Chapter 47: First Battle (II)

[A few minutes earlier]

Time goes back a few minutes, and after following the map, Ethan and the others had arrived at the monster gathering spot.

Looking at the Mana Zombies wandering around, both Elena and Victoria widened their eyes in surprise.

Although they had seen the corpses that Ethan had killed back at the base, this was the first time they had seen them live.

Now looking in reality at the zombies they had only ever seen in movies, how could they not be shocked?

"Amazing, but then again it’s to be expected. What kind of apocalypse is there without the classic zombie?"

"Makes the whole end-of-the-world thing feel a bit melodramatic, don’t you think?" joked Elena, her eyes refusing to let go of the zombies.

Looking at them walking mindlessly on the streets among the pile of rubble, she wondered how strong they were.

Could they withstand a punch from the new her? She wanted to test it immediately.

Clenching her fist, she readied herself to launch at the nearest zombie.

Unfortunately, before she could even make a move, Ethan put a hand on her shoulder, stopping her.

"Now calm down, Elena. There’s still more for you to fight later. Why don’t you give these ones to Victoria?"

"After all, she has never experienced real combat before. We might as well give her this opportunity to see what it’s like to be in a fight."

Stopping Elena from acting, Ethan looked at Victoria with a hint of scrutiny in his eyes.

In his past life, Victoria’s awakening had caused her to massacre everyone in her university, putting her on a path of emotionless decisiveness.

With the deaths of hundreds on her hands from day one, she probably wasn’t afraid to kill after that, allowing her to better adapt to the apocalypse.

However, in this life, none of that had happened.

Thanks to his intervention, Victoria never experienced all that and had thus never been in a real fight.

Meaning she now had a crucial weakness despite having awakened such a powerful ability.

"Elena, as someone who has experienced real battles, I’m sure you know more than anyone that one wrong move can cost you your life."

"If Victoria doesn’t do this now and ends up hesitating later in a fight when we’re not there..."

"Worst-case scenario, she could die," he said, his expression completely solemn.

In his ten years of the apocalypse, what had he not seen? He knew just how crafty people and monsters could be.

Because of that, he planned to let Victoria get used to killing now—even if only a monster, she had to experience it as soon as possible.

This was also why he decided to clear out monsters with both of them.

And Victoria, listening to Ethan talk, knew what he was saying was correct.

If she didn’t want to be killed later, she needed to be willing to kill.

"Sis Elena, leave this to me. I promise, I’ll let you have the next ones," said Victoria, despite her hands shaking at the thought of killing something.

"Sigh... alright, you two, I understand what you’re saying."

"However, Victoria, if you look like you’re about to even get a scratch on you, I’ll jump in and wipe out all these monsters."

"And you, Ethan, for this you owe me two duels now once we get home," said Elena, puffing her cheeks.

"Haha, it’s settled then! Victoria, don’t worry! Just believe in yourself and believe in your ability!"

"You can do this!"

Not giving her a chance to react, Ethan, with a chuckle, pushed Victoria from where they were hiding right into the group of Mana Zombies.

Now it was time for her first fight!

...

"Raghhhhh!"

Roaring with spit in its mouth, a Mana Zombie, after sensing Victoria’s mana, leaped in Victoria’s direction.

Its eyes blared with bloodlust, and at its back, the other zombies, alerted by the sudden movement, soon began to follow suit.

Each wanted to have a taste of the delicacy that was her mana.

"Calm down, Victoria, trust in your abilities, trust in yourself."

"Nothing is going to happen. After all, there’s no way a family like the Smiths would take me in just to abandon me later."

"You can do this, Victoria!"

Whispering to herself, Victoria calmed herself down as she looked at the oncoming enemies.

Although she had never fought in her life, not even against her bullies...

With the ability she had awakened, she didn’t feel like she would lose against anyone, especially not a few mindless zombies.

"Back when Ethan saved me from those bullies and destroyed the Clown Gang..."

"I told myself I would stop holding back; I would stop letting people walk over me."

"The coward that was the former Victoria has long since died!"

Talking to herself, her mind recalled how she had used her power to create an ice shard and play with it on her way here.

Recalling that feeling of creating, molding, and controlling, an idea quickly formed in her mind.

"Although I just got the ability, I don’t think creating multiple shards at once and launching them at these enemies would work."

"I don’t think my mana is enough for that," she paused.

"However, if it’s to do that, then even if I use seventy percent of my current mana, it should work!"

As she said this, her right hand began to freeze over.

Starting from the hilt, a long, ice-cold katana completely made out of ice began to form in her hands.

Not only that, but because she used almost all her mana in creating it, its strength was harder than most metals.

"Let’s call this Ice Make: Katana!" she whispered.

Looking at the zombie that was roaring right next to her, she had no hesitation.

"Die for me, you damn zombie!"

Cursing out loud, along with a smooth swoosh!, the zombie’s head flew off, leaving a frost mark on its neck.

"One down, twenty-nine to go!" she said with a smile in her eyes.