There was no time to hesitate. I aimed at the zombie less than half a meter away and pulled the trigger!
"Bang!"
The gunshot echoed through the stairwell. I clearly saw a bright red streak plunge into the zombie's head. The next
instant,
what burst out of the back of its head
was yellow.
The zombie's brains splattered across the wall behind it like water being thrown, with black,
yellow, and white goo clinging to the surface. It looked utterly disgusting!
My reflexes had improved too. No wonder I'd felt time slow down when I faced the green monster. Just like
now!
The footsteps all around me had slowed, but I could tell exactly how far away each distinct set of footsteps
was!
My hand flicked toward the doorway. At the same time, a zombie charged out from there!
"Bang!"
I pulled the trigger again. The bullet entered through its temple, and the force sent its body flying
before it crashed hard to the ground.
Only two bullets left!
While counting the yellow pellets in my head, I sidestepped twice. At the same time, another zombie ran
into view at the edge of my vision!
At that moment, my vision was exceptionally clear. The knife in my hand felt as light as air as I swung it
quickly, like a hot blade through butter,
and drove it straight into the eye of the zombie that had just appeared!
Chapter 17: The Worst Teammate Ever
"Squish!"
Without hesitation, I pulled the knife back out. The zombie ran two more steps before finally collapsing
to the ground.
Then two zombies appeared at once. Without hesitation, I pulled the trigger twice. Since they were so close, and my
strength had improved, I could fire twice in quick succession and still hit them both!
"Bang! Bang!"
Both zombies fell to the ground with the gunshots. But my gun was empty now, and at the same time,
a zombie lunged straight out from the doorway—
Instinctively, I tucked the pistol back into my waistband and drew my fruit knife, then flung it forward with all my might!
"Squish!"
The fruit knife plunged straight into the zombie's head. As the zombie fell to the ground, the knife's handle snapped,
leaving the blade lodged in its brain.
Run!!
The approaching footsteps were growing louder and more chaotic. I had no choice but to make that decision. But the moment I did,
I instantly snapped out of that state. An overwhelming wave of exhaustion swept over me, like a flood, and for a moment
I nearly passed out.
My vision went black. On instinct, I bit the tip of my tongue, and the sharp pain jolted me awake! At the same time, the footsteps
were right beside me!!
My legs buckled, and I nearly fell to the ground. I barely managed to steady myself. Then, in the corner by the Iron Gate, a shadow rapidly
grew larger!
"Roar!!"
It was here!!
There was no time to think. I turned and ran, scrambling up the stairs. I even had to hold onto the railing, and my exhausted body
was desperate to collapse right there.
Grimacing, I forced my aching, weak legs to keep going. It felt like I'd masturbated a dozen times in one night; even standing still
made my calves wobble!
Every time I climbed a step, my muscles and bones ached. My knees were so weak that I fell to them several times,
but I forced myself back up.
It sounded like it took a long time, but it all happened in just a few seconds. By the time I reached the landing,
the zombies had already started coming up the stairs!
"Damn it!"
I gritted my teeth and forced my exhausted body onward. Calling it running would be generous; I was barely moving faster than a brisk walk. But
the zombies were frighteningly fast!
By the time I'd reached the sixth floor, they were already only six or seven steps behind me!
"Open the door!!"
My voice was weak. All I could do now was wait until this state passed. There were probably more than twenty zombies behind me,
and it would probably take three or four rounds to clear them out.
But... what I never expected was that the Iron Gate on the sixth floor wouldn't open!!
"Big Sister, run!! Mom isn't going to open it! Waaah!!"
The little girl's voice came clearly from behind the door. At the same time, it sounded like someone had covered Juan'er's mouth!
"Damn it!!"
I cursed. I'd planned everything out, yet that woman had still outsmarted me!!
There was no time to say anything more. I could only turn and run upstairs again, while the zombies behind me were now less than a meter away!!
There's no time!!
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the zombies, slowed by the turn, reaching desperately for me. Despair rose in my heart!
No!!!
I wouldn't die here! If... if only I could enter that state again!!
"I'll risk it!!"
Grimacing, I let out an angry shout and forced myself to concentrate!
It's coming... it's coming, it's coming!!! It really is!!
That was right. I'd entered that state again. The zombies' movements seemed to freeze in an instant, though they were still moving, and I could clearly
feel that my body was bearing more than it could handle.
Even so, I could still give it one more shot!!
I couldn't worry about what would happen to my body. I ran as hard as I could. The zombies moved incredibly slowly, and I took several steps at a time,
reaching the landing between the sixth and seventh floors in three strides. At the same time, the zombies had only just rounded the corner by the sixth-floor Iron Gate!
My chance!
But... it was a chance that hung by a thread!
If I failed... I still wanted to smoke one last cigarette before I died.
Thinking that, I casually pulled out a Changbai Mountain and held it between my lips. At the same time, I reached into my backpack and took out two bottles of alcohol.
I threw one of them straight at the zombies. While the first bottle was still in midair, I pulled out my lighter and lit the second!
That superhuman state still hadn't worn off. I even had time to use the blue flame on the bottle to light
the cigarette in my mouth.
As a bright orange glow flared, I took a deep drag and leaned against the wall. Watching the zombies charge toward me step by step,
my vision began to blur.
Is this... because I've used up too much energy?
Thinking that, I struggled to lift my left hand and throw the last lit bottle. Then I took another deep breath and weakly murmured...
"Go to hell... you monsters..."
"Boom!!"
The last thing to enter my blurred vision was a flash of orange-red light and a wave of heat...
Chapter 18: Surviving the Aftermath
When I struggled to open my eyes, everything was still pitch-black. My entire body was so weak I could barely move. Even just raising my hand
or moving my mouth felt like my muscles were being torn apart.
Still... it made me feel like I'd survived a brush with death. Without this pain, I might really have thought I was dead.
I guess those two Molotov cocktails had stopped the zombies, right?
"Those zombies... Ngh!!" I struggled to shift to one side. The pain all over my body made me furrow my brow. Bracing myself against the tearing pain, I reached out
and felt for my backpack.
With difficulty, I opened it and took out a pack of bread, but I couldn't get it open.
Then I remembered the military knife at my waist and cursed myself for being "an idiot." I pulled out the knife and slit the packaging,
then forced myself to eat. At the same time, I reached into my bag for a packet of glucose and pierced it with the knife.
"Squish..."