Chapter 5: A Giant CAT!?
"Analyzing target..." Ego replied. A moment later, he continued, "Analysis complete. This creature is a domesticated pet, a orange tabby cat, part of felidae family. It has mutated due to unknown causes, drastically increased in size, and is highly aggressive."
Zack's jaw nearly dropped. "A... house cat? An orange tabby cat?!"
Ego's words rocked his sense of reality. The two-meter-long beast in front of him, bulging with muscle and deadly intent, was once an orange tabby—a cat so overweight it could barely move!
"Sir, caution advised. This creature is extremely dangerous," Ego warned again. Zack's heart pounded as he processed Ego's explanation. Unlike regular zombies, animals infected by the Zeta virus seemed to retain a disturbing level of intelligence.
The zombie cat, tiger-sized and terrifying, didn't jumped right away but waited at the door, staring directly at Zack with bloodthirsty eyes. The reason was clear—it sensed the threat of the shotgun in his hands. It was wary, pacing back and forth as if sizing him up.
Zack gripped the shotgun tightly, his own instincts telling him not to fire hastily. He knew how fast a cat's reflexes were, even more so with a creature this size. If he missed, he might not have the chance to shoot again.
"The optimal battle plan is now being simulated," Ego's voice broke through his concentration. In Zack's view, virtual figures appeared—a digital map of the convenience store and a projection of the zombie cat's potential moves. In one simulation after another, the human figure was mauled by the beast, only a few scenarios ending in Zack's survival. But those plans all involved risky moves that left him seriously injured, which Ego promptly discarded.
Finally, Ego's voice cut through again. "Sir, I've calculated the best course of action for a safe outcome."
The entire process took less than five seconds, yet each moment felt like an eternity.