After two very intense hours of what Evan insisted on calling serious training, he finally let Sophie rest. He stretched his back and exhaled slowly, wondering if his spine had always made that sound. His waist felt sore in a way that was definitely not heroic.
Maybe on their way out later, he should stop by a pharmacy and look for some supplements. Something for kidneys… or stamina… or both. Probably both.
Sophie clung to his arm like a warm koala.
"Master, I feel stronger today."
"Stronger?" Evan blinked. She had not drunk his blood since yesterday afternoon. The only thing she had "consumed" since then was… well... him. Did that actually count?
Before he could ask, Sophie lifted a frying pan with a visible dent shaped like a fist.
"Look."
With a loud metallic crack, she punched straight through the center of the pan. This time, her hand did not bleed, bruise, or even tremble. The hole was perfectly round.
"My frying pan…" Evan stared at the dying remains of what used to be his favorite cookware, then accepted reality. Sophie had really gotten stronger. Much stronger.
His ability was terrifyingly overpowered. Not only could he restore a zombie's consciousness, but he could also make them stronger through… exercise. Unfortunately for him, he was the one doing most of the work, and his waist was paying the price.
The ironic part was that Sophie grew stronger while he stayed as physically fragile as before. He wanted to be the protagonist swinging a katana through hordes of zombies, not the tired support character gasping in the background.
For now, he could only accept that he was Sophie's… support pillar. Literally and metaphorically.
He checked the time. It was almost 11 a.m., and if his memory from his past life served him right, zombies were laziest in the early afternoon when the sun was at its peak. If they wanted to reach the supermarket safely, leaving around 2 p.m. would be perfect.
"Sophie, pack some clothes. We are moving to a different place."
"Anywhere you go, I go." Sophie nodded rapidly like a pecking chick.
Evan paused. She really was more obedient now. Was that another side effect of his mysterious ability? He had absolutely no data on this. Better observe her more in the future.
Sophie quickly dragged out a large suitcase filled with clothes. Not food. Not medicine. Not tools. Just clothes. If she were still alive, she would probably be the kind of girl who brought twenty outfits for a weekend trip.
She did not need food anyway, so he let it go.
Evan packed his hiking backpack with essentials. After all, the place they were heading to was filled with supplies. The backpack was just a precaution.
Sophie hugged his waist.
"Master, it is only 11:30. We still have two hours before leaving. Maybe we could use that free time for something fun?"
The way she said "fun" made Evan's knees weak in a very unstrategic way.
"No. Absolutely not. Be serious." Evan forced his expression into something that looked responsible. If he let her distract him now, there was no way his legs would still be functioning later.
Sophie stuck out her tongue playfully. Ever since she realized she got stronger from certain activities, she had become extremely enthusiastic. Evan's body, however, was slowly dying inside.
"Do you have a car?" Evan asked.
If they used a vehicle, they could reach the supermarket in under a minute. They would attract zombies, yes, but if they drove fast and used alternate routes, they should shake them off.
"I have an electric scooter."
"That is basically suicide with wheels." Evan rejected the idea instantly. "The zombies could grab you right off it."
Sophie tapped her chin.
"Oh, when I was searching the old man's apartment earlier, I saw a pair of car keys."
"Perfect. One more trip then."
He felt a little guilty. He had already taken the old man's kitchen knives, half a bag of rice, and some fruit. Now he was taking the man's car too. At this point, he felt like a bandit raiding a village.
When they opened the door, two zombies suddenly lunged inside.
"What the hell!" Evan reached for his katana near the dining table, but he knew he would not make it in time.
Sophie blurred past him.
Her foot collided with the first zombie's chest. A sickening crunch echoed as its ribcage caved in like a crushed soda can. The zombie collapsed, lifeless.
The second zombie tripped over the first, and by the time it got up, a flash of steel sliced through the air. Evan shook the blackened blood off his blade and slid it back into the sheath. The zombie's head rolled a moment later.
"This blade is amazing." Evan grinned. With this, he could fight off even a dozen zombies in an open area.
"Strange. Why were these zombies waiting outside our door?"
"Master, you forgot… how noisy we were last night." Sophie blushed.
Evan froze.
Right. They must have attracted zombies from the lower floors.
What a terrifying realization.
Note to self: improve soundproofing. Buy pillows. Many pillows.
"Sophie, guard the stairs. I am grabbing the keys."
"Yes, Master."
Evan stepped into the old couple's apartment again. He looked at the collapsed bodies of the old man and woman. They had given him so many useful things, even if unintentionally.
He could not leave them thrown around like trash.
Gently, he moved the bodies onto their bed, placing them side by side. He even set the old man's head back where it belonged. If they had any consciousness left, they would probably want to stay together.
"I hope this is enough." Evan whispered, picking up the keys and walking out.
Sophie had already finished off another zombie climbing the stairs.
"Master, finished?"
"Finished. We leave at two."
They returned home and sat together on the couch. Absolutely no exercise. For the sake of his survival, no physical activities of any kind.
To pass the time, Evan opened his tablet and streamed a zombie movie titled World War. The Internet was still working, so he might as well enjoy it while he could.
By the time the credits rolled, it was nearly two.
Evan strapped on his backpack and gripped his katana. Sophie lifted the thirty-pound suitcase with one hand like it was filled with feathers.
Together, they cut down a few lingering zombies and reached the underground parking lot.
Evan froze.
There were nearly forty zombies wandering around the garage.
"Who messed up so badly that they attracted this many zombies here?"