Multiverse , Leveling Up in the World I Created

Chapter 437: 437 Dawn of the Dead 1

I thought for a moment about where to go.

First, I decided to exclude World War Z and I Am Legend.

The zombies there were either too extreme or a bit hard to classify as ordinary zombies.

In fact, if the zombie virus from World War Z spread, humanity would likely be wiped out within a few months.

They weren’t just slow-walking corpses.

They would throw themselves at vehicles to damage them, and even pile on top of each other to climb over massive walls.

In the work itself, a hopeful ending is achieved thanks to protagonist plot armor and dramatic developments, but in reality, it would be different.

If such a disaster happened in reality, most people would just exhaust themselves running away, only to be eaten or infected.

And the zombies in I Am Legend were not only intelligent but also possessed physical abilities that made it hard to even call them zombies.

However, they had a fatal weakness—their bodies burned up when exposed to sunlight—which allowed humanity to barely hold on.

So it seemed more accurate to view them as something other than zombies.

So I began choosing works where humanity could still endure and survive to some extent, and where the zombies were somewhat like zombies.

The first work I chose was Dawn of the Dead, which not only realistically depicted human conflict in extreme situations but also introduced running zombies in earnest, opening a new horizon for zombie fiction.

[Avatar is being created.]

Michael

Age: 34

Gender: Male

Characteristics: Within the survivor group, he serves as a mediator and brain, and has a very good personality.

Starting Point: Beginning of the original story

Anna Clark

Age: 30

Gender: Female

Characteristics: A nurse by profession with specialized medical knowledge. She is humane and has strong mental fortitude.

Starting Point: Beginning of the original story

Go directly.

Setting: 20-year-old mechanic

Starting Point: Beginning of the original story, at an auto repair shop

Since it was a zombie apocalypse anyway, I figured the setting didn’t matter much.

Without hesitation, I chose ’Go directly.’

For a moment, my vision warped, and the surroundings changed to an auto repair shop.

When I came to my senses, I was wearing work overalls, with grease stains all over my body.

"Will it take long?"

While I was momentarily dazed, a man who appeared to be a customer asked me.

"Ah, no. Just a moment."

I checked the problem using [Naked Eye], proceeded with the repair, and confirmed my current location and the locations of stores selling necessary items.

’As with Warhammer, I can’t seem to get used to having work to do as soon as I enter.’

I finished the repair quickly, wrote up the repair report, and submitted it to the office.

Then the female employee in the office said.

"You finished the repair quickly? Good work."

"I’m done for today. Something big came up at home. So I need to go quickly."

"Really? The boss will be mad."

"I don’t care if I get fired. It’s more important."

The female employee seemed a bit surprised.

"R, really? Okay. I don’t know what it is, but I’ll talk to the boss for you."

As soon as the conversation ended, I hurried out of the shop.

I found the car that matched the key in my pocket, started it, and checked the address on my driver’s license to head home.

First and foremost, I needed to get an accurate picture of my current financial situation.

Fortunately, thanks to the [Navigation] ability, finding the destination was a piece of cake.

’Hmm... I have about 5,000 in savings, and considering my credit card limit, about 7,000 total.’

After checking the money I could use, I immediately drove to a gun shop.

There, I bought up almost all the NATO rounds they had.

The owner of the gun shop was surprised and asked.

"Are you going to war or something? Buying this many rounds."

"A few friends and I are going to do some shooting to blow off steam. I’ve been really stressed lately."

The owner, looking at my greasy work uniform, said.

"Work must be stressful. But I can’t sell this much at once."

"Really? Then sell me what you can, and since I’m here, I’ll buy a gun too. I’ll take a Glock 17."

"Alright. Wait a moment."

I pretended to load the ammunition into my car, but actually put it all into my inventory.

Then I headed to other gun shops and repeated the process, buying up ammunition.

Luckily, one shop also sold bulletproof vests and survival knives, so I bought a few of each, choosing sturdy ones.

After visiting four gun shops, I had secured over a ton of ammunition.

So I stopped buying ammo and headed to a supermarket instead.

I started sweeping up long-term storage foods like canned goods and bottled water.

Lost in the frenzy of gathering supplies, I noticed the sun was setting, so I had a quick meal at a downtown restaurant and then returned home.

