As Hayden strung his movements together with newfound fluidity, he heard Blue's calm but firm voice echo in his mind.
— "Stop."
Hayden halted his final movement instantly, the blade of his katana trembling slightly in the air.
— "You've experimented enough for this morning. Go back to the infirmary before the others wake up and start asking questions."
Katie, on her side, stopped immediately. She was drenched in sweat, but her eyes sparkled with excitement.
— "Already?" she asked, slightly frustrated.
— "You want them to find you in the middle of the gym, soaked in sweat and glowing like a lightbulb?" Hayden replied with a sarcastic smile.
Katie rolled her eyes but admitted he was right.
With a quick wave of her hand, she instantly changed outfits using her inventory, slipping into something more discreet. Hayden, meanwhile, sheathed his katana and took a deep breath to calm his heartbeat.
— "Let's move."
The two of them quietly left the gym, walking silently through the still-sleeping school halls.
When they finally reached the infirmary door, Hayden gently pushed it open. No one had woken up yet.
They exchanged a brief glance.
Katie whispered:
— "We still have a lot to learn."
Hayden simply nodded, a glint of determination in his eyes, then closed the door behind them.
The Awakening and the Discussion
After a short moment of silence, the rest of the group slowly began to wake up. Mary was the first to open her eyes. She stretched lightly, checking that her body hadn't developed any aches after sleeping in such an uncomfortable spot. William followed soon after, though his awakening was slower, a light groan escaping his lips as he stretched. Flora was surprised at how well she had woken up.
Katie, already alert after her gym session, watched them silently, while Hayden, true to form, leaned against a wall, arms crossed, eyes half-closed.
— "Well, here we are. Still alive after this... lovely night in the infirmary," Hayden said sarcastically.
— "Good thing, too. I feel like I got hit by a truck, and yet the pain's gone. Thank the system shop and Blue," Flora said, making small movements to check if everything was in place.
Mary, ever methodical, took a moment to analyze the situation, her gaze sweeping across her friends before laying the groundwork for discussion:
— "We've been through way too much yesterday to just move on like nothing happened. We need to recap. What did we learn?"
William sighed and ran a hand through his hair before replying in his distinct British accent:
— "First off, we barely made it out alive. Those golden zombies were something else. We need to get stronger."
Flora nodded vigorously.
— "And clearly, those weren't ordinary zombies. Blue said they were stronger than the ones we've faced before. But what worries me is... they felt familiar."
A heavy silence fell over the group.
It was Hayden who broke it:
— "Yeah. Because they were the same zombies I killed in front of the karaoke place."
Everyone froze. Mary frowned, processing the information carefully.
— "That means we're dealing with someone who can raise the dead… and make them stronger."
— "And since we saw that cursed golden aura, we know exactly who's behind all this," William added, his voice colder than usual.
— "Sol," Katie whispered, her gaze hardening.
Another silence settled, but this time, it was filled with a more ominous tension.
Flora, despite the heaviness, tried to lighten the mood:
— "And to think, when school started, all I cared about was my classes and morning breakfast..."
Hayden gave a faint smile, but his eyes remained deeply thoughtful.
Mary spoke up again:
— "Which brings us to the next issue: what do we do now? We can't just sit around waiting for things to get worse."
— "We had planned an excursion today," Hayden said, this time with more determination.
Everyone looked at him.
— "We need to get stronger," he declared firmly. "We can't just react. We have to be proactive. Otherwise, the next fight could be our last."
— "Alright, but where are we going?" asked Flora.
Mary nodded.
— "We need a solid plan. A place where we can gather resources without getting slaughtered."
— "And where I can buy some stuff from the system shop," added Hayden, recalling the system points they had earned.
— "First, Blue needs to give us the available options," said Mary. "We're not charging in like idiots."
William sighed.
— "Ah, finally, some proper planning. I was starting to think we were just gambling with our lives."
Hayden, though maintaining his usual aloof demeanor, felt something different this time. The group was more united.
They had all seen horror, but none had backed down.
They had made a choice.
They would fight.
