We walk and get into the squadron alongside "the baits." I don't even look at them; in this world, it's best not to empathize, especially if you're weak.
While we wait, I think over and over again about how to carry out the mission successfully; I brought Watson because his skill is quite useful. A few minutes later, the members of Squadron Z begin to board.
The truck starts its engine. I close my eyes, but I remain alert.
The truck travels fast again, and in half the time we reach area 4.
"Damn, that energy fluctuating in the deepest part of the ruined city is really creepy," I look at Watson and say:
-Follow me!
Watson nodded and followed me. I head for the same area I've already explored. There's no need to go to an unexplored place; we only have to stay here for six days.
As we walk around, I look for a multi-story building that isn't about to collapse, while killing any zombies that approach and try to attack us with my somewhat damaged spear.
-Aren't you going to check if they have cores? -Watson asks me cautiously.
-Don't worry, I hunted hundreds of zombies the last time I was here, so I have a pretty good idea of which ones have cores and which ones don't. -I reply as we continue searching for the ideal building.
Watson nods without asking any more questions, surely connecting what I said about cores with my profession.
After walking for almost two hours, we haven't found a suitable building, and we're surrounded by three killer dogs with rotting bodies.
The three dogs look horrible. They're almost two meters tall, and one of them is more foul-smelling than the rest. On top of that, a greenish miasma emits from its jaws.
"This cute little dog must be an evolved zombie," I conclude when I see that the other two killer dogs seem to be waiting for a signal from the killer dog emitting green miasma from its jaws.
I look at my spear, which already has some cracks in it. It won't hold up for long against the zombie dog that seems to have evolved.
I wouldn't be afraid to face it; we are both equivalent. I am a D-rank in the initial phase, and that zombie dog only emits the fear of a three-skull, but it doesn't seem stronger than the hellish bear or the poisonous zombie. However, Watson is behind me.
Besides, the sky is gradually darkening.
"Come on, you bastard."
The Killer Zombie Dog growls loudly, then barks, and the other two Killer Zombie Dogs attack us.
I infuse my spear with fear and throw it forcefully into the empty eye socket filled with viscous fluids of the Killer Zombie Dog.
My spear pierces the eye socket and penetrates deep into the dog's head, coming out the other side.
[You have killed a 2-skull monster: +0.26]
I don't have time to read notifications. I crouch down and jump backward to dodge the bite of the other Killer Zombie Dog, while keeping an eye on the Killer Zombie Dog that has evolved into an advanced zombie and seems to be waiting for the right moment to attack me.
The Killer Zombie Dog that tried to bite me runs toward Watson, and I deliberately turn my back on the Killer Zombie Dog watching me.
I jump toward the Killer Zombie Dog heading toward Watson, and behind me I hear fast footsteps approaching.
The moment I am close to the Killer Zombie Dog trying to attack Watson, I turn around and draw Scarlet Rose.
Bang!
Bang!
One of my bullets pierced and blew off the top of the Killer Zombie Dog's head, which had become an evolved zombie. With the other bullet, I killed the dog that had opened its jaws in front of Watson.
[You have killed a 3-skull monster: +0.77]
[You killed a 2-skull monster: +0.28]
[Kill 10 3-skull monsters (1/10): +5 to all attributes]
"It was certainly an unexpected situation to have been intercepted by three Killer Zombie Dogs. Now I understand why they use baits; it must be to deal with the minions of the evolved zombies," I think as I watch Watson take a dagger out of his backpack and begin to extract the cores from the Killer Zombie Dogs.
"This guy knows how to be useful," I think, and then I sheathe Scarlet Rose again. Although I used one extra bullet, it was justified given the situation.
As it was getting late, we entered a two-story building. We climbed the cracked and deteriorated stairs to the second floor and sat in a corner.
When night finally falls, the light of the two moons shines through the spaces where the windows used to be. We both avoid the moonlight and remain hidden in the shadows of the place where we are.
Watson offers me a piece of bread and a bottle of water, which I take.
I eat the bread slowly and end up drinking half of the water.
-We'll sleep in shifts. I'll sleep first. Wake me up immediately if anything happens. I'll sleep until shortly before the terrifying hours begin, then it will be your turn. -I tell him, and Watson nods.
Since I haven't slept at all in over 24 hours, I lie down on the floor, rest my head on my backpack, and...
••••
Explosions!
Screams!
Explosions!
I wake up, and with my hunter's senses, it's inevitable that I hear the sounds around me. Apparently, the hunters who came to provide support in Area 4 have begun to purge the high-ranking monsters or supernatural beings in different locations throughout Area 4.
Watson, who looks scared, is holding a watch without a strap in a corner.
"What time is it?" I ask.
"It's 10:49 p.m. The terrifying hours will soon begin," he said in a somber tone.
"Go to sleep. I'll wake you up if necessary." I tell him firmly so he doesn't waste any time.
I get up, draw Scarlet Rose, load two bullets, and my fear is absorbed.
"Five bullets again. I must use them to hunt three-skull monsters and I will make a big profit," I think, and then I put Scarlet Rose back in its holster.