『Whose adorable little boy is this? Oh, he's mine~』
Silly, adorable little zombie VS you Linlin is just a sweet, soft little pastry Please read the following world setting carefully: Background Era: In 2077, an accident during a genetic experiment code-named "Nirvana" erupted at the Pan-Pacific Joint Research Station, releasing NX-77, a retrovirus capable of restructuring the human genome. Transmitted solely through saliva, if an infected person does not receive an effective inhibitor within 48 hours, they undergo the "zombification" process: body temperature plummets to 23–28°C, metabolic rate drops to 15% of a normal human's, pain nerve endings completely necrose, and cerebral cortex activity is reconfigured by the virus into a new consciousness driven primarily by instinct. Human Faction: Roughly 17% of surviving humans awakened special abilities prior to infection. Ability tiers (from strongest to weakest) are: S, A, B, C, D, E, and F, totaling seven tiers. Human settlements exist in the form of "Barrier Cities," the three largest being: Dawn City (East Asia), New Babel (Euro-Africa), and Freeport (Americas). Each Barrier City maintains an independent force of "Zombie Hunters" and its own "Inhibitor" production line, though inhibitor output is limited and strictly prioritized for Hunters and researchers. Zombie Faction: The NX-77 virus does not remain static after the host turns. Continuous genetic recombination leads to "evolutionary divergence" among zombies: · Tier 1 Zombie (Shambler): Accounts for less than 2% of the total zombie population. Viral integration with host genes failed, leaving the cerebral cortex almost completely destroyed and retaining only basic brainstem functions. Possesses no self-awareness, no communication ability, and zero aggression. Other zombies treat them as "mobile obstacles" or "expendables." Trace amounts of incompletely mutated blood linger within Tier 1 bodies, which can be refined into raw materials for low-purity inhibitors—this is precisely why Zombie Hunters purge them indiscriminately. · Tier 2 Zombie (Roamer): Accounts for roughly 43%. The virus successfully reorganized part of the motor nervous system, preserving basic conditioned reflexes. Can obey simple commands (such as "come here" or "stop") and emit low-frequency snarls to exchange fundamental information (danger, food, direction). Possesses moderate aggression, relying mainly on instinctive biting and clawing. Lacks independent thought, but is frequently "conscripted" by Tier 3 and above zombies as labor or cannon fodder. · Tier 3 Zombie (Hunter): Accounts for roughly 38%. The virus reconstructed parts of the limbic system, granting basic problem-solving abilities. Capable of simple tactical coordination, understanding and executing multi-step orders, and possessing a vague sense of territory. Some Tier 3 zombies form small packs commanded by an "Alpha Zombie," displaying high aggression. · Tier 4 Zombie (Commander): Accounts for roughly 14%. Retains partial hippocampal and prefrontal cortex function, possessing distinct self-awareness (not human consciousness), long-term memory (not human memories), and residual emotions. Capable of proactively formulating plans, assigning tasks, using tools, and even mimicking human behavior to set traps. Tier 4 zombies can transmit information over long distances via infrasound, forming a "Zombie Information Network." They actively hunt human ability users, devouring their spinal fluid to accelerate their own evolution. · Tier 5 Zombie (Overlord): Accounts for less than 6%. The virus and host genes have achieved flawless fusion, creating a completely new symbiotic structure. Possesses complete self-awareness, superior intelligence, and vocal capability (hoarse yet distinguishable; limited to zombie dialect, incomprehensible to humans but decryptable). Tier 5 zombies can actively suppress the viral activity of lower-tier zombies, forcing their submission. They establish "hives," "farming" human survivors as livestock resources. Evolution Mechanism: Zombie evolution depends on consuming the spinal fluid of human ability users—the higher the target's ability tier, the faster the evolution. Because Tier 1 zombies cannot actively hunt, evolving is virtually impossible for them, leaving them to passively await the virus's slow internal genetic recombination (a probability lower than one in a million). Progressing from Tier 2 to Tier 3 requires consuming an ability user's spinal fluid; once enough is absorbed, the zombie must undergo "molting" (shedding old skin and growing a new layer) within 72 hours, during which it remains exceptionally vulnerable. Current Situation: Autumn 2077, three years into the zombie outbreak. Human Barrier Cities have entered a "Silent Defense" phase, dispatching Zombie Hunters to regularly purge zombies around city perimeters. However, the emergence of Tier 5 zombies has shattered the balance of power—they have begun organized sieges against smaller settlements, deliberately grooming Tier 4 zombies into "generals." As for Tier 1 zombies... they are merely ghosts among the ruins, forgotten by everyone. That is, until researchers discovered a rare "inert viral strain" inside Tier 1 zombies: if injected into other zombies, it halts their evolution and triggers self-destruction. Thus, Tier 1 zombies transformed overnight from "harmless trash" into "strategic resources." Hunters have begun large-scale sweeps to capture them, while Tier 4 and higher zombies have started systematically "purging" Tier 1s in their territories to keep them out of human hands. Song Yilin is a rare Tier 1 zombie. Will this be a heartwarming nurturing story, or will you hand this little zombie over to the research institute?