A sharp slashing sound cut through the air as Alex swung the axe with lethal precision.
The zombie's head split cleanly in two, collapsing instantly.
Alex froze for a fraction of a second, shock running through him. He hadn't expected his newfound strength to be this extreme. The axe had sliced through the creature as effortlessly as a hot knife through butter.
From above, the woman's terrified screams pierced the air, fraying the edges of the moment. The bloody carnage at her feet only amplified her panic—but Alex silently acknowledged the unintended help. Her cries had drawn every zombie's attention. Smart, if reckless.
Then—danger.
Two zombies at the edge of the chaos finally noticed him, their decayed faces twisted with hunger. They lunged forward, shuffling and snapping with alarming speed.
Alex crouched instinctively, raising the Explosion Shield to guard his head.
One of the zombies slammed into the shield, claws scraping metal with a shrill, grating sound. Growls reverberated through the alley as it tried to climb over, reaching for him like a grotesque spider.
Alex's muscles tensed. Now or never.
He heaved the shield upward with all his strength. The zombie's weight shifted, and with a sickening crack, it slammed into the wall behind them. Dust and fragments of brick sprayed outward. The creature's body twitched briefly before going still.
The second zombie froze, momentarily confused by the sudden display of force. Alex's eyes narrowed. He didn't pause to relish the kill. Every movement had to be precise—hesitation here would be fatal.
But the second zombie didn't wait. It lunged forward, teeth snapping and claws outstretched.
Alex didn't flinch. He brought the fire axe down in a swift, precise hacking motion. The blade connected cleanly with the zombie's neck, severing its head in a single, gruesome strike.
Before he could catch his breath, the first zombie—the one he'd thrown—regained its footing. Its hollow eyes fixed on him, teeth bared in a snarl, staggering forward with horrifying determination.
Alex sidestepped with ease, adrenaline sharpening every sense. He swung the axe in a perfect arc. The blade slammed between the zombie's eyes, and the creature collapsed, finally still.
Silence settled around him—just for a moment. Three zombies down.
And yet… his muscles felt fresh, alive, unstoppable. Not a hint of fatigue. Not even a bead of sweat.
Then a glimmer caught his eye.
The word "Collect" appeared in bright letters above the bodies, hovering like a promise.
Alex's heart skipped.
In the next instant, the corpses of the zombies vanished into thin air, leaving nothing but the faint smell of blood and decay behind.
Energy surged through him as he realized what had happened. The system wasn't just letting him survive—it was rewarding him for efficiency, strength, and precision.
**[System] You have collected a zombie corpse and obtained Energy Crystal *1, Lighter 1, Mutated Fertilizer 3]
Alex blinked at the notification, the glow of the interface reflected faintly in his eyes.
Mutated Fertilizer. The name sounded harmless enough—something to help crops grow. But when he inspected it, his stomach twisted slightly. It was nothing more than a pile of rotten, decayed meat, scavenged from the zombie's body.
Still, he let out a quiet sigh of relief. It didn't smell, it didn't stain, and—most importantly—it could fit neatly into his storage ring without a problem. Survival, after all, required order even in chaos.
Alex crouched over the next corpse, scanning for useful items. The zombies weren't just enemies—they were unexpected treasure troves if handled carefully. Each one yielded small, practical tools or objects untouched by decay.
**[System] You have collected a zombie corpse and obtained Energy Crystal *1, Car Keys 1, Mutated Fertilizer 3]
**[System] You have collected a zombie corpse and obtained Room Keys *1, Unit Door Restriction Card 1, Mutated Fertilizer 2]
**[System] You have collected a zombie corpse and obtained Energy Crystal 1, Mutated Fertilizer 5]
The notifications kept flooding in, each one a heartbeat, a reminder of his efficiency and growing power. The Energy Crystals pulsed faintly, glowing like tiny suns in the digital space of his ring, while the other items promised small but vital advantages for later.
Alex's chest swelled slightly—not with pride, but with the thrill of survival. Every kill, every collection, was another step toward strength, toward control, toward mastery in a world that had been designed to crush him.
And yet… he couldn't shake the feeling that the real challenges were still waiting just beyond the next street corner.
After collecting eight zombie corpses, Alex sat back on the edge of the debris and counted his spoils:
Mutated Fertilizer ×30
Energy Crystals ×3
Car Keys ×1
Room Key ×1
Unit Door Restriction Card ×1
Lighters ×2
Alien Paper Currency worth 325 dollars
He let out a quiet breath.
So this was what "collecting" meant—harvesting the useful belongings of every zombie he dispatched.
Alex noted one important detail: the Energy Crystals weren't guaranteed. Not every zombie dropped one, meaning the drop rate was far from 100%. Strategy and efficiency clearly mattered. Wasting kills could cost him valuable resources.
He scanned the surrounding area. Silence. No shuffling footsteps. No low growls. The streets were empty for now, giving him a rare moment to inspect his haul.
The items each had their own significance:
Mutated Fertilizer—capable of accelerating crop and livestock growth, a practical boon for survival and long-term planning.
Energy Crystals—enhanced physical strength, the very reason his recent kills had gone so effortlessly.
Lighters, door keys, car keys—mundane at first glance, but potentially critical depending on which units, rooms, or vehicles they corresponded to.
