Untouched by the Outbreak

Ryo methodically prepared himself. He secured his flashlight tightly to his MP5, another to his waist, and a headlamp to keep his hands free. His backpack had an extra light attached, ready to go. He couldn\'t afford to be caught off-guard in the darkness of the mall again.

Sayako, his ever-loyal companion, silently followed behind him, her presence a constant shadow. She moved effortlessly, like a ghost in the night, but Ryo knew she was always ready to act on his command.

Still outside the mall\'s entrance, Ryo took a deep breath. He could hear the faint shuffling of the zombies he had called inside, their footsteps echoing eerily in the distance. The silence from the deeper parts of the mall felt oppressive, almost as if something was waiting for him in the shadows. The unknown creature that had haunted his thoughts.

Ryo adjusted his grip on the MP5, feeling the comforting weight of the weapon. He was prepared for whatever was inside, whether it was a new type of zombie or something even worse. With everything set, he stepped forward, the group of zombies trailing after him and Sayako at his side.

The mall\'s doors loomed ahead, dark and foreboding. Whatever secrets lay within, Ryo was determined to uncover them. He activated his flashlight, the beam cutting through the murky darkness inside as he entered.

This time, he was ready.

Ryo moved cautiously, his MP5 raised and the attached flashlight cutting a narrow path of light through the pitch-black darkness. The beam flickered across dusty counters and broken glass, illuminating long-abandoned store fronts. The air was thick with stale, trapped moisture, and every sound echoed off the vast emptiness of the massive, multi-floored mall.

He stopped to listen, hearing nothing but the soft shuffle of the zombies he had dragged with him. Their presence added a layer of security, but the darkness still held an oppressive weight. The mall was enormous—he estimated it stretched across at least eight to ten floors, and that gave whatever was hiding here plenty of space to lurk.

Sayako followed silently, her movements unnervingly smooth. Her pitch-black eyes gleamed in the low light as she stayed close, ready to pounce on any threat.

Ryo\'s grip tightened on his weapon as he scanned the entrance hall. His flashlight beam caught glimpses of overturned furniture and remnants of a world long gone. He felt the hairs on his neck rise as he ventured deeper. The unknown was closer now—somewhere in this mall. The new creature, the one that had unsettled him last time, might be waiting.

The last time he had ventured here, something had triggered the zombies to form a protective circle around him and Sachiko. Whatever it was, it was still here. Ryo was determined to find out if it was a new type of zombie, an evolved form, or something else entirely.

He advanced slowly, with calculated precision, the flashlight illuminating the path ahead. Every shadow looked like it could move, and every distant sound made his muscles tense. The unknown had its hold on this place, and Ryo was walking right into it.

Ryo cautiously approached the abandoned shops on the ground floor, his flashlight sweeping across the storefronts. Most of the windows were cracked or covered in grime, but inside, the shelves were still stocked.

The items—clothing, electronics, food, even camping gear—had been left untouched, likely due to the presence of the faster, deadlier zombies that roamed the streets outside, keeping most survivors away.

He stepped into a nearby convenience store, its door creaking as it swung open. The air inside was stale, but Ryo could see rows of canned food, bottled water, and basic supplies. He quickly swept the aisles with his flashlight, spotting several useful items: batteries, painkillers, and energy bars. His backpack already had essential gear, but these supplies could be valuable later. Your journey continues with M V L

He moved deeper into the store, Sayako following quietly at his side. Even with her there, her dark eyes gleaming, he couldn\'t shake the feeling that something was watching him from the shadows. The dim light barely reached the corners of the store, and the further he went, the more his instincts told him to stay alert.

The other shops seemed just as untouched. Electronics, shoes, clothing—all things that would have been scavenged long ago if not for the deadly zombies outside. It was a treasure trove for someone like Ryo, who had the advantage of controlling the zombies around him.

Ryo made a mental note of the stores he would revisit, his eyes darting toward the stairwell leading to the upper floors. He knew that whatever strange entity lurked in this mall was still out there, somewhere deeper within. For now, he would gather what he needed from this floor, but soon, he would have to confront whatever force had kept him at bay during his last visit.

The unknown was waiting, and Ryo was ready to face it head-on.

Ryo glanced at Sayako, her unwavering loyalty evident in her stance as she followed him through the dark mall. "Sayako, stay sharp," he said, his voice low but firm. "Be ready for anything."

