Zombie Slaying System

Chapter 7: The Hunt Begins

They made it down to the fourth floor.

Jonah felt it deep in his gut, things were only going to get weirder from here. But this time, he wasn’t alone. Lisa walked beside him, holding young Kevin gently in her arms. 

For the first time since the nightmare began, Jonah felt something unfamiliar, hope.

There were others on this floor, he could feel it. Survivors hiding in fear, clutching silence like a shield to keep the zombies away. But at least now, he wasn’t wandering alone anymore.

Lisa’s voice broke the silence. “It’s getting late. I know you want to keep searching, but Kevin needs rest.”

Jonah turned toward her, concern lining his face. She looked exhausted, her arms trembling from carrying the boy.

“I’ll find somewhere safe,” he said. “You both need to rest. I’ll stay on watch.”

He scanned the area, finally spotting a small storage room with a reinforced door and a broken window high enough to climb out from if things went bad. Better yet, it had a roof ledge right above it.

Zombies didn’t climb. That fact alone had kept Jonah alive longer than most.

He cleared the room, made a bed from old folded blankets, and turned back to them. “Here. It’s not much, but it’s safe. I’ll guard the door. No zombie’s getting close, not while I’m breathing.”

Lisa nodded and stepped inside, gently laying Kevin down.

“Thank you,” the boy whispered, voice soft and fragile.

Jonah froze. Kevin had spoken.

“You talked,” he whispered, his eyes wide. “You actually talked. That’s… that’s amazing.”

Lisa turned, smiling through her weariness. “He hasn’t spoken since we pulled him away from his mother’s… body. I didn’t think he would again.”

Jonah crouched beside Kevin and gave the boy a gentle pat on the head. “Get some rest, little man. Tomorrow’s a new day, and I wanna hear all your stories.”

Lisa pulled the blankets over Kevin, her smile barely visible in the dim light. “Thank you, Jonah. Really.”

He stood back and closed the door softly. He watched the two of them for a moment, feeling something strange warm his chest. It wasn’t fear. It wasn’t pain.

It was… belonging. He shook the thought away. Now’s not the time to get soft.

Once he was sure they were asleep, he stepped into the hallway. It was eerily silent, not even the groan of the undead echoing down the walls. But Jonah knew they were there, lurking. Waiting.

He had unfinished business.

“I need to level up,” he muttered. “System, scan the area for zombies.”

‘Command received. No immediate threats detected. Would you like a full area scan?’

Jonah raised an eyebrow. “You can do that?”

‘Affirmative. Scanning now… Scan complete. Fifty-seven hostiles detected on the eastern end of this floor.’

“Perfect,” he grinned. “Now we’re talking.”

He headed east, footsteps light, pulse steady. If he handled this quietly, he could be back before Lisa and Kevin even stirred.

Still… What would Lisa say if she saw him like this?

How do you explain that 4400 volts of electricity ran through your body and left you stronger, faster, deadlier? That a system lives inside you, rewarding every kill with power?

She’d think I’m a freak.

The thought stung. But he pushed it aside. Protecting them mattered more.

He reached the corridor where the system had pinpointed the zombies. And there they were, clumped together, mindless, twitching, jaws slack.

Jonah’s eyes narrowed. He pulled the axe from his back, letting it rest heavy in his hands.

“No holding back,” he whispered. “Let’s clean house.”

He charged in. The first zombie didn’t have time to turn before Jonah’s axe split its skull in two. The second collapsed in a heap, its torso nearly severed. His movements were blurs, fluid, unstoppable.

Zombies dropped like dominos. He didn’t feel tired. In fact, every kill made him feel stronger. Lighter. Faster.

He ducked, twisted, pivoted, moving through the horde like a storm of steel and lightning. Blood splattered the walls, but he kept going, face calm, eyes glowing with purpose.

“Is it just me, or did I get faster?” he asked aloud.

‘Affirmative. Speed enhancement unlocked. You are now classified as Rank: King Slayer.’

“King Slayer, huh?” He smirked. “Not bad.”

‘Current stats: Strength exceeds all known human athletes. Movement speed: 500 miles per hour. Ability: Electrical manipulation. Additional powers will unlock with continued combat performance.’

He paused for a moment, catching his breath, not from exhaustion, but disbelief.

500 miles per hour. I’m not human anymore.

But the scary part? He didn’t mind.

He looked back down the blood-soaked hallway. No movement. All fifty-seven targets were eliminated.

And somewhere, just a few halls away, a woman and a child were sleeping peacefully, safe because of him.

Jonah tightened his grip on the axe. “All right,” he whispered, stepping deeper into the dark. “Let’s go hunting.”