Fear was thick in the air.
Screams. Gunshots. The wailing of car alarms. The city was unraveling, just like before—but this time, I wasn't the prey.
I tightened my grip on the machete, its weight solid in my palm. The cold night breeze carried the scent of burning rubber, blood, and something worse.
A lone figure stumbled into the street ahead of me—a young man, maybe twenty, clutching his stomach. His shirt was soaked in crimson. He looked up, eyes wide, lips trembling. "P-please… help…"
I knew that look. Desperation. Hope. The same way I had looked at Li Mei, begging for my life.
And I knew what would happen next.
The shadows behind him shifted. A figure lunged forward—jaws unhinged, fingers curled like claws.
I moved before I could think. One step. A pivot. A clean arc of my blade.
SHNK!
The machete sliced through flesh, bone, and sinew like butter. The zombie's head flew, landing with a wet thud a few feet away.
The young man gasped, collapsing to his knees. "Oh God… oh God…"
I didn't stay to comfort him. He wouldn't survive the night anyway.
I wiped the blood from my blade, my heart steady. This was the first, but not the last. The city was infested, and I had a long night ahead.
Ding!
[ Mission Update: First Kill Achieved ] [ Combat Instincts: +10% Efficiency ]
A familiar rush spread through my limbs—strength, speed, clarity. The system rewarded survival.
I turned my gaze towards the distant flames, where the real threats lurked.
Tonight, I wouldn't just survive. I would conquer.
I kept moving, stepping over bodies—some twitching, others eerily still. The infection was fast. Some of these people would wake up monsters in mere minutes.
A gunshot rang out nearby.
I turned my head, spotting a lone figure fighting off a group of infected near a wrecked police cruiser. A woman.
Tall, fit, and dressed in a tattered police uniform, she moved like someone trained, precise and sharp—but she was outnumbered.
I could walk away.
Or I could step in, but only on my terms.
Gripping my machete, I made my decision.
With steady steps, I emerged from the darkness, my voice cold. "You're wasting bullets."
She turned sharply, her gun trained on me. Deep brown eyes filled with suspicion. A natural tsundere, I could already tell.
"Who the hell are you?" she snapped, breathless.
"Your only way out."
The first zombie lunged—and I struck.
Her gun fired again. We fought side by side, cutting down the horde in a blur of movement. She was skilled, but reckless.
When the last infected dropped, she wiped sweat from her forehead, sizing me up. "I don't trust you."
I smirked. "Good. That means you'll survive."
She clicked her tongue, but holstered her weapon. "I'm Zhao Yue, officer of the law."
I chuckled. "That law doesn't exist anymore."
She hesitated, then sighed. "Tch. You saved me, so I'll follow for now. But don't get any ideas."
A smirk tugged at my lips. This was going to be fun.
The real game had begun.