[Hunger Level: 94%]
[Note: Reaching 100% will trigger Frenzy.]
The notification smacked Blaze back to the present. He didn't know what [Frenzy] meant, and he didn't want to know either.
His eyes drifted to the girl before him. She was backing away. Perhaps she was afraid after realizing he was different from regular zombies and didn't want to test her luck.
Why is she cornering herself?
From what Blaze had seen, the girl wasn't a seasoned fighter, but she had some battle IQ. That's why he found her actions strange. He felt something was off about her. It was as if she was luring him in.
The next second, she threw her backpack at him. Blaze got distracted by it and by the time he turned back, Amanda was standing on top of the fence.
No, you won't!
Blaze assumed the girl was trying to escape and rushed toward her. But the girl didn't panic as she watched him charge ahead, instead a smirk formed on her lips.
"I guess you're not that intelligent," Amanda said, jumping into the air.
What the hell?
Blaze couldn't believe his eyes. The girl casually jumped over three meters high. While some of that height was because of the fence, she still jumped higher than he expected from a teenager.
"Let's see how you survive this!" Amanda yelled, raising the bat over her head.
Before Blaze knew it, the bat came crashing down, right at his head.
BAM!
The bat slammed into the concrete alleyway where he'd just been. The ground cracked, shooting broken concrete fragments everywhere.
What the hell is this strength?
Blaze looked forward and saw the girl stand back up as if nothing had happened.
This girl. She's like Neha.
First that absurd jump, then the atomic strength.
Her being an evolved being was the only answer behind those things.
Thankfully, Blaze had completed the quest to walk a thousand steps, or else he would've become one with the ground. That upgraded agility made it easy for him to roll away, or else…
Plop!
Blaze looked down, letting out a groan of frustration. The shirt tied around his waist had come undone as he rolled away, causing his guts to spill out again.
As the dust settled, Amanda clicked her tongue. The zombie survived her ultimate move. But she still had the advantage.
Before Blaze could gather his innards and shove them back inside, the metal bat swooshed through the air. He tilted his head sideways, evading the first blow, but it only infuriated Amanda further.
She kept swinging her bat, aiming for his head. Blaze hastily raised his arm to protect his head, only to hear a sickening crack as his right arm went limp.
"There's a limit to your smartness, huh?" Amanda said, smirking. "Just because I kept aiming for your head doesn't mean I won't attack other joints. Ugh… what's that smell?"
But Blaze wasn't listening to her anymore.
[Hunger Level: 96%]
Amanda came to an abrupt stop when she saw the zombie's innards spilled all over the ground. The following realization struck her even more.
The zombie… used the shirt to stop them from spilling over.
She couldn't believe these mindless creatures were capable of doing something like that.
Blaze saw her distracted and lunged at her, but Amanda was too quick. She immediately swung her bat. The sound of Blaze's ribs cracking echoed in the alley as he flew sideways and hit the wall.
"Killing you would be merciful…"
So far, Amanda had killed the zombies out of anger and fear, but it was the first time she felt sorry for one. With that thought, she stepped closer, raising her bat for the final time.
"May the lord have mercy on your damned soul," she mumbled, offering a prayer.
Then she brought the bat down on him.
Just then, something strange happened.
Instead of the sickening crunch of a crushed skull, she noticed something slimy wrapped around her bat.
"Is that…"
Something slimy and meaty wrapped itself around her bat, tugging at it. The zombie had used its intestine as a makeshift whip to stop the bat mid-swing.
[Hunger Level: 98%]
Amanda's eyes widened in horror and disgust. She tried to pull her bat free, but the zombie was quick to react and pulled her right back in. She stumbled forward, and the zombie kicked her leg with his, throwing her completely off balance.
Her head banged into the wall. The sudden pain made her lose the grip on her bat as she staggered behind.
That was the chance Blaze was looking for.
He got up and speared Amanda into the wall behind her. She threw some ill-aimed punches, but none met their mark. Before she could get a grip on the situation, Blaze grabbed her hair and began pounding her head on the ground.
It wasn't how zombies fought, but Blaze didn't care as long as it worked. Soon, blood trickled from her forehead. The smell of blood made Blaze's mouth twitch.
[Hunger Level: 99%]
It was human blood, but Blaze's body reacted like it was the most delicious thing he had ever smelled.
I… have to eat…
[Hunger Level: 100%]
[Task failed.]
[Frenzy activated.]
That was the last thing Blaze saw before everything turned red, as if dyed in blood.
Meanwhile, Amanda felt her strength leaving her body. Still, she reached for her bat, but then.
"ROAR!"
Blaze grabbed her by the neck and threw her to the side like a ragdoll. She tried to get up and run, but Blaze pressed her down before jumping on top of her.
"No… no…"
Amanda struggled to free herself, but nothing worked.
"No! Please—James—!"
Her voice was cut off as Blaze sank his teeth into her neck. Her blood spurted into Blaze's mouth as Amanda kept thrashing around. Still hopeful she'd survive.
Sweet… so warm… more… MORE!
"ROAR!"
The more Blaze tasted blood, the more he craved it.
"Ja… Ja…"
Amanda lost too much blood. Her hands lost their strength, and her legs stopped thrashing. She was still alive, only faint breaths came out of her mouth.
Too loud.
Blaze thought, before pushing his fingers inside her mouth. Amanda didn't fight back, she didn't have any strength left to. The next second, her jaw was ripped off her face.
Fresh blood gushed out, and Blaze was immediately attracted to it. Amanda's vision faded as he leaned in and began eating her flesh from the inside out.
James… I'm sorry… I couldn't bring more chocolates for you…
Amanda's body twitched one last time before her eyes rolled into her skull.