Chapter 004: S-Rank Evaluation

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Copy: Zombie Cafeteria
Difficulty: 1 Star (Simple)
Main Quest: Escape the Zombie Cafeteria (Completed)
Monsters Killed: Regular Zombies x15, Aberrant Zombie City Original Asako, Flesh Wall Okamoto Takeo.
Game Points: 588
Title Obtained: Demolition Genius
Overall Evaluation: S Rank!

“The Zombie Cafeteria scenario is supposedly just the easiest one-star difficulty? That was practically hell mode!” Seeing the mission settlement screen pop up, Su Cheng couldn’t help but complain.

Given the nature of this horror game, it was easy to imagine that any scenario above one-star would be impossibly difficult, with a survival rate probably below ten percent.

“Basic rewards for the scenario have been sent to your character’s mailbox. Because the player received an S-rank evaluation, you may draw one extra reward.”

Su Cheng wasn’t in a rush to draw the extra reward. Curious, he opened the in-game mailbox and collected the basic scenario reward.

In a flash of light, a semi-transparent, colorless crystal cube appeared before his eyes.

“The player has obtained a Small Soul Crystal. Note: Soul Crystals can be used to strengthen your character and upgrade skill items.”

A look of utter astonishment appeared on Su Cheng’s face—the in-game item had actually appeared in the real world!

Fortunately, none of the patrons at the ramen shop noticed his odd expression, or they’d surely think something was wrong with him.

Holding the semi-transparent colorless crystal in his hand, a chill seeped into his palm, sending a shiver through his body.

Just as he was wondering how to use the Soul Crystal, an option popped up on his screen.

“Are you sure you want to use the Small Soul Crystal to strengthen your character?”

Su Cheng hesitated for a moment, then tapped “Confirm Use.” Immediately, the semi-transparent colorless crystal turned into a mysterious energy and, with a “biu,” shot right into his body.

The next moment, Su Cheng felt an icy coolness wash over him, very comfortable, though there didn’t seem to be any other significant changes.

After claiming his rewards, three cards bearing black skull designs floated onto the game screen—the S-rank bonus was a random draw from these skull cards.

Su Cheng casually clicked the one in the middle.

“You have drawn the Basic Swordsmanship Specialization Experience Book!”

Upon choosing to use the experience book, a torrent of knowledge and expertise not his own flowed into his mind, like a sudden enlightenment being forcibly instilled.

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After assimilating this knowledge and experience, Su Cheng felt as if he’d transformed from a complete novice into a swordsmanship master with years of training.

Opening his character information panel, Su Cheng noticed some changes in his attributes.

Player: Su Cheng
Title: Demolition Genius (5% bonus to demolition-related skills)
Occupation: None
Skill: E-Rank Swordsmanship Specialization
Rank: Bronze Five
Game Points: 588

Besides gaining an E-Rank Swordsmanship Specialization, he also acquired the title Demolition Genius. Though the title didn’t have much use for now, it was still better than nothing—who knew, maybe it’d come in handy later.

What Su Cheng didn’t know was that, if other players in the horror game found out he’d not only cleared the scenario with an S-rank but also received a title with a stat bonus, they’d probably want to stab him out of jealousy.

Due to his low rank, many of the game’s features were still locked. The game points earned from scenarios served as currency and could be exchanged for various skill items, making them extremely valuable. Yet, after searching for ages, he couldn’t find any option for top-ups or microtransactions—it seemed this game didn’t subscribe to the “pay-to-win” philosophy.

“Scenario settlement complete. The next scenario will begin in 72 hours. Please prepare yourself.”

There’s a next time?

Su Cheng’s mouth twitched violently. He immediately tried to uninstall the cursed game. Unfortunately, it was as stubborn as a computer virus—no matter what he tried, it just wouldn’t go away. Even switching phones probably wouldn’t rid him of this eerie horror game.

On the bright side, he still had seventy-two hours to get ready and enjoy three days of peaceful, ordinary life.

“Sir, here’s your signature chashu ramen.”

