Afraid of being demoralized by the Maya system, Fang Chong, devoid of confidence, abruptly left the consciousness room.

Upon regaining consciousness, the room remained pitch-black, devoid of any sound.

Today was destined to be a sleepless night; Fang Chong curled up in a corner and fell into a deep sleep.

Nighttime always passes particularly quickly. When the first rays of sunlight illuminated Fang Chong's face as they penetrated the window, he woke up.

"Is it dawn?" Fang Chong looked at the disheveled room, where, apart from the numerous meteorite impacts leaving shattered stones on the windowsill, everything, including the sofa, was charred.

Looking at the chaotic scene, Fang Chong marveled at the miracle of surviving in such an environment yesterday.

The sun remained the same, but the world had changed.

Perhaps due to the early hour, Fang Chong didn't hear any sounds from the street outside, not even the usual hum of car engines.

In this environment, the atmosphere felt especially eerie.

However, Fang Chong knew that if it weren't for being unexpectedly hit by the 'Maya system,' even if he were alive today, he wouldn't have thought that the whole world had changed.

Maybe, just like Maya said, stepping outside would turn one into a 'zombie.'

...

"Please host, choose today's tasks." Just as Fang Chong was about to walk over to the window to see the current situation outside, Maya's system voice echoed in his mind.

"Are there still tasks to be completed?" Fang Chong looked around the room. After confirming that there was nothing threatening him, he entered Maya's system.

"Yes, today is the first day of Earth's doomsday. The host needs to complete three tasks." After entering Maya's system, a virtual image appeared in front of Fang Chong.

"Do completing system tasks help with my level's advancement?" Fang Chong didn't find the appearance of this virtual image strange. 

"Yes, after the host completes three tasks today, a very generous gift package will be sent to the host in the evening," the Maya system replied without denial.

"What are the tasks?" Fang Chong, somewhat excited, although he didn't know what was in the so-called gift package, believed that it wouldn't disappoint him based on Maya system's words.

"If you complete system tasks today, it will help with the host's level advancement." Fang Chong, after understanding the benefits, quickly chose the three tasks most favorable to him.

"Just the first three tasks." Fang Chong confirmed.

"Host's selection complete. After completing the tasks, the system gift package will be sent to the host in the evening." The Maya system confirmed Fang Chong's decision.

"The weakness of zombies is in the head." Fang Chong, not in a hurry to leave the room to complete the tasks, sat in a corner and watched the memories transferred to him by the Maya system.

After humans are infected with the virus and become zombies, not only does their strength increase, but their bodies and skin also undergo changes. Although they still bleed, even if their limbs are cut off, they won't feel pain. To completely kill zombies, the most direct method is to decapitate them.

Knowing the most fatal weakness of zombies, Fang Chong closed his eyes in pain.

Although he knew that if he didn't kill those zombies now, he would be infected and even torn apart by zombies, actually going to cut off their heads made Fang Chong doubt his own ability.

"Forget it, let's go for it." Fang Chong gritted his teeth, stood up from the ground after collecting some items into his backpack—mostly food and water. He found two somewhat rusty knives in his kitchen, a kitchen knife and a watermelon knife. Now there was no other choice; he had to use them.

Left hand holding the kitchen knife, right hand carrying the watermelon knife, Fang Chong walked out of his house.

The quiet staircase, apart from the sound of Fang Chong's own breathing, felt as if time had stopped.

Fang Chong focused all his energy, slowing down his breath as much as possible.

Bending slightly, trying not to make too much noise, although zombies, due to the virus infection, have reduced vision, their hearing and smell have become more sensitive. What Fang Chong feared most was making a sound; one careless move, and a zombie might rush over from the side.

Fortunately, Fang Chong didn't spot a single zombie from the third floor to the first. This situation was exactly what Fang Chong hoped for. Those tenants were people Fang Chong was most familiar with on ordinary days; he was afraid to encounter them, unable to strike.

After letting out a sigh of relief, Fang Chong gently opened the iron gate of the staircase.

"Click."

A not-so-small sound came from the lock of the iron gate.

"Damn it, I actually forgot that this broken lock would make noise." The clicking sound from the iron gate lock seemed exceptionally loud in the early morning street, and Fang Chong knew trouble was coming.