Ryan didn't have time to figure out who made the piercing, high-pitched scream. He quickly rolled on the ground and tumbled to the other side of the lawn. With a powerful leap, his strong physique allowed him to clear the fence in one jump.
"Help me..." A faint cry came from behind.
Ryan didn't bother to turn around. Although it sounded like a woman's voice, it wasn't his concern. If he weren't on a mission, he might have considered checking to see if she was attractive or worth saving. But right now, his priority was rescuing his sister, and he couldn't afford any distractions.
After landing in an area with fewer zombies, Ryan moved swiftly along the railing by the wall. It seemed like he was in a park. To his annoyance, the cries for help continued, trailing behind him like a persistent ghost.
In an open space, Ryan could have easily relied on his physical abilities to outrun her. But with public facilities scattered everywhere and winding paths that required careful navigation to avoid zombies, it became difficult to shake her off.
The result? More than a dozen zombies in the park began closing in on him. "Are you kidding me?" Ryan muttered angrily under his breath.
If he'd known it would come to this, he would've dealt with the woman earlier to stop her from making noise and drawing the undead. Left with no choice, Ryan gripped his axe tightly, preparing to take on the encroaching horde.
Meanwhile, behind a nearby slide, a disheveled woman struggled to move her legs. She glanced up just in time to see Ryan charging fearlessly toward a group of zombies.
"Oh my God, is he insane?" Olivia froze, her fear momentarily forgotten. She covered her mouth in shock, staring in disbelief at the scene unfolding before her.
What happened next left her utterly speechless. The young man, who seemed to be courting death, turned out to be ferocious. Like a wolf among sheep, he tore through the group of zombies, cutting them down one by one with ruthless efficiency.
What stood out most was the crimson battle axe he wielded. With each swing, it cleaved through zombies as if they were nothing. One powerful strike sent a zombie's head flying into the air before it landed with a sickening thud. The sight was so surreal that Olivia nearly bit her tongue in disbelief.
She had come to A City for a performance, a simple commercial gig. But halfway through, the world inexplicably fell apart. Zombies—creatures she had only seen in movies—suddenly appeared.
In the blink of an eye, chaos erupted. At least half the audience turned into ravenous monsters, attacking the rest. Caught off guard, the infection spread rapidly through the crowd.
Olivia managed to escape with the help of her security team, but their luck didn't last. She tried to flee in her car, only to find the parking lot teeming with even more people—and zombies. With no other options, she and the guards made a desperate run toward the police station, hoping for refuge. Unfortunately, they were ambushed by a swarm of undead, and Olivia barely escaped, taking shelter in a nearby store.
Terrified and alone, she clung to hope when she spotted Ryan. Desperation led her to follow him, but her clumsiness awakened a zombie, nearly sealing her fate.
Meanwhile, Ryan had already dispatched the dozen zombies that surrounded him. One by one, they fell, adding another 15 points to his total. With 48 points now stored in the system, he considered his next move. He could strengthen his physical attributes or save up 50 points to upgrade his battle axe.
Speaking of the axe, it proved to be a masterpiece. Even after slicing through a dozen zombies, it remained pristine, its blade gleaming orange despite the coating of blood and gore.
Originally, it was just an ordinary firefighting axe, but after being enhanced, it was now as durable and sharp as high-strength alloy steel.
Having dealt with the zombies, Ryan turned his attention to the source of the noise and strode forward purposefully.
"Shut up if you want to live," Ryan snapped coldly, his patience wearing thin. He didn't have time for foolishness.
Without hesitation, he slapped the woman across the face, silencing her instantly. Fear flickered in her eyes as she clasped her stinging cheek, too shocked to respond. Ryan grabbed her wrist and pulled her along, leading her in a different direction.
Although Ryan could handle a dozen zombies without breaking a sweat, he needed her to understand the severity of the situation. It was the apocalypse, and there was no room for stupidity. Navigating the complex layout of the park, Ryan managed to evade the larger groups of zombies with ease.
"Where are you taking me?" Olivia finally stammered, trailing behind him. The trembling in her voice betrayed her fear. She hadn't recovered from the slap or the cold, detached look in Ryan's eyes. The bloodied axe in his hand only added to her terror.
Ryan came to an abrupt stop and turned to face her. "Let me make one thing very clear," he said, his tone as icy as his gaze. "From this moment on, you are my personal property. You don't get to refuse my orders, question my decisions, or defy me in any way. Do you understand?"
Olivia froze, her eyes widening in disbelief. The words hung in the air like a blade poised to strike. Personal property? Her mind raced. She was Olivia—once a star adored by millions. She had never been treated like this, not even by the most overbearing directors.
"You… you can't be serious," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why would you treat me like this?"
Ryan's lips twisted into a sneer. "Why? Because I saved your life. That's all the reason I need. You owe me everything now. I'm not here to ask for your consent—I'm telling you how it's going to be."
Her hands trembled as she clenched her fists. Humiliation burned in her chest, but fear kept her silent. She wanted to argue, to resist, but the man standing before her was like a predator, his gaze cold and unyielding.
Olivia felt torn between defiance and survival. She had been a star, a woman of grace and status, desired and respected. Even now, her beauty was an asset that could elevate her to the top in this post-apocalyptic nightmare—if she played her cards right. But this man, with his bloodied axe and domineering attitude, was treating her as nothing more than an object.
For the first time, Olivia felt utterly powerless.
She boldly declared, "No, that's impossible. You saved me, and I'm willing to repay you in some way, but I can't agree to that."
Olivia held Ryan's gaze for a moment, her voice gradually softening as she continued, "Are you finished? Because if you are, we should get moving..." Her tone faltered under Ryan's unyielding stare.
Ryan's expression didn't change. "Done talking?" he asked flatly. Without waiting for her response, he moved forward and grabbed her with one hand, lifting her effortlessly, as though she were nothing more than a stray chicken.
"I'm a generous person," Ryan said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "You attracted thirteen zombies earlier, so I'll kindly return the favor. Fair exchange, right?"
Before Olivia could process his words, Ryan turned and walked toward the other side of the wall, carrying her like a sack of grain.
"No! No, let me go!" Olivia cried out, her voice trembling with panic as she flailed against his grip. Her struggles were futile against Ryan's sheer strength.
Without a hint of hesitation, Ryan hurled her over the fence. She landed hard on the cold, unforgiving ground, her body jarring painfully on impact. Stunned, she lay there for a moment, her mind racing as she registered the dark silhouettes of bodies scattered around her.
The icy chill of the ground jolted her back to reality. Olivia's eyes widened in terror as she realized where she was. Screaming, she scrambled to her feet, ignoring the sharp pain that shot through her limbs.