The warehouse loomed ahead, its crumbling facade barely holding together after years of neglect. Broken windows and rusted metal sheets hung from the walls, the remnants of a once-functional structure now reduced to a shelter for the dead and those struggling to survive. The air was thick with the smell of rot, a harsh reminder of what the world had become.

Evan felt his pulse quicken as he followed the group through the dark alleyways, each step bringing them closer to the heart of danger. His hands were clammy around the crowbar, and his breath was shallow, his heart thumping erratically in his chest. The encounter with the zombies had been rough—too close for comfort—but it hadn’t been enough to scare him off. Not yet. There was too much at stake now. Claire, Jake, and the others seemed capable, but Evan wasn’t fool enough to think they would always be around to protect him. He had to learn to stand on his own, to fight if he wanted to survive.

As they reached the entrance to the warehouse, the group stopped, crouching behind a stack of old crates. The sound of shuffling feet echoed through the dark interior of the building, accompanied by the faint growls of the infected. It was a haunting sound—the noise of things that once were human, now reduced to mindless monsters.

Jake gave a quick hand signal, and the group immediately fell into formation. Lila, silent as ever, crouched low, her rifle aimed ahead. Kara gripped her machete tightly, ready for the inevitable close combat. Claire, as always, took the lead, her face set in a grim expression.

Evan swallowed hard, his throat dry. He glanced at her, then at the group. No one had said much since the warehouse raid was decided—no reassurances, no comforting words. This wasn’t about making friends; this was about survival.

"Ready?" Claire’s voice was soft but firm.

Evan nodded, his voice barely a whisper. “Ready.”

“Good. We’ll clear the first room and move quickly,” Jake whispered from behind. “Stay in position. Don’t make noise unless you have to.”

Claire gave a nod, then signaled for them to move forward. The group filed silently into the warehouse, keeping low and sticking to the shadows. Evan’s heart pounded as they moved deeper into the darkened interior, the smell of decay growing stronger with each step.

The warehouse was a cavernous space—massive shelves that had once held supplies now stood empty or overturned. Some of the shelves had collapsed entirely, their contents scattered across the floor in a chaotic mess. It was an eerie sight, made worse by the dim light filtering through the broken windows.

There were no sounds at first, save for their footsteps and the occasional groan from deeper in the warehouse. Evan’s senses were on high alert. He could feel the tension in the air, the ever-present fear that at any moment, a horde of zombies could swarm them.

"Keep your eyes open," Jake muttered, his voice low. "The place is infested."

Just as he finished speaking, a soft shuffle echoed from the far corner. Evan’s muscles tensed. His eyes darted toward the sound, heart racing as the shuffle grew louder. The first zombie stumbled into view, its grotesque face twisted with hunger. Its clothes were torn, hanging off its decaying body like ragged strips of fabric.

Before Evan could even react, Claire was already moving. She raised her crossbow and fired with deadly accuracy. The bolt hit the zombie square in the head, and it dropped instantly, its body crumpling to the ground with a sickening thud.

"One down," Claire muttered, her eyes scanning the shadows for more movement. "There’s more ahead. Stay sharp."

Evan felt a cold sweat forming on the back of his neck. His hands tightened around the crowbar, his grip slipping slightly from the sweat. This wasn’t like the encounter outside. This was inside, where escape was impossible. If they were swarmed, they wouldn’t make it out.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

Claire’s voice broke through his growing panic. “Evan, keep your head. Stay calm and keep close.”

He nodded, trying to focus. But the world seemed to narrow, the dark corners of the warehouse swallowing them whole. Every shadow could conceal a threat. His thoughts raced.

And then, without warning, the ground beneath his feet trembled.

Evan froze, his eyes snapping upward as a low rumble shook the air. His instincts screamed at him to move, to get out, but before he could react, the entire building seemed to shift.

"Move!" Jake shouted, his voice full of urgency.

Evan’s mind barely registered the order before the warehouse doors crashed open, and a wave of infected surged inside, howling and moaning with hunger. Evan’s blood ran cold. The warehouse was no longer just a hunting ground—it had become a deathtrap.

A dozen, maybe more, zombies spilled into the room, staggering toward them with relentless hunger. The noise of their guttural cries echoed throughout the space, a cacophony of death.

Evan’s heart pounded in his ears as the reality of the situation hit him. There was no turning back. His thoughts clouded with panic, but just as quickly, something snapped inside him—a gut feeling, an impulse, a sharp sense of clarity.

Suddenly, a voice spoke in his mind, deep and resonant.

“Genesis Level-Up System Activated. Initial Activation Complete.”

The words seemed to reverberate through him, not like an external voice, but a presence—something embedded deep within him. For a moment, the chaos of the world around him seemed to slow. His breathing steadied, and his mind cleared, as if the fog of panic had been wiped away. He felt… different. Stronger.

“System Ready for User Input.”

Evan’s heart skipped a beat. His hands clenched around the crowbar again, but this time, something was different. He felt the surge of power moving through his veins, his senses sharpening. His muscles seemed to hum with energy, like something deep inside him had been unlocked.

Without thinking, he raised the crowbar, and in one smooth motion, swung it at the nearest zombie’s skull. The impact was immediate and brutal. The zombie’s head caved in with a sickening crack, and it crumpled to the floor in a lifeless heap.

Evan barely registered the action. His focus was on something else now—the system, the power he had just unlocked. His thoughts raced as he scanned his surroundings. There were more zombies, closing in, but for the first time since he’d entered this world, Evan felt… capable. More than capable. He felt like a force in his own right.

He turned to see Jake and Claire fighting side by side, their movements fluid and practiced. Lila had already moved to the upper level, her rifle picking off zombies from a distance. Kara was in the thick of it, her machete flashing as she cut down zombie after zombie.

But Evan was no longer just a bystander. He was part of this fight.

“Genesis Level-Up System – Skill Activation.”

A surge of energy coursed through Evan’s limbs. His body felt faster, stronger. The weight of the crowbar in his hands seemed lighter, more fluid. He moved with precision, his strikes landing with deadly accuracy. The zombies fell one after another, crumpling like ragdolls. His body moved on instinct, guided by the new power that surged within him.

He didn’t know how it was happening, or what the system even was, but Evan was no longer the same person. His movements were sharp, precise—each hit stronger than the last. His fear was replaced by something else—adrenaline, focus, and a deep sense of control.

“Level 1: Combat Mastery Activated.”

A flood of new sensations rushed through him. His vision sharpened. His hearing expanded. His reflexes heightened. Everything moved in slow motion as the world around him seemed to bend to his will.

In that moment, Evan was no longer the same terrified man who had stumbled into this world. He was something new—something capable. Something powerful.

The zombies didn’t stand a chance.

Evan swung the crowbar again, taking out another, then another. Each strike felt effortless, as if he had done this a thousand times before. The tension in his body had dissolved, replaced with a calm certainty. His thoughts were sharp, his actions even sharper. He had found his rhythm.

In the chaos of battle, Claire turned toward him, her eyes widening in surprise as Evan took down two more zombies with ease. “What the hell…?” she muttered, but she didn’t have time to say anything more.

Jake shot her a look, his voice tense but impressed. “Looks like our new guy’s got a gift.”

Evan didn’t respond. He was too focused on the fight. The zombies continued to fall, and with each strike, he felt stronger, more in control. The system wasn’t just a tool—it was becoming a part of him. And with it, he had the power to survive.

The battle raged on, but Evan Barn—no, Evan—had already begun his transformation.