CHAPTER 10 - A Powerful and Weak Orc
I looked at my hands and started punching the air… Ugh, the strength isn't noticeable.
I try lifting a car, but I can't… I'm not that strong.
Is the increase in my strength minimal? I thought it'd at least double. Or does my strength activate with magic?
"Hmm… Can I defeat a zombie with my fists?"
"You defeated lots of Goblins with your fists, so I think so."
So I am powerful; I just need to train to get used to my strength.
Alright, after dropping her off at the shelter, Kiasan and I will train and kill zombies to earn points. We need to get stronger to avoid some fantasy creature screwing us over. P-Please, no dragons.
"Well… Time to start walking."
•
•
We've been walking for 5 hours… The road is boring… There are lots of zombies, but we've defeated them easily.
Luckily, we haven't run into any weird creatures.
Just walking and walking.
Ugh… Well, at least I can watch Mary's breasts bounce as she walks. Hehe.
"Ugh… What if the creatures were locked in a secret lab and escaped when zombies invaded it?"
"Good theory, but a secret lab would have tight security."
"Then I can't make any sense of this situation."
Next thing you know, an evil robot will pop out of the ground and kill me.
Oh, Mary and Sato are sweating a lot. It's cold, but we've been walking for a long time without rest. They must be exhausted.
Kiasan and I don't feel tired since we're zombies, but they're human; they need rest.
"Want to rest?"
"Yes, please."
"I'm hungry!"
We stopped by the roadside and pulled out the food we had.
Hmm… Eggs again…? I shouldn't complain.
"While you guys cook, I'll train."
I walked away from them and approached a car.
Alright. I, the great Zei, want to use a magical skill!
"Activate skill!"
I extended my right hand.
"Steal!"
…
…
…
"Why isn't it working?!"
Hey, magic system or whatever, let me use that skill! I earned it fair and square!
"Z-Zei…"
Kiasan approached me.
"E-Enemy."
Enemy…? Yeah, you're right; maybe it's an offensive skill that only works when I'm in danger.
"You're right, an enemy needs to attack me…"
Wait… Steal skill… A beautiful woman… Hehe.
I approached Mary.
"Mary, can you do me a favor? I need you to attack me and try to kill me with your fists so my body recognizes you as an enemy."
"Huh?! W-Why?"
"I want to use my skill, but it only works on enemies."
"I-I… I c-couldn't."
"I-I… c-could," said Kiasan.
Come on, Zei, think of something! An excuse! Mary's refusing! Come on, Zei, you can convince her!
"K-Kiasan, you're my familiar; my body won't recognize you as an enemy because familiars aren't supposed to harm their masters."
"T-That's… t-true."
She bought it?! Thank you!
"O-Okay. I'll do it."
"Don't worry, it won't hurt me."
If gunshots didn't hurt me, Mary's cute fists definitely won't.
"I'll start."
Mary began punching my body. Thanks to her strong movements, her breasts bounced a lot. Oooof. What a view.
Sato's dad was so lucky. He married a gorgeous girl… Well, not that lucky since he turned into a zombie… Did I kill him when I took out the town's zombies…? Better not say anything.
Zei, stop getting distracted. Time to get serious!
But first… Yup, I've saved Mary's bouncing breasts in my memory.
Here I go.
I stepped away from her and extended my right hand.
Please, let it work.
"Steal!"
Huh?
M-My hand started glowing.
Yes! Please, follow the cliché! Let it be her underwear! If it's her underwear, I can pretend it was an accident! I can't help it; I'm a pervert!
Come on, come on, come on!
My hand stopped glowing, and I opened it.
…What a letdown.
"Incredible! You managed to take my ring with magic!"
"G-Great, Z-Zei. Y-You d-did… w-well…"
…A freaking engagement ring?! Damn it! My luck is garbage!
Shit, I can't look disappointed!
Zei, act surprised!
"Y-Yeah! I-It w-worked! My skill works!"
I hope I get luckier next time. I'm not a creep, but I can't help being a bit of a pervert.
Besides, it's like a reward for taking her to the shelter.
"Here."
I handed the ring back to Mary.
"My magic works… Kiasan, let's go to the forest and hunt Goblins…! Oh, right, we can't leave Mary alone… When we drop her off at the shelter, we'll hunt Goblins. Don't worry, I won't let them hurt you. If there are too many, we'll run. We have the advantage of being fast and not getting tired."
"Food!!"
Huh? A man's voice?
"Did someone shout?"
S-Shit, we're at a disadvantage!
I wonder why they built the road next to a forest? Couldn't they build it farther away? With so many trees, we won't notice enemies!
"Sato, come here."
Sato started walking toward us.
They called us food, so they could be survivors wanting to steal our food or intelligent zombies wanting to eat us. There's also the chance it's some fantasy creature.
Whatever it is, we need to prepare.
