Chapter 108: Zombie Outbreak
Laughter and the clatter of plates drifted through the apartment. The scent of grilled eel wafted from the kitchen where her aunt and Nohime were setting the table. Su Yao walked straight to her bedroom.
“Aren’t you joining us, dear?” her aunt called out.
“No,” Su Yao replied, closing the bedroom door behind her. She changed into sleepwear and lay down on the bed. The thought of eel made her think of the Abyssal Gulper. She had no appetite for either.
Su Yao closed her eyes, willing sleep to come. Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. She ignored it, but it buzzed again. With a sigh, she reached over and picked it up. The screen glowed with a message.
Bai Lang: Watch this. It explains everything. [Link: “The Uncanny Valley Theory of Human Evolution“]
She tapped the link. The video loaded, showing a narrator discussing how almost-human entities trigger revulsion in the human brain. Su Yao watched as CGI models morphed from human to something other. Their smiles were too wide, their eyes too dead.
This is absurd,but why does that synthetic face make my skin crawl? It’s like looking at a poorly made puppet, but it’s supposed to be us. Is this how humans see me when I forget to act perfectly human?
The video delved into evolutionary reasons, suggesting that this disgust was a defense mechanism against predators or diseased individuals.
So my very existence as a fox in a human skin is a walking uncanny valley? No wonder Wong Lei was terrified of my hospitality. She probably sensed I wasn’t quite right.
She set the phone down, but the images lingered behind her eyelids. She stared at the ceiling. I should have just broken something today. This is what civility gets me. Sleepless nights over human paranoia.
Su Yao grabbed her phone again. The glow illuminated her face. She opened the FFF group chat. I need to see if the others find this as disturbing as I do. Or if I’m just losing my edge.
She copied the link from Bai Lang’s message and pasted it into the chat.
Su Yao: [Link: “The Uncanny Valley Theory of Human Evolution“] Watch this.
The phone buzzed.
Kayo: OMG I JUST WATCHED THIS. It’s so true! No wonder mortals get twitchy around us. We’re literally walking uncanny valleys! ?
Yuzuriha: The theory is sound. It explains many historical persecutions. Our perfected human forms trigger their primal fear of the ‘other’.
Baoqing: So that’s why my pawnshop customers sometimes freeze up. I thought it was my charm. ?
Yumi: (Sent a gif of a cat hissing at a reflection) This is why I don’t bother with glamour anymore. Just eat the liver and be done with it.
Osakabehime: I knew it! This is why my streams get so many comments about my eyes being ‘too piercing’. I’m not uncanny, they’re just weak!
Su Yao read the responses. At least I’m not the only one overthinking this.
The FFF chat was still buzzing when a new selfie from Xie Jing appeared. Her eyes were polished glass marbles, fixed on the camera. Under the flat lighting, every feature seemed too smooth.
Everyone went silent for a full three seconds.
Kayo: WHAT THE ACTUAL F*** IS THAT?! JING, BLINK TWICE IF YOU’RE POSSESSED!
Yuzuriha: That is, deeply unsettling. Are you quite alright?
Baoqing: The uncanny valley theory just became a personal attack. My fur is standing on end.
Yumi: I’ve the sudden urge to bite that face off. Is that normal?
Osakabehime: NOPE. NOPE. I’M LOGGING OFF. MY AESTHETIC CAN’T HANDLE THIS.
Su Yao stared at the photo. She isn’t even trying to look human anymore.
She typed a private message to Xie Jing, separate from the group chat.
Su Yao: What is the meaning of that image?
Her phone buzzed with a reply.
Xie Jing: What image? I didn’t send anything.
Su Yao stared at the message. Her fingers tightened around the phone. She either has genuine memory loss or is gaslighting me.
Su Yao: Forget it.
She set the phone back on the nightstand and lay down, closing her eyes. The uncanny valley theory and Xie Jing’s bizarre selfie swirled in her mind. I need to sleep. This is why I avoid introspection. She forced her breathing to slow, focusing on the rhythm until exhaustion pulled her under.
The next morning, Su Yao’s phone rang. Mei’s name flashed on the screen.
“Su Yao! You have to come to the arcade with me! They just got a new fighting game, Celestial Fist 5. It looks insane!”
Su Yao held the phone away from her ear. “An arcade? You wish for me to waste my time in a den of flickering lights and overstimulated mortals?”
“It’ll be fun! You can probably beat everyone without even trying. Come on, it’ll take your mind off, whatever it’s you think about all the time.”
“Very well. I will accompany you. But don’t expect me to feign enthusiasm.”
“Yes! Meet me there in an hour! You’re the best!” Mei hung up.
Su Yao put the phone down. An arcade? Perhaps crushing countless digital opponents will restore my eroded sense of menace.
She phased to the entrance of the arcade. The blaring electronic music and flashing lights assaulted her senses. Mei waved from inside, standing next to a large cabinet for Celestial Fist 5.
“You made it!” Mei grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the machine. “I already got tokens. Let’s play!”
