The zombie that I had shot in the head lay sprawled on the ground like a lump of mud, emitting a stench ten times more intense than before.
I looked at my fist, smeared with dark purple blood, feeling my stomach churn. Yet, the warm current inside me, or rather the surge of violent power, told me that I had actually gained something from that putrid mass of flesh.
The voice said I had acquired "Beginner Immunity" and a slight boost in strength and speed.
Slight boost?
I glanced down at my hands. I had taken down a zombie with my bare hands!
Though it was in an extremely undignified manner, this result was anything but "slight," right?
I took a deep breath, forcing down the discomfort in my stomach. That strange desire mingling with the stench of decay and viruses felt like an invisible hand scratching at my heart.
I needed to figure out what was going on.
This bracelet I had picked up from a garbage heap, the cold voice in my mind, this ability to gain power from devouring zombies… Was this some kind of divine gift or a temptation from Satan?
But no matter what it was, in this damned apocalypse, power was everything.
I needed to survive—not just survive, but live like a human being again, no longer hiding like a rat in dark, damp corners.
I had to grow stronger.
The remains of the zombie lay before me, bloody and repulsive.
Yet the glow of the bracelet and the voice in my mind silently urged me on, telling me that this was the key to becoming stronger.
I hesitated.
Reason told me to stay far away from this pile of things, but that instinctual desire for power spread through my body like a drug addiction.
To survive, to avoid repeating those tragic events, for my loved ones... even if they might have turned into the monsters before me, I still needed strength.
I made my decision.
I would find a Zombie and give it another try.
But this time, I couldn't be passively defensive like before; I had to take the initiative and test my New Ability.
Leaving the restroom, I walked down the dilapidated corridor.
The stench of decay grew stronger in the air, and occasionally I could hear the low growls of Zombies in the distance, like a symphony of despair in this apocalyptic world.
My heart raced, not out of fear, but from a complex mix of tension, excitement, and unease.
I recalled the images I had witnessed: the twisted faces of my loved ones, the anguished screams of neighbors, and how the once-thriving city had turned into a wasteland.
That feeling of helplessness, that despair of watching everything being destroyed while being powerless to stop it—I never wanted to experience that again.
I had to grow stronger; I must grow stronger!
I arrived at the lobby downstairs. The once resplendent hall now resembled a toy house ravaged by giants—ruined walls everywhere, bloodstains and decaying corpses littered the floor.
I moved quietly, cautiously observing my surroundings.
In my line of sight, a swaying figure appeared.
It was dressed in a tattered security uniform, with dried bloodstains hanging around its neck—a standard low-level Zombie.
The opportunity had arrived.
I cautiously approached it, observing its movements while calculating in my mind.
Biting directly? Too disgusting and far too risky.
Let’s try a regular attack first and see how much my strength and speed have improved.
I picked up a half-buried Steel Pipe from the ground. It felt disgusting, but I couldn’t afford to think too much about it if I wanted to survive.
Gripping the Steel Pipe, it felt lighter than before; my strength had indeed increased.
Taking a deep breath, I aimed for the Zombie's leg and swung the pipe with all my might.
"Clang!"
A piercing sound of metal striking metal echoed as my Steel Pipe struck solidly against the Zombie's leg bone.
The imagined sound of breaking bones didn’t occur; instead, my Steel Pipe was jolted from my hands and flew away, crashing against the wall and bending out of shape.
The Zombie merely swayed slightly, slowly turning its head. Its murky eyes fixed on me as it let out an even raspier growl.
To my astonishment, there wasn’t even a white mark left on its leg bone!
"Damn! Is this really a low-level Zombie? This is more like a tin can!"
I was instantly taken aback. The one I encountered in the bathroom earlier, could it have been a weak rookie in the Zombie world?
Wasn't there supposed to be a slight increase in difficulty? How could it not even break a Steel Pipe?
I realized that the Zombies in this world seemed to be much tougher than I had imagined.
Normal attacks had little effect; it seemed I had to resort to a more "direct" approach.
My stomach began to churn again.
But in my ears, I could almost hear the desperate cries of loved ones on the brink of death, their hopeless eyes flashing before me.
There was no retreat!
I gritted my teeth, suppressing the nausea, and charged at the Zombie.