The ramen shop owner’s daughter brought over a steaming hot bowl of ramen. This time, thankfully, there was nothing odd or disgusting in it.

But after his ordeal in the zombie cafeteria, Su Cheng had developed a psychological aversion to ramen and had no appetite at all.

A white-collar worker sitting nearby noticed Su Cheng hadn’t touched his chopsticks for a while and asked curiously, “What’s wrong, buddy? Not to your taste?”

That line sounded uncannily familiar.

Just then, the ramen shop owner came out, glanced at Su Cheng, and smiled, “Sir, ramen loses its flavor when cold. You should eat it while it’s hot.”

The owner appeared very confident in his craft, smiling expectantly at Su Cheng.

Under the owner’s watchful gaze, Su Cheng forced himself to pick up his chopsticks and try a bite.

“So, how is it? Not bad, right?”

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Just as Su Cheng was about to respond, horrifying images from the zombie cafeteria flashed through his mind. His stomach churned violently, and he vomited up all the ramen.

The owner: …

On his way back to the apartment, Su Cheng figured he was probably now blacklisted by the owner and decided it would be best to stay away from that ramen shop in the future.

He bought a Japanese bento from a convenience store downstairs to fill his stomach, then took out some study materials from his suitcase to review. For some reason, though, his mind just wouldn’t focus, and he couldn’t take in anything at all.

“Araki will probably be singing at the bar until the early hours. Being a singer is really tough.”

Putting his books aside, Su Cheng changed into a black tracksuit, planning to go for a few laps around Edogawa Park at night to calm his nerves.

He’d had a habit of night running back home and was in better shape than most students who only buried themselves in their books.

Night had fallen. Tokyo’s public safety was quite good, so he wasn’t likely to encounter any unpleasant incidents. Besides, he only had a few coins in his pocket—no one would bother to rob a penniless student whose wallet was emptier than his face.

As he stepped out of the apartment building, a cold wind greeted him, instantly clearing his head.

After adjusting his breathing, Su Cheng jogged along the silent streets straight to Edogawa Park, only to discover something peculiar about himself.

Though he didn’t usually wear glasses, Su Cheng had mild nearsightedness in both eyes—at night, he couldn’t see anything clearly beyond ten meters. Yet now, not only could he see his surroundings without streetlights, but even an ant crawling dozens of meters away was clearly visible. If he focused, he could even count the hairs on its legs.

“When did my eyesight get so good?”

Not only was his mild nearsightedness gone, but he now possessed night vision like a wild animal. Still, in total darkness, his enhanced sight wasn’t too strong—he could only see within a fifty-meter radius.

Aside from improved vision, Su Cheng could feel his physical stamina had increased as well. Normally, after running two kilometers, he’d start to get tired and short of breath. But the distance from his apartment to Edogawa Park was three and a half kilometers, and he hadn’t felt fatigued at all—he could run the whole way and still have the energy to perform a stand-up routine.

Su Cheng figured these changes must have been caused by absorbing the energy from the Soul Crystal.

This energy was wholly beneficial. While it couldn’t turn him into an all-powerful superman overnight, it could subtly improve his constitution and physical abilities—far more effective than those miracle-working supplements advertised everywhere.

Feeling these changes, the gloom in Su Cheng’s heart gradually lifted. He stretched and started running again in the quiet park.

The park was rarely visited even during the day, and at night it was utterly silent. After a while, a chilling, eerie sensation seemed to seep into his bones, making his skin crawl.

Several streetlamps in the park had long since broken and hadn’t been repaired, leaving stretches of the path in complete darkness, lit only by faint moonlight.

It wasn’t much of a problem for Su Cheng, but the sound of the wind rustling the trees was haunting, like the wailing of ghosts. The shifting shadows under the moonlight looked like a procession of terrifying specters, shoulder to shoulder.

Just then, a slender, snow-white hand suddenly reached out from behind and rested lightly on Su Cheng’s shoulder. Immediately after, a pale face appeared in the darkness, floating unnaturally in the night.