Chapter 2: The Beginning of Evolution

A black light flashed for about thirty seconds as the special skeleton forcibly pulled a 1.2-meter-long bone axe out of the zombie's body and gripped it in its hand.

After the bone axe was extracted, the zombie collapsed to the ground like a pile of mud, oozing foul-smelling black pus and blood.

Yue Zhong looked at the special skeleton and pointed to a wooden computer desk beside him, giving an order: "Chop this table in half!"

With a single swing, the special skeleton brought the bone axe down on the wooden desk.

With a loud crack, the desk was split cleanly in two.

"Incredible!" Yue Zhong's heart leapt with joy as he saw the desk cleaved in two. With the powerful undead guardian by his side, his chances of survival had just increased.

After testing the special skeleton's destructive capabilities, Yue Zhong picked up the black coin and examined it closely.

"1 Survival Coin."

That was the only information Yue Zhong received from the coin.

Though he didn't yet know the purpose of the survival coin, Yue Zhong tucked it into his pocket for safekeeping.

At that moment, loud banging erupted from outside the dorm room. Claws pierced through the thin wooden door.

In just a few breaths, the door gave way, and four zombies with blank eyes shoved their way through, crawling into the room.

With a crash, a window in the dorm room shattered as another zombie forced its way in, squeezing through the broken glass.

Looking at the destroyed door, Yue Zhong couldn't help but grimace. "The school really skimped on dorm doors. What a shoddy job. Bone, go take care of those zombies."

The special skeleton, named Bone, obeyed Yue Zhong's command. It dashed forward and swung its bone axe with all its might, cleaving the head off one of the zombies in a spray of black blood.

Almost simultaneously, three zombies lunged at Bone, biting and tearing at its skeletal frame. Piece by piece, the bones were ripped from Bone's body, its health rapidly decreasing. Its right arm, wielding the axe, was seized by one of the zombies, rendering it immobile.

A skeleton and three zombies tangled in a chaotic mess at the doorway.

Seeing this, Yue Zhong leapt forward and struck with all his might, smashing the zombie gripping Bone's axe arm and twisting its head to the side.

A white glow emerged from the zombie's body and merged into Yue Zhong.

With its axe arm freed, Bone swung the weapon and decapitated another zombie clinging to it.

As if sensing living prey, the remaining zombie on Bone released its grip and turned toward Yue Zhong, crawling toward him.

Yue Zhong took a step back, staring at the zombie with its blank eyes, a chunk of flesh torn from its face, and its bloody mouth gaping wide.

These zombies were incredibly dangerous. Even a small scratch in close combat could turn him into one of them. If possible, Yue Zhong wanted to avoid direct confrontation.

Meanwhile, the zombie that had smashed through the window stumbled into the room, making its way toward Yue Zhong.

Outside the door, two more zombies were crawling through the broken entrance.

Sensing Yue Zhong's peril, Bone, still pinned down by zombies, reached out and grabbed one of the creatures.

The zombie crawling toward Yue Zhong was yanked to the ground, giving Yue Zhong the chance to swing his beginner's stick and smash its skull, sending its head lolling to one side.

Another white glow entered Yue Zhong's body.

"You have leveled up to Level 2. You've gained 2 enhancement points. Please allocate them."

As the white glow merged into him, a prompt echoed in Yue Zhong's mind.

"Enhance strength and stamina!" Yue Zhong immediately decided.

The intense battle with the zombies had drained his stamina far more than he'd anticipated. Just dealing with three zombies had reduced his stamina from 8 points to 3. To crush a zombie's skull, Yue Zhong had to strike with all his strength.

A faint warmth flowed through his body as he felt a slight increase in strength and a partial recovery of stamina.

"Congratulations on surviving and defeating monsters. The Divine Demon System will grant you a basic skill. Please choose: Skill 1: Eye of Perception. Allows you to view information on monsters no more than five levels above you. Skill 2: Language Mastery. Lets you easily master any foreign language with no barriers in listening, speaking, or writing. This skill does not count toward your three active skills."

Without hesitation, Yue Zhong made his choice: "I'll take Eye of Perception."

A flash of light appeared, and a bronze-colored rune with an eye symbol formed in Yue Zhong's mind.

Activating the Eye of Perception skill, Yue Zhong turned his gaze toward the zombies.

"Initial Infection Body Level 1: These are early-stage infected bodies, consumed by the virus and driven solely by a hunger for flesh. Ability: Viral Infection – Any living creature with broken skin will be infected by the virus, transforming into an initial infection body within three to ten minutes, depending on constitution. Aside from Level 3 Healing Fluid, no cure exists within this world's medical capabilities for the next ten years."

"Just as I thought!" Yue Zhong's gaze hardened as he grew even more wary of the zombies.

The remaining two zombies staggered toward him.

With one swing of its bone axe, Bone decapitated another zombie. The last zombie lunged at Bone, clawing and ripping a bone from its body.

Seizing the opportunity, Yue Zhong stepped forward and brought his stick down with all his might, smashing the zombie's skull to the side.

"What's this?" With the Eye of Perception skill, Yue Zhong could now clearly see a white glow emerging from the zombie's body and merging into him.

"Could this be the substance that allows me to level up and grow stronger?" Yue Zhong frowned as he considered the possibility.

With no other information to go on, Yue Zhong set the question aside and turned his attention to Bone.

"Special Skeleton (Bone) Level 2.

Strength: 11 (10)

Agility: 11 (10)

Muscle Activity: 11 (10)

Stamina: 9/11 (10)

Spirit: 11 (10)

Endurance: 6 (10)

Skill: Bone Utilization Technique."