Forty years old, awakening attribute panel

Chapter 277 Extra 01
"Awoo--" The shrill roar was like a call from hell. A mutilated zombie, with only half of its body left, struggled in despair. It used its last bit of strength to grab Jiang Sheng's calf. Jiang Sheng, once an ordinary man, has grown into a ruthless survivor under the baptism of doomsday. Facing this sudden attack, he did not hesitate at all and stomped heavily. With the dull sound of bones breaking, the zombie's head instantly turned into a pool of blurred flesh and blood.

However, this short-lived victory did not bring a chance to breathe, as the surroundings seemed to be shrouded in the breath of death. Countless pairs of withered arms, with greed and unconscious desires, stretched out from all directions, like tentacles in the dark, tightly wrapped around Jiang Sheng's neck, arms, chest and thighs, and sharp teeth bit into his flesh mercilessly. Pain and fear intertwined, in this moment of life and death, Jiang Sheng's eyes flashed with an unyielding light.

"Kang Sheng!" Downstairs, Moon Hyo-ri's shout penetrated the chaos, her eyes full of anxiety and determination. This once weak woman, under the pressure of doomsday, also became a warrior who could take up arms to protect her companions. She quickly picked up the assault rifle, her finger firmly on the trigger, and fired several shots, accurately shooting at the zombies who were trying to devour Jiang Sheng's life. The gunshots were crisp and powerful, like the judgment of the god of death, interrupting the attacks of several zombies.

"Fuck you." Jiang Sheng cursed, the pain and anger aroused the wildness in him. He took out a bone-chopping knife with his backhand and swung it with amazing force. The knife flashed like lightning, and the heads of two zombies fell to the ground. But even so, his calf was not spared, and was deeply embedded by the teeth of another zombie.

"Bang, bang, bang—" Moon Hyo-ri's gunshots rang out again. The support at the critical moment was like a rain of blessings from heaven, repelling the zombies that were about to touch Jiang Sheng's neck artery one by one. Jiang Sheng, who was hovering on the edge of life and death, was able to catch his breath for a while.

Without time to take care of the wound on his leg, Jiang Sheng rushed down the stairs, picked up another assault rifle, and without hesitation, he fired wildly at the zombies above. His figure seemed particularly resolute in the smoke, like an unshakable god of war, explaining what "one man guarding the pass, ten thousand men cannot open it." The narrow stairs became a natural fortification. Although there were many zombies, it was difficult for them to form an effective offensive due to space limitations.

Black pus and rotten flesh splashed in the air, and the air was filled with a disgusting stench, but in such an environment, Jiang Sheng's will became even stronger. As Moon Hyo-ri said, in the face of death, all instinctive fears seemed to be thrown behind him, and his senses became extremely sharp. Except for the zombies, everything around him seemed to no longer exist.

"When two men meet on a narrow road, the bravest one wins." This is not just an old saying, but also a manifestation of a spirit. Driven by this spirit, Jiang Sheng forgot the threat of death and his potential was fully stimulated. Every shot he made was accurate and every bullet was a fatal blow to the zombies. Every shot hit the head, showing his extraordinary combat intuition and accuracy.

At this moment, Jiang Sheng seemed to be driven by an invisible force, and his little universe completely exploded. This was not a simple explosion of power, but a feat of surpassing the limit, challenging himself, and racing against death. In this baptism of doomsday, Jiang Sheng was not only fighting against zombies, but also fighting against his own fear and weakness, and in this struggle, he had achieved a preliminary victory.

Under Moon Hyo-ri's gaze, Kang Seung's back seemed to become an indestructible steel wall, standing tall and protecting her from all the winds and rains in the doomsday storm. An indescribable emotion surged in her heart, with a strong desire for hope of survival and an incredible shock. This power almost brought her to a climax of the soul, which was the highest praise for vitality and a profound experience of the unspoken trust between partners.

However, Jiang Sheng's physical condition was deteriorating rapidly. His consciousness began to blur, and a gentle and bewitching voice echoed in his mind, which was the whisper of exhaustion and death, trying to pull him into a permanent sleep. "Child, you are tired, take a rest..." This sentence was like a spell, making his eyelids heavier and heavier, and every time he raised his arms, it seemed to weigh a thousand pounds.

