After a belly full of food with awkwardness still lingering in the air. Ron's shifted demeanor. He straightened his shoulders, a confident smile playing on his lips as he looked at Imani. His voice took on a casual, cool tone as he began to recount his harrowing tale. From coming close to dying from the zombies to being rescued by a Hero, leading him to meet up with a band of Heroes that was set to defeat the perpetrator of this crisis.

Ron was glad retelling his adventure. Imani's previously downcast expression transformed into one of hope, and her eyes sparkled with renewed optimism. He could see the weight of her depression lifting as nothing was better than even a tiny bit of hope. Ron just hoped the Heroes could do the job. Yet remembering the determined face of Hector swept a bit of his uncertainty.

“But can we really trust them though?” Imani asked. She had seen the darker side of heroes, the abuse of power, and the collateral damage caused by their actions. Her experience had made her cautious, and she couldn't help but question Ron's trust in the group.

“Trust or not, at the moment they’re our best bet to keep being alive,” Ron said.

“Then what about you?” Imani asked.

“Eh? What do you mean?”

“You said you’re not a Hero,” Imani said, giving Ron a quick scan from top to bottom who was still dressed in medieval armor. There were a few dents on it after she sprayed bullets at him out of panic. “But how did you…” Imani didn’t know how to put her words together after seeing Ron transformed in a blink of an eye, adorning a medieval armor like a Power Ranger transforming.

In silence, Ron's mind raced as he searched for the right words to explain the truth. He knew that revealing the reality of his abilities, which had been transferred or "harmonized" with him from the Elder Dragon Fantasy game, would sound utterly unbelievable. He needed to find a way to convey the truth without sounding like he had lost his sanity.

"I awakened," Ron said slowly, his voice tinged with a hint of a smile. He watched Imani's expression closely, hoping she would understand.

Imani furrowed her brow, clearly puzzled. "Awakened? Do you mean the Hero Awakening?" she asked.

Ron nodded.

“But that’s not possible,” Imani shook her head. Despite fearing these Heroes, she knew most about them especially how they came to this world. “You need to survive the Hero Awakening process but in the current state of the city, it’s not possible for you to go through the test, so…” then something clicked in her. Her eyes went wide, staring at Ron.

“It can’t be,” Imani said. She covered her agape mouth. “Did you awaken on your own? Like the First Heroes did?”

Ron nodded. It was the best cover-up story for him who gained his newfound strength through a different way. The silence hung for a while as Imani kept her stare at Ron for a long time. A new birth of a First Hero was unheard of as throughout the rest of the years no one could gain power like the First Heroes unless they went through the Hero Awakening process which was founded by one of the First Heroes who had a knack for research.

“So your unique ability is turning into a medieval knight?” Imani asked. She heard each hero had their own unique ability which could overlap with most while some had the rarest that was only known to certain individuals.

“I guess so,” Ron said, playing along. It would not be wise if he told her everything. He rose to his feet. His gaze landed on the punctured steel shield he used to block the rifle. He then turned his glance at his body armor, dented by the bullets. Ron felt relief but at the same time knew it was a close call.

The armor on him shifted and the dents were gone. He had exchanged it with a new set of armor he stashed in his inventory for backup. In a way, he was glad Horace brought him to the armory since he squandered quite a lot of the equipment there. He then turned and faced the door.

“What are you doing?” Imani asked, her heart pounding as she watched Ron make his way toward the door.

“I think it’s time to deal with the noise complain,” Ron said. A hint of a smile played on his lips, though his eyes held a steely resolve. "You stay in the bathroom. Lock the door and don't come out until I say so. And this time, please don’t hesitate."

Ron moved towards the door. He gripped the handle firmly, steeling himself for what lay outside. He could hear the scratching and pounding of the zombies, their presence almost palpable on the other side of the door. Ron pulled the door open, and a zombie lunged at him, its pale dead face twisted into a grotesque snarl. Ron's reflexes kicked in, and he moved with lightning speed, drawing a dagger from his inventory, appearing out of thin air, and driving it into the temple of the zombie's head.

