The two people inside the room were in their early twenties. They didn't seem very old, but they were far from innocent.
The man had an average build with yellow-stained teeth and several noticeable scars from knives and cigarette burns.
The woman wore a tank top and hot pants, her chestnut-colored hair flowing down her back. Petite yet curvaceous, she carried a strong air of street smarts and survival.
They were partners in more ways than one—newcomers in the trade, known for their bold, risqué live streams.
Last night, one of their most generous viewers, "Top Donor #1," had visited them just as the apocalypse struck. Unfortunately, he didn't survive the chaos and turned into a zombie instead.
When the transformation happened, it was right in the middle of his private "session" with the woman. Her boyfriend—also the cameraman—reacted quickly, pinning the newly-turned zombie to the ground. It took both of them a good amount of effort to finally kill it.
Whether by luck or bad fortune, the zombie "Top Donor #1" dropped a supply capsule: [Pickled Vegetables with Bread].
Exhausted and famished from their struggle, they tore into the food like starving animals.
When you're starving, anything tastes like heaven. Even without water, they swallowed it dry. But soon after, the pickled vegetables left their mouths parched and their throats burning.
Just as they were about to head out to find water, the man's sharp ears picked up a noise outside. He peeked through a crack in the door and witnessed a horrifying scene.
The mutated zombie brother they had fought was out there, mercilessly slaughtering other survivors. And then, like a grim angel of death, Astrea appeared and began his one-sided massacre.
The sight of Astrea casually pulling out that giant bottle of cola at the end stuck with them.
The sound of his drinking it, the refreshing gulping, and that loud burp afterward? Pure psychological torture.
When people are desperate, they can do anything to survive. That's just animal instinct.
As Astrea tinkered with his war bow, the two survivors huddled close, whispering.
"No doubt about it—that's the college student from the 8th floor!"
"He's the real deal! Can you believe someone that soft-looking managed to kill Simona?"
Simona—The Mutated Zombie
The "Simona" they mentioned was none other than the mutated zombie they had just seen earlier.
The man brought a finger to his lips, gesturing for silence. With a newfound skill he'd recently mastered, he activated the interface to check Astrea's details.
[Basic Info]
Name: Lone Wolf Title: Chosen One Level: 3 Class: None
"Lone Wolf? That's the same dude from the world announcement earlier!" The man's voice trembled with awe. "No wonder he took down Simona in just two hits. This guy's on another level!"
"For real!" the woman chimed in excitedly. "Should we go talk to him? I mean, someone that powerful could totally protect us!"
The man immediately stopped her, shaking his head with a serious expression. "What are you thinking? Haven't you read enough apocalypse novels? Even if we came out waving a white flag and screaming for help, there's still a high chance we'd get shot by 'friendly fire.'"
"Wow, you're so smart!" The woman's enthusiasm dimmed as she slowly realized he was right.
The man swallowed nervously and continued, his tone growing more analytical.
"Remember that book we were reading recently?"
"Yeah, the one where the villain ambushes the Chosen One at the start of the apocalypse, kills him, and takes his place as the protagonist—complete with a whole harem!"
"Exactly. And look at his weapon—he's using a bow. In these narrow hallways, that's a huge disadvantage. He won't even have space to draw properly."
His eyes glinted with a twisted resolve. "It's the end of the world, baby. Sometimes you gotta gamble big. I've got an S-tier ability too. If I kill him, I'll take his spot as the new Chosen One."
The woman hesitated, biting her lip. "But... isn't that kind of wrong?"
The man scoffed, recalling his "enlightenment journey" during his time in prison. With a confident smirk, he casually spouted nonsense, "Wrong? I've studied law before. He just committed breaking and entering with intent to kill. That's a death sentence. Immediate execution."
The woman's eyes sparkled with admiration. "Wow! You've studied law too? You're amazing!"
"Law, survival, you name it. Stick with me, and after this, we'll be living the dream. We'll be the main characters in this apocalypse!" The man grinned, already imagining his future rise to power.