Jiang Sheng's eyes gradually became bloodshot, and the rhythm of his temple beating in sync with his heartbeat reminded him that a life-and-death struggle was taking place in his body. He knew that once he fell, he would never wake up again. So he made a painful but decisive choice - biting his tongue. The fishy sweetness and pain that surged up at that moment were like a shot of cardiotonic, temporarily sobering up his chaotic consciousness. He grabbed the bone-chopping knife behind his waist and fought a desperate battle with the zombies like a madman.

Seeing this, Moon Hyo-ri became extremely anxious. She continued firing while desperately pulling Kang Seung's arm, shouting at him to retreat at the top of her lungs: "Come back, come back!" But Kang Seung seemed unable to hear her shouts. His eyes were red and he glared at her, and his fight with the zombies became more and more intense.

Moon Hyo-ri finally realized the seriousness of the situation. She desperately dragged Jiang Sheng back and ran towards the laboratory. There, Robert Neville was conducting an experiment concerning the fate of mankind. The antiviral drugs injected into the little zombies carried all their hopes. Neville's eyes were fixed on every subtle change of the little zombies, his hands clenched, and his inner tension and expectation coexisted.

At this moment, the zombies' invasion became more urgent, and they even broke through the obstacles of the stairs and approached step by step. Wen Xiaoli had to be distracted and continued to pick up the gun to resist, but the situation was already precarious.

Suddenly, a huge zombie leader was thrown into the laboratory by an inexplicable force, and its appearance instantly solidified the already tense atmosphere. This was not only a direct threat to them, but also a big test of whether the experiment could succeed.

Neville finally came back to his senses from the experiment. He realized the urgency of the situation and quickly turned to Jiang Sheng, ready to lend a hand. Although Jiang Sheng was close to the edge of physical exhaustion, he still relied on his tenacious will and his promise to his mother to hold on and not let himself fall. In such a desperate situation, the brilliance of humanity and the exploration of science and technology are intertwined to fight against the darkness of the end of the world.

Moon Hyo-ri, Kang Seung and Neville formed an indestructible triangle at this moment. Their cooperation was not only a rescue for each other, but also a desperate effort to see the future of the whole world bright. In the doomsday world where zombies are rampant, they proved that even in the most desperate moments, the warmth of human nature and the indomitable fighting spirit are still the kindling of hope.

The lifeless eyes of the zombie leader seemed to be able to see through everything, and they were fixed on the weak and special little zombie on the test bench. Then, it turned its head to look at Moon Hyo-ri and Jiang Sheng who was barely supporting himself against the wall, and let out a series of soul-stirring roars from the depths of its throat. The bared fangs reflected the cold light in the dim light, revealing its bloodthirsty desire.

Jiang Sheng, a seemingly ordinary young man, showed extraordinary willpower under the baptism of doomsday. Just when he was about to be dragged into the abyss of coma by fatigue and pain, the roar of the zombie leader was like a loud slap in the face, suddenly pulling him back to reality from the edge of blurred consciousness. He endured the severe pain and stood up with all his strength. His bloodshot eyes were like burning flames, and he faced the terrifying creature fearlessly, "You beast, come here if you have the guts, I will beat you to tears!"

The zombie leader was enraged by Jiang Sheng's provocation and let out another deafening roar. The voice was full of unparalleled hegemony. It even roughly pushed away the other zombies around it who were ready to move, and stepped out of the pool of blood alone, walking straight towards Jiang Sheng. A life-and-death battle was about to break out.

Jiang Sheng knew that he could not retreat from this battle, so he gently pushed Wen Xiaoli away, not wanting her to be involved in this life-and-death battle. He pulled out the bone-chopping knife from his waist that had witnessed countless battles. The blade flashed a cold light in the weak light. He was ready to fight this monster to the end.

"Ahhh--" The zombie leader roared again in challenge, and Jiang Sheng responded with a low roar. The two rushed towards each other recklessly like warriors on an ancient battlefield. In an instant, the knife shone with blood, and the bone-chopping knife slashed fiercely on the neck of the zombie leader. Although it did not cause fatal damage, it was enough to make the monster feel pain. At the same time, the zombie leader's counterattack was equally fierce. The sharp nails scratched Jiang Sheng's arm like a blade, and blood gushed out, staining the surrounding ground red.

