Tham surveyed the streets of 2025.
The people passing by seemed to come from another world: their clean clothes, the smiles on their faces, and the laughter he hadn't heard in so long.
Everything felt strange and piercing at the same time.
His tattered clothes and emaciated body made him a focal point.
People stared with a mix of curiosity and disgust.
Tham paid no attention to their gazes.
He was determined to find shelter. The first thing he had to do was hide from people's sight and begin planning his mission.
He wound his way through desolate alleys before discovering an old, abandoned building.
It was a tall, multi-story structure with broken windows, shattered panes, and walls covered in graffiti.
This building stood out from the other modern structures.
He decided this was the perfect place.
As soon as he stepped inside, the damp, pungent smell of sewage assailed his nostrils.
The interior of the building was dim, with only faint sunlight filtering through gaps in the ceiling and crumbling walls.
Tham heard faint coughs and muffled conversations.
He immediately guessed this was a haunt for homeless people and drug addicts.
He ignored them and chose to walk deeper into the building, searching for the quietest and safest corner. His footsteps were light, like a ghost's.
His sharp eyes scanned around cautiously, even though he knew these people weren't dangerous to him. Still, his survival instincts were at work.
Just as he was about to turn into a dark hallway, a gruff voice called out from behind him,
"Hey! Kid! Where'd you come from?"
Tham turned slowly. Three men stood blocking his path. Their condition was not unlike the zombies Tham had encountered: gaunt, filthy, with bloodshot eyes.
They held iron pipes and rusty knives in their hands.
"What do you want?"
Tham replied calmly, showing no fear.
"Looking for loot around here, huh? A face like yours probably doesn't have anything to rob," one man said, laughing mockingly. "Your tattered clothes look like they've come from trash"
Laughter erupted again. Tham knew what they wanted. These addicts likely saw him as a weak victim and intended to mug him.
"Step aside," Tham said sharply. "I have nothing for you."
"Huh? Got a big mouth, don't you!" another man said, stepping closer. "Alright... guess we'll have to teach you a lesson."
As soon as the man lunged, Tham moved as swiftly as a shadow.
His arm swung out quickly and precisely.
His foot connected squarely with the first man's stomach, sending him flying back against the wall.
The remaining two men froze, their expressions changing from mockery to shock.
Tham didn't hesitate. He lunged at the second man, using one hand to twist the man's wrist until the iron pipe fell from his grasp, then yanked the other's arm, causing him to lose balance.
He then elbowed him full force in the face. The man collapsed to the ground instantly.
Only the last man remained, standing rigidly. He stared at Tham with obvious fear.
"You... what are you?!"
Tham didn't answer. He walked towards him slowly. The man stumbled backward in a panic.
"No... don't do anything to me! I'm sorry! I won't bother you again!"
Tham stopped in front of him, his eyes cold and emotionless.
"If you try something funny, you won't have a life left."
The man nodded frantically, quickly picking up his knife and fleeing for his life, leaving his two incapacitated friends on the ground.
Tham ignored them.
He walked past the fallen bodies without a second glance.
His past experiences taught him not to waste time on such trivial matters.
He had a much more important mission.
Finally, he reached a quiet and relatively secluded corner of the building.
He sat down, leaning against the wall, sweeping his gaze around. The area was still full of dust and rubble, but it was enough for a temporary shelter.
[You have discovered: Temporary Shelter]
The system's voice echoed in his head. Tham sighed in relief. He closed his eyes, trying to comprehend the sudden shift in his situation.
The mission ahead was long, but he believed he had the ability to complete it for the surviving humanity and for a better future.
How will Tham plan his next steps in this unfamiliar world?
And how will he begin to gather information about the biowarfare?