Chapter 52: Chapter52-Abomination

**Zombie** **Height**: Typically around 6 feet tall. **Weight**: 200 pounds. **Strength**: Moderate physical strength, capable of overpowering an average human and, Bites. **Weakness**: Vulnerable to headshots or severe brain trauma. **Critical Body Parts**: Brain (for incapacitation). **Rank**: Lesser rank monster **Probability**: There's a 95% chance of winning against these monsters. I carefully examined the virtual screen in front of me and realized that I already had knowledge about zombies that matched the information provided by the system. One of the perks of watching zombie movies for a decade. Still, for a second, I thought they might be of a common rank, but now seeing their actual rank... I have to admit... They are just too weak. However, their numbers are quite high, so if I reveal myself right away, they might all lunge at me together. I can't defeat more than 5, maybe 10, zombies at once. I can also see that one of their strengths is their bite, which could potentially transform me into a zombie. So, the best strategy now is to kill them little by little and try to decrease their numbers. Just as I was thinking about all of this, a sudden noise caught my attention. Hmm, a sound? No, footsteps? I froze, straining to hear more clearly. The sound was faint but unmistakablefootsteps. But where is it coming from? My heart raced as I tried to locate the source of the sound. That staircase... So, someone is coming up here. After carefully listening, I finally understood that the footsteps were coming from the staircase at the end of the left corridor. Did the zombies already sense my presence or figure out it's me? But how? I didn't make any noise or create any chaos that could have attracted their attention. I looked at the playground again and saw that the other zombies were just minding their own business. So, where did this guy come from? Forget it. Now, the main thing I need to worry about is their number. How many are there? Is it a group or just one zombie coming up here? From the sound, it seemed like only one, but why did the footsteps sound so heavy? Aren't these guys supposed to weigh around 180 pounds? Why are they walking like that? My mind raced, wondering if it was a lone zombie or a group of them. Am I again wrong? Either way, I needed to be ready. And, this time, I was prepared with plenty of weaponsguns, swords, everything I had. Since I didn't know what this emergency meeting would entail, I made sure to store all my weapons, including backups, in my inventory. Another good thing is that I have food and resources with me that could last for up to 15 days if I use them sparingly and wisely. I quickly accessed my inventory and pulled out both of my daggers. Their weight felt reassuring in my hands as I readied myself for a potential fight. The corridor was brightly-lit, with shadows from the windows sometimes confusing me, but I remained focused, staring directly at the staircase. The footsteps grew louder, echoing off the walls. I took a deep breath, steadying my nerves. The moment of confrontation was close. I tightened my grip on the daggers, positioning myself in a defensive stance. Seconds felt like minutes as the source of the noise drew nearer. Oh, come on, why are you wasting so much of my time? Finally, a figure emerged from the staircase. I was stunned. Where did this Marvel character come from? Yeah, the figure in front of me looked exactly like Abomination, maybe his foster brother. He typically appeared as a large, heavily muscled humanoid with scaly, greenish-gray skin. His head had a reptilian appearance, visible sharp teeth, a broad nose, and pronounced fin-like ears. His eyes glowed with an intense, menacing gaze. He didn't have any weapons with him; all he had was his bulky, Hulk-like body. He stopped walking and stood at the end of the left corridor, while I was in the middle of it. We stared intensely at each other... Despite the Hulk-like monster in front of me, my mind was unusually calm. Why isn't he attacking? Why is he just standing there? I couldn't understand. But since he was giving me free time, I didn't waste the opportunity and quickly used my appraisal skill on him, and a virtual screen with his information appeared in front of me. **Abomination** **Height**: 10 feet **Weight**: 1000 pounds **Strength**: Extreme physical strength, durable skin **Weakness**: Slower speed due to bulk **Critical Body Parts**: Head, joints **Rank**: Uncommon rank monster **Probability**: There's a 15% chance of winning against these monsters. So, at the end of the day, he's more powerful than me. I didn't have any surprised reaction when I saw his rank. Why? Because I expected it. Considering his body, it was unlikely he would belong to the Common rank category. From that appraisal, I understood one thing: the best thing to do right now is to... Run. I immediately turned around and rushed to the right side of the corridor, heading straight for the elevator. There's no way I could defeat that guy, much less kill him. Even if his speed is slow, his physical strength and skin durability are on another level. I doubt I could even lay a scratch on him. Also, I was already at a disadvantage, being one rank lower than him. As I sprinted toward the elevator, I dared to glance back. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the Abomination leaping through the air. What the hell? System, from which side does this guy look like a low intelligence being to you? Which low-intelligence monster uses its legs to cover its weakness? Are you kidding me? He was compensating for his slow speed by using his incredible strength to jump across the corridor, covering ground rapidly. He landed with a thunderous crash, halfway down the corridor, and crouched, ready to jump again. "Dang, I can't make it! At this rate, it's going to catch me on its next leap." Panic surged through me as I realized the distance to the elevator was still considerable. I activated my dash skill, increasing my speed to the next rank. The world blurred around me as I charged forward, the corridor stretching out ahead like a tunnel. My feet barely seemed to touch the ground as I ran, adrenaline pumping through my veins. The walls of the corridor flew past, adorned with very old, faded