The firearms proficiency ability didn't bring much improvement to Ryan's physical fitness, but its effect wasn't weak. After all, against the current zombies, firearms still played a critical role in the early stages of survival.
Although Ryan's body wasn't yet strong enough to withstand bullets, he was confident that within ten steps, no one could hit him with a gun. That was the power granted by Jeet Kune Do.
The system's enhanced capabilities offered many advantages, but Ryan hadn't had the time to explore them all.
The Apocalypse Overlord System was designed to help him establish a hegemonic force to unify the world. However, for Ryan, his immediate priority was rescuing his sister trapped at the airport. Everything else could wait.
Spotting three zombies nearby, Ryan decided to practice his skills. Gripping the engineer shovel in his hand, he dodged, ducked, and swung with remarkable precision.
The system-enhanced physical fitness didn't just boost his strength—it also multiplied his speed. Before the zombies could even graze him, Ryan had evaded their attacks and struck decisively. In just over ten seconds, three heads hit the ground.
Throughout the battle, Ryan felt nearly effortless. His improved endurance allowed him to fight at high intensity without tiring, leaving him exhilarated. This was the power of his enhanced body.
"Not bad," Ryan muttered, clenching his fist in excitement. With his newfound abilities, the chances of rescuing his sister had significantly increased. More importantly, the Apocalypse Overlord System gave him the edge to survive—and thrive—in the chaos of this doomsday.
Closing the light screen in front of him, Ryan continued forward with renewed determination. Along the way, he encountered a lone zombie and swiftly dealt with it.
[Killed a Level 1 Zombie. Points earned: 1. Current Points: 11.]
[Killed a Level 1 Zombie. Points earned: 1. Current Points: 15.]
By the time he had crossed two streets, Ryan had eliminated ten zombies in total. Each system notification filled him with growing excitement. Zombies meant points, and points meant power.
With his abilities now, he was confident he could easily take on a dozen zombies at once.
Unless Ryan encountered a large group of zombies, he could slowly take them down one by one. However, after killing more than a dozen zombies, the engineer shovel in his hand bent, and its edge curled. Though the shovel had been sturdy enough initially, it couldn't withstand Ryan's relentless use.
"Ugh, the security in ABC Country is too good. There isn't even a place to get weapons on the streets," Ryan muttered, glancing around the empty roads in frustration. With his shovel now discarded, he found himself worrying about finding a replacement weapon.
On a whim, Ryan decided to try dialing his sister's number again. He didn't have much hope—he had tried several times before with no success—but to his shock, the call actually connected this time.
"Hey, sister—" Ryan began excitedly.
"Little brother—" Lily's voice overlapped with his, equally eager.
"Sister, where are you? Are you okay? Be careful of those zombies!" Ryan's voice trembled with relief, and tears threatened to spill. Hearing his sister's voice again was a comfort he hadn't dared to expect. For hours, he had feared the worst, imagining he might reach the airport only to find her gone.
"I'm fine. I'm in the lobby on the third floor of the airport," Lily said, her voice tinged with cautious relief. "There's a cafeteria here with food and water. The elevators are blocked off, so it's safe for now. How about you? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, sister. Stay put—I'm coming to get you. Just wait for me!" Ryan exclaimed, his heart swelling with determination. It had been three hours since the apocalypse began, and he was only halfway to the airport. But now, knowing Lily was alive and safe gave him renewed purpose.
"No, don't come!" Lily's voice turned sharp with alarm. "It's too dangerous out here. The streets are swarming with zombies. Please don't risk it!"
"It's okay," Ryan reassured her, striding forward with conviction. "I'm a lot stronger now, and I've got a gun."
"Brother, I'm begging you, don't come," Lily pleaded, her voice cracking with panic. "There are at least hundreds of zombies at the airport. You won't be able to get in. It's too dangerous—you could get killed!"
"Don't worry, sister. I'm halfway there now. I will definitely rescue you. Wait for me," Ryan said, clenching his fists before hanging up the phone.
Lily listened to the busy tone, staring blankly at the phone, unsure of what to say. Although she had a very close relationship with her brother and they had grown up relying on each other, she knew better than anyone that once Ryan made up his mind, nothing could change it.
Pursing her red lips, Lily decided she couldn't just sit back and wait for death. She had to help her brother and find a way to solve some of his problems.
On the other side, Ryan ate a few bites of bread, discarded the empty water bottle in his hand, and stepped out of the room.
He was now three kilometers away from the airport. The distance wasn't far, and if nothing unexpected happened, he would arrive in just over an hour. He could only hope there wouldn't be any problems.
Ryan smashed open a fire cabinet on the street, retrieving the fire axe inside. He swung it experimentally, testing its weight, power, and feel. It was sturdy, well-balanced—a good weapon for dealing with zombies.
Spending 20 points, he casually enhanced the fire axe. The blade became noticeably sharper, its surface gleaming with a black sheen. The axe's weight increased, and the opposite end transformed into a hammer, effectively turning it into a hammer-axe hybrid.
After chopping a zombie to the ground, a smug smile spread across Ryan's face. The strengthened weapon was indeed effective, and this was just its first enhancement. He couldn't help but wonder how powerful it would become after a few more upgrades.
As he gripped the axe confidently, a sudden scream erupted from behind him. The high-pitched sound startled him, and he almost cursed aloud. The sheer volume was enough to alert all the nearby zombies.