Thomas adjusted the sling on his HK 416, ensuring it was securely strapped to his shoulder. The weight of the rifle was noticeable, but it felt reassuring in his hands. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what lay ahead. His next destination: the gymnasium.
The hallways were eerily quiet, the only sounds coming from his steady breathing and the faint creak of the old floors beneath his boots. He kept his eyes sharp, scanning every shadow and doorway for movement. His finger rested lightly on the trigger, ready to react at the slightest sign of danger.
As he approached the stairwell leading down to the gymnasium, he heard faint groans echoing from below. The sound sent a shiver down his spine, but he pushed it aside. This wasn't the first time he faced them, and it wouldn't be the last.
He descended the stairs cautiously, his boots barely making a sound. At the bottom, the door to the gymnasium loomed ahead, slightly ajar. Thomas peeked through the gap and immediately spotted a handful of zombies shuffling aimlessly near the basketball court.
He nudged the door open with his foot and slipped inside. Raising the HK 416, he took aim at the nearest zombie and squeezed the trigger.
BANG!
The rifle's report echoed through the gymnasium, the high muzzle velocity of the 5.56x45mm round punching a clean hole through the zombie's chest. The force of the shot sent the creature stumbling backward, its spine severed. It collapsed in a heap, twitching uselessly on the floor.
Another zombie turned toward the sound, its lifeless eyes locking onto Thomas. He adjusted his aim and fired again.
BANG!
The bullet tore through the zombie's head, splitting its skull and spraying the wall behind it with dark, coagulated blood.
. The sheer power of the HK 416 was undeniable, and Thomas felt a surge of confidence as he moved further into the gym.
Two more zombies emerged from behind a row of bleachers, their decayed hands outstretched as they lunged at him. Thomas didn't panic. He fired a controlled burst, the rounds ripping through their torsos and dropping them to the ground. A quick follow-up shot to the head ensured they wouldn't get back up.
He glanced at his ammo counter displayed in the system interface.
[Ammo: 8/30]
Realizing he needed to conserve his rifle rounds, Thomas made a quick decision. He thought of stashing the HK 416 in his inventory, and in an instant, it dematerialized. At the same time, the MP5 appeared in his hands.
He aimed the MP5 at a zombie stumbling toward him.
The MP5's lighter 9mm rounds fired rapidly as he squeezed the trigger, peppering the zombie's torso. While the rounds lacked the punch of the HK 416, they were still effective when aimed at the right spot. He adjusted his aim and fired a burst into the zombie's head, the bullets shredding through its skull and dropping it instantly.
The sound of gunfire drew more zombies into the gym. Thomas counted at least six staggering toward him from different directions. He aimed the MP5 at the closest one, firing short bursts to conserve ammo.
Ratatatat!
The zombie's legs buckled as the rounds tore through its kneecaps, bringing it to the ground. Thomas approached swiftly, aiming downward, and finished it with a shot to the head.
A sudden growl from his left made him spin around just in time to see a zombie lunging at him. He sidestepped quickly, its filthy claws swiping at empty air. With no time to raise the MP5, Thomas instinctively summoned his tactical knife. The MP5 vanished as the knife materialized in his grip. He plunged the blade into the zombie's temple with a sickening crunch, twisting it for good measure before yanking it free.
Another zombie closed in, forcing Thomas to roll to the side to avoid its grasp. He came up on one knee, switching back to the MP5 in a flash. The submachine gun appeared in his hands just as the zombie charged again. Thomas fired a quick burst, the rounds punching through its face and dropping it mid-lunge.
"Too close," he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.
The remaining zombies were homing in fast, closing in as he moved toward the center of the gym. He fired at one, then another, each shot calculated to maximize damage and minimize waste.
Click.
The dreaded sound of an empty magazine froze Thomas for a split second. With the zombies still advancing, he had no time to reload. He quickly switched to his M9 Beretta, the handgun appearing in his hand as the MP5 vanished. He aimed at the nearest zombie and fired.
Bang! Bang!
The pistol's shots were less powerful, but they got the job done. The first zombie dropped after a clean headshot, and the second stumbled as a round pierced its eye socket.
When the M9 ran dry, Thomas once again drew his tactical knife. A zombie lunged at him, and he sidestepped smoothly, bringing the blade upward in a powerful strike that pierced its skull. He pulled the knife free with a grunt, spinning to face the next threat.
The final zombie staggered toward him, its decayed face twisted into a grotesque snarl. Thomas planted his feet and gripped the knife tightly. As it lunged, he ducked low, driving the blade upward into its jaw and into its brain. The zombie went limp, collapsing at his feet.
Thomas stood over the carnage, breathing heavily. The gym was littered with bodies, the floor slick with blackened blood. He wiped the knife on a torn piece of cloth from one of the zombies and sheathed it.
[Zombies Killed: 14/100]
[Experience Points: 7,460/8,693]
Still—he wondered, why the heck are the numbers of zombies here in the gymnasium decreased? Did something that attracted their attention.
And as if on jinxing him, he could now hear the groans of the zombies from afar, one being from the stairwell, and the other from the entrance of the gymnasium. He reloaded all of his weapons and injected himself a shot of adrenaline.
And they entered, a horde of them.
The first zombie barreled toward him, its decayed face twisted in an expression of primal hunger. Thomas stepped back, keeping his aim steady, and fired.
BANG!
The 5.56mm round punched through the zombie's chest, staggering it briefly but not stopping its charge. He adjusted his aim and squeezed the trigger again.
BANG!
The second shot tore through the creature's skull, splattering darkened brain matter across the gym floor. The zombie collapsed in a heap, its momentum carrying it a few inches closer before finally going still.
