Chapter 8: The Little Girl

"Congratulations, Host, for completing the Title Quest. You have obtained the title [Zombie Slayer] and received a [Random Summon Card]."

"Zombie Slayer (Title): Having slaughtered a sufficient number of ordinary zombies in combat, you can now keenly discern their vital weaknesses, allowing you to deliver swift, fatal strikes with ease."

A cold, mechanical voice echoed repeatedly in Chu Xun's mind. At the same time, he felt a sudden warmth in his right palm, and a playing card-sized item materialized in his grip.

The card was a deep, shadowy purple. At its center was a crimson question mark, beneath which lay a line of tiny text: Random Summon Card. Upon activation, randomly summons a creature that will obey the user's commands.

"Interesting…" Chu Xun's lips curled into a curious, excited grin as he studied the card. He couldn't wait to see what kind of creature this strange item might summon.

If it turned out to be something powerful, his chances of surviving the perilous journey to the infested forest to harvest insect DNA would skyrocket!

"Help! Somebody help!" Before Chu Xun could activate the card, a shrill scream pierced the air.

The voice came from the woods lining the road—a young girl's, by the sound of it. The cries grew louder, indicating she was sprinting toward him.

Sure enough, a petite, disheveled girl burst from the tree line a moment later. Close behind her was a ragged, reeking zombie, howling like a rabid beast as it gave chase.

The girl looked no older than thirteen or fourteen, her face round and innocent, eyes brimming with terrified tears. Malnourishment had left her frail, her patched clothes hanging loosely on her frame. In her right hand, she clutched a rusted dagger—though given its corroded state, it seemed unlikely to offer much protection.

Thud!

Spotting Chu Xun, the girl's eyes lit up with desperate hope. She accelerated toward him—only to trip over a rock mid-sprint. She crashed hard to the ground, landing less than three meters from him.

The zombie roared in triumph, lunging for its prey.

"Damn it!" Chu Xun wasn't heartless enough to ignore this. With a curse, he charged forward, swinging his combat blade at the zombie's head.

Whether due to the [Zombie Slayer] title or sheer instinct, his strike felt unnaturally precise. The blade sliced through the zombie's neck muscles like butter, severing its spine cleanly. The decapitated head flew into the air as the corpse crumpled, spilling thick, blackish-red blood across the dirt.

"Not bad…" Chu Xun smirked, eyeing the motionless remains. This was his cleanest kill yet—no blood spatter, no messy struggle. If only he'd had this skill earlier, he'd have spared himself countless gruesome showers of gore.

"Are you okay—?" Chu Xun turned to help the fallen girl. But as he moved, a searing pain exploded in his side.

The "helpless" girl now stood behind him, her rusted dagger buried in his waist.

"You—!" Chu Xun's rage flared. He lunged to grab her, but she darted backward, abandoning the dagger. To his shock, her speed was extraordinary—far beyond the clumsy, panicked act she'd put on earlier.

"Why?!" Chu Xun roared, tightening his grip on his weapon. But before he could strike, a numbing weakness flooded his body from the wound. His strength evaporated, leaving him swaying unsteadily.

"Don't bother resisting," the girl chirped, her sweet facade cracking to reveal feral cruelty. "That blade was coated with mutant salamander venom. You'll be paralyzed for at least thirty minutes." She tilted her head, studying him like a curious child. "You're stronger than you look… An ability user, right? It's been ages since I've tasted one of your kind. My mouth's watering just thinking about it."

She licked her lips, the innocent gesture now grotesque.

"You're a Wastelander?" Chu Xun choked out.

"Wastelander? That's your people's name for us." She giggled. "I prefer 'Headhunter.' Sounds fiercer, don't you think?"

"Unbelievable…" Chu Xun stared at her cherubic face. This child—this monster—was one of the cannibalistic savages that plagued the outskirts.

"Surprised I'm so small?" She grinned. "Size is an advantage. Makes you soft targets let your guard down."

She took a playful step closer. "Statistics show you surface-dwellers drop your defenses around women and children. Play the damsel chased by zombies, and boom—free meal delivery! Honestly, I adore your 'heroic' types. Makes hunting so… efficient."

"Your acting's impeccable," Chu Xun spat. He knew the world had twisted, but this—

"Oh, there's more!" She preened like a student acing an exam. "I tailed you for hours. Knew you were strong but fragile. Knew you'd avoid zombie bites. Knew you were green—perfect prey. Even brought this piece-of-junk dagger!" She waved the rusted blade. "Fun fact: people trust strangers with shoddy weapons more than unarmed ones. Weird, right?"

Another step closer. "You're nicer than my last catch. That guy ripped my clothes off the second he 'saved' me. Got him while he was… distracted." She giggled. "Men are so predictable when they're horny."

"To honor the feast—and that precious primal crystal in you—I'll eat every scrap," she purred, now an arm's length away. "Your bones I'll arrange artistically. Your skin? A lovely rug! Don't worry—I'll peel it cleanly. I've got skills!"

"You're insane!" Chu Xun's fingers trembled, his blade clattering to the ground.

"Insane? Maybe." She grinned at his helplessness. "But you're about to be insane-person chow. Exciting, isn't it? Feeling that sweet despair yet?"

"Fuck… Not like this…" Chu Xun shuddered, recalling the skinned skeletons he'd found days prior.

Wait—the card!

His hand inched toward his waist pouch. Inside lay his last hope: the [Random Summon Card].

"One shot…" Gritting his teeth, he mustered his fading strength, whipped out the card, and hurled it at the girl.

The dark purple card spiraled through the air, erupting into radiant light. Within the glow, a shadowy form began to take shape…