Liu Feng walked down the broken street. Blood and fire filled the air. The world had changed. He could hear screams far away, and the growls of zombies hiding in the shadows.
But his heart was calm.
He wasn't the same weak boy from a few hours ago. Now, he had strength. He had the system.
And he had a goal to survive and become the strongest
Suddenly, he heard a sharp cry.
"Aaaaah! Help me!"
He turned his head. Down the street, a young girl was running from three zombies. She tripped and fell.
"Damn it!"
Liu Feng ran at full speed. He used his new skill—Sprint.
In a flash, he reached the girl.
He jumped forward and swung his metal rod with force.
CRACK!
The rod smashed into the first zombie's head, sending it flying.
The second zombie turned toward him, its bloody mouth wide open. Liu Feng didn't wait. He kicked its leg, making it fall, and crushed its skull with the rod.
The third zombie scratched his shoulder before he hit it hard in the chest.
The zombie slammed into a car and didn't move.
Blood dripped from Liu Feng's arm.
"Are you okay?" he asked the girl.
She nodded, her face pale. "T-Thank you… I'm Lin Xue."
"I'm Liu Feng," he said.
Then the system rang in his mind.
[System Notification]
+2 Strength
+1 Agility
+1 Constitution
+1 Skill Book Dropped: Tough Skin (Learn?)
Liu Feng: "Learn."
[Skill Learned: Tough Skin]
Your defense is slightly increased. You take less damage from attacks.
Liu Feng felt his skin tingle. He touched his shoulder and saw the scratch closing slowly.
His body was changing. Becoming stronger. Becoming… something more.
"Where are your parents?" he asked Lin Xue.
She shook her head, tears falling. "Gone… They told me to run."
He looked at her torn clothes and blood-covered arms.
"Stay close to me. If you want to live, follow me."
Lin Xue nodded. She didn't want to cry anymore.
They walked through the ruined streets. Liu Feng killed every zombie they met.
Each time, red and green orbs dropped from their bodies.
Each time, he got stronger.
[System Log]
Zombies killed: +12
Strength: +5
Agility: +4
Constitution: +3
Item dropped: Rusty Machete (Durability 45/60)
Liu Feng replaced the broken metal rod with the machete. He felt the sharpness as he tested it on a wooden door.
Slice!
It cut clean through.
Now he had a real weapon.
As the sun started to set, they found an empty gas station.
Liu Feng checked the place. No zombies. No survivors.
"Let's rest here for now."
He locked the doors and blocked them with chairs and shelves.
He gave Lin Xue some water and an energy bar. She ate quietly.
"You're strong," she said softly. "Were you a soldier?"
"No. Just a student."
She looked shocked. "Really?"
He smiled a little. "The system changed me. I pick up power after I kill zombies."
Her eyes widened. "Like a game?"
"Yes. But if I lose… I die."
She stayed quiet, then said, "Then I'll help you. I'll stay with you. I can't fight… but I won't slow you down."
Liu Feng nodded. "Okay. Stay close, and you'll live."
That night, he sat near the door, keeping watch.
He opened the system panel again.
[Liu Feng - Status Panel]
Level: 4
Strength: 22
Agility: 16
Constitution: 14
Skills:
Basic Combat
Sprint
Tough Skin
Inventory:
Rusty Machete (Durability 45/60)
Healing Potion x2
Bottled Water x4
Energy Bar x2
Painkiller x3
"I need to level up faster," he whispered. "I need to get stronger."
Then he heard something.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Something or someone was banging on the back door.
Liu Feng stood up quickly, grabbing his machete.
"Stay down," he told Lin Xue.
She nodded, hiding behind a shelf.
The banging got louder.
Then BOOM!
The back door flew open, and four figures rushed in.
But they weren't zombies.
They were humans.
Bandits.
The leader was a tall man with a metal bat and cold eyes.
"Well, well," the man grinned. "Look what we found. A little rat and a girl."
Liu Feng raised his weapon. "Leave. Now."
The man laughed. "Or what? You'll hit me with that toy?"
The other three laughed too.
One had a knife, one had a gun, and the last carried a crowbar.
They stepped closer.
Liu Feng's eyes turned cold.
[System Notification]
Warning: Human enemies detected.
Killing hostile humans also grants attributes.
Liu Feng's grip tightened.
"Then I'll kill you."
The bandit with the knife rushed forward.
Liu Feng dodged and slashed across his chest.
Blood sprayed. The man fell, screaming.
The others were shocked. "He's fast!"
The man with the bat charged, swinging wildly.
Liu Feng ducked, rolled forward, and cut his leg.
Slice!
The man fell.
Liu Feng turned and used Sprint, closing the distance to the one with the gun.
Before he could shoot, Liu Feng stabbed him in the neck.
CRACK!
The last bandit dropped his weapon and ran.
Liu Feng didn't chase. He walked back to the others and finished them off.
[System Notification]
+4 Strength
+3 Agility
+3 Constitution
+1 Skill Book Dropped: Threat Sense (Learn?)
"Learn."
[Skill Learned: Threat Sense]
You can feel danger nearby. Alerts you before an ambush.
His head buzzed with new awareness.
He could feel the world clearer now.
Lin Xue peeked from behind the shelf. "Are they… gone?"
He nodded. "Yes."
She stared at the blood, the bodies. "You… killed them all."
"They were going to hurt you," he said.
She looked at him with new eyes.
He was no longer just a normal student. He was something else now. A protector. A monster. A warrior.
Maybe all three.
Liu Feng sat down again. The world outside was growing colder. The sky was full of smoke. More zombies would come.
But now, he had food, weapons, and power.
And he wasn't alone anymore.
He closed his eyes for a moment.
Tomorrow, the real hunt would begin.