Dead Man Walking: Living By Day, Dead By Night

Zhao Qiu stared at Zane in disbelief for several moments of awkward silence. All the while the foreigner who had just confessed to being an absurd level to Sixty-Five attracted attention from all who had heard his boastful claims.

That is until the local woman broke out into laughter, making a joke at Zane's expense, clearly not believing the claims he had made just now.

"Oh, I see. I had assumed you were fluent, but clearly you have a problem when it comes to numbers. It's okay, Mandarin is not the easiest language to learn. I'm sure with a few more years of practice you will be able to speak like a local!"

Zane simply rolled his eyes before speaking in perfect mandarin, reiterating his words. Clearly not the least bit pleased by the woman's refusal to believe him.

"I made no error. I am level 65. That's a six and a five. You understand? My companions here are level 50, level 60, and within the 25+ range altogether."

Of course, now that Zane knew that the average level was much higher than it had been two years prior. He would need to work on leveling the likes of Eliza, Jett, Lawrence, Darren, Zander, and Beatrix as soon as possible.

Because of this, he felt that they would need to go out and gain proper experience. After all, the Horde Kings beneath his command operated much in the same way as the undead did. They could either gain experience points by feasting on living human flesh. Or by slaying their fellow undead.

They would not gain experience from consuming blood crystals however, it was the act of killing itself that gave them experience unlike awakened humans. This obviously had not applied to the petrified undead in Seoul. As they were already lifeless according to the system, or maybe it was simply because they could not defend themselves and thus there was no experience to be gained?

Either way, Zane knew his companions needed to catch up with humanity now that they had basically just rested for two years straight. Meanwhile, Zhao Qiu was stunned by Zane's words. She found it hard to believe that a man had progressed so far.

As far as she knew, there was only one human who had broken through to the level 40 range within Beijing. And he was not someone to be trifled with. Yet Zane, a foreigner, was saying he somehow made it well past sixty to a level of 65? Just how powerful would be then?

She, of course, had no idea the man was actually a horde of King, so when he progressed to a new tier he would gain an additional boost to his attributes as a racial trait. Something which humans wouldn't have. Because of this, Zane's attributes were all ten points higher than an awakened human of the same level.

This meant that in a 1v1 fight between an awakened human of the same level, and with gear that was appropriate for his level. Zane would win every time. This, of course, was contingent on Zane having a same degree of equipment. Otherwise, he simply had an enormous advantage.

But the stat boost one would gain from equipment of an appropriate level, and quality were not to be underestimated. Especially when there were new features Zane had yet to make use of for his equipment after the system upgraded two years ago.

For example, his equipment was still at the level 30 range, and while legendary quality, it was 35 levels behind his own level. Meaning he was not getting the full benefits from it. In addition to this, his equipment was lacking what was referred to as Runes and Enchantments. Both of which could be applied to his weapons and armor.

Zane had never encountered a rune, or an enchantment. And that was a fault of his own. Without realizing it, he had not utilized his companions to the full effect. The system upgrade introduced a new crafting system, and an accompanying profession system.

By default, Zane's blacksmithing skill had reached a high level, because of all the experience he had crafting weapons and armor prior to leaving Gravestone. However, he had no levels in enchanting, rune crafting, and of course, alchemy.

Nor had his companions pursued these professions. Leaving his equipment unenchanted, and without the added benefits of runes. Something that could vastly boost his own capabilities.

Zane, of course had yet to understand this, and because of this, his equipment was woefully below the capabilities it should normally be at, had he spent the last two years doing anything other than just grinding his combat level.

After a long pause, Zhao Qiu finally adjusted her state of mind to cope with Zane's statement.

"If you're really as powerful as you say, then all the factions in the area will be clamoring to have you on their side. You wouldn't need to perform basic jobs for them to gain their trust. That is of course you're not joking around, or exaggerating. So if you can prove your strength, I might be able to help you out."

Zane narrowed his eyes. Judging by what the woman said, she had some kind of test in mind for him. And because of this, Zane's sense of suspicion immediately arose. He was quick to ask just what the woman was thinking about regarding his test and the details regarding it.

"I suppose there's something you want me to take care of. Something nobody else is capable of dealing with, right? So just get on with it. If it's within my capabilities, I promise to get it done. But if not, I don't plan to walk into my death simply to prove I'm stronger than everyone else."

Zhao Qiu giggled and immediately became far more friendly to Zane than she had been previously. And she was already friendly enough as it was.

"Relax… I'm not asking you to go seek your death, or walk into a trap. Nothing like that. Of course, that is assuming you are as strong as you claim you are. You see, in Houhai there is a local monster that keeps humanity from reclaiming the area for itself.

It's not an undead. Rather, it's a lake beast. It's a level 50 Legendary Monster, and it's sort of considered a local boss. No matter how many people's group up to deal with it, those who have returned have done so with serious injuries, and with nothing to show for the efforts. As for those who didn't… Well I'm sure you know what happened to them."

Upon hearing that his target was a Level 50 Legendary Monster, Zane was quick to inquire about this. Because two years ago, when he first started encountering the mutated beasts of this world, they were still relatively new and unevolved.

He had never heard of a legendary monster before, and was quick to inquire about it.

"What makes this monster so legendary? Does it have some kind of special status?"

Zhao Qiu looked at Zane as if he had been living under a rock for the past few years. And was quick to inform him of what made a beast legendary, as well as the other grades.

"Oh, come on, don't tell me you don't know? Wait, you really don't? Where exactly have you been the last two years? You know what it's fine. Alright, so monsters vary by grade. You know how undead are ranked in tiers?

Tier one through five, right?"

Well, monsters are ranked in the same grade as our items? Okay, so you have common monsters, uncommon monsters, rare monsters, epic monsters, and legendary monsters. The higher the quality, the more powerful the monster is, and of course the better the loot it drops!

If you want to craft legendary gear, you need legendary materials. And the higher the level of the gear you want, the higher the level of the legendary monster you have to slay! In addition to this, you will need a qualified craftsman to make it for you.

So for level 50 legendary armor for example, you need a level 50 smith, who has unlocked the certification to craft legendary gear. Which, in case you didn't know, nobody exists like that in the area.

Zane was indeed surprised to hear all of this. It would appear the system had changed a lot of over the last few years. As the world evolved into more of that of a fantasy world. So too apparently did the system.

No longer were awakened humans relegated to mere combat roles to survive. Instead, it appeared certain humans had opted to become full-time craftsman, and leave the fighting to those more qualified to perform it.

This was all very good, especially if humanity wanted to thrive in this new world. But Zane had largely been secluded from the changes to the world over the past two years. Having been stuck in Seoul with only the city's petrified citizens, and the crazed horde king to keep him company.

Because of this, he would need to spend a significant amount of time gaining information on the changes to the world during his isolation from it. To do this, he would need to prove his worth, and that of his companions, as a combatant. And the best way to do this was to slay the level 50 Legendary lake monster that Zhao Qiu was talking about.

Thus, Zane nodded his head and was quick to accept the challenge.

"Alright, give me the details and I'll be back by the sun goes down with this monster's head."

Though Zhao Qiu was almost entirely certain that Zane was simply boasting. A small part of her genuinely wanted to see if he was as strong as he claimed. And thus she did not hesitate to transfer the details to Zane via the system. Which now included a mini map of the area.

And once Zane had this information he set off. Triggering a quest as he did so.

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[New Quest available!]

[Slay the Lake Monster of Houhai!]

[Accept Y/N?]