’The outbreak happens tomorrow, so I have a mountain of things to do.’

Resolving to start preparing with more leisure time in the next world, I took a shower and threw myself onto the sofa.

I cracked open a can of beer to quench my thirst and turned on the TV to a news channel.

The signs had already begun.

The news was reporting back-to-back stories: from an incident where a man showing symptoms of mental abnormality had bitten a citizen indiscriminately, to news of an unknown disease of unknown cause occurring in several regions.

’Wow... this is exciting, but will I be able to sleep properly tonight?’

I first made sure to secure the doors and windows.

I covered all the windows with curtains, and moved furniture to block the windows and entrances.

Of course, this wasn’t really a safety measure, but more of a way to ensure I wouldn’t be disturbed while sleeping.

After all, even if a horde of zombies came and bit me, it wouldn’t be a problem.

It wouldn’t be me getting hurt, but the zombies.

Just thinking about how they’d break their teeth trying to bite me made me laugh.

’Ah, thinking like this makes it boring... I need to immerse myself as much as possible.’

After watching the news and sleeping soundly, I woke up in the morning to the sounds of screaming and things exploding from the surrounding area.

The zombie apocalypse had finally begun.

Fortunately, our house was well-secured, so no zombies or people got in.

I put on a pair of jeans and a shirt from home, wore a bulletproof vest, and started loading magazines for the Yukimura pistol and the KAC LAMG machine gun.

I also loaded the Glock I bought yesterday, but that was more for giving to someone who needed a gun rather than for my own use.

I also took out one of the backpacks I had obtained from Cyberpunk.

’Can’t go without a katana in a zombie world.’

While I was leisurely preparing to go outside, the screams echoing from all over town began to subside.

It seemed most of those who were going to turn into zombies had already been infected.

As expected of a world with running zombies, the infection speed was terrifying.

I held the Yukimura in my hand, slung the KAC LAMG machine gun and the backpack over my back.

Then I approached the barricaded window and peered outside through a gap in the curtains.

Outside, bloodstains and half-eaten corpses were strewn everywhere, and countless zombies were wandering the streets.

Seeing the scene I had always watched on TV screens right before my eyes was certainly brutal, but rather than fear, the thought that it would be fun came first.

After all, there was nothing in this world that could threaten me.

’Immersion, immersion... Damn, I can’t get tense at all!’

Bam!!!

I just kicked the door open and went outside.

Then, numerous zombies began rushing toward me.

So I aimed my pistol at their heads and started shooting.

Kyaaah!

Phut, phut, phut!

Pop, pop, pop! Thud, thud!

Holes appeared in the zombies’ heads, and they started collapsing one by one.

But there was something strange.

I was definitely using 9mm Parabellum rounds.

Normally, they wouldn’t have that much power.

But now, the zombies’ heads were exploding as if hit by Magnum rounds.

This was probably the effect of the [(EX) Weapon Mastery] ability.

[Weapon Mastery] was an ability that doubled the power of weapons.

So I thought for a moment and then deactivated [(EX) Weapon Mastery].

Later on, when I met survivors, it might raise unnecessary suspicion.

After all, when it came to hitting targets, the [Sniping] ability alone was enough.

I began dealing with the zombies for a while.

Each shot precisely pierced their heads, so there was no ammo wasted, and I could move leisurely while continuing to shoot.

Eventually, I reached the vehicle.

Just as I started the engine and was about to pull onto the road.

"Wait! Please take me with you!"

A woman who had been hiding somewhere suddenly jumped out and blocked the car, shouting.

Without hesitation, I let her into the passenger seat.

"Get in!"

To be honest, I was going to ignore her at first.

But when I saw she was quite beautiful, with blonde hair and a voluptuous figure, my body reacted first.

When I gave her a ride, she wept with relief.

"I thought I was going to die. Thank you for taking me."

"Let’s go first. No point staying here."

"Okay."

I started driving, dodging the zombies that came running.

Vroom!

"Ahhh! Slow down!"

"I’d like to, but the situation..."

Thump! Thwack!

Zombies were coming from the front as well as the back, and although I tried to avoid running them over, there were so many obstacles that I couldn’t help but bump into some.

Seeing the situation ahead, she seemed to realize this and stopped telling me to slow down.

