Ash Leon shoved the zombie aside and scrambled to his feet.He tore the shredded fabric from his left wrist, revealing a circular iron plate fashioned like a makeshift bracer.That was why the zombie's teeth had failed to pierce his flesh.
"You have slain a zombie. Kill count: 1."You have slain a zombie. Kill count: 2."You have slain a zombie. Kill count: 3."
At the moment Ash killed the third zombie, the voice that had announced the apocalypse spoke again, reporting his kills.
Others couldn't hear it.But Ash knew—this was the foundation for becoming stronger in the future.Of course, it all depended on one thing: boarding the Death Train . Without that, none of it mattered.
He didn't look at the corpses.He passed through the alley, moving forward with measured steps.
Chaos. Absolute chaos.
When the strange events began, everyone's first reaction was confusion and helplessness—they couldn't comprehend what was happening.
And then?Instinct took over. Run.
Every living creature's strongest instinct was survival.People ran screaming through the streets, pursued by ravenous zombies.
But zombies weren't the only danger.Small, fast, and deceptively harmless—wild cats and dogs now prowled as apex predators.They were hard to hit, fast, and carried the virus.A scratch or bite would mean infection.
Blood, screams, and growls filled the streets.This was the New Year's celebration humanity had received.No joy. No fireworks. Only terror.
Ash moved carefully, deliberately, his steps light.Zombies located prey by sound.Those running in panic drew the monsters' attention, while he passed almost unnoticed.
"Food and water," he muttered, spotting a convenience store."Even if I find the Death Train, I'll need supplies until then."
He slipped inside, closed the door and windows, and pushed a shelf against them.
A faint noise reached him.
"Who's there?" Ash barked.
"I… I…" a soft voice stammered.A young girl, about fifteen or sixteen, in a school uniform, emerged from behind the shelves.
"Please… don't kill me," she begged, trembling.She had mistaken him for a zombie, pitiful and terrified.
Ash examined her quickly.No blood—no infection signs.
But then he noticed a faint black line creeping up her calf, moving like a living thing.
"An Initial Zombie," Ash realized.
The first infected.The apocalypse had begun, and these people were born with the virus.Unlike the bitten, who transformed after death, Initial Zombies suffered the virus while still alive, slowly turning into monsters.
Ash's hand moved to his knife.Despite her innocence, she was a potential threat—soon, she would be like the zombies outside.
Bang!
The door shook violently.The shelf buckled under the impact.The girl flinched, shrinking back toward Ash.
He focused on the entrance.Zombies couldn't break doors—yet instinct drove them forward, step by step.
Crash!
The window shattered.A black, scaled arm reached inside, followed by a bald head.Blood-red eyes, a crimson tongue hanging out.
Ash's stomach sank.A Ghoul—a mutated, low-level zombie.
The apocalypse had only just begun, and mutations were already appearing.Not a good sign.
The Ghoul crashed through the window and lunged at Ash.
He didn't hesitate.He fired his nail gun.
Bam. Bam. Bam…
Nails struck the Ghoul, but it was stronger than a regular zombie.The nails pierced skin but didn't penetrate deep.
It opened its mouth, revealing sharp teeth, reeking of decay, saliva dripping.
Click!
The nail gun clicked empty.
Ash kicked the Ghoul in the chest, sending it staggering back, then toppled a shelf onto it.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The Ghoul rose again, unharmed, charging forward.
Ash grabbed the girl's shoulders and shoved her forward.
Slash!
The Ghoul's clawed arm pierced her chest, blood spreading across her uniform.
Her eyes widened at him.
"You're going to die anyway," Ash said grimly."Better to die before becoming one of them. Don't blame me—this is the apocalypse."
He shoved her fully onto the Ghoul.
Through her fallen form, he drew his knife and drove it deep into the monster's neck.
Rip!
The Ghoul thrashed violently, but Ash held firm.He slashed again, cutting its neck completely.
A jet of blood sprayed across the floor, soaking half of Ash's body.The Ghoul struggled less and less.Finally, its arms fell limply to the ground.It was gone.