"Even if I die, I will take you with me!" Jiang Sheng's eyes showed no sign of retreat. He held the bone-chopping knife tightly, ready to attack again. However, the zombie leader reacted faster. He kicked Jiang Sheng away and then pounced on him, intending to end the battle with his terrifying sharp teeth.

In the midst of despair and anger, Jiang Sheng made a surprising decision. He was powerless to resist, but he chose the most decisive way - he stretched out his left hand to the bloody mouth of the zombie leader, with a glorious bullet hidden in his palm. It was his last trump card and his only hope.

With a loud bang, the power of the glory bomb explosion not only blew the zombie leader's head into pieces, but also blew Jiang Sheng's left hand into pieces, leaving only an empty wrist. The intense pain swept over him like a tsunami, completely drowning him, his vision blurred, and finally he fainted powerlessly.

When Jiang Sheng opened his eyes again, it was after the sun rose and the moon set. The surroundings were all white, and the unique smell of disinfectant in the hospital penetrated his nose. He thought he had returned to the peaceful world before the end of the world. However, the mottled bloodstains on the wall and the pain in his body reminded him that all this was not a dream, but part of the cruel reality. After struggling on the edge of life and death, he woke up again, facing not only physical trauma, but also endless thoughts and challenges for the future.

Jiang Sheng slowly woke up in a dazzling light, with a splitting headache. The surrounding environment was both familiar and unfamiliar. He tried to move, and found that his body was extremely weak, as if he had just experienced a protracted battle. At this time, Robert Neville hurried into the room, with a look of anxiety and fatigue on his face that was difficult to conceal.

"You finally woke up." There was a hint of relief in Neville's words, and then his eyes became serious. He knew that there were some things he had to tell Jiang Sheng immediately.

"You know, Jiang Sheng, the reason you survived the explosion was because of an unexpected reason - you have been infected with the zombie virus, but have not yet been completely transformed." Neville's words were like a bolt from the blue, making it difficult for Jiang Sheng, who had just woken up from a coma, to accept it for a while.

Jiang Sheng was stunned. He couldn't believe that he had become one of the enemies he had been fighting against all along. He struggled to sit up, and questions flooded his mind like a tide: "Why didn't I turn into one of those bloodthirsty monsters?"

Neville sighed and explained, "When I discovered your situation, I immediately injected you with the antiviral drug I was researching. Although this drug cannot completely eliminate the virus in your body, it effectively suppresses your desire for blood and slows down the transformation process. The cells in your body are somewhat similar to our experimental zombie. Only under extreme emotions or strong external stimulation will the frenzy state be triggered."

When Jiang Sheng heard this, a hint of surprise flashed across his face: "So, I'm not afraid of sunlight like other zombies?"

Neville shook his head, with a hint of uncertainty in his tone: "I can't give a definite answer to this question at the moment. We need more time to observe and study."

Just as Jiang Sheng was about to stand up to verify this statement, an unexpected discovery brought him back to reality. He tried to support his body with his left hand, but only felt nothingness. Looking down, he saw that the palm of his left hand was empty, leaving only a bloody fracture. This sudden discovery shocked him.

"My...my hand...what happened?" Jiang Sheng's voice trembled and his face was full of disbelief.

Seeing this, Neville's eyes revealed a trace of apology and heartache: "Jiang Sheng, I'm sorry that you lost your left hand in the explosion. However, technology has made great progress now, especially prosthetic technology. Once we find the right equipment, I am confident that I can make you a fully functional prosthetic limb so that you can return to your previous life as much as possible."

Jiang Sheng was silent. He looked at his empty left sleeve, feeling mixed emotions. On the one hand, he was worried about his future life, and on the other hand, he was grateful for Neville's selfless help. He took a deep breath, and his eyes gradually became firm: "Okay, Neville, I believe you. No matter what happens, I will live, for myself and for my family." At that moment, a complex emotion filled the room - there was fear of the unknown, and there were expectations for the future. Jiang Sheng and Neville, the two survivors who relied on each other in the end of the world, began their new chapter, facing the challenges of the doomsday world together, looking for that faint light of hope.

