Chapter 265

Aria Bennett and her team sprinted toward the supermarket's main entrance.

The air was filled with bloodcurdling screams and the guttural growls of zombies, sending chills down their spines.

"Now this feels right," Aria tightened her grip on the machete. "A supermarket should be this lively."

Ezra Vaughn let out a low whistle. "The producers really went all out with the sound effects this time."

"Stop treating this like a game," Aria said sharply, her expression grave. "From now on, this is a real apocalypse."

She scanned her teammates. "Side quests were just the warm-up. The main mission is where things get serious."

Ronan Caldwell nodded in agreement. "Aria's right. We need to be all in."

"Help! Please, help us!"

A shrill cry cut through their conversation.

Inside a fast-food restaurant, a mother was desperately fending off two zombies with a mop, shielding a trembling little boy behind her.

"What are you waiting for?" Aria kicked Miles Sutton. "Go!"

Miles hesitated. "But... aren't these just projections?"

"What if they're real?" Aria shot back. "Would you just stand there and watch?"

The three exchanged glances before grabbing their weapons and charging forward.

After dispatching the zombies, the mother collapsed to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably as she clutched her child.

A tear from the boy landed on Miles's hand—warm, too real to be data.

"Hell..." Ezra muttered. "This is way too realistic."

As they pressed on, they rescued several more groups of survivors.

The parking lot was already swarming with teams scrambling for vehicles.

"Split up and find an armored SUV!" Ronan ordered.

While searching alone, Aria was suddenly ambushed by a zombie.

Her reflexes kicked in—she swung the machete.

Squelch.

Black blood sprayed.

Aria paled, her hands trembling slightly around the weapon.

The live feed captured the moment perfectly.

The comments exploded:

[Who said Aria only bosses men around? Step forward!]

[First zombie kill and that reaction? So authentic.]

[Damn, those moves—I'm in love.]

[Five kills already? She adapts way too fast.]

After rescuing a bespectacled man, he suddenly said, "The military is sending reinforcements."

Aria's eyes lit up. "Do you know how to get to Meridian Plaza?"

"It's over an hour on foot," the man adjusted his glasses. "Unless... I could take you there?"

Aria narrowed her eyes. This NPC... seemed to know a little too much.