Chapter 18 Physical Enhancement
Before the apocalypse, the girl had posted daily life updates. Iris learned her mother had passed away young, her father had remarried, and her stepmother had soon given birth to a boy and a girl, leaving her all but invisible in the family.
The family had been lucky enough to survive the initial outbreak by hiding at home, but food had quickly grown scarce.
No need to guess what came next–she’d be the one sent out to
risk her life.
It was almost tragic how optimistic she was, walking willingly into danger.
Noticing the girl’s latest post had gone up five minutes earlier, Iris typed out a response.
[First, armor yourself. Put on the thickest, sturdiest clothes you have. Wrap your hands and feet in tape three times. Wear a helmet and carry a backpack. Plan a clear route–target the nearest convenience store, don’t go anywhere else! If you have a shovel or baseball bat, take those as weapons. If not, use a bed frame. Don’t take a kitchen knife–it can’t cut through zombies, and once it gets stuck, you won’t be able to pull it out. If you run into a zombie, aim for the head–that’s their weak spot. Don’t be scared. It’s still early days; overcome your fear, and you can beat thefin!]
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After typing the last line, Iris hit send.
She’d seen a bit of her past self in the girl, so she’d generously shared her experience.
Whether the girl saw it or followed the advice, though, would be up to fate.
With that done, Iris started physical training at the base.
Iris planned to get her physical condition back to peak form over the next few days.
As she began exercising, a notification chimed in her head.
“Ding–Supreme Lord System activated.
“Limited time: 10 days! Rewards will be granted for improvements in the host’s combat effectiveness!
“Final reward will be determined by completion rating!”
Iris‘ eyes widened in surprise.
Already mid–workout, she felt a surge of motivation.
This time, she was determined to hit 100% completion.
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Inside the bomb shelter, Iris launched into a grueling military–style training regimen.
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“Three hundred and fifty–four… 355… 356… 360!”
Sweating profusely, she finished 360 sets of exercises.
By the time she completed her final plank, her body felt like it was falling apart–every last ounce of energy drained.
Yet beneath the exhaustion, she could feel her limits stretching further with each rep.
She was improving, growing stronger–bit by bit.
This training routine had been taught to her by Logan Depp, her most loyal subordinate back in the base.
Once a soldier, Logan had been sent to Aster City for rescue missions after the apocalypse, only to be abandoned by his superiors. His comrades had either died or scattered, leaving him alone to flee to Earth Base, where Iris had found and saved
him.
Quiet and taciturn, Logan was a man of action–Iris‘ most trusted blade.
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Many teams had tried to poach him, but he’d refused.
Once a soldier, his loyalty was unbreakable; having pledged allegiance to Iris, Logan would never waver.
Later, during a massive zombie siege, he’d sacrificed himself in front of her.
After finishing her training, Iris thought back to her past life. But her path was different now–she’d likely never cross paths with those people or events again.
She should be grateful; this time, she had Summer, and that was more than enough.
Dragging her tired body to the shower, she prepared a bowl of oats and quinoa, heated up ten ready–to–eat MRES, and fried five scrambled eggs.
Fresh out of the shower, Iris topped the oats and quinoa with all the food, cracked open a can of soda, and settled in front of the computer with the bowl in her lap.
She’d burned through a ton of calories, so she needed to refuel.
Supplies were plentiful, plus a steady stream of eggs, chickens, and fish–she could eat whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted.
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As Iris opened her computer to find a movie to watch, she noticed several new messages on the thread where she’d replied to the girl.
[I followed your advice! I climbed over the back garden of our community, where there are the fewest people, and sure enough, I didn’t see any zombies!]
[I made it to the convenience store safe! I had to hit three people —I was terrified! But it’s okay, the store’s empty!]
[I filled my backpack with supplies–granola bars, canned beans, and bottled water! I’m on my way back now! Thank you, Mr. Midsummer!]
Seeing “Mr. Midsummer,” Iris let out a soft chuckle.
Her online username was “Midsummer,” so the girl had mistaken her for a guy.
After a moment’s thought, she found the girl’s private message inbox and sent a single warning: [Don’t go home! Barricade the convenience store door and hide in the small staff warehouse!]
The store had food and water, and its location was usually good.
The zombie outbreak had hit early in the morning–while the streets seemed overrun, their numbers were actually Bnageable.
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In the apocalypse, people—not zombies–were the real threat.
Barricading the convenience store door and hiding in the narrow warehouse would keep her safe, with plenty of supplies. When the rescue convoy arrived, she’d be first in line to
evacuate.
Residential areas, packed with people, were death traps.
Countless hidden zombies lurked in every corner. Once people started venturing out for supplies, the community would be hit by a massive zombie crisis.
Escaping and staying away from crowds was the only path to safety.
However, the girl never got a reply to her warning.
Maybe the girl had already headed home–lucky enough to make it back, or unlucky enough to meet her end on the way.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