"Maybe they're enemies… Girls, if they're Goblins, let me handle them. I'll leave them nearly dead so you can kill them, Kiasan, to get the [Steal] skill."
"Y-Yes."
I hear heavy footsteps… W-Wait… T-Those aren't zombie or Goblin steps… It's something bigger! Powerful, heavy steps! Something huge and heavy!
G-Goblins, Cyclopes… N-No… Please, don't let it be what I'm thinking.
"Please, God, don't let it be…"
"New food!!"
In the distance, among the trees, I could see a huge pig walking toward us… A pig man? No way!
"W-What is that?!" Mary said, full of fear.
You've got to be kidding me!
"I-I d-don't know," said Kiasan.
There's no doubt.
Pig man… Three meters tall… Fat… No way! An Orc?! Aren't they green? Arghhh! An Orc, possibly a rapist, is going to attack us!
"First Goblins, now Orcs. What's next? Elves and Fairies? Damn shitty apocalypse! God, couldn't you send a more normal apocalypse?!"
I grabbed the sword… Alright, Zei, no time to be scared; the girls are counting on you… I think its weak point is the head… Well, that's everyone's weak point.
You have the advantage; you don't feel pain, so focus on cutting off its head even if it attacks you.
I approached the Orc.
"I'll buy you time! Run!"
"Shadows!"
Shadows?
Black tentacles shot out from the Orc's hands. Magic?! That thing has magic?! That's not fair! Shitty God, you're so unfair!
The tentacles grabbed our bodies. Arghhh! Please, don't let it rape us like this! I won't let you hurt the girls!
"What is this?!" Mary shouted, disturbed.
"Mom, I'm scared!"
T-The tentacles are pulling us toward the Orc… Damn it!
"This won't end like this!!"
"Food."
"We're not food!" Sato shouted.
"Eat this, shitty pig! We're not food!"
Though I'd like to "eat" Mary, but not literally.
Time to fight! I won't let an Orc eat us!
I raised the sword… Huh?
"Zei?!"
Uwaaah! I-I got hit by a fireball! Who else attacked me?!
Huh?! My right ear exploded?! Who did that?!
…What?
No… freaking… way!
"A giant Goblin?!"
"My prey!" the Orc complained.
"Arrrg!" the Goblin growled, full of fury.
Perfect, not only will we be eaten, our corpses will be brutally raped by that giant Goblin! I curse my luck! Uwaaah!
Close call!
The giant Goblin tried hitting me with another fireball but missed. Aim better, idiot! It was a bit more to the right!
Now, for being a dumbass, you'll die! You should've aimed better! Hahahahaha! Now the great Zei will make you his bitch and kill you!
I destroyed the tentacle with my sword. Yes, on the first try! I told you, no one's a match for the great Zei! Hahahahaha!
"It's easy to destroy…!"
"No!!"
Huh? Mary screamed?
I turned around and… No… P-Please, no… I swore I'd protect them… I promised… N-No…
Please, God, let this not be happening.
"Son!"
That Goblin… wasn't aiming at me.
"Sato…"
Sato's chest… That fireball destroyed part of his chest… Blood's pooling on the ground… S-So much blood. He's… bleeding out. A little kid… is dying.
A kid… An innocent kid…
Mary's devastated… Her tears… The woman who trusted me is watching her son bleed out.
Kiasan's face is the same, but she's crying.
I-I… couldn't protect him… I couldn't protect my mom… When I thought I'd protected someone, I turned into a zombie and killed them… I have more control over my body now, but… the result's the same… I failed someone again.
I couldn't protect Sato.
Mary will lose her son because I couldn't protect him.
…The great Zei? What a joke.
I'm nobody.
But… I won't let them get away with this.
They'll regret it.
"Damn it…"
I destroyed the other tentacles.
"Damn it!!"
I don't care if you're two freaking meters tall, I'll kill you!!
I jumped at the Goblin and pierced its chest with my sword. It tried to shield itself with its arms, but my sword was stronger, slicing through its chest and arms.
This won't be enough!
I dropped the sword and ripped out its eyes with my bare hands.
"Uwaaah!!"
"Z-Zei!"
"Human… strong."
The Goblin fell dead, and I pulled my sword from its chest.
The Orc grinned and approached me.
"Fun!"
"Come closer, stupid disgusting pig!"
I tried attacking and…
Ouch…
U-Unlike the Goblin, m-my sword didn't even scratch it.
"…Huh?"
"Pathetic."
It punched me, and I went flying.
What?! That thing's on another level! Its skin is too tough!
"Z-Zei!"
"Y-You need to get out of here, Kiasan!"
I tried standing, but the Orc kicked me again.
I went flying and crashed into a tree.
"D-Damn it…"
A-Am I tired…? My body doesn't hurt, but I can tell it's badly damaged… My right leg's bones are broken, and I have several broken ribs.
Blood keeps pouring from my nose and chest… Will I die?