The Zombie seemed caught off guard by my "bravery," or perhaps my "foolhardiness," and hadn't fully reacted yet.
Seizing the opportunity, I lunged and grabbed its leg—yes, the very leg that I couldn't break with the Steel Pipe just moments ago.
A wave of decay and cold washed over me, making me want to vomit.
Then, I closed my eyes and bit down hard.
"Squish!"
The teeth truly pierced through its tough, dry flesh!
A more intense and nauseatingly foul liquid surged into my mouth, bringing with it an indescribable taste of acidity and decay.
I could feel the cold liquid within its body flowing over my teeth and tongue, every taste bud screaming in protest.
Disgusting! Utterly disgusting! I nearly vomited on the spot!
But in that moment of despair, the Black Bracelet on my wrist glowed with a brilliant red light once again!
That familiar warmth, or rather, a violent force surged into my body like a flood!
It was even more intense and overwhelming than before!
I felt every cell in my body greedily absorbing this power, expanding like an inflated balloon, filled with explosive strength!
The voice in my mind echoed again, this time not cold but tinged with an indistinguishable emotion:
“Devour Successful! Gained Low-Level Zombie Immunity! Significant increase in strength and speed! Triggered ability theft: Super Resilience!”
“Super Resilience”? What on earth is that?
Before I could ponder further, the surge of power made me unable to contain myself!
I abruptly released my grip on the Zombie's leg, feeling an unprecedented lightness in my body, yet filled with explosive energy!
This was not just a minor enhancement; it was a transformation!
I couldn't help but clench my fists and, facing the nearby wreckage of an abandoned car, I threw a punch.
"Boom!"
A loud crash echoed!
That deformed, junked car was actually dented by my punch, as if it had been struck by some heavy machinery!
I was stunned!
I looked at my fist, completely unscathed, then glanced at the pitiful car, and a disbelieving "What the hell!" escaped my throat.
Just moments ago, a steel pipe couldn't even break a zombie's leg, and now I could deform a car with my bare hands?!
Was this a moderate boost? This was practically like riding a rocket!
I felt an endless surge of power coursing through me, and my speed was astonishingly fast.
If I had previously been just an ordinary person who could run a bit faster and had a bit more strength, now I felt like… a Superman Prototype?
I was so excited that I wanted to laugh out loud to the sky; this feeling of suddenly becoming stronger was simply exhilarating!
I couldn't resist swinging my fists a few times, feeling the air whistle under my blows.
I even thought about trying to lift that car to see if I could…
Just as I was immersed in the ecstasy brought by this newfound strength, preparing to challenge the laws of physics—
"Roar!"
"Hiss!"
Suddenly, several high-pitched and sharp roars echoed from all directions!
My body tensed instantly, the earlier thrill of power replaced by a chilling sense of alertness.
I looked up and saw more Zombies appearing at the entrances of the hall and through the breached walls.
These Zombies seemed different from the ordinary ones I had encountered before.
Their bodies were bulkier, their skin a sickly gray-green. Some had abnormally thick arms, while others moved with astonishing speed, their eyes gleaming with a bloodthirsty red light.
What was worse, their gaze seemed to be locked onto me!
The roars they emitted carried an unmistakable sense of agitation and... desire?
It was as if they had caught a whiff of some special scent emanating from me, perhaps the "mark" left by the Devourer Zombie!
Had I become a walking Zombie buffet?!
My scalp tingled, and the thought of lifting a car vanished from my mind.
Gaining power felt exhilarating, but facing a horde of stronger Zombies...
They were starting to move!
A horde of Zombies charged at me, moving much faster than the ordinary ones I had encountered earlier!
There were at least a dozen of them!
In an instant, I made my judgment.
I couldn't fight them! At least not now!
I turned and ran, sprinting toward the nearest exit!
The boost in my strength and speed kicked in at that moment, allowing me to move with incredible agility, and in the blink of an eye, I burst out of the hall.
Behind me were the deafening roars of the Zombies and the sound of their relentless pursuit, as if the grim reaper of the apocalypse was closing in on me!
I felt like a piece of fresh meat that had fallen into a pack of wolves, and not just any meat, but one that emitted an irresistible aroma!
I had to escape! I must escape!
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