Ethan Cross returned to his residence.
It was a high-rise Condo tower, specifically the top-floor Penthouse.
His apartment was impeccably clean, spotless, with items arranged neatly in a minimalist, pleasing style.
The windows were secured with heavy-duty Steel Security Bars.
This was to guard against any mutated avian creatures that might attack him during the apocalypse.
The solar panels were fully installed. Even though Ethan was turning into a zombie, electricity was still vital.
Since he retained his human intellect, boredom was a factor.
He could watch Netflix, play PlayStation, or use his phone to pass the time.
He could also use these channels to gather intelligence.
Everything.
Was ready.
The countdown to the end of the world was on!
The long night passed, and the sun slowly rose. Ethan recalled that the apocalypse would begin at nine o'clock sharp.
He checked the wall clock: 8:59!
Only one minute left!
Ethan walked to the window, looking out at the streets—still bustling with traffic, people laughing and talking.
The clock behind him ticked.
The second hand gradually aligned with the minute hand, signaling that a new era was about to begin.
Exactly nine o'clock!
Suddenly,
The bright morning sun was overlaid with a red hue, turning the sky a deep crimson.
The Blood Sun!
Pedestrians on the street looked up, their eyes filled with surprise.
"Huh? Why is the sun red?"
"I have no idea! Is it some kind of astronomical phenomenon?"
"Quick, take a picture, post it on Instagram…"
As people were chatting, many suddenly collapsed, falling stiffly to the ground.
Cars speeding down the road began crashing into each other, one after another.
CRASH! BANG! TINKLE!
Windows shattered, glass shards flew, and the streets instantly descended into chaos.
People realized something was terribly wrong, their expressions growing increasingly panicked.
"Honey! What's wrong with you? Wake up!"
A woman on the street frantically shook her husband's body.
RROOAARRR!
But when the man opened his eyes, his face was contorted and monstrous. He immediately bit into the woman's fair neck.
"AAAAH—!!!"
The woman screamed in agony, her clothes instantly stained with blood. Then her eyes rolled back, and her body began to convulse violently.
Similar scenes unfolded everywhere on the street.
"Oh god! There are monsters!"
"Those are… Zombies! Help me!"
"Waaahhh~~~ Mommy, wake up, please!"
Screams, wails, and snarls rose in a terrifying chorus.
The landscape was one of total disorder.
At his window, Ethan's vision also blurred, and he collapsed.
When he woke up again,
He was a zombie!
Hhhrr—
He opened his mouth, and a hoarse sound escaped his throat. He had lost the ability to speak.
"It happened just like before…" Ethan murmured inwardly.
Not only that, but many of his body's functions were lost, including any reaction from his 'Mighty Dragon' downstairs.
"I guess I'll have to evolve slowly to get them back."
Ethan turned to the living room mirror. His face hadn't changed, but his skin was unnaturally pale, completely bloodless, giving him a sickly appearance.
As a zombie, his limbs felt stiff and somewhat numb. His movements were slow, and his sense of pain was drastically diminished.
Ethan's current speed was probably slower than an ordinary human's.
Based on the classification from his previous life, he was currently the lowest tier, a D-Class Zombie!
However, his hearing and sense of smell were enhanced. His fingernails had sharpened into steel-like claws, and his teeth were incredibly hard, capable of effortlessly tearing through flesh.
Ethan picked up a Granny Smith apple and took a delicate bite.
The sweet, crisp apple now tasted like sawdust in his mouth.
"Tastes awful…"
He felt no satiation; instead, his hunger intensified, a deep, gnawing craving for flesh and blood.
He walked to the dining table. Despite his slow, stiff movements, Ethan picked up a crisp white napkin and tucked it into his collar.
Then, from his storage space, he retrieved a fresh Ribeye steak and placed it on a plate.
Picking up a knife and fork, just as he would for a formal dinner, he carved the raw beef into neat, bite-sized cubes.
He speared a piece with his fork and slowly placed it into his mouth.
He was an elegant zombie…
Ethan's hard teeth easily mashed the meat. The raw steak, which should have been rank, was now incredibly delicious.
The bloody juices flowing from the raw beef tasted exceptionally sweet.
"Mmm! Delicious!" Ethan thought.
Outside, the street remained a riot of chaos, screams, and snarls.
But inside, Ethan was elegantly eating his meat.
As he consumed the flesh, energy was absorbed, and his body began to strengthen.
Once transformed into a zombie, his appetite dramatically increased; his stomach felt like a bottomless pit.
Ethan ate ten full plates before the intense hunger subsided slightly.
But he kept eating…
The growth rate of a zombie fed a sufficient supply of fresh flesh was terrifying!
After eating for a while, Ethan noticed his hands and feet felt much less stiff.
His strength also increased.
Even the steel knife and fork in his hands didn't feel so rigid anymore.
With a slight effort from two fingers, he could easily bend them.
But he continued to eat…
Plate after plate, constantly absorbing energy.
Time slowly passed. The streets outside quieted down considerably. The wails of humans faded away.
They were replaced by the constant snarls of zombies.
The city center had fallen, taken over by the infected. Only a few survivors were clinging to life.
But Ethan paid no mind to the outside world… he was focused on his "sweet flesh."
Because the apocalypse was so new, the internet and communication systems hadn't completely collapsed yet.
On the television, the news anchors' eyes were red, some even tearing up, but they kept dutifully reporting.
"Emergency Broadcast! A zombie virus outbreak occurred today. Humanity is facing a critical crisis! Survivors, please protect yourselves! Those who manage to stay alive are urged to head to the city's Emergency Shelter!"
"This station also reports: It's not just zombies! Animals and even plants have mutated to varying degrees. Be especially careful of household pets!"
"Please stay away from densely populated areas! We beg of you… you must survive!"
"…"
Tragedies were unfolding relentlessly across the region.
But Ethan was oblivious to the world outside… he continued to eat.
He wasn't sure how much he'd consumed—roughly the equivalent of two entire cows.
Finally, Ethan was full.
He set down his cutlery and gracefully untied the still-white napkin. His movements were now much swifter.
After consuming so much meat, his body was no longer numb. The agility of his hands and feet now surpassed that of a normal human.
"I must have leveled up… I estimate I'm a C-Class Zombie now…" Ethan analyzed.
At this level, however, a zombie's capacity to digest meat was limited, which is why eating two cows' worth of meat gave him a feeling of satiation.
As his rank increased, his ability to consume and process meat would only grow.
Ethan stood up and walked to the window, surveying the scene outside.
As far as his gaze could reach, the streets were a wreck, littered with shattered glass, blood, and dismembered bodies.
Countless zombies sprinted, hunting for prey. Others knelt in small groups, savagely fighting over the blood and flesh of human corpses.
Their hungry snarls filled the air, like dogs protecting their food.
Some desperate survivors, cornered, leaped from high-rise buildings, hitting the ground with a sickening SPLAT, becoming a bloody, pulpy mess.
But immediately, a swarm of zombies descended upon them, tearing the bodies apart.
The sun remained a deep, unsettling crimson.
The scarlet light shone upon these horrific scenes, making the devastation feel even more desolate.
But what did any of this have to do with Ethan?
He leaned against the windowsill, feeling the light breeze. He picked up a stemmed glass, swirled the red liquid (blood) inside, and took a small, careful sip.
Then, he picked up a clean white towel and gently dabbed his mouth…
Elegance. Never. Fades.