As the darkness slowly creeps over the school, my stomach growls fiercely. When was the last time I'd eaten? Was it breakfast? Time seems to blur in this nightmare. I decide to risk a trip to the cafeteria, hoping to find something – anything – to quiet the gnawing hunger.

As I move toward the cafeteria, a chill runs down my spine. Something feels... off. I slow my pace, straining my ears for any sign of danger.

That's when I hear it – a rhythmic chopping sound, so ordinary and yet so out of place at this time and place. My hand instinctively tightens around my javelin as I creep closer to the cafeteria doors. The sound grows louder, accompanied by the clinking of metal utensils.

I hesitate as I reach for the door handle. What will I find inside? Another survivor? Or something far worse? I take a deep breath, steadying my nerves, and push the door open.

The sight that greets me is surreal. Moonlight streams through the windows, casting long shadows across the room. And there, in the center of it all, stands a figure hunched over a counter, methodically chopping away at something I can't quite make out.

I step deeper inside, my footfalls muffled. As my eyes adjust to the dim light, details begin to emerge. The figure is massive, its body bulging unnaturally beneath tattered clothes. My stomach churns as a sickening realization dawns on me.

Suddenly, the figure whirls around, and I find myself face-to-face with a nightmare. It is a zombie, but unlike any I've encountered before. Its skin is a sickly, pallid color, stretched taut over a grotesquely swollen frame. Milky white eyes stare vacantly, yet I sense an unsettling spark of intelligence within them.

Blood drips from the enormous meat cleaver clutched in its bloated hand, each drop hitting the floor with a soft, menacing 'plop'. My gaze flickers to the counter, where a mangled mass of... something... lies partially chopped. I swallow hard, fighting the urge to retch.

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A blue screen materializes before my eyes, the System's interface providing a chilling designation:

Level 10 Zombie Chef.

The creature's dead eyes lock onto mine, and for a moment, I stand frozen, my mind reeling from the scene before me. The Zombie Chef tightens its grip on the cleaver, a hungry gleam appearing in its lifeless eyes. The air in the cafeteria feels oppressive, as if the very life is being sucked out of it.

Then, a spark of realization ignites within me. I am level 15 – I outrank this monstrosity. The realization steadies my nerves, and I remember the stat points I've been saving. Without hesitation, I allocate all ten points to agility.

The System's interface flashes, confirming the update:

Status Window

Race: Human

Gender: Male

Name: Kei Sato

Level: 15

Health: 300/300

Health Regen: 0.03/Second

Mana: 100/100

Mana Regen: 0.01/Second

Stamina: 300/300

Stamina Regen: 0.03/Second

Strength: 20

Dexterity: 20

Agility: 45

Vitality: 30

Intelligence: 10

Luck: 10

Damage Reduction: 3%

Critical Chance: 1%

Unallocated Points: 0

A surge of energy courses throughout my body. My limbs feel lighter, more responsive. The boost in agility is subtle but undeniable – and it’s exactly what I need to face this new threat.

I begin to back away slowly, my javelin aimed squarely at the Zombie Chef's bloated chest. The weapon feels like an extension of my arm, ready to strike at a moment's notice. As I retreat, the creature lets out a bone-chilling roar that reverberates throughout the empty cafeteria.

Thick, viscous drool oozes from its mouth, adding to its revolting appearance.

With surprising speed for its size, it lurches towards me, its bloodied cleaver raised high.