Her pale eyes flickered in acknowledgment, and she moved closer to him, muscles tensing as if preparing for battle. Ryo then turned his attention to the group of zombies he had dragged into the mall with him. They stood aimlessly, waiting for his command, their greyish skin a stark contrast to the dim surroundings.

"Form a circle around me," Ryo commanded, his voice authoritative. The zombies responded instantly, shuffling into position, creating a tight protective ring around him and Sayako. He knew that these regular zombies wouldn\'t be as effective as his faster or stronger ones, but they could still serve as shields in case of an attack.

With his MP5 raised and his flashlight tied securely, Ryo continued moving deeper into the mall, the protective circle of zombies surrounding him like a mobile fortress. Sayako, ever alert, kept pace just behind him, her heightened senses constantly scanning the shadows.

The mall\'s eerie silence was broken only by the occasional shuffling of the zombies or the distant groans echoing from the upper floors. Whatever had driven him away before was still here. Ryo could feel its presence lingering in the darkness, waiting for the right moment to strike. But this time, he was prepared.

"Let\'s see what\'s hiding in this place," Ryo muttered, his grip on the MP5 tightening as he ventured deeper into the unknown.

Suddenly, the low growls of the zombies surrounding Ryo intensified, their heads jerking towards the shadows in unison. Something moved swiftly in the darkness—faster than any normal zombie. Ryo\'s sharp eyes caught the fleeting motion, but it was too quick to fully discern what it was. His instincts flared, but he didn\'t flinch.

He glanced at Sayako, standing beside him, her calm demeanor contrasting the unease filling the air. She remained unfazed, her eyes locked on the source of the movement, ready but not threatened. It was as if the darkness itself posed no danger to her, as though she had complete faith in her own abilities—and in Ryo\'s control over the situation.

Ryo raised his MP5, its flashlight sweeping the area. He narrowed his gaze and shouted into the shadows, his voice echoing through the empty mall.

"Face me!" Ryo demanded, his voice strong and commanding.

The sound of his voice echoed, bouncing off the empty walls, but the creature remained elusive, darting just beyond the range of his flashlight. Whatever it was, it was fast, but not fast enough to escape Ryo\'s sharp perception.

Sayako tensed, her gaze focused on the movement, but she followed Ryo\'s lead, remaining calm, knowing that if something attacked, she would be more than ready.

The air was thick with tension as Ryo kept his MP5 trained on the shadows, waiting for the unknown to reveal itself. Whatever it was, he wasn\'t going to back down—not this time. "Show yourself," he growled, ready for anything that might emerge from the darkness.

Suddenly, without a warning, Sayako vanished from Ryo\'s side in a blur of movement. The speed of her departure was like a whipcrack, faster than his eyes could fully track. Then, a loud **thud** echoed through the dark mall, followed by another thud, as if something heavy had slammed into the ground with force.

Ryo\'s eyes darted in the direction of the noise. What he saw made his heart race for a moment.

There, in the faint glow of his flashlight, was a zombie—but it wasn\'t just any ordinary zombie. Its appearance resembled the one he had encountered near his base before, the same one that didn\'t follow his commands. Unlike the typical slow or mindless zombies, this one had a slight aura of defiance, a spark of something different.

It stood on its feet, trying to recover from the impact, but it wasn\'t like the mindless masses he usually controlled. Its eyes were pitch-black, its skin gray, but there was something more—something unnervingly aware.

Sayako stood in front of it, having thrown the creature like it was nothing more than a ragdoll. Her stance was firm, unwavering, her eyes locked onto the rogue zombie. She didn\'t even break a sweat.

Ryo scanned the new zombie carefully. It wasn\'t as fast as Sayako, but it was clearly different from the others. Its movements were deliberate, controlled—it was faster than a normal zombie, slower than a Strider, but stronger, more aware. This was the same type of modified zombie he had seen before, the one Strider had crushed without hesitation. But this one seemed...

slightly more evolved, or altered. Its stance wasn\'t random, it was strategic, almost defensive.

Sayako had no trouble with it though. She had overpowered it effortlessly, tossing it aside as if it weighed nothing, like a predator claiming its superiority.

Ryo\'s mind raced. What made this zombie different? Why didn\'t it follow his commands? And more importantly, what could it want? He glanced at Sayako, her focus never wavering, and knew that for now, he was safe. But this new type, this rogue, was something that needed further investigation.

Ryo, gripping his MP5, took a deep breath. "Looks like we have something new on our hands," he muttered to himself. His curiosity was piqued, but his instincts told him that this was just the beginning.