For the first time, Matthew left the path and entered an area with the zombies, filled with weeds, a few trees, and uneven terrain.
"We've been walking for three days, and we haven't reached any specific place. System, do you sense anything?"
[No, host]
Matthew wasn't too worried; in almost three days, he would have another pill from the "monster." He planned that if he encountered any enemy or threat that could kill him, he would hide until he had the pill.
...
It was night; the moon had just passed its zenith an hour earlier, and they arrived near a mountain.
Roar!
[Bone Zombie: Rank C+] At the foot of the mountain appeared a humanoid zombie with hard, white skin, wielding two sharp bone swords.
At that moment, Matthew watched, hidden behind a rock.
"So that zombie controls the rest. How intelligent does that thing?"
Matthew didn't expect an answer. On one hand, he felt lucky; there were only two days and a few hours left before he could use the monster's pill, and he had found an ideal target. But he was even more worried about the zombie's unknown ability and reasoning.
"I think I should back off and return when I have the pill." Matthew followed his plan without hesitation, retracing his steps. He had been observing the path he had taken while walking with the horde of zombies.
Matthew had moved hundreds of meters away when he heard something approaching from the direction where the bone zombie was located.
Matthew didn't even think twice before he started running.
To quicken his pace with his still-long legs, he dropped his spear.
He picked up the pace, but soon realized he was lost if he didn't act quickly.
Matthew used "3 brains" to buy a nice green D-rank dagger.
The swift footsteps were getting closer.
Matthew brandished his green dagger, and his own severed head fell. At that same moment, following Matthew's last command, his body kicked his head hard to the side.
The severed head rolled dozens of meters, disappearing into the undergrowth, dirt, and tree roots.
Roar!
The skeleton zombie seemed agitated.
[He wishes to regenerate his body with a substitute body]
"Not yet"
Matthew was planning on the fly, using his low-level energy perception to see if there were any traces of living beings nearby.
Roar!
"There are three zombies scattered not too far away; perhaps they'll attract its attention. If it keeps searching for me, it means it has enough knowledge to understand that my body can regenerate from my head."
While he continued to sense the zombies in the surrounding area, Matthew felt one of them being torn apart.
Matthew didn't want to regenerate his body because he considered it likely that the zombie would sense the system's energy.
[Host, your current presence will be very weak]
[The bone zombie will not be able to perceive you]
"How sure are you about that?"
[99.99%]
"Regenerate"
Matthew's body regenerated into a body of normal proportions, though in a rather pitiful state.
[Zombie: Rank F-]
Matthew crawled along the ground, his goal being to get away through the undergrowth.
Matthew crawled until the sun rose.
"Damn, I think I chose the wrong path ever since I crossed that bridge."
Matthew continued crawling until, as the sun was about to set, he came across some zombies devouring what appeared to be a moose.
Matthew saw an "E-" rank zombie.
"I'll buy a gray dagger."
A gray E rank dagger appeared in Matthew's hand as he continued crawling.
[-2 brains]
[Coins: 4 brains]
Matthew paid no attention to that; he stood up when he was behind the E- rank zombie who was eating the moose.
Cut!
Rotten blood!
The zombie's head rolled on the ground. Matthew knelt on the ground and even though his body begged him to eat the moose, he wasted no time and began to eat the "E-" rank zombie body.
Bones crunched, putrid blood trickled down Matthew's hands and chin.
Bones crunched as zombies tore fresh meat, bones, and entrails from the moose.
Minutes stretched into hours, and each was about to finish their own feast.
[Zombie: Rank F+]
"Lucky bastards." Matthew brandished his dagger, and the heads of the low-ranking zombies rolled away. He ripped open their abdomens, pulled out their stomachs, and walked off with the zombies' stomachs in his hands.