Sunshine

The girl's fox-like eyes locked onto him, unblinking. Her shoulder-length pink hair, cut into a sharp bob with straight bangs, framed her face. She looked both adorable and chillingly dangerous at the same time.

"So, what's your power, huh, Chubby?" she mused, tilting her head as she removed the lollipop from her mouth.

Theo frowned. "My name is Theo. Address me by my name."

"Oh, and I'm Sunshine! But most people call me Shine!" she chirped, her excitement infectious. But just as quickly, that bright smile faded, replaced by an unreadable expression.

Before he could react, his eyes widened as her arm suddenly elongated toward him, fingers stretching unnaturally as if reaching for his head.

Instinct took over. Theo activated his energy shield but her hand passed right by his ear. A sickening splatter sounded behind him.

When he turned, his stomach churned at the sight of a crushed head, the remains of an MB Infectee, its body twitching on the ground.

Shine hummed, unfazed, giving him a wink. "Oh, sorry about that. My powers are still a mess."

Powers?

Theo swallowed hard. "Do you… also have a system?" he asked as she casually wiped the blood from her hospital gown.

"A system? What do you mean?" she asked with a frown.

"Your power?" he mumbled.

She rolled her eyes. "Are you blind, Chubby? Can't you see? I'm elastic! What system are you talking about?"

She huffed, crossing her arms. "Those zombies tried to bite me while I was sleeping in my room. They practically woke me up from my slumber. But their bites didn't get through my flesh at all. They're so creepy that, out of instinct, I started extending my limbs here and there. They just don't die, but I found out crushing their heads kills them." She pouted as if complaining about a minor inconvenience.

Theo's brows furrowed. "So you were also hit by a meteorite?"

"Yes, and I guess that meteorite turned my body into rubber?" she answered, still pouting. Then her eyes gleamed with curiosity. "I saw you fighting that grotesque creature. You seem to have incredible strength. No ordinary human could crack a wall and the ground like that while killing a monster."

She pointed at the shattered wall, then at the fractured floor beneath them.

"I'm not sure yet what particular power I got, but I guess you're right. I somehow acquired strength," he commented with a sigh. Then his expression turned serious as he stared at her.

"What?" she scoffed, raising a brow. "I know I'm pretty, but staring in this situa-"

"How old are you?" he cut her off.

"Seventeen," she answered with a frown.

Theo crossed his arms. "I'm older than you, young lady. I'm practically your older brother, so address me with respect and don't call me Chubby! My name is Theo!"

She smirked. "You're not my brother, so don't tell me what to do. I'll call you as I see fit… and to me, you're Chubby."

Before he could argue, she turned on her heel.

"Where are you going?" he called after her.

"Getting changed! I'm stinking of blood," she said over her shoulder.

Theo turned to the other side of the wing, the area he hadn't explored yet. Everything had gone eerily quiet after that announcement. He figured everyone was hiding by now.

'Should I clear out the whole floor of MB Infectees?' he wondered. But the thought of encountering another Meteorborn made him hesitate.

'I'll need more money,' he mused. He had to secure a safe place for his family, especially his mother. Besides, eliminating more MB Infectees would help prevent the infection from spreading further.

Not to mention how he needed to level up in all aspects, especially in gaining more powers and abilities for future use.

Theo was about to walk to the other side of the floor, only to be stopped by a hand gripping his wrist.

"What are you doing?!"

Theo pulled his hand free and turned to the security guard. "I'm trying to help others by killing more infectees. What else?" he answered with a furrowed brow. Time was ticking, and he needed to move quickly before the military reached their floor. He was sure the military was taking down infectees, so he would help them and gain more gold coins.

"Are you crazy?! Just stay in the safe room and secure it with the others. Come with me!" the guard instructed, pulling his arm.

But Theo swatted his hand away and said, "Please, just rescue more survivors and let me do my thing."

"Young man, you should listen and-"

The guard gulped as arms suddenly rounded him, pulling him inside a room and knocking him down. It was that woman's doing, Shine. She was grinning as she approached Theo and said, "He talks too much right? Let's go and kill more zombies."

Theo's face crumpled. He would lose points with this girl tagging along.

"What?!" she questioned, seeing the hesitation on his face.

"How about you protect this wing instead, Shine? You see, my sister is at the other end… Can you make sure no MB Infectees cross over from here and enter through the elevator like that Meteorborn from earlier?" he asked her.

She squinted her eyes at him, analyzing. "So I guess your special power is a system, huh? How come you know what they're called, like MB Infectees and Meteorborn? Gosh… the power and ability you obtained seem better!"

Her eyes widened as she beamed. "You have a system guiding you!"

'This girl seemed more knowledgeable than her playful, easygoing attitude suggested,' Theo thought.

He simply gave her a half-smile and said, "I'm still trying to figure out my powers and abilities. Stay here and protect this area. I'll be back soon."

"Alright, Chubby," she said with a grin. Then she looked at her wristwatch and added, "I'll give you fifteen minutes to clear the other side, and if you're not back by then, I'll come to your rescue."

He simply nodded at her.

"Good luck, Chubby! Timer starts now!" she called.

Theo shook his head and walked toward the other side of the floor.

His gaze swept across the hallway. He spotted a mounted emergency box on the wall with a firefighter's axe resting on its hooks. Without hesitation, he strode toward it and smashed the glass with his elbow.

"This'll do." He grabbed the axe, gripping the handle tightly, then proceeded down the hallway just as a group of MB Infectees emerged from an open door of a patient room. There were four this time, their bloodshot eyes locking onto him. One of them let out a shrill, guttural scream before slowly charging.

Theo didn't hesitate. With a swift step forward, he swung the axe with all his strength. The sharp blade cleaved clean through the Infectee's head.

[Ding! +10 EXP, +1 Gold Coin]

The other three lunged at him, and Theo took them down with ease, striking each one right through the head.

[Ding! +10 EXP, +1 Gold Coin]

[Ding! +10 EXP, +1 Gold Coin]

[Ding! +10 EXP, +1 Gold Coin]

It was way too easy for him now, especially with his energy shield protecting him against groups of four or five at a time.

After taking down more than ten MB Infectees, another notification flashed before him.

[Ding! Basic Mutation Power Unlocked

Instinctive Evasion: Reaction speed improved.]

Theo exhaled. Fifteen minutes were already up, and he was sure he had cleared this part of the floor. He turned to head back to the wing where his sister was, but the sudden sound of boots pounding against the floor echoed behind him.

He spun around to find a line of soldiers coming through the fire exit, their rifles raised and aimed directly at him.

"Don't move!" one of them shouted, voice cold and commanding. "Hands up, now!"