After driving for a while and getting to the outskirts, the number of zombies decreased, and I began to regain some composure, so I asked her a question.

"What’s your name?"

"Jane. Jin, did you already forget? I lived nearby..."

She, with a name that made me think of someone who could shoot webs well, seemed to already know me.

I didn’t remember her at all, though.

"Family?"

"They all got bitten by the strange people and became strange too. So I was hiding in my room, barricading the door, and when I heard someone fighting outside, I thought I couldn’t stay like this, so I got out through the window."

"I see. Do you have anywhere to go?"

"Not really, but I heard on the news that they’re setting up a refugee camp at the Pasteur facility. Should we go there?"

In the original, the Pasteur facility gets overrun by zombies very quickly.

Because they didn’t yet understand the contagion well, they let in people who had been bitten.

But I couldn’t think of a good excuse not to go there, so I decided to go for now.

During the drive, Jane told me her story.

She was a college student who lived at home because her school was close.

She said she woke up one day to find the world like this.

Later, one of her family members turned on the TV to see what was happening, and whether it was because of the sound or not, zombies broke through the windows and came into the house.

In the end, her family was attacked by the zombies, leading to the current situation.

"Jane, I think people get infected if they’re bitten."

"I think so too. There’s no way my family would suddenly change like that. Is this some kind of virus? Then maybe they could make a vaccine?"

"Maybe. The government is probably trying right about now."

"I suppose so. Phew... that makes me feel a little better."

To reduce future risks, I explained the characteristics of zombies to Jane in the form of speculation.

Fortunately, Jane, being a college student, was quick to understand, and having experienced it herself, she empathized and accepted my words quickly.

While Jane and I were driving and talking, I spotted a gas station that seemed deserted, so I stopped for a moment.

Like most American gas stations, it had a small convenience store attached.

"Th... shouldn’t we just keep going?"

Jane was worried that more zombies might show up.

"I don’t mind, but you came out in a hurry and don’t even have shoes. And I thought we should get some drinks and things."

"Still, it seems dangerous..."

"Don’t worry. I’m pretty good with guns as a hobby. And I’ll just grab a few things and be out quickly, so it won’t take long. Do you know how to drive?"

"Yes, I do. I used to drive to school."

"A gun?"

"I don’t know much about guns."

I handed her the spare Glock I had bought and briefly explained how to use it.

"Listen. While I’m gone, absolutely don’t open the door for anyone, whether they’re a changed person or a normal person. In situations like this, normal people are often more dangerous."

"Okay."

"And no matter how fast a person is, they can’t exceed 30 km/h. So if you’re in the car with the engine running and think things are hopeless, just drive off at over 30 km/h. They’ll never catch you. And only use the gun as a last resort."

"I will."

With that, I switched seats with Jane and got out through the passenger door.

Pistol in hand, I slowly approached the store and peered inside.

The lights were on, but there was no sign of people.

Jingle!

I carefully opened the door and went inside.

I grabbed a few things from the shelves—flip-flops, wet wipes, drinks, chocolate bars, and some snacks—and put them in a basket, then tried to leave.

Just then, I spotted a zombie in a store clerk uniform wandering around outside the glass door.

It looked like the clerk who managed the store, apparently already a victim.

I immediately lowered my body and held my breath.

Fortunately, it didn’t seem to have noticed me yet, just wandering around blankly.

So I slowly approached the door, opened it quietly, aimed my pistol at the zombie’s head, and pulled the trigger.

Phut!

Thud! Thud!

But perhaps it was the sound of the clerk falling, zombies from behind the gas station suddenly started running toward me.

So I ran toward the car while firing my gun.

Screech!

"Hurry, get in!"

Jane, who had been watching everything, drove the car over to me.

There weren’t many of them, so I didn’t really need the help, but I appreciated her risking herself to come to me.

I quickly got into the passenger seat, and Jane immediately floored it.

"Phew... my heart was in my throat."

"But at least we got supplies."

"That’s true."

After that, I started seeing Jane in a new light.

From just a naive pretty college student to someone who could assess the situation and had survival instincts.

She might turn out to be a good partner going forward.

’I’m lucky. It’s not easy to meet someone like this in a zombie apocalypse. And she’s a beauty too... it’s perfect.’