Hayden's Position
As the group debated the best approach, Hayden, leaning against a cabinet, arms crossed, sighed and spoke in a calm but firm tone:
— "You're talking like we're still in a normal world." He uncrossed his arms and stepped forward, drawing everyone's attention.
— "We need to stop thinking in terms of a classic apocalypse. We're no longer just surviving basic zombies that are slow and dumb. This has turned into a fantasy apocalypse. We have a damn system with levels, skills, and even a shop that sells healing items. That means we need to stop wasting time searching for basic meds or useless gear."
Everyone listened in silence, even Mary—the group's most analytical member—frowned slightly, weighing his words.
— "So, what are we looking for, in your opinion?" she asked finally.
Hayden looked each of them in the eye, then said:
— "The only truly viable resources now are: food, clean clothes, a place to sleep, and drinkable water. Everything else? We can get it through the system."
Silence followed his words, but no one contradicted him. What he said made sense.
— "It's true that with system points, we can heal Flora without risking sketchy pharmacies," Katie admitted.
— "Yeah, and our weapons too. We can upgrade them through the system," added William.
Mary finally nodded.
— "Alright. Then we go with that."
That's when Blue stepped in, his voice resonating in their heads:
— "Now that you're finally aligned on a goal, let me offer some interesting options."
Blue's Options
— "There are several places in Orlando you can explore, each with their own risks and rewards."
A holographic map appeared before them, displaying various zones in the city.
Millenia Mall
→ Large stock of food and clothing, but likely infested.
Abandoned Military Base
→ Potential weapons and tactical gear, but surely dangerous.
Old Abandoned Hotel
→ A place to rest, but could be hiding threats.
Neighborhood Corner Store
→ Less danger, but fewer resources.
Old University
→ Library and labs, possibly useful information, but not essential for survival.
The group quickly scanned the options.
— "We'll need to choose wisely," Mary murmured, analyzing the possibilities.
— "And also consider leaving the school someday," Blue stated neutrally.
Everyone turned to the interface as if he'd just dropped a bombshell.
— "Leave the school?" Flora asked in surprise.
— "Eventually," Blue confirmed. "You can stay here for a while, but you're not the only survivors. And the longer you wait, the harder it'll be to compete with those evolving faster than you."
A chill ran through the group.
They knew Sol and Lena were already several steps ahead of them.
Hayden kept his expression neutral, but his mind was racing.
He turned to Mary and William.
— "We'll discuss that later. For now, let's pick a place and get ready."
Blue added one last comment:
— "Oh, and no need to carry bags. Your system inventory works as unlimited storage for non-living objects."
— "Not bad," Katie said with a nod.
Flora smiled despite the tension:
— "Are we really going on an expedition like RPG adventurers?"
— "Yep," Hayden replied with a slight smirk. "Except this time, it's real life."
Part One: Return to the Dorms
After deciding to explore the city, the group split up temporarily to return to their rooms, wash up, and put on more suitable clothes.
Hayden, as usual, took his time in the shower, savoring the small comfort still available in this ruined world. The hot water streamed over his skin, easing the tension from the previous day's battles. He knew this moment of peace wouldn't last, so he made the most of it.
Once out, he searched his inventory and chose an outfit that suited him: black cargo joggers, red-and-black sneakers, and a black t-shirt with a blue oriental dragon on the back. Simple, effective, and comfortable.
Mary wasted no time. Always pragmatic, she quickly dressed in a functional, rugged outfit: leather military-style boots, camouflage cargo pants, and a plain white t-shirt. She tied her hair into a high ponytail, ready to face whatever awaited them outside.
Katie, always energetic, cracked her knuckles before changing. This expedition was the perfect excuse to test her new skills. She put on a fitted sports outfit that allowed full freedom of movement, with room for her gauntlets and greaves.
Flora, now recovered thanks to the healing item from the shop, preferred not to push her body too hard. She opted for a light, flexible outfit that allowed maximum mobility. Her natural smile, ever present, contrasted with the gravity of the situation.
William, ever discreet and methodical, prepared himself without a word. He chose comfortable, practical clothes like Flora, ensuring he could move freely. He adjusted his glasses before stepping out of his room, as if to refocus himself.