Memphis retracted his pressure, waved a hand nonchalantly, and said:"Director Snyder, report."Leonidas Snyder, appointed as the director of Iron Stone Town's supply department, let out a restrained sigh and respectfully replied:"Leader, this is Linda Snyder, and this is Wendy Duffy. Following your orders, I’ve gathered 68 individuals willing to fight, dividing them into two squads. I’ve already sent you the detailed list of their abilities and levels."Memphis gave a calm nod of understanding, then glanced at the two standing beside him. Linda, a young woman around 21 or 22, bore a resemblance to Leonidas. She was charmingly pretty. Wendy, a burly man of about 30, exuded an aura of resolute bravery, with an especially direct and intense gaze. Memphis judged him to be an excellent candidate for a commander."At least they aren’t all blacksmiths..."Iron Stone Town was renowned for its smithing, and if everyone only knew how to forge without fighting, this community would have less i
Just yesterday, over a dozen residents from Hope Town, despite having endured countless hardships and learning the value of peace, still dared to stand against order. How could Memphis be assured that the residents of Iron Stone Town would stay compliant?The extreme protest in Rutted Track yesterday was a nightmare Memphis had no intention of repeating. He needed to prepare from the smallest steps to block similar schemes in the future. The most straightforward and upright method? Throw those eager to join into the flames of war until they were thoroughly tempered."Understand the pain and harshness of war? Understood, haven’t you? Then live sensibly from now on."This was just one reason why he kept the residents of Iron Stone Town in their original location. Another
At 7:30 a.m. on the 22nd day after the apocalypse, the first zombie stepped into Trench No. 4, officially marking the beginning of the battle on the outskirts of Iron Stone Town.The first zombie was followed by a second, then a third, then a tenth, and soon hundreds poured into the area of ten interconnected trenches. This was the opening skirmish between a horde of 70,000 zombies and nearly 600 humans.From a kilometer away, Memphis observed the battlefield through binoculars, scrutinizing each wave of zombies entering the trenches to gauge the overall situation and assess the evolutionary progress on the 22nd day of the apocalypse. This was his first encounter with a zombie horde under command since safe crystals had been distributed. Humanity had advanced significantly—but what about the zombies?Fortunately, nearly 80% of the horde remained at level 1, indicating they had not undergone comprehensive upgrades across the board. In terms of their foundational strength, this horde wa
However, the current distance was still insufficient. From the center of the zombie horde to the human frontlines was over three kilometers. When the Soul Suppression wave struck the 300 people present, it caused only some pale faces and mild panic among the survivors of Iron Stone. The residents of Hope, long accustomed to such attacks, remained entirely unaffected.After this exchange of blows, with neither side sustaining any losses, Memphis drew his D.E pistol from his holster and fired two loud shots into the air. From elevated positions along both sides of the tactical trenches, hundreds of soldiers in specialized combat uniforms suddenly rose and unleashed a barrage of attacks on the surging horde of zombies below.Their positions were the closest to the frontlines, near the entrances to ten tunnels teeming with zombies. Attacking from above was most advantageous. Their combat uniforms, made from burlap soaked in zombie flesh and blood, effectively masked their human scent agai
Why didn’t humanity retreat to create distance and dodge these attacks? Because if everyone retreated, who would hold the line? The fortifications painstakingly built could not simply be abandoned.Humanity was clever, but the zombies were learning too. After Memphis issued the order to fall back, maintaining distance, the level 29 M2 went berserk, unleashing wide-area Soul Suppression attacks across the entire battlefield. Even without clear targets, it roared relentlessly, targeting the peripheral zones of the low-level zombie horde under attack.This carpet-bombing tactic created a situation where assault soldiers endured continuous shockwaves. Even if they weren’t directly targeted, the residual effects depleted their energy pointlessly, while the "useless" survivors remained untouched.It was a disaster. Realizing the beast couldn’t be easily deceived, Memphis had no choice but to deploy forces closer to the battlefield again, using human lives as shields for the troops. The situ
This was the fourth-tier skill Counterturn, enhanced with single-strike explosive force, carrying 85% of the original power Memphis had personally charged into it.Level 4 equipment, when used wisely, could produce strategic effects capable of influencing large-scale battles. But only if used correctly.Using a Level 4 Demon Slayer gun on humans would be idiotic. Forcing someone to strip with a Level 4 Seal Ring? Even more idiotic. Swallowing a Level 4 Gluttony Prison to escape an enemy? Madness. Drinking a Level 4 Mutant Potion to activate its Silence effect during a battle you’re commanding? Utter lunacy.Similarly, the Level 4 Mimic Ring required careful selection of skills for specific situations. It wasn’t about copying the strongest skill and unleashing it indiscriminately—that was brute-force fighting. The key lay in choosing the most suitable skill for the scenario.In this battle, if Memphis had copied three attacks from E3 Level 33, he would have failed. Even launching three
