Eric's gaze was sharp as he tightened his grip on the iron pipe in his hand. Emily, now fully human and empowered after signing the contract, trailed behind, her demeanor calmer yet brimming with newfound energy. Her eyes scanned the area, alert for any threats. The system had indicated a potential drop of survival points at the old supermarket, but supplies were getting scarce, and danger was always a step behind them.
"We need those points, Emily," Eric said quietly as they moved through the barren streets. "If we want to survive in this apocalyptic world, the stronger we become, the better."
Emily nodded, her voice firm. "I'll handle the rear. You focus on leading us through."
As they approached an abandoned alleyway, Eric heard the distinct shuffle of feet, followed by a low, guttural moan. A lone zombie, once a regular man in tattered office clothes, staggered towards them. Its rotting flesh and clouded eyes sent chills down Eric's spine, but fear wasn't an option anymore. With a swift movement, he raised the pipe and swung it at the creature's head, the sound of impact echoing through the empty streets. The zombie crumpled to the ground, twitching once before lying still.
"Nice hit," Emily commented, keeping her eyes on the surrounding area.
Eric exhaled, the rush of adrenaline calming slightly. "We should move. There could be more."
The supermarket loomed ahead, a relic of the past world. Inside, it was anything but quiet. As they approached the sliding glass doors, which were now stuck open, they could hear voices from within—human voices.
"Someone's inside," Emily whispered. "Not just scavengers, either. They sound... organized."
Eric nodded. "We need to be cautious."
As they slipped inside the supermarket, hiding behind the toppled shelves, Eric spotted a group of men. They weren't just ordinary survivors. The tattoos on their arms and the weapons they carried revealed their nature—gangsters, using the apocalypse to their advantage. One of them was holding a knife to the throat of a trembling man, forcing him to hand over whatever few supplies he had scavenged.
Eric's jaw tightened. "They're robbing survivors."
"They're worse than the zombies," Emily said under her breath, her eyes darkening with anger.
Eric's gaze shifted to a corner of the supermarket where he saw several crates—supplies they desperately needed, including food and water. But if they were going to get it, they had to go through these thugs.
"I'll take the leader," Eric whispered to Emily. "You handle the others if they attack."
Emily nodded, already positioning herself for a quick strike.
Eric moved swiftly, taking advantage of the element of surprise. As he approached the leader—a burly man with a shaved head and a cruel smile—Eric's heart pounded in his chest. He gripped the pipe tighter, steeling himself for the confrontation.
Just as the thug sneered and turned towards one of his lackeys, Eric struck. The pipe connected with the side of the gangster's head, sending him crashing into the shelves. The man groaned, dazed but not out of the fight yet.
"You little—" he growled, reaching for his gun.
But Eric didn't give him the chance. He delivered a final, crushing blow to the man's skull, the life leaving his eyes in an instant. The sound of the scuffle drew the attention of the other gangsters, but Emily was ready. Before they could react, she charged, her agility and newfound strength giving her an edge. In seconds, two of the thugs lay unconscious, while the rest scattered, fleeing the store in panic.
With the threat neutralized, Eric and Emily moved quickly, gathering as many supplies as they could.
"First kill," Eric muttered under his breath, staring at the lifeless body of the gangster.
"It won't be the last," Emily said calmly, slinging a bag of supplies over her shoulder. "But we do what we have to survive."
Eric looked at her, the weight of their new world settling in. "Let's get out of here."
They stepped out of the supermarket, their survival points ticking up on Eric's system screen, but the fight for survival had only just begun.