The wind roared past Hunter's ears as he plummeted from the third floor.
The terrified survivors below watched in disbelief.
Had someone just jumped?
The zombies paused for only a moment before raising their blood-covered faces toward the falling figure.
Hunter's crimson eyes shone with killing intent.
At the last second, he activated the Tyrant blood flowing through his body.
His muscles expanded, absorbing the impact.
BOOM!
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
A shockwave blasted outward, knocking several zombies off their feet.
Dust and broken concrete filled the courtyard.
Hunter slowly rose from the crater, his Tyrant Blade already drawn.
The nearest zombie lunged.
It never reached him.
Slash!
Its head flew several meters before rolling to a stop.
Another attacked from behind.
Hunter spun gracefully, cutting through its waist.
Black blood sprayed across the broken pavement.
The remaining zombies roared in unison and charged.
Hunter smiled coldly.
"Come."
His body disappeared in a blur.
His sword became a crimson streak weaving through the horde.
One zombie lost both arms.
Another had its skull crushed by a single punch.
A third was kicked into a concrete pillar, shattering both the pillar and its spine.
Within seconds, bodies littered the courtyard.
The young man lying on the ground stared in disbelief.
"W-Who..."
One of the girls covered her mouth.
"He's... killing them..."
"He isn't even slowing down..."
Hunter had become a whirlwind of death.
Every swing of his blade claimed another life.
Every step left another corpse behind.
The zombies no longer looked like predators.
They looked like prey.
Zombie Eliminated.
+20 EXP
Zombie Eliminated.
+20 EXP
Level Up!
Hunter has reached Level 3!
All Base Attributes +2
Warm energy surged through Hunter's body.
His strength increased once again.
He felt as though he could punch through solid steel.
Only six zombies remained.
They circled him cautiously, instinctively sensing danger.
Hunter didn't give them time to think.
He dashed forward.
His blade flashed.
One...
Two...
Three...
The final zombie collapsed.
Silence filled the courtyard.
Only the sound of heavy breathing remained.
The three survivors stared at Hunter as if he were some mythical warrior.
Black blood dripped from his blade.
His clothes were stained with gore.
Yet not a single wound marked his body.
The system chimed.
Emergency Side Mission Complete!
Survivors Saved: 3
Rewards Granted
• Rare Skill Book
• 500 EXP
• 100 System Points
Another notification appeared.
Level Up!
Hunter has reached Level 4!
Hunter opened the glowing Skill Book.
It dissolved into golden light before merging with his body.
Rare Skill Acquired
Predator Dash
Grade: Rare
Instantly dash up to twenty meters.
The next attack within three seconds deals 250% damage.
Energy Cost: 10
Cooldown: 15 Seconds.
Hunter smiled.
"A movement skill..."
Exactly what he needed.
Suddenly...
His enhanced hearing caught something unusual.
...
Boom...
Boom...
Boom...
Heavy footsteps.
Far heavier than ordinary zombies.
The ground trembled with every step.
Hunter slowly turned toward the university library.
A massive figure emerged from the shattered entrance.
It stood nearly three meters tall.
Its body was covered in bulging muscles.
Dark crimson skin stretched over its frame while thick bone spikes protruded from its shoulders.
One arm had transformed into a gigantic claw nearly the size of a human.
Its glowing scarlet eyes locked onto Hunter.
A crimson screen appeared.
Elite Mutated Zombie
Level: 8
Rank: E
Health: 500/500
Skills
• Heavy Smash
• Berserk
• Hardened Skin
Warning
This enemy possesses intelligence far beyond ordinary infected.
Host survival chance: 28%
Hunter's smile slowly disappeared.
Level 8.
Four levels above him.
Before he could react, the monster let out an earth-shaking roar.
ROOOAAARRR!!
Every zombie corpse around the courtyard suddenly began twitching.
The survivors stepped backward in horror.
"W-What's happening?"
The dead zombies slowly climbed back onto their feet.
Although their bodies were broken and missing limbs, they continued moving toward the Elite Zombie.
Hunter narrowed his eyes.
The monster opened its enormous mouth.
One by one...
It swallowed the corpses whole.
Bones crunched.
Blood flowed from its jaws.
Its muscles swelled even larger.
The system immediately displayed another warning.
Elite Zombie has consumed infected flesh.
Health Restored.
Strength Increased by 20%.
Hunter's grip tightened around the Tyrant Blade.
"So it can evolve..."
The Elite Zombie looked directly into Hunter's crimson eyes.
Unlike the ordinary infected...
It smiled.
A cruel, twisted smile filled with intelligence.
Hunter finally understood.
The apocalypse wasn't just creating zombies.
It was creating monsters that could continue evolving.
The Elite Zombie slammed its massive claw into the ground.
The concrete exploded beneath its strength.
Then, like a speeding truck, it charged directly at Hunter.
Hunter lowered his stance.
Crimson energy erupted around his body once more.
His greatest battle since the apocalypse had begun.