Chapter 3: First Blood

The morning sun hung low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the city streets. Kale tightened the strap of his backpack, the weight of his supplies pressing firmly against his shoulders. He stepped out into the open, his eyes scanning the crowd with a predator's precision.

Today marked the second day of his countdown. In less than forty-eight hours, the world would fall into chaos.

But today wasn't about waiting. It was about striking first.

Ding!

New Mission: Become the first to kill a zombie.

Objective: Eliminate a mutated zombie before anyone else.

Reward: 300 Villain Points. Bonus rewards based on style and efficiency.

Kale's lips curled into a grin. "Time to test my skills."

The system didn't give missions arbitrarily. If it said a mutated zombie would appear, it meant one was already nearby. He just had to find it.

The thought sent a chill of anticipation down his spine. This was his first real step into the apocalypse—a chance to claim his place at the top before the rest of the world even knew what hit them.

Location: Greenfield General Hospital.

Kale's boots echoed against the polished floors as he entered the hospital lobby. The smell of antiseptic hung heavy in the air, masking the faint metallic scent that only he seemed to notice.

He remembered this place vividly. In his past life, Greenfield General had been one of the first hot zones. The infection had started in the emergency ward, spreading like wildfire before anyone could react.

Kale's grip tightened on the machete concealed beneath his coat. This time, he wasn't here to run. He was here to kill.

The tension in the hospital was palpable. Doctors and nurses bustled about, their faces lined with exhaustion. Patients lay in beds, some coughing weakly, others eerily still.

Kale's eyes darted from one face to another, searching for the telltale signs of mutation: a grayish pallor, sunken eyes, or the faint twitching that signaled the virus taking hold.

And then he saw it.

A man in a hospital gown sat slumped against the wall, his head hanging low. His skin was a sickly shade of gray, his veins dark and spiderweb-like against his flesh.

No one else seemed to notice him.

"There you are," Kale murmured, his heart pounding.

He approached slowly, his hand slipping into his coat to grip the machete's hilt. The man's body twitched violently, his head snapping up to reveal bloodshot eyes and a mouth twisted into a snarl.

The transformation was complete.

The zombie lunged without warning, its movements jerky but fast.

"Tch, too predictable."

Kale sidestepped the attack with ease, his machete slicing through the air in a graceful arc. The blade connected with the zombie's neck, cutting clean through with a sickening "shhk!"

The head hit the floor with a wet thud, rolling a few feet away before coming to a stop. Blood sprayed from the severed neck, staining the pristine white tiles.

Kale stood over the corpse, his breath steady.

Ding!

Mission Complete!

Reward: 300 Villain Points. Bonus reward: +50 Villain Points for efficiency.

He couldn't help but smirk as the notification appeared. "Not bad for a first kill."

But there was no time to celebrate. A low, guttural growl echoed from down the hallway. Kale turned, his eyes narrowing as two more zombies shambled into view.

"Looks like I've got company."

The first zombie rushed him, its claws swiping wildly. Kale ducked under the attack, his machete flashing as he drove it into the creature's chest.

The second zombie came at him from the side, but Kale was ready. He spun on his heel, pulling the machete free and slashing horizontally in one fluid motion. The blade tore through the zombie's torso, splitting it open with a nauseating squelch.

The two bodies collapsed to the floor, twitching briefly before going still.

Ding!

Bonus Kill Streak Achieved: +100 Villain Points.

Kale exhaled slowly, wiping the blood from his machete. The system's rewards were piling up fast, but so was the danger.

Ding!

Warning: High activity detected in the vicinity. Probability of encountering mutated zombies has increased.

The hospital was waking up, and it wasn't just the zombies. Kale could hear panicked screams in the distance, the telltale signs of chaos spreading through the building.

"Time to leave," he muttered, heading for the exit.

But as he rounded the corner, he nearly collided with someone.

"Kale?!"

The familiar voice made him freeze. He looked up to see Iris, her wide eyes filled with a mixture of shock and relief. She was holding a makeshift weapon—a piece of metal pipe—and her clothes were stained with blood.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded.

Kale's mind raced. He hadn't expected to run into her so soon. Iris had always been a key player in the protagonist's group—a moral compass and a skilled fighter. But in this timeline, she wasn't supposed to be here yet.

"I could ask you the same thing," he said, his tone calm. "This place isn't safe."

Iris frowned. "No kidding! The hospital's crawling with those… things. I came to check on a friend, but—" She trailed off, her expression darkening.

Kale didn't need to ask what had happened.

"We need to move," he said firmly. "Now."

Iris hesitated, glancing back down the hallway. The faint sound of growling reached their ears, growing louder by the second.

"Fine," she said, gripping the pipe tightly. "Lead the way."

The two of them moved quickly, navigating the chaotic halls. They encountered several zombies along the way, but Kale dispatched them with brutal efficiency. Iris watched him in awe, struggling to keep up.

"Where did you learn to fight like that?" she asked breathlessly as they rounded a corner.

Kale didn't answer immediately. How could he explain that his skills came from a lifetime of pain and survival in another timeline?

"Let's just say I've had practice," he said vaguely.

By the time they reached the exit, the hospital was a war zone. People screamed and ran in every direction, some dragging injured loved ones, others abandoning everything in blind panic.

Kale and Iris slipped out through a side door, the fresh air hitting them like a slap.

"What now?" Iris asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Kale glanced at her, his expression unreadable.

"Now," he said, "we survive."

As they disappeared into the city, the hospital behind them erupted into flames.

Kale didn't look back.

End of Chapter 3