Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
The piercing sound of the alarm sliced through the already oppressive air of the mall like a knife.
This sound was wrong; it wasn't the faint noise caused by a power outage or a wiring fault, but rather sharp and urgent, as if it were frantically warning of something.
My mind raced with alarm bells, and I instinctively grabbed Zhong Dali, wanting to hide in the nearest store.
“Dali! Find somewhere to hide!”
I nearly shouted, adrenaline surging as I sensed a great danger looming.
But that alarm seemed to trigger some kind of switch.
The zombies, which had been sporadically moving among the ruins, suddenly erupted into a frenzy, letting out even more frenzied howls.
Their numbers and density surged like a tide from all directions, instantly surrounding me and Zhong Dali with no escape.
A dark mass loomed before us—decaying bodies, twisted joints, murky or hollow eye sockets, and the nauseating stench of rot filled the air, creating an overwhelming sense of pressure.
“Wow! So many zombies!”
Zhong Dali's eyes widened in amazement, his signature exclamation escaping his lips. Yet he showed no sign of fear; instead, he seemed excited like a child who had just spotted their favorite toy.
I didn’t have time to deal with his clueless reaction and quickly scanned our surroundings.
These zombies were not only numerous but also more varied than those we had encountered outside.
In addition to the slow-moving decayed types, there were also some with longer limbs and quicker movements—Mutant Types. I could even see individuals with skin displaying bizarre colors; they were clearly more dangerous.
What startled me even more was a powerful and distinct aura rapidly approaching with the surge of the Zombie Tide.
This was not the presence of ordinary Mutated Zombies; it felt more like a higher-level, more threatening existence.
We couldn't withstand this here; there were too many of them, and an unknown formidable enemy lurked nearby.
My gaze locked onto a relatively intact grocery store sign not far away. Although the doors and windows were damaged, it at least offered a somewhat independent space where we might temporarily evade danger.
"Dali! Head to that grocery store!"
I shouted towards Zhong Dali, pointing in the direction of the store.
Without hesitation, Zhong Dali charged forward like a heavy tank, smashing through several Zombies that blocked our path, clearing a bloody route for us.
We rushed into the grocery store.
As soon as we entered, Zhong Dali burst in like a wild stallion, excitedly shouting, "Wow! So much food!"
His eyes sparkled as if he had entered paradise, completely oblivious to the overwhelming stench surrounding us.
I followed closely behind, keeping a vigilant eye on our surroundings.
The grocery store appeared to be in better condition than the shops outside; the shelves were still standing, and I could even see some snacks and canned goods that had been left behind.
But my Soul Devouring Immunity Evolution ability warned me that this place was far from as "safe" as it seemed.
My perception system detected a surge of life forces, each carrying the unique decay and distortion of the apocalypse.
Sure enough, just as Zhong Dali rushed to the front of the shelf, ready to grab something, more Zombies suddenly surged from the corners, behind the shelves, and even from the vents in the ceiling!
“Roar—!!”
Their howls echoed through the cramped grocery store, causing my eardrums to throb painfully.
These Zombies had seemingly been lurking here, waiting for prey to walk into their trap.
Moreover, there were far more than I had imagined; they filled every corner of the store, instantly blocking off our only exit!
We were surrounded.
Zhong Dali froze for a moment, clearly not expecting this "Gourmet Paradise" to be a trap.
But a fierce determination quickly replaced the confusion on his honest face.
“Don’t be afraid! Smash them away!”
He swung his fist with all his might, crashing it directly into the nearest shelf.
“Bang!”
The sturdy wooden shelf collapsed instantly under Zhong Dali's terrifying strength, scattering products everywhere and kicking up a cloud of dust.
He didn’t stop; like a madman, he used sheer brute force to smash one shelf after another.
"Crash! Bang!"
The sound of collapsing shelves, the clatter of goods, and the growls of Zombies mixed together, turning the grocery store into a Purgatory on Earth.
He seemed completely unaware of what it meant to be "cautious," using the most primal and violent methods to force a path through the Zombie Tide and obstacles.
Dust and chaos filled the air, giving me an opportunity.
Unlike him, I didn't charge in headfirst; instead, I utilized my speed and agility to weave between the fallen shelves and the attacking Zombies.
My target was those Mutant Type Zombies.
As I fled from the Main Area of the Mall, I had sensed a powerful presence that seemed to follow us into the grocery store, or perhaps it had been lurking here all along.
My ability required me to Devour stronger individuals to evolve.
I quickly searched through the turmoil and finally spotted a particularly large figure deep among the shelves—its skin a sickly green and its limbs twisted like springs. It was a Mutated Zombie.
Its gaze was not murky like that of other Zombies; instead, it held a strange, focused intensity, locking onto me with unblinking eyes.
That's it!
I dodged a few ordinary Zombies lunging at me, darting like a black flash towards the Green Mutant.
It seemed to sense my intention, letting out a sharp shriek before launching itself forward with astonishing speed!
It landed on all fours, leaping like a massive frog, skillfully navigating through the wreckage of shelves and the confined space.
“Wow! Even Zombies can play Drop Tower?!”
Zhong Dali, not far away, smashed a shelf and once again exclaimed in a rather foolish manner upon witnessing the scene.
