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Ch18:Killing spree 2
🕑 Added 2025-05-25 10:48:59 +0000 UTCThe scent of fire still lingered in the corridors of the old mall.
It clung to the air like an aftertaste of violence—smoke curling from melted ceiling tiles and scorched mannequins. The last few embers from Aiden's Molotov flickered weakly against the broken tiles, casting twitching shadows that danced along walls painted with soot.
But Aiden was already gone.
He'd vanished before the smoke had even begun to settle, slipping into the winding service corridors behind the stores, the narrow maintenance shafts, and back hallways where the regular foot traffic of shoppers had once never tread. His boots moved without sound. His breathing was low and practiced. In the tense stillness that followed the chaos, he became a ghost hunting ghosts.
Twelve walkers remained.
Not a mob. Not a threat.
Not anymore.
Aiden had turned the tide in his mind—this was no longer survival. This was extermination.
The First One was trapped in a ruined toy store. It stood listlessly among shattered RC cars and dolls whose glass eyes now stared blankly in all directions. The walker paced in slow, erratic circles near the register.
Aiden crouched atop a display shelf and waited. Watched its rhythm.
Then he leapt silently.
Steel flashed in the dim light as the katana severed the spine at the neck.
[Walker Killed: +2 EXP][Bonus Stealth Kill: +4 EXP]
The Second and Third were together, wandering between the food court tables. The trail of destruction from earlier hadn't reached this corner—greasy trays and overturned stools still sat as if waiting for lunch. Aiden tossed a pebble against a metal table leg.
Clang.
They turned. Predictably.
He slithered through the booths, slipping behind them.
The first took a blade between the vertebrae. The second turned just in time to see its fate—a flash of motion and silence eternal.
[2 Walkers Killed: +4 EXP][Bonus Stealth Kill: +8 EXP]
The Fourth was strange.
It was in a fitting room of a women's clothing boutique, slumped in a chair as if waiting for someone to come back. The room smelled of mildew and perfume. When Aiden opened the curtain, the walker twitched, lifted its head—and lunged.
He didn't flinch.
The blade slid up into the jaw before it could scream.
[Walker Killed: +2 EXP][Bonus Stealth Kill: +4 EXP]
He moved faster now.
The Fifth and Sixth were found near a toppled escalator, where a shattered glass display had spilled hundreds of sunglasses across the tile. Aiden waited until they drifted apart, then struck like lightning from behind a map kiosk. One fell instantly. The other turned—but Aiden had already stepped behind, guiding the blade through the base of the skull.
The only sound was the soft thud as it hit the floor.
[2 Walkers Killed: +4 EXP][Bonus Stealth Kill: +8 EXP]
Sevens through tens were scattered across the upper floors.
One was crawling, missing a leg, and dragging itself along near the emergency stairwell. Aiden ended it with a boot and a clean downward thrust. Another was frozen in place, arms tangled in shopping bags it couldn't remove. The kill was almost merciful.
He dispatched the rest with practiced efficiency—never rushing, never sloppy. Every move was clean, surgical.
[4 Walkers Killed: +8 EXP][Bonus Stealth Kill: +16 EXP]
Only two remained.
The last pair were deeper in the mall—beyond the electronics store, near the old security office and a still-standing coffee shop. Aiden approached with care. These were the final obstacles. But not the most dangerous—just the most symbolic.
He dropped one using a clever tactic: he unscrewed the bulb from an emergency light panel, causing it to flicker and buzz just enough to lure it. When the walker passed below the scaffolding, Aiden loosened a rusted vent cover, dropping it directly onto the creature's head. The impact crushed it instantly.
[Walker Killed: +2 EXP][Bonus Stealth Kill: +4 EXP]
The final walker… stood alone in the center of the old food court stage. A display from some long-past fashion event. It had no eyes. Burned out, maybe. But it sensed something. It paced, erratic and agitated, snarling at the air.
Aiden approached it from the side, watching its reaction. It turned toward him, growling—but he didn't stop.
No longer a hunter.
Now, an executioner.
The katana rose—then fell.
[Walker Killed: +2 EXP][Bonus Stealth Kill: +4 EXP]
Silence.
True silence.
No groans. No dragging limbs. No faint clicks of undead jaws searching for flesh.
Just Aiden, standing among the ruins of the dead.
