Once we agreed to work together, she wasted no time and began explaining the situation in a low, steady voice. According to her, this district was crawling with zombies — not just a few stragglers, but possibly hundreds of thousands. The streets, alleys, and even buildings were likely filled with the undead. Her expression stayed calm, but the weight of her words was enough to make the air feel heavier.
Fortunately, she added, there were no mutant zombies reported in the area, aside from the bulky, muscle-packed one we had seen earlier. That alone was a relief. Facing off against ordinary zombies was one thing — facing an intelligent or mutated variant would be suicide. As for supplies, she pointed out the supermarket a few blocks down. It was the last known building with significant resources still intact, though getting there wouldn't be easy.
After taking in all the necessary information and mentally mapping out our plan of action, I stood up from where I had been crouched, the sound of my boots lightly scraping against the floor. Without a word, I reached behind my waist and unsheathed my two newly acquired daggers. The blades gleamed dully in the low light, each one feeling familiar in my grip, like extensions of my own hands.
I turned to the door, hand resting on the knob for a moment."Alright then, follow me," I said quietly, and swung the door open.
"Yeah," she replied, as she holds her staff above.
She whispered a chant under her breath, and in seconds, a soothing blue glow surrounded my body—
a powerful buff spell that surged strength into my limbs, enhancing all my attributes by 25%.
---
Status Check:
> Jefford Cliff (Master)
HP: 2300/2300
Mana: 1000/1000
Mana Regen: 1 MP/sec
Class:
Storeman
Close Combat Warrior
Fort Warrior
Attack Points: 10 (+45)
Attack Speed: 2 (+0.25)/sec
Others: Not unlocked
Buff: All attributes improved by 25%
Duration: 24 minutes & 46 seconds
> Ella Mai (Companion)
HP: 2600/2600
Mana: 30,000/35,000
Mana Regen: 100 MP/sec
Class: Healer
Attack/Healing: 250
Others: Not unlocked
---
We stepped outside the room, boots echoing on the cold tiles.
I made my way down the corridor, back to that door…
The one where I'd heard their desperate pleas—
"Please... kill us! Don't let us turn into monsters!"
The hinges hung broken, barely holding the door in place.
I peeked inside.
Two zombies—once humans—now gnawed at the remains of a man.
Chunks of flesh torn from his back, blood soaking into the floor.
They devoured him like starving animals.
I turned to Ella and gave the signal.
"Go."
She moved in behind me, slamming the door shut.
The click of the lock echoed, snapping the creatures from their feast.
They turned, eyes wild, jaws dripping with gore.
---
> ⚠️ Zombies detected
Mission: Eliminate all zombies.
Reward: Gain information on Speed.
---
No hesitation.
I surged forward, instincts sharp.
My dagger met the first zombie's neck—one clean slice, head gone.
I spun, ducked low, and carved upward through the second, splitting its chest open.
Blood sprayed.
They fell, lifeless.
---
> ✅ All zombies in the room eliminated.
Reward claimed: Ability to Status Check speed—both personal and others'.
---
I stood over the mangled bodies.
The man—the father, most likely—lay sprawled in a pool of his own blood, face frozen in horror.
Then Ella gasped.
"Jefford… over there."
She pointed toward another door.
I stepped forward, heart heavy.
Inside…
A woman and a young girl.
Both dead.
Each with a blade piercing their skulls.
A choice.
They had chosen death over becoming monsters.
"...This is hell," I whispered.
---
I swallowed the rising lump in my throat.
Then noticed something clutched tightly in the mother's pale, rigid fingers.
A note.
---
> To whomever is reading this,
We have a rifle and some grenades located in the basement of this room. You may use it.
Yours truly,
The Deceased Family.
---
"...Thank you," I whispered, bowing my head in respect.
I followed the stairs into the basement.
The air was musty, filled with dust and old memories.
On top of a wooden crate, like a final gift, sat an M16 rifle—gleaming, untouched.
I picked it up.
Fully loaded.
Stored it inside my interdimensional inventory.
---
When I came back up, Ella was waiting near the stairs, mouth slightly agape.
"You… have an inventory?" she asked in awe.
I nodded.
"Yeah. And I can also combine materials. That's how I made the medicine that saved your life."
I reached out and gently patted her head.
"H-Hey! D-Don't pat me like I'm some kid!" she pouted, cheeks flushing.
"So, what did you find?"
"Canned food and noodles. Not much, but it'll keep us going."
"That's perfect," I replied. "But let's not eat here."
My eyes glanced back at the blood-soaked floor. "This place… feels cursed."
---
Ella lit up suddenly.
"Oh! I know a better spot!"
"Not completely safe, but more space—and we can eat properly."
"Where?"
"Across the street."
"...And?"
"It's full of zombies. But no mutants."
I paused, then slowly reached out and took her hand.
"Let's go."
---
We descended the building's stairs, every step filled with tension.
---
> ⚠️ Master, I don't sense any strong zombies or humans nearby.
You may unleash your wrath now.
---
Perfect.
I activated my Close Combat Warrior class.
Energy surged through my limbs.
My muscles felt heavier—stronger.
Like a warrior reborn.
And then—
I charged.
My blade danced through the crowd.
One head after another.
Limbs flew.
Skulls cracked.
Rotten flesh split open beneath the force of my strikes.
Ella moved with me, cautious and sharp.
Covering my blind spots, watching my back.
Together, we made our way to the next building.
But then…
We looked up.
A flood of bodies—hundreds of zombies—crawled over each other, climbing the stairs like a tidal wave of death.
Ella's face turned pale.
"So… what's your plan, Jefford?"
I turned toward her.
A grin tugged at my lips.
"Watch this."
I pulled out the M16.
Took aim.
And opened fire.
---
> ✅ Lvl 1 Zombie killed
✅ Lvl 1 Zombie killed
✅ Lvl 1 Zombie killed...
---
BRRTT! BRRTTT!
Gunfire thundered through the building.
The first line of zombies fell in heaps.
Ella froze—shocked by the firepower.
"Jefford! We have to retreat! We'll run out of bullets at this rate!"
I turned to her, voice steady.
"No. We stand our ground."
Then, I tossed her a second rifle—
an exact replica I had crafted.
"KEEP FIRING—OR WE DIE!"
Her eyes widened.
Then narrowed.
She grabbed the gun, held it firm—
and began firing, calmly and precisely.
Every shot was a headshot.
Side by side, we mowed them down.
The pile of corpses grew into a barrier.
The hallway was littered with bodies.
The stench was unbearable.
But we were alive.
---
"Phew… that was a nice workout," I said, panting.
Ella looked at me sideways.
"It felt like… you were training for something bigger."
I grew quiet.
Then looked at her, serious.
"Have you seen how many are infected, Ella?"
"This outbreak… isn't just here.
It's everywhere.
And the more the infection spreads—
the more mutations we'll have to face."
I clenched my fists.
"That's why I'm doing this. Why I'm fighting every moment. Because I don't want to… I'm scared that if I won't be able to save the people that I care and cherish and that one day I may fall and turn into a heartless monster"
My words faded.
The weight of everything bore down on me.
---
Then—warmth.
Ella embraced me from behind, arms trembling slightly.
"I'm here, Jefford, I'll stay with you through thick and mud" she whispered softly.
I turned toward her close face and said thankyou Ella.
Our faces inches apart.
Our breaths mingled.
Time slowed.
And then—
I leaned in.
Our lips met.
A gentle kiss.
One full of emotion, pain, hope… and the beginnings of love.
When we parted, I stared into her eyes.
"Thank you, Ella… I've fallen for your kindness."