Due to the heavy fog, there were not many vehicles on the road. In addition, Anirudh's vision and reaction time had greatly improved after killing more than a dozen zombies, so it ultimately took him less than half the usual time to return home.
It is worth noting that Anirudh was either lucky or that the zombie virus was still in its early stages of spreading, with not too many people yet infected. In any case, he didn't encounter a single zombie along the way. However, the faint sounds of gunfire, screams, and occasional explosions in the distance made it clear to Anirudh that City C was in the midst of an unprecedented disaster.
After returning home, the first thing Anirudh did was take out some medical supplies that were always on hand and begin treating the wound on his calf.
Since the wound wasn't large, and the zombie virus seemed to be confined to the wound, he hoped he might be able to excise the infected flesh and remove the virus before it could spread—a way to rid himself of the ticking time bomb in his body.
However, Anirudh quickly discovered that the zombie virus was far more difficult to handle than he had anticipated.
The moment the scalpel's blade made contact with the dark purple flesh, an indescribable pain shot through the wound, even though it had been numb before. At the same time, the dark purple area around the wound began to expand visibly. The blood vessels near the wound, which already resembled bulging centipedes, grew even more grotesque.
It was as though the zombie virus had been provoked by the attempt to remove it.
"Hiss..."
Anirudh sucked in a sharp breath as waves of intense pain radiated from his calf. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, and his expression darkened.
Clearly, surgical removal of the infected tissue was not a viable solution.
With this realization, Anirudh turned to his only remaining option: the Ancient Body Tempering Technique.
Determined, he bandaged the wound while picking up the remote control to turn on the TV. He needed to know how the government was handling this unprecedented disaster.
However, despite the chaos unfolding, there was no mention of zombies on any channel. It seemed as if nothing had happened.
Still, Anirudh knew that the situation couldn't remain hidden for long. The spreading infection was too widespread to be suppressed by censorship, and ignoring it would only make things worse.
His suspicions were confirmed when, midway through treating his wound, the program on TV abruptly cut to a serious-looking national leader making an emergency announcement.
The Prime minister, who usually appeared with a pleasant demeanor, now looked grim and heavy-hearted.
"Citizens, this is an urgent announcement," the Prime minister began.
"According to the National Special Disease Prevention and Control Group, a mutated rabies virus has begun to spread globally. This virus is highly dangerous, airborne, and extremely contagious. Preliminary estimates suggest that over 30% of the global population has already been infected.
"This virus has a peculiar mechanism. It is almost harmless to healthy individuals but undergoes a secondary mutation in those who are critically ill or near death. This mutation causes the infected to lose their minds, become violently aggressive, and attack any living being, including humans.
"The secondary mutation is further transmissible through saliva and blood, causing victims to mutate within 3 minutes to 1 hour of being bitten. For this reason, hospitals and other institutions have been instructed to quarantine suspected cases. If you encounter someone who is severely ill or infected, please report them immediately and isolate them to prevent transmission.
"In addition, those who undergo secondary mutation will experience bodily changes that render them immune to general physical injuries. The only way to stop them is by targeting their heads. Destroying the head will neutralize them.
"Since there is currently no vaccine or antidote, the fatality rate for secondary infections is 100%. Therefore, if an infected person is someone close to you—be it a relative, friend, or teacher—you must not hesitate. Isolate or eliminate them immediately.
"To combat this unprecedented crisis, the nation is entering a state of Level One combat readiness. All cities will be under martial law and curfew for the next 24 hours. Please remain at home and cooperate with authorities. Violators will face severe punishment under wartime regulations.
"Finally, trust the government. We are doing everything possible to ensure your safety, and vaccine development is already underway. Together, we will overcome this disaster!"
The announcement ended but began replaying in a continuous loop. When Anirudh tried changing the channel, he found that all stations were broadcasting the same message.
"As expected, they had no choice but to make it public," Anirudh muttered, his emotions a mix of relief and apprehension.
He understood the consequences of such an announcement. Even though the term "zombie virus" had been replaced with "mutated rabies virus," panic, unrest, and even riots were inevitable.
Despite the potential for chaos, Anirudh knew this was the only viable option. Suppressing the truth would only accelerate the infection's spread.
His thoughts then drifted to the mysterious system in his mind and its cryptic message: The system will wake up in three days.
What did that mean? And what would happen in three days?
A sense of foreboding washed over him. He couldn't shake the feeling that an even greater danger was looming.
But he had no time to dwell on it. His priority now was mastering the Ancient Body Tempering Technique to rid himself of the virus.
Changing into sportswear and grabbing his blood-stained crowbar, Anirudh headed out. He didn't bother cleaning the blood off himself—he knew he'd soon be covered in it again.
His destination: the Jeevan Daan Hospital of City C.
Hospitals, where the dying and recently deceased were concentrated, would serve as his hunting ground.
Meanwhile, the announcement's impact was becoming increasingly evident across the city. Panic-buying broke out as people scrambled to stockpile supplies, causing disputes and chaos.
As Anirudh passed a Petrol Pump station, a scream pierced the air.
"Murder!"