[Beep... Warning: There are thirty minutes left before you return to the apocalyptic world. Please prepare yourself, Host.]
[Reminder: During your absence from the second world, time in the second world will remain frozen.]
[Reminder: While you are in the second world, time in the apocalyptic world will continue to flow, but the rate of time passage differs between the two...]
Hearing the system's smooth, melodic voice, Yasin frowned slightly.
According to the system's explanation, when he leaves this world and enters the apocalyptic world, time in the second world essentially pauses relative to him.
Only when he is present in the second world does time there continue to move forward.
Moreover, the time he spends in the second world does not correspond equally to the time that passes in the apocalyptic world.
When he returns to the apocalyptic world now, it could be the exact moment when the zombies were lunging at him.
Or it might be after the zombies have already retreated.
The answer would only become clear once Yasin reappeared in the apocalyptic world.
Damn it! If he returns to the apocalyptic world at the precise moment the zombies were attacking, wouldn't that mean certain death?
With this thought in mind, Yasin considered whether he should find a set of armor to take with him.
[Ding! Reminder for the Host: Upon re-entering the apocalyptic world, your arrival location will have a slight deviation. You will not reappear in the exact same spot. The system will select the nearest safe location for your arrival.]
Hearing this, Yasin felt somewhat relieved.
Next, he needed to pack the collected supplies into the Dimensional Cube.
"System, store the chainsaw, Glock 17 pistol, sword, and the dog leash set into the Dimensional Cube. I want to take them to the apocalyptic world!"
[Understood, Host.]
As the system's voice echoed, the pistol, sword, and chainsaw laid out on Yasin's bed were outlined in a red projection frame before vanishing instantly.
In the projection before Yasin's eyes, an inventory appeared, displaying the following items:
[Chainsaw (Second World)]
[Pistol (Second World)]
[Sword (Second World)]
[5.56mm Ammo ×13 (Second World)]
[Bondage Set for Female Dogs]
[Clothing (Apocalypse)]
[Watch (Apocalypse)]
[Homemade Spear (Apocalypse)]
Using his thoughts, Yasin selected the [Chainsaw], and a note appeared beside it:
[To bring an item from the Second World to the apocalyptic world, $3,000 is required. The first transfer of items between worlds is free.]
Next, he focused on the [Pistol], and a similar note appeared:
[To bring an item from the Second World to the apocalyptic world, $50,000 is required. The first transfer of items between worlds is free.]
He then checked the [Ammo], and the note read:
[To bring an item from the Second World to the apocalyptic world, $3,900 is required. The first transfer of items between worlds is free.]
Lastly, he examined the [Bondage Set for Female Dogs], and the note stated:
[To bring an item from the Second World to the apocalyptic world, $3,100 is required. The first transfer of items between worlds is free.]
Yasin roughly estimated that transporting items from the Second World to the apocalyptic world would cost about ten times their original price in the Second World.
The exact calculation wasn't clear, but the pricing seemed acceptable to him.
"I've already used 60,000 of the allocated funds, leaving 40,000. The remaining amount will be spent entirely on food!"
Yasin selected the pre-prepared food and drinking water.
As the system's red projection frame appeared, only a small portion of the food and water disappeared.
[Beep beep beep... System reminder: The Host has exceeded the allowable limit for transporting items to the apocalyptic world...]
Yasin was startled and quickly checked the system's inventory.
Opening the [Food] section, he discovered that five bottles of mineral water and ten steaks had cost a staggering $43,100!
He removed the steaks and tried replacing them with bread.
This time, the quantity increased significantly.
He managed to pack over thirty loaves of bread and more than a dozen packs of compressed biscuits before the system alerted him again.
Now, Yasin had a rough understanding of the system's pricing logic.
It likely depended on the rarity and importance of the items in the apocalyptic world.
Considering the essential supplies needed for survival there, Yasin decided to take ten bottles of mineral water, twenty packs of compressed biscuits, along with some anti-inflammatory medication and bandages, using up all the remaining free allocation.
With everything prepared and his energy nearly depleted, Yasin checked the time—only about ten minutes remained.
