C4 Chapter 4

After taking a deep breath, Jiang Ruan realized she couldn't linger in the villa any longer. She waited until the group had moved on before stepping out of the bedroom. Catching her reflection in a full-body mirror, she noticed the bruises on her skin had faded slightly, and her long fangs remained—a reminder of her zombified state. Yet, she was grateful she didn't have the accompanying stench.

Jiang Ruan knew she needed to cover up; her current appearance was quite frightening. Luckily, the villa's owner was a girl her age, and the sportswear she found fit her perfectly.

The scent of humans had vanished from the area. As Jiang Ruan ventured outside, she saw a group of zombies on the ground nearby, gnawing at what she recognized as the remains of the unfortunate woman.

Scattered around were several other zombies that had been slain. Drawn by an inexplicable aura, Jiang Ruan found herself walking towards them against her will.

Among the dark, bloodied brains of the zombies, something sparkled. It was a bead, emitting a refreshing scent, the size of a fingernail. She picked it up, along with other stones from the zombies' skulls, and washed them in the villa using the water from a pot where potatoes had been boiling.

The bead settled in her palm, sending a cool sensation throughout her body. Then came a stirring pain, as if an invisible force was rearranging her very bones, a pain so intense it felt like a death worse than death itself.

Sweat beaded on her forehead as her body shook uncontrollably, the agony piercing deep. After enduring what felt like an eternity, the pain subsided, replaced by a wave of relief.

Sitting up from the ground, Jiang Ruan could tell her body had returned to a state indistinguishable from that of a normal person. She opened her mouth and let out a simple syllable, "Ah..." It was a significant sign of progress.

Jiang Ruan smiled with excitement, unaware of how eerie and fierce her grin appeared.

Rising to her feet, she discovered to her amazement that she could now see details up to two thousand meters away. She could sense the presence of zombies and humans in her vicinity, their images flashing vividly in her mind.

Perhaps she had gained a superpower, a thought that brought a smile to her lips. With this newfound ability, she had an extra layer of security in the post-apocalyptic world.

Once Jiang Ruan realized the shiny object's utility, she scoured the villa for several bottles to store water from the pot, preparing for any future needs.

She searched the room once more, gathering a few articles of clothing, unworn underwear, and a pack of tissues. Among the cosmetics on the dressing table, she discovered an array of gold, silver, and jewelry. Diamonds and jewels always held an allure for a woman, regardless of the times.

Hoisting the backpack onto her shoulders, Jiang Ruan was surprised by its weightlessness. Since she hadn't retrieved the watermelon knife, she opted for a kitchen knife and a cleaver from the kitchen instead, marveling at how light they felt.

Stepping outside, she pried open the skulls of several fallen zombies, extracting the crystal nuclei, washing them, and slipping them into her shirt pocket.

Jiang Ruan proceeded with caution, wary of encountering more formidable zombies, unaware that she was now the most powerful zombie in the world!

Anyone witnessing the scene would have been terrified. Jiang Ruan, backpack in tow, made her way into the city, passing by countless zombies that parted for her. She effortlessly dispatched dozens of them along the way, harvesting their crystal nuclei and smoothly reaching the heart of S City.

There, a zombie with a dangling arm and bulging eyes lumbered towards her. Jiang Ruan brandished her cleaver, cleaving the zombie's head in half. This one cowered on the ground, fearfully recoiling, unlike the others that had not dared to resist.