"Ding, epic equipment [Soul Devourer] detected. Bound. Will drop upon target's death."
"Ding, apocalyptic equipment [Judgment Ring] (space ring) detected. Bound. Will drop upon target's death."
Yu Shihao's pupils contracted violently, and his heart raced.
Intense greed surged within him, and he struggled to suppress the urge to snatch the equipment.
Unlike the others, who had little understanding of the apocalypse game, he wasn't stupid. With his habit of playing games and reading novels, he accepted the concept of the apocalypse game much faster than these middle-aged people.
When he first touched an ordinary item, he keenly noticed that the apocalypse game had equipment.
As this wasn't a hidden piece of information, he knew the equipment tiers.
Epic and apocalyptic-level equipment!
Even without seeing the attributes, he knew how powerful these two pieces of equipment must be.
Seeing Wen Ya holding Lin An, he couldn't help but feel a surge of jealousy.
Why is it that, as fellow players, you have powerful equipment and strength, and even a beauty in your arms, while I have to flee like a dog before zombies?
Kill him!
Kill Lin An and take his equipment!
Murderous intent grew within Yu Shihao, but he reluctantly moved his hand away from the ring.
His breathing was rapid.
Once I get the equipment, I'll have power too!
And not just that.
He stood up, covertly eyeing Wen Ya's chest, his throat moving as he swallowed.
Wen Ya, in her haste to come downstairs, was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, revealing her curvaceous figure, a result of years of working out. Her ponytail added to her youthful and heroic aura.
As the former belle of the literature department at H University, Wen Ya's beauty was beyond question.
Damn, she's the kind of woman I want.
He suddenly remembered Wang Fang, who had died on the eighth floor, and felt a wave of irritation.
His former "girlfriend" was worlds apart from Wen Ya.
Wang Fang's venomous glare before her death haunted his nightmares every night.
Damn bitch, not only were you ugly, but you also died stupidly and disturbed my good dreams!
Kill Lin An.
Not only will I have his power, but his woman will also be mine!
He couldn't help but fantasize about wielding the equipment and being invincible, and how the cold Wen Ya would pant beneath him.
"Wen Ya, you don't have to worry too much. Brother Lin, he..."
Yu Shihao casually offered some comfort, his right hand instinctively reaching out to put his arm around Wen Ya's shoulders.
When are women most moved? When they are helpless!
He was confident this trick would work again.
"Swish."
What greeted him was not a warm body, but the edge of an axe.
Wen Ya pointed the axe blade at him, her face cold as she looked at the seemingly well-intentioned Yu Shihao.
Her gaze was wary.
"I don't need your concern. Stay away from me."
Yu Shihao laughed awkwardly, spreading his hands to show he meant no harm.
Damn bitch.
I'll make sure to get you into bed.
"I'll go find some food for Brother Lin and Brother Zhang."
He turned and left, sighing as if disappointed.
. . . . . . .
Second Floor, Room 204.
Wen Ya silently watched the still unconscious Lin An, her brows furrowed.
It had been three days since Zhang Tie brought Lin An back, yet neither had shown any signs of waking up.
Second Uncle and Old Huang were comforting the crying Youwei.
At the doorway, a few middle-aged men held half-bottles of water and leftover biscuits, looking dissatisfied.
"Um, Second Uncle. It's not that we want to be this way."
"We're running out of water and food. If you want it, take it; if not, we really don't have any left."
People in the back had brought chains to lock the door, even including the chain used to tether a dog.
"Yeah, he hasn't woken up yet, and he might turn into a zombie any moment! Why waste food on him?"
The murmuring crowd grew increasingly uneasy as time passed.
Due to Wen Ya and Zhang Tie's supporters insisting, Lin An had been force-fed a large amount of medication.
To them, Lin An hadn't turned into a zombie yet, but he wouldn't last long.
Maybe the medicine was just temporarily effective, briefly suppressing the virus.
After all, if it really worked, why hadn't he woken up yet?
Who knew if Lin An would turn into a zombie the next second?
"In my opinion, we shouldn't have let him up here in the first place!"
"Now we're all on edge. I haven't slept well in two days!"