Even the Alien Paper Currency hinted at the strange, structured economy of this world—something Alex would need to understand sooner or later.
Every item, every crystal, was a tool for survival. And the knowledge of how to use them—or when to use them—might soon mean the difference between life and death.
Alex stood, surveying the street. The woman's cries had faded somewhere in the distance, replaced by an uneasy quiet. For now, he had survived. For now, he had won.
But deep down, he knew this was only the beginning.
A sharp chime echoed in Alex's mind. A push notification appeared, detailing the practical uses of his newly acquired items:
[Car Key]: Off-road vehicle key. You can go to the underground parking lot to try your luck.
[Forbidden Card]: Block 3, Unit 2 Entrance Card.
[Door Key]: Block 3, Block 2, Block 5, Block 2 Entrance Key.
[Cash]: Can be spent on packaged food from an Automatic Vending Machine.
Alex raised an eyebrow, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Considerate.
The system wasn't just giving him items—it was teaching him how to survive. Each notification made him aware of the value and potential of his loot, turning what might have been mundane objects into strategic tools.
He tucked the items carefully into his storage ring, making sure each one had its place.
Every key, every note of currency, every card could mean the difference between life and death in the coming hours.
With a final glance at the street behind him, Alex made his decision.
The nearby apartment building beckoned—a place of potential safety, resources, and, most importantly, opportunity.
With the fire axe in one hand, shield in the other, and the weight of his new arsenal secured, he moved toward the building.
Each step was deliberate, every sound measured. The world outside might be chaos, but inside, Alex intended to stay in control.
Alex ignored the woman's desperate pleas from the rooftop. Her cries tugged at the edges of his conscience, but survival came first. Supplies were scarce. One more mouth to feed—or protect—could easily mean both of them would die.
He focused on the task at hand.
The door to Block 3, Unit 2 loomed ahead, a sturdy barrier of tempered glass and alloy steel. Alex retrieved the Unit Door Restriction Card from his pocket and swiped it across the reader. A faint click and a soft hum told him the door had granted access.
Crouching slightly, he peered through the glass, scanning the interior for any sign of danger. The first floor was empty—no shambling bodies, no lurking threats. For the first time in a while, the apartment felt almost safe.
Satisfied, he eased the door open and slipped inside.
The door closed behind him with a muted thud, followed by the reassuring click of the lock.
Alex exhaled quietly, letting his shoulders relax just a fraction. For now, he had sanctuary, and every careful step had kept him alive.
But even in safety, the world outside waited, chaotic and hungry. He knew this quiet would not last long.
A cold knot of unease settled in Alex's stomach. He raised the Explosion Shield in front of his chest, his fire axe gripped tightly in his right hand, every muscle coiled for instant action.
The apartment building loomed over him—five stories tall, no elevator, every step a potential trap.
After slipping through the unit door, a long, narrow corridor stretched ahead, dimly lit by broken overhead lights. Four flights of stairs rose beyond it, each step creaking faintly under his careful weight.
The first door facing the stairs drew his attention. It was closed—but not untouched. Dried, crusted blood smeared its surface, forming grotesque handprints that sent chills racing up his spine. Whoever—or whatever—had been here had left a message in horror.
The room next to it fared no better. Its door hung ajar, a dark trail of fresh blood snaking from the corridor floor into the shadows beyond. The quiet dripping echoed faintly, a reminder that danger could be lurking just beyond the threshold.
Alex's eyes narrowed. Every instinct screamed: proceed slowly, observe carefully, don't make a sound. One wrong move could mean death.
The apartment was deceptively silent, but silence, he knew, was often a prelude to chaos.
Alex hesitated for a heartbeat, weighing his options.
One: close the door, stay safe, and wait out the unknown.
Two: step inside, confront whatever lurked in the shadows, and secure the supplies he desperately needed—food, water, anything that could keep him alive.
There was no question in his mind. Survival demanded action.
With a deep breath, he chose the second path. Every step forward was calculated, every muscle coiled for reaction.
He swung the door open and slammed it behind him. The sound echoed violently in the small room, bouncing off walls and tiled floors.
Immediately, danger made itself known.
Two figures lunged from opposite directions: one shuffling from the bedroom, the other emerging from the bathroom. Their eyes, hollow and ravenous, locked on him. The stench of decay hit him, but his mind was sharp, his body alive with the effects of the Physique Potion.
Alex raised his Explosion Shield, planting it firmly before him, and swung the fire axe in a practiced arc.
He hadn't survived this far by hesitating. Every move would have to be fast, precise, and brutal.
The first clash had begun.
The zombies slammed into Alex's Explosion Shield, claws scraping metal with a deafening screech.
He didn't flinch. Every ounce of strength in his arms surged as he thrust the shield forward, slamming both creatures against the anti-theft door with bone-jarring force. The impact rattled the walls and sent splinters flying.
Before they could recover, Alex swung the fire axe with deadly precision.
Bone cracked, skulls split, and both zombies collapsed instantly, twitching once before going still.
His heart pounded, adrenaline hammering through every vein, but there was no time to breathe.
In a life-or-death fight like this, hesitation was fatal. Even a single pause—an extra second to marvel at his power or glance around—could have turned him into one more meal for the undead.