Vincent's eyes widened.
The blood loss was getting to him.
Slowly, but surely, he would bleed to death.
'I...have no way to prevent it.'
His eyes tightly locked on the man across him.
It was dark.
One couldn't see anything.
But the pungent stench of blood lingered in the room.
[Notice]
The system window appeared.
[The zombie virus spreads]
[Number of infected: 100.000]
[You receive: 4 attribute points]
Vincent's heart skipped a beat.
But that was all.
'Such a massive amount of infected...the speed of spreading will at least double.'
He remained unmoved.
Not because he got used to it. Not because he wanted to see it.
He didn't care.
His life was bleeding out of his body.
And yet he couldn't do anything.
Could he care about others?
'They can all go to hell!!'
He cursed internally.
'Status window,'
He called forth his status window.
A way to cheat sleepiness.
[Name: Vincent]
[Race: Human (Carrier of the zombie virus)]
[Race: Progenitor (Conditional)] - [Time remaining: 13:19:47]
[Level 3] - [Exp: 158/300]
[Stats:]
[Strength: 8]
[Stamina: 10]
[Agility:12]
[Perception: 10]
[Mana: 50/50]
[Attribute points: 4]
[Skills: (Contract) ; (Command) ; (Probe)]
Vincent didn't hesitate.
[Stamina: 14]
All points went into stamina.
He hoped.
Hoped that it would strengthen his bod ya bit. Hope it would make his body a bit more resilient.
"Aghh..."
He groaned.
Pain assaulted his body.
But which part of his body didn't hurt already? Which part didn't bleed?
The pain, he bore it.
But the miraculous result he wanted didn't come.
Hope dimmed.
.
.
.
The time passed.
Vincent battled his eyes.
Battled to stay awake.
He could feel it.
The man opposite him was wide awake. He waited for an opportunity.
But Vincent refused to give up. Not now.
Not when he has come so far. Survived so much.
He refused to die miserably here.
The sun slowly emerged outside.
A new day, new hope.
But the situation couldn't be grimmer for Vincent.
Light entered through a window.
Vincent could finally see it.
He was in a bank. Half collapsed.
Held together only by the three massive pillars in the middle.
The man sat across from him, leaning on a pillar.
'I begged him for mercy?'
Vincent finally understood.
The man observed him. Not missing a single movement.
His face was scarred.
A massive claw mark went across the left side of his face.
The lip torn. The teeth visible.
His left eye blinded.
His expression cold, emotionless.
This man had no shred of mercy left.
"You..."
The man broke the silence.
His voice sharp, threatening.
"What are you?"
In the darkness at night, he couldn't see it.
But now, he could see the violet blood.
"A...living corpse."
Vincent whispered.
"About...to die."
"Are you infected?"
The man jumped. Panicked.
But Vincent showed no reaction.
'No...' The man frowned. 'An awakened can't get infected,'
His thoughts didn't make sense.
'If he is infected, he can't be an awakened. And if he isn't an awakened, what is he?'
But he couldn't have imagined that he came face to face with the source—the Progenitor himself.
The thought itself was absurd. It could never cross his mind.
"Is it related to your ability?"
He questioned.
But Vincent remained silent.
He had no will to converse.
The day brightened. It got hotter.
But Vincent's body grew colder.
He could no longer move.
He kept his eyes open by pure will.
'What...is that?'
Something reflected at the end of the room.
Clang! Clang!
The sound of metal striking rang.
The man turned back.
He walked to the end of the room.
And stopped before a large metal block with a door.
The door had several locks. Different kinds of locks.
A safe.
Clang! Clang!
The man tapped the metal door with his finger.
Rhythmic, intentional taps.
Not long after, several more taps rang from inside.
Morse code.
Someone was inside.
They were communicating.
The conversation lasted long.
But ultimately, the door remained shut.
The man moved away.
He once again started observing Vincent.
.
.
.
The days slowly passed.
And it slowly claimed Vincent's life.
'Aghhh...'
Vincent barely breathed.
His vision blackened occasionally.
'I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to die...'
The words repeated in his mind.
But his body, his wounds already numbed.
Blood still seeped from his mouth.
And with the blood, saliva.
His mouth salivated uncontrollably.
'Kill him! Devour him! EAT HIM! EAT HIM!'
Hunger ate at his stomach.
Insatiable hunger.
The scent, the texture, the profound taste of human flesh returned to his mind.
He could feel them in his torn mouth.
His teeth sharpened.
'I want to eat. I'm hungry! Kill! EAT!'
Hunger took over his mind.
He couldn't control even his thoughts anymore.
But futile. He couldn't move his body.
'God...Will I die like this?'
This was it.
No way out. It was too late for everything.
Vincent's eyes shut.
Breathing shallowed.
And as the sun set, life escaped him.
The life of the survivor, Vincent, came to an end.
"He died,"
The man jumped to his feet.
He raised his guard. Ready to confront the zombified demon hound.
...
[Notice]
A notification appeared before Vincent's corpse. Unseen.
[Your hunger grows]
[Time remaining: 00:00:00]
The screen flashed blood red.
The system window bled itself.
[The transformation begins]
Crack! Crack!
The status window disappeared.
Vincent's corpse moved.
Bones cracked.
Swoosh!
The eyes snapped open.
No pupils. Just red. Pure red replaced his eyes.
"What is this!"
The man jumped back, alert.
His entire body trembled in fear.
An inexplicable, primal fear shrouded his heart.
He watched as Vincent's body grew.
Lumps of hair fell into the puddle of blood.
Vincent balded.
His entire mouth tore up to the ears.
It revealed his razor-sharp teeth.
Each tooth massive, sharp like a knife.
Crack! Crack!
His body still grew.
2 meters...2.3 meters...2.5 meters...3 meters.
Vincent became a giant.
The arms and legs enlarged.
His veins bulged. Pulsating violet blood.
The torinquelt broke.
Blood splashed from his severed limb.
The nose slid back.
Only two slits, snake-like nostrils, remained.
The entire body turned dark grey.
Vincent transformed. No longer human. Not zombie.
He became the Progenitor.
SCREEEEEEEEEECH!
A massive shadow fell on the window.
A cry tore the air outside.
The flying demon arrived.
It traced and followed Vincent by the trail of blood.
But this time, the roles reversed.
Vincent was not prey.
He became the executioner.