Plundering in the Apocalypse

*Slash*

<strong>[You have leveled up]</strong>

"Fueh."

"Great I leveled up. But I am tired. I never thought we were going to face so many monsters." James said as he wiped the sweat trickling down his forehead.

"Great work!! James," Jenny said with a smile. "We leveled up nicely. It was worth the trouble."

​ After separating from Shin and Alice. The Felbert couple went on their own trying to fight monsters. James used his golem master ability very proficiently. He summoned his golem, which assisted him in fighting. Even though the golem was weak. It was a great experience for James. Slowly but surely he was able to use the golem to his advantage in the battle.

James would shoot out stones and the golem will be the vanguard to kill the enemies.

Alas, the golem was too weak and needed his assistance.

Jenny on the other hand was also improving. She didn't have any offensive skills and her ability is related to creating barriers. Which she wasn't sure how it would be helpful. She was worried thinking that she might not be able to level up properly and hold back James.

In the worst-case scenario instead of support, she would be a burden to him. Which she didn't want to consider in her wildest dreams. But contrary to her expectations her worst fears never came true.

Instead, she was leveling up. Albeit slow but not enough to hold him back. Rather she felt her proficiency in her ability was improving fast and she could tell the change.

This was a surprise to her. Don't they need to kill monsters to level up? She was only defending but her level was increasing.

Why was that happening?

Only after some time did she understand. There are other ways to level up too. That is to say. Non-offensive abilities users can grow too.

But she still couldn't figure out how leveling works. She had a feeling if she keeps on using her ability and getting combat experience. She would grow and get stronger.

So the only thing she needs to do is what she has been doing.

Jenny was able to create barriers in different forms. Like a transparent shield or like a sphere covering her from all sides. Even though that was weaker.

The more she focused and concentrated on the shield the stronger it gets. She was fending any monsters coming to James and later James kills the target with his golem and shoot stones. Which had become sharper.

"Great work guys." Alfred's voice sounded from behind. He was walking towards them with Reina while avoiding the monster's corpses.

Both Alfred and Reina were keeping an eye on the Felbret duo to keep them out of trouble. But it seems they handled themselves better than they thought.

Alfred and Reina were surprised by the Felbert duo. Their growth was good and they were adapting to the situation very well. Even though they couldn't be compared to Shin and Alice. They were still quite good.

It was not they were weak it was those two guys that were abnormal.

All this time they only needed to help once. Which was a good improvement.

That was to an extent that Alfred and Reina had assumed. Their knowledge of information regarding awakened and weird phenomena was limited to Shin and their family line. The information they got from the family's private line was very useful. Even though they didn't have many rights or advantages from the family now that they can no longer be considered a part of it. They were still able to get some information.

The information regarding awakened or the situation. How are the governments going to take action? Some big influential people and the powerhouses that are making moves and planning something big.

All of this will be troublesome. But they don't have to involve their family in it. So they just need to keep growing stronger and away from these matters.

Alfred was sure even though certain martial arts families and hidden clans are stronger now and a force to be reckoned with. It will not be the same in the future.

The rate at which awakened are growing is abnormal so if they want to defend against them or match them. They will need to change as well.

They can't completely rely on life energy now.

'Maybe if we can tap on Mana which awakeneds use. We can get stronger. But it's not easy. Will that two energy coexist with each other or repel? Haah... It's a headache. Let's think about that later.'

Alfred pinched his brows as he thought that.

"Anyway. Now that we cleared most of the areas should we go search for Shin and Alice?" Alfred voiced out his thoughts.

"Yeah, let's do that. We leveled up a lot." James replied as he walked toward Alfred.

"How much did you guys level up?" Reina asked as Jenny walked toward her.

"I reached level 7 and James is 9. Right James?" Jenny said.

"Yeah. But I think I'll soon level up." James replied with a smug look.

"Haha, great going guys. I don't understand the difference but it must be good." Alfred said with a laugh. As he said he can't find out the difference in power with their levels and there is no way they can compare them with Shin or Alice.

'What? What does he mean? Why would he not understand?'

Both James and Jenny were confused. From what they saw earlier Alfred and Reina were strong. He'll, they shouldn't even be compared with them. They are like war veterans. It was only once they needed help when the number of monsters was too much for them. But it was enough to show their strength.

Alfred and Reina dealt with those monsters like they were killing bugs. They just kept those monsters at bay so James and Jenny could kill as many as possible. But what James found strange was they were not in hurry to level up. Why? Shin and Alice are also out hunting so why are they here helping them?

But he didn't voice out his thoughts thinking there must be a reason or they are just helping them to grow a little.

But hearing Alfred's words just now something feels like a miss. The way he said it feels like they aren't awakened. If they are not then what are they? There's no way normal humans have that kind of power.

Jenny couldn't hold it in anymore. She decided to ask Reina.

"Mrs. Reina. I don't understand. Are you guys awakened or not? The way you said it feels like you aren't awakened but you guys are so strong. Of course, you should be awakened." Jenny asked with confusion written on her face.

"Ahh, Right. We didn't mention it. We aren't awakened." Reina replied and her reaction was like she just remembered.

"What?" Both James and Jenny were shocked.

'How could she forget?'

'No that's not important.'

'They aren't awakened. What the hell does she mean? Are they telling us that they are that strong without getting awakened? That's not possible for a human.'

'Don't tell me they are not humans.'

Thinking this James and Jenny had weird looks on their faces.

Seeing their looks Alfred felt there was some misunderstanding here. It was better to correct it as soon as possible before this escalate anymore.

"Wait don't misunderstand. Although we are not awakened we are normal people." Alfred said calmly.

James and Jenny had questioning looks. They didn't believe it. What normal? How is it normal that you aren't awakened but can kill monsters with a flick of fingers? Those dangerous punches and fighting moves aren't normal.

Their expressions were turning ugly by the second.

Reina felt a headache coming.

"Alright listen to me." Reina started telling them about themselves. Being martial artists some things about hidden powerful families and clans but nothing more. Only a summary. She didn't want to expose much.

Although she knew it will be revealed soon. But that's not her problem and why should she explain everything? When they will come to know about that soon anyway.

Listening to Reina's explanation James and Jenny were shocked.

Their expressions were funny. Reina chuckled seeing that.

"Damn. I never thought there were things like this in our world. It's like a fantasy story." James said with astonishment.

"Well, the world is already turning crazy enough," Jenny said with a grim expression. Her experience from the last day till this morning is still etched into her mind.

Hearing her words everyone had grave expressions on their faces.

All this time they couldn't find any survivors. But dead bodies were everywhere. They already saw more than a thousand dead bodies in this amusement park. Who knows how many of them are already eaten by monsters?

They still didn't know if the portals might appear again. If it does will something more terrifying come out?

"Let's stop thinking about such things and get some rest," Alfred said trying to calm everyone.

But soon Alfred and Reina felt something. Their senses explained it all. It was time. They can't rest now. The main bosses were already moving.

*Swoosh*

"Honey!" Reina said grimly.

"Yeah, they started moving. We need to hurry." Alfred said in a solemn voice.

Although they didn't understand they could tell it was something serious. James and Jenny just nodded and complied with grim faces.