Thomas gritted his teeth as he pressed the accelerator, the JLTV rumbling forward despite the increasing strain on its systems. The once-pristine military vehicle was now covered in gore—chunks of rotting flesh, splattered blood, and smeared entrails coated the armored frame. The reinforced bumper was dented from plowing through countless undead, and the engine was beginning to emit a low, concerning groan.
The M2 Browning's continuous fire had thinned the horde, but the sheer volume of zombies was overwhelming. Despite the turret's automatic targeting, more of them kept flooding in from alleyways and side streets. The JLTV's tires struggled against the slick, blood-soaked asphalt, skidding slightly as Thomas maneuvered through the clogged roads.
A quick glance at the dashboard showed several warning indicators flashing red. Suspension damage. Minor engine strain detected. He had run over too many bodies, too many abandoned vehicles, and it was starting to take its toll. The weight of crushed corpses had lodged itself into the undercarriage, making each movement feel heavier.
More undead swarmed, slamming their decayed fists against the reinforced glass. Some even threw themselves at the JLTV, their bodies scraping down the sides as they clawed desperately at the armored plating. The windows held firm, but the pounding was relentless. If they kept this up, something was bound to give.
"Damn it," Thomas muttered. He needed to get out of this mess—fast.
His eyes darted across the environment, searching for an escape route. The streets were too congested with wreckage to speed through without risking a complete mechanical failure. The horde was growing, forming a near-impenetrable wall of bodies ahead. Even the .50 caliber wasn't keeping up with their numbers anymore.
Then he saw it—a basement parking entrance. A partially open ramp leading underground.
Without hesitation, Thomas yanked the wheel and veered hard toward it.
The JLTV bounced violently as it sped onto the ramp, the reinforced tires crushing another layer of undead in its path. The basement entrance was wide enough to fit, but the sharp turn scraped the side of the vehicle against the concrete wall, sending sparks flying.
Once inside, he barely had time to react. More zombies were already making their way toward the entrance, filling the open ramp behind him.
Thomas pulled his M9 Beretta from its holster and rolled down the window just enough to aim, and squeezed the trigger.
Phfft! Phfft! Phfft!
The rounds struck the electronic panel controlling the parking gate.
CRACK! SIZZLE!
Sparks erupted as the panel shorted out, and the heavy metal gate groaned loudly as it jerked downward. The zombies charging toward him were just seconds away.
Thomas held his breath.
The gate slammed shut just as the first few undead reached it, cutting them off from him completely. A loud THUD followed as bodies crashed against the metal, but the reinforced gate held strong.
For the first time in hours, there was silence.
Thomas exhaled, his grip loosening on the Beretta. He rolled the window back up and rested his head against the seat for a brief moment. His heart was pounding, his arms stiff from gripping the wheel.
The JLTV's engine rumbled in idle, the heat of its overworked systems radiating into the cabin. He looked at the dashboard again—more warning signals flashing. The damage from running over countless zombies, smashing into vehicles, and the sheer wear of prolonged combat had taken its toll. If he didn't stop to maintain the vehicle soon, it wouldn't last much longer.
But for now, he was safe. At least temporarily.
Thomas pulled up the system interface, checking his status.
[User: Thomas Estaris]
[Level: 10]
[Experience Points: 52,435/73,125]
[Skills: Combat Proficiency Level 2, Weapon's Proficiency Level 2, Charisma Level 1, Leadership Level 1.]
[Summoned Troops: 0/100]
[Souls: 875]
[Blood Coins: 577,740]
Seeing that he could now summon troops, Thomas's eyes flickered with satisfaction. At long last, after dealing with hundreds of zombies, he could finally have someone fighting for him.
Not to mention, there were also new skills obtained such as Charisma and Leadership. Those two might be related to the new features.
And—as much as he wanted to summon one right now, he couldn't just yet. Looking out of the windshield, he saw fifteen zombies heading towards his vehicle. He can't use the M2 Browning as it is noisy and would attract the other zombie around the area.
So he hopped off the Oshkosh and summoned his MP5.
He lined up his shot and with a pull of a trigger, the submachine gun purred with controlled bursts
Phfft! Phfft! Phfft!
Each shot struck true. The first zombie's skull caved in as the 9mm rounds tore through its decayed flesh, dropping it instantly. He shifted his aim to the next one.
Phfft! Phfft!
Two more collapsed, their bodies crumpling to the cold concrete. The remaining zombies staggered forward, their grotesque faces twisted in mindless hunger.
Phfft! Phfft! Phfft!
Another four fell. Then another.
By the time Thomas had put down the twelfth zombie, his MP5 clicked empty.
Shit. He had miscalculated his magazine count.
The final three zombies were already within arm's reach, their grotesque hands clawing toward him. Wasting no time, he holstered his MP5 and drew his M9 Beretta in one smooth motion.
Phfft!
One shot to the forehead, and the closest zombie collapsed.
Phfft! Phfft!
The last two fell, black ichor oozing from their skulls as their bodies twitched before finally going still.
Thomas exhaled, his grip on the pistol loosening slightly. He scanned the basement, his ears straining for any signs of movement.
Silence.
Good.
He quickly reloaded both weapons, stuffing the empty magazines into his vest.
Now, with the immediate threats taken care of, Thomas had a moment to think.
His JLTV was in bad shape. The dashboard had already warned him of suspension damage and engine strain, and he could feel the roughness in the vehicle's movement. Plowing through hordes of undead had taken a serious toll. He knew it wouldn't be able to last another hour outside.
He'll have to abandon the vehicle.
As for this place, he looked around and recalled earlier memories to figure out where he was. Luckily, he found a sign on top of a building called Conrad Hotel and Resorts, a luxurious one.
Well knowing that, he now knew the zombies won't be as high compared to outside. This hotel can be his temporary base of operations.
Going back to the summons, he opened his system and the infantry tab was displayed.
[INFANTRY:
1 Soul = 1 Infantry
2 soul = 1 Medic
3 soul = 1 Sniper
4 soul = 1 Commando
5 soul = 1 Engineer
6 soul = Pilot
10 Souls= 1 Special Forces
50 souls = 1 General
]
[Souls: 875].
A smile flickered across Thomas's lips. "Let's try this."