posters and flickering lights. The metallic smell of the elevator's machinery mingled with the musty scent of the old building. Every thud of the Abomination's landing echoed ominously behind me, a stark reminder of the danger at my heels. I was almost at the elevator. Just a few more steps. I risked another glance back and my heart nearly stopped. What? The Abomination was right there, his massive hand just inches from my neck. In a split second, I realized that if he caught me, it would be over. I had no choice. With a desperate thought, I upgraded my dash skill through my system, pushing it to its absolute limit. My body responded instantly, surging forward with a burst of speed that barely kept me ahead of the Abomination's grasp. His fingers brushed the air where my neck had been just a moment before. I could feel his hot breath on my back as he fell forward, missing me by mere inches and crashing into the floor. The impact sent a tremor through the corridor, but I was already at the elevator. I reached it and frantically pressed the button, my fingers slipping from the sweat and fear. The doors opened with a ding, and I dashed inside, slamming the close button repeatedly. As the doors began to slide shut, I caught a glimpse of the Abomination in mid-air. I was shocked because he had jumped up right after falling, and now his massive hand was just inches away from the elevator gate. Luckily, the doors closed just in time. A massive thud sounded just as the elevator doors closed, accompanied by a roar of frustration from the Abomination. "Phew..." Thanks to the goddess of luck, I was saved today. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding, my body trembling from the exertion and fear. I knew this was only a temporary reprieve. I looked up at the elevator ceiling and drifted into my thoughts. That sound... That guy must have hit the elevator doors with his body, making that noise. The elevator slowly descended, and I reviewed my options. I had plenty of weapons, but none that seemed capable of taking down a monster of that magnitude. So, I think it was a very wise decision to retreat instead of fighting like a hero. I put my daggers in my blazer's pant pocket and opened my inventory. Then, I took out two high-explosive guns. Why? When the elevator opened, I immediately saw something that could have scared the hell out of me, if I hadn't been ready. More than 10 to 20 zombies were wandering around the third floor's corridor. My heart was still racing from the encounter with the Abomination, and now, faced with another deadly threat, I instinctively raised the high-explosive guns. The moment felt like an eternity. Time seemed to slow down as the zombies turned their decaying heads toward me, their eyes filled with a hunger that sent shivers down my spine. The stench of rotting flesh assaulted my nostrils, making me gag, but I pushed through it. "Die, all of you," I muttered under my breath as I pulled the triggers. The first volley of shots erupted from my guns, the deafening roar echoing through the narrow corridor. Bullets whizzed through the air, each one finding its mark with explosive precision. The initial explosions tore through the closest zombies, their bodies disintegrating into a mess of blood, guts, and bone fragments. The force of the blasts sent shockwaves down the hall, causing the lights to flicker and dust to rain down from the ceiling. I kept firing, moving my aim rapidly from one target to the next. The guns bucked in my hands, but I held firm, adrenaline fueling my every action. My eyes darted around, quickly assessing the situation. Zombies staggered and fell, some blasted apart by direct hits, while others were knocked down by the sheer force of the explosions. The corridor was a chaotic symphony of destruction. Screams of the undead mixed with the sound of gunfire and the constant explosions. "Fuck you guys!" Bits of rotting flesh and limbs flew through the air, splattering against the walls and the floor. The smell of burnt flesh and gunpowder now mingled with the already foul stench, creating a nauseating miasma. I didn't aim for any specific part of their bodies; my goal was sheer devastation. Arms, legs, torsos, heads everything was fair game. The high-explosive rounds did their job, reducing the zombies to unrecognizable chunks. Blood sprayed like a gruesome fountain, painting the walls and the floor in crimson. Despite the overwhelming number of zombies, I maintained my composure, methodically moving forward with each shot. The corridor began to clear, bodies piling up in heaps. I kept my focus, making sure not to miss any stragglers. I knew that even a single bite could spell doom, so there was no room for error. As the last few zombies fell, I finally paused to catch my breath. The corridor was a scene of utter carnage. The once bright and foreboding hallway was now littered with the remains of the undead, the floor slick with blood and gore. I was heavily panting, struggling to keep hold of both guns in my hands. One disadvantage of these guns was that they were too heavy. It wouldn't be so bad if I held only one at a time, but since I was holding two, I could really feel their weight. Anyway... I wiped sweat from my brow, my hands trembling from the adrenaline rush. I knew I couldn't stay here long. The noise of the gunfire and explosions would undoubtedly attract more zombies or worse, the Abomination might figure out how to reach this floor. I needed to move, find a safer place to regroup and plan my next move. Taking a moment to reload, I kept my eyes on the elevator, half-expecting it to open with another nightmare waiting behind the doors. To be honest, I knew nothing would happen for now. Call it my overconfidence or instincts, but I really felt sure of it. I looked at the bloody ground and muttered, "I really went all out fighting them." There were zombie organs spilling out of their stomachs... I even saw a bloody zombie brain... For now, I was alone, surrounded by the aftermath of my desperate fight. With a final deep breath, I moved forward, stepping over the fallen corpses. I counted their numbers and realized there were only 20 of them. The mission was far from over, and survival meant staying one step ahead of the relentless horrors now roaming this world.