The air reeked of blood and rot. Zack's boots crunched on shards of glass as he stepped into the hallway. Classrooms lined both sides, most doors hanging open like broken jaws.
The System interface hovered in his vision:
> [Tactical Points: 28]
[Unlock: Combat Gear — 20 TP]
[Unlock: Secondary Weapon — 15 TP]
He didn't even hesitate.
"Unlock Combat Gear."
The hum returned — the same unnatural ripple of space twisting. Plates of matte armor materialized piece by piece, clamping into place over his black hoodie. Lightweight, ballistic-rated, reinforced with kevlar weave. Fingerless gloves, knee guards, and a tactical helmet with a polarized visor sealed the set.
> [Gear Acquired: Tier 1 Operative Armor — +25% damage resistance, integrated comms, night vision]
His reflection in a broken display case almost made him smile. The mercenary was back.
A faint moan echoed from a side corridor. Zack raised the rifle, moving silently toward the sound. His boots made no more noise than a shadow.
Three zombies stumbled into view, tearing at something on the floor.
Not something. Someone.
A girl in a cheer uniform, still alive — barely — screaming weakly as teeth ripped into her leg.
Zack didn't rush.
Three targets. One magazine is infinite, but never waste ammo. Headshots only.
Three muffled pops.
Three corpses dropped.
The girl's eyes met his, full of pain and desperate hope.
"Please… help me…" she whispered.
He didn't answer. He knelt, checked the bite, and saw the teeth marks were deep, the skin already paling. Infection was seconds away.
Zack stood, raised the rifle.
"Sorry."
One shot. Clean.
> [Mercy Kill Bonus: +3 TP]
He kept walking. The hallway turned toward the science labs — a good place for chemicals, sharp tools, and maybe food. The map in his visor lit up, showing a faint radar sweep. Something was moving ahead… something big.
The System chimed:
> [New Objective: Eliminate Special Infected — Reward: Random Tier 2 Drop]
Zack adjusted his grip on the rifle.
A slow grin cut across his face.
"Finally."