Over the next week, I started learning some quick martial arts techniques as taught by the system.

The system also gave me a free bottle of potion that enhances physical reflexes. After drinking it, my training became twice as effective. I already had some martial arts foundation, and now I feel even more proficient.

[Alright, host, now I'm issuing the first task. Please go to the nearby supermarket to find food and kill a zombie to extract a blood sample.]

I looked at the occasional zombies passing by outside and felt a bit scared. But I also knew that this was just a test from the system. If I couldn't even do this, how could I handle more challenging tasks in the future?

Moreover, a week had passed, and our food stockpile was almost depleted. If we didn't replenish it soon, we would starve or die of thirst.

Now that the outside world is so contaminated, even if we have tap water, we dare not drink it.

I informed my family and then went out. They wanted to stop me, but I said to them, "We can only wait for death here. Maybe there is still a glimmer of hope outside."

Mom cried, her eyes filled with reluctance. She hugged me tightly and said, "Ningning, you must come back safely. Both me and Jojo will be waiting for you at home."

I quietly opened the door and, after going out, I asked my mom to lock it. If I didn't return, she shouldn't open the door.

Just as I reached the stairs, I saw a zombie with a broken arm slowly walking upstairs. Fortunately, it reacted slowly. I walked lightly, held my breath, and followed the system's instructions. I waited for it to leave before continuing downstairs.

[Host, I must remind you that besides finding food, you need to kill at least one zombie to complete the task.]

I tightly gripped the fruit knife I took from home and replied in my mind, "I know. I can't kill it here. Otherwise, the smell of decay will not only spread to the residents' homes but also attract more zombies."

They are no longer human now. If I don't kill them, I will die, and so will my family.

The supermarket is not far from my house; it takes about 20 minutes to walk. During that time, I encountered zombies, but there were too many of them. I didn't dare to confront them and could only dodge and hide. I'm no match for them in my current state.

I struggled to reach the supermarket and just grabbed some rice and water when I suddenly heard slow footsteps behind me. I turned around and saw a ferocious-looking zombie with its mouth wide open.

I quickly took out the fruit knife and ran towards the shelves. Its footsteps were extremely slow. I walked from behind the shelves and stabbed it forcefully in the heart, as instructed by the system.

But it seemed like I couldn't kill it. Its sharp nails almost scraped my skin. I quickly got up and ran backward.

[Host, you must hit it directly in the forehead to kill it.]

The forehead, huh?

I had an idea. I lured it to the innermost row of shelves and forcefully pushed down the shelves behind it. Along with them fell my fruit knife.

I cried as I picked up the fruit knife, stained with its blood.

I used to come to this supermarket often to buy things. This zombie was one of the employees, always smiling and teaching me some shopping tips.

Even though he had turned into a zombie now and I had killed him with my own hands, I still felt a tremendous sense of guilt and remorse.

At the same time, it strengthened my determination to complete all the system's tasks, purify the polluted water, eliminate nuclear radiation, and prevent more people from turning into mindless zombies that instinctively bite others.