Chapter 8: 76k vs. 100k

The survivors were too tired. They didn't rest when the Awakening Event started. When they found out that they could rest inside this large and cozy Castle. They started to relax their minds and sleep. They thought that nothing bad would happen because of their numbers. They consist of 76,000+ people, that quantity gave them confidence.

Because of this reason, they didn't ready their selves for any possible attacks. The announcement has already been stated and monsters were now entering the Castle. They were caught off guard.  The only thing they could do right now was to fight for their lives. 

The monsters smashed their way to the Castle. They fought any Awakeners that they see.  If they defeat it, they eat it. The monsters were true to their instinct. When they see food, of course, they would eat it.

Kyle chose a room on the second floor. It was wide for them to move. However, it was not a good location. Monsters could easily find them because they are in the lower part.  

" Now, this is my plan. Kill many monsters. The more you kill, the faster you level. Don't think about anything and just kill them. "

Kyle smiled while facing a horde of monsters. The monsters attacked him like savage beasts, although they were really savage beasts.

* bang bang bang*

He used his gun until all of his bullets run out.

" Okay, I guess I don't need this gun anymore. I still have an alternative weapon. "

He tossed the gun, took a sword, and slashed the head of a wolf. The wolf fell on the floor, half of its head was cut off.

" Yah!" 

On the other side of the room, Mikael stabbed the chest of a hobgoblin, the monster cried in pain. He was surprised that a monster that nearly killed him was so weak. Nope, it was not because of the monster. The reason was this room. The room is called Rejuvenating Room. The monster became slower and their strength decreases whenever they enter the room. 

" Hahahaha, this is great! I feel like I can do anything"

" Yup, you're right "

Miriam agreed to his reaction. She couldn't believe that she could fight monsters like this. This was too easy, even for her.

"Focus, you can talk later when you kill all of them. "

Kyle spoke to reprimand them, this was not a game. They could die if they don't focus, monsters were monsters even if they were weak. They would kill you if they had the chance.

They fought the monsters that entered the room. When they started to feel tired, the room replenished their energies. They did this endless fight until...

[Level up]

[ Congratulations, you're now level 10]

* swoosh*

A notification sound entered his mind and energy filled Mikael's body. He felt that his physical strength increased.

" I'm getting stronger. I can feel it"

"Oh, I forgot to tell you this. Whenever you reached ten levels your strength became double. "

" Double? Seriously!?"

Every ten levels your strength would increase by double. It was a piece of good news. Now, they learned the idea of how to defeat monsters. They would use the leveling system.

" Yes, I'm serious. Feel yourself and you'll realize that I'm not lying."

"...hahaha damn right. I'm stronger now!"

" Good. Now, focus and kill them again."

Mikael activated his Shock Skill. All monsters that touched his spear toasted and die.

"Die you filthy monsters!"

Whenever dozens of monsters fought him, he used his Electric Strength to fight all of them simultaneously. This room gave him a big help. The room healed their fatigue. He could use all of his Skills and he won't get tired. Instead, he would regain his energy. Every thirty minutes, their strength and health regenerated.

If this was a game, this would be a major bug. A cheat. If the other Awakeners saw what they were doing, they would cry blood in jealousy. While the other people were fighting for their own lives. Mikael, Miriam, and Kyle were just walking in the park. 

Miriam used a sword instead of her bow. Using a bow inside the room was a disadvantage for her. The room was too small for her to shoot. 

They did the same routine. Fight, after half an hour, heal, then fight again. The monsters came nonstop, but they killed them nonstop too. They slashed their weapons like there was no other day. They felt that their bodies were starting to change.

They were getting stronger. At first, they found it hard to kill a goblin, but hours passed and they could cut them like papers now.

After six hours of nonstop fighting. The monster started to retreat. They left the survivors crawling for their lives. They gave them another chance to live as a mockery, which gave the survivors happiness and insult.

They were happy that they were alive.  However, their pride received disgrace when the monsters left them.  They couldn't accept that the monsters treated them as toys.

"Pant, pant, pant. This is the end for now. We can now rest."

Mikael dropped the soaked blood spear.

" Ah, thank God they retreat. I thought I'll never see the sun again."

Miriam fell on her knees. Tears began to fall on her eyes. Even though she killed many monsters she couldn't accept the feeling that she just took the creature's life. The feeling of stabbing the creature's meat gave her goosebumps. Well, she was not the only one who was not feeling well. Mikael didn't like the smell of blood that permeated on his body.

Kyle was practically doing his things. He took off his dirty clothes and changed. Before the Awakening Event came, he readied any belongings that he could use.

" Ah, I just thought something. Kyle, did you predicted this? Are you a prophet or something? You got a gun and now clothes. How did you get it? You're changing your garments like nothing. Actually, who or what are you?"

Mikael asked him, but Kyle just gave him a shrug. As always he won't answer. Mikael couldn't force him to speak, he knew that he would die if he did it. 

"You need a change of clothes. Be ready every night, cause you'll never get a sleep. Those monsters will attack us every night."

The room became silent for a second.

" W-What!? E-every night!? I'm already sick and they want what!? Another night... sob sob what kind of life is this... "

Miriam gave her dissatisfaction, she shed tears, this was too much for her. This Punishment Event would surely kill her. To bath in blood every day is...ugh. She'll go crazy.

" You'll get used to it. "

" I don't want to!!!"

Miriam felt defeated. She didn't know why, but she felt like she was losing something.

" Follow me, we will take a bath to wash away our dirt and fatigue."

" Really!? A bath? Kyle, you're an angel. Thank you for being here!"

Miriam's sad face changed into a glimmering one.

" Tch, I thought you wanted to kill me? So I'm an angel now, huh."

"Hehe."

"Oh, before I forgot, take every Item that you'll think we need. The system cleans any Item Drops that haven't touch for an hour."

.....

....

...

..

.

The room healed their injuries and fatigue. However, that didn't change the fact that they stayed 6 hours to fight a monster army. Their physical and mental energies were ultimately drained.

They went outside. They walked for around ten minutes in the forest and they saw a Pond. This was the place where Awakeners washed their bodies after fighting monsters... In Kyle's past life.

" Be proud that you'll be the first people to use the Healing Pond."

" Healing Pond... As in that healing pond? This water can heal our wounds?"

Mikael had a skeptical expression when he thought about it.

"Yup, physically and mentally."

The two men entered the bath naked but Miriam used a cloth to hide her body. She was a woman after all. She had some dissatisfaction such as soloing the pond, but she didn't say it.

" Aahh, feels good. I feel like all of my problems are washed away."

The three washed their bodies, they gasped in pleasure when their bodies were half-submerged.

" Clean your armors too. You don't want them to smell, I tell you."

After finishing the things that they needed to do. They stayed in the pond because it was relaxing. 

" Kyle, I know that you are hiding something from us and I won't talk about that. I just want to know the things that we need to learn. I don't wanna die clueless. Could you share with us what we need to know?..."

Mikael braved himself to ask this question. He knew that Kyle was a bit crazy but he still wanted to ask him.

" ... No problem. You'll need to know this too. "