> ⚠️ System: Warning! 35 minutes remain before mission failure.
"System, what should I do?! She won't wake up!"
I yelled, gripping Ella's trembling shoulders as she lay on the cold floor, her face contorted in unbearable pain.
> System: My apologies, Master. This mission is designed to determine whether you are worthy of being humanity's savior. Please consider your actions thoroughly.
"Damn it... Why now?"
My chest tightened. But deep inside, I knew this wasn't about just one girl.
If I can't even save one dying person…
Then what right do I have to say I'll save the world?
I closed my eyes, drew in a deep breath, and forced myself to focus.
My mind sifted quickly through the abilities granted by my three classes.
Among them, one stood out—unique and subtle.
The Storeman's passive ability:
Creation.
It allowed me to combine compatible materials to generate new items—maybe even medicine, if I had the right ingredients.
But this room was nearly empty.
I scanned frantically—until I remembered her words:
"You can take all my belongings."
Without hesitation, I tore open her bag, desperate for anything useful.
Inside, I found:
A small bottle of honey
A single multi-vitamin tablet
An antibacterial capsule
"Please let this be enough…"
I whispered, placing the items on the floor.
I activated Creation, focusing every bit of willpower on imagining a miracle drug—something to counteract the zombie virus.
> ⚠️ System: 25 minutes remaining
Creation Progress — 20%
My hands trembled as the items slowly fused together, a faint light forming between them.
> ⚠️ 15 minutes remaining
Creation Progress — 75%
Ella's lips had turned pale, her veins bulging like black branches under her skin.
> ⚠️ 5 minutes remaining
Creation Progress — 99%
My heart pounded like a war drum.
The stench of decay filled the air.
> ⚠️ 30 seconds remaining
Creation: Complete.
I snatched the vial, now glowing with faint golden light, and knelt beside her.
Her body spasmed as the virus spread like wildfire—
Skin graying. Eyes bloodshot.
> ⚠️ 10 seconds remaining
"Please… hang on!"
I gently tilted her head and poured the liquid into her mouth, careful not to spill a single drop.
> ⚠️ 3 seconds remaining
I held my breath as I watched her throat move—
She swallowed.
And then—
Silence.
No movement.
My heartbeat rang louder than any alarm.
Was I… too late?
> ✅ System: Congratulations, Master. Task completed.
Reward: 2 Poison-Embed Daggers
ATK: 45 each
Passive: +0.25 Attack Speed
Custom poison compatibility unlocked
"Hahh..."
I fell to my knees and collapsed, the adrenaline finally wearing off.
But my moment of peace was shattered.
Agonized screams echoed beyond the walls.
Muffled voices, desperate and terrified:
"Please! End me! I don't want to turn!"
"Mom! Kill me—AAGHH!"
Then a loud gunshot was followed by another one, bringing silence and peace to their misery.
The chilling pleas clawed at my soul.
I sat upright, breath shaky, eyes wide.
Are my parents okay?
Are they still safe?
Or… are they screaming like this right now, somewhere out there?
Tears blurred my vision.
I didn't want to cry—but I did.
Until…
A soft hand touched my shoulder.
I turned slowly—
And there she was.
Ella.
Alive.
Her face was pale, but her eyes sparkled with life and quiet strength.
"Hey... are you okay?" she asked gently.
I couldn't answer at first. I just stared at her in disbelief, relief flooding me like a tidal wave.
"No… I heard people dying out there… and it made me think of my parents."
She knelt beside me and gripped my hand.
"You can't let that pain consume you.
We have to be strong—together."
She smiled, and for the first time since this nightmare began,
I felt… human.
"My name is Ella," she said.
"Jefford," I replied, my voice steadier than before.
She tilted her head and spoke.
You must've seen that zombie near the containers!
"You mean the thing that wrapped me up like a frog's dinner? Yeah, I saw it."
"No! Not that one!"
Her voice dropped, eyes filled with dread.
"There was something even worse… a three-meter-tall monster.
It looked like a bodybuilder—on steroids and rotting flesh."
I felt my spine stiffen.
If that thing's still around…
I need to be more careful. My system may be powerful—but it's still weak early on.
I turned toward her.
Were you the one who saved me?
She hesitated.
"Yes. But honestly, I almost ran.
I only stepped in when I saw your fingers twitching.
You looked like you were still alive… and I couldn't just walk away."
She smiled again, softly this time.
"How long… was I out?"
"About 3 days," she said.
"I stayed here. I was afraid to leave you alone."
My eyes widened.
"Three… days? You waited that long for me!?"
She nodded.
"I couldn't just abandon you."
I stood up and faced the door.
Her kindness was a light in this bleak world.
"You saved me, Ella. Now… I'll protect you." I said as I proceed to head towards the door.
She grabbed my arm.
"You're going outside?! It's dangerous!"
I smiled and unsheathed my new daggers.
The blades shimmered with venomous energy.
"I need to clear a path and find supplies.
But I need your help."
She looked at me, half-afraid, half-inspired.
"Can you draw me a mental map of this place?
Tell me where the zombies usually appear."
She hesitated… then nodded.
"...Okay. I trust you. But before that let me heal your wounds first since I can't cast it back then since you were unconscious "
She stood and cast an area healing skill that slowly healed my wound and made me feel better.
"Thank you," I said while smiling faintly
No problem that's the least I could do for you for saving me from the brink of death. Ella replied in a thankful voice.
Oh, that you mentioned that. How did you get bitten?
Well, since the supplies were finally out when I checked a few minutes earlier, I had no choice but to search for supplies in the nearby rooms and managed to get some. However, when I was about to get back here, I saw a man being eaten alive by a zombie.
I froze for a moment back there, making me not notice a zombie at my back and bite me, but I managed to fight and ran back here, hoping to give these supplies to you since you still have a chance to live.
After hearing Ella's explanation, I spoke to her in a calm yet resolute voice: Thank you for doing all of that. Rest assured, I'll help you gather supplies and protect you from now on.
"I'm glad to hear that Jefford let's work together from now on," Ella said as she raised her hand aiming to shake hands
"Yes, you can count on me," I replied as I accepted to shake her hand as a sign of agreement.