It arrives in front of Drake. This zombie has an apparent agility-based mutation. With its long limbs and slender body, one can tell that this zombie was fast.

Drake knew that he was doomed. He just had no way of surviving this zombie. With its simple scratch, together with its superior agility, even if he somewhat escapes here, he can't guarantee he can get out unscathed.

But just as the zombie was about to reach out its hand towards Drake, the little dragon's who had long since felt Drake's panicky emotions since the mutated zombie appeared, rushed in front of Drake, blocking the zombies attack.

Due to the sudden appearance of the mutated zombie, Drake forgets that he has a mighty dragon as a companion!

What is a dragon? It is a fucking mythical creature! Even if it is a mutated zombie with a level of 100, until it is still at common rank, forget about killing it. Unless it's a master rank or above, the little one's scales would hardly take any damage.

With more than 50 stat on strength, the little dragon didn't even budge an inch. On the other hand, the mutated zombie's hand got dislocated with its fingers broken.

But superficial wounds would hardly be fatal for zombies with unfeeling bodies.

The mutated zombie was about to attempt another attack. But the dragon roared at the mutated zombie and spun its little body, hitting the mutated zombie with its tail and pushing it away from Drake.

The little dragon didn't wait for the mutated zombie to react. While still getting propelled backward, the little dragon follows up with a swipe of its claw.

Somehow, the little dragon feels that letting the Baddie near Drake would be dangerous.

The zombie's mutation was agility based. With its speed, it can still follow the little dragon's attacks. But with its awkward footing, it can't do much.

The little dragon's seemingly cute little claws were envelopes with an intangible deadly space force that could slice off through voids. Its claws easily cut through the zombie's body like a hot knife through the butter, unobstructed.

The fearsome mutated zombie was left with its body full of laceration.

But surprisingly, the little dragon didn't finish it off.

Drake, who was in the defensive stance throughout the battle between the little dragon and the mutated zombie was confused as to why it didn't finish off the incapacitated mutated zombie on the ground.

The dragon who was in question, roared intimately at Drake while it hovered in a circle above his head.

Drake wasn't sure about the little dragon's intention as its thoughts were vague. After all, if Drake was sorely lacking in something, it was his social life and skill. Moreover, he was still new to this experience in using their spiritual connection.

With Drake still rooted on his previous spot, unmoving. The little dragon knew that Drake didn't get what it was trying to say. Thinking for a few seconds, it swoops down to the ground and lands bedside the immobile mutated zombie.

The little dragon looks at Drake and intimately roars as it nudges the mutated zombie's body with its snout towards Drake. Showing that it wanted to offer its prey to him.

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Seeing the action displayed by this cute little dragon, Drake was stunned speechless. For a moment, he didn't know what to think.

He finally knows what the little dragon's intention is. It wanted to offer him its defeated prey.

Drake only has his sister to give him gifts occasionally through the years. He was foreign to this feeling of receiving something from somebody other than his sister.

For a moment, he wanted to doubt it. But seeing its happy and innocent expression, Drake couldn't just bring himself to think badly of this pleasant little dragon. After all, it wasn't like any despicable human being. There was no need to think so deeply about its intentions.

Drake decides to take the little dragon's offer. He approaches the mutated zombie's body, warily eying for its possible sneak attack despite lying unmoving on the ground. Carelessness breeds unexpected troubles.

In this chaotic era, adopting extra cautiousness for everything was the only way to enjoy the long years ahead of him. After all, he ain't the undying protagonist.

Surviving today was a wake up call for him. If it isn't for the little dragon, he can only kiss goodbye to his dear life.

What if there's no little dragon with him next time? He doesn't have any more trump cards! He doesn't have a protagonist halo either that would give him unlimited plot armor whenever he's in danger.

Drake stopped one meter away from the mutated zombie on the ground. Even after he stared at it for more than one minute, it only made barely discernible low groans and nothing more.

