Chapter 2: Wormy Meets Muscle

"Wormy?" Bima clenched his fist. The raw Indomie in his mouth tasted bland.

It wasn't because of the flavor, but because of the sudden surge of rage.

He recognized that voice.

And that smug smile.

Kevin.

The former middle school gym influencer who always used Bima as a verbal punching bag regarding the importance of protein.

And now, in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, Kevin had reappeared with muscles that were even bigger than before.

It was as if the apocalypse was just an excuse to show off his physique.

"Oh, looks like you still remember my name," Kevin said with a faint, condescending smile.

His eyes flicked to the Indomie in Bima’s hand, then narrowed as if he were looking at something disgusting.

Behind Kevin, three other muscular men stood tall, looking like nearly perfect marble statues.

One of them twirled a protein shake bottle in his hand with a try-hard, cool attitude.

[Warning! Dangerous levels of self-superiority detected!]

[System Suggestion: Consume adequate protein to increase muscle mass and self-confidence. Or, use the 'Complete Fried Noodle' skill to provoke them.]

Bima ignored the system. His blood was already boiling.

"You... you’re still alive?" Bima asked, his voice caught between shock and disgust.

Kevin gave a cynical laugh.

"Of course. Weaklings like you might have become zombie snacks by now, but us? We’re true survivors."

He glanced at his three followers, who nodded in agreement, their chests puffed out.

"A prime physique is the key, Bima. Not those raw noodles," Kevin tutted, as if eating them was the world's greatest sin.

"I don't need a lecture from you," Bima shot back, trying to suppress his emotions.

But that sentence only baited Kevin into taking a step forward.

"Oh yeah? What was that?" Kevin smirked. "Still remember how you were always the laughingstock because you only ate vegetables in the cafeteria?"

"Still remember how you ran away screaming when those seniors bullied you?"

Every word out of Kevin’s mouth stabbed right into Bima’s gut. Those old wounds were ripped wide open again, stinging and raw.

His heart hammered uncontrollably. It wasn't because of the zombies anymore, but because of rage and humiliation.

"And now, in the middle of the apocalypse, you're still exactly like this," Kevin continued, his voice shifting into that mocking tone Bima hated most.

He pointed at the Indomie in Bima’s hand.

"Eating raw instant noodles. No nutrition. No protein. Just empty carbs that make you even softer."

Bima gripped a rusted iron pipe beside him. This was an unforgivable insult.

[Emotional Status: Anger Level 3! 'Scrawny Rage' buff active! Strength +5%, Agility +10%!]

"Scrawny Rage?" Bima cursed internally. This system really knew how to make a situation worse.

"This Indomie is more valuable than all your rotten protein shakes!" Bima suddenly snapped.

Kevin paused for a moment, surprised by Bima’s unexpected tone.

Then, he laughed.

The laughter echoed through the empty convenience store, followed by the laughter of his followers.

"Wow, wow, wow. The little worm actually has some spine," Kevin shook his head, his cynical smile never fading.

"Listen, Bima. If you want to survive, you need protein. You need muscle. And you need a leader."

Kevin stepped even closer, his gaze intimidating.

"I can help you. But you have to obey. And first, throw that trash away," he pointed at Bima’s Indomie.

"Then, come with us. We'll teach you how to survive the right way."

It wasn't an offer. It was a command.

And Bima hated being bossed around. Especially by Kevin.

"Not a chance!" Bima growled, meeting Kevin’s gaze.

"I don't need your help! And this Indomie? This is my survival food!"

Kevin stared at Bima, his expression hardening.

"Oh, so you’re refusing? Even after we saved you from the danger out there?"

Kevin gestured toward the door Bima had just burst through.

[Warning! Kevin is trying to manipulate you! Don't fall for the 'muscle head's' charms!]

Bima already knew that. He wasn't that stupid.

"Saved me? You just happened to be passing by," Bima snorted. "I can take care of myself."

"With raw Indomie and a scrawny body like that?" One of Kevin’s followers, a guy with a buzz cut and biceps the size of coconuts, took a step forward.

"Looks like he needs a lesson, Kev," the man said, his voice deep and heavy.

Kevin raised a hand, stopping his follower.

His eyes shifted back to Bima, this time with a more serious glint.

"Fine, Bima. I don't want to waste energy. We’re just looking for supplies," he said, his eyes scanning the scattered shelves.

"And it just so happens there are some supplements we need here."

Bima tensed up. Supplies? Supplements?

This convenience store was almost empty. What were they looking for?

"We know where to hide decent food. Not trash like your Indomie."

Kevin walked past Bima toward the darker back section of the store.

His three followers followed, spreading out and searching through the piles of destroyed goods.

Bima gripped his Indomie tightly. This was his. His only hope of overcoming his hunger and that damn "Vulnerable Skinny" debuff.

But what were they looking for?

"Check the energy drink and supplement area!" Kevin barked.

