Level-Up Apocalypse

"I'm curious. Why is your blood violet?" Livia asked, showing a kind smile as she leaned on the bed. 

Vincent's heart skipped a beat. He didn't know how to reply. He couldn't just say that he carried the zombie virus and was the one who started everything. 

Judging by how crazy she could be, he did not doubt that she would kill him. 

He lowered his head. "I-I don't know," He replied, faking a troubled expression. "I remember a monster attacked me...I was in a dire situation...but I don't know what happened after that. I think I had lost consciousness.

When I woke up, my blood had become like this. I also could feel that I seem to have gotten stronger."

Vincent gave her all the hints needed for her to conclude that he had awakened while refraining from his innocence and not giving away any knowledge that he knew what his abilities were.

"Hmmm..." Livia backed away from the bed and looked at Vincent, her expression serious. 

'Did she not fall for my lie?' Vincent's heart trembled.

She left a deep impression on him when she placed the medical scalper on Varlo's neck and threatened to kill him. And now, when he was weakened, he couldn't even resist if she had ill intentions. 

"Well, you don't have to worry," Livia suddenly smiled warmly. You might have awakened a unique ability."

"Awakened?" Vincent tilted his head, acting oblivious to this information. "What does it mean?"

"Hmm..." She placed her index finger on her chin, thinking. "How do I explain this to you."

"Also, I heard you say that you all have mutated. What does that mean?" Vincent hurriedly added. 

"Mutated or awakened, it means the same. I prefer using the word mutated." Livia smiled and started explaining. "The world changed when the zombie virus broke out. But it also brought forth something else. Mutation." Her expression darkened. "Those infected either turn into zombies or the virus triggers a mutation, and they awaken a special ability,"

Vincent's eyes widened for a second.

"Well, that's as much as I know." Livia smiled. "You should rest now. I'll come and bring you food later."

With a smile on her face, Livia left the room. 

Clack!

As soon as she stepped out of the room, her expression turned deadly serious.

She looked around. There was no one in the room she was in. 

Livia walked forward and left the room. 

"How is he?!" Varlo jumped at her as soon as she stepped into the next room. "Will he infect everyone?"

Several people stood before her, looking at her with fear. 

"Don't worry," Livia smiled warmly. He is not infected. His blood is violet because he has awakened an ability. Luckily, the blood transfusion works even though he has strange blood, so we can save him."

Seeing her reassuring smile and words, the people around her sighed in relief.

"Thank God, " an elderly man holding the hand of his little granddaughter smiled. We got scared for nothing."

"Aunt Livia would never put us in danger," The little girl smiled brightly, running at her. 

Livia crouched and hugged the little girl. "Of course, I would never put my little angel in danger," She patted the girl's golden hair. 

"Later, I'll bring you all to meet him," Livia stood up. "After all, he'll be a part of us from now on."

"That's good. We should warmly greet him," Varlo smiled. 

Everyone gave him a dead eye. They knew why he changed his opinion. 

"What?" He looked at them. "I was only concerned for you."

Livia shook her head. 

He only changed his mind because Vincent has an ability, so he and Livia won't be the only ones going out to search for resources.

...

'The virus triggers a mutation?' Vincent fell into deep thought. 'But Marin had an ability before the apocalypse even started. The ability awakens when in extreme danger. So what is she saying now?'

He raised his head and looked at the door. 

'She is kind. But I can't help but feel something odd about her,'

"Sighhh..." Vincent let out a long sigh. "Forget it, she did save me after all,"

He looked around. 

Beep! Beep!

The devices continuously let out sounds.

With his upper body naked, several electrodes were attached to his chest, transmitting the information to the vital signs monitor.

Vincent looked at his left arm bandaged with clean, white bandages. 

A blood transfusion device was placed next to him, directly supplying blood through the needle in the vein of his left arm. 

"She must have sewed my wounds," Vincent smiled. He looked out the window.

The night started becoming brighter; soon, the day would arrive.

'It's been a whole night. I haven't gotten a notification of the zombie virus spreading,' Vincent thought. This made him extremely happy.

[Ding]

However, as if in response to his happiness, a system message arrived.