He decided that it was now time to finish it. He walks slowly while raising his butcher knife, ready to decapitate its head.

But just as he was about to hack it with his butcher knife, it tilted its head and looked at him baring its teeth.

Drake's heart skipped a beat as he kicked its head reflexively due to fright.

The mutated zombie was squarely kicked at the head, making it spin and roll a few times before lying flat on its face, exposing its back.

With its face finally hidden from Drake's sight, he didn't hesitate anymore as he decisively chopped its head repeatedly. Severing its neck from its shoulder and ending it with another powerful kick on its severed head.

Drake sent it flying to the distance like a FIFA player would do to a soccer ball.

[Ding! You've slain a level 10 mutated zombie sprinter, you gained 1000 exp.]

[You have level up.]

[Congratulations! You are the first person to kill a mutated zombie on planet Earth. You will be rewarded with 1 skill up orb. Please open your status window to retrieve it.]

"What the…"

Drake's attention was attracted to the system notification flashing on his eyes.

'The first to kill a mutated zombie grant's reward? Is there such a thing? If I remember correctly, this information was not shown in the novel!' This was rather entirely new information that did not come from the novel!'

Drake's mouth agape at this sudden windfall.

What is a skill-up orb? It is simple as its name suggests. It can level up any skill in an entire realm. Moreover, it was a rankless one. It means it can rank up any skill at any rank.

Its rarity was likely just below the dragon egg. And chances are that the little dragon decided to finish the mutated zombie itself. He likely wouldn't get this reward and someone might claim the rewards without him ever knowing.

These skill-up orbs were such rare items enough for people to cause bloodshed. After all, how hard is it for one to raise their skill tiers? Unless you are a genius and gifted, a year would be the fastest for lower-rank skills category.

The skills ranking system goes by:

Star (six major realms)

Master (three minor realms)

Lord(three minor realms)

King(three minor realms)

Emperor (three minor realms)

Legend (three minor realms)

Saint (three minor realms)

Pseudo-Devine…

Devine…

Law…

…

And so on…

This system was also used to categorize the tier of species. With a slight difference in the lowest tier.

Below master rank, it was called common rank instead of star rank being.

Drake doesn't know much regarding this subject as there wasn't enough explanation behind it.

It might be because the system doesn't rank the species below master and it was also the most common rank in the universe.

…

Getting past his excitement, Drake didn't care about all of that, he was rather eager to know if this mutated zombie would drop something.

And violà! It really did drop something!

Tiny particles of lights illuminate the dimmed surrounding as it converges on the chest of the mutated zombie's body. It formed an orb and fell to the ground.

Drake hurriedly picked it up from the ground. It felt completely weightless as if he was holding a feather.

He focused his mind on the orb he was holding and soon, a window appeared in his mind.

[Accel (1 start) : A skill that would boost a maximum of 30% of your agility stat.]

Seeing the skill description, Drake was slightly disappointed.

Compared to the previous rewards he got, this skill was somewhat lacking.

Drake shook his head and sighed.

This skill wasn't that bad. It was a percentage-boosting skill, not a fixed stat.

It's just that, after getting spoiled by the two previous godly rewards, Drake's standard almost shot through the roof.

With another sigh, Drake looked at the little dragon hovering in the air as their eyes met.

Drake has a lot of something to say but holds it in the end.

For the first time since losing his parents, Drake flashes his brightest smile towards the little dragon. He reached out his hands and caught it mid-air for a hug while making a silent oath that someday, he would repay this debt in kind and make this little one the happiest dragon.

___________________________________

A/N: I wanted to reveal something. The little dragon was a girl all this time. Drake decided to name it in the spur of the moment. Hence giving it a rather weird boyish name.

I would soon change and rename it into a more girly one.

For my dear readers who made it this far, your famished author decided to pick the most cool looking name that readers would suggest in the comments section below. So yeah, hope you join in the fun! Until next time! :))