The dagger sunk in with a sickening squelch, and the zombie crumpled to the ground, motionless. Yet that was not the end. The moment his eyes landed on the door, more zombies were pouring in, like ants swarming towards him, their decaying limbs reaching out in hunger.

The zombies closed in on Ron, their snarls and growls echoing in his ears. Despite the overwhelming numbers, Ron remained calm and focused, his eyes scanning the horde with calculated precision. He could see the zombies lurching forward, their movements jerky and uncoordinated, like rabid wild dogs. In his eyes, they seemed slower, and he felt a surge of confidence surging through him.

With a sudden burst of speed, Ron dodged a zombie lunging at him, his reflexes honed to perfection. He moved with fluidity, his body reacting instinctively to every threat. He spun, ducked, and weaved through the swarm of undead, his movements almost dance-like in their gracefulness.

In time, he grew accustomed to his heightened agility and now it was time to strike. He darted in and out of the zombie's reach, delivering quick, precise strikes with his makeshift weapons. His movements were a blur, his muscles working in perfect harmony as he dispatched the undead with ruthless efficiency.

His speed was undeniable. He even had an inkling that he could go toe to toe with the hobgoblin with these new numbers in his stats.

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As more of these undeads coming in, Ron danced through the chaos with a lethal grace, a whirlwind of motion amidst the sea of zombies. With each dodge, each strike, Ron felt more in control, his confidence soaring. At this point on word, he knew he finally gained the strength that he had always yearned and under that steel helmet hiding most of his face, the man was smiling.

As the last of the zombies fell to the ground, Ron stood amidst the carnage, his breathing stable, his senses still heightened. Piles of immobile corpses scattered around him with no more sign of them. Ron wiped his dagger on the zombie's tattered clothing and scanned the whole room. In this state, he doubted he could hunker down here.

His armor vanished into his inventory, changing into his previous outfit. Ron gave a knock on the bathroom’s door and a head peeked in between.

“Is it safe?” Imani asked.

“It is, but I think we need to change place,” Ron said.

As she stepped out of the bathroom, her eyes widened in horror at the sight that greeted her. The once neatly clean bedroom was now a scene of carnage, with bloodstains splattered across the walls, carpet, and floor. Not to mention the scattered body parts of zombies all across the room. The acrid stench of death filled the air, making her gag.

Her face contorted into a frown, her brows furrowing as she tried to hold back the bile rising in her throat. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand, desperately trying to keep down the MRE dinner she had eaten earlier. The taste of bile and stomach acid threatened to overwhelm her senses as she surveyed the gruesome scene.

Without a word, Ron took Imani's hand and led her towards the rooftop, their gazes fixed on the neighboring building. The gap between the two rooftops seemed close, but it felt like an insurmountable distance, considering the deadly fall that awaited anyone who slipped.

Imani's hesitation was palpable as she looked down, her heart pounding in her chest. She doubted if she could make the jump, her fear gripping her tightly. Before she could voice her concerns, Ron swept her off her feet, cradling her in his arms like a protective shield.

Imani was about to protest, but before she knew it, Ron had broken into a run, his steps confident and determined. With a burst of speed, he leaped into the air, carrying Imani with him. The world seemed to blur around her as she clung tightly to Ron, her breath caught in her throat.

Time seemed to slow down for a moment as they hung in mid-air, the distance between the two rooftops seeming infinite. Imani's heart was in her mouth, her grip on Ron's arms white-knuckled. She didn't have time to scream or protest, the adrenaline rushing through her veins.

Then, with a sudden jolt, they landed back on the safety of the rooftop. Imani's feet touched solid ground again, and she let out a relieved gasp, her body trembling with adrenaline. Ron's grip on her loosened, and she looked up at him, her eyes stared at him in awe as well as a hint of annoyance.

"Stay up here for a while," Ron said. "I'll secure the whole building first."

