The female zombie, Claire, stared at the ground with her finger in the dirt for almost a full minute before finally nodding her head. ‘If there is a chance, then I will try. How do I level up?’

“From what I can understand at this time, killing other monsters. Although I do hope you do not attack me or my friends. But goblins, the green little man you killed to end up like this might give you some decent experience. Or maybe the blue balls of gelatin, slimes which we found in a back alley. Those do not attack at all, but I am not sure how much experience you will get from any of these things, especially the slimes. But one can only push forward and grind like no tomorrow. I plan to do just that once I reach the hospital.” Desaray explained.

Claire lowered her head and began scribbling on the ground once again. ‘Thank you. I had planned to die, but if there is now a chance, I will do what I can and kill those disgusting green monsters with everything I have. Also…. I am not sure how the hospital is. As far as I know, humans have been disappearing left and right. Be careful. Your form will not be liked by those who have not changed like us….’

Desaray smiled and nodded her head. “I will. Take care of yourself.”

After saying their goodbyes, the group left Claire behind. Claire stood up, looked in the direction Desaray and the rest left, and clenched her fists. She was now determined to live. As long as she can reach level 20 and eat the three brains, she might have a chance to make things better. Better than her current situation, that is. She looked down at the words writing on the ground and used her mangled foot to wipe the dirt away. Only after she had done all that did she turn and vanish back into the fog.

Desaray once more pushed forward. She had her cell phone in her hand as she tried to call her father once more. She still could not get through. It was not just her who was worried about their parents either, but everyone was worried. Claire’s words at the end about people disappearing were only now setting in. 

    “I wonder how much of humanity has disappeared,” Jake mumbled softly, but since the three girls had a heightened sense of hearing, now they could still hear what he had said. 

    “At least we got a bit more information. I had found it odd that there were not a lot of people around and thought that maybe they had just up and disappeared, but now I guess I was in the right mind of thinking.” Desaray sighed. “I just hope a doctor or two is left at the hospital.”

“What do you plan to do if it is infested with monsters or if there are no doctors?” Jake asked out of curiosity. He had not heard all of Desaray’s plans as of yet.

“Mmm… Find a slime and make it so that Mike kills it. Maybe undergoing evolution will wake him up.” Desaray was not sure if it would work, but it was worth a try at the very least. 

“Would he be able to handle the pain?” Jake knew the evolution process was painful, so he was unsure if Mike would be able to take it in his current state.

“I am not sure…. This is why if something happens, I will be the one to do it. Since I came up with the idea, I would not leave the aftermath to you all.” Desaray was really not sure what would happen. If Mike ended up dying due to her idea, it would end up being not only her fault but also the person who helped Mike kill the slime. This was why she would do it herself instead of forcing someone else to do the deed since it risked killing an innocent life.

“Desa, you are strong, but you do not need to shoulder the burden all by yourself. If it comes down to that, I will be the one to do it. I owe Mike my life. I will do anything to help him.” Yu suddenly spoke up. If not for Mike, she would have been crushed by the car. He had saved her without care for his own life. Now he was in this situation where he was unconscious. 

Desaray looked at Yu and could see that she was being serious. She had to admit it was not just her who was strong, Yu was also strong. Everyone here was. “We will do it together.”

The group continued forward with only the fog blocking their path. Luckily the landmarks around them were something that they all knew, so it was easy to tell where they were. They quickly passed through the park and reached 5th Avenue. “I don’t see any army….”

    “I only mentioned it as a what if….” Desaray pursed her scaly lips and glared at Becky, who stuck her tongue out at her. “I wonder why you became a dragon….”

“What is wrong with me becoming a dragon!?” Becky snorted and gave Desaray a nudge.

“Because you never liked dragons as much as me! Didn’t you like elves or something like that before? Why did you become a dragon, of all things? Should have become an elf so some orc could whisk you away.” Desaray snorted back. The two girls glared at each other before looking away, crossing their arms, and humphing. Then not even two seconds later, they both burst out laughing.

“What is that!? Why would you damn me to some orcs!? You are such a bitch sometimes. Hahaha!” Becky hugged Desaray, who smiled although scarily.

    Desaray stuck her tongue out at Becky as she pushed away from her and said: “I was just joking. Anyway, it looks like we will not be shot today, so let’s try heading to the Lenox Hill hospital.”