Chubby

At Metro Doctors Hospital

"You think this is some kind of game?!" the man shouted while his fists landed continuously at Theo. "We don't even know what's really happening! What if there's still a cure for them?! How dare you just kill them like they're rats!"

Judging by his uniform, it was one of the security guards.

"They're not human anymore! Can't you see that?!" Theo growled. "It's not like you can contain them all. They're attacking and turning others into monsters. The least we can do is end their suffering and not let them spread-"

Ding!

Theo was cut off as the sound of the elevator doors opening echoed down the hall, followed by a loud snarl. The sound was eerie and powerful.

Both of them turned, and Theo's breath caught in his throat as he stared in horror at the grotesque, twisted form of a woman emerging into the hallway.

[Ding! Each Meteorborn kill grants +100 EXP and +10 Gold Coins]

"A Meteorborn?" he gasped.

The Meteorborn smirked and, in one fluid motion, grabbed the security guard hovering above him from the bench, lifting him up as a deep growl rumbled from its throat.

Then, the creature opened its mouth, about to sink its teeth into the guard but Theo moved first. He slammed into the Meteorborn with all his strength, knocking it off balance before it could bite the helpless man.

The creature snarled at him, its glowing, pupil-less eyes locking onto his. It moved, regaining its footing instantly, making Theo gulp. This was nothing like the MB Infectees that lurched and stumbled.

"I have to act fast," he muttered under his breath.

Without hesitation, he gripped his knife and lunged, aiming for its throat. But the Meteorborn reacted too quickly, twisting its body. In a flash, it grabbed Theo's wrist, squeezing it hard.

Pain shot through his arm as he struggled to pull free.

"Shit!" Theo gritted his teeth.

[Ding! Kinetic Pulse available for use.]

Right, he had unlocked a basic mutation ability earlier. Kinetic Pulse allowed him to unleash a short-range energy burst.

Theo gritted his teeth, willing the power to activate. A sudden force exploded from his palm, rippling through the air as he struck the Meteorborn.

The creature crashed into the wall with a thunderous impact, the force rattling the entire hallway. Theo staggered back, his breaths ragged. Power still thrummed through his veins, a lingering pulse of energy but then a sudden, sharp wave of fatigue slammed into him. His knees wobbled, his body trembling from the strain.

[Ding! Kinetic Pulse on cooldown. Recharge in 10 seconds.]

"You can't be serious!" Theo snapped. "Why can't I just use it nonstop?!"

[Ding! Reminder: Mutation powers improve through combat experience. Keep fighting to unlock new abilities and reduce cooldown time.]

He clenched his jaw. Great. He needed to buy time.

The Meteorborn groaned as it stood, rolling its neck toward him with an eerie smirk. Theo gulped, his pulse hammering. Without wasting a second, he spun on his heel and bolted down the hallway.

Loud, pounding footsteps followed. His stomach twisted. He risked a glance over his shoulder… The Meteorborn was sprinting after him.

"Damn this thing!" he hissed.

He pushed harder, weaving through overturned carts and scattered bodies. His eyes flicked to the timer in his vision.

[5 seconds remaining.]

'Just a little more!'

The Meteorborn leaped, closing the distance between them in a blink. Theo barely managed to throw himself sideways, skidding across the floor.

[1 second.]

He spun, raising his hand for another attack.

[Ding! Kinetic Pulse ready.]

"Yes!" he beamed, unleashing another blast point-blank. The Meteorborn shot backwards, slamming into the wall with a sickening crack.

Theo clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay upright. His vision blurred for a second, his body screaming in protest after using a Kinetic Pulse. The cooldown period had begun.

The Meteorborn, however, wasn't down for long. With an inhuman snarl, it pushed itself off the cracked wall, rolling its shoulders as if shaking off the impact. Its glowing eyes locked onto Theo, and then it grinned.

'A smirk?' Theo's stomach twisted. It's still thinking.

The creature lunged. Faster than Theo expected. He barely dodged, stumbling back, his sluggish limbs making him painfully aware of how much weaker he was now. I need time. He turned and ran.

The hallway stretched ahead, littered with overturned carts, broken stretchers, and scattered medical supplies. He needed a weapon, something heavy, something that could crush that head. 

His eyes darted around frantically. 'There!'

A fire extinguisher mounted on the wall.

The air vibrated as a shockwave burst from Theo's fist, slamming into the Meteorborn. The creature was sent flying backward, crashing into a supply cart with a deafening clang.

Theo staggered, his chest heaving. The familiar wave of exhaustion hit his mutation power on cooldown again. 'Damn it.'

The Meteorborn groaned, pushing itself up from the wreckage, its glowing eyes narrowing with irritation. Unlike the mindless MB Infectees, this one understood. It wasn't just reacting, it was learning.

Theo's grip tightened around the fire extinguisher. No more running. If he didn't finish this now, he wouldn't get another chance.

The Meteorborn lunged, but Theo swung the fire extinguisher with another burst of kinetic energy, driving his attack forward.

CRACK!

The heavy canister smashed against the creature's skull, sending it reeling. But it didn't fall. With a snarl, it swiped at him, Theo barely ducked in time. He retaliated with another swing, this time aiming for the head.

THUD!

The Meteorborn staggered, its body faltering. One more. Theo gritted his teeth and brought the extinguisher down with all his strength, this time with another burst of kinetic energy.

SPLAT!

Once. Twice. Again. The heavy metal crushed its skull with a brutal crunch, ensuring it wouldn't get back up.

The creature's body convulsed, then then, with one final, sickening crunch, it stopped.

[Ding! +100 EXP, +10 Gold Coins]

Theo took a shaky step back, his breath ragged. The fire extinguisher slipped from his fingers, clattering to the floor. His arms trembled from exertion, but he didn't care. 

[Ding! Basic Mutation Power Unlocked

Generates a temporary energy shield to block attacks.

Duration: A few seconds (longer with upgrades).]

Theo let out a breathless chuckle, wiping sweat from his brow. His first real fight with a Meteorborn… and he survived. His powers were still weak, his body not yet adapted to the strain. But he was alive.

He needed to get stronger… fast.

While composing himself, Theo checked his current status.

[Special Ability/Power: Basic Mutation Powers

Enhanced Physique: Strength, agility, and endurance slightly increased.

Adaptive Healing: Minor wounds recover faster.

Kinetic Pulse: Releases a short-range energy burst.

Energy Shield: Generates a temporary energy barrier to block attacks.]

[Mutation Level: 1]

[HP: 100/100]

[EXP: 310]

[MP/EP: 30/50]

[Strength: 15]

[Agility: 15]

[Intelligence: 20]

[Endurance: 20]

[Wealth: 31 Gold Coins]

He gulped and murmured, "Thirty-one gold coins should be equivalent to 3.1 million Nexa Money." Never in his wildest dreams did he think he could have such money.

He was snapped out of his daydreaming by a sudden tug on the hem of his shirt from behind. He turned to find a girl, likely still in her teens, standing there with sparkling eyes and a playful grin. Her lollipop dangled from her lips, but it was the bloodstained patient gown she wore that caught his eye, the crimson stark against her pale skin.

"Hey, Chubby," she said, her voice laced with chilling excitement. "I guess I'm not the only one who woke up with some powers, huh?"