The next day, Dante approached Maya with a resolute expression. “Maya, are you ready? We have to clear the zombies from the bridge.”
Maya considered his request for a moment before nodding. “I’ll come with you, Dante. And I know someone who can help.”
She led Dante to an elderly man standing nearby, a bow strapped to his back. The man’s short gray hair and small stature gave him a frail appearance, but there was a sharp determination in his eyes.
Dante hesitated, eyeing the older man. “Are you sure he can handle this? It’s dangerous out there.”
Maya met Dante’s gaze with confidence. “He might not look like much, but he’s skilled with that bow. Trust me—you’ll see. He’s expecting us.”
The old man gave a short nod, then grabbed his bow and four quivers, each containing 25 arrows. The group now consisted of Dante, Maya, the old man, and young Oliver, a small but determined boy who had volunteered to keep watch during the mission.
As they set off toward the bridge, the forest surrounding them was eerily quiet. The air was thick with tension, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or distant bird calls. Frequent patrols meant the path was mostly clear, though they encountered a lone goblin and two lesser frogs along the way. Dante handled them with swift precision, his blade striking true with each blow.
Despite the short distance, Dante noticed the strain on the elderly man as they progressed. The quivers weighed heavily on him, causing his steps to falter slightly. Without a word, Dante stepped forward and took the quivers from the man, slinging them over his own shoulder.
“Thank you, young man,” the old man said gratefully, his voice steady despite his visible fatigue.
They pressed on, the forest giving way to an open expanse that led to the bridge. When they finally reached their destination, the sight that greeted them was far more daunting than Dante had anticipated.
The bridge was narrow and lined with jagged rocks on either side. Beyond it, a horde of zombies stretched as far as the eye could see. Using his Eye of Appraisal, Dante quickly scanned the incoming enemies:
zombie Lv 5
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zombie Lv 4
zombie Lv 5
zombie Lv 6
........
The horde consisted of at least four hundred zombies—a formidable threat.
Taking strategic positions, Dante handed the quivers back to the old man. He steadied his aim, focusing on a small zombie in the distance. He fired a Bone Bullet, but it veered off course, striking the shoulder of another zombie. Frustrated but determined, Dante glanced at his allies.
The old man moved with calm precision, nocking an arrow and drawing his bow. His first shot struck a zombie cleanly in the eye, causing it to stumble and fall from the bridge—a perfect one-shot kill. He continued firing with machine-like efficiency, each arrow finding its mark.
Maya, too, was a force to be reckoned with. She summoned her Water Arrow skill, unleashing a powerful projectile that pierced through four zombies before dissipating. Her focus was unshakable, and her attacks precise.
Meanwhile, Oliver stood watch behind them, ensuring no enemies approached their rear.
Watching his companions, Dante felt a surge of determination. He tightened his grip concentrated, his focus sharpening. His next Bone Bullet struck true, hitting a zombie squarely in the head. Encouraged, he continued firing, though not every shot landed where he intended.
The battle raged on, with the group steadily thinning the horde. Zombies roared in frustration, unable to reach the defenders on the bridge. After what felt like hours but was only about thirty minutes, the group managed to reduce the horde to just a few dozen. However, exhaustion was setting in.
Dante checked his status:
Current Level: 16
Mana Reserves: 13/160
Marksmanship lv 5
Their resources were nearly depleted. Maya’s mana reserves were drained, and the old man had only five arrows left. Despite the exhaustion, Dante felt a faint sense of accomplishment—he had leveled up twice during the battle, and his Marksmanship skill had improved by one level.
As they prepared to retreat, Dante noticed something on the ground on the other side of the bridge—a small red health potion. then it vanished into thin air.
“It seems items disappear if they’re not claimed within a certain time,” Dante thought, frustration flickering in his mind.