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墨書 Inktalez
The piercing sound of the alarm sliced through the already oppressive air of the mall like a knife.
This sound was different; it wasn't the faint noise from a power outage or a wiring fault. It was urgent and sharp, as if it were frantically warning of something dire.
My internal alarm bells rang loudly, and I instinctively grabbed Zhong Dali, wanting to duck into the nearest store.
“Dali! Find somewhere to hide!”
I nearly shouted, adrenaline surging through me as I sensed a massive threat looming.
But that alarm seemed to flip some kind of switch.
The zombies, which had been sporadically moving among the ruins, suddenly erupted into a frenzy, howling with renewed vigor as if they had been injected with energy.
Their numbers and density surged like a tidal wave from all directions, instantly surrounding me and Zhong Dali with no escape.
A dark mass loomed before us, filled with decaying bodies, twisted joints, murky or hollow eye sockets, and the nauseating stench of rot that pressed down on us like a weight.
“Wow! So many zombies!”
Zhong Dali's eyes widened in astonishment, his trademark exclamation escaping his lips. Yet he showed no signs 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 oblivious reaction; my eyes darted around rapidly.
These zombies were not only numerous but also more varied than those I had encountered outside.
In addition to the slow-moving decayed types, there were some with longer limbs and quicker movements—mutated variants. I even spotted individuals with skin displaying bizarre colors; they were clearly far more dangerous.
What shocked me even more was the powerful and distinct aura that was rapidly approaching with the tide of zombies.
This was not the scent of ordinary mutated zombies; it felt more like a presence that was higher in rank and more threatening.
We couldn't withstand this here; there were too many of them, and an unknown powerful enemy lurked nearby.
My gaze locked onto the sign of a relatively intact grocery store 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 a word, Zhong Dali charged forward like a heavy tank, smashing through several zombies that blocked our path and clearing a bloody route for us.
We rushed into the grocery store.
As soon as we entered, Zhong Dali burst in like a wild horse, excitedly darting inside.
"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 watch 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 hadn’t been taken away yet.
But my Soul-Eating Immunity Evolution ability warned me that this place was far from as "safe" as it looked.
My perception system detected a multitude 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 ventilation ducts in the ceiling!
"Roar—!!"
Their howls echoed through the cramped grocery store, causing my eardrums to throb painfully.
These zombies seemed to have 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 "paradise of food" to be a trap.
But the look of innocence on his face was quickly replaced by a fierce determination.
"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, sending products scattering across the floor 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.
“Crack! Crash!”
The sound of shelves collapsing, the clattering of goods, and the growls of zombies mixed together, turning the grocery store into a hell on earth.
He seemed completely unaware of what it meant to be "cautious," using the most primal and violent methods to carve a path through the horde of zombies and obstacles.
Smoke and chaos filled the air, giving me my chance.
Unlike him, I didn’t confront them head-on. Instead, I utilized my speed and agility to weave between the fallen shelves and the lunging zombies.
My target was those mutated zombies.
As I fled from the main area of the mall, I sensed that powerful presence I had caught earlier following us into the grocery store, or perhaps it had been lurking here all along.
My ability needed to consume stronger individuals to evolve.
I quickly searched through the turmoil and finally spotted a particularly large mutated zombie deep among the shelves. Its skin was an unhealthy shade of green, and its limbs twisted like springs.
Unlike other zombies, its gaze was not murky but rather eerie and focused, locking onto me with an unsettling intensity.
That's it!
I dodged a few ordinary zombies lunging at me, like a streak of black lightning, racing toward that green mutant.
It seemed to sense my intent, letting out a sharp shriek before launching itself into action with astonishing speed!
It landed on all fours and leaped like a giant frog, nimbly evading the wreckage of shelves and navigating through the narrow space.
"Wow! Zombies can play the jump scare game too?!"
Zhong Dali, smashing a shelf not far away, exclaimed in a rather foolish manner upon witnessing the scene.
I had no time to respond to him, focusing all my attention on tracking the mutated creature.
It attempted to leap to the ceiling, aiming to use the height advantage for an attack.
I calculated its jumping trajectory and, at the moment it reached its highest point and its body momentarily froze, I lunged forward.
My body erupted with astonishing speed as I seized its twisted limbs in mid-air, then without hesitation, opened my mouth and bit down on its green, foul-smelling neck!
"Rrip!"
The cold, slippery flesh tore open, and a liquid infused with a strange energy surged into my mouth.
"Ugh..."
A wave of intense nausea hit me, far stronger than when I had consumed ordinary zombies, as if something cold and filthy rushed down my esophagus straight into my stomach.
But I fought through the disgust and greedily continued to devour it.
The mutated creature's body began to wither rapidly, shriveling up as it let out a more anguished howl, seemingly trying to break free, but my grip held it tightly.
A chilling energy coursed through my veins, transforming into a searing power that surged wildly within me.
My body twitched uncontrollably for a moment as a flood of chaotic and distorted information rushed into my mind, accompanied by a sharp ringing sound.
I felt my body undergoing some intense transformation, as if certain chains hidden deep within my genes had been activated.
The power brought by this mutated creature 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 newfound power was formidable, its side effects were indeed significant.
"The exit is blocked! We need to find a way out!"
I glanced toward the store's entrance, 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 zombies in the front row flying one by one, crashing into their companions behind them and causing a wave of 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 oncoming tide of zombies and focused my thoughts.
An invisible wave of energy surged forth from my palm in an instant!
"Buzz—!"
Wherever that wave of energy passed, the attacking zombies were struck as if by an invisible giant hammer, their bodies suddenly leaning back uncontrollably before tumbling and flying away, crashing into the walls and kicking up clouds of dust and debris.
A large area was instantly cleared!
"Wow! Old Wei, you can do 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 manageable limits.
With this ability, combined with Zhong Dali's brute strength, our chances of escaping the grocery store had significantly increased.
I activated my ability once more, sending another energy shockwave out to clear the area ahead again.
Zhong Dali snapped back to reality and continued to punch his way through.
Though he may be a bit slow-witted, he never falters in critical moments.
We moved in tandem, one using brute force and the other unleashing energy shockwaves, carving a path through the horde of zombies.
During our escape, Zhong Dali once again showcased his comedic talent.
Perhaps he had become addicted to smashing things earlier; upon seeing a vending machine that had been knocked askew and was still slightly swaying, he mistakenly thought it was a mutated zombie and charged at it, delivering a powerful punch.
"Bang!"
The vending machine toppled over, spilling snacks and drinks all over the ground.
"Ouch!"
Zhong Dali clutched his foot, grimacing in pain. He had likely forgotten that the vending machine was made of metal, unlike the fragile shelves.
This unexpected little incident allowed us to momentarily relax our tense nerves.
We burst out of the grocery store.
The main area of the mall outside was even more chaotic, with 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 much stronger and more dangerous presence suddenly locked onto us.
This aura was different from the green mutants in the grocery store; it carried a cold and rational malice.
Suddenly, several larger zombies, their bodies covered in black shells, along with some white zombies that moved so quickly they seemed to leave only afterimages, blocked our path.
These are higher-level mutants!
I felt the black bracelet on my wrist heat up again, as if warning me that the danger level was rising.
Taking a deep breath, I 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 might not be the brightest, his gaze was remarkably resolute.
I nodded and aimed my right palm at the new type of mutants once more.
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...
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