The air was a cocktail of heavy copper blood and the artificial spices of beef jerky. It was a weird, stomach-churning smell.
I leaned against the wall, wolfing down the jerky Shadow gave me. It was hard as leather, making my jaw ache, but I couldn't stop. Every bite of protein turned into warmth, patching up my exhausted body.
Shadow sat on the table, elegantly licking black blood off his paws. His golden eyes kept scanning the mountain of corpses at the door.
"Full?" he asked.
"Half." I swallowed the last bite. Throat felt like I'd swallowed sandpaper. "Water?"
Shadow rolled his eyes. The rune on his forehead flashed. A water bottle dropped out of thin air, landing in my lap.
"Ration it. My space isn't an infinite supermarket."
I cracked the cap and downed a huge gulp. The cool liquid washed away the nausea rising in my throat.
Stamina recovered. I pushed myself up, hands on my knees.
"Let's go?" Shadow hopped down, ready to move.
"Wait."
I stopped him. My gaze drifted to the mattress in the corner.
The family was still hugging. Peaceful amidst the chaos. As if the slaughter at the door had nothing to do with them. Their grey, shrunken faces held a serenity that didn't belong in the apocalypse.
"I want to... give them a funeral," I whispered.
Shadow stopped. Looked at me weirdly. "Funeral? Here? How? You planning to dig a hole in the concrete floor?"
"I can't take them with me. Can't bury them." I walked to the bed, looking at the clean dress on the little girl, Qiqi. "But I can't leave them exposed. The blood smell is too strong. It'll bring more things. If we leave, the zombies will get in. They'll trample them. Eat them."
The thought made my chest tight. They summoned so much courage to die with dignity. They shouldn't be desecrated now.
"I'm sealing this place."
I took off my shredded, blood-soaked jacket—the one I used to dam the blood flow. Now I was just in a tank top, exposing my arms wrapped in tattered magazines.
I walked to the door. Fighting the urge to gag, I grabbed the ankle of the giant zombie blocking the way.
"Up!"
I gritted my teeth. Every muscle shook. This guy must have weighed two hundred pounds in life, and in death, he was a stiff slab of rock.
One by one, I dragged him and the dozen other corpses out into the corridor, piling them far away.
Shadow didn't help. He watched silently from the side. He knew this was a human ritual. A dog had no place in it.
Entryway clear. I went back in.
Found a clean plastic tarp in the corner. They used it for moisture protection.
I covered the family gently. Careful not to wake them. The white plastic hid their grey faces, leaving only the outlines of their embrace.
"Goodnight, Lin Ze. Goodnight, Su Wan. Goodnight, Qiqi."
I placed my hand on the cold plastic.
"That song... See You Again... it was a good choice. Thank you."
I stepped out of the room.
The lock was busted from my kick. I scavenged rebar and wire from the rubble nearby. Using the original hinge holes, I wired the heavy steel door shut. Tight.
Finally, I picked up the red spray paint can Lin Ze had used.
I sprayed a massive red "X" over the old writing on the door.
RESTRICTED AREA. DO NOT ENTER.
I dropped the can. Exhaled a long breath.
"Let's go."
I shouldered the Tang Dao. The heavy weight in my heart felt just a little lighter.
Shadow looked at the sealed door and nodded. "Unnecessary effort. But maybe... that's why you humans outlived the dinosaurs."
Ding!
A crisp chime rang in my head.
Unlike the cold mechanical alerts, this one sounded festive. Like a slot machine hitting the jackpot. Virtual confetti exploded in my vision.
[Ding!] [Combat Calculation Complete!] [Congrats Host "Shadow" & Battle Pet "Victor" on a victory against overwhelming odds!]
A semi-transparent blue screen unfolded in the dark corridor. Data cascaded like a waterfall.
[Battle Pet Report (Victor):]
Contribution: Common Infected x14, Variant (E+ Rank) x1 (First Kill)
Level Up: Lv.1 → Lv.2
Stats Enhanced: Strength +1, Agility +1, Constitution +1
Special Reward: Free Attribute Point x1, Skill Book: Basic Blade Mastery.
Warmth flooded from my heart to my limbs. I clenched my fist. Real power. I felt stronger.
"Ha!" I laughed, looking at the skill book. "Is the System roasting my messy fighting style?"
"Don't celebrate yet." Shadow lifted his chin. "Look at the real protagonist."
The screen flipped to a much flashier page.
