Dark Apocalypse

Episode 12

Escape from...



The ground was littered with corpses, and among them sat a youth, gasping for breath. He appeared somewhat drained, beads of cold sweat glistening on his forehead, his complexion a shade of pallor.

A broken steel pipe lay discarded on the ground, creating a stark contrast with the chaotic and grotesque bodies surrounding the boy.

Each corpse, or rather, the mangled remains, was drenched in blood; not a single body was intact. The best-case scenario was missing limbs, while most appeared as if they had been savaged by wild beasts, their heads crushed beyond recognition.

"D*mn... this is heart-pounding... far more exhilarating than any so-called thrilling game!"

After a period of heavy breathing, the youth, known as Adam, gradually regained a modicum of clarity. The recent experience had been so perilous that he doubted his own survival, marveling at the sheer luck that had befallen him.

Initially, everything had progressed smoothly, surpassing Adam's own expectations. He had dashed forward, swiftly dispatching one zombie, and before the other two could close in, he moved first.

With a sweeping kick, he sent one zombie sprawling and then pivoted, plunging the steel pipe into the forehead of a third. He easily crushed the skull of the second zombie he had previously kicked aside.

In the face of life-threatening danger, driven by the instinct for survival, Adam executed the entire sequence of actions with surprising efficiency. Even he hadn't anticipated that he would display such prowess.

However, as Adam reveled in the joy of his success and his newfound combat talent, he failed to notice that several corpses nearby had begun to rise.

Danger often lurks in moments of relaxation, and in that instant, Adam acutely understood this truth!

What is the peril of a zombie? Infection! Yes, just a scratch or a bite guarantees infection, transforming one into one of them—assuming you still have your physical form intact...

Moreover, zombies possess tremendous strength! Once captured, it's nearly impossible for an ordinary person to break free. Failing to escape quickly leads to only one fate: being bitten...

Of course, when humans encounter zombies, as long as there aren't too many, escape remains a possibility; speed is crucial.

Yet, if surrounded on all sides by a multitude of zombies, and they are in close proximity... then the outcome is virtually predetermined...

At that moment, watching the zombies suddenly rise around him, shrieking as they lunged toward him, Adam's mind went blank...

Death loomed perilously close, so near that Adam felt as if his heart had completely ceased to beat...

He was unaware of what transpired during that time, and when he regained his senses, he found himself standing alone amidst a sea of scattered, dismembered bodies.

His own form was splattered with grotesque remnants of flesh and dark red blood. As for the steel pipe, it was now broken...

Completely exhausted, Adam collapsed onto the ground, enveloped in a prolonged silence. It wasn't until the evening began to darken that he truly emerged from his stupor.

"Seventeen points..." Adam reflected on the number of points he now possessed. He didn't need to count the corpses to know how many zombies he had slain during that foggy period in his mind.

"Thirteen... how did I accomplish this?" Were zombies terrifying? Undoubtedly! Engaging two or three at close quarters was extremely perilous, and one had to be ready for ambush.

Yet, during the time he was utterly surrounded with no avenue for escape, he had managed to kill thirteen zombies?

With no memories of the event, Adam couldn't fathom how he had done it. All he knew was that, in the end, he had survived, while the zombies lay dead! Moreover, he had checked; despite being splattered with nauseating bits of flesh and blood, he bore no wounds. He had eliminated thirteen terrifying zombies unscathed!

With merely a steel pipe? If it hadn't happened to him, Adam would have laughed at the absurdity of it!

Now, the zombies within the prison should have been eradicated, but out of caution—especially after the harrowing scene he had just witnessed—Adam ensured all the bodies were further dispatched, shattering their heads to prevent any possibility of resurrection.

While he was intrigued by the memory gap surrounding his extraordinary actions, he had no way to recall the events, so he could only tuck the questions away for later.

Now that danger had been eliminated, it was time to leave the prison.

Though his military-grade combat uniform was somewhat soiled, it remained functional. A mere wipe would rid it of the grotesque remnants and blood, preventing any chance of infection. Additionally, this attire was invaluable during the chilly early winter season.

With the steel pipe rendered useless, Adam was compelled to search for a weapon for self-defense. However, with only seventeen points, he could not yet exchange for any formidable melee tools, let alone firearms.

"I'll exchange for three days' worth of compressed biscuits..." Adam spent three points, and three small packages of biscuits appeared in his hands—each package sufficient for a day's hunger and energy replenishment.

Feeling his stomach rumble with emptiness, Adam tore open one package and devoured its contents ravenously. He had expected to lose his appetite in such a bloody setting after the recent m******e.

To his surprise, he felt no revulsion and quickly finished the compressed biscuits, preparing to depart.

Before leaving, Adam first headed to the control room, where he could unlock the main gate. After confirming that no danger lurked outside, he pressed the release button.

Next, he searched the outer buildings of the prison and found a dagger, as well as a revolver on the corpse of a guard, regrettably containing only two bullets. Adam also dismantled a pipe, fashioning it into a new melee weapon.

Once everything was ready, Adam pushed open the massive prison door, standing five or six meters tall and ten meters wide.

"Am I considered to have escaped?" Gazing at the door behind him and the world outside, Adam was momentarily at a loss, unsure whether to feel joy or sorrow...

He... had made it out...