Jarred could only stick his tongue out, panting heavily, pretending not to hear. He lacked the strength to argue, letting his brother’s scolding wash over him. Around him, Sasha activated her Springtime Youth skill, restoring 80% of his maximum stamina and mental energy while eliminating two debuffs: nausea and hallucinations. Warren followed with Mysterious Turtle Saves The World, erasing 80% of his physical damage and tripling his recovery rate until all his injuries were healed.Both Sasha and Warren had recently consumed a bounty of experience crystals, reaching level 10. Their third-tier skills, enhanced to +3, made their healing abilities truly formidable.Seeing that his brother was out of danger, Memphis felt a fleeting sense of relief, though it was soon replaced by an unexpected pang of envy.He feared death. The kind of experimentation Jarred had just undertaken to refine his skill proficiency—testing it on his own body—was something Memphis longed to attempt but could neve
Normally, humanity appreciated stationary zombie hordes because they could lure small groups away, picking them off gradually. The horde’s numbers would dwindle, and the pressure on the humans would be minimal—they could drag it out as long as they needed. But here, things were different. Their primary goal was to lure the entire horde away to seize the weapons depot, not to endure relentless face-offs like this.They no longer had enough artillery shells to target the horde’s center and eliminate its core forces. This left the army with only one option: close-quarters combat. Asymmetric warfare remained asymmetric from beginning to end.Out of 100,000 zombies, they had managed to kill about 15,000 since morning, losing 31 soldiers in the process. Their ammunition reserves were running dangerously low. Meanwhile, the Soul Suppression emitted by the 100,000-strong zombie horde was both powerful and far-reaching, making prolonged resistance impossible. The weaker soldiers were already d
A skilled Marksman might fire 10 skill volleys and take down 40 zombies before exhausting their energy and needing assistance from a Healer. In contrast, a Melee Fighter could take down those same 40 zombies with only about 4 stamina points, moving at lightning speed. The truly skilled and experienced ones consumed even less.Melee Fighters contributed the most to the tally of 33,000 zombies slain from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., fighting continuously without pause.Abel, usually well-regarded, found himself completely outclassed in this battle.What could he do? Fight Diego? Haha, in a one-on-one match, a Marksman typically stood no chance against a Melee Fighter. They were faster, more reactive, and could dodge attacks while closing the distance. Lightning balls or fire blades hurle
It was a losing trade that might not even yield the desired outcome. After all, the anti-demon effects displayed by Jarred earlier weren’t omnipotent. It was, at the end of the day, just a Level 4 weapon. How could they possibly procure enough shells to take down the zombie horde of over 80,000?Zared glanced around before clearing his throat and saying: “Deputy Leader Wallflower, actually...""Commander Riggs, Leader Sears currently holds that item, and it cannot be used temporarily.” Wallflower interjected sharply, cutting Zared off as soon as he glanced left. She silently cursed the old fox for clinging too persistently.Did he want to use lofty ideals to requisition her prized possessions? Not without paying the right price.Silenced, Zared could only fume quietly, while the other leaders exchanged wry smiles.Starla wasn’t participating in this campaign and had gone off alone to breach Hour. Not only were they failing to assist her in securing the ferry, but now they were trying
Normally, humanity appreciated stationary zombie hordes because they could lure small groups away, picking them off gradually. The horde’s numbers would dwindle, and the pressure on the humans would be minimal—they could drag it out as long as they needed. But here, things were different. Their primary goal was to lure the entire horde away to seize the weapons depot, not to endure relentless face-offs like this.They no longer had enough artillery shells to target the horde’s center and eliminate its core forces. This left the army with only one option: close-quarters combat. Asymmetric warfare remained asymmetric from beginning to end.Out of 100,000 zombies, they had managed to kill about 15,000 since morning, losing 31 soldiers in the process. Their ammunition reserves were running dangerously low. Meanwhile, the Soul Suppression emitted by the 100,000-strong zombie horde was both powerful and far-reaching, making prolonged resistance impossible. The weaker soldiers were already d
