It felt like I was in an internet café, thinking I had access to the latest unreleased movie, only to have some guy next to me casually open the ultra-HD, uncut version like it was nothing.

  But then I remembered—Sophie was professionally trained. Even with the same enhancements, she could probably take me down effortlessly. That was the terrifying gap in our base attributes. I had spent years being a shut-in; my physical condition was garbage. Even with my recent upgrades, I was still way below her level.

  Sophie, noticing my dumbfounded expression, said nothing. Instead, she pressed her ear against the door, listening carefully. After a few moments, she slowly turned the knob and peeked outside. Then, she signaled for me to follow.

  The hallway was eerily silent, yet the destruction was evident. Blood smeared the walls and floor, dried in grotesque patterns. The emergency lights flickered dimly, casting an unsettling glow over the scene. We crept forward cautiously. At the corner, Sophie pressed her back against the wall and peeked around. After a moment, she signaled for me to proceed.

  Soon, we reached the stairwell. This wasn't what I had expected at all. A hospital should've been crawling with zombies, yet it was disturbingly quiet. Not a single zombie in sight.

  Just as I was puzzling over this eerie silence, a low growl came from behind me. My heart nearly stopped. Spinning around, I saw the hospital room door slowly creak open. A figure stumbled out—a zombie in a white lab coat, glasses still clinging crookedly to its face. Even more unsettling, a pen was still tucked neatly into its breast pocket.

  Something about this grotesque parody of normalcy sent a shiver down my spine.

  The zombie saw us. It let out a bloodcurdling roar and charged.

  That wasn't the worst part. The moment it screamed, an echoing chorus of howls erupted throughout the hospital. Every floor, every hallway—zombies were waking up.

  We were surrounded.

  Cold sweat drenched my back. Sophie reacted instantly, darting toward an escape route. "This way!" she shouted.

  I didn't hesitate—I sprinted after her. As I ran, I caught a glimpse of her back in the emergency lighting.

  More bloodstains had appeared on her clothes.

  Sophie and I ran side by side, and I unleashed my "Mutated Thunderlight Sword." The moment I saw zombies ahead, I instinctively sped up and swung down with a powerful slash! To my surprise, the sword was incredibly sharp—when it cleaved the first zombie clean in half, I was momentarily stunned. But that only fueled my confidence. Sophie, wielding her handgun, occasionally provided cover for me. However, I soon noticed her pace slowing. The zombies chasing us from behind were closing in fast.

  I hesitated for a moment, crouched slightly, and said, "Get on!"

  This time, Sophie didn't refuse. She leaped onto my back in one swift motion, wrapping her legs around my waist—this way, I didn't even need to use my hands to carry her. With a weak voice, she muttered, "Turn left at the next intersection… The operating room… We can hide inside…"

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  Gritting my teeth, I surged forward at full speed!

  But just then, a wave of weakness washed over me… Damn!! No way!! The effect of the "Sunflower Manual" was wearing off!

  At that exact moment, a zombie lunged at me from the front. I swung my Thunderlight Sword and sliced it in half. But before I could catch my breath, a door to my left suddenly burst open! Another zombie charged out, its rotting mouth wide open, aiming straight for Sophie on my back.

  Sophie tried to raise her gun… but she was too weak. She couldn’t lift it in time.

  In that split second, I didn’t have time to pull back my sword or think. The only thought in my mind was—I couldn't let Sophie get hurt!

  I instinctively raised my arm to block!

  A sharp pain shot through me—the zombie had bitten my forearm. Gritting my teeth, I kicked it hard, sending it flying back into the room. I kept running.

  Thankfully, the operating room door wasn't locked. I crashed into it, forcing it open, and immediately slammed it shut behind us, locking it.

  I wanted to rest… But there was no time.

  Inside the operating room—more zombies!

  Goddamn it!! Is today my last day alive?!

  I grabbed Sophie’s gun, trying to recall what I learned from games—something about a "three-point aiming principle." I squeezed the trigger.

  Bang! Bang! Bang!

  Three shots were fired… and I missed every single one.

  Damn it!!

  I gently placed Sophie down against the door, letting her sit. Then, gripping my sword tightly, I lunged at the nearest zombie. One clean strike—its head went flying.

  The Mutated Thunderlight Sword was sharp, but I still needed considerable strength to take down zombies. My body was already injured, and with the effects of the "Sunflower Manual" gone, coupled with the exhausting chase and combat, my movements were slowing down. I was gasping for breath, my vision blurring.

  Three more zombies pounced.

  I swung, slicing one clean in half—but another raked its claws across my arm, leaving a deep gash. The third zombie lunged for my throat—

  Bang! Bang!

  Two gunshots.

  The zombies staggered backward from the force of the bullets.

  I quickly retreated, turning to see Sophie—her hands trembling, barely managing to hold the gun steady.

  There was… one more left.

  A zombie dressed in a nurse's uniform. Long, disheveled hair covered its face.

  It shrieked and rushed at me.

  I raised my sword mechanically, preparing to strike—

  But suddenly…

  The nurse zombie lifted its head.

  Its eyes… glowed with a hazy blue light.

  My mind went blank.

  And then I saw her.

  Sophie.

  Standing naked before me, smiling, waving.

  I moved toward her…

  Sophie, seeing me walking straight toward the zombie, panicked. Tears streamed down her face as she desperately tried to lift her gun—

  Click.

  An empty chamber.

  No bullets left!

  I kept walking.

  A smile slowly crept onto my face.

  Sophie, overwhelmed with helplessness for the first time in her life, cried out, "George!! Wake up!!"

  But I continued forward.

  Step by step…

  I was almost within reach of "Sophie."

  She spread her arms, reaching for my neck.

  I reached out instinctively, my mind still fogged by the confusion.

  And then—

  A thunderous explosion erupted in my mind!

  "Hmph!!!"

  A raspy, nasal voice echoed inside me.

  My vision snapped back into focus.

  What I saw—

  Wrinkled, rotten skin. A mouth dripping with blackened blood, inches away from my lips.

  A zombie.

  My entire body tensed up in horror—

  "AAAAHHHH!!!"

  With a burst of adrenaline, I shoved the creature away, spun my sword, and brought it down in one swift motion.

  The zombie split in two, collapsing to the floor.

  Even in its final moments, its eyes were filled with confusion.

  Why?…

  Why had its mind control failed?