First Blood

'I'm starting to feel nervous… But I must do this.'

Shane was convinced that his decision was the correct one. 

He recognized the importance of seizing the opportunity to accumulate more experience points.

After all, his current condition might weaken during the beginner protection period, where he does nothing but idle around.

Lingering within his territory could result in a decline in his physical strength, so he'd rather embrace the risk of venturing out to gain more experience and potentially secure better item drops.

Curious about the appearance of the zombies, Shane inquired of Cloud… 

"Can you tell me if the Zombies looked scary? What do they look like?" 

Cloud's response was straightforward. 

[ They looked like corpses. If you are scared of corpses, then yes, they are scary. ]

Despite a sense of helplessness, Shane mustered a smile upon hearing Cloud's description. 

While he couldn't hide his nervousness, he understood that he had no alternative but to steel himself and confront the grim reality. 

He had to adapt and survive the Zombie Apocalypse and overcome his apprehensions. 

After all, his alternate self had endured two other Apocalypses, so mere zombies should not evoke fear in him.

'Right… I survived those two Apocalypses already. I can't be scared now.'

After muttering some encouraging words to himself, Shane conducted a thorough patrol of the surroundings, confirming the presence of 10 zombies with Cloud's assistance. 

Three zombies were located at the crash site, another trio was in the orchard, three more were positioned along the path of the dried river, and one lurked at the rear of the Manor, leading toward the mountain.

Of course, Shane selected the solitary zombie as his target for confrontation. 

Prior to engaging, he meticulously inspected his hatchet and verified the revolver's cylinder to ensure all chambers were loaded. 

Click!

Satisfied with his preparations, Shane mentally strategized. He was aware that discharging his firearm would likely alert nearby zombies. 

With this in mind, he had to engage the first zombie solely with his hatchet and his physical strength.

Furthermore, with his limited ammunition in his revolver and his own imperfect marksmanship, Shane concluded that proximity was crucial to conserving bullets. 

He had to fight at close range since he could not miss his shots. After all, he wouldn't have the time to reload his gun.

After a brief period of planning, Shane was ready to take action. 

He moved to the rear of the Manor, leading to the mountain, where he spotted a lone zombie adorned in what appeared to be a blue suit within an area sparsely dotted with trees.

Thud…

Upon exiting the Safe Zone and relinquishing his Beginner Protection, Shane received a notification from the Apocalypse System: 

[You have exited the Safe Zone and ended your Beginner Protection. The zombies can now enter your territory. Good luck! ] 

Despite this development, the zombies remained stationary, seemingly disinterested in encroaching upon his territory. 

'So they won't just randomly enter my territory, huh. Good!' 

This realization bolstered Shane's confidence as he silently closed the distance toward the zombie…or so he thought.

When he approached within approximately 10 meters of it, it abruptly stirred and fixed its gaze upon Shane before swiftly advancing toward him. 

'A running type zombie!' Shane thought to himself.

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, he swiftly drew his hatchet.

As the running zombie closed in, he steadied his feet and braced himself, his heart pounding in his chest. 

With a swift, calculated motion, he raised his hatchet, the glint of the blade catching the dim light. 

The zombie's eyes reflected a lifeless hunger as it lunged forward, emitting a guttural growl that sent shivers down Shane's spine.

With a surge of adrenaline, Shane sidestepped the zombie's initial charge, narrowly avoiding its outstretched arms. 

As the creature stumbled past him, he seized the opportunity, swiftly pivoting on his heel to strike.

"Die!"

His hatchet sliced through the air with lethal precision, aiming for the zombie's neck.

The impact reverberated through his arms as the blade met its mark, cleaving through sinew and bone. The zombie emitted a ghastly wail, a chilling sound that resonated in the still air. 

Reddish-black fluid sprayed from the wound, painting the ground in a grotesque display.

Despite the initial strike, the zombie staggered back to its feet, its resilience defying comprehension. 

'You can still move from that?!'

Shane gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowing with a fierce resolve. He could not allow it to regain its momentum!

With a swift movement, he lunged forward, the hatchet becoming an extension of his will.

'Just die, please!' 

Shane wanted to just target the head of the zombie, but it wasn't as easy as he thought.

It took him several attempts before he landed a critical strike on its head, destroying its brain.

Finally, with a resounding thud, the creature collapsed, its lifeless form crumpling to the ground. 

Shane stood, heaving for breath, his body pulsating with raw energy. 

As he gazed upon the fallen zombie, a sense of triumph welled within him. This victory was but the first step in his struggle for survival in the face of the encroaching apocalypse.

[ You have eliminated a Runner Zombie. ] 

'So it's really a Runner Zombie.'

After catching his breath, Shane checked the zombie corpse.

[ Do you want to retrieve the loot? ] 

"Yes."

[ You have earned 5 Experience Points. ] 

[ Loots obtained: 1 Item Upgrade Crystal, 1 Zombie Core, 100mL Runner Zombie Blood, 500mL water, 1 Spirit Enhancement Bottle ]