"System, take me back to the apocalyptic world!"
[Ding! Initiating dimensional traversal...]
As the system's voice rang out, Yasin's vision swirled into a vortex of colors. His body felt as though it was being dragged into a whirlpool again, with overwhelming dizziness and suffocation crashing over him.
A flash of light erupted, and Yasin's figure reappeared in the apocalyptic world!
Opening his eyes, Yasin glanced around and realized he was standing at the entrance of a massive villa not far from the one he had first appeared in.
From his current position, he could see the original villa in the distance, with a few dozen zombies still wandering aimlessly around it. The larger horde had dispersed into the streets, and now, undead roamed everywhere in mindless shuffling masses.
Checking his watch, the date still read the 3rd, and the time was 1:17 PM.
Compared to the five hours that had passed in the Second World, less than an hour had gone by here.
Gazing at the villa that had once been his but was now occupied by Jack Coleman and Lena Whitmore, Yasin's eyes darkened with cold fury.
"GROOOAAARR!!"
"Hssssk… hssk…"
"Uuugh… ugh…"
Yasin's sudden appearance immediately drew the attention of the nearby zombies. Those wandering on the street twitched their rotting heads, nostrils flaring as they caught his scent, and began staggering toward him.
Assessing the situation, Yasin estimated that the distance between his current position and the original villa was about a hundred meters.
Between him and his target, however, were at least two to three hundred zombies.
Further away, near the edge of the woods, a larger group of undead was slowly retreating.
If he charged in now, not only would he struggle to break through the horde blocking the road, but he might also lure the retreating zombies back.
Revenge is a dish best served cold. Yasin was no reckless fool.
It was midday, and the sun was blazing. If he waited a little longer, most of the zombies would likely disperse.
Then, striking would be far safer.
For now, he needed to find a secure spot and wait.
Glancing back at the opulent villa behind him, Yasin tightened his grip on his spear and cautiously retreated into its grounds.
This was a luxurious vacation home, its perimeter enclosed by three-meter-high concrete walls lined with security cameras and alarms—now useless without power.
The estate, likely owned by some wealthy elite, boasted elegant landscaping and a small fountain in the front courtyard.
However, since the gates had been open when the apocalypse hit, a dozen or so zombies now lurked inside.
Moving carefully, Yasin tried to shut the massive front gate, but it was electronically controlled. Without power, the heavy metal doors were nearly impossible to move manually.
Worse, a Lincoln was jammed in the entrance, making sealing the gate completely unfeasible for Yasin alone.
"RAAAGH!"
A furious snarl ripped through the air as a zombie in a security uniform lunged from the guardhouse, charging straight at Yasin.
Thanks to the system's enhancements, Yasin realized his reflexes and physical abilities had improved significantly without him noticing.
Unfazed, he thrust his spear forward—CRUNCH!—piercing the zombie's skull with perfect precision.
The noise alerted the other undead in the courtyard. A dozen rotting figures turned in unison, their hollow groans rising as they shambled toward him.
The zombies in security gear were noticeably faster and more aggressive than the others.
After swiftly dispatching two more blocking his path, Yasin bolted for the villa's main entrance.
The front door was slightly ajar.
Inside, the grand foyer was a gruesome tableau—splatters of blood, scattered bones, and the unmistakable stench of decay.
This place had been the site of a massacre.
Whoever lived here is long dead.
SLAM!
Yasin shoved the door shut behind him, locking out the pursuing zombies.
Without electricity, the villa's interior was dim, with only colored sunlight filtering through stained-glass windows, casting eerie hues over the gilded decor.
The air was thick with the metallic tang of old blood and rot.
The lobby was a warzone—zombie corpses in tuxedos, bikinis, and even U.S. Navy SEALs uniforms littered the floor. Bullet holes and scorch marks from explosives scarred the walls.
What the hell happened here?
Yasin's grip on his spear tightened. He couldn't be sure if more undead lurked deeper inside.
Then—
"CLANG!"
A metallic clatter echoed from somewhere upstairs.
Yasin's head snapped up.
…A survivor?