NOVEL WEB
Chapter 3: Hidden Choices: Zorvax Confronts the Unknown Option!
Standing amidst the desolate backdrop of the city, Zorvax faced the interface with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. The glow of the "Evolve" button illuminated his gaunt face, casting deep shadows over his hollow cheeks. His finger, skeletal and covered in tattered flesh, hovered over the button.
He tapped it, more out of curiosity than confidence. Instantly, two new words floated up, each promising a different future:
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[Swift Zombie]
[Thick Zombie]
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Zorvax scratched his head, bits of dried skin flaking off as he did. "Swift or Thick, huh? That's the choice?" he muttered, his voice barely rising above a whisper.
The interface responded, expanding on the two options with brief descriptions:
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[Swift Zombie: A nimble and agile zombie capable of darting through the horde with unrivaled speed.]
[Thick Zombie: A hulking behemoth of an undead, possessing incredible durability and strength.]
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He squinted at the words, trying to picture himself as either. As a Swift Zombie, he'd zip around like a gust of wind. As a Thick Zombie, he'd be a juggernaut, plowing through obstacles with sheer brawn.
"Hmm..." Zorvax hummed to himself. He imagined darting swiftly through the ruins, a blur to any who might see. Then, he pictured himself as an imposing titan, unyielding and robust.
It was a tough call. Speed could get him out of sticky situations, but strength meant power, and in this world, power was everything.
"Speed or strength?" Zorvax asked aloud, hoping for a sign, an epiphany, anything.
He paced back and forth, his shuffling feet a rhythmic counterpoint to his racing thoughts. His movements were jerky, uncoordinated - the product of a body not quite his own.
"Well, let's think about this," Zorvax started, speaking to the air. "If I'm fast, I can run from anything, grab what I need, and zip away. But if I'm strong, maybe I won't need to run. Maybe nothing will dare challenge me."
He stopped pacing, standing still as the choice weighed on him like a leaden vest. He had never been particularly strong or fast in life. But now, in death, he could be either. It was an opportunity, a chance to redefine himself.
With a deep, crackling inhale, he made his choice. "Alright, I've made up my mind. I've been weak, and I've been slow. But no more. I choose..." His voice trailed off as he reached the interface, his decision made. "I've endured the darkness," he declared, his tone a mix of defiance and hope. "And now, it's time to embrace my destiny. I choose..."
The interface awaited, ready to implement his choice, to guide him down the path he had chosen. Whatever the future held, Zorvax was ready to meet it head-on as a new being forged from the remnants of the old world.
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As Zorvax stood at the crossroads, wavering between the paths of Swift Zombie and Thick Zombie, a sudden twist disrupted his contemplation as a third option suddenly appeared.
The interface's sudden offer of a third path left Zorvax feeling like he'd hit a snag. He had been ready to evolve, to step onto one of two paths, but now there was a mystery option waving at him, yet out of reach. The faint glow of the holographic screen cast eerie patterns on the ground, and the moans of distant zombies provided a dreary backdrop to his dilemma.
He grumbled, staring at the new option labeled only with a cryptic "100 points to unlock." "Well, that's just great. Another choice and I don't even have the points for it," he mumbled.
The frustration was evident in his stance; he slouched, his movements sluggish with indecision. Even his normal zombie grunts seemed to carry a note of irritation. "First the Swift and Thick thing, and now this? What am I supposed to do with this?" He waved a ragged hand at the third option as if it could hear him.
Zorvax paced back and forth, his feet dragging across the litter-strewn pavement. "I mean, what's behind door number three? It could be anything. It could be what I need... But is it worth the risk?"
His pacing took him in a small circle, and for a moment, he stopped and looked skyward. "A sign would be nice right about now," he said, though he knew the sky, overcast and unchanging, would offer no answers.
But the draw of what the unknown path could be was too strong. He pressed his hand against the interface and muttered with resolve, "I've come too far to back down now."
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[Zombie Elite: A zombie with enhanced strength and speed, embodying the elite of zombies]
[Condition to evolve : 200 Evolution Points]
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The new title "Zombie Elite" emerged on the screen, and a wave of excitement washed over him. "Yes! That's what I'm talking about. Top of the line," he cheered quietly to himself.
But the excitement was short-lived as the new price tag of 200 points flashed up. Zorvax's initial thrill turned into a growl of frustration. "Two hundred? They can't be serious!"
He took a deep, unnecessary breath and squared his shoulders, or at least what remained of them. "Alright then, more work it is. Those points won't collect themselves."
Determined, Zorvax set off into the city again, his every step a silent promise to reach that lofty goal. With each zombie he felled, a new point was added to his tally, bringing him closer to becoming the "Zombie Elite."
"Plus one," he counted each time the interface chimed in with the announcement. "Plus one more."
However, the grind was real, and the tediousness of his task weighed on him. "Just how many of you do I have to go through?" he asked the air, his voice tinged with exhaustion.
Then, amidst the monotony, a new sound cut through the silence—voices. Human voices. He crept closer, moving as silently as a whispering wind, and huddled behind the remains of what once was a decorative pillar.
Two survivors, armed and alert, were conversing in low tones. One was bandaging the other's arm, their words filled with a grim determination to keep going despite the odds.
Zorvax cocked his head, listening. They spoke of finding a safe place, of the loss of friends, and the constant threat of zombies.
He wrestled with the urge to step out and introduce himself. "To be or not to be... social, that is," he chuckled softly at his attempt at humor.
He remained hidden, observing them. Their body language spoke of wariness, of a bond forged by survival. They were alive in a way he once was, a reminder of his past humanity.
"Maybe they can get more points faster," he pondered aloud. "Or maybe they're just more trouble than they're worth."
He watched them for a few moments longer, his mind a whirlwind of possibilities. Then, with a nod to himself, he decided.
"I've got to take the chance. Who knows, they might know something useful," he whispered.
With careful, deliberate movements, Zorvax prepared to make his presence known, aware that the decision could change everything. It was a gamble, but in this new world, every choice was a gamble—one he was now ready to take.