Free Web NovelChapter 4: card drop
The system’s personality was the least of Leo’s concerns. Right now , the cards in his hand were all that mattered .
Holding the two cards that designated his rations . He choose to trust the system’s words one last time .
He muttered a silent command ,
"Release."
The cards dissolved into shimmering particles of light, replaced instantly by the solid weight of a water bottle and five packets of compressed biscuits.
At the sight of actual food, his stomach let out a sharp, demanding growl.
He unsealed the cap of the bottle , and drank two huge gulps before tearing open a packet of biscuits , consuming the whole packet in a matter of seconds .
The meager meal left him entirely unsatisfied but rationality overrode hunger .
There was no guarantee that the system would provide rations as rewards anytime soon.
He resolutely tucked away the remaining rations for an emergency.
Next, he picked up the uncommon card that contained the gun , "Release."
Particles of light swirled again, leaving a handgun resting in his palm.
As a former assassin, Leo handled the weapon with intuitive familiarity, his fingers executing a blind inspection for defects
After inspecting he came to the conclusion that the gun was pristine, brand-new, and already loaded with a magazine of nine bullets.
Yet, staring at the steel frame, his gaze darkened
Only Nine rounds . With the uncertainty looming whether the system would reward him again with gun’s and bullets .
he would have to move with the mentality that these nine bullets were his last and he had to make every last bullet count .
Once his curiosity was satisfied, he summoned the military knife. freewebnøvel.coɱ
Since he was uninjured, he left the bandage card safely inside his pocket and turned his focus toward the looming problem of the system’s mission
Survival in this ruined world meant playing by its rules .
Completing tasks , hoarding resources and potentially helping the system to upgrade if it possessed the capacity to do so .
He couldn’t afford to waste time. Two zombies were still wandering the corridor outside.
Leo quickly scanned the room. The small apartment bore the unmistakable signs of a single occupant. Probably a young bachelor, likely a college student juggling multiple part-time jobs, judging by the scattered textbooks and modest wardrobe.
Pacing around the room and spotting a pair of rubber gloves, he used his new knife to slice them open, fashioning a makeshift sheath for the blade.
Making up his mind for going out to fight again, he tore open the wrapper of another biscuit and took two small sips from the water bottle.
Preparations complete . He grabbed the crowbar in one hand, the gun in the other, and slipped out the door without making a sound.
Scanning the corridor ,the two zombies were positioned at opposite ends of the narrow hallway.
Creeping silently toward the closest target, Leo raised the crowbar, aiming for a clean execution.
But rarely do plans go the way you want them to go .
The second zombie turned around at that instant .
The creature’s murky eyes locked onto him. With a sudden, terrifying burst of speed, it snarled and sprinted forward.
"Raargh "
With his stealth ruined, Leo reacted on pure instinct. He swung the crowbar hard toward the first zombie while simultaneously raising the firearm toward the approaching threat.
"Thud! "
’Bang!’
The deafening gunshot echoed through the narrow corridor and black blood splattered across the faded apartment doors as the bullet struck the charging zombie dead center, piercing its forehead.
The creature collapsed mid-stride, instantly neutralized.
But the haste of the dual action cost Leo his precision. The crowbar struck at a bad angle, wedging itself deeply into the first zombie’s neck instead of destroying the brain.
The wounded creature thrashed with violent, unnatural aggression, entirely indifferent to the pain, and lunged directly for his throat.
Without a second of hesitation, Leo pressed the muzzle of the gun against its head and pulled the trigger.
"Bang!"
The bullet pierced it’s skull and it staggered back from the close impact , but instead of the corpse hitting the floor , cracks of golden light spread across its body . It’s flesh dissolved into countless glowing particles . The particles spiraled together , condensing into a single card that floated before gently falling on the ground .
Leo stared at the phenomenon in brief astonishment. Before he could process the drop, the heavy, echoing scuffle of footsteps drifted up from the second-floor stairwell, probably drawn by the two gunshots. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
Snatching the card from the floor, Leo turned on his heel and bolted back into the safety of the room.