Jarred could only stick his tongue out, panting heavily, pretending not to hear. He lacked the strength to argue, letting his brother’s scolding wash over him. Around him, Sasha activated her Springtime Youth skill, restoring 80% of his maximum stamina and mental energy while eliminating two debuffs: nausea and hallucinations. Warren followed with Mysterious Turtle Saves The World, erasing 80% of his physical damage and tripling his recovery rate until all his injuries were healed.Both Sasha and Warren had recently consumed a bounty of experience crystals, reaching level 10. Their third-tier skills, enhanced to +3, made their healing abilities truly formidable.Seeing that his brother was out of danger, Memphis felt a fleeting sense of relief, though it was soon replaced by an unexpected pang of envy.He feared death. The kind of experimentation Jarred had just undertaken to refine his skill proficiency—testing it on his own body—was something Memphis longed to attempt but could neve
This was the fourth-tier skill Counterturn, enhanced with single-strike explosive force, carrying 85% of the original power Memphis had personally charged into it.Level 4 equipment, when used wisely, could produce strategic effects capable of influencing large-scale battles. But only if used correctly.Using a Level 4 Demon Slayer gun on humans would be idiotic. Forcing someone to strip with a Level 4 Seal Ring? Even more idiotic. Swallowing a Level 4 Gluttony Prison to escape an enemy? Madness. Drinking a Level 4 Mutant Potion to activate its Silence effect during a battle you’re commanding? Utter lunacy.Similarly, the Level 4 Mimic Ring required careful selection of skills for specific situations. It wasn’t about copying the strongest skill and unleashing it indiscriminately—that was brute-force fighting. The key lay in choosing the most suitable skill for the scenario.In this battle, if Memphis had copied three attacks from E3 Level 33, he would have failed. Even launching three
Why didn’t humanity retreat to create distance and dodge these attacks? Because if everyone retreated, who would hold the line? The fortifications painstakingly built could not simply be abandoned.Humanity was clever, but the zombies were learning too. After Memphis issued the order to fall back, maintaining distance, the level 29 M2 went berserk, unleashing wide-area Soul Suppression attacks across the entire battlefield. Even without clear targets, it roared relentlessly, targeting the peripheral zones of the low-level zombie horde under attack.This carpet-bombing tactic created a situation where assault soldiers endured continuous shockwaves. Even if they weren’t directly targeted, the residual effects depleted their energy pointlessly, while the "useless" survivors remained untouched.It was a disaster. Realizing the beast couldn’t be easily deceived, Memphis had no choice but to deploy forces closer to the battlefield again, using human lives as shields for the troops. The situ
However, the current distance was still insufficient. From the center of the zombie horde to the human frontlines was over three kilometers. When the Soul Suppression wave struck the 300 people present, it caused only some pale faces and mild panic among the survivors of Iron Stone. The residents of Hope, long accustomed to such attacks, remained entirely unaffected.After this exchange of blows, with neither side sustaining any losses, Memphis drew his D.E pistol from his holster and fired two loud shots into the air. From elevated positions along both sides of the tactical trenches, hundreds of soldiers in specialized combat uniforms suddenly rose and unleashed a barrage of attacks on the surging horde of zombies below.Their positions were the closest to the frontlines, near the entrances to ten tunnels teeming with zombies. Attacking from above was most advantageous. Their combat uniforms, made from burlap soaked in zombie flesh and blood, effectively masked their human scent agai
At 7:30 a.m. on the 22nd day after the apocalypse, the first zombie stepped into Trench No. 4, officially marking the beginning of the battle on the outskirts of Iron Stone Town.The first zombie was followed by a second, then a third, then a tenth, and soon hundreds poured into the area of ten interconnected trenches. This was the opening skirmish between a horde of 70,000 zombies and nearly 600 humans.From a kilometer away, Memphis observed the battlefield through binoculars, scrutinizing each wave of zombies entering the trenches to gauge the overall situation and assess the evolutionary progress on the 22nd day of the apocalypse. This was his first encounter with a zombie horde under command since safe crystals had been distributed. Humanity had advanced significantly—but what about the zombies?Fortunately, nearly 80% of the horde remained at level 1, indicating they had not undergone comprehensive upgrades across the board. In terms of their foundational strength, this horde wa
Just yesterday, over a dozen residents from Hope Town, despite having endured countless hardships and learning the value of peace, still dared to stand against order. How could Memphis be assured that the residents of Iron Stone Town would stay compliant?The extreme protest in Rutted Track yesterday was a nightmare Memphis had no intention of repeating. He needed to prepare from the smallest steps to block similar schemes in the future. The most straightforward and upright method? Throw those eager to join into the flames of war until they were thoroughly tempered."Understand the pain and harshness of war? Understood, haven’t you? Then live sensibly from now on."This was just one reason why he kept the residents of Iron Stone Town in their original location. Another