This was no time of celebration as Thomas heard the groans of the zombies from the distance. Surely, his fight against the mutated zombie, Mawbeast, caused a lot of noise and attracted nearby zombies.
He prepared for—.
"Argh~!"
Thomas collapsed to the ground as the pain he incurred from the previous fight started taking its toll on him. The adrenaline that had been fueling his every move was now wearing off, leaving behind a searing ache in his ribs and a throbbing pain in his left shoulder. His vision blurred momentarily, and he struggled to take a deep breath.
"Not now… not here," he muttered to himself, gritting his teeth. He planted his hands firmly on the cracked asphalt, trying to push himself up, but his arms trembled and gave out under his weight. He fell back with a grunt, his body refusing to cooperate.
In the distance, the guttural groans of approaching zombies grew louder. Panic began to creep into his mind, but he fought to suppress it. He scanned his surroundings desperately, his eyes landing on a silver Toyota Camry parked a few meters away. The driver's door was ajar, the interior illuminated faintly by the overhead light. It looked intact.
"I just… need to get there," Thomas muttered, his voice strained. With every ounce of strength he could muster, he began crawling toward the car, dragging his battered body across the asphalt. Every movement sent sharp jolts of pain through his side, but he clenched his jaw and kept going.
The groans grew closer.
Thomas's heart raced as he glanced over his shoulder. Two zombies emerged from an alley, their shambling forms silhouetted against the flickering light of a nearby streetlamp. Their milky eyes locked onto him, and they let out guttural growls as they quickened their pace.
He growled, forcing himself to reach for the M9 Beretta holstered at his side. He drew the suppressed pistol with a shaky hand, took aim, and fired.
Phfft!
The first zombie dropped instantly, the round piercing its forehead and splattering dark ichor onto the pavement.
Phfft!
The second zombie followed moments later, collapsing into a heap just feet from where Thomas lay. He exhaled sharply, his hand trembling as he lowered the pistol.
With renewed determination, Thomas clawed his way to the Camry. His fingers gripped the edge of the open door, and he used it to pull himself up. Pain flared in his side, but he ignored it, dragging his body into the driver's seat. Once inside, he slammed the door shut and locked it, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
Leaning back against the seat, Thomas glanced around the interior. It was clean, with no signs of blood or damage. His eyes fell on the key fob resting in the center console. Relief flooded his chest.
"Guess this is my lucky day," he muttered, reaching for the key. He pressed the engine start button, and the Camry roared to life. The sound was like music to his ears.
He gripped the steering wheel tightly, wincing as pain shot through his arm. He shifted into drive and slowly rolled the car forward.
As he navigated through the empty streets, he kept his eyes peeled for any signs of danger. The groans of zombies faded into the distance, replaced by the rhythmic thrum of the tires against the asphalt. For thirty minutes, he drove in silence.
Finally, the familiar outline of his rented home came into view—a small, modest house offered by the orphanage where he had grown up. Surprisingly, the area was eerily quiet. There were no zombies in sight, no signs of movement.
Thomas pulled the Camry into the driveway and killed the engine. He sat there for a moment, staring at the house, his body screaming for rest. Gathering his strength, he opened the door and stepped out, his legs wobbling beneath him.
He limped to the front door, fumbling with the key he had kept on him since he left. The lock clicked, and the door swung open, revealing the dark interior of the house.
Thomas stepped inside and closed the door behind him, locking it firmly. The familiar smell of the place greeted him, bringing a small sense of comfort. He leaned against the door, sliding down to the floor as his body finally gave out.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Thomas allowed himself to breathe.
"I made it," he whispered.
[System Notification: User health critical. Suggested action: Use a Health Injection to alleviate pain and restore functionality.]
Thomas blinked at the message, his mind sluggish as he processed the words. "Health Injection?" he muttered, pulling up the system interface with a thought. His fingers trembled as he navigated to the shop, scrolling through the categories until he found it.
[Health Injections - Exclusive to User]
Small Health Injection: 1,000 Blood Coins
Effect: Relieves minor pain and heals small injuries.
Medium Health Injection: 2,500 Blood Coins
Effect: Relieves moderate pain and heals medium injuries.
Large Health Injection: 5,000 Blood Coins
Effect: Relieves severe pain and heals critical injuries.
The descriptions were straightforward, and the word "exclusive" caught his attention, but he didn't have time to dwell on it. His injuries were painful but not life-threatening, so he selected the Medium Health Injection.
[Item Purchased: Medium Health Injection – 2,500 Blood Coins]
[Remaining Blood Coins: 187,950]
A sleek, cylindrical injector materialized in his hand. The device was simple, with a glowing green liquid visible inside the transparent chamber.
Thomas inspected it for a moment, then pressed the injector against his upper arm, gritting his teeth as he pressed the button. A soft hiss sounded as the device delivered the liquid into his bloodstream.
The effects were immediate.
A warm sensation spread through his body, starting at the injection site and radiating outward. The sharp pain in his ribs dulled, then faded entirely. The throbbing ache in his shoulder disappeared, replaced by a feeling of relief so profound it was almost euphoric. Thomas sat up straighter, his breathing steady for the first time in what felt like hours.
"Wow," he muttered, flexing his fingers. His strength returned, and the fatigue that had been weighing him down lifted as if it had never been there. "This thing's a lifesaver—literally."
The system chimed again, as if responding to his thoughts.
[Medium Health Injection successful. Current condition: Optimal. Proceed with caution.]
Thomas stood up slowly, testing his balance. There was no pain, no stiffness. It was as if he hadn't just fought a mutated nightmare and narrowly escaped death.
He glanced around the dimly lit house, the silence almost unnerving after the chaos he had endured. His survival instincts kicked in as he quickly checked the windows and doors, ensuring everything was secure. Satisfied that he was safe, he collapsed onto the worn couch in the living room, finally allowing himself to relax. For now, he wanted to take a rest.