Chapter 4: Mission

Fang Chong, fearing further blows from the Maya system, left the consciousness room in frustration. As he regained awareness, the room remained pitch-black, devoid of any sound. Today was destined to be a sleepless night, and Fang Chong curled up in a corner, eventually drifting into a deep sleep.

Nighttime always seemed to pass particularly quickly. When the first rays of sunlight penetrated the window, shining on Fang Chong's face, he woke up.

"Is it dawn?" Fang Chong looked at the messy room. Apart from the debris from the meteor impact on the window sill, the sofa and other things were all charred.

Surveying the chaotic scene, Fang Chong marveled at the miracle that allowed him to survive in such conditions yesterday.

The sun was still the same sun, but the world was different now.

Perhaps it was exceptionally early as Fang Chong didn't hear a sound from the streets outside. Even the familiar noise of car engines, which he usually heard the most, was absent. In this kind of environment, the atmosphere felt particularly eerie.

However, Fang Chong knew that if it weren't for the 'Maya System' accidentally hitting him, even if he were still alive today, he might not have realized that the entire world had changed. It might be true, just as Maya said, stepping outside could turn one into a 'zombie.'

...

"Please choose today's tasks, Host." Just as Fang Chong was about to walk over to the window to see the current situation outside, Maya's system voice echoed in his mind.

"Are there tasks that need to be completed?" After checking the surroundings and finding nothing threatening, Fang Chong entered the Maya system's internal interface.

"Yes, today is the first day of Earth's doomsday. The host needs to complete three tasks." As Fang Chong appeared in the Maya system's internal space, a virtual figure appeared in front of him.

"Does completing the system's tasks contribute to an increase in my level?" Fang Chong asked. He didn't find the appearance of this virtual figure strange.

"Yes, after completing three tasks today, the host will receive very generous rewards," the Maya system acknowledged without hesitation.

"What are the tasks then?" Fang Chong felt intrigued. Although he didn't know what might be inside the Maya system's mentioned 'generous rewards,' from the system's tone, he believed it wouldn't disappoint him. Perhaps, this was the perfect time for a heavy machine gun.

"Host, please choose the tasks yourself." As the Maya system's voice ceased, several lines of text appeared on the screen.

"Kill three Level 1 zombies."

"Find enough food for three days or more."

"Leave this room and choose a safe area."

Each line represented the content of one task. Although these tasks seemed simple, they were challenging for Fang Chong in his current situation.

However, Fang Chong had no other choice. From the tasks listed by the system, he learned that the zombies on the first day were relatively easy to deal with. If he couldn't accomplish it today, the difficulty of future tasks would increase significantly. Fang Chong understood the saying, 'The early bird catches the worm.' If he couldn't restrain himself and fight zombies today, the chances of survival in the future would be slim. Engaging in real combat earlier seemed like a wise choice.

Knowing the advantages and weaknesses of zombies from the Maya system, which had explained them the previous night, Fang Chong chose the first task: hunting and killing three Level 1 zombies. The system had mentioned that, due to the virus infection, zombies had great strength, equivalent to five ordinary people. However, their reaction speed was significantly lower, especially on the first day, as the newly transformed zombies couldn't keep up with human movements. Fang Chong thought it was worth a try.

Yet, as the virus infection progressed, the weakness of slow speed disappeared within a month. At that point, zombies became even faster than humans, making them truly terrifying.

Besides, food was a necessity. Fang Chong lived alone, and there was barely any food stored in his house. If he didn't go out to find food now, he might be starving by tomorrow. The third task, finding a safe area, was also crucial for Fang Chong at the moment. In his current room, with the windows damaged and the door possibly unreliable, his five-story building was rented out, likely housing dozens of tenants. Now, he was most concerned about these people. If they all turned into zombies, it would pose the greatest threat to him.

After analyzing the pros and cons, Fang Chong quickly made a decision. He chose the three tasks that were most advantageous for him at the moment.

"Just the first three tasks," Fang Chong confirmed.

"After completing the tasks, the system gift package will be sent to the host in the evening," the Maya system confirmed for Fang Chong.

"The weakness of zombies is in the head," Fang Chong didn't rush to leave the room and complete the tasks. Instead, he sat in a corner, looking at the memories transferred to him by the Maya system.

After humans are infected with the virus and turn into zombies, not only does their strength increase, but even their bodies and skin undergo changes. Though they still bleed, they won't feel pain even if their limbs are severed. The most direct way to kill zombies is by decapitating them.

Knowing the most fatal weakness of zombies, Fang Chong closed his eyes in distress. Despite understanding that failing to kill the zombies now would lead to infection or dismemberment, he still had doubts about his ability to decapitate them.

"Alright, let's do this," Fang Chong gritted his teeth and stood up from the ground, ready to embark on the mission.

"Weapons, where are they?" Fang Chong hastily gathered a few items and packed them into his backpack—mostly food and water. When he was ready to leave, he realized he lacked weapons.

"A watermelon knife? A kitchen knife?" Fang Chong found two somewhat rusty knives in his kitchen. With no better options, he decided to use them.

Holding a kitchen knife in his left hand and a watermelon knife in his right, Fang Chong walked out of his home. The quiet stairwell made time feel as though it had come to a standstill, with only the sound of Fang Chong's breathing breaking the silence.

Fang Chong concentrated all his senses, slowing his breathing. Bent slightly to minimize noise, he knew that while the zombies had diminished eyesight due to the virus, their hearing and smell became more acute. Fang Chong feared making any sound that might attract zombies from nearby.

Fortunately, as he moved from Third Street to First Street, Fang Chong didn't spot a single zombie. This was the ideal scenario for him. He wanted to avoid confronting the tenants he used to know well, fearing he wouldn't be able to bring himself to harm them. After all, humans were creatures with emotions.

Taking a slight breath of relief, Fang Chong gently opened the iron door of the stairwell.

"Click."

A not-so-quiet noise echoed from the lock of the iron door.

"Damn it, I forgot this darn lock makes noise." The clicking sound of the iron door was particularly loud on the quiet morning street. Fang Chong knew trouble was coming.