“So, what exactly is that... creature?” Lucas inquired, his hand gesturing towards the arm-length caterpillar nestled on Lucy's arm.

A warm smile graced Lucy's lips as she responded, “Isn't it quite impressive?”

His confusion deepening, Lucas cast a baffled gaze up and down the strange entity. “Could you explain why the same girl who was screaming at zombies just a few weeks ago is now doting on an arm-length caterpillar-like it's a pet dog?”

Lucy's eyes shifted briefly, presumably considering his question. “Do you remember that black building you mentioned?”

Puzzled by her change in topic, Lucas replied cautiously, “Yes, I do. Why?”

A realization dawned on him as Lucy nodded affirmatively. “You're telling me... you actually bought that thing?”

Lucy's nod of confirmation caused Lucas to bury his face in his hand. “And what, pray tell, is this 'thing'?”

With a touch of excitement in her voice, Lucy explained, “It's one of the subclasses available for purchase at a reasonable price. It's called Insect Nurturer.”

His disbelief was palpable as he continued to stare at the vibrant green creature she held so affectionately. “Let me get this straight. This... subclass just manifested on your arm? No need to visit the white building for a class change?”

Lucy's response only seemed to add to the absurdity of the situation. “Yes, it simply appeared out of nowhere, so I decided to keep it. But trust me, this subclass is no joke. The insect I nurture will supposedly become powerful one day. Pretty cool, right?”

“Somewhat... I suppose,” Lucas mumbled; his skepticism was evident. “But Lucy, if I may remind you, we have only three available subclass slots. Could you kindly explain why an ice wizard would have an arm-length green caterpillar?”

Lucy chuckled playfully, defending her choice. “Come on, Lucas, isn't it cute? Adorable even. All those legs!”

Shaking his head with an amused smile, Lucas shifted his focus to their current circumstances. “I've just finished dealing with matters downstairs. By the way, did you happen to come across a bunch of rats?”

At his query, Lucy glanced up, setting the arm-length creature beside her. “I spotted a few deceased humans. There were quite a number on the rooftop; they were stacked up.”

Lucas contemplated the information, connecting the appearance of the black building with high death rates. “It seems that the black building emerges in areas with significant casualties.”

Lucy then handed him the necessities he needed to clean himself. “Use these to freshen up, and can you please stow away that... thing?”

Lucas observed as Lucy nodded, causing the caterpillar to vanish with a simple swipe of her finger. ‘Referring to it as a caterpillar feels like an insult to all caterpillars,’ he thought wryly as he moved to cleanse himself of the lingering scent of rat blood.

Completing their tasks, Lucas shattered one of the windows and, alongside Lucy, employed their skills to descend from the window. The sensation of a clear sky overhead was a relief after what felt like an eternity. The idea of revisiting the black building didn't intrigue Lucas much; he was content as long as nothing particularly noteworthy occurred. Besides, he had already inquired with Lucy about her discovery, learning that there was likely no achievement left to uncover there. The discovery marker might already be maxed out.

“Are you positive there's no one left alive in that hotel?” Lucas questioned.

Lucy responded with a nod. “Yes, I believe so. Most of the bodies I found were adults. It's strange, though; I couldn't locate any children.”

Lucas attempted to lighten the mood with a chuckle. “Well, it's a hotel. Not having kids around is pretty normal, right?”

Seeing her understanding smile, Lucas breathed a sigh of relief. “In any case, what's our next destination?”

Lucy pondered for a moment before suggesting, “How about heading to the river? We've grown quite powerful around here. Fishing could be a good idea.”

Lucas raised an eyebrow, his memory serving him. “Didn't you mention that you left the lake area because of the mutated fish, Lucas?”

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Offering reassurance, Lucas stated, “Don't worry. I believe we're strong enough now. Of course, we're still on the lookout for the person who attacked me. My wound is still bothering me. I might need to invest more in vitality to avoid going down too quickly.”

Armed and ready, Lucas and Lucy took down any zombies they encountered during their walk. Although a few formidable zombies crossed their path, they managed to handle them.

Sometime later, they encountered a substantial horde of zombies numbering around a hundred or so, marching together. The duo halted in their tracks, choosing to hide on the second floor of a nearby building to observe the zombie parade. Curiously, it seemed the zombies were moving in the same direction they had intended – toward the river area.

