Chapter 8: The Beginning of the End

The city felt hollow, like a corpse drained of all life.

Zhao Yue and I moved through the debris-littered streets, weapons ready, eyes scanning every dark alley. The wind carried the distant howls of the undead, a constant reminder that we were never truly safe. Mei clung close to Zhao Yue, her small hands gripping the hem of her jacket. The kid had seen too much already.

"Where are we headed?" Zhao Yue asked, her voice low.

"The old broadcasting station," I replied, adjusting my grip on the machete. "If we're lucky, we'll find more than just supplies."

The roads were cracked, cars abandoned in chaotic angles, some with their doors hanging open—silent remnants of those who tried to flee and never made it. Blood splattered the walls, dried handprints smeared like haunting memories.

As we walked, I stole a glance at Zhao Yue. She was alert, her gun raised, but there was a tenseness in her shoulders. She had been a policewoman before everything fell apart—duty-bound, disciplined. Now, she was adapting. She had to.

I exhaled. We all had to.

The broadcasting station loomed ahead, a once-grand building now cracked with decay. The glass doors had been shattered, dried blood smeared across the entrance. Inside, overturned desks and scattered papers told the story of a desperate escape. Someone had been here before us.

Mei hesitated. "Is it safe?"

"No place is safe," I muttered, stepping inside.

Zhao Yue followed, gun raised. "Stay close."

The air inside was stale, thick with dust and the lingering scent of decay. I stepped over a fallen chair, scanning the dark corridors. A sign on the wall read Main Recording Room →.

Bingo.

We moved cautiously, stepping over broken cameras and torn-up cables. As we reached the recording room, something caught my eye—a small data drive left on a desk, next to a shattered coffee mug. It was dusty but intact.

I plugged it into the still-working console and hit Play.

The screen flickered to life.

A woman appeared on the screen, her once-pristine news anchor attire disheveled, strands of hair sticking to her sweat-covered face. She was breathing hard, her eyes darting between the camera and something off-screen.

"This is… this is Liu Fang reporting from—" A loud crash cut her off. She swallowed hard. "We don't have much time. If you're seeing this… know that it wasn't a virus."

My breath stilled.

"Repeat, this wasn't a virus," she continued, gripping the table. "The zombies… they came from the gates."

She turned the camera, showing a large screen behind her. It played footage of the sky tearing open, unnatural black gates swirling in midair. Through them, figures emerged—grotesque, soulless, stumbling at first, but evolving.

"In the beginning, they were slow. Easy to kill. But something is… changing." Her voice cracked. "They're getting stronger. They're mutating."

A distant scream echoed in the background. Something banged against the door.

Liu Fang turned back to the camera, her expression desperate. "If you're out there… get out of the cities. The government lied. The military failed. This is the end."

The screen flickered, distorting as the door behind her burst open. She screamed, the camera tipping over, and then—

Static.

Silence filled the room.

Mei clung to Zhao Yue's side, eyes wide with fear. Zhao Yue herself looked pale, her fingers tightening around her gun.

I let out a slow breath, staring at the dark screen. So that's how it started.

I had already guessed it wasn't a simple outbreak, but seeing the truth laid bare like that…

It was the beginning of the end.

I clenched my fists. And now, it was only getting worse.

The moment of quiet didn't last.

A deep, guttural growl echoed from the hallway. Not human. Not even close.

I turned fast, raising my blade. Zhao Yue aimed her gun.

Then it emerged—a mutant zombie, taller than the others, its skin split open to reveal unnatural muscle fibers. Its eyes glowed faintly red, its fingers elongated into clawed weapons.

Mei whimpered. Zhao Yue cursed. I steadied my grip.

It charged.

I moved first. If I hesitated, we were dead.

Ducking low, I slashed at its legs, forcing it to stumble. Zhao Yue's gun roared, bullets slamming into its chest, but it barely flinched.

"Shit!" Zhao Yue hissed. "It's tougher than the others!"

The mutant lashed out. I barely dodged in time.

I activated my system.

[Target: Mutant Zombie] [Weakness: Spine]

I rolled forward, driving my machete into its back. It screeched, twisting violently, but I held on, yanking my weapon free. Zhao Yue fired again—this time at its exposed spine.

The shot landed. The creature stiffened.

I didn't hesitate. Swinging my machete, I severed its head in one clean motion.

It hit the ground with a sickening thud.

[+250 EXP Earned] [+Loot Drop Acquired] [+1 Mutant Core]

I exhaled, wiping the blood from my face. That was close.

Zhao Yue let out a breath, rolling her shoulders. "We need to leave. Now."

She was right.

I quickly checked my inventory.

[Mutant Core: Can be used to enhance abilities.]

Interesting. So the mutants dropped something valuable.

I pocketed it. Something told me I'd need it soon.

We left the broadcasting station behind, stepping back into the ruined city. The wind howled through the empty streets.

Zhao Yue walked beside me, silent for a while. Then, she finally spoke.

"You knew, didn't you?"

I met her gaze. "Not everything. But enough."

She shook her head. "The way you fight. The way you prepare. You don't act like a man caught in a sudden apocalypse."

I didn't respond. What could I even say?

After a long moment, she sighed. "I don't know what your deal is, but… thanks. For keeping us alive."

I glanced at her. She looked away quickly, cheeks slightly red. Hah. Even in the apocalypse, she was still a tsundere.

I smirked. "Don't mention it."

She scoffed but didn't argue.

The city stretched ahead, full of danger, full of the unknown.

But I wasn't the same man I had been before. This time, I was ready.

[Level Up!] [+2 Stat Points Available]

The end had begun.

But so had my survival.