Jiang Sheng stared at the two personal terminals in his hands, feeling mixed emotions. For a moment, the grief of losing his arm seemed to be diluted by this sudden information. He didn't expect that in this doomsday world, there would be a way to repair his broken body. Although it would cost a high mission value, it undoubtedly gave him a glimmer of hope.

"Magic Cube? Are you talking about the legendary intelligent system?" Jiang Sheng's tone was filled with a hint of disbelief, but more of anticipation for the future. In the doomsday, being able to have a brand new hope was of great significance to him.

Moon Hyo-ri's image smiled slightly on the screen, that smile was both comforting and encouraging, "Yes, the Rubik's Cube. It is our hope and the key to rebuilding civilization in this wasteland world. We all remember the sacrifice you made for the team, so I will complete this mission as soon as possible, accumulate enough mission points, and help you find that hand."

At this point, Jiang Sheng seemed to be able to feel Moon Hyo-ri's determination on the other side of the screen, and his heart gradually calmed down. He realized that everyone was working hard to survive, and Moon Hyo-ri's departure was not a betrayal, but for their common goal - survival and reconstruction. Thinking of this, the resentment in his heart gradually dissipated, replaced by a deep sense of responsibility and longing for the future.

"Hyo-ri, thank you. And please be careful outside. Don't forget, we are a team, and we can't do without anyone." Jiang Sheng's voice became softer. He knew that he could no longer indulge in self-pity. He had more important things to do, which was to recover as soon as possible, stand up again, and fight side by side with his teammates.

Moon Hyo-ri nodded, a touch of emotion flashed in her eyes, "Don't worry, I will take good care of myself. Don't be idle either, Dr. Neville has a lot of information and training courses, you can start learning and improve yourself. We all need to become stronger to go further in this doomsday."

After hanging up the call, Jiang Sheng lay on the bed, thinking about a lot of things. He opened his personal terminal and began to browse the information left by Dr. Neville. These materials covered doomsday survival skills, zombie biology, weapon use tutorials, and basic medical knowledge. Each one was extremely valuable, and for him now, it was like manna in the desert.

In the following days, Jiang Sheng devoted himself to study and rehabilitation training. Neville not only provided him with medicine, but also designed a physical recovery plan for his special situation. Every day, Jiang Sheng struggled with pain and challenges, but whenever he wanted to give up, he would think of Wen Xiaoli's words and the hope given by the Rubik's Cube. This power made him persist again and again.

A few months later, when Moon Hyo-ri returned with enough mission points, Kang Seung was no longer the fragile and helpless man he was when he first woke up. He became tougher, and his physical fitness and combat skills had made a qualitative leap. With the help of the Rubik's Cube, he was reborn, and the hand he had lost was miraculously reshaped. Although he was still a little unfamiliar with using it, it was enough to make him excited.

They met again, and their eyes were filled with determination for the future and trust in each other. The end of the world may be cruel, but as long as there are people willing to work together, hope will always exist. Jiang Sheng and Wen Xiaoli, as well as their team, continue to move forward in the ruins, working tirelessly to rebuild their homes and for the future of mankind.

After learning all this, Jiang Sheng felt relieved, but he was still a little curious: "Why did you do this? You can obviously keep those task points yourself."

Moon Hyo-ri was driving the car with a complicated expression, as if she was recalling some unpleasant experiences. "You know, in this world, some people can betray and kill their companions for just 200 mission points. This is the first time I have met someone who is willing to share like you." Her tone revealed a subtle admiration.

Jiang Sheng's lips curled up into a relaxed smile. He knew that Moon Hyo-ri's words contained recognition and trust in him. "Haha, it seems that you have come into contact with more 'hunters' than I thought." Although he was joking, a warm current surged in his heart. Knowing that his lost hand could be restored, he was undoubtedly in a very good mood, as if even the air was filled with a smell of hope.

As the video call was about to end, Moon Hyo-ri said seriously: "Thank you so much, Kang Seung. If it weren't for you, I might have died here long ago, let alone completing the mission." Moon Hyo-ri on the screen gradually disappeared, but the smile on Kang Seung's face lingered for a long time.

He did have reason to be happy. In such a doomsday context, trust between people is particularly precious. Moon Hyo-ri did not choose to betray him because of the 1500 mission points, but generously left them all to him, which was undoubtedly a recognition of the emotional bond between them. Jiang Sheng didn't know that if his actions at the entrance to the basement hadn't touched Moon Hyo-ri, she would probably not be so generous. In the doomsday world, it is rare not to take advantage of others' misfortunes, let alone actively sacrifice one's own interests.