“Damn it, why are they headed there?” Lucas cursed in frustration.

Contemplating the situation, Lucas turned to Lucy. “Let's follow them. They're likely trailing after some other lead. Remember, last time they were after a skill orb. With such a large group this time, I'm curious about what they might sense.”

Lucy expressed concern. “Are you out of your mind? We could get killed.”

Rolling his eyes, Lucas retorted, “Say that when you regret choosing that subclass. Besides, what's your caterpillar going to do now? Perform photosynthesis?”

“Lucas, let's be realistic,” Lucy retorted, “but fine, let's follow them. If I end up as a zombie, you're to blame.”

With a mischievous grin, Lucas replied, “Sure, blame me.” As they cautiously exited the building, they embarked on the journey of tracking the zombies, Lucy walking from behind while Lucas took to the skies using his skill, trailing their path from above. Staying unnoticed wasn't much of a challenge as they proceeded to tail the zombie horde.

***

“The wood here is still warm... The survivors must have fled in haste,” Lucy remarked, drawing a disapproving click of Lucas's tongue. He cast his gaze around their current lodging – the remnants of what were once expensive wooden furnishings, now reduced to charred remnants, consumed by flames. The scene held a certain comical irony.

“If they were regular folks, they're probably gone by now,” he replied wryly.

Lucy's words triggered a recollection. “Speaking of which, you never had a chance to check your house near the mall, did you?”

Her words caught Lucy off guard, eliciting a momentary pause. “Yes... I do want to visit, but with everything that's happened and where we are now...”

Night had fallen, compelling them to seek refuge within this establishment. Survival dictated sleep, after all.

“If we're still breathing when the time comes, we'll visit your house. And I'll show you mine,” Lucas offered, noticing Lucy's demeanor softening at his words. He mused to himself; I'm getting better at consoling her.

“Be ready for disappointment, though. I don't exactly live in the heart of the city. It's pretty modest,” he added, bringing a teapot into his hands with a chuckle.

“It's odd to think about it, but it's oddly comforting in these times. This house seems to be stocked with teabags. Maybe the owner was a tea enthusiast,” Lucas said, mulling over the rare warmth in the air generated by the crackling firewood. February's chill still lingered, but with the transition to summer looming, the monsoon season's harsh conditions would give way to new challenges.

In the midst of his contemplations, Lucy interjected. “It's kind of amusing, isn't it? We're using their furniture to heat up the teapot.”

He laughed heartily, recognizing the bittersweet truth in her words. Sometimes, you just need to distract yourself from the pain.

He didn't despise this atmosphere, not entirely. “Well, it's getting late. We should turn in.”

This house, an anomaly in its own right, possessed separate rooms with individual bathrooms. Lucas understood why other survivors had chosen this refuge before the horde of zombies swept through the area.

As he entered his assigned room, he lowered his head onto the bed. Tonight, his entire body ached – a consequence of his frequent levitation.

“I wonder where survivors are congregating... even the military if they're still around,” Lucas muttered to himself, withdrawing a bottle of soymilk. Taking a sip, he gazed out the window.

“Dark outside, just as expected,” he noted. Without the city's light pollution, the once-elusive stars now adorned the night sky with a newfound clarity. They shone brightly, accompanied by the moon's exquisite presence.

Resting his head against the window frame, Lucas retrieved his phone and snapped a picture. I wish my parents could see this sky, he thought. Amid the chaos of the apocalypse, nature seemed to reclaim what was once lost – a reclamation that might align with the system owner's intentions. Or perhaps their cryptic ‘Phase 1!’

He pondered the commencement of ‘Phase 2!’ In a city that once teemed with millions, now only lifeless bodies remained, their pungent decay permeating the air. Even the zombies seemed to disregard these stagnant forms.

His musings turned personal. “If my parents were here, they might have sacrificed themselves for me already. Growing up as an orphan toughened me up, I might have become meek and fragile otherwise.”

It's almost ironic that I'm relieved they passed away before this chaos. I must be losing my mind, he acknowledged.

Placing the empty soymilk bottle on the bedside, Lucas nestled his head into the pillow and closed his eyes. Sleep came over him like a gentle tide. He couldn't distinguish between falling asleep and slipping into dreams – all he knew was that the night in his dreams felt serene.

“Mom...” he whispered in that peaceful realm.