"You're… disappointing."
"Disappointing? What did you expect from me, idiot? Three days ago, I was a normal human. I can't change that much in so little time."
I slowly stood up.
"But… I won't give up… I have no one left in my life… But at least I'll sacrifice my life to buy some time."
I wanted to enjoy my magic longer, but I guess that's not possible. And I don't have my sword anymore; I dropped it, and I doubt I'll have time to grab it.
…Only one idea comes to mind… One last hope.
That Orc has some kind of pouch hanging from its pants… What's it called…? It's weird… A bag? I'll call it a pouch for now. It must hold something valuable… Maybe a weapon… Perhaps its weapons are powerful… One last chance.
I raised my hand, aiming at it. Please, let it work.
"I'm begging you, please work! Steal!"
My hand started glowing.
Please, something useful… I feel something in my hand.
I opened it… A small bag?
I opened it… What are these red seeds?
I took one out… It smells like strawberry. Did I just steal its food?! Arghhh! I'm beyond dead, again!
"Huh? That's mine! Don't steal my energy!"
…Energy?
Screw it, no time to think!
Do it, Zei!
I started eating all the damn seeds.
I don't know how many to eat, so I ate them all! Please, let it be magical energy, not food energy!
"Damn you!"
Wow, I feel better!
The Orc tried attacking me, but I jumped and dodged it.
"My turn!!"
I gave the Orc a huge kick to the head, and it went flying.
It crashed into a tree and destroyed it.
I feel recovered! My wounds are gone, and I feel stronger!! What were those things?!
[Skills temporarily enhanced.]
[Strength level 10.]
[Regeneration level 10.]
[Agility level 10.]
[Steal level 10.]
[Fire magic level 10.]
[5-minute duration.]
Fire magic?! Perfect!
I extended my right hand and grinned.
"Fire magic: Fireball!"
…
…
…
Ugh… Why didn't it work?! Shitty luck!
The Orc got up and charged at me.
"Die!!"
"No, you die!!"
We tried punching each other, and our fists collided. Yes, I have enough strength to fight it!
"Impossible!! You're supposed to be a weak Undead!!"
"I have a name!! I'm Zei!! And guess what?! You'll be defeated by this weak Undead!!"
Please, work.
I'll try again!!
Magic, feel my fury!!
I want it to explode!!
"Fire magic: Fireball!!"
I feel heat… My hand's creating fire… It worked! My hand's surrounded by fire!
"Explosion!!"
Wow!!
The fireball exploded in my fist, causing a huge blast that sent us both flying.
I rolled across the ground and crashed into a tree.
…My right arm exploded… I don't have an arm… Luckily, I don't feel pain, but I sure feel a ton of mental pain.
"D-Did I win…?"
…No… The Orc's approaching me… Its arm exploded, but that only made it angrier.
"You're a cheater… I'm supposed to win, not you."
"I'll eat you!!"
"Eat this. Lick the tip and then suck it."
"Shut up, food doesn't talk!!"
"Will you make me into soup or eat me fried? Want some recipe tips, bro?"
"Shut up!!"
"Just trying to help," I said, smiling.
I stood up and slowly approached it.
"Let's finish this!"
"There's an Orc and an Undead fighting here."
Huh? A woman's voice?
A girl stepped out from a tree and cut off the Orc's head with a sword… No… freaking… way… So fast?! So unfair! But thanks for saving me from being eaten. I'm supposed to be the zombie.
"I hope it has a blue rock."
Wait… T-Those ears… An Elf?!
I was saved by an Elf?!
Oh, it's a miracle. Elves are peaceful, kind creatures. She could help me recover.
"T-Thank you so much for… Uwaaah!"
The Elf jumped at me and tried to attack.
"Huh?!"
I dodged in time, and her sword hit the ground.
"What are you doing, crazy?!"
"Don't move, you son of a bitch!"
"Huh?!"
She kept trying to attack me, and I kept dodging. Damn crazy, why do you want to kill me?! Weren't you my savior?! Don't get my hopes up like that, idiot, you've broken my heart!
"Stop moving!"
"And you stop attacking me, flat Elf!"
"Who're you calling flat, idiot?!"
"The only flat one I see, flat!"
"That's enough, Celes."
Another voice?
The Elf stopped… The image I had of Elves is ruined! They're rude and crazy! Why did she attack me?! I was the victim!
"Z-Zei!"
"Kiasan?!"
Kiasan approached me. Why didn't she escape?!
"Why didn't you leave?!"
"W-Woman… b-big… h-help us," she said, pointing at someone next to me.
"Big woman…?"
I turned to my right and looked up… A-A huge woman is standing next to me.
"Why can you talk, Undead?"
…Will she get mad if I ask her to sit on my face?
(Author's note: If you're tired of waiting for new chapters, read "I'm an inferior being with the ability to seduce women" to make the wait feel shorter uwu)