[The zombie virus successfully spreads]

[5000 beings successfully infected]

[You received: 2 attribute points]

"Impossible," If not for the electrodes on his chest and the needle in his vein, he would have jumped out of his bed. "How did the number of infected jump out so much?! Why didn't I get a notification?"

Anger burned in Vincent, his heart jumping. A rash of emotions attacked him, but ultimately, helplessness remained. He couldn't stop it and couldn't undo what he had done. 

Vincent placed his right forearm across his eyes. Tears rolled down his eyes. Scenes his imagination made up flashed before his eyes. Scenes of innocent people, even young girls, turning into horrendous zombies haunted him. The guilt pressed down on his chest. 

...

Two hours passed. 

Vincent slowly came to himself, accepting the cruel reality. 

[Ding]

[The zombie virus spreads]

[10,000 beings successfully infected]

[You received: 2 attribute points]

Vincent's eyes widened in terror, his heart jumping. "How?" He muttered weakly, his whole body shaking. "Why is this happening? How do I stop this? Somebody, please stop this."

"The speed at which the virus spreads has become so much faster. The number doubled in just a few hours." Vincent clenched his fists. How he felt was truly disgusting. He wanted to puke. 

Knock! Knock!

But before he could fall too deep into despair, a knock rang on the door.

Quickly, he wiped his tears. "Enter,"

The door opened.

"How are you?" Livia walked into the room carrying a piece of bread and a water bottle. 

Varlo walked after her, and following him, fifteen people entered the room. 

"You all..." Vincent's eyes widened. An inexplicable warmth enveloped his heart. Though he didn't know the people, just the gesture was enough. 

"Auri, come; don't be shy," the elderly man smiled warmly, looking at the door. 

Everyone looked, showing kind smiles. 

The little girl showed her face, shyly looking from behind the door at Vincent. 

A smile spread on Vincent's face as he saw the cute little girl. 

Livia brought him the bread and water.

"Little angel, come and meet this brother," She smiled, opening her arms.

The little girl ran in her arms, burying her face in Livia's chest, shy.

"Little Girl," Vincent called gently. "What's your name? I'm Vincent,"

The little girl slowly turned her head and looked at him. "I-I'm Aurielle. But everyone calls me Auri."

"Then, can I call you Auri?"

"Mmm." Auri nodded.

"Big brother..." She called.

"What is it?" Vincent couldn't bring his smile down. This was the happiest moment in his life since the towers descended—no, even before that, far before that. He couldn't remember the last time he felt happy - his life was a pile of worries.

"Will you take big sister Lilia away?" She asked.

"Wha..." Vincent tilted his head in confusion, and so did Lilia. 

"Y-You won't take her away, will you? She cares for you...but we also need her. I...I...I love her too!" Auri shouted. 

Livia blushed for a second. 

"Hahahaha..."

But the next second, everyone burst into laughter.

Vincent looked at Livia. "Don't worry, I won't take her away,"

Tap! Tap!

Livia patted Auri's head. "I can't believe what you're thinking. I won't be going anywhere,"

Auri just buried her head in Livia's chest.

"Vincent, you should eat. You'll need strength," Livia said. 

Vincent nodded and started eating. 

While he ate, everyone introduced themselves, briefly saying their lives and what they had experienced since the descent of the towers. They also mentioned how hard it was to live in fear of getting infected. 

'Those people live in fear because of me,' Vincent thought, taking the last bite of the bread. 'Yet they can still smile.'

'Even in times like those, they can still smile. Humans...can be so strong. Can I be as strong as them?'

"Aghh..."

A man suddenly grabbed his throat.

Thud!

He collapsed on his knees. 

"What's the matter?"

"Are you alright?"

Everyone rushed at him. 

"Aghhhh!" The main groaned in pain. 

Confusion spread quickly, but soon, they all got the answer. 

Thud! Thud!

The man's body started twitching on the ground, going up and down. 

"H-He is infected!" 

A person shouted. 

Thud! 

Thud!

Not long after, everyone started falling on the ground one by one. Their veins bulged and turned purple. Blood splashed from their mouth.

Vincent stared in terror, his whole body shaking. 

He realized it.

Once again, he brought forth destruction.