The First Mutation
1147 Words
ROAR!
The Mutated Zombie charged like a wild beast.
Its heavy footsteps shook the basement floor.
Arthur's face turned pale.
"Run!"
He grabbed Aiko's hand and immediately turned around.
Behind them, hundreds of zombies began chasing them.
The entire basement erupted into chaos.
Growls echoed everywhere.
Aiko's breathing became erratic.
"We're going to die!"
Arthur clenched his teeth.
"No! Keep moving!"
The mutant was incredibly fast.
Far faster than ordinary zombies.
In only a few seconds, it had already shortened the distance.
Boom!
Its claw smashed into a parked car.
Metal crumpled like paper.
The car alarm began blaring.
Arthur's pupils shrank.
If that attack had landed on them—
They would have been instantly killed.
DING!
---
Warning!
Host survival probability has dropped to 1%.
---
Arthur nearly cursed.
One percent?!
This system really loved reminding him that he was about to die.
The maintenance tunnel was only fifty meters away.
But with the mutant chasing them, fifty meters felt like fifty kilometers.
Suddenly—
Aiko stumbled.
"Ah!"
She fell to the ground.
Arthur immediately stopped.
The mutant was already less than ten meters away.
Its massive claws dripped with blood.
Its red eyes were filled with hunger.
"Arthur..."
Aiko's face turned pale.
"Go... leave me..."
Arthur froze.
Leave her?
He looked at the terrified nurse.
Then at the monster.
Any rational person would run.
He had only known her for a few hours.
This was the apocalypse.
People abandoned family members to survive.
Yet...
Arthur sighed.
"You're really asking the wrong person."
He reached down and pulled her up.
"W-What?"
"I'm not leaving anyone behind."
Aiko stared at him.
For a moment, she forgot the monsters.
In this ruined world...
Someone was still willing to save others.
Her eyes suddenly became slightly red.
ROAR!
The mutant jumped.
Arthur's face changed.
Too fast!
Without thinking, he pushed Aiko away.
Boom!
The mutant's claw slammed into Arthur.
"UGH!"
He was thrown several meters away.
His body crashed into a car.
Pain exploded throughout him.
Several ribs had probably broken.
Blood flowed from his forehead.
"Arthur!"
Aiko screamed.
The mutant slowly approached him.
Its mouth opened wide.
Arthur struggled to stand.
His vision became blurry.
This thing was impossible to defeat.
DING!
---
Host Health Critical.
Emergency Starter Pack Available.
Open package?
YES / NO
---
Arthur immediately selected YES.
A bright light appeared.
---
Congratulations!
You have obtained:
- Beginner Strength Potion ×1
- Beginner Agility Potion ×1
- Steel Machete ×1
- Fire Grenade ×2
---
Arthur's eyes widened.
He quickly drank both potions.
Warm energy immediately spread through his body.
His muscles became stronger.
His senses sharpened.
Even the pain lessened.
He grabbed the steel machete.
The blade gleamed coldly.
ROAR!
The mutant charged again.
This time—
Arthur could see it clearly.
Its movements had slowed.
No...
He had become faster.
He dodged sideways.
Boom!
The mutant smashed another vehicle.
Arthur took the opportunity.
Slash!
The machete cut deeply into its arm.
Dark blood splattered.
ROAR!!
The mutant let out an angry roar.
Aiko stared in shock.
"He... got stronger?"
Arthur himself was surprised.
The system items were ridiculous.
However—
The wound was already healing.
Arthur's expression sank.
Regeneration.
This monster could regenerate.
ROAR!
The mutant attacked again.
Arthur barely blocked.
Bang!
The force sent him sliding backward.
His arms became numb.
He couldn't win a direct fight.
Then his eyes landed on the fire grenades.
An idea appeared.
"Aiko!"
She looked at him immediately.
"When I tell you to run, don't stop!"
"W-What are you planning?"
Arthur smiled bitterly.
"I'm gambling."
Before she could ask further—
Arthur charged.
The mutant roared and met him head-on.
Slash!
Slash!
Several wounds appeared on its body.
The creature became even angrier.
It raised both claws.
Arthur's eyes narrowed.
Now!
He immediately threw the first grenade.
Boom!
A huge explosion erupted.
Flames engulfed the mutant.
The shockwave knocked Arthur backward.
ROAR!!!
The monster screamed in pain.
Its entire body burned.
The smell of charred flesh filled the basement.
But—
It was still alive.
Arthur's heart sank.
What kind of monster was this?
The burning mutant suddenly looked at him.
Its eyes had become even more bloodthirsty.
Then—
It charged once more.
Arthur's expression changed.
Too close.
He couldn't dodge.
At that moment—
Aiko suddenly appeared.
"Arthur!"
She threw a metal oxygen tank toward the mutant.
Arthur immediately understood.
He grinned.
"Nice one!"
He threw the second grenade.
BOOOOOOM!!!
A massive explosion shook the entire basement.
Fire swallowed everything.
The mutant was sent flying.
Cars overturned.
Windows shattered.
Several zombies nearby were blown apart.
Silence.
Smoke filled the air.
Arthur coughed repeatedly.
"Aiko!"
"I'm okay!"
Slowly, the smoke cleared.
The mutant lay on the ground.
Its body was badly burned.
One arm had been blown off.
Yet...
It was still moving.
Arthur's face twitched.
"Just die already!"
The mutant slowly raised its head.
Its remaining eye stared directly at Arthur.
Then—
It tried to stand.
Arthur immediately rushed forward.
With all his strength—
Slash!
The steel machete cut through its neck.
Thud.
The mutant's head rolled across the floor.
Silence.
A few seconds later—
DING!
---
Mutated Zombie Eliminated!
Experience +100
Emergency Mission Completed!
Rewards Granted.
---
A golden light suddenly surrounded Arthur.
Warm energy flowed throughout his body.
His injuries began healing.
His fatigue disappeared.
DING!
---
Host has leveled up!
Level: 2
Strength increased.
Agility increased.
Endurance increased.
Skill Unlocked:
【Appraisal Lv.2】
---
Arthur slowly opened his eyes.
He felt completely different.
Stronger.
Faster.
Healthier.
Aiko stared at him in shock.
"You..."
Arthur smiled.
"I think I survived."
For the first time since the apocalypse began—
He truly felt that he had a chance.
Suddenly—
Another notification appeared.
---
World Announcement!
First Mutated Zombie has been killed.
Rewarding pioneer bonus.
Future mutations have officially begun.
---
Arthur froze.
"...What?"
At the same time—
All over the world.
Survivors heard the same message.
In underground shelters.
Military bases.
Safe zones.
Ruined cities.
Countless people looked toward the sky in horror.
Future mutations...
Had officially begun.
This meant—
The zombies would continue evolving.
The apocalypse had just become much worse.
Arthur slowly clenched his fists.
The easy days—
No.
There had never been easy days.
But from now on—
Things would only become more terrifying.
Growls suddenly echoed nearby.
The explosion had attracted even more zombies.
Arthur looked toward the maintenance tunnel.
"Let's go."
Aiko nodded immediately.
The two hurried toward the exit.
However—
Neither of them noticed.
Inside the mutant's corpse—
A strange black crystal slowly formed.
A faint dark light pulsed from within it.
And somewhere far away...
In the ruins of Tokyo...
A pair of golden eyes slowly opened.
A deep voice echoed.
"...The first player has appeared."
The figure slowly smiled.
"interesting".
- Writer
