Chapter 3
Without a single word, the doctor and nurses rushed out of Theo’s room.
“Emergency alert? Code Black?” Aries muttered, then turned to Theo. “Stay put, I’ll check what’s going on,” she said, her face serious before she left.
Theo shook his head with a soft smile as his sister rushed out the door. “This nagger,” he murmured with a grin. “I pity her future husband p>
He shifted into a more comfortable position. She was two years younger, but always acted like the older sibling, nagging him like their mother used to when they were kids.
Aries wanted to work while studying nursing, but Theo wouldn’t let her. She’d sneak off behind his back to do summer jobs in the cafeteria. Like him, she was a scholar, but unlike him, Aries was no pushover. She was brave, a fighter who wouldn’t let anyone walk all over her, either with words or actions.
Theo squinted and muttered, “Let’s see if I’m just hallucinating p>
‘Mutation Abyss,’ he thought, and instantly, the screens flashed before him again.
“Woah!” he exclaimed, staring at the core system tabs in his mind. He selected Status.
[Name: Theodore Luther]
[Nickname: Theo]
[Age: 22]
[Race: Human]
[Rank: Pioneer]
[Special Ability/Power: locked until triggered]
[Mutation Level: 0]
[HP (Health Points): 90/100]
[EXP (Experience Points): 0]
[MP (Mana/Energy Points): 30/100]
[Strength: 2]
[Agility: 2]
[Intelligence: 10]
[Endurance: 10]
[Wealth: 0]
“What the hell? Even in this, I suck?” he grumbled, his face scrunched in frustration.
The Missions/Quests tab kept blinking, so he clicked on it. There were four categories: Main Quests, Side Quests, Daily Quests, and Hidden Quests. Some were still locked.
He selected what he could open, the Survival Mission.
[Main Quest: Survive the Impact]
Objective: Survive the aftermath of the meteorite impact and stabilize your physical and mental state.
[Main Quest: Secure Resources]
Objective: Forage for food, water, and supplies. Your survival depends on securing essential resources.
[Main Quest: Defeat the Threat]
Objective: Eliminate Meteorborns and MB infectees, or escape their threat. Your survival depends on confronting them head-on.
[Rewards: Unlock Basic Mutation Powers, Increase in EXP, and Learn the Basics of Energy Management]
“Meteorborn and MB Infectee?” he murmured. Just then, descriptions of them appeared:
[Meteorborn are the restless dead reborn through the meteorite’s energy. Twisted and infectious, they hunger for flesh and mutate their victims into MB Infectees, who also hunger for flesh p>
Theo gulped, his heart racing, but before he could delve deeper into the system, Aries barged in, panting.
“We have to leave now p>
Just the look on his sister’s face screamed trouble. Without warning, she yanked the IV tube from his hand, making Theo hiss from the sudden pain as she quickly applied a band-aid.
She grabbed clothes for him, handed them over, and turned around. “Move faster. The hospital’s in chaos. I went down through the fire exit, and people are attacking each other like in a zombie movie p>
Theo’s face paled. It sounded eerily like the descriptions he’d seen on his system. They were probably Meteorborn and Meteorinfectees. He quickly dressed and said, “Let’s go p>
Aries nodded and grabbed his hand. They moved swiftly through the hospital, where everyone was either busy making calls or arguing with patients, demanding explanations.
His sister led him straight to the fire exit, unnoticed by anyone. “Aren’t hospitals on lockdown? How are we supposed to get out?” Theo murmured.
Aries shot him an exasperated look. “Ah, right! All exits are probably locked p>
Theo shrugged, muttering, “Sometimes I don’t know how you managed to get that scholarship, sis. You’re great academically, but your common sense is… well, often lacking p>
“What are you saying?!” Aries asked suspiciously, narrowing her eyes.
“Nothing,” he said, grinning, before tousling her hair. “Come on, let’s head back instead.” Follow current novels on ÍŸ.net
“But-” she started, panic creeping into her voice, “I told you. It’s dangerous here! It’s like a zombie apocalypse upstairs! I saw them attacking and eating each other! We’ll die if we stay here p>
Before she could finish, they heard the unmistakable sound of banging on the fire exit doors followed by low, guttural snarls. The air suddenly felt thick with tension.
“How about we go out using the windows instead, Aries? Let’s pull the fire hose and climb down,” Theo whispered, trying to stay calm. Aries nodded so he signalled her to follow him as he turned to head back to the hallway, but then p>
[Ding! MB Infectees are coming. Each MB Infectee kill grants +10 EXP and +1 gold coin p>
‘Gold coins?’ Theo thought, his mind racing. ‘Can I even use that here p>
[Ding! can convert every 1 gold coin to 100,000 Nexa Money Currency of your Country Nepthal p>
His eyes widened. Ten kills and he’d have a million? The thought barely registered before his sister’s blood-curdling scream pierced the air.
Theo spun around, his heart thudding painfully in his chest. Aries was on the ground, struggling with a man in a nurse’s uniform. His skin was pale, his eyes wild with an unnatural hunger as he tore at her.
Without thinking, Theo lunged forward, grabbing the man by the collar and pulling him off her. The violent snarls of the infectee echoed in the hallway as he threw the crazed nurse away, but the fear in his sister’s eyes only spurred him on.
He wasn’t going to let her die, not like this.
“Grab the fire hose and throw it to the nearest window! We’ll use it to climb down!” Theo ordered.
Without hesitation, Aries sprinted toward the fire hose reel.
Theo barely had time to react before the male nurse lunged at him again, his torn cheek exposing raw flesh. A guttural snarl escaped the man’s lips as he snapped his teeth, desperate to sink them into Theo’s skin. It was like a scene straight out of a zombie movie, except this wasn’t a movie. This was real.
He shoved the MB infectee back, heart pounding. The man was slow, uncoordinated with the way he moved, the hunger in his eyes… Somehow, it still felt wrong to kill him.
“Theo!” Aries’ frantic voice snapped him out of it.
Instinct took over. In one swift motion, he grabbed the man’s head and snapped his neck. The sickening crack echoed in the hallway. Theo pushed the limp body away, his breath ragged.
Aries was struggling with another one, a woman in a tattered hospital gown.
Theo’s eyes quickly flicked to a nearby fire emergency case. Without hesitation, he sprinted toward it, slamming his fist through the glass. He barely felt the sting as his hand grabbed the axe inside.
Without thinking, he yanked the woman away from his sister, pulling her clear of the monster’s reach. In one swift motion, he swung the axe, its blade sinking deep into the woman’s skull. The sound of the impact was sickening, and she crumpled to the ground, her body going limp instantly.
[Ding! +10 EXP, +1 Gold Coin]
Theo forced himself to focus, shoving his thoughts about the unconscious woman aside. Now wasn’t the time to get distracted.
“Theo, get inside!” Aries called urgently.
Theo didn’t hesitate. He rushed toward the door, slipping inside just as it slammed shut behind him. His breath came in ragged gasps as he looked around the room, still gripping the axe tightly.
Aries was by the window, peering outside. “The military’s here!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with both relief and uncertainty. “Are we safe now p>
Theo hurried to her side and looked down.
Armed soldiers were setting up barricades, their faces grim. They moved with precision, but something felt… off. They weren’t just securing the hospital, they were locking it down.
Aries’ face paled. “They’re not letting anyone out p>