Chapter 5: The Outbreak Begins
Midnight arrived, and with it, an eerie silence blanketed the city. Zhou Kai stood by his window, his gaze fixed on the skyline. The lights flickered ominously, and a low hum vibrated through the air.
His chest tightened. It's starting...
A loud crash shattered the stillness, followed by screams. Chaos erupted in the streets below as people ran in panic, their faces twisted in terror. Zhou Kai watched in grim silence, his heart pounding.
They were here. The first wave of the undead.
> [Ding! Quest Activated: Survive the First Wave]
[Objective: Survive the initial outbreak and reach a safe location]
[Reward: 1000 EXP, Skill Upgrade: Danger Sense]
[Failure Penalty: Death]
The quest screen flickered before him, but Zhou Kai was already in motion. Grabbing his backpack, he secured his Survival Knife at his waist and double-checked his inventory. Everything he had prepared was there—food, water, medical supplies, and weapons.
Time to move.
He opened the door cautiously, the hallway dim and silent. But his Danger Sense prickled, warning him of the danger lurking nearby.
> [Ding! Hidden Quest No. 1 Activated]
[Quest: The First Hunt]
[Objective: Eliminate 10 Zombies]
[Reward: Skill: Appraisal (View Others' Status), 500 EXP, Mysterious Box]
[Failure Penalty: None]
Zhou Kai's eyes widened. A hidden quest? And the reward... Appraisal? I'll be able to see other people's status? The possibilities were endless. He could evaluate enemies, allies, and even see through any deception.
His lips curled into a grin. Perfect. This will give me an edge over Liu Chen and Lin Mei.
Steeling himself, Zhou Kai moved through the hallway, his footsteps silent. The first zombie appeared around the corner, its lifeless eyes locking onto him. Its mouth hung open, a guttural groan escaping its throat as it lunged.
Zhou Kai's body reacted instinctively. He sidestepped, his knife flashing as he plunged it into the zombie's skull. The creature fell limp, the light fading from its eyes.
> [Zombie Defeated! 50 EXP Gained]
[1/10 Zombies Eliminated]
One down. Nine to go.
He moved quickly, his senses on high alert. Two more zombies staggered down the hallway, their movements slow but relentless. Zhou Kai didn't hesitate. He charged forward, his blade slashing through the air with deadly precision.
> [Zombie Defeated! 50 EXP Gained]
[Zombie Defeated! 50 EXP Gained]
[3/10 Zombies Eliminated]
His movements were fluid, his training paying off. But he couldn't afford to get cocky. These were just the first wave—weak, uncoordinated, and slow. Later, they would evolve. They would become faster, smarter, deadlier.
He continued his hunt, moving through the building with calculated precision. His Danger Sense guided him, alerting him to nearby threats before they could ambush him.
> [Zombie Defeated! 50 EXP Gained]
[Zombie Defeated! 50 EXP Gained]
[Zombie Defeated! 50 EXP Gained]
[6/10 Zombies Eliminated]
He was halfway there, but his body was starting to feel the strain. His muscles burned, his breathing heavy. But he pushed on, his determination unwavering.
His next target was in the stairwell, its back turned as it gnawed on a corpse. Zhou Kai's eyes hardened. He moved swiftly, his knife piercing the zombie's head from behind. It slumped forward, lifeless.
> [Zombie Defeated! 50 EXP Gained]
[7/10 Zombies Eliminated]
The final three were clustered together in the lobby, drawn by the scent of fresh blood. Zhou Kai's grip tightened on his knife. I'll take them all out at once.
He charged in, his body moving with newfound speed and agility. His blade danced through the air, slicing through flesh and bone. The zombies fell one by one, unable to react in time.
> [Zombie Defeated! 50 EXP Gained]
[Zombie Defeated! 50 EXP Gained]
[Zombie Defeated! 50 EXP Gained]
[10/10 Zombies Eliminated]
[Hidden Quest No. 1 Complete!]
[Reward: Skill: Appraisal, 500 EXP, Mysterious Box]
[Level Up!]
[Level: 5]
A rush of power surged through him, his body rejuvenated. But the real prize was the new skill.
> [New Skill Acquired: Appraisal]
[Appraisal: Allows the user to view the status and abilities of others. Can also reveal hidden attributes and weaknesses.]
Zhou Kai's eyes gleamed with excitement. This skill was invaluable. Not only could he gauge the strength of enemies, but he could also see through any deception from Liu Chen or Lin Mei.
Let's test it out.
He activated Appraisal, his vision shifting as information flooded his mind. He could see the stats of the fallen zombies—their strength, speed, and even their weaknesses. It was like having a cheat code.
He turned his attention to the Mysterious Box in his inventory. It glowed faintly, its contents unknown.
> [Mysterious Box: An item rewarded for completing a hidden quest. Contents are random but valuable.]
[Would you like to open it?]
Zhou Kai didn't hesitate. "Open."
The box shattered into light, revealing its contents.
> [You received: Skill Book – Shadow Step]
[Shadow Step: A movement skill that allows the user to move silently and quickly, perfect for ambushes or escapes.]
Zhou Kai's grin widened. This is too good. Not only did he gain Appraisal, but now he had a skill that could make him nearly undetectable.
His eyes turned to the chaos outside, where the zombies continued to spread. He was ready. With these skills, he could survive.
But more than that... He could hunt.
Lin Mei... Liu Chen... I'm coming for you. And now, there's nowhere to hide.
---
End of Chapter 5