Apocalypse Harem System: Infinite Rebate

The Hunter in the Shadows

The emergency exit creaked open.

A gust of cold air rushed inside.

Ethan stepped out first, Desert Eagle in hand.

Sophia and Emily followed close behind.

The alley behind the supermarket was eerily quiet.

Too quiet.

Abandoned vehicles blocked the streets.

Trash scattered across the pavement.

A faint smell of blood lingered in the air.

Somewhere in the distance, sirens wailed before abruptly cutting off.

The city looked dead.

Yet Ethan knew it wasn't.

It was crawling with the undead.

"Which way?" Emily whispered.

Ethan scanned the area.

A few blocks away stood a residential district.

Small apartment buildings.

Fenced houses.

Defensible positions.

Much better than an open supermarket.

Before he could answer, the System suddenly flashed a warning.

WARNING!

Host is being observed.

Threat Level: Unknown.

Ethan froze.

Being observed?

By what?

He slowly looked around.

The alley appeared empty.

The rooftops were silent.

Nothing moved.

Yet a strange feeling settled in his chest.

The feeling of being watched.

Like a predator staring at prey.

"What is it?" Sophia asked.

"Something's wrong."

The nurse immediately became alert.

The three survivors stood still.

Listening.

Watching.

Waiting.

Then they heard it.

A faint scratching sound.

Above them.

Ethan looked up.

Nothing.

Just rooftops.

Water tanks.

Satellite dishes.

But the feeling remained.

Whatever was watching them was hiding.

And it was intelligent enough not to reveal itself.

"We're leaving," Ethan said.

"Now."

Nobody argued.

They hurried out of the alley and into a side street.

The city was a graveyard.

Several abandoned cars burned in the distance.

Storefront windows were shattered.

Bodies littered the sidewalks.

Some moved.

Most didn't.

A lone zombie wandered between parked vehicles.

Its head snapped toward the group.

It growled.

Then charged.

BANG!

The Desert Eagle roared.

The zombie's head exploded.

The creature collapsed instantly.

Sophia jumped.

"That gun is loud."

"Unfortunately."

The shot echoed down the street.

Attracting attention.

A lot of attention.

Growls erupted from nearby buildings.

Windows shattered.

More zombies appeared.

Ten.

Twenty.

Thirty.

Emily's face turned white.

"Oh no."

The street suddenly came alive.

The undead flooded toward them from every direction.

Ethan cursed under his breath.

One bullet had solved a problem and created a bigger one.

"Run!"

The group sprinted forward.

The horde followed.

The pounding of dozens of feet echoed behind them.

Ethan fired twice more.

BANG!

BANG!

Two zombies dropped.

But dozens remained.

There were simply too many.

The group rounded a corner.

Then Ethan spotted something promising.

A gated apartment complex.

Three-meter-high fences surrounded the property.

Only one entrance.

A strong defensive position.

Perfect.

"There!"

They rushed toward the gate.

Unfortunately, they weren't the only ones who noticed it.

A group of survivors stood inside.

About eight people.

Armed with bats, knives, and makeshift weapons.

The gate was locked.

One of the men stepped forward.

"Stop!"

Ethan's expression darkened.

"We need shelter."

The man shook his head.

"No room."

Behind Ethan, the zombie horde was getting closer.

Sophia looked horrified.

"Please!"

The survivors hesitated.

Fear filled their faces.

Not fear of zombies.

Fear of strangers.

Fear of sharing limited resources.

Fear of losing what little they had.

The apocalypse had changed people quickly.

Then an older woman inside the complex spoke up.

"Let them in."

A younger man protested.

"They could be dangerous."

"So are the zombies."

The woman pointed behind Ethan.

The horde was less than fifty meters away now.

Finally, the gate opened.

"Move!"

The three survivors rushed inside.

The residents immediately slammed the gate shut.

Seconds later, the zombies crashed against the metal bars.

The entire fence rattled.

Growls filled the air.

Hundreds of dead eyes stared inward.

Hungry.

Waiting.

But for now, the gate held.

Ethan exhaled slowly.

They were safe.

At least temporarily.

Then the System chimed.

DING!

Main Mission Progress Updated.

First Safe House Located.

Current Survivors Sheltered: 11

Requirements Met.

Return to Mission Interface to Claim Rewards.

A smile appeared on Ethan's face.

Mission complete.

Already.

Things were finally starting to go his way.

Then another notification appeared.

This one was bright gold.

New Designated Female Detected.

Scanning...

A profile window appeared.

Ethan's eyes widened.

Standing near the apartment entrance was a beautiful young woman with long black hair and sharp amber eyes.

Unlike everyone else, she carried herself calmly.

Confidently.

Like she wasn't afraid.

Ava Reynolds

Age: 26

Former Special Forces Operator

Loyalty: 10

Destiny Value: S

Status: Eligible Designated Female

Ethan nearly stopped breathing.

An S-Rank Destiny Value.

The highest he had seen so far.

And judging by her military background...

She might be the strongest person he had encountered since the apocalypse began.

The System immediately followed up.

Special Notice

High Destiny Individual Detected.

Potential for Exceptional Rebate Rewards.

Before Ethan could process that information, Ava's sharp gaze landed on him.

Specifically...

On the Desert Eagle in his hand.

Her eyes narrowed.

The former soldier walked toward him.

Step by step.

Confident.

Dangerous.

Then she stopped directly in front of him.

"You."

Ethan raised an eyebrow.

"Me?"

"Where did you get that gun?"

The courtyard fell silent.

Everyone looked at them.

Ethan had a feeling his answer was going to determine whether he made an ally...

Or a very dangerous enemy.