Chapter 2

There was only one skyscraper with that name in Reunis, so Leon could not have misremembered it.

'Well, well. Now that's what I'd call serendipity,' he thought.

In his past life, after too many brushes with death and grueling trials, Leon had wanted revenge against Camilla and her best friend. His plan failed when both of them died in a flood of zombies. That had been his lifelong regret.

That was no longer the case. He could do it this time.

'They're complaining about how much it sucks to be hungry? Fine. I have a way to ensure these two will never experience hunger, or anything at all, again,' he thought wickedly.

A new voice joined the conversation. "Don't be rude, Jean. Anyone would have been afraid of zombies. We can't force him to push through his fear and risk his life. If he dies while delivering food… I don't think I could go on."

From the voice alone, Camilla sounded as if she were choking back a sob. In reality, she was mocking him.

"God, you're just too kind for this world, Milla. You know Gabriel and his fat wallet are trying to woo you, right? You could have chosen him, but your heart just had to give this bum a chance. And now what? He's a total wuss," Jean replied. "So what if he dies? You'll still be hungry. You might even start losing your hair from it."

"Jean, enough. Don't say anything that could hurt Leon," Camilla rebuked.

It played out like a script they had rehearsed. The mocking smirks on their faces kept growing.

It was their favorite trick. Jean Leigh hurled insults and mockery while Camilla Lombard played the kind sweetheart whose heart broke for the downtrodden.

At this point, Leon found it hilarious. The tactic was so obvious they might as well have raised two red flags over their heads. How had he fallen for it again and again in his past life?

"I'm warning you, you bum. Don't even think about taking advantage of Milla's kindness just because she's merciful," Jean snarled, snapping him out of his thoughts. "If you don't deliver food to us before 5:00 p.m., you're never going to speak to her again. You hear me, pighead?"

Leon smirked. "Oh, I hear you loud and clear. I'll be there before 5:00 p.m."

He began preparing for his main quest. The food he had left would sustain him for only a week, so he had to secure more during this mission.

First, he needed to claim the (SS) Awakening Orb before anyone else. Second, he would "settle his differences" with the Pick-Me Duo. Finally, he had to gather resources for himself.

Time was running out. Leon strapped cardboard and wire mesh onto the most vulnerable parts of his body. He put on a motorcycle helmet and armed himself with a baseball bat and a freshly sharpened kitchen knife.

By the time he finished, it was 3:10 p.m. He had at least an hour and fifty minutes before 5:00 p.m.

Reunis Tower stood two blocks from his apartment. The streets had been empty for some time, and no one noticed that more than the zombies. They trudged about listlessly, dragging their feet as they searched for prey. Some lay sprawled in pools of blood while others trampled over them.

These zombies were dangerous, but Leon could handle them. The real threat would come after they began devouring one another and evolving as a group later that day.

…

Jean made a face of disgust after ending the call. "We must have been too nice to that piece of shit, Milla. He's starting to take us for granted. Look at him ignoring my messages and calls until just now. Don't be too nice to him when he gets here."

Camilla glanced away from the mirror. "Please. A simp and a useless bum? I wouldn't even let him breathe the same air as me if those zombies weren't outside."

She twirled and gestured at her dress. "By the way, Logan's coming. Tell me if I look too overdressed for this."

For a brief moment, resentment flashed in Jean's eyes as she looked at her friend, the implication of his arrival settling in her mind.

…

At 3:15 p.m., a door creaked open, leaving just enough space for an adult to slip through.

Only a few skeletons remained in the corridor. It was too quiet. Any noise Leon made would draw a horde.

He had more than 10 years of experience from his past life, but he could not afford overconfidence. In the apocalypse, any mistake could cost him his life.

Leon moved slowly toward the end of the corridor. He controlled his breathing and kept each step nearly silent. Five minutes later, he reached the first floor.

He looked down.

Zombies overran the street. As far as he could see, not a single spot lay clear.

No one could brute-force a path through that. He would only become an easy prey for the fastest among them.

Fortunately, Leon had a plan. The broadcasting room was on the second floor. In his past life, he had used the speakers to draw most of the zombies away while he crossed the street to Reunis Tower.

He tightened his grip on the bat. In his past life, a tall, lanky zombie had lurched at him in that room and nearly infected him with its claws. Only his thick clothing had saved him.

This time would be different.

Leon opened the door slowly.

The zombie lunged, and Leon swung his bat, crushing its head.

Blood splattered. The creature twitched, then went still.

Leon repeated the same tactic he had used before. He activated the speakers and pushed the volume to the maximum. Sound blasted through the system, and the zombies reacted at once, merging into a single horde as if they had finally heard the call they had been waiting for.

Most of the speakers were mounted high on building corners, with others fixed to tall electrical poles. The height did not stop them. The zombies rushed toward the sound and piled on top of one another, climbing over bodies until they reached the speakers.

Most of them were distracted. This was his chance.

Leon exhaled and sprinted out of the apartment building.