HUFF. HUFF.
Wen Yu panted heavily. He looked at the distance he'd covered in the blink of an eye, leaving the residential complex farther and farther behind. He couldn't help but slow down and catch his breath.
What kind of power was that? It was so monstrous. That lunge earlier had at least 20 points of strength, if not more. If I hadn't reacted quickly, I would definitely have died.
But what puzzled Wen Yu was that the Cyclops, with such enormous potential, was never mentioned by anyone in Mudanjiang City during his past life.
Could it be that this guy ran out of Mudanjiang City?
Wen Yu pondered for a long while but couldn't come up with an answer. He simply gave up on the thought.
Looking at the residential complex's gate, now far behind him, Wen Yu felt a sense of helplessness.
I can't go back now. Damn it, chased away from my home by a mere dog! As a reborner, I've really shamed The Rebirth Army.
Wen Yu grumbled bitterly. Looking at his own battered state, he marveled once again at the Cyclops's insane combat power and began contemplating his next move.
I remember that on the third day of the apocalypse, a large treasure land appeared in Riverside Park. In my previous life, I had no idea what was happening. I only learned later from others that it held some very practical treasures. As a reborner, how can I not seize this opportunity?
However, before that, I should tend to the injury on my arm, exchange for some weapons and gear, and strengthen my physique. Otherwise, if I encounter that beast again... death might be a grim sight.
Thinking of the Cyclops's frightening red eyes filled with murderous rage, Wen Yu knew their showdown was far from over.
With its sharp sense of smell, the Cyclops could definitely track me down.
Wen Yu took a brief rest. The throbbing pain in his arm made his face turn pale.
Looking at his swollen arm, Wen Yu realized his injury needed immediate attention. Otherwise, he would have to consider amputation and then regrowth through Evolution.
Fortunately, in this demonized world, treating wounds was relatively simple. Wen Yu sprinted through several more blocks, shaking off the sluggish zombies trailing behind him.
Confident he had put enough distance between himself and the Cyclops, he deactivated his Soul Beast's battle state.
Surveying his surroundings, Wen Yu turned into a hardware store and began searching for the supplies he needed.
The hardware store was well-preserved and vacant. The clerk had probably deserted his post and fled when chaos erupted on the street.
Hmm, a kitchen knife. Forget it, it's not sharpened. Useless.
Hmm, an iron hammer. Not bad. It's a bit short, but still usable.
Ah, a fire axe! Now that's a lethal weapon. Perfect.
In just a few minutes, Wen Yu emerged from the hardware store, fully equipped again. He casually carried a fire axe and had a small hammer hanging at his waist. He wore one of a pair of old sports shoes—likely left behind by an employee or the owner—on his newly furred leg, while his other foot still had its original shoe. His overall attire resembled that of a vagrant, but the Soul Beast whirling around him added an air of mystery.
THWACK!
Wen Yu sent the zombie in front of him flying a full meter. Its head was smashed flat, and foul brain matter splashed onto the ground.
"Ding! You earned 1 point."
Wen Yu looked at the dead zombie. The power from his Evolution had turned these filthy zombies into weaklings he could dispose of with ease.
Most importantly, professionists no longer feared the virus in zombies' bodies. Even with only one good hand, Wen Yu's strength was enough to crush the frail zombies.
Check points.
"Host has 100 points remaining."
After finding weapons, Wen Yu began slaughtering zombies in large numbers, finally accumulating 100 points before nightfall. He ran to the Exchange Stone Pillar a few meters away and lightly touched it with his good hand.
"Welcome to the Exchange System."
A clear female voice announced. Wen Yu quickly scanned the exchange options that appeared before him.
The entire Exchange Stone Pillar was divided into four main categories: Occupations, Skills, Equipment, and Props.
Wen Yu first opened the Occupations option and saw only three choices: Warrior, Archer, and Mage.
He then opened the Skills menu and saw a dazzling array of D-Class and lower skills. Wen Yu was disappointed.
Nothing's changed. I thought that with the start of the apocalypse, the Exchange Stone Pillar would offer some good items. My hopes were dashed. Wen Yu pursed his lips.
Confirming that the Exchange Stone Pillar was just as he remembered, Wen Yu hesitated no longer and opened the Props option.
The Props option listed a myriad of items, no fewer than a thousand types. These included the skill forgetting scroll, which could erase a learned skill; the military rations pill, capable of sustaining a professionist's activities for three days; and magic crystals of various attributes and levels that provided Evolution energy.
It even included food, vegetables, and other items like sanitary napkins.
In his past life, Wen Yu had thoroughly studied this Exchange System. Essentially, survivors could find everything they needed for their daily lives within it.
This greatly reduced humanity's reliance on settlements.
Food, clothing, shelter, travel—everything could be exchanged in the system. However, aside from some extremely powerful experts, very few people were extravagant enough to use their precious points for such items.
In Wen Yu's memory of his past life, the strongest individuals, apart from the leaders of settlements, were the powerful experts who roamed independently.
Some independent heroes were even more formidable than settlement leaders.
This was because the more powerful the creatures, the farther they stayed from these settlements.
Wen Yu disregarded these miscellaneous exchange options and directly typed the keyword "healing" into the Props search bar.
The exchange list quickly shrank, leaving only a few items:
Basic Healing Potion: Treats minor injuries. Cost: 100 points.
Intermediate Healing Potion: Rapidly heals physical injuries. Cost: 300 points.
Advanced Healing Potion...
Rejuvenation Scroll...
Phoenix Blood...
Lifeforce Absorption Scroll...
Cup of Life...
Looking at the sky-high point costs for the latter items, Wen Yu sighed helplessly.
Take the Cup of Life, for example. If any liquid, even polluted water, was placed into it, the Cup's power would transform it into an ultimate healing potion.
This item alone could arguably support the healing needs of an entire super-settlement.
However, requiring a staggering 100,000,000 points, everyone knew it was merely an unreachable lure.
Wen Yu didn't dwell on these coveted yet unattainable items. He directly chose the Basic Healing Potion.
"Ding! Basic Healing Potion successfully exchanged. 100 points deducted."
Wen Yu exited the Exchange System. He looked at the transparent glass vial resting on the Exchange Stone Pillar, bit open the cork, and drank the healing potion.
Hmm, grape-flavored.