The Oncoming Horde

Lucas Kane stood quietly on the top floor of the Building 8 Island Complex. Everything about the place was pristine—untouched, unoccupied, and eerily quiet. There was no sign of the so-called "cute little creature" the system had mentioned earlier. Still, he shrugged off the thought. Whether it was a cryptic hint or a harmless anomaly, it wasn't important now.

He had chosen this unit for its strategic advantages. Located on the top floor, it offered an unobstructed panoramic view and direct access to the rooftop garden. Lucas had plans for that garden. He would plant the Meat Yam seeds he'd acquired—a high-energy crop from Aquaria. Having food growing nearby meant security and sustainability.

With daylight fading fast, Lucas made a final supply run. He returned to Building 3 and retrieved all his stored supplies, hauling them back to his new base. This was his fortress now. His sanctuary.

As the last rays of sunlight disappeared behind the horizon, the undead began to stir. It was nighttime again—the most dangerous time of day.

Lucas hit the smart panel near the wall. Instantly, every blackout curtain in the apartment slid shut, plunging the place into complete darkness. A second press lit up the home in a bright, even glow. Thanks to the home's advanced design, not a single ray of light leaked outside. Even a zombie standing below wouldn't suspect the room was lit.

He sighed contentedly, sinking into a leather sofa and uncapping a full bottle of purified water. He guzzled half of it in one go.

"Now that's luxury," he muttered.

Accessing the system's trading platform, a string of notifications flooded his interface:

[Ding! You successfully sold 2 rolls of toilet paper and received: Key x1.] [Ding! You successfully sold 2 rolls of toilet paper and received: Fruit Knife x1.] [Ding! You successfully sold 2 rolls of toilet paper and received: Storage Ring Shard x1.] [Ding! You successfully sold 2 rolls of toilet paper and received: Bloodied Key x1.]

Nearly 60 listings—all toilet paper—had sold out completely.

Lucas skimmed the results. From this batch alone, he had gained:

Keys x22, Access Cards x15, Fruit Knives x7, Storage Ring Shards x5, Car Keys x8, and even Energy Cores x2.

Someone had traded Energy Cores for toilet paper.

"That's... unconventional," Lucas murmured, amused. But he understood.

Some survivors had landed in kitchens with weapons and food but lacked essentials like clothing or hygiene products. And stripping down wasn't exactly a long-term survival strategy.

His speculative gamble had paid off massively. A fraction of a toilet paper roll had returned a trove of valuable assets. Other players quickly followed suit, flooding the auction board with their own toilet paper listings. But the market was already oversaturated, and prices plummeted.

The marketplace remained chaotic. Most listings were still junk. Food and water were as valuable as ever—some even demanding 10 Energy Cores for half a bottle of water.

Lucas shook his head.

"To trade life-sustaining resources for power... that's just asking to die."

In a world where water was consumed but cores could be farmed from zombies, the logic was obvious. Until he reached a point of overwhelming strength, secrecy was his best weapon.

He skimmed the chat channels:

"Anyone near the university? I've got food and water. Girls only. No guys." "Looking for my girlfriend, Clara Wynn. DM me if you've seen her!" "Got supplies to trade, but only with familiar faces. Too dangerous out there." "Selling custom videos for food and water. DM for rates."

The ignorance was staggering. They didn't know Victor Cross was dead. Many were still hoping to trade with him, assuming he was enjoying a romantic end-of-the-world getaway.

Meanwhile, the survivor camp—Ethan Cole's project—had grown.

"We've formed strike squads that can take down three zombies at once. Planning a raid on the supermarket tomorrow. Participants will get first pick of resources."

Lucas remained silent.

Strength in numbers had its appeal. But in a world starved of ethics and sustenance, groups could be dangerous. Trust was a liability.

His thoughts were interrupted by a post that froze him in place.

"Another boring day on the rooftop. Saw three more survivors devoured today... Reminder: zombies love hiding in dark corners. And heads-up—there's a MASSIVE horde swarming Welcome Road. I'm talking wall-to-wall undead, including giant ones and crawling freaks. Seriously, it's like a zombie expo out there. Stay away if you value your life."

Lucas's eyes narrowed.

A corpse tide.

His hand instinctively moved toward the hilt of his Tang blade. Not yet sharpened. Not yet complete. But soon...

The real battle was approaching.