An older middle-aged woman stood at the back, shouting:
"We don't owe him anything! It's not like we asked him to fight the zombies for us!"
"Yeah, he just did it in passing. It's not like he was really trying to save us."
With Lin An and Zhang Tie unconscious, without their intimidating presence, the crowd felt less afraid.
The group grew larger, and some even suggested throwing them outside.
After all, even if chained up, there was still a huge risk.
Wen Ya turned, coldly staring at the people entering the room.
These people came to make a fuss every day, but today was more intense.
The crowd was agitated, and under the instigation of Wang Jian Guo's group, many wielded steel pipes and axes, intending to throw Lin An out.
"Anyone who comes closer dies."
Wen Ya held up the fire axe, her slender frame contrasting sharply with the large tool.
The crowd sneered.
"Little girl, can you even lift that axe?"
"I'm telling you, this is all the food we have..."
A tattooed man stepped forward, one of the few strong men in the hotel, and many had chosen to follow him after losing hope in Lin An.
"Feeding those who are about to die, isn't that a waste?"
He took out a military energy bar from his pocket, broke it in half, and stuffed it into his mouth.
"Damn, this thing tastes awful."
Wen Ya's fingers gripped the axe handle so tightly they turned white.
The military rations in the man's hand were left to her by Lin An before he left.
It seemed all the food in her room had been taken.
"Give back the food."
Lin An was now weak, still unconscious.
Unlike the others who thought Lin An was in a coma due to fighting the zombie virus, she had encountered the equipment on the first day, just like Yu Shihao.
From the system prompt and her observations, she keenly noticed the black glove on Lin An's hand occasionally drawing an unknown energy from his body.
The crimson pattern on the glove was almost filled.
From her analysis, Lin An's coma was likely due to the glove constantly draining his energy, leaving him with no reserves.
"Give it back?"
"Whoever finds it keeps it!"
"You want it? Sure. Come chat with me, and I might give you some more."
The man leered at Wen Ya, eyes roaming over her body.
On the second day after Zhang Tie returned, Wang Jian Guo and he had gathered all the food in the hotel.
Daily distribution depended on demand.
The tattooed man sneered.
Last night, he traded a bucket of instant noodles for a night with a starving woman, and it was quite enjoyable.
"Aren't you afraid Brother Zhang will wake up and settle the score with you?"
Second Uncle stood up straight, leaning against the wall, glaring at the tattooed man.
Zhang Tie's condition was much better than Lin An's. A day ago, he had even made some noise.
Unlike Lin An, whose injuries from the zombies were visible, Zhang Tie's body was intact except for his severed arm.
The tattooed man chuckled, but a hint of fear flickered in his eyes.
If he weren't wary of Zhang Tie waking up, he and Wang Jian Guo would have found a way to get rid of Lin An long ago.
"Beautiful Wen, why are you protecting someone who's almost dead?"
"He could turn into a zombie any second!"
"Why not come with me? You'll have plenty to eat and drink."
"And, I bet I'm better than him."
The tattooed man smirked, casually adjusting his pants.
Ignoring Wen Ya's reaction, he left with the crowd.
"Bang."
The door closed, and the sound of chains locking it echoed from outside.
"They locked the door!?"
Old Huang rushed to the door, hearing the chains being tightly wound outside.
Wen Ya remained silent, her previously strong demeanor fading into helplessness.
In her arms, Lin An's once strong body was now emaciated, his face ashen.
Wake up soon, Lin An.
I really don't know what to do...
Wen Ya gently fed Lin An her portion of food, then carefully covered his right hand.
All the food for the five people in the room had been given to Lin An and Zhang Tie, leaving everyone else starving.
They all knew that as long as either Zhang Tie or Lin An woke up, the situation would turn around.
As for the bandaged girl in the corner, she woke up on the second day.
But no matter what they asked, she didn't respond, lying still like a corpse and not even eating.
"Wen Ya, you haven't eaten in two days. How about you eat mine..."
Zhang Youwei, wiping away her tears, approached Wen Ya with half a piece of chocolate bearing teeth marks.
Wen Ya shook her head slightly, smiling as she patted Youwei.
"No, you keep it for yourself."
"Is Lin An going to die