Nanoe looked at Rover in confusion.
"We still have plenty of time." Rover smiled. "First, we need to survive this event."
Hearing that, Nanoe nodded and no longer tried to push him.
"Have you eaten anything yet?"
Seeing Nanoe shake her head, Rover took out a piece of bread and a bottle of water and handed them to her.
"Fill your stomach and rest. I'll observe the situation outside."
Rover was just about to stand when Nanoe grabbed his hand, her voice trembling with worry. "Don't go out. It's absolute chaos out there right now. Zombies are stronger and faster than normal people."
Hearing her concern, Rover smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, I won't take risks. If I die, how would I enjoy you later?"
Nanoe's face flushed instantly. She bit her lip and lowered her head in embarrassment.
Rover wasn't a righteous saint. He truly wanted to devour Nanoe right then and there, but he knew now wasn't the right time.
He had to get through this event first.
BANG!
Another gunshot echoed from outside, but just one; there was no second shot.
"Looks like… bullets aren't unlimited." Rover murmured.
If the person with the gun had infinite ammo, then every zombie would be no different from paper dolls.
"Open the door!"
Suddenly, a man's panicked shout echoed through the hallway.
He ran up from the sixth floor, holding a pistol, panic written all over his face, blood stains on his clothes along with a small wound.
The man was extremely fat, his belly round like a drum, footsteps heavy, slamming on every room door as he passed.
"Damn it! Open up! I have a gun! Hurry!"
BAM! BAM!
He pounded door after door, but no one dared open for him.
"AGH! You bastards! Open the door for me!"
"AGH!!!"
He hurried toward Rover's room. Seeing the metal door, his eyes lit up.
BAM! BAM!
He hammered the door violently and yelled, "Open up! Damn it! Open the door! If you don't, I'll shoot your door down and we'll all die!"
Rover frowned at his shouting, but Nanoe quickly grabbed Rover's hand and shook her head. "Don't. That's Boby. Earlier when we saw he had a gun, some in our group tried to take it from him, and he shot one of us dead."
"But don't worry. The pistol only held 17 rounds. He used a lot on the 15th floor. He probably has very few left."
Rover nodded. He didn't expect Nanoe to remain calm enough to give him useful information like this. It was completely different from her earlier panic and despair.
BAM! BAM!
"You bastard! You animal! Open the door for me!"
Boby slammed the door repeatedly, then glanced at the zombies approaching from the hallway. He gritted his teeth, raised the gun, and pointed it at the metal door. "I'm counting to three. If you don't open, I'll shoot your door down!"
"1…"
"2…"
"Damn it!"
BANG!
[Door Durability: – 2 | 48/50]
Rover saw the notification and blinked in surprise, then inwardly sneered at Boby.
'Shooting at point-blank range and all it did was reduce durability by 2 points. Even if he had all 17 bullets left, he still couldn't break this door.'
Feeling reassured, Rover relaxed.
Nanoe gripped his hand, her expression filled with worry. Rover gently tapped the back of her hand to reassure her.
At that moment, Nanoe suddenly felt like Rover was a solid, unshakeable wall, making her feel safer than ever.
Cak! Cak! Cak!
As the sound rang out, Nanoe immediately said, "He's out of bullets!"
Rover nodded. He understood. Right now, he wanted to get that gun. Since he had the ability to upgrade anything, upgrading a gun would let him defend himself against zombies or hostile Survivors.
"Damn it!" Boby cursed when he realized the gun was empty. As zombies closed in on him, he grew desperate and hurled the pistol at Rover's door.
BANG!
The sound of metal striking the floor rang out, followed by the sound of Boby's heavy footsteps running away. But then…
"AGH! No! Help!"
"Don't eat me! AH!!! Help me!!"
His screams echoed from the far end of the hallway, shrill and desperate, but they didn't last long. Only a few seconds later, silence returned.
Rover immediately released Nanoe's hand and commanded inwardly: 'Open the door!'
Crack!
The moment the door swung open, Rover lunged forward to grab the pistol lying on the floor when…
GA!!
"AGH!"
A zombie suddenly charged at him, startling him completely.
Rover dropped low and rolled across the floor, causing the zombie to pounce into empty air and crash onto the ground.
Bang!
But as the zombie hit the floor, its flailing arm knocked the pistol even farther away.
"Damn it!" Rover cursed silently.
