Two items. One ultraviolet flashlight and one attribute candy.
Leonard picked up the flashlight first to examine it.
Ultraviolet Flashlight
Level: None
Category: Tool
Attribute: Electric
Effect A: Standard illumination.
Effect B: High-powered UV light, close to natural sunlight, lasts for 5 seconds.
Cooldown (Effect B): 2 minutes
Battery: 100/100
Description: Do I really need to teach you how to use this thing?
No explanation needed.
Anyone with half a brain would instantly know what it's for.
Of course. It's for zombies!
Zombies lurk at night, most likely afraid of sunlight.
Shining this on a zombie? Yeah, it's not going to enjoy that.
Only one way to find out for sure.
Leonard then picked up the attribute candy.
This one was simple.
Attribute Candy
Category: Food
Attribute: Sugar
Effect: Grants 1 freely assignable attribute point after consumption.
Description: Just eat it. .
A stat booster!
Even one point helps. Drops of water make an ocean.
Leonard unwrapped the colorful packaging and popped the candy into his mouth, crunching it down.
[Gained 1 freely assignable attribute point. Usable at any time.]
A new point appeared on Leonard's stat panel.
Spirit, Strength, Agility, Constitution.
The point could be applied to any of the four.
Each stat came with a description:
Spirit affects sanity.
Strength affects physical attack power.
Agility affects speed, dodge rate, and critical hits.
Constitution affects stamina, defense, and health.
Leonard thought for a moment.
At this stage, physical damage mattered the most!
He put the point into Strength.
A warm current surged through his body, his muscles twitching as if electrified.
"Damn, that zombie kill was totally worth it."
"Leveled up, gained a new skill, got a new item. My power level is now way above the average player!"
Leonard was thrilled.
His eyes gleamed. He was actually starting to enjoy this dorm survival game.
At least it was better than the dead-end life he had before.
Just then, the player group chat lit up.
Max had just killed a zombie.
His lackeys were hyping him up, snapping photos and recording videos, which they posted in the public chat.
[Zombies are nothing!]
[See that? This is me, soloed this zombie!]
[You can't go wrong following Max!]
[Pretty girls who want protection better make a move now! I will keep you safe all the way home!]
So Max had killed one too.
But Leonard was clearly first, so he got the first-kill reward.
Creak, creak…
Outside the door, the fat zombie was still clawing at it.
Leonard thought for a moment and made a decision.
He couldn't just hole up all night. He needed to go on the offensive!
Zombies were still weak right now. It was a golden opportunity to grow stronger.
Strike while the iron's hot.
He psyched himself up, approached the door, and suddenly flung it open.
The fat zombie was knocked back by the swing and landed flat on its rear.
Leonard raised his flashlight and flipped the switch.
There were two modes. He turned it to max: ultraviolet.
A sharp purple light lit up the zombie's face.
It actually worked like a charm.
The fat zombie let out a shriek, covering its face as exposed skin began to blister and bubble.
Perfect timing.
Leonard rushed forward, swinging a red fire axe with his left hand.
He struck the zombie square in the temple.
The blow knocked it flat, the axe lodging deep into the bone.
Leonard stepped forward, stomped down on the zombie, and yanked the axe free, then struck again and again.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The fat zombie's head was smashed into pulp.
A foul stench filled the air.
Blood and gore splattered Leonard's face and body.
He didn't care. It wasn't the time to be squeamish.
The kill earned him 10 XP, but no loot dropped.
Still, Leonard searched the body.
It wasn't for nothing.
He found a chocolate bar in the zombie's pocket.
Consuming it would slightly restore sanity, stamina, and fullness.
Just what he needed.
He ripped it open and finished it in a few quick bites.
Then he headed to Room 838.
Inside, Rebecca had been peeking through the peephole, watching Leonard kill two zombies and now he was heading her way.
Bloodstained and axe in hand, Leonard looked like he walked straight out of a horror movie.
Rebecca's heart jumped to her throat.
Compared to this man, even zombies seemed less scary.
"Open the door."
Leonard's tone was practically a command.
"W-what do you want?" Rebecca asked, frightened.
"We're partners. I'm here to give you a little something. It's not fair if you're the only one contributing."
"A little something…"
Rebecca's mind ran wild. Was he about to lose control?
She hesitated but opened the door.
She didn't have much choice. He clearly had the power to break in.
Leonard stood at the threshold, flipped his fire axe, and handed it to her.
"I've got a spare, so this one's for you. Use it to protect yourself and keep an eye on the place. If anyone touches my door, DM me immediately."
He emphasized the last sentence.
So that's what he meant by "a little something"…
Rebecca looked at the axe that had just slaughtered zombies.
She was a little grossed out, but still took it.
"It's already nighttime, and you're still heading out?" she asked.
"Yeah. It's the first day of the game. It's crucial," Leonard replied.
Rebecca nodded silently.
She still wanted to leave, to go home, not be part of this absurd kill-or-be-killed game.
Bang.
The door to Room 838 closed.
Leonard didn't leave immediately.
He returned to fix his own door.
The fat zombie had scratched it up badly, reducing its durability by 10 points.
With wood, nails, and a parts kit, it could be repaired.
Leonard patched it up before heading out.
He'd only gone a few steps.
When a door across the hall suddenly burst open.
A male zombie in a white shirt lunged out, snarling, saliva dangling from its sharp teeth.
Leonard was caught off guard. His Sanity stat took a hit.
The white-shirt zombie stumbled, steadied itself, then turned to face him.
With a roar, it charged.
A burst of ultraviolet light flashed.
The zombie recoiled instantly, shielding its face in panic.
Leonard's blood boiled, time to test his skill.
Triple Strike!