Investing in My Harem in the Apocalypse Makes Me Stronger
Chapter 3 - 1 vs 8 Zombies

Chapter 3: 1 vs 8 Zombies

Cain rushed forward and grabbed the zombie by the back of its shirt and threw the zombie toward the open doorway.

It struck the opposite wall and fell to the floor.

Ron scrambled backward while still holding the javelin.

Cain looked down at him and chuckled, "Ron, why are you so weak that you’re struggling against an ugly bastard like that?"

"Be careful!" Ron pointed behind him.

The zombie had already stood again.

Cain did not even turn his entire body.

He tilted his head, shifted the dagger into a reverse grip, and waited for the creature to approach.

The moment it entered range, Cain drove the dagger into the side of its skull.

The zombie collapsed beside him.

[Ding! You have killed a Level 1 Zombie.]

Ron stared at the corpse beside Cain.

Then he stared at Cain.

"Y-You..."

Cain pulled the dagger free.

"What?"

"You just stabbed him in the head."

"He was trying to eat you."

"But you..."

Ron’s breathing remained chaotic.

His hands trembled around the javelin, and his eyes repeatedly moved toward the corpse.

Cain understood what was happening.

Ron was extremely fast.

He had represented their country as a sprinter and competed against some of the fastest young athletes in the world. However, running on a track and watching someone die in front of him were completely different things.

If Ron remained frozen every time they encountered a zombie, his speed would not save him forever.

Cain walked closer, leaning himself down.

Slap!

The sound echoed through the room.

Ron’s head snapped sideways.

He slowly turned back, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Cain stared at him with a serious expression.

"Ron. Get it together."

"The world is fucked. People are turning into zombies, and anyone who gets bitten will become one of them."

Cain pointed toward the corpse.

"If you keep hesitating because they still look human, the next one will bite your throat out."

Ron blinked several times, then his expression twisted.

"FUCK!"

He covered his cheek as he continued, "You could’ve told me nicely, you bastard! Why the fuck did you slap my handsome face?!"

Cain turned away and walked toward his bed.

"You weren’t listening."

"I was in shock!"

"Not anymore."

"That doesn’t mean you can hit me!"

Ron glared at Cain’s back.

For a moment, he seriously considered returning the slap.

However, Cain had just saved his life, so he decided to let it go.

Just this once.

Cain pulled a large backpack from beneath his bed and began packing.

He took several shirts, two pairs of trousers, socks, a towel, toiletries, a power bank, charging cables, and every bottle of water they had stored in the room.

After thinking for a moment, he removed some of the clothes and replaced them with protein bars, biscuits, instant noodles, and a small medical kit.

While packing his things up, he reminded Ron that he needed to get stronger by killing the zombies since it will make them level up and he told them to choose wisely in putting his free stat points.

Cain moved toward the long equipment bag beside the wardrobe.

It contained several javelins used for training and competition. Most were not ideal weapons for close quarters, but they were far better than bare hands.

He took out one sturdy training javelin and handed it to Ron.

Then he shoved the soft javelin bag against his chest.

"Carry this."

Ron nearly dropped it.

"You’re giving me your javelin?"

"I have the dagger."

Cain tapped the weapon at his waist.

"You’re faster than me, and you know the basics of using a javelin because I forced you to practice before."

"You forced me because you wanted someone to retrieve them after you threw them."

"That’s still practice."

Ron rolled his eyes but placed the bag over his shoulder.

Cain looked toward the hallway.

"Ron, we need more people."

"Why?"

"Because we don’t know how far this has spread."

Cain’s voice became more serious.

"If the entire university has fallen into chaos, surviving alone would be stupid. We need people who can fight, gather supplies, treat injuries, and handle everything else."

"Some of them might awaken useful Talents too."

Cain walked out of the room.

"We save whoever we can and gather them together."

Ron followed him to the doorway.

"What’s the plan?"

"I’ll start from the top floor and work downward."

Cain pointed toward the nearby rooms.

"You check this floor first, then head to the first floor."

"You want us to separate?"

"The building is large. If we stay together, people might die before we reach them."

Cain looked Ron directly in the eyes.

"If you encounter too many zombies, don’t try to act brave. Run and shout. I’ll come as quickly as possible."

Ron gave him a strange look. "You?"

"Yes, me."

"I’m the fastest man in the country."

"And yet, you were almost eaten by one zombie."

Ron’s expression darkened, "That was because I had just woken up."

"Of course."

Cain turned toward the stairwell in the middle of the building.

"I’m leaving first."

"Cain."

Cain glanced back.

Ron gripped the training javelin more tightly, "Don’t die."

"You should worry about yourself." Cain smirked.

He moved through the corridor.

He noticed a zombie standing near the far corner, partially hidden behind an overturned table.

Cain ignored it and entered the central stairwell.

Ron would eventually encounter the creature while clearing the floor. It was alone, and Ron possessed a long weapon along with enough speed to escape if necessary.

Let alone the fact that once he overcame his initial fear, ordinary zombies would have difficulty to even touch him.

Cain climbed to the third floor.

The fire door was closed. Then he listened for several seconds.

Faint footsteps came from the other side, along with intermittent scratching and low growls.

There were zombies inside.

There might also be survivors trapped inside their rooms.

Cain placed one hand on the door.

A normal person would quietly search each room while avoiding unnecessary attention.

Cain was not that patient.

He pushed open the door, stepped into the corridor, and drew a deep breath.

"EVERYONE WHO’S STILL ALIVE, SHOUT FOR HELP!"

His voice thundered across the entire floor.

For a heartbeat, everything became silent.

Then the entire floor erupted.

"Help!"

"I’m here!"

"Please save us!"

"Room 312!"

"There are two of us inside!"

