Dark Apocalypse

Episode 10

First experience



In the abandoned prison, a shadowy figure was lurking around a corner, stealthily peering out to observe something. Clutched in his right hand was a broken steel pipe.

"One... two... three... four..." Adam muttered shakily, revealing only half of his face as he watched the aimless movement of a few wandering corpses in his line of sight.

Yes, corpses. These things could no longer be considered human, only monsters capable of movement, attacking humans, and devouring them as food.

Though Adam saw only four zombies, he knew there were many more scattered across the plaza. From his brief and panicked glance from the watchtower earlier, he was certain more lurked in places he couldn't see.

Judging by their aimless wandering, it seemed the unfortunate female officer had already been devoured. Hence, the zombies were now drifting without purpose.

"This situation is incredibly unfavorable for me..."

Adam glanced at the steel pipe in his hand, something he had picked up from a corner within the prison, likely broken off from somewhere and discarded. He had grabbed it, making it his only weapon.

Why resort to such crude armament? Why observe the zombies from afar, shivering in fear? To understand, we must revisit what had happened moments before...

"How do I earn these so-called points?" As soon as Adam realized the points could be exchanged for items and abilities, his quick thinking made it clear how crucial this could be for his survival.

If he could indeed trade for weapons or enhanced abilities, escaping might not be impossible! But all of this depended on acquiring points—and how to obtain them?

"There are many ways to earn points, but right now, the most straightforward and viable option for you is just one." The enigmatic entity dwelling inside Adam, who called herself Xu Cai, explained matter-of-factly.

"Slaying zombies... huh..." Adam let out a bitter laugh, glancing between the steel pipe in his hand and the terrifying creatures ahead.

He wasn't sure he could survive even one encounter. In films, zombies often appeared weak and could be killed by ordinary people before forming large hordes. But that was fiction! This was reality!

Though he had once calmly watched the Resident Evil movies, facing such monsters in person was another story. The thought of fighting them up close, with only a steel pipe, made his body tremble uncontrollably.

He was terrified—genuinely terrified! The prospect of being bitten by a zombie filled him with a dread so deep he nearly wanted to run away. These were zombies! Beings that felt no pain or fear, creatures that couldn't be killed unless their brains were destroyed.

If bitten, even escaping wouldn't save him from turning into one. Adam was very aware of this horrifying truth.

"There's an antidote for infection!" Xu Cai's voice echoed in his mind, and a screen appeared, listing the antidote as a one-star exchange item. Effective within ten minutes of infection, it cost 10 points—an expendable, single-use item.

An antidote? Adam was overjoyed but soon sobered. Considering that something as fantastical as Xu Cai existed, an antidote didn't seem so absurd.

But the cost! Ten points to cure an infection! And to earn one point, he'd have to kill a zombie. Meaning he needed to kill ten zombies just to afford one antidote!

"I seriously doubt I can take down ten of them..." Adam abandoned the unrealistic notion, focusing instead on his original plan.

Analyzing his situation, he realized that enhancing his physical capabilities, though tempting, would require too many points and wouldn't yield immediate results. For now, obtaining simple, practical items seemed more feasible.

His top priorities: a lightweight melee weapon, a set of military-grade cold-resistant combat gear, and food. A complete outfit cost 3 points, and three days' worth of high-energy rations another 3 points. In total, he needed to kill six zombies.

"I have no idea how the world outside the prison looks now, but from what I glimpsed earlier, it seems just as chaotic. First step: escape the prison. Then, take things one at a time."

With this plan in mind, Adam began executing it. The first task: lure a single zombie away. Though terrified, he knew survival depended on it.

"If it's just one..." he whispered, trying to muster courage. He believed he had a chance against a slow-moving zombie with the steel pipe.

"Do your best! I have high hopes for you!" Xu Cai's voice chirped in his head, but he ignored it. He was fully focused on studying the zombies.

At last, fortune seemed to favor him. One zombie drifted closer, away from the others. Adam took a deep breath and threw a small stone, just enough to draw that single zombie's attention.

The creature turned and began stumbling toward him, and Adam gripped the pipe tightly with trembling hands.

Closer... closer... Adam held his breath.

He waited—for a chance to strike decisively! A moment to pierce the zombie's brain in one blow. A swift kill, without alerting the others.

The reeking corpse, clad in a prison uniform, drew nearer, only two meters away. The putrid stench almost made Adam gag. Gathering his nerve, he lunged, jabbing the steel pipe into the gaping maw of the advancing monster...