[Host Report (Shadow):]
Combat Rating: S (Tactical Command Precise, Skill Timing Perfect)
Level Up: Lv.1 → Lv.2
Stats Greatly Enhanced: Strength +2, Agility +3, Intelligence +2
Skill Upgrade: [Wind Blade] Lv.1 → Lv.2 (Power +30%, Cooldown Reduced, Rapid Fire enabled)
New Talent Unlocked: [Hunter's Smell] (Sense living aura and danger sources within 500m)
System Energy Acquired: 50 Points (Progress: 50/100. Used to open Return Channel or Store)
I stared at his deluxe stats, then at my pathetic "Strength +1". The joy evaporated.
"Why?!" I pointed at the panel, protesting. "I did all the dirty work! I get crumbs, and you get a feast?"
"I'm the Host. You're the pet." Shadow said matter-of-factly. "Also, without my crowd control, you would have been lunch. Besides..."
He pointed at the last line. "See that? System Energy. That's our ticket home. We earned half the fare in one fight. Be grateful."
I pouted. It wasn't fair, but I couldn't argue. Getting home was priority one.
I dumped my Free Point into Strength without hesitation. That moment when the blade got stuck in the giant's ribs scared the hell out of me. I needed to cut through bone next time.
Then, I learned Basic Blade Mastery.
Whoosh!
Knowledge flooded my brain. Grip, torque, angles... My hand moved on its own. I drew the Tang Dao and spun it in a fluid arc.
Swish!
The sound was clean. Sharp.
"Not bad," Shadow commented. "Now you're qualified cannon fodder."
He shook his fur. The level-up made him look even more majestic. The limp in his right leg was completely gone.
"Loot split done. Back to business."
Shadow turned toward the deep end of the garage. His nose twitched.
"New Talent... Hunter's Smell. Let's test it."
He closed his eyes. Inhaled deep. When he opened them, his gaze was fixed on the darkest part of the garage. His eyes grew dark.
"That way," he said. "There's a breeze. Ventilation is working. The power hub should be there."
"Also..." His voice dropped lower. "Smell of smoke. Burning wood. And... roast meat."
"Roast meat?"
I froze. Roast meat? Here? Was someone throwing a party?
"Maybe other survivors?" Hope rose in my chest. "Lin Ze's diary said lots of people ran in here."
"Don't get happy." Shadow poured cold water on me instantly. "In the apocalypse, meeting the living is often more dangerous than zombies. Especially... in a sealed space with a food shortage."
Chills ran down my spine.
We moved like ghosts, weaving through the ruins.
The deeper we went, the more complex the terrain became. The parking area was chopped up by makeshift barricades, turning it into a maze.
Finally, a faint light ahead.
Firelight.
At the far end of Level B2, on what used to be a loading dock. A bonfire burned in an oil drum, casting dancing shadows on the walls.
We hid behind a truck and peeked out.
Two people sat by the fire. A man and a woman.
The man held a sharp boning knife. The woman was turning a skewer over the fire. Roasting chunks of meat.
The meat sizzled, dripping fat. The smell was rich and intense.
Grrr... My stomach growled. Loudly.
"Shut up." Shadow slapped me with his tail. His pupils constricted into pinpricks. Voice dripping with disgust. "Look closely at the meat."
I squinted.
The chunk was large. Grey-white. As the woman turned the skewer, the firelight hit the side of the meat.
I saw it.
Attached to the meat... was half a charred, black finger.
"URGH—!"
Fear doused my hunger like a bucket of ice water.
"They're eating people." Shadow's voice was terrifyingly cold. "There are your 'fellow humans'."
They heard us. The man snapped his head around, staring right at our hiding spot.
"Who's there?"
His voice was raspy, gritty. Filled with beast-like alertness.
Spotted!
"Come out!" The man stood up, pointing the boning knife at us. "I smell you. Living people... very fresh."
No escaping this.
I took a deep breath. Stepped out from behind the truck, knuckles white on the Tang Dao.
"Just passing through," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
The man smiled. Yellow teeth flashed in the firelight. "Passing through? This is a dead end. You come in, you don't go out."
The woman stood up too. She licked her lips, eyes locked on Shadow. "Big dog... must be delicious."
"Woof!" Shadow bristled, growling.
"Easy." I stopped him. Stared at the couple.
There was no humanity in their eyes. Only hunger and greed. These weren't people. They were beasts wearing human skin.
"Want to eat my dog?"
I drew the Tang Dao. The tip pointed straight at the woman.
"Let's see if your teeth are sharp enough."