"Okay! I trust you!" The woman nodded eagerly.
After discussing their plan, the man signaled with a hand gesture and whispered, "Showtime. Let the performance begin!"
A Deadly Setup
The woman nodded, and in an instant, her appearance shifted, taking on someone else's face. She pinched her voice to sound helpless and screamed,
"Help! Help me!"
Meanwhile, the man hid behind the door, gripping a machete tightly in his hands. His plan was simple: as soon as Astrea stepped inside, he'd strike and take his down.
What they didn't realize, however, was that Astrea had overheard every word of their conversation. From the moment the man boasted about his S-tier ability, he'd been quietly amused.
S-tier ability? That meant he must have completed his first kill already, which conveniently saved her some trouble.
Still, it was clear these two weren't particularly bright. They had stayed hidden while he fought the mutated zombie and only decided to act afterward. Amateurs.
With calm, measured steps, Astrea approached the door, but just as he reached it, his footsteps stopped abruptly.
Inside the room, the tension skyrocketed. The man and woman felt their hearts race as anxiety took hold.
Killing a zombie earlier had been an act of self-defense. But this? An ambush like this was outright premeditated murder. Even they couldn't fully shake off the nerves that came with such a drastic step.
Suddenly, with a loud creak, the door swung open.
Top Donor #1's corpse was hidden under a thick blanket, out of sight. In the corner of the room, a disheveled young woman sat huddled on the floor. Her hair was messy, and her loosely worn clothes revealed an alluring glimpse of skin.
She had an ethereal beauty to her—elegant and almost fairy-like. But beneath that grace was an undeniable air of... experience. A subtle, worldly charm that couldn't be erased.
Astrea's eyes narrowed slightly as she scanned the woman's information. Jackpot.
[Basic Info]
Name: Doll Woman Level: 1 Class: None Ability: C-tier Talent – Masked Disguise
A grin tugged at the corners of Astrea's lips. A disguise talent? Sure, it was only C-tier, but damn, it was useful! The perfect ability for someone who wanted to stay under the radar. This woman could alter her appearance and hide her true identity—a must-have for any schemer or survivor.
Astrea kept her bow drawn and aimed, standing just outside the door as she calmly observed the woman.
The woman's wide eyes darted nervously between Astrea and the man behind her. Meanwhile, the man, drenched in sweat, kept glancing back and forth—trying to watch both Astrea and the woman. He was hoping she'd give him some kind of signal.
Time seemed to freeze, locking all three in a tense and precarious standoff.
The man furrowed his brow and subtly jerked his head, signaling for the woman to up the act.
Catching his cue, the woman adjusted her posture. The thin strap of her sleepwear slipped further down her shoulder, leaving just enough to tease, her expression turning soft and vulnerable.
Her legs curled up parallel to her shoulders, subtly revealing both a hint of cleavage and a teasing glimpse of a camel toe.
Under the dim, amber lighting, the scene practically oozed with sensual tension. It was the kind of moment where what you see is what your mind wants—the atmosphere was almost too potent.
The woman's voice came soft and sweet, dripping with gratitude.
"Thank you! You're so strong! You actually defeated that big monster outside!"
She sniffled delicately, her eyes glistening as she continued, "I'm a college student... I came here to do part-time work, but then the apocalypse hit."
With a pitiful whimper, she added, "And now my leg's hurt... Can you carry me out of here?"
She stretched out both hands, palms open in a helpless gesture, her face the perfect picture of innocence.
It was a flawless performance. Her moves were so smooth, so perfectly executed, that even the man hiding behind the door couldn't help but react. A shiver ran down his spine, and he clenched his jaw, his thoughts spiraling.
Damn... she's too seductive!
He swallowed hard, cursing internally. What man could resist this?
A wicked grin crept across his face as another thought surfaced.
Yeah... tomorrow, she's definitely going to transform into this look again. We'll have ourselves a real good time.