That damn system notification really picked the worst time, just adding to Zhang Qi's troubles. He was racking his brains trying to figure out his next move, and this wretched system was already pushing him down a dark path, buzzing incessantly in his head like a nagging ghost.
"Damn system, so eager to throw me into the fire?" Zhang Qi cursed internally, grinding his teeth. "I just found two living people, haven't even caught my breath, and you give me this terrible idea?! Are you trying to make this impossible? Can you just shut up for a second?"
He took a small step back, the sole of his shoe making a faint scraping sound on the floor. But the gleaming kitchen knife was still stuck in his chest, the tip protruding slightly from his back, looking gruesome. Blood soaked a large patch of his shirt.
"Only that big oaf Zhang Dalong could have the strength to stab clean through," Zhang Qi thought to himself, reaching back to touch the cold knife tip. "But looking at how pale he is, legs shaking… probably scared out of his mind when he did it. Otherwise, with his personality, he wouldn't have."
He pulled a long strip from the bandage roll he carried and started wrapping his chest, the motion looking effortful, sweat beading on his forehead—though the sweat was mostly for show. The sensation of sweating felt foreign to him now.
"The bandages are to prevent bites," Zhang Qi grinned, showing his teeth, leaving the knife in place as he continued wrapping methodically. "To be honest, it's a good thing your grades suck. You missed completely, nowhere near the heart. Otherwise, I'd be a goner, not standing here chatting."
Zhang Qi was lying through his teeth, completely straight-faced. In truth, Zhang Dalong's aim had been perfect. The problem was Zhang Qi's heart had stopped beating long ago. Stabbing it was pointless. He spotted another knife on the kitchen counter nearby, picked it up, weighed it in his hand. The handle was a bit greasy.
Zhang Dalong snatched the frying pan from He Yu, shielding him, and yelled, "You want to kill us, you damn zombie? I'm warning you, don't try anything! One more step and I'll fight you!"
Calmly, Zhang Qi used the handle of the new knife to sharply tap the protruding tip of the embedded blade. A crisp snap—the exposed part broke off. He continued wrapping the wound as if nothing happened, not even frowning.
"Better to leave the blade inside," he said expressionlessly, then deliberately grimaced, pretending to be in pain. "Otherwise the bleeding won't stop. But damn, it hurts. Like being butchered. Never felt pain like this in my life." Another lie, of course. He'd forgotten what pain felt like entirely.
"Are you insane?" He Yu pushed Zhang Dalong aside angrily, stamping his foot, glasses sliding down his nose. "Look at him! He's speaking coherently, acting normal! Clearly not one of those monsters! Open your eyes! If he were a zombie, he'd have lunged to bite us already!"
Zhang Dalong scratched his bald head, sweat dripping from his temples. He had to admit, judging by Zhang Qi's behavior, he wasn't like the mindless things outside. At least he wasn't biting. His eyes were clearer too.
"But he could still have been bitten!" Zhang Dalong insisted, voice trembling. "Maybe he's turning slowly, like in the movies, and hiding it from us? He'll get us killed! You saw how those people outside ended up!"
"Right now, I'm more afraid of you," He Yu retorted, pushing his glasses up, worry clear in his eyes behind the lenses. "I can tell you'd have stabbed anyone who came through that door, Zhang Qi or not. We need to get him to a hospital. You went too far. What if you'd actually killed him?"
[System Message]
[You have sustained severe trauma]
[Use Energy to repair the wound?]
[Yes/No]
[Friendly Tip: Honey, recommend immediate treatment~ Procrastination can worsen injuries!]
Despite the system's prompt, complete with cutesy phrasing, Zhang Qi felt no different than before being stabbed. He could function normally. The system didn't show a health bar either—probably because he was already dead. A health bar was meaningless now, like expired food.
"No need to waste Energy for now," Zhang Qi thought, touching the knife handle in his chest. "Since He Yu believes I'm human, Zhang Dalong will come around soon. The longer this goes, the less they'll suspect. But even I don't know if this is a virus or what. How long does it take for a normal person to turn after infection? The system doesn't come with a manual. So unprofessional."
[You have selected 'No']
[User may utilize Energy to repair wounds at any time]
[Warning: If user sustains further trauma without repair, Physical Status will decay at an accelerated rate]
[Friendly Tip: Keeping the wound for sympathy points is fine, but don't overdo it~ Might really fall apart!]
"Should have seen that coming," Zhang Qi internally groaned. The system was getting snarkier. "Can't be all benefits. The system knows about balance. Just like a game designer."
[Physical Status: 97%]
"Forget the hospital," Zhang Qi waved a hand, deliberately coughing twice. "My guess? Hospitals are the most dangerous places right now. Probably packed with zombies. Just find a convenience store or something. I'll get some iodine and bandages, handle it myself. Won't die."
Zhang Dalong finally realized he might have been wrong. He clenched his fists and stepped forward, guilt written all over his face, fine sweat beading on his bald head.
"Sorry, Zhang Qi, I… I didn't know. From behind, with the bandages…"
"It's fine," Zhang Qi cut him off, patting his shoulder with a reassuring smile. "I'd have done the same. Seeing you protecting He Yu makes me glad. Means you're a reliable brother." He genuinely couldn't be angry. The big guy's instincts had been sharp—just his execution was too heavy-handed, like a bull in a china shop.
"Can you tell me what happened?" Zhang Qi asked, sitting down on a nearby chair, feigning weakness. "I blacked out in my room. Woke up to… this. Like a nightmare. Still feels unreal."
"We're not sure either," Zhang Dalong explained, glancing warily at the door, ears perked. "On the way back to the dorms after class, we heard screaming behind us. Then saw a group of… those things chasing other students, pouncing, biting necks… like wolves. It was brutal."
"He Yu said it looked exactly like the zombies from the videos. We didn't wait around, ran for the dorm. But looks like they got in. The halls were full of blood. Like a slaughterhouse."
"We were surrounded. Had to lock ourselves in here, didn't dare make a sound. Afraid they'd find us."
"I tried gathering intel," He Yu chimed in, pulling out his phone, the screen a spiderweb of cracks. "Small-scale attacks were being reported everywhere. We were hiding in here, hoping the military would come. Then things started falling from the sky. Like hail."
"Small rocks, not big, but burning. Fell from the sky. Damaged buildings. Had shockwaves when they hit, shattered glass everywhere. He Yu and I almost got cut."
"After that, the internet, cell signal, electronics… all went haywire. Felt like… the end of the world. Terrifying. Dalong and I almost lost it."
Honestly, Zhang Qi wanted more details, especially about zombie speed, strength, whether they were all just mindless like the one that bit him. But something else caught his attention, nagging at him.
"The meteorites came after the zombies appeared. Not simultaneously. So they're unrelated? Two world-changing events on the same day? Too much of a coincidence. The dark web said zombie attacks had been happening for weeks. The timeline doesn't match…"
"What's going on? Why is the system encouraging me to make more zombies? Doesn't make sense. Is it contradicting itself? Or is the system just an agent of chaos?"
Just then, Zhang Qi tilted his head slightly, ears twitching. Movement in the hallway. Footsteps approaching—someone running. More importantly, he heard low growls. Sounds he knew all too well, identical to the thing that bit him yesterday.
"Get ready," he said to the other two, raising his wooden stake, eyes sharpening, muscles tensing. "Something's coming. And not just one. Sounds like three or four, at least."