He pushed himself up with all his strength and sprinted toward the pistol, but the zombie had already begun to stand up.
The gun was less than a meter away from the zombie. Rover hesitated for a split second, unsure whether to risk grabbing it or give up.
Suddenly, Nanoe burst out of the room.
She held a high-heeled shoe and hurled it straight at the zombie's head.
Cok!
The sharp sound of the heel striking its skull echoed. The zombie immediately shifted its attention toward Nanoe.
She dashed past Rover, shouting, "Let it chase me! Grab the gun!"
Ga! Ga!
The zombie rose unsteadily, growling harshly, and charged after Nanoe.
Rover didn't waste a second. He snatched the pistol off the ground. At that moment, an information panel appeared before him.
[Pistol]
[Type: Weapon]
[Ammo: 0/17]
[Grade: 0]
[Upgrade Requirement: 50 Omni Points]
[Description: A standard pistol. Although it only holds 17 rounds, it is sufficient for self-defense. Use ammunition sparingly, it is limited.]
"Upgrade! Hurry!" Rover shouted in panic as he watched Nanoe being chased.
[50 points deducted successfully. Current Omni Points: 19.]
[Pistol]
[Type: Weapon]
[Ammo: 25/25]
[Grade: 1]
[Upgrade Requirement: 300 Omni Points]
[Description: An upgraded pistol. Enhanced damage, reduced recoil, and improved accuracy.]
Rover raised the gun, both hands trembling violently as he aimed at the zombie.
He had never fired a real gun before, and with Nanoe running so close to the creature, the fear of accidentally shooting her made his hands shake even harder.
'Calm down. Calm down. I can do this.' Rover steadied himself.
He inhaled deeply, then…
BANG!
GAA!!
The zombie was struck in the upper back near its neck and collapsed instantly. It wasn't dead, but its movements were heavily restricted, leaving it crawling helplessly on the floor.
"Come here!" Rover shouted.
Nanoe flinched at his voice, then quickly turned back toward him. But as she tried to run past the fallen zombie, its hand shot up and grabbed her ankle.
"Agh!"
Nanoe fell to the floor, despair flooding her eyes as she watched the zombie's jaws descending toward her bare ankle.
BANG!
A gunshot exploded through the hallway.
The upgraded pistol's power was undeniable. The zombie's head burst apart, blood, flesh, and pale brain matter splattering across the floor.
Rover rushed forward, grabbed Nanoe, and pulled her toward his room.
But as he turned his head, two more zombies had already appeared near his doorway, the same ones that had killed Boby moments ago.
Rover gritted his teeth, raised the gun with one hand, and then…
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Four consecutive shots. Even though he had never trained before and his aim was poor, the enhanced power and accuracy of the upgraded pistol compensated for everything.
One zombie was hit in the chest and then the face. The other took two bullets straight to the head and collapsed instantly.
Rover dragged Nanoe into the room and slammed the door shut.
Crack!
"Ha… ha… ha…" Rover leaned back against the door, panting heavily, sweat pouring down his face like rain.
Nanoe rested her head on his chest, breathless and trembling, her face pale. It felt as though she had stepped into the gates of hell and Rover had yanked her back into the world of the living.
"Nanoe… your ankle."
Hearing him, she looked down. The ankle that had been grabbed by the zombie was smeared with blood. Her face drained of color.
Being injured by a zombie, even slightly, meant infection and transformation. Everyone knew that.
Nanoe did not panic. Her eyes simply dimmed as she gave a small, bitter smile. "Looks like I really won't live much longer."
She lifted her gaze to Rover's face, her tone carrying a teasing softness. "Such a pity. I haven't even slept with you yet."
Rover clenched his teeth, wiped the blood from her ankle with trembling hands.
"When it grabbed you… I remember its fingers were all broken. This might be its blood."
Nanoe saw the worry on his face and felt warmth bloom deep in her chest. She allowed him to hold her foot without resistance.
After a moment, when all the blood was wiped away, her foot and ankle were revealed to be flawless, smooth, and uninjured, pale as snow.
"Ah!" Rover exhaled deeply in relief. "Hahaha… trying to escape from me? Keep dreaming!"
Hearing him tease her, Nanoe's lips curved into a gentle smile.
Then suddenly, she lunged forward, pressing her soft lips firmly against his.
"Um…"