The world outside his apartment had changed overnight.
Imura woke to silence, the kind that felt wrong. The hum of traffic, the chatter of neighbors, the barking of stray dogs—all gone. Instead, the city lay under a strange, suffocating stillness.
He sat up from the floor, groaning. His muscles ached from training, but the system's glow in the corner of his vision reminded him of last night's progress.
[User: Imura – Lv.2][Clone Ability Lv.2 – Active Clones: 2][EXP: 67/200]
He rubbed his face and let out a low laugh. "Almost halfway already."
The hunger in his stomach growled, demanding attention. He opened the fridge—nothing but expired milk and a half-empty jar of pickles. His cupboards weren't any better.
Tch. He'd spent so long rotting in this apartment that survival had never been a concern. But if the world outside was filling with zombies… then food, water, and weapons mattered more than ever.
The system pulsed.
[New Quest Available: Secure Supplies.][Objective: Gather food, water, and weapons. Rewards: +50 EXP, Random Common Item.]
Imura's lips curved into a grin. "Perfect. Looks like the system's on my side."
He summoned his clones, the familiar light wrapping around him before splitting off into two identical forms. They stood silently, awaiting orders.
"You two, search with me. We'll sweep the convenience store down the block. Stay close."
The trio moved out into the hall. The air reeked of rot, and a faint smear of dried blood stained the walls. The building felt abandoned. Imura gripped his dagger tighter as he stepped into the stairwell, each creak of the floorboards making his nerves buzz.
When they reached the street, the silence was broken by a low, distant groan. Imura scanned the area, spotting two zombies stumbling across the intersection. Their movements were sluggish, but their jaws worked restlessly, as if they were already chewing invisible flesh.
His heartbeat spiked. "Two of them…"
The clones tightened their grips on their makeshift weapons—the pipe and a broken chair leg. Imura's dagger gleamed faintly in the morning light.
He whispered, "We take them fast. No noise."
The three of them crept closer. The first zombie turned its head, too late. Imura lunged, driving the dagger deep into its temple. It shuddered violently before collapsing.
The second spun with a snarl, arms reaching out. But the clones were already on it—one pinning its arms, the other smashing the chair leg against its skull. Imura didn't hesitate. He finished it with a quick thrust.
The system chimed.
[+30 EXP][+30 EXP]
Imura wiped the blood from his dagger, smirking. "Clean. Efficient. We're getting good at this."
The convenience store's glass windows were cracked, one side smashed open. Inside, shelves were toppled, goods scattered, and a faint trail of blood led to the back.
Imura signaled the clones. They entered cautiously, every sense on edge.
The store was quiet, but not empty.
From behind the counter, a head lifted—a zombie clerk, half its face torn away, teeth bared. It lurched up, knocking over cans as it staggered forward.
"Take it," Imura snapped.
The clones intercepted it, grappling hard. Imura darted in, driving his dagger straight through its eye. The corpse twitched, then stilled.
[+30 EXP]
The system chimed again, brighter this time.
[Level Up!][User: Imura – Lv.3][Stat Points +5]
Imura grinned so hard his cheeks hurt. "Yes… this is it. I can feel it."
He distributed the points instantly: Strength, Agility, and Willpower again. The power surged through him, sharper than before.
The clones, too, seemed quicker, their movements cleaner. He realized then—when he grew stronger, so did they.
He turned back to the shelves. Most of the food was scattered, but he filled a bag with instant noodles, water bottles, and canned goods. In the storage room, he found something even better: a crowbar.
[Crowbar – ATK +4, Durability: High]
He laughed, swinging it experimentally. "Now this is a weapon."
The quest notification appeared.
[Quest Complete: Secure Supplies.][+50 EXP][Item Obtained: Stamina Booster (Common)]
A small vial materialized in his hand, glowing faintly. The label read: One-Time Use. Restores stamina to full.
Imura smirked, pocketing it. "Now even exhaustion isn't a problem."
The trio stepped back onto the street, the bag of supplies heavy but comforting. Imura's blood was singing, his grin wide. Every fight, every reward—it was like the world had finally bent to his will.
He glanced at his clones, their eyes blank but their presence solid. "This is just the start. We'll hunt, grind, and keep growing. The world wants monsters?"
He spun the crowbar in his hand, eyes blazing. "Then I'll become the biggest monster of them all."
The silence of the city pressed in around him. Somewhere in the distance, a guttural roar echoed—a sound far larger, far hungrier than the zombies he'd faced so far.
Imura's grin didn't falter. If anything, it widened.
"Good. Bring it on."