Into the Zombie World

Croco and Maximo glared at a zombie a few meters away. 

The zombie was fighting a bird intensely. Even though the bird could fly gaining a height advantage, it didn't look like it was winning. 

Nile was confused as to why the System Map didn't project the bird and the zombie's dot. They are clearly moving yet it was only when they were near the two did the System Map project their respective dots. 

'Are you fucking kidding? Are you trying to get me killed?' 

He grumbled inside his head in protest. 

Immediately, he asked the System why was that the case?

The answer of the System made Nile bewildered. 

[Host, in order to sense the moving things around you, the System needs to constantly deploy an energy wave. This wave was created using the Apocalypse Virus as a fuel. There was an 'error' and the System first thought that the energy wave wouldn't cost a lot. 

However, the System later found out that the apocalypse virus cost was astronomical and the System's apocalypse points reserve was getting depleted every second the energy wave was deployed. 

Hence, the System decided to modify it a little. Please check the System Map function to see further details.]

Nile instructed Croco and Maximo to look out for the bird and the zombie for a moment. 

He then accesses the System Map and upper corner, there was a blinking red exclamation mark. 

He pressed that exclamation mark and a new screen pops out in front of him. 

[System Map Skill: Sphere Sensor

-A skill especially made for the Host to detect anything around it with a distance of 100 meters. 

A sphere shaped sensor would be deployed with the Host as the center.

To activate, please say the keyword- "Detect".

Cost: 2 Apocalypse Points per Detect.

Could last for 5 seconds. 

0.50 Apocalypse Points will be deducted after 5 seconds of detection. 

Please say, "Stop" to stop the detection.

]

"Shit!"

Nile cursed out loud as he reads the description of the skill. 

The System was definitely messing with him.

It was free before and now you're telling me that it wasn't really 'free' and it was only an error?

Tell me honestly, are you nerfing me? 

Phew!

Nile released a heavy sigh to calm down his nerves. He is so mad that smokes seem to ooze out of his nostrils.

He finds the System Map function of detecting moving things around him a super convenient function. He could avoid ambushes and even find targets easily with that function, and it was free. 

But now, it was no longer free. He could still use the function but it was too costly. 

2 apocalypse points per activation? Isn't that one snack already?

However, he did realize something after reading the skill description again. It stated that the Sphere detection can detect anything. 

'Anything', not moving objects, not living things, anything would be detected even if they are stationary. However, the distance of the sphere sensor was also shortened compared to the previous 'free' version. 

Nile accepted the 'nerf' immediately and made a simple plan inside his mind. The plan he came up with was to only use the sphere sensor when necessary. 

It was a costly skill and even with him having a thousand plus apocalypse points at the moment, it would still hurt his pocket if he activates the skill constantly. 

He puts the matter at the back of his head for now and decided to focus on the battle ahead of them. 

The size of the red dot he saw on the System Map indicates that the zombie is a level two zombie and a rather strong one at that. 

The bird however, had only just recently advanced to level two and it seems to be still familiarizing with its newfound strength. 

They are still far away hence the Nile couldn't use the stats function to inspect their exact strength. But compared to the red dot, his green dot was a little smaller, meaning the zombie was stronger than him. 

However, he was not worried as he was wearing the level two clothing that came from the System Map. He was also equipped with the peak Level Two weapon- Weapon of Change, as well as the peak Level Two talent- Instant Adapter. 

If he could not manage to defeat a zombie stronger than him by a small margin with such equipment and means on his disposal, he thought that he should just go back to the hamlet of Palma and start planting crops there. 

Speaking of clothes, he previously bought two sets of peak level one clothing for Maximo and Croco. He inspected the clothing before and realize that they could turn invisible. He thought that the function was pretty convenient and before meeting with that 'beggar' guy earlier, he turned the function on. 

He felt that it was strange to see a carabao and a crocodile wearing clothes. He also discovered that the underbelly of their clothes was void of clothing, hence vulnerable to attack. 

Croco already suffered an injury because of that fact. 

However, Nile couldn't do anything about it. The two animals were also nearing level two so he decided to buy them another set of clothes when that time comes.

At this point, the fight between the bird and the zombie was already at the climax. 

The zombie was holding a long staff to hit the flying bird while the bird relies on its aerial agility to dodge and strike the zombie in the ground. 

Nile and his two pets had already closed in their distance since a minute ago and they were only waiting for the right opportunity to strike. 

Screech!

The bird produces a long screech as it dives down in an attempt to claw the zombie's head.

 In an instant, it arrived in front of the zombie's face. Using its sharp and long claws, the bird manages to pierce the zombie's eyes.

However, the zombie didn't flinch. It doesn't feel pain and it was no longer relying on its eyes too much. The zombie uses this opportunity to grab the bird's legs and smashes it with the long staff on its other hand. 

______

Thanks for reading.