Chapitre 31: Mana Zombies

Sarah and her parents swiftly evacuated their house, prompted by the intensifying intervals of the earthquakes. Strangely enough, aside from the initial damage caused by the first few minutes of shaking, subsequent tremors did not inflict as much destruction on their home. The family gathered on the sidewalk, taking in their surroundings. Their attention was drawn to the mailman they had encountered earlier, but now his appearance had drastically changed. His skin had turned an unnaturally pale hue, bearing visible cracks that marred his once handsome features. His vacant eyes fixated on their elderly neighbor, Ms. Johnson, as she stepped out of her house.

"Excuse me, young man. Could you lend a hand and help me to safety before this house collapses?" Ms. Johnson called out to the mailman, oblivious to the ominous shift in his demeanor.

With a guttural noise emanating from deep within him, the mailman leaped over the fence with an unnatural agility. He raced towards Ms. Johnson, who had begun to sense the eerie atmosphere surrounding him. In an alarming display, the mailman swiftly reached her and forcefully seized her head, violently twisting it aside. With a savage bite, he sank his teeth into her neck, causing Ms. Johnson to emit a harrowing cry of pain. She desperately thrashed her hands, trying to fend off the assailant. Still, he continued his gruesome feast, tearing a sizable chunk of flesh from her neck and greedily devouring it. Ms. Johnson's lifeless body collapsed to the ground, blood flowing freely. Yet, the mailman remained fixated on his macabre feast, relentlessly consuming her neck.

"What the fuck did I just watch?" Shaken by the horrifying spectacle, Sarah swiftly emerged from her dazed state and exclaimed. She then unhooked her bow and Knocked an arrow onto its taut string.

The mailman's attention swiftly shifted towards Sarah's voice, his body turning to face them with malevolent intent. Mark courageously stepped forward, acting on pure instinct, positioning himself as a protective shield between his family and the approaching threat. However, before the mailman could close in on them, Sarah's instincts took over, and she released her arrow with deadly precision, piercing the mailman's left eyeball.

[You have slain (Mana Zombie - Level 1)]

Sarah stood in disbelief, her eyes fixed on the lifeless figure sprawled on the ground. The weight of her actions began to sink in, amplifying the shock coursing through her veins. The words of the system message only added to her confusion.

"What have you done, Sarah? You've taken a life," Emily exclaimed, her voice filled with alarm and disbelief.

"The system identified him as a mana zombie, not a human," Sarah explained, her voice trembling. "I don't fully understand it, but I sense that we are in danger. There may be more of them lurking nearby."

A shiver ran down their spines as the gravity of the situation dawned upon them.

As the gravity of the situation settled upon them, Sarah, Mark, and Emily exchanged anxious glances, their hearts pounding with a mixture of fear and confusion. The once familiar neighborhood now seemed tinged with an eerie atmosphere, and they couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that danger lurked nearby.

"We need to get out of here," Mark declared, his voice laced with determination. "If there are more of these... mana zombies, we can't stay. Our safety is paramount."

Sarah nodded in agreement, her mind racing with possibilities. She had read enough books and watched enough movies to know that staying put was never a good option in times like these. Survival meant taking decisive action.

"We should head towards the city center," Sarah suggested. "There might be more people there, and hopefully, some answers too."

Still grappling with the shock of witnessing the horrifying attack, Emily nodded silently. She trusted her husband's judgment and believed in Sarah's instincts.

As they ventured further down the street, their senses were bombarded by a cacophony of unsettling sounds. They heard desperate cries for help from nearby houses, the anguished screams of people under attack, and the disturbing sounds of flesh being torn apart. The scene unfolding before them was straight out of a nightmare.

Their eyes widened with horror as they witnessed more mana zombies, their gaunt and twisted forms, attacking unsuspecting victims. Chaos reigned as people fought for their lives, desperately fighting the relentless onslaught. The once-peaceful neighborhood had transformed into a battleground of survival.

Sarah, trembling, notched another arrow onto her bow, ready to defend her family if necessary. Mark's protective instincts kicked into high gear as he scanned their surroundings, assessing potential escape routes and potential threats. Though shaken to her core, Emily summoned her inner strength. She resolved to do whatever it took to ensure the safety of her loved ones.

The piercing sound of a gunshot reverberated from one of the neighboring houses, followed by the haunting thud of a body hitting the floor. The family froze in their tracks, their hearts pounding in their chests. Moments later, a young woman in her twenties burst out of the house, clutching a handgun tightly in her trembling hand. Tears streamed down her face, mirroring the distress within her.

Upon spotting the family, her defensive instincts kicked in, causing her to raise the gun. However, Mark swiftly intervened, raising his voice to calm her fears. "Hey, Miss Rossi, it's us. Don't shoot."

As his words sank in, the woman lowered her weapon, tears flowing even more freely. Emily rushed towards her, enveloping her in a comforting embrace. "It's okay, Isabella. You're safe now. Where is John?" Emily whispered softly, her voice filled with genuine concern.

Between sobs, Isabella managed to recount the harrowing events. "He... he suddenly attacked me. That strange message appeared, and we both felt this unsettling discomfort. Mine was mild, but John collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain. Then his complexion turned pallid, and his skin began to crack. I was terrified, looking at him. Then, he opened his eyes, and his pupils were pure white. He lunged at me... I... I had to shoot him."