The atmosphere in the seventh-floor hallway became tense as two newly trained conscripts lined up.
Adam and Alexei stared at them, remaining at Hans's side.
Meanwhile, the two soldiers saluted their Commander. Their backs were straight, and their resolute eyes fervently stared at him.
Ethan Varga. Tall and broad-shouldered, the kind of man who looked like he'd wrestle a bear if ordered to.
Selene Ward. Pale and wiry, eyes cold and unreadable, the kind who didn't need to speak to intimidate.
Two different faces and sexes, yet they moved with one breath — under Hans Flemmens's command.
Hans's eyes scanned them slowly from left to right.
Each person was different in terms of body build and facial expression, although their loyalty and strictness were remarkably similar.
The addition of a woman surprised him. He had assumed that conscripts would be male-based only.
He also noticed something different about the two of them.
----
Name: Ethan Varga
Unit: Conscript
Tier: 0
Star Promotion: 0
...
Traits: Powerful (+10% Strength, +5% Damage Reduction)
----
Name: Selena Ward
Unit: Conscript
Tier: 0
Star Promotion: 0
...
Traits: Marksman (+10% weapon accuracy), Nimble (+10% evasion and movement speed)
----
These two... have traits? He was surprised. The original game didn't have this, but his RTS system had.
"Commander, each trained unit has a negligible chance to obtain additional traits that enhance their combat capabilities or utility efficiencies." the system explained.
Hans furrowed his brows as this new system mechanic altered some of his plans. If this were truly the case, then mass amassing units would be the best strategy.
The system said it's a negligible chance. This is nothing but dumb luck.
He shook his head, not tying his fate to chances.
"System, can I ask them about planning and strategies? Doing it all myself is too tiring, you know..." Hans tried to probe.
After all, it would be too demanding if he had to do all the thinking as well.
"Commander, your subordinates will offer their opinions occasionally. The final decision will remain yours."
Hans nodded, thinking. If that was the case, then could he give them vague orders and let each subordinate follow whatever instinct they had in mind?
Let's try that out then.
He glanced at his phone and looked at the time.
"It's about to hit noon. The lower floors need clearing. Once they are, we need to secure this apartment."
For now, this building would serve as their temporary base.
He relayed his orders to Adam, instructing him to lead the four-person squad down to the sixth floor.
"As you command, sir." Adam nodded, but before moving out, he asked, "Shall we use guns this time, sir?"
"If the situation demands it. Otherwise, do not do so." Hans used the moment to see if they could handle layered orders. "Try other weapons too; don't rely only on the knife."
Hans advised, as he was worried that there might be a zombie who could dash and react quickly, or another who might wear armor.
"We'll prepare first, Commander. You can rest easy inside your room while we clear the area downstairs." Adam saluted, reassuring Hans.
"Then I leave it all to you." Hans nodded, knowing that his presence wasn't going to do much other than burden these conscripts, who had excellent coordination.
At that moment, Adam briefed the team on the plan. He would take point, with Ethan behind him, Selena at the third, and Alexei at the rear.
"Search these rooms for any weapons you can find. If the room is locked, then leave it." Adam ordered.
Like Hans, he refused to go downstairs without being prepared.
He understood that a commotion on the lower floors was deadly and could easily attract zombies from outside, unlike dealing with one far higher up.
Ethan managed to find a wooden axe hidden in one of the units, and Adam let him handle it due to his extraordinary strength.
The rest had no luck, but they weren't too discouraged. The indestructible combat knife was more than enough to handle most of their challenges.
If it weren't, then a bullet to the head with their MP5 submachine gun would do it.
...
The team gathered in front of the stairwell, readying themselves for the advance.
"Listen, if you find any valuable material that the Commander needs for Gold, store it for safety." Adam gripped his knife, "Clear the area first, then retrieve them later."
Their eyes focused ahead, their muscles tensing as their feet took slow but steady steps towards the sixth floor.
The first two doors on both sides came into view.
The hallway on the sixth floor was messy, with furniture, shoes, and clothes scattered around.
Three bodies lay dead—one of them torn apart in half. Adam frowned, wondering why the zombies hadn't consumed these bodies yet.
He gestured for Alexei to take point at the door on the right, along with Selene, while he and Ethan focused on the left.
As the two teams got into position, they both turned the doorknob and slowly pushed the doors open.
Ethan went first, followed by Adam behind.
The room was filled with dampness and a rotting wooden smell. Nothing useful was found there, and the two left soon after.
Meanwhile, Alexei and Selene found a small bit of silver and stored it safely in a small cabinet.
Then, they continued on the next two doors.
Right as they approached the doorway, a small thump rocked the door where Alexei was headed.
The four were startled, and amidst it, several bangs on the same floor followed.
"Should we retreat?" Ethan suggested, but Adam had a different plan. "They're already banging, might as well finish them off."
Alexei, hearing the order, quickly opened the door as soon as the zombie banged at it. Then, with a slice of his knife, he struck the zombie straight in the head.
On the other side, Ethan hacked at the door, cleaving both the wood and the zombie behind it.
Adam almost laughed but composed himself, urging Ethan to hasten the sweep. If they didn't finish fast, the noise would pull everything below straight to them.
Alexei tried to keep up, but the door next to him suddenly collapsed, and two zombies fell into the hallway, their limbs broken and guts spilling out.
Just as he tried to step into their head, a third, small zombie lunged out, almost scratching his face with its tiny, sharp nails.
Alexei felt his heart beat vigorously at that moment, feeling the close sense of death.
The small zombie tried to launch another attack against the distracted Alexei, but Selene moved around quickly and kicked the zombie child away.
"Don't be distracted!" Selene harrumphed as she pulled both of them back while Ethan charged over and hacked both disabled zombies to death with his wooden axe.
The axe hit so hard the floorboards cracked, the sound booming down the hall.
Adam stepped back, covering the flank with his MP5 raised. If any zombie dared to rush through the stairwell, his 9 mm would finish them off.
"You three, push forward! I'll guard the rear!"
There was no time to hesitate as three more zombies charged through the doors and into the hallway.
"Selene, kill that annoying zombie child!" Ethan shouted as he hacked at three zombies in front of him, killing them with one swing.
The zombie child was too fast, and he couldn't keep up with it. If this continued, it might toy around with them and possibly cause another commotion.
Selene exhaled once, then dashed in.
The zombie child suddenly paused, giving her a chance to strike. However, the aim felt off as the blade landed on its neck.
It raised its arms, wanting to scratch the young woman.
Selene was faster, taking out a hidden kitchen knife and plunging it into the zombie child's brain using her other hand.
The zombie child uttered a subtle groan, its last bit of energy fading away—unwillingly, as it was.
Selene paused, watching as the zombie child fell to the ground.
The banging had stopped.
"Is anyone injured?" Adam inquired, his MP5 still aimed at the stairwell ahead of him.
"No, we're all okay." Ethan took a deep breath and glanced at Alexei. "Alexei, snap out of it."
Alexei shook his head and patted Selene's shoulder, "Thanks."
"Watch out next time." Selene scoffed and brandished her knives.
Adam heard their short conversation and, seeing that the stairwell had no anomalies, wrapped up his gun and switched back to his knife.
"If everything is fine, then continue sweeping. Our job here isn't done yet."