Ron descended the stairs, his steps muffled by his own cautiousness. In one hand, he clutched a new dagger, its sharp edge glinting in the dim light filtering through the windows. The interior of the building was shrouded in darkness, with only faint rays of moonlight piercing through the windows, casting eerie shadows that danced on the walls. He moved with a grace born of experience, his footsteps silent as he weaved through the shadows, his eyes sharp and vigilant. Ron swiftly dispatched them with swift and precise strikes of his dagger. In time, the whole building was cleansed.

Ron barricaded the front and back door, piling the dead zombie in the back alley behind the building. He emerged on the rooftop. His eyes landed on Imani, inviting her inside as she found herself a room of her own. As she was getting used to her new room, Ron was on the rooftop, gazing at the blue window floating in front of him.

‘The title is disabled?’ Ron thought. He had noticed it the first time he opened his status window on Earth and after settling down, he investigated and found this.

[(Disabled)Title: Curse of the Envious Serpent; Decrease mana accumulation and absorption rate by 90%]

With this title disabled, perhaps he could finally put that skill to good use.

[Greylock Breathing Formula][Dormant]

[Rank][Rare]

[Level][1]

[Description][A breathing technique founded by the first Lord of Greylock. It allows for a very stable and slow accumulation of mana through proper exertion of motion. At a later stage, may imbue an earth-element mana within the user.]

[Effects][1. Activate the body’s mana circulatory system to accumulate and utilize mana.]

[2. Passively increases STR, AGI, VIT, and can permanently improve them further through training. Actively further increases STR and AGI at the cost of mana, and upon reaching level 5, mana imbued attack can be used when active.]

He calmed his mind, dwelling further into this breathing formula. The steps needed to accomplish this formula emerged in his mind from the first step down to the last. It was a simple seven-step exercise that flowed perfectly from one step to another with a particular breathing rate tied with each step.

Yet as he opened his eyes, he was greeted with a breathtaking sight. Holographic images shimmered all around him, casting an otherworldly glow under the moonlight. His initial instinct was to be wary, to suspect that some new threat was upon him. But as he watched the holographic images with a sense of awe, his worries faded into fascination.

The holograms mirrored the movements of each step in the breathing formula from the manual he had been studying. Ron was stunned, unable to believe what he was seeing. It was as if the ancient teachings had come to life before his very eyes, a spectral dance of forms and techniques unfolding in front of him.

Ron couldn't help but be surprised by the unexpected function of the system. He had never seen anything like it before and felt a surge of wonder and curiosity coursing through him, overriding any sense of fear or doubt.

He stepped forward cautiously, reaching out a hand to touch one of the holograms. To his amazement, his fingers passed through the projection, confirming that they were indeed holographic images. But then something changed. The blue holographic images turned to red before vanishing, replaced by a new notification window.

[You have failed]

[No experience point for ‘Greylock Breathing Formula’ obtained]

[Required experience point needed to escape the ‘Dormant’ state; (0/10)]

[Required experience point needed to advance to the next level; (0/100)]

Ron understood. It dawned on him that they were not just random projections, but rather a part of a larger system. It was as if the skill had unlocked a hidden game within, and the holograms were guiding him towards acquiring experience points for further increment in mastering it.

A grin spread across Ron's face as he realized the implications. This was no ordinary technique practice, but a unique and interactive experience that would propel him forward on his journey. The hologram was like a virtual instructor, guiding him through the steps and rewarding him with experience points for each successful move.

With a newfound understanding, Ron's excitement grew exponentially. He had always had a soft spot for mini-games inside a game, and now he found himself in the midst of one. He felt a surge of determination to excel, to master the technique, and to earn as many experience points as possible.

He focused his attention on the holograms, studying their movements with a keen eye. Ron dove himself in this mini-game, falling into a trance. He failed a few more times, before getting it right, progressing slowly step by step until he finally completed all the steps without a single failure.

[You have succeeded]

[Required experience point needed to escape the ‘Dormant’ state; (1/10)]