It's been six hours since the zombie outbreak started.
The streets are empty, with few zombies and no pedestrians in sight.
Occasionally, one or two zombies are scattered around storefronts and street corners.
These zombies, standing idly and motionless, pose no threat to Lv Bai; he easily decapitates them with a swift sword strike.
Meanwhile, on both sides of the road, there are quite a few cars parked haphazardly, some still emitting wisps of black smoke.
The dusk's yellow light casts an apocalyptic desolation over the scene.
"Quieter than I imagined."
Lv Bai walks along the sidewalk, glancing around.
A gun is holstered at his waist, a Eight-sided Han Sword slung on his back.
His expression seems relaxed but don't doubt it; should anything happen, he's ready to switch to combat mode in an instant.
Originally, he left the store with the intention of hunting Death Fighters.
Based on the system's information, finding Death Fighters ought to be straightforward.
Unexpectedly, he came up empty two times in a row.
Honestly, considering the previous encounters, he's not very hopeful this time either.
After all, the system's updates aren't real-time; they're too delayed, offering Death Fighters ample time to relocate.
Those who stay still either have confidence or are fools.
Lv Bai dealt with two oblivious zombies along the way, gradually venturing deeper into the city.
Reaching a department store, he stopped and looked up, squinting at the eight-story building.
Muttering, "Should be in here, right?"
...
The hotel diagonally opposite the department store, fifth-floor window sill.
"Wow! Babe, come look, there's someone out there! Wow, how dare he walk around the street?!" Tang Peng's eyes widened, his face pressed against the glass.
Hearing the commotion, a woman with shoulder-length hair hurriedly joined him. "There's actually someone, seems like a student?"
Tang Peng swallowed, excitedly saying, "Babe, we've witnessed those monsters' power; they could flip cars in an instant. Do you think the outside's safe now? Otherwise, how could that student be unharmed?"
They were a couple, visiting the city as tourists.
Due to sleeping late for certain reasons, they awoke at noon, startled by screams.
Rushing to the window, they watched as scenes unfolded outside, terrifying them enough to avoid even opening the door, let alone searching for food.
Stuck in the hotel, they endured a whole day of hunger, which was unbearable.
Now seeing hope, they were eager to go out and find food.
"No... no, wait, let's watch a bit more." Zhou Meina clutched onto Tang Peng's sleeve.
Despite her hunger, her timid nature made her reluctant to take risks.
Because of this, the couple witnessed a jaw-dropping moment.
Bam!
Crash~
From their perspective, the tempered glass door of the department store shattered with one kick from that student, scattering small fragments all over.
How exaggerated was this situation?
Let's put it this way, tempered glass can withstand pressure of 70-100Mpa, equivalent to 700-1000Kg per square centimeter.
It'd be understandable to break it with a pointed hammer or similar tool, but shattering it with a kick in real life? That's truly ridiculous.
Below the department store.
Lv Bai was unaware his actions were witnessed by the couple across the building.
Even if he knew, he likely wouldn't care.
He limped across the shattered glass.
It's worth mentioning; he fractured his shin kicking the tempered glass.
The zombie virus erupted at noon, yet the main entrance of the department store was locked.
"There must be survivors inside." After making such noise, no one bothered to look?
He muttered as he moved slowly, waiting for his right leg to recover.
Entering the department store, a strong smell of blood filled the air.
Goods were scattered on both sides, shoes and wallets lay everywhere, messy bloody footprints painted a chaotic scene.
Judging by the interior, it must have been crowded before the zombie crisis.
Suddenly,
A growl sounded from a clothing store.
Following the sound, through the racks and shelving, he faintly saw a paralyzed zombie desperately crawling.
"Seems like its spine was broken."
Kind-hearted, Lv Bai couldn't stand seeing zombies suffer, unsheathed his Eight-sided Han Sword and finished it.
Casually wiping the blade with clothes hanging from a rack, sheathing the sword, only then did he realize an overlooked issue.
Why,
In this vast first floor, aren't there any corpses?
His muscles tensed, something was definitely off!
The next moment, scorching flames filled his vision.
Boom!!!
...
Department store rooftop.
Gazing at the thick smoke billowing from below, a buzz-cut youth perched on the railing clicked his tongue in wonder: "Old Song, isn't the explosion power too strong?"
"Wow, such a world…"
Old Song referred to a scruffy man with thick glasses, grumbling discontentedly, "Didn't you all insist on being safe and making it big?"
A tall woman, arms crossed and leaning against the railing, casually said, "Just worried you might collapse this building."
"Hehe, isn't our gorgeous Guo Mi here?" Old Song, changing quickly, flashed a creepy smile.
Guo Mi took out a lady's cigarette, lighting it, took a deep breath, and habitually exhaled a smoke ring, her movements portraying elegance.
"Enough chit-chat, is the guy downstairs confirmed dead?"
"Not yet, my points haven't changed, but with such a powerful blast, if not dead then at least crippled."
Guo Mi was noncommittal, turning to the direction of the rooftop entrance.
A burly man, shirtless, wearing an apron like a butcher, stood with his back to them.
He kept pounding a zombie with his Bone Chopper.
If one stood beside this hefty man, they'd notice the rooftop entrance to the stairway was piled with zombie remains.
Seeming to sense the gaze, the buff man turned, using his elbow to wipe sweat from his forehead.
Brawny Man: "To be sure, Peng Qi will come down with me."
"Does this involve me too?"
Buzz-cut youth jumped from the railing, unwillingly saying, "Fine, fine, but the points are mine if I get them."
The stairway reeked of blood, littered with blood, bones, and limbs.
Yet Peng Qi, the buzz-cut youth, faced all this without changing his expression, stepping in resolutely.
The brawny man stood up, shaking the blood droplets from his apron and followed.