Then—
[DING!]
[Quest Complete: Killing Spree]All Walkers Eliminated Inside the Mall [56/56]
Rewards Unlocked:
New Skill Unlocked: Novice Melee Mastery Lv. 1+200 EXP
Bonus EXP: +196 (Stealth Bonuses)
Total EXP Gained: 468 EXP
[New Skill Acquired!]
[Novice Melee Mastery Lv. 1] [1/100]You've learned the basics of efficient close-range combat.
• Increases melee weapon attack speed by 5%• Reduces stamina drain from melee attacks by 10%• Increases precision on weak points (critical strike chance +3%)
Aiden wiped his blade slowly on a scarf from a fallen mannequin. The blade, despite the wear, gleamed beneath the skylight above.
He stared upward.
This place—the mall, the battlefield—it was now his.
Not because he wanted it.
But because he survived it.
And from the blood and ash, he walked out of Perimeter Square a better warrior—one step closer to whatever the System was preparing him for.
Would you like to continue with Aiden looting the cleared mall for food, supplies, weapons, or hidden bonuses now that it's safe?
After the carnage came stillness.
The mall lay eerily quiet, a cathedral of broken glass and blood-streaked tile. Aiden had secured it—room by room, hallway by hallway. Now, with the battle behind him and his stamina fully restored after a few hours of rest in a barricaded staff lounge, he was ready to reap the rewards.
This was no longer enemy territory.
It was an opportunity.
His first target: the grocery store on the first floor—MetroFresh Market, once a bustling hive of coupon-waving shoppers and fluorescent lights. Now, the automatic doors hung open permanently, jammed long ago by a walker's rotting body still fused to the rubber mat by dried blood.
Aiden stepped through the threshold, katana still sheathed but close. He paused—listening.
Nothing. Just silence and the distant metallic creaks of a dead building breathing.
Good.
He activated his System Inventory's interface, filtering his current item categories for space. Thanks to the temporal freeze effect of the inventory, anything stored inside wouldn't spoil, decay, or degrade.
That meant this place… was gold.
He moved fast but precisely—sweeping down the aisles with practiced eyes.
Row by row, he worked:
Aisle 1 – Non-Perishable Food
He filled the System Inventory with:
Dozens of canned goods: beans, vegetables, stew, tuna, fruit.
Vacuum-sealed packs of pasta, rice, and ramen noodles.
Powdered drink mixes and instant coffee sachets.
A small stash of protein bars, energy chews, and MRE-style meals.
His hands were swift—each item scanned, mentally catalogued, then mentally willed into the System Inventory with a flick of the thought.
He made sure to grab salt, sugar, honey, and oil—essential for cooking and preservation down the line.
Aisle 2 – Drinks & Hydration
Next were liquids. He loaded:
Gallons of bottled water, both small and large.
A couple of sports drinks rich in electrolytes.
Bottles of apple juice, iced tea, and shelf-stable milk.
And—just because—a few bottles of soda, knowing morale mattered.
He found a pack of water purification tablets behind the counter near the manager's desk. Score.
Aisle 3 – Cooking & Dining Supplies
Here's where he got practical.
A full set of cooking utensils: spatulas, ladles, tongs.
Plates, metal cups, and durable bowls—plastic wouldn't cut it long term.
Steel cutlery, including steak knives and paring knives.
A couple of cutting boards and a manual can opener—essential.
He added a compact propane burner found in a camping kit section at the store's back, along with three fuel canisters.
Aisle 4 – Toiletries and Hygiene
Aiden moved quickly through this section, but didn't skip.
Toilet paper, soap, hand sanitizer, toothbrushes, and toothpaste.
Wet wipes, disposable razors, and a few packs of towels.
First-aid basics: cotton pads, antiseptic wipes, bandages, and iodine.
He even found a small mirror—folding and compact. Not just for hygiene. For tactics, too.
Aisle 5 – Bug Repellent and Home Essentials
The back of the store held shelves of often-overlooked essentials. But not by Aiden.
Bug repellent spray and citronella candles—mosquitoes carried disease.
Several rolls of duct tape, rope, and nylon string.
Sewing kit, super glue, and a multi-bit screwdriver set.
A few collapsible storage crates and even a hand-crank flashlight.
A compact foldable hatchet he almost missed on a low shelf.
