Investing in My Harem in the Apocalypse Makes Me Stronger

Far from Cain’s location, in another city, a young man stood in the middle of a ruined intersection.

The remains of a battle surrounded him.

His breathing was still rough after completing his advancement, but the Mana Core inside his body had already formed.

The golden announcement remained in front of him.

[The name ”Thunder Emperor” shall be recorded in the history of this world.]

He did not look pleased at all.

”Fuck!”

His fist struck the side of an abandoned car.

Bang!

The door caved inward.

The young man stared at the announcement that had appeared only moments before his own.

[The name ”Glacial Sword Maiden” shall be recorded in the history of this world.]

A few seconds.

That was all that separated them.

He had missed third place by only a few seconds.

”Motherfucker.”

He kicked the already damaged car.

”I was that close.”

The young man stared at the name Glacial Sword Maiden before finally closing the screen.

Fourth place was still enough to enter the World Ranking.

However, it simply did not make him feel any better.

...

Back near the commercial road, Cain closed the World Announcement.

His gaze moved toward Nathan.

”I almost forgot.”

Nathan looked at him.

Cain reached into his Inventory.

A pale green Core appeared in his hand.

The moment it entered the air, faint wind currents began moving around his fingers.

Nathan’s expression changed.

”The Blade Mantis Core?”

”Yeah.”

Cain tossed it toward him.

Nathan caught the sphere carefully.

”You’re giving it to me?”

”It’s Wind-attributed. Who else am I supposed to give it to?”

Ron instantly raised his hand.

Cain looked at him.

”Get lost. What can a mere Unranked like you even do with a Wind Core?”

”...”

”Talking big as if he isn’t also Unranked.” Ron grumbled softly as he glared at Cain.

Cain’s eyebrow twitched.

”What did you say, you bastard?”

He rolled one shoulder and took a step toward him.

”Come here. I’ll show you how big the difference can be even between two Unranked beings.”

Ron immediately moved to Elara’s side.

”What? I said the weather today is pretty good.”

”Weather, my ass. The whole world has turned upside down and you’re talking about good weather?”

”...”

Ron fell silent.

”You’re right.”

Elara chuckled softly as she had already grown far too accustomed to the two of them acting like this.

Nathan ignored them as he had been examining the Core.

The corruption had already been completely removed. Only dense 1st Echelon energy and the Wind affinity remained inside.

His own Mana Core reacted almost immediately.

The green sphere within his chest rotated faster.

Nathan sat near the side of the road.

He placed the Core between both palms and closed his eyes.

Wind Mana flowed out of his body.

The energy inside the purified Core responded. Thin green currents escaped from the sphere before entering Nathan’s hands.

His Mana Core began drawing them inward.

Unlike Elara, Nathan was no longer forming his Core.

The process was far calmer.

The purified energy traveled through his channels before reaching the green sphere inside him, where it was slowly refined and absorbed.

Nathan’s breathing remained steady.

The Blade Mantis Tyrant had possessed exceptional speed.

Its Core carried the same characteristic.

Most of the absorbed energy naturally strengthened the areas most compatible with Wind.

A minute later, the pale green Core gradually lost its color.

Its surface cracked.

As the final stream of Wind entered Nathan, the empty shell crumbled between his hands.

Nathan slowly opened his eyes.

[Purified Wind Core successfully absorbed.]

[Wind Mana Core stability has increased significantly.]

[Strength +2.]

[Agility +9.]

[Sense +6.]

[Mana +12.]

Nathan looked inward.

His Wind Mana Core had not yet crossed into the Stabilized stage, but the difference was obvious as its rotation was steadier and he could feel that it wouldn’t be long for his core to reach the Stabilized stage.

The small fluctuations that previously appeared whenever he drew large amounts of Mana had weakened considerably.

Green Wind gathered briefly around his boots as he stood before disappearing.

Cain looked at him.

”How was it?”

”Useful.”

Nathan flexed his fingers.

”My Core feels much more stable.”

”Good.”

Cain looked around.

”Then let’s clean this place up.”

They spent the next minute checking the corpses scattered across the commercial road.

Most of the Unranked zombies had dropped nothing.

When everything was gathered and counted, the battlefield had yielded 1 Blue Scroll and 2 Blue Orbs, including the Blue Orb Cain had already taken from the Blade Mantis Tyrant.

They also found 2 Green Scrolls and 5 Green Orbs.

Cain stored everything in his inventory.

Ron stared at him.

”You aren’t opening them?”

”No.”

”Why?”

”We have something more important to do.”

Cain looked east.

Jack still needed a 1st Echelon creature for his Advancement Mission.

Ron also had his own mission to complete.

Unlike before, they were no longer desperate enough to open every reward immediately just for the possibility of gaining a little more strength.

”Let’s go.”

The group resumed their journey toward the Eastern Gate.

They moved much faster than before.

On their way, they encountered zombies but most of them were Unranked wandering alone or in small groups.

The group ignored them.

Several zombies noticed them and began chasing from behind.

Ron glanced back once.

”They’re following us.”

”They can try.” Cain chuckled.

The distance between them increased rapidly.

There was no reason to waste time killing weak enemies that provided little benefit.

Their current objective was clear.

Find another 1st Echelon creature while moving closer to the Eastern Gate.

When they were a few hundred meters away from the Eastern Gate, Nathan suddenly stopped.

His head turned toward the south.

”What is it this time?” Cain raised an eyebrow.

Nathan remained quiet for several seconds.

”First Echelon.” Nathan replied as he opened his eyes.

Jack immediately looked toward him.

”Where?”

Nathan pointed south. ”Not far.”

”Perfect.” Cain smiled.

They immediately headed toward the First Echelon that Nathan had detected.

The group followed a narrow road. Several commercial buildings stood along one side, most of them small restaurants and convenience stores that had served students living near the edge of the campus.

The other side opened toward a wide parking area.

Nathan slowed down near the end of the street.

”It’s ahead.”

Cain could already sense it.