"Analyzing target..." Ego replied. A moment later, he continued, "Analysis complete. This creature is a domesticated pet, a orange tabby cat, part of felidae family. It has mutated due to unknown causes, drastically increased in size, and is highly aggressive."
Zack's jaw nearly dropped. "A... house cat? An orange tabby cat?!"
Ego's words rocked his sense of reality. The two-meter-long beast in front of him, bulging with muscle and deadly intent, was once an orange tabby—a cat so overweight it could barely move!
"Sir, caution advised. This creature is extremely dangerous," Ego warned again. Zack's heart pounded as he processed Ego's explanation. Unlike regular zombies, animals infected by the Zeta virus seemed to retain a disturbing level of intelligence.
The zombie cat, tiger-sized and terrifying, didn't jumped right away but waited at the door, staring directly at Zack with bloodthirsty eyes. The reason was clear—it sensed the threat of the shotgun in his hands. It was wary, pacing back and forth as if sizing him up.
Zack gripped the shotgun tightly, his own instincts telling him not to fire hastily. He knew how fast a cat's reflexes were, even more so with a creature this size. If he missed, he might not have the chance to shoot again.
"The optimal battle plan is now being simulated," Ego's voice broke through his concentration. In Zack's view, virtual figures appeared—a digital map of the convenience store and a projection of the zombie cat's potential moves. In one simulation after another, the human figure was mauled by the beast, only a few scenarios ending in Zack's survival. But those plans all involved risky moves that left him seriously injured, which Ego promptly discarded.
Finally, Ego's voice cut through again. "Sir, I've calculated the best course of action for a safe outcome."
The entire process took less than five seconds, yet each moment felt like an eternity.
Instantly, all the virtual figures vanished except one—a single projection in front of Zack, outlining the precise steps to evade and counter the zombie cat. It was like having a perfect game walkthrough laid out right before him.
Every move was clear and annotated: where to step, when to dodge. Even as Zack mentally prepared, the zombie cat decided it was time to attack. The caution in its eyes gave way to a primal hunger, and with a guttural snarl, it charged toward him, faster than a ghostly blur.
Zack braced himself, already a step ahead thanks to the virtual projection. He pulled out the last Molotov cocktail from his backpack, not even sparing a second to light it. Following the simulation's guidance, he dodged left, tossing the bottle where he had just been standing. The bottle shattered on impact, spreading flammable liquid across the floor.
The zombie cat's claws narrowly missed him, slicing through the air with a force that sent a breeze past his cheek. Under Ego's calculations, this dangerously close encounter turned into an unbridgeable gap for the creature, which slipped on the spilled alcohol and shards of glass, crashing clumsily to the floor.
As it struggled to rise, bits of broken glass embedded in its flesh and fur soaked with alcohol.
"Die, you brute!" Zack snarled. He snatched a handful of cheap lighters from the counter, tossing them toward the dazed cat, and then aimed his shotgun.
Bang!
The powerful recoil made his hands tingle as the blast sprayed steel balls into the creature, sparking the lighters in mid-air. Flames erupted instantly, igniting the alcohol vapors around the cat. The zombie cat was engulfed in a furious blaze, thrashing and letting out an eerie, guttural hiss. Its resilience was terrifying; though undead creatures felt no pain, this one retained enough sense to fear fire.
As the flames roared around the beast, Zack seized the moment, unloading two more rounds into it. Each blast tore into the cat's body, spilling dark, foul-smelling blood. The creature staggered, nearly collapsing, but it wasn't done yet.
Suddenly, Ego's simulation alerted Zack to move. The virtual image dodged to the side, and Zack followed instinctively, leaping away from the counter.
The zombie cat, charged forward in a last desperate attempt to attack, slamming into the counter he had just left, reducing it to splinters. The flames spread to papers and other items around, intensifying the inferno.
"Almost had me there," Zack muttered, cursing under his breath.
The zombie cat's twisted body rose again, a charred, rage-fueled specter clawing its way up from the wreckage, its red eyes blazing with hate. Realizing he had one final opportunity, Zack reached into the nearby fire door, grabbing a heavy, industrial-sized fire extinguisher.
He took it up, feeling the strain in his arms, and brought it down with a crushing blow to the cat's head.
The beast reeled, stunned, its body slowing for precious seconds. Not wasting another moment, Zack sprinted outside. Once he reached a safe distance, he turned, aiming his shotgun—not at the cat, but directly at the fire extinguisher still lying at the creature's feet.
Zack's cold smile grew as he watched the zombie cat stagger back to its feet. He mimicked an explosion sound under his breath,"boom!" then pulled the trigger.
Bang!
The blast from his shotgun was quickly overshadowed by an even louder explosion. The shot had hit a fire extinguisher, causing the high-pressure gas inside to rupture violently. The canister shattered, sending sharp pieces of metal flying in every direction. The zombie cat, caught at close range, was instantly hit by the shrapnel. Jagged metal fragments tore into its charred body, leaving several gaping holes. One piece drove right through its skull, ending any chance of it standing up again.
Zack stayed low, lying flat on the ground until the smoke cleared. When he finally stood up, the convenience store was filled with a thick, blinding fog of dry powder, covering everything in a haze. The fire extinguisher's blast had not only destroyed the zombie cat but also put out the small fires that had been smoldering in the store.
"Ego, is it dead?" Zack asked, gun in hand.
"Analyzing… No signs of life detected."
Hearing Ego's confirmation, Zack exhaled in relief. "Alright, time to refuel and get out of here."
He moved quickly, aware that the explosion would likely attract more zombies. Reaching the road, he climbed into the armored vehicle parked nearby and drove to the gas station. At the self-service pump, he filled the vehicle's tank and then grabbed several nearby barrels, filling them with over a hundred liters of extra fuel for emergencies.
By the time he finished, the white smoke in the convenience store had begun to dissipate. "Ego, keep an eye on our surroundings. Let me know if anything moves out there," Zack instructed.
Scanning the area and seeing no zombies, he changed his magazine, knowing he'd used up most of his shots while fighting the zombie cat. With a fresh clip loaded, he approached the convenience store, bracing himself for any lingering danger.
As he got closer, a strong, acrid smell hit him. The scent of burned plastic and singed fur hung heavily in the air. The cat's corpse lay in the middle of the store, blanketed in dry powder, less gruesome than he'd expected. Zack tore a strip from his shirt to cover his mouth and nose as he stepped over the cat's body, heading toward the back.
"Wait… someone's still alive?"