Investing in My Harem in the Apocalypse Makes Me Stronger
Chapter 7: Auditorium

Chapter 7: Auditorium

[Ding! You have leveled up to Level 5, obtaining 3 Free Stat Points.]

Cain raised an eyebrow.

’So assistance also gives experience.’

Cain placed all three points into Strength again.

[Cain]

[Level: 5]

[Stats]: Strength: 44 / Agility: 25 / Physique: 29 / Sense: 21 / Mana: 175 / Magic: 75

Cain closed the status panel and looked at the others.

"Finish gathering your belongings. We need to meet with the rest of the survivors before more zombies arrive."

Elara’s group quickly gathered what they could from the fencing hall.

Most of them had already been preparing to flee before the Hardened Zombie blocked the exit.

They carried fencing swords, water bottles, protective jackets, and several bags filled with food taken from the club’s storage room.

Once everyone was ready, the group left the training hall and followed the same path Cain and Ron had used earlier.

They encountered several zombies wandering across the road.

Cain did not kill them directly as he cut through their legs or separated their bodies at the waist, then allowed the weaker survivors to finish them.

The method was brutal, but it was effective.

The survivors gained experience with little danger, while Cain still received a portion from assisting.

They soon heard the sound of fighting near the road ahead.

Jack stood among several zombies.

One infected student rushed toward him.

Jack stepped forward and drove his fist into its face.

The zombie’s head snapped backward.

Before it fell, Jack caught its shirt and slammed it into the ground.

Another survivor finished it by driving a javelin through its eye.

Jack’s group had followed Cain’s instructions.

They were no longer allowing a single person to take every kill.

Cain raised his hand.

Jack noticed them and looked toward Elara’s group.

"You found more people."

"Eight," Cain replied.

Jack glanced at the Blacksteel Longsword hanging at Cain’s waist.

"And you obtained a sword."

"An excellent sword."

After the remaining zombies were killed, both groups gathered in the middle of the road.

There were now more than twenty people.

Moving such a large group across the campus would be difficult, but they had enough fighters to deal with a lot of zombies.

One of the students Cain had saved from the third floor stepped forward.

"We need somewhere to stay."

Cain looked at him.

The student continued, "We can’t keep moving between buildings. There might be more people alive, and we need somewhere to bring them."

"Do you have a place in mind?" Elara asked.

"The university auditorium."

The student pointed toward the central section of the campus.

"It’s close to most of the major buildings. The interior is large, and there are only a few entrances."

The auditorium was used for university ceremonies, and large student events.

Its central location would make it easier to reach the hospital, cafeterias, dormitories, and storage facilities.

The building was also spacious enough to hold far more survivors than their current group.

"Good." Cain nodded.

"We’ll use the auditorium."

Jack wiped zombie blood from his fist and asked, "What about supplies?"

"We can gather them after securing the building."

Cain looked at Jack and spoke, "From now on, avoid killing every weak zombie yourself."

He explained what he had discovered after killing the Hardened Zombie.

Enemies far above his Level could provide additional stats.

Crippling ordinary zombies also allowed weaker survivors to gain experience without facing too much danger.

Jack understood immediately.

"So we leave the ordinary ones for them and hunt stronger creatures ourselves."

Cain nodded.

The others remained silent.

None of them wanted to risk fighting something like the Hardened Zombie.

Cain did not blame them as a single mistake against an enemy at that Level would lead to death.

The group began moving toward the auditorium.

They stayed close to the buildings and avoided the wider roads whenever possible.

Zombies appeared along the way, but most were below Level 5.

Cain disabled several of them, leaving the finishing blows to the survivors.

The journey took longer than it would have if Cain traveled alone, but the group reached the auditorium without losing anyone.

The building stood near the center of the university.

It was a wide two-story structure with tall concrete walls and several reinforced glass windows near the upper level.

A broad staircase led toward the main entrance.

The doors had been wrapped in chains and secured with a heavy lock.

Cain approached the entrance and inspected the chains.

There was no blood around the handles, and the lock had been attached from outside.

Cain drew the Blacksteel Longsword, a faint layer of Ruin energy covered the blade.

He swung the sword once.

Clang!

The lock split apart, the chains fell onto the floor.

Cain pushed open the doors.

The interior was quite dark.

Everyone waited behind him with their weapons raised.

Cain entered first.

The auditorium’s central floor was empty.

Hundreds of stackable chairs had been arranged along the side walls, leaving a wide open space in front of the stage.

A second-floor balcony overlooked the room.

Thick curtains covered the backstage area, while smaller doors led toward storage rooms and administrative offices.

Cain looked back and said, "Check everything first."

"Do not go alone. Check behind curtains and under the stage. Shout if you find anything."

The survivors separated into small teams.

Cain remained near the center with Ron, Elara, and Jack.

"We need resources," Cain said.

"Weapons first," Jack replied.

Ron shook his head. "Food matters more."

"We need both," Elara said. "Medicine too. Several people are already injured."

Cain agreed as their current supplies would not last long.

They needed bottled water, food that would not spoil quickly, medical supplies, and better weapons.

The university had several places where they could obtain those things.

However, searching all of them at once would spread the group too thin.

"Where do we go first?" Ron asked.

Cain looked toward Elara’s injured side.

"The university hospital."

It was located in the southern section of the campus.

The hospital would contain medicine, disinfectant, bandages, and equipment that could save lives later.

There might also be doctors or medical students still alive inside.

Jack nodded, "Alright, Hospital first then."

Ron was about to speak when a scream came from behind the stage.

"ARRGH!"

Cain immediately turned.

Another frightened shout followed.

"There’s something here!"

"Help!"