Su Yao allowed herself to be dragged. She examined the screen, which displayed two fighters in exaggerated martial arts poses. “The graphics are primitive. The physics engine is undoubtedly flawed.”
“Just pick a character and fight!” Mei inserted tokens and selected a female fighter named Chun.
Su Yao scanned the roster and chose a shadowy figure described as an ancient demon named Kurokami. The match began.
Mei’s character darted around, throwing quick punches. Su Yao’s fingers moved at high speed, executing complex combos without looking at the buttons. Kurokami countered every move, landing a perfect KO in under ten seconds.
“Wow! You’re amazing!” Mei grinned. “Again?”
This is mind-numbingly simple, but the precision required is mildly engaging. “Again. But don’t expect me to hold back.”
They played several rounds. Su Yao won each time. A crowd gathered, murmuring about her skills.
“Whoa, she’s unbeatable!” someone said.
Her phone buzzed with a message.
Zhang Wei: The abyssal trade agreements need your review. When can you come to the office?
She replied without pausing the game.
Su Yao:Later. I’m occupied.
She finished another round, then turned to Mei. “This is repetitive. I require a greater challenge.”
Mei pointed to a massive cabinet in the corner. “How about that one? It’s a rhythm game, Dance of the Celestials. It’s super hard!”
Su Yao raised an eyebrow. “A rhythm game? Very well.”
She inserted a token and selected the hardest difficulty. The screen filled with rapid arrows. Su Yao’s movements were a blur. Her feet and hands hit every note. The machine flashed ‘SSS Rank.’
The crowd erupted in applause.
At least this machine acknowledges my superiority.
Her phone buzzed again.
Kayo: @Su Yao Where are you? We need to discuss the uncanny valley thing. It’s getting weird.
She typed back with one hand while still playing.
Su Yao:At the arcade. Busy.
Kayo: An arcade? LOL! Send pics!
Su Yao sighed. The demands of modernity are incessant.
She finished her perfect run on the rhythm game and stepped away from the cabinet. Her eyes scanned the arcade, noting the various games and patrons until she spotted the Deep Princess standing before a skill crane machine.
The Deep Princess inserted tokens, attempting to grab a goofy fish doll the claw kept failing to secure.
Su Yao walked over. “Those machines are rigged. The claws are designed with only three grips, and the tension is calibrated to release easily. It’s a statistical improbability to win without external intervention.”
The Deep Princess turned. Her shoulders slumped. “I’ve tried seventeen times. I just want that fish.”
“Even I can’t retrieve it without breaking the machine or using my power,” Su Yao said. “The system is inherently unfair. If you desire the doll, I could phase it out directly, but that would likely trigger an alarm.”
The Deep Princess sighed. “No, that would be dishonest. I will persist a while longer.”
“Suit yourself,” Su Yao said, turning to leave. “But don’t waste all your tokens on a futile endeavor.”
The Deep Princess shook her head. A smile touched her lips. “Don’t worry about my tokens. I purchased them online for a very low price. I’ve plenty to spare.”
Su Yao’s eyes narrowed. She took one of the tokens from the Deep Princess’s hand and compared it to a token she had gotten from the arcade machine. The online token was lighter, with a rougher edge and a faded imprint.
“This is a counterfeit,” Su Yao said. “The alloy composition is inferior, and the stamp is poorly replicated. Yet it functions in the machine. That is irregular.”
The Deep Princess blinked. “It works? Then what does it matter?”
“Counterfeit tokens indicate a breach in the arcade’s security systems,” Su Yao replied. “If these are accepted, the revenue loss must be significant. More importantly, it suggests someone has reverse-engineered the token validation process. This is a flaw in their operational integrity.”
She handed the token back. “Continue your attempts. But be aware that using counterfeit currency, even for a game, is technically illegal. I will not report you, but don’t expect me to assist in your petty theft.”
The Deep Princess shrugged, inserting another token into the machine. “As long as it gets me the fish, I don’t care.”
Su Yao turned to Mei. “Mei, I’ve discovered that someone is selling counterfeit tokens on the internet.”
Mei’s eyes widened. “That’s terrible! This is the last arcade in the city. If it shuts down because it’s not making enough money from token sales, there won’t be any arcades left. We have to do something!”
Su Yao glanced back at the Deep Princess. “The economic impact is negligible on a global scale, but I understand your sentimental attachment.”
“Can’t you use your powers to stop the counterfeiters?” Mei asked, grabbing Su Yao’s arm. “Please? For me?”
Su Yao sighed. “Investigating token fraud is beneath my capabilities. However, if it prevents you from pestering me further, I will consider it.” She pulled out her phone. “I will have Zhang Wei look into the online sellers. But don’t expect immediate results.”
Mei grinned. “I could probably stop those counterfeiters myself, but you know me, I get distracted easily. I’ve the attention span of a goldfish!”
