I smiled as I instinctively knew what my new zombie power could do. It was drastically different from the version Melissa had. First, I was immune to the zombie virus and now had a tier 1 core like other zombies that could level. While in my human form, I gained about the average intelligence of a human. With my five-time bonus from my space power, I was most likely the smartest person on the pnet until intellect-powered people showed up.
It meant that once I reached rank nine, I would get nine times the intellect in my base form… Which wasn’t that great. The real benefits were from changing into my zombie form. While Melissa was focused on melee fighting, I could tell my powers were more magical. If she were a zombie warrior, then my power was for a zombie mage.
Changing into my zombie form would give me the abilities of a person for every rank I was. So at rank nine, I would gain nine times the strength, speed, endurance, and perception, and eighteen times the intellect. I already had a bonus of five times from my space power, and that would only increase. I could tell my time power was speeding up the process of growth for my space power. On top of that, I could manipute bones at this first rank.
One of the strongest people on the pnet and someone who ran a city had metal manipution, and this was very simir to it. I could lift bones around me and use them as a shield or mold them into spikes to fire at people or zombies. I could make bone armor or weapons for any forces I was part of, and this was only the beginning. I saw the bone armor Melissa had when she was fighting us, and it couldn’t fire out spikes like I could and was only there for protection.
I didn’t get the ten years' worth of experience I had with space. I might have if I went into my zombie form, but because I hadn’t, I got something different. It was more the knowledge of what I could be capable of in the future. I instinctively knew what I would get at each rank as I grew stronger, and I was happy with what I saw. The zombie warrior acted like a beacon for other zombies and could develop a giant horde around itself to protect it from humans. My path went a completely different way.
The second rank would let me control zombies around me. It was only five to start, but it would increase in number with every rank I went up. Rank three was the ability to convert corpses into zombies, which was insane. It didn’t look like it took any materials either, and I could use it as long as I had the mental capacity to do so. That’s why it increased my intellect.
Rank four was corpse explosion. It seemed amazing, but I had no doubt it would take intense concentration to use; it wasn’t something I could just do over and over again, as it was more like a st resort type of ability. Rank five is when my powers got interesting. I could make zombie generals, one each rank I went up, maxing out at five once I reached rank nine.
They could also control zombies, listened to my orders implicitly, and gained sentience, which looked like possible memories from their human life if they were turned and upgraded soon after death. The shit I was excited for is it looked like I could convert my enemies into subordinates with the power and they would retain their powers. It meant that I might need to wait for a person to develop their power in the future before I killed them, so I could get the most benefits because it would no longer grow once they were converted.
Rank six was undead aura. It would strengthen the undead around me while making humans feel sick from further away or scared if they were closer to me. The boost also looked like it was based on how close they were to me, but the aura reached a staggering hundred feet. Zombies within arm's length of me would get double their normal stats.
Rank seven siphon life. I could suck the life out of a zombie to heal wounds but it also looked like it came with storage and I could also heal the wounds of normal humans as well. What an underrated power… I think I could even rejuvenate zombies with the power of other zombies. I could make almost pristine zombies and then turn them into generals or have my generals lead the strengthened zombie corpses.
Rank eight was choosing a champion. I could pick one zombie to dramatically strengthen to protect me. I could make another Melissa or strengthen her even further if I couldn’t find a better zombie to choose. It would work as my bodyguard and could fight on par with some of the most powerful melee fighters in the world, if not outright beat them.
Rank nine, I could resurrect people… There wasn’t much more to say about that power. It was extremely broken, and as Melissa was the only zombie-powered person in the original timeline, most likely no other person in the world could do it. I heard about space users, some with better power than mine, and even a time user who could make a bubble that slowed time around him. Melissa was the only zombie user… At least on this continent…
Resurrection was an otherworldly power. I knew I could use it on zombies as well to bring them back to life after rejuvenating their bodies, so they didn’t just die again. The cost was going to be tremendous… But humanity had a better chance at surviving if I reached that point. How many good leaders died st time from human infighting that could have protected humanity going forward? I wasn’t sure, but it did change my pns. I wanted to stop the good survivor towns and cities from being destroyed… But now, if something does happen, I need their bodies at least.
Melissa snorted before she woke up. She had expert timing with that. I looked over at the arm, and we only got four hours of sleep. Still plenty of time in the day to get supplies before the rush happens. Before that, I had to have a talk with her. “Melissa. If you couldn’t tell, I’m different than I was a few days ago.” She snuggled up to me before saying. “I didn’t notice.”
Chuckling, I keep going. “Yeah, you did. Well, I’ve got something really important to tell you. I’m from the future, and the apocalypse is going to happen in three days.” I went on to expin what happened in the first timeline. I thought about sparing her from learning what really happened, but I didn’t want any chance for her to end up alone with her mother's boyfriend, so I had to tell her. She believed me, which was kind of insane, even before I showed her my space power.
Pulling a ring and a backpack from my storage, I hand them over to her. “Here’s a ring with a cubic foot storage inside and a backpack with three cubic feet inside.” I hand her a knife and a gun next. “Storing items is pretty intuitive. Just while the ring is making contact, think about storing it. If you need to pull them out, just think of them appearing in your hand, and they will.”
She practices a little and almost fires a bullet if the gun didn't have its safety on. I’d need to train her how to use it when the rain started. I tell her. “Alright, you should go and get as much food as you can, and anything too heavy you can store in the backpack. Early tomorrow, when they talk about the wave hitting Canada and downpy how strong it is, you’ll know I’m telling the truth. Before then, you need food because people are going to go crazy.”
“Sure, but umm… Can you help me to the bathroom? I have to go, but I can’t feel my legs.” I chuckle again before picking her up. Today was going to be a busy day.
