Single Life Survival Level Up: Anti-Skinny Revenge

"Damn it! Why do I have to worry about calories right now?!" Bima grumbled, his breath coming in ragged gasps behind a stack of old rice sacks that were poking into his back. The smell of mustiness and dried blood filled the air.

His heart was pounding out of his chest. Not just because of the zombies, but because his stomach was in a violent knot.

The system in his brain flashed a bright red.

[Warning! Your daily calories are at -300! Status: Vulnerable Underweight! Caution, your body fat is thinning!]

"Thinning?! I’m about to starve to death in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, you know!" Bima glared at the virtual screen that only he could see. "Do you want me to die skinny, huh?!"

[System Suggestion: Maintain an ideal Body Mass Index (BMI). Nutritional deficiency can lead to the 'Muscle Weakness' debuff and 'Terminal Chronic Singleness.']

"What do you mean 'chronic singleness'?! I haven't been single since birth just because I'm skinny!" Bima hissed. "Okay, maybe a little because I was scrawny in middle school, but that’s in the past!"

A strange dragging sound, followed by a heavy groan, made Bima tense up. He pressed his body flat against the rice sacks, trying to blend into the shadows of the hardware store warehouse.

This wasn't just any zombie. This sound... it was familiar.

Bima's heart raced uncontrollably. He narrowed his eyes, peering through a narrow gap between the sacks.

The faint silhouette of a man moved unsteadily among the ruins of cement bags and paint cans. The man was tall, with hair that used to be perfectly slicked back.

His gray shirt was torn, revealing blackened skin and peeling flesh.

"Don... Donny?" Bima’s whisper was barely audible.

It was him. Donny, the leader of the 'Pretty Boy Thugs' in middle school, who used to love mocking him as 'Toothpick Bima.'

Donny, who always showed off his biceps from working out at some cheap gym.

Now, Donny, the king of bullies, was just a walking hunk of meat. His eyes were sunken, filled with the white haze of death.

Donny let out a low groan, searching for prey. The lips that used to hurl insults could now only spit out saliva and blood.

Disgust and anger boiled inside Bima. The world was ending, zombies were everywhere, and yet Donny still managed to make his blood boil.

[Emergency Mission: Petty Revenge!]

[Target: Defeat Zombie Donny! The best revenge is surviving and staying healthy!]

[Reward: +500 Calories, 'Complete Fried Noodle' Skill (Level 1).]

Bima’s eyes widened. This wasn't just about survival; it was about... a very strange kind of revenge. And Complete Fried Noodles? That was way better than a standard Instant Noodle Buff!

A long, rusted iron bar lay beside his foot. Bima grabbed it, the cold metal seeping into his hand.

"Okay, Donny," Bima muttered softly, "This isn't middle school anymore. And this time, you're the one I’m going to... eat."

He misspoke. Donny was the one who was going to eat him.

Or was it the other way around?

Bima took a deep breath. His body might have been a bit thin, but he was agile. He ducked between the stacks of sacks.

He moved silently, stalking toward Donny, who was still busy sniffing the air for something.

This was his best chance.

Donny lifted his head, as if catching a scent. The smell of Bima’s sweat? Or the pungent stench of a grudge?

"Grrr...."

The zombie's head snapped around, its rotting eyes locking onto the spot where Bima was hiding.

Crap!

Bima had no choice. He lunged out, swinging the rusted bar with all his might toward Donny’s head.

Thwack!

The sound of a blunt impact filled the warehouse. Donny staggered but didn't fall. His skull might have been brittle, but his brain was still functioning enough to move his body.

Or maybe he was just more stubborn than Bima remembered.

"It’s not going to be that easy, is it, Donny?!" Bima growled, going for a second swing.

Donny roared, the sound much worse than a normal zombie groan. He lunged back, his long black nails clawing at Bima’s face.

Bima dodged, nearly tripping. The iron bar felt heavy in his hands.

He kicked Donny's sunken stomach.

Oof!

Donny was pushed back slightly.

[Warning! Your concentration levels are dropping! Remember the calories!]

"I know, System! I’m trying!" Bima snapped back internally.

He remembered how Donny used to tease him for always picking vegetables at the cafeteria while Donny finished two servings of sausage fried rice. Who was skinnier now?!

Bima saw an opening. Donny was wobbling, trying to regain his balance.

With the last of his strength, Bima raised the iron bar high.

"This is for all those 'Toothpick Bima' jokes!"

CRACK!

This time, the iron bar connected squarely with Donny’s skull. His head tilted at a grotesque angle, and his body slammed into the floor with a loud thud.

The movement stopped. The groaning vanished. Only Bima’s heavy panting could be heard.

[Mission 'Petty Revenge' Complete!]

[Rewards Received: +500 Calories, 'Complete Fried Noodle' Skill (Level 1)!]

[Your Calorie Status: -200. Still below the ideal threshold. Find food immediately!]

"Only 500 calories?! I need at least a thousand more to avoid the debuff!" Bima complained, a wave of dizziness hitting him.

However, there was a strange sense of satisfaction in seeing Donny lying there, helpless. Revenge really was sweet, even if the target was already a zombie.

Bima staggered out of the warehouse. The scorching sun stung his skin, but he didn't care. His stomach was absolutely screaming.

In the distance, he saw the sign of a mostly destroyed convenience store. AlfaMart.

Hope flickered. Maybe there was something there. Chocolate, biscuits, or... instant noodles.

Bima ran, ignoring the pain in his legs. He burst through the shattered glass doors of the store.

Inside, the shelves were scattered, and the place had been looted. Trash was everywhere.

Despair washed over him.

"No way... there’s nothing..."

[Detecting hidden calorie source. 70% chance of 'Indomie' presence.]

Bima blinked. The sunlight filtered through the holes in the roof, highlighting a small shelf hidden behind a pile of boxes.

And there it was... a miracle.

A single pack of Indomie Goreng, intact, lying in the corner of the shelf.

Like a gemstone.

Bima grabbed it. His intense hunger made him tremble.

[Skill 'Instant Noodle Buff' Active! Your Indomie Goreng has been upgraded to 'Special Chicken Curry Indomie with Egg and Vegetables'! Calories: +400! Status: Temporarily Full!]

Bima’s expression changed. The Indomie in his hand felt heavier, the packaging practically glowing with an aura of happiness.

"Now this... this is what I call a skill!" A wide grin spread across his dry lips.

[New Mission: Anti-Zombie First Kiss!]

[Objective: Find a candidate in the East sector before sunset. Warning: Zombie Food Vloggers are active in the area.]

"WHAT?!" Bima nearly choked on his Indomie. "A first kiss in the middle of the apocalypse?! Is this about eating or kissing?!"

The system was truly... unique. But he was already in too deep.

Bima took a bite of the raw noodles; they tasted like heaven.

Suddenly, a deep voice echoed from outside the convenience store.

"Look for the ones with some meat on them!"

This was followed by rhythmic footsteps, not the shuffling groans of a zombie. Then, a shadow fell across the doorway, blocking out the sunlight.

Bima turned around, the noodles in his mouth nearly falling out.

The figure was tall and muscular, wearing track pants and a tight shirt. Behind him, several others with similar builds appeared. They all looked... fit.

The leader of the group stepped forward. His face was arrogant, his hair slicked back. A protein shake bottle hung from his waist.

The man’s eyes narrowed, scanning Bima from head to toe. A mocking smirk appeared on his face.

"Look who we have here." The voice was familiar and taunting. "Bima the Wormy?"