As Damian dismissed the status screen his mind wondered back to the aspect where he ate that zombie it felt wrong but he couldn't also dismissed the fact that it tasted delicious
"Ahh….. F**k this" Damian said as he scratch his head, so system what was that why is there no "status for my hunger pang, why is it only when it reach critical it started to show warnings?"
"Host is still unlocking some new features in the system, am just like the Ai guide to assist you."
"Hmm…. It seems you are right." Damian nodded his head agreeing with the system.
Just as he was about to dismiss the interface a different icon appeared in the status screen, as he clicked the icon a new visual screen pop up 'Quests'
DAILY QUESTS
-Kill ten level 2 zombies (0/10)
….Failure to complete quest: Stats are reduced by 50%, Rewards: 2 Evolution points
-Kill 5 level 3 zombies (0/5)
....Failure to complete quest: Stats are reduced by 40%, Rewards: 5 Evolution points
MAIN QUEST
-Turn your first human (0/1).....Failure: ????.... Rewards: ????
As Damian went through the screen he was perplexed with what he saw, this daily quest does not make sense, No? And what with the main quest….''Turn your first human'' does that mean he will have to bite a human,
"Who would want to turn to a zombie!!" Damian said with a bit of anger in his
Voice.
As if to mock him the system chimed
"Host will indeed have to bite humans to convert them"
"You are kidding me right?" Damian sighs as if already resigning himself to his faith
''It seems there's no need trying to maintain this facade '' Im a zombie In and out. Well I guess it time to complete the daily quests I wouldn't want those debuffs in this hellhole.
5 hours later…..
''F**k…. How long do I have to keep searching?" Damian muttered, dragging his feet through broken glass. "Every zombie I find is either too weak to matter or"
He stopped.
That one.
The memory alone made his dead skin crawl. Just hours ago, he'd sensed it from a block away a pressure in his skull, a primal scream in his instincts telling him to run. He'd peeked from behind a collapsed wall, and the system had obligingly displayed the nightmare:
Level 30 Zombie (Abomination)
Title: Lord
HP: ????
STG: ????
DEF: 200
AGI: ????
STA: ????
INT: ????
Skills: Bite (lvl3), Claw (lvl5), Basic Regeneration (lvl5), Horde Command (lvl1), Hunger Sense (lvl4), Domain (lvl1)
Zombie Minions: ????
Domain Capacity: ????
Damian had run. Obviously.
"System," he whispered now, still shaken. "The hell was that thing? Why's it so different?"
"Abomination-class. Current apex predator. Host is aware zombies have classifications?"
"Uh… no? This is news to me."
"There are five. Walker, Runner, Abomination which host just encountered and two beyond: Mutant and Horror."
Damian blinked. "Five? I've been surviving five years and never seen a Mutant or Horror."
"Correct. They do not exist in this world yet."
That stopped him cold. "Wait what do you mean yet? They're coming?"
"The energy that caused the apocalypse has only been active for five years. Think of it as… a game loading. Walkers and Runners are the starting enemies. Abominations are current endgame. Mutants and Horrors?" The system paused, almost ominously. "They unlock later."
Damian's rotting jaw hung open. "Unlock? Like, like this is all some kind of tutorial?"
[Host will understand more in due time.]
"Oh no. No no no. You don't get to drop 'tutorial phase' on me and then wait. You said classifications. Walkers, Runners, Abominations. What makes them different? Is it random?"
"Talent."
"Talent? Zombies have talents?"
"When a human turns, their zombie form is determined by innate factors. A Walker is a Walker forever. A Runner is a Runner forever. Only extremely rare circumstances can change this."
Damian processed that. Then a slow, wicked grin spread across his rotten face.
"But I'm not stuck, am I?"
[Correct. Host's system allows evolution across classifications. Host is unique.]
"Heh… hehehe… HA!" Damian laughed, the sound echoing off ruined buildings. "So while every other zombie is stuck in their lane, I can just… keep climbing? Walker? Runner? Abomination? Mutant? Horror?"
[Correct.]
"System, I take back every mean thing I said about you. This is"
[Threat detected.]
Damian's laughter cut off instantly.
Just as the notification appeared he saw in the distance, a shuffling figure emerged from the shadows of a collapsed building east of him, just as his eyes narrowed he saw it, it was another zombie… then its status appeared in his head.
