Chapter 3: Scavenging

Disclaimer: This novel is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real events, people, or places is coincidental. The author does not endorse or promote any harmful or illegal activities, including violence, discrimination, or harmful survival practices. The novel's content is intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as a guide for real-life survival or preparedness. Always prioritize safety, respect, and well-being in your actions and decisions.

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Min-Su stepped out of his apartment, katana at the ready. He had to be careful; the infected could be lurking in every corner. His first stop was apartment 603. The door was already open.

As he entered, he was met with a gruesome sight. Three zombies lay on the ground, their limbs twisted at odd angles. They were limping towards him, their eyes fixed on Min-Su. He didn't hesitate, charging towards them with his katana raised.

With swift and precise strikes, he took down the three zombies, their bodies slumped to the ground, motionless. Min-Su caught his breath, his heart racing from the brief battle. He knew he had to keep moving, searching the other apartments for any survivors or useful supplies, so he headed to apartment 602...

Min-Su is standing in front of apartment 602, his katana at the ready. As he entered, he was met with a familiar face. It was Old Man Choi, the kindly elderly man who had often looked after Min-Ho when Min-Su was away. Min-Su's heart skipped a beat as he gazed into the old man's eyes, now vacant and cold.

For a moment, Min-Su hesitated, nostalgia washing over him. But he knew he couldn't afford to show any weakness. With a heavy heart, he raised his katana and ended the old man's undead existence.

"Rest peacefully old man"

As the old man slumped to the ground, Min-Su felt a pang of sorrow. But he steeled himself, remembering the pain of his past. He had to kill his own lover in his previous life; this was nothing compared to that. The memory strengthened his resolve to protect his loved ones at all costs.

"I won't let anyone else I care about suffer the same fate," Min-Su vowed to himself, his grip on the katana tightening again. "I'll do whatever it takes to keep Min-Ho and others safe."

With a newfound determination, Min-Su continued his search of the apartment

At last, Min-Su approached apartment 601, the last appartment on the floor. To his surprise, the door was locked. His heart raced as he wondered if someone was still alive inside. He pressed his ear against the door, hoping to hear a faint cry for help or a whispered plea. Instead, he was met with inhumane groans and growls.

His hope of finding an ally dwindled, but he couldn't shake off the feeling that someone might still be alive inside this was the intuition and gut feeling he has gained from his past lives experience. With a deep breath, he drew his katana and prepared for the worst scenario. He unlocked the door and pushed it open, his sword at the ready.

The hallway was a gruesome sight. Two zombies feasted on a child's corpse, their eyes fixed on Min-Su as they growled. Another zombie clawed at a closed door, while a fourth zombie lurched around the kitchen. Min-Su's instincts kicked in, and his katana sliced through the air with deadly precision.

With swift and practiced strikes, he beheaded the two zombies in the hallway, then turned to the clawing zombie and dispatched it with a swift swing. Finally, he entered the kitchen, his katana flashing in the dim light as he ended the last zombie's existence.

As the last zombie fell, Min-Su stood panting, his katana still trembling with the force of his strikes. His skills with the katana were honed from years of experience in past lives, and he knew that his training had just saved his life once again.

But he is sometimes hindered because his body is still not is perfect shape.

With the apartment cleared, Min-Su approached the closed door, his heart pounding in his chest. He hesitated for a moment, wondering if he was ready for what he might find inside...

"Please open the door. This is rescue!"

The handle of the door tilted, and the door slowly started to open and from the darkness of the room a girl came out.

But she stopped in her tracks after seeing a sword tip was pointing towards her throat she got scared from that then see looked at the holder of the sword.

"Aren't you the oppa from the apartment 604"

"Yes, are you the only one alive?"

"....Yes" her face become dark and unhappy.

Then her eyes fell on the deformed and beheaded bodies of their parents and her half-eaten younger brother.

She was unable stop her vomiting reflex and vomited on the floor.

"Relax" Min-su patted on the girl's back to calm her down.

After a few minutes of vomiting, she calmed down.

"Are you okay?"

"y-Yes. Ugh! What are yo-? Look behind you"

Hearing this sentence Min-su figured out is behind him.

Min-su hid the girl behind her and faced the half eaten child zombie.

"I thought that the Substance will not awaken inside you but I think that's not case here"

That child zombie lunged towards Min-su but only it's head was able reach Min-su after it's head being beheaded by Min-su's katana.

That girl has seen Min-su many time before but today Min-su is like a whole different to her.

"So what were you saying?"

"...Huh? Oh! I was asking why are you here"

"I am here to secure this floor by killing all the zombies so that a zombie don't jumpscare me"

She looked at girl from top to down looking for any scratch or bite marks but she thought that he had some ulterior motives and tried to cover herself with her hand.

She is a girl with long dark hair, and piercing brown eyes, her eyes fixed on the sword on his hand.

Min-su quickly sheathed his katana and approached her with a calm expression.

"Don't worry, I'm here to help" he said with a reassuring tone.

The girl nodded, her eyes still wide with fear. Min-su could see the trauma in her eyes, the jorror of what she had witnessed. He knew that  look all too well.

"What's you name?" He asked, trying to distract her from the gruesome scene around them.

"H-hana Lee" she stuttered, her voice barely audible.

"I'm Min-su Kim," he said "I am going to take you out of here so stop worrying"

"But before that, I need your help to scavenge everything important in this appartment like food, water, first aid and flashlight e.t.c"

"Ok" she said with a blush face.

As they gathered essentials from her appartment, Min-su couldn't help but notice the way Hana moved with a quiet grace, her steps light and quick in my previous life she would make a great assassin.

Few minutes later,

"So have we gathered everything usable in your appartment"

"Yes"

"Good then bring me a bedsheet and help me pack it up and after this we will scavenge the remaining two appartment"

She nodded with a exhausted expression.

Few more minutes later they have scavenged everything in this floor

Meanwhile in Min-su's apartment,

"What is taking so long for Hyung to return" Min-ho is worried for Min-su.

Suddenly his appartment bell rang which scared him.

He went towards the door and said.

"Wh-who is this"

"It's me"

"O-ok I am opening the door"

Min-ho opened the door and was shocked from seeing his brother.

Min-su is covered in blood and is holding a huge baggage of bedsheet and behind Min-su he saw a new yet familiar girl.