain briefly explained what had happened.

He told the professor about clearing the dormitory and rescuing the fencing club.

He also explained that they had secured the auditorium as a temporary shelter.

Professor Holt listened carefully. When Cain finished, the professor explained what his group had done.

Several professors had gathered after the apocalypse began.

They rescued staff members from the university offices and moved toward one of the dormitories after hearing screams.

Most of the students inside had barricaded themselves on the upper floors.

Professor Holt’s group cleared a path and brought the survivors out.

Afterward, they searched the worker residences and staff dormitory.

The people standing behind him were the survivors they had managed to rescue.

"We were looking for somewhere secure," Professor Holt said.

"The auditorium is large enough."

Cain turned toward the path leading north.

"We can discuss everything once we arrive."

Professor Holt nodded.

The two groups then joined together.

Their combined number was much larger.

Several of the female students looked frightened when they saw the blood covering Cain’s clothes.

Others stared at Elara and Jack, clearly recognizing them.

The journey resumed and more zombies appeared after they left the hospital grounds.

Cain moved ahead. His speed was so fast that Professor Holt almost lost sight of him.

A Level 13 zombie rushed from behind an abandoned vehicle.

Cain’s gaze immediately caught several weak points across its body.

Its left knee had become unstable, while a connected line of weakness extended through its hip and lower abdomen.

The information appeared naturally the moment he observed the zombie, as if his eyes had always been capable of noticing those hidden flaws.

He stepped forward and swung his sword.

The blade cut through the zombie’s left knee at its weakest point.

Before its body could fall, Cain continued the same movement and slashed through its hip.

The zombie collapsed onto the road, unable to move properly.

Cain left its head intact and rushed toward the next infected student.

Another double-digit level zombie charged from the opposite side.

Its body looked undamaged, but Cain could see that its balance shifted too heavily toward its right leg whenever it moved.

A weakness appeared around the ankle and continued upward toward the knee.

Cain stepped past its reaching hands.

His sword swept through the unstable leg.

The zombie fell sideways.

Then he slashed across its waist, separating its upper body from its legs.

More zombies approached from the road ahead.

Cain moved through them without slowing down.

Faultline Vision allowed him to naturally perceive weaknesses within their bodies, posture, and Mana flow.

Though, he still needed enough strength to deal the damage and speed to reach the openings before they disappeared.

However, he no longer wasted power attacking the most durable sections.

A Level 12 zombie raised both arms and lunged toward him.

Cain noticed an exposed point beneath its shoulder. The weakness continued diagonally through its ribs.

He stepped inside its reach and swung along that path.

His sword cut through the shoulder before continuing across the chest.

The zombie’s upper body twisted and fell onto the ground.

Cain moved toward the next one.

Its right leg dragged slightly behind the left.

A faint fault line ran through its lower spine.

Cain cut through the leg first, then followed the connected weakness and separated the zombie at the waist.

Every strike became cleaner.

He used less force than before, yet his attacks caused far greater damage.

The Talent did not guide his body or move the sword for him, it simply allowed Cain to understand the most effective place and angle to attack.

One zombie rushed from behind him.

Cain sensed its approach and shifted his body.

The creature’s hand passed beside his shoulder.

Cain immediately noticed the unstable joint connecting its neck and spine.

He struck it with the flat side of the sword, knocking the zombie forward, before cutting through both of its legs.

Within a short time, dozens of double-digit level zombies lay scattered across the road.

Maya and the two javelin users followed, finishing the disabled zombies one by one.

Notifications appeared before them as their Levels increased again.

Professor Holt watched Cain in silence.

He had originally assumed that Cain’s Level 11 meant he was definitely weaker than him.

However, Cain moved faster than anyone in the professor’s group.

His sword cut through Level 10 zombies without resistance.

More importantly, his movements showed no hesitation.

Professor Holt tightened his grip on his spear as he thought to himself.

’His stats are far higher than his Level suggests.’

Professor Holt approached after the road was cleared.

"You killed those things easily."

Cain flicked blood from his sword.

"They weren’t strong."

Professor Holt looked at the Level 14 corpse.

He decided not to argue.

The group continued toward the auditorium.

Cain’s sense picked up raised voices before the building came into view.

His expression changed when he recognized Ron’s voice.

He then circulated Ruin Dragon Force through his legs and rushed forward.

"Cain?"

Elara called after him, but he had already crossed the distance.

The auditorium doors were open.

Cain entered with his sword in hand.

Several unfamiliar people stood inside the main hall.

Ron and the survivors Cain had left behind were gathered near the stage.

An argument had clearly been taking place.

Ron’s face brightened the moment he saw Cain.

"Cain!"

He hurried toward him and said, "This bastard is bullying us unreasonably."

Ron sounded like a child reporting someone to his father after being wronged.

Cain raised an eyebrow.

"What happened?"

Ron pointed toward a tall young man standing near the center of the hall.

"He barged in with his group and refused to let us check them for bites."

The tall man’s companions stood behind him.

Several carried metal pipes and knives, but there were others who possessed better weapons obtained from orbs.

Ron continued, "Then he demanded half of our resources."

"He said his group would protect us if we paid them."

Cain looked at the tall young man.

A red line appeared above his head.

[Human | Level 20]

The man’s name was Alex.