Free Web NovelChapter 97: Chapter 97: Tossing a Copper Coin, Metaphysics Guides the Way
What was in the B2 parking garage?
When Zachary Pierce followed Faye Yardley in, he couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary. At most, the cars here were in slightly better condition, and there were even fewer zombies. They had run across more than half of the level before encountering a single one.
Faye Yardley was running on intuition. She didn’t know what she was looking for, but she was certain something was there.
She hadn’t felt much from a distance, but now that she was here, the feeling was very strong. ’But what on earth is it?’
’Where is it?’
The sudden sound of so many footsteps from the floor above made Faye Yardley’s heart race with urgency. ’The zombies are coming so fast!’
Taking a copper coin from her system account, Faye Yardley took a deep breath and murmured to herself, "Don’t rush, don’t rush. My coin will tell me where it is."
With that, she closed her eyes and casually tossed the copper coin into the air.
The copper coin landed and rolled across the ground. Faye Yardley chased after it until it hit an obstacle, spun a few times, and came to a halt.
It had stopped by a car that looked unremarkable at a glance, but on closer inspection, its materials were clearly superior to the surrounding SUVs.
’It really didn’t stand out at all in a row of SUVs.’
Faye Yardley tried the driver’s side door, and it opened easily. "Mr. Pierce, quick! Come help me search this car."
By this time, Finn Ford and the other two had reached the entrance to the second level, just as the zombie attack began. BOOM! A large fireball exploded at the entrance.
Faye Yardley quickly rummaged through the front of the car, while Zachary Pierce searched the back seats and the trunk area.
"Yardley, come quick! There’s a locked metal box here."
"Can you put it directly into your backpack?" Faye Yardley glanced back at him before continuing to rummage through the passenger seat area.
"I tried. I can’t. The box won’t open, either. I’m afraid I’ll destroy what’s inside if I try to split it open with my sword."
Finding a briefcase in the passenger seat, Faye Yardley successfully stored it in her backpack, along with two glass information spheres.
She then climbed into the back, and Zachary Pierce said, "You search here. I’m going to help Ford and the others."
Faye Yardley murmured her agreement. This was no time for pleasantries.
She also handed him the only bomb she had.
"Be careful with it. We’re still a ways from the entrance, so if things get bad, just blow it up."
"Right."
Faye Yardley ran her hand over the silver-gray metal box. It was locked, as expected, and with a built-in lock, not a padlock. Without a moment’s hesitation, she pulled a key from her backpack and inserted it into the keyhole.
[Key: It can help you open a certain place.]
’To think it could not only open the door to Hailey Miles’s Wooden House, but also this unknown box.’
Inside was a glass vial containing a flowing, pale green liquid. freēwēbnovel.com
[Friendly Reminder: You have discovered the virus vaccine reagent. Exploration quest progress is now at 55%.]
[Dungeon Clear Condition 2: Investigate the cause of the zombie infection. Progress over 50% has been achieved. Do you wish to complete the Dungeon and exit?]
Faye Yardley didn’t choose immediately. Instead, she first tried to store the reagent in her backpack, which she did successfully this time.
’Such a big box for a single vial?’
The car’s soundproofing was excellent, yet she could still hear the explosions outside, and the vehicle only shook slightly.
Faye Yardley’s eyes lit up. "This car is amazing! I wonder if I can just take the whole thing?"
She got out and placed her hand on the car, but there was no reaction. After a moment’s thought, she retrieved the silver-gray box from inside, and this time, she stored the car with ease.
The special box itself must be a treasure. Faye Yardley then went ahead and stored the entire row of SUVs, which took up a single slot in her backpack (SUV x11).
The sounds of battle from the entrance were now intermittent. ’Looks like they really did blow it up.’
Just as Faye Yardley was about to head over, she was struck by a faint, almost imperceptible feeling of being watched.
She turned around. Behind her, there was nothing but a few parked cars and empty space. There wasn’t a soul in sight. ’So where did that feeling come from?’
She picked up the box and took a couple of steps. The feeling of being watched returned. But when she spun around again, there was nothing there.
’Wait, how did a zombie Dungeon start feeling like a horror-themed one?’
After a moment’s thought, she gently placed the box on the ground. Keeping her eyes on it, she backed up two steps. Nothing. She took a few more steps back, and then she saw them: footprints, appearing one by one in the dust.
BANG! BANG! She raised her gun and fired twice. A small, thin figure flickered into view. It seemed startled by the bullets hitting it, and it quickly snatched at the box, preparing to flee.
But it tugged at the box and failed to lift it. When it tried again, Faye Yardley gave it no second chance!
BANG! BANG! BANG! She fired three more times in rapid succession, blasting out its eyeball. With a cry of rage, it fell, defeated.
Faye Yardley, however, didn’t immediately approach.
"Yardley, are you okay?" Zachary Pierce and the others came running over. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
Although the other three were slightly injured, they seemed to be in good shape and had already taken medicine.
"I’m fine. I just didn’t expect a zombie with Invisibility. What a bizarre evolutionary path—it was almost back to a human-like form. Its combat strength seems pretty weak, though."
Caleb Colby started to walk over to inspect the small zombie by the box, but Faye Yardley pulled him back. "Be careful. Who knows what other tricks these zombies have."
Gavin Donovan prodded the fallen zombie with his long spear, then quickly kicked the box away from it.
"It’s dead for good."
Finn Ford, having dealt with a zombie crawling through a gap in the collapsed entrance, ran over.
"Yardley, Pierce, we’ve made enough progress on the quest. Should we leave now?"
Hiding in the B2 level for three days until the timer ran out would mean no extra points—a complete waste of time.
If they were to go up and fight the zombies, they’d need to find a good defensive position.
The worry was that if they left from here, they might reappear in the same spot next time, which would be far from ideal.
Zachary Pierce shook his head. "No, we can’t leave. The three of us don’t have enough points."
"Let’s eat something and recover our stamina first," Faye Yardley added. "Besides the blueprint for the automated production workshop, is there anything else you need to buy? I have points; I can lend you some."
Zachary Pierce replied seriously, "I’m afraid even with the points from your kills, it won’t be enough."
If possible, he naturally wanted to maximize their rewards from the Dungeon.
Gavin Donovan pointed toward the B2 entrance. "That area collapsed. The structure between B1 and B2 is probably unstable now. The zombies will break through there soon."
Finn Ford surveyed the area, found a relatively spacious van, and quickly got the door open before driving it over to the group.
"You had the key?" Faye Yardley was a little confused. ’Do people in this world just leave their keys in the car when they park?’
Finn Ford grinned slyly. "Talent Skill: Mechanical Mastery."
Gavin Donovan’s eyes lit up. "Cool!"
Undisturbed by zombies for the moment, they all took out food and began to eat quickly. Those with injuries took the opportunity to treat their wounds.
Swallowing the last of her bun, Faye Yardley took out the copper coin again. She closed her eyes and began to murmur, "Oh great System God, please guide your faithful believer down a path of survival."
She tossed the copper coin.