After two days of recuperation in a jewelry store in Queens, Jiang Sheng's injuries have improved significantly. What comforts him even more is that he has not become a creature of the night because of the explosion, and the sun is still a place where he can roam freely. This gives him more confidence in his future life.

As for the mysterious Night Devil Annie, she seemed to have evaporated since they parted that afternoon and never appeared again. Although Jiang Sheng appeared to be indifferent, deep down in his heart, he was always nervous, fearing that she would suddenly appear one day and bring about unforeseen changes.

In addition, Jiang Sheng's personal data has also changed significantly. His strength value has increased from 10 points to 16 points, twice that of an ordinary person. But the improvement of this data is far more than what it seems. Through his digitized body, he felt unprecedented strength and endurance. More importantly, this state is extremely stable and will not fluctuate greatly due to fatigue or emotional fluctuations. This is an advantage that humans in the traditional sense do not have.

Another change brought about by the digitized body is the enhancement of perception. Jiang Sheng found that his sensitivity to the surrounding environment has greatly increased, and he can quickly capture even the slightest movement. This ability is especially important in the doomsday environment, which gives Jiang Sheng an extra layer of protection during the dangerous journey.

After experiencing these changes, Jiang Sheng is more convinced that in order to survive in this doomsday world, in addition to constantly improving one's own strength, it is also important to maintain the kindness and trust in human nature. Moon Hyo-ri's actions made him see the brilliance of human nature, and he himself also hopes to become that beam of light to illuminate others and jointly resist the darkness of the doomsday.

"Your mission has been completed. Congratulations on receiving the mission reward: 500 mission points, 1 point of charm increase."

Jiang Sheng was delighted. It seemed that his cooperation with Moon Hyo-ri was not only smooth, but also fruitful. He smiled and replied to Moon Hyo-ri: "Yes, I just received a notice that my task has been completed. It seems that our cooperation is quite tacit."

Moon Hyo-ri's laughter came through the screen, sounding particularly hearty, "Of course, we are the best partners! By the way, there is something special in my mission reward, I think you should be interested."

Jiang Sheng's curiosity was aroused, "Oh? What is it?"

"It's an encrypted data package about 'regeneration technology'. It's said to be left behind by a top scientist. It can help people who have lost limbs recover their limbs and even further enhance their body functions. I think it's a godsend for you now."

Jiang Sheng's heart warmed up when he heard this. This was exactly what he had dreamed of. He quickly thanked her, "Xiao Li, thank you so much! This is so important to me."

Moon Hyo-ri waved her hand and said with a smile, "We are partners, so it's only natural. By the way, when are you going to come and see me? Our current location is not far away, about half a day's drive away."

Jiang Sheng thought for a moment and replied, "I plan to set off tomorrow. After I solve the problem with my hand, I should really devote myself to the battle in this world."

"Okay, then I'll wait for you here tomorrow. Remember to be careful on the road." Moon Hyo-ri reminded.

After hanging up the video call, Jiang Sheng began to pack his bags and prepare for the next day's trip. He was full of anticipation, not only because he was about to solve his physical inconvenience, but also because he realized that he was gradually adapting to this new world full of challenges and opportunities. The potential of his digitized body and the skills and talents that were gradually unlocked made him feel as if he was standing at a new starting point in his life.

On July 7, the first rays of sunlight shone into the temporary residence in the early morning, and Jiang Sheng embarked on a journey to where Moon Hyo-ri was. Along the way, he kept thinking about his experiences in the past month, from the initial confusion and fear to the gradual mastery of the rules of survival and even the superhuman power. All of this seemed incredible like a dream.

At two o'clock in the afternoon, Jiang Sheng arrived at the ruins of the city where Wen Xiaoli was. Although the city was devastated, around some survivors' camps, people could already see signs of trying to rebuild their homes, which gave him a warm feeling.

Moon Hyo-ri had been waiting at the agreed location. When she saw Kang Seung, she quickly came over with a long-lost smile on her face. "You're finally here. Come on, I'll take you to meet our new friend."

(End of this chapter)