One of his followers found something.

"Got it, Kev! Those bottles!"

Bima glanced over. They had found a cardboard box filled with small, colorful bottles—likely supplement pills or vitamins.

Kevin smiled with satisfaction.

"See, Bima? This is what you call nutrition. Not those stupid instant noodles."

Bima felt sick. Those were definitely the gym supplements Kevin was obsessed with.

[New Mission: Steal the Fitness Freak's Supplements!]

[Objective: Obtain 3 bottles of 'Fitness Freak Survival' supplements for System analysis. Warning: These supplements may contain dangerous ingredients if consumed in excess!]

[Reward: +1000 Calories (protein variant), 'Meme Creator' Skill (Level 1)!]

Bima’s eyes widened. This was insane.

The system was telling him to steal those pills? And the reward was a 'Meme Creator' skill?

"Kev, looks like we found something even more interesting," the voice of one of Kevin’s followers caught Bima’s attention.

The man stood in front of a collapsed shelf, clearing away debris.

Underneath it lay a black backpack.

That bag... was Bima’s bag. The one he had left behind while escaping the zombies earlier.

And inside it were some important items: a jacket, a lighter, an empty water bottle, and...

"Hey, what’s this?" Kevin’s follower pulled it out.

A photo. An old photo of Bima with his middle school crush, Riska, taken before he was bluntly rejected for being "too thin."

"Oh, look at this. The little worm had a crush too?" Kevin roared with laughter.

Their laughter felt like daggers stabbing into Bima.

"Give that back!" Bima stepped forward, his anger reaching its limit.

That was a bitter memory that was supposed to stay buried.

"Whoa, calm down, bro," Kevin held back his laughter, his expression turning condescending again.

"Why? Is this your girl? Looks like she needed a guy who was a bit more... fit."

Kevin tossed the photo onto the ground.

Bima’s eyes flashed. This was going too far.

[Warning! Emotional Level: Anger Level 5! 'Scrawny Rage' buff increased! Strength +15%, Agility +20%!]

[System Suggestion: Use your anger as fuel. Remember, 'the best revenge is living well and not being skinny!']

Bima didn’t care about the system’s advice. All he saw was Riska’s photo lying on the floor, indirectly trampled by Kevin and his gang.

"Don't touch my stuff!" Bima screamed, swinging his rusted iron pipe at Kevin.

WHOOSH!

The swing narrowly missed Kevin’s head. The muscular man dodged quickly, his smile vanishing.

"You've got some nerve, don't you?!" Kevin hissed, his eyes blazing.

"Get him! and take all his food!"

Kevin’s three followers moved instantly, surrounding Bima from three sides.

They were much larger, more muscular, and looked highly trained.

Bima gripped the iron in his hand. The Indomie in his pocket felt heavy.

He knew he couldn't take them all on in a head-to-head fight.

But he wasn't going to surrender, either.

Bima swung the metal bar horizontally, forcing the followers in front of him to back away.

Then, he spun around and kicked another follower in the knee.

THUD!

The man stumbled but didn't fall. His muscles were like steel.

Kevin just stood in the back with his arms crossed, watching Bima with an expression like he was watching a circus act.

"Go for his stomach! There's no way he can handle the hunger!" Kevin shouted.

Damn it! Kevin knew his weakness.

Bima saw an opening. Collapsed shelves, piles of scattered cans.

He needed an advantage.

He needed calories.

Escaping was his best option, but they already had him surrounded.

[Mission 'First Anti-Zombie Kiss' updated!]

[Objective: Find a candidate in the East sector, avoid 'Fitness Freak Survival,' and get a kiss before sunset. Warning: Zombie Food Vlogger detected moving in from the Northeast.]

Zombie Food Vlogger? Closing in?

Bima felt a cold sweat soak his back. He had to get out of here, fast.

"Get him!" Kevin ordered again.

The follower whose knee Bima had just kicked lunged forward, his hands gripping Bima's shoulders.

Bima dodged, twisting his body, and used the momentum to hurl his pack of Indomie right into the muscular man's face.

"Eat this, you bastard!"

The raw instant noodles hit the man right in the eyes.

"Argh!" the man screamed, startled and enraged.

That split-second window was enough.

Bima bolted, sprinting toward the shattered exit.

He could hear Kevin screaming in a rage behind him.

"After him! Don't let that scrawny punk get away!"

Bima ran with everything he had. His lungs felt like they were on fire, and his legs ached.

He had to get out of this minimarket.

He had to survive.

He had to prove to Kevin, to the world, and to himself, that this scrawny Bima... could survive, could get his revenge, and could get a decent first kiss, even in the middle of this insane apocalypse.

He burst out of the minimarket, met by the stinging glare of the sun.

In the distance, atop a partially collapsed high-rise, he saw the silhouette of someone who seemed to be filming something with a camera, right in the direction of the northeast.