.
The corridor was silent.
Too silent.
Ash stepped out of his room slowly, his senses fully sharpened. Every nerve in his body was tense, every muscle slightly tightened.
This wasn't caution.
This was instinct.
The air outside felt heavier. Colder. Dangerous.
Ash's red eyes scanned the long corridor ahead of him. Broken doors. Blood stains. Drag marks across the floor.
"So it's not just outside…"
The apocalypse had already entered the building.
For a brief moment, his thoughts drifted.
To his family.
His mother, who worked tirelessly just to keep them alive. His younger sister Sona, still depending on him. And Matilda, strong—but still human.
His mother's salary could barely support one university student. Just one.
That was why Ash had refused.
"I'll handle my own expenses."
He had worked at a small restaurant near the university, balancing work and studies. Not because he was kind—but because he understood something early.
If you want control… you don't depend on anyone.
His eyes hardened.
And now, the world had changed.
Power had replaced everything.
Ash glanced at his status window. He had four unassigned stat points.
He paused.
"Not yet."
Using them carelessly now could cost him his life later. He needed to understand the system first.
Then optimize.
Suddenly—
A sound.
Ash's head snapped forward.
At the far end of the corridor, three figures appeared.
Zombies.
Their movements were slow, unstable, as if they could collapse at any moment. But Ash didn't relax.
"They don't miss."
Slow didn't mean harmless.
He took a deep breath and stepped forward carefully, observing their movement.
Then a thought appeared in his mind.
Blood… is liquid.
His eyes sharpened.
"If I can freeze water… then I can freeze them from the inside."
He raised his hand.
Mana surged.
"Freeze."
Fifteen points of mana were spent instantly.
The zombies froze mid-step. Their bodies stiffened, movements becoming unnatural.
Then cracks began to appear on their skin—from the inside.
Ash didn't hesitate.
"Condense."
Cold energy gathered in front of him.
One arrow.
Two.
Three.
"Go."
The arrows shot forward instantly.
They pierced through the zombies' heads.
All three collapsed.
Dead.
The system appeared.
You have killed a Level 3 Zombie
You have killed a Level 4 Zombie
You have killed a Level 3 Zombie
You have leveled up
You gained 2 stat points
Ash exhaled slowly.
"Efficient."
More importantly, he noticed something.
Every time he leveled up, his body fully recovered.
Mana. Stamina.
Everything reset.
"As long as I keep killing… I won't run out of energy."
A dangerous realization.
But useful.
Ash continued moving.
Floor by floor.
Room by room.
He hunted.
Not recklessly—but efficiently.
Fast. Precise. Controlled.
With his agility, he moved faster than normal humans. With his Frost Sovereign ability, he controlled the battlefield.
Some zombies were frozen. Some shattered. Some were tested against his raw strength.
At one point, he struck a zombie from behind.
One punch.
The head snapped forward and the body collapsed.
"So physical attacks still work."
Good.
More options.
But leveling wasn't easy.
To reach the next level, he had to kill many zombies.
Even with his abilities, it took time and focus.
Finally—
He reached the first floor.
And stopped.
"That's not normal…"
Standing in the lobby was something different.
Something dangerous.
A massive zombie.
Over two meters tall.
Its arms were grotesque and enormous, like tree trunks. Its body was thick with unnatural muscle.
This was no normal zombie.
This was a Strength Zombie.
It turned slowly.
Then locked onto Ash.
Five meters away.
It moved.
Fast.
Faster than normal zombies.
Ash barely reacted in time.
The zombie's fist swung toward him.
He dodged—just barely.
The fist slammed into the wall behind him.
The wall exploded, leaving a deep hole.
Ash's expression shifted slightly.
"If that hit me… I'd be dead."
No doubt.
The zombie attacked again.
This time Ash stepped forward and kicked.
The force pushed the creature back slightly.
Not enough to damage it—but enough to create space.
"Good."
He didn't need to overpower it.
He needed control.
Ash raised his hand.
"Chains."
Mana surged.
Four frozen chains formed in the air and shot forward instantly.
They wrapped tightly around the zombie's body—arms, legs, torso.
Then pulled.
The creature crashed to the ground.
Ash rushed forward.
He punched.
Again.
Again.
Again.
But—
"…It's not breaking."
The skull was too tough.
The zombie began struggling violently.
The chains started to crack.
They wouldn't hold for long.
Ash's eyes sharpened.
"Then I'll force it."
He gathered his remaining mana and focused it into one point.
His fist.
"Freeze."
Cold energy surged into the zombie's head.
From the inside.
The skull froze.
Ash struck again.
The head shattered into pieces.
The body went still.
Silence.
Then—
The system appeared.
You have killed Strength Zombie Level 15
Strength +6
Health +5
You have leveled up
Level 6
You have leveled up
Level 7
You have leveled up
Level 8
You gained 2 stat points
Ash stood still.
Power surged through his body.
His fatigue disappeared instantly.
"So this is leveling…"
Then—
He noticed something on the ground.
A small glowing object.
Ash walked forward and picked it up.
A strange orb.
Cold to the touch.
The system responded.
Uncommon Treasure Orb
Contains a hidden reward
Ash stared at it.
"A reward…"
Not just strength.
Not just levels.
But items.
Treasure.
This world was deeper than he thought.
He tightened his grip on the orb.
A faint smile appeared.
"Good."
Because that meant more power.
More control.
More dominance.
Ash looked toward the exit.
Then back at the orb.
"Let's see… what you contain."
Just as he was about to use it—
A distant roar echoed outside.
Louder than anything before.
Not a zombie.
Something worse.
Ash's smile widened.
"Now it gets interesting."
————————-
So… Ash just got his first Uncommon Treasure Orb 👀
But tell me—do you really think it's going to be something simple?
Or… something dangerous?
The world is changing faster than anyone expected. Zombies are only the beginning.
Stronger monsters… hidden evolutions… and humans who are starting to awaken…
And Ash? He's only just getting started.
Next chapter… we open the treasure. And trust me—
It's going to change everything. ❄️
If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to drop your Power Stones, leave a comment (I read all of them 👀), and add it to your library so you don't miss what's coming next.
Let me ask you something: what do YOU think is inside the treasure? A weapon, a skill, or something completely unexpected?
See you in the next chapter…
Things are about to get serious.