The sound was unlike anything Imura had heard before.It wasn't the mindless groan of a zombie. It wasn't the screech of rusted metal or the whine of wind through broken windows.
It was deeper. Stronger. A roar that rattled his bones, echoing through the empty streets like the cry of some ancient beast.
Imura froze, the bag of supplies hanging from his shoulder. His clones stopped too, their heads turning instinctively in the direction of the sound.
For a long moment, the city was silent again. Then—thud.The ground trembled. Another thud. Louder, closer.
Something big was moving.
Imura's grip tightened on the crowbar. "So it's not just zombies…"
The system pulsed in response to his thought.
[New Enemy Class Discovered: Mutant Zombie.][Warning: Difficulty much higher than average.]
A savage grin stretched across his face. "Good. Stronger enemies mean better rewards."
The roar came again, closer this time, shaking dust from broken street lamps. Imura ducked into a side alley, clones flanking him. He crouched low, waiting, watching.
It didn't take long.
From around the corner of a collapsed building, a hulking figure emerged. Twice the size of a man, its flesh was swollen and misshapen, arms dragging on the ground like a gorilla. Its head lolled at an angle, one eye dangling uselessly from its socket, but its mouth—its mouth was wide, packed with jagged teeth that snapped as it sniffed the air.
Imura's heartbeat quickened. This wasn't like the shambling corpses he'd been farming. This thing was alive with hunger and fury.
The system pinged.
[Mutant Zombie – Lv.5][Estimated Strength: High. Caution advised.]
Imura licked his lips. "Level 5… just right."
The monster roared again, a deafening bellow that shattered nearby windows. Then it turned, eyes locking on him.
Imura didn't flinch. "Clones—attack!"
The two clones surged forward, charging the beast with reckless abandon. One swung the pipe at its knee, the other jabbed the broken chair leg into its side.
The mutant barely noticed. With a casual swipe of its massive arm, it sent one clone flying into a wall, where it burst into motes of light. The second was crushed under a stomping foot, vanishing instantly.
Imura didn't falter. He expected as much. "Good distractions."
He dashed in low, crowbar gripped tight, and swung with all his strength at the monster's leg. The weapon connected with a crack, and the giant stumbled with a guttural snarl.
"Got you," Imura hissed.
The mutant swung its massive arm down toward him, fast despite its size. He rolled away, the blow shattering asphalt where he'd been standing. Dust and shards of concrete sprayed across the alley.
He was grinning again. His blood was boiling.
"System," he growled, panting. "Show me stats."
[User: Imura – Lv.3][Strength: 7 | Agility: 6 | Intelligence: 5 | Willpower: 9 | Charisma: 2]
Not enough. Not yet. But that was why he fought.
"Clone Ability: Activate!"
Light flared beside him—two more copies emerged, fresh and ready. Without hesitation, they charged.
Imura followed, crowbar raised.
The battle was chaos.
One clone latched onto the mutant's arm, pulling it down just enough for Imura to strike again at its knee. Another clone leapt onto its back, stabbing with the broken chair leg.
The mutant howled, thrashing wildly, smashing buildings as it tried to throw them off. Each swing of its massive arms could kill him instantly. But with every dodge, every strike, Imura felt his body sharpening, learning.
This wasn't fear anymore. It was exhilaration.
The clone on its back was crushed against a wall. Another was swatted into rubble. But their sacrifice gave him openings. He struck again and again—crowbar, dagger, fists—anything to wear it down.
At last, the mutant dropped to one knee, its guttural growl shaking the air.
Imura's chest heaved. Sweat and blood mixed on his skin. He raised the crowbar high. "Die screaming, bastard!"
He drove it straight into the monster's skull.
The mutant shuddered violently. Its roar cut off in a gurgle. Then, with a thunderous crash, the giant toppled onto the street, shaking the ground one last time before going still.
The system chimed.
[+150 EXP][Rare Drop Acquired: Mutant Core.]
Imura collapsed to his knees, laughing breathlessly. "Hah… hahahaha! That… that was insane…"
The glowing orb floated in front of him, pulsating with dark energy.
[Mutant Core: Can be consumed to permanently increase stats.]
Imura's eyes burned with greed. Without hesitation, he grabbed the core and swallowed it whole.
Agony ripped through his body. Muscles convulsed, vision blurred, every nerve screaming. Then—like fire settling into his veins—the pain shifted to power.
[Strength +3 | Agility +2 | Willpower +2]
His entire body felt alive, stronger than ever.
He stood, crowbar resting on his shoulder, eyes gleaming with madness and triumph.
"This world… it's mine to take."