Several frightened voices came from behind closed doors.

At the same time, the zombies reacted.

A door farther down the hall swung open as two infected students stumbled outside. Three more emerged from one of the rooms, while others turned from the opposite end of the corridor.

Eight zombies in total.

All of them began moving toward Cain.

He looked at the approaching zombie group.

"Good."

His shout had exposed the survivors, but it had also gathered most of the zombies into one place.

Cain drew the dagger.

The corridor was narrow enough that the zombies could not surround him easily. However, fighting eight at once without activating Ruin Dragon Force would still be dangerous.

Cain retreated toward the stairwell door.

The first zombie rushed ahead of the others. It was a tall male student wearing a basketball jersey.

Cain waited until the final moment before shifting aside.

The zombie crashed shoulder-first into the fire door.

Cain caught the back of its head and slammed its face against the metal.

Bang!

Before it could turn, his dagger entered through the base of its skull.

[Ding! You have killed a Level 2 Zombie.]

The second zombie was already close.

Cain threw the first corpse into its path.

The approaching creature tripped and fell over the body.

Cain stomped on the back of its neck before stabbing downward.

[Ding! You have killed a Level 2 Zombie.]

The remaining six continued forward as they did not fear death.

They did not hesitate after watching the others fall.

Cain stepped backward into the stairwell and grabbed the edge of the heavy fire door.

The third zombie pushed through.

Cain slammed the door against its head.

Its skull struck the frame with a sickening crack.

Cain opened the door and struck it again.

Bang!

The zombie fell to one knee.

Cain drove the dagger through its eye.

[Ding! You have killed a Level 2 Zombie.]

Two zombies forced their arms through the narrowing doorway.

Cain kicked one hand away, but the other caught the sleeve of his shirt and pulled his shirt.

Cain lost his balance and stumbled closer.

Its teeth snapped inches from his forearm.

Cain immediately circulated Ruin Dragon Force through his right arm, dark energy gathered beneath his skin.

He punched the zombie in the jaw.

Crack!

The lower half of its face twisted sideways.

Cain tore his sleeve free and stabbed beneath its chin. The dagger pierced upward into its brain.

[Ding! You have killed a Level 2 Zombie.]

The fifth zombie pushed through before Cain could close the door again.

It was a young woman with long hair covering most of her face.

She lunged low, aiming for his waist.

Cain raised his knee, the impact snapped her head backward.

He caught her hair, pulled her downward, and drove the dagger into the side of her skull.

[Ding! You have killed a Level 2 Zombie.]

[Ding! You have leveled up to Level 2, obtaining 3 free stat points.]

Power flowed through Cain’s body, his exhaustion faded slightly as every attribute increased.

The remaining three zombies crowded outside the fire door.

Cain immediately placed all three new points into Strength.

Warm energy reinforced his muscles once again as his strength had increased by 3 points.

[Strength: 26]

Cain opened the fire door completely.

The nearest zombie lunged.

Cain grabbed its shirt with one hand and pulled it forward while stepping aside. The creature flew past him and tumbled down the first section of stairs.

Its head struck the concrete steps repeatedly before its body stopped at the landing.

However, it was still moving.

Cain rushed down and stomped on the back of its skull.

Once.

Twice.

And finally, the third charm had done it as the bone finally collapsed beneath his shoe.

[Ding! You have killed a Level 1 Zombie.]

The final two entered the stairwell together.

Cain lowered his body.

He could activate Ruin Dragon Force throughout his entire body, but that would consume too much Mana and strained his body. Instead, he circulated a smaller amount through his legs.

The dark energy strengthened his muscles.

Cain exploded forward. His shoulder struck the first zombie’s chest, throwing it backward into the second.

Both creatures crashed against the wall.

Cain stabbed the first through the temple.

[Ding! You have killed a Level 2 Zombie.]

The last zombie caught his wrist before he could pull the dagger free.

Its grip was truly strong.

Cain released the weapon rather than struggling.

Then he drew his right arm backward, gathered Ruin energy around his fist, and punched the creature in the face.

The zombie’s nose and cheekbone were destroyed.

Its grip immediately loosened.

Cain ripped the dagger from the first corpse and reversed it in his hand.

The second thrust entered beneath the zombie’s ear.

[Ding! You have killed a Level 3 Zombie.]

Cain stood among the bodies while blood dripped from the dagger.

His chest rose and fell quickly, but he was not nearly as exhausted as he should have been.

The automatic increase to Physique after each Level had already begun improving his stamina.

Cain deactivated Ruin Dragon Force and returned to the corridor.

"Is that all of them?" He murmured to himself.

Subsequently, he rescued them one by one and told them to prepare themselves and stay on this floor.

On the fourth floor, there were only five zombies wandering the corridor. He quickly killed them and apparently one of them was a level 4 Zombie.

He ended up leveling up to level 3 and immediately put the 3 free stat points to strength again.

[Stats]: Strength: 30 / Agility: 17 / Physique: 19 / Sense: 16 / Mana: 172 / Magic: 70

There were only two people alive on the fourth floor.

He told them to prepare themselves and go to the third floor to gather with the others.

Afterward, Cain headed toward the fifth and highest floor.

He expected to hear more screaming or growling when he opened the stairwell door.

Instead, he heard heavy breathing.

The corridor walls were cracked. One room door had been torn from its hinges.

Six zombie corpses lay across the floor.

Their bodies were covered in bruises, shattered bones, and fist-sized holes. One corpse had its head completely crushed against the wall.

A muscular young man stood among them.

He was tall, with broad shoulders and thick arms that stretched the fabric of his black shirt. Sweat covered his body, while fresh blood dripped from both hands.

Despite the gruesome scene, the young man looked more annoyed than frightened.