I had no time to respond to him; I focused all my attention on tracking the Mutant.
It attempted to leap to the ceiling, aiming to launch an attack from above.
I calculated its jump trajectory and, at the moment it reached its highest point, when its body momentarily froze, I lunged forward.
My body erupted with astonishing speed as I grabbed its twisted limbs in mid-air and without hesitation opened my mouth to bite down on its green, foul-smelling neck!
“Slurp!”
The cold, slimy flesh tore open, and a liquid infused with strange energy surged into my mouth.
“Ugh…”
A wave of intense nausea hit me, far stronger than when I devoured an ordinary Zombie, as if something cold and filthy rushed down my throat straight into my stomach.
But I fought through the disgust and greedily continued to devour.
The Mutant's body began to wither rapidly, shriveling up as it let out a more anguished howl, seemingly trying to break free, but my strength held it firmly in place.
A chilling energy coursed through my veins, transforming into a searing power that rampaged within me.
My body twitched uncontrollably for a moment as a flood of chaotic and distorted information surged into my mind, accompanied by a sharp ringing sound.
I felt a violent transformation taking place within my body, as if some hidden chains deep in my genes had been activated.
The power brought by this Mutant far exceeded my imagination.
After it completely turned into a pile of rotting flesh, I suddenly stood up, feeling an explosive energy coursing through me. At the same time, strange information and methods of use flooded my mind.
"New Ability... Energy Shockwave?"
The Black Bracelet on my wrist warmed slightly, seemingly recording this evolution.
I sensed a brand new power gathering in the palm of my hand, ready to burst forth at any moment.
"Old Wei! Are you okay?!"
Zhong Dali, seeing my earlier state, stopped smashing the shelves and rushed over with a worried expression.
"I'm fine..."
I steadied my churning stomach, realizing that while this Golden Finger was powerful, its side effects were indeed significant.
"The exit is blocked! We need to find a way out!"
I looked toward the entrance of the grocery store, which was tightly packed with Zombies. Not even a fly could escape.
"I'll handle it!"
Zhong Dali transformed once more into a human bulldozer and charged toward the Zombies at the door.
He swung his fists, sending the front row of Zombies flying, crashing into their companions behind them and causing chaos.
He completely disregarded his own safety, using sheer brute force to tear open a gap.
Seizing this opportunity, I followed closely behind him while attempting to use the New Ability I had just acquired.
I aimed the palm of my right hand at the approaching Zombie Tide and focused my thoughts.
An invisible wave of energy surged forth from my palm in an instant!
"Buzz—!"
Wherever that energy wave passed, the Zombies rushing forward were struck as if by an invisible hammer, their bodies violently arching backward before uncontrollably tumbling and flying away, crashing against the walls and kicking up clouds of dust and debris.
A large area was instantly cleared!
"Wow! Old Wei, you can use magic!"
Zhong Dali stared in astonishment, his movements coming to a halt.
I ignored him; this ability was far more powerful than I had imagined, and its consumption seemed to be within a manageable range.
With this ability, combined with Zhong Dali's brute strength, our chances of escaping the grocery store had significantly increased.
I activated my ability again, unleashing another Energy Shockwave that cleared the area ahead once more.
Zhong Dali snapped back to reality and continued to punch his way through.
Though he may be a bit slow, he never falters in critical moments.
We moved in tandem, one using brute force and the other employing Energy Shockwave, carving a path through the Zombie Tide.
During our escape, Zhong Dali once again showcased his comedic talent.
Perhaps he had become addicted to smashing things earlier; seeing a slightly tilted vending machine still wobbling, he mistook it for a Mutated Zombie and charged at it, throwing a punch.
"Bang!"
The vending machine toppled over, spilling snacks and drinks all over the ground.
"Ouch!"
Zhong Dali clutched his foot, wincing in pain. He must have forgotten that the vending machine was made of metal and not as fragile as the shelves.
This unexpected little incident allowed us to relax our tense nerves just a bit.
We burst out of the grocery store.
The Main Area of the Mall outside was even more chaotic, alarms blaring and attracting more Zombies.
But we had escaped that cramped death trap.
Just as we were about to find a place to catch our breath, a stronger, more dangerous presence suddenly locked onto us.
This aura was unlike the Green Mutant from the grocery store; it carried a cold and calculated malice.
Suddenly, several larger figures covered in Black Shell, along with some White Zombies that moved so quickly they seemed to leave afterimages, blocked our path.
These were higher-level Mutants!
I felt the Black Bracelet on my wrist heat up again, as if warning me that the danger level was rising.
I took a deep breath and looked at Zhong Dali.
"Dali, get ready; a tough battle is coming!"
Zhong Dali grinned, cracking his neck with a series of pops.
"Don't worry! Old Wei, I'll protect you!"
Though he had his shortcomings, his gaze was unusually resolute.
I nodded and aimed the palm of my right hand at the new type of Mutants.
This time, I was going to test the true power of my New Ability.
Just as I was about to launch my attack, I noticed a faint entrance revealed behind a collapsed billboard in the distance. Next to the entrance was a rusty sign—seemingly the emblem of some Research Institution or laboratory...
Comment 0 Comment Count