Level 2 Zombie (Runner)
HP-200
STG-13
DEF-2
AGI-20
STA-70
INT-5
Skill: Bite (lvl1), Claw (lvl1), Basic regeneration (lvl1)
It was a level 2 runner... "Well, this doesn't seem too hard," Damian said. But the moment he finished speaking, the zombie lunged at him, closing the distance between them in a blur.
It claws slashed downward, aiming for Damian chest but Damian was ready he side stepped the attack, making the claw slash through empty air.
Just as the attack missed Damian counterattack with his own claws, his claws raking across the other zombie chest which took a little of the zombie hp
[-20]
As black ichor oozed from the wound he had inflicted on the other zombie , he realized that the zombie didn't even flinched it regeneration quickly kicking immediately
Zombie (Runner)
Level 2
HP-180(+1)….(+1)….
STG-13
DEF-2
AGI-20
STA-70
INT-5
Skill: Bite (lvl1), Claw (lvl1), Basic regeneration (lvl1)
Even though the regeneration was slow, around 1hp for every 5 seconds, Damian hissed, stepping back to create space. This was not going to be easy, they are closely matched in strength and skill he would have to outthink this zombie if he would want kill it
''I guess this is one of the perks of having a system retain your memory before turning to a zombie'' Damian thought as he chuckles to himself.
The other zombie growled again, its head tilting towards him as if studying him, then it attacked with renew fury, its claws swiping in rapid succession.
Damian docked and weaved around as he dodged the attack his muscles straining as he avoided the blows, even though he kept dodging one claw still
slashed him at his hand taking a little of his hp
Which quickly filled back up, as he gritted his teeth…Damian lashed out with his claw, his strike connecting as he took a large chunk of the creature health
But the other zombie didn't falter, it lunged forward again, jaws snapping, and managed to sink into its rotten teeth into his flesh, ''F**k" Damian hissed, "Hey system why the heck am I feeling pain aren't I supposed to be dead'' Damian complained in his heart as the pain shot through him like a bolt of electricity.
"As I keep saying host is different from other zombies, I will suggest host focuses more on the fight rather than complaining"
Damian scoffs.. as if already expecting the answer from the system then he snarled, raising his claws and slammed it at the side of the zombie head which was still biting him,
Bang!!
The force of the blow knocked the creature loose while also taking a chunk of it health.
As the zombie was loose Damian arm throbbed , black ichor dripping from the bite wound, but was already regenerating although slowly.
As he and the other zombie circled each other, Damian mind raced quickly he needed to end this quickly
As the other zombie lunged again, claw swiping toward his face, Damian ducked avoiding the attack and darted forward ramming his shoulder into it chest...
The impact sent the creature stumbling backward, crashing into the rusted remains of an old car.
As it tried to pushed itself back to its feet, Damian ran to it side not wanting to give the zombie a chance to recover and rammed the zombie again, pinning it against the car crumbled frame.
The zombie thrashed as its claw raked across Damian back tearing flesh and muscle. As he snarled in pain, Damian eyes darted around the battlefield, searching for anything he could use. That when he saw a jagged piece of metal sticking out of the rubble nearby.
An idea formed in his mind , and he let go of the zombie goading him , the zombie took the bait charging at him with reckless abandon, he waited till the last minute, then side stepped the attack grabbing the metal as he moved, the zombie stumbled past him and he spun, driving the metal to its head with all strength.
The jagged metal pierce right through the skull of the zombie which took the final health of the zombie. As Damian stood over the fallen zombie the familiar chimed appeared in his mind
[Level 2 zombie (runner) killed]
[Evolution point acquired 2]
[Biomass detected…Do you want to consume?][YES/NO]
After clicking the yes button immediately the usual scene appeared my mouth
opened wider than it supposed to … Then the feast began,
"I never knew a zombie could taste so yummy!!" Damian thought to himself as he consumed the zombie.
[Biomass consumed]
[Acquired 100 biomass]
[Hunger relieved by 20%]
[Status updated]
Name: Damian Cross
Level 2: Biomass consumed (100-1000), Evolution points (4)
Race: Zombie (runner)
HP-200
STG-15
DEF-10
AGI-55
STA- ...….
END-25
INT-20
Skills: Bite (lvl1), Basic regeneration (lvl1), Claw (lvl1) Hunger Gage: 58% (moderate hunger)
As Damian checked the new stat on his status screen he was satisfied since he can now tell when he is hungry or not. He also couldn't help but be amazed to the fact of how fast his injuries were already healing.
But his joy was short-lived as it seems that his fight had drawn unwanted attention as he crouched low, he could hear the shuffling of feet and guttural growls another zombie was here.