But there was no time to celebrate. More were coming—too many to count. Thomas began kiting backward while firing at the advancing horde.
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Two zombies dropped, their bodies crumpling as the powerful rounds tore through their heads. Another lunged at him from the left, and Thomas pivoted smoothly, planting his feet and firing a controlled burst. The rounds ripped through its torso and skull, sending it sprawling.
His system displayed a notification in the corner of his vision.
The horde pressed closer, forcing Thomas to pick up the pace. He turned and sprinted toward the emergency exit at the far end of the gym, his boots pounding against the blood-slick floor.
Thomas spun around mid-run, raising the HK 416, and fired another burst. The rounds struck a group of zombies in the legs, toppling them to the ground. One managed to crawl forward, its clawed hands grasping at his boots. Thomas kicked it away, its head jerking back as he fired another round into its face.
Click.
The rifle's magazine ran dry.
"Damn it," Thomas cursed, switching seamlessly to the MP5. The HK vanished from his hands as the submachine gun materialized in its place. He raised the weapon and unleashed a stream of 9mm rounds at the oncoming zombies.
Ratatatat!
The lighter rounds didn't have the same stopping power, but Thomas compensated with precision. He aimed for the legs, crippling the zombies, tipping them over, which caused those behind to tip as well, creating a temporary barrier between him and the zombies.
One zombie lunged at him, its jaws snapping inches from his face. Thomas sidestepped and drove the MP5's barrel into its chin, pulling the trigger.
BANG!
The single shot blew the zombie's head apart, but the force of the attack left Thomas momentarily off balance. Another zombie took advantage, rushing at him with its arms outstretched. Thomas pivoted, switching to his M9 Beretta in one smooth motion.
Bang! Bang!
The handgun barked twice, the rounds finding their mark in the zombie's head. It crumpled to the ground, joining the growing pile of bodies that littered the gym.
The zombie lunged, and Thomas ducked low, avoiding its grasp. He surged upward, driving the knife into the creature's jaw and pushing upward into its brain. Black ichor sprayed from the wound as the zombie twitched violently before going limp. Thomas yanked the knife free and spun to face the next attacker.
Two more zombies were on him. He sidestepped the first, slashing its throat. While the wound wouldn't kill a zombie outright, it slowed it down long enough for Thomas to deal with the second. He plunged the knife into its temple, twisting the blade before pulling it free.
The first zombie stumbled toward him, its movements sluggish. Thomas didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, planting the knife in the center of its forehead. The creature collapsed, and Thomas ripped the blade free, blood dripping from its edge.
More groans echoed from behind him. Thomas turned to see another wave of zombies spilling into the gym. He couldn't afford to fight them all here.
He bolted toward the emergency exit, his boots skidding slightly on the blood-streaked floor. The zombies pursued him relentlessly, their growls growing louder as they closed the distance.
Reaching the door, Thomas slammed into it with his shoulder, forcing it open. He slipped through and turned to face the horde. As the first zombie reached the threshold, Thomas kicked the door shut and twisted the lock. The sound of fists pounding against the metal echoed in the stairwell as the zombies tried to break through.
Thomas took a moment to catch his breath, leaning against the wall. His chest heaved, and sweat dripped down his face. The adrenaline was beginning to wear off, leaving him with a deep ache in his muscles.
In that encounter, he couldn't count how many he had killed but the system told him it was over 50.
However—.There was no time to rest. Thomas snapped his head toward the end of the alley where the growl originated.
Emerging from the shadows was yet another wave of zombies, and this one was larger and moving faster than the last. Their bloodied faces twisted into grotesque snarls, their clawed hands reaching hungrily toward him.
Thomas's heart pounded as he assessed the situation. His HK 416 was slung over his shoulder, empty. His MP5 was low on ammunition, and his M9 Beretta was not enough to handle the sheer number of zombies barreling toward him.
For a moment, the weight of the situation bore down on him, but then the adrenaline surged through his veins once more, sharpening his focus. His mind raced, and in the clarity of the moment, he came to a decision.
"System Shop," he muttered, opening the interface.
His fingers flew across the translucent menu, navigating to the heavy weapons section. The options were limited, but one caught his eye—a machine gun that could turn the tide of the battle.
[M60 Machine Gun]
Type: General-Purpose Machine Gun
Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
Magazine Capacity: 200 rounds (belt-fed)
Weight: 23 lbs (10.4 kg)
Damage: High
Rate of Fire: Medium
Effective Range: 800 meters
Cost: 6,000 Blood Coins
Without hesitation, Thomas confirmed the purchase.
[Item Purchased: M60 Machine Gun – 6,000 Blood Coins]
In a flash, the massive weapon materialized before him, resting on a bipod. Along with it came a belt of ammunition, ready to be loaded.
Thomas dropped to one knee, grabbed the M60, and quickly loaded the ammunition belt. After that—he squeezed the trigger.
RATATATATATAT!
The roar of the M60 was deafening, the barrel spewing fire as 7.62mm rounds ripped through the air. The first line of zombies was torn apart instantly, their bodies shredded by the high-caliber bullets. Limbs flew, heads exploded, and torsos were ripped in half as the M60's relentless barrage mowed them down.
The sheer power of the weapon was overwhelming. Zombies fell in droves, their bodies piling up in a grotesque barricade. Those behind the fallen clawed and climbed over the corpses, but Thomas didn't let up. He adjusted his aim, sweeping the barrel left and right to cover the entire alleyway.
"Come on!" he shouted, his voice barely audible over the thunderous gunfire.
Thomas kept firing, the recoil vibrating through his body as he stayed locked in position. And after what felt like an eternity, the zombies inside were all killed.
[You have leveled up!]