“Everyone, run!”
A panicked scream echoed through the usually bustling street.
The bus veered out of control, plowed onto the sidewalk, and slammed into a utility pole. Shattering glass, screeching metal, and cries for help blended into one chaotic mess.
Lam Ha An stood frozen in front of the convenience store, the shopping bag in her hand dropping to the ground.
“What’s going on?”
Before she could react, she saw a man covered in blood charge at a young woman.
“Let go of me!”
Her scream for help lasted only a few seconds.
The man sank his teeth hard into the girl’s neck.
Blood sprayed everywhere.
Everyone nearby stood frozen.
A second later...
Screams erupted all around them.
“He bit her!”
“Call an ambulance!”
“Someone’s gone crazy!”
The crowd began to flee.
Lam Ha An turned to leave too, but suddenly heard a hoarse growl behind her.
She turned around.
The girl who had just been bitten... was slowly getting back to her feet.
Her eyes were completely white.
Her mouth was covered in blood.
Her skin was as pale as a corpse’s.
She lunged at the nearest man and bit him.
“Ah!”
The scene instantly turned into hell.
One person...
Two people...
Ten people...
Those who had been bitten collapsed one after another, then rose again with terrifying appearances.
In less than ten minutes, the entire street was drowning in a sea of blood.
Lam Ha An bit down hard on her lip, forcing herself to stay calm.
“This isn’t right...”
“This... looks exactly like the zombies in the movies.”
She couldn’t believe her eyes.
Her phone vibrated nonstop.
It was Mom.
“Ha An! Where are you?”
“Mom, I’m near the shopping mall.”
“Don’t come home! Don’t go outside! People in our neighborhood are biting each other too.”
Her mother’s voice trembled.
The sound of violent pounding on the door came from the other end of the line.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
“Mom!”
“Ha An... lock the door... don’t...”
The call abruptly disconnected.
“Beep... beep... beep...”
“Mom!”
Lam Ha An called back.
No one answered.
A deep sense of unease rose in her heart.
Just then, a growl sounded behind her.
A zombie was charging straight at her.
Only a few meters remained between them.
There was no time to think.
Lam Ha An turned and ran.
She weaved through the chaotic crowd, the pounding of footsteps merging with the growls behind her.
Suddenly, an eight-year-old little boy appeared in front of her, sitting on the middle of the street.
He clutched his backpack tightly, his face white with fear.
“Miss...”
Three zombies were approaching right behind him.
Lam Ha An stopped short.
Her reason told her to keep running.
But her heart wouldn’t let her.
She took a deep breath, picked up a metal rod lying beside the road, and charged toward the boy.
“Take my hand!”
The boy hurriedly did as she said.
A zombie reached out with its blood-covered arm and grabbed her shoulder.
Lam Ha An swung the metal rod with all her strength.
“Thud!”
The zombie fell, but immediately crawled back to its feet.
“No way...”
She backed away.
At the moment when all hope seemed lost, a burst of white light suddenly flashed from her palm.
The space ahead seemed to tear open.
The metal rod in her hand disappeared.
The backpack on the ground disappeared too.
Even the shopping bag she had dropped earlier was gone.
Lam Ha An stood stunned.
“What’s happening?”
Before she could find an answer, she dragged the boy into a nearby building and locked the door tight.
Outside, the zombies pounded on the door without stopping.
She leaned against the door, gasping for breath.
Inside her head, a cold voice suddenly rang out.
[Host detected.]
[Spatial System activated.]
[Initial Capacity: 100 cubic meters.]
[Congratulations. You have become the first evolved person.]
Lam Ha An’s eyes widened.
Outside, night gradually descended.
The first day of the apocalypse... had only just begun.