He paused at a bundle of tarps, zip ties, and thick plastic sheeting—ideal for shelter reinforcement or makeshift weatherproofing.
Bonus Find – Building Materials in Storage Room
He forced open a door near the back labeled Staff Only. Inside was a dimly lit room with old seasonal supplies and minor repair stock.
Jackpot.
Boxes of screws, nails, and wall anchors.
Wooden planks stacked to the side, meant for shelving.
Cinder blocks, likely for display risers.
A box of unused work gloves, dust masks, and plastic goggles.
Even two paint buckets filled with dry quick-set cement mix.
Aiden loaded as much of it as he could—what didn't go into the System, he stuffed into the duffel bag on his back to keep appearances up.
By the time he stepped out of the store, the duffel sagged with plausible weight, and his system storage was overflowing with everything a survivor could want.
He made a mental note to review the items later, maybe sort them into categories for emergency prep, food rotation, or trade goods if he ever found others.
But for now?
Aiden exhaled slowly and looked down the main mall corridor—quiet, shadowed, but his.
A fortress of solitude… and survival.
Chapter: Steel, Sweat, and Survival
The sign above the store’s shattered entrance read:
"IronCore Sports & Outdoors"—its red lettering cracked but still proud.
To most, this was once a place for casual gearheads and weekend athletes. But to Aiden, it was a goldmine. In a dead world where fitness met survival, this was less a store and more a personal armory waiting to be stripped clean.
He stepped through the broken glass doorway, boots crunching faintly beneath him. Unlike the grocery store, this place had seen movement. Shelves were knocked over. Racks emptied. But Aiden knew better—most looters only took what was obvious. They didn’t think in terms of systems. They didn’t think like him.
He did.
Section 1 – Tactical & Combat Gear
Near the front was the tactical section, meant originally for survivalist athletes, paintball players, and campers. It now held a treasure trove of forgotten war-ready gear.
Aiden loaded into his limitless System Inventory:
Composite longbows, recurve bows, and a full display of carbon-fiber arrows with different heads—broadheads, hunting tips, and practice tips.
Several quivers, bowstrings, and finger tabs.
A hunting crossbow with a crank-draw system and six bolts still sealed in a plastic case.
Three combat knives and one full-tang survival machete with a rubberized handle.
Tactical holsters for sidearms, leg-rig and shoulder-mount styles.
Magazine pouches, ammo belts, and even a folding ballistic shield tucked behind the checkout desk like someone had meant to come back for it.
His eyes gleamed when he found a sealed weapon maintenance kit—oils, rods, brushes, and cloths for firearms, bladed weapons, and bowstrings. Absolutely essential.
Section 2 – Clothing & Armor
Aiden moved to the back wall, where mannequins once modeled performance hiking and combat gear.
He took:
A full set of moisture-wicking base layers and thermal undersuits.
High-end tactical pants with reinforced knees and deep cargo pockets.
Several gloves are designed for climbing, melee, and winter resistance.
A pair of military-grade hiking boots, brand new, high-ankle with steel toes.
Compression wraps and bracers for knees, wrists, and ankles.
Then he struck gold:
A locked cage marked "Restricted: Personnel Use Only."
A prybar from earlier made quick work of the latch.
Inside?
• A Kevlar-lined outdoor parka, with fire-resistant treatment.
• A set of shin guards, forearm guards, and a light tactical chest rig—smaller than the bulletproof vest he wore, but more mobile.
• A rare find: a stealth wetsuit, sealed and folded, clearly unused. Aiden could already imagine the infiltration potential.
Section 3 – Tools, Fitness, and Survival Training Gear
This was where the average looter saw "exercise stuff" and moved on.
Aiden saw training equipment.
And tools.
He picked:
A set of resistance bands, pull-up grips, and compact grip trainers for improving melee handling and katana retention.
Weighted training vests (could double as armor padding if reinforced).
Paracord, carabiners, belaying clips, and climbing harnesses.
Rappelling gloves and chalk powder, still sealed in packaging.
A foldable survival shovel, compass, and windproof matches.
He spotted a small display advertising “Survival in a Bag”—cheap touristy nonsense… but inside?
Compact fishing kit, firestarter rod, emergency blanket, solar flashlight, and a mini compass. All useful. All going in.