Su Yao looked at her. “Your self-assessment is accurate but unhelpful. If you can’t focus, then don’t interfere. I will handle it.” She typed a quick message to Zhang Wei on her phone. “I’ve directed resources to track the counterfeit token operation. It should be resolved within the hour.”
The Deep Princess let out a cry as the claw dropped the fish doll again. “This is impossible!”
Su Yao glanced over. “I told you the machine is rigged. Your counterfeit tokens aren’t improving your odds.”
Mei tugged on Su Yao’s sleeve and pointed across the arcade. “Hey, over there! They have a new zombie shooter game. Let’s try it!”
Su Yao followed her gaze to a cabinet depicting undead creatures. “A zombie shooter? This could be useful for practice. The zombies in Old Duwang remain a potential threat, and they may eventually reach the surface. We should prepare.”
Mei laughed. “You’re always so serious! I just want to have fun blowing up zombies.”
“Fun and training aren’t mutually exclusive,” Su Yao said, walking toward the machine. She inserted a token and picked up the plastic gun.
The Deep Princess abandoned the crane machine and drifted over to the zombie shooter cabinet. “Why do zombies always have a weak point in the head? If we’re being realistic, destroying the brain alone might not be enough to stop a reanimated corpse.”
Su Yao paused, the plastic gun in her hand. “It might be artistic license. According to traditional principles, the heart houses the shen and the lung stores the po. A zombie could be animated by any corrupted aspect outside the brain.”
Mei blinked. “So, should we be shooting them in the liver or something?”
“Perhaps,” Su Yao said, aiming at the screen. “But this game simplifies it. We can use it to practice headshots, but remember that real zombies may require different tactics.”
She fired a perfect shot, taking down a zombie on the screen. “Now, observe. I will test if body shots have any effect in this simulation.”
Su Yao lowered the plastic gun as a commotion caught her attention. A young man was pointing at a girl who had just shuffled into the arcade. “Hey, your zombie costume is super realistic! The makeup is awesome!”
The girl let out a low groan. Her skin was pale grey and her eyes glazed over. Before the young man could react, she lunged forward and sank her teeth into his arm. He screamed, stumbling back as blood welled up from the bite.
Mei gasped. “Is that part of a show?”
Su Yao analyzed the girl’s movements and the spiritual decay radiating from her. “No. That is a real zombie. The contamination from Old Duwang has reached the surface.”
She dropped the plastic gun and phased in front of the zombie, grabbing its head with both hands. “Mei, evacuate the civilians. Deep Princess, secure the exits.”
The zombie girl groaned as she struggled in Su Yao’s grip. “The gold must be returned to the depths...”
“The dragon’s hoard. Someone stole from the Jiao Long.” Su Yao tightened her hold. Her spiritual energy suppressed the zombie’s movements. “Mei, get everyone out now! Deep Princess, seal this area. If the hoard was taken, this is just the beginning of the backlash.”
The Deep Princess nodded. Her form shimmered as she began to create a barrier around the arcade’s entrance. Mei herded the patrons toward the back exit.
Su Yao leaned close to the zombie. “Who took the gold? Where is it?”
She stared at the zombie’s eyes. It repeated only, “The gold must be returned...” in a broken loop.
“It’s no use.” Su Yao released her grip and snapped the zombie’s neck. The body crumpled to the floor. “This one is just a puppet, driven by the dragon’s rage. Someone triggered the hoard’s curse.”
She turned to the Deep Princess. “The Jiao Long’s treasure was stolen. That’s why the dead are rising. We need to find the thief before the entire city is overrun.”
Mei peeked from behind a game cabinet. “What do we do now?”
Su Yao pulled out her phone and called Zhang Wei. “We have a zombie outbreak at the arcade. It’s linked to the Jiao Long’s hoard. Send a cleanup team and put the city on alert. I’m going to Old Duwang to talk to the dragon.”
“The outbreak isn’t confined to the arcade,” Zhang Wei said. “Traffic cameras show them shambling out of manholes and sewer grates across the downtown core. Social media is flooding with videos. The hospital emergency lines are jammed with bite reports. It’s already everywhere.”
“The hoard’s curse is propagating through the city’s water and sewer systems.” Su Yao’s grip on the phone tightened. “A distributed spiritual contamination.” She looked at the Deep Princess. “Reinforce your barrier. Nothing gets in or out of this building. Don’t get eaten. That will make the zombies immortal.”
The Deep Princess snorted, crossing her arms. “Please. I’m not a ningyo. Eating my flesh won’t grant anyone immortality. But I will reinforce the barrier. I’d rather not test your theory.”
Su Yao turned to Mei. “You stay here. It’s the most defensible location now.”
“Where are you going?” Mei asked.
“To find the source. The thief.” Su Yao said. “The dragon’s rage is the engine, but a mortal hand stole the gold. I will find that hand and remove it.”
She phased out of the arcade, reappearing on the rooftop overlooking the chaotic streets. Figures stumbled through traffic below, their moans echoing between buildings.
This is no longer a contained incident.