My Girlfriend is a Zombie Chapter 5 – Viral Evolution

As dawn broke, an abrupt throbbing sensation jolted Ling Mo awake. Upon opening his eyes, he found Ye Lian sitting in a corner. She appeared the same as always, with a clean body and attire, but her eerie red eyes betrayed the change. The strange feeling Ling Mo experienced earlier stemmed from Ye Lian's primal hunger. If she could speak, her first utterance would be: "I am hungry." Her sustenance was the unique gel found within zombie heads.

Ye Lian's reaction suggested that this special gel could initiate a new mutation of the virus within her, proving highly effective. Since she had the desire, Ling Mo felt compelled to fulfill it.

He harbored mixed emotions. While typical survivors desperately evaded zombies, Ling Mo found himself actively seeking them out. The most perplexing aspect was that a mutated zombie now followed him.

After gathering some supplies, Ling Mo retrieved a new knife from his bag. His old boning knife was worn out, rendering it ineffective in combat.

He attempted to offer Ye Lian a slice of ham, but she showed no interest, her sole need appearing to be that specific gel.

"Alright, let's go find you some food," Ling Mo said, helping Ye Lian up and leading her downstairs.

The city was now desolate, lacking in resources but teeming with zombies. However, areas with dense zombie populations were far too perilous for Ling Mo, forcing him to seek out only isolated ones for Ye Lian.

During their cautious search, Ling Mo pondered a troubling question. For wandering zombies, their only food source was the survivors risking their lives for supplies. These survivors were typically cautious, managing to stay alive even with limited hauls.

Would these zombies, like Ye Lian, resort to cannibalism when unable to find food? Perhaps mutated zombies similar to Ye Lian already existed in hidden pockets.

For the remaining survivors, this presented yet another dire threat.

With a strengthened spiritual connection, Ling Mo found controlling Ye Lian far easier than the previous day. His night of study had also enabled him to master the control technique.

Unlike ordinary zombies, Ye Lian possessed not only instinct but also a potent desire to attack, and she could communicate her needs to Ling Mo. Coupled with her formidable strength, completely suppressing her will would only hinder her abilities and invite resistance. Thus, Ling Mo maintained only a spiritual link to ensure he wasn't targeted, without restricting her freedom.

Due to this established spiritual connection, Ye Lian, despite her autonomy, remained within Ling Mo's sight, following him closely.

Fortunately, they were in the suburbs, where the population was sparse. Ling Mo soon encountered a few wandering zombies at an intersection.

Upon spotting the zombies, Ye Lian eagerly charged forward, exhibiting swift movements and aggressive attacks. Slightly taken aback, Ling Mo quickly followed, brandishing his knife.

Within a minute, the zombies were dispatched. Ye Lian's eyes gleamed with increased acuity after consuming the gel.

Concurrently, Ling Mo felt his spiritual power and physical strength enhance. Although the changes were subtle, they represented a gratifying advancement for him.

He noticed a distinct surge of violence emanating from Ye Lian during the fight.

After spending the morning hunting with Ye Lian in the vicinity, they had eliminated over a dozen zombies, finally satisfying her hunger.

However, Ling Mo was surprised to observe signs of fatigue in Ye Lian after consuming the brain gel from numerous zombies. Her mood also became increasingly volatile. Had their tight spiritual connection not been in place, Ye Lian might have wandered off.

Sensing the worsening situation, Ling Mo swiftly located a residential building and guided Ye Lian into an empty unit.

At this point, Ye Lian was visibly agitated, her fists clenched, yet her body seemed to lose its strength, slumping weakly. Ling Mo carried her to the bed, feeling her skin burning with a frightening fever.

Could consuming too much at once have destabilized the virus within her?

As Ling Mo worried over Ye Lian, a wave of intense fury and violence washed over his mind, as if a veil of blood had descended upon his vision.

It was evident that the virus's mutation within Ye Lian's body was affecting him through their spiritual connection.

The pain was unbearable… Severing the spiritual connection now would offer release from this agonizing sensation. However, Ling Mo knew that Ye Lian, currently out of control, might lash out. Gritting his teeth, Ling Mo resolved to endure.

His body temperature soared, cold sweat drenched him, and he felt on the verge of exploding. A pressure, building from his head, made it feel as if something was trying to break free. If not for the mental fortitude cultivated by controlling zombie puppets, Ling Mo would have surely fainted by now.

Meanwhile, Ye Lian was gasping for breath, her pale cheeks flushing with an unnatural crimson. The eerie red glow in her eyes intensified. Then, to Ling Mo's surprise, she finally closed her eyes, falling silent and slumping onto the bed.

Ling Mo was startled initially but quickly regained his composure. He possessed no knowledge of this particular virus, let alone its mutated form. While concern gnawed at him, his options were limited. Fortunately, through their spiritual link, Ling Mo could still sense Ye Lian's normal vital signs. Her body was currently overwhelmed by a potent power, necessitating a temporary shutdown via a self-preservation mechanism, causing her to faint.

While awaiting Ye Lian's recovery, Ling Mo continued to suffer through the physical torment…

Several hours later, Ling Mo finally felt a warmth course through his entire being. Though the intense heat subsided, a residual power seemed to permeate every cell, revitalizing him. Ling Mo flexed his fists, sensing a surge of strength. As for any other changes, he surmised they would only become apparent during combat.

Just then, Ye Lian slowly opened her eyes. The moment they did, Ling Mo gasped in astonishment. Following this mutation, Ye Lian's eyes had returned to their original appearance.

To be precise, they had transformed from that unsettling red to a deep, translucent black. Not only were they more profound, but they lent her an icier aura. The formerly palpable danger had receded, leading any uninformed observer to mistake her for a mere surviving girl rather than a mutated zombie!

The viral mutation within her body seemed more akin to an evolution! An evolution driven by the consumption of her own kind!