Section 4 – High Shelves and Hidden Cache
Aiden paused.
There were still some things out of easy reach—top shelves, behind signage, tucked away for staff restock.
He climbed with care, using a nearby display to hoist himself up. And there, hidden beneath a dusty banner?
A roll-top duffel marked “Titan Expedition Series.”
Inside:
Tactical slings for rifles and bows.
A box of military-grade MREs.
And… a compact emergency satellite beacon.
It blinked faintly—battery low, but functional. Could it send a signal? Could it listen?
He didn't know yet. But it was going with him.
Aiden stood in the middle of the ransacked sports store—every display empty, every shelf stripped.
But unlike any other looter before him, he’d taken everything of real value—not for resale, not for show, but for survival. For war.
He adjusted the weight of the duffel on his back, purely for appearance’s sake, and slid his katana’s scabbard back over his shoulder.
System Inventory Status:
– Capacity: Endless
– Current Items Stored: 438
He smiled faintly.
Time to hit the next store.
Inside the gutted quiet of IronCore Sports & Outdoors, Aiden stood among the hollowed shelves, the air thick with dust and the scent of aged rubber and leather. Stray sunlight poured in from a shattered skylight above, bathing the room in a pale golden hue. His eyes scanned over the array of newly scavenged gear now neatly laid out across the store’s checkout counter like an armory at rest.
It was time to upgrade.
He stepped forward, pulling off his old, worn pants and boots—the ones that had carried him through hell and back. They’d served their purpose, but now, survival demanded more.
High-End Tactical Pants
He slid into the high-end tactical pants, the fabric tough but flexible, layered with reinforced knees and lined with insulated mesh for breathability. The pants hugged his frame with precision—secure, silent, and battle-ready.
Multiple deep cargo pockets on either side gave him instant access to tools and ammo. Loops and D-rings along the hips were perfect for clipping gear or running a carabiner line.
Military-Grade Hiking Boots
Next came the military-grade hiking boots—high-ankled with steel-reinforced toes, shock-absorbing midsoles, and tread patterns designed for unstable terrain. He laced them tight, double-knotting them at the top before giving the heel a testing stomp.
The boots grounded him. Every step from now on would carry power, stability, and silence.
Tactical Holster for the M9
Aiden pulled the M9 from the sling of his duffel and holstered it into the new tactical thigh rig, securing it tightly against his right leg. The retention strap snapped into place with a satisfying click.
Three extra mags were slotted neatly into the ammo pouches that came integrated with the rig—secured, quick to draw, and balanced in weight. It was sleek, deadly, and professional.
Quiver, Finger Tabs, and Composite Longbow
He slung the quiver over his back, adjusting the strap to keep it tight against his shoulder. The carbon-fiber arrows gleamed under the filtered sunlight, the fletchings clean and razor-straight.
On his right hand, he slipped on the finger tabs—leather guards that would protect his fingers during long draws. The feeling of readiness settled in his bones as he picked up the composite longbow and did a few slow draw-backs with it.
Smooth. Tense. Deadly.
He wasn’t just armed—he was silent and efficient. In the world of rot and ruin, that meant everything.
Compression Wraps and Bracers
Before moving on, Aiden took a moment to prepare his joints. He wrapped his elbows and wrists in compression bands, layering the bracers on top. They protected his forearms from bowstring snap-back and enhanced his blocking in melee combat.
They fit snugly. He tested them with a few punches into the air, shadowboxing invisible enemies from memory.
No restriction. No hesitation.
Tactical Sling for the Bow
Finally, he attached the tactical sling to the bow itself, sliding it over his shoulder like a second scabbard across his back. It allowed for quick switching between weapons—katana, sidearm, and bow—without losing mobility.
He looked down at himself—now fully outfitted. From boots to bracers, every part of his body was wrapped in purpose.
No loose straps.
No clumsy weight.
Everything was made for survival… or war.
The mall had become his battleground. His hunting ground. His supply depot.
But now?
Now it felt like his domain.
Aiden adjusted his gloves and took a breath. He rolled his shoulders once, loosened the tension in his neck, and then quietly stepped back into the mall corridor—katana on his back, M9 holstered, arrows secured, bow slung diagonally across his spine.
Every sound he made was deliberate. Controlled. He was a shadow now, armed with steel and silence.
